Air-Conditioning Controller for Ganged Multi-Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning systems lack the capability for ganged control between air-conditioning facilities and general-purpose devices, such as humidifiers, heaters, and sensors, which limits integrated control and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system with a general-purpose device controller that receives signals from both air-conditioning facilities and general-purpose devices via dedicated and open communication lines, allowing for the transmission of control signals to perform integrated control of these devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If control programs are updated based on local area situations, then local control optimization is improved, but integrated ganged control update across multiple device types is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The control program update mechanism is designed to be universal, allowing the same controller to receive and execute update instructions for both air-conditioning devices and general-purpose devices, enabling integrated ganged control updates across different device types while maintaining local optimization capabilities
2Reliability
If separate communication media are used for air-conditioning facilities and general-purpose devices, then communication reliability is improved, but control integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning facility controller serves as an intermediary that receives control signals from the communication network, converts them into appropriate dedicated protocol signals for air-conditioning devices, and simultaneously manages general-purpose devices, thereby integrating control across different communication media without requiring direct complex interconnections between all devices
Data Source
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AI summary
An air-conditioning system 1 includes a general-purpose device controller 11 which controls a general-purpose device 21 connected via a general-purpose transmission line 30 or an input/output signal line 31 and an air-conditioning facility 23 connected via a dedicated transmission line 33. The general-purpose device controller 11 includes a processing configuration unit 303 which receives a first signal corresponding to the air-conditioning facility 23 and a second signal corresponding to the general-purpose device 21 and transmits a control signal which controls the air-conditioning facility 23 and the general-purpose device 21 based on the first signal and the second signal. The processing configuration unit 303 is configured to designate the air-conditioning facility 23 which is a first control target, with a management address which is included in the first signal and designate the air-conditioning facility 23, designate the general-purpose device 21 which is a second control target, with an input/output port number which is included in the second signal and designate the general-purpose device 21, and transmit the control signal which performs ganged control of the first control target and the second control target.