Air-conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning systems require establishing a separate communication system and devices for remote operation of indoor units from another room, necessitating wiring and additional hardware, which is inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system with an outdoor unit, indoor units, and a remote control unit that uses identification numbers to enable wireless communication between the remote control unit and indoor units, allowing instructions to be sent through existing communication lines without additional wiring or hardware, by determining the target indoor unit based on the identification number included in the signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dedicated centralized remote control unit is provided to enable remote operation of indoor units, then remote operation capability is improved, but device complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing communication lines between the outdoor unit and indoor units are made to serve dual purposes: both refrigerant circuit control and remote operation control. The outdoor unit's communication interface is enhanced to relay control signals from any indoor unit to the targeted indoor unit, eliminating the need for dedicated remote control wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the remote control communication function with the existing indoor-outdoor unit communication infrastructure. By combining these functions into a single communication system, the patent eliminates the need for separate communication lines and reduces overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If new communication lines are set between indoor units and outdoor unit for remote control, then remote operation is enabled, but installation complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing communication lines are designed to handle multiple functions including both standard operational control and remote operation control. This eliminates the need for separate wiring for remote control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes its existing communication infrastructure to provide remote operation capabilities without requiring external wiring or additional communication lines. The outdoor unit and indoor units leverage their established communication pathways to enable cross-room control.
3Ease of operation
If additional devices are added to enable remote control functionality, then remote operation is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing outdoor unit and indoor units are made to perform additional remote control functions without requiring dedicated remote control devices. The communication capabilities of the existing devices are extended to enable remote operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The outdoor unit serves as both a refrigerant control hub and a communication relay for remote operations. The indoor units serve both their primary cooling/heating functions and as remote control access points, eliminating the need for separate centralized remote control hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning system includes: an outdoor unit including an outdoor-side control device; indoor units each including an indoor-side control device controlling a device in response to an instruction; communication lines connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor units for communication between them; and a remote control unit including a remote-control controlling device and wirelessly communicating with each indoor unit. Each indoor unit includes an indoor-side setting device that determines an identification number identifying the indoor unit. When receiving, from the remote control unit, a signal including the instruction, the indoor-side control device determines whether or not to control the device based on an identification signal, and sends the signal to the outdoor unit via a communication line. The outdoor-side control device determines which indoor unit is an instruction target based on the identification signal and sends the signal to the instruction target indoor unit, via a communication line.