JP2000356386A - Method and apparatus for controlling air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control an indoor temperature in accordance with an outdoor temperature and keep constant a difference between the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature by a method wherein a heat exchanging system is controlled in accordance with an outdoor atmospheric information transmitted through an external remote communication line. SOLUTION: When a healthy operation mode is selected, an outdoor atmospheric information is received and an outdoor temperature is set in accordance with the information (S204-S205). Thereafter, a present indoor temperature is compared with the set temperature when the indoor temperature is lower than or equal to the set temperature, the outdoor atmospheric information is received again (S204). When the same is higher than the set temperature, cooling operation is effected (S206-S207). After the cooling operation for a given period of time, the indoor temperature is compared with the set temperature again. When the same is not arrived at the set temperature, the cooling operation is continued until the same is arrived at the set temperature (S208). Then, the cooling operation is stopped when the set temperature is achieved (S209). Next, the healthy operation mode is judged whether the same is released or not (S210). When the same is released, the operation mode is returned to an initial mode, but when the same is not released, the outdoor atmospheric information is received again.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, and more particularly, to controlling an air conditioner in accordance with outdoor environment information transmitted to the air conditioner through a wired or wireless communication terminal. And a device therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air conditioner is designed to maintain a space or a room at a predetermined temperature regardless of the outdoor temperature.
Generally, an air conditioner is provided with a heat exchange system having an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and a compressor, and the temperature of the space is determined between a refrigerant circulating through the heat exchange system of the air conditioner and indoor or outdoor air. Is maintained by heat exchange. If the user sets the air conditioner to maintain a predetermined temperature, the air conditioner controls the heat exchange system to maintain the temperature in the space regardless of a change in outdoor temperature.

However, according to such a conventional method of controlling an air conditioner, a set temperature input by a user is maintained irrespective of changes in the outdoor environment such as outdoor temperature, humidity, and weather. Since the temperature of the space or the room is controlled as described above, the difference between the room temperature and the outside temperature changes according to the change of the outside temperature. Although the space or room temperature is kept substantially constant, the difference between the room temperature and the outdoor temperature may increase. The change in the difference between the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature may cause cooling disease or cause excessive consumption of energy.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved air conditioner. Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of controlling the indoor temperature in accordance with the outdoor temperature. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of maintaining a constant difference between an outdoor temperature and an outdoor temperature.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner capable of maintaining the difference between the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature at a predetermined variable value in response to a change in the outdoor environment. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that contributes to energy saving. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that can prevent health problems such as cooling disease caused by a large difference between an indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention described above is to provide a heat exchange system, space or heat exchanger having an outdoor heat exchanger, a capillary tube, an indoor heat exchanger, and a compressor in which a refrigerant circulates and is connected in series. An indoor temperature sensor that indicates the indoor temperature, an outdoor environment information receiving unit that has an input unit connected to the external remote communication line and receives outdoor environment information, and a selector that can selectively specify one of multiple temperature control modes A microcomputer connected to the indoor temperature sensor and the outdoor environment information receiving unit and controlling the heat exchange system according to the outdoor environment information transmitted through a telephone line, a LAN system or a wireless modem. Is done. The microcomputer controls the heat exchange system so as to keep a difference between the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature constant. A selector that can selectively designate one of a constant room temperature mode, a constant temperature difference mode, and a variable temperature difference mode, controls the heat exchange system so as to maintain the room temperature constant according to the mode specified by the selector. It is connected to the controlling microcomputer.

The method of controlling an air conditioner according to the present invention includes the steps of receiving outdoor environment information through wired or wireless communication, setting an indoor temperature according to the received outdoor environment information, and Performing a cooling operation until reaching the set temperature. The outdoor environment information refers to outdoor temperature, humidity, weather, and the like in an area where the air conditioner is used, and the set temperature is a change in the outdoor temperature such that the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature always maintain a constant temperature difference. It is desirable that the set value be changed corresponding to.

[0008]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional air conditioner includes a compressor 11 that largely compresses a refrigerant, an indoor heat exchanger 13 and an outdoor heat exchanger 15 that perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor or outdoor air, And a capillary tube 14 for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant. These components 11, 13, 14, and 15 are connected to each other by a refrigerant pipe 12 to form a closed circuit. The air conditioner is provided with an indoor fan 10 and an outdoor fan 16 for facilitating heat exchange in the indoor heat exchanger 13 and the outdoor heat exchanger 15, respectively.

The process of cooling the space or the room by the air conditioner is as follows. The high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 11 is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 15 and liquefied after performing heat exchange with outdoor air. The liquefied refrigerant passes through the capillary tube 14, is reduced in temperature and pressure, and is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 13.
While evaporating from the interior of the room, heat is taken from the surrounding room air to cool the room.

The cooling operation of the air conditioner is controlled by the microcomputer 22. When a user sets a desired indoor temperature through a key operation unit (not shown), the microcomputer 22 connected to the key operation unit drives the compressor 11, the outdoor fan 16, and the indoor fan 10. If the indoor temperature decreases due to the cooling operation of the air conditioner, the microcomputer 22 detects the indoor temperature through the indoor temperature sensor 21 and determines whether the current indoor temperature is lower than the input set temperature.
The microcomputer 22 continues the cooling operation until the room temperature becomes equal to or lower than the set temperature.
The driving of the outdoor fan 16 and the indoor fan 10 is stopped.

As described above, the air conditioner is controlled to maintain the room temperature at the set temperature. FIG. 2 shows the change in the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature and the set indoor temperature, respectively. The indoor temperature is maintained almost constant, but the difference A between the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature is not properly maintained due to the change in the outdoor temperature. Is shown. If the difference A between the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature becomes large, there are problems such as inducing cooling disease or consuming excessive energy.

Referring to FIG. 3, an air conditioner includes a compressor 11 for compressing a refrigerant, an indoor heat exchanger 13 and an outdoor heat exchanger 15 for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and indoor and outdoor air, and a high-pressure refrigerant. And a capillary tube 14 for decompressing the pressure.
5 is connected by a refrigerant pipe 12. An indoor fan 10 and an outdoor fan 16 are provided around the indoor heat exchanger 13 and the outdoor heat exchanger 15, respectively. In addition, the heat exchange in the outdoor heat exchanger 15 is facilitated, and the refrigerant exchanges heat with ambient air while circulating through the closed circuit, thereby cooling the room.

The outdoor environment information receiving unit 24 is connected to an external telephone line, and receives outdoor environment information such as outdoor temperature, humidity, and weather in a corresponding area where the air conditioner is used. A healthy operation selection key 23 is connected to the microcomputer 22 so that the user can select a healthy operation mode for automatically performing the cooling operation based on the information received by the outdoor environment information receiving unit 24. And the indoor fan 10 and the outdoor fan 16 are controlled. Here, the outdoor environment information receiving unit 24 is a device that can receive the outdoor environment information provided by an online service provider or an Internet service provider via a normal pager or a wired or wireless communication. It is desirable to be done.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the microcomputer 22.
The microcomputer 22 includes a memory for storing outdoor environment information data provided by an online service provider or an Internet service provider through wired and wireless communication, a lookup table having a memory for storing reference data, and a reference table for storing outdoor environment information. A comparison unit for comparing with data, the indoor fan 10, the outdoor fan 16, and the compressor 1
And a control unit for controlling the control unit 1. Outdoor environment information receiving unit 2
4, after receiving the outdoor environment information data and the mode selection signal from the healthy driving selection key 23, the microcomputer 22 compares the product code with the air conditioner code. If the product code matches the air conditioner code, the microcomputer 22 compares each information data with the data stored in the look-up table.

The microcomputer 22 responds to the comparison between the data stored in the look-up table and each information data transmitted by the online service provider or the Internet service provider through the wired and wireless communication and the outdoor environment information receiving unit 24. Determines the difference between the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature, and controls the indoor fan 10, the outdoor fan 16, and the compressor 11. The temperature difference may be fixed to a fixed value or may be changed according to the comparison or selection by a user through a healthy driving selection key. The outdoor temperature can be detected by an outdoor temperature sensor connected to the microcomputer 22.

FIG. 4 shows a method for controlling the cooling operation of the air conditioner. When the user selects the cooling operation through the key operation unit (not shown) and starts the cooling operation, the microcomputer 22 determines whether the healthy operation mode is selected by the key operation of the user (S201 to S202). . If the healthy operation mode has not been selected, the microcomputer 22 determines that the user setting mode has been selected, and performs the cooling operation until the room temperature reaches the set temperature set by the user (S203).
On the other hand, if it is determined that the healthy driving mode is selected, the microcomputer 22 receives the outdoor environment information through the outdoor environment information receiving unit 24, and sets the indoor temperature according to the information (S204 to S205).

The various outdoor environment information such as the outdoor temperature, humidity, and weather are transmitted from the online service provider or the Internet service provider and the outdoor environment information receiving unit 24 to the microcomputer 22 of the air conditioner through wired and wireless communication. The air conditioner is controlled so that the indoor temperature maintains a predetermined temperature difference (A: see FIG. 6) from the outdoor temperature in accordance with the outdoor environment information.

The microcomputer 22 sets the room temperature (S20).
5) After that, the current room temperature is detected through the room temperature sensor 21 and compared with the set room temperature (hereinafter, referred to as “set temperature”). If the room temperature is lower than or equal to the set temperature, cooling is performed. Since the operation does not need to be performed, the step of receiving the outdoor environment information (S204) is performed again. If the indoor temperature is higher than the set temperature, the compressor 11 and the indoor fan 1
0 and the outdoor fan 16 to drive the cooling operation (S2).
06 to S207).

If the cooling operation continues for a certain period of time, the microcomputer 22
Detects the room temperature again, compares it with the set temperature, and if the room temperature does not reach the set temperature, continues the cooling operation until the room temperature reaches the set temperature (S20).
8). On the other hand, when the indoor temperature reaches the set temperature, the microcomputer 2
2 stops the cooling operation by stopping the compressor 11, the indoor fan 10, and the outdoor fan 16 (S209).

Then, the microcomputer 22 determines whether or not the healthy driving mode has been released (S209). When the healthy driving mode has been released, the microcomputer 22 returns to the initial mode. The steps subsequent to the step of setting the set temperature of the indoor temperature target value in response to the received information and the set temperature of the indoor temperature target value (S204 to S205) are repeatedly performed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, if the outdoor temperature is changed and the content is received through the outdoor environment information receiving unit 24 or the outdoor temperature sensor, the microcomputer 22 determines the set temperature of the space or the indoor air. , The operation of the air conditioner can be controlled such that the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature always maintain the predetermined temperature difference A. The temperature difference may change depending on the temperature. Fifteen
At intermediate temperatures in the range of 25 ° C. to 25 ° C., the temperature difference may be smaller at higher or lower temperatures. In the present embodiment, the outdoor temperature, humidity, various outdoor environment information such as weather, but only the outdoor temperature has been described, but the present invention can be applied to receiving humidity in the corresponding area and performing a dehumidifying operation, or The present invention can also be applied to a case where the air purification operation is performed by receiving the air pollution degree of the corresponding area. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to maintaining a constant indoor / outdoor temperature difference during a cooling operation, but also to maintaining a constant indoor / outdoor temperature difference during a heating operation with a cooling / heating air conditioner.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately control the indoor temperature by changing the outdoor environment in the area where the air conditioner is installed using information received from the outside, Since the temperature difference between the indoor and the outdoor can always be kept constant, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of cooling disease and the like, and to prevent the excessive consumption of energy. The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those having ordinary knowledge in the field to which the present invention belongs without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. Anyone can implement various modifications.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a conventional air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing temperature changes inside and outside a room according to a conventional method for controlling an air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes in indoor and outdoor temperatures according to the method of controlling an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a format for outdoor environment information.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 indoor fan 11 compressor 12 refrigerant tube 13 indoor heat exchanger 14 capillary tube 15 outdoor heat exchanger 16 outdoor fan 21 indoor temperature sensor 22 microcomputer 23 healthy operation selection key 24 outdoor environment information receiving unit

Claims (31)

[Claims] Providing a terminal that can be connected to any one of wired and wireless communication; receiving a first signal indicating an outdoor condition of a space through the terminal; A method for controlling an air conditioner, comprising: providing a second signal having a difference; and controlling an air conditioner to maintain indoor conditions of a space in response to the second signal. 2. The method further comprises receiving a second signal indicating indoor conditions of the space, and controlling the air conditioner according to a second difference between the first signal and the third signal. The method for controlling an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the third signal includes the first signal and the second signal.
The method according to claim 2, further comprising controlling the air conditioner when there is no signal between the signals. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third signal is the first signal and the second signal.
The method according to claim 2, further comprising controlling the air conditioner when the signal is present. 5. The control method according to claim 2, wherein the second difference changes in response to the first signal. 6. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving a plurality of fourth signals through the terminal; and providing the second signals having a third difference corresponding to the fourth signals. The method for controlling an air conditioner according to item 1. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the third difference changes according to the fourth signal. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the first signal comprising a combination of temperature, humidity, and weather conditions. 9. A step of receiving a third signal indicating the indoor condition of the space, providing a setting signal, and when the third signal is different from the setting signal, controlling the air conditioning in accordance with the setting signal. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the air conditioner. 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: providing a fourth signal having a second difference from the setting signal; and controlling the air conditioner according to the fourth signal. The control method of the air conditioner according to the above. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal are information data indicating the indoor condition and the outdoor condition of the space, respectively. 12. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal includes a header part and an information data part. 13. The control method according to claim 12, wherein the header section includes product data indicating the air conditioner. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the information data section includes information data indicating a temperature of the space under the outdoor condition. 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the information data section includes information data indicating one of temperature, humidity, and weather conditions. 16. A step of providing a first signal indicating an outdoor condition of a space, a step of providing a second signal having a predetermined difference from the first signal, and maintaining an indoor condition corresponding to the second signal. Controlling the air conditioner so as to perform the control. 17. The air according to claim 16, further comprising: providing a terminal that can be connected to any one of wired and wireless communication; and receiving the first signal through the terminal. Harmonizer control method. 18. The air conditioner according to claim 16, further comprising: providing a sensor indicating a temperature of the space under the outdoor condition; and receiving the first signal from the sensor. Control method. 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the difference changes in response to the first signal. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first signal indicates one of temperature, humidity, and weather conditions. 21. A heat exchange unit, a sensor for indicating a first temperature in the space chamber, a terminal that can be connected to a wired or wireless communication device, and information that is connected to the terminal and indicates outdoor conditions of the space through the terminal. A receiving unit that receives the first temperature from the sensor, receives the information from the receiving unit, and receives the first temperature and the first temperature. A device for comparing the information with the microcomputer and controlling the heat exchange unit based on the comparison result. 22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the microcomputer determines a second temperature having a difference from the information. 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the microcomputer controls the heat exchange unit according to the difference so that the space maintains the second temperature. 24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the information is a combination of temperature, humidity, and weather conditions. 25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the microcomputer includes a look-up table for storing reference data for determining the difference in accordance with the information. 26. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the microcomputer includes a look-up table for storing reference data transmitted through the terminal. 27. The air conditioner according to claim 26, wherein the microcomputer controls the heat exchange unit according to the second comparison result of one of the information and the reference data. Equipment. 28. The air conditioner according to claim 27, wherein the microcomputer controls the heat exchange unit in accordance with one of the first comparison result and the second comparison result. apparatus. 29. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the information includes a header part and an information data part, and the header part includes a product identification code indicating the air conditioner. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the information data section includes information indicating one of a temperature, a humidity, and a weather condition. 31. Providing a terminal that can be connected to one of wired and wireless communication, receiving data indicating an outdoor temperature of a space through the terminal, and determining a predetermined difference from the first signal. Providing a second signal having; a first mode for controlling the air conditioner so that the space maintains a set temperature; and the air conditioner maintaining the temperature that changes in accordance with the data in the space. Control the second
Providing a mode; and controlling the air conditioner by selecting the first mode and the second mode.