JPH10267366A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an air conditioner capable of expanding a use range and improving convenience by adding a new function by combining an existing configuration. A remote controller (2) constituting an air conditioner (1)
A clock circuit 6 and a timer circuit 7 are provided to execute an on / off timer function for starting or stopping the operation of the main body 3 at a time set by a user. The main body 3 includes a light emitting circuit 18 and a remote controller 2 for notifying a user of an operation state.
A buzzer sound generating circuit 19 that outputs a buzzer sound at a predetermined timing such as when a control signal is received.
In the above timer function, at the set time, an operation control command for starting or stopping the operation of the main body 3 is transmitted from the remote controller 2. However, a new display command is set, and the main body 3 emits light when receiving the display command. The circuit 18 and the buzzer sound generation circuit 19 are driven. Thereby, an alarm function is realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner which can be remotely operated by a so-called remote controller (abbreviation of a remote controller (remote control means)).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recent air conditioner, particularly a home air conditioner, can remotely control an air conditioner main body (hereinafter simply referred to as "main body") from a remote controller for the purpose of improving operability and convenience. Such a configuration is becoming mainstream. Generally, the remote controller and the main body are connected by wireless communication using infrared light or the like. As described above, when the remote controller and the main unit are not wired, the user may feel uneasy whether an instruction (control signal) from the remote controller is transmitted to the main unit when operating the remote controller. Therefore, a predetermined notifying means is provided in the main body, and the notifying means is driven when a control signal is received from a remote controller. Therefore, the user recognizes that the main body has received the control signal from the remote controller by driving the notification unit. As the notification means, a light emitting element such as an LED (light emitting diode), a buzzer circuit for generating a predetermined buzzer sound, and the like are used.

[0003] From the viewpoint of improving functions, air conditioners having a so-called timer function are also becoming popular. This timer function is a function for causing the main body to perform a desired operation at a desired time set by the user. The remote controller includes a circuit such as a clock and a timer in order to realize the timer function. When the user operates the remote controller to set the type (aspect) and time of the operation to be performed by the main body, the setting is performed when the set time is detected using the clock, the timer, or the like. A control signal corresponding to the type of operation performed is transmitted from the remote controller to the main body, and the main body performs an operation based on the received control signal. Here, for example, if the remote control is placed away from the main body, the control signal may not reach the main body, and the timer function may not operate. Therefore, a timer is also provided on the main unit, and when the timer function is set on the remote controller side, the type of the set operation and the set time, more precisely, the time until the set time is transmitted to the main unit, and this time is set to the above timer. Time.
And even if no control signal is received from the remote control,
When the timekeeping operation by the timer in the main body ends, the set operation is performed. Thus, the timer function can be reliably executed.

[0004]

The frequency of use of the notification means provided in the main body is not very high.
The light-emitting element may be constantly lit during operation of the main body, but the buzzer circuit is basically used only when operating the remote controller. Further, the timer function is hardly used by some users. Furthermore, even when the air conditioner is not used, the clock and the like of the remote controller are constantly operating, and electric power is constantly supplied to an electronic circuit such as a timer provided in the main body. As described above, the circuit portions related to the notification unit and the timer function only consume power unnecessarily and are often not effectively used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to expand the range of use and improve convenience by combining existing structures and adding new functions. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can achieve the above.

[0006]

Therefore, the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention provides an air conditioner body 3 and a control signal for causing the air conditioner body 3 to perform a predetermined operation based on an operation by a user. The air conditioner main body 3 is provided with notification means 18 and 19 which are driven in a predetermined notification mode at a predetermined timing such as when the control signal is received, and the remote control means 2 is provided. The means 2 includes: a selection means 10 for selecting a type of operation in a timer function for causing the air conditioner main body 3 to perform a predetermined operation at a set time; a time setting means 11 for setting the set time in the timer function; Time detecting means 7 for detecting that the set time has come, and sending a control signal corresponding to the selected operation to the air conditioner body 3 when the set time is detected. Air conditioner 1 is configured to
And, as the type of operation in the timer function,
It is characterized in that it includes an alarm operation for driving the notification means 18 and 19.

In the air conditioner of the first aspect, the alarm operation for driving the notification means 18 and 19 can be performed by using the timer function. Therefore, the alarm operation is performed at the time set by the user, for example, The air conditioner 1 can be used instead of an alarm clock, and the range of use of the air conditioner 1 is expanded, and convenience is improved.

In the air conditioner of the second aspect, the remote control means 2 sends a setting signal including the type of the selected operation and the set time to the air conditioner main body 3 when the timer function is set. The air conditioner main body 3 includes second time detecting means 20 for detecting that the set time has come, and the second time detecting means 20 does not receive a control signal corresponding to the selected operation. When the set time is detected, the selected operation is performed.

In the air conditioner of the second aspect, when the remote control means 2 sends a control signal corresponding to the selected operation at a set time, the remote control means 2 is separated from the air conditioner body 3. Even when the control signal does not reach the air conditioner main body 3 due to circumstances such as being placed in a place, the operation selected by the judgment of the air conditioner main body 3 can be performed. The alarm operation can be executed reliably, and the convenience is further improved.

Further, the air conditioner according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the alarm operation, the notification means 18 and 19 are driven in a mode different from the predetermined notification mode.

In the air conditioner according to the third aspect, the user can reliably recognize that the notification means 18 and 19 are being driven as an alarm operation. Thereby, convenience is improved.

[0012]

Next, specific embodiments of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a remote control (abbreviation of a remote controller (remote control means)) constituting the air conditioner 1. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of the air conditioner 2, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the air conditioner 1.

First, referring to FIG. 1, an air conditioner 1 includes a remote controller 2 and an air conditioner main body (hereinafter, simply referred to as “main body”) 3. The remote controller 2 is operated by a user to control the main body 3, and transmits a control signal to the main body 3 according to the operation of the user. On the other hand, the main body 3 is installed at a predetermined location, is configured to include a heat exchanger, a fan, and the like, and performs predetermined air conditioning control in response to a control signal from the remote controller 2, for example, cools sucked indoor air ( Cooling (heating) that blows indoors as air-conditioned air
Perform driving, etc.

The remote controller 2 includes an operation unit 4, a display unit 5, a clock circuit 6, a timer circuit 7, and a transmission circuit 8. These components are configured by a control unit 9 implemented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like. Is controlled by As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 4 includes a plurality of operation buttons operated by a user when controlling the main body 3, and among these operation buttons,
An alarm / timer switching button 10, a time setting button 11, and an alarm button 12 which are operated when executing an alarm function described later are included. The display unit 5 is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal panel or the like, and a plurality of display areas for displaying a control state of the main body 3 and the like are set in advance, and each display area is individually set in response to an operation of the operation unit 4. Is turned on or off. In each display area, predetermined characters, figures, and the like are configured to be visually displayed. “Lighting of the display area” means displaying characters and the like in black on a white background, and “ "Off" means displaying characters and the like in white on a white background, that is, making them invisible. Although FIG. 2 shows a state in which all display areas are turned on, actually, only some display areas are turned on and other display areas are turned off. For example, the alarm display area 13, the off timer display area 14, and the on timer display area 15 are normally all turned off, but each time the alarm / timer switching button 10 is operated once, the display areas 13, 14, 15 are displayed.
The lights are turned on one by one in the order of, and when pressed again, all the lights are turned off and the state returns to the original state.

The clock circuit 6 includes a crystal oscillator or the like, and outputs time data representing the current time and the like to the control unit 9 at predetermined time intervals. The timer circuit 7 is formed of, for example, a down counter, and measures a predetermined time set by the control unit 9, here, the remaining time until the alarm function or the timer function is executed. It outputs a timer over signal to the control unit 9. The transmission circuit 8 includes, for example, a light emitting diode that emits infrared light, and transmits various control signals to the main body 3 as optical signals by switching on and off of the light emitting diode.

The main body 3 includes a motor 16, a sensor 17, a light emitting circuit 18, a buzzer sound generating circuit 19, a timer circuit 20, and a receiving circuit 21. These components are controlled by a control unit 22 implemented by a CPU or the like. Controlled. The motor 16 includes a motor for driving a fan and a swing, and is controlled by the control unit 22 according to the operating conditions set by the remote controller 2. The sensor 17 includes a room temperature sensor and various sensors, and outputs a current room temperature and a detection signal to the control unit 22.
The control unit 22 controls the operation state and the like of the main body 3 based on these detection signals.

The light-emitting circuit 18 includes a plurality of light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes, and light emission and light-off are controlled by the control unit 22 according to the operation state of the main body 3 and the like.
The buzzer sound generation circuit 19 generates a predetermined buzzer sound in response to an instruction from the control unit 22. This buzzer sound is generally controlled to be generated as a so-called confirmation sound when a control signal from the remote controller 2 is received. Therefore, when the user operates the remote controller 2 to start or stop the operation of the main body 3 or change the operating conditions, a predetermined buzzer sound is output,
Thereby, the user can confirm that the main body 3 is receiving the control signal from the remote controller 2.

The timer circuit 20 is composed of, for example, a down counter, and counts a predetermined time set by the control unit 22, in this case, the remaining time until the alarm function or the timer function is executed. At this point, a timer over signal is output to the control unit 22. The remaining time is transmitted from the remote controller 2 when the alarm function or the like is set. In this timer circuit 20, the control signal does not reach the main body 3 at the set time because the remote control 2 is placed away from the main body 3 even though the alarm function and the like are set on the remote control 2 side. The remote control 2 is provided as a backup for the time.
The one having lower timekeeping accuracy than the timer circuit 7 is used. The receiving circuit 21 includes, for example, a phototransistor that responds to infrared light, converts an optical signal transmitted from the transmitting circuit 8 into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the control unit 22.

Next, the operation of the air conditioner 1 when the alarm function is executed will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the operation of the remote controller 2 will be described. In step S1, it is determined whether or not the alarm function has been selected. This determination is made based on whether or not the alarm / timer switch button 10 has been pressed only once with the display areas 13 to 15 all turned off. If the alarm function is selected, the process proceeds to step S2, where the alarm mode is set and the alarm display area 13 is turned on. If the alarm function or the timer function has already been set, even if the alarm / timer switch button 10 is pressed, the display area 13 is displayed.
The display states of No. to No. 15 do not change, and the set time is displayed in the current time display area 25. If the function or time is to be set again, press any one of the alarm button 12, the off timer button 23, and the on timer button 24 to cancel the setting according to the function that has already been set.
The alarm / timer switching button 10 is operated.

Then, in a step S3, it is determined whether or not the time is set. This determination is made by the time setting button 11
And whether the alarm button 12 has been operated. The time setting operation will be specifically described. The time displayed in the current time display area 25 is set to a desired time by pressing the "hour" button and the "minute" button. For example, when "6:30 am" is set to use the alarm function instead of the alarm clock, the "hour" button is pressed to set "6 am", and the "minute" button is pressed to set "3 am".
"0" is displayed. Finally, the alarm button 12 is pressed to end the time setting.

In step S4, the set time is read, and
In step S5, a time measurement is set in the timer circuit 7.
Specifically, the remaining time, which is the time from the current time to the set time, is set in the timer circuit 7. Then, step S6
Then, the type of the setting mode (here, the alarm mode) and the set time (remaining time) are transmitted to the main body 3 as setting signals, and at this point, the setting process of the alarm function ends.
When the alarm function is used once and the alarm function is used at the same set time, the process of steps S1 to S6 is performed only by pressing the alarm button 12 without user's operation input. You can set the alarm function.

Thereafter, in step S7, when it is confirmed by the timer over signal that the timer circuit 7 has completed the time counting operation, a display command is transmitted to the main body 3 in step S8. The display command is a control signal for instructing driving of the light emitting circuit 18 and the buzzer sound generating circuit 19.

Next, the operation of the main body 3 will be described. In step S21, it is determined whether a setting signal has been received. This setting signal is transmitted to the remote controller 2 in step S6 described above.
This is the signal transmitted from. When the setting signal is received,
In step S22, setting of the mode, that is, recognition that the alarm function has been set, and setting of the timer circuit 20, that is, setting of the received clock time (remaining time) are performed. Here, when the accuracy of the timer circuit 20 is lower than that of the timer circuit 7 in the remote controller 2, the time is set to be longer than the accurate remaining time. For example, while the timer circuit 7 can measure time in units of one minute, the timer circuit 20
When the time is measured in minutes, if the remaining time is "55 minutes", "60 minutes" is set.

At this point, the setting process of the alarm function on the main body 3 side is completed. At this end point, the buzzer sound generation circuit 19 is driven and a predetermined buzzer sound is output as a confirmation sound. This allows the user to confirm that the alarm function has been set. In addition, by newly providing an alarm indicator lamp in the light emitting circuit 18 and turning on the alarm indicator lamp, the user can visually check the confirmation sound even when listening to the confirmation sound. This alarm indicator is lit continuously until the set time.

Thereafter, in step S23, it is determined whether a display command has been received. This display command is transmitted from the remote controller 2 in step S8 described above. When the display command is received, the process proceeds to step S25, where a predetermined alarm operation, that is, lighting or blinking of the light emitting element by the light emitting circuit 18 and output of the buzzer sound by the buzzer sound generating circuit 19 are performed. At this point, the timer circuit 2
If 0 is still continuing the timekeeping operation, the timer circuit 2
Clear 0 to stop the operation. Here, the light emitting circuit 1
The light-emitting element that is turned on or blinks by 8 may be the above-mentioned alarm indicator light newly provided for an alarm, or one originally used for another purpose, for example, an operation indicator lamp, a timer indicator lamp, or the like. May be used. Further, as the buzzer sound to be output, a sound used as a normal confirmation sound may be used as it is, but it is preferable to output a different form of the buzzer sound because the user may erroneously recognize the confirmation sound. . The alarm operation may be automatically stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed, or may be stopped when a predetermined operation is performed with the remote controller 2, for example, when the run / stop button 26 is pressed. .

If no display command is received in step S23, it is determined in step S24 whether or not the timer circuit 20 has completed the time counting operation based on the timer over signal. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S23. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S25, and the predetermined alarm operation is performed. Thus, even when the display command is not received because the remote controller 2 is placed away from the main body 3 or the like, the alarm function can be executed. As described above, when the accuracy of the timer circuit 20 of the main body 3 is lower than that of the timer circuit 7 of the remote controller 2, the alarm operation is performed later than the set time. It is convenient.

It is needless to say that the air conditioner 1 according to the present embodiment can also execute the "off timer" or "on timer" function as in the prior art. For example, in step S1, the "off timer" is selected by selecting the "off timer", and when the set time comes, an operation stop command is transmitted instead of the display command in step S8. In response to this, the main body 3 stops the operation in step S25 instead of performing the alarm operation. When “ON timer” is selected, the operation start command is transmitted from the remote controller 2 at the set time in the same procedure as described above, and the main unit 3
Starts driving.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the alarm function can be realized by combining the clock function and the timer function of the remote controller 2 with the notification function of the main body 3. The range of use of the air conditioner 1 is expanded, and the convenience can be improved.

[0029]

As described above, according to the air conditioner of the first aspect of the present invention, the air conditioner can be used in place of a so-called alarm clock, and the use range of the air conditioner is expanded. In addition, convenience is improved.

According to the air conditioner of the second or third aspect, the reliability of the timer function, that is, the alarm function is improved, and the convenience can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of a remote controller constituting the air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 air conditioner 2 remote controller 3 air conditioner body 4 operation unit 6 clock circuit 7 timer circuit 9 control unit 10 alarm / timer switching button 11 time setting button 12 alarm button 18 light emitting circuit 19 buzzer sound generation circuit 20 timer circuit 22 control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] An air conditioner main body (3) and remote control means (2) for transmitting a control signal for causing the air conditioner main body (3) to perform a predetermined operation based on an operation by a user. The air conditioner body (3) includes notification means (18) and (19) that are driven in a predetermined notification manner at a predetermined timing such as when the control signal is received, and the remote control means (2). ) Is a selection means (10) for selecting a type of operation in a timer function for causing the air conditioner body (3) to perform a predetermined operation at a set time, and a time setting means for setting the set time in the timer function. (11) and time detecting means (7) for detecting that the set time has come. When the set time is detected, the control signal corresponding to the selected operation is sent to the air conditioner. Send to main unit (3) An air conditioner (1) configured as described above, wherein the type of operation in the timer function includes an alarm operation for driving the notification means (18) (19). . 2. The remote control means (2) sends a setting signal including a type of operation selected and a set time to the air conditioner main body (3) when the timer function is set, and sets the air conditioner main body. (3) includes a second time detecting means (20) for detecting that the set time has come, and the second time detecting means (20) in a state where a control signal corresponding to the selected operation is not received. 2.) The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein when the set time is detected, the selected operation is performed. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein, in the alarm operation, the notification means (18), (19) is driven in a mode different from the predetermined notification mode.