JP4041278B2 - Central control system for air conditioners - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner constituting a part of an air conditioning management system in which a plurality of air conditioners are connected to a centralized management apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, various air conditioning management systems in which a plurality of air conditioners are installed in one room and these air conditioners are connected to one centralized management device via a local area network have been proposed.
[0003]
In such an air conditioning management system, each air conditioner is set with a unique ID number for identifying the individual, and the data transmitted from the centralized management device has the unique ID number of the air conditioner that is the transmission destination of the data. There are many types in which data is transmitted and received by the polling / selecting method with an air conditioner to which a unique ID number that matches the unique ID number added to the data is set.
[0004]
The unique ID number in each air conditioner is generally set by switching an external switch or the like provided in each air conditioner at the manufacturing stage or shipping stage of the air conditioner.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When urgently shutting down all air conditioners when an air conditioner trouble occurs, the operation stop data (for emergency use) with the unique ID number added to an air conditioner with a unique ID number set as before Data) is sent to a certain air conditioner, the operation stop data with the unique ID number of the air conditioner added is sent to stop the air conditioner, and the air conditioner stops operating. After that, the operation stop data in which the unique ID number to be added is changed is transmitted to the next air conditioner to stop the operation of the air conditioner. For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time until all the air conditioners are shut down, and an emergency response is delayed.
[0006]
In addition, when setting the unique ID number for each air conditioner at the manufacturing stage or the shipping stage of each air conditioner, the unique ID number from what number to what number with the side where those air conditioners are installed Therefore, it is necessary to keep in close contact with each other about whether to ship an air conditioner with the setting of "."
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to transmit emergency data to an air conditioner all at once when transmitting emergency data that requires an emergency to a plurality of air conditioners connected to a centralized management device. It is to provide an air conditioner capable of promptly responding to an emergency.
[0008]
Another object of the present invention is that when each air conditioner is individually connected to the central control device, transmission of maintenance data to those individual air conditioners does not depend on the unique ID number of each air conditioner. An object is to provide an air conditioner capable of transmitting.
[0009]
Another object of the present invention is to simplify the structure for setting the ID number in each air conditioner.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An air conditioner centralized management system according to claim 1 is a centralized management device, and a plurality of air conditioners that are connected to the centralized management device via a local area network and transmit / receive data to / from the centralized management device, Means for switching the air conditioner to a state in which the air conditioner is individually connected to the centralized management device. The centralized management device includes a first processor that performs various controls, and the first processor includes the air conditioning unit. In a state where the machine is switched to a state where it is individually connected to the centralized management device, the air conditioner is set to include the unique ID number which is a unique ID number for each air conditioner. Means for adding maintenance ID numbers, which are common ID numbers to the plurality of air conditioners, and transmitting the maintenance data, and the air conditioners perform various controls. A processor, a storage area in which a maintenance ID number is stored, and a maintenance ID number that is transmitted from the centralized management apparatus and stored in the storage area by the second processor are added. Means for receiving the maintenance data, and means for causing the second processor to store a unique ID number included in the maintenance data in the storage area.
[0011]
Therefore, even when a unique ID number is not set for an air conditioner, the air conditioner is individually connected to the central control device, and then the central control device performs maintenance for the air conditioner. The air conditioner that can transmit the data and receives the maintenance data can store the unique ID number included in the maintenance data in the storage area.
[0012]
An air conditioner centralized management system according to claim 2 is the air conditioner centralized management system according to claim 1, wherein an emergency ID number that is an ID number common to the plurality of air conditioners is further stored in the storage area. The central management device includes means for transmitting the first processor with an emergency ID number added to emergency data for stopping the operation of the air conditioner, and the air conditioner includes the second processor. Means for receiving emergency data transmitted from the centralized management apparatus and having an emergency ID number that matches the emergency ID number stored in the storage area; and the second processor Means for stopping the operation of the machine.
[0013]
Therefore, when urgent emergency data is transmitted to all air conditioners connected to the centralized management device , the emergency data is all added by adding an emergency ID number to the emergency data. Therefore, emergency data can be quickly transmitted to all the air conditioners in an emergency.
[0014]
A centralized air conditioner management system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the centralized air conditioning system management system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the storage area is a non-volatile memory that stores data in a rewritable manner.
[0017]
Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an external switch for setting the ID number for each air conditioner, and the structure of each air conditioner is simplified. In particular, when two or more ID numbers are set for each air conditioner, the effect of simplifying the structure of each air conditioner is enhanced.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an air conditioner centralized management system. A plurality of (for example, 15) air conditioners 1 are installed in a factory that is a room to which this air conditioner centralized management system is applied. Each air conditioner 1 uses a polling / selecting method between the air conditioner main body 2 where hot air and cold air are blown out, and the on / off temperature setting of each air conditioner 1 and a centralized management device described later. The air conditioner control unit 3 transmits and receives data, and these air conditioners 1 are connected to a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”) 4 which is a centralized management apparatus via a local area network. The PC 4 is installed at a certain place in the factory.
[0019]
A plurality of (for example, three) temperature sensors 5 are installed in the factory. Each temperature sensor 5 includes a temperature sensor main body 6 that measures temperature and a temperature monitoring control unit 7 that performs A / D conversion on the measured temperature value. Each temperature sensor 5 is A / D converted. A radio 8 for transmitting temperature data to the centralized management device 4 is connected. A wireless device 9 for receiving temperature data transmitted from the wireless device 8 is connected to the centralized management device 4.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 4. This PC 4 has a CPU 10 that performs various controls in accordance with the control program. From the ROM 11 in which fixed data such as the control program is stored, the temperature data transmitted from the temperature sensor 5, and the air conditioner 1. The RAM 12 that stores the variable data such as the operation state data of the transmitted air conditioners 1, the various data that need to be stored continuously among the variable data, and the IDs that are set for the air conditioners 1 EEPROM 13 for storing numbers (unique ID number, emergency ID number, maintenance ID number to be described later), I / O 14 for inputting / outputting various data such as temperature data, operation state data, command data, etc., air conditioner 1 displays the operation state of each air conditioner 1 transmitted from 1, and selects the air conditioner 1 to be turned on / off by the operation from the PC 4 Mouse 16 or the like is connected that.
[0021]
Further, the PC 4 is provided with a display unit, a selection unit, an on / off control unit, and a distribution determination unit as functions executed by the CPU 10 based on the control program. The display means is a function for causing the display unit 15 to display the contents of the operation state of each air conditioner 1 transmitted from each air conditioner 1. The selection means is a function for selecting one of the air conditioners 1 to be turned on / off by an operation from the PC 4 based on an operation input of the mouse 16. The on / off control means is a function for turning on / off the air conditioner 1 selected by the operation input of the mouse 16. The distribution determining means is a function for determining to which air conditioner 1 the temperature data detected by a certain temperature sensor 5 is distributed.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner control unit 3. The air conditioner control unit 3 includes a CPU 17 that performs various controls in accordance with a control program. The CPU 17 stores a ROM 18 in which fixed data such as a control program is stored, data on the operating state of the air conditioner 1 and air conditioning. RAM 19 in which variable data such as set temperature for turning on / off machine 1 and temperature data from temperature sensor 5 distributed from PC 4 is stored, data that needs to be stored continuously among variable data, for example, , The total operation time of the air conditioner 1, the unique ID number that is uniquely set for each air conditioner 1, the emergency ID number that is commonly set for all the air conditioners 1, and common to all the air conditioners 1 EEPROM 20, which is a non-volatile memory for storing a set maintenance ID number, etc., an I / O 21 for inputting / outputting various data to / from the air conditioner body 2 and the PC 4, Setting unit 22, etc. are connected to set the temperature for turning on and off the controlling device 1.
[0023]
The unique ID number set for each air conditioner 1 is an identifier for identifying the air conditioner 1, and when a plurality of air conditioners 1 are connected to the PC 4 as shown in FIG. When temperature data, other data, or the like is transmitted to the air conditioner 1, the unique ID number of the air conditioner 1 that is the transmission destination is added to the data. As a result, the data is received by the air conditioner 1 in which the unique ID number that matches the added unique ID number is set.
[0024]
The emergency ID number set for each air conditioner 1 is an ID number common to all the air conditioners 1. In the state where a plurality of air conditioners 1 are connected to the PC 4 as shown in FIG. When all the air conditioners 1 are urgently stopped when the trouble occurs, an emergency ID number is added to the operation stop data transmitted from the PC 4. As a result, the operation stop data is transmitted to all the air conditioners 1 all at once, and all the air conditioners 1 are promptly stopped.
[0025]
The maintenance ID number set for each air conditioner 1 is an ID number common to all the air conditioners 1. This maintenance ID number is used when switching to a state where each air conditioner 1 is individually connected to the PC 4 and transmitting maintenance data to each air conditioner 1. Even when the unique ID number of the air conditioner 1 is not known, the maintenance data can be transmitted to each air conditioner 1 by adding the maintenance ID number to the maintenance data. Thereby, since the maintenance data can be transmitted to each air conditioner 1 without checking the unique ID number of each air conditioner 1, the work of transmitting the maintenance data to each air conditioner 1 can be performed smoothly. . The maintenance here includes various settings in each air conditioner 1 and a unique ID number for each air conditioner 1.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the temperature monitoring control unit 7. The temperature monitoring control unit 7 has a CPU 23 that performs various controls in accordance with a control program. After the CPU 23 detects a fixed data such as a control program in the ROM 24 and the temperature sensor body 6, the A / Between the RAM 25 in which variable data such as D-converted temperature data is stored, the EEPROM 26 in which various data such as communication settings need to be continuously stored, the temperature sensor body 6 and the radio device 8 are stored. An I / O 27 and the like for inputting / outputting temperature data are connected.
[0027]
In such a configuration, in this air conditioner centralized management system, 15 air conditioners 1 are installed at appropriate places as air conditioning places in the factory, and three temperature sensors 5 are suitable as temperature measurement places in the factory. It is installed at the place. The temperature at which each air conditioner 1 is turned on / off is set in the air conditioner control unit 3 of each air conditioner 1, and further, to which air conditioner 1 the temperature data detected by which temperature sensor 5 is distributed Is set by the PC 4 and then the operation of the air conditioner 1 is started.
[0028]
When the operation of the air conditioner 1 is started, the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 5 is transmitted to the PC 4 via the wireless devices 8 and 9, and the transmitted temperature data is distributed to any one of the air conditioners 1, The distributed temperature is compared with the on / off set temperature set by each air conditioner 1, and each air conditioner 1 is turned on / off according to the comparison result.
[0029]
In transmission / reception of data between the PC 4 and each air conditioner 1, any one of a unique ID number, an emergency ID number, and a maintenance ID number is added to the data transmitted from the PC 4.
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation in the air conditioner 1 when the data transmitted from the PC 4 is received by the air conditioner 1. It is determined whether or not the data transmitted from the PC 4 has been received (step S1). If received (Y in step S1), whether or not the ID number added to the data is an emergency ID number. (Step S2), whether it is a maintenance ID number (step S3), and whether it is a unique ID number (step S4).
[0031]
When the ID number added to the received data is an emergency ID number (Y in step S2), an emergency response process corresponding to the data, for example, emergency stop of the air conditioner 1 is performed (step S5). ). In addition, since the data with the emergency ID number added are transmitted to all the air conditioners 1 at the same time, the emergency response process (step S5) is performed in all the air conditioners 1.
[0032]
If the ID number added to the received data is a maintenance ID number (Y in step S3), maintenance processing according to the data, for example, setting of a unique ID number for each air conditioner 1 is performed. (Step S6). When a maintenance ID number is added to the received data, the data is sequentially transmitted to each air conditioner 1, and maintenance processing is sequentially performed for each air conditioner 1.
[0033]
Here, since a unique ID number for each air conditioner 1 can be set as a maintenance process for each air conditioner 1, it is necessary to set a unique ID number for each air conditioner 1 at the manufacturing stage or the shipping stage. For each air conditioner 1, an emergency ID number and a maintenance ID number may be set at the manufacturing stage or the shipping stage. Thereby, the effort which sets a unique ID number with respect to each air conditioner 1 in a manufacture stage or a shipping stage can be saved.
[0034]
In this embodiment, since the unique ID number, emergency ID number, and maintenance ID number set in each air conditioner 1 are stored in the EEPROM 20, the ID number is set as described in the conventional example. The external switch is not required to be provided in each air conditioner 1 and the wiring structure related to the external switch is not required, so that the structure of the air conditioner 1 is simplified. In particular, when three types of ID numbers are set as in the present embodiment, three sets of external switches are required if the method is set by an external switch, and air conditioning including the wiring structure related to the external switch is included. The structure of the machine becomes very complicated.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the air conditioner centralized management system of the invention described in claim 1, even when a unique ID number is not set for the air conditioner, the air conditioner is individually connected to the centralized management device. Thus, the maintenance data can be transmitted from the central control device to the air conditioner, and the air conditioner that has received the maintenance data stores the unique ID number included in the maintenance data in the storage area. Can do.
[0036]
According to the air conditioner centralized management system of the second aspect of the present invention, when emergency data requiring emergency is transmitted to all the air conditioners connected to the centralized management device, the emergency data is used as emergency data. By adding the ID number, the emergency data is transmitted to all the air conditioners all at once, so that the emergency data can be quickly transmitted to all the air conditioners in an emergency.
[0038]
According to the invention described in claim 3, in the air conditioner centralized management system according to claim 1 or 2 , since the nonvolatile memory is provided as the storage area, it is not necessary to provide an external switch for setting the ID number in each air conditioner. The structure of each air conditioner can be simplified, and in particular, when two or more ID numbers are set for each air conditioner, the effect of simplifying the structure can be enhanced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an air conditioner centralized management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PC.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioner control device.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a temperature monitoring control device.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing operations in the air conditioner when data transmitted from the PC is received by the air conditioner.
1 Air conditioner 4 Centralized control device 20 Non-volatile memory

Claims (3)

A centralized management device;
A plurality of air conditioners that are connected to the centralized management device via a local area network and that exchange data with the centralized management device;
Means for switching the air conditioner to a state of being individually connected to the central control device;
With
The centralized management device is
A first processor for performing various controls;
The first processor includes a unique ID number that is a unique ID number for each air conditioner in a state where the air conditioner is switched to a state in which the air conditioner is individually connected to the centralized management device. Means for adding the maintenance ID number, which is a common ID number to the plurality of air conditioners, to the maintenance data for causing the air conditioner to set
With
The air conditioner
A second processor for performing various controls;
A storage area in which a maintenance ID number is stored;
Means for receiving maintenance data to which the second processor is sent from the centralized management apparatus and to which a maintenance ID number that matches the maintenance ID number stored in the storage area is added;
Means for causing the second processor to store a unique ID number included in the maintenance data in the storage area;
Comprising
Air conditioner centralized management system. In the storage area, an emergency ID number that is an ID number common to the plurality of air conditioners is further stored,
The centralized management device is
The first processor includes means for adding an emergency ID number to emergency data for stopping the operation of the air conditioner and transmitting the emergency data,
The air conditioner
Means for receiving emergency data to which the second processor is added with an emergency ID number that is transmitted from the centralized management device and matches the emergency ID number stored in the storage area;
Means for stopping the operation of the air conditioner by the second processor;
Comprising
The air conditioner centralized management system according to claim 1.   The air conditioner centralized management system according to claim 1, wherein the storage area is a nonvolatile memory that stores data in a rewritable manner.

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