JPH0156350B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a signal transmission structure in a multi-room air conditioner that connects one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, and improves the signal transmission structure between the outdoor unit and the indoor units. By using optical signals, one of the purposes is to prevent malfunctions caused by external noise.

In general, separate type air conditioners, including multi-room types, are composed of an indoor unit a and an indoor unit b as shown in Figure 3, and at least two refrigerant pipes c and d and an outdoor unit b are operated by an indoor power source. A power line e for supplying commercial power to the outdoor unit b, and a control line f for controlling the operation, stopping, etc. of the outdoor unit b are required. The information transmitted through the control line f includes information on various control contents such as operation and stop of the compressor, operation of the outdoor fan, fan speed change, and operation and stop.

Furthermore, in recent years, due to social factors such as improved comfort and power saving, the control content of air conditioners has become more complex. Therefore, in recent years, the amount of information for the above-mentioned control and the number of mutual information transfers between indoor unit a and outdoor unit b have increased dramatically.

Furthermore, in recent years, so-called multi-type air conditioners have appeared, and it has become necessary to enrich their information transmission channels and improve the reliability of transmission signals. For example, when the amount of information between indoor and outdoor units increases, a time-sharing method of information transmission may be considered, although this is common. However, especially in the case of this air conditioner, this information transmission method has many problems. That is, conventionally, this control line was constructed of an electric conductor wire, as shown in Fig. 3, like the commercial power line e.
Moreover, since they are wired in parallel, induced noise from the commercial power line e has an adverse effect on the control line f, which has been cited as one of the factors that cause air conditioners to malfunction.

In this way, information mutual transmission means via electrical conductor lines is susceptible to external noise on the receiving side, and electrical insulation between electrical conductor lines and between electrical conductor lines and commercial power lines is a problem. In addition, it is necessary to consider that the electric conductor wire itself must be structured so as not to be subjected to electrically induced interference, and is also complicated.

On the other hand, in recent years, information transmission means using optical signals have become known, and although it is possible to apply optical signal transmission means to air conditioners, there are many problems before it can be put into practical use. For example, in the structure for transmitting and receiving optical signals, the problem can be solved by complicating the structure, but this results in problems such as increased cost and size.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a transmitting and receiving structure with a relatively simple structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment thereof.

In FIG. 1, numerals 1 and 2 are an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, respectively, each having a well-known structure. A plurality of indoor units 1 and one outdoor unit 2 are provided, and these are connected by refrigerant pipes 3 and 4. This constitutes a well-known refrigerant cycle. Here, the refrigerant pipes 3 and 4 are provided with a heat insulating material 5
The connection ends 6 and 7 are connected to piping connections 8 and 9 provided in the outdoor unit 2, respectively. Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote a transmitting optical fiber line and a receiving optical fiber line, respectively, which have a well-known structure.For connection to the outdoor unit 2, they are connected to the receiving connector 12 and the transmitting connector 14 provided on the outdoor unit 2, respectively. Connected. 15 is a drainage pipe provided in each indoor unit 1. Here, the power supply circuit system has the same configuration as the conventional one, and the commercial power line composed of electric conductor wires is connected between the outdoor unit 2 and each indoor unit 1 by transmitting optical fiber lines 11 and 12.
and refrigerant pipes 3 and 4.

Next, the optical signal transmission structure of the air conditioner having the above structure will be explained with reference to FIG. Here the first
Components that are the same as those in the figures are given the same numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a transmitting circuit provided in each indoor unit 1, which inputs a signal from, for example, an indoor temperature detector (not shown) and outputs a known control signal. Reference numeral 22 denotes a transmitting section provided in each of the indoor units 1, which is equipped with a light emitting element that converts the electrical signal from the transmitting circuit 21 into an optical signal and outputs the optical signal. Reference numeral 23 denotes a receiving section provided in each of the indoor units 1, which is equipped with a light receiving element etc. that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal, and sends control to control equipment (not shown) such as a relay provided in each indoor unit 1. It is connected to a receiving circuit 24 that outputs a signal. Reference numeral 25 denotes a main receiving section provided in the outdoor unit 2, which is equipped with a light receiving element etc. that receives the optical signal output from the transmitting section 22 of each indoor unit 1 and converts it into an electrical signal.
6, and a main receiving circuit 27 which outputs a control signal to a control device (not shown) such as a relay based on the output of the light receiving section 26. Reference numeral 28 denotes a main transmitting section provided in the outdoor unit 2, which includes a main transmitting circuit 29 which inputs signals from an outdoor temperature detector or the like (not shown) and outputs a known control signal;
The light emitting unit 30 includes a light emitting element and the like that converts a control signal into an optical signal. here,
Outgoing optical fiber line 1 from indoor unit 1
1. The optical fiber lines 12 for reception are arranged for transmission and reception, respectively, and are connected to the main reception section 25 and the main transmission section 28 of the outdoor unit 2, respectively. Therefore, the reception connector 13 and the transmission connector 14 are used for transmission from each indoor unit 1,
The receiving signal is configured to be converged.

In the above configuration, operation control commands between the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are carried out by optical signals via the transmitting and receiving optical fiber lines 11 and 12. For example, if a well-known time-division signal transmission method is used as the transmission method, it becomes possible to send and receive a large amount of information. Since this information content and control content are not the gist of the present invention, their explanation will be omitted.

Therefore, even if there are a plurality of indoor units 1, by providing one main receiving section 25 and one main transmitting section 28 in each outdoor unit 2, it is possible to control the operation between each indoor unit 1 and outdoor unit 2. In particular, the number of components (for example, light receiving elements and light emitting elements) constituting the main receiving section 25 and the main transmitting section 28 can be reduced. In addition, since mutual information transmission between the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 is based on optical signals, they are electrically isolated, and signal transmission is possible without interference between information transmission lines or external noise interference. Unlike the case of transmitting electrical signals through conductor wires, the present invention does not require a signal with special energy to be transmitted, and can be easily constructed, making inspection and maintenance work easier.

As is clear from the above embodiments, the signal transmission structure of the multi-room air conditioner according to the present invention is applicable to a multi-room air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units and one outdoor unit are connected by refrigerant piping. Since the information signals are transmitted between each indoor unit and the outdoor unit using optical signals, there is no need for signals with energy for transmission, which improves safety and eliminates the inconvenience caused by the energy. It has various advantages, such as simplifying the transmission structure and allowing stable signal transmission without interference between optical fiber lines or external noise. It is something. The above effect is particularly significant in multi-room air conditioners in which many power supply lines are concentrated in outdoor units.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the piping and wiring connections of a multi-room air conditioner equipped with a signal transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the signal transmission structure of the air conditioner. , FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, respectively, showing conventional examples. 1...Indoor unit, 2...Outdoor unit,
3, 4... Refrigerant piping, 11... Optical fiber line for reception, 12... Optical fiber line for transmission, 22...
Transmitting section (control optical signal transmitting section), 23... Receiving section (control optical signal receiving section), 25... Main receiving section (main control optical signal receiving section), 28... Main transmitting section (main control optical signal transmitting section) Department).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a multi-room air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units and one outdoor unit are connected by refrigerant piping, each of the indoor units is provided with a control light signal transmitter and a control light signal receiver, and further A main control optical signal receiving section that collectively receives optical signals from each of the control optical signal transmitting sections to the outdoor unit, and a main control optical signal that transmits control optical signals to each of the control optical signal receiving sections at once. Set up a transmitter,
Each of the control optical signal transmitting sections and the main control optical signal receiving section and each of the control optical signal receiving sections and the main control optical signal transmitting section are connected by a plurality of optical fiber lines, and
A signal transmission device for a multi-room air conditioner, in which the outdoor unit and each indoor unit are connected by a power supply line.