Patent Application
20180347847
The present invention relates to an air conditioner.
Air conditioners in which a wireless LAN adapter is disposed between a front surface panel and an air filter are known (see JP-A No. 2015-081723).
The wireless LAN adapter built into this type of air conditioner is equipped with a power switch. To power on the wireless LAN adapter, the user must go to the trouble of opening the front surface panel of the air conditioner to operate the power switch. For this reason, the work for powering on the wireless LAN adapter is extremely cumbersome.
It is a problem of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that reduces the cumbersomeness of the work for powering on the wireless LAN adapter.
An air conditioner pertaining to a first aspect of the invention comprises a body electrical component section, a wireless LAN adapter, and a remote controller. The body electrical component section has a body control component. The wireless LAN adapter is connected to the body electrical component section. The remote controller sends a command signal to the body control component by a communication standard different from wireless LAN on the basis of a user operation. In a case where the body control component has received the command signal relating to powering the wireless LAN adapter, the body control component powers on the wireless LAN adapter.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the first aspect of the invention, the user can power on the wireless LAN adapter by operating the remote controller. Consequently, the user does not have to go to the trouble of opening the front surface panel of the air conditioner to directly operate the wireless LAN adapter. Thus, the cumbersomeness of the work for powering on the wireless LAN adapter can be reduced. Furthermore, the wireless LAN adapter does not have to be equipped with a power switch, so the configuration of the wireless LAN adapter can be simplified.
In an air conditioner pertaining to a second aspect of the invention, in a case where the body control component has received the command signal relating to initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter, the body control component sends to the wireless LAN adapter a control signal relating to the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter. The wireless LAN adapter carries out the initial setting on the basis of the control signal.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the second aspect of the invention, the user can carry out the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter by operating the remote controller. Consequently, the user does not have to go to the trouble of opening the front surface panel of the air conditioner to directly operate the wireless LAN adapter. Thus, the cumbersomeness of the work for carrying out the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter can be reduced. Furthermore, the wireless LAN adapter does not have to have an initial setting switch, so the configuration of the wireless LAN adapter can be simplified.
In an air conditioner pertaining to a third aspect of the invention, the body electrical component section further has an indicator component. The indicator component carries out indication relating to air conditioning operation, indication relating to the power of the wireless LAN adapter being on, and indication relating to the initial setting. That is, the indicator component is jointly used by the body control component and the wireless LAN adapter.
Consequently, in the air conditioner pertaining to the third aspect of the invention, the wireless LAN adapter does not have to be equipped with a separate indicator component, so the configuration of the wireless LAN adapter can be simplified.
In an air conditioner pertaining to a fourth aspect of the invention, the wireless LAN adapter is disposed adjacent to the body electrical component section.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the fourth aspect of the invention, the wireless LAN adapter is disposed adjacent to the body electrical component section, so the length of a wire harness can be kept from increasing.
In an air conditioner pertaining to a fifth aspect of the invention, the body electrical component section has a power supplying component connected to the wireless LAN adapter.
The power supplying component is disposed opposite from the wireless LAN adapter across the indicator component. The power supplying component powers on the wireless LAN adapter by supplying a power-supply voltage to the wireless LAN adapter by way of the indicator component.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the fifth aspect of the invention, the wireless LAN adapter does not obtain the power-supply voltage directly from the power supplying component but obtains the power-supply voltage through the indicator component. The indicator component is disposed in a position closer to the wireless LAN adapter than the power supplying component, so the length of the wire harness can be kept from increasing.
In an air conditioner pertaining to a sixth aspect of the invention, the wireless LAN adapter has a DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter converts the power-supply voltage supplied from the power supplying component to a power-supply voltage for the wireless LAN adapter.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the sixth aspect of the invention, the power-supply voltage needed by various circuits in the wireless LAN adapter can be obtained in the wireless LAN adapter.
An air conditioner pertaining to a seventh aspect of the invention further comprises an indoor heat exchanger and a drain pain. The drain pan catches drain water produced by the indoor heat exchanger. In a case where a side wall to which the air conditioner is attached is in back of the air conditioner, the wireless LAN adapter is disposed in front of the indoor heat exchanger and the drain pan and outside an air flow path.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the seventh aspect of the invention, the wireless LAN adapter is disposed in front of the indoor heat exchanger and the drain pan and outside the air flow path. Consequently, the wireless LAN adapter can be disposed without lowering the air flow performance.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the first aspect of the invention, the cumbersomeness of the work for powering on the wireless LAN adapter can be reduced.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the second aspect of the invention, the cumbersomeness of the work for carrying out the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter can be reduced.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the third aspect of the invention, the wireless LAN adapter does not have to be equipped with a separate indicator component, so the configuration of the wireless LAN adapter can be simplified.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the fourth aspect of the invention, the length of the wire harness can be kept from increasing.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the fifth aspect of the invention, the length of the wire harness can be kept from increasing.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the sixth aspect of the invention, the power-supply voltage needed by various circuits in the wireless LAN adapter can be obtained in the wireless LAN adapter.
In the air conditioner pertaining to the seventh aspect of the invention, the wireless LAN adapter can be disposed without lowering the air flow performance.
An embodiment of the invention will be described below. It will be noted that the following embodiment is merely a specific example and is not intended to limit the invention pertaining to the scope of the claims.
The air conditioner 100 is mainly equipped with a body casing 110, an indoor fan 120, an indoor heat exchanger 130, a drain pan 140, a body electrical component section 150, a wireless LAN adapter 160, and a streamer discharge unit 180. The air conditioner 100 is installed on a side wall WL of a room RS by attaching the back surface side of the body casing 110 to the side wall WL.
The body casing 110 is configured by a back surface plate 111, a top plate 113, a left side plate 114, a right side plate 115, and a front surface plate 116. The body casing 110 houses the indoor fan 120, the indoor heat exchanger 130, the drain pan 140, the body electrical component section 150, the wireless LAN adapter 160, the streamer discharge unit 180, etc. An air inlet 101 is formed in the upper portion of the body casing 110. An air outlet 102, through which conditioned air is blown out, is formed in the vicinity of the center of the lower portion of the body casing 110.
The indoor fan 120 is disposed in the substantially central part, in the up and down direction, of the body casing 110. The indoor fan 120 is a cross-flow fan. The indoor fan 120 is connected to a fan motor. When the indoor fan 120 is rotated by the driving of the fan motor, room air is sucked inside the body casing 110 through the air inlet 101. The air that has been sucked in travels through the indoor heat exchanger 130, is thereafter guided through a guide flow passage leading to the air outlet 102, and is finally blown out through the air outlet 102.
The indoor heat exchanger 130 is disposed so as to cover part of the indoor fan 120. More specifically, the indoor heat exchanger 130 is positioned in the vicinity of the upper portion of the indoor fan 120, that is, extending from the vicinity of the lower side of the front of the indoor fan 120 to the vicinity of the upper side of the rear of the indoor fan 120. The indoor heat exchanger 130 functions as an evaporator of refrigerant during a cooling operation and functions as a condenser of refrigerant during a heating operation.
The drain pan 140 is disposed on the lower side of the front of the indoor heat exchanger 130. The drain pan 140 catches drain water generated by the indoor heat exchanger 130.
The body electrical component section 150 is disposed in front of the indoor heat exchanger 130 and the drain pan 140. The body electrical component section 150 is disposed outside the air flow path. In the present embodiment, the body electrical component section 150 is disposed on the upper surface (reverse surface) side of the front surface grille 117.
Although this will be described in detail later, the body electrical component section 150 has an infrared receiving component 151, a power supplying component 153, and an indicator component 154. The power supplying component 153 is disposed opposite from the wireless LAN adapter 160 across the indicator component 154.
The wireless LAN adapter 160 is disposed in front of the indoor heat exchanger 130 and the drain pan 140. The wireless LAN adapter 160 is disposed outside the air flow path. In the present embodiment, the body electrical component section 150 is disposed on the upper surface side of the front surface grille 117. The wireless LAN adapter 160 is positioned adjacent to the body electrical component section 150. The wireless LAN adapter 160 is electrically connected to the body electrical component section 150 via a wire harness 170.
The streamer discharge unit 180 is disposed in front of the indoor heat exchanger 130 and the drain pan 140. The streamer discharge unit 180 is disposed outside the air flow path. In the present embodiment, the streamer discharge unit 180 is disposed on the upper surface side of the front surface grille 117. The streamer discharge unit 180 is disposed opposite from the body electrical component section 150 across the wireless LAN adapter 160. The streamer discharge unit 180 generates low-temperature plasma by means of a streamer discharge to purify air to be treated.
The remote controller 200 sends to the body electrical component section 150 command signals corresponding to user operations by a communication standard different from wireless LAN. In the present embodiment, the remote controller 200 sends the command signals by infrared. The command signals include a command signal relating to powering the wireless LAN adapter 160 and a command signal relating to initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160.
The remote controller 200 has a liquid crystal display. The user can display various menu screens and so forth on the liquid crystal display by operating the remote controller 200. Furthermore, the user can select items on the various menu screens.
The body electrical component section 150 has a body control component 152 in addition to the infrared receiving component 151, the power supplying component 153, and the indicator component 154. The body control component 152 is electrically connected to the infrared receiving component 151, the power supplying component 153, and the indicator component 154.
The infrared receiving component 151 receives the command signals sent from the remote controller 200. The infrared receiving component 151 sends the received command signals to the body control component 152.
The body control component 152 is a computer configured from an MPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The body control component 152 receives the commands signals sent from the infrared receiving component 151 and carries out various settings of the air conditioner 100 in accordance with the received command signals. In particular, in the present embodiment, when the body control component 152 receives the command signal relating to powering the wireless LAN adapter 160, the body control component 152 controls the power supplying component 153 in accordance with the received command signal.
The body control component 152 communicates with a later-described wireless control component 162 via the wire harness 170. When the body control component 152 receives the command signal relating to the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160, the body control component 152 sends to the wireless control component 162 a control signal relating to the initial setting.
The body control component 152 controls the indicator component 154 in accordance with the communication with the wireless control component 162. Furthermore, the body control component 152 controls the indicator component 154 in accordance with the communication with the remote controller 200.
The power supplying component 153 supplies a power-supply voltage to the infrared receiving component 151, the body control component 152, the indicator component 154, and the wireless LAN adapter 160. In the present embodiment, the power supplying component 153 supplies the power-supply voltage to the wireless LAN adapter 160 by way of the indicator component 154. In other words, the wireless LAN adapter 160 does not obtain the power-supply voltage directly from the power supplying component 153 but obtains the power-supply voltage from the indicator component 154.
The indicator component 154 is configured by one or more LEDs. In the present embodiment, the indicator component 154 carries out indication relating to air conditioning operation and carries out indication relating to the operation of the wireless LAN adapter 160. That is, the indicator component 154 is jointly used by the body control component 152 and the wireless LAN adapter 160. The indicator component 154 carries out, as indication relating to the operation of the wireless LAN adapter 160, indication relating to the power of the wireless LAN adapter 160 being on and indication relating to the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160, for example.
The wireless LAN adapter 160 is a network adapter for wirelessly connecting the air conditioner 100 to a LAN. The wireless LAN adapter 160 has a wireless communication component 161, a wireless control component 162, and a power receiving component 163. The wireless control component 162 is electrically connected to the wireless communication component 161 and the power receiving component 163.
The wireless communication component 161 is connected to a router 500 via a wireless LAN 700. The wireless communication component 161 communicates with a communication terminal 300 and an external server 600 via the wireless LAN 700.
The wireless control component 162 is a computer configured from an MPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. In the ROM, a program relating to the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160 and the like are stored. The wireless control component 162 receives operation commands for the air conditioner 100 sent from the communication terminal 300 or the external server 600. The wireless control component 162 communicates with the body control component 152 in accordance with the received operation commands. The wireless control component 162 receives information relating to the air conditioner 100 sent from the body control component 152. The wireless control component 162 communicates with the communication terminal 300 or the external server 600 in accordance with the received information relating to the air conditioner 100.
The wireless control component 162 receives from the body control component 152 the control signal relating to the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160. The wireless control component 162 carries out the initial setting on the basis of the received control signal. The initial setting includes setting of the connection between the wireless LAN adapter 160 and the router 500 and setting of the connection between the wireless LAN adapter 160 and the communication terminal 300.
The power receiving component 163 receives the power-supply voltage supplied from the power supplying component 153 via the indicator component 154. The power receiving component 163 includes a DC-DC converter 164. The DC-DC converter 164 converts the power-supply voltage supplied from the power supplying component 153 to generate a power-supply voltage for the wireless LAN adapter. The power receiving component 163 supplies the generated power-supply voltage to the wireless communication component 161 and the wireless control component 162.
As was already described, the wireless LAN adapter 160 jointly uses the indicator component 154 with the body control component 152, so it is not equipped with an indicator component. That is, the wireless LAN adapter 160 is not equipped with an LED. Furthermore, although this will be described in detail later, the powering on and the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160 are carried out via the remote controller 200, so the wireless LAN adapter 160 is not equipped with a power switch and an initial setting switch.
The communication terminal 300 is a communication terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile telephone, or a notebook PC. The communication terminal 300 communicates with the external server 600 via the Internet 400. The communication terminal 300 downloads an air conditioning management application from the external server 600, for example. The communication terminal 300 communicates with the wireless LAN adapter 160 via the Internet 400. The user can monitor information relating to the air conditioner 100 and operate the air conditioner 100 by utilizing the air conditioning management application. It will be noted that the communication terminal 300 can also communicate with the wireless LAN adapter 160 via the wireless LAN without involving the Internet 400. That is, the communication terminal 300 can also send operation commands for the air conditioner 100 directly to the wireless LAN adapter 160, and receive information relating to the air conditioner 100 directly from the wireless LAN adapter 160, without involving the external server 600.
The router 500 has a WAN-side interface and a LAN-side interface. The router 500 interconnects the WAN and the LAN. When the wireless LAN adapter 160 is connected to the wireless LAN, the router 500 automatically detects the wireless LAN adapter 160 and registers network information. Because of this, the wireless LAN adapter 160 can communicate with other network devices connected to the wireless LAN and network devices on the Internet 400.
The external server 600 carries out air conditioning management service of the air conditioner 100. The external server 600 appropriately communicates with the communication terminal 300 executing the air conditioning management application. For example, the external server 600 receives an operation command for the air conditioner 100 from the communication terminal 300. The external server 600 sends the received operation command to the wireless LAN adapter 160. Furthermore, the external server 600 receives information relating to the air conditioner 100 from the wireless LAN adapter 160. The external server 600 sends the information relating to the air conditioner 100 to the communication terminal 300.
The body control component 152 determines whether or not it has received a power-supply command signal (step S101). For example, the user selects a power-on button from the menu screen on the remote controller 200. Because of this, the power-supply command signal can be sent to the body control component 152.
In a case where the body control component 152 has determined that it has not received the power-supply command signal (NO in step S101), the body control component 152 stands by as is. In a case where the body control component 152 has determined that it has received the power-supply command signal (YES in step S101), the body control component 152 supplies the power-supply voltage to the wireless LAN adapter 160 (step S102). Because of this, the wireless LAN adapter 160 is powered on.
Next, the body control component 152 determines whether or not it has received an initial setting command signal (step S103). For example, the user selects an initial setting button from the menu screen on the remote controller 200. Because of this, the initial setting command signal can be sent to the body control component 152.
In a case where the body control component 152 has determined that it has not received the initial setting command signal (NO in step S103), the body control component 152 stands by as is. In a case where the body control component 152 has determined that it has received the initial setting command signal (YES in step S103), the body control component 152 sends the control signal relating to the initial setting to the wireless LAN adapter 160 (step S104) and then ends the series of processes. When the wireless LAN adapter 160 receives the control signal relating to the initial setting, it executes the program relating to the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160.
The air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment is equipped with the body control component 150, the wireless LAN adapter 160, and the remote controller 200. The body electrical component section 150 has the body control component 152. The wireless LAN adapter 160 is connected to the body electrical component section 150. The remote controller 200 sends a command signal to the body control component 152 by infrared on the basis of a user operation. In a case where the body control component 152 has received the command signal relating to powering the wireless LAN adapter 160, the body control component 152 powers on the wireless LAN adapter 160.
In the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the user can power on the wireless LAN adapter 160 by operating the remote controller 200. Consequently, the user does not have to go to the trouble of opening the front surface panel of the air conditioner 100 to directly operate the wireless LAN adapter 160. Thus, the cumbersomeness of the work for powering on the wireless LAN adapter 160 can be reduced. Furthermore, the wireless LAN adapter 160 does not have to be equipped with a power switch, so the configuration of the wireless LAN adapter 160 can be simplified.
In the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, in a case where the body control component 152 has received the command signal relating to initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160, the body control component 152 sends to the wireless LAN adapter 160 a control signal relating to the initial setting. The wireless LAN adapter 160 carries out the initial setting on the basis of the control signal.
In the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the user can carry out the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160 by operating the remote controller 200. Consequently, the user does not have to go to the trouble of opening the front surface panel of the air conditioner 100 to directly operate the wireless LAN adapter 160. Thus, the cumbersomeness of the work for doing the initial setting of the wireless LAN adapter 160 can be reduced. Furthermore, the wireless LAN adapter 160 does not have to be equipped with an initial setting switch, so the configuration of the wireless LAN adapter 160 can be simplified.
In the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the body electrical component section 150 has the indicator component 154. The indicator component 154 carries out indication relating to the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner 100 and carries out indication relating to the operation of the wireless LAN adapter 160. That is, the indicator component 154 is jointly used by the body control component 152 and the wireless LAN adapter 160. The wireless LAN adapter 160 does not have to be equipped with a separate indicator component, so the configuration of the wireless LAN adapter 160 can be simplified.
In the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the wireless LAN adapter 160 is disposed adjacent to the body electrical component section 150. Consequently, the length of the wire harness 170 can be kept from increasing.
In the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the body electrical component section 150 has the power supplying component 153 connected to the wireless LAN adapter 160. The power supplying component 153 is disposed opposite from the wireless LAN adapter 160 across the indicator component 154. The power supplying component 153 powers on the wireless LAN adapter 160 by supplying the power-supply voltage to the wireless LAN adapter 160 by way of the indicator component 154. That is, the wireless LAN adapter 160 does not obtain the power-supply voltage directly from the power supplying component 153 but obtains the power-supply voltage from the indicator component 154. The indicator component 154 is disposed in a position closer to the wireless LAN adapter 160 than the power supplying component 153, so the length of the wire harness 170 can be kept from increasing.
In the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the wireless LAN adapter 160 has the DC-DC converter 164. The DC-DC converter 164 converts the power-supply voltage supplied from the body electrical component section 150 to a power-supply voltage for the wireless LAN adapter. Because of this, the power-supply voltage needed by various circuits in the wireless LAN adapter 160 can be obtained in the wireless LAN adapter 160.
In the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the wireless LAN adapter 160 is disposed in front of the indoor heat exchanger 130 and the drain pan 140 and outside the air flow path. Consequently, the wireless LAN adapter 160 can be disposed without lowering the air flow performance.
Example modifications applicable to the embodiment of the invention will be described.
In the above description, the wireless LAN adapter 160 was disposed in front of the indoor heat exchanger 130 and the drain pan 140, but the wireless LAN adapter 160 may also be disposed in another section provided that it is outside the air flow path.
In the above description, the remote controller 200 communicated with the body control component 152 by infrared, but the remote controller 200 may also communicate with the body control component 152 by another near-field wireless communication standard. Examples thereof can include Bluetooth.
The invention has been described above using an embodiment, but the technical scope of the invention is not limited to scope described in the embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes or improvements can be made to the embodiment. It will be apparent from the scope of the claims that embodiments to which such changes or improvements have been made can also be included in the technical scope of the invention.
It should be noted that the execution order of processes such as operations, sequences, steps, and stages in devices, programs, and methods described in the scope of the claims, the specification, and the drawings can be realized in an arbitrary order provided that expressions such as “before” and “preceding” are not clearly indicated and it is not the case that the output of a previous process is used in a subsequent process. Even if an operational flow in the scope of the claims, the specification, and the drawings has been described using expressions such as “first” and “next” as appropriate, it does not mean that the operational flow must be implemented in this order.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-215198 | Oct 2015 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2016/081935 | 10/27/2016 | WO | 00 |
