Airconditioning Equipment, Signal Transmission Method, and Signal Transmission Method for Air Conditioning Equipment

Abstract

When a prior-art transmission scheme is to be applied to an airconditioning equipment already installed in a building or a house, refrigerant pipes serving as communication media and an in-room unit as well as an out-room unit need to be insulated, so that steel pipes near both the ends of each refrigerant pipe have been inevitably replaced with electrical insulation devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an airconditioning equipment according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing the principle of a signal coupling circuit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2B is a sectional view showing the structure of a core.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of a coupling clamp according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where the coupling clamp according to Embodiment 1 is closed.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a practicable example of the signal coupling portion according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing the principle of a signal coupling circuit according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6B is a sectional view showing the structure of a core.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a practicable example of the signal coupling circuit according to Embodiment 2.

FIG. 8 is a view showing another practicable example of the signal coupling circuit according to Embodiment 2.

FIG. 9 is a system architecture diagram for explaining a transmission line which employs the signal coupling circuit in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the principle of a signal coupling circuit according to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the end parts of a liquid-side pipe 3 and a gas-side pipe 4.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing an impedance at a distance l from a short-circuiting terminator.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a practicable example of the signal coupling circuit according to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an airconditioning equipment according to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the details of a signal distribution circuit within an in-room unit according to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the electrostatic coupling method of a coupler according to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the inductive coupling method of a coupler according to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an electric-appliance network system which employs the airconditioning equipment according to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an airconditioning equipment according to Embodiment 5.

FIG. 20 is a view showing a practicable example of the coupling between the antenna and refrigerant pipe of an in-room unit according to Embodiment 5.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing an example of a system architecture which employs the airconditioning equipment according to Embodiment 5.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the airconditioning equipment according to Embodiment 5.

FIG. 23 is a view showing a practicable configurational example of the electrostatic coupling method of a coupler according to Embodiment 5.

FIG. 24 is a view showing a practicable configurational example of the inductive coupling method of the coupler according to Embodiment 5.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS

1 out-room unit

2 in-room unit

3 liquid-side pipe

4 gas-side pipe

5 out-room unit refrigerant circuit

6 out-room unit control circuit

7 signal coupling circuit (signal portion)

8 in-room unit refrigerant circuit

9 in-room unit control circuit

10 outer wall

11 core

11 a partial core piece

12 coupling clamp

13 connection terminal

13 a contact portion

13 b connection portion

15 heat insulator

16 control signal cable

17 control-signal coaxial cable

18 excitation portion

19 building structure

21 outer wall

22 in-room unit

23 out-room unit

24 gas-side refrigerant pipe

25 liquid-side refrigerant pipe

26 remote controller

27 in-room unit refrigerant circuit

28 in-room unit control circuit

29 signal distribution circuit

30 indoor antenna

31 out-room unit refrigerant circuit

32 out-room unit control circuit

33 coupler

34 distributor

35 coupler

36 coupling capacitor

37 induction coil

38 sensor

40 information/electric appliance

41 external control device

42 first in-room unit

43 second in-room unit

61 first remote controller second remote controller

Claims

1. An airconditioning equipment, comprising: a refrigerant pipe; an in-room unit which is connected to one end of a refrigerant pipe, and an out-room unit which is connected to the other end of the a refrigerant pipe; wherein the refrigerant pipe comprises signal coupling portions which are respectively disposed at both end parts of the refrigerant pipe, and each of which couples an AC control signal to the refrigerant pipe and exhibits a predetermined impedance with respect to an AC electric signal.

2. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the signal coupling portions includes an annular core which is formed of a magnetic material, and through which the refrigerant pipe is inserted centrally, and a connection terminal which lies in electrical contact with a metal part of the refrigerant pipe on a middle side relative to said annular core.

3. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 2, said annular core is constructed so as to be separable into a plurality of partial core pieces, and, in combining the partial core pieces; the refrigerant pipe is inserted so as to be held between said partial core pieces.

4. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 2, wherein said connection terminal includes a contact portion which is provided on one end face of said annular core and which lies in electrical contact with the metal part when the refrigerant pipe has been inserted, and a connection portion to which an electric wire for transmitting the AC control signal is connected.

5. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein the refrigerant pipe includes a gas-side pipe and a liquid-side pipe; and said signal coupling portions are disposed on both said gas-side pipe and said liquid-side pipe.

6. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein the refrigerant pipes include a gas-side pipe and a liquid-side pipe; and said signal coupling portions are disposed on either of said gas-side pipe and said liquid-side pipe.

7. An airconditioning equipment as defined in any of claim 1, wherein a center conductor of a coaxial cable for transmitting the AC control signal is connected to said each signal coupling portion, while an outer conductor of the coaxial cable is connected to earth of the in-room unit or the out-room unit.

8. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein a center conductor of a coaxial cable for transmitting the AC control signal is connected to said each signal coupling portion, while an outer conductor of the coaxial cable is connected to an electrically conductive portion which is disposed at a heat insulator surface of the refrigerant pipe.

9. An airconditioning equipment, comprising: a refrigerated pipe; an in-room unit which is connected to one end of the refrigerant pipe; and an out-room unit which is connected to the other end of the refrigerant pipe; wherein the refrigerant pipe comprises: signal coupling portions which are respectively disposed at both end parts of the refrigerant pipe, and each of which couples an AC control signal to a metal part of the refrigerant pipe at a distance λ/4 of a wavelength λ of the AC control signal from a refrigerant-pipe derivation part of the in-room unit or the out-room unit.

10. A signal transmission method for transmitting an AC control signal between both ends of a pipe, comprising forming the pipe as a transmission line which exhibits a predetermined impedance with respect to an AC electric signal by covering both end parts of the pipe with a magnetic material.

11. A signal transmission method for transmitting an AC control signal between both ends of a pipe, comprising: coupling the AC control signal to a metal part of the pipe at a distance λ/4 of a wavelength λ of the AC control signal from an end part of the pipe.

12. A signal transmission method for an airconditioning equipment, wherein an AC control signal is transmitted between an in-room unit connected to one end of a refrigerant pipe and an out-room unit connected to the other end of the refrigerant pipe, comprising: forming the frigerant pipe as a transmission line which exhibits a predetermined impedance with respect to an AC electric signal, by covering both end parts of the refrigerant pipe with a magnetic material.

13. A signal transmission method for an airconditioning equipment, wherein an AC control signal is transmitted between an in-room unit connected to one end of a refrigerant pipe and an out-room unit connected to the other end of the refrigerant pipe, comprising: coupling the AC control signal to a metal part of the refrigerant pipe at a distance λ/4 of a wavelength λ of the AC control signal from a refrigerant-pipe derivation part of the in-room unit or the out-room unit.

14. An airconditioning equipment, comprising: a refrigerant pipe; an in-room unit which is connected to one end of the refrigerant pipe; and an out-room unit which is connected to the other end of the refrigerant pipe; wherein: the in-room unit includes a first coupler which couples an electric signal to the refrigerant pipe, so as to transmit a radio wave signal generated by the coupling, to the out-room unit along a surface layer of the refrigerant pipe, and which extracts a radio wave signal transmitted from the out-room unit and then converts the radio wave signal into an electric signal; and the out-room unit includes a second coupler which couples an electric signal to the refrigerant pipe, so as to transmit a radio wave signal generated by the coupling, to the in-room unit along the surface layer of the refrigerant pipe, and which extracts a radio wave signal transmitted from the in-room unit and then converts the radio wave signal into an electric signal.

15. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second couplers includes a coupling capacitor connected to the refrigerant pipe, so as to electrostatically couple the electric signal to the refrigerant pipe through said coupling capacitor.

16. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second couplers includes an induction coil arranged along the refrigerant pipe, so as to inductively couple the electric signal to the refrigerant pipe by causing the electric signal to flow through said induction coil.

17. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 16, wherein: the in-room unit includes a transmission/reception portion which receives and transmits a signal from a remote controller, and a distributor which distributes the signal received and transmitted by said transmission/reception portion, to said first coupler; and communication signal formats of the manipulation signal and the electric signal are substantially identical.

18. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 14 wherein the out-room unit is connected to a network line; and that at least one of the in-room unit and the out-room unit is remote-manipulatable from an external control device which is connected to said network line.

19. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 14 wherein the out-room unit is connected to a network line, and an electric appliance which is connected with the in-room unit by radio or wire is remote-manipulatable from an external control device which is connected to said network line.

20. A signal transmission method wherein a signal is transmitted between a first unit connected to one end of a pipe of electrically conductive substance and a second unit connected to the other end of the pipe, comprising: coupling an electric signal from either of the first unit and the second unit to the pipe, so as to transmit a radio wave signal generated by the coupling, to the other unit along a surface layer of the pipe.

21. A signal transmission method as defined in claim 20, wherein the coupling of the electric signal to the pipe is electrostatic coupling through a coupling capacitor which is connected to the pipe.

22. A signal transmission method as defined in claim 20, wherein the coupling of the electric signal to the pipe is inductive coupling which is based on flow of the electric signal through an induction coil arranged along the pipe.

23. An airconditioning equipment, comprising: a refrigerant pipe; an in-room unit which is connected to one end of the refrigerant pipe; and an out-room unit which is connected to the other end of the refrigerant pipe; wherein the out-room unit includes a coupler which couples an electric signal to the refrigerant pipe so as to transmit a radio wave signal generated from the refrigerant pipe by the coupling, to the in-room unit through a free space, and which extracts a radio wave signal transmitted along a surface layer of the refrigerant pipe from the in-room unit and then converts the radio wave signal into an electric signal; and the in-room unit includes a radio-wave transmission/reception portion which excites a radio wave signal in the refrigerant pipe through the free space so as to transmit the excited radio-wave signal to the out-room unit along the surface layer of the refrigerant pipe, and which receives the radio wave signal radiated from the out-room unit into the free space.

24. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 23, wherein the out-room unit creates a discovery command for verifying existence of remote control means, sensor means, etc. each having a radio-wave transmission/reception function, so as to radiate the discovery command into the free space as a command radio-wave signal; and the out-room unit bestows address numbers on respective response radio-wave signals which have been transmitted as responses to the command radio-wave signal, from said remote control means, said sensor means, etc. each having the radio-wave transmission/reception function, and then sends back the address numbers.

25. An airconditioning equipment, comprising: a refrigerant pipe; and out-room unit; and a plurality of in-room units are connected to the one out-room unit through the refrigerant pipe; wherein the out-room unit includes a coupler which couples an electric signal to the refrigerant pipe so as to transmit a radio wave signal generated from the refrigerant pipe by the coupling, to the in-room units through a free space, and which extracts radio wave signals transmitted along a surface layer of the refrigerant pipe from the respective in-room units and then converts the radio wave signals into electric signals; and each of the in-room unit includes a radio-wave transmission/reception portion which excites a radio wave signal in the refrigerant pipe through the free space so as to transmit the excited radio-wave signal to the out-room unit along the surface layer of the refrigerant pipe, and which receives the radio wave signal radiated from the out-room unit into the free space.

26. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 25, wherein the out-room unit creates a discovery command for verifying existence of the in-room units and remote control means, sensor means, etc. each having a radio-wave transmission/reception function, so as to radiate the discovery command into the free space as a command radio-wave signal; and the out-room unit bestows address numbers on respective response radio-wave signals which have been transmitted as responses to the command radio-wave signal, from the in-room units and said remote control means, said sensor means, etc. each having the radio-wave transmission/reception function, and then sends back the address numbers.

27. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 26, wherein the out-room unit issues running commands individually to the respective in-room units detected by the response radio-wave signals, so as to verify if the in-room units are connected to the out-room unit itself; and the out-room unit bestows identification codes on the in-room units whose connections have been verified.

28. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 27, wherein each of the in-room units obtains its communication quality information on the basis of signal arrival levels in a case where it has received the radio wave signals transmitted from said remote control means and said sensor means each having the radio-wave transmission/reception function, and then transmits the obtained information to the out-room unit; and the out-room unit associates the in-room units, said remote control means and said sensor means on the basis of the communication quality information items transmitted from the respective in-room units, and then bestows identification codes on the in-room units, said remote control means and said sensor means whose associations have been determined.

29. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 23, wherein the radio-wave transmission/reception portion includes the refrigerant pipe; and a coupler which couples an electric signal to the refrigerant pipe so as to radiate a radio wave signal generated by the coupling, into the free space, and which extracts a radio wave signal excited in the refrigerant pipe through the free space and transmitted along the surface layer of the refrigerant pipe and then converts the radio wave signal into an electric signal.

30. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 14 wherein the refrigerant pipe is partly or wholly surrounded with a heat insulator which is made of a substance having a relative permittivity greater than that of air.

31. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 23, wherein the refrigerant pipe is partly or wholly surrounded with a heat insulator which is made of a substance having a relative permittively greater than that of air.

32. An airconditioning equipment as defined in claim 25, wherein the refrigerant pipe is partly or wholly surrounded with a heat insulator which is made of a substance having a relative permittivity greater than that of air.