The present disclosure relates to a control device, and an air conditioner including the control device.
An air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit each of which typically has a control board equipped with a microcomputer (see PATENT LITERATURE 1 or the like). The microcomputers on the two control boards are connected via a transmission line, so as to communicate with each other. Along with advanced functionality of air conditioners in recent years, a single outdoor unit may be provided with a plurality of control boards.
Provision of the plurality of control boards needs a power source circuit for delivery of DC voltage necessary on each of the boards from an external commercial AC power source. This increases the total number of components necessary for the power source circuit.
In view of this, it is an object of the present disclosure to reduce the number of components even in a case where a single apparatus is equipped with a plurality of control boards.
(1) The present disclosure provides a control device including: a first control board connected with an AC power source and equipped with a first control unit; and a second control board provided separately and different from the first control board and equipped with a second control unit; in which the first control board includes a noise filter, an AC-DC converter configured to generate DC voltage from AC voltage, and DC output wiring configured to allow the DC voltage to be used in the board and also supply the DC voltage to outside the board, and the second control board is supplied with the DC voltage from the DC output wiring.
In the control device thus configured, the second control board needs neither a noise filter nor an AC-DC converter, so as to achieve reduction in the number of components relevant to a power source circuit. Accordingly, the number of components can be reduced even in a case where a single apparatus is equipped with a plurality of control boards.
(2) In the control device according to (1) described above, the first control board and the second control board are preferably accommodated in a common case.
In this case, it is possible to inhibit noise generated on a communication circuit configured to execute communication between the first control unit and the second control unit.
(3) In the control device according to (1) or (2) described above, for example, the second control board includes a communication circuit configured to execute communication between the first control unit and the second control unit by means of a current signal, and the communication circuit includes an input unit configured to provide an input signal from the first control board to the second control unit, an output unit connected in series to the input unit and configured to output an output signal from the second control unit to the first control board, and a bypass circuit provided in parallel with the output unit and including a first switch, and the second control unit closes the first switch when coming into a sleep mode and opens the first switch when cancelling the sleep mode.
In this case, the bypass circuit is formed to keep the communication circuit by means of a current signal even in a case where there is another control board provided for an additional function and configured similarly to the second control board.
(4) In the control device according to (3) described above, the first switch is a semiconductor switch or the like, and resistance is connected in series on a positive potential side from a control terminal.
This case enables inhibition of control current flowing to the semiconductor switch.
(5) In the control device according to (3) or (4) described above, when the first switch is closed, electric resistance is less than electric resistance of the output unit.
Electric current can reliably flow to the bypass circuit in this case.
(6) In the control device according to any one of (1) to (5) described above, the second control unit exemplarily controls a function of ventilation, humidification, or washing.
Such a function can be achieved by the second control unit independently from the first control unit.
(7) In the control device according to any one of (1) to (6) described above, optionally, the second control board includes a switching power source to be supplied with the DC voltage, and the switching power source has an output side provided with a second switch.
When the second control unit comes into the sleep mode, the second control board opens the second switch so as to inhibit power consumption.
(8) An air conditioner includes the control device according to any one of (1) to (7) described above.
Description will be made hereinafter to an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings.
The indoor unit 102 includes a heat exchanger 113, an expansion valve 114, and a fan 115, which are connected as depicted. The outdoor unit 101 and the indoor unit 102 are connected to each other via a liquid refrigerant tube 103L and a gas refrigerant tube 103G.
The ventilating-humidifying unit 101b includes an intake-exhaust fan 120, a heater 121, a humidifying rotor 122, and an adsorption fan 123. The ventilating-humidifying unit 101b is configured to discharge outdoors indoor air introduced into the indoor unit 102, and add moisture to fresh outdoor air and send indoors the air thus humidified. In winter, the ventilating-humidifying unit 101b is configured to introduce indoors air heated with use of the heater 121. The ventilating-humidifying unit 101b is connected with the indoor unit 102 via the air pipe 104.
The body unit 101a of the outdoor unit 101 operates in accordance with an own basic microcomputer to be described later. The ventilating-humidifying unit 101b operates in accordance with an own functional microcomputer to be described later.
The basic control board 1 is connected with an external AC power source 3. The basic control board 1 is provided thereon with a noise filter 11, an AC-DC converter 14 including a rectifier circuit 12 and a smoothing capacitor 13, a terminal block 15 for external power supply, a switching power source 16, a capacitor 17, a basic microcomputer (first control unit) 18, and an interface circuit 19, which are connected as depicted.
The noise filter 11 inhibits noise leakage from the basic control board 1 to the AC power source 3. The AC-DC converter 14 rectifies by voltage doubling and smooths AC voltage (e.g. 100 V) to obtain DC voltage (about 280 V). Rectification by voltage doubling is merely exemplary, and the AC-DC converter has only to be a circuit configured to rectify and smooth AC voltage. This DC voltage is stepped down to predetermined voltage by the switching power source 16, for supply of stable control voltage to the basic microcomputer 18. The basic microcomputer 18 achieves basic operation as the air conditioner 100 in accordance with software. The software is stored in a memory (not depicted) equipped in the basic microcomputer 18.
The functional control board 2 is connected with the basic control board 1 via DC output wiring 4. The DC output wiring 4 supplies the functional control board 2 with DC voltage. The functional control board 2 is provided thereon with a switching power source 26, a capacitor 27, a functional microcomputer (second control unit) 28, and an interface circuit 29, which are connected as depicted.
The DC voltage supplied from the DC output wiring 4 is stepped down to predetermined voltage by the switching power source 26, for supply of stable control voltage to the functional microcomputer 28. The functional microcomputer 28 achieves additional functional operation as the air conditioner 100 in accordance with software. The software is stored in a memory (not depicted) equipped in the functional microcomputer 28. The basic microcomputer 18 and the functional microcomputer 28 are connected to each other via the interface circuit 19, a transmission line 5, and the interface circuit 29, to execute communication between microcomputers. The functional control board 2 is configured to control a function of ventilation, humidification, washing, or the like, independently from the basic control board 1.
The control device 50 depicted in
The basic control board 1 and the functional control board 2 are both accommodated in the common case 101c (
Description is made next with focus on communication between microcomputers.
The communication circuit 6 is provided as a closed circuit configured to cause a current signal to flow in a time dividing manner. The communication circuit 6 constituted by the interface circuits 19, 29, and 29x is configured to cause electric current to flow in a looped manner. The microcomputers each have operation states including a normal mode of operating at high speed and a sleep mode of operating at low speed for functional inhibition and power saving.
When a current signal flows to the photocoupler 291, an input signal ACS_INPUT is provided to the functional microcomputer 28 via the reception circuit 292. The functional microcomputer 28 outputs an output signal ACS_OUTPUT that turns ON or OFF the photocoupler 293 via the transmission circuit 294.
The bypass circuit 295 is constituted by a drive circuit 295a, a photocoupler 295b, resistance 295c, and a transistor 295d, which are connected as depicted. Examples of the resistance 295c has high resistance of about 24 kΩ. An ACS_THRU signal has an H level when the functional microcomputer 28 is in the normal mode (operating at high speed), and has an L level when the functional microcomputer 28 is in the sleep mode (operating at low speed).
When the ACS_THRU signal has the H level, the drive circuit 295a turns ON the photocoupler 295b. In this case, the transistor 295d is in an OFF state because the transistor 295d has no voltage generated between a base and an emitter, and the communication circuit 6 (
When the ACS_THRU signal has the L level, the drive circuit 295a turns OFF the photocoupler 295b. In this case, the transistor 295d is in an ON state because the transistor 295d has voltage applied between the base and the emitter via the resistance 295c. The photocoupler 293 is bypassed by the transistor 295d connected in parallel, and the photocoupler 293 includes a phototransistor 293d being short-circuited. The functional microcomputer 28 has an output port (a port for ACS_OUTPUT) thus invalidated.
The switching power source 26 supplies power to a device other than the functional microcomputer 28, and exemplarily supplies voltage of 5 V to a load 31a via a switch 30a. Similarly, the switching power source 26 supplies voltage of 14 V to a load 31b via a switch 30b, and supplies voltage of 15 V to a load 31c via a switch 30c. The functional microcomputer 28 is configured to control to turn ON or OFF the switches 30a, 30b, and 30c with use of an output port 281.
In an initial state, communication is executed between the basic microcomputer 18 and the functional microcomputer 28. ACS_THRU has the H level, and the port for ACS_OUTPUT is valid. The load off port also has the H level, and the switches 30a, 30b, and 30c are closed. The microcomputer operation mode is the normal mode (high speed).
At time t1, a signal inquiring about authorization for switching into the sleep mode is transmitted from the functional microcomputer 28 to the basic microcomputer 18. At time t2, the basic microcomputer 18 transmits, to the functional microcomputer 28, a signal authorizing to switch into the sleep mode. Communication between microcomputers is stopped hereafter. At time t3, ACS_THRU changes to the L level. At time t4, the transistor 295d (
In this manner, when the function of the functional control board 2 is not in use, the transistor 295d (
The transistor 295d in
The basic microcomputer 18 transmits a signal for cancellation of the sleep mode. At the time t1, the functional microcomputer 28 having received the signal for cancellation of the sleep mode changes the microcomputer operation mode from the sleep mode into the normal mode. At the time t2, the load off port changes to the H level, and power supply to the loads 31a, 31b, and 31c is enabled. At the time t3, the port state of the functional microcomputer 28 becomes valid. At the time t4, ACS_THRU reaches the H level. At the time t5, the functional microcomputer 28 notifies the basic microcomputer 18 of return into the normal mode, to enable communication between microcomputers hereafter.
Exemplifies below are variations of the interface circuit on the functional control board.
At least part of the interface circuits according to the above examples may be appropriately combined with each other. The interface circuit can have other variations. In short, the interface circuit has only to constitute a bypass circuit configured to validate and invalidate ACS_OUTPUT for the functional microcomputer.
The above disclosure can be expressed generally as follows.
This control device 50 includes the first control board (basic control board 1) connected with the AC power source 3 and equipped with the first control unit (basic microcomputer 18), and the second control board (functional control board 2) provided separately and different from the first control board 1 and equipped with the second control unit (functional microcomputer 28). The first control board includes the noise filter 11, the AC-DC converter 14 configured to generate DC voltage from supplied AC voltage, and the DC output wiring 4 configured to allow the DC voltage to be used in the board and also supply the DC voltage to outside the board. The second control board is supplied with the DC voltage from the DC output wiring 4.
In an exemplary case where the control device 50 thus configured includes the first control board for achievement of the basic functions of the device and the second control board for achievement of the additional functions of the device, the second control board can achieve various additional functions. The second control board needs neither a noise filter nor an AC-DC converter, so as to achieve reduction in the number of components relevant to a power source circuit. Accordingly, the number of components can be reduced even in a case where a single apparatus is equipped with a plurality of control boards.
The first control board and the second control board are preferably accommodated in the common case.
The first control board and the second control board accommodated in the common case are disposed relatively close to each other, so as to inhibit noise generated on the communication circuit configured to execute communication between the first control unit and the second control unit. The case mentioned herein corresponds to an outer package portion having maximum size of the device, and does not matter whether or not to have an internal partition.
The second control board includes the communication circuit configured to execute communication between the first control unit and the second control unit by means of a current signal. The communication circuit includes the input unit configured to provide an input signal from the first control board to the second control unit, the output unit connected in series to the input unit and configured to output an output signal from the second control unit to the first control board, and the bypass circuit 295 provided in parallel with the output unit and including the first switch (295d, 296). The second control unit closes the first switch when coming into the sleep mode, and opens the first switch when cancelling the sleep mode.
In this case, when the function of the second control board is not in use, the first switch is closed to form the bypass circuit configured to invalidate the output unit of the second control unit in the sleep mode. The bypass circuit is formed to keep the communication circuit by means of a current signal even in a case where there is another control board provided for an additional function and configured similarly to the second control board.
The first switch is the semiconductor switch, and the resistance is connected in series on the positive potential side from a control terminal. This case enables inhibition of control current flowing to the semiconductor switch.
The first switch being closed has electric resistance preferably less than electric resistance of the output unit. In this case, it is possible to inhibit electric current from flowing toward the output unit and cause electric current to reliably flow to the bypass circuit.
The second control unit (functional microcomputer 28) is configured to control the function of ventilation, humidification, or washing. Such a function can be achieved by the second control unit independently from the first control unit. The second control unit is not limitedly configured to achieve the above function, but may alternatively be configured to control a plurality of indoor units provided in multiple connection. The second control unit may be configured to control a hot water supply apparatus connected to the outdoor unit. When the outdoor unit is equipped with two or more fans, the second control unit may be configured to control a second and subsequent fans.
The second control board includes the switching power source 26 to be supplied with DC voltage, and the switching power source 26 has an output side provided with the second switch (30a, 30b, 30c).
When the second control unit comes into the sleep mode, the second control board opens the second switch so as to inhibit unnecessary power consumption.
The air conditioner includes the control device according to any one described above.
The embodiment has been described above. Various modifications to modes and details should be available without departing from the object and the scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021-172869 | Oct 2021 | JP | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2022/039239 | Oct 2022 | WO |
Child | 18584042 | US |