Indoor system and indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus

An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a main body including a main board that is provided with a control terminal compatible with a plurality of expansion units. The main board is connected to an expansion board provided with at least one expansion terminal that is a connection terminal compliant with the same standard as the control terminal, and is connected to at least one of the plurality of expansion units via the expansion board.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. national stage application of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/006776, filed on Feb. 23, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an indoor system and an indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus that adjusts an air environment of an air-conditioned space.

BACKGROUND

Indoor units of existing air-conditioning apparatuses have a basic function of sucking air through an air inlet to cause the air to pass through a heat exchanger and blowing through an air outlet, the air that has passed through the heat exchanger. Furthermore, indoor units of some recent air-conditioning apparatuses have additional functions along with the basic function. In an indoor unit described in Patent Literature 1, a main board and a plurality of drive boards are provided in a housing of a main body. On the main board, electrical components for the basic function are mounted, and on the drive boards, electrical components for the additional functions are mounted.

PATENT LITERATURE

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-251545

In the indoor unit described in Patent Literature 1, the drive boards are connected to the main board by respective signal lines. The main board thus needs to have a plurality of connection terminals that allow the drive boards to be connected to the main board. Therefore, the main board is made larger. In the case where the indoor unit of Patent Literature 1 is configured such that the additional functions are controlled by a microcomputer on the main board, the main board needs to have a plurality of connection terminals for use in giving instructions to the respective drive boards. Inevitably, the main board is made larger.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is applied to solve the above problem, and relates to an indoor system and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus in which a main board is prevented from being made larger.

An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main body including a main board that is provided with a control terminal compatible with a plurality of expansion units. The main board is connected to an expansion board provided with at least one expansion terminal that is a connection terminal compliant with the same standard as the control terminal, and is connected to at least one of the plurality of expansion units via the expansion board.

An indoor system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes the above indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus and a board unit including a board case. The expansion board is housed in the board case.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the main board can be connected to the expansion units via the expansion board. The main board does not need to have a plurality of connection terminals for connection to the respective expansion units. Therefore, the main board is prevented from being made larger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view of an appearance of an indoor system and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.FIG. 2is a bottom view of the indoor system as illustrated inFIG. 1, in which components are connected to each other, as viewed from a decorative-panel side.FIG. 3is a schematic sectional view taken along line Z-Z inFIG. 2. An overall configuration of the indoor system and the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3.

An indoor system100according to Embodiment 1 includes an indoor unit10of an air-conditioning apparatus, an expansion unit40, and an expansion unit50. That is, the indoor system100and an outdoor unit including a compressor (not illustrated) form the air-conditioning apparatus. In Embodiment 1, the indoor unit10is installed in such a manner as to be concealed in a ceiling in an air-conditioned space such as the ceiling of a room, or to be suspended from the ceiling in the air-conditioned space. The indoor unit10includes a main body20and a decorative panel30.

The decorative panel30has an air inlet1and air outlets2in its lower surface. The air inlet1is located in central part of the lower surface of the decorative panel30. At the air inlet1, an air inlet grille31is provided. At the air inlet grille31, a filter31athat collects dust floating in air is provided.FIG. 2illustrates the indoor system, with the air inlet grille31removed.

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate by way of example a configuration in which the decorative panel30has four air outlets2. The four air outlets2are arranged on four sides of the air inlet1in such a manner as to surround the air inlet1. To be more specific, the filter31ais located at center part of an area surrounded by the four air outlets. The air outlets2are each rectangular and arranged such that long sides of the air outlets extend along respective sides of the lower surface of the decorative panel30.

The main body20includes a casing25, which is a hollow cuboid box and serves as a shell. In the casing25of the main body20, a fan26is provided. The fan26is a centrifugal fan such as a turbo fan. The fan26is located to face the air inlet1. The fan26causes air in the air-conditioned space to be sucked into the casing25through the air inlet1and to be blown through the air outlets2. The main body20further includes a bell mouth28that guides the air sucked through the air inlet1to the fan26, and that is located under the fan26.

The main body20further includes a heat exchanger27, which is a fin-and-tube heat exchanger, for example. The heat exchanger27is connected to the above compressor by a refrigerant pipe, whereby a refrigerant circuit is provided. In the casing25, the heat exchanger27is provided in such a manner as to surround the fan26. That is, the heat exchanger27is located outward of the air inlet1and inward of the air outlets2as viewed in plan view. The heat exchanger27causes heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant that flows in the heat exchanger27and air that is sucked into the casing25by the fan26. Under the heat exchanger27, a drain pan is provided to receive condensation water that is generated from a surface of the heat exchanger27.

In the indoor system100, an air inlet passage and air outlet passages are provided. Through the air inlet, the air inlet1communicates with the heat exchanger27, and through the air outlet passages, the heat exchanger27communicates with the air outlets2. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the indoor system100includes the main body20, the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, and the decorative panel30, which are joined together. The air inlet passage extends from the air inlet1in the decorative panel30to the main body20through the expansion unit50and the expansion unit40. The air outlet passage extends from the heat exchanger27in the main body20to the air outlets2in the decorative panel30through the expansion units40and50.

At the air outlets2in the decorative panel30, respective vertical air-flow-direction adjusting vanes36are provided swingable to adjust in a vertical direction, the angle of air that is blown from the air outlet2. Each of the vertical air-flow-direction adjusting vanes36is a plate-like element that extends in a longitudinal direction of an associated one of the air outlet passages. Each vertical air-flow-direction adjusting vane36is driven by a vertical drive motor37, which will be described later, and is swung about an axis of rotation that extends in the longitudinal direction of the associated air outlet passage.

At the decorative panel30in Embodiment 1, a Move-Eye sensor71including an infrared sensor is provided. The infrared sensor detects radiation temperatures in the air-conditioned space. In the Move-Eye sensor71, the infrared sensor can be rotated in a circumferential direction by a drive unit (not illustrated). The drive unit for the Move-Eye sensor71is controlled by a controller24, which will be described later. When making one full turn in the circumferential direction, the infrared sensor of the Move-Eye sensor71detects radiation temperatures in the entire air-conditioned space. The main body20in Embodiment 1 further includes a temperature sensor72(seeFIG. 8) that detects the temperature of air that is sucked into the casing25through the air inlet1and a humidity sensor73(seeFIG. 8) that detects the humidity of the air that is sucked into the casing25through the air inlet1.

In Embodiment 1, a blowing unit is provided as an example of the expansion unit40. The blowing unit is located between the casing25of the main body20and the decorative panel30. The expansion unit40includes four lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46, and the number of the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46is equal to that of the air outlets2.

The four lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46are provided in the respective air outlet passages in the expansion unit40such that the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46are swingable and associated with respective air outlets, that is, the four air outlets2. Each of the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46adjusts in a lateral direction, the angle of air that is blown from the air outlet2. Each lateral air flow direction adjusting member46includes a plurality of plate-like vanes arranged at regular intervals and coupled by a coupling member. In the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting member46, when a driving force from a lateral driving motor47, which will be described later, is transmitted to the coupling member, the plate-like vanes are reciprocated in the lateral direction.

In Embodiment 1, a lifting unit that is attached to the decorative panel30and automatically moves the air inlet grille31up and down is provided as an example of the expansion unit50. The expansion unit50will be described in detail later.

FIG. 4is a configuration diagram indicating a connection relationship in the indoor system as illustrated inFIG. 1.FIG. 5is a configuration diagram of an example of the indoor system in which an expansion unit is attached to the indoor unit as illustrated inFIG. 1.FIG. 6is a configuration diagram of an example of the indoor system in which another expansion unit is attached to the indoor unit as illustrated inFIG. 1.FIG. 7is a configuration diagram indicating a connection relationship in the indoor unit as illustrated inFIG. 1.

As illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 6, the main body20can be directly or indirectly connected to various expansion units. In Embodiment 1, the expansion unit40, which is the blowing unit, and the expansion unit50, which is the lifting unit, are illustrated as examples of the expansion units that are connected to the main body20.

Therefore, four connection patterns in the indoor unit100are illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 7.FIG. 4is associated with the configuration as illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3.FIG. 7illustrates the case where neither the expansion unit40nor the expansion unit50is connected to the main body20. The decorative panel30is connected as an essential component of the indoor unit10, to the main body20.

Outlines of components and a connection relationship between boards, etc., will be described with reference toFIG. 4. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the main body20includes a main board21that controls the indoor system100in a centralized manner. The main board21includes a power supply circuit22, a control terminal23a, a drive terminal23b, and the controller24. The control terminal23aand the drive terminal23bare included in a terminal unit23.

The outdoor unit, which is included together with the indoor unit10in the air-conditioning apparatus, includes an outdoor control unit that controls various actuators in the outdoor unit. The controller24transmits a control signal to and receives a control signal from the outdoor control unit. That is, the air-conditioning apparatus is controlled by the controller24and the outdoor control unit that operates in cooperation with each other. The control terminal23ais a connection terminal compatible with the expansion unit40and the expansion unit50. That is, the expansion units40and50are devices compliant with a standard of the control terminal23a.

The power supply circuit22is a direct current (DC) power supply circuit that is connected to, for example, a commercial power source, and converts an alternating current power supply supplied from the commercial power source to a DC power supply. The power supply circuit22supplies power to an expansion unit connected to the main board21. To be more specific, the power supply circuit22generates not only power required to drive the main body20and the decorative panel30, but power required to drive the expansion unit40and the expansion unit50. In Embodiment 1, power generated in the power supply circuit22is supplied to an expansion board80in the expansion unit40and a standard board51in the expansion unit50.

The expansion unit40includes the expansion board80provided with at least one expansion terminal83that is a connection terminal compliant with the same standard as the control terminal23a. That is, the expansion units40and50are also compliant with the standard of the expansion terminal83. The expansion board80as illustrated inFIG. 4is provided with one expansion terminal83. Furthermore, the expansion board80includes a drive processing unit44and an input terminal45. The drive processing unit44drives the lateral driving motor47in response to an operation instruction from an operation instruction unit24b, thereby operating the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46.

Furthermore, the expansion board80has a relay function of transferring an operation instruction from the controller24to an expansion unit. To be more specific, the drive processing unit44has a function of determining whether the operation instruction from the controller24is an operation instruction for the expansion unit40or an operation instruction for the expansion unit50, and transferring the operation instruction for the expansion unit50to the expansion unit50.

The expansion unit50includes the standard board51that includes a drive processing unit54and an input terminal55, and that fulfills a standard function of the expansion unit50. In Embodiment 1, the standard function of the expansion unit50is a function of moving the air inlet grille31up and down. Furthermore, the expansion unit50includes a lifting mechanism56, which is driven by the drive processing unit54.

The lifting mechanism56includes wires, spools, and lifting drive motors, which are not illustrated. The wires are connected to, for example, the air inlet grille31at respective positions, the spools are wound with the wires, and the lifting drive motors rotate the spools. The lifting drive motors operate to unwind the wires wound on the spools or wind the wires around the spools. The drive processing unit54drives the lifting mechanism56in response to an operation instruction from the operation instruction unit24b, thereby moving the air inlet grille31up or down.

In the case illustrated inFIG. 4, the control terminal23ais connected to the input terminal45by a wiring line11, and the expansion terminal83is connected to the input terminal55by a wiring line12, and the drive terminal23bis connected to the vertical drive motor37by a wiring line13. The main board21is connected to the expansion unit50via the expansion board80in the above manner.

That is, the main board21is connected to the expansion unit50via the expansion board80by the following connections: the wiring line11that extends from the expansion board80is connected to the control terminal23a; and the wiring line12that extends from the expansion unit50including no expansion board80is connected to the expansion terminal83. In this case, the power supply circuit22supplies power to the expansion unit40through the wiring line11, and supplies power to the expansion unit50through the wiring lines11and12.

The controller24has a function of detecting where or not the main body20is connected to each of the expansion unit40and the expansion unit50. As illustrated inFIG. 4, in the case where the wiring line11is connected to the control terminal23aand the wiring line12is connected to the expansion terminal83, the controller24transmits an operation instruction for the expansion unit40and an operation instruction for the expansion unit50to the expansion unit40including the expansion board80.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, in the case where only the expansion unit40is connected to the main body20, that is, in the case where only the expansion unit40including the expansion board80is connected to the main board21, the controller24transmits an operation instruction to the expansion unit40only. In this case, the power supply circuit22supplies power to the expansion unit40through the wiring line11.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, in the case where only the expansion unit50is connected to the main body20, that is, in the case where the wiring line12extending from the expansion unit50including no expansion board80is connected to the control terminal23a, the controller24directly transmits an operation instruction to the expansion unit50. Unlike the case as illustrated inFIG. 4, in the case as illustrated inFIG. 6, the wiring line12extending from the input terminal55of the expansion unit50is directly connected to the control terminal23a. Therefore, the power supply circuit22supplies power to the expansion unit50through the wiring line12.

In the case of adopting each of the configurations as illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 6, since the number of terminals provided at the main board21can be reduced to the minimum, the main board21is not made larger. Also, in the case where the indoor unit10is used with no expansion unit as illustrated inFIG. 7, since the space in the main board21is increased only by space for the control terminal23a, that is, for a single control terminal, it is possible to reduce the degree to which the size of the main board21is increased.

FIG. 8is a block diagram of a functional configuration of the indoor system as illustrated inFIG. 1. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the controller24includes a connection determining unit24a, the operation instruction unit24b, a communication unit24c, an arithmetic unit24d, and a storage unit24e. The connection determining unit24amonitors the terminal unit23to detect whether or not the main body20is connected to each of a plurality of expansion units, that is, a connection state of the main body20.

In the configuration as illustrated inFIG. 8, the connection determining unit24adetects whether or not the main body20is connected to each of the expansion unit40and the expansion unit50. In Embodiment 1, at turn-on, that is, when the indoor system100is turned on, the connection determining unit24adetermines which of the four connection states as illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 7is set as the connection state of the main body20. To be more specific, the connection determining unit24adetermines, at turn-on, a connection state between the main body20and each of the expansion unit40and the expansion unit50. The connection determining unit24aoutputs connection-state data indicating the result of the above determination to the operation instruction unit24b.

The communication unit24ccommunicates with a control device170, and transfers an operation signal transmitted from the control device170to the operation instruction unit24b. It should be noted that the control device170is, for example, a remote control unit for use in operating and managing the indoor system100or a central controller that manages the air-conditioning apparatus including the indoor system100in a centralized manner. The control device170is connected to the communication unit24cby a wiring line or wirelessly. Using the control device170, a user can set operating conditions of the air-conditioning apparatus, and change settings of the air-conditioning apparatus. More specifically, the control device170receives an instruction regarding an operation of setting or changing an air flow direction, an air flow rate, a target temperature, etc., and transmits an operation signal indicating details of the operation to the communication unit24c.

The arithmetic unit24dacquires detection data from various sensors, for example, the Move-Eye sensor71, the temperature sensor72, and the humidity sensor73, and performs arithmetic operations for air-conditioning control on the basis of the acquired detection data. For example, the arithmetic unit24dacquires, as detection data from the Move-Eye sensor71, information indicating radiation temperatures in the air-conditioned space, and performs, for example, processing of detecting, from the entire air-conditioned space, an area having a radiation temperature higher than a reference temperature, thereby detecting the position of a human body in the air-conditioned space. The arithmetic unit24doutputs position information indicating the detected position of the human body to the operation instruction unit24b.

Furthermore, the arithmetic unit24dacquires, as detection data from the temperature sensor72, information indicating the temperature of air, compares the temperature indicated by the detection data with a reference temperature set in advance, and outputs temperature comparison information indicating the result of the above comparison to the operation instruction unit24b. The reference temperature is, for example, a target temperature set by using, for example, the control device170. The set value can be changed as appropriate. The arithmetic unit24dacquires, as detection data from the humidity sensor73, information indicating the humidity of the air, compares the humidity indicated by the detection data with a reference humidity set in advance, and outputs humidity comparison information indicating the result of the comparison to the operation instruction unit24b. The reference humidity is set in advance in consideration of, for example, comfort. The set value can be changed as appropriate.

The operation instruction unit24bdetermines the system configuration on the basis of the connection-state data, which is output from the connection determining unit24aat turn-on. Then, the operation instruction unit24bcontrols, based on the determined system configuration, at least one of the fan26, the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, and the vertical drive motor37on the basis of basic settings. It should be noted that the basic settings are settings at the time when, for example, the indoor system100was last turned off. The basic settings are not limited to the latest settings, and may be default settings at shipment, for example.

In the system configuration as illustrated inFIG. 4, the operation instruction unit24bcontrols the fan26, the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, and the vertical drive motor37. In the system configuration as illustrated inFIG. 5, the operation instruction unit24bcontrols the fan26, the expansion unit40, and the vertical drive motor37. In the system configuration as illustrated inFIG. 6, the operation instruction unit24bcontrols the fan26, the expansion unit50, and the vertical drive motor37. In the system configuration as illustrated inFIG. 7, the operation instruction unit24bcontrols the fan26and the vertical drive motor37.

The operation instruction unit24bcontrols the fan26, the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, and the vertical drive motor37on the basis of an operation signal output from the communication unit24c, or on the basis of position information, temperature comparison information, or humidity comparison information that is output from the arithmetic unit24d. Upon receipt of detection data indicating the position of the human body from the Move-Eye sensor71, the operation instruction unit24boperates at least one of the fan26, the vertical air-flow-direction adjusting vanes36, and the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46such that, for example, air blown from the air outlets2is made to flow toward a region covering the position of the human body.

More specifically, the operation instruction unit24btransmits a control signal to the vertical drive motor37to cause the vertical drive motor37to be driven, thereby operating the vertical air-flow-direction adjusting vanes36. To operate the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46, the operation instruction unit24btransmits, as an operation instruction, a lateral drive signal for driving the lateral driving motor47to the drive processing unit44on the expansion board80via the control terminal23a. The drive processing unit44drives the lateral driving motor47in response to the lateral drive signal from the operation instruction unit24b, thereby operating the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46.

Upon receipt of an operation signal indicating an instruction for moving the air inlet grille31down or up, from the control device170, the operation instruction unit24btransmits, as an operation instruction, a lifting drive signal for driving the lifting mechanism56to the drive processing unit44on the expansion board80via the control terminal23a. The drive processing unit44transmits the lifting drive signal transmitted from the operation instruction unit24b, to the drive processing unit54via the expansion terminal83. The drive processing unit54drives the lifting mechanism56in response to the lifting drive signal transmitted from the operation instruction unit24bvia the expansion board80, thereby moving the air inlet grille31down or up.

The storage unit24estores, for example, data indicating the reference temperature and the reference humidity and an operation program for the controller24. Furthermore, the operation instruction unit24bstores connection-state data indicating the result of determination by the connection determining unit24a, into the storage unit24e. The connection-state data may be stored into the storage unit24eby the connection determining unit24a. In this case, the operation instruction unit24breads the connection-state data from the storage unit24eto determine a system configuration.

Although it is described above by way of example that two expansion units are provided in the indoor unit10, it is not limitative. Three or more expansion units may be provided into the indoor unit10.

FIG. 9is a configuration diagram of an example of the indoor system in which a further expansion unit is attached to the indoor unit as illustrated inFIG. 4.FIG. 9illustrates by way of example a direct-contact humidifier as an expansion unit60attached to the indoor unit10. The expansion unit60includes a standard board61and a humidifying mechanism66. The standard board61includes a drive processing unit64and an input terminal65. The drive processing unit64controls an operation of the humidifying mechanism66.

In the above example, it is assumed that the expansion unit60is not compliant with the standard of the control terminal23aand the expansion terminal83. The main board21includes a control terminal23c, which is included in the terminal unit23. A wiring line14extending from the input terminal65is connected to the control terminal23c. The power supply circuit22further generates power required to drive the expansion unit60and supplies the power to the expansion unit60through the wiring line14.

To operate the expansion unit60, the operation instruction unit24btransmits, as an operation instruction, a humidification drive signal for driving the humidifying mechanism66to the drive processing unit64via the control terminal23c. In response to the humidification drive signal from the operation instruction unit24b, the drive processing unit64drives the humidifying mechanism66, thereby adjusting the humidity of air to be blown into the room.

The controller24, the drive processing unit44, and the drive processing unit54are hardware such as circuit devices that fulfill the functions described above, or an arithmetic device such as a microcomputer, and software that fulfills the above functions in cooperation with the arithmetic device. The storage unit24eis, for example, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM) such as a flash memory, or a hard disk drive (HDD).

FIG. 10is a flowchart of an operation of the indoor system at turn-on that varies in accordance with which of connection states as illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 6is applied. The flow of the operation that is performed when driving of at least one expansion unit is controlled on the premise that the at least one expansion unit is connected will be described.

When the indoor system100is turned on, the connection determining unit24adetermines a connection state between the main body20and each of the expansion unit40and the expansion unit50, and outputs connection-state data indicating the result of the above determination to the operation instruction unit24b(step S101).

Upon of receipt of connection-state data indicating that only the expansion unit40is connected (seeFIG. 5) from the connection determining unit24a(D1in step S101), the operation instruction unit24bgenerates, based on the basic settings, an operation instruction to operate the expansion unit40. Then, the operation instruction unit24btransmits the generated operation instruction to the drive processing unit44in the expansion unit40(step S102). In response to the operation instruction from the operation instruction unit24b, the drive processing unit44outputs a drive signal for designating, for example, the number of pulses, to an actuator, for example, the lateral driving motor47(step S103). Thus, the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46in the expansion unit40, which is the blowing unit, are operated (step S104).

Upon of receipt of connection-state data indicating that only the expansion unit50is connected (seeFIG. 6) from the connection determining unit24a(D2in step S101), the operation instruction unit24bgenerates, based on the basic settings, an operation instruction to operate the expansion unit50. The operation instruction unit24btransmits the generated operation instruction to the drive processing unit54in the expansion unit50(step S105). In response to the operation instruction from the operation instruction unit24b, the drive processing unit54outputs a drive signal for starting an initial operation to the lifting mechanism56(step S106). Upon receipt of the drive signal, the lifting mechanism56in the expansion unit50, which is the lifting unit, is operated (step S107).

Upon receipt of connection-state data indicating that both the expansion unit40and the expansion unit50are connected (seeFIG. 4), from the connection determining unit24a(D3in step S101), the operation instruction unit24bgenerates, based on the basic settings, an operation instruction to operate the expansion unit40and an operation instruction to operate the expansion unit50. Then, the operation instruction unit24btransmits the operation instruction for the expansion unit40and the operation instruction for the expansion unit50to the drive processing unit44in the expansion unit40(step S108).

In response to the operation instruction for the expansion unit40that is transmitted from the operation instruction unit24b, the drive processing unit44outputs a drive signal to the lateral driving motor47(step S103), thereby operating the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46(step S104). Furthermore, the drive processing unit44transfers the operation instruction for the expansion unit50that is transmitted from the operation instruction unit24b, to the drive processing unit54in the expansion unit50(step S109). In response to the operation instruction transferred from the drive processing unit44, the drive processing unit54outputs a drive signal for starting the initial operation to the lifting mechanism56(step S106), thereby operating the lifting mechanism56(step S107).

In Embodiment 1, since the lifting unit is an example of the expansion unit50, it is also assumed that the expansion unit50are not operated at turn-on. Therefore, if the initial operation of the expansion unit50is not included in the basic settings, the operation instruction unit24bwill not generate an operation instruction for the expansion unit50.

The connection determining unit24aor the operation instruction unit24bstores connection-state data into the storage unit24eas a step in processing which is performed at turn-on, as illustrated inFIG. 10. Therefore, after turn-on, when acquiring an operation signal from the communication unit24cor acquiring different information from the arithmetic unit24d, the operation instruction unit24breads the connection-state data from the storage unit24eand determines a system configuration. Then, the operation instruction unit24btransmits an operation instruction based on the determined system configuration to the drive processing unit44in the expansion unit40or the drive processing unit54in the expansion unit50.

As described above, in the indoor unit10in Embodiment 1, the main board21is connected to the expansion unit50via the expansion board80. Therefore, the main board21does not need to have a plurality of connection terminals for connection to the expansion units. Therefore, the main board21is not made larger. In other words, in the indoor unit10, even in the case of adding thereto various functions other than the basic function, it is not necessary to change the size of the main board21. It is therefore possible to improve cost effectiveness. Furthermore, since the main board21is compact in size, a sufficient air passage can be secured in the casing25. Therefore, it is possible to improve the performance of the indoor unit10and the quality of air-conditioning control.

To be more specific, in the indoor unit10in Embodiment 1, the expansion board80is provided in the expansion unit40, which is one of the plurality of expansion units compatible with the control terminal23a. The main board21is connected to the expansion unit50by the following connections: the wiring line11extending from the expansion unit40is connected to the control terminal23a; and the wiring line12extending from the expansion unit50is connected to the expansion terminal83of the expansion board80. Therefore, the main board21does not need to have a connection terminal for connection to the expansion unit50. The main board21can be thus made compact in size. Therefore, even in the case where a plurality of expansion units are added to the indoor unit10, the casing25that is a shell of the main body20can be made smaller, thus reducing constraints on the place where the indoor unit10is installed.

In the case where the wiring line11extending from the expansion board80is connected to the control terminal23aand the wiring line12extending from the expansion unit50is connected to the expansion terminal83, the controller24transmits an operation instruction for the expansion unit40and an operation instruction for the expansion unit50to the expansion unit40. That is, in the indoor unit10, in the case where the main board21, the expansion board80, and the standard board51are connected in series by the wiring lines, control signals can be transmitted from the controller24not only to the expansion unit40but to the expansion unit50. In addition, in the case where only the expansion unit40is connected to the main board21, the controller24transmits an operation instruction to the expansion unit40only. In the case where the wiring line12extending from the expansion unit50is connected to the control terminal23a, the controller24directly transmits an operation instruction to the expansion unit50. Therefore, the main board21can be made compact in size, and the expansion units can be smoothly controlled.

Furthermore, the main board21includes the power supply circuit22that supplies power to an expansion unit connected to the main board21. For example, in the system configuration as illustrated inFIG. 4, the power supply circuit22supplies power to both the expansion unit40directly connected to the main board21and the expansion unit50indirectly connected indirectly to the main board21. It is therefore unnecessary to provide another power supply circuit on each of the expansion board80and the standard board51, thus reducing complication and enlargement of expansion units that are added to the indoor unit10. Therefore, the entire indoor system100can be made smaller.

In the case where the expansion unit40, which is the blowing unit, is attached to the indoor unit10, the flow direction of air to be blown from the air outlets2can be adjusted not only in the vertical direction but in the lateral direction. It is therefore possible to further improve the quality of air-conditioning. In the case where the expansion unit50, which is the lifting unit, is attached to the indoor unit10, the air inlet grille31can be automatically moved up and down. It is therefore possible to improve user convenience. In addition, in the case where the expansion unit60, which is the humidifier, is attached to the indoor unit10, the humidity in the air-conditioned space can be finely adjusted. It is therefore possible to improve user comfort.

Although it is described above by way of example that the expansion board80including the expansion terminal83is provided in the expansion unit40, it is not limitative. The expansion board80may be provided in another expansion unit. In the following, it is assumed that the expansion board80is provided in the expansion unit50. A configuration and an operation different from those described above will be described.

FIG. 11is a configuration diagram of an example of an indoor system according to modification 1-1 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In an example as illustrated inFIG. 11, the expansion unit50includes the expansion board80provided with the expansion terminal83that is compliant with the same standard as the control terminal23a. The expansion unit40includes a standard board41that fulfills a standard function of the expansion unit40. In modification 1-1, the standard function of the expansion unit40is a function of operating the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46.

In the above configuration, the wiring line12extending from the input terminal55of the expansion unit50is connected to the control terminal23aof the main board21in the main body20. Furthermore, the wiring line11extending from the input terminal45of the expansion unit40is connected to the expansion terminal83of the expansion board80in the expansion unit50. The power supply circuit22supplies power to the expansion unit50through the wiring line12, and supplies power to the expansion unit40through the wiring lines11and12.

FIG. 12is a block diagram of a functional configuration of the indoor system as illustrated inFIG. 11. To operate the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46, the operation instruction unit24bof modification 1-1 transmits a lateral drive signal for driving the lateral driving motor47to the drive processing unit54on the expansion board80via the control terminal23a. The drive processing unit54transfers the lateral drive signal that is transmitted from the operation instruction unit24b, to the drive processing unit44via the expansion terminal83. To be more specific, the drive processing unit54of modification 1-1 has a function of determining whether an operation instruction from the controller24is an operation instruction for the expansion unit40or an operation instruction for the expansion unit50and transferring an operation instruction for the expansion unit40to the expansion unit40. The drive processing unit44drives the lateral driving motor47in response to the lateral drive signal transmitted from the operation instruction unit24bvia the drive processing unit54, thereby operating the lateral air-flow-direction adjusting members46.

To move the air inlet grille31up or down, the operation instruction unit24btransmits a lifting drive signal for driving the lifting mechanism56to the drive processing unit54on the expansion board80via the control terminal23a. The drive processing unit54drives the lifting mechanism56in response to the lifting drive signal from the operation instruction unit24b, thereby moving the air inlet grille31up or down.

As described above, the expansion board80in the indoor unit10of modification 1-1 is provided in the expansion unit50, which is one of the plurality of expansion units compatible with the control terminal23a. The main board21is connected to the expansion unit40by the following connections: the wiring line12extending from the expansion unit50is connected to the control terminal23a; and the wiring line11extending from the expansion unit40is connected to the expansion terminal83of the expansion board80. Therefore, the main board21does not need to have a connection terminal for connection to the expansion unit40, and the main board21can be made compact in size. Thus, even in the case where a plurality of expansion units are added to the indoor unit10, the casing25that is a shell of the main body20can be made smaller, thereby reducing constraints on the place where the indoor unit10is installed.

In the case where the wiring line12extending from the expansion board80is connected to the control terminal23aand the wiring line11extending from the expansion unit40is connected to the expansion terminal83, the controller24transmits an operation instruction for the expansion unit40and an operation instruction for the expansion unit50to the expansion unit50. That is, in the indoor unit10, in the case where the main board21, the expansion board80, and the standard board41are connected in series by the wiring lines, control signals can be transmitted from the controller24not only to the expansion unit50but to the expansion unit40. Therefore, the main board21can be made compact in size, and the expansion units can be smoothly controlled.

For example, in the system configuration as illustrated inFIG. 12, the power supply circuit22supplies power to both the expansion unit50directly connected to the main board21and the expansion unit40indirectly connected to the main board21. It is therefore unnecessary to provide another power supply circuit in each of the expansion board80and the standard board41, thus reducing complication and enlargement of each of expansion units that are added to the indoor unit10. Therefore, the entire indoor system100can be made smaller.

AlthoughFIG. 9illustrates by way of example the case where the expansion unit60is not compliant with the standard with which the control terminal23aand the expansion terminal83are compliant, this is not limitative. In the case where an expansion unit to be added is compliant with the standard of the control terminal23aand the expansion terminal83, the expansion board80may be provided in each of a plurality of expansion units. Because of provision of such a configuration, even in the case where three or more expansion units are added, it is possible to reduce the number of connection terminals of the main board21.

FIG. 13is a configuration diagram of an example of an indoor system according to modification 1-2 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In modification 1-2, it is assumed that the expansion unit60is compliant with the standard of the control terminal23aand the expansion terminal83. A configuration and operation different from those described above will be described.

FIG. 13illustrates by way of example the case where the expansion board80provided with the expansion terminal83compliant with the same standard as the control terminal23ais provided in each of the expansion unit40and the expansion unit50. The expansion board80in the expansion unit50has a relay function of transferring an operation instruction from the controller24to the expansion unit60in addition to the same function as the above standard board51. The wiring line14extending from the input terminal65of the expansion unit60is connected to the expansion terminal83of the expansion board80in the expansion unit50. The power supply circuit22supplies power to the expansion unit60through the wiring lines11,12, and14.

The connection determining unit24aof modification 1-2 determines a connection state between the main body20and each of the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, and the expansion unit60at turn-on, and outputs connection-state data indicating the result of the determination to the operation instruction unit24b.

In the case of operating the expansion unit60, the operation instruction unit24bof modification 1-2 transmits a humidification drive signal to the drive processing unit44on the expansion board80via the control terminal23a. The drive processing unit44transfers the humidification drive signal transmitted from the operation instruction unit24bto the drive processing unit44in the expansion unit50via the expansion terminal83. The drive processing unit54transmits the humidification drive signal transferred from the drive processing unit54to the drive processing unit64in the expansion unit60via the expansion terminal83. In response to the humidification drive signal transmitted from the operation instruction unit24bvia the drive processing unit44and the drive processing unit54, the drive processing unit64drives the humidifying mechanism66, thereby adjusting the humidity of air that is blown into the room.

The number of expansion units connected in series to the indoor unit10is not limited to three. The indoor unit10may be connected in series to four or more expansion units. In the case where some of the expansion units include respective expansion boards80, the main board21is connected to the expansion units including the respective expansion boards80via the expansion boards80by the following connections: a wiring line extending from one of the expansion boards80is connected to the control terminal23a; and the expansion boards80are connected in series. In such a configuration, in the case where an expansion unit including no expansion board80is attached to the indoor unit10, the expansion boards80and a standard board are connected in series, whereby the main board21is connected to the expansion unit including no expansion board80. In the example as illustrated inFIG. 13, the two expansion boards80and the standard board61are connected in series, whereby the main board21is connected to the expansion unit including no expansion board80. The controller24transmits operation instructions for the expansion units including respective expansion boards80and an operation instruction for the expansion unit including no expansion board80to the expansion unit including the expansion board80connected to the control terminal23a.

As described above, in the indoor unit10according to modification 1-2, in the case where the main board21is connected in series to the two expansion boards80and the standard board51by the wiring lines, control signals can be transmitted from the controller24not only to the expansion unit40but to the expansion units50and60. Therefore, the main board21can be made compact in size, and the expansion units can be smoothly controlled.

The configuration of modification 1-1 as described above can also be applied to the indoor unit10and the indoor system100in modification 1-2. That is, the main body20may be connected to the expansion unit50, the expansion unit50may be connected to the expansion unit40, and the expansion unit40may be connected to the expansion unit60. Furthermore, if the expansion unit60is made to have a relay function by, for example, replacing the standard board61by the expansion board80, it is possible to further obtain another system configuration.

AlthoughFIG. 9illustrates by way of example the case where the expansion unit60is not compliant with the standard of the control terminal23aand the expansion terminal83, this is not limitative. In the case where an expansion unit to be added is compliant with the standard of the control terminal23aand the expansion terminal83, it is possible to reduce the number of connection terminals of the main board21by increasing the number of expansion terminals83provided in the expansion board80, even in the case where three or more expansion units are added.

FIG. 14is a configuration diagram of an example of an indoor system according to modification 1-3 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In modification 1-3, it is assumed that the expansion unit60is compliant with the standard of the control terminal23aand the expansion terminal83. A configuration and operation different from those described above will be described.

The expansion board80of modification 1-3 includes two expansion terminals83. The wiring line12extending from the input terminal55of the expansion unit50is connected to one of the expansion terminals83, and the wiring line14extending from the input terminal65of the expansion unit60is connected to the other second expansion terminal83. The power supply circuit22, therefore, supplies power to the expansion unit60through the wiring lines11and14.

In the case of operating the expansion unit60, the operation instruction unit24btransmits a humidification drive signal to the drive processing unit44on the expansion board80via the control terminal23a. The drive processing unit44transmits the humidification drive signal transmitted from the operation instruction unit24bto the drive processing unit64via the above other expansion terminal83. In response to the humidification drive signal transmitted from the operation instruction unit24bvia the expansion board80, the drive processing unit64drives the humidifying mechanism66, thereby adjusting the humidity of air that is blown into the room.

AlthoughFIG. 14illustrates by way of example the case where the three expansion units are added to the indoor unit10, this is not limitative. Four or more expansion units may be added to the indoor unit10. To be more specific, in the expansion board80, three or more expansion terminals83may be provided, and the expansion terminals83may be connected to respective expansion units. The expansion unit including the expansion board80may be changed as appropriate based on a usage condition, for example, the frequency with which the expansion unit is used as an optional component.

As described above, in the indoor unit10according to modification 1-3, the controller24generates an operation instruction for each of the expansion units connected to the main body20and transmits the operation instruction to each expansion unit via the control terminal23a. It is therefore unnecessary to provide the control terminal23cas illustrated inFIG. 9. Thus, the main board21is not made larger even in the case where three or more expansion units are added.

With respect to Embodiment 1, although it is described above by way of example that the expansion board80is provided in the expansion unit, it is not limitative. An indoor system according to Embodiment 2 is featured in that the expansion board80is provided in the main body20. Regarding Embodiment 2, components that are the same as or equivalent to those in Embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference signs, and their descriptions will thus be omitted.

FIG. 15is a configuration diagram of an example of an indoor system and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. In an example as illustrated inFIG. 15, an indoor system200includes an indoor unit10A including a main body20A and the decorative panel30, the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, the expansion unit60, and the Move-Eye sensor71as an expansion unit for the indoor unit10A.

The main body20A has an expansion board80including a plurality of expansion terminals83compliant with the same standard as the control terminal23a. In the example as illustrated inFIG. 15, the expansion board80includes four expansion terminals83and an input terminal85, and the number of the expansion terminals83is equal to that of the expansion units. The control terminal23ais connected to the input terminal85by a wiring line18. In other words, the wiring line18extending from the input terminal85of the expansion board80is connected to the control terminal23a.

It is assumed that the expansion units40,50, and60and the Move-Eye sensor71are compliant with the standard of the control terminal23aand the expansion terminals83. Therefore, the wiring line11extending from the expansion unit40, the wiring line12extending from the expansion unit50, the wiring line14extending from the expansion unit60, and a wiring line15extending from the Move-Eye sensor71are connected to respective expansion terminals83.

The connection determining unit24ain Embodiment 2 detects, at turn-on, whether or not the main body20A is connected to each of two or more expansion units. In the configuration as illustrated inFIG. 15, the connection determining unit24adetermines a connection state between the main body20A and each of the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, the expansion unit60, and the Move-Eye sensor71, and outputs connection-state data indicating the result of the determination to the operation instruction unit24b. The operation instruction unit24btransmits an operation instruction to each of the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, the expansion unit60, and the Move-Eye sensor71via an associated one of the control terminal23aand the expansion terminals83. That is, when detecting an expansion unit connected via the expansion board80, the controller24transmits an operation instruction to the detected expansion unit via the expansion board80.

The power supply circuit22supplies power to the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, the expansion unit60, and the Move-Eye sensor71through the wiring line18and respective wiring lines, that is, to the expansion unit40, the expansion unit50, the expansion unit60, and the Move-Eye sensor71through the wiring lines18and11, the wiring lines18and12, the wiring lines18and14, and the wiring lines18and15, respectively.

AlthoughFIG. 15illustrates by way of example the case where the four expansion units are attached to the indoor unit10A, this is not limitative. To the indoor unit10A, one, two or three expansion units may be attached, or five or more expansion units may be attached. In other words, althoughFIG. 15illustrates by way of example the case where the four expansion terminals83are provided in the expansion board80, this is not limitative, and in the expansion board80, three or less expansion terminals83may be provided, or five or more expansion terminals83may be provided.

As described above, in the indoor unit10A in Embodiment 2, the main board21can be connected to a plurality of expansion units via the expansion board80. Therefore, the main board21does not need to have a plurality of control terminals23afor connection to the respective expansion units. Therefore, the main board21is not made larger, and the cost effectiveness can be improved.

The expansion board80is removably provided in the main body20A. To be more specific, even in the case where a plurality of expansion units are attached to the indoor unit10A, if the expansion board80is added to the indoor unit10A, it is not necessary to change the size of the main board21. In the case where an expansion unit is not attached to the indoor unit10A, the expansion board80is not added to the indoor unit10A, whereby an air passage in the casing25can be expanded. That is, since the size of the main board21is not increased, the cost effectiveness is improved. In addition, since a sufficient air passage can be ensued in the casing25, the performance of the indoor unit10A can be improved.

The main board21is connected to one or more expansion units via the expansion board80by the following connections: the wiring line extending from the expansion board80is connected to the control terminal23a; and a wiring line or wiring lines extending from the one or more expansion units are connected to the expansion terminals83. Therefore, regarding the control terminal23a, it suffices that the main board21is provided with only one control terminal23a. Thus, the main board21can be made compact in size.

When detecting an expansion unit connected via the expansion board80, the controller24transmits an operation instruction to the detected expansion unit via the expansion board80. That is, in the indoor unit10A, a control signal can be transmitted from the controller24to one or more expansion units via the expansion board80. Therefore, the expansion units can be smoothly controlled.

FIG. 16is a configuration diagram of an example of an indoor system and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to modification 2-1 of Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. In modification 2-1, it is assumed that at least two of a plurality of expansion units are not compliant with the standard of the control terminal23a.FIG. 16illustrates by way of example the case where the expansion unit40and the expansion unit60are compliant with the standard of the control terminal23a, but the expansion unit50and the Move-Eye sensor71are not compliant with the standard of the control terminal23a. It is further assumed that the expansion unit50and the Move-Eye sensor71are compliant with the same standard as the connection terminal.

In the example as illustrated inFIG. 16, the main board21includes the control terminal23c, and the expansion board80includes two expansion terminals83, two expansion terminals83c, and the input terminal85. The two expansion terminals83care connection terminals compliant with the same standard as the control terminal23c. The wiring line12extending from the expansion unit50is connected to one of the expansion terminals83c, and the wiring line15extending from the Move-Eye sensor71is connected to the other expansion terminal83c.

AlthoughFIG. 16illustrates by way of example the case where the four expansion units are attached to the indoor unit10A, this is not limitative. To the indoor unit10A, one to three expansion units may be attached, or five or more expansion units may be attached. In other words, althoughFIG. 16illustrates by way of example the case where the main board21includes the control terminal23aand the control terminal23c, and the expansion board80includes the two expansion terminals83and the two expansion terminals83c, this is not limitative. It is appropriate that the number of control terminals of the main board21, the number of expansion terminals of the expansion board80, and the combination of types of terminals are adjusted based on the combination of expansion units, that is, the compatibility of each of the expansion units with the connection terminals.

As described above, also, in the indoor unit10A according to modification 2-1, the number of control terminals provided in the main board21can be reduced to the minimum. Therefore, the main board21is not made larger, and the cost effectiveness is improved.

FIG. 17is a configuration diagram of an example of an indoor system and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. Regarding Embodiment 3, components that are the same as or equivalent to those in Embodiments 1 and 2 as described above will be denoted by the same reference signs, and their descriptions will thus be omitted.

As illustrated inFIG. 17, an indoor system300according to Embodiment 3 includes a board unit90including the expansion board80and a board case91. To be more specific, in the indoor system300, the board case1houses the expansion board80, which is provided in the main body20A in Embodiment 2. The board unit90in Embodiment 3 is removably provided in the main body20.

As described above, in the indoor system300according to Embodiment 3, the main board21can be connected to a plurality of expansion units via the expansion board80provided in the board unit90externally attached to the main body20. Therefore, the main board21does not need to have a plurality of control terminals23afor connection to the respective expansion units. Therefore, the main board21is not made larger, and the cost effectiveness is improved. Furthermore, even if the configuration of modification 2-1 is applied to Embodiment 3, the number of terminals provided in the main board21can be reduced to the minimum. Thus, the main board21is not made larger, and the cost effectiveness can be improved. It should be noted that the board unit90may be detachably attached to the decorative panel30.

The above embodiments are preferred concrete examples of the indoor system and the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure. For example, althoughFIGS. 1 to 3illustrate by way of example a ceiling-concealed four-way cassette type of indoor unit, this is not limitative. The indoor unit according to each of the above embodiments may be of a ceiling-concealed two-way cassette type or of a ceiling-concealed one-way cassette type. Furthermore, the indoor unit according to each of the above embodiments is not limited to the ceiling concealed type indoor unit, and a wall-mounted indoor unit or a floor-standing indoor unit may be used as the indoor unit according to each of the above embodiments.

Although the blowing unit, the lifting unit, the direct-contact humidifier, and the Move-Eye sensor71are described as examples of the expansion units added to the indoor unit in the above embodiments, the expansion units are not limited to those examples. Various devices, such as an automatic filter cleaning unit, an air outlet shutter plate, a high-powered deodorizing filter, and a wireless light-receiving kit, can be used as expansion units to be added to the indoor unit according to each of the above embodiments.