Patent Publication Number: US-2023160617-A1

Title: Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Refrigeration cycle apparatuses adopting a refrigeration cycle (such as air conditioners and refrigeration apparatuses) are widely used throughout the world. The information used to control the refrigeration cycle apparatus (hereinafter, also referred to as “control information”) is, in general, recorded in a storage unit included in the refrigeration cycle apparatus. The storage unit is configured of a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM) such as a flash memory, or a hard disk drive (HDD), etc. 
     In recent years, the press ahead with the internet of things (IoT) puts into practice the refrigeration cycle apparatus that includes a communication device connectable to a communication network. The refrigeration cycle apparatus being connected to the communication network enables the refrigeration cycle apparatus to download from a server connected to the communication network the control information updated (upgraded) to allow better operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
     For example, Japanese Patent No. 4106941 (PTL 1) discloses a refrigeration cycle apparatus that is connectable to a server via a communication network. This refrigeration cycle apparatus, after being firmly installed, can receive (download) updated control information from the server and rewrite the control information before the update with the updated control information. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: Japanese Patent No. 4106941 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     There are occasions where the outage of the refrigeration cycle apparatus is strictly not allowed. Therefore, it is desirable that the control information is rewritten, without forcibly stopping the operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus. Japanese Patent No. 4106941 (PTL 1) fails to present such a problem and solution to the problem. 
     The present disclosure is made to solve the problem above, and an object of the present disclosure is to enable rewriting of the control information, without forcibly stopping the operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a refrigerant circuit which includes a compressor; a communication device configured to receive control information from a server; a storage device configured to store the control information received by the communication device; and a controller configured to control the compressor, using the control information stored in the storage device. When the communication device starts receiving second control information newer than first control information stored in the storage device, the controller is configured to continue to perform a first control of causing the compressor to operate using the first control information, until writing of the second control information to the storage device is completed. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the refrigeration cycle apparatus of the present disclosure, after the refrigeration cycle apparatus starts receiving the second control information, the compressor is caused to operate using the already-received first control information, without forcibly stopping the operation of the compressor, until completion of writing of the second control information to the storage device. Therefore, at an appropriate time after the completion of writing of the second control information (e.g., after the operation of the compressor is stopped by the user operation), the refrigeration cycle apparatus is allowed to rewrite the control information. As a result, the control information can be rewritten, without forcibly stopping the operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigeration cycle system. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage unit included in the refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
         FIG.  3    is a flowchart of one example process performed by a controller included in the refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
         FIG.  4    is a sequence diagram illustrating one example overview of a process performed by the refrigeration cycle system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference signs are used to refer to the same or like parts, and the description thereof will not be repeated. 
     [Configuration] 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigeration cycle system  1  according to an embodiment. The refrigeration cycle system  1  includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 , a communication network  200 , a cloud server  300 , and a remote control  400 . 
     The refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  includes a controller  110 , a rewriting device  120 , a communication device  140 , and a refrigerant circuit  150 . 
     The refrigerant circuit  150  is a circuit for air conditioning or refrigeration using a refrigerant and a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant circuit  150  includes n actuators (e.g., a pressure control valve for controlling the pressure within the refrigerant circuit  150 , etc.)  151 _ 1  through  151 _ n, m  sensors (e.g., a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature within the refrigerant circuit  150 , etc.)  152 _ 1  through  152 _ m , and a compressor  153  for compressing the refrigerant. Note that the refrigerant circuit  150  may employ a well-known configuration. 
     The controller  110  includes a control operation unit  111 , an input processing unit  112 , and a storage unit  113 . The input processing unit  112  converts signals, input from the m sensors  152 _ 1  through  152 _ m , into those that can be processed by the control operation unit  111 , and outputs them to the control operation unit  111 . Based on the signals input from the input processing unit  112 , and the state amounts of the n actuators  151 _ 1  through  151 _ n  and the compressor  153 , the control operation unit  111  controls the operation of the actuators  151 _ 1  through  151 _ n  and the compressor  153 . 
     The storage unit  113  stores the information (hereinafter, also referred to as “control information”) such as mathematical formulas, constants, and control programs that are used to control the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  (processes by the input processing unit  112  and the control operation unit  111 ). The input processing unit  112  and the control operation unit  111  appropriately read the control information stored in the storage unit  113 , and perform processes. 
     The storage unit  113  may store device information of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . The device information may include the model information of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 , information of devices that are connected to the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 , the history information of operation of the compressor  153  of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 , etc. 
     While  FIG.  1    shows an example in which one storage unit  113  is disposed inside the controller  110 , it should be noted that the number of storage units  113  and the arrangement thereof are not limited thereto. For example, all or some of the storage unit  113  may be divided into subunits and disposed external to the controller  110 . 
     The rewriting device  120  is capable of rewriting the control information stored in the storage unit  113  of the controller  110 . Note that the “rewriting” of the control information includes replacement of old information with new information, deletion of old information, and writing (adding) of new information. The communication device  140  is connectable to the communication network  200 . 
     The remote control  400  is a device for a user of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  to remotely control the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  in the space where the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  is installed. The remote control  400  includes a display device  401  and an input device  402 . 
     The input device  402  of the remote control  400  is capable of receiving operation commands by the user, such as the set temperature, the operation mode, the wind direction, and the volume of the air of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . The remote control  400  transmits the operation commands, input from the input device  402 , to the controller  110  of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . 
     The operation commands transmitted from the remote control  400  to the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  are reflected to the controller  110  controlling the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . The remote control  400  is also capable of showing the information received from the controller  110  of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  on the display device  401 . Note that, instead of or in addition to the remote control  400 , smartphone having functions equivalent to those of the remote control  400  may be connectable to the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  via the communication network  200 . 
     The cloud server  300  includes a cloud storage unit  301  and a communication device  303 . The communication device  303  is connectable to the communication network  200 . Accordingly, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  and the cloud server  300  are capable of communications with each other via the communication network  200 . 
     The cloud storage unit  301  includes a candidate storage unit  301   a . The candidate storage unit  301   a  stores information that allows rewriting of the control information stored in the storage unit  113  of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . Note that the control information may be modified (upgraded) for updates by the manufacturer of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  or the like. Each time the control information is updated, the most-recent control information after the update is added to the candidate storage unit  301   a . When the control information is updated, information (hereinafter, also referred to as “update information”) indicating that the control information is updated is also stored into the candidate storage unit  301   a.    
       FIG.  2    is a diagram showing a configuration of the storage unit  113  of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . The storage unit  113  includes a first storage unit  1131  and a second storage unit  1132 . The first storage unit  1131  and the second storage unit  1132  are capable of storing the control information of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  independently of each other. 
     [Operations] 
     If the control information stored in the candidate storage unit  301   a  is updated, the cloud server  300  transmits the above-described updates to the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . 
     In the following, already-received control information being used by the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  will also be described as “control information before the update,” and the control over the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  using the control information before the update is also described as a “pre-update control.” The control information before the update and the pre-update control can correspond to “first control information” and a “first control,” respectively, according to the present disclosure. 
     Moreover, in the following, new control information in which the control information before the update is modified will also be described as “updated control information,” and the control over the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  using the updated control information is also described as a “post-update control.” The updated control information and the post-update control correspond to “second control information” and “second control,” respectively, according to the present disclosure. 
     In the following, assume that the control information before the update is stored into the first storage unit  1131 , and the updated control information is written to the second storage unit  1132 . 
       FIG.  3    is a flowchart of one example process performed by the controller  110  of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  receives updates of the control information from the cloud server  300  (step S 31 ), in response to which the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  obtains updated control information from the candidate storage unit  301   a  of the cloud server  300  and starts writing the updated control information to the second storage unit  1132  (step S 32 ). Note that the control information before the update stored in the first storage unit  1131  is held in the first storage unit  1131  until being deleted by a process of step S 39  described below. 
     Even after started writing the updated control information, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  continues the “pre-update control” controlling the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  using the control information before the update (step S 33 ). This causes the compressor  153  to continue the operation even after the writing of the updated control information is started during the operation of the compressor  153 . 
     Upon completion of the writing of the updated control information (step S 34 ), the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  determines whether the compressor  153  is caused to stop the operation through, for example, an operation stop command by the user&#39;s manual operation or an operation stop command by a timer function set by the user (step S 35 ). If the compressor  153  continues to operate (NO in step S 35 ), the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  continues the pre-update control (step S 36 ). Subsequently, the process returns to step S 35 . 
     If the compressor  153  is caused to stop the operation (YES in step S 35 ), the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  switches its own control mode from the “pre-update control,” in which the control information before the update is used, to the “post-update control,” in which the updated control information is used (step S 37 ). 
     Subsequently, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  determines whether the compressor  153  is caused to start the operation by the post-update control through, for example, an operation start command by the user&#39;s manual operation or an operation start command by the timer function set by the user (step S 38 ). If the compressor  153  is not caused to start the operation by the post-update control (NO in step S 38 ), the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  waits for the compressor  153  to resume the operation. 
     If the compressor  153  is caused to start the operation by the post-update control (YES in step S 38 ), the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  deletes the control information before the update from the first storage unit  1131  (step S 39 ). 
       FIG.  4    is a sequence diagram illustrating one example overview of a process performed by the refrigeration cycle system  1 . 
     The refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  in the initial state of  FIG.  4    performs the “pre-update control” using the already-received control information before the update stored in the first storage unit  1131  (step S 30 ). 
     As the updated control information is added to the candidate storage unit  301   a , the cloud server  300  obtains updates indicative of such from the candidate storage unit  301   a  (step S 10 ), and transmits the updates to the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  (step S 11 ). 
     The refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  obtains the updates from the cloud server  300  (step S 31 ), in response to which the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  obtains the updated control information from the candidate storage unit  301   a  of the cloud server  300 , and starts writing the updated control information to the second storage unit  1132  (step S 32 ). 
     Subsequently, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  continues the pre-update control using the control information before the update stored in the first storage unit  1131 , until the writing of the updated control information to the second storage unit  1132  is completed (step S 33 ). 
     Then, upon completion of the writing of the updated control information to the second storage unit  1132  (step S 34 ), the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  confirms that the compressor  153  is stopped (step S 35 ). The refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  continues to perform the pre-update control until the compressor  153  is stopped for the first time after the completion of the writing of the updated control information. 
     When the compressor  153  stops for the first time after the completion of the writing of the updated control information, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  switches its control mode from the pre-update control to the “post-update control” that uses the updated control information stored in the second storage unit  1132  (step S 37 ). 
     Subsequently, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  confirms that the compressor  153  is operated by the post-update control (step S 38 ). Once confirmed that the compressor  153  is operated by the post-update control, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  deletes the control information before the update from the first storage unit  1131  (step S 39 ). 
     While not described in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , after step S 39 , the updated control information stored in the second storage unit  1132  is moved to the first storage unit  1131 . This stores the already-received control information being used in the first storage unit  1131 , causing no control information being stored in the second storage unit  1132 . Note that, rather than moving the updated control information from the second storage unit  1132  to the first storage unit  1131 , the control information stored in the second storage unit  1132  may be treated as the control information before the update (i.e., treating the second storage unit  1132  as the first storage unit  1131 ). 
     As described above, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment includes: the refrigerant circuit  150  which includes the compressor  153 ; the communication device  140  which receives the control information from the cloud server  300 ; and the controller  110  which: includes the storage unit  113  for storing the control information received by the communication device  140 ; and controls the compressor  153  using the control information stored in the storage unit  113 . 
     If the communication device  140  starts receiving updated control information that is newer than the control information before the update stored in the storage unit  113 , the controller  110  continues the pre-update control of causing the compressor  153  to operate using the already-received control information before the update with operating experience, without forcibly stopping the operation of the compressor  153 , until the completion of writing of the updated control information to the storage unit  113 . Therefore, the control information can be rewritten at an appropriate time after the completion of writing of the updated control information. This allows the control information to be rewritten, without forcibly stopping the operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100 . 
     In particular, the controller  110  according to the present embodiment continues to perform the pre-update control until the compressor  153  is caused to stop the operation for the first time after the completion of writing of the updated control information to the storage unit  113 . Then, when the operation of the compressor  153  is stopped for the first time after the completion of writing of the updated control information, the controller  110  performs the post-update control of causing the compressor  153  to operate, using the updated control information, instead of using the pre-update control. Since the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  switches its own mode from the pre-update control to the post-update control in such a manner while the operation of the compressor  153  is stopped, the refrigeration cycle apparatus  100  can smoothly switch its own mode from the pre-update control to the post-update control, without forcibly stopping the operation of the compressor  153 . 
     Furthermore, after the compressor  153  is operated for the first time by the post-update control, the controller  110  according to the present embodiment deletes the control information before the update from the storage unit  113 . Stated differently, the control information before the update stored in the storage unit  113  is held, without deleting it, until the operation of the compressor  153  by the post-update control is confirmed. Therefore, if the compressor  153  is not operated by the post-update control for some reason, the compressor  153  can be readily restored to the pre-update control. 
     The presently disclosed embodiment should be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the description above, and all changes that come within the scope of the claims and the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced within their scope. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  refrigeration cycle system;  100  refrigeration cycle apparatus;  110  controller;  111  control operation unit;  112  input processing unit;  113  storage unit;  120  rewriting device;  140 ,  303  communication device;  150  refrigerant circuit;  151  actuator;  152  sensor;  153  compressor;  200  communication network;  300  cloud server;  301  cloud storage unit;  301   a  candidate storage unit;  400  remote control;  401  display device;  402  input device;  1131  first storage unit; and  1132  second storage unit.