Patent Description:
Operations of an air conditioner are controlled based on, for example, a temperature and a humidity in a space to be subjected to air conditioning, a temperature of outside air, and information from various sensors. With regard to, for example, an indoor unit for business use, every component is not necessarily accommodated in a casing that forms an outer appearance of the indoor unit. For example, some sensors are provided outside the casing. A communication line (a cable) between the casing and a sensor outside the casing is considerably longer in length than that between the casing and a sensor in the casing, depending on installation sites.

At present, an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) is generally in the mainstream as to a communication standard for transmitting an output from a sensor; however, other standards are also used. A control board which is a main control unit of the air conditioner needs to be designed in accordance with different communication standards for the sensors. Meanwhile, it is preferred that the control board be standardized from the viewpoint of improvements in production efficiency and reliability (see Patent Literature <NUM>).

In an I2C, a long communication line from a casing to a sensor outside the casing is likely to cause mixing of external noise.

A main object of the present disclosure is to reduce an influence of external noise to a communication line for a sensor in an air treatment apparatus.

This configuration enables connections of multiple sensors of the same type or different types to the conversion unit.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below.

First, a description will be given of an outline of a configuration of an air conditioner which is an example of an air treatment apparatus and includes a refrigerant circuit.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an exemplary refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, an outdoor unit <NUM> which is a heat source-side unit includes a compressor <NUM>, a four-way switching valve <NUM>, an accumulator <NUM>, a heat exchanger <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, an expansion valve <NUM>, a liquid-side interruption valve <NUM>, and a gas-side interruption valve <NUM>. An indoor unit <NUM> which is a utilization-side unit includes a heat exchanger <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, and an expansion valve <NUM>. The outdoor unit <NUM> and the indoor unit <NUM> are connected to each other with refrigerant pipes PL and PG to constitute a refrigerant circuit as illustrated in <FIG>. Each of the valves <NUM> and <NUM> is an electric valve. For example, each of the valves <NUM> and <NUM> may be an electronic expansion valve.

During a cooling operation, the four-way switching valve <NUM> forms an internal flow path indicated by a solid line. A refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> thus passes through the four-way switching valve <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM>, the expansion valve <NUM>, the open interruption valve <NUM>, the expansion valve <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM>, the open interruption valve <NUM>, the four-way switching valve <NUM>, and the accumulator <NUM>, and then returns to the compressor <NUM>. At this time, the heat exchanger <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM> functions as a condenser while the heat exchanger <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM> functions as an evaporator.

During a heating operation, the four-way switching valve <NUM> forms an internal flow path indicated by a dotted line. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> thus passes through the four-way switching valve <NUM>, the open interruption valve <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM>, the expansion valve <NUM>, the open interruption valve <NUM>, the expansion valve <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM>, the four-way switching valve <NUM>, and the accumulator <NUM>, and then returns to the compressor <NUM>. At this time, the heat exchanger <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM> functions as an evaporator while the heat exchanger <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM> functions as a condenser.

Next, a description will be given of sensor connections in the air treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a connection diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an air treatment apparatus <NUM> from the viewpoint of sensor connections. <FIG> schematically illustrates a basic concept of the present disclosure in a simplified manner. As described above, the term "air treatment apparatus" generally refers to an apparatus configured to condition air or to provide ventilation of air. <FIG> illustrates an indoor unit <NUM> of an air conditioner which is an example of the air treatment apparatus <NUM>, and the indoor unit <NUM> is designed to be embedded in a ceiling. The indoor unit may alternatively be designed to be, for example, mounted on a floor, hung on a wall, or suspended from a ceiling.

In <FIG>, a main control unit <NUM> is disposed in a casing 1c of the indoor unit <NUM>. The main control unit <NUM> is a control board including a microcomputer <NUM> and an interface circuit <NUM> connected to the microcomputer <NUM>. The microcomputer <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU), a clock, a memory, an internal interface, and the like. The main control unit <NUM> includes an input port 2p for receiving a sensor signal.

The interface circuit <NUM> converts a signal transmitted in conformity with a local Internet network (LIN) as a communication standard into a signal conforming to a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) or an I2C, and then inputs the converted signal to the microcomputer <NUM>.

The indoor unit <NUM> includes various sensors such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO<NUM> sensor, an infrared sensor, and an indoor air quality sensor (IAQ sensor). These sensors include a sensor disposed in the casing 1c or on a surface of the casing 1c, and a sensor disposed outside the casing 1c and located away from the casing 1c. <FIG> illustrates sensors <NUM> and <NUM> disposed outside the casing 1c. The number of sensors disposed outside the casing 1c is two in this embodiment. However, the number of sensors is merely an example. For example, the number of sensors disposed outside the casing 1c may be one or may be three or more.

The sensors <NUM> and <NUM> are each configured to output a signal in conformity with the I2C. Since the I2C is susceptible to an intrusion of external noise, communication lines <NUM> and <NUM> are preferably short in length as much as possible. For example, the lengths of the communication lines <NUM> and <NUM> need to be reduced to approximately <NUM> at maximum. The sensor <NUM> is connected to a conversion unit <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is connected to a conversion unit <NUM>. The conversion unit <NUM> is configured to convert a signal conforming to the I2C into a signal conforming to the LIN. The same applies to the conversion unit <NUM>. The conversion units <NUM> and <NUM> have output sides (i.e., left sides of the conversion units <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>) that are daisy-chained in parallel.

The conversion units <NUM> and <NUM> are each connected to the input port 2p of the main control unit <NUM> via a communication line <NUM> for the LIN. The LIN is higher in tolerance to noise than the I2C. The communication line <NUM> is therefore extendable by <NUM> in length at maximum. The conversion unit <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> receive a required control power supply voltage (e.g., <NUM> V DC) from the main control unit <NUM> through the communication lines <NUM> and <NUM>. The conversion unit <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> receive a required control power supply voltage (e.g., <NUM> V DC) from the main control unit <NUM> through the communication lines <NUM> and <NUM>.

As described above, the conversion units <NUM> and <NUM> allow the sensors <NUM> and <NUM> to output a signal in conformity with the I2C, and allow the main control unit <NUM> to receive a signal conforming to the LIN. The communication line <NUM> for the LIN higher in tolerance to noise than the I2C is present on the communication lines <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for signal transmission. This configuration thus enables reduction in influence of external noise. Shortening the communication lines <NUM> and <NUM> for the I2C as much as possible such that the communication line <NUM> for the LIN occupies most of the total required length enables more effective reduction in influence of external noise.

<FIG> is a more specific diagram of the connection diagram of <FIG> and illustrates a first example. <FIG> illustrates only one of the sensor connections. As illustrated in <FIG>, the conversion unit <NUM> includes a single substrate, a microcomputer <NUM>, and a conversion circuit <NUM> for UART-to-LIN conversion. The microcomputer <NUM> and the conversion circuit <NUM> are mounted on the single substrate. The microcomputer <NUM> includes a CPU, a clock, a memory, an internal interface, and the like. A computer program for I2C-to-UART conversion is written in the microcomputer <NUM>.

The microcomputer <NUM> and the conversion circuit <NUM> are connected to each other with two transmission lines, through which a signal conforming to the UART is transmitted, on the substrate. The microcomputer <NUM> is connected to the sensor <NUM> with communication lines <NUM> through which a signal conforming to the I2C is transmitted.

The main control unit <NUM> includes a single substrate, the microcomputer <NUM>, a conversion circuit 22a for LIN-to-UART conversion (corresponding to the interface circuit <NUM> in <FIG>), and the input port 2p for receiving a sensor signal. The microcomputer <NUM> and the conversion circuit 22a are mounted on the single substrate. The microcomputer <NUM> and the conversion circuit 22a are connected to each other with two transmission lines, through which a signal conforming to the UART is transmitted, on the substrate.

The sensor-side conversion circuit <NUM> for UART-to-LIN conversion and the main control unit-side input port 2p connected to the conversion circuit 22a for LIN-to-UART conversion are connected to each other with the communication line <NUM> (e.g., a flat cable or a multicore cable) for the LIN. The required number of communication lines <NUM> is one, which simplifies and facilitates construction.

According to the configuration illustrated in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> outputs a signal in conformity with the I2C, and then the microcomputer <NUM> converts this signal into a signal conforming to the UART. The conversion circuit <NUM> then converts the signal conforming to the UART into a signal conforming to the LIN, and transmits the converted signal to the main control unit <NUM> through the communication line <NUM>. In the main control unit <NUM>, the conversion circuit 22a converts the signal conforming to the LIN into a signal conforming to the UART. The microcomputer <NUM> then receives the signal conforming to the UART.

Since the sensor-side conversion unit <NUM> includes the microcomputer <NUM>, the air treatment apparatus <NUM> is capable of facilitating addressing different sensor-side communication standards, by changing a computer program in the conversion unit <NUM>. In addition, in a case where the air treatment apparatus <NUM> includes a plurality of sensors which are equal in communication standard to each other or a plurality of sensors some of which are different in communication standard from the remaining sensors, the air treatment apparatus <NUM> enables conversion corresponding to each communication standard and also enables identification of each sensor based on its address. The air treatment apparatus <NUM> is therefore capable of facilitating signal conversion according to a sensor. The main control unit <NUM> has no necessity of design change according to a difference in communication standard among the sensors.

In the case where the conversion unit includes the microcomputer, the conversion unit is connectable to the main control unit with one communication line (e.g., a flat cable or a multicore cable), which simplifies and facilitates construction.

<FIG> is a more specific diagram of the connection diagram of <FIG> and illustrates a second example. <FIG> illustrates only one of the sensor connections. As illustrated in <FIG>, the conversion unit <NUM> includes a single substrate, a conversion circuit <NUM> for I2C-to-UART conversion, and conversion circuits <NUM> and <NUM> for UART-to-LIN conversion. The conversion circuit <NUM> and the conversion circuits <NUM> and <NUM> are mounted on the single substrate. A signal output from the conversion circuit <NUM> for I2C-to-UART conversion is divided into two and then transmitted through two routes.

The conversion circuit <NUM> for I2C-to-UART conversion and the conversion circuit <NUM> for UART-to-LIN conversion are connected to each other with two transmission lines, through which a signal conforming to the UART is transmitted, on the substrate. Likewise, the conversion circuit <NUM> for I2C-to-UART conversion and the conversion circuit <NUM> for UART-to-LIN conversion are connected to each other with two transmission lines, through which a signal conforming to the UART is transmitted, on the substrate. The conversion circuit <NUM> for I2C-to-UART conversion is connected to the sensor <NUM> with communication lines <NUM> through which a signal conforming to the I2C is transmitted.

The main control unit <NUM> includes the single substrate, the microcomputer <NUM>, a conversion circuit 22b for UART-to-I2C conversion, two conversion circuits 22c and 22d for LIN-to-UART conversion, and input ports 2p1 and 2p2 for receiving sensor signals. The microcomputer <NUM>, the conversion circuit 22b, and the conversion circuits 22c and 22d are mounted on the single substrate. These conversion circuits 22b, 22c, and 22d each correspond to the interface circuit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

The conversion circuit 22b for UART-to-I2C conversion and the conversion circuit 22c for LIN-to-UART conversion are connected to each other with two transmission lines, through which a signal conforming to the UART is transmitted, on the substrate. Likewise, the conversion circuit 22b for UART-to-I2C conversion and the conversion circuit 22d for LIN-to-UART conversion are connected to each other with two transmission lines, through which a signal conforming to the UART is transmitted, on the substrate. The microcomputer <NUM> and the conversion circuit 22b are connected to each other with two transmission lines, through which a signal conforming to the I2C is transmitted, on the substrate.

The sensor-side conversion circuit <NUM> for UART-to-LIN conversion and the main control unit-side input port 2p1 connected to the conversion circuit 22c for LIN-to-UART conversion are connected to each other with a communication line 9a (e.g., a flat cable or a multicore cable) for the LIN. Likewise, the sensor-side conversion circuit <NUM> for UART-to-LIN conversion and the main control unit-side input port 2p2 connected to the conversion circuit 22d for LIN-to-UART conversion are connected to each other with a communication line 9b (e.g., a flat cable or a multicore cable) for the LIN.

According to the configuration illustrated in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> outputs a signal in conformity with the I2C, and then the conversion circuit <NUM> for I2C-to-UART conversion converts this signal into a signal conforming to the UART. The conversion circuits <NUM> and <NUM> for UART-to-LIN conversion convert the signals conforming to the UART into signals conforming to the LIN, and transmit the converted signals to the main control unit <NUM> through the communication lines 9a and 9b. In the main control unit <NUM>, the conversion circuits 22c and 22d for LIN-to-UART conversion convert the signals conforming to the LIN into signals conforming to the UART. The conversion circuit 22b receives the signals conforming to the UART via two routes, and converts the signals into signals conforming to the I2C. The microcomputer <NUM> then receives the signals conforming to the I2C.

As described above, the conversion unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> converts, with a hardware circuit, a signal output from the sensor and conforming to the I2C into a signal conforming to the LIN. In this case, the conversion unit <NUM> is used for only the sensor <NUM> for the I2C. This configuration however eliminates a necessity of software design to be required in a case where a microcomputer is used.

<FIG> is a connection diagram illustrating a second embodiment of an air treatment apparatus <NUM> from the viewpoint of sensor connections. The air treatment apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is different from the air treatment apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> in the following respects. That is, a conversion unit <NUM> and a sensor <NUM> are mounted on a single substrate or are accommodated in a single casing to constitute a sensor unit <NUM>. Likewise, a conversion unit <NUM> and a sensor <NUM> are mounted on a single substrate or are accommodated in a single casing to constitute a sensor unit <NUM>. As used herein, the definition "accommodated in a single casing" means that a conversion unit and a sensor are accommodated in, for example, a resin casing to constitute a single unit. This unitization causes the sensor <NUM> and the conversion unit <NUM> to come close to each other and to be fixed physically, thereby more effectively reducing an influence of external noise between the conversion unit <NUM> and the sensor <NUM>. The same applies to the sensor <NUM> and the conversion unit <NUM>.

A main control unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes an input port 2p for receiving an external signal conforming to the LIN, and input ports 2p3 and 2p4 for connecting sensors <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on an outer surface of a casing 1c or in the casing 1c. The input port 2p3 is a port for a signal conforming to the I2C, and is connected to a microcomputer <NUM>. The input port 2p4 is a port for a signal conforming to the UART, and is connected to the microcomputer <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is configured to output a signal in conformity with the I2C. The sensor <NUM> is configured to output a signal in conformity with the UART.

The input ports 2p3 and 2p4 enable direct connections between the main control unit <NUM> and the various sensors located near the main control unit <NUM>, in addition to connections between the main control unit <NUM> and the various sensors with the conversion units <NUM> and <NUM> interposed therebetween. The input ports 2p3 and 2p4 also enable sensor connections conforming to the communication standards of different types (e.g., I2C, UART) inside and outside the casing 1c.

<FIG> is a connection diagram illustrating a third embodiment of an air treatment apparatus <NUM> from the viewpoint of sensor connections. The air treatment apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is different from the air treatment apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> in a respect that a sensor-side conversion unit <NUM> has conversion functions compatible with different output types. For example, the conversion unit <NUM> is connected, in parallel, to multifunctional sensors <NUM> and <NUM> each configured to output a signal in conformity with the I2C, resistance change sensors <NUM> and <NUM> each configured to indicate a detection level based on a change in resistance, and a UART output sensor <NUM> configured to output a signal in conformity with the UART.

The conversion unit <NUM> can be manufactured with a hardware configuration only, but preferably includes a microcomputer. The use of the microcomputer enables conversion, by software, according to an output type of each sensor, and also enables identification of each sensor based on its address. This configuration thus enables connections of multiple sensors of the same type or different types to the conversion unit <NUM>.

The foregoing disclosure may be summarized and represented as follows. In the following, the term "first sensor" refers to, for example, each of the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> described in the foregoing embodiments. The term "second sensor" refers to, for example, each of the sensors <NUM> and <NUM>. The term "third sensor" refers to, for example, each of the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The term "conversion unit" refers to each of the conversion units <NUM> and <NUM> or the conversion unit <NUM> described in the foregoing embodiments. The term "first communication standard" refers to, for example, the I2C or the UART, which is a signal standard of a signal to be directly output from a sensor. The term "second communication standard" refers to, for example, the LIN, which is a signal standard higher in tolerance to noise than the "first communication standard". The term "first communication line" refers to, for example, the communication line <NUM> and <NUM>. The term "second communication line" refers to, for example, the communication line <NUM> or each of the communication lines 9a and 9b.

Disclosed above is an air treatment apparatus <NUM> for conditioning air or providing ventilation of air, the air treatment apparatus <NUM> including a casing 1c of an apparatus main body, a first sensor, a conversion unit, and a main control unit <NUM>. The first sensor is disposed outside the casing 1c and is configured to output a signal in conformity with a first communication standard. The conversion unit is configured to convert the signal output from the first sensor into a signal conforming to a second communication standard higher in tolerance to noise than the first communication standard and to output the signal thus converted. The main control unit <NUM> is disposed in the casing 1c and is configured to receive the signal output from the conversion unit.

In the air treatment apparatus <NUM> described above, the conversion unit allows the first sensor to output a signal in conformity with the first communication standard, and allows the main control unit <NUM> to receive a signal conforming to the second communication standard. The communication line for the second communication standard higher in tolerance to noise than the first communication standard is present on the communication line for signal transmission. This configuration therefore enables reduction in influence of external noise.

In a case where there are first sensors of different types and first communication standards of different types, the conversion unit is designed to be capable of addressing these first sensors and first communication standards, so that the main control unit <NUM> can be designed based on a common specification.

An influence of external noise can more effectively be reduced particularly when the second communication line from the conversion unit to the main control unit <NUM> is longer in length than the first communication line from the first sensor to the conversion unit.

For example, the conversion unit includes a microcomputer and converts, with the microcomputer, the signal conforming to the first communication standard into the signal conforming to the second communication standard. Since the conversion unit includes the microcomputer, the air treatment apparatus <NUM> is capable of facilitating addressing different sensor-side communication standards, by changing a computer program in the conversion unit. In addition, in a case where the air treatment apparatus <NUM> includes a plurality of sensors which are equal in communication standard to each other or a plurality of sensors some of which are different in communication standard from the remaining sensors, the air treatment apparatus <NUM> enables conversion corresponding to each communication standard and also enables identification of each sensor based on its address. The air treatment apparatus <NUM> is therefore capable of facilitating signal conversion according to a sensor. The main control unit <NUM> has no necessity of design change according to a difference in standard among the sensors.

In a case where the main control unit <NUM> includes an input port 2p for the second communication standard, the main control unit <NUM> is capable of receiving, through the input port 2p, the signal output from the conversion unit.

This configuration facilitates connecting the conversion unit and the main control unit <NUM> at on-site construction.

The conversion unit may convert, with a hardware circuit, the signal conforming to the first communication standard into the signal conforming to the second communication standard.

In this case, the conversion unit is used for only the specific first sensor. This configuration however eliminates a necessity of software design to be required in a case where a microcomputer is used.

The air treatment apparatus <NUM> may further include second sensors each disposed on or in the casing 1c and configured to output a signal in conformity with the first communication standard. The main control unit <NUM> includes input ports 2p3 and 2p4 to be connected to the second sensors.

This configuration enables direct connections between the main control unit <NUM> and the various sensors located near the main control unit <NUM>, in addition to connections between the main control unit <NUM> and the various sensors with conversion units interposed therebetween. This configuration also enables sensor connections conforming to the first communication standards of different types inside and outside the casing 1c.

The conversion unit and the first sensor may constitute a single sensor unit.

In this case, specifically, the conversion unit and the first sensor are mounted on a single substrate or are accommodated in a single casing. This configuration thus causes the conversion unit and the first sensor to come close to each other and to be fixed physically, thereby more effectively reducing an influence of external noise between the conversion unit and the first sensor.

A third sensor (e.g., the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in <FIG>) configured to output a signal in conformity with the first communication standard may be connected to a conversion unit <NUM> in parallel with the first sensor (e.g., the sensors <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>).

This configuration thus enables connections of multiple sensors of the same type or different types to the conversion unit.

The foregoing casing 1c has been described as the casing of the indoor unit <NUM>. However, a base body that accepts the same sensor connections may be a casing of an outdoor unit or a casing of an indoor unit and outdoor unit-integrated air conditioner.

In each of the foregoing embodiments, the communication standard such as the LIN may be a controller area network (CAN).

In each of the foregoing embodiments, the indoor unit of the air conditioner has been exemplified as an air treatment apparatus; however, the same sensor connections are applicable to a ventilation device.

Claim 1:
An air treatment apparatus for conditioning air or providing ventilation of air, the air treatment apparatus comprising:
a casing (1c) of an apparatus main body;
a first sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a conversion unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
a main control unit (<NUM>) disposed in the casing (1c) and configured to receive the signal output from the conversion unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
characterized by
the first sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) being disposed outside the casing (1c) and configured to output a signal in conformity with a first communication standard and
the conversion unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) being configured to convert the signal output from the first sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) into a signal conforming to a second communication standard higher in tolerance to noise than the first communication standard and to output the signal thus converted.