DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 .

[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a management system for an air conditioner. Referring to FIG. 1, a personal computer 100 used as a monitoring apparatus is connected via a converter unit 200 to an air conditioner 300 to be monitored or controlled.

[0026] The air conditioner 300 has a plurality of outdoor machines 301 , a refrigerator or chiller machine 302 and a plurality of indoor machines, respectively interconnected by transmission paths via which data is transferred to control these machines. The outdoor machine 301 includes a compressor whose capacity is controlled by varying a drive frequency, for example, by an inverter, an outdoor heat exchanger, an electronic expansion valve and the like. A pressure sensor for detecting a discharge gas pressure and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature are mounted on a discharge pipe of the compressor. The indoor machine has an indoor heat exchanger and an electronic expansion valve, and is connected to the outdoor machine via a refrigerant circulating path to constitute a refrigerating cycle.

[0027] The start/stop, running mode, air quantity, temperature and the like of the air conditioner can be controlled by using a remote controller or centralized controller connected to the air conditioner. For example, when a cool running is designated by the remote controller, a condensation temperature is calculated from a pressure value detected with the pressure sensor of the outdoor machine and compared with a temperature detected with the temperature sensor. From this comparison result, a total opening degree of electronic expansion valves corresponding to an optimum refrigerant quantity is calculated, and in accordance with this total opening degree, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve of each indoor machine is controlled. During a high load operation, the inverter controls the compressor to run it at high rotation speed, and as the load reduces, the inverter controls the compressor to run it at lower rotation speed.

[0028] The personal computer 100 is connected to the converter unit 200 via a USB (universal serial bus) 400 , and the converter unit 200 is connected to the air conditioner 300 via a transmission path 401 . The converter unit 200 has transmission software 201 for data transfer to and from the personal computer 100 via USB 400 , PAC transmission software 203 for data transfer to and from the air conditioner 300 , and a converter 202 for data conversion between the personal computer and air conditioner. Since the converter unit 200 uses an USB interface, as shown in FIG. 4 peripheral apparatus of the personal computer 100 such as a keyboard 705 , a mouse 704 and a printer 706 can be simply installed and disconnected by using an USB hub 703 without turning off the power supply of the personal computer 100 , and the newly installed apparatus can be automatically detected (Hot Plug, and Plug & Play). Since the converter unit 200 uses the USB interface, its power can be supplied from USB.

[0029] The personal computer 100 has: a database 110 ; a device driver 130 for data transfer to and from the converter unit 200 by USB; a software engine 120 and an application programs 141 to 143 which use the database 110 . The database 110 stores therein running data of the air conditioner (e.g., temperatures, pressures and the like of main components during the refrigerating cycle, such as suction pressure, discharge pressure, compressor upper temperature, outdoor machine expansion valve opening degree, indoor machine expansion value opening degree, compressor current, compressor frequency, outdoor temperature, evaporation temperature, suction temperature, blow-off temperature, freezing temperature, requested frequency, gas tube temperature, and setting temperature). The software engine 120 collects running data and control data of each machine via the device driver 130 and transfers data to and from the database 110 .

[0030] Each application accesses the database 110 to monitor and control the air conditioner. If the application requires data of the air conditioner 300 , the application accesses a status database 111 of the database 110 to acquire the data and monitor the air conditioner from the acquired data. When the application controls the air conditioner 300 , control contents in a setting database 112 of the database 110 are rewritten so that the application can control an indoor machine of a desired No. in a desired series (such as start/stop, running mode, air quantity, temperature and louver position, respectively settable with a remote controller). By limiting the access conditions to the database, each application is permitted to perform particular functions, such as only monitor for an application A and both monitor and control for an application B.

[0031] The engine 120 transmits a basic format request message to each machine connected to the transmission path 401 via the device driver 130 and converter unit 200 , at a predetermined interval, e.g., regularly (at interval of one minute), receives the running data and control data of each machine. When data in the setting data field 112 changes, the changed data is converted into a control message which is transmitted to the transmission path 401 via the device driver 130 and converter unit 200 .

[0032] The engine 120 derives a data field from a message acquired via the transmission path 401 and stores it in the status database having the structure shown in FIG. 8 . Referring to FIG. 8 , as shown in the upper area of FIG. 8 , the database of the indoor machine is arranged by using a series No. representative of which outdoor machine the indoor machine is connected and a machine No. in the series. Machine type information and data of the basic format are stored in respective fields of the database. Similarly, as shown in the middle and lower areas of FIG. 8 , the databases of the outdoor machine and regenerative unit are arranged by using the series No. and machine No.

[0033] A message on the transmission path 401 has the format such as shown in FIG. 5 . Each message has essentially a header field and error checking data, and data of the remaining 40 bytes is set in the form specific to each machine. Since each machine has a unique series No. and a unique machine No., it is possible to transmit a message (called an individual message) to a specific machine by setting information (ID code, type code, source series No., source machine No., destination series No., destination machine No.) in the header field. If FFh is set to the destination machine No. field, a message (called a broadcast message) can be transmitted to all machines without limiting the destination.

[0034] Each machine connected to the transmission path 401 transmits a response message in response to a request message and change data under the condition of, e.g., a predetermined interval. The response message in response to a current control data request message (basic format request message) received from another machine, e.g., a response message from an indoor machine to an outdoor machine, has the basic format such as shown in FIG. 6 .

[0035] When control data under management of each machine changes (e.g., when a blow-off temperature at an indoor machine changes or when an alarm is detected), the change data is transmitted. As shown in FIG. 7 , the change data is a set of the position of the data: 09 (the change position, the eighth byte in FIG. 7 ), which is counted from the tenth byte of the basic format disregarding from the first byte to the ninth byte, and the change data contents: the blow-off temperature (the ninth byte in FIG. 7 ). When a plurality of the data change simultaneously, the change data can be transmitted up to 20 .

[0036] Each outdoor machine requests the basic format to the indoor machine by transmitting the request message at a predetermined interval. Between an indoor machine and an outdoor machine, control data is exchanged by using the basic format and change data. The control information includes information on suction pressure, discharge pressure, compressor upper temperature, outdoor machine expansion valve opening degree, indoor machine expansion valve opening degree, compressor current, compressor frequency, outdoor temperature, evaporation temperature, suction temperature, blow-off temperature, freezing temperature, requested frequency, gas tube temperature, and setting temperature. In accordance with the exchanged control data, a microcomputer mounted on a control board of each machine determines the control contents to control the machine.

[0037] Between an indoor machine and a centralized controller, control information is exchanged by using the basic format and change data. The control information includes information on start/stop, running mode, air quantity, temperature, louver position, suction temperature, blow-off temperature, alarm and the like). The centralized controller displays control data collected from each indoor machine to a user, and transmits setting values entered by a user to each indoor machine.

[0038] In accordance with the setting values, a microcomputer mounted on a control board of each indoor machine determines the control contents to control each indoor machine.

[0039] If the acquired data is the basic format, the engine 120 overwrites and updates the data in a storage area of the machine, whereas if the acquired data is the change data, it overwrites and updates only the change data in a storage area of the basic format.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation window displayed by the application programs 140 to 143 . A user registers beforehand each group of a plurality of air conditioners by using a group No. A start/stop button 504 with its group name is displayed on the window in the unit of a group. When this button is clicked with a mouse, a start/stop instruction for this group is written in the setting database 112 to start controlling the group. Namely, when the instruction is written, a change in data of the setting database 112 is notified to the engine 120 . The engine 120 converts the change data into a control message and transmits it over the transmission path 401 via the device driver 130 and converter unit 200 . In accordance with the transmitted message, indoor and outdoor machines belonging to the corresponding group are controlled by corresponding microcomputers.

[0041] However, the data to be transmitted is limited, for example, to those data for setting the start/stop, running mode, air quantity and temperature of the air conditioners, so that the drive frequency of a compressor of the outdoor machine and the opening degrees of the expansion valves of indoor and outdoor machines are protected so as not to be controlled. With this protection, it is possible to control the air conditioner so as not to become outside of the initial settings of necessary functions of the air conditioner, such as the drive frequency thereof.

[0042] Start/stop of all air conditioners can be controlled by an all series collective start button 501 or an all series collective stop button 502 .

[0043] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example an operation window displayed by the application programs 140 to 143 at each air conditioner. A user selects a desired air conditioner to be controlled, by using a series select menu 601 and a machine select menu 602 . The selected air conditioner can be set to a desired running state by using buttons such as a temperature button 603 , an air quantity button 604 , a louver position button 605 , a running mode button 606 , a start-stop button 607 , a remote controller permission/inhibition button 608 .

[0044] The running condition settings are performed for temperature, running mode, air quantity, louver and the like. The set temperature is displayed by a numerical value which can be changed by clicking up/down buttons. The running condition is set by clicking displayed buttons such as for air blow-off, cool, heat, dry and auto. The air quantity is set by clicking displayed buttons such as for auto, gentle, strong, and rapid. For the louver setting, buttons such as for auto and set are provided and a simulated image representative of the louver direction is displayed. When the air direction is to be set, the set button is clicked while the simulated image changes with the actual motion of the indoor machine louver. As the set button is clicked, the simulated image stops and this direction corresponds to the actual direction of the louver. For the remote controller permission/inhibition setting 608 and the like, as shown in FIG. 3 , items including all functions, running stop, running switch, air quantity, temperature, and louver are displayed and corresponding permission/inhibition buttons are provided.

[0045] If the currently set items are required to be displayed, the application reads the data in the status database 111 and displays it on the window. If a process of converting data in the database of the air conditioner into data compatible with the standard protocol such as BACnet is provided, the platform can be easily transmitted to an open network environment.

[0046] Particular measurement values and control amounts are derived from the database to edit and display them as a table, graph or the like. The cycle state of an air conditioner is automatically analyzed from acquired data to display the analysis results and control methods to a user.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4 , the personal computer 100 as the monitor apparatus is connected to the Internet to which a terminal equipment 700 , a cellar phone 701 (or personal digital assistance (PDA) and a monitor center 702 are connected. The cellar phone 701 can receive a mail and browse home pages. The monitor center 702 analyzes and monitors running data to detect any abnormality and perform maintenance and check of the management system. The terminal equipment 700 , cellar phone 701 and monitor center 702 read running data and update the setting data. If the personal computer 100 is used as a Web server having the status database 111 and setting database 112 written in the hyper text format, another personal computer 700 , cellar phone 701 and the like having a browser can browse-data of the air conditioner and can control it. With this arrangement, data can be received quickly and shared not only by users of the air conditioner but also by building owner, maintenance person, maintenance company, maintenance and management section, design section, development section. Highly sophisticated and proper services can be provided quickly.

[0048] The status database 111 and setting database 112 may be provided not to the personal computer 100 but to the monitor center 702 . In this case, the personal computer 100 may be used as a client and the monitor center 702 is used as a Web server and database server to constitute a three-hierarchical-level Web system. By using a simple three-hierarchical-level system, development tools can be provided abundantly so that an application development efficiency of users can be improved and multimedia such as images, graphs, audio and video data can be processed more easily. If the client personal computer 100 provided with a Web browser transfers data in the HTML or XML format to and from the Web server monitor center 702 and the monitor center 702 stores Java applets, then it is possible to download data to the personal computer 100 via HTTP and allow the personal computer 100 to perform more sophisticated data processing and display. If the monitor center 702 is allowed to inquire the state database 111 or setting database 112 by using CGI, the Web browser personal computer 100 can form a more interactive Web page.

[0049] The application program refers only the database and updates control data. Therefore, different application fields such as a monitor dedicated system, a control dedicated system and a maintenance dedicated system can be easily realized only through alteration or version-up of the application without changing the hardware and software configuration. If the database and its specification are made public (sold), each user can develop a desired application.

[0050] Since a portion to be changed when a new type of an air conditioner is added can be reduced, the time required for such change can be shortened and management of data specific to each machine type becomes easy. The maintenance performance of the management system itself can therefore be improved.

[0051] As described so far, according to the embodiment, an open network environment and a multi vendor system for an air conditioner such as a multi air conditioner can be realized so that management and services can be made highly efficient and a management system excellent in system expendability, maintenance and reliability can be provided.