U.S. patent application number 17/051505 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-05 for remote control for air-conditioning apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Invention is credited to Shota KAMIYA.
Application Number | 20210239343 17/051505 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005538158 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210239343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KAMIYA; Shota |
August 5, 2021 |
REMOTE CONTROL FOR AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS
Abstract
A remote control for an air-conditioning apparatus that includes
an outdoor unit and an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit by
a pipe to condition air in an indoor room, the remote control being
configured to bi-directionally communicate with the indoor unit,
the remote control comprising: a first segment display part in
which two or more seven-segments are arranged; a second segment
display part in which two or more seven-segments are arranged; and
a controller, wherein, in a failure mode in which a failure in
either the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is diagnosed, the
controller makes the first segment display part display a
transmission code indicating which of the outdoor unit and the
indoor unit is diagnosed to thereby identify a failure, and makes
the second segment display part display an error code representing
diagnosis content for the outdoor unit or the indoor unit.
Inventors: |
KAMIYA; Shota; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005538158 |
Appl. No.: |
17/051505 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
June 22, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2018/023884 |
371 Date: |
October 29, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/58 20180101;
F24F 11/38 20180101; F24F 11/523 20180101; F24F 11/61 20180101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/38 20060101
F24F011/38; F24F 11/523 20060101 F24F011/523; F24F 11/58 20060101
F24F011/58; F24F 11/61 20060101 F24F011/61 |
Claims
1. A remote control for an air-conditioning apparatus, the remote
control being used for the air-conditioning apparatus that includes
an outdoor unit and an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit by
a pipe to condition air in an indoor room, the remote control being
configured to bi-directionally communicate with the indoor unit,
the remote control comprising: a first segment display part in
which two or more seven-segments are arranged; a second segment
display part in which two or more seven-segments are arranged; and
a controller, wherein, in a failure mode in which a failure in
either the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is diagnosed, the
controller makes the first segment display part display a
transmission code indicating which of the outdoor unit and the
indoor unit is diagnosed to thereby identify a failure, and makes
the second segment display part display an error code being sent
from the indoor unit and representing diagnosis content for the
outdoor unit or the indoor unit.
2. The remote control for the air-conditioning apparatus of claim
1, wherein the second segment display part is larger than the first
segment display part.
3. The remote control for the air-conditioning apparatus of claim
1, wherein, in a normal mode in which the air-conditioning
apparatus performs air-conditioning operation, the controller makes
the second segment display part display a set temperature for the
indoor unit.
4. The remote control for the air-conditioning apparatus of claim
1, wherein, in a normal mode in which the air-conditioning
apparatus performs air-conditioning operation, the controller makes
the first segment display part display a current time or a timer
time.
5. The remote control for the air-conditioning apparatus of claim
1, to comprising: a wind speed display part having a plurality of
segments to display speed of air sent by the indoor unit; and a
wind direction display part having a plurality of segments to
display a direction of the air sent by the indoor unit, wherein the
controller makes all the segments of the wind speed display part
and the wind direction display part light up during the failure
mode.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a remote control for an
air-conditioning apparatus that communicates bi-directionally with
an indoor unit.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Hitherto, for the purpose of controlling the operation of an
air-conditioning apparatus, indoor units and remote controls in
related-art air-conditioning apparatuses bi-directionally
communicate with each other to transmit and receive information
about room temperature and other operating status. If the user
suspects that an outdoor unit or an indoor unit may have failed,
the user sends a command to an indoor unit from a remote control to
diagnose the failure of an outdoor unit or an indoor unit. Then,
the indoor unit sends an error code indicating the content of the
failure and the remote control displays the received error code. At
this time, the remote control also displays a transmission code
indicating which of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit is to be
diagnosed. That is, the remote control is required to display a
transmission code and an error code. Patent Literature 1 discloses
a remote control for an air-conditioning apparatus in which a dot
matrix display part is provided in a part of a liquid crystal
display screen.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2007-101174
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] Since the remote control for an air-conditioning apparatus
disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has a dot matrix display part, the
remote control can display a transmission code and an error code.
However, in the dot matrix display part, the wiring of the
substrate is complicated, and hence an arithmetic element is
increased in size, resulting in an increase in size of the remote
control. In addition, the dot matrix display part is more expensive
than the segment display part in which printing is performed in
advance on a part to be displayed.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the problems
mentioned above, and an object thereof is to provide a remote
control for an air-conditioning apparatus that can display a
transmission code and an error code even if an increase in size is
suppressed by using a segment display part that is less expensive
than the dot matrix display part.
Solution to Problem
[0006] The remote control for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is the remote
control used for the air-conditioning apparatus that includes an
outdoor unit and an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit by a
pipe to condition air in an indoor room, the remote control being
configured to bi-directionally communicate with the indoor unit,
the remote control comprising: a first segment display part in
which two or more seven-segments are arranged; a second segment
display part in which two or more seven-segments are arranged; and
a controller, wherein, in a failure mode in which a failure in
either the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is diagnosed, the
controller makes the first segment display part display a
transmission code indicating which of the outdoor unit and the
indoor unit is diagnosed to thereby identify a failure, and makes
the second segment display part display an error code being sent
from the indoor unit and representing diagnosis content for the
outdoor unit or the indoor unit.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0007] According to the present disclosure, the controller makes
the first segment display part display the transmission code and
makes the second segment display part display the error code in the
failure mode. As described above, the remote control for an
air-conditioning apparatus can display the transmission code and
the error code even if the segment display part, which is less
expensive than the dot matrix display part, is used to prevent the
segment display part from increasing in size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating an air-conditioning
apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an indoor unit 2
and a remote control 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration of the air-conditioning
apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an operating part 5
of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of
the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a display 4 in the
normal mode of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the display 4 in the
failure mode of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the display 4 in the
failure mode of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation in the
failure mode of the remote control 1 according to Embodiment 1 of
the present disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the remote control for the
air-conditioning apparatus according to the present disclosure will
be described referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram
illustrating the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the
air-conditioning apparatus 100 is a device that conditions air in
an indoor space, and includes an outdoor unit 6, an indoor unit 2
capable of communicating with the outdoor unit 6, and a remote
control 1. The outdoor unit 6 is provided with a compressor 71, a
flow passage switching device 72, an outdoor heat exchanger 73, an
outdoor fan 74 and an expansion device 75. The indoor unit 2 is
provided with an indoor heat exchanger 76 and an indoor fan 77.
[0017] The compressor 71, the flow passage switching device 72, the
outdoor heat exchanger 73, the expansion device 75 and the indoor
heat exchanger 76 are connected by pipes to form a refrigerant
circuit 70. The compressor 71 is configured to suction a
refrigerant in a low-temperature and low-pressure state, and
decompress the suctioned refrigerant to turn it to be a
high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant and discharge. The
flow passage switching device 72 is configured to switch the
direction in which refrigerant flows in the refrigerant circuit 70,
and is a four-way valve, for example. The outdoor heat exchanger 73
causes, for example, heat exchange to be performed between the
outdoor air and the refrigerant. The outdoor heat exchanger 73
serves as a condenser during the cooling operation, and serves as
an evaporator during the heating operation.
[0018] The outdoor fan 74 is a device configured to send outdoor
air to the outdoor heat exchanger 73. The expansion device 75 is a
pressure reducing valve or an expansion valve configured to
decompress and expand refrigerant. The expansion device 75 is, for
example, an electronic expansion valve of which the opening degree
is adjusted. The indoor heat exchanger 76 is, for example, one that
causes heat exchange to be performed between the indoor air and the
refrigerant. The indoor heat exchanger 76 serves as an evaporator
during the cooling operation and serves as a condenser during the
heating operation. The indoor fan 77 is a device configured to send
the indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger 76.
(Operation Mode, Cooling Operation)
[0019] Next, the operation modes of the air-conditioning apparatus
100 will be described. First, the cooling operation will be
explained. In the cooling operation, refrigerant which is suctioned
into the compressor 71 is compressed by the compressor 71 and is
discharged in a high-pressure and high-temperature gaseous state.
The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant
discharged from the compressor 71 passes through the flow passage
switching device 72, and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 73
serving as a condenser. The refrigerant condenses and liquefies in
the outdoor heat exchanger 73 through heat exchange with the
outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan 74. The condensed liquid state
refrigerant flows into the expansion device 75, and is expanded and
decompressed to be two-phase, low-temperature and low-pressure
gas-liquid refrigerant. Then, the two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant
flows into the indoor heat exchanger 76 serving as an evaporator.
In the indoor heat exchanger 76, the refrigerant evaporates and
gasifies through heat exchange with the indoor air sent by the
indoor fan 77. At this time, the indoor air is cooled, whereby
cooling is performed in the room. The evaporated low-temperature,
low-pressure gaseous refrigerant passes through the flow passage
switching device 72 and is suctioned into the compressor 71.
(Operation Mode, Heating Operation)
[0020] Next, the heating operation will be described. In the
heating operation, the refrigerant suctioned into the compressor 71
is compressed by the compressor 71 and is discharged in a
high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous state. The
high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged
from the compressor 71 passes through the flow passage switching
device 72 and flows into the indoor heat exchanger 76 serving as a
condenser. In the indoor heat exchanger 76, the refrigerant
condenses and liquefies through heat exchange with the indoor air
sent by the indoor fan 77. At this time, the indoor air is heated,
whereby heating is performed in the room. The condensed liquid
state refrigerant flows into the expansion device 75, and is
expanded and depressurized to be the low-temperature and
low-pressure two-phase refrigerant. Then, the two-phase gas-liquid
refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 73 serving as an
evaporator, and in the outdoor heat exchanger 73, the refrigerant
evaporates and gasifies through heat exchanged with the outdoor air
sent by the outdoor fan 74. The evaporated low-temperature,
low-pressure gaseous refrigerant passes through the flow passage
switching device 72 and is suctioned into the compressor 71.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the indoor unit 2
and the remote control 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure. The remote control 1 performs bi-directional
communication with the indoor unit 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the
remote control 1 transmits and receives data to and from the indoor
unit 2 via the filters 3 provided in the remote control 1. In
Embodiment 1, the remote control 1 has a normal mode and a failure
mode as built-in modes. The normal mode is a mode used when the
air-conditioning apparatus 100 performs the cooling operation or
the heating operation. The failure mode is a mode used when
diagnosing the failure of the outdoor unit 6 or the indoor unit 2.
If there is a possibility that the outdoor unit 6 or the indoor
unit 2 has failed, when the user sends a command from the remote
control 1 to the indoor unit 2 to diagnose the failure of the
outdoor unit 6 or the indoor unit 2, the remote control 1 switches
from the normal mode to the failure mode.
[0022] The remote control 1 and the indoor unit 2 communicate using
signals relating to air conditioning. By the
air-conditioning-related signals, for example, an operation
switching command for switching between the cooling operation and
the heating operation, air conditioning-related information such as
information of the set temperature and the temperature of the room
measured by the air-conditioning apparatus 100 are transmitted. For
example, if the heating operation is performed, when the user
presses the operation switching button of the remote control 1, the
remote control 1 transmits the indoor unit 2 the operation
switching command for switching from the heating operation to the
cooling operation as an air conditioning-related signal. The indoor
unit 2 receives the air conditioning-related signal of the
operation switching command, the air-conditioning apparatus 100
switches from the heating operation to the cooling operation.
[0023] FIG. 3 is the hardware configuration of the air-conditioning
apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit 2 has an indoor side
transmitting and receiving unit 20 and an indoor side control
device 23. The indoor side transmitting and receiving unit 20 is
configured to transmit and receive information to and from the
remote control 1, and includes an indoor side transmitting unit 21,
and an indoor side receiving unit 22. The indoor side transmitting
unit 21 includes a light emitting diode, which is a transmitting
module. The light emitting diode transmits air conditioning-related
signals by combining emission and non-emission of infrared rays.
The indoor side receiving unit 22 has a photodiode, which is a
receiving module. The photodiode receives infrared rays emitted by
the light emitting diode, to thereby generate an electric signal
corresponding to emission ad non-emission of infrared rays. The
indoor side control device 23 transmits an electric signal that
makes the light emitting diodes of the indoor side transmitting
unit 21 emit and not emit infrared rays. Further, the indoor side
control device 23 receives an electric signal from the indoor side
receiving unit 22.
[0024] The remote control 1 includes a remote control-side
transmitting and receiving unit 10, an operation unit 5, a display
4, and a controller 13. The remote control side transmitting and
receiving unit 10 is configured to transmit and receive information
to and from the indoor unit 2, and includes a remote control side
transmitting part 11 and a remote control side receiving part 12.
The remote control side transmitting part 11 has a light emitting
diode, which is a transmission module. The light emitting diode
transmits the air conditioning-related signal by combining the
emission and non-emission of infrared rays. The remote control side
receiving part 12 has a photodiode, which is a receiving module.
The photodiode receives the infrared light emitted by the light
emitting diode, to thereby generate an electrical signal
corresponding to emission and non-emission of infrared rays.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the operating part 5
of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of
the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the operating part 5
includes an operation stop button 44, a temperature setting button
40, a wind speed setting button 41, a wind direction setting button
42, a timer-on button 45, a timer-off button 46, a time setting
button 43, and a failure mode button 47. The operation stop button
44 is a button configured to command the air-conditioning apparatus
100 to run or stop running. The temperature setting button 40 is a
button configured to set the temperature of the indoor unit 2.
[0026] The wind speed setting button 41 is a button configured to
set the speed of the air sent to the room by the indoor unit 2. The
wind direction setting button 42 is a button configured to set the
direction of the air sent by the indoor unit 2 to the room. The
timer-on button 45 is a button configured to set a turn-on timer
that enables the air-conditioning apparatus 100 to automatically
start the operation at a set time. The timer-off button 46 is a
button configured to set a turn-off timer that enables the
air-conditioning apparatus 100 to automatically stop the operation
at a set time. The time setting button 43 is a button configured to
set a time for either of the turn-on timer and the turn-off
timer.
[0027] The failure mode button 47 is a button that can be pressed
by only a thing with a narrow tip, and when pressed, the remote
control 1 enters the failure mode. Incidentally, in Embodiment 1, a
case of using the failure mode button 47 is exemplified. However,
as long as it has a function of preventing an erroneous operation,
the failure mode button may have other configurations. For example,
the remote control 1 may be switched to the failure mode by
multiple pressing by the user, i.e. pressing a plurality of buttons
simultaneously. Further, the remote control 1 may be switched to
the failure mode by pressing plurality of buttons in a
predetermined order by the user.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the display 4 in the
normal mode of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the
display 4 is, for example, a segmented liquid crystal display in
which image pixels and a transparent electrode identical with the
image pixels are printed. The display 4 includes a first segment
display part 54, a second segment display part 50, a wind speed
display part 51, and a wind direction display part 55. The first
segment display part 54 has two or more seven-segments being
arranged, and displays the current time or the timer time. In FIG.
5, the time "12:24" is displayed as an example of the first segment
display part 54.
[0029] The second segment display part 50 has two seven-segments
being arranged, and displays the set temperatures of the indoor
unit 2. Here, the second segment display part 50 is larger than the
first segment display part 54. As a result, the user can easily see
the set temperatures of the indoor unit 2. It should be noted that
the second segment display part 50 may have two or more
seven-segments being arranged. In FIG. 5, the set temperature of
"22.degree. C." is displayed as an example of the second segment
display part 50.
[0030] The wind speed display part 51 displays the velocity of the
air sent by the indoor unit 2 to the room. The wind direction
display part 55 displays the direction of the air sent by the
indoor unit to the room. The wind direction display part 55 has a
vertical direction display part 52 and a horizontal direction
display part 53. The vertical direction display part 52 displays
the wind direction perpendicular to the indoor unit 2. The
horizontal direction display part 53 displays the wind direction in
the horizontal direction relative to the indoor unit 2.
[0031] The controller 13 transmits an electric signal to make the
light emitting diode of the remote control side transmitting part
11 emit or not emit infrared rays. Further, the controller 13
receives an electric signal from the remote control side receiving
part 12. Here, when the user sends to the indoor unit 2 a command
to diagnose a failure of the outdoor unit 6 or the indoor unit 2
from the remote control 1, an error code indicating the content of
the diagnosis is transmitted from the indoor unit 2, and the remote
control 1 displays the received error code.
[0032] When the remote control 1 transmits a transmission code for
diagnosing the failure of the indoor unit 2, the indoor unit 2
immediately diagnoses its own failure condition and transmits an
error code indicating the diagnosis result to the remote control 1.
On the other hand, when the remote control 1 transmits a
transmission code for diagnosing a failure of the outdoor unit 6,
the indoor unit 2 communicates with the outdoor unit 6. The outdoor
unit 6 diagnoses its own failure condition and sends the diagnosis
result to the indoor unit 2. Upon receiving the diagnosis result of
the outdoor unit 6, the indoor unit 2 transmits an error code
indicating the diagnosis result of the outdoor unit 6 to the remote
control 1. Therefore, diagnosing the outdoor unit 6 takes a little
longer time than diagnosing the indoor unit 2 since the remote
control requires to communicate with the indoor unit 2 and the
outdoor unit 3.
[0033] The remote control 1 also displays a transmission code
indicating which of the outdoor unit 6 and the indoor unit 2 should
be diagnosed. In this Embodiment 1, the transmission code is, for
example, "25" when diagnosing the failure of the outdoor unit 6,
and "24" when diagnosing the failure of the indoor unit 2, but the
transmission code can be changed as appropriate. Transmission codes
may be set for individual functions other than diagnosis of the
failure in either of the outdoor unit 6 and the indoor unit 2. When
the remote control 1 enters the failure mode, the controller 13
partially changes the functions of the operating unit 5. For
example, in the failure mode, the controller 13 changes the
operation stop button 44 to a button for transmitting a
transmission code. In the failure mode, the controller 13 changes
the wind speed setting button 41, the wind direction setting button
42, and the time setting button 43 to buttons for setting
transmission codes.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the display 4 in the
failure mode of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. When the remote control 1
enters the failure mode, the controller 13 partially changes the
functions of the display 4. As shown in FIG. 6, the controller 13
displays the transmission codes on the first segment display part
54 in the failure mode. In FIG. 6, a transmission code "24" for
diagnosing a failure of the indoor unit 2 is displayed. Further,
the controller 13 makes all the segments of the wind speed display
part 51 and the wind direction display part 55 light up. FIG. 6
shows the display 4 in the state before the transmission of the
transmission code by the remote control 1, and no numerical value
is displayed on the second segment display part 50.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the display 4 in the
failure mode of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7, the
controller 13 displays an error code on the second segment display
part 50 in the failure mode. In FIG. 7, for example, the error code
"82" is displayed. In FIG. 7, after transmitting the transmission
code, the remote control 1 receives the error code transmitted from
the indoor unit 2, thereby displaying the error code on the second
segment display part 50.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the
remote control 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure in the failure mode. Next, the operation of the remote
control 1 in the failure mode will be described. If the user
determines that a failure needs to be diagnosed, as shown in FIG.
8, the user presses the failure mode button 47 (step S101). At this
stage, the remote control 1 enters the failure mode, but the remote
control 1 does not immediately transmit signals to the indoor unit
2.
[0037] When the user presses the failure mode button 47, the remote
control 1 enters the failure mode, and the operating unit 5 and the
display 4 function as they function in the failure mode (step
S102). The displays other than the wind speed display part 5, the
wind direction display part 55 and the first segment display part
54 are turned off. As a result, it is possible to allow the user to
recognize that the remote control is in the failure mode. The
second segment display part 50 is also turned off.
[0038] Next, the controller 13 determines whether the user has
pressed any button (step S103), and returns to step S102 if the
button has not been pressed. When the user presses one of the
buttons, the controller 13 determines whether the pressed button is
the wind speed setting button 41, the wind direction setting button
42, and the time setting button 43 for setting the transmission
code (step S104). If the pressed button is not the wind speed
setting button 41, the wind direction setting button 42 or the time
setting button 43, the controller 13 clears the failure mode, and a
reset operation is performed (step S105). When the pressed button
is the wind speed setting button 41, the wind direction setting
button 42, or the time setting button 43, the transmission code
displayed on the first segment display part 54 is set to "24" or
"25".+-.1. That is, when the wind speed setting button 41, the wind
direction setting button 42 or the time setting button 43 is
pressed, the transmission code is increased or decreased by 1. When
the user presses the operation stop button 44, the remote control 1
transmits a transmission code to the indoor unit 2 (step S106). At
this time, the remote control 1 transmits a transmission request
signal to the indoor unit 2 to request to return an error code.
[0039] Then, the controller 13 counts the time, and if an error
code is not returned from the indoor unit 2 before the
predetermined reception wait set time elapses (step S107), the
controller 13 displays a transmission/reception error code on the
second segment display part 50 (step S108). If the error code is
received from indoor unit 2 before the reception wait set time
elapses, the controller 13 determines whether or not the error code
is data that is set in advance relating to the transmitted code
(step S109). If the error code differs from the data that is set in
advance relating to the transmission code, the controller 13
displays the transmission/reception error code on the second
segment display part 50 (step S108). On the other hand, if the
error code does not differ from the data that is set in advance
relating to the transmission code, the controller 13 collates the
error code with a signal that is set in advance, and displays the
error code on the second segment display part 50 (step S110).
[0040] According to Embodiment 1, in the failure mode, the
controller 13 makes the first segment display part 54 display the
transmission code and makes the second segment display part 50
display the error code. As described above, the remote control 1 of
the air-conditioning apparatus 100 can display the transmission
code and the error code even if an increase in size of the remote
control 1 is suppressed by using the segment display part which is
less expensive than the dot matrix display part. Thus, it is
possible to reduce the size of the wiring and the components, and
as a result, the entire remote control 1 can be reduced in size.
Accordingly, the user can obtain and use the remote control 1
having the same function at a low cost. Since the second segment
display part 50 is larger than the first segment display part 54,
the user can easily see the error code displayed on the second
segment display part 50.
[0041] In this Embodiment 1, when the remote control 1 enters the
failure mode, the remote control 1 does not transmit the
transmission code to the indoor unit 2 until the user presses the
operation stop button 44. However, this is not restrictive, and
when the remote control 1 enters the failure mode, the remote
control 1 may automatically transmit the transmission code to the
indoor unit 2. In this case, it is preferable that the default
transmission code to be transmitted be, for example, a transmission
code for diagnosing a failure of the indoor unit 2. This is because
diagnosis of the failure of the indoor unit 2 completes more
quickly than the diagnosis of the failure of the outdoor unit 6
since the communication between the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor
unit 6 is omitted. After the remote control 1 sends the indoor unit
2 a transmission code for diagnosing the failure in the indoor unit
2 and receives an error code, the user may change it a transmission
code for diagnosing the failure in the outdoor unit 6 and the
remote control 1 may send the transmission code to the indoor unit
2 again.
[0042] In this Embodiment 1, a case is exemplified in which the
display 4 has a plurality of segment display part, but the display
4 may have a dot matrix display part. In this case, the controller
13 switches a plurality of kinds of operation information sent from
the indoor unit 2 to let the dot matrix display part display the
plurality of kinds of operation information sequentially. Further,
in Embodiment 1, a case is exemplified in which the transmitting
module is a light emitting diode and the receiving module is a
photodiode, and the indoor unit 2 and the remote control 1
communicate with each other using infrared rays. Note that the
transmission module used for performing communication using
infrared rays is not limited to a light-emitting diode. The
receiving module used for performing communication using infrared
rays is not limited to a photodiode, and a phototransistor, a
thermoelectric element or a pyroelectric element may be used. As
the transmission/reception module, a module such as Bluetooth
(registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) may be used.
In this case, the filter 3 provided in the remote control 1 becomes
unnecessary.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0043] 1 remote control, 2 indoor unit, 3 filters, 4 display, 5
operating unit, 6 outdoor unit, 10 remote control side transmitting
and receiving unit, 11 remote control side transmitting part 12
remote control side receiving part, 13 controller, 21 indoor side
transmitting and receiving unit, 22 indoor side receiving unit, 23
indoor side control device, 40 temperature setting button, 41 wind
speed setting button, 42 time setting button, 44 operation stop
button, 45 timer-on button, 46 timer-off button, 47 failure mode
button, 50 second segment display part, 51 wind speed display part,
52 vertical direction display part, 53 horizontal direction display
part, 54 first segment display part, 55 wind direction display
part, 70 refrigerant circuit, 71 compressor, 72 flow passage
switching device, 73 outdoor heat exchanger, 74 outdoor fan, 75
expansion device, 76 indoor heat exchanger, 77 indoor fan, 100
air-conditioning apparatus
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