KR102135082B1 - Control method of mobile terminal and air-conditioner system - Google Patents

Abstract

A control method of a mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention includes receiving a communication range setting input, outputting a wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to the received communication range setting input, and corresponding to the output wireless signal. Receiving a response signal from a plurality of units included in the air conditioner system, displaying a search result screen in which the plurality of units that have transmitted the response signal are displayed according to the signal strength of the response signal, and When any one of the plurality of units displayed on the screen is selected, the method may include displaying a monitoring screen for the group including the selected unit.

Description

Control method of mobile terminal and air-conditioner system

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, an air conditioner system, and a control method thereof, and more particularly, a mobile device capable of wirelessly communicating between units in the air conditioner system and monitoring the status of units with the mobile terminal. A terminal, an air conditioner system, and a control method therefor.

The air conditioner is installed to provide a more comfortable indoor environment to human beings by discharging cold and warm air into the room to create a comfortable indoor environment, adjusting the indoor temperature, and purifying the indoor air. In general, an air conditioner includes an indoor unit installed inside a heat exchanger, and an outdoor unit configured with a compressor and a heat exchanger to supply refrigerant to the indoor unit.

The air conditioner is separated and controlled by an indoor unit composed of a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit composed of a compressor and a heat exchanger, and the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected to a refrigerant pipe, so that the refrigerant compressed from the compressor of the outdoor unit is supplied to the heat exchanger of the indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant exchanged in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit flows back into the compressor of the outdoor unit through the refrigerant pipe. Accordingly, the indoor unit discharges cold and hot air into the room through heat exchange using a refrigerant.

Units in the air conditioner system are interconnected in units of buildings or small groups to transmit and receive data, and to monitor and control the status of each unit through the transmitted and received data.

As an example, the air conditioner system may use a wired communication method in which each unit is connected by a communication line. In general, the indoor unit is configured to transmit data to the outdoor unit, and the outdoor unit receives data of the indoor unit to transmit data of the indoor unit to the controller.

As another example, the prior art (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0123486) uses wireless communication to solve the inconvenience of connecting the air conditioner operation status data to equipment such as a laptop through wired communication. By doing so, the operation of the air conditioner is conveniently monitored.

In the prior art (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0123486), an outdoor unit and a terminal existing within a predetermined distance from the outdoor unit communicate with a wireless communication method to transmit operation status data of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit to the terminal.

In these communication structures, there is a problem in that the indoor unit cannot directly communicate with the controller and must pass through the outdoor unit. For example, even when one indoor unit data is required, there is a problem in that the processing speed is slow because it is necessary to perform stepwise communication through the outdoor unit.

In addition, the prior art (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0123486), there is a need to additionally mount a wireless communication module to the outdoor unit, there is a problem that the communication between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is still performed by wired communication.

In addition, Wi-Fi (Wifi) communication between the outdoor unit and the terminal has a problem in that smooth communication is possible only on the same floor or within a short distance.

In particular, in an installation environment in which an outdoor unit is installed in the basement of a building or installed on a roof, it is difficult to communicate wirelessly due to the distance between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and signal quality is reduced due to an obstacle in the building. There was a problem that the stability of the communication was lowered.

Recently, there has been an increasing trend in attempts to communicate wirelessly between units, indoor units. The number of cases in which a wireless network is configured not only with each unit such as an outdoor unit or a controller but also with other devices such as a mobile terminal is increasing.

Devices connected by wireless communication have the advantage of being able to check and control information of devices without being restricted by the location of the user and the devices.

Therefore, a wireless communication method suitable for the installation environment of the air conditioner system is required.

It is possible to configure a wireless communication environment in which each unit in an air conditioner system such as an indoor unit or an outdoor unit communicates wirelessly. In addition, the air conditioner system includes a mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal can wirelessly communicate with one or more units to monitor the operation status of the unit.

However, when wireless communication is applied to the air conditioner system, a plurality of units may exist within a communication radius of the mobile terminal.

In the case of a situation in which a specific unit needs to be found during installation, maintenance work, or use, it may take considerable time to determine where a specific unit is located among a plurality of units connected by wireless communication.

Accordingly, a method for quickly and accurately finding a specific unit among a plurality of units existing within a communication radius capable of wireless communication is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal, an air conditioner system, and a control method capable of quickly and accurately identifying a specific unit among a plurality of units.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal, an air conditioner system and a control method thereof, which allows a user to conveniently check and control unit information searched through a mobile terminal in a wireless communication environment.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner system and a control method capable of realizing a high quality wireless communication environment.

To achieve the above or other object, the mobile terminal and the air conditioner system according to an aspect of the present invention output a wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to a communication range setting input, and according to the signal strength of the response signal By providing the user with sorted and displayed results, the user can easily find a specific unit based on the current location.

In order to achieve the above or other object, the mobile terminal and the air conditioner system according to an aspect of the present invention, by controlling a specific unit to perform a feedback operation based on a user input, the user directly visually identifies the specific unit I can do it.

To achieve the above or other object, a control method of a mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention includes receiving a communication range setting input and outputting a wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to the received communication range setting input. , Receiving a response signal corresponding to the output wireless signal from a plurality of units included in the air conditioner system, a search result screen displayed by sorting the plurality of units transmitting the response signal according to the signal strength of the response signal Displaying, and if any one of the plurality of units displayed on the search result screen is selected, may include the step of displaying a monitoring screen for the group containing the selected unit.

To achieve the above or other object, a control method of an air conditioner system according to an aspect of the present invention, based on a communication range setting input received by a mobile terminal, has a signal strength corresponding to the received communication range setting input Outputting a radio signal, transmitting a response signal corresponding to the outputted radio signal to the mobile terminal by units receiving a radio signal among a plurality of units included in the air conditioner system, and the mobile terminal transmitting the response signal Displaying the search result screen displayed by sorting the units according to the signal strength of the response signal, and when any one of the units displayed on the search result screen is selected, the mobile terminal is assigned to a group including the selected unit. It may include the step of displaying a monitoring screen (monitoring) for.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to quickly and accurately identify a specific unit among a plurality of units included in the air conditioner system.

Further, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the user can conveniently check and control the searched unit information, thereby improving user convenience.

Further, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide an air conditioner system capable of direct wireless communication between each unit and a mobile terminal regardless of an installation environment.

Meanwhile, various other effects will be disclosed directly or implicitly in a detailed description according to an embodiment of the present invention to be described later.

1 is a view schematically showing a configuration in which an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a building.
2 is a view showing the configuration of an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view referred to in the description of communication of the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of a unit of an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a control configuration of a wireless communication module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a simplified internal block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a view referred to in the description of the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a control configuration of a wireless communication module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a diagram illustrating a search result screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
14 and 15 are views illustrating a monitoring screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings, in order to clearly and briefly describe the present invention, illustration of parts irrelevant to the description is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for the same or extremely similar parts throughout the specification.

On the other hand, the suffixes "module" and "part" for the components used in the following description are given simply by considering the ease of writing the present specification, and do not impart a particularly important meaning or role in itself. Therefore, the "module" and the "unit" may be used interchangeably.

Further, in the present specification, terms such as first and second may be used to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

1 is a view schematically showing a configuration in which an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a building.

Referring to FIG. 1, the air conditioner system may include an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, and a controller 50.

In addition to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the air conditioner system may include a ventilation device, an air cleaning device, a humidifying device, a heater, etc., and may further include units such as a chiller, an air conditioning unit, and a cooling tower depending on the scale. In the air conditioner system, each unit is interconnected to operate in conjunction with the operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. In addition, the air conditioner system may operate in connection with a building, a mobile device, a security device, and an alarm device.

The air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a remote control device capable of remotely monitoring and controlling the operation status of units.

The remote control device, including the wireless communication module 120, can communicate with other units using a sub-giga band frequency and monitor other units.

Here, the remote control device may be a controller 50 that can control one or more units, a wired/wireless remote controller 60, a mobile terminal 200, and the like.

The controller 50 controls the operation of the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 in response to an input user command, periodically receives and stores data on the operation status of the indoor unit and outdoor unit corresponding thereto, and stores a monitoring screen. You can output the operation status through. The controller 50 may perform operation setting, lock setting, schedule control, group control, peak control for power use, demand control, etc. for the indoor unit 20.

The outdoor units 10 are connected to the indoor units 20 by refrigerant pipes, respectively, and supply the refrigerant to the indoor units 20. Further, the outdoor unit 10 periodically communicates with the plurality of indoor units 20 to transmit and receive mutual data, and changes the operation according to the operation setting changed from the indoor unit.

The indoor unit 20 is an electronic expansion valve (not shown) that expands the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit 10, an indoor heat exchanger (not shown) for heat exchange of refrigerant, and allows indoor air to flow into the indoor heat exchanger, and the heat exchanged air is It may include an indoor unit fan (not shown) to be exposed to the room, a plurality of sensors (not shown), and control means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the indoor unit.

In addition, the indoor unit 20 includes a discharge port (not shown) for discharging heat-exchanged air, and the discharge port is provided with a wind direction control means (not shown) that opens and closes the discharge port and controls the direction of the discharged air. The indoor unit controls the intake air and the discharge air by controlling the rotation speed of the indoor unit fan, and controls the air volume. The indoor unit 20 may further include an output unit for displaying the operation status and setting information of the indoor unit and an input unit for inputting setting data. At this time, the indoor unit 20 may transmit the setting information for the operation of the air conditioner to a connected remote controller (not shown) to output it through the remote controller and receive data.

The remote controller (not shown) is connected to the indoor unit by wire or wireless communication, inputs a user command to the indoor unit, and receives and outputs data of the indoor unit. Depending on the connection method with the indoor unit, the remote controller may transmit a user command to the indoor unit, perform one-way communication that does not receive data from the indoor unit, or perform bidirectional communication that transmits and receives data to and from the indoor unit.

The outdoor unit 10 operates in a cooling mode or a heating mode in response to data received from the connected indoor unit 20 or a control command of the controller, and supplies refrigerant to the connected indoor unit.

When a plurality of outdoor units are connected, each outdoor unit may be connected to a plurality of indoor units, and may also supply refrigerant to the plurality of indoor units through a distributor.

The outdoor unit 10 is at least one compressor that compresses a refrigerant and discharges a high-pressure gas refrigerant, an accumulator that separates a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant and prevents unvaporized liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor, discharged from the compressor Oil recoverer that recovers oil among refrigerants, outdoor heat exchanger that condenses or evaporates refrigerant by heat exchange with outside air, and air to the outdoor heat exchanger to facilitate heat exchange between the outdoor heat exchanger and heat exchanged air to the outside. The fan of the outdoor unit that discharges, the four-way valve that changes the flow path of the refrigerant according to the operation mode of the outdoor unit, at least one pressure sensor that measures pressure, at least one temperature sensor that measures temperature, and controls the operation of the outdoor unit and communicates with other units. It may include a control configuration for performing communication. The outdoor unit 10 may further include a plurality of other sensors, valves, and a supercooler, but descriptions thereof will be omitted below.

In addition, the air conditioner system can transmit and receive data to and from other air conditioners through a network connection such as the Internet. The air conditioner can connect to an external service center, management server, database, etc. through a controller, and communicate with an external terminal connected through a network. The terminal may monitor and control the operation of the air conditioner system as a second controller by connecting to at least one unit of the air conditioner system.

In addition, the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, the controller 50, etc. can directly and wirelessly communicate with each other in a predetermined wireless communication method, and the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, the controller 50, etc. It is possible to directly wirelessly communicate with a mobile terminal using the wireless communication method. Accordingly, the user can freely monitor the state of each unit and control each unit through the mobile terminal.

The air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of indoor units 20 and at least one outdoor unit 10 performing wireless communication with each other.

2 is a view showing the configuration of an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of indoor units 20, a plurality of outdoor units 10, and a controller 50 may transmit and receive data in a wireless communication method.

The outdoor unit 10 is connected to a plurality of indoor units 20 and refrigerant pipes P1, P2, and P3, respectively, and can transmit and receive data in a wireless communication method.

The outdoor unit 10 periodically communicates with the plurality of indoor units 20 to transmit and receive mutual data, and changes the operation according to the operation setting changed from the indoor unit. The plurality of outdoor units 10 and the plurality of indoor units 20 may transmit and receive data in a wireless communication method.

The indoor unit 20 may communicate not only with the outdoor unit 10 but also with the controller 50 in a wireless communication method.

The first outdoor unit 10 is connected to the first to third indoor units 21 to 23 and the first refrigerant pipe P1, and the second outdoor unit 12 is provided to the fourth to sixth indoor units 23 to 26. 2 is connected to the refrigerant pipe (P2), the third outdoor unit 13 is connected to the seventh to ninth indoor units (27 to 29) and the third refrigerant pipe (P3). For convenience of description, three indoor units are described as being connected to each outdoor unit, but this is only an example, and is not limited to the number of indoor units or the type of indoor units shown.

As the first outdoor unit 11 operates, refrigerant is supplied from the first outdoor unit 10 to the first to third indoor units, and the fourth to sixth indoor units 23 to 26 are operated by the operation of the second outdoor unit 12. The refrigerant is supplied through the second refrigerant pipe (P2), and the refrigerant is supplied through the third refrigerant pipe (P3) from the third outdoor unit (13) to the seventh to ninth indoor units (27 to 29).

A group of air conditioners may be set based on the outdoor unit, and each group may communicate using different channels. Since the indoor unit performs heat exchange based on the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit and discharges cold and hot air, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit connected to the refrigerant pipe may be set as one group.

For example, the first outdoor unit 11 forms a first group with the first to third indoor units 21 to 23 connected to the first refrigerant pipe P1, and the second outdoor unit 12 is the second refrigerant. The fourth to sixth indoor units 24 to 26 connected to the pipe P2 form a second group, and the third outdoor unit 13 connects to the seventh to ninth indoor units connected to the third refrigerant pipe P3 ( 27 to 29) and a third group. The outdoor unit and the controller can also set a group according to the installation location. According to an embodiment, the connection state by the refrigerant piping may be classified based on whether the indoor unit temperature changes according to the refrigerant supply of the outdoor unit by operating the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

Meanwhile, wireless communication may be performed between units included in at least the same group. In addition, the sub-giga may be allocated for each group in which different communication channels are set in the frequency band. That is, by communicating using different communication channels for each group, the trunk line phenomenon can be prevented.

Meanwhile, the controller 50 can communicate with the indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 regardless of the group.

The controller 50 controls the operation of the plurality of indoor units 20 and the outdoor units 10 in response to an input user command, and periodically receives and stores data on the operation states of the plurality of indoor units and outdoor units corresponding thereto. , Output the operation status through the monitoring screen.

The controller 50 may be connected to a plurality of indoor units 20 to perform operation setting, lock setting, schedule control, group control, peak control for power use, demand control, and the like for the indoor unit. In addition, the controller 50 communicates with the outdoor unit to control the outdoor unit and monitor the operation of the outdoor unit.

When a plurality of controllers 50 are provided, data may be transmitted and received through mutual wireless communication, and may be connected to an external controller through a predetermined external network.

When a controller and a plurality of units transmit and receive data in a wireless communication method, an address for communication is stored in the controller and each unit. Each address can be assigned by an outdoor unit and a controller.

As described above, the outdoor unit may set an indoor unit and a group connected to a refrigerant pipe. In this case, an address may be assigned to the indoor units included in the same group. In addition, even if a group is set around an outdoor unit, it communicates with all outdoor units and all indoor units. Accordingly, the controller can allocate an address for central control to a plurality of units in addition to the address for group-level communication. In some cases, the controller may use the address assigned to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit as a central control address without assigning a separate address.

Meanwhile, each unit of the air conditioner system such as the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, and the controller 50 may wirelessly communicate with the mobile terminal 200.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the state of electronic devices (units) such as the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, and the controller 50 and the electronic devices in the system are confirmed. And it may include a mobile terminal 200 that can be controlled.

The mobile terminal 200 has an application for controlling the air conditioner system, and can check and control the state of the air conditioner system through execution of the application.

The mobile terminal 200 may include, for example, a smart phone 200a, a notebook PC 200b, and a tablet PC 200c equipped with an application for an air conditioner system.

3 is a view for reference to the description of the communication of the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 (a) is a diagram showing the communication between units using a wired communication and Figure 3 (b ) Is a diagram referred to for describing communication between units using wireless communication according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 3 (a), the air conditioner system is a plurality of units are connected by a communication line. Since the plurality of units have a limitation in connection of communication lines, they are not connected one-to-one to each other, but are connected step by step according to the connection type of the communication lines.

A plurality of indoor units are connected to a single outdoor unit by a communication line, and the outdoor units are connected to a controller. When a plurality of outdoor units are provided, a plurality of indoor units are connected to the outdoor unit based on the connection state of the refrigerant pipe. A plurality of outdoor units are connected to the controller.

The indoor unit transmits data to the outdoor unit, and the outdoor unit transmits the outdoor unit data and the received indoor unit data to the controller. The controller can check the operation status of the indoor unit based on data received from the outdoor unit.

When the controller transmits a control command to the indoor unit, the controller sends a control command to the outdoor unit to which the corresponding indoor unit is connected, and the outdoor unit transmits the received control command to the indoor unit.

As described above, in the case of wired communication, data is transmitted step by step according to the connection state of the communication line, rather than being connected one to one of a plurality of units.

Accordingly, since the data of the indoor unit cannot be directly transmitted, a time delay occurs in data transmission. In addition, since the outdoor unit has to process data of other units than the outdoor unit data, the load increases accordingly. In addition, since data of a plurality of indoor units must be processed in one outdoor unit, it takes a lot of time to transmit data according to the number of connected indoor units.

In addition, even when monitoring the status of units through the mobile terminal 200, since the data of the indoor unit is not directly transmitted, data can be transmitted and received via the controller 50 or the like. Therefore, the mobile terminal 200 cannot freely communicate with each unit of the air conditioner system, and there is a limitation that it must communicate with the upper level controller 50 in order to receive only the corresponding information from a specific unit or obtain the entire information. have.

3(b), the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, the controller 50, and the mobile terminal 200 transmit and receive data by mutual wireless communication.

The controller 50 and/or the mobile terminal 200 may request data from the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20, respectively, and each unit is based on data received from the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20, respectively. It is possible to determine the operating state of, and to determine the abnormality.

As described above, it has been described to set a group in the outdoor unit and the indoor period in consideration of the flow of the refrigerant, but in addition to the communication channel between the outdoor unit and the indoor period, a communication channel including a controller, an outdoor unit, and an indoor unit may be separately set.

The controller 50 and/or the mobile terminal 200 sets the operation setting of the indoor unit 20 according to the state (temperature or humidity) of the indoor space in which the indoor unit 20 is installed based on data received from the indoor unit 20. It can be changed, and the data according to the change of the operation setting is directly transmitted to the indoor unit. At this time, when the operation setting of the indoor unit is changed, the corresponding data is transmitted to the outdoor unit, and accordingly, the outdoor unit also changes operation.

If the schedule is set so that the indoor unit 20 performs the set operation at a designated time, the controller 50 may transmit a driving command to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit, respectively, and the indoor unit transmits a response to the controller 50 Then, data on the operating state is transmitted at predetermined time intervals.

The indoor unit 20 sets driving and transmits data to the outdoor unit in response to data input through an input unit provided or data received from the controller 50.

The outdoor unit 10 controls the compressor by calculating the received indoor unit data and loads according to the operating states of the plurality of indoor units.

The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 may transmit data to the controller 50 at predetermined time intervals and to the controller 50 regardless of the period when a failure or abnormality occurs.

4 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of a unit of an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a unit 100 in an air conditioner system. For example, the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be one of an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a controller, and a wireless sensor of an air conditioner system.

Referring to Figure 4, the unit 100 of the air conditioner system, the driving unit 140, the sensing unit 170, the output unit 160, the input unit 150, the storage unit 130, and the overall operation It may include a control unit 110 to control.

In addition, the unit 100 may include a wireless communication module 120 or be connected to the wireless communication module 120. The wireless communication module 120 may be built in the unit or may be installed outside the unit.

This is a configuration commonly included in each unit 100, and a separate configuration may be added according to characteristics of the product.

For example, the indoor unit 20 may be provided with a vane or the like as a wind direction control means, and an indoor unit fan driving unit, a valve control unit, a wind direction control unit, or the like may be provided as it includes an indoor unit fan and a plurality of valves.

Meanwhile, the outdoor unit 10 may include a compressor, an outdoor unit fan, and a plurality of valves. Accordingly, the driving unit of the outdoor unit may be divided into a compressor driving unit, an outdoor unit fan driving unit, and a valve control unit.

Meanwhile, the type and number of sensors included in the sensing unit 170 and the installation location may be configured differently according to the type of the unit.

The storage unit 130 includes control data for controlling the operation of the unit 100, communication data for address or group setting for communicating with other units, data transmitted and received from outside, and operation data generated or sensed during operation. Is stored. The storage unit 130 stores a function-specific execution program, data for operation control, and data to be transmitted and received.

The storage unit 130 may be various storage devices such as ROM, RAM, EPROM, flash drive, hard drive, etc. in hardware.

The input unit 150 includes at least one input means such as a button, a switch, and a touch input means. When the user command or predetermined data is input in response to the manipulation of the input means, the input unit 150 applies the input data to the control unit 110. The outdoor unit may be provided with a power key, a commissioning key, an address setting key, and an indoor unit may be provided with a power key, a menu input key, an operation setting key, a temperature control key, an air volume key, a lock key, and the like.

The output unit 160 may output an operating state of the unit, including at least one of a lamp that is controlled to be lit or flashing, an audio output unit having a speaker outputting a predetermined sound, and a display. The lamp outputs whether the unit is operating according to whether it is lit, whether it is lit or not, and the speaker outputs an operation state by outputting a predetermined warning sound and an effect sound. The display may output a menu screen for controlling the unit, and output a guide message or warning consisting of a combination of at least one of letters, numbers, and images of the unit's operation setting or operation status.

The sensing unit 170 may include a plurality of sensors. The sensing unit 170 may include a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, a humidity sensor, and a flow sensor.

For example, a plurality of temperature sensors are provided to detect the indoor temperature, the outdoor temperature, the indoor heat exchanger temperature, the outdoor heat exchanger temperature, and the pipe temperature, and input them to the controller 110. Pressure sensors are respectively installed at the inlet and outlet of the refrigerant pipe to measure the pressure of the incoming refrigerant and the pressure of the discharged refrigerant, respectively, and input them to the control unit 110. The pressure sensor can be installed in the water pipe as well as the refrigerant pipe.

The driving unit 140 supplies the operating power to the control target according to the control command of the control unit 110 and controls the driving. As described above, in the case of the outdoor unit, the driving unit 140 may be separately provided with a compressor, an outdoor unit fan, and a compressor driving unit for controlling the valve, an outdoor unit fan driving unit, and a valve control unit, respectively. The driving unit 140 applies operating power to a motor provided in each of a compressor, an outdoor fan, a valve, and the like to perform a designated operation as the motor operates.

5 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a case where the unit 100 is an indoor unit 100a.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the driving unit 140 of FIG. 4 when the unit 100 is the indoor unit 100a, and the description of the same parts as in FIG. 4 will be omitted below.

Referring to FIG. 5, the indoor unit 100a may include a vane driving unit 141a, a fan driving unit 142a, an indoor unit fan 142b, and one or more vanes 141b.

The indoor unit fan 142b discharges cold and hot air exchanged by the heat exchanger to the room through the discharge port.

The fan driving unit 142a controls driving of a motor that operates the indoor unit fan 142b. The fan driving unit 142a controls on/off of the indoor unit fan 142b in response to the control signal from the control unit 110, and controls the indoor unit fan 142b to operate at a set speed.

The vane driving unit 141a controls opening and closing of one or more vanes 141b provided in one or more discharge ports in response to a control signal from the control unit 110. In addition, the vane driving unit 141a controls the opening angle with respect to each vane 141b to change the direction of the discharged wind. The vane 141b changes the opening angle by the vane driving unit 141a to change the wind direction of the discharged air. At this time, each outlet may be further provided with a louver for adjusting the wind direction in the left and right direction.

Each vane 141b may have an opening angle within a range of 0 to 90 degrees, and the opening angle may be changed step by step according to the setting.

The vane driving unit 141a may be set by changing the opening angle of each vane 141b step by step according to a control command from the control unit 110.

For example, the vane driving unit 141a may control the opening angle of the vane in 5 steps within a range of 15 to 75 degrees in 15 degree units. The opening angle of the vane 141b may be set in 3 to 9 steps depending on the setting. In addition, when setting the swing mode, the vane driving unit 141a may continuously change the opening angle of the vane within a range of 15 degrees to 75 degrees without step separation.

6 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a case where the unit 100 is the outdoor unit 100b.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the driving unit 140 of FIG. 4 when the unit 100 is the outdoor unit 100b, and description of the same parts as in FIG. 4 will be omitted below.

Referring to FIG. 6, the outdoor unit 100b may include a compressor driving unit 143a, a compressor 143b, an outdoor unit fan 144b, a fan driving unit 144a, a valve control unit 145a, and a valve 145b. .

The outdoor unit fan 144b supplies outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger through the rotational operation of the fan, and allows the heat-exchanged cold and hot air to be discharged to the outside. As the outdoor heat exchanger operates as a condenser during cooling operation and as an evaporator during heating operation, the outdoor unit fan 144b may discharge cold or warm heat exchanged from the outdoor heat exchanger to the outside.

The fan driving unit 144a may control driving of a motor provided in the outdoor unit fan 144b, thereby controlling a rotation operation of the outdoor unit fan. The fan driving unit 144a may cause the outdoor unit fan 144b to operate at a set rotational speed or stop operating in response to a control signal from the control unit 110. The fan driving unit 144a may control the rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 144b by applying an operation signal according to the type of motor provided in the outdoor unit fan 144b.

The valve control unit 145a may control whether to open or close the plurality of valves 145b provided in the outdoor unit, or to control the flow rate of the refrigerant or the flow direction of the refrigerant. Since a plurality of valves 145b are present at different positions, a plurality of valve drivers may also be provided. The valve may include a four-way valve, an expansion valve, and a hot gas valve.

The compressor 143b compresses and discharges the incoming refrigerant, thereby allowing the refrigerant to circulate from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit. When the low-temperature low-pressure gas refrigerant flows in, the compressor 143b may compress it to discharge the high-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant.

The compressor driving unit 143a controls the operating power supplied to the motor provided in the compressor 143b, and accordingly controls the operating frequency of the compressor. The compressor driving unit 143a may include an inverter that controls driving of the compressor.

4 to 6, each unit may include a wireless communication module 120.

The wireless communication module 120 supports at least one or more wireless communication methods, and may communicate with other units according to a control command of the control unit 110. The wireless communication module 120 may transmit and receive data in a designated wireless communication method between a controller, an outdoor unit, and an indoor unit, and apply the received data to the control unit.

The wireless communication module 120 may set an address for communication between units, convert data to be transmitted and received, and process signals. When the operation of the unit starts, the wireless communication module 120 may search for units of the same frequency band through wireless communication and check a connection. The wireless communication module 120 may communicate by assigning a temporary address during initial operation or setting a received temporary address. In addition, the wireless communication module 120 may set the address based on the product number by requesting the product number from the control unit 110 when performing address setting in response to a control command of the control unit 110. In this case, the product number may be a unit's unique number, serial number, or Mac address.

The control unit 110 controls data input and output through the input unit 150 and the output unit 160, manages data stored in the storage unit 130, and controls transmission and reception of data through the communication unit 200. have. The control unit 110 may detect a connection state and a communication state of the communication unit 200 through the connection unit 120 and determine an error.

The control unit 110 may generate a control command to operate according to a request from another unit or a set operation setting, and apply it to the driving unit 140. Accordingly, the drive unit 140 is configured to be connected, for example, a compressor, an outdoor unit fan, a valve, an indoor unit fan, a wind direction control means, and the like, respectively.

In addition, the control unit 110 may output an error by determining an operation state in response to data input from a plurality of sensors of the sensing unit 170 and determining an abnormality while the unit is operating.

The wireless communication module 120 may be provided inside the unit 100 or connected to the unit 100 through an interface (not shown). The wireless communication module 120 may receive and transmit data of the unit through an interface, and apply the received data to the unit.

Preferably, the wireless communication module 120 may communicate wirelessly using frequencies in a sub-GHz band to enable communication with walls, floors, and obstacles in a building. The frequency of the sub-giga band has excellent transmission and rotation characteristics, so there is little attenuation effect on obstacles between walls and floors. Therefore, it is effective for use for communication of an air conditioner system in which a plurality of units are disposed in a building partitioned by a wall.

Meanwhile, the wireless communication module 120 may use frequencies in a 700 MHz band to 900 MHz band among sub-giga bands. For example, the wireless communication module 120 may communicate according to the 802.15.4g standard (SUN) and the 802.11ah standard (WiFi HaLow).

In addition, the wireless communication module 120 communicates using any one of the 400 MHz band and the 900 MHz band, which are unlicensed bands that can be used for small output radio stations in the sub-giga band. The wireless communication module 120 may selectively use frequencies in the 400MHZ and 900MHZ bands in response to different regulations according to regions or countries.

The wireless communication module 120 is more preferable to communicate using a frequency band of 900 MHz among the previously disclosed frequency bands in consideration of interlayer communication and antenna length.

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 120 may further include communication modules such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, NFC, which are short-range communication methods.

The wireless communication module 120 includes a plurality of communication modules, and may communicate through the same or different communication modules during communication with an outdoor unit and other indoor units, communication with a remote controller, and communication with a controller. The wireless communication module 120 can communicate with different communication methods depending on the target by selectively changing the communication method in correspondence with the communication target.

When different channels are used for communication with the indoor unit and communication with the controller, the wireless communication module 120 may set and transmit/receive data by setting a channel according to an object to communicate with.

According to the provisions of the Radio Law of the Republic of Korea, for a frequency band of 400MHz or 900MHz, 21 channels of 424.7MHz to 424.95MHz, 11 channels of 447.8625MHz to 447.9875MHz, and RFID Since there are 32 channels of 917 to 923.5 MHz for wireless facilities such as /USN, it is possible to communicate using these channels.

Looking at unlicensed frequency bands by country, North America and South America are 902 to 928 MHz (FCC Part 15.247), Europe is 433 MHz, 915 MHz, 863 to 868 MHz (ETSIEN300220), Japan 920 to 928 MHz (ARIB STD-T108), China 920 MHz , Korea 424 to 447MHz, 917 to 923.5MHz (KC), India 865 to 867MHz (GSR 564(E)), Australia 433, 915MHZ, South Africa 433MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.725GHz in common worldwide.

In addition, in North America and South America, 902 to 928 MHz, Europe from 863 to 868 MHz, Japan from 920 to 928 MHz, Korea from 917 to 923.5 MHz, India from 865 to 867 MHz, common worldwide 2.4GHz and 5.725GHz, transmission speed 50kbps With the above, communication is possible.

Since there are obstacles such as floor walls and furniture in the building, it is necessary to use a frequency band that can reach a signal over a certain distance while passing through the obstacle in the building.

Among the sub-giga bands, the ISM band (100MHz, 200MHz, 400MHz, 900MHz) has the advantage of being able to communicate between floors due to excellent transmission characteristics in the building. However, the length of the antenna is determined according to the band of the transmission frequency. In the case of the 100 MHz and 200 MHz bands, since the antenna is significantly long, installation limitations occur.

In addition, the 400MHz band also has a longer antenna length than the 900MHz frequency band.

Therefore, it is preferable that the wireless communication module 120 communicates using a frequency band of 900 MHz among the previously disclosed frequency bands in consideration of inter-layer communication and antenna length.

The air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of units. For example, the air conditioner system may include one or more outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units.

In addition, the units included in the air conditioner system can perform wireless communication with each other.

On the other hand, considering the installation environment of the air conditioner system in which the outdoor unit is disposed in the basement, rooftop, outdoor, etc., it is impossible to implement smooth wireless communication between units by short-range wireless communication such as Wi-Fi or Zigbee. .

Accordingly, the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may implement direct/indirect communication between units in various environments such as home/building through long-distance wireless communication in a sub-giga band.

In addition, considering the installation environment of the air conditioner system, in order to secure the reliability of communication quality, it is confirmed a wireless communication modulation technique having robust reliability against changes in the surrounding environment such as obstacles and object, person movement, and building structure changes. And apply.

In addition, in order to efficiently use limited radio frequency resources and install a large number of units in an area, it is necessary to increase the communication speed compared to the existing long-distance wired communication.

Therefore, the present invention can be installed more easily at a low cost, and can be monitored and diagnosed in the room freely without restrictions in place, and between units in a building to which an optimal solution of wireless communication that can pass through walls and floors in a building is applied. We propose a long-range wireless communication technology for communication.

To this end, a plurality of units included in the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a wireless communication module 120 that wirelessly communicates between the plurality of units at a frequency in a sub gigahertz (Sub GHz) band. Can.

7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a control configuration of a wireless communication module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the wireless communication module 120 may include an antenna 720, a transmitter 740, a receiver 730, a processor 710, and an interface 750.

The processor 710 may control the overall operation of the wireless communication module 120.

In addition, the processor 710 may control the transmitter 740 to output a predetermined signal through the antenna 720.

In addition, the processor 710 may control the receiver 730 to process a signal received through the antenna 720.

The antenna 720 may be a PCB antenna having an antenna pattern formed on a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB antenna has a higher design freedom than other methods, and has an advantage in that the radiation pattern is constant by controlling the amount of ground sources.

On the other hand, the transmitter 740, the encoder 741 for encoding a predetermined signal, and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing: OFDM) using the signal encoded by the encoder 741 in multiple carriers A modulator 742 for modulating accordingly may be included.

Meanwhile, the antenna 720 may output a signal based on the signal modulated by the modulator 742.

The predetermined signal is input to the encoder 741 as a binary signal. The encoder 741 may encode input signals and output encoded data streams.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a multi-carrier modulation (Multi Carrier Modulation) method, which is advantageous for high-speed data transmission and has a strong advantage in multi-path loss.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a method of multiplexing a high-speed transmission signal by modulating it with hundreds or more of orthogonal narrow-band subcarriers.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a transmission technique that performs modulation and multiplexing together, and is a multi-carrier modulation technique in terms of dividing and transmitting a high-speed source data stream of a single input onto multiple carriers. This is a multiplexing technique in terms of simultaneous transmission on a channel.

The orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) method divides a data stream having a high data rate into a large number of data streams having a low data rate, and transmits them simultaneously using multiple carriers.

Since orthogonality exists between the multiple carriers, the frequency components of the carriers can be detected at the receiving end even if they overlap each other.

The orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a structure in which high-speed data, which is vulnerable to scattered reflected waves, is transmitted in parallel with low-speed data that is strong against reflected waves, and has the advantage of selectively scheduling each subcarrier.

According to an embodiment, the transmitter 740 may further include a multiplexer 743 for multiplexing the modulated signal. Alternatively, the transmitter 740 may further include a serial to parallel converter (not shown) that converts the multiplexed signal into a parallel signal. Alternatively, the transmitter 740 may further include a multiplexer 743 and a serial/parallel converter.

The serial-to-parallel conversion unit may convert the symbol strings input in series in parallel.

For example, a data sequence having a high-speed transmission rate is converted into a plurality of low-transfer-rate data streams through a serial-to-parallel converter, and the plurality of data strings converted in parallel can be transmitted on a subcarrier having orthogonality to each other. .

The transmission unit 740 may further include a transmission signal processing unit 745. The transmission signal processing unit 745 may load the OFDM modulated signal on a subcarrier through frequency shift and transmit it through the antenna 720.

On the other hand, the receiver 730, a demodulator 733 for demodulating the signal received from the antenna 720 in the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing method, and a demodulator for decoding the demodulated signal in the demodulator 733 734.

The reception unit 730 may further include a reception signal processing unit 731. The reception signal processing unit 731 may frequency-shift the carrier wave received from the antenna 720 to extract a plurality of characteristic information.

According to an embodiment, the receiving unit 730 may further include a parallel to serial converter (not shown), and the parallel signals converted by the parallel to serial converter may be transmitted to the demodulator 733. Can.

According to an embodiment, the transmitter 740 may further include an inverse fast Fourier transform (744) to inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) the modulated signal, and the receiver 730 ) May further include a Fourier transform unit 732 that performs a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the signal received from the antenna 720.

After modulation, the inverse fast Fourier transformed signal may be transmitted through the antenna 720, and the signal received through the antenna 720 may be demodulated after the fast Fourier transform.

Accordingly, an efficient digital implementation of the modulator 742 and the demodulator 733 is possible. In addition, by performing signal processing in the frequency domain for a channel showing a frequency-selective fading phenomenon, the channel can be simply converted to flat-fading to facilitate signal processing.

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 120 may further include a duplexer (not shown) that is a switching element connecting the antenna 720 and the transmitter 740 or the receiver 730. The duplexer is an element that separates time or frequency according to a method, and may connect the antenna 720 to the transmitter 740 side or the receiver 730 side.

On the other hand, the wireless communication module 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the frequency of the sub 1GHz frequency, the communication speed is faster than the existing wired communication (9.6kbps), a long-distance (Open space 1km) communication frequency is 700Mhz to It can communicate using signals in the 900Mhz frequency band.

More preferably, the wireless communication module 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention may communicate using signals in the 900Mhz frequency band in consideration of interlayer communication and antenna length.

The length of the antenna 720 is set according to the transmission frequency, and the length needs to be set in consideration of the installation environment. For example, in the case of a ceiling-type indoor unit, if the length of the antenna is too long, whether or not it can be installed may depend on the size of the interior space of the ceiling.

The antenna 720, the smaller the transmission frequency, the longer the antenna length. Therefore, among the usable frequency bands, the frequency must be set in consideration of the length of the antenna.

Preferably, the antenna length may be λ/2 or λ/4 of the transmission frequency. For example, when the transmission frequency is 447 MHz, since the wavelength is 0.67 m, when λ/2 is calculated, the length of the antenna is 34 cm and in the case of λ/4, it is 17 cm. In the 900 MHz band, the antenna length may be about 17 cm for λ/2 and about 8.5 cm for λ/4. If the transmission frequency is 2.4GHZ, the wavelength is 0.12m, so the length of the antenna is 0.06m for λ/2 and 0.03m for λ/4.

When considering the length of the antenna, it is preferable to use a signal in the 2.4 GHz band, but in the case of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology using the 2.4 GHz ISM band for a wireless network in a building, the radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band are used for floors, windows, walls, There is a problem that the tendency to be reflected or diffracted by obstacles such as partitions is strong, and there is a limit to the reach distance in the building.

In addition, since the 2.4 GHz band does not require a separate frequency use permit, the number of wireless devices to use it is increasing, and interference between devices is a problem.

Therefore, the wireless communication module 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the frequency of the 900MHz band, the length of the antenna 720, it is more preferable that the λ/2 or λ/4 of the transmission frequency of the 900MHz band Do.

According to an embodiment, the antenna 720 may be installed inside the unit. For example, the antenna 720 may not be protruded or attached to the outside, and may be disposed inside the main body case of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit.

In particular, the antenna included in the indoor unit may be disposed inside the body case of the indoor unit. Accordingly, the protruding or externally attached antenna can be prevented from negatively affecting the interior of the room, and the aesthetic sense can be increased.

In the air conditioner system, a plurality of units can transmit and receive data by mutual wireless communication. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of units may be dispersedly disposed in at least two or more layers. For example, the outdoor unit may be placed on the roof of the building, and the indoor unit may be placed on any floor inside the building. Also, a plurality of indoor units may be distributedly disposed on multiple floors.

Accordingly, a plurality of units are not installed on a single layer, but are respectively installed on a plurality of layers to transmit and receive data. Since there are obstacles such as interlayer structures, walls, and furniture in the building, it is necessary to use a frequency band that can reach a signal over a certain distance while passing through the obstacle in the building.

The antenna 720 may be selectively used according to a frequency band used among 700 MHz to 900 MHz of the sub-giga band. The shape of the antenna may be changed according to the frequency band used.

The antenna 720 may transmit a signal output from the transmitter 740 into the air, receive a signal of a designated frequency band in the air, and apply the signal to the receiver 730.

The transmitter 740 and the receiver 730 may control the output of a signal to be transmitted according to the control command of the processor 710. The transmitter 7405 can control the output of the signal by controlling the output impedance, that is, the impedance of the antenna 720 to have a set value. The transmitter 740 and the receiver 730 may adjust impedance according to a frequency band of a signal to be transmitted and received through the antenna 720. For impedance matching, the most popular 50Ω matching method can be used.

According to an embodiment, the antenna 720 may be a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna, and may increase transmission capacity by transmitting data in parallel through each antenna.

The transmitter 740 and the receiver 730 are communication modules supporting MIMO, and multiple inputs and outputs are possible through a plurality of connected antennas. The transmitter 740 may transmit data through a plurality of antennas through multiple paths, and the receiver 730 may detect signals received through each path.

MIMO is an antenna system capable of spatial multiplexing, space diversity, and beam forming.

Spatial multiplexing is a technique for improving transmission speed by transmitting multiple pieces of information through multiple transmitting antennas, and space diversity is a technique for controlling errors by transmitting the same information multiple times through multiple transmitting antennas. Beamforming is a technique that reduces interference by transmitting radio waves in a desired direction.

The wireless communication module 120, through MIMO, may transmit and receive signals using a plurality of antennas to allow mutual communication between a plurality of units distributed in a building or the like.

The processor 710 may control the data of the unit 100 applied through the interface 750 to be transmitted as a signal of a designated frequency band as a set output. Further, the processor 710 may process a signal received through the antenna 720 and apply it to the unit. Also, the processor 710 may control data to be converted into a designated form according to a communication method used.

The interface 750 connects the unit 100 and the communication unit 120. For example, the wireless communication module 120 may be connected to the control unit 110 of the unit 100 through the interface 750, and the wireless communication module 120 may operate under the control of the control unit 110. have.

In the case of conventional wired communication, a plurality of units are hierarchically connected according to a connection state of a communication line, rather than being connected one to one of a plurality of units.

Accordingly, since the data of the indoor unit is not directly transmitted to the controller or the remote control device, a time delay occurs in data transmission.

In addition, the processing load of the outdoor unit increases, and there is a limitation that it takes a lot of time to transmit data according to the number of connected indoor units.

Accordingly, units included in the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform wireless communication with each other.

Preferably, the units included in the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform wireless communication with each other using a frequency band of a sub-giga band.

More preferably, the units included in the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention include a wireless communication module 120 performing wireless communication with each other using a frequency band of a sub-giga band, wireless The communication module 120 may use an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme that is easy to manage radiation patterns, includes a PCB antenna advantageous for securing gain, and has less inter-channel interference in multiple channels.

The conventional 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands are for indoor short distances within about 30m, and there is a disadvantage in that signal strength rapidly decreases even though a thin wall cannot pass or a thin wall.

However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by performing wireless communication using the frequency band of the sub-giga band, it is possible to perform communication at a speed 15 times faster than the wired communication speed of about 9.6 Kbps and about 150 Kbps. , Communication is possible even if there is an obstacle between floors.

In addition, it is possible to eliminate the process of connecting the communication line and the communication line, reducing the installation cost and installation time, it is possible to reduce the overall cost.

8 is a simplified internal block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the mobile terminal 200 includes a wireless communication unit 210, an audio/video (A/V) input unit 220, a user input unit 230, a sensing unit 240, and an output unit 250, It may include a memory 260, an interface unit 270, a control unit 280, and a power supply unit 290.

The mobile terminal 200 according to an aspect of the present invention may include a wireless communication module 300 in wireless communication with a plurality of electronic devices. The wireless communication module 300 is described above with reference to FIG. 7 or described below with reference to FIG. 10? The wireless communication module 120 may have the same internal configuration.

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 300 may be configured as a block of the wireless communication unit 210.

When wireless communication is performed in the sub-giga band with each unit 100 in the air conditioner system, a wireless communication module 300 supporting wireless communication in the sub-giga band may be used. Since it is difficult to release all general-purpose mobile terminals 200 with a built-in wireless communication module 300 supporting wireless communication in the sub-giga band, it is preferable to connect and use the dedicated wireless communication module 300. Do.

In this case, the wireless communication module 300 may be connected through the interface unit 270 or may be connected through the wireless communication unit 210.

Meanwhile, the wireless communication unit 210 may include a broadcast reception module 211, a mobile communication module 213, a wireless Internet module 215, a short-range communication module 217, and a GPS module 219.

The broadcast receiving module 211 may receive at least one of a broadcast signal and broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. At this time, the broadcast channel may include a satellite channel, a terrestrial channel, and the like.

The broadcast signal and/or broadcast-related information received through the broadcast receiving module 211 may be stored in the memory 260.

The mobile communication module 213 transmits and receives wireless signals to and from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. Here, the wireless signal may include a voice call signal, a video call signal, or various types of data according to transmission/reception of text/multimedia messages.

The wireless Internet module 215 refers to a module for wireless Internet access, and the wireless Internet module 215 may be built in or external to the mobile terminal 200. For example, the wireless Internet module 215 may perform Wi-Fi-based wireless communication or Wi-Fi Direct-based wireless communication.

The short-range communication module 217 is for short-range communication, Bluetooth™, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, NFC (Near Field Communication), by using at least one of Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity), Wi-Fi Direct, Wireless USB (Wireless Universal Serial Bus) technology, it can support short-range communication.

The short-range communication module 217 may be provided between the mobile terminal 200 and the wireless communication system, between the mobile terminal 200 and another mobile terminal 200 through the wireless area networks, or the mobile terminal 200. ) And other mobile terminals, or a network where an external server is located, may support wireless communication. The short-range wireless communication network may be wireless personal area networks (Wireless Personal Area Networks).

The Global Position System (GPS) module 219 may receive location information from a plurality of GPS satellites.

Meanwhile, the wireless communication unit 210 may exchange data with a server using one or more communication modules.

The wireless communication unit 210 may include an antenna 205 for wireless communication, and may include an antenna for receiving broadcast signals in addition to an antenna for calls.

The A/V (Audio/Video) input unit 220 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, which may include a camera 221 and a microphone 223.

The user input unit 230 generates key input data input by the user to control the operation of the terminal. To this end, the user input unit 230 may be configured with a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure/blackout), and the like. In particular, when the touch pad forms a mutual layer structure with the display unit 251, it may be referred to as a touch screen.

The sensing unit 240 detects the current state of the mobile terminal 200, such as the open/closed state of the mobile terminal 200, the location of the mobile terminal 200, or the presence or absence of user contact, to control the operation of the mobile terminal 200 Sensing signals can be generated.

The sensing unit 240 may include a sensing sensor 241, a pressure sensor 243, a motion sensor 245, and the like. The motion sensor 245 may detect the movement or position of the mobile terminal 200 using an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a gravity sensor, or the like. In particular, the gyro sensor is a sensor that measures angular velocity, and can detect a direction (angle) that has been turned relative to a reference direction.

The output unit 250 may include a display unit 251, an audio output module 253, an alarm unit 255, and a haptic module 257.

The display unit 251 displays and outputs information processed by the mobile terminal 200.

On the other hand, when the display unit 251 and the touch pad are configured as a touch screen in a mutual layer structure, the display unit 251 may be used as an input device capable of inputting information by a user's touch in addition to the output device.

The audio output module 253 outputs audio data received from the wireless communication unit 210 or stored in the memory 260. The sound output module 253 may include a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 255 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event in the mobile terminal 200. For example, a signal may be output in the form of vibration. .

The haptic module 257 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. A typical example of the tactile effect generated by the haptic module 257 is a vibration effect.

The memory 260 may store a program for processing and control of the control unit 280, and provide a function for temporarily storing input or output data (eg, a phone book, a message, a still image, a video, etc.). You can also do

The interface unit 270 serves as an interface with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 200. The interface unit 270 may receive data from the external device or receive power and transmit it to each component inside the mobile terminal 200, and allow data inside the mobile terminal 200 to be transmitted to the external device. .

The control unit 280 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 200 by generally controlling the operation of each part. For example, it is possible to perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. Also, the controller 280 may include a multimedia playback module 281 for multimedia playback. The multimedia playback module 281 may be configured with hardware in the control unit 280, or may be configured with software separately from the control unit 280.

The power supply unit 290 receives external power and internal power under the control of the controller 280 and supplies power required for the operation of each component.

On the other hand, the block diagram of the mobile terminal 200 shown in Figure 8 is a block diagram for an embodiment of the present invention. Each component of the block diagram may be integrated, added, or omitted depending on the specification of the mobile terminal 200 that is actually implemented.

That is, two or more components may be combined into one component, or one component may be divided into two or more components as necessary. In addition, the function performed in each block is for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, the specific operation or device does not limit the scope of the present invention.

9 is a view referred to in the description of the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an indoor unit 20, an outdoor unit 10, a remote controller 60, a wireless sensor 80, and a mobile terminal 200 Can be.

In addition, the air conditioner system may further include a unit such as a controller, a ventilation device, a defrosting device, a humidifying device, and a heater.

The remote control 60 may be connected to the indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 by wire and transmit a control signal, but more preferably, it may communicate wirelessly.

As described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, the mobile terminal 200 and the controller (see 50 in FIG. 1) are wirelessly connected to units such as the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 to control each unit. have.

The indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 may transmit the requested data information when data information is requested from the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50. The indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 may transmit different content of data information to be transmitted according to the content of the request of the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50.

The indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 receive control signals from the mobile terminal 200 and the controller 50. When the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 receive a control signal from the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50, it may report to the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 that the control signal is successfully received. It is not limited to this, and it may vary depending on the communication method adopted by the air conditioner system.

When the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 receive a control signal, they may perform an operation corresponding thereto. The indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 may receive a storage period or a storage period for storing a data signal including a driving state from the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50. The indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 may store data information when a periodic or error occurs.

The indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 may extend the storage period of recently stored data information when an error occurs. The indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 may include a storage medium that stores data information. For example, the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 may periodically store data information, and when an error occurs, the recently stored data information may be stored separately from other information, but is not limited thereto.

The data information may include an operating state of the indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10. For example, the data information may include air temperature, condensation temperature, evaporation temperature, discharge temperature, heat exchanger temperature, and the like, but is not limited thereto, and is broadly related to the operation of the indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10. Information may be included.

The indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 may transmit data information including a driving state to the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50. The indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 may transmit it to the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 when the on/off or the driving state changes, or when an error occurs. The indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 may communicate with the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 when an event occurs or according to a certain period.

The mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 may receive detailed cycle data capable of diagnosing a failure for each unit in real time and display it on the screen.

When the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 displays data information by characters such as numerical values, the data information of the indoor unit 20, the data information of the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10, etc. It is possible to display the valve information of the pipe to be connected.

Depending on the embodiment, when the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 displays the valve information, the opening or closing of the valve may be displayed in color or picture. For example, the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 may display blue when the valve is open, gray when the valve is closed, or open or close the valve as a picture, but the color or picture It is not limited to the kind.

When the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 displays data information as a time series image, the outdoor unit 10 or the indoor unit 20 to be displayed can be selected.

The mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 selects the indoor unit 20 to be checked among one or more indoor units 20 connected to the selected outdoor unit 10 when selecting the outdoor unit 10 to be displayed among the plurality of outdoor units 10. You can choose.

When the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are selected, the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 includes a driving status of the selected indoor unit 20 and a connection status between the selected outdoor unit 10 and the selected indoor unit 20. Data information can be received. The connection state may include, but is not limited to, the connection state of the pipe, the flow inside the pipe, and on/off of the valve.

The mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 may display the operation states of the selected outdoor unit 10 and indoor unit 20 in time series, such as a change in picture or a change in color. The mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 may display a pipe state or a valve state connecting the selected outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20.

The mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 can check the operation status of the indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 in real time. When checking the operating status of the indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 in real time, the mobile terminal 200 or the controller 50 may receive data information in real time and display the received data information.

The wireless sensor 80 may detect the air condition and transmit air condition data corresponding to the detected air condition.

The air condition may be a concept including at least one of temperature, humidity, air pressure, amount of dust, amount of carbon dioxide, and amount of oxygen. Accordingly, the wireless sensor 80 can measure at least one of temperature, humidity, air pressure, amount of dust, amount of carbon dioxide, and amount of oxygen.

The air condition data may include data for at least one of temperature, humidity, air pressure, amount of dust, amount of carbon dioxide, and amount of oxygen.

The wireless sensor 80 may transmit air condition data in a broadcast method. The broadcast method may be a method of transmitting data without specifying a reception target. The wireless sensor 80 can save energy, operation, and components required to set the data receiving target by transmitting air condition data to a specific communication network without specifying the receiving target.

The air condition data broadcast by the wireless sensor 80 may be transmitted to the outdoor unit 100 or the indoor unit 200.

Also, the air condition data broadcast by the wireless sensor 80 may be transmitted to the controller 50 or the mobile terminal 200.

According to an embodiment, the wireless sensor 80 may also include the wireless communication module 120 described above.

The wireless sensor 80 may transmit sensing data to at least one unit of a plurality of units, including the wireless communication module 120.

Alternatively, at least one wireless sensor 80 that transmits sensing data to at least one unit of the plurality of units includes: an encoding unit for encoding a predetermined signal, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing of signals encoded by the encoding unit using multiple carriers A modulator for modulating according to a method, an antenna pattern is formed on a printed circuit board (PCB), and may include one or more antennas for outputting a signal based on the modulated signal.

That is, the wireless sensor 80 according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform the transmission function of sensing data by including the rest of the configuration except for the receiver 730 in the wireless communication module 120.

The indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 may perform suitable air conditioning operation based on the received air condition data.

The indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 may operate according to a control signal received from the controller 50 or the mobile terminal 200.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the units in the air conditioner system are wirelessly connected, there is an advantage in that the installation cost and installation time can be significantly reduced compared to a wired connection.

In addition, in order to check and control information of any one unit, the controller 50 can directly communicate with and control the control unit without going through a specific unit such as the controller 50, and thus has advantages in terms of communication time and ease of use.

Units included in the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a wireless communication module 120 performing wireless communication with each other using a frequency band of a sub-giga band. In addition, the wireless communication module 120 can use an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme that facilitates radiation pattern management, includes a PCB antenna advantageous for securing gain, and has less inter-channel interference in multiple channels. have.

Accordingly, the outdoor unit is installed in the basement of the building or installed on the roof, the units are distributed, and there are obstacles such as floors and walls between the units. Can be performed smoothly.

On the other hand, high-rise buildings, large-area buildings, and other installation environments, wireless communication shaded areas where wireless communication is not smoothly performed may occur. In this case, it may be necessary to install a repeater capable of retransmitting the received radio signal in order to resolve the wireless communication shadow area.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method for determining whether a repeater is needed in a wireless communication environment and efficiently installing the repeater if necessary.

As described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, the air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of units, and the plurality of units may include outdoor units, indoor units, and the like.

Meanwhile, the outdoor units and the indoor units may be connected by a refrigerant pipe, and the outdoor units and indoor units connected by a refrigerant pipe may be set as a group.

Also, units set in the same group can be wirelessly communicated with each other.

That is, wireless communication can be performed between the outdoor unit and indoor unit in the same group, and wireless communication can also be performed between the indoor unit and indoor unit.

For example, a predetermined outdoor unit and two or more indoor units are connected to the refrigerant pipe, and the indoor units connected to the predetermined outdoor unit and the refrigerant pipe are set as one group and can communicate wirelessly with each other.

10 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a control configuration of a wireless communication module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The unit according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a wireless communication module that wirelessly communicates between the plurality of units at a frequency of a sub gigahertz (Sub GHz) band.

For example, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit may each include a wireless communication module 120 that wirelessly communicates at a frequency in a sub GHz band.

Referring to FIG. 10, the wireless communication module 120 includes a processor 810, a regulator 831, 832, a transceiver 820, ports 841, 842, a main connector 850, and a signal converter 860 ), and a display unit 870.

In addition, the wireless communication module 120 may include an antenna 821 for wireless communication at a frequency in the sub gigahertz (Sub GHz) band, and the sub gigahertz (Sub GHz) band antenna 821 may be a PCB type antenna. have.

In addition, the wireless communication modules 120 connected to the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, etc., communicate with each other at a frequency of a sub-giga band, and the mobile terminal for operator monitoring, short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, main connector 850 ) Can support wired communication.

The wireless communication module 120 may not only be connected to the unit 100 through the main connector 850, but also may be connected to the mobile terminal 200 or the unit 100 through short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In this case, the wireless communication module 120 may include an antenna 822 that wirelessly communicates at a frequency in the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) band.

Accordingly, the wireless communication module 120 may provide a wired and wireless interface to interwork with a mobile terminal such as an indoor unit unit, an outdoor unit unit, a smart phone or a laptop.

That is, it is possible to configure the wireless communication module 120 to secure the versatility of the wireless communication module 120 and to connect not only a dedicated device but also a general-purpose mobile terminal.

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 120 may further include an antenna connection unit (not shown).

Meanwhile, the processor 810 of FIG. 10 corresponds to the processor 710 of FIG. 7, and the transceiver 820 of FIG. 10 corresponds to the receiver 730 and the transmitter 740 of FIG. 7, and the antenna of FIG. 10 821 corresponds to the antenna 720 of FIG. 7, and the main connector 850 of FIG. 10 may correspond to the inner interface 750 of FIG. 7.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the wireless communication module 120 will be described with reference to a part that does not overlap with FIG. 7, but the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 may be implemented in combination with at least a part of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7. have.

The processor 810 may control the overall operation of the wireless communication module 120.

The main connector 850 may connect the unit 100 and the wireless communication module 120. The main connector 850 may be a connection terminal coupled to a transmission/reception port provided in the unit 100. The main connector 850 may operate the wireless communication module 120 to input and output voltages and communication signals necessary for transmitting and receiving signals.

For example, the main connector 850 may transmit a UART (Universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) communication signal input from the unit 100 to the signal converter 860. The Yuat communication signal that has passed through the signal converter 860 may be transmitted to the processor 810.

Accordingly, the main connector 850 may transmit a signal applied from the unit 100 to the processor 810 and a signal from the processor 810 to the controller 110 of the unit.

The wireless communication module 120 is connected to the main board of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit 100 through the main connector 850, thereby being connected to and operating with the control unit 110 of the unit 100 inside the unit 100. Can.

Accordingly, the wireless communication module 120 of the predetermined unit 100 may transmit a predetermined wireless signal to the wireless communication module 120 of the other unit 100 under the control of the control unit 110.

Also, the wireless communication module 120 may transmit data corresponding to the received wireless signal to the control unit 110 of the unit 100.

Meanwhile, the main connector 850 may supply the voltage supplied from the unit 100 to the first regulator 831 or the second regulator 832.

For example, the main connector 850 may include a 12V voltage pin supplied with a 12V voltage from an indoor unit and a 5V voltage pin supplied with a 5V voltage from an outdoor unit.

Accordingly, the main connector 850 may be used in connection with both outdoor units and indoor units.

In addition, the main connector 850 may further include a transmit (Tx) pin, a receive (Rx) pin, a select pin for switching transmission and reception, and a ground (GND) pin.

The regulators 831 and 832 may convert voltages applied from indoor units and outdoor units to operating power of the wireless communication module 120.

The wireless communication module 120 includes a first regulator 831 that converts a first voltage supplied from the indoor unit to a second voltage lower than the first voltage, and the second voltage to the wireless communication module 120 ), and a second regulator 832 supplied to the processor 810.

For example, when the wireless communication module 120 is connected to the indoor unit, the first regulator 831 may convert the 12V voltage supplied from the indoor unit into a 5V voltage. The second regulator 832 may convert the 5V voltage converted by the first regulator 831 into a 3.3V voltage and supply it to the processor 810.

The second regulator 832 may receive a second voltage from the outdoor unit, convert the second voltage into an operating voltage of the wireless communication module 120, and supply the second voltage to the processor 810.

For example, when the wireless communication module 120 is connected to an outdoor unit, the second regulator 832 may convert the 5V voltage supplied from the outdoor unit into a 3.3V voltage and supply it to the processor 810.

The first regulator 831 can convert the voltage of the operating power applied from the unit 100 from the 12V to 5V through the main connector 850, and the second regulator 832 can convert the applied 5V to 3.3V. have.

The first regulator 831 is connected to the main connector 850, is connected to the second regulator 832, and when the voltage of the 12V operating power is converted to 5V, it can be input to the second regulator 832. .

The second regulator 832 may convert a voltage of 5V input from the first regulator 831 to 3.3V and supply it to the processor 810. The second regulator 832 is connected to the main connector 850 and converts a voltage of 5V input from the main connector 850 to 3.3V to supply it to the processor 810.

The indoor unit may apply the operating power of 12V to the wireless communication module 120, and the outdoor unit may apply the operating power of 5V to the wireless communication module 120.

The operating power supplied from the indoor unit may be input through the main connector 850, and converted stepwise from 12V to 3.3V through the regulators 831 and 832, and supplied to the processor 810.

The operation power input from the outdoor unit is 5V, input through the main connector 850, converted from 5V to 3.3V by the second regulator 832, and supplied to the processor 810.

Accordingly, the wireless communication module 120 may be operated by the supplied operating power. On the other hand, if there is a unit for applying a signal with a voltage other than 12V or 5V among a plurality of units included in the air conditioner system, a regulator for converting the voltage of the corresponding operating power supply may be added or replaced.

The signal converter 860 may convert the voltage of the signal input from the main connector 850 and apply it to the processor 810. The signal converter 860 may convert an U-signal signal using 5V as a high level and 0V as a low level to 3.3V to a high level and input it to the processor 810.

According to an embodiment, the signal converter 860 may receive a signal having a high level of 3V from the processor 810, convert it to a signal having a high level of 5V, and transfer the signal to the main connector 850.

Also, the signal conversion unit 860 may invert and output the input UART communication signal.

The processor 810 is connected to the signal converter 860 to input and output communication signals.

On the other hand, the processor 810 of the wireless communication module 120 and the control unit 110 of the unit 100 may input and output data according to the Yourt communication.

The display unit 870 may output an operation state of the wireless communication module 120, a network connection state, and a data transmission/reception state. To this end, the display unit 870 may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

The first port 841 is a connection terminal used to transmit a program update or data stored in the wireless communication module 120 to the outside, and the second port 842 is a debugging of a program mounted in the wireless communication module 120 It is a connector for.

The antenna 821 may use a subgiga band frequency band. The antenna 821 may transmit a signal output from the transmission/reception unit 820 into the air, receive a signal of a designated frequency band in the air, and apply the signal to the transmission/reception unit 820.

According to an embodiment, an antenna connection unit connecting the antenna 821 and the transmission/reception unit 820 may be further provided.

The transceiver 820 may control the output of a signal to be transmitted according to a control command of the processor 810. The transceiver 820 may adjust the output of the signal by controlling the output impedance, that is, the impedance of the antenna 821 to have a set value. The transceiver 820 may adjust the impedance according to the frequency band of the signal to be transmitted and received through the antenna 821.

The processor 810 controls the operation of the transmission/reception unit 820, the regulators 831, 832, the signal conversion unit 860, and the display unit 870 according to the communication setting, and the unit applied through the main connector 850 ( 100) can be controlled to be transmitted as a signal of a specified frequency band as a set output. Further, the processor 810 may process the received data and apply it to the unit 100. Further, the processor 810 may control data to be converted into a designated form according to a communication method used.

The processor 810 checks the communication state of the network to be connected, determines whether communication is possible, outputs it through the display unit 870, and if there is an error in communication, controls the warning to be output through the display unit 870 can do. In addition, the processor 810 may transmit a communication error to the unit through the main connector 850.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the mobile terminal 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention may receive a user's communication range setting input (S1110 ).

The mobile terminal 200 may provide a user interface screen related to the air conditioner system through the display unit 251 when an application is executed or when power is applied to the wireless communication module 300 connected to the mobile terminal 200. have.

The user may select a menu item corresponding to the unit search command included in the user interface screen or input a unit search command with a voice command. By operating the screen displayed in response to the unit search command, the user can set a communication range.

Alternatively, when power is applied to the wireless communication module 300 connected to the mobile terminal 200, a user interface screen related to the air conditioner system may be displayed through the display unit 251.

On the other hand, after the initial communication range setting is made, until the user changes the communication range setting, the mobile terminal 200 may search for a predetermined unit or communicate with a predetermined unit according to a preset communication range.

For example, when power is applied to the wireless communication module 300 connected to the mobile terminal 200, the mobile terminal 200 searches for a predetermined unit or determines a predetermined unit according to a predetermined communication range through the wireless communication module 300. Can communicate with the unit.

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal 200 may perform a network scan to search for a predetermined unit according to a predetermined communication range through the wireless communication module 300 (S1120).

The network scan process (S1120) may include a process in which the mobile terminal 200 outputs a wireless signal, a process in which the unit 100 responds, and a process of displaying a search result screen.

The mobile terminal 200 outputs a wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to the received communication range setting input through the connected wireless communication module 300, and the wireless output from a plurality of units included in the air conditioner system A response signal corresponding to the signal can be received.

The wireless communication module 300 connected to the mobile terminal 200 through the short-range communication module 217 or the interface unit 270 may output the wireless signal.

In this case, the wireless communication module 300 may output the wireless signal at a frequency in a sub gigahertz (Sub GHz) band.

In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 7 and the like, the wireless communication module 300 transmits an antenna signal modulated according to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing to an antenna pattern on a printed circuit board (PCB). ) Can be output to the formed PCB type antenna.

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 300 may reduce the number of times the wireless signal is transmitted by broadcasting a predetermined number of times the wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to the input of the communication range. , Wireless signals can be output for the same range.

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal 200 may display a search result screen in which a plurality of units that have transmitted the response signal are sorted and displayed according to the signal strength of the response signal.

The present invention implements a wireless communication environment of an air conditioner system using a frequency of a sub-giga band, which is advantageous for inter-layer communication.

Therefore, when a network scan is performed to find a specific unit at a specific location in a building where the air conditioner system according to the present invention is installed, all devices are searched for within a communication range and a plurality of devices are displayed as a result. The greater the number of devices displayed, the more difficult it is for the operator to find a specific unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a network scan range may be appropriately adjusted by adjusting a communication range setting by reflecting a user input. In addition, by sorting and displaying the scan result based on the signal strength of the received response signal, it is easier to find a device close to the location of the operator and the mobile terminal 200.

Meanwhile, when any one of a plurality of units displayed on the search result screen is selected (S1150), monitoring may be started while a monitoring screen for a group including the selected unit is displayed (S1160).

The selected unit may be an indoor unit unit or an outdoor unit included in the air conditioner system.

In particular, when a specific indoor unit is selected, by automatically setting an outdoor unit connected to the selected indoor unit and refrigerant pipe to be selected, it is possible to easily check information of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit that operate in conjunction.

In addition, when a specific indoor unit is selected, by automatically setting a group including the selected indoor unit, it is possible to easily check the information of the outdoor unit and other indoor unit operating in conjunction with the selected unit.

In addition, when a specific outdoor unit is selected, by automatically setting a group including the selected outdoor unit, it is possible to easily check information of the indoor unit operating in conjunction with the selected unit.

The outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe, and the units can be set and controlled as a group. Therefore, it is effective to check the status of a specific unit and the entire air conditioner system by checking information of the unit and the units included in the same group rather than monitoring only a specific unit.

The monitoring screen may include individual information on one or more units among a plurality of units included in the group and information on the group.

Accordingly, not only can a specific unit be easily selected, but also information about a group to which the unit belongs can be grasped easily.

The present invention relates to air conditioner system monitoring, and improves a method in which an existing worker moves to an outdoor unit position and directly connects to and monitors the outdoor unit, so that sub-giga band wireless communication can be applied to monitor regardless of the worker position. It has the advantage of increasing convenience.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to configure an independent network and monitor the system in an Internet network in which sub-giga bands are required to pay for wireless communication, and thus, there is an advantage in terms of management cost.

Meanwhile, when a confirmation input for any one of a plurality of units displayed on the search result screen is received, the mobile terminal 200 may transmit a signal corresponding to the confirmation input to the unit where the confirmation input is received. (S1130).

The unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, upon receiving a signal corresponding to the confirmation input, can perform a predetermined feedback (feedback) operation, the operator can visually check whether it is the corresponding unit (S1150) ).

For example, the outdoor unit may display predetermined letters and numbers on an 88-segment display, and a predetermined lamp may flash on the indoor unit.

Accordingly, the operator can quickly and easily find a specific unit among the plurality of units 100 disposed in the building.

In addition, the operator can visually check the feedback operation after the unit control 1130 (1140), and finally select the unit if the desired unit is correct (S1150).

On the other hand, the operator can visually confirm the feedback operation after the unit control 1130 (S1140), and if it is not a desired unit, transmit a signal corresponding to the confirmation input to another unit (S1130) to find the desired unit.

12 is a diagram illustrating a search result screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, the search result screen 1200 may include a communication range setting area 1210 and a search result area 1220. The search result screen 1200 may be displayed on at least a portion of the display unit 251.

The user can set the scan range by operating the communication range setting item 1211 in the communication range setting area 1210.

The communication range setting item 1211 can specify a scan range for searching for a peripheral unit. For example, the left end may designate a signal strength as 0, and the right end may designate a scan range as 10. Here, the illustrated '0' and '10' values are relative values, and may correspond to minimum and maximum values of signals output from the wireless communication module 300, respectively. For example, if the signal strength is set to '5', the wireless communication module 300 will output a signal having a signal strength of 50% of the maximum signal strength set for use in network scanning.

Depending on the embodiment, the signal strength 1212 set according to the operation of the communication range setting item 1211 may be further displayed on the communication range setting area 1210.

12 shows an example in which signal strength is designated as '7'.

If the signal strength is designated as '7', the wireless communication module 300 will output a signal having a signal strength of 70% of the maximum signal strength set for use in network scanning.

Therefore, the user can freely specify the scan range.

The search result screen 1200 may include items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224 corresponding to units for which a response signal has been received from the mobile terminal 200. Each of the items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224 may include name information of each unit, MAC address, or other identification information.

Items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224 corresponding to units for which a response signal has been received from the mobile terminal 200 may be displayed in the search result area 1220. Based on units, items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224 corresponding to units that have transmitted a response signal to the mobile terminal 200 may be displayed in the search result area 1220.

Preferably, the items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224 corresponding to the units for which the response signal has been received are from the item 1221 corresponding to the unit having the largest signal strength of the response signal. The signals may be sequentially displayed in order of signal intensity.

The greater the signal strength, the more likely it is that the unit is close to the mobile terminal 200. Therefore, it is preferable to display the items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224 included in the search result screen 1200 in order of signal strength.

Meanwhile, each of the items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224 may include connection confirmation menu items 1221a, 1222a, 1223a, and 1224a.

Depending on the embodiment, each of the items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224 may further include signal strength items 1221b, 1222b, 1223b, and 1224b. The user can intuitively check the signal strength of the response signal transmitted by the corresponding unit by checking the signal strength items 1221b, 1222b, 1223b, and 1224b.

Meanwhile, the user looks at the search result screen 1200 and selects one of the connection confirmation menu items 1221a, 1222a, 1223a, and 1224a corresponding to the items 1221, 1222, 1223, and 1224, and executes a search command. You can type.

In many cases, the user may select the connection confirmation menu item 1221a corresponding to the first item 1221 having the largest signal strength to find the corresponding unit.

When the connection confirmation menu item 1221a is selected, under the control of the control unit 280, the wireless communication module 300 may transmit a signal corresponding to the confirmation input to the unit corresponding to the first item 1221, and the first The unit corresponding to item 1221 may perform a feedback operation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, errors can be prevented by visually confirming the position of a specific unit.

Meanwhile, the search result screen 1200 may include a confirmation item 1230 in which the user can select a unit and a cancellation item 1240 in which a user can cancel.

13 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, the mobile terminal 200 may provide a user interface screen related to the air conditioner system through the display unit 251 (S1310).

For example, in the user interface screen illustrated in FIG. 12, a screen in which a search result item is omitted may be displayed on the display unit 251.

The user may input the communication range setting to the mobile terminal 200 by operating the communication range setting item 1211 (S1320).

, Based on the received communication range setting input, a wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to the received communication range setting input may be output (S1330 ).

According to an embodiment, the mobile terminal 200 may reduce the number of times the radio signal is transmitted by broadcasting a predetermined number of times the radio signal having a signal strength corresponding to the communication range input. , Wireless signals can be output for the same range.

It is preferable to use a broadcasting method since the search for a unit using wireless communication can be performed for an unspecified unit.

The wireless communication module 300 connected to the mobile terminal 200 through the short-range communication module 217 or the interface unit 270 may output the wireless signal.

In this case, the wireless communication module 300 may output the wireless signal at a frequency in a sub gigahertz (Sub GHz) band.

In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 7 and the like, the wireless communication module 300 transmits an antenna signal modulated according to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing to an antenna pattern on a printed circuit board (PCB). ) Can be output to the formed PCB type antenna.

Meanwhile, among the plurality of units 100 included in the air conditioner system, units that have received the wireless signal may transmit a response signal corresponding to the output wireless signal to the mobile terminal 200 (S1335). .

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 120 of the unit 100 may output a response signal in a broadcasting manner.

The response signal may include identification information of the plurality of units 100.

In addition, the wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to the received communication range setting input may be a search signal for a plurality of units 100, and for a wireless communication module 120 provided in the plurality of units 100 It may be a search signal. The response signal may include identification information of the wireless communication module 120 provided in the plurality of units.

The control unit 280 of the mobile terminal 200 transmits a signal requesting a search for a plurality of units 100 to the wireless communication module 300, and after a predetermined time elapses, a signal requesting a search result Can send.

The mobile terminal 200 may display a search result screen displayed on the display unit 251 in which units that have transmitted the response signal are displayed according to the signal strength of the response signal (S1340).

The control unit 280 may control the display unit 251 to display a search result screen for units for which the response signal has been received.

The control unit 280 may control to display items corresponding to units in which the response signal is received, based on the signal strength of the response signal.

Here, items corresponding to the units for which the response signal has been received may be sequentially displayed in order from the item corresponding to the unit having the largest signal strength of the response signal according to the signal strength order of the response signal.

For example, the search result screen may be the user interface screen illustrated in FIG. 12.

When a confirmation input to any one of the plurality of units 100 displayed on the search result screen is received (S1350), the mobile terminal 200 corresponds to the confirmation input to the unit 100 where the confirmation input is received. The signal is transmitted, and the unit receiving the signal corresponding to the confirmation input may perform a predetermined feedback operation (S1360).

Here, the signal corresponding to the confirmation input may be a signal requesting to perform a feedback operation set for each unit.

For example, when the output unit 160 of the unit 100 includes a lamp, the set feedback operation may be an operation in which the lamp is turned on.

In addition, when the output unit 160 includes a display, the set feedback operation may be an operation in which the display displays a predetermined image.

In addition, when the output unit 160 includes an audio output unit, the set feedback operation may be an operation in which the audio output unit outputs a predetermined sound.

Alternatively, the control unit 110 may control the driving unit 140 to perform a set feedback operation.

For example, when the electronic device 100 is an indoor unit, the LED lamp included in the indoor unit may be turned on.

Alternatively, when the electronic device 100 is an outdoor unit, the 7-segment display provided by the outdoor unit may blink.

Accordingly, it is possible to quickly and easily find a specific unit among the plurality of units 100 disposed in one building.

Meanwhile, when one of the units displayed on the search result screen is selected (S1370), the mobile terminal 200 may display a monitoring screen for the group including the selected unit (S1380). ).

Here, the selected unit may be an indoor unit unit or an outdoor unit included in the air conditioner system.

Meanwhile, the monitoring screen may include individual information on one or more units among a plurality of units included in the group and information on the group.

14 and 15 are views illustrating a monitoring screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The monitoring screen may display individual information on a certain unit and information on a group including the unit, and detailed information on an item selected on the monitoring screen may be displayed.

14 and 15, the monitoring screen may include a basic information area 1410, a tab menu area 1420, a detailed information area 1430, and a setting menu area 1440.

In the basic information area 1410, operation information, product information, operation status information, and unit information of the air conditioner system and the monitoring application may be displayed.

The driving information may provide an outdoor unit driving mode, outdoor unit error information, and the like.

The product information may provide a connected product model, motherboard product version information, and the like.

The operation state may provide an operation state related to wireless communication such as a data storage state and a data reception state.

The unit information may provide unit information of monitoring data.

The user can check the detailed information by selecting a predetermined tab in the tab menu area 1420.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, when the first tab 1421 is selected, basic outdoor unit information of the air conditioner system may be displayed. The outdoor unit information displayed here may be outdoor unit information of a group including a unit selected through a search result screen.

Referring to FIG. 14, when the first tab 1421 is selected, in the detailed information area 1430, a current high pressure, a current low pressure, a current SH (superheat), a current SCSH (supercooling superheat), a weighted average indoor temperature, The compression ratio, current SC (supercooling) information, and the like may be displayed.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 15, when the second tab 1422 is selected, basic indoor unit information of the air conditioner system may be displayed. The indoor unit information displayed here may be indoor group information of a group including a unit selected through a search result screen.

When the second tab 1422 is selected, information such as the capacity, driving mode, air volume, and EEV of indoor units included in a predetermined group may be displayed in the detailed information area 1430.

In addition, the detailed information area 1430 includes indoor unit capacity, indoor unit driving mode, indoor unit wind strength, indoor unit type information, indoor unit EEV, communication rate, indoor air temperature, indoor pipe inlet temperature, and indoor pipe outlet temperature included in a predetermined group, An indoor unit error number may be displayed.

The user can select one of the indoor units displayed in the detailed information area 1430 and check detailed information about the individual indoor units.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to quickly and accurately identify a specific unit among a plurality of units included in the air conditioner system.

Further, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the user can conveniently check and control the searched unit information, thereby improving user convenience.

Further, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide an air conditioner system capable of direct wireless communication between each unit and a mobile terminal regardless of an installation environment.

The electronic device (unit), the wireless communication module, the mobile terminal, and the air conditioner system according to the present invention are not limited to the configuration and method of the above-described embodiments, and the above embodiments have various modifications. All or part of each of the embodiments may be selectively combined to be configured.

Meanwhile, a method of controlling an electronic device (unit), a wireless communication module, a mobile terminal, and an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention can be implemented as a code that can be read by a processor on a record carrier readable recording medium. Do. The processor-readable recording medium includes all types of recording devices in which data that can be read by the processor are stored. Examples of the recording medium that can be read by the processor include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, etc., and include those implemented in the form of carrier waves such as transmission through the Internet. . In addition, the processor-readable recording medium may be distributed over a networked computer system so that the processor-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed manner.

In addition, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the technical field to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. In addition, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical idea or prospect of the present invention.

10: outdoor unit
20: indoor unit
50: controller
100: electronic device (unit)
120, 300: wireless communication module
200: mobile terminal

Claims (15)

Receiving a communication range setting input;
Outputting a wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to the received communication range setting input through a communication module;
Receiving a response signal corresponding to the output radio signal from a plurality of units included in an air conditioner system and located in a plurality of air conditioning spaces separated from each other through the communication module;
Displaying a search result screen displayed by arranging the plurality of units transmitting the response signal according to the signal strength of the response signal; And,
Includes; if any one of the plurality of units displayed on the search result screen is selected, displaying a monitoring screen for the group containing the selected unit;
The communication module,
Outputs a signal modulated according to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing using a multicarrier,
A control method of a mobile terminal characterized in that the received signal is demodulated by the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing method. According to claim 1,
And transmitting a signal corresponding to the confirmation input to the unit where the confirmation input is received, when a confirmation input to any one of a plurality of units displayed on the search result screen is received. . According to claim 1,
In the step of outputting the wireless signal, the control method of a mobile terminal characterized in that the wireless signal is broadcast a predetermined number of times. delete According to claim 1,
The communication module, the control method of a mobile terminal, characterized in that for outputting the radio signal at a frequency of 700Mhz to 900Mhz band. The method of claim 5,
The communication module, the control method of the mobile terminal, characterized in that for output to a printed circuit board (PCB) antenna pattern (pattern) is formed in a PCB type antenna. According to claim 1,
The selected unit is a control method of a mobile terminal, characterized in that the indoor unit or outdoor unit included in the air conditioner system. According to claim 1,
The monitoring screen, the control method of a mobile terminal, characterized in that it comprises individual information for one or more of the plurality of units included in the group and information for the group. Outputting, through a first communication module, a wireless signal having a signal strength corresponding to the received communication range setting input based on the communication range setting input received by the mobile terminal;
Among the plurality of units included in the air conditioner system and located in a plurality of air-conditioning spaces that are separated from each other, the units receiving the radio signals move the response signals corresponding to the output radio signals through the second communication module Transmitting to a terminal;
Displaying, by the mobile terminal, a search result screen in which units that have transmitted the response signal are sorted and displayed according to the signal strength of the response signal; And,
Includes; when any one of the units displayed on the search result screen is selected, the mobile terminal displays a monitoring screen for the group containing the selected unit;
The first and second communication modules,
Outputs a signal modulated according to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing using a multicarrier,
A method of controlling an air conditioner system, characterized in that the received signal is demodulated by the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing method. The method of claim 9,
When the confirmation input for any one of a plurality of units displayed on the search result screen is received, the mobile terminal transmits a signal corresponding to the confirmation input to the unit where the confirmation input is received; Method of control of the harmonizer system. The method of claim 10,
And a step of receiving a signal corresponding to the confirmation input to perform a predetermined feedback operation. The method of claim 9,
The step of outputting the radio signal is a method of controlling an air conditioner system, characterized in that the radio signal is broadcast a predetermined number of times. The method of claim 9,
The first and second communication modules,
Control method of the air conditioner system, characterized in that for outputting the radio signal at a frequency of 700Mhz to 900Mhz band. The method of claim 13,
The first and second communication modules,
A control method of an air conditioner system, characterized in that the wireless signal is output through a PCB type antenna having an antenna pattern formed on a printed circuit board (PCB). The method of claim 9,
The selected unit is a control method of the air conditioner system, characterized in that the indoor unit or outdoor unit included in the air conditioner system.

Images