FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR AIR
CONDITIONING SYSTEM
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION
ORGANISED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE
ADDRESS IS 7-3, MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO
1008310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED
2
DESCRIPTION
Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air
conditioning system that performs air conditioning, and a5
control method for the air conditioning system.
Background
[0002] Conventionally, there is a case where it is
required to adjust a power demand amount in accordance with10
a power supply amount in preparation for power shortage.
For example, in Patent Literature 1, a technique is
disclosed in which, when a power consumption amount of a
device connected to a power outlet device is measured and a
power demand amount is predicted to exceed a power supply15
amount, a power outlet device to be subjected to power cut
of shutting off power supply is selected in ascending order
of priority set to each power outlet device, to obtain a
total power consumption amount satisfying a deficient power
amount.20
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2013-11588525
Summary of Invention
Problem to be solved by the Invention
[0004] However, among users who manage operation of an
air conditioner, there is a case where planned power cut is30
performed by a method of installing a timer in a
distribution board and forcibly shutting off the power
supply at a designated time, instead of using the power
3
consumption amount as in the technique disclosed in Patent
Literature 1. As described above, there has been a problem
that, when power cut is repeatedly performed by the method
of forcibly shutting off the power supply, a load is
applied to the air conditioner, which causes a failure.5
[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of
the above, and an object of the present disclosure is to
provide an air conditioning system capable of reducing a
load applied to an air conditioner even in an environment
where power supply is forcibly shut off.10
Means to Solve the Problem
[0006] In order to solve the above-described problems
and achieve the object, an air conditioning system
according to the present disclosure includes: a detection15
unit to detect that power cut has occurred on a basis of a
power source voltage supplied to an air conditioner; an
estimation unit to estimate a predicted occurrence date and
time of next power cut on a basis of power cut occurrence
information including an occurrence date and time of power20
cut detected by the detection unit; and a control unit to
stop operation of the air conditioner before the next power
cut occurs, on a basis of the estimated predicted
occurrence date and time.
25
Effects of the Invention
[0007] According to the present disclosure, there is an
effect of being able to obtain an air conditioning system
capable of reducing a load applied to an air conditioner
even in an environment where power supply is forcibly shut30
off.
Brief Description of Drawings
4
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration of an air conditioning system according to a
first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary
configuration of a hand operation unit illustrated in FIG.5
1.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure in
which the air conditioning system according to the first
embodiment detects power cut.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control10
procedure of an indoor unit of the air conditioning system
according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a control
procedure of the indoor unit after a predicted occurrence
date and time of power cut has passed.15
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration of an air conditioning system according to a
second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a
control circuit for implementing functions of the air20
conditioning systems according to the first and second
embodiments.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating dedicated hardware
for implementing functions of the air conditioning systems
according to the first and second embodiments.25
Description of Embodiments
[0009] Hereinafter, an air conditioning system and a
control method for the air conditioning system according to
embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in30
detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings,
components denoted by identical reference numerals have
identical or similar functions, and this rule is common to
5
the entire embodiments described below. In addition, the
forms of the components shown in the entire specification
are merely examples, and are not limited to the forms
described in the specification.
[0010] First Embodiment.5
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration of an air conditioning system 100 according
to a first embodiment. The air conditioning system 100
according to the first embodiment includes an outdoor unit
1, an indoor unit 2, and a hand operation unit 3.10
Hereinafter, the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 may
be collectively referred to as an air conditioner. Note
that, although one indoor unit 2 is connected to one
outdoor unit 1 in FIG. 1, a plurality of indoor units 2 may
be connected to one outdoor unit 1.15
[0011] The air conditioning system 100 is supplied with
power from a power source 4. In FIG. 1, the outdoor unit 1
is connected to the power source 4, and the power source 4
supplies power to the air conditioning system 100 through
the outdoor unit 1. Note that the power source 4 may be20
connected to the indoor unit 2 to supply power from the
indoor unit 2.
[0012] The outdoor unit 1 includes a detection unit 11,
a control unit 12, and a communication unit 13. The
detection unit 11 detects that power cut has occurred, on25
the basis of a power source voltage. Specifically, the
detection unit 11 sets a threshold to a power source
voltage value, determines that power cut has occurred when
the power source voltage value falls below the threshold,
and outputs power cut information notifying the occurrence30
of power cut to the control unit 12. When the detection
unit 11 outputs the power cut information, the control unit
12 generates power cut occurrence information obtained by
6
adding a time stamp including a power cut occurrence date
and time to the power cut information output by the
detection unit 11 before the power supply is completely
shut off, and transmits the generated power cut occurrence
information to the communication unit 23 of the indoor unit5
2 via the communication unit 13.
[0013] The indoor unit 2 includes an estimation unit 21,
a control unit 22, a communication unit 23, and a local
weather information reception unit 24.
[0014] The communication unit 23 has a function of10
communicating with the communication unit 13 of the outdoor
unit 1, and receives the power cut occurrence information
transmitted from the communication unit 13. The
communication unit 23 passes the received power cut
occurrence information to the estimation unit 21 through15
the control unit 22.
[0015] The local weather information reception unit 24
receives weather information in a place where the indoor
unit 2 of the air conditioner is installed, from the
outside of the air conditioning system 100. From the20
received weather information, the local weather information
reception unit 24 acquires current weather information and
future weather forecast information, for example, weather
information after several hours. The local weather
information reception unit 24 includes a storage unit 24a,25
and temporarily stores the acquired weather information
into the storage unit 24a. The storage unit 24a is a
volatile memory, but may be any storage medium or storage
device as long temporary storage is possible.
[0016] The estimation unit 21 includes an arithmetic30
unit 21a and a storage unit 21b.
[0017] The estimation unit 21 acquires the power cut
occurrence information received from the outdoor unit 1 via
7
the communication unit 23 and the control unit 22 and the
weather information stored in the storage unit 24a, and
stores these acquired information into the storage unit 21b.
At this time, the estimation unit 21 can acquire weather
information at a date and time identical to the power cut5
occurrence date and time indicated by the power cut
occurrence information, and store the weather information
into the storage unit 21b. In addition, the estimation
unit 21 can accumulate history information of the power cut
occurrence information and the weather information as power10
cut history information, create a database, and store the
database into the storage unit 21b. The storage unit 21b
is a nonvolatile memory, but may be any storage medium or
storage device as long as nonvolatile holding is possible.
[0018] The arithmetic unit 21a estimates a predicted15
occurrence date and time of the next power cut on the basis
of past power cut history information stored into the
storage unit 21b. As a method for calculating the
predicted occurrence date and time of the next power cut,
an autoregressive model, a moving average model, or the20
like can be used in which the predicted occurrence date and
time of the next power cut is obtained by statistical
analysis using the past power cut history information as a
time-series signal. In addition, there is a method of
obtaining a power cut occurrence probability by generating25
a logistic regression model from the power cut history
information and inputting the date and time and the weather
information, but the method is not limited thereto. The
arithmetic unit 21a stores the calculated predicted
occurrence date and time of the next power cut into the30
storage unit 21b.
[0019] The control unit 22 controls the air conditioner
on the basis of the predicted occurrence date and time of
8
the next power cut stored into the storage unit 21b of the
estimation unit 21. Specifically, the control unit 22
stops operation of the air conditioner before the next
power cut occurs, on the basis of the predicted occurrence
date and time of the next power cut. As a result, the5
operation of the air conditioner is to be in a stopped
state at the time point when the power cut occurs, and it
is possible to prevent the power supply to the air
conditioner from being forcibly shut off due to the power
cut and a load from being applied to the air conditioner,10
during the operation of the air conditioner.
[0020] In addition, the control unit 22 causes the air
conditioner to perform a precooling operation or a
preheating operation before the next power cut occurs and
before the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, on15
the basis of the predicted occurrence date and time of the
next power cut. The precooling operation and the
preheating operation mean that the air conditioner is
operated to maintain a comfortable indoor environment for a
user for a while even after the operation of the air20
conditioner is stopped. For example, the user can make
settings related to the precooling operation and the
preheating operation in advance in function settings of the
air conditioner. Examples of items to be set include a set
temperature indicating a desired degree of an indoor25
temperature, a duration indicating a desired number of
hours for which a comfortable indoor environment is to be
maintained, and the like. In the precooling operation and
the preheating operation, for example, the control unit 22
can adjust a set temperature, an air volume, and the like30
of the air conditioner so that the set value specified by
the user is obtained at the time of stopping the air
conditioner. In addition, after stopping the air
9
conditioner, the control unit 22 may adjust the set
temperature so that the indoor environment comfortable for
the user can be maintained for the set duration. For
example, in a case of the precooling operation, the control
unit 22 can adjust the set temperature to be lower as the5
set duration is longer. In a case of the preheating
operation, the control unit 22 can adjust the set
temperature to be higher as the set duration is longer.
Note that, since there is a case where the precooling
operation and the preheating operation may not be required10
depending on the user or the season, the control content
can be appropriately changed.
[0021] Note that the timing of starting the precooling
operation or the preheating operation is earlier than the
predicted occurrence date and time of the next power cut15
and than the timing of stopping the operation of the air
conditioner, and is determined on the basis of a time
length in which the indoor temperature can be changed to
the set temperature before the operation of the air
conditioner is stopped. Further, the timing of stopping20
the operation of the air conditioner is determined on the
basis of time to be taken from the start of the operation
stop control by the control unit 22 to the actual stop of
the operation of the air conditioner so that the operation
of the air conditioner can be safely stopped before the25
predicted occurrence date and time of the next power cut
arrives. In addition, in a case where the operation of the
air conditioner has been stopped at the timing of starting
the precooling operation or the preheating operation, the
control unit 22 does not necessarily perform the precooling30
operation and the preheating operation. In addition, in
the setting related to the precooling operation and the
preheating operation, the user may be allowed in advance to
10
select whether or not to perform the precooling operation
or the preheating operation in a case where the operation
of the air conditioner has been stopped at the timing of
starting the precooling operation or the preheating
operation. In a case where the operation of the air5
conditioner has been stopped at the timing of starting the
precooling operation or the preheating operation, when the
precooling operation or the preheating operation has been
set to be performed, the control unit 22 controls the air
conditioner to perform the precooling operation or the10
preheating operation even in a case where the air
conditioner has been stopped in advance.
[0022] The control unit 22 instructs the control unit 12
of the outdoor unit 1 to perform the operation stop control
to stop the operation of the air conditioner. Further, the15
control unit 22 determines whether or not power cut has
actually occurred when the predicted occurrence date and
time of the next power cut arrives. Then, the control unit
22 records the fact that power cut has not occurred at the
predicted occurrence date and time on the storage unit 21b20
if power cut has not occurred. The control unit 22 records
the fact that power cut has actually occurred on the
storage unit 21b if power cut has occurred.
[0023] The power cut history information, the predicted
occurrence date and time, and the result of whether or not25
power cut has actually occurred, which are stored into the
storage unit 21b of the estimation unit 21, can be used to
improve prediction accuracy at a time when the predicted
occurrence date and time of power cut is calculated using,
for example, machine learning.30
[0024] The hand operation unit 3 is a remote controller
for operating the air conditioner at the user's hand. FIG.
2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of
11
the hand operation unit 3 illustrated in FIG. 1. The hand
operation unit 3 includes a display unit 31 for providing
information to the user, and an operation unit 32 for the
user to operate. The hand operation unit 3 can display a
predicted occurrence date and time of the next power cut, a5
set temperature, and the like, by using the display unit 31.
In addition, the hand operation unit 3 can use the display
unit 31 to indicate that the precooling operation is being
performed or that the preheating operation is being
performed.10
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure
in which the air conditioning system 100 according to the
first embodiment detects power cut. The detection unit 11
of the outdoor unit 1 determines whether or not the power
source voltage has decreased on the basis of whether or not15
the power source voltage value has fallen below the
threshold (step S1). If the power source voltage has not
decreased (step S1: No), the flow of FIG. 3 is ended. If
the power source voltage has decreased (step S1: Yes),
power cut occurrence information indicating a date and time20
at which the power cut has occurred is transmitted from the
outdoor unit 1 to the indoor unit 2 (step S2).
Specifically, when the detection unit 11 detects a decrease
in the power source voltage, the detection unit 11 outputs
power cut information for notifying the control unit 12 of25
the occurrence of power cut. The control unit 12 generates
power cut occurrence information obtained by adding a time
stamp indicating the occurrence date and time of the power
cut to the power cut information, and transmits the
generated power cut occurrence information to the indoor30
unit 2 via the communication unit 13. The indoor unit 2
stores the power cut occurrence information transmitted
from the outdoor unit 1 into the storage unit 21b (step S3).
12
[0026] Note that the procedure illustrated in FIG. 3 is
executed periodically, for example. Further, in step S3,
when the indoor unit 2 stores the power cut occurrence
information into the storage unit 21b, weather information
at a power cut occurrence date and time acquired by the5
local weather information reception unit 24 is added and
stored as power cut history information.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control
procedure of the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioning
system 100 according to the first embodiment. The10
estimation unit 21 of the indoor unit 2 determines whether
or not the air conditioner is in operation (step S11). In
a case of not being in operation (step S11: No), the flow
of FIG. 4 is ended. In a case of being in operation (step
S11: Yes), the estimation unit 21 estimates a predicted15
occurrence date and time of the next power cut (step S12).
Note that, at this time, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the
estimation unit 21 may display the estimated predicted
occurrence date and time of the next power cut by using the
display unit 31 of the hand operation unit 3.20
[0028] The control unit 22 of the indoor unit 2 performs
the precooling operation or the preheating operation before
the predicted occurrence date and time of the next power
cut (step S13). At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 2,
the control unit 22 may cause the display unit 31 of the25
hand operation unit 3 to indicate that the precooling
operation or the preheating operation is being performed.
[0029] The control unit 22 stops operation of the air
conditioner before the next power cut occurs, on the basis
of the predicted occurrence date and time of the next power30
cut (step S14). After the operation of the air conditioner
is stopped (step S15), when the predicted occurrence date
and time of the next power cut has passed, the indoor unit
13
2 ends the flow of FIG. 4.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a control
procedure of the indoor unit 2 after a predicted occurrence
date and time of power cut has passed. After the flow
illustrated in FIG. 4 is ended, the procedure illustrated5
in FIG. 5 is executed. The control unit 22 of the indoor
unit 2 determines whether or not power cut has actually
occurred after the predicted occurrence date and time of
power cut has passed (step S21). As described above, since
the procedure illustrated in FIG. 3 is periodically10
executed, when power cut occurs, the power cut occurrence
information is transmitted from the outdoor unit 1 in step
S2 of FIG. 3. Therefore, the control unit 22 can determine
whether or not power cut has occurred on the basis of
whether or not the power cut occurrence information has15
been received from the outdoor unit 1.
[0031] When power cut occurs (step S21: Yes), the
control unit 22 causes the storage unit 21b to store, at
the time of the next restart of the operation, information
on the fact that the power cut has occurred at the20
predicted occurrence date and time of power cut (step S22),
and ends the flow of FIG. 5. Note that, when power cut
occurs, the processing in steps S1 to S3 in FIG. 3 is also
executed, so that the power cut history information is also
stored. If power cut has not occurred (step S21: No), the25
control unit 22 causes the storage unit 21b to store
information on the fact that power cut has not occurred at
the predicted occurrence date and time of power cut (step
S23), and ends the flow of FIG. 5.
[0032] In addition, when power cut occurs at a time30
different from the predicted occurrence date and time of
power cut, the processing of FIG. 3 is executed to store
the power cut history information into the storage unit 21b.
14
[0033] Note that the functional configuration
illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example, and the detection unit
11 may be configured in the indoor unit 2, or the
estimation unit 21 and the local weather information
reception unit 24 may be configured in the outdoor unit 1.5
In a case where the estimation unit 21 and the local
weather information reception unit 24 are configured in the
outdoor unit 1, for example, the estimation unit 21 can
notify the control unit 22 of the indoor unit 2 of the
predicted occurrence date and time of the next power cut,10
which is an estimation result, the control unit 22 can
perform the precooling operation or the preheating
operation, and the control unit 12 of the outdoor unit 1
can stop the operation of the air conditioner before the
power cut occurs.15
[0034] As described above, the air conditioning system
100 according to the first embodiment includes: the
detection unit 11 that detects that power cut has occurred
on the basis of a power source voltage supplied to the air
conditioner; the estimation unit 21 that estimates a20
predicted occurrence date and time of the next power cut on
the basis of power cut occurrence information including an
occurrence date and time of power cut detected by the
detection unit 11; and the control unit 22 that stops the
operation of the air conditioner before the next power cut25
occurs, on the basis of the estimated predicted occurrence
date and time. Further, the control method for the air
conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment
includes: a step of detecting that power cut has occurred
on the basis of a power source voltage; a step of30
estimating a predicted occurrence date and time of the next
power cut on the basis of power cut occurrence information
including an occurrence date and time of the power cut that
15
has been detected; and a step of stopping the operation of
the air conditioner before the next power cut occurs, on
the basis of the estimated predicted occurrence date and
time. With such a configuration, when the next power cut
occurs, since the operation of the air conditioner has been5
stopped, it is possible to reduce a load applied to the air
conditioner even in an environment where the power supply
is forcibly shut off. When the power supply is forcibly
shut off during the operation of the air conditioner, it
may lead to a failure of the air conditioner. Therefore,10
such a failure can be prevented in the first embodiment.
[0035] Further, the air conditioning system 100 further
includes the local weather information reception unit 24
that acquires weather information at a place where the air
conditioner is installed, and the estimation unit 2115
estimates an occurrence date and time of the next power cut
on the basis of the weather information in addition to the
power cut occurrence information. Note that the local
weather information reception unit 24 acquires weather
information at an occurrence date and time of the power cut20
in the past and weather information in the future. The
future weather information can be, for example, weather
information from the present time point to several hours
later. With such a configuration, it is possible to
accurately estimate the occurrence date and time of the25
next power cut even in a case where whether or not power
cut occurs changes depending on a weather condition.
Therefore, it is possible to increase a possibility that
the operation of the air conditioner has been stopped at
the time when the next power cut occurs, and it is possible30
to increase a probability that a load applied to the air
conditioner can be reduced even in an environment where the
power supply is forcibly shut off.
16
[0036] Note that the detection unit 11 detects that
power cut has occurred on the basis of a decrease in the
power source voltage supplied to the air conditioner.
Further, the air conditioning system 100 may further
include the storage unit 21b that stores the power cut5
occurrence information and the predicted occurrence date
and time of the next power cut estimated by the estimation
unit 21.
[0037] The estimation unit 21 estimates a predicted
occurrence date and time of the next power cut by10
statistically analyzing past power cut occurrence
information and the weather information. Specifically, the
estimation unit 21 can use an autoregressive model, a
moving average model, or the like to obtain the predicted
occurrence date and time of the next power cut by15
statistical analysis using the past power cut history
information as a time-series signal. In addition, the
estimation unit 21 may also use, for example, a method of
obtaining the power cut occurrence probability by
generating a logistic regression model from the power cut20
history information, and inputting the date and time and
the weather information to the logistic regression model.
[0038] Further, in the air conditioning system 100, the
control unit 22 performs the precooling operation or the
preheating operation before stopping the operation of the25
air conditioner, on the basis of the predicted occurrence
date and time of the next power cut. As a result, it
becomes possible to maintain a comfortable indoor
environment for the user for a while even after the power
supply is forcibly shut off.30
[0039] Further, the air conditioning system 100 can
further include the hand operation unit 3 that displays the
predicted occurrence date and time of the next power cut.
17
By displaying the predicted occurrence date and time on the
hand operation unit 3, the user can grasp the date and time
at which the next power cut may occur in advance.
[0040] Further, the hand operation unit 3 can also
display the predicted occurrence date and time of the next5
power cut and indicate that the precooling operation or the
preheating operation is being performed. As a result, the
user can grasp the date and time at which the next power
cut may occur in advance, and can grasp that the precooling
operation or the preheating operation is being performed10
for the next power cut.
[0041] Second Embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration of an air conditioning system 200 according
to a second embodiment. In the first embodiment, one15
indoor unit 2 is connected to one outdoor unit 1. However,
in the air conditioning system 200, a plurality of indoor
units 2-1 to 2-4 are connected to one outdoor unit 1. Here,
four indoor units 2-1 to 2-4 are illustrated, but the
number of the indoor units 2 is not limited thereto.20
[0042] In this case, since the function of the indoor
unit 2 described with reference to FIG. 1 is not
necessarily provided in all the indoor units 2-1 to 2-4, it
suffices that one of the indoor units 2-1 to 2-4 has the
function of the indoor unit 2 described with reference to25
FIG. 1. For example, as described in FIG. 1, the indoor
unit 2-1 directly connected to the outdoor unit 1 can have
a configuration including the local weather information
reception unit 24 that acquires weather information, the
estimation unit 21 that estimates a predicted occurrence30
date and time of the next power cut, and the control unit
22 that terminates the operation of the air conditioner
before the power cut occurs. In this case, for performing
18
the precooling operation or the preheating operation, for
example, the indoor unit 2-1 including the estimation unit
21 notifies each of the indoor units 2-2 to 2-4 of the
predicted occurrence date and time of the next power cut
which is an estimation result. In each of the indoor units5
2-1 to 2-4, a start date and time of the precooling
operation or the preheating operation can be determined.
[0043] Further, as described in the first embodiment,
the detection unit 11 may be configured in any one of the
indoor units 2-1 to 2-4, and the estimation unit 21 and the10
local weather information reception unit 24 may be
configured in the outdoor unit 1.
[0044] As described above, even in a case where the
plurality of indoor units 2-1 to 2-4 are connected to one
outdoor unit 1 as in the air conditioning system 20015
according to the second embodiment, effects similar to
those of the air conditioning system 100 according to the
first embodiment can be obtained.
[0045] Next, a hardware configuration of the air
conditioning systems 100 and 200 according to the first and20
second embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described. The detection unit 11, the control unit 12, the
estimation unit 21, the control unit 22, and the local
weather information reception unit 24 are implemented by
processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be25
implemented by dedicated hardware, or may be control
circuits using a central processing unit (CPU).
[0046] In a case where the above-described processing
circuitry is implemented by a control circuit using a CPU,
the control circuit is, for example, a control circuit 9030
having a configuration illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a
diagram illustrating a configuration of the control circuit
90 for implementing the functions of the air conditioning
19
systems 100 and 200 according to the first and second
embodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the control circuit
90 includes a processor 91 and a memory 92. The processor
91 is a CPU, and is also called a central processing unit,
a processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor,5
a microcomputer, a digital signal processor (DSP), or the
like. The memory 92 is, for example, a nonvolatile or
volatile semiconductor memory such as a random access
memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an
erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), or an electrically EPROM10
(EEPROM, registered trademark), a magnetic disk, a flexible
disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a
digital versatile disk (DVD), or the like.
[0047] In a case where the above-described processing
circuitry is implemented by the control circuit 90, the15
processing circuitry is implemented by the processor 91
reading and executing a program corresponding to the
processing of each component and stored in the memory 92.
Further, the memory 92 is also used as a temporary memory
in each processing executed by the processor 91. Note that20
the program executed by the processor 91 may be provided in
a state of being stored in a storage medium, or may be
provided via a communication path such as the Internet.
[0048] In a case where the above-described processing
circuitry is implemented by dedicated hardware, the25
processing circuitry is implemented by the processing
circuitry 93 illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram
illustrating dedicated hardware for implementing functions
of the air conditioning systems 100 and 200 according to
the first and second embodiments. The processing circuitry30
93 is a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed
processor, a parallel programmed processor, an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable
20
gate array (FPGA), or a combination of these.
[0049] Further, the functions of the air conditioning
systems 100 and 200 may be implemented by combining the
control circuit 90 and the processing circuitry 93 which is
dedicated hardware.5
[0050] The configurations illustrated in the above
embodiments illustrate one example of the contents of the
present disclosure and can be combined with another known
technique, and it is also possible to omit and change a
part of the configuration without departing from the10
subject matter of the present disclosure.
Reference Signs List
[0051] 1 outdoor unit; 2, 2-1 to 2-4 indoor unit; 3
hand operation unit; 4 power source; 11 detection unit;15
12, 22 control unit; 13, 23 communication unit; 21
estimation unit; 21a arithmetic unit; 21b, 24a storage
unit; 24 local weather information reception unit; 31
display unit; 32 operation unit; 90 control circuit; 91
processor; 92 memory; 93 processing circuitry; 100, 20020
air conditioning system.
21
We Claim:
[Claim 1] An air conditioning system comprising:
a detection unit to detect that power cut has occurred5
on a basis of a power source voltage supplied to an air
conditioner;
an estimation unit to estimate a predicted occurrence
date and time of next power cut on a basis of power cut
occurrence information including an occurrence date and10
time of power cut detected by the detection unit; and
a control unit to stop operation of the air
conditioner before the next power cut occurs, on a basis of
the estimated predicted occurrence date and time.
15
[Claim 2] The air conditioning system according to claim 1,
further comprising:
a local weather information reception unit to acquire
weather information in a place where the air conditioner is
installed, wherein20
the estimation unit estimates an occurrence date and
time of the next power cut on a basis of the weather
information in addition to the power cut occurrence
information.
25
[Claim 3] The air conditioning system according to claim 2,
wherein the local weather information reception unit
acquires the weather information at an occurrence date and
time of the power cut in past and the weather information
in future.30
[Claim 4] The air conditioning system according to any one
of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detection unit detects that
22
the power cut has occurred on a basis of a decrease in the
power source voltage.
[Claim 5] The air conditioning system according to any one
of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:5
a storage unit to store the power cut occurrence
information and the predicted occurrence date and time of
the next power cut estimated by the estimation unit.
[Claim 6] The air conditioning system according to claim 2,10
wherein the estimation unit estimates a predicted
occurrence date and time of the next power cut by
statistically analyzing the power cut occurrence
information in past and the weather information.
15
[Claim 7] The air conditioning system according to any one
of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit causes the air
conditioner to perform a precooling operation or a
preheating operation before operation of the air
conditioner is stopped, on a basis of the predicted20
occurrence date and time of the next power cut.
[Claim 8] The air conditioning system according to any one
of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:
a hand operation unit to display the predicted25
occurrence date and time.
[Claim 9] The air conditioning system according to any one
of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:
a hand operation unit to display the predicted30
occurrence date and time and indicate that a precooling
operation or a preheating operation is being performed.
23
[Claim 10] A control method for an air conditioning
system, the control method comprising:
a step of detecting that power cut has occurred on a
basis of a power source voltage;
a step of estimating a predicted occurrence date and5
time of next power cut on a basis of power cut occurrence
information including an occurrence date and time of the
power cut that has been detected; and
a step of stopping the operation of the air
conditioner before the next power cut occurs, on a basis of10
the estimated predicted occurrence date and time.