FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970) &
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
A CENTRALIZED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AIR-CONDITIONERS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE

SAME;
BLUE STAR LIMITED A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956, WHOSE ADDRESS IS KASTURI BUILDINGS, MOHAN T. ADVANI CHOWK, JAMSHETJI TATA ROAD, MUMBAI -400 020, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to centralized control system for air-conditioners.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Trends indicate that there continues to be an increase in demand for air-conditioning, and use of air-conditioning within indoor complexes.
Indoor complexes, especially multi-level complexes are now completely air-conditioned and every floor, every room of these complexes have air-conditioner(s). Accordingly, multi air-conditionong systems operating on a variable flow (VRF) or a variable refrigerant volume (VRV) are generally used wherein said systems comprises a plurality of air handling units connected to a one or more outdoor condensing units. These air-conditioners are usually accessed by an user using a remote device. However the user has to move to physical location where the air-conditioner in installed to change the running mode or temperature of the air-conditioner. Thus accessing every air-conditioner installed on different floors and in different rooms is challenging. Further, the available control system to operate the indoor units of the multi air conditioners are complex and difficult to use.
In view of the above there is a need for a centralized control system for a multi air-conditioners and a method which is easy and user-friendly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect provide a centralized control system for at-least two multi-type air conditioner system, each multi-type air conditioner system having one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, the centralized control system comprising a data concentrator connected with each air conditioner system via a

network; and at-least one central controller connected to the data concentrator, the central controller configured for controlling the outdoor units and indoor units via the data concentrator, wherein the central controller has a grouping module for grouping indoor units of the at-least two multi-type air conditioner system under a single group for operating the indoor units under same operating conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a centralized control system for air conditioners in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
Figure 2 and 3 show a user interface of the centralized control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Various embodiments of the present invention provide a centralized control system for air-conditioners installed in same or different rooms, floors of an indoor complex (house, multi-storey buildings, etc).
Figure 1 shows a centralized control system 100 for at-least two multi-type air conditioner systems 110, 120 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The centralized control system 100 includes a data concentrator 130 and at-least one central controller 140.
The multi-type air conditioner system 110; 120 includes an outdoor unit 112, 122 and a plurality of indoor units 114, 124 connected to the outdoor unit 112, 122 via a network, wherein each of the outdoor unit 112, 122 controls the indoor unit 114, 124 connected to the outdoor unit 112, 122. According to the present invention, the outdoor unit 112, 122 has an outdoor unit communication module and the indoor unit 114, 124 has an indoor unit communication module. The indoor unit communication module of each indoor unit 114, 124 is connected with the outdoor unit communication module of the respective air conditioner system 110, 120, allowing the outdoor unit 112, 122 to communicate with the indoor unit 114, 124. Each outdoor unit 112, 122 and indoor unit 114, 124 connected in the network is assigned a unique IP address, and accordingly the indoor units 114, 124 are distinguished from the IP address. According to the present invention, the indoor unit 114, 124 may be selected from any of ceiling mounted type, wall mounted type and stand type.
The data concentrator 130 as shown in the figure 1 is connected with the outdoor units 112, 122 of the system 100 via a network. The data concentrator 130 enables plurality of central controllers 140 to manage and control the air-conditioner system 110, 120. According to the present invention, the data concentrator 130 enables three central controllers 140 to be

connected to the system allowing all the central controllers 140 in different locations to manage and control the air-conditioner system 110, 120 simultaneously. Also, the data concentrator 130 allows a building management system to be connected to the system, wherein the central controller is integrated with the building management system.
According to the present invention, the central controller 140 is selected from a group comprising of personal computer, touch-screen panel, tablet PC, etc. Accordingly, the central controller comprises of a user interface, a processing unit, a grouping module; a communication module and a database.
In an embodiment of the invention, figure 2 and 3 shows a user-interface 200 of a central controller in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The user interface includes a display unit and an input unit.
As shown in the figure 2 and 3, the user interface has a plurality of cells 202, wherein each cell represents an indoor unit or a group having one or more indoor units. According to the present invention, the central controller groups indoor units of two different multi-system air conditioners and allows the user to control the group of indoor units. As shown in the figure 2 and 3, each cell 202 provides physical location of indoor units in an indoor complex like lobby, store-1, conf-1, etc. Also, the cells 202 provide status of different indoor units by means of visual indicators 204. The visual indicators 204 indicate ON/OFF state of the indoor unit and also indicate any faulty condition of the indoor unit. In this regard, the visual indicators 204 on the display unit indicate state of the indoor unit through different colors. For example, Green color indicates ON condition, Grey color indicates OFF condition, Orange color indicates Non-critical error and Red color indicates critical error condition.
The input unit enables a user to access the central controller and inputs control commands for controlling the air-conditioner system. On accessing - selecting any one of the

cells 202, the cell 202 shows information related to the indoor units. As shown by way of example in figure 3, the store-1 cell on expansion provides the user with various options to vary different parameters of the air-conditioner. In this regard, the cell 202 provides a user with all options available on a remote device of an air conditioner. For example ON/OFF function, temperature setting function, fan speed function, lock/unlock remote function, timer scheduling function, etc for each indoor unit or group of indoor units. The user can thus vary parameters of different indoor units from one remote location, rather than having to move physically to each indoor unit. Further, the user interface also displays building, wing floor, floor-maps, etc.
The processor unit generates control signals corresponding to commands inputted by the user. For example, switching the indoor unit ON/OFF, varying the temperature, varying the fan speed, locking/unlocking remote function, time scheduling, etc.
In an embodiment of the invention, the grouping module groups indoor units of the at-least two multi-type air conditioner system for operating the indoor units under the same operating conditions i.e. grouping indoor units connected to different outdoor units to be grouped and operated under same operating conditions. Also, the grouped indoor units can be operated under varying operating conditions without de-grouping the indoor units. Grouping the indoor units includes the steps of selecting indoor units connected to same or different outdoor units. On selecting the indoor units a control command is executed to operate these indoor units under same operating conditions. Also a name can be assigned to these grouped indoor units, and these grouped indoor units are accessible, and can be controlled via the user interface shown in figure 2 and figure 3.
The communication module of the central controller establishes a communication link between the central controller and the air-conditioners. According to the present invention the

communication link is established based on RS-485 protocol, CANbus protocol, H-link protocol, Field bus protocol, etc. Furthermore, a protocol converter can be used as per requirement.
The database of the central controller stores information of the air-conditioners. The information includes physical location of the indoor unit, status of the indoor unit, timer scheduling, power consumption of the indoor unit, etc. The database also maintains history of critical parameter faults of the air-conditioners.
According to the present invention, the user interface provides user level access, service level access and engineering level access to the central controller.
According to the present invention the centralized control system can be adapted to VRF type systems and chilled water type systems,
Advantageously, the present invention in addition to centralized monitoring and control of each air-conditioner, the present invention provides grouping of indoor units connected to different outdoor units for operating the indoor units under same operating conditions.
While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

WE CLAIM:
1. A centralized control system for at-least two multi-type air conditioner system, each
multi-type air conditioner system having one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units
connected to the outdoor unit, the centralized control system comprising:
a data concentrator connected with each air conditioner system via a network; and
at-least one central controller connected to the data concentrator, the central controller configured for controlling the outdoor units and indoor units via the data concentrator, wherein the central controller has a grouping module for grouping indoor units of the at-least two multi-type air conditioner system under a single group for operating the indoor units under same operating conditions.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system can comprise of three central controllers at different locations, each controller configured to operate the centralized control system/to monitor and/or control each air-conditioner system.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the central controllers comprises of:
a communication module for establishing a communication link with the air conditioners;
an interface unit including a display unit and an input unit, the display unit configured to display information of each air-conditioner, and the input unit enables a user to access the central controller for inputting control commands;
a processor for generating control signals corresponding to control commands; and

a database for storing information of the air-conditioners including physical location of indoor unit, status of the indoor unit, timer scheduling, power consumption of the indoor unit, etc.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network includes a communication module installed in the outdoor unit and a communication module installed in the indoor unit.