FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
“DEVICE AUTHENTICATION APPARATUS, AIR
CONDITIONING SYSTEM, AND DEVICE
AUTHENTICATION METHOD”
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., a Japanese
Company of 16-5, Konan 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1088215,
Japan
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed.
2
DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention
DEVICE AUTHENTICATION APPARATUS, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM,
AND DEVICE AUTHENTICATION METHOD
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a device
authentication apparatus, an air conditioning system, and a
device authentication method.
Background Art
[0002]
As an apparatus in which plural devices are connected
to each other through a communication medium, for example,
an air conditioning system in which one outdoor unit and
plural indoor units are connected to each other through
refrigerant pipes and an electric interconnection has been
provided.
[0003]
In such an air conditioning system, PTL 1 discloses a
technique that recognizes respective refrigerant
specifications, capacity rankings or device types using
communication means when supplying power to a device and
determines whether an outdoor unit is connectable or not to
3
determine a connection abnormality before starting an
operation of the air conditioning system.
[0004]
In the related art, in mutual communications
immediately after an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are
connected to each other, as indoor unit specification data,
data indicating the form of the indoor unit (for example, a
ceiling cassette type four way blow-off, or the like), the
capacity of the indoor unit (for example, 7.1 kW), or the
like is transmitted from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0005]
[PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2006-78043
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0006]
However, in the case of an air conditioning system in
which an indoor unit manufactured by a different
manufacturer is connectable to an outdoor unit, since a
different manufacturer has manufactured the indoor unit,
there is a case where an inappropriate device is used as a
device that forms the indoor unit. In such a case, there
is a concern that the indoor unit may have a specification
4
unsuitable for forming the air conditioning system and the
outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit may not perform a
proper operation.
[0007]
The invention has been made in consideration of the
above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to
provide a device authentication apparatus, an air
conditioning system, and a device authentication method
capable of excluding a device having an inappropriate
specification from the system.
Solution to Problem
[0008]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a
device authentication apparatus, an air conditioning system,
and a device authentication method of the invention employ
the following means.
[0009]
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a device authentication apparatus that performs
authentication of a plurality of apparatuses that are
connected to each other through a communication medium to
form a system, including: storage means for storing usable
apparatus information which is information indicating a
specification usable for each apparatus; and authentication
means for determining, in a case where apparatus
5
specification information which is information indicating a
specification of each apparatus, transmitted from the
apparatus, matches the usable apparatus information stored
in the storage means, that authentication with respect to
the apparatus that has transmitted the apparatus
specification information is successful.
[0010]
According to this configuration, the plural
apparatuses are connected to each other through the
communication medium to form the system. The system is an
air conditioning system, for example, and the apparatus is
an indoor unit or and an outdoor unit.
[0011]
As a device that forms the apparatus, an inappropriate
device may be used. In a case where the apparatus is an
indoor unit, the device is an expansion valve, a heat
exchanger, or the like.
In this regard, according to this configuration, the
usable apparatus information is stored in the storage means.
The usable apparatus information refers to information
indicating a specification usable for the apparatus. In
other words, the usable apparatus information is information
of an apparatus suitable for forming the system, and an
apparatus having a specification which is not indicated by
the usable apparatus information is not suitable for forming
6
the system.
[0012]
On the other hand, the apparatus stores apparatus
specification information which is information indicating a
specification thereof. The apparatus specification
information is stored in storage means provided in the
apparatus when assembling the apparatus, for example.
In this regard, according to this configuration,
authentication is performed by the authentication means
using the apparatus specification information and the usable
apparatus information. The authentication means determines,
in a case where the apparatus specification information
transmitted from the apparatus matches the usable apparatus
information stored in the storage means, that authentication
with respect to the apparatus that has transmitted the
apparatus specification information is successful. That is,
in a case where the apparatus is suitable for the system,
the authentication of the apparatus is successful. On the
other hand, in a case where the apparatus is not suitable
for the system, the authentication of the apparatus fails.
Although the apparatus for which the authentication fails
may be connected to the communication medium, for example,
its operation is not performed.
[0013]
In this way, according to this configuration, by using
7
information indicating a specification of an apparatus for
authentication of the apparatus, it is possible to exclude
an apparatus having an inappropriate specification from the
system.
[0014]
In the first aspect of the invention, the usable
information may be information indicating specifications of
devices which are usable to form the apparatus, and the
apparatus specification information may be information
indicating specifications of devices that form the apparatus.
[0015]
According to this configuration, by using information
indicating specifications of devices that form an apparatus
for authentication of the apparatus, it is possible to
easily exclude an apparatus having an inappropriate
specification from the system.
[0016]
In the first aspect of the invention, the usable
information may be information indicating a type of a usable
apparatus, and the apparatus specification information may
be information indicating a type of the apparatus.
[0017]
According to this configuration, by using information
indicating a type of an apparatus for authentication of the
apparatus, it is possible to easily exclude an apparatus
8
having an inappropriate specification from the system.
[0018]
According to a second aspect of the invention, there
is provided an air conditioning system including: the device
authentication apparatus described above, in which the
apparatus is an indoor unit or an outdoor unit.
[0019]
According to this configuration, even when an indoor
unit or an outdoor unit is manufactured by a different
manufacturer, since a specification thereof is accurately
recognized, it is possible to transmit a control signal
suitable for the specification to the indoor unit or the
outdoor unit.
[0020]
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided a device authentication method for performing
authentication of a plurality of apparatuses that are
connected to each other through a communication medium to
form a system, including: receiving apparatus specification
information which is information indicating a specification
of each apparatus from the apparatus; performing
authentication using usable apparatus information which is
information indicating a specification usable for each
apparatus and the apparatus specification information; and
determining, in a case where the apparatus specification
9
information matches the usable apparatus information, that
authentication with respect to the apparatus that has
transmitted the apparatus specification information is
successful.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0021]
According to the invention, it is possible to achieve
an excellent effect capable of excluding an apparatus having
an inappropriate specification from a system.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0022]
Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerant system
of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of
the invention.
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical
configuration of the air conditioning system according to
the embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram relating to indoor
unit authentication in a control apparatus according to the
embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an indoor
unit authentication process according to the embodiment of
the invention.
10
Description of Embodiments
[0023]
Hereinafter, embodiments of a device authentication
apparatus, an air conditioning system, and a device
authentication method according to the invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024]
[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will
be described.
[0025]
In the first embodiment, an air conditioning system
will be described as an example of a system in which plural
apparatuses are connected to each other through a
communication medium. That is, the apparatuses refer to an
indoor unit and an outdoor unit that form the air
conditioning system.
Further, the air conditioning system according to the
first embodiment is provided in a large commercial facility,
a building, or the like, for example.
[0026]
Hereinafter, the air conditioning system according to
an embodiment of the invention and a control method thereof
will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
11
Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerant system
of an air conditioning system 1 according to this embodiment.
As shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioning system 1 includes
one outdoor unit B, and plural indoor units A1 and A2
connected to the outdoor unit B through a common refrigerant
pipe 10. In Fig. 1, for ease of description, a configuration
in which two indoor units A1 and A2 are connected to one
outdoor unit B is shown, but the number of installed outdoor
units and the number of connected indoor units are not
particularly limited.
[0027]
The outdoor unit B includes, for example, a compressor
11 that compresses a refrigerant for transmission, a fourway
valve 12 that switches a circulation direction of the
refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 13 that performs heat
exchange between the refrigerant and outside air, an outdoor
fan 15, an accumulator 16 provided in a suction side pipe
of the compressor 11 to perform gas-liquid separation from
the refrigerant, and the like.
[0028]
Each of the indoor units A1 and A2 includes an indoor
heat exchanger 31, an indoor fan 32, an electronic expansion
valve 33, and the like. Each of two indoor units A1 and A2
is connected to each refrigerant pipe 10 branched from a
header 22 and a distributor 23 in the outdoor unit B.
12
[0029]
Various sensors 20A and 20B (see Fig. 2) such as a
pressure sensor 21 that measures a refrigerant pressure and
a temperature sensor 24 that measures a temperature of the
refrigerant or the like are provided in the indoor units A1
and A2 and the outdoor unit B.
[0030]
As an example, the indoor units A1 and A2 may be
manufactured by a manufacturer different from that of the
outdoor unit B as long as they satisfy their functions.
[0031]
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical
configuration of the air conditioning system 1 according to
the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, a configuration
in which the indoor units A1 and A2, and the outdoor unit B
are connected to each other through a common bus 5 and
information exchange is possible therebetween is used.
The common bus 5 is an example of a communication
medium, and communication may be performed in a wireless or
wired manner. A maintenance and inspection apparatus that
performs maintenance and inspection is connected to the
common bus 5, and is configured to periodically transmit
working data or to rapidly notify, when an abnormality
occurs, information indicating that the abnormality occurs.
[0032]
13
Here, the indoor units A1 and A2 have a configuration
in which a communication unit 50A that performs transmission
and reception of information with respect to the outdoor
unit B through the common bus 5, a device driver 54A that
drives various devices 52A that form the indoor units A1
and A2, the sensors 20A provided in the indoor units A1 and
A2, and a storage unit 56 that stores a variety of
information relating to the indoor units A1 and A2 are
connected to each other through a bus 58A, and information
exchange is possible. Although not shown, the indoor unit
A2 also has the same configuration as that of the indoor
unit A1.
Further, the various devices 52A correspond to the
indoor heat exchanger 31, the indoor fan 32, the indoor unit
expansion valve 33, and the like described above.
[0033]
An address storage area, an indoor unit information
storage area, and an apparatus specification information
storage area are provided in the storage unit 56 provided
in the indoor units A1 and A2.
[0034]
The address storage area refers to a storage area for
storing an address (hereinafter, referred to as an “indoor
unit address”) which is a unique identification number
allocated for communication with the outdoor unit B.
14
[0035]
The indoor unit information storage area refers to a
storage area for storing information indicating its own
model data. For example, indoor unit information such as
an indoor unit capacity, mounted sensors (for example, a
temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and the like), or an
indoor unit type (for example, a ceiling cassette type 4-
way blow-off, or the like) is stored therein.
[0036]
The apparatus specification information storage area
refers to a storage area for storing apparatus specification
information which is information indicating its own
specification.
Apparatus specification information relating to the
first embodiment refers to information indicating
specifications of the various devices 52A that form the
indoor units A1 and A2, and for example, includes a
specification (for example, the number of pulses from a
fully opened state to a fully closed state (maximum and
minimum numbers of pulses), a bore diameter, or the like)
of the indoor unit expansion valve 33, a specification (for
example, the number of columns, the number of steps, and a
heat exchange width) of the indoor heat exchanger 31, or
the like.
[0037]
15
The indoor unit addresses are set when the indoor units
A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B are connected to each other
through the common bus 5, and are stored in the storage unit
56. On the other hand, the indoor unit information and the
apparatus specification information are stored in a
predetermined format in the storage unit 56 when the indoor
units A1 and A2 are assembled, for example.
[0038]
The outdoor unit B has a configuration in which a
communication unit 50B that performs transmission and
reception of information with respect to the indoor units
A1 and A2 through the common bus 5, a device driver 54B that
drives various devices 52B that form the outdoor unit B,
sensors 20B provided in the outdoor unit B, and a control
apparatus 60 that generally controls the air conditioning
system 1 are connected to each other through a bus 58B and
information exchange is possible.
The various devices 52B correspond to the compressor
11, the four-way valve 12, the outdoor fan 13, and the like
described above.
[0039]
The control apparatus 60 includes a central processing
unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory
(ROM), a computer-readable storage medium, and the like,
for example. Further, a series of processes for realizing
16
various functions is stored on a storage medium or the like
in the form of a program, for example, and the CPU reads
the program into the RAM or the like to execute information
processing and calculation operations, to thereby realize
the various functions. The program may be installed in
advance in the ROM or another storage medium, may be
provided in a state of being stored on a computer-readable
storage medium, or may be distributed through communication
means in a wired manner or a wireless manner, for example.
The computer-readable storage medium refers to a magnetic
disc, a magneto-optical disc, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a
semiconductor memory, or the like.
[0040]
In such an air conditioning system 1, for example, the
control apparatus 60 acquires measurement data or control
information from the sensors 20A and 20B, and the device
drivers 54A and 54B through the common bus 5.
Further, the control apparatus 60 executes a
predetermined control program based on the acquired
measurement data and control information, and outputs
control commands to the various devices 52A provided in the
indoor units A1 and A2. The control commands are
transmitted to the device driver 54A through the common bus
5, the communication unit 50A, and the bus 58A. The device
driver 54A drives each corresponding device among the
17
various devices 52A based on the received control commands.
Thus, control of the indoor units A1 and A2 based on the
control commands is realized.
Similarly, the control apparatus 60 executes a
predetermined control program based on the acquired
measurement data and control information, and outputs
control commands to the various devices 52B provided in the
outdoor unit B. The control commands are transmitted to
the device driver 54B through the bus 58B. The device
driver 54B drives each corresponding device among the
various devices 52B based on the received control commands.
Thus, control of the outdoor unit B based on the control
commands is realized.
[0041]
Here, in the case of the air conditioning system 1 in
which the indoor units A1 and A2 manufactured by a different
manufacturer are connectable to the outdoor unit B, since
the different manufacturer manufactures the indoor units A1
and A2, an inappropriate device may be used as the various
devices 52A that form the indoor units A1 and A2. In such
a case, the outdoor unit B connected to the indoor units A1
and A2 may not perform a normal operation.
[0042]
Thus, the control apparatus 60 stores usable apparatus
information which is information indicating specifications
18
usable for the indoor units A1 and A2, and performs
authentication of the indoor units A1 and A2 using the
usable apparatus information.
[0043]
Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram relating to indoor
unit authentication in the control apparatus 60 according
to the first embodiment. In the following description, in
a case where the indoor units A1 and A2 are distinguished
from each other, “1” or “2” is added to the end of reference
sign “A”, and in a case where the indoor units A1 and A2
are not distinguished from each other, “1” or “2” is not
added thereto.
[0044]
As shown in Fig. 3, the control apparatus 60 includes
a storage unit 62, and an indoor unit authentication unit
64.
[0045]
The storage unit 62 stores usable apparatus
information. The usable apparatus information refers to
information about the indoor unit A which is suitable for
forming the air conditioning system 1, and thus, an indoor
unit A having a specification which is not indicated by the
usable apparatus information is not suitable for forming
the air conditioning system 1.
The usable apparatus information represents a
19
specification (for example, maximum and minimum numbers of
pulses, a bore diameter, or the like) of the indoor unit
expansion valve 33 which is usable, a specification (for
example, the number of columns, the number of steps, and a
heat exchange width) of the indoor heat exchanger 31 which
is usable, or the like.
[0046]
The indoor unit authentication unit 64 compares
apparatus specification information transmitted from the
indoor unit A through the common bus 5 with usable apparatus
information to perform authentication of the indoor unit A
that has transmitted the apparatus specification
information.
Specifically, in a case where the apparatus
specification information transmitted from the indoor unit
A matches the usable apparatus information, the indoor unit
authentication unit 64 determines that authentication with
respect to the indoor unit A that has transmitted the
apparatus specification information is successful. That is,
in a case where the indoor unit A is appropriate for the
air conditioning system 1, the authentication of the indoor
unit A is successful. On the other hand, in a case where
the indoor unit A is inappropriate for the air conditioning
system 1, the authentication of the indoor unit A fails.
[0047]
20
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an indoor
unit authentication process executed by the control
apparatus 60 provided in the outdoor unit B according to
the first embodiment.
The indoor unit authentication process is executed
before the indoor unit A and the outdoor unit B are connected
to the common bus 5 and a trial run is performed. It is
assumed that before the indoor unit authentication process
is executed, an indoor unit address is set in advance.
[0048]
First, in step 100, requirement information for
requiring transmission of apparatus specification
information is transmitted to the indoor unit A through the
common bus 5. If the requirement information is received,
the indoor unit A reads apparatus specification information
stored in the storage unit 56 and transmits the result to
the control apparatus 60.
The indoor unit A transmits indoor unit information in
addition to the apparatus specification information to the
outdoor unit B. The indoor unit information is used for
generating control information to be transmitted to the
indoor unit A by the control apparatus 60.
[0049]
In step 102, authentication using the received
apparatus specification information and usable apparatus
21
information read from the storage unit 62 is performed by
the indoor unit authentication unit 64.
[0050]
In next step 104, it is determined whether the
authentication based on the received apparatus
specification information is successful. In a case where
the determination is affirmative, the procedure proceeds to
step 108, and in a case where the determination is negative,
the procedure proceeds to step 106.
[0051]
In step 106, information (for example, an indoor unit
address) for specifying the indoor unit A that has
transmitted the apparatus specification information for
which the authentication fails is stored in the storage unit
62, and then, the procedure proceeds to step 108. The
indoor unit A for which the authentication fails is
displayed on a monitor (not shown) after the indoor unit
authentication process is terminated, for example.
[0052]
In step 108, it is determined whether the
authentication is performed with respect to all indoor units
A connected through the common bus 5. In a case where the
determination is affirmative, the indoor unit
authentication process is terminated. Further, in a case
where the determination is negative, the procedure returns
22
to step 100, and then, requirement information for requiring
transmission of apparatus specification information is
transmitted to the next indoor unit A.
[0053]
Further, the control apparatus 60 transmits control
information for operating the indoor unit A to only the
indoor unit A for which the authentication using the indoor
unit authentication unit 64 is successful. On the other
hand, even if the indoor unit A for which the authentication
fails is connected to the common bus 5, for example, control
information is not transmitted thereto from the control
apparatus 60, and its operation is not performed.
[0054]
Here, if the indoor unit A is manufactured by the same
manufacturer as that of the control apparatus 60, since the
specification of the indoor unit A is clear, it is not
necessary to perform the indoor unit authentication process.
However, in a case where the indoor unit A manufactured by
a different manufacturer is used for the air conditioning
system 1, there is a case where the specification of the
indoor unit A is not clear.
Thus, even if the indoor unit A is manufactured by the
different manufacturer, by performing the indoor unit
authentication process, the control apparatus 60 can
accurately recognize the specification of the indoor unit
23
A, and thus, it is possible to transmit control signals
suitable for specifications of various devices 20A, that is,
characteristics of the indoor unit A to the indoor unit A.
[0055]
Further, the various devices 20A have solid variations
in their respective solids (hereinafter, referred to “solid
variations”). Thus, in order to transmit an appropriate
control signal to the indoor unit A, it is necessary to
perform normalization for absorbing solid variations.
Particularly, with respect to the indoor unit
expansion valve 33, an initial opening degree is instructed
at the start of a cooling operation, or a minute opening
degree for preventing inflow of a refrigerant during
stoppage in a heating operation is set. However, if the
above-mentioned solid variations are present, it is
difficult to set a proper opening degree.
[0056]
Thus, if the indoor unit authentication process is
terminated, the control apparatus 60 according to the first
embodiment performs the following process as a valve opening
pulse setting process of the indoor unit expansion valve 33
provided in the indoor unit A for which the authentication
is successful.
First, in a case where the indoor unit A is coolingoperated
and a valve opening pulse of the indoor unit
24
expansion valve 33 of the indoor unit A is not set, an
opening degree command pulse is set to a “0” pulse, and then,
the opening degree command pulse of the indoor unit
expansion valve 33 is increased by a predetermined pulse at
a predetermined time interval while detecting the
temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 31 of the indoor
unit A. If the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger
drops by a predetermined temperature difference or greater,
an opening degree command pulse value at that time is stored
as the valve opening pulse of the indoor unit expansion
valve 33 in the indoor unit A.
[0057]
According to this process, for example, when
performing a trial run in installation, or when performing
an initial cooling operation, by executing a valve opening
pulse setting operation of searching for the valve opening
pulse of the indoor unit expansion valve 33 provided in each
indoor unit A only one time and storing the search result,
it is possible to instruct and set an initial opening degree
or the like with reference to the valve opening pulse
thereafter. The setting of the valve opening pulse may be
performed by setting the opening degree command pulse to a
“0” pulse with respect to the indoor unit expansion valve
33 for which a valve opening pulse is not set, and then, by
increasing the opening degree command pulse of the indoor
25
unit expansion valve 33 by a predetermined pulse at a
predetermined time interval while detecting the temperature
of the indoor heat exchanger 31, determining, if the
temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 31 drops by a
predetermined temperature difference or greater, that the
indoor unit expansion valve 33 is opened so that a
refrigerant flows, and storing an opening degree command
pulse value at that time as the valve opening pulse of the
indoor unit expansion valve 33. Thus, it is possible to
absorb solid variations of the indoor unit expansion valve
33, and to set an appropriate opening degree based on a
valve opening pulse used for setting an initial opening
degree or the like.
According to the above-described valve opening pulse
setting process, it is possible to handle variations in
operation performance due to solid variations of the indoor
unit expansion valve 33 in an improved manner, and thus, it
is possible to optimize the control of the indoor unit A.
[0058]
In addition to the valve opening pulse setting process,
a process of treating solid variations of the various
devices 52A in an improved manner may be performed.
[0059]
As described above, the control apparatus 60 according
to the first embodiment performs authentication of the
26
plural indoor units A connected through the common bus 5 so
as to form the air conditioning system 1.
Each indoor unit A stores apparatus specification
information which is information indicating a specification
of the indoor unit A.
Further, the control apparatus 60 stores usable
apparatus information which is information indicating a
specification usable for the indoor unit A, and in a case
where the apparatus specification information transmitted
from the indoor unit A matches the usable apparatus
information, the control apparatus 60 determines that
authentication with respect to the indoor unit A that has
transmitted the apparatus specification information is
successful.
In this way, the control apparatus 60 uses information
indicating the specification of the indoor unit A for
authentication of the indoor unit A, to thereby make it
possible to exclude an indoor unit A having an inappropriate
specification from the air conditioning system 1.
[0060]
[Second embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the invention will
be described.
[0061]
Since a configuration of an air conditioning system 1
27
according to the second embodiment and a flow of an indoor
unit authentication process are the same as in the air
conditioning system 1 according to the first embodiment,
its description will not be repeated.
[0062]
In the air conditioning system 1 according to the
second embodiment, apparatus specification information
stored in an indoor unit A is used as information indicating
a type of the indoor unit A, and usable apparatus
information stored in a control apparatus 60 is used as
information indicating a type of a usable indoor unit A.
In the second embodiment, as an example, a type of an
indoor unit A of a different manufacturer, which is
connectable in the air conditioning system 1, is stored as
usable apparatus information. The type indicated by the
usable apparatus information may be plural.
Further, the control apparatus 60 stores type
specification information indicating a specification of an
indoor unit A (specifications of various devices 20A that
form the indoor unit A) corresponding to a type indicated
by usable apparatus information in a storage unit 62.
[0063]
Further, in the indoor unit authentication process
according to the second embodiment, it is determined whether
a type indicated by apparatus specification information
28
transmitted from an indoor unit A is included in usable
apparatus information stored in the control apparatus 60.
If the determination is affirmative, it is determined that
authentication is successful, and if the determination is
negative, it is determined that the authentication fails.
If the authentication is successful, the control
apparatus 60 reads the specification of the type indicated
by the apparatus specification information from type
specification information, and performs a process for
treating solid variations of the various devices 52A in an
improved manner based on the read specification
(specifications of the various devices 20A that form the
indoor unit A).
[0064]
Hereinbefore, the invention has been described with
reference to the above-mentioned embodiments, but a
technical scope of the invention is not limited to the
scopes disclosed in the above-described embodiments.
Various modifications or improvements may be added to the
above-described embodiments in a range without departing
from the concept of the invention, and embodiments based on
the modifications or improvements are also included in the
technical scope of the invention. Further, the abovementioned
embodiments may be appropriately combined with
each other.
29
[0065]
For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments, a
configuration in which a system in which plural apparatuses
are connected to each other through a communication medium
is used as the air conditioning system 1 is shown, but the
invention is not limited thereto, and a configuration in
which the system is used as another system may be used.
As another system, for example, a system in which a
battery type forklift that is operated in a storeroom
managed by an automatic system is used as the abovedescribed
apparatus, a system in which a machine tool in a
line managed in a factory is used as the above-described
apparatus, a system in which plural heat source devices
(electric turbo chillers) managed in a district air
conditioning facility or a factory are used as the abovedescribed
apparatuses, a wind farm in which plural wind
power generation apparatuses are used as the above-described
apparatuses, or a system in which plural lithium batteries
are provided and a battery management unit (BMU) of each
lithium battery is used as the above-described apparatus,
or the like.
[0066]
Further, in the above-described embodiments, a
configuration in which the control apparatus 60 is provided
in the indoor unit B and the indoor unit authentication
30
process is executed by the control apparatus 60 is shown,
but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, a
configuration in which the control apparatus 60 is directly
connected to the common bus 5 as a separately installed
controller to control the indoor unit A and the outdoor unit
B and to execute the indoor unit authentication process may
be used.
In such a case, the control apparatus 60 includes an
outdoor unit control unit that is provided independently of
the outdoor unit B and an indoor unit control unit that is
provided independently of the indoor unit A. Further, the
outdoor unit control unit and the indoor unit control unit
are able to perform bidirectional communication, in which
the outdoor unit control unit outputs control commands to
the various devices 52B mounted in the outdoor unit B, and
the indoor unit control unit outputs control commands to
the various devices 20A mounted in the indoor unit A.
According to the air conditioning system 1 of such a
type, since the indoor unit control unit and the outdoor
unit control unit are provided independently of the indoor
unit A and the outdoor unit B, it is possible to simplify
the configurations of the indoor unit A and the outdoor unit
B, to thereby reduce the cost. Further, it is not necessary
to mount a highly accurate program in the indoor unit A and
the outdoor unit B (for example, only communication and
31
component actuator functions are mounted), and thus, it is
possible to easily perform exchange of the outdoor unit B
and the indoor unit A without obsolescence of devices.
Furthermore, since the indoor unit control unit and the
outdoor unit control unit are provided independently of the
indoor unit A and the outdoor unit B, for example, by placing
the indoor unit control unit and the outdoor unit control
unit under the control of a manufacturer of the air
conditioning system 1, it is possible to easily perform an
operation such as updating relating to a program, for
example.
In addition, in the case of this configuration, the
same authentication process as in the indoor unit A may be
performed with respect to the outdoor unit B using the
control apparatus 60. For example, specifications of the
various devices 52B that form the outdoor unit B, used for
authentication are specifications of the compressor 11, the
four-way valve 12, the outdoor fan 13, and the like.
Furthermore, as in the second embodiment, the authentication
may be performed according to a type of the outdoor unit B.
[0067]
Further, the flow of the indoor unit authentication
process described in the above-described embodiments is
exemplary, and thus, deletion of an unnecessary step,
addition of a new step, or change of the processing orders
32
may be performed in a range without departing from the
concept of the invention.
Reference Signs List
[0068]
1 air conditioning system
5 common bus
60 control apparatus
62 storage unit
64 indoor unit authentication unit
A indoor unit
B outdoor unit
33
WE CLAIMS
[Claim 1]
A device authentication apparatus that performs
authentication of a plurality of apparatuses that are
connected to each other through a communication medium to
form a system, comprising:
storage means for storing usable apparatus information
which is information indicating specifications of devices
which are usable to form each apparatus; and
authentication means for determining, in a case where
apparatus specification information which is information
indicating specifications of devices that form each
apparatus, transmitted from the apparatus, matches the
usable apparatus information stored in the storage means,
that authentication with respect to the apparatus that has
transmitted the apparatus specification information is
successful.
[Claim 2]
An air conditioning system comprising:
the device authentication apparatus according to claim
1,
wherein the apparatus is an indoor unit or an outdoor
unit.
34
[Claim 3]
A device authentication method for performing
authentication of a plurality of apparatuses that are
connected to each other through a communication medium to
form a system, comprising:
receiving apparatus specification information which is
information indicating specifications of devices which are
usable to form each apparatus from the apparatus;
performing authentication using usable apparatus
information which is information indicating specifications
of devices that form each apparatus and the apparatus
specification information; and
determining, in a case where the apparatus
specification information matches the usable apparatus
information, that authentication with respect to the
apparatus that has transmitted the apparatus specification
information is successful.