Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
AIR-CONDITIONING CONTROL RELAY DEVICE
Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an air-
conditioning control relay device that relays signals sent
and received between an air conditioner and a communication
terminal device.
Background
[0002] Generally, a
decrease in an outdoor temperature
to or below a certain temperature reduces the heating
capability of an air conditioner, which may result in a
failure to provide the heating capability demanded by a
user. When the heating capability of an air conditioner is
reduced, the user uses a heat source device in addition to
the air conditioner. One example of heat source device is
a heater. Use of both the air conditioner and the heat
source device requires the user to operate the air
conditioner and the heat source device individually.
Individual operations of the air conditioner and of the
heat source device place a burden on the user.
[0003] To avoid a
burdensome operation by the user, an
information terminal device having control functions has
been suggested that enables an on-off operation of each of
an air conditioner and a heater each connected to a home
automation terminal, based on a signal from a communication
network (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1).
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent
Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
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Laid-open No. 2005-204178
Summary
Technical Problem
[0005] However, in the conventional technology described
above, the information terminal device having control
functions is connected to the air conditioner and to the
heater via home automation terminals. This enables merely
simple control to be provided to the air conditioner. One
example of the simple control is on-off switching or
switching between heating and cooling. In other words, the
conventional technology described above fails to provide
detailed control to the air conditioner. One example of
the detailed control is wind direction control or control
for energy saving.
[0006] Accordingly, introduction of the conventional
technology described above into a system including an air
conditioner and a communication terminal device for
remotely controlling the air conditioner imposes a
limitation on a portion of functions of the air conditioner.
In the system described above, there is a demand for
providing an air-conditioning control relay device that can
operate a contact device without imposing a limitation on
the functions of the air conditioner. As used herein, the
term "contact device- refers to a device controlled by a
communication terminal device via the air-conditioning
control relay device. One example of the contact device is
a heat source device.
[0007] The present invention has been made in view of
the foregoing, and it is an object of the present invention
to provide an air-conditioning control relay device that
can control an air conditioner without imposing a
limitation on the functions of the air conditioner, and can
3
operate a contact device, in a system including the air
conditioner and a communication terminal device for remotely
controlling the air conditioner.
Solution to Problem
[0008] To solve the problem and achieve the object
described above, an air-conditioning control relay device
according to the present invention is a device communicable
with an air conditioner, communicable also with a
communication terminal device for remotely controlling the air
conditioner, and capable of operating a contact device, and
includes a first communication unit that communicates with the
communication terminal device, a second communication unit
that communicates with the air conditioner, an analysis unit
that analyzes information received by the first communication
unit from the communication terminal device, and an operation
unit that operates the contact device based on the information
in a case in which the analysis unit determines, by analyzing,
that the information is information for operating of the
contact device. The first communication unit sends the
information received from the communication terminal device to
the second communication unit and to the analysis unit, the
second communication unit sends the information received from
the first communication unit to the air conditioner, and the
first communication unit sends operation performing
information indicating that the contact device will be
operated, to the communication terminal device, in a case in
which the contact device is to be operated based on an
analysis performed by the analysis unit.
Date recue/date received 2021-10-26
3a
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0009] An
air-conditioning control relay device according
to the present invention can control an air conditioner
without imposing a limitation on the functions of the air
conditioner, and can operate a contact device, in a system
including the air conditioner and a
Date recue/date received 2021-10-26
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communication terminal device for remotely controlling the
air conditioner.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0010] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system
including an air-conditioning control relay device
according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of
operation procedure of a first communication unit included
in the air-conditioning control relay device according to
the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of
operation procedure of an analysis unit included in the
air-conditioning control relay device according to the
first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a processing circuit
in a case in which at least a portion of components
including the first communication unit, a second
communication unit, the analysis unit, and an operation
unit included in the air-conditioning control relay device
according to the first embodiment is implemented by the
processing circuit.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processor in a case
in which at least a portion of the functions of the first
communication unit, the second communication unit, the
analysis unit, and the operation unit included in the air-
conditioning control relay device according to the first
embodiment is implemented by the processor.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a system
including an air-conditioning control relay device
according to a second embodiment.
Description of Embodiments
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[0011] An air-conditioning control relay device
according to embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
Note that these embodiments are not intended to limit the
5 scope of this invention.
[0012] First Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system 10
including an air-conditioning control relay device 1
according to a first embodiment. The system 10 includes,
in addition to the air-conditioning control relay device 1,
an air conditioner 2, a communication terminal device 3 for
remotely controlling the air conditioner 2, and a contact
device 4. The air-conditioning control relay device 1 is
communicable with the air conditioner 2, and is
communicable also with the communication terminal device 3.
In more detail, the air-conditioning control relay device 1
is a device that relays signals sent and received between
the air conditioner 2 and the communication terminal device
3. The air-conditioning control relay device 1 can also
operate the contact device 4. The contact device 4 is a
device controlled by the communication terminal device 3
via the air-conditioning control relay device 1. One
example of the contact device 4 is a heater.
[0013] The air-conditioning control relay device 1
includes a first communication unit 11 that communicates
with the communication terminal device 3, and a second
communication unit 12 that communicates with the air
conditioner 2. The air-conditioning control relay device 1
further includes an analysis unit 13 that analyzes both
first information received by the first communication unit
11 from the communication terminal device 3, and second
information received by the second communication unit 12
from the air conditioner 2. The air-conditioning control
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relay device 1 further includes an operation unit 14 that
operates the contact device 4 based on the first
information or on the second information in a case in which
the analysis unit 13 determines, by analyzing, that the
first information or the second information is information
for operating of the contact device 4.
[0014] The first communication unit 11 sends the first
information received from the communication terminal device
3 to the second communication unit 12 and to the analysis
unit 13. In a case in which the contact device 4 is to be
operated based on an analysis performed by the analysis
unit 13, the first communication unit 11 sends operation
performing information indicating that the contact device 4
will be operated, to the communication terminal device 3.
For example, in a case in which the contact device 4 is to
be operated based on the first information based on an
analysis performed by the analysis unit 13, the first
communication unit 11 sends operation performing
information indicating that the contact device 4 will be
operated based on the first information, to the
communication terminal device 3.
[0015] The second communication unit 12 sends the first
information received from the first communication unit 11
to the air conditioner 2, and also sends the second
information received from the air conditioner 2 to the
first communication unit 11 and to the analysis unit 13.
The first communication unit 11 sends the second
information received from the second communication unit 12
to the communication terminal device 3.
[0016] The functions of each of the first communication
unit 11, the second communication unit 12, the analysis
unit 13, and the operation unit 14 included in the air-
conditioning control relay device 1 will be described below
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using a specific example. The first communication unit 11
receives a signal sent from the communication terminal
device 3 at an arbitrary time on a byte-by-byte basis, and
sends one byte of signal to the second communication unit
12 upon each reception of one byte of the signal from the
communication terminal device 3. In a case in which the
first communication unit 11, the second communication unit
12, the analysis unit 13, and the operation unit 14 are
implemented by a single microcomputer, the processing by
the first communication unit 11 of receiving a signal from
the communication terminal device 3 and of sending the
received signal to the second communication unit 12 is
implemented by a receive interrupt process of that
microcomputer.
[0017] When the amount of the signal received from the
communication terminal device 3 reaches a predetermined
specific amount, the first communication unit 11 sends the
signal received from the communication terminal device 3 to
the analysis unit 13, and requests the analysis unit 13 to
analyze the signal sent.
[0018] Upon reception of a signal from the first
communication unit 11, the second communication unit 12
sends the signal received, to the air conditioner 2. In a
case in which the first communication unit 11, the second
communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 are implemented by a single microcomputer,
the processing by the second communication unit 12 of
receiving a signal from the first communication unit 11 and
of sending the received signal to the air conditioner 2 is
implemented by a transmission interrupt process of that
microcomputer. For example, the first communication unit
11 assigns the signal to one particular transmission port
of the microcomputer to provide the transmission interrupt
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process described above. When this is the case, the
processing of the second communication unit 12 is
substituted by the processing performed by the first
communication unit 11 to assign the signal to the
particular transmission port.
[0019] The second communication unit 12 receives a
signal sent from the air conditioner 2 at an arbitrary time
on a byte-by-byte basis, and sends one byte of signal to
the first communication unit 11 upon each reception of one
byte of the signal from the air conditioner 2. In a case
in which the first communication unit 11, the second
communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 are implemented by a single microcomputer,
the processing by the second communication unit 12 of
receiving a signal from the air conditioner 2 and of
sending the received signal to the first communication unit
11 is implemented by a receive interrupt process of that
microcomputer.
[0020] Upon reception of a signal from the second
communication unit 12, the first communication unit 11
sends the signal received, to the communication terminal
device 3. In a case in which the first communication unit
11, the second communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13,
and the operation unit 14 are implemented by a single
microcomputer, the processing by the first communication
unit 11 of receiving a signal from the second communication
unit 12 and of sending the received signal to the
communication terminal device 3 is implemented by a
transmission interrupt process of that microcomputer. For
example, the second communication unit 12 assigns the
signal to one particular transmission port of the
microcomputer to perform the transmission interrupt process
described above. When this is the case, the processing of
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the first communication unit 11 is substituted by the
processing performed by the second communication unit 12 to
assign the signal to the one particular transmission port.
[0021] When the amount of the signal received from the
air conditioner 2 reaches a predetermined specific amount,
the second communication unit 12 sends the signal received
from the air conditioner 2 to the analysis unit 13, and
requests the analysis unit 13 to analyze the signal sent.
[0022] Upon a request for analysis from the first
communication unit 11, the analysis unit 13 analyzes the
signal received from the first communication unit 11. Upon
a request for analysis from the second communication unit
12, the analysis unit 13 analyzes the signal received from
the second communication unit 12. If it is determined,
based on a result of the analysis, that processing is
required on a contact of the contact device 4, the analysis
unit 13 sends, to the operation unit 14, a signal
containing an instruction to perform an operation on the
contact of the contact device 4.
[0023] Upon reception of the signal containing an
instruction to perform an operation on a contact of the
contact device 4 from the analysis unit 13, the operation
unit 14 performs an operation on that contact according to
the instruction.
[0024] One specific example of the operation of the
first communication unit 11 will next be described. FIG. 2
is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation
procedure of the first communication unit 11 included in
the air-conditioning control relay device 1 according to
the first embodiment. In a case in which the first
communication unit 11, the second communication unit 12,
the analysis unit 13, and the operation unit 14 are
implemented by a single microcomputer, the operation
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procedure of the first communication unit 11 may be called
out by the receive interrupt function of that microcomputer.
The operation of the first communication unit 11 may be
performed every predetermined period.
5 [0025] The first communication unit 11 first determines
whether a signal has been received from the communication
terminal device 3 (S1). At step 51, the first
communication unit 11 may perform a filtering process of
discarding the signal received from the communication
10 terminal device 3 if it is determined, by performing error
detection using a parity bit, that the signal received from
the communication terminal device 3 is erroneous.
[0026] If it is determined that a signal has been
received from the communication terminal device 3 (Yes at
Si), the first communication unit 11 sends the signal
received from the communication terminal device 3 to the
second communication unit 12 (S2). The second
communication unit 12 sends the signal received from the
first communication unit 11 to the air conditioner 2. That
is, the signal from the communication terminal device 3 is
relayed by the air-conditioning control relay device 1, and
is thus transmitted to the air conditioner 2. In a case in
which the first communication unit 11, the second
communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 are implemented by a single microcomputer,
the processing by the first communication unit 11 of
receiving the signal from the communication terminal device
3 and of sending the received signal to the second
communication unit 12 may be implemented by assignment of
the signal from the communication terminal device 3 to one
particular transmission port of the microcomputer.
[0027] At step S2, the first communication unit 11 sends,
without storing therein, the signal received from the
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communication terminal device 3 to the second communication
unit 12. This operation can reduce the effects of
processing performed by the air-conditioning control relay
device 1 on the overall operation of the system 10.
Specifically, the air-conditioning control relay device 1
relays and sends the signal from the communication terminal
device 3 to the air conditioner 2, which causes the
operation of the air conditioner 2 caused by that signal to
be delayed by the amount of time relating to the relay
operation performed by the air-conditioning control relay
device 1. However, since the first communication unit 11
does not store the signal received from the communication
terminal device 3, the operation of the air conditioner 2
is prevented from being delayed by more than the amount of
time relating to the relay operation.
[0028] After the performance of the operation at step S2,
the first communication unit 11 determines whether the
amount of the signal received from the communication
terminal device 3 has reached a predetermined specific
amount (S3). If it is determined that the amount of the
signal received from the communication terminal device 3
has reached the predetermined specific amount (Yes at S3),
the first communication unit 11 sends the signal having the
specific amount received from the communication terminal
device 3 to the analysis unit 13 (S4). In addition, the
first communication unit 11 requests the analysis unit 13
to analyze the signal sent.
[0029] The first communication unit 11 may use a value
indicated by a signal stored in a particular byte of the
signal received from the communication terminal device 3,
as the predetermined specific amount. In such case, the
first communication unit 11 sends a signal including the
particular byte of the signal received from the
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communication terminal device 3, to the analysis unit 13.
Moreover, the first communication unit 11 may perform the
operation of step S4 when a certain time period has elapsed
since the latest reception time, taking this as an
indication of completion of the reception. If it is
determined that the amount of the signal received from the
communication terminal device 3 has not yet reached the
predetermined specific amount (No at S3), the first
communication unit 11 does not perform the operation of
step S4, and terminates the process.
[0030] If it is determined that no signal has been
received from the communication terminal device 3 (No at
Si), the first communication unit 11 determines whether a
signal has been received from the second communication unit
12 (S5). If it is determined that a signal has been
received from the second communication unit 12 (Yes at S5),
the first communication unit 11 sends the signal received
from the second communication unit 12 to the communication
terminal device 3 (S6). In a case in which the first
communication unit 11, the second communication unit 12,
the analysis unit 13, and the operation unit 14 are
implemented by a single microcomputer, the processing by
the first communication unit 11 of receiving the signal
from the second communication unit 12 after the second
communication unit 12 receives the signal from the air
conditioner 2 may be implemented by assignment of the
signal from the air conditioner 2 to one particular
transmission port of the microcomputer.
[0031] If it is not determined that a signal has been
received from the second communication unit 12 (No at S5),
the first communication unit 11 terminates the sequence of
process after the operation of step S6, and repeats the
operation described above from step Si to step 56.
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[0032] The second communication unit 12 operates
similarly to the operation of the first communication unit
11. Specifically, in one specific example, the second
communication unit 12 operates as described above using the
flowchart illustrated in FIG. 2 except that the term "first
communication unit 11" should be read as the second
communication unit 12, and the term "communication terminal
device 3" should be read as the air conditioner 2.
[0033] One specific example of the operation of the
analysis unit 13 will next be described. FIG. 3 is a
flowchart illustrating an example of operation procedure of
the analysis unit 13 included in the air-conditioning
control relay device 1 according to the first embodiment.
In a case in which the first communication unit 11, the
second communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 are implemented by a single microcomputer,
the operation procedure of the analysis unit 13 may be
called out by the receive interrupt function of that
micIocomputei. The operation of the analysis unit 13 may
be performed every predetermined period.
[0034] The analysis unit 13 determines whether an
analysis of a signal received is requested (S11). If it is
determined that an analysis of a signal received is
requested (Yes at S11), the analysis unit 13 analyzes the
signal received (S12). The analysis unit 13 performs an
analysis according to a predetermined algorithm.
[0035] The analysis unit 13 determines, based on a
result of the analysis, whether the signal received from
the first communication unit 11 is a close-contact signal
indicating that the contact of the contact device 4 is to
be closed (S13). If it is determined that the signal
received is a close-contact signal (Yes at S13), the
analysis unit 13 sends, to the operation unit 14, an
=
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instruction to perform an operation to close the contact of
the contact device 4 (S14). The operation unit 14 closes
the contact according to the instruction from the analysis
unit 13.
[0036] If it is determined that the signal received is
not a close-contact signal (No at S13), the analysis unit
13 determines whether the signal received from the first
communication unit 11 is an open-contact signal indicating
that the contact of the contact device 4 is to be opened
(S15). If it is determined that the signal received is an
open-contact signal (Yes at S15), the analysis unit 13
sends, to the operation unit 14, an instruction to perform
an operation to open the contact of the contact device 4
(S16). The operation unit 14 opens the contact according
to the instruction from the analysis unit 13.
[0037] After the performance of the operation of step
S14 or step S16, the analysis unit 13 sends operation
performing information indicating that the contact device 4
will be operated, to the first communication unit 11 (S17).
Upon reception of the operation performing information from
the analysis unit 13, the first communication unit 11 sends
operation performing information to the communication
terminal device 3. In a case in which the first
communication unit 11 and the second communication unit 12
are implemented by a single microcomputer, the operation of
step S17 is implemented by a transmission interrupt process
of that microcomputer. For example, the analysis unit 13
assigns the signal representing operation performing
information to one transmission port of the microcomputer
to provide the transmission interrupt process described
above. When this is the case, the processing of the first
communication unit 11 is substituted by the processing
performed by the analysis unit 13 to assign the signal to
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the transmission port.
[0038] If it is determined that an analysis of the
signal received is not requested (No at S11), or if it is
not determined that the signal received is an open-contact
5 signal (No at S15), the analysis unit 13 terminates the
sequence of process after the operation of step S17, and
repeats the operation described above from step Sll to step
S17.
[0039] The operation unit 14 opens or closes a contact
10 of the contact device 4 according to the instruction from
the analysis unit 13. When the system 10 includes multiple
ones of the contact device 4, and an instruction to close
the contacts of the multiple ones of the contact device 4
is received from the analysis unit 13, the operation unit
15 14 does not close the contacts of the multiple ones of the
contact device 4 at the same time thereby to prevent an
inrush current from flowing. The operation unit 14 closes
the contacts of the multiple ones of the contact device 4
one by one sequentially.
[0040] As described above, in the air-conditioning
control relay device 1, the first communication unit 11
sends the first information received from the communication
terminal device 3 to the second communication unit 12, and
the second communication unit 12 sends the first
information received from the first communication unit 11
to the air conditioner 2. In more detail, the air-
conditioning contro] relay device 1 sends the first
information received from the communication terminal device
3 to the air conditioner 2 without processing. In addition,
in the air-conditioning control relay device 1, the
analysis unit 13 analyzes the first information received by
the first communication unit 11 from the communication
terminal device 3, and if the analysis unit 13 determines,
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based on the analysis, that the first information is
information for operating of the contact device 4, the
operation unit 14 operates the contact device 4 based on
the first information.
[0041] Thus, in the system 10 including the air
conditioner 2 and the communication terminal device 3 for
remotely controlling the air conditioner 2, the air-
conditioning control relay device 1 can control the air
conditioner 2 without imposing a limitation on the
functions of the air conditioner 2, and can also operate
the contact device 4. Specifically, in a case in which the
contact device 4 is a heater, a fan, or a humidifier-
dehumidifier, the air-conditioning control relay device 1
can control the air conditioner 2 without imposing a
limitation on the functions of the air conditioner 2, and
can also operate the heater, the fan, or the humidifier-
dehumidifier.
[0042] In addition, in the air-conditioning control
relay device 1, the second communication unit 12 sends the
second information received from the air conditioner 2 to
the first communication unit 11, and the first
communication unit 11 sends the second information received
from the second communication unit 12 to the communication
terminal device 3. That is, the air-conditioning control
relay device 1 can transmit the second information from the
air conditioner 2 to the communication terminal device 3
without change.
[0043] Moreover, in the air-conditioning control relay
device 1, the analysis unit 13 has a function of analyzing
the second information received by the second communication
unit 12 from the air conditioner 2, and if the analysis
unit 13 determines, by analyzing, that the second
information is information for operating the contact device
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4, the operation unit 14 operates the contact device 4
based on the second information. That is, the air-
conditioning control relay device I can operate the contact
device 4 based on the second information from the air
conditioner 2.
[0044] Furthermore, in the air-conditioning control
relay device 1, the first communication unit 11 sends, to
the communication terminal device 3, the operation
performing information indicating that the contact device 4
will be operated if the contact device 4 is to be operated
based on an analysis performed by the analysis unit 13.
That is, in a case in which the contact device 4 is to be
operated based on the first information or on the second
information, the air-conditioning control relay device 1
can inform the communication terminal device 3 that the
contact device 4 will be operated.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a processing
circuit 41 in a case in which at least a portion of
components including the first communication unit 11, the
second communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 included in the air-conditioning control
relay device 1 according to the first embodiment is
implemented by the processing circuit 41. That is, at
least a portion of the functions of the first communication
unit 11, the second communication unit 12, the analysis
unit 13, and the operation unit 14 may be implemented in
the processing circuit 41.
[0046] The processing circuit 41 is dedicated hardware.
The processing circuit 41 is, for example, a single circuit,
a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel
programmed processor, an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or
a combination thereof. Part of the first communication
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unit 11, the second communication unit 12, the analysis
unit 13, and the operation unit 14 may be dedicated
hardware separate from the remainder.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processor 51
in a case in which at least a portion of the functions of
the first communication unit 11, the second communication
unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the operation unit 14
included in the air-conditioning control relay device 1
according to the first embodiment is implemented by the
processor 51. That is, at least a portion of the functions
of the first communication unit 11, the second
communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 may be implemented by the processor 51
that executes a program stored in a memory 52. The
processor 51 is a central processing unit (CPU), a
processing unit, a computing unit, a microprocessor, a
microcomputer, or a digital signal processor (DSP). FIG. 5
also illustrates the memory 52.
[0048] In a case in which at least a portion of the
functions of the first communication unit 11, the second
communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 is implemented by the processor 51, that
portion of the functions is implemented by the processor 51
and software, firmware, or a combination of software and
firmware. The software or firmware is described as a
program, and is stored in the memory 52. The processor 51
reads and executes a program stored in the memory 52 thus
to implement at least a portion of the functions of the
first communication unit 11, the second communication unit
12, the analysis unit 13, and the operation unit 14.
[0049] That is, in a case in which at least a portion of
the functions of the first communication unit 11, the
second communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
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operation unit 14 is implemented by the processor 51, the
air-conditioning control relay device 1 includes the memory
52 for storing a program that causes the steps performed by
that portion of the first communication unit 11, the second
communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 to be resultantly performed. It can also
be said that a program stored in the memory 52 causes a
computer to perform a procedure or method to be performed
by a portion of the first communication unit 11, the second
communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14.
[0050] The memory 52 is, for example, a non-volatile or
volatile semiconductor memory such as a random access
memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an
erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or an
electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
(EEPROM); a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk,
a compact disc, a MiniDisc, a digital versatile disk (DVD),
or the like.
[0051] Multiple functions of the first communication
unit 11, the second communication unit 12, the analysis
unit 13, and the operation unit 14 may be provided such
that a portion of the multiple functions is implemented by
dedicated hardware, and the remainder of the multiple
functions is implemented by software or firmware. Thus,
multiple functions of the first communication unit 11, the
second communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and the
operation unit 14 can be implemented by hardware, software,
firmware, or a combination thereof.
[0052] Second Embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a system 10A
including an air-conditioning control relay device 1A
according to a second embodiment. The system 10A includes,
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in addition to the air-conditioning control relay device 1A,
the air conditioner 2, the communication terminal device 3,
the contact device 4, and a sensor 5 disposed outside the
air-conditioning control relay device 1A. The air
5 conditioner 2, the communication terminal device 3, and the
contact device 4 have already been described in the first
embodiment, and a description thereof will thus be omitted
in the second embodiment. The second embodiment primarily
describes differences from the first embodiment.
10 [0053] One example of the sensor 5 is a temperature
sensor that detects the temperature outside the building
where the air conditioner 2 is installed, a human detection
sensor, or a gas sensor. The air-conditioning control
relay device 1A includes the first communication unit 11,
15 the second communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13, and
the operation unit 14 included in the air-conditioning
control relay device 1 according to the first embodiment,
and further includes a third communication unit 15 that
receives third information with respect to a value detected
20 by the sensor 5. In more detail, the sensor 5 sends the
third information to the third communication unit 15, and
the third communication unit 15 receives the third
information from the sensor 5.
[0054] In a case in which the first communication unit
11, the second communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13,
the operation unit 14, and the third communication unit 15
are implemented by a single microcomputer, and the sensor 5
is a variable resistor, the third information may be
received into the microcomputer through an analog-digital
port of the microcomputer.
[0055] The third communication unit 15 sends the third
information received from the sensor 5 to the analysis unit
13. If it is determined, based on a result of an analysis,
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that the first information received from the first
communication unit 11 indicates a request for sending the
third information to the first communication unit 11, the
analysis unit 13 sends the third information received from
the third communication unit 15 to the first communication
unit 11. If it is determined, based on a result of an
analysis, that the second information received from the
second communication unit 12 indicates a request for
sending the third information to the first communication
unit 11, the analysis unit 13 also sends the third
information received from the third communication unit 15
to the first communication unit 11. The first
communication unit 11 receives the third information sent
from the analysis unit 13, and sends the third information
to the communication terminal device 3.
[0056] If it is determined, based on a result of an
analysis, that the first information received from the
first communication unit 11 indicates a request for sending
the third information Lo the second conununication unit 12,
the analysis unit 13 sends the third information received
from the third communication unit 15 to the second
communication unit 12. If it is determined, based on a
result of an analysis, that the second information received
from the second communication unit 12 indicates a request
for sending the third information to the second
communication unit 12, the analysis unit 13 also sends the
third information received from third communication unit 15
to the second communication unit 12. The second
communication unit 12 receives the third information sent
from the analysis unit 13, and sends the third information
to the air conditioner 2.
[0057] As described above, the air-conditioning control
relay device lA sends the third information from the sensor
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to one or both of the air conditioner 2 and the
communication terminal device 3 without affecting the
communication between the air conditioner 2 and the
communication terminal device 3. That is, the air-
5 conditioning control relay device lA enables the system 10
according to the first embodiment to include the sensor 5
without affecting the communication between the air
conditioner 2 and the communication teLminal device 3.
[0058] At least a portion of the functions of the third
communication unit 15 may be implemented by the processing
circuit 41, or may be implemented by a processing circuit
having functions identical to the functions of the
processing circuit 41. Alternatively, at least a portion
of the functions of the third communication unit 15 may be
implemented by the processor 51, or may be implemented by a
processor different from the processor 51. In a case in
which at least a portion of the functions of the third
communication unit 15 is implemented by the processor 51,
the memory 52 stores a program that causes the steps
resultantly performed by the at least a portion of the
third communication unit 15 to be performed. In a case in
which at least a portion of the functions of the third
communication unit 15 is implemented by a processor
different from the processor 51, the air-conditioning
control relay device lA includes a memory for storing a
program that causes the steps resultantly performed by the
at least a portion of the third communication unit 15 to be
performed. This memory may be the memory 52 or a memory
having functions identical to the functions of the memory
52.
[0059] The configurations described in the foregoing
embodiments arc merely examples of various aspects of the
present invention. These configurations may be combined
CA 03055272 2019-09-03
23
with a known other technology, and moreover, a part of such
configurations may be omitted or modified without departing
from the spirit of the present invention.
Reference Signs List
[0060] 1, lA air-conditioning control relay device; 2
air conditioner; 3 communication terminal device; 4
contact device; 5 sensor; 10, 10A system; 11 first
communication unit; 12 second communication unit; 13
analysis unit; 14 operation unit; 15 third communication
unit; 41 processing circuit; 51 processor; 52 memory.
