Air Conditioner

Abstract

An objective is to realize an air conditioner in which the amount of consumed electric power can be integrated without using an exclusive electric-power-amount counter, and a control line for measuring the amount of the electric power can be shortened. Commercial electric power is supplied to an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit of the air conditioner through a Watt-hour meter 3 , for measuring the amount of electric power supplied to the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit, having a transmitter for transmitting pulse signals, and through an electric power line 4 . The Watt-hour meter 3 and the outdoor unit 1 are communicatively connected to each other through a control line 5 . The outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit are communicatively connected to a centralized controller through a transmission line 7 . Especially, the outdoor unit 1 includes a Watt-hour meter connection circuit 10 for receiving a signal related to the amount of the electric power from the Watt-hour meter 3 , and a controller 11 for integrating the amount of electric power based on the received signal related to the amount of the electric power.

1 . An air conditioner including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the outdoor unit comprising:
 a signal receiving means for receiving a signal related to the amount of electric power from a Watt-hour meter for measuring the amount of the electric power supplied to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit; and   an electric-power-amount integration means for integrating the amount of the electric power based on the signal related to the received amount of the electric power.   
   
   
       2 . An air conditioner including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the outdoor unit comprising:
 an outdoor-unit signal receiving means for receiving a signal related to the amount of electric power from an outdoor-unit Watt-hour meter for measuring the amount of the electric power supplied to the outdoor unit;   an outdoor-unit electric-power-amount integration means for integrating the amount of the electric power of the outdoor unit based on the signal related to the received amount of the electric power;   an indoor-unit signal receiving means for receiving a signal related to the amount of electric power from an indoor-unit Watt-hour meter for measuring the amount of the electric power supplied to the indoor unit; and   an indoor-unit electric-power-amount integration means for integrating the amount of the electric power of the indoor unit based on the signal related to the received amount of the electric power by the indoor-unit signal receiving means.   
   
   
       3 . An air conditioner including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, the outdoor unit comprising:
 an all-indoor-units signal receiving means for receiving a signal related to the total amounts of electric power from a Watt-hour meter for measuring the total amounts of the electric power supplied to the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units;   an all-indoor-units electric-power-amount integration means for integrating the total amounts of the electric power of the outdoor unit and all of the indoor units based on the signal related to the received total amounts of the electric power;   an indoor-unit operation-information collection means for independently collecting operation information of each of the plurality of indoor units; and   an electric-power-amount proportionally-dividing means for proportionally dividing, based on the independently collected operation information of each indoor unit, into the amount of electric power for each indoor unit, the integrated total amounts of the electric power of the outdoor unit and all of the indoor units.   
   
   
       4 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a centralized controller for operating and controlling the outdoor and indoor units, and for displaying the operational state of the outdoor and indoor units, wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 a unit electric-power-amount calculation means for calculating, from the amount of the electric power integrated by the electric-power-amount integration means, the amount of electric power for each unit time, and   a transmission means for transmitting, into centralized controller through a transmission line, the calculated amount of the electric power for each unit time.   
   
   
       5 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 a limited-value memory means for memorizing a limited value of consumed electric power for each unit time set in advance, and   a control means for controlling the outdoor and indoor units so that the amount of the electric power received from the Watt-hour meter and integrated does not exceed the memorized limited value of the consumed electric power.   
   
   
       6 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 an electric-power shut-down detection means for detecting shut-down of the electric power supplied to the outdoor unit; and   an electric-power switching means for switching, when the shut-down of the electric power is detected, the electric power for the receiving means, from an ac/dc converter circuit into a self-maintenance   
   
   
       7 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a centralized controller for operating and controlling the outdoor and indoor units, and for displaying the operational state of the outdoor and indoor units, wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 a unit electric-power-amount calculation means for calculating, from the amount of the electric power integrated by the electric-power-amount integration means, the amount of electric power for each unit time, and   a transmission means for transmitting, into centralized controller through a transmission line, the calculated amount of the electric power for each unit time.   
   
   
       8 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 3  further comprising a centralized controller for operating and controlling the outdoor and indoor units, and for displaying the operational state of the outdoor and indoor units, wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 a unit electric-power-amount calculation means for calculating, from the amount of the electric power integrated by the electric-power-amount integration means, the amount of electric power for each unit time, and   a transmission means for transmitting, into centralized controller through a transmission line, the calculated amount of the electric power for each unit time.   
   
   
       9 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 a limited-value memory means for memorizing a limited value of consumed electric power for each unit time set in advance, and   a control means for controlling the outdoor and indoor units so that the amount of the electric power received from the Watt-hour meter and integrated does not exceed the memorized limited value of the consumed electric power.   
   
   
       10 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 a limited-value memory means for memorizing a limited value of consumed electric power for each unit time set in advance, and   a control means for controlling the outdoor and indoor units so that the amount of the electric power received from the Watt-hour meter and integrated does not exceed the memorized limited value of the consumed electric power.   
   
   
       11 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 a limited-value memory means for memorizing a limited value of consumed electric power for each unit time set in advance, and   a control means for controlling the outdoor and indoor units so that the amount of the electric power received from the Watt-hour meter and integrated does not exceed the memorized limited value of the consumed electric power.   
   
   
       12 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 an electric-power shut-down detection means for detecting shut-down of the electric power supplied to the outdoor unit; and   an electric-power switching means for switching, when the shut-down of the electric power is detected, the electric power for the receiving means, from an ac/dc converter circuit into a self-maintenance.   
   
   
       13 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 an electric-power shut-down detection means for detecting shut-down of the electric power supplied to the outdoor unit; and   an electric-power switching means for switching, when the shut-down of the electric power is detected, the electric power for the receiving means, from an ac/dc converter circuit into a self-maintenance.   
   
   
       14 . An air conditioner as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 an electric-power shut-down detection means for detecting shut-down of the electric power supplied to the outdoor unit; and   an electric-power switching means for switching, when the shut-down of the electric power is detected, the electric power for the receiving means, from an ac/dc converter circuit into a self-maintenance.   
   
   
       15 . An air conditioner as recited  claim 5 , wherein the outdoor unit further includes:
 an electric-power shut-down detection means for detecting shut-down of the electric power supplied to the outdoor unit; and   an electric-power switching means for switching, when the shut-down of the electric power is detected, the electric power for the receiving means, from an ac/dc converter circuit into a self-maintenance.