Heat pump system and control system

Abstract

A heat pump system includes a heat pump apparatus, a communication device, an input device, and a controller. The heat pump apparatus controls the temperature of a substance. The communication device receives from the server, a signal including an operation signal regarding the operation of the heat pump apparatus. The input device is configured for a user to input an instruction for the heat pump apparatus. The controller causes the heat pump apparatus to perform a first operation based on an operation signal while the communication device is receiving a signal. When the communication device does not receive a signal for a predetermined first time period or longer, the controller causes the heat pump apparatus to perform a second operation based on the instruction input to the input device.

1 . A heat pump system comprising:
 a heat pump apparatus configured to adjust a temperature of a substance;   a communication device configured to communicate with a server to receive from the server, a signal including an operation signal regarding an operation of the heat pump apparatus;   an input device configured to input an instruction for the heat pump apparatus; and   a controller configured to causes the heat pump apparatus to perform a first operation based on the operation signal without causing the heat pump apparatus to perform a second operation based on the instruction input to the input device, while the communication device is receiving the subsequent signal before a predetermined first time period elapses from time at which the communication device receives the signal, wherein the controller is configured to cause, when the communication device does not receive the signal for the predetermined first time period or longer, the heat pump apparatus to perform the second operation based on the instruction input to the input device.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause, while the communication device is receiving the subsequent signal, before the first time period elapses from the time the communication device receives the signal, the heat pump apparatus to perform the first operation, even when the instruction is input to the input device. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the heat pump apparatus to perform a third operation based on an operation schedule indicated by the operating signal received from the server on or before a previous day, when the communication device does not receive the signal for the first time period or longer and the instruction is not input to the input device for a predetermined second time period or longer after the first time period elapses. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the operation schedule indicated by the operation signal received on or before the previous day is an operation schedule for the previous day or an operation schedule for the same day of a previous week. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising a notification device configured to make, when the communication device does not receive the signal for the first time period or longer, a notification that the heat pump apparatus is operable using the input device. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising a notification device configured to make, when the communication device does not receive the signal for the first time period or longer, a notification that communication between the communication device and the server is not established. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising a notification device configured to make, while the communication device is receiving the subsequent signal before the first time period elapses from the time at which the communication device receives the signal, a notification that the heat pump apparatus is not operable using the input device. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising a notification device configured to display, on a screen, condition information including information corresponding to a control signal that the controller outputs to the heat pump apparatus to control the heat pump apparatus, the condition information indicating an operating condition of the heat pump apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising a notification device configured to provide as a notification, when the communication device does not receive the signal for the first time period or longer, guidance information regarding inputting of the instruction to the input device. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pump system of  claim 9 , wherein
 the heat pump apparatus is a heat pump water heater, the substance is hot water, and the water heater includes a tank configured to store the hot water, and   the information regarding inputting of the instruction includes information regarding both or one of a target amount of the hot water to be stored in the tank and a target temperature of the hot water in the tank.   
     
     
         11 . A control system comprising:
 a server;   a heat pump apparatus configured to adjust a temperature of a substance;   a communication device configured to communicate with the server to receive from the server, a signal including an operation signal regarding an operation of the heat pump apparatus;   an input device configured to input an instruction for the heat pump apparatus; and   a controller configured to causes the heat pump apparatus to perform a first operation based on the operation signal without causing the heat pump apparatus to perform a second operation based on the instruction input to the input device, while the communication device is receiving the subsequent signal before a predetermined first time period elapses from time at which the communication device receives the signal,   wherein the controller is configured to cause, when the communication device does not receive the signal for the predetermined first time period or longer, the heat pump apparatus to perform the second operation based on the instruction input to the input device.   
     
     
         12 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein
 the communication device is configured to transmit, to the server, condition information including information corresponding to a control signal that the controller outputs to the heat pump apparatus to control the heat pump apparatus, the condition information indicating an operating condition of the heat pump apparatus, and
 the server is configured to communicate with the terminal device to transmit the condition information to the terminal device.