# US 2017/0248329 A1 · Outdoor unit

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- Number: US 2017/0248329 A1
- Document ID: US20170248329A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/594,181
- Filed: 2017-05-12
- Published: 2017-08-31
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-18
- Assignees: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
- Applicants: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
- Inventors: Yuji Inada; Mitsunobu Maezawa; Takahiko Mukai; Tetsuya Ishikawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170248329A1

## CPC

- F24F 11/89: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24F 1/22: Arrangement or mounting thereof
- F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F 11/38: Failure diagnosis
- F24F 11/50: characterised by user interfaces or communication
- H04B 5/24: Inductive coupling
- H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer
- F24F 2110/00: Control inputs relating to air properties
- F24F 2110/12: of the outside air
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

According to one embodiment, an outdoor unit is provided with a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a communication unit. The housing has a ventilation opening and contains the outdoor heat exchanger. The communication unit is disposed within the housing at a position facing the ventilation opening and performs contactless data communication with a nearby information terminal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An outdoor unit comprising:
a housing comprising a ventilation opening;
an outdoor heat exchanger housed in the housing; and
a communication unit which is provided in the housing at a position facing the ventilation opening, and performs contactless data communication with a nearby information terminal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The outdoor unit of claim 1, further comprising
a main control unit which sets data necessary to operate the outdoor unit and diagnoses a state of the outdoor unit based on data communication with the information terminal via the communication unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The outdoor unit of claim 1, wherein
the communication unit is removably attached to a position facing the ventilation opening in the outdoor heat exchanger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The outdoor unit of claim 1, wherein the communication unit comprises:
a data communication unit which operates with electricity generated by electromagnetic induction due to a radio wave transmitted from the information terminal, and performs contactless data communication with the information terminal by a near-field communication technology;
a nonmagnetic base portion which holds the data communication unit; and
a nonmagnetic cover portion which is openably and closably provided in the base portion, and covers the data communication unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The outdoor unit of claim 4, further comprising
an outside air temperature sensor which detects outside air temperature, wherein
the base portion holds the data communication unit and the outside air temperature sensor, and comprises a first ventilation opening at a position facing the outside air temperature sensor, and
the cover portion covers the data communication unit and the outside air temperature sensor on the base portion, and comprises a second ventilation opening at a position facing the outside air temperature sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The outdoor unit of claim 5, wherein
the base portion comprises a groove portion for extending a signal line of the outside air temperature sensor as well as a signal line of the data communication unit, and
the cover portion comprises a signal line cover for covering the groove portion and partially covering the signal lines extending from the groove portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The outdoor unit of claim 5, wherein
the base portion includes a first holing portion which holds the data communication unit, a second holding portion which holds the outside air temperature sensor, a first ventilation opening formed in the second holding portion, and a frame member formed along a peripheral border of the first holding portion.