Signal transmission/reception device of air conditioner

A signal transmission/reception device of an air conditioner, comprising:

• a plurality of control groups (8A, 8B, . . . ) in each of which a thermal-source-side control unit (5) for controlling a thermal-source-side unit (3) and a user-side control unit (6) for controlling a user-side unit (4) are connected to each other through a group communication path (7) so as to be capable of signal transmission and reception therebetween;
• a centralized communication path (10) to which the thermal-source-side control units (5, 5, . . . ) are connected so that the thermal-source-side control units (5, 5, . . . ) are connected to each other to implement signal transmission and reception through the centralized communication path (10), and the respective group communication paths (7) are connected at the respective thermal-source-side control units (5, 5, . . . ) to the centralized communication path (10), thereby forming a single signal transmission/reception network (NW);
• a centralized control unit (9) to which the centralized communication path (10) is connected, the centralized control unit (9) being operative for subjecting the thermal-source-side units (3, 3, . . . ) and the user-side units (4, 4, . . . ) to centralized control;
• and
• communication path interrupting means (28) being operative for bringing interruption between each of the group communication paths (7) and the centralized communication path (10) so that a signal transmission and reception can be made only between the thermal-source-side control unit (5) and the user-side control unit (6) within each control group (8A, 8B, . . . ),
• wherein
• the thermal-source-side control unit (5) includes improper interconnection recognizing means (31) for outputting an improper interconnection detecting signal to the group communication path (7) when the thermal-source-side control unit (5) and the user-side control unit (6) in each of the control groups (8A, 8B, . . . ) receive a signal to be transmitted and received only between the thermal-source-side control unit (5) and the user-side control unit (6) which both belong in any one of the other control groups (8A, 8B, . . . ), during a period in which the communication interrupting means (2B) brings interruption between each of the group communication paths (7) and the centralized communication path (10) whereby a signal transmission and reception are made only between the thermal-source-side control unit (5) and the user-side control unit (6) within each control group (8A, 8B, . . . ).

A signal transmission/reception device of an air conditioner comprising:

• a plurality of control groups (8A, 8B, . . . ) in each of which a thermal-source-side control unit (5) for controlling a thermal-source-side unit (3) and a user side control unit (6) for controlling a user-side unit (4) are connected to each other through a group communication path (7) so as to be capable of signal transmission and reception therebetween;
• a centralized communication path (10) to which the thermal-source-side control units (5, 5, . . . ) are connected so that the thermal-source-side control units (5, 5, . . . ) are connected to each other to implement signal transmission and reception through the centralized communication path (10), and the respective group communication paths (7) are connected at the respective thermal-source-side control units (5, 5, . . . ) to the centralized communication path (10), thereby forming a single signal transmission/reception network (NW);
• a centralized control unit (9) to which the centralized communication path is connected, the centralized control unit (9) being operative for subjecting the thermal-source-side units (3, 3, . . . ) and the user-side units (4, 4, . . . ) to centralized control;
• and
• communication path interrupting means (28) being operative for bringing conduction and interruption between each of the group communication paths (7) and the centralized communication path (10);
• communication condition judging means (32) for outputting a failure signal when at least one of the group communication paths (7) falls into a communication failure during a period in which the communication interrupting means (28) brings interruption between each of the group communication paths (7) and the centralized communication path (10) whereby a signal transmission and reception are made only between the thermal-source-side unit (5) and the user-side unit (6) within each control group (8A, 8B, . . . ), and for outputting a failure signal when any of the group communication paths (7) does not fall into a communication failure and the centralized communication path (10) falls into a communication failure, during a period in which the communication interruption means (28) brings conduction between each of the group communication paths (7) and the centralized communication path (10) whereby a signal transmission and reception are made among the control groups (8A, 8B, . . . );
• and
• communication path break instructing means (33) for receiving an output of the communication condition judging means (32), instructing the communication path interrupting means (28), when at least one of the group communication paths (7) falls into a communication failure, to execute interruption between the group communication path (7) in communication failures and the centralized communication path (10), and instructing the communication path interrupting means (28), when the centralized communication path (10) falls into a communication failure, to execute interruption between each of all the group communication paths (7, 7, . . . ) and the centralized communication path (10).