Communication module and initialization method for multi-air conditioner system

• US 6,290,141 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Jun Hyoung, Seong, Si Pung
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/415,921
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 621/15, 625/10, 621/75, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 165/205, 165/207, 165/208, 165/209
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/32 preventing human errors during the installation, use or maintenance, e.g. goofy proof
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity with cascade operation F25B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

The communication module for a multi-air conditioner system, which has a plurality of indoor units and one outdoor unit for controlling the indoor units, includes a power circuit in each of the indoor units and outdoor unit. The power circuit is connected to a non-polarized two-wire power line to supply a drive power to a corresponding one of the indoor units and outdoor unit. A transmitter/receiver circuit is also included in each of the indoor units and outdoor unit, and is connected to the power line to convert information to be transmitted into a pulse form, which carries the converted result in an alternating current voltage to transmit the information through the power line and receive information from the power line. A microcomputer included in each of the indoor units and outdoor unit controls an associated system operation according to the information from the power line received by the transmitter/receiver circuit. Further, upon supply of power to the system, the outdoor unit calls the indoor units and sequentially assigns addresses to the indoor units transmitting responses earlier than the others.

Claims

1. A communication module for a multi-air conditioner system, which has a plurality of indoor units and one outdoor unit for controlling the indoor units, comprising:

a power circuit included in each of said indoor units and outdoor unit, said power circuit being connected to a non-polarized two-wire power line to supply a drive power to a corresponding one of said indoor units and outdoor unit;

a transmitter/receiver circuit included in each of said indoor units and outdoor unit, said transmitter/receiver circuit being connected to said power line to convert information to be transmitted into a pulse form, which carries the converted results in an alternating current voltage to transmit said information through said power line and receive information from said power line;

a microcomputer, included in each of said indoor units and outdoor unit, for controlling an associated system operation according to said information from said power line, received by said transmitter/receiver circuit; and

a blocking filter, connected to a main power input terminal of said system, for preventing said information transmitted and received in said system from being externally transferred.

2. A method of performing an initialization operation of a multi-air conditioner system which has a plurality of indoor units and one outdoor unit for controlling said indoor units, comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting address N-indoor unit transmission permission information to said indoor units upon supply of power to said system;

(b) assigning an address N to a one of said indoor units which first transmits acknowledge information in response to said address N-indoor unit transmission permission information;

(c) transmitting address N+1-indoor unit transmission permission information to said indoor units after said step (b) is performed;

(d) assigning an address N+1 to a one of said indoor units which first transmits said acknowledge information in response to said address N+1-indoor unit transmission permission information;

(e) repeating said steps (c) and (d) to assign addresses to all of said indoor units;

(f) inhibiting transmission operations of ones of said indoor units assigned with their addresses, until said addresses are assigned to all of said indoor units; and

(g) transmitting an address assignment end signal to all said indoor units to release them from said transmission inhibition, if said addresses are assigned to all of said indoor units.