Address-setting device and air conditioning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11968173-B2
Application number	US-201917273829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2019
Priority date	Sep 10, 2018
Publication date	Apr 23, 2024
Grant date	Apr 23, 2024

Abstract

A communication system includes a first device, second devices, and a communication line providing a serial connection from the first device to the second devices to establish a communication connection. An address setting device of the communication system is configured to set addresses of the second devices. The address setting device includes a communication controller. The communication controller is configured to transmit a transmission signal toward the second devices through the communication line and change at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the transmission signal, and associate the addresses of the second devices with connection precedence of the second devices to the first device based on a reception signal received through the communication line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An address setting device in a communication system, wherein the communication system includes a first device, second devices, and a communication line providing a serial connection from the first device to the second devices to establish a communication connection, and the address setting device is configured to set addresses of the second devices, the address setting device comprising:
a communication controller configured to
transmit a transmission signal toward the second devices through the communication line and change at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the transmission signal, and
associate the addresses of the second devices with connection precedence of the second devices to the first device based on a reception signal received through the communication line.

2. The address setting device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
specify one of the second devices by gradually increasing or gradually decreasing the amplitude of the transmission signal, and
associate the address of the specified second device with the connection precedence to the first device based on a reception signal received from the specified second device.

3. The address setting device according to claim 2 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
specify one of the second devices by gradually raising or gradually lowering a frequency band of the transmission signal, and
associate the address of the specified second device with the connection precedence to the first device based on a reception signal received from the specified second device.

4. The address setting device according to claim 2 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
use device layout data in which installation locations of the second devices are set, and
associate the installation locations of the second devices, which are in the device layout data, with the addresses of the second devices and the connection precedence to the first device.

5. The address setting device according to claim 2 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
transmit the transmission signal having a predetermined amplitude or a predetermined frequency band to obtain a number of the second devices connected to the first device, and
repeatedly transmit the transmission signal in which at least one of the amplitude or the frequency is changed, until the addresses of the second devices corresponding to the connected number of the second devices are associated with the connection precedence to the first device.

6. The address setting device according to claim 2 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
execute association of the addresses of the second devices with the connection precedence to the first device multiple times,
as a result of executing multiple times, obtain first association information about the addresses of the second devices and the connection precedence to the first device and second association information differing in association from the first association information, and
associate the addresses of the second devices with the connection precedence to the first device based on one of the first association information and the second association information that is obtained a greater number of times than the other.

7. An air conditioning system, comprising:
the address setting device according to claim 2 , wherein
the first device is an outdoor unit, and
the second devices are indoor units.

8. The address setting device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
specify one of the second devices by gradually raising or gradually lowering a frequency band of the transmission signal, and
associate the address of the specified second device with the connection precedence to the first device based on a reception signal received from the specified second device.

9. The address setting device according to claim 8 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
use device layout data in which installation locations of the second devices are set, and
associate the installation locations of the second devices, which are in the device layout data, with the addresses of the second devices and the connection precedence to the first device.

10. The address setting device according to claim 8 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
transmit the transmission signal having a predetermined amplitude or a predetermined frequency band to obtain a number of the second devices connected to the first device, and
repeatedly transmit the transmission signal in which at least one of the amplitude or the frequency is changed, until the addresses of the second devices corresponding to the connected number of the second devices are associated with the connection precedence to the first device.

11. The address setting device according to claim 8 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
execute association of the addresses of the second devices with the connection precedence to the first device multiple times,
as a result of executing multiple times, obtain first association information about the addresses of the second devices and the connection precedence to the first device and second association information differing in association from the first association information, and
associate the addresses of the second devices with the connection precedence to the first device based on one of the first association information and the second association information that is obtained a greater number of times than the other.

12. The address setting device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
use device layout data in which installation locations of the second devices are set, and
associate the installation locations of the second devices, which are in the device layout data, with the addresses of the second devices and the connection precedence to the first device.

13. The address setting device according to claim 12 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
transmit the transmission signal having a predetermined amplitude or a predetermined frequency band to obtain a number of the second devices connected to the first device, and
repeatedly transmit the transmission signal in which at least one of the amplitude or the frequency is changed, until the addresses of the second devices corresponding to the connected number of the second devices are associated with the connection precedence to the first device.

14. The address setting device according to claim 12 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
execute association of the addresses of the second devices with the connection precedence to the first device multiple times,
as a result of executing multiple times, obtain first association information about the addresses of the second devices and the connection precedence to the first device and second association information differing in association from the first association information, and
associate the addresses of the second devices with the connection precedence to the first device based on one of the first association information and the second association information that is obtained a greater number of times than the other.

15. The address setting device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication controller is configured to
transmit the transmission signal having a predetermined amplitude or a predetermined frequency band to obtain a number of the second devices connected to the first

Assignees

• Daikin Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Doumae Hiroshi
• Higashiyama Shin
• Ueda Hiroki

Classifications

• H04L61/5038 Primary

  for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN] · CPC title

• F24F11/48

  prior to normal operation, e.g. pre-heating or pre-cooling · CPC title

• H04L12/46

  Interconnection of networks · CPC title

• H04L2101/622

  Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses · CPC title

• G08C15/04 Primary

  the signals being modulated on carrier frequencies · CPC title