Pipe-connection searching apparatus for multi-air conditioner

Abstract

A pipe-connection searching apparatus and method for a multiple air conditioner. The apparatus and method involving the identification of one of a plurality of indoor units, based on temperature criteria, and matching the one indoor unit to a corresponding one of a plurality of pipes that connect an outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units, respectively.

1 . A pipe-connection searching apparatus for a multiple air conditioner system comprising an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of temperature sensors each associated with a corresponding of the plurality of indoor units;   a pipe opening/closing unit selectively opening one of a plurality of pipes, wherein each of the plurality of pipes connecting the outdoor unit to a corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units; and   a pipe searching unit configured to identify one of the plurality of indoor units that is connected to the one opened pipe based on a temperature criteria.   
   
   
       2 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature criteria is a change in temperature measured at each of the plurality of indoor units. 
   
   
       3 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the identified one of the plurality of indoor units is first to reach a predefined change in temperature as compared to the other indoor units. 
   
   
       4 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature criteria is a predefined temperature value. 
   
   
       5 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the identified one of the plurality of indoor units is first to reach the predefined temperature value, as compared to the other indoor units. 
   
   
       6 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature criteria is a change in temperature when at least one of the indoor units satisfies a predefined temperature. 
   
   
       7 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the identified one of the plurality of indoor units experiences the greatest change in temperature, as compared to the other indoor units, reaches the predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature criteria is a change in temperature after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. 
   
   
       9 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the identified one of the plurality of indoor units experiences the greatest change in temperature, compared to the other indoor units, after the predetermined period of time elapses. 
   
   
       10 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor unit comprises a wiring-line display unit that displays information identifying one of a plurality of wiring-lines, wherein the identified one of the plurality of wiring-lines corresponds to the identified one of the plurality of indoor units. 
   
   
       11 . The pipe-connection searching apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor unit comprises a wiring-line matching unit that matches the opened pipe with one of a plurality of wiring-lines, wherein the identified one of the plurality of wiring-lines corresponds to the identified one of the plurality of indoor units. 
   
   
       12 . A method of associating each of a plurality of indoor air conditioning units with a corresponding one of a plurality of pipes in a multiple air conditioner system, each of the plurality of pipes connecting a corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units to an outdoor unit, the method comprising:
 selectively opening one of the plurality of pipes;   activating the outdoor unit; and   identifying one of the plurality of indoor units as corresponding to the opened pipe based on predefined temperature criteria.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined temperature criteria is a change in temperature. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined temperature criteria is a predefined temperature. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 measuring an initial temperature associated with each of the plurality of indoor units prior to or substantially at the same time the outdoor unit is activated;   measuring the temperature associated with each of the plurality of indoor units after the operation of the outdoor unit is initiated; and   determining a change in temperature for each of the plurality of indoor units.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein identifying one of the plurality of indoor units comprises:
 identifying the indoor unit that first satisfies a predefined change in temperature, as compared to the other indoor units.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein identifying one of the plurality of indoor units comprises:
 determining when at least one of the plurality of indoor units satisfy a predetermined temperature; and   after determining that at least one of the plurality of indoor units has satisfied the predetermined temperature, identifying the indoor unit that experienced the greatest change in temperature.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining a change in temperature for each of the plurality of indoor units occurs after a predefined period of time elapses, the method further comprising:
 identifying the indoor unit that experienced the greatest change in temperature.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 measuring the temperature associated with each of the plurality of indoor units; and   identifying the indoor unit that first satisfies a predefined temperature, as compared to the other indoor units.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 matching a wiring line to the open pipe, the wiring line associated with said one of the plurality of indoor units.