A control method, controller, medium, and program for defrosting an air conditioner.

Abstract

This invention relates to a control method, controller, medium, and program for defrosting an air conditioner. The control method acquires humidity information at the air conditioner's installation location, generates a steady-state temperature threshold compensation value based on this humidity information, corrects the condenser temperature judgment threshold used for defrosting, and then, if the defrosting result based on the corrected coil temperature does not meet user requirements, retrieves the air conditioner's unsteady-state temperature threshold compensation value to further correct the judgment threshold. Thus, when correcting the judgment threshold based on the steady-state temperature threshold compensation value still fails to meet the air conditioner's normal defrosting requirements, the judgment threshold is further corrected based on the unsteady-state temperature threshold compensation value. Although the air conditioner may experience instability when operating at this judgment threshold, this method further solves the problem of poor defrosting performance, thereby meeting the user's heating needs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a control method, controller, medium, and program for defrosting an air conditioner, belonging to the field of air conditioner control technology applications. Background Technology

[0002] During the heating process of an air conditioner, the outdoor unit operates in cooling mode. In low-temperature environments, the outdoor heat exchanger (condenser) is prone to frost buildup due to prolonged cooling operation, affecting heat exchange efficiency and consequently impacting the heating capacity of the indoor unit. Therefore, regular defrosting checks and defrosting operations are necessary. Defrosting checks are generally based on changes in condenser coil temperature, combined with adjustments such as the compressor's cumulative operating time. While the outdoor unit is operating, the rate of frost formation varies depending on the humidity level; higher humidity facilitates frost formation, while lower humidity reduces it. Current defrosting detection methods typically do not consider humidity levels, thus failing to accurately detect actual frost formation. This can lead to situations where actual frost buildup on the heat exchanger is not detected, or detected but not yet formed, because defrosting requires stopping heating operation, thus affecting the indoor unit's heating performance. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention addresses the problem that inaccurate defrosting detection in existing air conditioners affects heating performance, and proposes a control method, controller, medium, and program for defrosting air conditioners.

[0004] This invention proposes a control method for defrosting an air conditioner, the control method comprising:

[0005] Obtain humidity information at the location where the air conditioner is installed;

[0006] Based on humidity information, a steady-state temperature threshold compensation value is generated to correct the judgment threshold for condenser temperature used in air conditioner defrosting.

[0007] If the defrosting result of the air conditioner does not meet the user's needs based on the corrected coil temperature, the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value of the air conditioner is retrieved to further correct the judgment threshold.

[0008] Optionally, the judgment threshold includes a first judgment threshold for comparing the current condenser temperature, and a second judgment threshold for the lowest condenser temperature detected within a preset time period of cumulative operation of the air conditioner.

[0009] Optionally, obtaining humidity information at the location where the air conditioner is installed includes:

[0010] Determine the current humidity range based on the annual humidity variation pattern of the location where the air conditioner is installed.

[0011] Optionally, determining the current humidity range also includes:

[0012] Obtain environmental characteristic information of the location where the air conditioner is installed;

[0013] The humidity range is corrected based on environmental characteristics.

[0014] Optionally, before further revising the judgment threshold based on humidity information, a prompt message may be given to remind the user of the potential instability that may occur when the air conditioner operates under the revised judgment threshold.

[0015] Optionally, when further refining the judgment threshold based on the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value, the following steps are included:

[0016] The control software receives the corrected judgment threshold from the air conditioner, wherein the control software is generated based on a cloud server connected to the air conditioner;

[0017] The modified control software was replaced with the original control software through online programming of the air conditioner.

[0018] The present invention also proposes a controller for an air conditioner, the controller being configured to:

[0019] Obtain humidity information at the location where the air conditioner is installed;

[0020] Based on humidity information, a steady-state temperature threshold compensation value is generated to correct the judgment threshold for condenser temperature used in air conditioner defrosting.

[0021] If the defrosting result of the air conditioner does not meet the user's needs based on the corrected coil temperature, the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value of the air conditioner is retrieved to further correct the judgment threshold.

[0022] The present invention also proposes a storage medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the control method for defrosting an air conditioner as described above.

[0023] The present invention also proposes a computer program, which includes program instructions that, when executed by a controller, enable the controller to implement the aforementioned control method for defrosting an air conditioner.

[0024] The defrosting control method for air conditioners of the present invention acquires humidity information of the air conditioner's installation location, generates a steady-state temperature threshold compensation value based on the humidity information, corrects the condenser temperature judgment threshold used for defrosting, and finally, if the defrosting result of the air conditioner based on the corrected coil temperature does not meet the user's needs, retrieves the air conditioner's unsteady-state temperature threshold compensation value to further correct the judgment threshold. Thus, when correcting the judgment threshold based on the steady-state temperature threshold compensation value still cannot meet the normal defrosting requirements of the air conditioner, the judgment threshold is further corrected based on the unsteady-state temperature threshold compensation value. Although the air conditioner may experience instability when operating at this judgment threshold, it can further solve the problem of poor defrosting effect, thereby meeting the user's heating needs. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a control method for defrosting an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 Based on Figure 1 A flowchart of a further control method for defrosting an air conditioner in the embodiment;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a simplified schematic diagram of the air conditioner installation in a room in the control method of this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0029] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0030] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0031] This invention proposes a control method for defrosting air conditioners, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the control method includes the following steps:

[0032] S100: Obtain humidity information at the location where the air conditioner is installed;

[0033] S200: Generate a steady-state temperature threshold compensation value based on humidity information, and correct the judgment threshold for condenser temperature used for defrosting air conditioners.

[0034] S300: If the defrosting result of the air conditioner does not meet the user's needs based on the corrected condenser coil temperature, retrieve the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value of the air conditioner to further correct the judgment threshold.

[0035] In step S100, there are several methods for obtaining humidity information. A convenient method is to connect the air conditioner to a network server to obtain real-time local weather information and thus the current humidity. Of course, if a humidity sensor is installed on the outdoor unit, it is even more convenient and accurate. Generally, due to cost considerations, air conditioner outdoor units do not have humidity sensors installed. However, most air conditioners nowadays are equipped with Wi-Fi modules to allow users to control them via mobile devices such as smartphones. Therefore, the air conditioner can access weather-related servers to obtain real-time local weather information and extract humidity information from it. For some lower-end air conditioner models that do not have Wi-Fi modules, the humidity can be manually set according to the seasonal humidity changes in the location. This can be done by dividing the local humidity into several ranges based on monthly or seasonal variations. The air conditioner can then select the appropriate humidity range based on the current time. For example, the humidity in a given location varies throughout the year; for instance, winter humidity is lower (around 30%-40%), while spring humidity is higher (around 40%-50%). The corresponding humidity range can be determined based on the current season.

[0036] Furthermore, the humidity range can be adjusted by taking into account the environmental characteristics of the location where the air conditioner is installed. For example, if the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is installed in a place with high humidity, such as a production workshop with high humidity, such as a textile workshop or a product coating plant, the humidity range needs to be adjusted. For example, the 30%-40% range in winter should be adjusted to 40-50%. Conversely, in places with low humidity, the humidity range value should be reduced accordingly.

[0037] In step S200, according to the defrosting detection rules of the air conditioner, the determination of whether frost has formed is generally based on the temperature of the condenser coil. The specific defrosting judgment rules of the air conditioner include: firstly, recording the minimum temperature of the condenser coil within the first preset time after the compressor starts in the heating operation mode, such as recording the minimum temperature of the condenser coil within 5-10 minutes after the compressor starts; at the same time, after the compressor starts, within the second preset time of cumulative operation of the compressor, such as 30 minutes, whether the temperature of the condenser coil is lower than the first preset temperature threshold, such as -7℃, and whether the temperature of the condenser coil is also lower than the aforementioned minimum temperature, then it is determined that the air conditioner is frosted, thereby controlling the air conditioner to perform the defrosting action subsequently.

[0038] If the humidity information obtained is within the 30%-40% range based on the current season at the air conditioner's installation location, then the humidity is considered low. Therefore, the condenser temperature threshold used for defrosting is adjusted. Specifically, a first preset temperature threshold is used to compare the current condenser temperature, and a second threshold is the lowest condenser temperature detected within a preset operating time, specifically the aforementioned minimum temperature value. Because air conditioners are less prone to frost formation in relatively low humidity, the temperature values ​​are relatively lowered based on the steady-state temperature threshold compensation value. For example, the first preset temperature threshold is adjusted from -7℃ to -9℃, and the minimum temperature value is lowered, for example, from -1℃ to -2℃, thereby making the air conditioner's defrosting judgment more accurate.

[0039] The steady-state temperature threshold compensation value here is generated by the air conditioner based on humidity information. It automatically corrects the judgment threshold of the condenser temperature based on the preset rules of the control software. Alternatively, it can be calculated based on the preset rules of the control software, and the corrected suggested judgment threshold range can be pushed to the user. The user can then select a specific value within the range. For example, the corrected range of the first preset temperature threshold can be -8℃ to -9.5℃, and the user can then select a value such as -9℃.

[0040] In step S300, after the above-mentioned steady-state temperature threshold compensation value and the correction of the condenser temperature judgment threshold based on humidity information, if the user still finds the air conditioner's heating effect poor during use and reports it to the manufacturer for repair, the manufacturer's repair personnel will inspect the unit and find that the defrosting function of the air conditioner is still problematic. For example, the defrosting action is still too frequent, and the air conditioner starts defrosting before the frost has reached the required level. Because the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is running in heating mode during defrosting, while the indoor unit stops blowing air and thus stops heating, frequent defrosting will significantly affect the air conditioner's heating capacity, thereby affecting the user's room heating needs. At this time, the air conditioner retrieves the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value and further corrects the judgment threshold based on humidity information. Specifically, maintenance personnel can determine the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value of the air conditioner through the air conditioner's APP, and further modify the judgment threshold mentioned in step S200 above. For example, the first preset temperature threshold can be adjusted from -9℃ to -10℃, and the minimum temperature value can be adjusted from -2℃ to -3℃, so as to further lower the judgment threshold, reduce the defrosting frequency of the air conditioner, and improve the heating capacity.

[0041] The non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value here, relative to the steady-state temperature threshold compensation value, is the temperature threshold compensation value configured by the air conditioner manufacturer for each air conditioner model. Users cannot directly modify or select this parameter when using the air conditioner. That is, in step S200 above, the steady-state temperature threshold compensation value can be generated internally by the air conditioner's control software, while the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value cannot be automatically generated internally by the air conditioner's control software; it requires special modification permissions to trigger its generation. For example, an air conditioner repair technician using superuser privileges can retrieve this parameter through the air conditioner's control APP. Furthermore, the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value is adapted for each air conditioner model, and different air conditioners may have different non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation values. The term "non-steady-state" refers to the fact that when the air conditioner operates according to the judgment threshold corrected by the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value, the air conditioner may easily exhibit an unstable state. For example, when the air conditioner is heating, excessive frost may occur, leading to a decrease in condenser heat exchange efficiency and thus affecting the indoor heating effect. Therefore, the correction of the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value can only be performed by the air conditioner when it is not necessary. For example, after the user reports to the air conditioner manufacturer, the air conditioner repair personnel can obtain this compensation value through super user privileges to continue to correct the judgment threshold problem used for defrosting detection, so as to meet the user's more special heating needs.

[0042] Furthermore, in some embodiments of the present invention, before further revising the judgment threshold based on the air conditioner humidity information, a prompt message is given to remind the user of potential instability when the air conditioner operates under the revised judgment threshold. For example, the user may be reminded that excessive frost buildup on the outdoor unit during heating operation may reduce heating capacity. This informs the user and avoids the possibility of the user reporting a problem to the manufacturer, thus wasting the manufacturer's repair resources, even when the problem is not actually with the air conditioner itself.

[0043] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 2 As shown, when further correcting the judgment threshold based on the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value, the following steps are included:

[0044] S400, receiving control software after the air conditioner corrects and judges the threshold, wherein the control software is generated based on a cloud server connected to the air conditioner;

[0045] S500 replaces the original control software with the corrected control software through online programming of the air conditioner.

[0046] This embodiment describes how to correct the judgment threshold based on the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value in the controller software of an air conditioner.

[0047] In this embodiment, the air conditioner is connected to a cloud server. The cloud server can connect to a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone app, to control the air conditioner. When the user corrects the defrosting threshold of the air conditioner based on a non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value through the app's interface, or when the app automatically corrects the defrosting threshold based on a preset rule, the connected cloud server automatically generates a new version of the air conditioner's control software. This new software, compared to the old version, may only modify the threshold. Alternatively, further modifications to the control program may be needed. For example, if the change in the threshold causes instability in the air conditioner's operation, leading to excessive frost buildup, further modifications to the defrosting module are required. This could involve slightly increasing the defrosting time or the compressor's operating frequency during defrosting to ensure thorough defrosting and complete removal of frost in a single operation, thus not affecting the air conditioner's heating capacity.

[0048] The new control software generated by the cloud server is then sent to the air conditioner's controller via networks such as the external network (e.g., broadband network) and the internal network (e.g., Wi-Fi). Upon receiving this new control software, the controller's MCU can update the old program in its memory via Over-The-Air (OTA) programming to replace it with the new version. This allows the controller software to correct the defrosting detection threshold of the air conditioner based on non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation values. This correction is specific to the user's air conditioner; different users may have different corrected control software, thus personalizedly meeting their specific heating needs. This truly realizes user-customized functionality, thereby genuinely enhancing the user experience.

[0049] The method described above for correcting the defrosting threshold of an air conditioner is based on a server-generated new version of the air conditioner's control software, followed by an OTA (Over-The-Air) update of the controller software. Other possible implementations include internal correction within the controller software. For example, the air conditioner's control software can directly modify these parameters after receiving correction values ​​based on non-steady-state parameters from the user's app. However, this modification method, compared to the server-generated method described above, has limited depth in parameter modification; it generally only modifies the threshold, making further modifications to related air conditioner control software modules difficult. Therefore, the control scheme of the previous embodiment is preferred.

[0050] This invention also proposes an air conditioner controller. The controller internally includes a processor and related module circuits connected to the processor to control various loads of the air conditioner, such as the indoor fan, compressor, outdoor fan, and four-way valve. It also includes sensors connected to the processor, such as sensors for detecting indoor ambient temperature, evaporator coil temperature, condenser coil temperature, and outdoor ambient temperature, to detect these temperature values. The controller is configured to: acquire humidity information at the air conditioner's installation location; generate a steady-state temperature threshold compensation value based on the humidity information; correct the condenser temperature judgment threshold used for defrosting the air conditioner; and, if the defrosting result based on the corrected condenser coil temperature does not meet user requirements, retrieve the air conditioner's non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value to further correct the judgment threshold. The control scheme for correcting the air conditioner's defrosting judgment threshold based on non-steady-state parameters is a method of internal correction within the controller software based on the controller's processor. For details of the control scheme, please refer to the description of the software-based method for correcting the air conditioner's judgment threshold in the previous embodiment.

[0051] The embodiments of this application also provide a computer program product, including program instructions that, when executed by a controller, enable the controller to implement any of the control methods described above for correcting the air conditioner's judgment threshold.

[0052] The embodiments of this application also provide a storage medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a controller, enable the controller to perform any of the control methods described above for correcting the air conditioner's judgment threshold.

[0053] This invention also proposes a control method for correcting the set temperature of an air conditioner, the control method comprising the following steps:

[0054] S10. Obtain the room parameter information where the air conditioner is located;

[0055] S20. Correct the set temperature of the air conditioner based on the steady-state temperature compensation value according to the room parameter information;

[0056] S30. If the corrected steady-state temperature compensation value cannot meet the user's needs, retrieve the unsteady-state temperature compensation value of the air conditioner and further correct the set temperature based on the room parameter information.

[0057] In step S10, the room parameters where the air conditioner is located can be referenced. Figure 3 The diagram shows a simplified installation of air conditioner 100 in a room. Air conditioner 100 is installed on one wall of the room, which has a relatively high vertical height. Air conditioner 100 is installed higher than typical air conditioners. Other furniture, such as bed 200, is placed in the room. User 300 typically spends time in a specific area of ​​the room, such as a small area in front of bed 200, or sleeping on bed 200. Because the room's height is relatively high (up to 3.5m or more, while typical rooms are no more than 3m), and air conditioner 100 is installed relatively high, if user 300 chooses a relatively low-power air conditioner 100, such as a 1-horsepower wall-mounted unit, the cold air from the air conditioner 100's outlet will travel a long distance to reach user 300's area. The temperature of the cold air will rise significantly during this journey. For example, if user 300 sets the air conditioner 100 to a minimum cooling temperature of 17°C, the temperature will already be around 23°C by the time it reaches user 300's area, thus failing to meet user 300's need for a lower cooling temperature.

[0058] In steps S20 and S30, it's important to note that the steady-state temperature compensation value used here is a commonly used temperature compensation value built into the air conditioner's controller. Taking cooling mode as an example, the air conditioner's controller obtains the current indoor ambient temperature T1 and the set temperature TS. Based on the difference between T1 and TS, it controls the compressor to operate at different frequencies. If the difference is positive and larger, the compressor operates at a higher frequency. If the difference is negative, the operating frequency is at the lowest setting, such as 10Hz or 20Hz. If the difference is negative and its absolute value is greater than a certain preset value, the compressor is directly stopped. After obtaining room parameter information, such as the air conditioner's installation height and the room's floor plan, the air conditioner corrects the TS temperature based on the steady-state temperature compensation value. For example, the corrected TS is TS-ΔT, such as TS-2. When controlling the compressor's operating frequency, the difference between T1 and TS-ΔT is used. Compared to before the correction, the room's ambient temperature T1 needs to be lower to meet the corrected setting, meaning the compressor operates at a higher frequency, causing the room temperature to drop more significantly. This meets the user's low-temperature cooling requirements.

[0059] When correcting the set temperature based on the steady-state temperature compensation value, the system automatically adjusts according to the rules preset by the controller software. For example, the air conditioner can automatically correct the temperature based on parameters such as the installation height of the air conditioner and the size of the room. Alternatively, it can calculate the corrected suggested set temperature range based on the room parameters and the preset rules of the controller software, and then push the corrected set temperature range to the user. The user can then fine-tune this set temperature. When the user makes a fine-tuning adjustment, the adjustment range is within the reduced set temperature range pushed by the air conditioner. Taking the cooling mode as an example, if the steady-state temperature compensation value △T is in the range of 1-3℃, the user can then make a fine-tuning adjustment within this range.

[0060] However, if the air conditioner's set temperature, adjusted based on the steady-state temperature compensation value, still fails to meet the user's needs—for example, if the user still feels the temperature is too high—then, if further adjustment is needed, the air conditioner's non-temperature compensation value is retrieved and combined with room parameters to further refine the set temperature. For instance, in the aforementioned cooling mode, if the steady-state temperature compensation value ΔT is in the range of 1-3℃ and the non-temperature compensation value is in the range of 4-5℃, the adjusted TS, based on room parameters, would be TS-4. The air conditioner then controls the compressor to operate based on this further adjusted set temperature until the outlet temperature reaches the adjusted set temperature, thus meeting the user's cooling needs for a lower temperature.

[0061] It's worth noting that the non-steady-state temperature compensation value mentioned here is a temperature compensation value configured by the air conditioner manufacturer for each air conditioner model. Unlike the steady-state temperature compensation value, users cannot directly modify or select this parameter when using the air conditioner. Special modification permissions are required, such as a technician using superuser privileges to access this parameter through the air conditioner's control app. Furthermore, the non-steady-state temperature compensation value is adapted for each air conditioner model, and different air conditioners may have different non-steady-state temperature compensation values. The term "non-steady-state" refers to the fact that when the air conditioner operates at the set temperature corrected by the non-steady-state temperature compensation value, the air conditioner may easily become unstable. For example, if the air conditioner is running at the TS-4 set temperature during cooling, the evaporator temperature may become too low, potentially triggering the evaporator's low-temperature protection. This results in a higher concentration of liquid refrigerant in the evaporator coils, which could flow into the compressor and damage it. Therefore, the evaporator temperature cannot be too low. When the air conditioner determines that the evaporator coil temperature is below the preset value (e.g., 2°C), it controls the compressor to reduce its frequency or shut down to prevent the evaporator temperature from continuing to drop. Therefore, the correction of the non-steady-state temperature compensation value should only be performed by the air conditioner when it is not necessary. For example, after the user reports the issue to the air conditioner manufacturer, the air conditioner's repair personnel can obtain the compensation value through super user privileges to continue to correct the set temperature problem, thereby meeting the user's more specific cooling or heating needs.

[0062] The above embodiment uses the air conditioner's cooling mode as an example to illustrate the correction of the set temperature. If the air conditioner is running in heating mode, the corrected set temperature will be TS+△T. The steady-state temperature compensation value △T typically ranges from 1-2℃, while the non-steady-state temperature compensation value △T ranges from 2-4℃. If a user sets the maximum set temperature to 30℃ and still cannot meet their heating temperature requirements, the user can correct the heating set temperature via the control app. The control app obtains the room parameters and then corrects the heating set temperature based on the steady-state temperature compensation value according to the software's preset rules. For example, the corrected set temperature might be TS+2. If the user still feels the temperature is too low after correcting the set temperature, they can report the issue to the air conditioner manufacturer. The manufacturer's repair personnel can then obtain the non-steady-state temperature compensation value through the control app using superuser privileges and further correct the set temperature. For example, the corrected set temperature might be TS+3, ultimately ensuring that the air supply temperature meets the user's heating temperature requirements.

[0063] Furthermore, before correcting the set temperature based on the unsteady-state temperature compensation value, the air conditioner can provide corresponding prompts through its display device or control app. This alerts the user that after correcting the set temperature based on the unsteady-state temperature compensation value, the air conditioner may experience unstable operation. For example, it might trigger evaporator low-temperature protection during cooling or evaporator high-temperature protection during heating. Otherwise, if users are aware of these frequent unstable conditions, they might report the issue to the air conditioner manufacturer, wasting the manufacturer's repair resources, even when the problem doesn't actually involve the air conditioner itself.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present invention, the control method further includes:

[0065] S40: Obtain the operating status of the air conditioner;

[0066] S50. Based on the air conditioner's operating status and room parameter information, the set temperature is further corrected using the unsteady-state temperature compensation value.

[0067] The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment is that, in addition to considering room parameter information, it further incorporates the air conditioner's operating status and uses a non-steady-state temperature compensation value to further correct the set temperature. The air conditioner's operating status includes whether it has reached the set temperature and stopped, whether the air guide vane is oscillating, and whether the air guide vane's airflow angle is the standard angle, etc. For example, if the air conditioner is currently in the set temperature and stopped state, taking cooling mode as an example, the corrected set temperature should be lower. This is because the air conditioner's compressor needs a certain interval, such as 3 minutes, to restart after stopping to protect it. During this time, the compressor cannot start immediately, so the room temperature will rise slightly. Therefore, after the compressor starts, the air conditioner should output a stronger cooling capacity, meaning the compressor should operate at a higher frequency, allowing the room to drop to the user's desired temperature more quickly.

[0068] Furthermore, in some embodiments of the present invention, the control method further includes:

[0069] When correcting the set temperature based on the unsteady-state temperature compensation value, the corresponding fault judgment rules of the air conditioner are corrected.

[0070] As mentioned in the above embodiments, the air conditioner corrects the set temperature based on a non-steady-state temperature compensation value. When the air conditioner operates at this set temperature, it is prone to instability. For example, in cooling mode, it may trigger evaporator low-temperature protection, and in heating mode, it may trigger evaporator high-temperature protection. Although corresponding prompts can be given to inform the user, frequent occurrences of these protections causing the air conditioner to shut down will still affect the user experience. Therefore, to minimize the occurrence of these unstable states, the corresponding fault judgment rules can be modified. For example, the temperature threshold for evaporator low-temperature protection in cooling mode can be slightly lowered, such as from the normal 2°C to 1°C, and the temperature threshold for evaporator high-temperature protection in heating mode can be slightly raised, such as from the normal 65°C to 66°C. In this way, by slightly increasing the air conditioner's extreme operating conditions, the air conditioner is still in a safe and reliable operating state, but the probability of these protections occurring will be reduced, thus preventing these protections from occurring frequently. In this way, the air conditioner can operate more stably in cooling or heating modes, improving the user experience.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present invention, when further correcting the set temperature based on room parameter information according to the unsteady-state temperature compensation value, the method further includes:

[0072] S60, Receive the corrected control software of the air conditioner, wherein the control software is generated based on a cloud server connected to the air conditioner;

[0073] S70. The modified control software is replaced with the original control software through online programming of the air conditioner.

[0074] This embodiment describes how to implement the setting temperature correction based on room parameter information using unsteady-state temperature compensation values ​​in the controller software of an air conditioner.

[0075] In this embodiment, the air conditioner is connected to a cloud server, which can connect to a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone app, to control the air conditioner. When a user adjusts the air conditioner's set temperature based on a non-steady-state temperature compensation value through the app's interface, or when the app automatically adjusts the set temperature based on preset rules, the connected cloud server automatically generates a new version of the air conditioner's control software. This new software, compared to the old version, may only modify the set temperature setting; more often, it requires modifications to related control programs. For example, changes to the set temperature may cause the air conditioner to be in an unstable state, such as evaporator low-temperature protection in cooling mode or evaporator high-temperature protection in heating mode. To minimize these unstable states, the air conditioner needs further modification to the corresponding fault detection software modules, such as evaporator low-temperature protection detection in cooling mode and evaporator high-temperature protection detection in heating mode. This reduces the occurrence of these protections, allowing the air conditioner to operate more stably in cooling or heating modes and improving the user experience.

[0076] The new control software generated by the cloud server is then sent to the air conditioner's controller via networks such as the external network (e.g., broadband network) and the internal network (e.g., Wi-Fi). Upon receiving this new control software, the controller's MCU can update the old program in its memory using Over-The-Air (OTA) programming to replace it with the new version. This allows the controller software to correct the air conditioner's set temperature based on non-steady-state temperature compensation values. This correction is specific to the user's air conditioner; different users may have different corrected control software, thus personalizedly meeting their cooling and heating needs. This truly realizes user-customized functionality, thereby genuinely enhancing the user experience.

[0077] The method for correcting the air conditioner's set temperature using software in the above embodiment is based on a server generating a new version of the air conditioner's control software, and then updating the controller software via OTA (Over-The-Air). In other possible implementations, correction can also be performed internally within the controller software. For example, the air conditioner's control software can directly modify these parameters after receiving correction values ​​based on non-steady-state parameters from the user's app. However, compared to the server-generated method in the above embodiment, this modification method has limited depth of parameter modification; it generally only modifies the set temperature, and further modifications to the related air conditioner control software modules are difficult to achieve. Therefore, the control scheme of the previous embodiment is preferred.

[0078] This invention also proposes a controller for an air conditioner. The controller internally includes a processor and related module circuits connected to the processor to control various loads of the air conditioner, such as the indoor fan, compressor, outdoor fan, and four-way valve. It also includes sensors connected to the processor, such as sensors for detecting indoor ambient temperature, evaporator pipe temperature, condenser pipe temperature, and outdoor ambient temperature, to detect these temperature values. The controller is configured to: acquire room parameter information where the air conditioner is located; correct the set temperature of the air conditioner based on a steady-state temperature compensation value according to the room parameter information; and, if the corrected steady-state temperature compensation value cannot meet the user's needs, retrieve the air conditioner's non-steady-state temperature compensation value and further correct the set temperature according to the room parameter information. The control scheme for correcting the set temperature based on non-steady-state parameters is a method of internal correction within the controller software based on the controller's processor. For details of the control scheme, please refer to the description of the software-based method for correcting the air conditioner's set temperature in the previous embodiment.

[0079] The embodiments of this application also provide a computer program product, including program instructions that, when executed by a controller, enable the controller to implement any of the control methods for correcting the set temperature of the air conditioner in the above embodiments.

[0080] The embodiments of this application also provide a storage medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a controller, enable the controller to perform any of the control methods for correcting the set temperature of the air conditioner in the above embodiments.

[0081] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps in the methods described above can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. This program is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a device (which may be a microcontroller, chip, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0082] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "first embodiment," "second embodiment," and "example" indicate that the specific method, apparatus, or feature described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, methods, apparatus, or features described may be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0083] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the patent. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the description and drawings of the present invention, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for defrosting an air conditioner, characterized in that, The control method includes: Obtain humidity information at the location where the air conditioner is installed; A steady-state temperature threshold compensation value is generated based on the humidity information, and the judgment threshold for the condenser temperature used for defrosting the air conditioner is corrected. If the defrosting result of the air conditioner does not meet the user's needs based on the corrected condenser coil temperature, the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value of the air conditioner is retrieved to further correct the judgment threshold. The steady-state temperature threshold compensation value is generated by the air conditioner based on humidity information. It automatically corrects the judgment threshold of the condenser temperature based on the preset rules of the control software, or it is calculated according to the preset rules of the control software and then pushes the corrected suggested judgment threshold range to the user, who can then select a specific value within the range. The non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value, relative to the steady-state temperature threshold compensation value, is the temperature threshold compensation value configured by the air conditioner manufacturer for each air conditioner model. Users cannot directly modify or select this parameter when using the air conditioner.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The judgment thresholds include a first judgment threshold for comparing the current condenser temperature, and a second judgment threshold for the lowest condenser temperature detected within a preset time period of cumulative operation of the air conditioner.

3. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of obtaining humidity information at the location where the air conditioner is installed includes: Based on the annual humidity variation pattern of the location where the air conditioner is installed, the current humidity range is determined.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The process of determining the current humidity range also includes: Obtain environmental characteristic information of the location where the air conditioner is installed; The humidity range is corrected based on the environmental characteristic information.

5. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before retrieving the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value of the air conditioner to further correct the judgment threshold, a prompt message is given to remind the user of the possible unstable state that may occur when the air conditioner is running the corrected judgment threshold.

6. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When further correcting the judgment threshold based on the unsteady-state temperature threshold compensation value, the following is included: The control software receives the correction of the judgment threshold from the air conditioner, wherein the control software is generated based on a cloud server connected to the air conditioner; The modified control software replaces the original control software through the online programming method of the air conditioner.

7. A controller for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The controller is configured to: Obtain humidity information at the location where the air conditioner is installed; A steady-state temperature threshold compensation value is generated based on the humidity information, and the judgment threshold for the condenser temperature used for defrosting the air conditioner is corrected. If the defrosting result of the air conditioner does not meet the user's needs based on the corrected condenser coil temperature, the non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value of the air conditioner is retrieved to further correct the judgment threshold. The steady-state temperature threshold compensation value is generated by the air conditioner based on humidity information. It automatically corrects the judgment threshold of the condenser temperature based on the preset rules of the control software, or it is calculated according to the preset rules of the control software and then pushes the corrected suggested judgment threshold range to the user, who can then select a specific value within the range. The non-steady-state temperature threshold compensation value, relative to the steady-state temperature threshold compensation value, is the temperature threshold compensation value configured by the air conditioner manufacturer for each air conditioner model. Users cannot directly modify or select this parameter when using the air conditioner.

8. A storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, characterized in that, When executed by a processor, the computer-readable instructions cause the processor to perform the control method for defrosting an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1-6.

9. A computer program, characterized in that, The computer program includes program instructions that, when executed by the controller, enable the controller to implement the control method for defrosting an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1-6.

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