Method and apparatus for air conditioner control, air conditioner, storage medium

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of intelligent household appliances, and discloses a method for controlling an air conditioner, which comprises the following steps: in the case that the air conditioner is in an operating state, acquiring the change condition of the light reflectivity at each drain outlet; determining the blockage condition of each drain outlet according to the change condition of the light reflectivity at each drain outlet; and controlling the vibration module of each drain outlet to operate according to the blockage condition of each drain outlet. By monitoring the change condition of the light reflectivity at each drain outlet, the air conditioner can timely find the drain outlet with the blockage problem, and perform the self-cleaning operation on the blocked drain outlet, so that the situation that the drain outlet of the outdoor unit is blocked by dust or frost is avoided, the normal operation of the air conditioner is ensured, and the stability of the air conditioner operation is improved. The application further discloses a device for controlling the air conditioner, an air conditioner and a storage medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of smart home appliance technology, such as a method and apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most air conditioners use silicone heating elements, electric heating tubes, or high-temperature refrigerant for self-cleaning operations such as defrosting the outdoor unit. However, the cleaning programs on current air conditioners are all manually activated by the user, which may lead to delays in cleaning. Therefore, how to promptly initiate the defrosting self-cleaning operation is a problem that urgently needs to be solved.

[0003] The related technology discloses an air conditioning control method, including: determining the optical parameters generated by the heat exchange device of the air conditioner when incident light is projected onto it; and starting or stopping the self-cleaning program of the heat exchange device when the optical parameters meet the conditions. Based on the optical parameters generated by the heat exchange device of the air conditioner when incident light is projected onto it, the air conditioner can automatically start the self-cleaning program of the heat exchange device to clean it, thus solving the problem that it is difficult for users to actively start the self-cleaning program.

[0004] In the process of implementing the embodiments of this disclosure, at least the following problems were found in the related art:

[0005] The technology can proactively initiate a self-cleaning process by monitoring the optical parameters of the heat exchanger to clean it. However, when the air conditioner is in heating mode or in environments with low outdoor temperatures, the drain outlet of the outdoor unit may become clogged with accumulated dust, frost, or ice, causing drainage problems. The technology can only address the cleaning of the heat exchanger and cannot solve the problem of dust accumulation or frost clogging the drain outlet, thus affecting the normal operation of the air conditioner. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. This summary is not intended as a general commentary, nor is it intended to identify key / important components or describe the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0007] This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a storage medium, which enables timely initiation of a cleaning operation to clean the outdoor unit's drain outlet, solving the technical problem of the outdoor unit's drain outlet being blocked by dust or frost, and ensuring the normal operation of the air conditioner.

[0008] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes drain outlets at different horizontal heights disposed on the outdoor unit chassis, a detection module for detecting the light reflectivity of each drain outlet, and a vibration module disposed at each drain outlet for generating vibration; the method includes: acquiring changes in the light reflectivity at each drain outlet while the air conditioner is in operation; determining the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the changes in the light reflectivity at each drain outlet; and controlling the operation of the vibration module at each drain outlet based on the blockage status of each drain outlet.

[0009] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions, wherein the processor is configured to execute the method for controlling an air conditioner when executing the program instructions.

[0010] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes: drain outlets at different horizontal heights disposed on the outdoor unit chassis, a detection module for detecting the light reflectivity of each drain outlet, and a vibration module disposed at each drain outlet for generating vibration; and the aforementioned device for controlling the air conditioner.

[0011] In some embodiments, the storage medium stores program instructions that, when executed, perform the aforementioned method for controlling an air conditioner.

[0012] The method and apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, the air conditioner, and the storage medium provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0013] When the air conditioner is running, the system determines the blockage status of each drain outlet by analyzing changes in light reflectivity. Based on the blockage status, it then controls the vibration module of each drain outlet. By monitoring changes in light reflectivity at each drain outlet, the air conditioner can promptly detect blocked outlets and perform a self-cleaning operation on the blocked outlets. This prevents the outdoor unit's drain outlets from becoming clogged with dust or frost, ensuring the normal operation of the air conditioner and improving its stability.

[0014] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0015] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations and drawings do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings are not to be scaled. And wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner control device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To provide a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of this disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure. In the following technical description, for ease of explanation, several details are used to provide a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices may be simplified in their depiction to simplify the drawings.

[0023] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0024] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0025] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0026] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0027] The term "correspondence" can refer to an association or binding relationship. The correspondence between A and B means that there is an association or binding relationship between A and B.

[0028] In this embodiment of the disclosure, smart home appliances refer to home appliances formed by introducing microprocessors, sensor technology and network communication technology into home appliances. They have the characteristics of intelligent control, intelligent sensing and intelligent application. The operation of smart home appliances often relies on the application and processing of modern technologies such as the Internet of Things, the Internet and electronic chips. For example, smart home appliances can be connected to electronic devices to enable users to remotely control and manage smart home appliances.

[0029] In the disclosed embodiments, the terminal device refers to an electronic device with wireless connectivity. The terminal device can communicate with the aforementioned smart home appliances via the internet, or directly via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other methods. In some embodiments, the terminal device may be, for example, a mobile device, a computer, or an in-vehicle device built into a hovercraft, or any combination thereof. Mobile devices may include, for example, mobile phones, smart home devices, wearable devices, smart mobile devices, virtual reality devices, or any combination thereof. Wearable devices may include, for example, smartwatches, smart bracelets, pedometers, etc.

[0030] This disclosure provides an air conditioner comprising: drain outlets at different horizontal heights on the outdoor unit chassis; a detection module for detecting the light reflectivity of each drain outlet; a vibration module for generating vibration at each drain outlet; and a heat dissipation module for cooling the electrical control box. The drain outlets at different heights can divert water flow, avoiding the problem of single drain outlets easily becoming clogged and improving drainage efficiency. The vibration module generates vibration, causing the chassis to vibrate synchronously, shaking off dust or frost at the drain outlets to clean them. The heat dissipation module includes an aluminum substrate in contact with heat-generating components inside the electrical control box, a semiconductor heat sink connected to the aluminum substrate at one end, and a wind-cooled radiator connected to the other end of the semiconductor heat sink. The wind-cooled radiator is connected to the chassis via heat-conducting pipes, and a circulating pump is installed on the heat-conducting pipes to provide circulation power for the heat-conducting medium. The heat-conducting pipes are arranged in a U-shape on the chassis to better transfer heat to the entire chassis.

[0031] Based on the above air conditioner structure:

[0032] Combination Figure 1 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, including:

[0033] S01, when the air conditioner is in operation, obtain the changes in light reflectivity at each drain outlet.

[0034] S02, the air conditioner determines the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the change in light reflectivity at each drain outlet.

[0035] S03, the air conditioner controls the operation of the vibration module of each drain outlet according to the blockage of each drain outlet.

[0036] The air conditioner control method provided in this disclosure can determine the blockage status of each drain outlet based on changes in light reflectivity while the air conditioner is running, and control the vibration module of each drain outlet according to the blockage status. By monitoring changes in light reflectivity at each drain outlet, the air conditioner can promptly detect blocked drain outlets and perform self-cleaning operations on the blocked outlets, preventing the outdoor unit drain outlets from being blocked by dust or frost, ensuring the normal operation of the air conditioner, and improving the stability of air conditioner operation.

[0037] Furthermore, the silicone electric heating strip method, limited by the silicone material, has a low heating power and cannot meet the needs of defrosting the chassis. While the electric heating tube can increase the power to 300W, meeting the defrosting needs at -15 degrees Celsius, it presents energy waste and safety hazards due to overheating in outdoor temperatures below freezing. High-temperature refrigerant defrosting the chassis also affects indoor heating performance. Therefore, a vibration module cleans the drain outlet by vibrating, achieving cleanliness while avoiding energy waste and safety hazards caused by overheating, and ensuring indoor heating performance, thus improving the air conditioner's cleaning effect on the drain outlet. Moreover, by using drain outlets at different heights to divert water flow, avoiding the problem of single drain outlets easily becoming clogged and improving drainage efficiency, the vibration module operation of each drain outlet is controlled according to the degree of clogging at different heights, providing targeted cleaning and further enhancing the cleaning effect.

[0038] Combination Figure 2 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, including:

[0039] S21, When the air conditioner is running, the light reflectivity at each drain outlet is detected within a set time period.

[0040] S22, the air conditioner compares the light reflectance at each drain outlet within the set time period with the initial light reflectance at each drain outlet to obtain the change in light reflectance at each drain outlet.

[0041] S02, the air conditioner determines the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the change in light reflectivity at each drain outlet.

[0042] S03, the air conditioner controls the operation of the vibration module of each drain outlet according to the blockage of each drain outlet.

[0043] The initial light reflectance is the light reflectance recorded when the outdoor unit's drain outlet is unobstructed. Each drain outlet of the outdoor unit has a corresponding initial light reflectance.

[0044] The air conditioner control method provided in this disclosure detects the light reflectance at each drain outlet within a set time period and compares the light reflectance at each drain outlet within the set time period with the initial light reflectance at each drain outlet to obtain the change in light reflectance at each drain outlet. By monitoring the light reflectance at each drain outlet within the set time period, it is possible to avoid incorrect light reflectance detection at a certain moment, which could lead to the self-cleaning function not starting in time or starting incorrectly. In addition, since the initial light reflectance is the light reflectance when the drain outlet is unblocked, by comparing the light reflectance at each drain outlet with the initial light reflectance, the trend of light reflectance change compared to the initial light reflectance can be obtained, thereby determining the blockage status of the drain outlet and improving the accuracy of determining the blockage status of each drain outlet.

[0045] Combination Figure 3 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, including:

[0046] S01, when the air conditioner is in operation, obtain the changes in light reflectivity at each drain outlet.

[0047] S31, when the air conditioner is in cooling operation, the blockage status of each drain outlet is determined based on the difference between the light reflectance of each drain outlet and the corresponding initial light reflectance.

[0048] S32, When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the blockage status of each drain outlet is determined based on the reflectance ratio of the light reflectance of each drain outlet to the corresponding initial light reflectance.

[0049] S03, the air conditioner controls the operation of the vibration module of each drain outlet according to the blockage of each drain outlet.

[0050] The changes in light reflectance at each drainage outlet include the difference between the light reflectance at each drainage outlet and the corresponding initial light reflectance, and the ratio of the light reflectance at each drainage outlet to the corresponding initial light reflectance.

[0051] The method for controlling an air conditioner provided in this disclosure determines the blockage status of each drain outlet when the air conditioner is in cooling mode based on the reflectance difference between the reflectance of each drain outlet and its corresponding initial reflectance. When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the blockage status of each drain outlet is determined based on the reflectance ratio of the reflectance of each drain outlet to its corresponding initial reflectance. Since the reflectance changes of each drain outlet differ depending on the operating state, in cooling mode, blockages are almost entirely caused by dust, resulting in minimal reflectance changes. Therefore, the reflectance difference between the reflectance of each drain outlet and its corresponding initial reflectance is used to determine the blockage status. In heating mode, blockages are primarily caused by icing or frost formation. Therefore, the reflectance ratio of each drain outlet to its corresponding initial reflectance is used to determine the blockage status, as it better reflects changes in reflectance compared to the reflectance difference. By using different methods to determine the blockage status of each drain outlet for different operating states, the accuracy of the blockage determination is improved.

[0052] Optionally, the air conditioner determines the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the reflectance difference between the light reflectance of each drain outlet and the corresponding initial light reflectance, including: the air conditioner acquiring the reflectance difference between the light reflectance of each drain outlet and the corresponding initial light reflectance; the air conditioner determining drain outlets with reflectance differences greater than or equal to a first threshold as being in a dust-clogged state; and the air conditioner determining drain outlets with reflectance differences less than the first threshold as being in an unclogged state.

[0053] Since optical parameters are affected by environmental factors, the first threshold can be determined based on environmental parameters, including weather information, such as cloudy, sunny or rainy days, illumination, and dust particulate information, such as particulate concentration.

[0054] In cooling mode, the outdoor unit's heat exchanger is in heat dissipation mode. Outside air carrying dust and other particles enters the outdoor unit through the heat exchanger, and some of these particles settle on the chassis and accumulate at the drain outlet, affecting the light reflectivity detected by the module. The air conditioner uses the difference between the light reflectivity of each drain outlet and its corresponding initial light reflectivity to determine the accumulation of dust particles at the drain outlet, thus determining the blockage status. Therefore, the air conditioner identifies drain outlets with a reflectivity difference greater than or equal to a first threshold as blocked by dust. Drain outlets with a reflectivity difference less than the first threshold are identified as unblocked. The difference in light reflectivity allows for accurate determination of the blockage status of the outdoor unit's drain outlets.

[0055] Optionally, the air conditioner determines the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the reflectance ratio of each drain outlet to the corresponding initial reflectance, including: the air conditioner acquiring the reflectance ratio of each drain outlet to the corresponding initial reflectance; the air conditioner identifying drain outlets with reflectance ratios within a first ratio range as being blocked by ash; the air conditioner identifying drain outlets with reflectance ratios within a second ratio range as being blocked by ice; and the air conditioner identifying drain outlets with reflectance ratios within a third ratio range as being blocked by frost; wherein the maximum value of the first ratio range is less than the minimum value of the second ratio range, and the maximum value of the second ratio range is less than the minimum value of the third ratio range.

[0056] Since optical parameters are affected by environmental factors, the first ratio range, the second ratio range, and the third ratio range can be determined based on environmental parameters, including weather information, such as cloudy, sunny, or rainy days, illumination, and dust particulate information, such as particulate concentration.

[0057] When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the outdoor unit's heat exchanger is in a cooling mode, allowing outside air carrying dust particles to enter the unit. Since the heat exchanger fins act as a cold source, water vapor in the air condenses into water droplets upon contact with them, flowing down the fins to the chassis and creating a water flow. This water flow affects the light reflectivity, causing changes in its intensity. Under the influence of the cooling effect of the outdoor heat exchanger and the low ambient temperature, this water flow may freeze or frost, further altering the light reflectivity. Therefore, by comparing the light reflectivity of each drain outlet with its initial reflectivity, the air conditioner can determine the degree of icing or frost formation at each drain outlet, and thus, the extent of blockage.

[0058] Specifically, if the difference between the current light reflectance of the drain outlet and the corresponding initial light reflectance exceeds a second threshold and persists for a first duration, the average light reflectance of the drain outlet within the first duration is recorded as the standard light reflectance, where the standard light reflectance is the light reflectance detected by the detection module when there is water flowing on the chassis. If, within a set duration, the difference between the light reflectance of the drain outlet and the standard light reflectance is less than a third threshold, it can be determined that the condensate water generated by the outdoor heat exchanger flows out along the chassis drain outlet, and the air conditioner determines that the drain outlet is not blocked. Within a set duration, the light reflectance of the drain outlet... If the difference between the reflectance and the standard reflectance is less than the third threshold and remains so for a second duration, and then decreases to the first percentage range of the initial reflectance, the drain outlet is determined to be in a dust blockage state. If it decreases to the second percentage range, the drain outlet is determined to be in an ice blockage state. If it decreases to the third percentage range, the drain outlet is determined to be in a frost blockage state. The first percentage range is less than the second percentage range, and the third percentage range is less than the third percentage range. The first percentage range can be 20%-30%, the second percentage range can be 60%-70%, and the third percentage range can be 80%-90%. Since optical parameters are affected by environmental factors, the second threshold, third threshold, first percentage range, second percentage range, and third percentage range can be determined based on environmental parameters, including weather information (e.g., cloudy, sunny, or rainy days), illumination, and dust particle information (e.g., particle concentration).

[0059] Light reflectivity primarily refers to ultraviolet reflectivity, and its efficiency is mainly affected by color, material, and purity. Lighter (whiter) colors and higher purity materials reflect solar radiation more effectively per unit area. Ice, once formed, is a solid with a smooth surface, primarily exhibiting specular reflection. Simultaneously, ice has high transparency and a high refractive index, meaning some solar radiation enters the ice and is refracted, increasing its absorption. Therefore, overall, ice's reflection is singular and relatively small in total. Snowflakes, when they fall to the ground, are relatively loose, with a higher air content between them. From a smaller unit area perspective, a snowflake can be considered a mirror reflecting solar radiation. A small portion of light passes through the snowflake, refracts multiple times between snowflakes, and reflects back to the snow surface, enhancing the reflection. Looking at a certain area of ​​fresh snow, its surface is "rougher" than ice, resulting in a larger diffuse reflection portion. Furthermore, as the area and thickness increase, its transparency disappears, meaning the refraction tends to vanish. The absorption of solar radiation by snow decreases, increasing the reflection portion. Dust particles, due to their color purity and spacing, have a strong ability to absorb light and a weak ability to reflect it. Therefore, by observing changes in light reflectivity, it is possible to determine whether a drain outlet is blocked by dust particles, frozen, or frosted.

[0060] Combination Figure 4As shown, this disclosure provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, including:

[0061] S01, when the air conditioner is in operation, obtain the changes in light reflectivity at each drain outlet.

[0062] S02, the air conditioner determines the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the change in light reflectivity at each drain outlet.

[0063] S41, the air conditioner determines the power corresponding to the blockage of each drain outlet according to the preset correspondence.

[0064] S42, the air conditioner controls the vibration module corresponding to each drain outlet to operate according to the power.

[0065] The degree of blockage at each drain outlet is positively correlated with the power of the vibration module at each drain outlet.

[0066] The air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment determines the power corresponding to the blockage of each drain outlet according to a preset correspondence, and controls the vibration module corresponding to each drain outlet to operate according to the power. For each drain outlet blockage, the corresponding vibration module is adjusted to the corresponding power to clean each drain outlet. This method achieves proper cleaning of the drain outlets while avoiding energy waste caused by excessive power and incomplete cleaning caused by insufficient power, thus improving the air conditioner's cleaning efficiency and enhancing the cleaning effect.

[0067] Combination Figure 5 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, including:

[0068] S01, when the air conditioner is in operation, obtain the changes in light reflectivity at each drain outlet.

[0069] S02, the air conditioner determines the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the change in light reflectivity at each drain outlet.

[0070] S03, the air conditioner controls the operation of the vibration module of each drain outlet according to the blockage of each drain outlet.

[0071] S51, when the light reflectivity of the drain outlet meets the preset conditions, the air conditioner controls the vibration module corresponding to the drain outlet that meets the preset conditions to shut down.

[0072] The method for controlling an air conditioner provided in this embodiment controls the vibration module corresponding to the drain outlet to shut down when the light reflectivity of the drain outlet meets preset conditions. This ensures the vibration module shuts down promptly, preventing energy waste. The preset conditions include: when the air conditioner is in cooling mode and the difference between the light reflectivity of the drain outlet and the initial light reflectivity is less than a first threshold for a preset duration, the corresponding vibration module is controlled to shut down; when the air conditioner is in heating mode and the difference between the light reflectivity of the drain outlet and the standard light reflectivity is less than a third threshold for a preset duration, the corresponding vibration module is controlled to shut down.

[0073] Optionally, the method for controlling the air conditioner further includes: the air conditioner determining whether there is freezing at the drain outlet based on changes in light reflectivity at the drain outlet. If freezing is present, the air conditioner activates the semiconductor heat sink and increases the speed of the circulation pump. If freezing is not present, the air conditioner adjusts the speed of the circulation pump based on the temperature of the aluminum substrate.

[0074] In this way, by observing changes in light reflectivity at the drain outlet, it can be determined whether the drain outlet is frozen. If freezing is present, the semiconductor heat sink is activated, and the circulation pump speed is increased to efficiently transfer heat to the outdoor unit chassis via the heat transfer medium in the heat transfer pipes, performing defrosting or de-icing. This prevents blockages caused by ice or frost buildup at the drain outlet, improving energy efficiency. If freezing is not present, the circulation pump speed is adjusted based on the temperature of the aluminum substrate. This allows for targeted adjustment of the flow rate of the heat transfer medium in the heat transfer pipes based on the overall temperature of the heating components, ensuring that the heat transfer efficiency of the heat transfer pipes matches the overall temperature of the heating components. This enables timely heat dissipation from the air conditioner's control box, guaranteeing stable operation and enhancing the air conditioner's versatility. Because the aluminum substrate is in contact with the heating element, the heat from the heating element can be evenly transferred to the semiconductor heat sink and the air-cooled radiator through the aluminum substrate. By placing the aluminum substrate between the semiconductor heat sink and the heating element, the direct contact between the semiconductor heat sink and the electrical components is avoided, which would otherwise result in poor heat exchange. This improves the heat exchange effect between the semiconductor heat sink and the heating element, and enhances the heat dissipation efficiency of the air conditioner's electrical control box. Furthermore, the dissipated heat is guided to the chassis through the heat transfer medium in the heat transfer pipe to defrost or defrost the drain outlet, avoiding blockage caused by ice or frost buildup at the drain outlet. This improves energy utilization and enhances the applicability of the air conditioner.

[0075] Optionally, the air conditioner determines whether the drain outlet is frozen based on changes in the light reflectivity at the drain outlet, including: the air conditioner detecting the light reflectivity at the drain outlet within a set time period; the air conditioner comparing the light reflectivity at the drain outlet within the set time period with the initial light reflectivity to obtain changes in the light reflectivity at the drain outlet; and the air conditioner determining whether the drain outlet is frozen based on these changes in light reflectivity.

[0076] The initial light reflectance is the light reflectance recorded when the outdoor unit's drain outlet is unobstructed. Each drain outlet of the outdoor unit has a corresponding initial light reflectance.

[0077] In this way, the air conditioner detects the light reflectivity at the drain outlet within a set time period and compares it with the initial light reflectivity to obtain the change in light reflectivity at the drain outlet. Finally, based on the change in light reflectivity at the drain outlet, it determines whether there is freezing at the drain outlet. By monitoring the change in light reflectivity at the drain outlet, the air conditioner can promptly detect whether there is ice or frost buildup at the drain outlet. This allows the air conditioner to transfer the dissipated heat to the chassis in a timely manner to defrost or remove ice from the drain outlet, preventing blockages, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring the normal operation of the air conditioner.

[0078] Optionally, the air conditioner determines whether there is freezing at the drain outlet based on changes in light reflectance at the drain outlet, including: when the air conditioner is in heating mode, obtaining the reflectance ratio of the light reflectance at the drain outlet within a set time period to the initial light reflectance. If the reflectance ratio is within the set range, the air conditioner determines that freezing has occurred.

[0079] In this way, when the air conditioner is in heating mode, it obtains the ratio of the light reflectance at the drain outlet to the initial light reflectance within a set time period. If the reflectance ratio is within the set range, freezing is detected. When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the outdoor unit's heat exchanger is in dissipation mode, and outside air carrying dust particles enters the outdoor unit through the heat exchanger. At this time, since the heat exchanger fins are the cold source, water vapor in the air condenses into water droplets upon contact with the fins and flows along the fins to the chassis, forming a water flow that affects the light reflectance, causing a change in reflectance. Under the influence of the cold air dissipated by the outdoor heat exchanger and the low ambient temperature, this water flow may freeze or frost, further changing the light reflectance. Therefore, by using the reflectance ratio of each drain outlet to the corresponding initial light reflectance, the air conditioner can determine the freezing or frost condition at each drain outlet, and thus determine the blockage status of the drain outlet.

[0080] Optionally, when there is no freezing phenomenon, the air conditioner adjusts the speed of the circulation pump body according to the temperature of the aluminum substrate, including: when there is no freezing phenomenon and the temperature of the aluminum substrate is less than or equal to a first temperature for a first duration, the air conditioner controls the semiconductor heat sink and the circulation pump body to shut down; when the temperature of the aluminum substrate is greater than the first temperature for a first duration, the air conditioner controls the semiconductor heat sink to shut down, and adjusts the speed of the circulation pump body according to the temperature of the aluminum substrate and the first temperature.

[0081] In this scenario, when the air conditioner is not freezing and the temperature of the aluminum substrate is less than or equal to a first temperature for a first duration, there is no issue of ice or frost forming at the drain outlet. Furthermore, the temperature of the air conditioner's control box is low and will not affect its normal operation. Therefore, the air conditioner controls the semiconductor heat sink and circulation pump to shut down, relying solely on the air-cooled radiator for passive cooling to maintain the control box temperature within the normal range. Conversely, when the temperature of the aluminum substrate is greater than the first temperature for a first duration, the temperature of the air conditioner's control box becomes too high, potentially affecting its normal operation. Therefore, the air conditioner controls the semiconductor heat sink to shut down and adjusts the circulation pump speed based on the aluminum substrate temperature and the first temperature. Since there is no issue of the drain outlet freezing, the semiconductor heat sink remains closed. Only the flow rate of the heat transfer medium in the heat transfer pipes needs to be adjusted based on the overall temperature of the heat-generating components. This ensures that the heat transfer efficiency of the heat transfer pipes matches the overall temperature of the heat-generating components, allowing the air conditioner's control box to dissipate heat promptly and guaranteeing stable operation of the air conditioner. Specifically, when the temperature T of the aluminum substrate is stably below 40°C, the semiconductor heat sink and the circulating pump are not working, and only the air-cooled radiator provides passive heat dissipation. When 60°C > T > 40°C and fluctuates stably within this range, the semiconductor heat sink is not working, and the circulating pump drives the heat transfer medium in the heat transfer pipe to circulate, thereby improving the heat dissipation capacity of the heat dissipation module and cooling the electrical control box at this time.

[0082] Optionally, the air conditioner adjusts the rotation speed of the circulation pump body according to the temperature of the aluminum substrate and the first temperature, including: the air conditioner calculating the temperature difference between the current temperature of the aluminum substrate and the first temperature; and the air conditioner adjusting the rotation speed of the circulation pump body according to the temperature difference.

[0083] In this way, the air conditioner calculates the temperature difference between the current temperature of the aluminum substrate and the first temperature, and adjusts the speed of the circulating pump accordingly. Since the temperature difference represents the current temperature of the control box, adjusting the speed of the circulating pump based on the temperature difference ensures that the heat conduction efficiency of the heat-conducting pipes matches the overall temperature of the heat-generating components, enabling the air conditioner's control box to dissipate heat in a timely manner and guaranteeing the stable operation of the air conditioner.

[0084] Optionally, the air conditioner adjusts the speed of the circulation pump based on the temperature difference, including: the air conditioner determining a target speed corresponding to the temperature difference based on a preset correspondence; and the air conditioner adjusting the speed of the circulation pump to the target speed; wherein the target speed is positively correlated with the temperature difference.

[0085] Thus, the larger the temperature difference, the higher the temperature of the air conditioner's electrical control box, the more severe the heat generation, and the greater the impact on the normal operation of the air conditioner. Therefore, the air conditioner determines the target speed corresponding to the temperature difference and adjusts the speed of the circulating pump to the target speed so that the heat dissipation capacity of the heat dissipation module matches the current temperature of the electrical control box, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency and ensuring the normal operation of the air conditioner.

[0086] Optionally, when the air conditioner is experiencing freezing, it controls the activation of the semiconductor heat sink and increases the speed of the circulation pump, including: when the air conditioner is experiencing freezing, it controls the activation of the semiconductor heat sink and increases the speed of the circulation pump to the maximum speed until the freezing disappears.

[0087] The process of determining that the air conditioner's freezing phenomenon has disappeared includes: when the difference between the current light reflectance of the drain outlet and the corresponding initial light reflectance exceeds a second threshold and continues for a first duration, the average light reflectance of the drain outlet within the first duration is recorded as the standard light reflectance, where the standard light reflectance is the light reflectance detected by the detection module when there is water flowing on the chassis; when the difference between the light reflectance of the drain outlet and the standard light reflectance is less than a third threshold within a set duration, it can be determined that the condensate water generated by the outdoor heat exchanger flows out along the chassis drain outlet, and the air conditioner determines that the freezing phenomenon at the drain outlet has disappeared.

[0088] The air conditioner cooling method provided in this embodiment controls the activation of the semiconductor heat sink and increases the speed of the circulation pump to its maximum speed when the air conditioner is experiencing freezing. As the air conditioner's heating capacity gradually increases, the heating components in the control box continuously heat up. By increasing the speed of the circulation pump to its maximum speed, the circulation speed of the heat-conducting medium driven by the circulation pump is increased. Furthermore, due to a temperature difference T1 between the two sides of the semiconductor heat sink, as the temperature of the heating components in the control box continuously increases, the temperature T on the aluminum substrate continuously increases. The temperature on the other side of the semiconductor heat sink, near the air-cooled radiator, becomes T+T1. At this time, the heat-conducting medium in the heat-conducting pipes is heated and circulated to the chassis to melt ice and snow from the chassis drain outlet.

[0089] Combination Figure 6As shown, this disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, including a processor 100 and a memory 101. Optionally, the apparatus may further include a communication interface 102 and a bus 103. The processor 100, communication interface 102, and memory 101 can communicate with each other via the bus 103. The communication interface 102 can be used for information transmission. The processor 100 can call logical instructions in the memory 101 to execute the air conditioner control method described in the above embodiment.

[0090] Furthermore, the logic instructions in the aforementioned memory 101 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0091] The memory 101, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of this disclosure. The processor 100 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 101, that is, it implements the method for air conditioner control in the above embodiments.

[0092] The memory 101 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 101 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0093] This disclosure provides an air conditioner, including drain outlets at different horizontal heights disposed on the outdoor unit chassis, a detection module for detecting the light reflectivity of each drain outlet, and a vibration module disposed at each drain outlet for generating vibration; as well as the aforementioned device for controlling the air conditioner.

[0094] This disclosure provides a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to perform the above-described method for controlling an air conditioner.

[0095] The aforementioned storage medium can be either transient or non-transient.

[0096] The technical solutions of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in this disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, including: 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, and other media capable of storing program code; it can also be a transient storage medium.

[0097] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of this disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, procedural, and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the terminology used in this application is for describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the claims. As used in the description of embodiments and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to equally include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the term “and / or” as used in this application means including one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations thereof. Additionally, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or "comprising" refer to the presence of stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, or apparatus that includes said element. In this document, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. For methods, products, etc., disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method section disclosed in the embodiments, the relevant parts can be referred to the description of the method section.

[0098] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0099] The methods and products (including but not limited to devices and equipment) disclosed in the embodiments herein can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units may be merely a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed units may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to implement this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0100] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings, the operations or steps corresponding to different blocks may also occur in a different order than disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. Each block in a block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram and / or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes drain outlets at different horizontal heights located on the outdoor unit chassis, a detection module for detecting the light reflectivity of each drain outlet, and a vibration module located at each drain outlet for generating vibration; the method includes: With the air conditioner in operation, the changes in light reflectivity at each drain outlet are obtained; The blockage status of each drain outlet is determined based on the change in light reflectivity at each drain outlet; wherein, under cooling operation, the blockage status of each drain outlet is determined based on the reflectivity difference between the light reflectivity of each drain outlet and the corresponding initial light reflectivity. When the system is in heating mode, the blockage status of each drain outlet is determined by the ratio of the light reflectance of each drain outlet to the corresponding initial light reflectance. The operation of the vibration module of each drain outlet is controlled according to the blockage status of each drain outlet.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acquisition of changes in light reflectivity at each drain outlet includes: Detect the light reflectance at each drain outlet within a set time period; The light reflectance at each drain outlet within the set time period is compared with the initial light reflectance at each drain outlet to obtain the change in light reflectance at each drain outlet.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The determination of the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the reflectance difference between the reflectance of each outlet and the corresponding initial reflectance includes: Obtain the reflectance difference between the light reflectance of each drainage outlet and the corresponding initial light reflectance; Drainage outlets with a reflectivity difference greater than or equal to a first threshold are identified as being blocked by ash layer. Drainage outlets with a reflectivity difference less than the first threshold are identified as being unblocked.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The determination of the blockage status of each drain outlet based on the reflectance ratio of each outlet to its corresponding initial reflectance includes: Obtain the reflectance ratio of each drainage outlet to its corresponding initial reflectance; Drainage outlets with reflectivity ratios within the first ratio range are identified as being blocked by ash layer. Drainage outlets whose reflectivity ratio falls within the second ratio range are identified as being in an ice-blocked state. Drainage outlets with reflectivity ratios falling within the third ratio range are identified as being in a frosted and blocked state. Wherein, the maximum value of the first ratio range is less than the minimum value of the second ratio range, and the maximum value of the second ratio range is less than the minimum value of the third ratio range.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The step of controlling the operation of the vibration module of each drain outlet according to the blockage status of each drain outlet includes: Based on a preset correspondence, determine the power corresponding to the blockage status of each drain outlet; According to the power, control the operation of the vibration module corresponding to each drainage outlet; The degree of blockage at each drain outlet is positively correlated with the power of the vibration module at each drain outlet.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, After controlling the operation of the vibration module of each drain outlet according to the blockage status of each drain outlet, the method further includes: When the light reflectivity of the drain outlet meets a preset condition, the vibration module corresponding to the drain outlet that meets the preset condition is shut down.

7. A device for controlling an air conditioner, comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions, characterized in that, The processor is configured to perform the method for controlling an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 when executing the program instructions.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, It includes drain outlets at different horizontal heights located on the outdoor unit chassis, a detection module for detecting the light reflectivity of each drain outlet, and a vibration module located at each drain outlet for generating vibration; and a device for controlling an air conditioner as described in claim 7.

9. A storage medium storing program instructions, characterized in that, When the program instructions are executed, they perform the method for controlling an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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