Method and apparatus for controlling air conditioner, Air conditioner indoor unit, and Storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a method for controlling an air conditioner. The indoor unit of the air conditioner comprises a shell and a volute arranged in the shell. The volute is rotatable. The indoor unit further comprises a sealing baffle and a thrust assembly arranged in the shell. The sealing baffle is capable of being opened when the volute is rotated to a position, thereby separating the air inlet flow and the air outlet flow of the indoor unit. The thrust assembly is capable of applying a thrust to the sealing baffle when the sealing baffle is opened to a position. The method comprises: determining the position of the sealing baffle when the sealing baffle is opened to a position; determining a target state of the thrust assembly according to the position; wherein the target state comprises a thrust state and a no-thrust state; and controlling the operation of the thrust assembly according to the target state. In this way, the air inlet flow and the air outlet flow of the indoor unit can be separated, air flow disorder can be avoided, and the air supply effect can be improved. The application further discloses a device for controlling an air conditioner, an indoor unit of 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, apparatus, indoor unit, and storage medium for controlling an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] As user demands continue to increase, the structure of air conditioners is also constantly being optimized. To ensure optimal airflow in different operating modes and to meet users' varying airflow needs, some air conditioners now allow for the switching of air inlets and outlets. However, this switching can lead to air leakage.

[0003] A sealing structure for an air outlet of an air conditioner is disclosed in the related technology, including a housing, an air outlet component, and a seal; the air outlet component is telescopically mounted on the housing and communicates with the air duct of the air conditioner; the seal is rotatably or slidably mounted on the air outlet component; the seal is used to seal the gap between the air outlet component and the housing when the air outlet component is extended.

[0004] The aforementioned sealing structure seals the gap between the air outlet component and the housing when the air outlet component extends. It can be seen that it is suitable for retractable air outlet components, thus limiting its applicability. For non-retractable air outlets or components, it does not provide a seal, which will affect the air delivery effect. Summary of the Invention

[0005] 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.

[0006] This disclosure provides a method, apparatus, indoor unit, and storage medium for controlling an air conditioner to improve the air delivery effect of the air conditioner.

[0007] In some embodiments, the indoor unit of the air conditioner includes: a housing and a volute disposed within the housing; the volute is rotatable; the indoor unit further includes: a sealing baffle and a thrust assembly disposed within the housing; wherein the sealing baffle is operable to open when the volute is rotated to a certain position, separating the intake airflow and the exhaust airflow of the indoor unit; the thrust assembly is operable to apply thrust to the sealing baffle when the sealing baffle is opened to a certain position; the method includes: determining the position of the sealing baffle when the sealing baffle is opened to a certain position; determining a target state of the thrust assembly based on the position; wherein the target state includes: a thrust applied state and a no thrust state; and controlling the operation of the thrust assembly based on the target state.

[0008] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions, the processor being configured to execute the aforementioned method for controlling an air conditioner when the program instructions are executed.

[0009] In some embodiments, the indoor unit of the air conditioner includes: a housing and a volute disposed within the housing; the volute is rotatable; the indoor unit further includes: a sealing baffle disposed within the housing, the sealing baffle being openable when the volute is rotated into position to separate the intake airflow and exhaust airflow of the indoor unit; a thrust assembly disposed within the housing, the thrust assembly being capable of applying a thrust to the sealing baffle when the sealing baffle is opened into position; and, as described above, a device for controlling the air conditioner.

[0010] In some embodiments, the storage medium stores program instructions that, when executed, perform the aforementioned method for controlling an air conditioner.

[0011] The method, apparatus, indoor unit, and storage medium for controlling an air conditioner provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0012] When the sealing baffle is fully open, its exact position is determined. Based on this position, different target states for the thrust assembly are determined: either thrust applied or no thrust. The thrust assembly is then controlled according to these target states. This allows the determination of whether further thrust needs to be applied to the sealing baffle based on its position. Applying thrust to the sealing baffle via the thrust assembly ensures a tighter seal. This method separates the intake and exhaust airflow of the indoor unit, preventing airflow turbulence and improving the stability and uniformity of the exhaust airflow, thereby enhancing the air delivery effect.

[0013] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0014] 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:

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the position of the sealing baffle of the volute when the indoor unit is discharging air from the side, according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the retraction of the sealing baffle when the indoor unit switches air outlets according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the volute rotating when the indoor unit switches air outlets according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the positions of the volute and sealing baffle when the indoor unit is discharging air downwards, according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the indoor unit provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0020] Figure 6 This is provided by the embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 5 Enlarged view of section A;

[0021] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the position of the push component inside the indoor unit according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0022] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between a pushing component and a partition provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0023] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between another pushing component and a partition provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0024] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0025] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0026] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0027] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of a device for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0029] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of another device for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0030] Figure label:

[0031] 10. Shell; 11. Side air vent; 12. Downward air vent; 121. First edge; 122. Second edge; 20. Heat exchanger; 30. Centrifugal fan; 31. Volute; 311. Air outlet of volute; 32. Impeller; 33. Shaft; 40. Sealing baffle; 41. Elastic part; 50. Transmission assembly; 51. Partition plate; 52. Transmission plate; 60. Drive mechanism; 61. First motor; 62. Gear assembly; 621. First gear; 622. Second gear; 70. Second motor; 80. Thrust assembly; 81. Fixed base; 82. Third motor; 83. Linkage mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] Combination Figures 1 to 4As shown, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides an indoor air conditioning unit, including: a housing 10, a heat exchanger 20, a centrifugal fan 30, and a sealing baffle 40. The housing 10 has a side air outlet 11 and a bottom air outlet 12. The air inlet and outlet directions of the two can be switched. When the side air outlet 11 is used as an air outlet, the bottom air outlet 12 is used as an air inlet. When the side air outlet 11 is used as an air inlet, the bottom air outlet 12 is used as an air outlet. The heat exchanger 20, the centrifugal fan 30, and the sealing baffle 40 are all disposed inside the housing 10. Optionally, the heat exchanger 20 is disposed corresponding to the side air outlet 11.

[0038] The centrifugal fan 30 includes a volute 31, an impeller 32, and a shaft 33. The shaft 33 is rotatably connected to a support mounted on the inner wall of the housing 10. Figure 5 As shown, there are multiple and equal numbers of volutes 31 and impellers 32. Each volute 31 is arranged sequentially along the length of the housing 10. Each impeller 32 is correspondingly disposed within its respective volute 31. Each impeller 32 is fixedly fitted with a rotating shaft 33, which drives the impeller 32 to rotate.

[0039] The volute 31 is rotatable relative to the housing 10. The volute 31 has an air outlet 311, which faces different positions as the volute 31 rotates. Within the rotatable range of the volute 31, a third position and a fourth position are provided. For example... Figure 1 As shown, when the volute 31 rotates to the third position, the air outlet 311 of the volute 31 faces the side air outlet 11, thus forming a side air outlet. Figure 3 As shown, when the volute 31 rotates to the fourth position, the air outlet 311 of the volute 31 faces the downwind outlet 12, thus forming a downwind air outlet.

[0040] Optionally, combined Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the indoor unit also includes a transmission assembly 50 and a drive mechanism 60. The drive mechanism 60 drives the volute 31 to rotate via the transmission assembly 50.

[0041] Optionally, the transmission assembly 50 includes a partition 51 and two transmission plates 52. The partition 51 is arranged along the length of the volute 31 and is connected to the volute 31. The two transmission plates 52 are respectively disposed on both sides of the volute 31. The two sides of the partition 51 are respectively connected to the two transmission plates 52, thereby forming a whole with the two transmission plates 52 and the partition 51, and connecting the entire transmission assembly 50 to the volute 31. The partition 51 is provided with mounting holes. The air outlet 311 of the volute 31 is fitted into the mounting holes.

[0042] A drive mechanism 60 is provided on any one of the transmission plates 52. The drive mechanism 60 drives the corresponding transmission plate 52 to rotate, the transmission plate 52 drives the partition plate 51 to rotate, and the partition plate 51 drives the volute 31 to rotate. This achieves the control of the rotation of the volute 31. Optionally, the drive mechanism 60 includes: a first motor 61 and a gear assembly 62. The gear assembly 62 is connected to the transmission plate 52, and the first motor 61 is connected to the gear assembly 62. The first motor 61 drives the gear assembly 62 to rotate, and the gear assembly 62 drives the transmission plate 52 to rotate, thereby driving the partition plate 51 to rotate. The partition plate 51 then drives the volute 31 to rotate, thus achieving the control of the rotation of the volute 31. Optionally, the gear assembly 62 includes: a first gear 621 and a second gear 622. The first motor 61 drives the first gear 621 to rotate. The first gear 621 meshes with the second gear 622. The second gear 622 is connected to the transmission plate 52.

[0043] Optionally, there are two drive mechanisms 60. The two drive mechanisms 60 are respectively connected to two transmission plates 52 and drive synchronously. This ensures that the driving force on the partition plate 51 is more balanced, which is beneficial to the stable rotation of the volute 31.

[0044] See you again Figures 1 to 4 The downwind opening 12 has a first edge 121 and a second edge 122. The first edge 121 is closer to the side opening 11 than the second edge 122. That is, the first edge 121 is the left edge of the downwind opening 12, and the second edge 122 is the right edge of the downwind opening 12.

[0045] Combination Figures 7 to 9 As shown, the sealing baffle 40 is rotatably connected to the bottom side of the partition 51, and the connection position between the sealing baffle 40 and the partition 51 is located below the air outlet 311 of the volute 31. When the indoor unit of the air conditioner has not switched the air outlet direction, the sealing baffle 40 is in the open state. The bottom of the sealing baffle 40 abuts against the first edge 121 or the second edge 122 to form a seal and prevent air leakage. When the indoor unit of the air conditioner switches the air outlet direction, the sealing baffle 40 is controlled to rotate towards the side that is in contact with the volute 31 for retraction. After the sealing baffle 40 is retracted, the volute 31 is controlled to rotate. After the volute 31 rotates to its final position, the sealing baffle 40 is controlled to open again. Taking the side air outlet switching to bottom air outlet as an example: Figure 1 As shown, when the indoor unit is in side-discharge mode, the sealing baffle 40 is opened to the first position. When switched to bottom-discharge mode, as... Figure 2 As shown, the control sealing baffle 40 retracts. Then, as... Figure 3 As shown, control the rotation of the volute 31. When the air outlet 311 of the volute 31 aligns with the lower air outlet 12, control the volute 31 to stop rotating. Then, as shown... Figure 4As shown, the control sealing baffle 40 is opened to the second position. If the lower air outlet is switched to the side air outlet, the operation of the sealing baffle 40 and the volute 31 is a reverse process, which will not be described in detail here.

[0046] Optionally, a second motor 70 is provided at either end of the sealing baffle 40. The sealing baffle 40 is driven to open or retract by the forward and reverse rotation of the second motor 70.

[0047] Optionally, a second motor 70 is provided at both ends of the sealing baffle 40, and the two second motors 70 drive the two ends of the sealing baffle 40 synchronously to ensure the stability of the rotation of the sealing baffle 40.

[0048] Combination Figures 7 to 9 As shown, the indoor unit also includes a thrust assembly 80. The thrust assembly 80 is connected to the sealing baffle 40 to further push the sealing baffle 40 to move when it is opened to the correct position, thereby improving the sealing performance of the sealing baffle 40. Optionally, the thrust assembly 80 includes a fixed base 81, a third motor 82, and a linkage mechanism 83. The fixed base 81 is connected to the partition 51. The third motor 82 is fixed to the fixed base 81. One end of the linkage mechanism 83 is connected to the output shaft of the third motor 82. The other end of the linkage mechanism 83 is rotatably connected to the side of the sealing baffle 40 facing the volute 31, and the connection position is close to the bottom of the sealing baffle 40. After the sealing baffle 40 is opened, the third motor 82 is activated. The third motor 82 drives the linkage mechanism 83 to unfold. The linkage mechanism 83 pushes the bottom of the sealing baffle 40 further in the opening direction. The bottom side of the sealing baffle 40 is provided with a compressible, slowly rebounding elastic part 41, such as rubber or insulation cotton. Thus, as the bottom of the sealing baffle 40 moves further in its opening direction, the elastic part 41 is compressed, making the seal tighter. When it is necessary to control the sealing baffle 40 to retract, the third motor 82 is first stopped to eliminate the thrust exerted on the sealing baffle 40 by the linkage mechanism 83. Then, the second motor 70 is reversed to drive the sealing baffle 40 to retract.

[0049] Optionally, there are multiple thrust assemblies 80, arranged along the length of the sealing baffle 40. In this way, each thrust assembly 80 can apply thrust to different positions of the sealing baffle 40, thereby ensuring a tight seal at all positions on the bottom side of the sealing baffle 40.

[0050] At least one of the connection points between each linkage mechanism 83 and the sealing baffle 40 is equipped with a pressure sensor to detect whether the thrust of the linkage mechanism 83 on the sealing baffle 40 meets the requirements.

[0051] Optionally, the linkage mechanism 83 is formed by multiple connecting rods hinged together. The specific structure is prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0052] Combination Figure 10 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, a method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, comprising:

[0053] S1001, with the air conditioner in the sealed baffle in the correct position, determine the correct position of the sealed baffle.

[0054] S1002, the air conditioner determines the target state of the thrust assembly based on its position; the target state includes: thrust applied state and no thrust state.

[0055] S1003, the air conditioner controls the operation of the thrust assembly according to the target state.

[0056] When the air inlet and outlet directions of the indoor unit of the air conditioner are not switched, the sealing baffle is in the open state. Specifically, when the side air outlet is the air outlet, the volute is in the third position, and the sealing baffle is open and in the first position. When the sealing baffle is in the first position, the bottom of the sealing baffle abuts against the first edge of the lower air outlet. At this time, the sealing baffle separates the side air outlet and the lower air outlet, and also separates the air outlet of the volute from the lower air outlet. This separates the intake airflow and the exhaust airflow, preventing the exhaust air from leaking out of the lower air outlet. This avoids airflow turbulence, thus ensuring the air conditioning's air delivery effect. When the lower air outlet is the air outlet, the volute is in the fourth position, and the sealing baffle is in the second position. When the sealing baffle is in the second position, the side of the sealing baffle abuts against the second edge. At this time, the left side of the air outlet of the volute abuts against the first edge. This allows as much of the exhaust air from the volute as possible to be delivered out of the lower air outlet, reducing the amount of air flowing back into the casing. This avoids airflow turbulence, thus ensuring the air conditioning's air delivery effect.

[0057] When the air conditioner receives a command to switch the air inlet and outlet, or determines based on its own control logic that switching is necessary, it first controls the sealing baffle to retract to a position flush with the outer wall of the volute. This reduces the space occupied inside the casing and avoids interfering with the rotation of the volute. Then, it controls the volute to rotate. Once the volute has rotated to its correct position, it controls the sealing baffle to open. When the sealing baffle is fully open, its position is determined. As mentioned earlier, the position of the sealing baffle varies depending on the airflow direction. Based on the position of the sealing baffle, the target state of the thrust assembly is determined. The target state includes: a thrust-applied state and a thrust-free state. The thrust-applied state means that the thrust assembly applies thrust to the sealing baffle. The thrust-free state means that the thrust assembly does not apply thrust to the sealing baffle. Finally, based on the determined target state, the thrust assembly is controlled to operate.

[0058] In this embodiment, the specific position of the sealing baffle is determined when it is fully opened. Based on the different positions, different target states of the thrust assembly are determined, specifically, a thrust-applied state or a no-thrust state. Then, the thrust assembly is controlled to operate according to the target state. In this way, based on the sealing baffle's position, it is determined whether further thrust needs to be applied to the sealing baffle. When thrust is applied to the sealing baffle through the thrust assembly, the sealing baffle can be made to seal more tightly. In this way, the intake and exhaust airflows of the indoor unit can be separated, avoiding airflow turbulence and improving the stability and uniformity of the exhaust airflow, thereby improving the air delivery effect.

[0059] Combination Figure 11 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, including:

[0060] S1011, with the air conditioner's sealing baffle in place, determines the target airflow direction of the indoor unit.

[0061] S1021, the air conditioner determines the position of the sealing baffle according to the target air outlet direction.

[0062] S1002, the air conditioner determines the target state of the thrust assembly based on its position; the target state includes: thrust applied state and no thrust state.

[0063] S1003, the air conditioner controls the operation of the thrust assembly according to the target state.

[0064] As mentioned earlier, the air intake and exhaust directions of the indoor unit can be switched by controlling the rotation of the volute to different positions. The rotation of the volute is driven by the baffle. Furthermore, the sealing baffle is connected to the baffle, and the rotation of the baffle causes the sealing baffle to rotate as well. That is, the sealing baffle rotates along with the volute. Therefore, the position of the sealing baffle varies depending on the target air outlet direction of the indoor unit.

[0065] Specifically, if the target air outlet direction is side outlet, the sealing baffle is in its first position, meaning the bottom of the sealing baffle abuts against the first edge of the lower air outlet. If the target air outlet direction is bottom outlet, the sealing baffle is in its second position, meaning the side of the sealing baffle abuts against the second edge. In this case, the left side of the volute air outlet abuts against the first edge.

[0066] In this way, by taking advantage of the fact that the sealing baffle rotates with the volute and that the rotation of the volute is related to the target air outlet direction of the indoor unit, the positioning of the sealing baffle can be determined based on the target air outlet direction.

[0067] Combination Figure 12 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, including:

[0068] S1001, with the air conditioner in the sealed baffle in the correct position, determine the correct position of the sealed baffle.

[0069] S1012, when the air conditioner is in the first position, the target state of the thrust assembly is determined to be the state of applying thrust.

[0070] S1022, when the air conditioner is in the second position, the target state of the thrust assembly is determined to be a no-thrust state.

[0071] S1003, the air conditioner controls the operation of the thrust assembly according to the target state.

[0072] If the sealing baffle is in the first position, it means that the bottom of the sealing baffle is in contact with the first edge of the downwind vent. At this time, by applying a thrust to the sealing baffle, the elastic part at the bottom of the sealing baffle is compressed, thereby improving the degree of contact between the sealing baffle and the first edge, that is, improving the sealing degree of the sealing baffle. Therefore, the target state of the thrust assembly is determined to be the thrust application state.

[0073] If the sealing baffle is in the second position, it means that the side of the sealing baffle is in contact with the second edge. If a thrust is applied to the sealing baffle at this point, the thrust will act on the inner side of the sealing baffle, near the bottom. In addition to this thrust, the outer side of the sealing baffle will also be subjected to a force from the second edge. The directions of the thrust and the force from the second edge are approximately opposite. Under the action of these two forces, the sealing baffle is prone to deformation. Once the sealing baffle deforms, it will not only fail to improve the sealing effect but will actually worsen it. Therefore, the target state for the thrust assembly is determined to be the no-thrust state.

[0074] In this way, based on the different positions of the sealing baffle, the target state of the thrust assembly is determined, that is, whether it is necessary to control the thrust assembly to apply thrust to the sealing baffle. This ensures that thrust is applied to the sealing baffle under appropriate conditions to guarantee its effective sealing.

[0075] Combination Figure 13 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, including:

[0076] S1001, with the air conditioner in the sealed baffle in the correct position, determine the correct position of the sealed baffle.

[0077] S1002, the air conditioner determines the target state of the thrust assembly based on its position; the target state includes: thrust applied state and no thrust state.

[0078] S1013, the air conditioner determines the target thrust based on the pre-acquired air conditioner operating status.

[0079] S1023, the air conditioning control thrust assembly applies a target thrust to the sealing baffle.

[0080] When an air conditioner operates in different states, the airflow inside the indoor unit also varies. These different airflow states place varying demands on the sealing performance of the sealing baffle. Therefore, a target thrust is determined based on the pre-observed air conditioner operating state, and then the thrust assembly is controlled to apply this target thrust to the sealing baffle. This ensures that the thrust applied to the sealing baffle by the thrust assembly matches the air conditioner's operating state, thereby guaranteeing the sealing effect of the sealing baffle.

[0081] Optionally, in step S1013, the air conditioner determines the target thrust based on the pre-acquired air conditioner operating status, including:

[0082] When the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, the target thrust is determined as the first thrust.

[0083] When the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the target thrust is determined to be the second thrust.

[0084] The second thrust is less than the first thrust.

[0085] The air conditioner's operating status includes its operating mode. Specifically, the operating modes include cooling mode and heating mode. If the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, the target thrust is determined to be the first thrust F1. If the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the target thrust is determined to be the second thrust F2. The second thrust is less than the first thrust. This is because: when operating in heating mode, the airflow exiting the volute is hot air, which tends to rise. When operating in cooling mode, the airflow exiting the volute is cold air, which tends to sink. In other words, compared to hot air, cold air is more likely to sink and flow out from the lower air vent through the gap between the sealing baffle and the casing. Therefore, when operating in cooling mode, a higher sealing level of the sealing baffle is required, i.e., a greater thrust is needed to ensure effective sealing of the sealing baffle.

[0086] Optionally, in step S1013, the air conditioner determines the target thrust based on the pre-acquired air conditioner operating status, including:

[0087] The air conditioner obtains the operating level of the fan.

[0088] The air conditioner determines the target thrust based on the operating setting.

[0089] The higher the operating gear, the greater the target thrust.

[0090] The operating status of the casing includes the fan's operating speed. The target thrust is determined based on the operating speed of the internal fan. The higher the operating speed, the greater the target thrust. This is because a higher fan operating speed means greater air velocity and air volume. At this time, the pressure within the casing's air cavity will be greater, resulting in a greater force exerted by the airflow on the sealing baffle. Therefore, the sealing rating of the sealing baffle needs to be higher, i.e., a greater thrust is required. Thus, by matching an appropriate thrust based on the fan's operating speed, the effective sealing of the sealing baffle is ensured.

[0091] Optionally, when the operating setting is high fan speed, the target thrust is the first thrust. When the operating setting is medium fan speed, low fan speed, or silent mode, the target thrust is the second thrust. The second thrust is less than the first thrust.

[0092] Optionally, in step S1013, the air conditioner determines the target thrust based on the pre-acquired air conditioner operating status, including:

[0093] The air conditioner determines the target thrust based on its operating mode.

[0094] The air conditioner adjusts the target thrust according to the operating speed of the fan.

[0095] First, determine the target thrust based on the air conditioner's operating mode. If the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the target thrust is determined as the first thrust. If the air conditioner is in heating mode, the target thrust is determined as the second thrust. The second thrust is less than the first thrust. The specific reasons are explained above and will not be repeated here.

[0096] Then, the target thrust is adjusted according to the operating speed of the wind turbine. The higher the operating speed, the larger the adjustment value. For details, please refer to the previous text, which will not be repeated here.

[0097] Optionally, when operating in cooling mode, the target thrust is the first thrust. In this case, if the operating setting is medium, low, or silent, the correction value is zero, meaning the target thrust remains the first thrust. If the operating setting is high, the target thrust is corrected to the third thrust F3. The third thrust is greater than the first thrust.

[0098] When operating in heating mode, the target thrust is the second thrust. If the operating setting is medium, low, or silent, the correction value is zero, meaning the target thrust remains the second thrust. If the operating setting is high, the target thrust is corrected to the fourth thrust, F4. The fourth thrust is greater than the second thrust.

[0099] Optionally, the fourth thrust is greater than the first thrust and less than the third thrust, that is, F2<F1<F4<F3. This is because airflow sedimentation is a slow process, while the increase of the air damper has a rapid effect on the wind speed. In other words, the sealing level of the sealing baffle is more sensitive to the increase of the air damper. Therefore, the required sealing level when the air conditioner operates in heating mode at a high air damper is higher than that when the air conditioner operates in cooling mode at medium, low, and silent dampers, that is, the fourth thrust is greater than the first thrust.

[0100] In this way, the basic target thrust is first determined based on the operation mode of the air conditioner, and then the target thrust is corrected based on the operating air damper of the fan, so as to determine the final thrust to be applied to the sealing baffle. This allows the thrust to match both the airflow temperature and speed, thereby effectively improving the sealing effect of the sealing baffle.

[0101] Optionally, step S1023, where the air conditioner controls the thrust assembly to apply a target thrust to the sealing baffle, comprises:

[0102] The air conditioner controls the starting of the motor, so that the motor drives the connecting rod mechanism to push the sealing baffle.

[0103] Until the thrust reaches the target thrust, the air conditioner controls the motor to output a constant torque.

[0104] As can be seen from the foregoing, the output torque of the third motor can drive the connecting rod mechanism to expand. During the expansion process, the connecting rod mechanism applies thrust to the sealing baffle, thereby pushing the sealing baffle. Therefore, when controlling the thrust assembly to apply a target thrust to the sealing baffle, the motor is first controlled to start, and the torque output by the motor is controlled to increase gradually. The magnitude of the thrust is obtained in real time through the pressure sensor. Until the thrust is obtained to reach the target thrust, the torque output by the motor is controlled to remain unchanged at the current torque. In this way, the thrust applied by the thrust assembly to the sealing baffle can reach and stabilize at the target thrust.

[0105] Combined with Figure 14 as shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, comprising: a first determination module 141, a second determination module 142, and a control module 143. The first determination module 141 is configured to determine the in-position position of the sealing baffle when the sealing baffle is opened in place. The second determination module 142 is configured to determine the target state of the thrust assembly according to the in-position position; wherein the target state includes a thrust applying state and a no-thrust state. The control module 143 is configured to control the operation of the thrust assembly according to the target state.

[0106] The device for controlling an air conditioner provided in this embodiment determines the specific position of the sealing baffle when it is fully opened. Based on the different positions, different target states of the thrust assembly are determined, specifically, a thrust-applied state or a no-thrust state. The thrust assembly is then controlled to operate according to the target state. In this way, based on the sealing baffle's position, it is determined whether further thrust needs to be applied to the sealing baffle. When thrust is applied to the sealing baffle through the thrust assembly, the sealing baffle can be made to seal more tightly. In this way, the intake and exhaust airflows of the indoor unit can be separated, avoiding airflow turbulence and improving the stability and uniformity of the exhaust airflow, thereby improving the air delivery effect.

[0107] Combination Figure 15 As shown, this disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, including a processor 150 and a memory 151. Optionally, the apparatus may further include a communication interface 152 and a bus 153. The processor 150, communication interface 152, and memory 151 can communicate with each other via the bus 153. The communication interface 152 can be used for information transmission. The processor 150 can call logical instructions in the memory 151 to execute the method for controlling the air conditioner described in the above embodiment.

[0108] Furthermore, the logic instructions in the aforementioned memory 151 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0109] The memory 151, 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 150 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 151, that is, it implements the method for controlling the air conditioner in the above embodiments.

[0110] The memory 151 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 151 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0111] This disclosure provides an indoor air conditioning unit that includes the aforementioned device for controlling the air conditioner.

[0112] This disclosure provides a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to perform the above-described method for controlling an air conditioner.

[0113] The aforementioned storage medium can be a transient computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0114] 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.

[0115] 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.

[0116] 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.

[0117] 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, wherein the indoor unit of the air conditioner comprises: The indoor unit comprises a housing and a volute disposed within the housing; characterized in that the housing has a side air vent and a down air vent, the down air vent having opposing first and second edges, the first edge being closer to the side air vent than the second edge; the volute is rotatable to a third position and a fourth position; the indoor unit further comprises: a sealing baffle and a thrust assembly disposed within the housing, the thrust assembly being rotatably connected to the side of the sealing baffle facing the volute, and the connection position being close to the bottom of the sealing baffle; wherein the sealing baffle is rotatable to open to a first position when the volute is rotated to the third position, and to open to a second position when the volute is rotated to the fourth position, to separate the intake airflow and exhaust airflow of the indoor unit; and, when the sealing baffle is in the first position, the bottom of the sealing baffle abuts against the first edge; when the sealing baffle is in the second position, the side of the sealing baffle abuts against the second edge; The method includes: When the sealing baffle is fully opened, determine the position of the sealing baffle. Based on the positioning position, the target state of the thrust assembly is determined; wherein, when the positioning position is the first position, the target state of the thrust assembly is determined to be a thrust-applied state; when the positioning position is the second position, the target state of the thrust assembly is determined to be a thrust-free state. The operation of the thrust assembly is controlled according to the target state.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, By controlling the rotation of the volute, the airflow direction of the indoor unit can be switched; determining the position of the sealing baffle includes: Determine the target air outlet direction of the indoor unit; Determine the positioning of the sealing baffle based on the target air outlet direction.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Determining the position of the sealing baffle according to the target air outlet direction includes: When the target air outlet direction is side air outlet, the first position of the sealing baffle is determined; When the target air outlet direction is downward, the positioning position of the sealing baffle is determined as the second position.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The target state is the state of applying thrust; controlling the operation of the thrust assembly includes: Determine the target thrust based on the pre-acquired air conditioning operating status; The thrust assembly is controlled to apply a target thrust to the sealing baffle.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The air conditioner's operating status includes: air conditioner operating in cooling mode and air conditioner operating in heating mode; determining the target thrust based on the pre-acquired air conditioner operating status includes: When the air conditioner is running in cooling mode The target thrust is determined as the first thrust; When the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the target thrust is determined to be the second thrust; The second thrust is less than the first thrust.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The thrust assembly includes a motor and a linkage mechanism, one end of which is connected to the sealing baffle, and the other end is connected to the power output shaft of the motor; controlling the thrust assembly to apply a target thrust to the sealing baffle includes: Control the motor to start, so that the motor drives the linkage mechanism to push the sealing baffle; Until the thrust reaches the target thrust, the motor is controlled to output a constant torque.

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, when executing the program instructions, perform the method for controlling an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. An indoor unit for an air conditioner, comprising: A housing and a volute disposed within the housing; characterized in that, The volute is capable of rotation; The indoor unit also includes: A sealing baffle is disposed inside the housing. The sealing baffle can be opened when the volute is rotated into position to separate the air intake airflow and the air exhaust airflow of the indoor unit. A thrust assembly, disposed within the housing, is capable of applying a thrust to the sealing baffle when the sealing baffle is in the opened position; and, The 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 the air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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