Air conditioner and control method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of air treatment equipment, in particular to an air conditioner and a control method thereof. The air conditioner comprises two air outlet columns arranged side by side, and an air outlet is formed on the front side of each air outlet column. The control method of the air conditioner comprises: automatically adjusting the air outlet direction of the two air outlet columns to the inner side; obtaining the user position of a user relative to the air conditioner, and obtaining the air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns to obtain an initial air outlet intersection area; and controlling the innermost air outlet direction of the two air outlet columns according to the user position and the initial air outlet intersection area, so as to change the air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns, obtain a current air outlet intersection area, and make the user located outside the current air outlet intersection area or at the edge of the current air outlet intersection area. The present application can change the air outlet intersection area according to the user position, avoid covering the user position with the air outlet intersection area, and effectively avoid the influence of the air outlet intersection area on the user experience.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of air treatment equipment, in particular to an air conditioner and a control method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] At present, a double-column air conditioner includes two air outlet columns arranged side by side. When the two air outlet columns simultaneously send air to the inside, the left and right air outlet areas may intersect. In the air outlet intersection area, the air volume may increase due to the simultaneous blowing of the left and right air, thereby increasing the air speed at the user position in the air outlet intersection area and intensifying the cold and hot feeling, and further deteriorating the user experience. SUMMARY

[0003] In view of the above problems, the present application is proposed to provide an air conditioner and a control method thereof to overcome the above problems or at least partially solve the above problems, aiming to solve the problem of excessive air speed at the user position in the air outlet intersection area of the air conditioner, so as to improve the user experience.

[0004] In one aspect, the present application provides a control method of an air conditioner, the air conditioner including two air outlet columns arranged side by side, each of the air outlet columns being provided with an air outlet on the front side;

[0005] The control method of the air conditioner includes:

[0006] in response to automatic air deflection of the two air outlet columns or air outlet to the inside of the two air outlet columns;

[0007] obtaining a user position of a user relative to the air conditioner, and obtaining an air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns to obtain an initial air outlet intersection area;

[0008] controlling inward limit air outlet directions of the two air outlet columns according to the user position and the initial air outlet intersection area to change the air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns to obtain a current air outlet intersection area, so that the user is located outside the current air outlet intersection area or at the edge of the current air outlet intersection area.

[0009] Optionally, the control of the air outlet directions of the two air outlet columns according to the user position and the initial air outlet intersection area includes:

[0010] in response to at least one user position being located in the initial air outlet intersection area, obtaining a base point according to at least one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area, and controlling the inward limit air outlet directions of the two air outlet columns so that the base point is located at a junction point on the last side of the current air outlet intersection area.

[0011] Optionally, the obtaining of the base point according to at least one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area includes:

[0012] determining a reference user position according to at least one of the user positions located in the initial air-outlet intersection area, and determining a base point according to the reference user position;

[0013] The method further comprises:

[0014] determining the reference user position according to one of the user positions located in the initial air-outlet intersection area;

[0015] determining the reference user position according to one of the user positions located in the initial air-outlet intersection area;

[0016] Optionally, the method further comprises:

[0017] taking the reference user position or a position in front of the reference user position by a preset distance as the base point.

[0018] Optionally, the method further comprises:

[0019] adjusting the swing speed of the two air-outlet columns so that the two air-outlet columns reach the corresponding inward limit air-outlet directions at the same time and then swing outwards at the same time.

[0020] Optionally, the air-outlet column that moves to the corresponding inward limit air-outlet direction first has an air-outlet direction of a first direction when it moves to the corresponding inward limit air-outlet direction.

[0021] The method further comprises:

[0022] controlling the air-outlet column that moves to the corresponding inward limit air-outlet direction first to stop swinging until the other air-outlet column moves to the corresponding inward limit air-outlet direction and then moves to the first direction.

[0023] Optionally, the method further comprises:

[0024] obtaining an indoor ambient temperature;

[0025] obtaining a user position of a user relative to the air conditioner in response to a difference between the indoor ambient temperature and a target temperature being less than a preset value.

[0026] Optionally, each of the air outlets is provided with a wind guide device.

[0027] The air guiding device comprises at least one air deflector for guiding air laterally.

[0028] Each air deflector is connected to a driving motor for driving the movement of the air deflector.

[0029] Optionally, a heat exchanger is arranged in each air outlet column.

[0030] The air conditioner further comprises a flow path control device configured to control the two heat exchangers to work simultaneously or only one of the heat exchangers to work.

[0031] The application further provides an air conditioner comprising a control device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a control program, and the control program is executed by the processor to implement the control method of the air conditioner according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0032] In the control method, the inward limit air outlet directions of the two air outlet columns are controlled according to the user position and the initial air outlet intersection area, the air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns can be changed, and the air outlet intersection area can avoid covering the user position. That is, the air outlet intersection area can be changed according to the user position, so that the influence of the air outlet intersection area on the user experience can be effectively avoided, and the purpose of improving the user experience is achieved. In addition, the control method has the beneficial effects of simple control program and easy execution.

[0033] Therefore, the above and other objects, advantages and features of the application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] Some specific embodiments of the application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar components or parts. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic flow chart of the control method of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the application;

[0036] Figure 2 is a schematic flow chart of the control method of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the application;

[0037] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vertical indoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the application;

[0038] Figure 4is a schematic cross-sectional view of a floor standing indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a floor standing indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a floor standing indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The control method of an air conditioner and the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6 The terms "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "lateral" and the like, indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships as shown in the drawings, and are merely used for the purpose of facilitating description and simplifying description, and do not indicate or imply that a device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0042] The terms "first", "second", and the like, are used only for descriptive purposes, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or a specific number of the technical features indicated. Thus, the definition of "first", "second", and the like, can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features, i.e., one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is at least two, for example, two, three, and the like, unless otherwise specifically limited. When a certain feature "includes or comprises" a certain or certain features, unless otherwise specifically described, it indicates that other features are not excluded and can further include other features.

[0043] Unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mount", "connect", "connection", "fixed", "coupled", and the like, should be interpreted broadly, for example, can be fixed connection, can also be detachable connection, or integral; can be mechanical connection, can also be electrical connection; can be directly connected, can also be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those of ordinary skill in the art should be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] Figure 1 is a schematic flow chart of a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application, and in conjunction with Figures 2-6 The present application provides a control method of an air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising two side-by-side air outlet columns 100, each air outlet column 100 being provided with an air outlet on the front side; the two air outlet columns 100 are respectively a first air outlet column and a second air outlet column.

[0045] The control method of the air conditioner comprises the following steps:

[0046] Step S11, automatically adjusting the air outlet direction of the two air outlet columns 100 in response to the user position.

[0047] Step S12, obtaining the user position relative to the air conditioner and the air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns 100 to obtain an initial air outlet intersection area 200.

[0048] Step S13, controlling the inward limit air outlet direction of the two air outlet columns 100 according to the user position and the initial air outlet intersection area 200 to change the air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns 100 to obtain a current air outlet intersection area, so that the user is located outside the current air outlet intersection area or at the edge of the current air outlet intersection area.

[0049] Specifically, the air conditioner comprises a vertical air conditioner indoor unit, and the vertical air conditioner indoor unit comprises two air outlet columns 100.

[0050] In this embodiment, the inward limit air outlet direction of the two air outlet columns 100 is controlled according to the user position and the initial air outlet intersection area 200, so that the air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns 100 can be changed to avoid covering the user position as much as possible. That is, the air outlet intersection area can be changed according to the user position, so that the influence of the air outlet intersection area on the user experience can be effectively avoided, and the purpose of improving the user experience is achieved. In addition, the control method has the beneficial effects of simple control program and easy execution.

[0051] In some embodiments of the present application, the control of the air outlet direction of the two air outlet columns 100 according to the user position and the current air outlet intersection area comprises: in response to at least one user position being located in the initial air outlet intersection area 200, obtaining a base point according to at least one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area 200, and controlling the inward limit air outlet direction of the two air outlet columns 100 so that the base point is located at the junction point of the last side of the current air outlet intersection area.

[0052] Specifically, when there is at least one user in the initial air outlet intersection area 200, a base point is obtained according to at least one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area 200, and the inward limit air outlet direction of the two air outlet columns 100 is controlled so that the base point is located at the junction point of the last side of the current air outlet intersection area.

[0053] In some alternative embodiments of the present application, the step of obtaining the base point according to at least one user position located in the initial air outflow intersection region comprises: determining a reference user position according to at least one user position located in the initial air outflow intersection region 200, and obtaining the base point according to the reference user position.

[0054] Further, as shown in some embodiments of the present application, the step of determining the reference user position according to at least one user position located in the initial air outflow intersection region 200 comprises: in response to one user position located in the initial air outflow intersection region 200, determining the user position located in the initial air outflow intersection region 200 as the reference user position. Figure 5

[0055] Specifically, when the initial air outflow intersection region 200 covers only one user position, the user position is determined as the reference user position, and the base point is obtained according to the reference user position.

[0056] As shown in some embodiments of the present application, the step of determining the reference user position according to at least one user position located in the initial air outflow intersection region 200 comprises: in response to at least two user positions located in the initial air outflow intersection region 200, determining the user position located in the initial air outflow intersection region 200 and farthest from the air conditioner in the front-rear direction as the reference user position. Figure 6

[0057] In the present embodiment, when the initial air outflow intersection region 200 covers at least two user positions, the user position located in the initial air outflow intersection region 200 and farthest from the air conditioner in the front-rear direction is determined as the reference user position, and the base point is obtained according to the reference user position. In this way, the current air outflow intersection region does not cover any user position, thereby improving the user experience of multiple users at the same time.

[0058] As shown in some embodiments of the present application, the step of obtaining the base point according to the reference user position comprises: taking the reference user position as the base point. Figure 5 Figure 6 Further, in some embodiments of the present application, the step of obtaining the base point according to the reference user position comprises: taking a preset distance in front of the reference user position as the base point.

[0059] In some alternative embodiments of the present application, the step of obtaining the base point according to the reference user position comprises: taking a preset distance in front of the reference user position as the base point.

[0060] Specifically, the preset distance in front of the reference user position refers to a distance of 0.01-0.05 m in front of the reference user position. For example, the preset distance is 0.05 m or 0.04 m or 0.03 mm or 0.02 mm or 0.01 mm. ​​​

[0061] In some embodiments of the present application, the base point is obtained according to at least one user position within the initial air outlet intersection region 200.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present application, the control method further comprises the following steps:

[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, in some embodiments of the present application, the control method of the air conditioner further comprises the following steps: Figure 2

[0064] Step S21: obtaining the indoor environment temperature.

[0065] Step S22: obtaining the user position of the user relative to the air conditioner in response to the difference between the indoor environment temperature and the target temperature being less than a preset value.

[0066] Specifically, the preset value is 1-3℃. For example, the preset value is 1℃, 2℃ or 3℃.

[0067] In this embodiment, when the difference between the indoor environment temperature and the target temperature is less than the preset value, it indicates that the indoor temperature will reach the target temperature, and the step of obtaining the user position of the user relative to the air conditioner is performed. When the difference between the indoor environment temperature and the target temperature is not less than the preset value, it indicates that the indoor temperature is far from reaching the target temperature, and the overall indoor temperature needs to be quickly adjusted. In this case, even if the initial air outlet intersection region 200 covers the user position, it will not have a great impact on the user position.

[0068] In some embodiments of the present application, each air outlet 110 is provided with a wind guide device 111; the wind guide device 111 comprises at least one wind guide plate for transverse air guiding.

[0069] For example, the wind guide device 111 comprises one wind guide plate or two wind guide plates or three wind guide plates or four wind guide plates.

[0070] Further, each wind guide plate is connected to a driving motor to drive the movement of each wind guide plate.

[0071] Preferably, the wind guide device 111 comprises two wind guide plates. The air conditioner has a total of four wind guide plates, which are respectively and individually controlled by driving motors.

[0072] ​In some embodiments of the present application, the control method of the air conditioner further comprises the following steps: when the two air outlet columns 100 automatically swing, the swing speed of the two air outlet columns 100 is adjusted so that the two air outlet columns 100 reach the corresponding inward limit air outlet direction at the same time and then swing outward at the same time.

[0073] In some embodiments of the present application, the control method of the air conditioner further comprises the following steps: when the two air outlet columns 100 automatically swing, the swing speed of the two air outlet columns 100 is adjusted so that the two air outlet columns 100 reach the corresponding inward limit air outlet direction at the same time and then swing outward at the same time.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present application, the control method of the air conditioner further comprises the following steps: when the two air outlet columns 100 automatically swing, the swing speed of the two air outlet columns 100 is adjusted so that the two air outlet columns 100 reach the corresponding inward limit air outlet direction at the same time and then swing outward at the same time.

[0075] For example, when the first air outlet column 100 runs to the inward limit air outlet direction, the deflector of the first air outlet column 100 rotates inward by a first angle; when the second air outlet column 100 runs to the inward limit air outlet direction, the deflector of the second air outlet column 100 rotates inward by a second angle; the first angle is smaller than the second angle. That is, the inward limit air outlet directions of the two air outlet columns 100 are asymmetric. In this case, the deflector of the first air outlet column 100 stops rotating when it rotates inward to the first angle, and the deflectors of the two air outlet columns 100 swing outward at the same time when the deflector of the second air outlet column 100 rotates inward to the second angle and then rotates outward to the first angle, so that the deflectors of the two air outlet columns 100 swing outward consistently.

[0076] In some embodiments of the present application, each air outlet column 100 is provided with a heat exchanger 120. The air conditioner further comprises a flow path control device configured to control the two heat exchangers 120 to work simultaneously or only one of the heat exchangers 120 to work.

[0077] Since each air outlet column 100 is provided with a heat exchanger 120, the two heat exchangers 120 are independent, and the two heat exchangers 120 can work simultaneously, can not work simultaneously, or only one of the heat exchangers 120 can work. Therefore, when only one of the two heat exchangers 120 works and the other does not work, one air outlet column 100 outputs heat exchange air and the other air outlet column 100 outputs non-heat exchange air or no air, so that the two air outlet columns 100 can realize differential air supply.

[0078] In the process of the air conditioner refrigeration or heating operation, when the indoor environment temperature meets the preset condition, one of the two heat exchangers 120 works and the other one does not work, and a single heat exchange air supply mode is run, so that one of the air outlet columns 100 outputs heat exchange air, and the other heat exchanger 120 does not output air or outputs non-heat exchange air (non-heat exchange air includes indoor air or fresh air). Thus, the heat exchange capacity (refrigeration capacity or heating capacity) of the air conditioner can be reduced, thereby avoiding the temperature stop of the air conditioner, and the user's comfortable air supply experience can be improved. Therefore, the present application can realize diversified air supply and meet the diversified use requirements of users.

[0079] In some embodiments of the present application, the user position in the indoor space is obtained by a radar sensor.

[0080] Specifically, the air conditioner comprises a radar sensor. The radar sensor is installed on the front side of the indoor unit of the vertical air conditioner.

[0081] In some optional embodiments of the present application, the user position relative to the air conditioner is obtained by an infrared device, a camera and / or a microphone.

[0082] In some optional embodiments of the present application, the user position in the indoor space is obtained by communication with a human body wearing device.

[0083] As shown in the drawings, Figures 3-4 In some optional embodiments of the present application, the air outlets are vertical strips. The air outlet of the vertical strip can avoid indoor temperature stratification, so that the indoor temperature is uniform in the up-down direction, and wide-area air supply can be easily realized.

[0084] Further, each air outlet column 100 is provided with a fan 130.

[0085] In some optional embodiments of the present application, the two heat exchangers 120 are connected in parallel. The flow path control device comprises a three-way valve. The three-way valve comprises three openings, namely a first opening, a second opening and a third opening. The first opening is connected with the four-way valve, and the second opening and the third opening are respectively connected with the two heat exchangers 120. By controlling the on-off of the second opening and the third opening of the three-way valve, the on-off of the working medium flow path in each heat exchanger 120 is controlled, and the action is stable and reliable. That is, by controlling the opening degree of the three-way valve, the refrigerant can flow to one air outlet column 100 or two air outlet columns 100 at the same time, so as to realize the function of double air outlet column 100 control.

[0086] In some embodiments of the present application, the air conditioner further comprises a throttling device. The throttling device is upstream of the heat exchanger 120. The throttling device is used to control the amount of working medium entering the heat exchanger 120. The throttling device generally comprises a capillary tube, a mechanical expansion valve, an electronic expansion valve or a solenoid valve, and preferably, the throttling device is a solenoid valve.

[0087] In some embodiments of the present application, the air conditioner further comprises a compressor, a condenser and a four-way valve between the three-way valve and the compressor in series, and the throttling device is connected to the condenser. The compressor comprises a liquid accumulator.

[0088] Further, in some alternative embodiments of the present application, the two air outlet columns 100 are symmetrically arranged about a vertical reference plane extending in front and back. The symmetrically arranged air outlet columns 100 make the appearance of the indoor unit of the air conditioner stable and accord with the aesthetic sense of Chinese people.

[0089] The two air outlets of the air conditioner are symmetrically arranged about a vertical reference plane extending in front and back.

[0090] As shown in Figure 3 , the two air outlet columns 100 are arranged at intervals to form an air guiding interval 300 between the two air outlet columns 100. When the two air outlet columns 100 blow air forward, the air in the air guiding interval 300 is driven to flow forward by the negative pressure, so that the air is mixed with the air blown by the two air outlet columns 100, and the temperature of the air is increased when the air conditioner is cooling, so that the air is not too "hard" and the effect of "soft" air is achieved.

[0091] In some alternative embodiments of the present application, the air guiding interval 300 only comprises an air inlet section and an air outlet section connected to each other. The width of the air outlet section gradually increases along the flow direction of the air flow. The width of the air inlet section gradually decreases along the flow direction of the air flow. The above arrangement of the air guiding interval 300 is beneficial to the air at the rear side of the air guiding interval 300 entering and is also beneficial to the air in the air guiding interval 300 flowing forward.

[0092] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application, and Figures 4-6 The present application further provides an air conditioner, which comprises a control device. The control device comprises a memory and a processor, and the memory stores a control program. The control program is executed by the processor to implement the control method of the air conditioner according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0093] It should be noted that the specific structure of the air conditioner comprises the structure of the air conditioner in any one of the above control method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0094] Many modifications and variations of the present application can be made in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be concluded that the application can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A control method of an air conditioner, characterized by, The air conditioner comprises two air outlet columns arranged side by side, and an air outlet is formed on the front side of each air outlet column. The control method of the air conditioner comprises: in response to automatic swing of the two air outlet columns or both air outlet columns being directed inward; acquiring a user position of a user relative to the air conditioner and an initial air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns to obtain an initial air outlet intersection area; controlling inward limit air outlet directions of the two air outlet columns according to the user position and the initial air outlet intersection area to change the air outlet intersection area of the two air outlet columns to obtain a current air outlet intersection area, so that the user is located outside the current air outlet intersection area or at the edge of the current air outlet intersection area.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling of the air outlet directions of the two air outlet columns according to the user position and the initial air outlet intersection area comprises: in response to at least one user position being located in the initial air outlet intersection area, acquiring a base point according to at least one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area, and controlling the inward limit air outlet directions of the two air outlet columns so that the base point is located at a junction point on the last side of the current air outlet intersection area.

3. The control method according to claim 2, wherein the acquiring of the base point according to at least one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area comprises: determining a reference user position according to at least one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area, and determining the base point according to the reference user position; the determining of the reference user position according to at least one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area comprises: in response to one user position being located in the initial air outlet intersection area, determining the one user position located in the initial air outlet intersection area as the reference user position; in response to at least two user positions being located in the initial air outlet intersection area, determining the user position farthest from the air conditioner in the front-back direction among the user positions located in the initial air outlet intersection area as the reference user position.

4. The control method according to claim 3, wherein the acquiring of the base point according to the reference user position comprises: taking the reference user position or a position at a preset distance in front of the reference user position as the base point.

5. The control method according to claim 1, characterized by, Further comprising: when the two air outlet columns are automatically swung, adjusting the swing speed of the two air outlet columns so that the two air outlet columns reach the corresponding inward limit air outlet directions at the same time and then swing outward at the same time.

6. The control method according to claim 1, wherein when the air outlet column corresponding to the corresponding inward limit air outlet direction moves to the corresponding inward limit air outlet direction, the air outlet direction of the other air outlet column at this time is a first direction; the control method further comprises: when the two air outlet columns are automatically swung, controlling the air outlet column corresponding to the corresponding inward limit air outlet direction to stop swinging until the other air outlet column moves to the corresponding inward limit air outlet direction and then moves to the first direction.

7. The control method according to claim 1, characterized by, Further comprising: acquiring an indoor environment temperature; In response to the difference between the indoor environment temperature and the target temperature being less than a preset value, a user position of a user relative to the air conditioner is acquired.

8. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the air outlets is provided with an air guide device; The air guide device comprises at least one air guide plate for transverse air guide; Each of the air guide plates is connected with a driving motor for driving movement of the air guide plate.

9. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the air outlet columns is provided with a heat exchanger; The air conditioner further comprises a flow path control device configured to control the two heat exchangers to work simultaneously or only one of the heat exchangers to work.

10. An air conditioner characterized by comprising: The control device comprises a memory and a processor, the memory storing a control program, the control program being executed by the processor to implement the control method of the air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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