Air conditioner sterilization control method based on image recognition

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of air conditioner degerming, and provides an air conditioner degerming control method based on image recognition, the air conditioner degerming control method is applied to an air conditioner, and the air conditioner comprises an image recognition device and a degerming device. The air conditioner sterilization control method comprises the following steps that S1, an image recognition device conducts mold recognition on the indoor space based on mold characteristics, and after it is confirmed that mold exists in the indoor space, a sterilization instruction is sent to a sterilization device; s2, the degerming device receives the degerming instruction, and dehumidification operation and degerming operation are executed indoors according to the degerming instruction; and S3, on the basis of the sterilization operation effect, further sterilization operation and / or dehumidification operation are / is carried out in the room, and mold characteristics are increased or decreased. The invention aims to monitor the existence of indoor mildew in real time, send a sterilization instruction according to the characteristics of the mildew, and automatically start dehumidification and sterilization operations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air conditioner sterilization technology, and particularly to an air conditioner sterilization control method based on image recognition. Background Art

[0002] With the improvement of modern living standards, people pay more and more attention to the comfort and health of the living environment. Indoor air quality, humidity control, and sanitation cleaning issues have become the focus of attention. Especially under humid environmental conditions, the growth of mold has become a common indoor pollution problem, bringing a lot of troubles to people's lives. Mold not only affects the beauty of the living environment but may also cause health problems such as allergies and respiratory diseases. Therefore, how to effectively prevent and remove indoor mold has become a research hotspot. Most of the existing mold removal devices rely on manual intervention or single humidity control, lacking an automated and intelligent precise monitoring and adjustment mechanism. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Aiming at the above defects, the purpose of the present invention is to propose an air conditioner sterilization control method based on image recognition, aiming to monitor the presence of indoor mold in real time, and send a sterilization instruction according to the mold characteristics to automatically start the dehumidification and sterilization operations.

[0004] To achieve this purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] An air conditioner sterilization control method, the air conditioner sterilization control method is applied to an air conditioner, the air conditioner includes an image recognition device and a sterilization device, and the air conditioner sterilization control method includes the following steps:

[0006] S1: The image recognition device performs mold recognition on the indoor based on the mold characteristics. After confirming the presence of mold indoors, it sends a sterilization instruction to the sterilization device;

[0007] S2: The sterilization device receives the sterilization instruction and performs dehumidification and sterilization operations on the indoor according to the sterilization instruction;

[0008] S3: Based on the effect of the sterilization operation, further sterilization operation and / or dehumidification operation are performed on the indoor, and the mold characteristics are increased or decreased.

[0009] Preferably, the mold characteristics include color characteristics, texture characteristics, and shape characteristics.

[0010] Preferably, it further includes: obtaining a first image of the indoor where the current air conditioner is located;

[0011] When the air conditioner is in an idle state, the sterilization instruction is automatically generated. After the sterilization device receives the sterilization instruction, it performs a sterilization operation on the indoor where the air conditioner is located within the first time length;

[0012] Record the second image of the room where the air conditioner is located after the disinfection operation, compare the first image and the second image, and record the areas with changes in the second image;

[0013] Adjust the mold characteristics based on the characteristics of the areas with changes in the second image.

[0014] Preferably, during the execution of the disinfection operation, it further includes:

[0015] Record the second time length from the start of the disinfection operation until the mold is completely eliminated;

[0016] Record the first disinfection intensity and mold characteristics of the disinfection device during the execution of the disinfection operation. When the same mold characteristics are recognized by the image recognition device next time, control the disinfection device to perform the disinfection operation at the first disinfection intensity for the second time length.

[0017] Preferably, the dehumidification operation and disinfection operation on the room according to the disinfection instruction include:

[0018] Obtain the humidity value of the current room where the air conditioner is located;

[0019] Calculate the duration of the disinfection operation based on the mold characteristics;

[0020] Compare the humidity value with the preset comfortable humidity range. If the humidity value is higher than the maximum value of the comfortable humidity range, perform a dehumidification operation on the current room where the air conditioner is located until the humidity value of the current room where the air conditioner is located is not higher than the median value of the comfortable humidity range. Subsequently, the disinfection device performs the disinfection operation within the duration;

[0021] If the humidity value is not higher than the maximum value of the comfortable humidity range, the disinfection device directly performs the disinfection operation within the duration.

[0022] Furthermore, based on the effect of the disinfection operation, further disinfection operation and / or dehumidification operation on the room include:

[0023] After the disinfection device performs the disinfection operation within the duration, the image recognition device performs mold recognition on the room based on the mold characteristics;

[0024] If the recognition result is that there is still mold in the room, extend the old duration to obtain a new duration;

[0025] The disinfection device performs the disinfection operation within the new duration, and uses the new duration as the duration of the disinfection operation under the same mold characteristics.

[0026] Preferably, if mold is still detected in the room after further sterilization operations and / or dehumidification operations on the room based on the effect of the sterilization operation within a preset number of times, the following steps are performed:

[0027] Mark the positions where mold still exists after performing the sterilization operation for the preset number of times to obtain a mold mark set;

[0028] Stepped up the sterilization intensity on the basis of the previous sterilization intensity, and perform fixed-point sterilization operations on each position in the mold mark set according to the increased sterilization intensity;

[0029] Send a manual sterilization reminder message to the user in combination with the mold mark set.

[0030] Preferably, the image recognition device further includes identifying indoor users and recording the positions where users are active frequently;

[0031] When the user turns on the interval sterilization mode of the air conditioner, after every preset sterilization interval:

[0032] Combine the positions where the user is active frequently to obtain sterilization areas to be processed with different sizes;

[0033] Calculate the sterilization time corresponding to each sterilization area to be processed based on the size of the sterilization area to be processed, and perform area fixed-point sterilization operations on each sterilization area to be processed within the corresponding sterilization time.

[0034] Preferably, before performing the dehumidification operation and the sterilization operation on the room according to the sterilization instruction in step S2, the air conditioner interior is sterilized according to the sterilization instruction.

[0035] Preferably, let one or more positions where the mold is detected by the image recognition device in step S1 be a first position set;

[0036] In step S3, based on the effect of the sterilization operation, further sterilization operations and / or dehumidification operations are performed on the room, and increasing or decreasing the mold characteristics includes:

[0037] If after performing a number of sterilization operations, there are positions in the first position set that have not changed or still show some mold characteristics after changing, input the mold characteristics at the unchanged positions and the some mold characteristics still shown after changing in the first position set into the image recognition device, and the image recognition device adjusts the mold characteristics.

[0038] One of the above technical solutions has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0039] By integrating intelligent image recognition, humidity control, and sterilization devices, the present invention can automatically identify indoor mold and perform precise sterilization. It uses image recognition technology to identify the characteristics of mold and automatically starts dehumidification and sterilization operations after confirming the presence of mold, effectively inhibiting the growth of mold and removing mold spores. After the sterilization operation, it evaluates and adjusts the operation intensity in real time according to the effect to ensure that the mold problem is continuously and effectively controlled. By dynamically monitoring humidity changes, it optimizes energy consumption and avoids excessive dehumidification or sterilization. Combining with the user's activity frequency, it performs targeted sterilization on key areas to improve the sterilization efficiency. This not only improves the accuracy and efficiency of mold removal but also ensures environmental protection and energy conservation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only the embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on the provided drawings.

[0041] Figure 1 It is a flowchart of the air conditioner sterilization control method based on image recognition provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] The following will describe the embodiments of the present invention in detail. The examples of the embodiments are shown in the drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements or elements with the same or similar functions from beginning to end. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0043] In the present invention, the term "comprising", "including" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article or device comprising a series of elements not only includes those elements but also includes other elements not expressly listed, or further includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the statement "comprising a..." does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or device comprising the element.

[0044] With the improvement of modern living standards, people pay more and more attention to the comfort and health of the living environment. Indoor air quality, humidity control, and sanitation issues have become the focus of attention. Especially in humid environmental conditions, the growth of mold has become a common indoor pollution problem, bringing a lot of troubles to people's lives. Mold not only affects the beauty of the living environment but also may cause health problems such as allergies and respiratory diseases. Therefore, how to effectively prevent and remove indoor mold has become a research hotspot. Most of the existing mold removal devices rely on manual intervention or single humidity control, lacking an automated and intelligent precise monitoring and adjustment mechanism.

[0045] Therefore, an air conditioner sterilization control method based on image recognition is proposed. As Figure 1 shown, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner sterilization control method is applied to an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an image recognition device and a sterilization device. The air conditioner sterilization control method includes the following steps:

[0046] S1: The image recognition device performs mold recognition on the indoor environment based on mold characteristics. After confirming the presence of mold indoors, it sends a sterilization instruction to the sterilization device;

[0047] S2: The sterilization device receives the sterilization instruction and performs dehumidification and sterilization operations on the indoor environment according to the sterilization instruction;

[0048] S3: Based on the effect of the sterilization operation, further sterilization and / or dehumidification operations are performed on the indoor environment, and the mold characteristics are increased or decreased.

[0049] The goal of the image recognition device is to identify indoor mold. Therefore, the image recognition device needs to be able to clearly capture the entire indoor image information in the air conditioner. Its installation position on the air conditioner can be the front panel area of the air conditioner. Installing the image recognition device near the front panel or air outlet of the air conditioner can directly scan the area that the air conditioner can blow to, which can ensure the position of mold recognition; the image recognition device can also be used as an independent module to cooperate with the air conditioner. By installing a camera module outside the air conditioner, on the ceiling or wall of the room, it can ensure that the device can scan the entire room without obstruction and obtain a wider-angle image information.

[0050] The purpose of the sterilization device is to eliminate mold spores in the air and directly treat the wall surfaces where mold grows. The installation position of the sterilization device should ensure that it can effectively cover the air flow area of the air conditioner and can sufficiently clean the indoor air. Its installation position can be inside the air conditioner. The sterilization device can be an ultraviolet lamp (UV-C). The ultraviolet sterilization lamp can be installed in the internal air circulation area of the air conditioner, especially near the air inlet or outlet. These areas are where the air flow is the strongest, which can maximally ensure that mold spores in the air are eliminated by ultraviolet irradiation. The sterilization device can also be an anion generator. Anions can inhibit the growth of molds, bacteria, and other microorganisms. Anions have a certain antibacterial effect by destroying the cell walls of microorganisms and interfering with their metabolic processes.

[0051] In step S1, the image recognition device collects indoor image data and uses computer vision and deep learning algorithms to analyze the mold characteristics in the images. These mold characteristics may include the shape, texture, color, and reflection differences under light conditions of the mold. The steps of image recognition can be to regularly scan the indoor area using a camera or an infrared sensor to obtain images, and perform preprocessing steps such as noise removal, grayscale conversion, and contrast adjustment on the images to more clearly display the mold characteristics. Subsequently, machine learning algorithms (such as the convolutional neural network CNN) are used to extract features from the images, extract features such as the color and texture of the mold, match the extracted features with the known mold characteristics in the database, and determine whether the object in the image is a mold. When it is confirmed that mold exists, a sterilization instruction is sent to the sterilization device to initiate subsequent dehumidification and / or sterilization operations.

[0052] In step S2, after receiving the sterilization instruction sent by the image recognition device, the sterilization device makes appropriate adjustments to the indoor environment mainly in two ways: dehumidification and sterilization. The temperature and humidity conditions for mold growth usually require relatively high humidity (usually 65%-80% RH). When the humidity is reduced to a certain range (for example, below 60% RH), mold can no longer grow. The dehumidification function of the air conditioner reduces the moisture content in the air through cooling or heat exchange technology to achieve the effect of reducing humidity. The evaporator inside the air conditioner absorbs the heat in the indoor air and cools the air, causing the water vapor in the air to condense into water droplets and be discharged through the drain pipe, thereby reducing the air humidity. In this way, the growth of mold can be effectively inhibited. The sterilization operation can kill mold spores in the air through physical or chemical methods. Ultraviolet (UV) and air purification technology are two common sterilization methods. Among them, ultraviolet sterilization is for fixed-point sterilization, and air purification technology is for large-scale sterilization. Their applicable scenarios are different.

[0053] After performing dehumidification and sterilization operations, the air conditioner will evaluate the sterilization effect to determine whether further adjustment or continuation of the operation is required. The image recognition device scans the room again to confirm the reduction of mold. If the mold count has not been effectively reduced, the ultraviolet irradiation time or air purification frequency needs to be increased. If the reduction of mold is significant, the dehumidification and sterilization intensity can be reduced during the next sterilization to avoid over-treatment. If the mold has not been significantly reduced, the dehumidification frequency or ultraviolet irradiation time can be increased during the next sterilization until the mold is effectively controlled. At the same time, if the mold has only been reduced after multiple sterilization operations, the mold is relatively stubborn, and the characteristics of the mold can be marked. When the mold is recognized again next time, the sterilization intensity and time can be directly increased. Or after multiple sterilization operations, if the position of the mold has not changed, it is considered that there is no mold at that place, and the characteristics of that place are input into the image recognition device to prevent the image recognition device from recognizing this as mold again next time. The image recognition device can be trained and improved to improve the accuracy of mold recognition.

[0054] Through the combination of intelligent image recognition, humidity control, and sterilization devices, the present invention can automatically identify indoor mold and perform precise sterilization; identify the characteristics of mold through image recognition technology, and automatically start dehumidification and sterilization operations after confirming the presence of mold, effectively inhibiting the growth of mold and removing mold spores. After the sterilization operation, the operation intensity is evaluated and adjusted in real time according to the effect to ensure that the mold problem is continuously and effectively controlled; by dynamically monitoring humidity changes, energy consumption is optimized to avoid over-dehumidification or sterilization; combined with the user's activity frequency, fixed-point sterilization is performed on key areas to improve the sterilization efficiency. The present invention can not only improve the accuracy and efficiency of mold removal, but also ensure environmental protection and energy conservation, meeting the needs of modern families for a healthy, comfortable, and intelligent living environment.

[0055] Preferably, the mold characteristics include color characteristics, texture characteristics, and shape characteristics.

[0056] Among them, molds usually exhibit specific colors, such as green, black, white, or yellow, etc. Color is one of the most intuitive and distinguishable features of molds. Especially in indoor environments, molds often present different hues due to different growth conditions. Therefore, color features can provide preliminary clues to help the image recognition device quickly locate and identify the presence of molds. The surface of molds usually has certain textures, showing irregular spots, cell structures, or other biofilm-like features. Textures can reflect the microscopic structures and morphological characteristics during the growth of molds, which is very important for distinguishing molds from other surface contaminants (such as dust, oil stains, etc.). Through texture analysis, the image recognition device can more accurately determine whether it is a mold. The growth of molds usually presents specific morphologies, such as circular, patchy, or radially expanding. By analyzing the shape features, it can be judged whether the mold conforms to the growth pattern, further improving the accuracy of recognition. In addition, the morphological characteristics of mold growth are closely related to the surface type and environmental conditions, and the changes in shape features can reflect different growth stages of molds.

[0057] Preferably, it further includes: obtaining a first image of the indoor environment where the current air conditioner is located;

[0058] When the air conditioner is in an idle state, automatically generate the disinfection instruction. After receiving the disinfection instruction, the disinfection device performs a disinfection operation on the indoor environment where the air conditioner is located within a first time period;

[0059] Record a second image of the indoor environment where the air conditioner is located after the disinfection operation, compare the first image and the second image, and record the areas with changes in the second image;

[0060] Adjust the mold features based on the characteristics of the areas with changes in the second image.

[0061] In the indoor environment where the air conditioner is located, first, use an image recognition device to obtain a first image. The first image is used to record the current indoor environmental state, including possible mildew on walls, the surface of the air conditioner, furniture, etc. in the room. The first image serves as the benchmark for detection and is used for subsequent comparative analysis with the second image. At this stage, the sterilization operation is not initiated, and the image is only used as a record of the current environmental state, providing basic data for subsequent mildew recognition and change monitoring. When the air conditioner is in an idle state, according to a predetermined time or trigger condition, a sterilization instruction is automatically generated. This instruction is issued by the control center of the air conditioner based on the state of the air conditioner (such as shutdown, non-working state, etc.). The purpose is to ensure that the air conditioner attempts to eliminate mildew without affecting its normal operation. Another main purpose is to further improve the mildew characteristics to enhance the recognition of the image recognition device. Once the sterilization instruction is generated, the sterilization device (such as an ultraviolet lamp, negative ion generator, etc.) will start working and perform a sterilization operation on the indoor area where the air conditioner is located within a preset time. The sterilization device will, according to the characteristics of mildew, remove or inactivate mildew and other microorganisms through physical or chemical methods. For example, the ultraviolet lamp will kill the DNA of mildew, and negative ions can agglomerate mildew suspension particles or bacteria into larger particles for easier removal. This process can effectively eliminate the indoor mildew source without disturbing the normal working conditions of the air conditioner.

[0062] After the sterilization operation is completed, collect the second image of the indoor area again to record the state of the environment after sterilization. The second image will be compared with the first image to identify the differences between the two. The purpose of image comparison is to find out whether there are significant changes in the environment, especially the removal of mildew or pollutants. For example, color changes, the disappearance of objects, the surface becoming cleaner, etc. can all be used as signs of changes. Through comparison, the air conditioner can quickly determine which areas have been successfully sterilized and which areas may still have mildew.

[0063] After image comparison, the air conditioner will focus on the areas that have changed in the second image, which represent the removal of mold. To more accurately determine whether it is mold, the air conditioner will analyze the nature of these changes: for example, whether the color change conforms to the characteristics of mold, and whether there are common mold growth patterns such as expansion and discoloration. For uncertain changed areas, disinfection actions can be selected and observed for a period of time. If these areas change significantly (such as darkening in color, spreading, etc.) after a period of time, it can be further confirmed that these areas are mold. If there are suspected mold changes in a certain area, the mold recognition algorithm can be further adjusted according to the characteristics of this area. This process includes recording the characteristics such as color, texture, and shape of the changed area as reference samples of mold to optimize subsequent mold detection and disinfection operations. If these areas still show mold characteristics after disinfection, the air conditioner will automatically mark them with a unique pattern, so that when the image recognition device recognizes mold next time, it can avoid regarding this mold characteristic as mold (that is, by changing the mold characteristic to train the image recognition device's recognition of mold).

[0064] Preferably, during the execution of the disinfection operation, it also includes:

[0065] Recording the second time length from the start of the disinfection operation until the mold is completely eliminated;

[0066] Recording the first disinfection intensity and mold characteristics of the disinfection device during the execution of the disinfection operation. When the same mold characteristics are recognized by the image recognition device next time, controlling the disinfection device to perform the disinfection operation at the first disinfection intensity within the second time length.

[0067] During the execution of the disinfection operation, accurately record the time from the start of the disinfection operation to the complete elimination of the mold, that is, the second time length. This time length refers to the effective operation time required by the disinfection device under the current environment and mold characteristics. After the initial recognition and start of disinfection, monitor the progress of mold elimination in real time until all traces of the mold are eliminated. This time length has important reference value for subsequent operations because the type of mold will affect the disinfection time. Recording this duration can provide a time basis for optimizing the disinfection operation when encountering similar situations in the future.

[0068] During the execution of the disinfection operation, not only record the time length of disinfection, but also record the disinfection intensity of the disinfection device at that time. The disinfection intensity refers to the working intensity or power output of the disinfection device during disinfection (such as the intensity of ultraviolet rays, the concentration of ozone, the density of negative ions, etc.). This intensity parameter may vary in each disinfection process, depending on the type of mold, the growth stage of the mold, and environmental factors. According to the current mold characteristics and environmental conditions, select a suitable disinfection intensity and record it as reference data.

[0069] Meanwhile, the characteristics of the current mold are recorded by the image recognition device, including the morphology, color, texture, etc. of the mold, which helps the air conditioner to quickly identify and take corresponding treatment measures when encountering similar mold problems in the future. The growth patterns and elimination difficulties of each type of mold are different. By recording the mold characteristics, a characteristic profile is created for each specific type of mold to ensure accurate identification in case of similar situations in the future.

[0070] When the same type of mold as before is recognized by the image recognition device next time, the working parameters of the disinfection device are automatically adjusted according to the previously recorded disinfection intensity and time length. Specifically, the air conditioner will instruct the disinfection device to perform the disinfection operation with the previously recorded first disinfection intensity and ensure the second time length of continuous disinfection. In this way, the known best disinfection time and intensity can be used efficiently to quickly process similar types of mold, reduce the trial-and-error process of each disinfection operation, and improve efficiency and accuracy.

[0071] For example, if during the first disinfection, the air conditioner finds that the characteristics of the mold require 1 hour of ultraviolet irradiation to completely eliminate the mold, and a specific intensity of ultraviolet lamp was used at that time, then when the same mold is encountered next time, the disinfection device will automatically run at the same intensity and last for 1 hour, not only improving the disinfection efficiency but also ensuring the stability and consistency of each disinfection operation. If there are slight changes in the mold characteristics during the next disinfection operation, the air conditioner can also flexibly adjust the disinfection time and intensity. By comparing the mold characteristics with the previously recorded data, the disinfection intensity and time are fine-tuned according to the actual situation to ensure the best disinfection effect.

[0072] In another embodiment, the performing of the dehumidification operation and the disinfection operation on the indoor area according to the disinfection instruction includes:

[0073] Obtain the humidity value of the indoor area where the current air conditioner is located;

[0074] Calculate the duration of the disinfection operation based on the mold characteristics;

[0075] Compare the humidity value with a preset comfortable humidity range. If the humidity value is higher than the maximum value of the comfortable humidity range, perform a dehumidification operation on the indoor area where the current air conditioner is located until the humidity value of the indoor area where the current air conditioner is located is not higher than the median value of the comfortable humidity range. Subsequently, the disinfection device performs the disinfection operation within the duration;

[0076] If the humidity value is not higher than the maximum value of the comfortable humidity range, the disinfection device directly performs the disinfection operation within the duration.

[0077] To ensure the disinfection operation is carried out under appropriate humidity conditions, it is first necessary to obtain the real-time humidity value in the room where the air conditioner is located, which is collected in real time through a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor can calculate the current humidity value by measuring the water vapor content in the air. The humidity value is the basis for judging whether the indoor air environment is suitable for dehumidification and disinfection operations.

[0078] After obtaining the humidity value, calculate the duration of the disinfection operation based on the mold characteristics. The growth and reproduction of molds are closely related to humidity, but their removal requires a certain amount of time and environmental conditions. When calculating the disinfection duration, multiple factors need to be considered, such as the type of mold (e.g., Aspergillus niger, Penicillium, etc.), the concentration of mold, the sensitivity of mold to humidity, and the capabilities of the disinfection equipment (such as ultraviolet intensity, ozone concentration, etc.). By analyzing these factors, the minimum time required for the disinfection operation can be determined, thus ensuring the maximization of the disinfection effect.

[0079] To avoid the adverse effects of too high or too low humidity on the human body or mold growth, compare the current humidity value with the preset comfortable humidity range, which is generally set between 40% and 60%. The humidity range in this interval is the most comfortable for the human body and is also the most effective in inhibiting mold growth. If the humidity is too high (exceeding 60%), molds are likely to grow, while too low humidity (below 40%) may cause dry air and affect human health. Therefore, by comparing the relationship between the humidity value and the comfortable humidity range, it is judged whether dehumidification operation is required.

[0080] If the current humidity value is higher than the maximum value of the comfortable humidity range, that is, the humidity exceeds 60%, it means there is too much moisture in the air, which provides favorable conditions for the growth of molds. In this case, the air conditioner will automatically start the dehumidification operation. The purpose of the dehumidification operation is to reduce the indoor humidity through the air conditioner or dehumidification equipment until the humidity drops to an appropriate level, usually the median value of the comfortable humidity range (such as around 50%). During this process, the air conditioner or dehumidification equipment will continue to operate to absorb the moisture in the air until the humidity value reaches the target level. After the humidity is controlled to the median value, the disinfection device can start the disinfection operation to ensure that the removal of molds is not affected by too high humidity. After the dehumidification operation is completed, the disinfection device will start according to the calculated disinfection duration based on the mold characteristics.

[0081] If the current humidity value is already within the comfortable humidity range (i.e., the humidity is not higher than 60%), it indicates that the indoor humidity is appropriate and the risk of mold growth is relatively low. Then, the dehumidification operation will not be carried out anymore, but the disinfection operation will be directly started. At this time, since the humidity is already in an ideal range, the disinfection device can work more effectively in this stable humidity environment to eliminate the molds on the indoor walls.

[0082] In this embodiment, based on the effect of the sterilization operation, further sterilization operation and / or dehumidification operation on the indoor environment include:

[0083] After the sterilization device performs the sterilization operation within the continuous duration, the image recognition device performs mold recognition on the indoor environment based on mold characteristics;

[0084] If the recognition result shows that there is still mold in the indoor environment, extend the old continuous duration to obtain a new continuous duration;

[0085] The sterilization device performs the sterilization operation within the new continuous duration, and uses the new continuous duration as the continuous duration of the sterilization operation under the same mold characteristics.

[0086] If the image recognition result indicates that there is still mold in the indoor environment, it is considered that the initial sterilization operation (i.e., the previous one) failed to completely eliminate the mold. At this time, the air conditioner will activate the mechanism to extend the sterilization operation. To improve the sterilization effect, the air conditioner will extend the originally scheduled continuous duration and calculate a new continuous duration, which is generally based on the following factors: the type of mold, the quantity of mold, the effect of the initial sterilization operation, etc. According to the new continuous duration, the sterilization device will continue to perform the sterilization operation until the new time requirement is reached. At this time, the sterilization device will adjust the working intensity (such as increasing the ultraviolet irradiation intensity or increasing the ozone concentration) to enhance the sterilization effect. The new continuous duration allows the device more time to completely eliminate the residual mold.

[0087] After completing the new sterilization operation, the sterilization device will use the new continuous duration as the subsequent sterilization standard under the same mold characteristics. This means that if similar mold characteristics (such as the same type or quantity of mold) are encountered in the future, the sterilization device will refer to and use this new continuous duration to perform the sterilization operation. In this way, the sterilization duration can be continuously adjusted and optimized in practice to adapt to the growth characteristics and distribution of mold in different environments.

[0088] Preferably, if after performing further sterilization operation and / or dehumidification operation on the indoor environment based on the effect of the sterilization operation within a preset number of times, mold is still recognized in the indoor environment, the following steps are performed:

[0089] Mark the positions where mold still exists after performing the sterilization operation for the preset number of times to obtain a mold mark set;

[0090] Stepped up the sterilization intensity on the basis of the previous sterilization intensity, and perform fixed-point sterilization operation on each position in the mold mark set according to the enhanced sterilization intensity;

[0091] Send a manual sterilization reminder message to the user in combination with the mold mark set.

[0092] After performing the sterilization operation a preset number of times, if there is still mold in the room, the image recognition device will mark the locations where mold still exists based on the mold characteristics. These locations will be collected and form a mold mark set, where the mold mark set contains all the locations where the mold has not been completely eliminated, and each location has detailed coordinate or area information, which is used for subsequent targeted sterilization operations.

[0093] After the mold mark set is generated, the previous sterilization operation will not be directly repeated. Instead, the sterilization intensity will be enhanced step by step. By step-by-step enhancement, it means gradually increasing the power of the sterilization device, the working time, or adopting a more efficient sterilization method (such as increasing ultraviolet radiation, raising ozone concentration, strengthening negative ions or air purification, etc.) on the basis of the original sterilization intensity. This enhancement is carried out in steps, and the intensity of each enhancement is higher than the previous one until a more effective sterilization effect is achieved.

[0094] According to the enhanced sterilization intensity, targeted sterilization operations will be performed on each location in the mold mark set. This targeted operation means that the action area and intensity of the sterilization equipment can be precisely controlled to concentrate on eliminating these mold residue points. Targeted sterilization is more accurate than full-area sterilization and can directly focus on the areas with the most severe mold, reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

[0095] When some locations in the mold mark set still have not been completely cleared of mold, a manual sterilization reminder message will be sent to the user according to the detection results. The reminder can include the following content: reminding the user that there is still mold in certain specific locations; providing sterilization suggestions to further strengthen sterilization (such as using special cleaning agents or manual wiping). After the manual sterilization reminder is sent, the user can take further measures according to the suggestions put forward. If the mold problem is still serious, more in-depth environmental treatment is required, such as professional dehumidification and mold removal services, etc.

[0096] Preferably, the image recognition device also includes identifying indoor users and recording the locations where users are active frequently;

[0097] When the user turns on the interval sterilization mode of the air conditioner, after each preset sterilization interval:

[0098] Perform location combination on the locations where the user is active frequently to obtain sterilization areas to be processed with different sizes;

[0099] Calculate the corresponding sterilization time for each sterilization area to be processed based on the size of the sterilization area to be processed, and perform area targeted sterilization operations on each sterilization area to be processed within the corresponding sterilization time.

[0100] The image recognition device uses cameras, sensors, or other monitoring equipment to track and analyze the activities of indoor users in real time. The device can identify the movement paths, stay times, and frequently active areas of users in the space. It can use computer vision and deep learning technologies to identify users' postures, facial features, or body contours, and build an indoor activity map based on this data. It can not only identify the specific locations of users but also determine which areas are high-frequency areas of user activities (such as frequently used seats, desks, or beds). These frequently active areas will be recorded to form a dynamic and real-time updated user activity dataset.

[0101] When the user activates the "interval disinfection mode" of the air conditioner, the air conditioner will automatically start the disinfection operation at a predetermined time interval, which is usually user-defined (such as every 1 day, 2 days, etc.) or automatically adjusted according to the usage environment of the air conditioner. The core principle of the interval disinfection mode is to perform air disinfection or sterilization treatment regularly rather than continuously. By starting the disinfection function regularly, it does not consume energy all the time. It can flexibly adjust the duration and intensity of each disinfection according to the usage situation of the room to ensure continuous improvement of air quality.

[0102] During each disinfection cycle, the image recognition device will perform a "location union" operation on the indoor activity areas according to the user's activity trajectory and frequently visited locations. The process of location union includes merging multiple relatively close or overlapping activity areas into a large area to be disinfected. For example, if the user is frequently active on the bed and beside the bed, the air conditioner will combine these two areas into a larger area to be disinfected, so as to accurately determine the areas that need to be focused on for disinfection. The division of the area to be disinfected takes into account multiple factors, such as the user's living habits, room layout, and the disinfection ability of the equipment, to ensure the regionality and pertinence of disinfection.

[0103] After determining the area to be disinfected, based on the area of each area, the corresponding disinfection time is calculated, taking into account multiple factors, such as the size of the area, air circulation, the power of the air conditioner disinfection equipment, the disinfection technology used (such as ultraviolet, ozone, or high-efficiency filtration), and the degree of environmental pollution. Larger areas to be disinfected require longer time to complete air purification and disinfection, while smaller areas can achieve the same effect in a shorter time.

[0104] After calculating the disinfection time for each area to be disinfected, the air conditioner will start to perform area-specific disinfection operations. Different from the traditional whole-house disinfection method, area-specific disinfection is more targeted. The air conditioner will specifically concentrate resources to purify the air in the identified areas with frequent activities. According to the area of the area to be disinfected, the disinfection module of the air conditioner (such as ultraviolet lamps, ozone generators, or high-efficiency air filters) will work precisely in these areas to ensure the disinfection effect. For example, in a smaller area, the air conditioner will increase the wind speed and ultraviolet irradiation intensity to accelerate the disinfection process. Through this area-specific disinfection method, the air conditioner can complete the most effective disinfection task in the shortest time, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

[0105] Preferably, before performing the dehumidification operation and the disinfection operation on the indoor environment according to the disinfection instruction in step S2, the air conditioner also performs a disinfection operation on its internal components according to the disinfection instruction.

[0106] Before performing indoor dehumidification and disinfection, the disinfection operation inside the air conditioner will be started first. It can be carried out on the internal components of the air conditioner, such as filters, heat exchangers, air ducts, etc. These components are prone to accumulating dust, mold, bacteria, and other harmful substances. Therefore, performing the disinfection operation inside the air conditioner can ensure the cleanliness of the air circulation system and prevent pollution sources from entering the indoor environment during the air flow process.

[0107] Preferably, let one or more positions where the mold is identified by the image recognition device in step S1 be the first position set;

[0108] In step S3, based on the effect of the disinfection operation, further disinfection operations and / or dehumidification operations are performed on the indoor environment, and the increase or decrease of the mold characteristics includes:

[0109] If after performing several disinfection operations, there are positions in the first position set that have not changed or still show some mold characteristics after changing, then the mold characteristics at the unchanged positions and the remaining mold characteristics after changing in the first position set are input into the image recognition device, and the image recognition device adjusts the mold characteristics.

[0110] The image recognition device can identify the positions of mold in the image and mark these positions as "mold present" according to the mold characteristics. These positions constitute the first position set. After the initial sterilization or dehumidification operation is completed, the indoor environment will be scanned again, and the distribution of mold will be detected again by the image recognition device. By comparing the newly scanned image with the first scanned image, it is detected whether the mold has been completely removed, or whether the mold characteristics in some areas still exist. For example, if mold still exists at certain positions, the image recognition device will analyze whether the mold characteristics (such as shape, color, texture) in these areas have changed, or still have some mold characteristics, but it is not real mold. Therefore, it is necessary to input the mold characteristics at the unchanged positions in the first position set and the partial mold characteristics that still appear after the change into the image recognition device to improve the accuracy of the next recognition by the image recognition device.

[0111] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "schematic embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0112] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and purposes of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air conditioning sterilization control method based on image recognition, characterized in that: The air conditioner sterilization control method is applied to an air conditioner, the air conditioner includes an image recognition device and a sterilization device, and the air conditioner sterilization control method includes the following steps: S1: The image recognition device identifies mold in the room based on mold features, and sends a sterilization instruction to the sterilization device after confirming that there is mold in the room; S2: The sterilization device receives the sterilization instruction and performs dehumidification and sterilization operations on the room according to the sterilization instruction; S3: Based on the effect of the sterilization operation, further sterilization operation and / or dehumidification operation is performed on the room, and the mold characteristics are increased or decreased.

2. The air conditioning sterilization control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mold characteristics include color characteristics, texture characteristics and shape characteristics.

3. The air conditioning sterilization control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: Acquire a first image of the room where the air conditioner is currently located; When the air conditioner is in an idle state, the sterilization instruction is automatically generated, and after receiving the sterilization instruction, the sterilization device performs a sterilization operation in the room where the air conditioner is located within a first time length; Recording a second image of the room where the air conditioner is located after the sterilization operation is performed, comparing the first image with the second image and recording a changed area in the second image; The mold feature is adjusted based on the features of the area where the change occurs in the second image.

4. The air conditioning sterilization control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sterilization process also includes: Record the second time length from the beginning of the sterilization operation to the complete elimination of mold; The first sterilization intensity and mold characteristics of the sterilization device when performing the sterilization operation are recorded, and the sterilization device is controlled to perform the sterilization operation at the first sterilization intensity within the second time length when the image recognition device recognizes the same mold characteristics next time.

5. The air conditioning sterilization control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The performing of the dehumidification operation and the sterilization operation indoors according to the sterilization instruction comprises: Get the humidity value of the room where the current air conditioner is located; Calculating the duration of the sterilization operation based on the mold characteristics; The humidity value is compared with a preset comfortable humidity range. If the humidity value is higher than the maximum value of the comfortable humidity range, a dehumidification operation is performed on the room where the current air conditioner is located until the humidity value in the room where the current air conditioner is located is not higher than the middle value of the comfortable humidity range, and then the sterilization device performs a sterilization operation within the duration; If the humidity value is not higher than the maximum value of the comfortable humidity range, the sterilization device directly performs the sterilization operation within the duration.

6. The air conditioning sterilization control method according to claim 5, characterized in that: Based on the effect of the sterilization operation, further sterilization operation and / or dehumidification operation is performed indoors, including: After the sterilization device performs the sterilization operation within the duration, the image recognition device identifies mold in the room based on mold features; If the identification result shows that mold still exists indoors, the old duration is extended to obtain a new duration; The sterilization device performs the sterilization operation within the new duration, and uses the new duration as the duration of the sterilization operation under the same mold characteristics.

7. The air conditioning sterilization control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: If the presence of mold in the room is still identified after further sterilization and / or dehumidification operations are performed on the room based on the effect of the sterilization operation within the preset number of times, the following steps are performed: Marking the locations where mold still exists after performing a preset number of sterilization operations to obtain a mold mark set; The sterilization intensity is enhanced step by step on the basis of the previous sterilization intensity, and a fixed-point sterilization operation is performed on each position in the mold mark set according to the enhanced sterilization intensity; Combined with the mold mark set, a manual sterilization reminder message is sent to the user.

8. The air conditioning sterilization control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The image recognition device also includes identifying indoor users and recording locations where users frequently move; When the user turns on the interval sterilization mode of the air conditioner, after each preset sterilization interval: Combine the locations where the user's activities are frequent to obtain areas to be sterilized of different sizes; The sterilization time corresponding to each area to be sterilized is calculated based on the size of the area to be sterilized, and a regional fixed-point sterilization operation is performed on each area to be sterilized within the corresponding sterilization time.

9. The air conditioning sterilization control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before performing the dehumidification operation and the sterilization operation on the room according to the sterilization instruction in step S2, the method also includes performing the sterilization operation on the inside of the air conditioner according to the sterilization instruction.

10. The air conditioner sterilization control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Assume that the one or more locations where the mold is located identified by the image recognition device in step S1 is a first location set; In step S3, based on the effect of the sterilization operation, further sterilization operation and / or dehumidification operation is performed on the room, and the mold characteristics are increased or decreased, including: If after performing several sterilization operations, there are positions in the first position set that have not changed or have changed but still exhibit some mold characteristics, the mold characteristics of the positions that have not changed and the partial mold characteristics of the positions that have changed but still exhibited in the first position set are input into the image recognition device, and the image recognition device adjusts the mold characteristics.

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