Camera structure and air conditioner

Abstract

The camera structure comprises a driving assembly, a transmission switching assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly and a camera assembly, the driving assembly is connected with the transmission switching assembly, and the first rotating assembly and the second rotating assembly are both connected with the camera assembly. The transmission switching assembly has a first state in which one end of the transmission switching assembly is connected with the first rotating assembly, or a second state in which the other end of the transmission switching assembly is connected with the second rotating assembly; the first rotating assembly and the second rotating assembly can drive the camera assembly to rotate in the horizontal rotating direction and the pitching rotating direction so as to capture the position of a target object, and air outlet parameters of the air conditioner are set through the position. According to the invention, the two rotating assemblies are driven by a single motor, the cost and the structural complexity are reduced, and the interference risk possibly generated by dual-motor synchronous control is avoided; meanwhile, the two-degree-of-freedom motion capability is reserved, the camera assembly can track the position of a human body in all directions, the air conditioner is linked to adjust the air outlet direction, and the direct blowing problem is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of air conditioners, specifically relating to a camera structure and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Air conditioning equipment is widely used for indoor temperature control, but fixed airflow direction can easily lead to discomfort caused by prolonged exposure to direct hot or cold air. To address this issue, existing technologies typically use adjustable air deflectors to change the airflow angle; however, the physical adjustment range of these deflectors is limited, and direct airflow cannot be completely avoided. To address this, some solutions incorporate camera systems with human tracking capabilities, using dual motors to drive the camera's horizontal and vertical rotation respectively, detecting the human position in real time and adjusting the airflow direction accordingly. However, the dual-motor solution significantly increases hardware costs and structural complexity, and the synchronous control of the motors is prone to mechanical interference risks, limiting the application of this technology in widespread air conditioning systems. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a camera control mechanism that can significantly reduce drive costs while maintaining dual-degree-of-freedom motion capabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a camera structure and an air conditioner, which solves the technical problems of complex structure and easy mechanical interference in traditional air conditioners that drive the camera to rotate by dual motors.

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, according to one aspect of this application, an embodiment of the present invention provides a camera structure applied to an air conditioner. The camera structure includes a driving component, a transmission switching component, a first rotating component, a second rotating component, and a camera component. The driving component is connected to the transmission switching component. Both the first rotating component and the second rotating component are connected to the camera component. The transmission switching component has a first state in which one end is connected to the first rotating component, or a second state in which the other end is connected to the second rotating component. The first rotating component and the second rotating component can drive the camera component to rotate along a horizontal rotation direction and a pitch rotation direction to capture the position of a target object, thereby setting the air outlet parameters of the air conditioner based on this position.

[0005] In some embodiments, the transmission switching assembly includes a shift execution unit, a power distribution unit, a first connecting unit, a second connecting unit, and a connecting shaft. The shift execution unit is connected to the power distribution unit, and the power distribution unit, the first connecting unit, and the second connecting unit are all sleeved on the connecting shaft. The shift execution unit can drive the power distribution unit to move upward to connect with the first rotating assembly through the first connecting unit, or drive the power distribution unit to move downward to connect with the second rotating assembly through the second connecting unit.

[0006] In some embodiments, the shifting actuation unit includes an electric push rod.

[0007] In some embodiments, the power distribution unit includes a shift paddle and a paddle gear. One end of the shift paddle is sleeved on the paddle gear, and the other end of the shift paddle is connected to the electric push rod. The extension and retraction of the electric push rod can drive the paddle gear to move up and down through the shift paddle. The upper part of the paddle gear has a first extension section that can cooperate with the first connecting unit, and the lower part of the paddle gear has a second extension section that can cooperate with the second connecting unit. The outer periphery of the paddle gear meshes with the output end of the drive assembly.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first connecting unit includes a first gear and a first mating end extending from the bottom of the first gear, the bottom of the first mating end and the top of the first extension having a first toothed structure capable of meshing; the second connecting unit includes a second gear and a second mating end extending from the top of the second gear, the top of the second mating end and the bottom of the second extension having a second toothed structure capable of meshing.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first rotating assembly includes a first rotating gear and a first slide rail, the first rotating gear meshes with the first gear, the end of the first slide rail is connected to the first rotating gear, and the camera assembly is movably disposed on the first slide rail and is capable of moving horizontally along the first slide rail.

[0010] In some embodiments, the second rotating component includes a second rotating gear, a bevel gear, and a second slide rail. The second rotating gear and the second gear mesh, one end of the bevel gear passes through the second rotating gear, and the other end of the bevel gear is connected to the second slide rail. The camera component is movably mounted on the second slide rail and can move vertically along the second slide rail.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first slide rail is a vertically arranged first arc-shaped track, and the second slide rail is a horizontally arranged second arc-shaped track. The camera assembly passes through the first and second arc-shaped guide rails, so that when it moves in the horizontal direction, it can match the second arc-shaped track to adjust the horizontal viewing angle, and when it moves in the vertical direction, it can match the first arc-shaped track to adjust the pitch viewing angle.

[0012] In some embodiments, the camera assembly includes a front housing, a rear housing, and an infrared camera, the infrared camera being located within the space enclosed by the front housing and the rear housing, and the front housing having a notch that allows the infrared camera to protrude.

[0013] In some embodiments, the camera structure further includes a housing, a fixing rod extending from the interior of the housing, the end of the fixing rod having a receiving cavity; an extension rod on the exterior of the rear housing, the end of the extension rod having a ball head, the ball head cooperating with the receiving cavity to fix the rear housing; the extension rod passes through the output ends of the first rotating assembly and the second rotating assembly.

[0014] In some embodiments, the drive assembly includes a motor and a drive shaft, the output of the motor being connected to the drive shaft, and the drive shaft engaging with the paddle gear.

[0015] According to another aspect of this application, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioner including the camera structure described above, the camera structure being connected to the lower side of the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

[0016] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes a controller configured to receive the position of a target object captured by the camera assembly and control the air outlet parameters of the indoor unit based on the position; wherein the air outlet parameters include air outlet temperature, air outlet direction, and air outlet intensity.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the camera structure of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0018] The camera structure provided by this invention is applied to an air conditioner. The camera structure includes a driving component, a transmission switching component, a first rotating component, a second rotating component, and a camera component. The driving component is connected to the transmission switching component. Both the first rotating component and the second rotating component are connected to the camera component. The transmission switching component has a first state in which one end is connected to the first rotating component, or a second state in which the other end is connected to the second rotating component. The first rotating component and the second rotating component can drive the camera component to rotate along the horizontal rotation direction and the pitch rotation direction to capture the position of the target object, and then set the air outlet parameters of the air conditioner based on the position.

[0019] This invention achieves time-sharing drive of two rotating components by a single motor through a transmission switching component, replacing the dual-motor architecture in the prior art, directly reducing hardware costs and structural complexity; mechanical power switching avoids the interference risk that may occur in the synchronous control of dual motors; at the same time, it retains the dual-degree-of-freedom motion capability of the first and second rotating components, so that the camera component can still track the human body position in all directions and link the air conditioner to adjust the air outlet direction, fundamentally solving the problem of fixed direct blowing.

[0020] The air conditioner provided by this invention is designed based on the above-described camera structure, and its beneficial effects are the same as those of the above-described camera structure, which will not be repeated here.

[0021] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a camera structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a front view of a transmission switching component in a camera structure provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the cooperation between the transmission switching component, the drive component, and the second rotation component in a camera structure provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the cooperation between the transmission switching component, the drive component, and the first rotating component in a camera structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the first rotating component and the second rotating component in a camera structure provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the housing in a camera structure provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the driving component in a camera structure provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] in:

[0033] 1. Drive assembly; 11. Motor; 12. Drive shaft; 2. Transmission switching assembly; 21. Gear shifting execution unit; 22. Power distribution unit; 23. First connecting unit; 24. Second connecting unit; 25. Connecting shaft; 221. Gear shift paddle; 222. Paddle gear; 223. First extension section; 224. Second extension section; 231. First gear; 232. First mating end; 241. Second gear; 242. Second mating end; 3. First rotating assembly; 31. First rotating gear; 32. First slide rail; 4. Second rotating assembly; 41. Second rotating gear; 42. Bevel gear; 43. Second slide rail; 5. Camera assembly; 51. Front shell; 52. Rear shell; 53. Infrared camera; 54. Extension rod; 55. Ball head; 6. Housing; 61. Fixing rod; 62. Receiving cavity; 7. Indoor unit. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended purpose, the specific embodiments, structures, features, and effects according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. In the following description, different "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments can be combined in any suitable form.

[0035] In the description of this invention, it should be clearly stated that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence; the terms "vertical," "lateral," "longitudinal," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," "down," "horizontal," etc., indicate orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are merely for the convenience of describing this invention, and do not mean that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or position, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0036] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] This embodiment provides a camera structure for use in an air conditioner, such as... Figure 1-8As shown, the camera structure includes a drive assembly 1, a transmission switching assembly 2, a first rotation assembly 3, a second rotation assembly 4, and a camera assembly 5. The drive assembly 1 is connected to the transmission switching assembly 2. The first rotation assembly 3 and the second rotation assembly 4 are both connected to the camera assembly 5. The transmission switching assembly 2 has a first state in which one end is connected to the first rotation assembly 3, or a second state in which the other end is connected to the second rotation assembly 4. The first rotation assembly 3 and the second rotation assembly 4 can drive the camera assembly 5 to rotate in the horizontal rotation direction and the pitch rotation direction to capture the position of the target object, and then set the air outlet parameters of the air conditioner based on the position.

[0039] In the camera structure, the output end of the drive component 1 is directly connected to the input end of the transmission switching component 2. The transmission switching component 2 has two output ends: one output end can be selectively connected to the first rotating component 3, and the other output end can be selectively connected to the second rotating component 4. The first rotating component 3 and the second rotating component 4 are both directly mechanically connected to the camera component 5. The first rotating component 3 is used to drive the camera component 5 to rotate in the horizontal direction, and the second rotating component 4 is used to drive the camera component 5 to rotate in the pitch direction. Each component is set inside the support housing of the camera structure, and the transmission switching component 2 is located on the power transmission path between the drive component 1 and the first rotating component 3 and the second rotating component 4.

[0040] In this embodiment, the drive component 1 provides a single rotational power source; the transmission switching component 2 is responsible for selectively directing the power input from the drive component 1 to either the first rotation component 3 or the second rotation component 4; after receiving power, the first rotation component 3 drives the camera component 5 to rotate horizontally; after receiving power, the second rotation component 4 drives the camera component 5 to rotate in the pitch direction; the camera component 5 is used to capture human position information and feed this information back to the air conditioning control system to adjust the airflow parameters; the components work together to achieve single-motor control of two degrees of freedom motion. More specifically, when horizontal rotation is required, the transmission switching component 2 switches to the first state, so that the power of the drive component 1 is transmitted to the first rotation component 3 via the transmission switching component 2, driving the camera component 5 to rotate left and right; when pitch rotation is required, the transmission switching component 2 switches to the second state, so that the power of the drive component 1 is transmitted to the second rotation component 4 via the transmission switching component 2, driving the camera component 5 to rotate up and down; by alternately switching the state of the transmission switching component 2, a single drive motor can control two vertical degrees of freedom of motion respectively, realizing the camera's tracking of the human body position.

[0041] This embodiment achieves time-sharing drive of two rotating components by a single motor through the transmission switching component 2, replacing the dual-motor architecture in the background technology, directly reducing hardware costs and structural complexity; mechanical power switching avoids the interference risk that may be caused by the synchronous control of dual motors; at the same time, it retains the dual-degree-of-freedom motion capability of the first rotating component 3 and the second rotating component 4, so that the camera component 5 can still track the human body position in all directions and link the air conditioner to adjust the air outlet direction, fundamentally solving the problem of fixed direct blowing.

[0042] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the transmission switching assembly 2 includes a shift execution unit 21, a power distribution unit 22, a first connecting unit 23, a second connecting unit 24, and a connecting shaft 25. The shift execution unit 21 is connected to the power distribution unit 22. The power distribution unit 22, the first connecting unit 23, and the second connecting unit 24 are all sleeved on the connecting shaft 25. The shift execution unit 21 can drive the power distribution unit 22 to move upward to connect with the first rotating assembly 3 through the first connecting unit 23, or drive the power distribution unit 22 to move downward to connect with the second rotating assembly 4 through the second connecting unit 24.

[0043] In the transmission switching assembly 2, the power output end of the shift execution unit 21 is mechanically connected to the power distribution unit 22; the power distribution unit 22, the first connecting unit 23, and the second connecting unit 24 are all coaxially sleeved on the connecting shaft 25 and can move along its axial direction; wherein the power distribution unit 22 is located between the first connecting unit 23 and the second connecting unit 24; when the shift execution unit 21 is activated, it directly drives the power distribution unit 22 to move along the connecting shaft 25 axially, so that the power distribution unit 22 selectively engages with the upper first connecting unit 23 or with the lower second connecting unit 24; the first connecting unit 23 establishes a power transmission path with the first rotating assembly 3 through gear meshing or mechanical linkage, and the second connecting unit 24 establishes a power transmission path with the second rotating assembly 4 through gear meshing or mechanical linkage. The shift execution unit 21 provides axial driving force to achieve power path switching; the power distribution unit 22, as a movable transmission intermediary, is responsible for selectively transmitting input power to the first connecting unit 23 or the second connecting unit 24; the first connecting unit 23, as a fixed transmission component, transmits power to the first rotating component 3 when engaged; the second connecting unit 24, as another fixed transmission component, transmits power to the second rotating component 4 when engaged; the connecting shaft 25 provides coaxial support and axial movement track for each unit to ensure the axial stability of power transmission.

[0044] When the shift execution unit 21 pushes the power distribution unit 22 upward, the power distribution unit 22 engages with the first connecting unit 23. At this time, the input power is transmitted to the first connecting unit 23 through the power distribution unit 22, ultimately driving the first rotating component 3 to move. When the shift execution unit 21 pulls the power distribution unit 22 downward, the power distribution unit 22 engages with the second connecting unit 24. The input power is then transmitted to the second connecting unit 24 through the power distribution unit 22, ultimately driving the second rotating component 4 to move. This structure realizes reliable switching of a single power source to two vertical transmission paths, ensures power transmission efficiency through mechanical engagement, and avoids the risk of motion interference through axial movement design.

[0045] In a specific embodiment, the shifting execution unit 21 includes an electric push rod. The electric push rod can directly drive the power distribution unit to move precisely up or down along the axial direction through the linear motion of its telescopic rod, thereby reliably realizing the switching of the engagement state between the power distribution unit 22 and the first connecting unit 23 or the second connecting unit 24. This mechanical execution method has a simple structure and direct control, effectively reducing the complexity and manufacturing cost of the transmission path switching mechanism.

[0046] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the power distribution unit 22 includes a shift paddle 221 and a paddle gear 222. One end of the shift paddle 221 is sleeved on the paddle gear 222, and the other end of the shift paddle 221 is connected to the electric push rod. The extension and retraction of the electric push rod can drive the paddle gear 222 to move up and down through the shift paddle 221. The upper part of the paddle gear 222 has a first extension section 223 that can cooperate with the first connecting unit 23, and the lower part of the paddle gear 222 has a second extension section 224 that can cooperate with the second connecting unit 24. The outer periphery of the paddle gear 222 meshes with the output end of the drive assembly 1.

[0047] One end of the shift paddle 221 is engaged in the annular groove of the shift gear 222 for circumferential fixation, and the other end is hinged to the telescopic rod of the electric push rod. The shift gear 222 is coaxially sleeved on the connecting shaft 25 and can slide along its axial direction. The first extension section 223 extending from the upper part corresponds to the first connecting unit 23 in position, and the second extension section 224 extending from the lower part corresponds to the second connecting unit 24. The external teeth of the middle section of the shift gear 222 are always engaged with the output gear of the drive assembly 1 to ensure continuous power input. When the electric push rod extends or retracts, the shift paddle 221 pushes the shift gear 222 to move axially along the connecting shaft 25, so that the first extension section 223 or the second extension section 224 respectively engages with the upper first connecting unit 23 or the lower second connecting unit 24. The shift paddle 221 converts the linear motion of the electric push rod into the axial displacement of the paddle gear 222; the paddle gear 222 serves as the core of power distribution, with its main body external teeth continuously receiving the input power from the drive assembly 1, the upper first extension 223 meshing with the first connecting unit 23 to transmit horizontal rotational power, and the lower second extension 224 meshing with the second connecting unit 24 to transmit pitch rotational power; the extended tooth design of the extension ensures that an effective engagement length is maintained during axial movement.

[0048] In this embodiment, when the electric push rod retracts, it pulls the paddle gear 222 upward via the shift paddle 221, causing the first extension section 223 to mesh with the first connecting unit 23. At this time, the input power is transmitted to the first extension section 223 via the paddle gear 222 body, and then drives the first rotating component 3 to achieve horizontal steering. When the electric push rod extends, it pushes the paddle gear 222 downward, causing the second extension section 224 to mesh with the second connecting unit 24. The power is then transmitted to the second extension section 224 via the paddle gear 222 body, and then drives the second rotating component 4 to achieve pitch steering. This embodiment completes dual-path switching through the axial displacement of a single gear body, which maintains the continuity of power input and ensures meshing reliability by using the extended tooth profile of the extension section, significantly reducing the risk of shift failure.

[0049] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the first connecting unit 23 includes a first gear 231 and a first mating end 232 extending from the bottom of the first gear 231. The bottom of the first mating end 232 and the top of the first extension 223 have a first toothed structure that can mesh. The second connecting unit 24 includes a second gear 241 and a second mating end 242 extending from the top of the second gear 241. The top of the second mating end 242 and the bottom of the second extension 224 have a second toothed structure that can mesh.

[0050] The first mating end 232 in the first connecting unit 23 is integrally formed with the first gear 231 and extends vertically from its bottom. Its bottom tooth structure is axially aligned with the tooth structure at the top of the first extension section 223 of the paddle gear 222. When the paddle gear 222 moves upward, the two establish a direct power transmission path through tooth meshing. The function of the first mating end 232 is to efficiently transmit the rotational power input by the paddle gear 222 to the first gear 231, thereby driving the first rotating component 3. This design ensures the reliability and synchronization of power transmission through tooth meshing, effectively reducing energy loss or slippage during transmission, thereby improving the accuracy of horizontal rotation control.

[0051] The second mating end 242 in the second connecting unit 24 is integrally formed with the second gear 241 and extends vertically from its top. Its top tooth structure is axially aligned with the tooth structure at the bottom of the second extension section 224 of the paddle gear 222. When the paddle gear 222 moves down, the two form a direct power transmission path through tooth meshing. The function of the second mating end 242 is to efficiently transmit the rotational power input by the paddle gear 222 to the second gear 241, thereby driving the second rotating component 4. This design uses tooth meshing to achieve seamless power switching, ensuring timely and stable action response in the pitch and rotation direction, and avoiding motion jamming or deviation caused by meshing failure.

[0052] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 5 The first rotating component 3 includes a first rotating gear 31 and a first slide rail 32. The first rotating gear 31 meshes with the first gear 231. The end of the first slide rail 32 is connected to the first rotating gear 31. The camera component 5 is movably mounted on the first slide rail 32 and can follow the first slide rail 32 to move in the horizontal direction.

[0053] The first rotating gear 31 and the first gear 231 maintain a constant meshing state to receive power input from the first connecting unit 23. The end of the first slide rail 32 is fixed to the rotation center of the first rotating gear 31 by a rigid connector, so that the first slide rail 32 rotates synchronously with the first rotating gear 31. The camera assembly 5 is movably fitted into the track of the first slide rail 32. When the first rotating gear 31 rotates, it drives the first slide rail 32 to make a horizontal arc motion, forcing the camera assembly 5 to rotate horizontally synchronously along the slide rail track. This structure converts the rotational motion into the horizontal turning action of the camera through gear-slide rail linkage. Its rigid connection ensures zero backlash in power transmission, and the slide rail guide design ensures that the camera rotation trajectory is accurate and controllable, effectively improving the positioning accuracy and motion stability of human body horizontal tracking.

[0054] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, the second rotating component 4 includes a second rotating gear 41, a bevel gear 42, and a second slide rail 43. The second rotating gear 41 meshes with the second gear 241. One end of the bevel gear 42 passes through the second rotating gear 41, and the other end of the bevel gear 42 is connected to the second slide rail 43. The camera component 5 is movably mounted on the second slide rail 43 and can move vertically along the second slide rail 43 as shown.

[0055] The second rotating gear 41 maintains constant meshing with the second gear 241 to receive power. The axial centerline of the bevel gear 42 passes perpendicularly through the shaft hole of the second rotating gear 41 and is circumferentially fixed through a keyway or spline, allowing both to rotate synchronously. The input end of the bevel gear 42 is coaxially connected to the second rotating gear 41, and its output end is rigidly connected to the rotation center of the second slide rail 43 through a flange or coupling. The second slide rail 43 has an arc-shaped track structure, and the camera assembly 5 is embedded in the guide groove of the second slide rail 43. When the bevel gear 42 rotates, it directly drives the second slide rail 43 to make an arc motion in the pitch direction. The second rotating gear 41, as a primary transmission component, transmits power to the bevel gear 42. The bevel gear 42, as a steering transmission shaft, receives horizontal rotational power at its input end and transmits power vertically to the second slide rail 43 through a rigid connection at its output end. The second slide rail 43, as an actuator, converts the rotational motion into changes in the camera's pitch angle, while providing precise guiding support for the camera assembly.

[0056] When the power drives the second rotating gear 41 to rotate via the second gear 241, it synchronously drives the bevel gear 42 to rotate around its own axis. The output end of the bevel gear 42 directly pulls the second slide rail 43 to make pitch swing. The camera component 5, which is embedded in the second slide rail 43, rotates up and down along the arc trajectory. This structure achieves precise conversion between the power direction and the motion plane through the integrated design of bevel gear and slide rail. The rigid transmission of the bevel gear 42 eliminates the angle transmission error, and the slide rail guide ensures that the camera pitch movement is smooth and without deviation, which significantly improves the response speed and positioning reliability of human height tracking.

[0057] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, the first slide rail 32 is a vertically arranged first arc-shaped track, and the second slide rail 43 is a horizontally arranged second arc-shaped track. The camera assembly 5 passes through the first arc-shaped guide rail and the second arc-shaped guide rail, so that when it moves in the horizontal direction, it can match the second arc-shaped track to adjust the horizontal viewing angle, and when it moves in the vertical direction, it can match the first arc-shaped track to adjust the pitch viewing angle.

[0058] The first slide rail 32 adopts a vertically arranged first arc-shaped track, and the second slide rail 43 adopts a horizontally arranged second arc-shaped track. The two form a vertically intersecting layout in space; the camera component 5 passes through the guide grooves of both the first and second arc-shaped tracks, so that its degree of freedom of movement is constrained by the two tracks. During horizontal rotation, the first slide rail 32 rotates as a whole as a vertically set first arc-shaped track, driving the camera assembly 5, which is rigidly connected to it, to rotate horizontally in sync. At this time, although the horizontally set second arc-shaped track does not provide driving force, it forms a rigid constraint on the movement path of the camera assembly 5 through its inherent horizontal arc-shaped contour, forcing the camera assembly 5 to move strictly along the trajectory of the second arc-shaped track. During pitch rotation, the second slide rail 43 drives the camera assembly 5 to rotate up and down as an actively swinging horizontal arc-shaped track, while the vertically set first arc-shaped track restricts the camera's movement trajectory through its vertical contour. This double-track orthogonal nested structure ensures that the camera moves strictly along the horizontal arc during horizontal rotation and forces the camera to move along the vertical arc during pitch rotation through the passive limiting effect of the physical contour. This eliminates motion interference between the two degrees of freedom and ensures the accuracy of the rotation trajectory through track geometric constraints, so that the camera always maintains positioning stability and motion smoothness within the range of horizontal and pitch rotation.

[0059] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, the camera assembly 5 includes a front shell 51, a rear shell 52, and an infrared camera 53. The infrared camera 53 is located within the space enclosed by the front shell 51 and the rear shell 52, and the front shell 51 has a notch that allows the infrared camera 53 to protrude.

[0060] The front shell 51 and the rear shell 52 are screwed together to form a closed cavity. The infrared camera 53 is fixed on the inner mounting surface of the front shell 51, with its lens facing the central axis of the notch on the front shell 51 to ensure an unobstructed detection field of view. The rear shell 52 completely covers the rear end of the cavity, forming a complete protective shell together with the front shell 51. The front shell 51 provides a fixing base for the infrared camera 53 and has a notch to ensure the detection field of view; the rear shell 52 seals the rear end of the cavity to form a sealed protection; the infrared camera 53, as the core detection component, realizes human position detection by receiving infrared signals.

[0061] The infrared camera 53 continuously collects infrared signals through the notch in the front shell. The sealed fit between the front shell 51 and the rear shell 52 provides dust and moisture protection for the camera. This structure achieves a dual effect: the directional notch design ensures infrared transmission efficiency, and the sealed cavity structure improves the environmental adaptability of the equipment.

[0062] The infrared camera 53 locates the human body's coordinates by capturing the infrared thermal radiation emitted in the 9-14μm band and based on the temperature field difference. In addition to the infrared solution, visible light cameras can also achieve positioning through human contour recognition, but the infrared solution has a significant advantage in dark environments.

[0063] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, the camera structure also includes a housing 6, with a fixing rod 61 extending from the inside of the housing 6, and a receiving cavity 62 at the end of the fixing rod 61; an extension rod 54 is provided on the outside of the rear housing 52, with a ball head 55 at the end of the extension rod 54, and the ball head 55 cooperates with the receiving cavity 62 to fix the rear housing 52; the extension rod 54 passes through the output ends of the first rotating assembly 3 and the second rotating assembly 4.

[0064] The fixing rod 61 extends vertically from the inner wall of the housing 6, and its end is machined with a hemispherical receiving cavity 62; the extension rod 54 on the outer side of the rear housing 52 is integrally formed with the rear housing 52 and extends horizontally outward, and the end of the extension rod 54 is machined with a ball head 55 that matches the curvature of the receiving cavity 62; the ball head 55 is embedded in the receiving cavity 62 to form a spherical pair fit, and the rod body of the extension rod 54 passes through the first slide rail 32 of the first rotating assembly 3 and the second slide rail 43 of the second rotating assembly 4 in sequence, so that the camera assembly 5 is suspended inside the housing 6 through the ball joint structure; the contact surface between the receiving cavity 62 and the ball head 55 is coated with grease to reduce the coefficient of friction.

[0065] When the first rotating component 3 drives horizontal rotation, the output end drives the extension rod 54 to make a horizontal arc motion around the center of the ball head 55, and the ball head 55 rotates horizontally synchronously in the receiving cavity 62; when the second rotating component 4 drives pitch rotation, the output end pushes the extension rod 54 to make the ball head 55 pitch deflect in the receiving cavity 62; the spherical pair fits adaptively to the rotation angle change through continuous surface contact, and the grease layer reduces frictional resistance, making the two-degree-of-freedom rotation smooth and without jamming.

[0066] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 8As shown, the drive assembly 1 includes a motor 11 and a drive shaft 12. The output end of the motor 11 is connected to the drive shaft 12, and the drive shaft 12 meshes with the paddle gear 222. In this embodiment, the wedge-shaped groove of the output shaft of the motor 11 and the drive shaft 12 cooperates to achieve backlash-free power transmission. The outer peripheral gear of the drive shaft 12 and the paddle gear 222 maintain a constant meshing state, ensuring that the motor power is continuously input to the power distribution unit. When the electric push rod switches the axial position of the paddle gear 222, the meshing relationship between the drive shaft 12 and the paddle gear 222 is always unaffected, thereby maintaining the continuity of power transmission. This design achieves a triple effect: the wedge-shaped cooperation eliminates transmission backlash and ensures power transmission efficiency; constant meshing avoids power interruption during gear shifting; and the single-motor architecture simultaneously supports the freedom control requirements of horizontal and pitch dual steering, significantly reducing energy consumption and mechanical complexity.

[0067] The camera structure provided in this embodiment works as follows:

[0068] During human body tracking and monitoring, motor 11 continuously drives the paddle gear 222 to rotate via transmission shaft 12. First, horizontal rotation is executed: the electric push rod of shift execution unit 21 retracts, pushing the shift paddle 221 to move the paddle gear 222 upwards, causing the first extension section 223 to mesh with the first mating end 232 of the first connecting unit 23. Power is transmitted sequentially through the first gear 231 and the first rotating gear 31 to the vertically arranged first slide rail 32, driving the camera assembly 5 to rotate left and right along the trajectory of the horizontally arranged second slide rail 43. When the infrared camera 53 detects a human body entering the center area of ​​the horizontal field of view, the program controls the electric push rod of shift execution unit 21 to extend, pulling... The moving paddle gear 222 moves down, causing its second extension 224 to mesh with the second mating end 242 of the second connecting unit 24. Power is transmitted to the bevel gear 42 via the second gear 241 and the second rotating gear 41. After a 90° reversal, the horizontally set second slide rail 43 is driven to pitch and swing, forcing the camera assembly 5 to rotate up and down along the vertical trajectory of the first slide rail 32 to accurately capture the height of the human body. The infrared camera 53 feeds back the three-dimensional coordinates of the human body to the air conditioning control system in real time, and adjusts the air outlet direction and temperature parameters in conjunction. The receiving cavity 62 at the end of the fixing rod 61 of the housing 6 and the ball head 55 of the extension rod 54 of the rear housing 52 form a rotating pair, providing adaptive support for two degrees of freedom rotation throughout the entire process.

[0069] Example 2

[0070] This embodiment provides an air conditioner, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the air conditioner includes the camera structure described in Embodiment 1, and the camera structure is connected to the lower side of the indoor unit 7 of the air conditioner.

[0071] The air conditioner provided in this embodiment achieves precise human body position tracking through a bottom-mounted single-motor dual-degree-of-freedom camera structure, and dynamically adjusts the air supply direction in conjunction with the air conditioning system. This significantly reduces hardware costs while completely avoiding the problem of hot or cold air blowing directly on the human body, greatly improving the comfort level.

[0072] In a specific embodiment, the air conditioner includes a controller configured to receive the position of the target object captured by the camera assembly 5 and control the air outlet parameters of the indoor unit 7 according to the position; wherein the air outlet parameters include air outlet temperature, air outlet direction, and air outlet intensity.

[0073] There are many types of control logic for controllers. For example, the controller prioritizes adjusting the angle of the air deflector to deflect the airflow away from the area directly blowing on the human body. Only when space constraints prevent the airflow direction adjustment from completely avoiding the airflow will the temperature compensation mechanism be activated. In cooling mode, if the human body remains within the airflow trajectory for more than a set time, the outlet air temperature is slightly increased by 0.5-1℃ to reduce cold stimulation. At the same time, based on the real-time distance between the human body and the air conditioner, the airflow is reduced to below 50% when the distance is less than 2 meters. Airflow direction adjustment is always the primary intervention method, using a three-dimensional coordinate transformation algorithm to drive the air deflector to form an airflow distribution surrounding the human body.

[0074] The specific values ​​mentioned above, such as 0.5-1℃ and 2 meters, can be adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0075] In summary, it is readily understood by those skilled in the art that, without conflict, the aforementioned advantageous technical features can be freely combined and superimposed.

[0076] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A camera structure, characterized in that, Applied to air conditioners, the camera structure includes a drive assembly, a transmission switching assembly, a first rotation assembly, a second rotation assembly, and a camera assembly. The drive assembly is connected to the transmission switching assembly, and both the first and second rotation assemblies are connected to the camera assembly. The transmission switching assembly has a first state in which one end is connected to the first rotation assembly, or a second state in which the other end is connected to the second rotation assembly. The first and second rotation assemblies can drive the camera assembly to rotate in a horizontal and a vertical rotation direction to capture the position of a target object, thereby setting the airflow parameters of the air conditioner based on this position.

2. The camera structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission switching assembly includes a shift execution unit, a power distribution unit, a first connecting unit, a second connecting unit, and a connecting shaft. The shift execution unit is connected to the power distribution unit, and the power distribution unit, the first connecting unit, and the second connecting unit are all sleeved on the connecting shaft. The shift execution unit can drive the power distribution unit to move upward to connect with the first rotating assembly through the first connecting unit, or drive the power distribution unit to move downward to connect with the second rotating assembly through the second connecting unit.

3. The camera structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The shifting unit includes an electric push rod.

4. The camera structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The power distribution unit includes a shift paddle and a shift gear. One end of the shift paddle is sleeved on the shift gear, and the other end of the shift paddle is connected to the electric push rod. The extension and retraction of the electric push rod can drive the shift gear to move up and down through the shift paddle. The upper part of the shift gear has a first extension section that can cooperate with the first connecting unit, and the lower part of the shift gear has a second extension section that can cooperate with the second connecting unit. The outer periphery of the shift gear meshes with the output end of the drive assembly.

5. The camera structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first connecting unit includes a first gear and a first mating end extending from the bottom of the first gear, the bottom of the first mating end and the top of the first extension having a first toothed structure capable of meshing; the second connecting unit includes a second gear and a second mating end extending from the top of the second gear, the top of the second mating end and the bottom of the second extension having a second toothed structure capable of meshing.

6. The camera structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first rotating component includes a first rotating gear and a first slide rail. The first rotating gear meshes with the first gear. The end of the first slide rail is connected to the first rotating gear. The camera component is movably mounted on the first slide rail and can move horizontally along the first slide rail.

7. The camera structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second rotating assembly includes a second rotating gear, a bevel gear, and a second slide rail. The second rotating gear and the second gear mesh. One end of the bevel gear passes through the second rotating gear, and the other end of the bevel gear is connected to the second slide rail. The camera assembly is movably mounted on the second slide rail and can move vertically along the second slide rail.

8. The camera structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first slide rail is a vertically arranged first arc-shaped track, and the second slide rail is a horizontally arranged second arc-shaped track. The camera component passes through the first and second arc-shaped guide rails, so that when it moves in the horizontal direction, it can match the second arc-shaped track to adjust the horizontal viewing angle, and when it moves in the vertical direction, it can match the first arc-shaped track to adjust the pitch viewing angle.

9. The camera structure according to claims 1-8, characterized in that, The camera assembly includes a front shell, a rear shell, and an infrared camera. The infrared camera is located within the space enclosed by the front shell and the rear shell, and the front shell has a notch that allows the infrared camera to protrude.

10. The camera structure according to claim 9, characterized in that, The camera structure also includes a housing, with a fixing rod extending from the inside of the housing and a receiving cavity at the end of the fixing rod; an extension rod is provided on the outside of the rear housing, with a ball end at the end of the extension rod, the ball end cooperating with the receiving cavity to fix the rear housing; the extension rod passes through the output ends of the first rotating assembly and the second rotating assembly.

11. The camera structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drive assembly includes a motor and a drive shaft, the output end of the motor is connected to the drive shaft, and the drive shaft meshes with the paddle gear.

12. An air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes the camera structure according to any one of claims 1-11, the camera structure being connected to the lower side of the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

13. The air conditioner according to claim 12, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes a controller configured to receive the position of a target object captured by the camera assembly and control the air outlet parameters of the indoor unit based on the position; wherein the air outlet parameters include air outlet temperature, air outlet direction, and air outlet intensity.

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