Air conditioner and control method and device thereof, storage medium and computer program product

Abstract

The invention discloses an air conditioner and a control method and device thereof, a storage medium and a computer program product, the air conditioner is provided with an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the outdoor unit is provided with a compressor and a fresh air fan, and the indoor unit is provided with an indoor fan, an electric auxiliary heating module and a drainage pipe; the method comprises the steps that under the conditions that the air conditioner is started and an indoor fan runs, the temperature and humidity in the indoor unit are obtained; according to the temperature and humidity in the indoor unit, the water accumulation condition in the indoor unit is determined; according to the water accumulation condition in the indoor unit, at least one of an indoor fan and a fresh air fan is controlled, and sediments in the drainage pipe are dredged; and at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module and the indoor fan is controlled to clean the interior of the indoor unit. According to the scheme, according to the detection result of the accumulated water condition in the indoor unit, the positive and negative pressure alternate dredging and integrated cleaning and sterilizing strategy is executed for cleaning, the cleaning effect on the interior of the indoor unit is improved, and the user experience is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of air conditioner technology, specifically relating to an air conditioner control method, device, air conditioner, storage medium, and computer program product, and particularly to an air conditioner self-cleaning control method, device, air conditioner, storage medium, and computer program product. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing popularity of air conditioners (such as household air conditioners), users are demanding higher levels of comfort and health benefits from them. However, during long-term operation, air conditioners commonly experience problems such as dust accumulation and condensate retention inside the unit (such as the indoor unit). This leads to the growth of microorganisms in the indoor heat exchanger (such as the evaporator), air ducts, and condensate drainage system, forming biological slime. Consequently, typical after-sales issues such as unpleasant odors and poor drainage arise.

[0003] The solutions to the above problems mainly include regular manual cleaning of air conditioners, but these methods are cumbersome and have limited cleaning depth, failing to fundamentally solve the problem of cleaning the indoor unit of the air conditioner and affecting the user experience.

[0004] The above content is only used to help understand the technical solution of the present invention, and does not represent an admission that the above content is the technology in the related solution. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a control method, device, air conditioner, storage medium, and computer program product for an air conditioner, in order to solve the problem that the cleaning of the indoor unit of an air conditioner in related solutions mainly relies on regular manual cleaning, which is cumbersome and has limited cleaning depth, failing to fundamentally solve the problem of cleaning the indoor unit and affecting the user experience. The invention aims to improve the cleaning effect of the indoor unit by executing alternating positive and negative pressure unblocking and integrated cleaning and sterilization strategies based on the detection results of water accumulation inside the indoor unit, thereby enhancing the user experience.

[0006] This invention provides a control method for an air conditioner, the air conditioner having an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the outdoor unit having a compressor and a fresh air fan, and the indoor unit having an indoor fan, an electric auxiliary heating module, and a drain pipe; the control method for the air conditioner includes: when the air conditioner is started and the indoor fan is running, acquiring the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit; determining the water accumulation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit; controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective air ducts based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit to clear deposits in the drain pipe; and controlling at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit.

[0007] In some implementations, determining the water accumulation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit includes: based on a first correspondence between a set temperature and a set humidity under a set operating condition, determining the set humidity corresponding to the set temperature that is the same as the temperature inside the indoor unit under the same set operating condition as the current operating condition of the air conditioner, as the standard humidity inside the indoor unit corresponding to the temperature inside the indoor unit under the current operating condition of the air conditioner; determining whether the humidity inside the indoor unit is greater than the standard humidity inside the indoor unit; if the humidity inside the indoor unit is determined to be greater than the standard humidity inside the indoor unit; If the humidity inside the indoor unit is less than or equal to the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, the air conditioner is controlled to continue operating and then return to a previous state to continue determining the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit. If the humidity inside the indoor unit is determined to be greater than the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is determined based on the humidity inside the indoor unit as the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit. Then, based on the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit, the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct they are located is controlled to clear the sediment in the drain pipe.

[0008] In some implementations, determining the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit based on the humidity inside the indoor unit includes: determining a humidity characteristic parameter inside the indoor unit based on the humidity obtained within a set time period; the humidity characteristic parameter inside the indoor unit includes at least one of the following: the rate of change of humidity inside the indoor unit, the time elapsed when the humidity inside the indoor unit exceeds the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, and the ratio of the humidity difference to the time difference when the humidity inside the indoor unit exceeds the standard humidity inside the indoor unit and reaches a set stable level; based on a second correspondence between the set humidity characteristic parameter and the set water accumulation level, determining the set water accumulation level corresponding to the set humidity characteristic parameter that is the same as the humidity characteristic parameter inside the indoor unit in the second correspondence as the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit corresponding to the humidity characteristic parameter inside the indoor unit.

[0009] In some embodiments, the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit includes: the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit; based on the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit, controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective air ducts to clear the sediment in the drain pipe includes: determining whether the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is greater than or equal to a preset level within a set level range; if it is determined that the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is less than the preset level within a set level range, then controlling the air conditioner to continue operating and return to normal operation, so as to continue to determine the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit; if it is determined that the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is greater than or equal to the preset level within a set level range, then controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective air ducts to create a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit, and using the negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment to clear the sediment in the drain pipe.

[0010] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit further has a fresh air inlet, and the indoor unit further has an indoor air inlet, an indoor air outlet, and a fresh air outlet; controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective ducts to create a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit, and using the negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment to clear deposits in the drain pipe, includes: executing a preset negative pressure suction strategy: controlling the indoor air inlet to close, controlling the indoor air outlet to open, and controlling the indoor fan to run at a set speed to create a negative pressure environment inside the indoor unit; maintaining the negative pressure environment for a first set time to use the negative pressure environment to loosen the deposits in the drain pipe, and then controlling the indoor fan to close to stop the formation of the negative pressure environment; and / or, executing The preset positive pressure purging strategy involves controlling the fresh air inlet to open, controlling the fresh air outlet to close, and controlling the fresh air fan to start and run at a set speed to create a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit. This positive pressure environment is maintained for a second set time to allow the positive pressure environment to squeeze out deposits in the drain pipe. Afterward, the fresh air fan is controlled to close, stopping the formation of the positive pressure environment. This process is repeated a set number of times using a preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or a preset positive pressure purging strategy. Then, at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan is controlled to clean the interior of the indoor unit. When repeating the preset negative pressure suction strategy and the preset positive pressure purging strategy, the preset negative pressure suction strategy and the preset positive pressure purging strategy are executed alternately, repeating this cycle a set number of times.

[0011] In some embodiments, controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the inlet and outlet of their respective air ducts to create a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit, and using the negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment to clear deposits in the drain pipe, further includes: after cyclically executing a preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or a preset positive pressure purging strategy a set number of times, determining whether the drainage parameters of the drain pipe have reached preset drainage parameters; the drainage parameters of the drain pipe and the drainage parameters in the preset drainage parameters include: the indoor fan and / or the fresh air fan... The system detects at least one of the following: the current fluctuation value of the motor in the machine, the drainage rate of the drain pipe, and the drainage pressure of the drain pipe. If it is determined that the drainage parameters of the drain pipe have not reached the preset drainage parameters, the system returns to the previous state and continues to cycle through the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or the preset positive pressure purging strategy for a set number of times. If it is determined that the drainage parameters of the drain pipe have reached the preset drainage parameters, the system stops cyclically executing the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or the preset positive pressure purging strategy for a set number of times, and then controls at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit.

[0012] In some embodiments, the indoor unit further includes an indoor heat exchanger; controlling at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit includes: stopping the air conditioner from continuing to operate, controlling the air conditioner to operate in dehumidification mode, controlling the compressor to start so that condensate forms on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger, and using the condensate to flush the inner wall of the drain pipe by flowing through the drain pipe; executing a preset sterilization and / or drying strategy: controlling the electric auxiliary heating module to turn on so that the temperature inside the water channel where the drain pipe is located rises above a preset temperature for a third set time; and / or controlling the indoor fan to turn on for a fourth set time to dry the inside of the water channel where the drain pipe is located; and resuming the operation of the air conditioner.

[0013] In some embodiments, controlling at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit further includes: determining whether the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have reached preset cleaning parameters before resuming the air conditioner's operation; the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit and the cleaning parameters in the preset cleaning parameters include at least one of: the drainage unobstructedness of the drain pipe, the rate of humidity change inside the indoor unit, and the degree of odor inside the indoor unit; if it is determined that the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have not reached the preset cleaning parameters, then return to continue executing the preset sterilization and / or drying strategy; if it is determined that the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have reached the preset cleaning parameters, then stop executing the preset sterilization and / or drying strategy, stop the air conditioner from operating in dehumidification mode, and resume the air conditioner's operation.

[0014] In conjunction with the above method, another aspect of the present invention provides a control device for an air conditioner, comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire the temperature inside the indoor unit and the humidity inside the indoor unit when the air conditioner is started and the indoor fan is running; a control unit configured to determine the water accumulation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit; the control unit is further configured to control the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective air ducts, based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, to clear deposits in the drain pipe; the control unit is further configured to control at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to perform cleaning treatment on the inside of the indoor unit.

[0015] In conjunction with the above-described device, the present invention further provides an air conditioner, comprising: the control device for the air conditioner described above.

[0016] In conjunction with the above method, the present invention further provides a storage medium comprising a stored program, wherein, when the program is executed, the device on which the storage medium is located executes the steps of the control method for the air conditioner described above.

[0017] In conjunction with the above method, the present invention further provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the control method for the air conditioner described above.

[0018] Therefore, the solution of this invention addresses the cleaning problem inside the indoor unit of an air conditioner. The air conditioner has an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The outdoor unit has a compressor and a fresh air fan (such as the fresh air fan of a fresh air system 6). The indoor unit has an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan (such as the cross-flow fan of a cross-flow fan system 5), a water tray, a drain pipe (such as drain pipe 8), and an electric auxiliary heating module (such as a high-temperature heating module). When the air conditioner is running and the indoor fan is running, the first stage is performed: acquiring the indoor unit's internal air temperature and humidity data (such as air humidity data and air temperature data), and judging the water accumulation situation of the indoor unit based on the indoor unit's internal air temperature and humidity data, such as judging the water accumulation situation of the indoor unit based on the correspondence between the preset humidity data (such as temperature and humidity residence time, rate of change, peak duration, etc.) and the preset water accumulation level under the same operating conditions and temperature. If the water accumulation level corresponding to the indoor unit's water accumulation situation is greater than or equal to the preset level (such as the water accumulation level of a cross-flow fan system 5), the solution is performed. In the intermediate (lower) stage, the second stage is executed: the indoor fan is controlled to execute a preset negative pressure suction strategy to loosen the deposits in the drain pipe, and the fresh air fan is controlled to execute a preset positive pressure purging strategy to suck out the loosened deposits in the drain pipe. This negative-positive pressure alternation cycle is performed a set number of times to perform pulse purging of the deposits in the drain pipe. After the drain pipe is clear, the third stage is executed: the air conditioner is set to dehumidify mode to generate condensate water to flush the inside of the drain pipe, the electric auxiliary heating module is turned on for high-temperature sterilization, and the indoor fan is turned on for drying. After the self-inspection results of the indoor unit (such as the drainage of the drain pipe, no water leakage inside the indoor unit, no odor inside the indoor unit, etc.) meet the requirements, the air conditioner resumes normal operation. Thus, by executing the positive and negative pressure alternating unblocking and integrated cleaning and sterilization strategy based on the detection results of the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, the cleaning effect of the indoor unit is improved and the user experience is enhanced.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention.

[0020] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention for determining the water accumulation inside the indoor unit; Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention for determining the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit; Figure 4 This is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for clearing sediment from the drain pipe; Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention, which executes a preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or a preset positive pressure purging strategy to clear the sediment in the drain pipe. Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention, which determines whether the drain pipe is unobstructed after clearing the sediment in the drain pipe. Figure 7 This is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for sterilizing and drying the interior of the indoor unit; Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention for determining the cleanliness level inside the indoor unit; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the control device for an air conditioner according to the present invention; Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the first stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention. Figure 11 This is a flowchart illustrating the second stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the third stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention. Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the control device for the air conditioner of the present invention.

[0022] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference numerals in the embodiments of the present invention are as follows: 3-Humidity sensor; 4-Temperature sensor; 5-Cross-flow fan system; 6-Fresh air system; 7-Switching damper; 8-Drain pipe; 9-Control module; 10-Database; 102-Acquisition unit; 104-Control unit. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with specific embodiments and corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0024] The existing solutions for cleaning indoor air conditioner units primarily rely on regular manual cleaning, which is cumbersome and limited in cleaning depth, failing to address the root cause and impacting user experience. Specifically, these solutions include replacing the indoor heat exchanger (such as the evaporator or condenser) and unclogging the condensate drain pipe 8. However, these methods have significant drawbacks: First, manual cleaning relies on user intervention and has limited depth, making it difficult to thoroughly remove biological sludge hidden in the gaps between heat exchanger fins, the bottom of the drain pan, and the bends in the drain pipe 8. Second, replacing core components like the heat exchanger or drain pipe 8 is costly and a reactive, superficial solution; the problem will recur once the system becomes dirty again. Furthermore, some users lack professional maintenance knowledge, and improper cleaning may cause secondary pollution or equipment damage.

[0025] Furthermore, the control systems of air conditioners in the relevant solutions generally did not fully consider the self-cleaning capability and anti-fouling structure optimization of the drainage path during the design phase. The drain pans mostly adopt a flat bottom or shallow groove structure, which makes it easy for condensate to accumulate and form a "water accumulation area," providing an ideal environment for microbial growth. At the same time, the drain pipes are mostly made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with smooth inner walls but lacking antibacterial or anti-adhesion functions. After long-term use, biofilms easily adhere to them, leading to pipe blockage. Although some high-end models have introduced a "self-cleaning" function, it mainly relies on high-temperature drying or refrigerant reverse circulation, which can only remove surface dust and has limited effect on removing deep biological slime, and cannot achieve active cleaning of the drainage system.

[0026] In addition, the air conditioner control logic in the relevant solutions lacks a real-time monitoring and proactive intervention mechanism for the indoor unit's internal humidity, drainage status, and odor risk, making it impossible to provide early warning or preventative measures before problems occur.

[0027] It is evident that the accumulation of water and dust inside air conditioners leads to the formation of biofilm, contaminating the heat exchanger and causing persistent odor problems. Traditional cleaning methods only provide short-term relief and cannot eradicate the root cause of biofilm regeneration, impacting user health and experience. Biofilm buildup in drain pipes causes blockages, leading to air conditioner leaks. Solutions in these cases (such as manual unclogging or replacing drain pipes) require frequent intervention, resulting in high time (2-4 hours per repair) and economic costs, and the problem is prone to recurrence. Furthermore, these solutions lack intelligent prevention mechanisms, relying solely on passive repairs and failing to achieve real-time monitoring and automated intervention of water accumulation, leading to repeated repair costs for users and a continuous decline in product reliability and user satisfaction.

[0028] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an air conditioner and its control method that are optimized from both structural design and intelligent control dimensions to fundamentally solve the problem of biological slime generation caused by water and dust accumulation inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner, achieve self-cleaning, anti-clogging and odor suppression of the drainage system, reduce the frequency of after-sales maintenance and user maintenance costs, and improve the health and reliability of the air conditioner in the long term.

[0029] Therefore, the present invention proposes a control method for an air conditioner, specifically a self-cleaning control method for an air conditioner. By monitoring the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the water accumulation is determined based on the temperature and humidity. If water accumulation is confirmed, a positive and negative pressure alternating unblocking and integrated cleaning and sterilization strategy is formed to achieve long-term elimination of air conditioner odor and drainage problems, effectively reduce maintenance costs, and avoid user time loss caused by repeated repairs.

[0030] According to embodiments of the present invention, a control method for an air conditioner is provided, such as... Figure 1 The diagram shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention. The air conditioner has an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The outdoor unit has a compressor and a fresh air fan. The indoor unit has an indoor fan, an electric auxiliary heating module, and a drain pipe. The outdoor unit also has an outdoor fan, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a fresh air inlet. The indoor unit also has an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor air inlet, an indoor air outlet, and a fresh air outlet. The indoor fan includes a cross-flow fan, such as the cross-flow fan in a cross-flow fan system 5. The fresh air fan is like the fresh air fan in a fresh air system 6, the fresh air inlet is like the fresh air inlet in a fresh air system 6, the indoor fan is like the cross-flow fan in a cross-flow fan system 5, the drain pipe is like a drain pipe 8, the indoor air inlet is like the upper air inlet of the indoor unit, and the fresh air outlet is like the fresh air outlet in a fresh air system 6. In the solution of the present invention, as... Figure 1 As shown, the control method of the air conditioner includes steps S110 to S140.

[0031] In step S110, when the air conditioner is turned on and the indoor fan is running, the temperature inside the indoor unit and the humidity inside the indoor unit are acquired; wherein, the temperature inside the indoor unit is the temperature data collected by the temperature sensor 4, and the humidity inside the indoor unit is the humidity data collected by the humidity sensor 3.

[0032] In step S120, the water accumulation inside the indoor unit is determined based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit; the water accumulation inside the indoor unit is, for example, the degree of condensation accumulation inside the indoor unit.

[0033] In step S130, based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct where they are located are controlled to clear the sediment in the drain pipe. Specifically, a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment are formed inside the indoor unit to clear the sediment in the drain pipe.

[0034] In step S140, after clearing the sediment in the drain pipe, at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan is controlled to clean the interior of the indoor unit. Specifically, the interior of the indoor unit is sterilized and dried to achieve self-cleaning of the interior of the indoor unit.

[0035] This invention proposes an air conditioner and its control scheme to solve problems such as odor caused by internal water accumulation and the growth of biological slime, as well as blockage and leakage in the drain pipe 8, found in related solutions. By constructing a closed-loop control system of "sensing-judgment-intervention-cleaning," such as intelligent monitoring through sensors (e.g., humidity sensor 3 and temperature sensor 4), alternating positive and negative pressure unblocking, and integrated cleaning and sterilization strategies, the system monitors the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Based on the temperature and humidity, it judges the water accumulation situation. If water accumulation is confirmed, it initiates alternating positive and negative pressure unblocking and integrated cleaning and sterilization strategies, achieving long-term elimination of air conditioner odor and drainage problems, effectively reducing maintenance costs and avoiding user time wasted due to repeated repairs. Thus, it achieves intelligent diagnosis and self-cleaning of the internal water channels of the air conditioner, significantly reducing after-sales maintenance costs and improving the user experience.

[0036] In some implementations, the specific process of determining the water accumulation inside the indoor unit in step S120 based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit is described in the following exemplary description. The following is in conjunction with... Figure 2 The flowchart shown is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for determining the water accumulation inside the indoor unit. It further illustrates the specific process of determining the water accumulation inside the indoor unit in step S120, including steps S210 to S240.

[0037] Step S210: Based on the first correspondence between set temperature and set humidity under set operating conditions, determine the set humidity corresponding to the set temperature that is the same as the temperature inside the indoor unit under the same set operating conditions as the current operating conditions of the air conditioner as the standard humidity inside the indoor unit corresponding to the temperature inside the indoor unit under the current operating conditions of the air conditioner.

[0038] Step S220: Determine whether the humidity inside the indoor unit is greater than the standard humidity inside the indoor unit.

[0039] Step S230: If it is determined that the humidity inside the indoor unit is less than or equal to the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, then control the air conditioner to continue running and return to the previous state, so as to continue to determine the water accumulation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit.

[0040] Step S240: If it is determined that the humidity inside the indoor unit is greater than the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, then the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is determined based on the humidity inside the indoor unit as the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit. Then, based on the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit, the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct where they are located is controlled to clear the sediment in the drain pipe.

[0041] Alternatively, it can be done by: determining the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit corresponding to the current operating condition of the air conditioner, the temperature inside the indoor unit, and the humidity inside the indoor unit, based on the correspondence between the set humidity and the set operating condition and the set temperature. Specifically, the set water accumulation level corresponding to the same set operating condition as the current operating condition of the air conditioner, the same set temperature as the indoor unit, and the same humidity as the indoor unit is determined as the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit corresponding to the humidity inside the indoor unit at the same temperature as the current operating condition of the air conditioner, and is used as the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit.

[0042] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the first stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention. Figure 10 As shown, the first stage of the air conditioner control method includes: Step 11: Start the air conditioner and enter the operation status monitoring. With the cross-flow fan system 5 running, obtain the indoor air humidity and temperature data of the air conditioner. Then proceed to step 12.

[0043] In step 11, while the air conditioner is running, the control module 9 continuously activates the humidity sensor 3 and the temperature sensor 4 to collect real-time humidity and temperature data of the air inside the indoor unit. This data collection process is performed while the cross-flow fan system 5 is running to ensure that the airflow environment accurately reflects the air condition inside the indoor unit.

[0044] Step 12: The collected humidity and temperature data inside the air conditioner's indoor unit are transmitted to the control module 9 in time-series format and compared with the standard operating condition data pre-stored in the database 10 to determine if there is an abnormal humidity trend inside the air conditioner's indoor unit. If not, the database 10 is continuously collected and updated to maintain the normal operation of the air conditioner. If so, Step 13 is executed to analyze the rate of change and residence time of humidity inside the air conditioner's indoor unit to determine the water accumulation situation inside the air conditioner's indoor unit. Specifically, when compared with the values ​​in the database, a humidity trend is determined to exist if the humidity is greater than 15% of the database humidity and remains so for 2 minutes.

[0045] In the solution of the present invention, the water accumulation inside the indoor unit is determined based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit, and then a positive and negative pressure alternation mechanism is used to thoroughly loosen and drain the silt based on the water accumulation, thereby improving cleaning efficiency and effect.

[0046] In some implementations, the specific process of determining the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit based on the humidity inside the indoor unit in step S240 is described in the following exemplary description.

[0047] The following is combined Figure 3 The schematic diagram shown is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for determining the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit. It further illustrates the specific process of determining the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit in step S240, including steps S310 to S320.

[0048] Step S310: For the humidity inside the indoor unit obtained within a set time period, determine the humidity characteristic parameters inside the indoor unit; the humidity characteristic parameters inside the indoor unit include at least one of the following: the rate of change of humidity inside the indoor unit, the time elapsed when the humidity inside the indoor unit exceeds the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, and the ratio of the humidity difference to the time difference when the humidity inside the indoor unit exceeds the standard humidity inside the indoor unit and reaches a set stable level.

[0049] Step S320: Based on the second correspondence between the set humidity characteristic parameter and the set water accumulation level, the set water accumulation level corresponding to the set humidity characteristic parameter that is the same as the humidity characteristic parameter inside the indoor unit in the second correspondence is determined as the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit corresponding to the humidity characteristic parameter inside the indoor unit. Then, according to the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit, the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct where they are located are controlled to clear the sediment in the drain pipe.

[0050] like Figure 10 As shown, the first stage of the air conditioner control method also includes: Step 13: Analyze the rate of change and residence time of humidity inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner to identify the initial characteristics of water accumulation inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner; according to the preset algorithm model, determine the water accumulation level, such as low, medium, high, or severe, and then proceed to step 14.

[0051] In step 13, the rate of change and residence time of humidity inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner are analyzed to identify the initial characteristics of water accumulation inside the indoor unit. Specifically, database 10 stores the "normal humidity-temperature" mapping relationship under different operating conditions, as well as characteristic curves corresponding to different water accumulation levels, including parameters such as temperature and humidity residence time, rate of change, and peak duration. For different operating conditions, such as when the air conditioner is in dehumidification mode or cooling or ventilation mode, the "normal humidity-temperature" mapping relationship refers to the mapping relationship under the average of multiple tests under standard operating conditions (national standard test conditions). The temperature and humidity residence time, rate of change, and peak duration are all obtained from data collected by humidity sensor 3 or by processing the collected data. The basis for this judgment is that during normal operation of the air conditioner, the data collected by humidity sensor 3 shows that the humidity first rises and then reaches the standard value range (the humidity data when the air conditioner is normally draining); in the water accumulation state, after the air conditioner is turned on, the humidity changes from the room humidity data to the standard value range and then exceeds the standard value range (reaching humidity saturation at its highest). Exceeding the standard value range indicates the water accumulation state. The above three parameters are used together to determine the water accumulation status; among them, the temperature and humidity residence time is the time that the humidity value of the air conditioner exceeds the standard value range during operation; the humidity change rate is the value of the humidity difference to time when the humidity data reaches a stable state (humidity no longer changes) when it exceeds the standard value range (characterizing the water accumulation rate); and the peak duration is the time of continuous operation after the humidity exceeds the standard value range and reaches the maximum value.

[0052] When the air conditioning system detects a significant deviation between the current humidity-temperature data and the standard operating conditions, and meets conditions such as "humidity change rate exceeding a threshold" or "temperature and humidity residence time exceeding a set time, such as 30 minutes," it is determined that there is an abnormal trend of water accumulation. A significant deviation between the current humidity-temperature data and the standard operating conditions is defined as follows: temperature and humidity data together determine the humidity saturation value at that temperature. The standard operating conditions are the data range of the humidity sensor 3 under normal drainage conditions in a laboratory setting (the data range includes data values ​​from dry northern regions and humid southern regions). If the humidity value obtained from the current humidity-temperature data exceeds the humidity value range of the standard operating conditions, a significant deviation is determined.

[0053] In step 13, based on a preset algorithm model, the water accumulation level is determined as low, medium, high, or severe. This includes: the control module 9 further analyzes whether the trend is persistent based on the preset algorithm model (such as an anomaly detection algorithm based on a sliding window) to determine whether the water accumulation has entered its initial stage. Subsequently, the air conditioning system classifies the water accumulation into four levels according to its severity: low (slight moisture retention), medium (local water accumulation), high (poor drainage), and severe (drainage pipe 8 is close to blockage).

[0054] The analysis of whether this trend is sustainable includes: Air conditioners typically produce condensate during cooling, which drains to the outside or into a drainage channel via the indoor unit's drip tray and hoses. By acquiring data from the outdoor and indoor temperature sensors, and comparing the indoor and outdoor temperature differences with the user-set temperature, the air conditioner's operating status is determined. The duration of peak temperatures is then used to assess water accumulation. Both the outdoor and indoor units have temperature sensors; generally, a larger temperature difference will result in more water accumulation. This is further analyzed based on the peak duration.

[0055] In the present invention, the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is determined based on the humidity inside the indoor unit, and then a positive and negative pressure alternation mechanism is used to thoroughly loosen and drain the silt based on the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit, thereby improving cleaning efficiency and effectiveness.

[0056] In some embodiments, the water accumulation inside the indoor unit includes the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit. The specific process of controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective ducts, based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit in step S130, to clear the sediment in the drain pipe, is described in the following exemplary description. The following is in conjunction with... Figure 4 The schematic diagram shown is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for clearing sediment in the drain pipe. It further illustrates the specific process of clearing sediment in the drain pipe in step S130, including steps S410 to S430.

[0057] Step S410: Determine whether the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is greater than or equal to the preset level within the set level range; wherein, the preset level within the set level range is, for example, one of four levels: low (slight moisture retention), medium (local water accumulation), high (poor drainage), and severe (drainage pipe 8 is close to blockage).

[0058] In step S420, if it is determined that the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is less than the preset level within the set level range, the air conditioner is controlled to continue running and return to the previous state to continue to determine the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit.

[0059] Step S430: If it is determined that the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is greater than or equal to a preset level within the set level range, then control the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct where they are located, so as to form a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit, and use the negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment to clear the sediment in the drain pipe.

[0060] like Figure 10 As shown, the first stage of the air conditioner control method also includes: Step 14, determining whether the water accumulation level is greater than or equal to the medium level: if not, continuously collect and update the database 10 to maintain the normal operation of the air conditioner; if so, trigger the drainage intervention strategy and enter the second stage.

[0061] In step 14, when the water accumulation level reaches "medium or above", the air conditioning system automatically triggers the drainage intervention strategy and enters the second stage.

[0062] In the solution of the present invention, based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct where they are located are controlled to clear the sediment in the drain pipe, thoroughly loosen the drainage silt, and improve cleaning efficiency and effect.

[0063] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit further has a fresh air inlet, and the indoor unit further has an indoor air inlet, an indoor air outlet, and a fresh air outlet; wherein, the fresh air inlet is like the fresh air inlet of the fresh air system 6, the indoor air inlet is like the air inlet at the top of the indoor unit, and the fresh air outlet is like the fresh air outlet of the fresh air system 6. Step S430 involves controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective ducts to create a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit, and using the negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment to clear the deposits in the drain pipe, including: executing a preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or a preset positive pressure purging strategy to clear the deposits in the drain pipe.

[0064] The following is combined Figure 5 The schematic diagram shows an embodiment of the method of the present invention in which a preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or a preset positive pressure purging strategy are executed to clear the sediment in the drain pipe. The specific process of executing the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or the preset positive pressure purging strategy to clear the sediment in the drain pipe in step S430 is further explained, including steps S510 to S530.

[0065] Step S510: Execute a preset negative pressure suction strategy: control the indoor air inlet to close, control the indoor air outlet to open, and control the indoor fan to run at a set speed to create a negative pressure environment inside the indoor unit; maintain the negative pressure environment for a first set time to loosen the deposits in the drain pipe; then, control the indoor fan to close, stopping the formation of the negative pressure environment; wherein, the first set time is, for example, 30 seconds to 60 seconds. And / or, Step S520: Execute a preset positive pressure purging strategy: While using the negative pressure environment to loosen the deposits in the drain pipe, after the negative pressure environment has loosened the deposits in the drain pipe, control the fresh air inlet to open, control the fresh air outlet to close, and control the fresh air fan to start and run at a set speed to create a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit; maintain the positive pressure environment for a second set time to use the positive pressure environment to squeeze the deposits in the drain pipe. Specifically, when using the negative pressure environment to loosen the deposits in the drain pipe, the positive pressure environment is used to squeeze the loosened deposits in the drain pipe. Afterward, control the fresh air fan to turn off and stop creating the positive pressure environment.

[0066] Step S530: The preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or preset positive pressure purging strategy are executed cyclically a set number of times. Then, at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan is controlled to clean the interior of the indoor unit. When cyclically executing the preset negative pressure suction strategy and the preset positive pressure purging strategy, the preset negative pressure suction strategy and the preset positive pressure purging strategy are executed alternately, cyclically for a set number of times. The set number of times is, for example, 2 to 5 times.

[0067] Figure 11 This is a schematic flowchart of the second stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention. Figure 11 As shown, the second stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention includes: Step 21: Close the air inlet at the top of the indoor unit of the air conditioner to cut off the entry of outside air; open the air outlet of the indoor unit to open the airflow outlet; start the indoor fan of the air conditioner (such as the cross-flow fan of the cross-flow fan system 5) to execute the preset negative pressure suction strategy at the set speed, maintain the negative pressure state for 30 to 60 seconds, and push the sludge in the drain pipe 8 to loosen it, and then proceed to step 22.

[0068] Step 22: Turn off the cross-flow fan of the cross-flow fan system 5 to stop the positive pressure output; turn on the fresh air system 6, open the fresh air inlet of the fresh air system 6, close the fresh air outlet of the fresh air system 6, start the fresh air fan of the fresh air system 6, execute the preset positive pressure purging strategy, maintain the positive pressure state for 30 to 60 seconds, and remove the silt (such as biological slime and sediment) loosened in the dust and drain pipe 8 by the negative pressure suction strategy, and then proceed to step 23.

[0069] Step 23: Perform positive and negative pressure alternation cycles 2 to 5 times to form a "pulse purging" strategy, and then proceed to step 24.

[0070] In steps 21 to 23, during the active intervention phase, control module 9 first closes the upper air inlet of the indoor unit and opens the air outlet of the indoor unit, cutting off the entry of external air and forming a closed air path. Then, it starts the cross-flow fan system 5 at a set speed (e.g., 1200 rpm) for 30-60 seconds, creating a negative pressure environment inside the indoor unit and loosening the biofilm that has formed in the drain pipe 8. After the negative pressure phase ends, the cross-flow fan system 5 is turned off, the fresh air system 6 is turned on, and the fresh air outlet of the fresh air system 6 is closed, forming a closed air duct. The fresh air fan of the fresh air system 6 is then started at the same speed (e.g., 1200 rpm) for 30-60 seconds, creating positive pressure to squeeze out the loosened biofilm in the drain pipe 8. This alternating positive and negative pressure cycle is performed 2-5 times, forming a "pulse-type purging" strategy, effectively enhancing the physical impact and preventing localized blockages.

[0071] The components, including the cross-flow fan system 5, the upper air inlet of the indoor unit, the air outlet of the indoor unit, the drain pipe 8, the fresh air system 6, the switching damper 7, the fresh air system inlet, and the fresh air outlet, are consistent with those of a conventional air conditioner. The difference lies in the presence of the switching damper, which is mainly used to connect the main air duct and the fresh air duct. The closing mechanism of the air inlet and outlet is consistent with that of a conventional air conditioner. The main air duct of the air conditioner is generally top-inlet and bottom-outlet; the upper part contains an air inlet shielding unit, which can achieve air inlet closure; the lower part contains a sweeping plate; when the air inlet is closed and the air outlet is opened, the cross-flow fan in the main air duct operates, creating a negative pressure environment in the main air duct; at the same time, the fresh air inlet is opened and the air outlet is closed, the fresh air fan operates, and the main air duct achieves a positive pressure environment.

[0072] In the present invention, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a humidity sensor 3, a temperature sensor 4, a cross-flow fan system 5, a fresh air system 6, a switching damper 7, a drain pipe 8, a control module 9, and a database 10. The switching damper 7 is located in the airflow channel (such as the air inlet channel and / or exhaust channel of the indoor unit) between the fresh air system 6 and the indoor unit, and is used to automatically control the opening and closing of the air inlet and / or outlet of the indoor unit under positive pressure purging and negative pressure suction modes. The control module 9 is electrically connected to each sensor, the cross-flow fan system 5, and the fresh air system 6, and is used to execute the water accumulation detection, grading judgment, and active intervention control logic in the present invention. For details, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 10 , Figure 11 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 The example shown. Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the control device for the air conditioner of the present invention. The airflow channel is the connection channel between the fresh air component and the main air duct.

[0073] In this invention, an air conditioner is proposed, including a humidity sensor 3, a temperature sensor 4, a database module, a cross-flow fan system 5, a fresh air system 6, and a switching damper 7. The humidity sensor 3 and temperature sensor 4 are used to detect the humidity and temperature data inside the air conditioner (e.g., inside the indoor unit) in real time and transmit this data to the database module (e.g., database 10). The database module stores a water accumulation level threshold database built based on historical operating data, used to dynamically classify and judge the water accumulation situation inside the air conditioner based on the detection data (e.g., humidity and temperature data inside the air conditioner) from the humidity sensor 3 and temperature sensor 4. When the water accumulation level inside the air conditioner reaches a preset intervention threshold, the cross-flow fan system 5 is controlled to close the upper air inlet of the indoor unit and open the air outlet, causing the cross-flow fan system 5 to execute a negative pressure formation strategy at a specific speed, creating a negative pressure environment inside the indoor unit, loosening the condensate drain pipes, and improving cleaning efficiency and effectiveness.

[0074] In some embodiments, step S430 involves controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan, as well as the air inlet and outlet of their respective ducts, to create a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit. The negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment are then used to clear sediment from the drain pipe. The process further includes determining whether the drain pipe is functioning properly after clearing the sediment. The following is a related description. Figure 6 The diagram illustrates a process of determining whether the drain pipe is unobstructed after clearing the sediment in the drain pipe according to an embodiment of the method of the present invention. It further explains the specific process of determining whether the drain pipe is unobstructed after clearing the sediment in the drain pipe in step S430, including steps S610 to S630.

[0075] Step S610: After repeatedly executing the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or the preset positive pressure purging strategy a set number of times, determine whether the drainage parameters of the drain pipe have reached the preset drainage parameters; the drainage parameters of the drain pipe and the drainage parameters in the preset drainage parameters include at least one of the following: the current fluctuation value of the motor in the indoor fan and / or the fresh air fan, the drainage rate of the drain pipe, and the drainage pressure of the drain pipe.

[0076] Step S620: If it is determined that the drainage parameters of the drain pipe have not reached the preset drainage parameters, return to continue to cycle through the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or the preset positive pressure purging strategy for a set number of times.

[0077] Step S630: If it is determined that the drainage parameters of the drain pipe have reached the preset drainage parameters, then stop the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or preset positive pressure purging strategy set number of times, and then control at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module and the indoor fan to clean the inside of the indoor unit.

[0078] like Figure 11 As shown, the second stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention further includes: Step 24: Determine if drainage is detected to be unobstructed: If yes, the drainage system status is determined to be initially cleared and enter the third stage; otherwise, return to step 23 and continue to perform positive-negative pressure alternation cycle 2 to 5 times to form a "pulse purging" strategy.

[0079] In step 24, after detecting smooth drainage (e.g., through fan current fluctuations in the cross-flow fan system 5 and / or the fresh air system 6, and the drainage flow rate feedback signal from the drain pipe 8), the air conditioning system enters the cleaning and recovery phase, i.e., the third phase. During fan operation (with the air inlet and outlet closed), drainage is generally normal. The fan operating curve differs from the operating condition when the water pipe is blocked (the specific difference is related to the fan characteristic curve). The smoothness of drainage is determined based on the differences in operating conditions at different points on the fan characteristic curve.

[0080] In the solution of this invention, the alternating positive and negative pressure mechanism can thoroughly loosen drainage silt and improve dredging efficiency.

[0081] In some embodiments, the indoor unit in step S140 further includes an indoor heat exchanger; controlling at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit includes: a process of sterilizing and drying the interior of the indoor unit. The following is in conjunction with... Figure 7 The schematic diagram shown is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for sterilizing and drying the interior of the indoor unit. It further illustrates the specific process of sterilizing and drying the interior of the indoor unit in step S140, including steps S710 to S730.

[0082] Step S710: Stop the air conditioner from continuing to operate, control the air conditioner to operate in dehumidification mode, control the compressor to start, so that condensate water forms on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger, and use the condensate water to flush the inner wall of the drain pipe by flowing through the drain pipe.

[0083] Step S720: Execute a preset sterilization and / or drying strategy: Control the electric auxiliary heating module to turn on, raising the temperature inside the waterway where the drain pipe is located to above a preset temperature, and continue for a third set time; wherein the third set time is, for example, 10 to 15 minutes. And / or, control the indoor fan to turn on, continuing for a fourth set time, to dry the inside of the waterway where the drain pipe is located; wherein the fourth set time is, for example, 10 to 15 minutes. The cross-flow fan remains on throughout the sterilization and drying process.

[0084] Step S730: Restore the air conditioner to continue operating, that is, restore the operation of the air conditioner before it stopped continuing to operate.

[0085] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the third stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention. Figure 12 As shown, the third stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention includes: Step 31: Start the dehumidification mode of the air conditioner. The compressor runs, the evaporator cools down, and condensation forms on the surface of the evaporator. The condensation flows through the drain pan and out along the drain pipe 8. The condensation washes the inner wall of the drain pipe 8 to remove residual sludge and dirt. Then proceed to step 32.

[0086] Step 32: Implement the waterway (i.e., the drainage pipe of drain pipe 8) drying and high-temperature sterilization strategy. Turn on the high-temperature heating module and the cross-flow fan system 5 to raise the internal temperature of the waterway to the preset temperature, such as above 60°C, and continue for a set time, such as 10 to 15 minutes. Sterilization and drying are achieved by using high-temperature steam and strong air circulation. Then, proceed to step 33.

[0087] Step 33: Turn off the high-temperature heating module and the cross-flow fan system 5 to restore the water channel to a dry state, and then proceed to step 34.

[0088] In steps 31 to 33, the air conditioning system enters the cleaning and restoration phase, i.e., the third stage. Control module 9 activates the air conditioner's dehumidification mode, the compressor runs, and the indoor heat exchanger (such as the evaporator) cools down, causing condensation to form on its surface. The condensate flows along the drain pan into drain pipe 8, flushing the pipe wall and removing residual dirt. Subsequently, the air conditioning system executes a waterway drying and high-temperature sterilization strategy: the high-temperature heating module is activated, raising the internal temperature of drain pipe 8 to a preset temperature, such as above 60°C, for a set time, such as 12 minutes. High-temperature steam and strong air circulation (such as a cross-flow fan running at high speed) are used to achieve sterilization and drying. This process effectively kills bacteria, mold, and biological slime, preventing secondary growth. Currently, air conditioners with high-temperature heating modules (such as auxiliary electric heating devices used in heating mode) execute reverse circulation of the air conditioner compressor (heating mode) while simultaneously activating the electric heating module to quickly dry the internal environment of the indoor unit.

[0089] In this invention, a control method for an air conditioner is proposed. When the water accumulation level inside the air conditioner reaches a preset intervention threshold, the cross-flow fan system 5 is controlled to close the upper air inlet of the indoor unit and open the air outlet, causing the cross-flow fan system 5 to execute a negative pressure formation strategy at a specific speed. After the negative pressure formation strategy is executed, the fresh air system 6 is controlled to open the switching damper 7, opening the air inlet and closing the air outlet, causing the fresh air system 6 fan to run at a specific speed to create a positive pressure environment. Thus, the positive and negative pressure environments alternate. By monitoring the fan operating status parameters of the cross-flow fan system 5 and / or the fresh air system 6, the system dynamically determines whether the air conditioner's drainage system is in a clear state until the determination result meets the clearing conditions, such as the operating point on the fan characteristic curve being at the normal operating point. The drainage system includes a water collection tray and a drain hose. Once the drainage system is cleared, the waterway cleaning mode is automatically triggered, causing the air conditioner to dehumidify so that condensate water forms in the waterway (i.e., the air conditioner's condensate drain pipe, such as the drain pipe of drain pipe 8) and is discharged smoothly, thus achieving physical cleaning of the waterway. Subsequently, a waterway drying and sterilization strategy is implemented, using high-temperature hot air to dry and sterilize the waterway, ensuring that the waterway is thoroughly clean and free of biological residue.

[0090] In the solution of this invention, the integrated cleaning and sterilization strategy integrates water channel cleaning, drying and sterilization functions to ensure sterile and clean water channels, extend the life of air conditioner heat exchangers, significantly improve product reliability and user satisfaction, and at the same time, it does not require major structural modifications, is compatible with air conditioner designs in related solutions, and is easy to apply on a large scale.

[0091] In some embodiments, step S140, which involves controlling at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit, further includes a process of determining the degree of cleanliness of the interior of the indoor unit. The following is in conjunction with... Figure 8 The schematic diagram shown is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for determining the cleanliness level inside the indoor unit. It further illustrates the specific process of determining the cleanliness level inside the indoor unit in step S140, including steps S810 to S830.

[0092] Step S810: Before resuming the operation of the air conditioner, determine whether the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have reached the preset cleaning parameters; the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit and the cleaning parameters in the preset cleaning parameters include at least one of the following: the drainage smoothness of the drain pipe, the humidity change rate inside the indoor unit, and the odor level inside the indoor unit.

[0093] Step S820: If it is determined that the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have not reached the preset cleaning parameters, return to continue executing the preset sterilization and / or drying strategy.

[0094] Step S830: If it is determined that the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have reached the preset cleaning parameters, then the preset sterilization and / or drying strategy is stopped, the dehumidification mode of the air conditioner is stopped, and the air conditioner is restored to operation.

[0095] like Figure 12 As shown, the third stage of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention includes: Step 34: System self-check: drainage is smooth, no leaks, no odors; update database: record this intervention event, water accumulation level, and cleaning results; restore the air conditioner to normal operating mode and end the process.

[0096] In step 34, the air conditioning system performs a self-check to confirm unobstructed drainage and no leaks. If everything is normal, database 10 is updated to record the intervention event, water accumulation level, cleaning results, and execution time. The air conditioner returns to normal operation mode, completing one closed-loop control cycle. The system self-check primarily assesses drainage patency and leaks. The principle is as follows: monitoring the fan operating parameters of the cross-flow fan system 5 and / or the fresh air system 6, and using the motor parameters of the cross-flow fan system 5 and / or the fresh air system 6 for judgment, the following steps are executed: closing the air inlet and outlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, running the cross-flow fan system 5 and / or the fresh air system 6. Because the drain pipe 8 is unobstructed, the fan operating conditions change during operation, causing a certain shift in the PQ curve. By comparing the shift amount (with a preset value), drainage patency is determined. For leaks, the humidity sensor 3 continuously operates during the process, and its value is compared to the standard range. If the value is below the standard range, no leaks are considered. The PQ curve of a fan indicates how its airflow changes at the same rotational speed due to varying resistance. Simultaneously, the fan power data fluctuates. When clogged, the fan resistance is higher, while it is lower when the flow is unobstructed. This is determined by comparing differences in fan power or current.

[0097] The relevant solutions rely on a cleaning mechanism to clean the cross-flow fan and water channels. The solution of this invention is primarily based on the mechanism in the relevant solutions, implemented through control logic and methods. Specifically, it uses a fan device to achieve alternating positive and negative pressure circulation within the indoor unit cavity of the air conditioner. The technical problems solved are: 1) water leakage from the indoor unit; 2) odor from the indoor unit; 3) cleaning of biological slime from the water channels of the indoor unit; and 4) the removal of microorganisms and bacteria inside the air conditioner. Furthermore, while the relevant solutions use dust sensors to determine the degree of cleanliness, the solution of this invention uses the fan characteristic curve at the fan's operating speed.

[0098] In the solution of this invention, through intelligent monitoring by sensors (such as humidity sensor 3 and temperature sensor 4), alternating positive and negative pressure unblocking, and integrated cleaning and sterilization strategies, the long-term root cause of air conditioner odor and drainage problems can be achieved, effectively reducing maintenance costs and avoiding user time loss caused by repeated repairs.

[0099] In the solution of this invention, by introducing the technologies of "dynamic comparison of humidity and temperature + four-level water accumulation classification + alternating positive and negative pressure purging + self-cleaning closed loop", the active prevention, intelligent diagnosis and non-disassembly solution of water accumulation problems inside air conditioners are realized, which significantly reduces the after-sales maintenance rate, extends the equipment life, and has good economic efficiency and practicality.

[0100] The technical solution of this embodiment addresses the cleaning problem inside the indoor unit of an air conditioner. The air conditioner has an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The outdoor unit includes a compressor, a fresh air fan (such as the fresh air fan in fresh air system 6), an outdoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor fan. The indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan (such as the cross-flow fan in cross-flow fan system 5), a drip tray, a drain pipe (such as drain pipe 8), and an electric auxiliary heating module (such as a high-temperature heating module). When the air conditioner is running and the indoor fan is running, the first stage is performed: acquiring indoor air temperature and humidity data (such as air humidity data and air temperature data), determining the water accumulation status of the indoor unit based on the indoor air temperature and humidity data, such as determining the water accumulation status based on the correspondence between preset humidity data (such as temperature and humidity residence time, rate of change, peak duration, etc.) and preset water accumulation levels under the same operating conditions and temperature. The water accumulation level corresponds to the water accumulation status of the indoor unit. If the level is greater than or equal to the preset level (e.g., medium), the second stage is executed: the indoor fan is controlled to execute a preset negative pressure suction strategy to loosen the deposits in the drain pipe, and the fresh air fan is controlled to execute a preset positive pressure purging strategy to suck out the loosened deposits in the drain pipe. This negative-positive pressure alternation cycle is performed a set number of times to perform pulse purging of the deposits in the drain pipe. After the drain pipe is clear, the third stage is executed: the air conditioner is set to dehumidify mode to generate condensate water to flush the inside of the drain pipe, the electric auxiliary heating module is turned on for high-temperature sterilization, and the indoor fan is turned on for drying. After the self-inspection results of the indoor unit (e.g., drainage of the drain pipe is unobstructed, no water leakage inside the indoor unit, no odor inside the indoor unit, etc.) meet the requirements, the air conditioner resumes normal operation. Thus, by executing the positive and negative pressure alternating unblocking and integrated cleaning and sterilization strategies based on the detection results of the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, the cleaning effect of the indoor unit is improved, and the user experience is enhanced.

[0101] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a control device for an air conditioner corresponding to the control method for an air conditioner is also provided. See also Figure 9The diagram shows a structural schematic of an embodiment of the device of the present invention. The control device of the air conditioner may include: an acquisition unit 102 and a control unit 104.

[0102] The acquisition unit 102 is configured to acquire the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit when the air conditioner is started and the indoor fan is running. The temperature inside the indoor unit is obtained using temperature data collected by temperature sensor 4, and the humidity is obtained using humidity data collected by humidity sensor 3. The specific functions and processing of the acquisition unit 102 are described in step S110.

[0103] The control unit 104 is configured to determine the water accumulation condition inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit; the water accumulation condition includes, for example, the degree of condensation accumulation inside the indoor unit. The specific functions and processing of this control unit 104 are described in step S120.

[0104] The control unit 104 is further configured to control the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective air ducts, based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, to clear the sediment in the drain pipe. Specifically, this involves creating a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit to clear the sediment in the drain pipe. The specific functions and processing of this control unit 104 are further described in step S130.

[0105] The control unit 104 is further configured to, after clearing the sediment in the drain pipe, control at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit, specifically by sterilizing and drying the interior of the indoor unit to achieve self-cleaning. The specific functions and processing of this control unit 104 are further described in step S140.

[0106] In this invention, a closed-loop control system of "perception-judgment-intervention-cleaning" is constructed. This involves intelligent monitoring via sensors (such as humidity sensor 3 and temperature sensor 4), alternating positive and negative pressure unblocking, and an integrated cleaning and sterilization strategy. By monitoring the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the system determines the water accumulation. If water accumulation is confirmed, the system employs alternating positive and negative pressure unblocking and integrated cleaning and sterilization strategies to achieve long-term elimination of air conditioner odor and drainage problems, effectively reducing maintenance costs and avoiding time wasted by repeated repairs. This enables intelligent diagnosis and self-cleaning of the internal water channels of the air conditioner, significantly reducing after-sales maintenance costs and improving the user experience. It also solves problems such as odor caused by internal water accumulation and the growth of biological slime, as well as blockage and leakage in the drain pipe 8, found in related solutions.

[0107] Since the processing and functions implemented by the device in this embodiment are basically the same as the embodiments, principles and examples of the aforementioned methods, any details not covered in the description of this embodiment can be found in the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0108] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an air conditioner corresponding to a control device for an air conditioner is also provided. This air conditioner may include the control device for an air conditioner described above.

[0109] Since the processing and functions implemented by the air conditioner in this embodiment are basically the same as the embodiments, principles and examples of the aforementioned devices, any details not covered in the description of this embodiment can be found in the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0110] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product corresponding to the control method for an air conditioner is also provided, comprising a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the control method for an air conditioner described above.

[0111] Since the processing and functions implemented by the product in this embodiment are basically the same as the embodiments, principles and examples of the aforementioned methods, any details not covered in the description of this embodiment can be found in the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0112] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a storage medium corresponding to a control method for an air conditioner is also provided, the storage medium including a stored program, wherein, when the program is executed, the device where the storage medium is located executes the steps of the control method for the air conditioner described above.

[0113] Since the processing and functions implemented by the storage medium in this embodiment are basically the same as the embodiments, principles and examples of the aforementioned methods, any details not covered in this embodiment can be found in the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0114] In summary, it is readily understood by those skilled in the art that, without conflict, the aforementioned advantageous methods can be freely combined and superimposed.

[0115] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner has an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The outdoor unit has a compressor and a fresh air fan, and the indoor unit has an indoor fan, an electric auxiliary heating module, and a drain pipe. The control method for the air conditioner includes: When the air conditioner is turned on and the indoor fan is running, the temperature inside the indoor unit and the humidity inside the indoor unit are obtained. The water accumulation inside the indoor unit is determined based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit. Based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, control the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct where they are located to clear the sediment in the drain pipe. Control at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit.

2. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determine the water accumulation inside the indoor unit based on the internal temperature and humidity, including: Based on the first correspondence between set temperature and set humidity under set operating conditions, the set humidity corresponding to the set temperature that is the same as the temperature inside the indoor unit under the same set operating conditions as the current operating conditions of the air conditioner is determined as the standard humidity inside the indoor unit corresponding to the temperature inside the indoor unit under the current operating conditions of the air conditioner. Determine whether the humidity inside the indoor unit is greater than the standard humidity inside the indoor unit; If it is determined that the humidity inside the indoor unit is less than or equal to the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, the air conditioner is controlled to continue running and then return to the previous state to continue determining the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit. If it is determined that the humidity inside the indoor unit is greater than the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, then the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is determined based on the humidity inside the indoor unit as the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit. Then, based on the water accumulation situation inside the indoor unit, the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct they are located is controlled to clear the sediment in the drain pipe.

3. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, Based on the humidity inside the indoor unit, determine the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit, including: For the humidity inside the indoor unit obtained within a set time period, determine the humidity characteristic parameters inside the indoor unit; the humidity characteristic parameters inside the indoor unit include at least one of the following: the rate of change of humidity inside the indoor unit, the time elapsed when the humidity inside the indoor unit exceeds the standard humidity inside the indoor unit, and the ratio of the humidity difference to the time difference when the humidity inside the indoor unit exceeds the standard humidity inside the indoor unit and reaches a set stable level. Based on the second correspondence between the set humidity characteristic parameters and the set water accumulation level, the set water accumulation level corresponding to the set humidity characteristic parameter that is the same as the humidity characteristic parameter inside the indoor unit in the second correspondence is determined as the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit corresponding to the humidity characteristic parameter inside the indoor unit.

4. The control method for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The water accumulation inside the indoor unit includes: the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit; Based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, control the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan, as well as the inlet and outlet of their respective air ducts, to clear the sediment in the drain pipe, including: Determine whether the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is greater than or equal to a preset level within the set level range; If it is determined that the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is less than the preset level within the set level range, the air conditioner is controlled to continue running and then return to the previous state to continue determining the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit. If it is determined that the water accumulation level inside the indoor unit is greater than or equal to a preset level within the set level range, then the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct they are located in are controlled to form a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit, and the negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment are used to clear the sediment in the drain pipe.

5. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outdoor unit also has a fresh air inlet, and the indoor unit also has an indoor air inlet, an indoor air outlet, and a fresh air outlet. Controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective ducts to create a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit, and using the negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment to clear deposits in the drain pipe, including: Execute a preset negative pressure suction strategy: control the indoor air inlet to close, control the indoor air outlet to open, and control the indoor fan to run at a set speed to create a negative pressure environment inside the indoor unit; maintain the negative pressure environment for a first set time to loosen the deposits in the drain pipe; then, control the indoor fan to close, stopping the formation of the negative pressure environment; and / or, The preset positive pressure purging strategy is executed as follows: the fresh air inlet is opened, the fresh air outlet is closed, and the fresh air fan is turned on and runs at a set speed to create a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit; the positive pressure environment is maintained for a second set time to squeeze out the deposits in the drain pipe; then, the fresh air fan is turned off to stop the formation of the positive pressure environment. In this way, the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or preset positive pressure purging strategy are executed cyclically a set number of times, and then at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module and the indoor fan is controlled to clean the interior of the indoor unit; wherein, when the preset negative pressure suction strategy and the preset positive pressure purging strategy are executed cyclically, the preset negative pressure suction strategy and the preset positive pressure purging strategy are executed alternately, and this is repeated cyclically a set number of times.

6. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, Controlling the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of their respective ducts to create a negative pressure environment and / or a positive pressure environment inside the indoor unit, and using the negative pressure environment and / or the positive pressure environment to clear deposits in the drain pipe, further includes: After executing the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or preset positive pressure purging strategy a set number of times, it is determined whether the drainage parameters of the drain pipe have reached the preset drainage parameters; the drainage parameters of the drain pipe and the drainage parameters in the preset drainage parameters include at least one of the following: the current fluctuation value of the motor in the indoor fan and / or the fresh air fan, the drainage rate of the drain pipe, and the drainage pressure of the drain pipe; If it is determined that the drainage parameters of the drain pipe have not reached the preset drainage parameters, then return to continue to cycle through the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or the preset positive pressure purging strategy for a set number of times. If it is determined that the drainage parameters of the drain pipe reach the preset drainage parameters, the preset negative pressure suction strategy and / or preset positive pressure purging strategy are stopped from being executed for a set number of times. Then, at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module and the indoor fan is controlled to clean the inside of the indoor unit.

7. The control method for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The indoor unit also includes an indoor heat exchanger; controlling at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to perform cleaning treatment on the interior of the indoor unit includes: Stop the air conditioner from continuing to operate, control the air conditioner to operate in dehumidification mode, control the compressor to start, so that condensate water forms on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger, and use the condensate water to flush the inner wall of the drain pipe by flowing through the drain pipe; Execute preset sterilization and / or drying strategies: control the electric auxiliary heating module to turn on, so that the temperature inside the water channel where the drain pipe is located rises above the preset temperature and continues for a third set time; and / or control the indoor fan to turn on and continue for a fourth set time to dry the inside of the water channel where the drain pipe is located. Restore the air conditioner to operation.

8. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 7, characterized in that, Controlling at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to clean the interior of the indoor unit, further comprising: Before resuming the operation of the air conditioner, it is determined whether the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have reached the preset cleaning parameters; the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit and the cleaning parameters in the preset cleaning parameters include at least one of the following: the drainage smoothness of the drain pipe, the rate of humidity change inside the indoor unit, and the degree of odor inside the indoor unit. If it is determined that the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have not reached the preset cleaning parameters, the process returns to continue executing the preset sterilization and / or drying strategy. If it is determined that the cleaning parameters inside the indoor unit have reached the preset cleaning parameters, the preset sterilization and / or drying strategies will be stopped, the air conditioner will stop operating in dehumidification mode, and the air conditioner will resume operation.

9. A control device for an air conditioner that uses the control method for an air conditioner as described in claim 1 to control the air conditioner, characterized in that, include: The acquisition unit is configured to acquire the temperature inside the indoor unit and the humidity inside the indoor unit when the air conditioner is turned on and the indoor fan is running. The control unit is configured to determine the water accumulation inside the indoor unit based on the temperature and humidity inside the indoor unit. The control unit is further configured to control the opening and closing of at least one of the indoor fan and the fresh air fan and the air inlet and outlet of the air duct where they are located, based on the water accumulation inside the indoor unit, so as to clear the sediment in the drain pipe. The control unit is also configured to control at least one of the compressor, the electric auxiliary heating module, and the indoor fan to perform cleaning treatment on the interior of the indoor unit.

10. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: The control device for an air conditioner as described in claim 9.

11. A storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium includes a stored program, wherein, when the program is executed, the device containing the storage medium is controlled to perform the control method of the air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

12. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of the control method for the air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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