Method and device for controlling air flow of top and bottom double-burner air conditioner, and air conditioner

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of electrical appliances, providing a method, control device, and air conditioner for controlling the airflow of a dual-outlet air conditioner. The method includes: receiving an instruction for the airflow-following function; acquiring indoor user information and operating mode; adjusting the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the upper air outlet according to the operating mode; controlling the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet to rotate downwards; determining the user's target airflow height according to the operating mode and indoor user information; and determining and adjusting the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet according to the target airflow height. This invention achieves adaptive airflow strategy and spatial layering by defining the upper air outlet as an environmental air supply channel and the lower air outlet as a user air supply channel, and setting their vertical airflow direction and target height according to the cooling or heating mode. This effectively avoids comfort problems caused by direct airflow or improper airflow placement in traditional airflow-following technologies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrical technology, and in particular to a method, control device, and air conditioner for controlling the airflow of a dual-vent air conditioner that follows the user. Background Technology

[0002] Existing air conditioners already include models with a "follow-the-person" function. These typically use sensors to detect the user's location and drive an air guide mechanism to direct the airflow in the user's direction. Such solutions often employ a single air outlet structure, or, although they may have two outlets (upper and lower), the upper and lower air guide mechanisms use a linked control logic, meaning the airflow direction of the upper and lower outlets is adjusted synchronously. In actual operation, regardless of whether it's cooling or heating mode, the system consistently directs the airflow towards the center of the user's body.

[0003] This control method has significant flaws. In cooling mode, the cold airflow tends to blow directly onto the user's head or upper body, causing localized overcooling and potentially leading to discomfort or even health risks. In heating mode, the hot airflow concentrates on the torso or upper limbs, failing to effectively raise foot temperature and thus not meeting basic human thermal comfort requirements. Furthermore, due to the lack of an independent environmental airflow path, when the air conditioner focuses on directing airflow towards the user, overall indoor air circulation weakens, easily causing uneven temperature distribution and affecting the overall thermal stability of the space. Even though some products attempt to alleviate the direct airflow problem by reducing fan speed or intermittent airflow, they still cannot fundamentally resolve the mismatch between airflow location and operating conditions. These flaws stem from the fact that existing "air-following-person" technology fails to differentiate the varying requirements of the human body for airflow location under different operating modes, and also fails to functionally separate environmental airflow from individual airflow, representing inherent limitations of existing dual-outlet air conditioner control logic. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a method, control device, and air conditioner for controlling the airflow of a dual-outlet air conditioner, addressing the shortcomings of existing technologies and achieving the following technical effects: The control method of this invention defines the upper air outlet as the environmental air supply channel and the lower air outlet as the user air supply channel, and sets the vertical air supply direction and target height according to the cooling or heating mode, thereby achieving adaptive air supply strategy and spatial layering. This combination of structure and control logic effectively avoids comfort problems caused by direct airflow or improper air supply position in traditional user-following air technology, while simultaneously improving the air supply efficiency and temperature control accuracy of the air conditioning system in complex usage scenarios.

[0005] This invention provides a method for controlling the airflow of a dual-outlet air conditioner that follows the user. The air conditioner has an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet, and both the upper and lower air outlets are equipped with upper and lower air guiding mechanisms. The control method includes: Upon receiving an instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "follow the person" function, the system obtains indoor user information and the air conditioner's operating mode, which includes a cooling mode and a heating mode. Adjust the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms inside the upper air outlet according to the operating mode to supply air to the indoor environment; The upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet are controlled to rotate downwards. The target air blowing height for the user is determined according to the operating mode and indoor user information. The rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet is determined and adjusted according to the target air blowing height to deliver air to the indoor user.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of adjusting the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms inside the upper air outlet according to the operating mode includes: In cooling mode, the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet are controlled to rotate upward or to the horizontal direction; In heating mode, control the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet to rotate downwards or to the horizontal direction.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining the user's target airflow height based on the operating mode and indoor user information includes: In cooling mode, the user's body part to be air-dried is determined to be the torso. Based on the indoor user information, the user's current posture and height information are determined. The current posture includes sitting and standing postures, and the height information includes at least the height of the user's torso. Based on the current posture and height information, the blowing height corresponding to the user's body part to be blown is calculated and used as the target blowing height; at this time, the user's body part to be blown is the torso.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining the user's target airflow height based on the operating mode and indoor user information includes: In heating mode, the user's lower body is identified as the area to be air-blown. Based on the indoor user information, the user's current posture and height information are determined. The current posture includes sitting and standing postures, and the height information includes at least the height of the user's lower body. Based on the current posture and height information, the blowing height corresponding to the user's body part to be blown is calculated and used as the target blowing height; at this time, the user's body part to be blown is the lower body.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the step of calculating the blowing height corresponding to the user's part to be blown based on the current posture and the height information, and using it as the target blowing height, the target blowing height is determined and the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet is controlled in any of the following ways: The middle height of the part to be blown is determined as a single target blowing height value, and the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet are controlled to maintain a fixed rotation angle corresponding to the single target blowing height value. Alternatively, the lowest and highest heights of the part to be blown and the range between them can be defined as the target blowing height range, and the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet can be controlled to periodically oscillate within their corresponding rotation angle range so that the airflow covers the target blowing height range.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the upper air outlet and the lower air outlet are respectively provided with an upper fan and a lower fan. After receiving the instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows the person" function, the control method includes: Under the "wind follows people" function, the actual indoor temperature of the indoor environment is obtained; If the actual indoor temperature reaches the target indoor temperature, the fan speed is maintained at the current speed; or, if the actual indoor temperature does not reach the target indoor temperature, the fan speed is adjusted according to the difference between the actual indoor temperature and the target indoor temperature.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the upper air outlet and the lower air outlet are respectively provided with an upper fan and a lower fan, and after receiving the instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows people" function, the control method further includes: Get the user's horizontal distance relative to the air conditioner and the preset target airflow speed; Based on the distance information and the target blowing wind speed, the required lower air outlet wind speed of the air conditioner is calculated based on the jet velocity model of the air conditioner's air supply. The target rotation speed of the lower fan is determined based on the air velocity at the lower air outlet, and the lower fan is controlled to deliver air at the target rotation speed.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining and adjusting the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms within the lower air outlet based on the target blowing height includes: Get the current supply air temperature and the current indoor temperature; Calculate the Archimedes number based on the air velocity at the lower air outlet, the current supply air temperature, and the current indoor temperature; Based on the Archimedes number, the horizontal distance, and the target blowing height, the preset up and down air delivery angle is corrected by buoyancy to obtain the corrected up and down air delivery angle. The rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanism is determined and adjusted according to the corrected upper and lower air supply angle.

[0013] Secondly, this invention also protects a wind-following control device for an air conditioner with dual upper and lower air outlets. The air conditioner has an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet, and both the upper and lower air outlets are provided with upper and lower air guiding mechanisms. The control device includes: The acquisition module is used to receive instructions to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows people" function, acquire indoor user information and the air conditioner's operating mode, which includes a cooling mode and a heating mode. The first control module is used to adjust the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms in the upper air outlet according to the operating mode, so as to supply air to the indoor environment. The second control module is used to control the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet to rotate downwards, determine the user's target air blowing height according to the operating mode and indoor user information, and determine and adjust the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet according to the target air blowing height, so as to deliver air to the indoor user.

[0014] Thirdly, the present invention also protects an air conditioner, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. The air conditioner has an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet, and both the upper and lower air outlets are provided with upper and lower air guiding mechanisms. When the processor executes the program, it implements the steps of the air-following-person control method of the upper and lower dual-air outlet air conditioner as described in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0015] In summary, this invention achieves functional zoning of environmental and individual air supply by introducing a collaborative control mechanism between operating modes and user information on a dual-outlet structure. The upper outlet is dedicated to supplying air to the indoor space, and its airflow direction is automatically adjusted according to the cooling or heating mode; the lower outlet focuses on directional airflow to the user, and different target airflow heights are set according to the mode. The above control logic effectively avoids the problem of cold air blowing directly on the head or hot air failing to cover the feet, significantly improving individual thermal comfort while maintaining indoor temperature uniformity.

[0016] Furthermore, since the upper and lower air outlets each have independent upper and lower air guiding mechanisms and separate control logic, they can perform different functions in parallel, which not only ensures the stability of the overall thermal environment, but also realizes differentiated and precise air delivery to users, overcoming the fundamental defect of the existing technology that the air delivery position does not match the human body's thermal response requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating the airflow control method for a dual-vent air conditioner that follows the user, provided by this invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is the second flowchart illustrating the airflow control method for a dual-vent air conditioner that follows the user, provided by this invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is the third flowchart of the airflow control method for a dual-vent air conditioner that follows the user, provided by the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the airflow control device for a dual-vent air conditioner that follows the user, provided by the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the air conditioner provided by the present invention. 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 with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0024] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, outlines the control method, control device, and dual-vent air conditioner of this invention. Before detailing the embodiments of the invention, the overall application scenario is described. The control method, control device, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium of the dual-vent air conditioner of this invention can be applied locally to the air conditioner, to cloud platforms in the internet field, or to other types of cloud platforms in the internet field, or to third-party devices. These third-party devices may include various types such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, in-vehicle computers, and other smart terminals.

[0025] The following description uses a control method applicable to a dual-vent air conditioner as an example. It should be understood that the control method of this invention can also be applied to cloud platforms and third-party devices. Before introducing the control method of this invention, the basic structure of the dual-vent air conditioner on which this method is based will be described in detail below: The overall structure of the dual-vent air conditioner includes an indoor unit housing, an upper air outlet, a lower air outlet, an upper fan, a lower fan, an upper air guide assembly, a lower air guide assembly, and a main controller.

[0026] The indoor unit has a rectangular casing with an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet on its front side, arranged from top to bottom. These two outlets are physically isolated from each other, with independent airflow channels. An upper fan is installed inside the upper air outlet, and a lower fan is installed inside the lower air outlet. Both the upper and lower fans are centrifugal or cross-flow fans, each with its own independent motor drive unit, allowing for individual speed adjustment to control the airflow output.

[0027] The upper air guide assembly is located inside the upper air outlet and includes an upper-lower air guide mechanism and an upper left-right air guide mechanism; the lower air guide assembly is located inside the lower air outlet and includes an upper-lower air guide mechanism and a lower left-right air guide mechanism. Within the upper air guide assembly, the upper-lower air guide mechanism consists of multiple horizontally arranged guide blades, driven by a first vertical drive motor to achieve pitch rotation in the vertical plane; the left-right air guide mechanism consists of multiple vertically arranged guide blades, driven by a first horizontal drive motor to achieve left-right oscillation in the horizontal plane. The lower air guide assembly has the same structure as the upper air guide assembly, but is driven independently by a second vertical drive motor and a second horizontal drive motor, ensuring that the air delivery angles of the upper and lower air outlets can be adjusted as needed.

[0028] The main controller is integrated inside the indoor unit and includes a processor, memory, and a communication module. The processor is electrically connected to the upper fan, lower fan, first vertical drive motor, first horizontal drive motor, second vertical drive motor, and second horizontal drive motor, respectively, and is used to receive sensor signals, execute control algorithms, and output drive commands. The sensor system includes an infrared array sensor or a depth camera to acquire real-time information on the location, posture, and number of indoor users; a temperature sensor is used to detect the indoor ambient temperature and the supply air temperature. The communication module supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular networks, enabling data interaction with external devices such as smartphones and cloud platforms, receiving remote control commands, or uploading operating status.

[0029] The following describes the airflow control method of the dual-vent air conditioner according to the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the airflow control method for a dual-vent air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: Step S1: Receive the instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows people" function, and obtain indoor user information and the air conditioner's operating mode, which includes cooling mode and heating mode.

[0031] In step S1, after receiving the control command to activate the "Follow-the-person" function, the air conditioner first acquires indoor user information and the current operating mode of the air conditioner. User information includes the user's location, number, and height characteristics, which can be obtained through an infrared sensor array, millimeter-wave radar, or depth vision module. For example, the system can identify a single user sitting 2 meters in front of the air conditioner at a height of 1.1 meters. The operating mode refers to whether the air conditioner is currently in cooling or heating mode; this information is determined by the user's setting command or by the main controller based on a comparison between the ambient temperature and the set temperature. Thus, the above steps provide basic input parameters for subsequent air delivery strategies, ensuring that the air delivery behavior matches the operating conditions and the user's physical state.

[0032] Step S2: Adjust the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet according to the operating mode to supply air to the indoor environment.

[0033] Furthermore, the air conditioner adjusts the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet according to the acquired operating mode to deliver air to the indoor environment. The upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet refer to the guide vanes and their driving devices installed inside the upper air outlet to control the vertical air delivery angle. In cooling mode, these guide mechanisms rotate upwards, directing airflow towards the ceiling or upper space; in heating mode, they rotate downwards, but are typically maintained at a near-horizontal or slightly downward position. For example, in cooling mode, the guide mechanisms rotate to a +30° elevation angle, and in heating mode, they rotate to a -10° downward angle. In this way, the above steps utilize the upper air outlet to perform non-direct airflow, thereby promoting indoor air circulation and preventing hot or cold air from directly affecting the human body.

[0034] Step S3: Control the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet to rotate downwards. Determine the target air blowing height for the user based on the operating mode and indoor user information. Determine and adjust the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet based on the target air blowing height to deliver air to the indoor user.

[0035] It is understandable that in step S3, the air conditioner first controls the downward rotation of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms within the lower air outlet. Then, combining the operating mode and user information, it determines the user's target airflow height and adjusts the rotation angle of the air guide mechanism accordingly to achieve directional airflow to the user. The target airflow height refers to the vertical position where the airflow should act on the user's body, and its setting varies depending on the operating mode. For example, in cooling mode, the target airflow height can be the shoulder or chest / abdomen area; in heating mode, the target airflow height can be the ankle or calf area. For example, when the user is detected to be seated and the air conditioner is in heating mode, the target airflow height can be set to 0.3 meters, and the upper and lower air guide mechanisms within the lower air outlet can be driven to rotate to a -45° downward angle. Thus, step S3, by precisely controlling the airflow direction of the lower air outlet, ensures that the airflow acts on body parts that meet thermal comfort requirements, achieving personalized airflow for the user.

[0036] In existing air conditioning technologies, the "wind-following-person" function typically relies on a single air outlet or a dual air outlet sharing a common airflow logic. Upon receiving the user's location information, such solutions often direct all airflow towards the user's location, without fully considering the different needs of the human body for airflow location under cooling and heating conditions. For example, in cooling mode, if cold air blows directly onto the user's head or upper body, it can easily cause localized overcooling, headaches, or discomfort; in heating mode, if hot air only acts on the torso area, it is difficult to effectively raise the foot temperature, violating the basic thermal comfort principle of a cool head and warm feet. Furthermore, due to the lack of an independent environmental airflow path, a single airflow strategy cannot simultaneously ensure the uniformity of the overall indoor temperature field and the precision of individual airflow, potentially sacrificing overall energy efficiency or causing uneven temperature distribution while improving local comfort.

[0037] Therefore, to address the technical deficiencies in the aforementioned related technologies, this invention provides a method for controlling the airflow of a dual-outlet air conditioner that follows the user's movement. Through adaptive adjustment of the functional zones and operating modes of the upper and lower air outlets, coordinated control of environmental and individual air supply is achieved. Specifically, the upper air outlet is configured to handle indoor air circulation, and the rotation direction of its upper and lower air guide mechanisms is determined by the current operating mode. The lower air outlet is dedicated to directional air supply to the user, with its upper and lower air guide mechanisms always rotating downwards. The target airflow height is dynamically determined based on the operating mode and user information, thereby precisely adjusting the air supply angle. It can be understood that the control method of this invention relies on a hardware architecture where each upper and lower air outlet is equipped with an independent upper and lower air guide mechanism, completely separating the two airflow paths in terms of spatial path and control logic, thus supporting the parallel execution of differentiated air supply strategies.

[0038] Specifically, the control logic described above is based on the natural convection principle of hot air rising and cold air sinking, as well as the differences in the sensitive areas of the human body under different thermal conditions. In cooling mode, the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the upper air outlet rotate upwards, directing the cold airflow towards the upper space, such as the ceiling area, to reduce direct impact on the user. The upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet rotate downwards and determine the target airflow height based on user information, such as setting it to shoulder or chest / abdomen height, thereby guiding the cold air away from the head. In heating mode, the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the upper air outlet can rotate downwards, but mainly serve to promote the diffusion of hot air in the space. The lower air outlet sets the target airflow height to a lower position, such as the ankle area, based on user information, and adjusts the angle of the air guide mechanism to direct the hot air towards that height. Since the upper and lower air outlets each have independent upper and lower air guide mechanisms, they can adjust the airflow direction as needed to achieve differentiated control.

[0039] In summary, the control method of this invention achieves adaptive air supply strategy and spatial layering by defining the upper air outlet as the environmental air supply channel and the lower air outlet as the user air supply channel, and setting the vertical air supply direction and target height according to the cooling or heating mode. This combination of structure and control logic effectively avoids the comfort problems caused by direct airflow or improper air supply position in traditional air-following technology, while improving the air supply efficiency and temperature control accuracy of the air conditioning system in complex usage scenarios.

[0040] Furthermore, based on the above basic working principle, the specific working process of the present invention is illustrated below: The air conditioner is in standby mode. The user issues a command to activate the "Fan Follows Person" function via remote control or mobile device. After the system starts, it first scans the indoor space using the built-in millimeter-wave radar module and detects a user located 1.8 meters directly in front of the air conditioner in a seated position. The effective target point height corresponding to the user's body height is 1.05 meters. At the same time, the main controller reads that the current operating mode is cooling mode and the set temperature is 24℃.

[0041] In step S2, the system controls the upper and lower air guide mechanisms within the upper air outlet to rotate upwards to a +35° elevation angle, causing the cool airflow to be delivered horizontally along the ceiling, avoiding direct blowing towards the user. This airflow diffuses within the ceiling area and naturally sinks, forming a large-scale circulation and maintaining a uniform overall indoor temperature.

[0042] In step S3, the system drives the upper and lower air guide mechanisms within the lower air outlet to rotate downwards. Based on the airflow strategy in cooling mode, the target airflow height is set to the shoulder and chest area, for example, 0.95 meters. Combining the user's distance and height information, the required downward angle of the lower air outlet is calculated to be -30°, and the air guide mechanism is controlled to rotate to this angle. At this point, the cool air delivered from the lower air outlet precisely targets the user's shoulder area, avoiding sensitive areas of the head, achieving localized cooling without causing discomfort.

[0043] If the user subsequently switches the air conditioner to heating mode, the system re-executes step S1 to confirm the change in operating mode. In step S2, the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the upper air outlet are adjusted from +35° to -12°, directing the hot airflow towards the lower-middle space in front, promoting the slow rise and mixing of hot air within the room. In step S3, the target airflow height is updated to the ankle area, for example, 0.25 meters, and the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet are adjusted accordingly to a -48° downward angle, directing the hot air towards the user's feet to meet thermal comfort requirements under heating conditions.

[0044] Throughout the process, the fan speed, air guide mechanism angle, and air delivery sequence of the upper and lower air outlets are all independently controlled without interference, ensuring that the environmental air supply and individual air supply are synchronized and stably executed.

[0045] In summary, this invention achieves functional zoning of environmental and individual air supply by introducing a collaborative control mechanism between operating modes and user information on a dual-outlet structure. The upper outlet is dedicated to supplying air to the indoor space, and its airflow direction is automatically adjusted according to the cooling or heating mode; the lower outlet focuses on directional airflow to the user, and different target airflow heights are set according to the mode. The above control logic effectively avoids the problem of cold air blowing directly on the head or hot air failing to cover the feet, significantly improving individual thermal comfort while maintaining indoor temperature uniformity.

[0046] Furthermore, since the upper and lower air outlets each have independent upper and lower air guiding mechanisms and separate control logic, they can perform different functions in parallel, which not only ensures the stability of the overall thermal environment, but also realizes differentiated and precise air delivery to users, overcoming the fundamental defect of the existing technology that the air delivery position does not match the human body's thermal response requirements.

[0047] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of adjusting the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms inside the upper air outlet according to the operating mode includes: In cooling mode, control the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet to rotate upwards or to the horizontal direction; In heating mode, control the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet to rotate downwards or to the horizontal direction.

[0048] It is understandable that the purpose of the above steps is to implement non-direct airflow through the upper air outlet, and the airflow direction is set strictly in accordance with the airflow characteristics and thermal comfort requirements under cooling and heating conditions.

[0049] Specifically, in cooling mode, cold air has a higher density. If it is sent downwards, it will quickly settle and form localized low-temperature zones. Therefore, rotating the upper and lower air guide mechanisms of the upper air outlet upwards or keeping them horizontal allows the cold airflow to be sent horizontally along the ceiling. After diffusing in the ceiling area, it naturally sinks, forming a uniform and gentle overall circulation, avoiding direct contact with the human body. In heating mode, hot air naturally tends to rise. If the air is still sent upwards, it will exacerbate the accumulation of heat in the upper part of the room, causing the lower space to heat up slowly. In this case, controlling the upper and lower air guide mechanisms of the upper air outlet to rotate downwards or keep them horizontal helps to guide the hot airflow to the middle and lower spaces, promoting the effective distribution of hot air in the vertical direction.

[0050] For example, during cooling operation, the air outlet guide mechanism can be rotated to a +30° elevation angle to allow airflow to adhere to the ceiling and be delivered; during heating operation, it can be adjusted to a -15° depression angle to guide hot air to the area near the ground in front.

[0051] In this way, the above control strategy can ensure that the upper air outlet always undertakes the function of regulating the ambient temperature, without interfering with the directional air supply to users from the lower air outlet, thereby maintaining the uniformity and stability of the overall indoor thermal environment.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining the user's target airflow height based on the operating mode and indoor user information includes: In cooling mode, the user's torso is identified as the area to be aired. The user's current posture and height information are determined based on indoor user information. The current posture includes sitting and standing postures, and the height information includes at least the height of the user's torso. Based on the user's current posture and height information, the blowing height corresponding to the part of the user to be blown is calculated and used as the target blowing height; at this time, the part of the user to be blown is the torso.

[0053] It's important to explain that in cooling mode, the human body primarily dissipates heat through convection and evaporation on the skin's surface. The torso, with its large surface area, abundant blood flow, and dense distribution of sweat glands, is the core heat dissipation area. Compared to the head or limbs, moderately cooling the torso can effectively reduce overall heat sensation while avoiding discomfort caused by direct cold air blowing on the head. Therefore, limiting the area to be cooled to the torso aligns with the basic requirements of thermal comfort and physiological response.

[0054] Therefore, in this embodiment, the system precisely limits the individual air delivery target in cooling mode to the user's torso, and dynamically calculates the actual height of that part in space through posture and height information, thereby determining the air blowing height that the lower air outlet should aim at.

[0055] It's also important to explain that because the vertical position of the torso differs significantly between sitting and standing postures, using a fixed-height airflow can easily result in cold air blowing directly onto the head (when sitting) or the airflow being too low (when standing), affecting comfort. Therefore, the system must first identify whether the user is currently sitting or standing, and then, based on their height data, such as total height, shoulder height, or sitting height, calculate the specific height coordinates of their torso center or shoulder-chest area within the room.

[0056] Specifically, the system identifies the user's current posture (sitting or standing) based on indoor user information and obtains their height information. This height information can be at least one of total height, sitting height, and shoulder height, used to calculate the vertical position of the torso in space. For example, when the user is standing, their torso center height can be estimated based on their total height using a preset proportional model, typically ranging from 0.65 to 0.75 of their total height; when the user is sitting, the shoulder-chest area height is estimated based on their sitting height, which can be 0.85 to 0.95 times their sitting height. These proportional relationships can be determined based on standard ergonomic data or a preset anthropometric model.

[0057] Building upon this, the system further refines the torso area into air delivery target zones, such as the shoulder and chest region, and calculates the actual height of this region from the ground by combining the user's current posture and height information. For example, for a user who is 170 cm tall, if standing, the height of their shoulder and chest region can be calculated to be approximately 130 to 140 cm; if sitting, the corresponding height may be 85 to 95 cm. This calculation result serves as the target airflow height, used to control the air guide mechanism at the air outlet of the air conditioner to adjust its pitch angle, ensuring that the airflow is precisely delivered to the user's torso.

[0058] For example, when the system detects a 1.75-meter-tall adult in a seated position, it can estimate the center point of the torso to be approximately 0.9–1.1 meters above the ground based on an ergonomic model. If the same user is standing, this height may rise to 1.2–1.4 meters. Accordingly, the air guide mechanism of the lower air outlet will adjust its angle to ensure that the cool airflow is accurately delivered to this height range, avoiding direct impact on sensitive areas such as the head and neck.

[0059] In this way, the cooling air supply can effectively cover the main heat dissipation areas of the user's body to achieve local cooling, while avoiding discomfort caused by improper air supply position, thus improving the accuracy and humanization of the "wind follows the person" function under cooling conditions.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown, according to other embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining the user's target airflow height based on the operating mode and indoor user information includes: In heating mode, the user's lower body is identified as the area to be cooled by the airflow. The user's current posture and height information are determined based on indoor user information. The current posture includes sitting and standing postures, and the height information includes at least the height of the user's lower body. Based on the user's current posture and height information, calculate the blowing height corresponding to the part of the user to be blown, and use it as the target blowing height; at this time, the part of the user to be blown is the lower body.

[0061] It's important to explain that in heating mode, the human body's perception of ambient temperature is significantly influenced by the temperature of the lower limbs. Due to the characteristics of blood circulation, the lower body (including the legs, knees, and feet) is farther from the heart, resulting in relatively slower blood flow, faster heat loss, and slower warming, making it prone to feeling cold. In contrast, the upper body, especially the torso and head, generates more heat and has a stronger ability to retain heat, thus having a lower direct demand for hot air. Therefore, limiting the area to be cooled to the lower body helps to prioritize improving thermal comfort in areas where the user's perceived temperature is lower, avoiding discomfort such as stuffiness or dryness caused by overheating of the upper body.

[0062] Therefore, in this embodiment, the system precisely limits the individual air delivery target in heating mode to the user's lower body, and dynamically calculates the actual height of this part in space through posture and height information, thereby determining the air blowing height that the lower air outlet should aim at.

[0063] It's also important to explain that the vertical position of the lower body differs significantly between sitting and standing postures. If a fixed-height airflow system is used, it may not effectively cover the leg area when standing, while when sitting, hot air may concentrate and blow towards the area under the seat or the ground, reducing airflow efficiency. Therefore, the system must first identify whether the user is currently sitting or standing, and then, based on their height data (such as total height, leg length, sitting height, or knee height), calculate the specific height coordinates of their lower body within the room.

[0064] Specifically, the system identifies the user's current posture (sitting or standing) based on indoor user information and obtains their height information. This height information can be at least one of total height, leg length, sitting height, and knee height, used to calculate the vertical position of the lower body in space. For example, when the user is standing, the height from the knee to the mid-thigh can be estimated based on the total height using a preset proportional model, typically ranging from 0.25 to 0.45 of the total height; when the user is sitting, the height of the lower leg and knee is estimated based on the sitting height or leg length, typically 0.30 to 0.50 times the sitting height. These proportional relationships can be determined based on standard ergonomic data or a preset anthropometric model.

[0065] Building upon this, the system further refines the lower body area into air delivery target zones, such as the front of the lower limbs or the knee and leg region, and calculates the actual height of this region from the ground based on the current posture and height information. For example, for a user who is 170 cm tall, if standing, the height of their knee and leg region can be calculated to be approximately 40 to 75 cm; if sitting, the corresponding height may be 30 to 50 cm. This calculation result serves as the target airflow height, used to control the air guide mechanism of the air conditioner's lower vent to adjust its pitch angle, ensuring that the hot airflow is precisely delivered to the user's lower body.

[0066] For example, when the system detects a 1.80-meter-tall adult in a seated position, it can estimate the distance from the knee area to the ground as approximately 0.35–0.50 meters based on an ergonomic model. If the same user is standing, this height may increase to 0.50–0.80 meters. Accordingly, the air guide mechanism of the lower air outlet will adjust its angle to ensure that the hot airflow is accurately delivered to this height range, avoiding direct hot air blowing onto the torso or ineffectively blowing it towards the ground.

[0067] In this way, heating and air delivery can be prioritized for the lower body area where the user's body temperature is lower, effectively improving the local warmth while avoiding overheating of the upper body or energy waste, thus enhancing the targeting and comfort of the "wind follows the person" function under heating conditions.

[0068] Furthermore, in the step of calculating the airflow height corresponding to the user's body part to be airflowed based on the current posture and height information, and using this as the target airflow height, the target airflow height is determined and the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet is controlled using any of the following methods: The middle height of the part to be blown is determined as a single target blowing height value, and the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet are controlled to maintain a fixed rotation angle corresponding to the single target blowing height value. Alternatively, the lowest and highest heights of the part to be blown, and the range in between, can be defined as the target blowing height range. The upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet can be controlled to oscillate periodically within their corresponding rotation angle range so that the airflow covers the target blowing height range.

[0069] In the above embodiments, after determining the target blowing height, the system can use two methods to control the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet in order to adjust the air delivery direction.

[0070] The first method is targeted airflow, which uses the midpoint height of the area to be airflowed as the single target airflow height. The upper and lower air guide mechanisms maintain a fixed rotation angle based on this, concentrating the airflow towards that height. For example, in cooling mode, if the calculated midpoint height of the user's shoulder and chest area is 135 cm, the air guide mechanism is fixed at the corresponding pitch angle of 135 cm, continuously delivering airflow to that point. This method is suitable for providing stable and concentrated airflow to a specific area of ​​the body surface.

[0071] The second method is zoned airflow, which defines the target airflow height range as the vertical area formed by the lowest and highest points of the area to be ventilated. The upper and lower air guide mechanisms periodically oscillate within their corresponding rotation angle range, allowing the airflow to sweep across the entire height range. For example, in heating mode, if the height range from the user's lower leg to the knee is 35 cm to 50 cm when seated, the air guide mechanism will oscillate up and down within the corresponding 35 cm to 50 cm tilt angle range, ensuring that hot air evenly covers this section. This method helps to expand the effective airflow area and improve the overall temperature response consistency of the area.

[0072] The two control strategies described above can be selected based on actual needs. Point-to-point air supply is beneficial for precisely targeting the core area and improving local control efficiency; while sectional oscillating air supply can enhance coverage uniformity and adapt to local differences in human body shape or slight posture changes, thus balancing air supply accuracy and comfort breadth in different usage scenarios.

[0073] According to some embodiments of the present invention, an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet are respectively provided with an upper fan and a lower fan. After receiving the instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows people" function, the control method includes: With the wind-following-person function enabled, the actual indoor temperature of the indoor environment is obtained; If the actual indoor temperature reaches the target indoor temperature, the fan speed is kept constant; or, if the actual indoor temperature does not reach the target indoor temperature, the fan speed is adjusted according to the difference between the actual indoor temperature and the target indoor temperature.

[0074] In this embodiment, the air conditioning unit's upper and lower air outlets are equipped with independent upper and lower fans, respectively. When the system receives a command to activate the "Fan-Following-User" function, the control logic enters an operating mode that balances individual user comfort with overall indoor thermal environment control. In this mode, the system first acquires the actual indoor temperature in real time and compares it with the user-set target temperature.

[0075] If the actual indoor temperature has reached the target temperature, it indicates that the current thermal environment is stable. At this time, the system controls the upper fan to maintain its current speed. The above steps can avoid introducing additional airflow disturbances or energy consumption fluctuations due to unnecessary fan speed adjustments, while maintaining the continuity of airflow organization in the upper space, which helps to maintain overall thermal comfort.

[0076] When the actual indoor temperature fails to reach the target temperature, the system will dynamically adjust the fan speed based on the difference between the actual and target temperatures. It's important to note that this adjustment is not a simple high / low speed switch, but rather a refined control based on the magnitude of the temperature difference. For example, the system can preset a mapping relationship between temperature difference and fan speed, which can be expressed as a piecewise function, lookup table rules, or proportional control algorithm to achieve a reasonable match between the fan speed and the current heat load demand.

[0077] Specifically, in cooling mode, if the actual temperature is higher than the target temperature, the greater the temperature difference, the more the system tends to increase the speed of the upper fan to enhance air circulation in the upper part of the room, promote the downward diffusion of cold air, and thus accelerate the overall cooling process. As the temperature difference gradually decreases, the speed of the upper fan decreases accordingly to prevent local overcooling or the generation of uncomfortable cold air.

[0078] In heating mode, the adjustment logic needs to consider the physical characteristic of hot air rising naturally. When the actual temperature is significantly lower than the target temperature, the system may actively reduce the speed of the upper fan to minimize disturbance to the hot air already accumulated in the upper part of the room, preventing heat from remaining in the ceiling area and failing to descend to the height of people in motion. At this time, the main heating task is undertaken by the lower fan, which directs hot air directly to the lower body of the user through the lower air outlet, improving local thermal comfort. As the indoor temperature gradually approaches the target value, the system will appropriately increase the speed of the upper fan to promote the mixing of air in the upper and lower spaces, eliminate vertical temperature stratification, and ensure the uniformity and stability of the indoor temperature field.

[0079] In summary, the aforementioned dynamic adjustment mechanism based on temperature difference enables the upper fan to respond to changes in the ambient thermal state in the "wind follows the person" function without interfering with the lower fan's precise air delivery to the user. This ensures individual comfort while improving overall cooling or heating efficiency and optimizing system energy efficiency.

[0080] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after receiving the instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows the person" function, the control method further includes: Get the user's horizontal distance relative to the air conditioner and the preset target airflow speed; Based on the horizontal distance and the target blowing wind speed, the required lower air outlet wind speed of the air conditioner is calculated using the jet velocity model of the air conditioner's air supply. The target speed of the lower fan is determined based on the air velocity at the lower air outlet, and the lower fan is controlled to deliver air at the target speed.

[0081] In the above embodiments, this method further correlates the target blowing wind speed with the user's distance based on a jet velocity model, thereby deriving the initial wind speed that the air conditioner's lower air outlet should possess. The jet velocity model describes the attenuation of airflow as it travels from the lower air outlet, which can be represented as a nonlinear function relationship between the lower air outlet wind speed and the wind speed at a distance. This step ensures that even when the user is at different distances, the wind speed they actually experience remains close to the preset target value. For example, when the user is far from the air conditioner, the system will calculate a higher lower air outlet wind speed to compensate for the attenuation during transit.

[0082] Furthermore, the step of calculating the required lower air outlet velocity of the air conditioner based on the jet velocity model of the air conditioner's air supply, according to the horizontal distance and the target blowing wind velocity, includes: Obtain the equivalent diameter and turbulence coefficient of the air outlet at the bottom of the air conditioner; Based on the equivalent diameter, turbulence coefficient, distance information, and target blowing wind speed, the required lower outlet wind speed is calculated using a jet velocity attenuation model.

[0083] It should be explained that the equivalent diameter of the air conditioner's lower air outlet is used to characterize the influence of the lower air outlet's geometry on the airflow diffusion characteristics, and its value can be calculated from the equivalent area of ​​the lower air outlet; the turbulence coefficient reflects the intensity of airflow mixing with the surrounding air during the ejection process, and is affected by the lower air outlet structure, grille form, and internal air duct design. Both together constitute the key parameters of the jet velocity model.

[0084] Distance information includes the horizontal distance between the user and the air outlet of the air conditioner, and the target blowing wind speed is the wind speed value that the user expects to feel at that distance. The jet velocity decay model describes the law of velocity decay with distance during the free development of the outlet airflow, and its form can be an empirical formula or a calibration function.

[0085] For example, the model can be expressed as a linear or non-linear proportional relationship between the air velocity at the lower outlet and the target blowing air velocity, with the proportionality coefficient determined by the equivalent diameter, turbulence coefficient, and horizontal distance. Thus, using this model, the system can deduce the initial air velocity at the lower outlet required to achieve a specified perceived wind speed, thereby enabling on-demand airflow supply.

[0086] In related technologies, existing air conditioning methods for controlling airflow to follow the user's position typically adjust the angle of the air guide mechanism based on the user's location information to direct the airflow towards the body. These methods generally assume that the airflow travels in a straight line, calculating the airflow direction solely based on geometric relationships. However, two key physical effects during the actual airflow propagation process are not effectively addressed: first, the airflow velocity decreases non-linearly with distance, resulting in insufficient perceived airflow for users at a distance; second, when there is a difference between the supply air temperature and the indoor ambient temperature, the cold air, due to its higher density, tends to fall, while the hot air, due to its lower density, rises. Existing technologies often use fixed fan speeds or coarse fan speed settings, failing to dynamically compensate for airflow attenuation based on user distance; they also fail to consider trajectory deviation caused by buoyancy. As a result, the perceived wind speed and airflow direction vary significantly depending on the user's location, affecting comfort, and the system often requires higher energy consumption to maintain basic performance.

[0087] Therefore, in order to address the technical deficiencies in the aforementioned related technologies, this invention further incorporates a two-dimensional control step that integrates jet attenuation compensation and buoyancy correction into the control method. Specifically, according to some embodiments of this invention, the step of determining and adjusting the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms within the lower air outlet based on the target blowing height includes: Get the current supply air temperature and the current indoor temperature; Calculate the Archimedes number based on the air velocity at the lower air outlet, the current supply air temperature, and the current indoor temperature; Based on the Archimedes number, horizontal distance, and target blowing height, the preset vertical air supply angle is corrected for buoyancy to obtain the corrected vertical air supply angle. The rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms is determined and adjusted based on the corrected upper and lower air supply angles.

[0088] As can be understood, this invention first uses a jet velocity model to deduce the required downward air outlet speed based on the user's distance and a preset target blowing speed, ensuring a constant perceived wind speed. Furthermore, this embodiment introduces the Archimedes quantified buoyancy effect and dynamically corrects the upward and downward air delivery angles based on distance information, ensuring the airflow trajectory accurately covers the target area. These two measures work together to solve the problems of airflow attenuation and trajectory deviation in related technologies.

[0089] Specifically, after acquiring the current supply air temperature, indoor temperature, the user's horizontal distance relative to the air conditioner, and the preset target airflow speed, the system first performs wind speed compensation calculations. Since energy dissipation inevitably occurs during airflow propagation, if the downward air outlet speed is fixed, the wind speed perceived by the user at different distances will vary significantly. Therefore, based on the air conditioner's airflow jet velocity model, combined with the current distance and the target airflow speed, the system calculates the required downward air outlet speed to achieve the target. This model is a function of the air conditioner's duct characteristics and reflects the law of wind speed attenuation with distance in a specific product. Subsequently, the system uses this downward air outlet speed, supply air temperature, and indoor temperature to calculate the Archimedes number. The Archimedes number is a dimensionless parameter used to characterize the relative strength between buoyancy and airflow; its value directly reflects the degree of interference of thermal buoyancy on the airflow trajectory. Based on this, the system further incorporates distance information to correct the preset upward and downward airflow angles. For example, when the Archimedes number indicates that the cold airflow will fall, the system automatically adjusts the air supply angle upward; when it indicates that the hot airflow will rise, it adjusts it downward. Ultimately, the corrected upward and downward air supply angles are converted into operating commands for the upward and downward air guiding mechanisms inside the lower air outlet, while the air velocity at the lower air outlet is used to determine the speed of the lower fan. The two are executed synchronously to achieve a precise combined output of air volume and direction.

[0090] As described above, the embodiments introduce two physical models—the jet velocity model and the Archimedes number—to dynamically calculate and correct the air velocity at the lower air outlet and the vertical air delivery angle at the lower air outlet, respectively. This fundamentally solves the technical defects of existing wind-following technologies, such as uneven airflow due to distance attenuation and airflow deviation due to temperature difference buoyancy. The above method requires no additional hardware; through only control logic optimization, it can continuously provide accurate positioning and stable airflow under different distances and temperature differences, thereby significantly improving control accuracy and user experience.

[0091] It is understandable that the above control logic, by introducing a dynamic calculation mechanism based on a physical model, significantly improves the accuracy and adaptability of air conditioning airflow control. Compared to existing technologies that rely solely on geometric alignment and fixed wind speed, this invention can simultaneously ensure the stability of perceived wind speed and the accuracy of airflow landing point under different user distances and temperature differences, effectively overcoming the airflow deviation problem caused by wind speed attenuation and buoyancy shift, thereby achieving true constant-sensory directional airflow.

[0092] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of calculating the Archimedes number based on the outlet air velocity, the current supply air temperature, and the current indoor temperature includes: Obtain the area and gravitational acceleration of the air outlet at the bottom of the air conditioner; The Archimedes number is determined using an Archimedes number calculation model based on the air velocity at the lower air outlet, the area of ​​the lower air outlet, the current supply air temperature, the current indoor temperature, and the acceleration due to gravity.

[0093] The area of ​​the lower air outlet is the effective cross-sectional area of ​​the ejected airflow, used to characterize the initial scale features of the jet; gravitational acceleration is constant, reflecting the environmental conditions for the generation of buoyancy. The difference between the current supply air temperature and the current indoor temperature determines the air density difference, which is the driving force of the buoyancy effect; while the wind speed at the lower air outlet reflects the inertial strength of the airflow, which has an inhibitory effect on buoyancy.

[0094] The Archimedes number calculation model integrates the above physical quantities in a dimensionless form, and its numerical value characterizes the relative strength of buoyancy and inertia. For example, when the supply air temperature is significantly lower than the indoor temperature, the temperature difference is large, the air density increases, the buoyancy weakens, and the Archimedes number increases, indicating that the airflow is more easily affected by gravity and falls. Conversely, under heating conditions, the supply air temperature is higher than the indoor temperature, the Archimedes number decreases, and the airflow tends to rise.

[0095] Thus, the aforementioned Archimedes number can provide key input for calculating the trajectory offset caused by subsequent buoyancy, thereby enabling the system to quantify the degree of influence of thermal buoyancy on the air delivery direction.

[0096] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the user's distance information also includes the vertical distance between the air conditioner and the ground. The step of correcting the preset vertical airflow angle based on the Archimedes number, horizontal distance, and target airflow height to obtain the corrected vertical airflow angle includes: Calculate the trajectory deviation caused by buoyancy based on the Archimedes number, horizontal distance, and air outlet area of ​​the lower air outlet; Based on the trajectory offset, horizontal distance, target blowing height, and vertical height, determine the corrected up and down air supply angles.

[0097] In this embodiment, the buoyancy correction process uses a physically quantifiable trajectory offset as an intermediary to transform the thermodynamic effect into a basis for adjusting the air delivery angle. The Archimedes number reflects the intensity of the buoyancy force, the horizontal distance determines the cumulative length of this effect, and the lower outlet area affects the scale relationship between the initial momentum of the jet and the buoyancy response; all three are used together to calculate the actual offset of the airflow in the vertical direction caused by buoyancy. This offset characterizes the deviation between the ideal straight trajectory and the actual airflow path.

[0098] Subsequently, the system combines the offset, horizontal distance, the target airflow height calculated above, and the vertical height of the air conditioner's lower air outlet from the ground to reconstruct the target airflow direction. The target airflow height represents the optimal height of the airflow to reach the user's body part calculated for different operating modes, such as the shoulder or head area during cooling and the foot area during heating. This parameter was calculated above through specific control logic and will not be repeated here. The vertical height is a fixed installation parameter for the center point of the lower air outlet from the ground. By superimposing or reverse-compensating the offset to the original geometric aiming line defined by the target airflow height and the vertical height, the system can determine an effective airflow ray after buoyancy correction, the direction of which corresponds to the corrected up-and-down airflow angle.

[0099] For example, during cooling operation, if the calculated trajectory offset is 0.15 meters downward, it indicates that the cold airflow will be lower than the straight path. At this time, the system will adjust the air supply angle upward so that the airflow will reach the calculated blowing height of 1.2 meters after natural descent. During heating, if the offset is 0.12 meters upward, the air supply angle will be adjusted downward accordingly to counteract the upward trend of the hot airflow and ensure that the hot air covers the 0.4-meter-high foot area.

[0100] In this way, the above-mentioned correction mechanism makes the air supply direction no longer dependent on static geometric alignment, but dynamically adapts to the physical behavior of airflow in the real environment, thereby significantly improving the landing accuracy of vertical air supply.

[0101] Furthermore, the step of calculating the corrected vertical airflow angle based on the trajectory offset, horizontal distance, target blowing height, and vertical height includes: In cooling mode, the target airflow height at the user's location is taken as the vertical target point, and the trajectory offset is used as an additional upward offset to obtain the corrected vertical target point. Based on the corrected vertical target point, the corrected vertical air supply angle is determined. At this time, the corrected vertical air supply angle is shifted upward compared to the original vertical air supply angle. Alternatively, in heating mode, the target airflow height at the user's location is taken as the vertical target point, and the trajectory offset is used as an additional downward offset to obtain the corrected vertical target point. Based on the corrected vertical target point, the corrected vertical air supply angle is determined. At this time, the corrected vertical air supply angle is shifted downwards compared to the original vertical air supply angle.

[0102] In the above embodiments, the present invention further distinguishes between cooling and heating modes and implements a compensation strategy in the opposite direction for trajectory deviation caused by buoyancy, thereby achieving targeted angle correction.

[0103] Specifically, in cooling mode, the supply airflow temperature is lower than the indoor ambient temperature, resulting in a higher airflow density. During propagation, the airflow is more significantly affected by gravity, causing its actual trajectory to deviate downwards from the ideal straight path. To counteract this downward effect, the system treats the calculated trajectory offset as an upward compensation value and adds it to the target airflow height, creating a corrected vertical target point higher than the original target position. The resulting vertical airflow angle is gentler or slightly upwards than before correction, ensuring that the cool airflow accurately reaches the user's intended body area after its natural descent.

[0104] In heating mode, the supply airflow temperature is higher than the room temperature, and the airflow density is lower. Due to buoyancy, it tends to float upwards, causing the actual landing point to be higher than the target position. In this case, the system subtracts the trajectory offset as a downward offset from the target airflow height, generating a corrected vertical target point lower than the original target. The calculated vertical airflow angle is then steeper or adjusted downwards compared to the original angle to guide the hot airflow upwards and ultimately cover the user's intended body area.

[0105] For example, when cooling, if the calculated target airflow height is 1.2 meters and the calculated trajectory offset is 0.18 meters, then the corrected vertical target point is 1.38 meters, and the system adjusts the airflow angle accordingly. When heating, if the calculated target airflow height is 0.4 meters and the trajectory offset is 0.15 meters, then the corrected vertical target point is 0.25 meters, and the airflow angle is adjusted downward accordingly.

[0106] In this way, the above mechanism ensures that the airflow can still act precisely at the target height after physical deflection, regardless of the operating conditions, thereby effectively improving the accuracy of air supply and thermal comfort.

[0107] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the wind-following-person control method further includes: Obtain the user's left and right airflow angle relative to the air conditioner; The operating angle of the left and right air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet is determined based on the left and right air supply angle, and the left and right air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet are driven to rotate to the corresponding operating angle.

[0108] It is understood that this embodiment, in addition to achieving precise vertical airflow, further introduces dynamic tracking control in the horizontal direction. The system obtains the user's left and right airflow angle relative to the air conditioner through a position sensing module. This angle represents the direction in which the user deviates from directly in front of the air conditioner in the horizontal plane, typically expressed as the angle to the left or right relative to the air conditioner's central axis. For example, when the user is located 30 degrees to the right of the air conditioner, the left and right airflow angle is +30 degrees.

[0109] Subsequently, the control system determines the operating angle of the left and right air guiding mechanisms within the lower air outlet based on this angle. The left and right air guiding mechanisms consist of multiple horizontal air guide plates, and their overall deflection angle determines the coverage direction of the airflow in the horizontal plane. The operating angle can be determined based on a preset mapping relationship, such as a 1:1 correspondence, piecewise linear fitting, or a lookup table method, ensuring that the airflow centerline is aligned with the user's location after the air guide plates rotate. After determining the operating angle, the drive motor receives the control signal and rotates the left and right air guiding mechanisms within the lower air outlet to the designated position, completing the horizontal airflow alignment.

[0110] In this way, the above steps enable the air conditioner's lower air outlet to follow the airflow direction in three-dimensional space. Not only is the vertical direction corrected by buoyancy, but the horizontal direction can also track the user's position in real time, thus forming a complete directional air supply capability. For example, when a user moves from the left side of the living room to the right side, the left and right air guiding mechanism in the lower air outlet automatically and smoothly adjusts, continuously guiding the airflow to its current position, avoiding airflow lag or deviation, and improving the responsiveness and coverage continuity of the airflow-following-person function.

[0111] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining the operating angle of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms in the lower air outlet based on the modified upper and lower air supply angle, or the step of determining the operating angle of the left and right air guiding mechanisms in the lower air outlet based on the left and right air supply angle, includes: Based on the preset mapping relationship between the air supply angle and the air guide mechanism angle, the corrected up and down air supply angle is converted into the corresponding operating angle of the up and down air guide mechanism, or the above-mentioned left and right air supply angle is converted into the corresponding operating angle of the left and right air guide mechanism.

[0112] The mapping relationship is determined through calibration experiments or structural simulations and is used to compensate for the deviation in air delivery direction caused by the installation position of the air guide mechanism and the airflow deflection characteristics.

[0113] It should be noted that this embodiment introduces a mapping relationship to achieve precise control in response to the deviation between the actual physical characteristics of the air guide mechanism and the ideal air delivery direction. Theoretically, the calculated up-down or left-right air delivery angle represents the spatial direction that the airflow should have. However, due to factors such as the installation position of the air guide plate, shaft offset, blade shape, and secondary deflection of the airflow within the duct, the actual operating angle of the air guide mechanism usually cannot be completely consistent with the theoretical air delivery angle. If the theoretical angle is directly used as the driving command, it may cause the actual airflow exit direction to deviate from the expected target.

[0114] To this end, the system pre-establishes a mapping relationship between the air supply angle and the operating angle of the air guide mechanism. This mapping relationship can be obtained through calibration experiments. For example, in a controlled environment, the air guide mechanism is fixed at several discrete angles, the corresponding actual air outlet direction is measured, and a function between the input (i.e., the air guide angle) and the output (i.e., the air supply angle) is fitted. Alternatively, structural simulation can be used to simulate the deflection behavior of the airflow after passing through the air guide plate in a digital prototype, and the required driving angle can be deduced. The obtained mapping relationship can be in the form of a linear proportional plus offset, or it can be a piecewise function or a multidimensional lookup table, and it is stored in the controller.

[0115] During operation, the system takes the corrected vertical or horizontal air supply angle as input, queries or substitutes it into the mapping relationship, and outputs the corresponding vertical or horizontal air guide mechanism operating angle. For example, when the theoretical vertical air supply angle is 10 degrees downward, the mapping relationship may indicate that the air guide plate needs to be rotated to 12 degrees downward to compensate for the airflow upward effect caused by the contraction of the air duct.

[0116] In summary, the above conversion steps effectively eliminate the directional errors introduced by mechanical and fluid factors, enabling the actual airflow to more accurately reproduce the air delivery path planned by the control algorithm, thereby improving the overall directional air delivery accuracy.

[0117] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining the required rotational speed of the lower fan based on the air velocity at the lower outlet includes: Calculate the basic air volume that meets the user's location airflow requirements based on the airflow velocity and area of ​​the lower air outlet. Based on the operating angles of the left and right air guiding mechanisms and the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms inside the lower air outlet, the corresponding air volume loss coefficient is obtained based on the preset air volume loss model. Based on the base air volume and air volume loss coefficient, calculate the compensated target air volume, and determine the required speed of the down fan based on the target air volume.

[0118] It is understood that this embodiment introduces an airflow loss compensation mechanism to ensure that the output of the downdraft fan can truly meet the airflow requirements of the user's location. First, the system determines the basic airflow based on the calculated downdraft outlet wind speed and the effective area of ​​the air conditioner's downdraft outlet. This basic airflow represents the volumetric airflow required to achieve the target blowing wind speed under ideal, unobstructed conditions, and is typically expressed in cubic meters per hour.

[0119] However, in actual operation, changes in the angles of the left-right and up-down air guide mechanisms alter the shape of the internal flow channels, causing increased local resistance or airflow separation, thus reducing the effective airflow. To quantify this impact, the system employs a pre-defined airflow loss model. This model takes the operating angles of the left-right and up-down air guide mechanisms within the lower air outlet as input variables and outputs corresponding airflow loss coefficients. These coefficients reflect the proportion of airflow attenuation under the current air guide posture. Their values ​​can be obtained through wind tunnel experiments or CFD simulation calibration and are stored in the controller in the form of a function expression or a multidimensional lookup table.

[0120] The system then combines the base air volume with the air volume loss coefficient to calculate the compensated target air volume. For example, if the base air volume is 300 m³ / s... 3 = / h, with an air volume loss coefficient of 1.15, then the target air volume is 345 m³ / h. 3 / h, to offset the 15% airflow loss caused by the deflection of the air guide vane. Finally, based on the target airflow and the fan characteristic curve, the required speed of the lower fan is determined, and a control signal is output to drive the motor of the lower fan.

[0121] In summary, the above process enables the downwind fan speed to not only respond to user distance and target wind speed, but also to adapt to changes in the attitude of the air guide mechanism, avoiding insufficient actual air volume due to increased duct resistance, thereby ensuring the stability of perceived wind speed and the integrity of the control closed loop.

[0122] To facilitate understanding, this article provides a specific embodiment for controlling the working status of the left and right air guiding mechanisms, the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms, and the lower fan inside the lower air outlet.

[0123] In practice, the system first obtains the user's spatial information relative to the air conditioner based on radar or other position detection devices, and then calculates the angles σ of the left and right air guiding mechanisms and θ of the up and down air guiding mechanisms in the lower air outlet, while determining the speed of the lower fan to meet the ergonomic requirements.

[0124] The left and right air guide angle σ within the lower air outlet is determined using a zone mapping strategy. Taking the user's facing direction from the air conditioner as a baseline (0°), the horizontal plane is divided into N regions on each side, with a maximum recognition angle of ±Z° and a width of Z / N° for each region. The system determines the user's region based on the real-time left and right angle σ′ detected by sensors and assigns a preset air guide angle to that region, directing the airflow towards the center of that region. For wall-mounted units, σ ​​corresponds to the left and right louver deflection angle; for floor-standing units, it corresponds to the vertical guide plate rotation angle.

[0125] The calculation of the angle θ of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms within the lower air outlet incorporates a buoyancy correction mechanism. The specific calculation process is as follows: First, based on the wind speed requirements of the user end. and the horizontal distance between the user and the air conditioner The required lower outlet air velocity is calculated using a jet trajectory velocity model. : in, The turbulence coefficient of the air supply terminal. The equivalent diameter (m) of the air supply terminal. An empirical coefficient reflecting the wind loss characteristics of a product.

[0126] Then, the Archimedes number was calculated. : in, It is the acceleration due to gravity. The area of ​​the lower air outlet (m²) 2 ), The indoor average temperature is (°C). The air supply temperature is (°C).

[0127] Next, the vertical trajectory offset caused by buoyancy is calculated. : in, The coefficient for variation of the buoyancy trajectory is determined by experimental calibration.

[0128] Based on this, the corrected supply air direction angle is calculated. : In cooling mode: In heating mode: in, The blowing height (m) can be set to 1.2 m (sitting) or 1.7 m (standing) when cooling, and not exceeding 0.5 m when heating; The height of the center of the air outlet of the air conditioner from the ground (m). Horizontal distance (m).

[0129] Ultimately, Converted to the operating angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet : in, These are mapping parameters obtained through structural simulation or calibration experiments, used to compensate for mechanism installation deviations and airflow deflection nonlinearities.

[0130] The determination of the downdraft fan speed takes into account both air volume requirements and duct losses. Basic air volume. (m) 3 / h) is calculated as follows: Considering the airflow loss caused by the attitude of the air guide mechanism : in, The wind loss calculation coefficient is calibrated through wind tunnel experiments.

[0131] Final downwind fan speed (r / min) is: in, These are the characteristic parameters of the wind turbine.

[0132] The above control process can be executed periodically. To avoid frequent adjustments caused by minor movements, the system is equipped with a hysteresis judgment. Specifically, if the change in the left and right angle between the current moment and the previous moment is less than a threshold M (e.g., 5°), the left and right air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet remain stationary; if the change in horizontal distance is less than a threshold L (e.g., 10 cm), the angles of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet and the speed of the lower fan remain unchanged. M and L are set based on radar accuracy and mechanism response characteristics. In this way, this mechanism effectively suppresses invalid vibrations while ensuring the airflow follows the user, improving operational stability and product lifespan.

[0133] The following describes the airflow control device for a dual-vent air conditioner that follows people, provided by the present invention. The airflow control device for a dual-vent air conditioner that follows people described below can be referred to in correspondence with the airflow control method for a dual-vent air conditioner that follows people described above.

[0134] like Figure 4 As shown, the airflow control device for a dual-vent air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: The acquisition module 110 is used to receive instructions to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows people" function, acquire indoor user information and the air conditioner's operating mode, including cooling mode and heating mode. The first control module 120 is used to adjust the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the upper air outlet according to the operating mode, so as to supply air to the indoor environment. The second control module 130 is used to control the downward rotation of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet, determine the target air blowing height of the user according to the operating mode and indoor user information, and determine and adjust the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet according to the target air blowing height, so as to deliver air to the indoor user.

[0135] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a dual-vent air conditioner includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. The air conditioner has an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet, and both the upper and lower air outlets are provided with upper and lower air guiding mechanisms. When the processor executes the program, it implements the steps of the air-following-person control method of the dual-vent air conditioner of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0136] According to some embodiments of the present invention, both the upper and lower air outlets are provided with independent left and right air guiding mechanisms, and both the upper and lower air outlets are provided with independent upper and lower fans.

[0137] Figure 5 An example is a schematic diagram of the physical structure of an electronic device, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the electronic device may include a processor 810, a communication interface 820, a memory 830, and a communication bus 840. The processor 810, communication interface 820, and memory 830 communicate with each other via the communication bus 840. The processor 810 can call logic instructions in the memory 830 to execute a user-following control method for a dual-outlet air conditioner. This includes: receiving an instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the user-following function; acquiring indoor user information and the air conditioner's operating mode, including cooling and heating modes; adjusting the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the upper air outlet according to the operating mode to deliver air to the indoor environment; controlling the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet to rotate downwards; determining the user's target airflow height according to the operating mode and indoor user information; and determining and adjusting the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet according to the target airflow height to deliver air to the user.

[0138] Furthermore, the logical instructions in the aforementioned memory 830 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0139] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program includes program instructions. When the program instructions are executed by the computer, the computer can execute the air-following-person control method for the dual-outlet air conditioner provided by the above methods, including: receiving an instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the air-following-person function; acquiring indoor user information and the air conditioner's operating mode, including a cooling mode and a heating mode; adjusting the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the upper air outlet according to the operating mode to deliver air to the indoor environment; controlling the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet to rotate downwards; determining the user's target airflow height according to the operating mode and indoor user information; and determining and adjusting the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet according to the target airflow height to deliver air to the indoor user.

[0140] In another aspect, the present invention also provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon. When executed by a processor, the computer program implements the above-described methods for controlling the airflow of a dual-outlet air conditioner with upper and lower vents to follow the user's flow, including: receiving an instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the function of following the user's flow; acquiring indoor user information and the operating mode of the air conditioner, the operating mode including a cooling mode and a heating mode; adjusting the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the upper air outlet according to the operating mode to deliver air to the indoor environment; controlling the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet to rotate downwards; determining the user's target airflow height according to the operating mode and the indoor user information; and determining and adjusting the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet according to the target airflow height to deliver air to the user.

[0141] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement this without any creative effort.

[0142] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each embodiment can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms, and of course, it can also be implemented by hardware. Based on this understanding, the above technical solutions, in essence or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods of various embodiments or some parts of embodiments.

[0143] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the airflow of a dual-vent air conditioner (top and bottom) to follow the user's movements, characterized in that... The air conditioner has an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet, both of which are equipped with upper and lower air guide mechanisms. The control methods include: Upon receiving an instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "follow the user" function, the system obtains indoor user information and the air conditioner's operating mode, which includes a cooling mode and a heating mode. Adjust the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms inside the upper air outlet according to the operating mode to supply air to the indoor environment; The upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet are controlled to rotate downwards. The target air blowing height for the user is determined according to the operating mode and indoor user information. The rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet is determined and adjusted according to the target air blowing height to deliver air to the indoor user.

2. The method for controlling the airflow of a dual-vent air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of adjusting the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms inside the upper air outlet according to the operating mode includes: In cooling mode, the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet are controlled to rotate upward or to the horizontal direction; In heating mode, control the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the upper air outlet to rotate downwards or to the horizontal direction.

3. The method for controlling the airflow of a dual-vent air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the user's target airflow height based on the operating mode and indoor user information includes: In cooling mode, the user's body part to be air-dried is determined to be the torso. Based on the indoor user information, the user's current posture and height information are determined. The current posture includes sitting and standing postures, and the height information includes at least the height of the user's torso. Based on the current posture and height information, the blowing height corresponding to the user's body part to be blown is calculated and used as the target blowing height; at this time, the user's body part to be blown is the torso.

4. The method for controlling the airflow of a dual-vent air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the user's target airflow height based on the operating mode and indoor user information includes: In heating mode, the user's lower body is identified as the area to be air-blown. Based on the indoor user information, the user's current posture and height information are determined. The current posture includes sitting and standing postures, and the height information includes at least the height of the user's lower body. Based on the current posture and height information, the blowing height corresponding to the user's body part to be blown is calculated and used as the target blowing height; at this time, the user's body part to be blown is the lower body.

5. The method for controlling the airflow of a dual-vent air conditioner according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, In the step of calculating the airflow height corresponding to the user's body part to be airflowed based on the current posture and height information, and using it as the target airflow height, the target airflow height is determined and the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet is controlled using any of the following methods: The middle height of the part to be blown is determined as a single target blowing height value, and the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet are controlled to maintain a fixed rotation angle corresponding to the single target blowing height value. Alternatively, the lowest and highest heights of the part to be blown and the range between them can be defined as the target blowing height range, and the upper and lower air guide mechanisms in the lower air outlet can be controlled to periodically oscillate within their corresponding rotation angle range so that the airflow covers the target blowing height range.

6. The method for controlling the airflow of a dual-outlet air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The upper air outlet and the lower air outlet are respectively equipped with an upper fan and a lower fan. After receiving the instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows the person" function, the control method includes: Under the "wind follows people" function, the actual indoor temperature of the indoor environment is obtained; If the actual indoor temperature reaches the target indoor temperature, the fan speed is maintained at the current speed; or, if the actual indoor temperature does not reach the target indoor temperature, the fan speed is adjusted according to the difference between the actual indoor temperature and the target indoor temperature.

7. The method for controlling the airflow of a dual-outlet air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The upper air outlet and the lower air outlet are respectively equipped with an upper fan and a lower fan. After receiving the instruction to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows the person" function, the control method further includes: Get the user's horizontal distance relative to the air conditioner and the preset target airflow speed; Based on the distance information and the target blowing wind speed, the required lower air outlet wind speed of the air conditioner is calculated based on the jet velocity model of the air conditioner's air supply. The target rotation speed of the lower fan is determined based on the air velocity at the lower air outlet, and the lower fan is controlled to deliver air at the target rotation speed.

8. The method for controlling the airflow of a dual-vent air conditioner according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of determining and adjusting the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms inside the lower air outlet according to the target blowing height includes: Get the current supply air temperature and the current indoor temperature; Calculate the Archimedes number based on the air velocity at the lower air outlet, the current supply air temperature, and the current indoor temperature; Based on the Archimedes number, the horizontal distance, and the target blowing height, the preset up and down air delivery angle is corrected by buoyancy to obtain the corrected up and down air delivery angle. The rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanism is determined and adjusted according to the corrected upper and lower air supply angle.

9. A device for controlling the airflow of a dual-vent air conditioner that follows the user, characterized in that, The air conditioner has an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet, both of which are equipped with upper and lower air guide mechanisms. The control device includes: The acquisition module is used to receive instructions to control the air conditioner to perform the "wind follows people" function, acquire indoor user information and the air conditioner's operating mode, which includes a cooling mode and a heating mode. The first control module is used to adjust the rotation direction of the upper and lower air guiding mechanisms in the upper air outlet according to the operating mode, so as to supply air to the indoor environment. The second control module is used to control the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet to rotate downwards, determine the user's target air blowing height according to the operating mode and indoor user information, and determine and adjust the rotation angle of the upper and lower air guide mechanisms inside the lower air outlet according to the target air blowing height, so as to deliver air to the indoor user.

10. An air conditioner, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, The air conditioner has an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet, and both the upper and lower air outlets are provided with upper and lower air guiding mechanisms. When the processor executes the program, it implements the steps of the air-following-person control method of the air conditioner with upper and lower dual air outlets as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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