Detection assembly, air conditioner and detection method

Abstract

This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and more particularly to a detection component, an air conditioner, and a detection method. The antenna module of the detection component is disposed on the air guide plate of the air conditioner, and the antenna module is used to transmit or receive radar signals. The radio frequency connection structure includes a first connector disposed on the antenna module and a second connector for corresponding cooperation with the main control board of the air conditioner. The first connector is configured to maintain connection with the second connector throughout the entire swing range of the air guide plate. The detection component provided by this application integrates the antenna module directly into the air guide plate and uses the original drive mechanism of the air conditioner to drive its reciprocating swing. The antenna module is positioned in front of the air outlet to avoid signal attenuation caused by metal shielding and reflection. The mechanical sweeping motion of the air guide plate is reused as a mechanical scanning mechanism for the radar beam, expanding the fixed narrow beam into a large-angle dynamic coverage and eliminating detection blind spots caused by the inability of the antenna module to move.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to a detection component, an air conditioner, and a detection method. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of smart home technology, human presence detection technology based on 24GHz frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) millimeter-wave radar has been widely applied in indoor environmental sensing scenarios, such as fall detection, human presence sensing, contactless interaction, and smart appliance linkage control. To improve product aesthetics and reduce user installation costs, the industry is gradually exploring integrating radar modules into home appliances such as air conditioners. This utilizes the existing installation space of the air conditioner's indoor unit to achieve built-in radar antenna deployment, aiming to achieve real-time detection and intelligent response to indoor human activity without affecting the product's appearance. However, when integrating millimeter-wave radar antennas into the air conditioner's indoor unit, the dense arrangement of metal evaporators, motors, and other components creates strong reflections and shielding effects on millimeter-wave signals, significantly shortening the antenna's effective detection distance and severely impacting the reliability of core functions such as fall alarms and smart linkage.

[0003] In conventional technology, the antenna is fixed inside the air conditioner. However, the radar signal of the wireless module is limited by the pointing characteristics of the fixed beam (usually the half-power beamwidth is only ±10 to ±30°). In the complex home environment, this can easily create blind spots, leading to an increased rate of missed detections. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a detection component, an air conditioner, and a detection method to solve the problem that in conventional technology, fixing the antenna inside the air conditioner can easily create blind spots in complex home environments due to the radar signal of the wireless module being limited by the directional characteristics of the fixed beam, leading to an increased rate of missed detection of personnel.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a detection component for use in an air conditioner, the air conditioner having an air outlet and a rotatable air guide plate disposed at the air outlet, comprising: An antenna module is disposed on the air guide plate, and the antenna module is used to transmit or receive radar signals; The radio frequency connection structure includes a first connector disposed on the antenna module and a second connector for correspondingly cooperating with the main control board of the air conditioner. The first connector is configured to maintain connection with the second connector throughout the entire swing range of the air guide plate. The air guide plate is configured to reciprocate by the drive mechanism of the air conditioner, so as to drive the antenna module to move synchronously.

[0006] Optionally, the first connector is a spring-loaded structure, and the second connector is a corresponding contact structure. The spring-loaded structure is configured to abut against the contact structure by relying on its own rebound force.

[0007] Optionally, one end of the spring structure is welded to the feed point of the antenna module, and the other end abuts against the contact structure, which is located on the main control board.

[0008] Optionally, the first connector is made of beryllium copper alloy.

[0009] Optionally, the air guide plate has a receiving groove that matches the shape of the antenna module, and the antenna module is located within the receiving groove.

[0010] Optionally, the first connector is a flexible busbar.

[0011] Optionally, the antenna module includes a flexible substrate and an antenna array formed on the flexible substrate.

[0012] Secondly, this application provides an air conditioner, comprising: The indoor unit is equipped with an air outlet; An air guide plate, which is rotatably disposed at the air outlet; The detection component provided in the first aspect of this application has its antenna module disposed on the air guide plate; The main control board is disposed inside the indoor unit body and is connected to the second connector. A drive mechanism, connected to the air guide plate, is used to drive the air guide plate to swing back and forth.

[0013] Thirdly, this application provides a detection method based on the air conditioner provided in the second aspect of this application, the method comprising: The air guide plate is controlled to move within a preset swing angle range, and the antenna module moves synchronously, so that the radar signal generated by the antenna module scans the area in front of the air conditioner as the air guide plate swings, thereby expanding the effective scanning area of ​​the antenna module. The effective scanning area includes multiple unit scanning areas. When the wind guide plate is at different preset swing angles, the antenna module is controlled to transmit radar signals and receive radar signals from the corresponding unit scanning areas. Based on the radar signals of the corresponding unit scanning area, target distribution information within the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner is constructed to detect the target status within the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner.

[0014] Optionally, target distribution information within the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner is constructed based on the radar signal of the corresponding unit scanning area, including: Range-Doppler processing is performed on radar signals under different preset swing angles to obtain the distance and relative velocity information between the target and the antenna module within the corresponding unit scanning area; Based on the distance and relative velocity information between the target and the antenna module, the target's attitude and trajectory are identified.

[0015] Optionally, after identifying the target's pose and trajectory, the method further includes: The movement of the air guide plate is controlled according to the target's posture and trajectory to adapt to the target tracking requirements.

[0016] Optionally, the range of the preset swing angle is greater than the half-power beamwidth of the radar signal of the antenna module, and the coverage areas of the radar signals at adjacent preset swing angles partially overlap to form a continuous effective scanning area.

[0017] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art: This application integrates the antenna module directly into the air guide plate and utilizes the existing drive mechanism of the air conditioner to drive its reciprocating swing. The antenna module is positioned in front of the non-metallic area of ​​the air outlet, away from internal metal components such as the evaporator, thus avoiding signal attenuation caused by metal shielding and reflection. Simultaneously, the mechanical sweeping motion of the air guide plate is reused as a mechanical scanning mechanism for the radar beam. This eliminates the need for an independent scanning motor or complex phased array circuitry, allowing the fixed narrow beam to be expanded into a large-angle dynamic coverage, thus eliminating detection blind spots caused by the inability of the antenna module to move. The RF connection structure continuously establishes an RF path between the antenna module and the main control board throughout the entire swing range of the air guide plate, achieving integrated integration of the antenna module and the air guide plate. This reduces system costs and improves assembly efficiency while ensuring reliable signal transmission. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner provided in this application embodiment. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner provided in this application embodiment. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a detection component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 ; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a detection component provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 ; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the antenna module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Antenna module; 11. Flexible substrate; 12. Antenna array; 13. Metal conductive layer; 14. Feed network; 2. Radio frequency connection structure; 21. First connector; 22. Second connector; 3. Air guide plate; 3a. Receiving trough; 4. Indoor unit body; 4a. Air outlet; 5. Main control board. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0025] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0026] To address the technical problem of conventional technologies where antennas are fixed inside air conditioners, the radar signal of the wireless module is limited by the directional characteristics of the fixed beam, easily creating detection blind spots in complex home environments and leading to increased missed detection rates, the detection component provided in this application directly integrates the antenna module into the air guide plate and uses the air conditioner's original drive mechanism to drive its reciprocating swing. The antenna module is positioned in front of the non-metallic area of ​​the air outlet, away from the evaporator and other internal metal components, avoiding signal attenuation caused by metal shielding and reflection. At the same time, the mechanical sweeping motion of the air guide plate is reused as the mechanical scanning mechanism of the radar beam, eliminating the need for an additional independent scanning motor or complex phased array circuit, thus expanding the fixed narrow beam into a large-angle dynamic coverage and eliminating detection blind spots caused by the inability of the antenna module to move.

[0027] Figures 1 to 5 A detection component provided in this application embodiment is applied to an air conditioner. The air conditioner has an air outlet 4a and a rotatable air guide plate 3 disposed at the air outlet 4a. It includes an antenna module 1 and a radio frequency connection structure 2. The antenna module 1 is disposed on the air guide plate 3 and is used to transmit or receive radar signals. The radio frequency connection structure 2 includes a first connector 21 disposed on the antenna module 1 and a second connector 22 for corresponding cooperation with the main control board 5 of the air conditioner. The first connector 21 is configured to maintain connection with the second connector 22 throughout the entire swing range of the air guide plate 3. The air guide plate 3 is configured to be driven by the driving mechanism of the air conditioner to swing back and forth, so as to drive the antenna module 1 to move synchronously.

[0028] In this embodiment, the detection component is applied to the indoor unit of an air conditioner, which has an air outlet 4a formed on the front panel and an air guide plate 3 rotatably mounted on the air outlet 4a via a pivot. The antenna module 1 is fixed to the surface of the air guide plate 3 facing the indoor side by means of high-temperature resistant adhesive film bonding or embedding, or is housed in a receiving groove 3a with a matching profile opened on the surface of the air guide plate 3, so that the antenna array 12 and the air guide plate 3 form an integral structure. The radio frequency connection structure 2 includes a first connector 21 disposed at the antenna module 1 and a second connector 22 disposed on the air conditioner main control board 5. The first connector 21 can be a spring-loaded structure made of conductive elastic material, and the second connector 22 is a corresponding contact structure. The spring-loaded structure maintains sliding contact with the contact point by its own rebound force throughout the entire reciprocating swing stroke of the air guide plate 3 driven by the driving mechanism, thereby continuously establishing a low-loss radio frequency signal transmission path in motion. Alternatively, the first connector 21 can be a flexible wire, and the second connector 22 can be a plug-in component. The flexible wire can achieve a stable connection between the antenna module 1 and the air conditioner main control board 5 by following the movement characteristics of the air guide plate 3. The radar signal of this application is an electromagnetic wave emitted by the antenna module 1, reflected by the target, and then received back, used to detect the target's distance, speed, and azimuth. The air guide plate 3 is driven by the air conditioner's original stepper motor through a linkage mechanism, reciprocating within a preset swing angle range, thereby driving the antenna module 1 to move synchronously, so that the radar beam continuously scans the area in front of the air conditioner as the angle of the air guide plate 3 changes.

[0029] By directly integrating the antenna module 1 into the air guide plate 3 and utilizing the existing drive mechanism of the air conditioner to drive its reciprocating swing, the antenna module 1 is positioned in front of the non-metallic area of ​​the air outlet 4a, away from internal metal components such as the evaporator, thus avoiding signal attenuation caused by metal shielding and reflection. Simultaneously, the mechanical sweeping motion of the air guide plate 3 is reused as a passive mechanical scanning mechanism for the radar beam. Without the need for an independent scanning motor or complex phased array circuit, a fixed narrow beam can be extended to a large-angle dynamic coverage, eliminating detection blind spots caused by the inability of the antenna module 1 to move. The RF connection structure 2 continuously establishes an RF path between the antenna module 1 and the main control board 5 throughout the entire swing range of the air guide plate 3 through elastic contact or flexible connection, achieving integrated design of the antenna module 1 and the air guide plate 3. This reduces system costs and improves assembly efficiency while ensuring reliable signal transmission.

[0030] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4In one embodiment, the first connector 21 is a spring-loaded structure stamped from a conductive elastic material such as beryllium copper alloy or phosphor bronze. One end of the spring is fixed to the feed point of the antenna module 1 by welding or riveting, and the other end extends out to form a free end. The second connector 22 is a metal contact correspondingly disposed on the air conditioner main control board 5. This contact can be an exposed copper pad on the PCB (Printed Circuit Board), a gold-plated contact, or a metal spring-loaded female end riveted to the main control board 5. When the air guide plate 3 is installed in the working position, the free end of the spring structure forms a pre-compression abutment with the contact structure, and the material's own rebound force maintains a stable contact pressure throughout the entire swing stroke of the air guide plate 3. The spring structure can be designed as a cantilever beam or V-shaped bending structure to provide a suitable elastic modulus and contact stroke within a limited space. The contact structure can be correspondingly designed as a flat contact, an arc-shaped boss, or a groove limiting contact to guide the contact position of the spring during the swing process. Multiple sets of springs and contacts can be arranged on the antenna module 1 and the main control board 5 respectively, to undertake the functions of radio frequency signal transmission and grounding shielding. The surface of the springs can be plated with gold or silver to reduce contact resistance.

[0031] By utilizing the spring-loaded structure and its own rebound force to abut against the contact structure, the air guide plate 3 automatically establishes an RF connection upon installation, eliminating the need for additional cable insertion or tightening, significantly simplifying the assembly process. Because the spring-loaded structure has elastic deformation capabilities, it can adaptively absorb positional tolerances and mechanical vibrations during the reciprocating swing of the air guide plate 3, maintaining reliable electrical contact at all times. This completely avoids problems such as cable fatigue, shielding layer breakage, and poor contact caused by repeated bending of traditional coaxial cables. Simultaneously, the contact structure is fixed to the main control board 5, eliminating the need for the main control board 5 to move with the air guide plate 3, greatly simplifying the internal wiring of the entire unit. Furthermore, the direct metal-to-metal contact between the spring-loaded structure and the contact reduces intermediate transition links compared to traditional connector plug-and-play structures, lowering impedance discontinuities and signal loss in the RF transmission path, ensuring long-term stable transmission of millimeter-wave radar signals in dynamic environments.

[0032] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4In this embodiment, the first connector 21 uses beryllium copper alloy as the base material and is integrally formed into a spring structure through stamping and bending processes. One end of the spring is welded and fixed to the feed point of the antenna module 1, and the other end extends to form an elastic contact arm. During installation, it forms contact with the contact structure on the main control board 5 through pre-compression deformation. The beryllium copper alloy spring can be subjected to age hardening heat treatment to improve the elastic limit, thereby maintaining a stable mechanical rebound force during the long-term reciprocating oscillation of the air guide plate 3. A gold or silver layer can be electroplated on the surface of the spring to reduce the surface contact resistance and improve the oxidation resistance while retaining the high elasticity of the base material. The first connector 21 of this application can use beryllium copper alloy with low beryllium content to balance elasticity and cost, or the beryllium copper alloy spring can be partially combined with a stainless steel reinforcing sheet to enhance the fatigue strength of the spring root and prevent breakage under long-term vibration conditions.

[0033] By defining the first connector 21 as a beryllium copper alloy, the material's high elastic modulus and excellent conductivity are fully utilized, enabling the spring structure to continuously provide stable rebound force throughout the entire swing range of the air guide plate 3, ensuring a tight press-fit with the contact structure without breakage. The excellent fatigue resistance of the beryllium copper alloy allows it to withstand the periodic mechanical stress caused by the long-term reciprocating swing of the air guide plate 3, reducing the risk of connection failure due to material creep or fatigue fracture. In addition, the material's good conductivity effectively reduces the loss of radio frequency signals in the spring transmission path, and the surface gold plating process further suppresses oxide film formation, thereby significantly improving the long-term operational reliability of the detection component in the high-temperature vibration environment of air conditioning while ensuring low-loss and high-fidelity transmission of millimeter-wave radar signals.

[0034] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the air guide plate 3 is injection molded from plastic materials such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) or PC / ABS (polycarbonate / acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer alloy). A receiving groove 3a matching the outer contour of the antenna module 1 is formed on its inner surface. The depth of the receiving groove 3a is adapted to the thickness of the antenna module 1, so that after the antenna module 1 is embedded, its outer surface is flush with or slightly lower than the inner surface of the air guide plate 3. The antenna module 1 is accommodated and limited by the circumferential limiting of the groove wall of the receiving groove 3a and the adhesive layer at the bottom of the groove. The groove wall can be provided with continuous or discontinuous limiting ribs along the edge of the antenna module 1 to form an interference fit, or a high-temperature resistant double-sided adhesive, thermosetting adhesive film or other adhesive layer can be coated on the bottom of the groove to vacuum press and fix the antenna module 1 in the groove. The slot opening of the receiving slot 3a can be provided with an elastic pressing edge that folds inward. When the antenna module 1 is inserted, the pressing edge springs back and presses against its surface edge to form a mechanical clamping limit. The receiving slot 3a can be divided into multiple sub-slots, each corresponding to a different radiation unit area of ​​the antenna array 12. Each sub-slot is connected by reinforcing ribs, which ensures both the partition fitting accuracy and the overall structural strength of the air guide plate 3.

[0035] By creating a receiving groove 3a on the air guide plate 3 that matches the shape of the antenna module 1 and confining the antenna module 1 within it, the antenna module 1 and the air guide plate 3 form a precise conformal fit. The radiating surface of the antenna module 1 can strictly reproduce the curved shape of the air guide plate 3, thereby ensuring the stable radiation efficiency of the millimeter-wave antenna array 12 under curved installation conditions and avoiding impedance mismatch and beam distortion caused by warping or suspension. At the same time, the limiting structure of the receiving groove 3a completely constrains the antenna module 1 within the local space of the air guide plate 3, effectively preventing the antenna module 1 from shifting, falling off, or warping at the corners under the long-term reciprocating swing of the air guide plate 3 and the vibration of the air conditioner, ensuring the long-term stability of the contact position of the RF connection structure 2. In addition, the antenna module 1 does not protrude from the surface of the air guide plate 3 after being embedded in the groove, which not only avoids obstruction of the airflow of the air conditioner and noise interference, but also provides physical protection for the antenna module 1 by the air guide plate 3 body, reducing the risk of damage from external collisions during transportation and use, and significantly improving the assembly consistency, mass production yield, and long-term operational reliability of the testing components.

[0036] Please see Figure 4 In one embodiment of this application, the first connector 21 is a flexible busbar. One end of the flexible busbar is fixedly connected to the feed point of the antenna module 1, and the other end is elastically abutted against the corresponding contact structure on the air conditioner main control board 5. When the air guide plate 3 swings back and forth, the flexible busbar absorbs the relative displacement between the air guide plate 3 and the main control board 5 through its own bending deformation, thereby continuously establishing a radio frequency signal transmission path in motion. The flexible busbar can be an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) flexible cable, which forms radio frequency transmission lines and grounding shielding layers on the flexible substrate 11 through an etching process; or an FFC flat cable can be used, whose conductors are made of tinned copper wires arranged in parallel, one end is crimped with gold fingers or connectors to be inserted into the antenna module 1, and the other end abuts against the main control board 5 through the elasticity of the flexible busbar; the flexible busbar can adopt a multi-layer structure, with differential signal lines set in the inner layer and a shielding copper layer set in the outer layer to suppress electromagnetic interference during millimeter wave frequency band transmission. By setting the first connector 21 as a flexible busbar, the long-term stability of radio frequency signal transmission is improved by utilizing the characteristic that the flexible busbar can be bent repeatedly without breaking. During the reciprocating swing of the air guide plate 3, the bending deformation of the busbar adaptively compensates for the positional change between the air guide plate 3 and the main control board 5.

[0037] Please see Figure 5In this embodiment, the antenna module 1 adopts a flexible circuit board structure, with a flexible substrate 11 as the supporting carrier. The antenna array 12 is integrally formed on the surface conductive layer of the flexible substrate 11 through a patterning process, so that the antenna array 12 and the flexible substrate 11 form a conformal integrated module. The antenna module 1 is a microstrip patch antenna operating in the 24GHz ISM band (24.0-24.25GHz). In this embodiment, it is preferably a 4x1 series-fed or parallel-fed array to obtain sufficient gain (about 10-12dBi) and appropriate beamwidth. The patterns of the antenna array 12 and the feed network 14 are formed on the top metal conductive layer 13 of the flexible substrate 11 through a precision etching process. The metal conductive layer 13 can be a copper-clad layer, and the copper thickness is preferably 0.5oz or 1oz. The flexible substrate 11 is made of high-frequency laminate or polyimide film material, and its surface is covered with a metal conductive layer 13. The radiating elements and feed network 14 of the antenna array 12 are integrally formed on the conductive layer by a precision etching process. The antenna array 12 can be in the form of a microstrip patch, with multiple patch radiating elements arranged along the length of the flexible substrate 11 to form a series-fed or parallel-fed array to obtain directional radiation gain. The flexible substrate 11 can be designed as a multi-layer structure, with the antenna radiating elements formed on the surface layer and the feed network 14 partially arranged in the inner layer and interconnected through conductive vias to reduce the surface area occupied by the antenna module 1. The antenna array 12 can be directly formed on the surface of the flexible substrate 11 by screen printing conductive paste to reduce process costs and adapt to the needs of large-scale mass production.

[0038] By directly forming the antenna array 12 on the flexible substrate 11, the antenna module 1 as a whole possesses the characteristics of bendability and deformation, enabling conformal installation to fit the curved contour of the wind guide plate 3. This solves the structural problem that traditional rigid antenna plates cannot adapt to curved surfaces. At the same time, the integrated design of the flexible substrate 11 and the antenna array 12 eliminates the assembly gap and interface impedance mismatch between the antenna and the mounting carrier, allowing the antenna to maintain stable radiation efficiency and beam pointing even when bending with the wind guide plate 3. This effectively avoids signal attenuation and standing wave degradation caused by mechanical deformation. This integrated structure concentrates the radiating element and the feed network 14 on the same flexible substrate, eliminating the need for additional RF cables and adapter connectors to complete the integration with the wind guide plate 3. This simplifies the overall assembly process and improves the structural reliability and long-term electrical performance stability of the antenna module 1 under the long-term reciprocating oscillation and vibration environment of the wind guide plate 3.

[0039] Secondly, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2This application provides an air conditioner, including an indoor unit body 4, an air guide plate 3, a main control board 5, a drive mechanism, and a detection component provided in the first aspect of this application. The indoor unit body 4 includes a front panel and an air outlet 4a formed on the front panel. The air guide plate 3 is rotatably mounted at the air outlet 4a via a rotating shaft extending along its length. Both ends of the rotating shaft are supported by bearing seats and connected to the output end of the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism can use the air conditioner's original stepper motor in conjunction with a linkage transmission assembly, so that the air guide plate 3 can reciprocate within a preset swing angle range. The antenna module 1 of the detection component is disposed on the inner surface of the air guide plate 3. The first connector 21 of the radio frequency connection structure 2 is fixed to the antenna module 1 and moves synchronously with the air guide plate 3. The second connector 22 is correspondingly disposed on the main control board 5 and kept fixed. The main control board 5 is installed in the electrical control box of the indoor unit body 4. Radio frequency signal transmission with the antenna module 1 is achieved through the elastic contact between the second connector 22 and the first connector 21. The main control board 5 can integrate a radar signal processing chip, which receives the echo signal from the antenna module 1 through the second connector 22 and completes range-Doppler processing; the wind guide plate 3 can be set as multiple segmented blades, each blade is independently equipped with an antenna module 1, and each antenna module 1 is connected to the main control board 5 through the corresponding radio frequency connection structure 2; the drive mechanism can be configured as a servo motor system that independently controls the swing speed and angle of the wind guide plate 3 to adapt to the beam scanning cycle requirements in different scenarios.

[0040] By placing the antenna module 1 of the detection component on the air guide plate 3 and fixing the main control board 5 inside the indoor unit body 4, and using the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 of the radio frequency connection structure 2 to maintain connection throughout the entire swing range of the air guide plate 3, reliable radio frequency signal transmission between the antenna module 1 on the moving part and the main control board 5 on the stationary part is achieved. There is no need to lay traditional coaxial cables between the air guide plate 3 and the body, eliminating the risk of cable breakage and poor contact under repeated bending and long-term vibration. Meanwhile, the antenna module 1 moves synchronously with the reciprocating swing of the air guide plate 3, reusing the original air-sweeping function of the air conditioner as the mechanical scanning drive source for the radar beam. Without adding an additional scanning motor or phased array circuit, the fixed narrow beam is expanded into a large-angle dynamic coverage, eliminating detection blind spots in complex indoor environments. The main control board 5 is fixedly set inside the indoor unit body 4, away from the airflow disturbance and temperature fluctuation in the air outlet area 4a, which is conducive to the radar signal processing chip working in a stable environment and facilitates integration and linkage with the existing control system of the air conditioner. Thus, with a low-cost and highly integrated architecture, the air conditioner reliably supports functions such as human presence detection, fall detection, and intelligent air supply linkage.

[0041] Thirdly, please refer to Figures 1 to 5 This application provides a detection method based on the air conditioner provided in the second aspect of this application, the method comprising: The air guide plate 3 is controlled to move within a preset swing angle range, and the antenna module 1 moves synchronously, so that the beam generated by the antenna module 1 scans the area in front of the air conditioner as the air guide plate 3 swings, thereby expanding the effective scanning area of ​​the antenna module 1. The effective scanning area includes multiple unit scanning areas. When the wind guide plate 3 is at different preset swing angles, the control antenna module 1 transmits radar signals and receives radar signals from the corresponding unit scanning areas. Based on the echo signal of the corresponding unit scanning area, the target distribution information in the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner is constructed to detect the target status in the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner.

[0042] In this embodiment, the preset swing angle range refers to the total angle range within which the air guide plate 3 is allowed to swing back and forth in radar scanning mode, that is, the angle span between the lowest and highest limit positions of the air guide plate 3. This detection method is executed by the main control board 5 of the air conditioner. The main control board 5 controls the drive mechanism to drive the air guide plate 3 to swing back and forth within the preset swing angle range, so that the antenna module 1 integrated on the air guide plate 3 moves synchronously. The antenna module 1 points its radar beam to different sub-areas in front of the air conditioner as the angle of the air guide plate 3 changes, thereby expanding the originally fixed narrow beam coverage area into a continuous large-angle effective scanning area. This effective scanning area is logically divided into multiple unit scanning areas. Each unit scanning area corresponds to the spatial sub-area covered by the beam of the antenna module 1 at a certain preset swing angle of the air guide plate 3. When the air guide plate 3 moves to each preset swing angle, the main control board 5 triggers the antenna module 1 to emit radar detection signals and receive the echo signals of the corresponding unit scanning area at that angle. The air guide plate 3 can rotate sequentially according to a preset angle step value and stay at each preset swing angle for a preset duration, independently completing the detection of the unit scanning area at each dwell point; the air guide plate 3 can also be driven by a drive mechanism to swing continuously at a uniform speed, and the main control board 5 discretizes the continuous scanning trajectory into multiple unit scanning areas according to the real-time angle information fed back by the encoder, and synchronously triggers radar signal transmission and reception when the air guide plate 3 passes through the angle interval corresponding to each unit scanning area; the adjacent unit scanning areas can be set to overlap according to the beamwidth of the antenna module 1, and the local overlap of the beam coverage range at adjacent angles ensures that there are no detection gaps in the effective scanning area.

[0043] By controlling the air guide plate 3 to move within a preset swing angle range and driving the antenna module 1 to scan synchronously, the inherent air sweeping function of the air guide plate 3 is reused as the mechanical scanning drive source for the radar beam. This eliminates the need for an independent beam scanning motor or a complex phased array feed network 14, thus expanding the narrow beam coverage of the fixed antenna into a large-angle effective scanning area in front. This solves the problem of blind spots caused by furniture obstruction and angle limitations in complex home environments. Simultaneously, by dividing the effective scanning area into multiple unit scanning areas corresponding to each preset swing angle of the air guide plate 3, and transmitting and receiving radar signals within each unit scanning area, the radar backend can independently analyze and fuse the echoes from each sub-area, thereby accurately constructing continuous target distribution information within a large-angle space in front of the air conditioner. This segmented, angle-based scanning and information construction method not only improves the spatial resolution and coverage continuity of human presence detection but also accurately identifies the movement trajectory and even posture changes such as falls based on the target's positional changes in different time sequences and different unit scanning areas. This achieves reliable, full-area perception of indoor human activity status under low-cost integration conditions.

[0044] Please see Figures 1 to 5 Based on the radar signals of the corresponding unit scanning area, target distribution information within the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner is constructed, including: Range-Doppler processing is performed on the echo signals under different preset swing angles to obtain the distance and relative velocity information between the target and antenna module 1 within the corresponding unit scanning area; Based on the distance and relative velocity information between the target and antenna module 1, the target's attitude and trajectory are identified.

[0045] In one embodiment, the main control board 5 performs range-Doppler processing on the echo signals corresponding to each unit scanning area. Based on this, the main control board 5 uses the distance and relative velocity information of the target within each unit scanning area, combined with the spatial mapping relationship of the unit scanning area under different preset swing angles, to identify the target's posture and fit its motion trajectory through a point extraction and association algorithm. Micro-Doppler features can be further extracted from stationary targets to identify subtle movements of vital signs such as breathing and heartbeat, thereby confirming the person's posture. By performing range-Doppler processing on echo signals at different preset swing angles, the spatial distance and relative velocity information of the target can be simultaneously calculated from the echo. This allows radar detection to move beyond a single-dimensional judgment of echo intensity and instead obtain the distribution characteristics of the target in the range-velocity two-dimensional domain. This effectively distinguishes between stationary furniture and moving people, as well as multiple targets at different distances. Furthermore, based on the distance and relative velocity information of targets within each unit's scanning area, combined with the spatial orientation corresponding to different swing angles of the air guide plate 3, the independent detection results of each unit's scanning area are stitched together and fused into continuous target distribution information within a large-angle space in front of the air conditioner. This not only accurately identifies whether a person is in a certain area but also reconstructs the movement trajectory and posture change trend of the person through multi-frame temporal correlation. This method of constructing target distribution information based on range-Doppler domain information improves the detection and discrimination capability and stability of multiple targets, weak targets, and stationary people in complex indoor environments. It avoids the missed detections and misjudgments caused by the lack of angle resolution and velocity information in fixed-beam radar, thus achieving accurate and continuous perception of indoor human activity at a relatively low computational cost.

[0046] Please see Figures 1 to 5 After identifying the target's posture and trajectory, the method also includes controlling the movement of the air guide plate 3 according to the target's posture and trajectory to adapt to the target tracking requirements.

[0047] In this embodiment, after identifying the target's posture and trajectory, the main control board 5 dynamically adjusts the motion strategy of the wind guide plate 3 according to the current target distribution and motion trend to adapt to the target tracking requirements. When the target is detected to have moved within the effective scanning area, the main control board 5 controls the drive mechanism to adjust the swing angle range, swing speed, or dwell time of the wind guide plate 3, so that the beam of the antenna module 1 tends to increase the scanning weight in the unit scanning area where the target is located or is about to enter. When a target is detected moving from a certain unit scanning area to an adjacent area, the main control board 5 can control the wind guide plate 3 to reduce the swing angle range to the local sector where the target is located, and swing back and forth with a finer angle step value to improve the target tracking refresh rate in that local area; when a target is detected to be stationary in a certain area for a long time, the main control board 5 can control the wind guide plate 3 to stop swinging in a large range and stabilize the beam of the antenna module 1 to point to the unit scanning area where the target is located, so as to continuously acquire its micro-Doppler characteristics for vital sign monitoring; when multiple targets are detected to be scattered in different unit scanning areas, the main control board 5 can control the wind guide plate 3 to stay and scan in the area where each target is located in order of priority, or allocate different scanning cycles according to the difference in the movement speed of each target.

[0048] By controlling the movement of the air guide vane 3 in real time according to the target's attitude and trajectory to adapt to target tracking requirements, a closed-loop linkage is formed between radar detection and the air guide vane 3's movement control. This allows the air guide vane 3 to no longer simply perform fixed periodic sweeping, but to dynamically adjust its scanning strategy based on the actual distribution of people. This ensures wide-angle coverage while achieving higher-density beam dwell and more precise target tracking in areas of interest. This adaptive air guide vane 3 movement control significantly improves the radar's detection refresh rate and data confidence for both moving targets and stationary people. Furthermore, it organically combines radar beam scanning with the air conditioning's airflow guidance function, enabling the air guide vane 3 to perform its antenna scanning function while also considering indoor airflow organization. For example, it can guide the airflow direction to or away from areas where people are present. This further enhances the air conditioning's intelligence and user experience while achieving accurate human presence detection.

[0049] Please see Figures 1 to 5 The range of the preset swing angle is greater than the half-power beamwidth of antenna module 1, and the radar coverage areas under adjacent preset swing angles partially overlap to form a continuous effective scanning area.

[0050] In one embodiment, the main control board 5 sets a preset swing angle range for the wind guide plate 3 based on the half-power beamwidth of the antenna module 1, making the preset swing angle range larger than the coverage angle of a single beam. The reciprocating swing stroke of the wind guide plate 3 is divided into multiple preset swing angles, with the angular interval between two adjacent preset swing angles being smaller than the half-power beamwidth of the antenna module 1. This causes partial overlap of the radar beam coverage at adjacent angles in space. By stitching together the echo information from this overlapping area, discrete unit scanning areas are fused into a continuous effective scanning area. The angular interval between adjacent preset swing angles can be set to 50% to 80% of the half-power beamwidth of the antenna module 1 to balance scanning density and scanning efficiency. The wind guide plate 3 can add additional dwell angles at both ends of the effective scanning area, causing the beam coverage of the boundary area to exceed the theoretical boundary, preventing edge detection omissions. When a target is detected in the overlapping area of ​​adjacent unit scanning areas, the main control board 5 can fuse the echo signals from two adjacent angles within the overlapping area for joint angle measurement to improve the azimuth resolution of that area.

[0051] By setting the preset swing angle range to be greater than the half-power beamwidth of antenna module 1, and making the radar coverage areas of adjacent preset swing angles partially overlap, the scanning gap problem caused by beam dispersion jumps during mechanical scanning is effectively overcome. This allows the scanning areas of each unit to be seamlessly spliced ​​in space to form a continuous and effective scanning area, thus ensuring complete coverage of the large-angle space in front of the air conditioner. At the same time, the setting of the overlapping area provides redundant observation information for radar signal processing. It can not only compensate for data when the echo is attenuated due to furniture blockage at a certain angle by overlapping coverage of adjacent angles, but also improve the robustness of target positioning and spatial resolution by utilizing the multi-view echo characteristics of the overlapping area. This significantly reduces the probability of missed detection caused by beam pointing jumps or local blockages, achieving a near-continuous scanning detection coverage effect under a low-cost mechanical scanning architecture.

[0052] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0053] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0054] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A detection component applied to an air conditioner, the air conditioner having an air outlet (4a) and a guide vane (3) rotatably disposed at the air outlet (4a), characterized in that, include: Antenna module (1) is disposed on the wind guide plate (3), and the antenna module (1) is used to transmit or receive radar signals; The radio frequency connection structure (2) includes a first connector (21) electrically connected to the antenna module (1) and a second connector (22) electrically connected to the main control board (5) of the air conditioner. The first connector (21) is configured to maintain an electrical connection with the second connector (22) throughout the entire swing range of the air guide plate (3). The air guide plate (3) is configured to reciprocate by the drive mechanism of the air conditioner to drive the antenna module (1) to move synchronously.

2. The detection component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connector (21) is a spring structure with a rebound force, and the second connector (22) is a corresponding contact structure. The spring structure is configured to abut against the contact structure by relying on the rebound force.

3. The detection component according to claim 2, characterized in that, One end of the spring structure is welded to the feed point of the antenna module (1), and the other end abuts against the contact structure, which is located on the main control board (5).

4. The detection component according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first connector (21) is made of beryllium copper alloy.

5. The detection component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air guide plate (3) has a receiving groove (3a) that matches the shape of the antenna module (1), and the antenna module (1) is located within the receiving groove (3a).

6. The detection component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connector (21) is a flexible cable strip.

7. The detection component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The antenna module (1) includes a flexible substrate (11) and an antenna array (12) formed on the flexible substrate (11).

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: The indoor unit body (4) is provided with an air outlet (4a); Air guide plate (3), which is rotatably disposed at the air outlet (4a); The detection component as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the antenna module (1) of the detection component is disposed on the air guide plate (3); The main control board (5) is located inside the indoor unit body (4) and is connected to the second connector (22). The driving mechanism is connected to the air guide plate (3) and is used to drive the air guide plate (3) to swing back and forth.

9. A detection method, based on the air conditioner of claim 8, characterized in that, The method includes: Control the air guide plate (3) to move within a preset swing angle range and drive the antenna module (1) to move synchronously, so that the radar signal generated by the antenna module (1) scans the area in front of the air conditioner with the swing of the air guide plate (3), thereby expanding the effective scanning area of ​​the antenna module (1); The effective scanning area includes multiple unit scanning areas. When the wind guide plate (3) is at different preset swing angles, the antenna module (1) is controlled to transmit radar signals and receive radar signals of the corresponding unit scanning areas. Based on the radar signals of the corresponding unit scanning area, target distribution information within the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner is constructed to detect the target status within the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner.

10. The detection method according to claim 9, characterized in that, Based on the radar signals of the corresponding unit scanning area, target distribution information within the effective scanning area in front of the air conditioner is constructed, including: Range-Doppler processing is performed on radar signals under different preset swing angles to obtain the distance and relative velocity information between the target and the antenna module (1) within the corresponding unit scanning area; The target's attitude and trajectory are identified based on the distance and relative velocity information between the target and the antenna module (1).

11. The detection method according to claim 10, characterized in that, Following the identification of the target's pose and trajectory, the method further includes: The movement of the air guide (3) is controlled according to the target's posture and trajectory to adapt to the target tracking requirements.

12. The detection method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The range of the preset swing angle is greater than the half-power beamwidth of the radar signal of the antenna module (1), and the coverage of the radar signal under adjacent preset swing angles partially overlaps to form a continuous effective scanning area.

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