Air intake control method, air conditioner indoor unit and air conditioner

Abstract

This invention provides an air intake control method, an indoor air conditioning unit, and an air conditioner. The indoor air conditioning unit includes a casing and an air intake panel disposed within the casing. The casing includes an air inlet, and the air intake panel is movably disposed along the circumference of the casing. The air intake control method includes: acquiring relevant parameters of the indoor air conditioning unit during operation; and calculating a target opening angle for the air intake panel to open or close the air inlet based on the relevant parameters. The relevant parameters include at least the operating parameters of the compressor of the indoor air conditioning unit, the operating parameters of the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor air conditioning unit, and the indoor and outdoor ambient temperatures. When the compressor operates at high frequency, the indoor and outdoor temperature difference is large, or the heat load of the heat exchanger is high, the calculated target opening angle will increase accordingly, thereby automatically expanding the air intake area. This application solves the problem of low heat exchange efficiency in related technologies due to insufficient air intake area in air conditioners.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and more specifically, to an air intake control method, an indoor air conditioning unit, and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in existing residential floor-standing air conditioners, the air inlet is typically located on the side or rear of the unit, and due to limitations in overall structure and installation space, the air intake area is generally small. Especially when the air conditioner is installed close to a wall, the air intake channel is easily obstructed, leading to poor airflow and severely restricting the air intake efficiency and heat exchange performance of the air conditioner in high-power operation mode. Furthermore, the air inlets of existing floor-standing units are mostly of fixed area, making dynamic adjustment based on the air conditioner's operating conditions impossible.

[0003] However, while some related technologies have addressed optimizations to the air intake structure, increasing the static air intake area by adding more air inlets, these solutions rely on fixed panels that cannot be moved. This prevents the active expansion of the air intake area at high or ultra-high fan speeds, limiting the effectiveness of the fixed air intake area. Furthermore, when the air conditioner operates under high load conditions such as high fan speeds or ultra-high speeds for rapid cooling or heating, the fixed air intake area often restricts the fan's suction capacity, leading to insufficient airflow, reduced heat exchange efficiency, and even impacting the overall energy efficiency of the unit. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide an air intake control method, an indoor air conditioning unit, and an air conditioner to solve the problem of low heat exchange efficiency caused by insufficient air intake area in related technologies.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to one aspect of the present invention, an air intake control method is provided, applicable to an air conditioner indoor unit. The air conditioner indoor unit includes a casing and an air intake panel disposed within the casing. The casing includes an air inlet, and the air intake panel is movably disposed along the circumference of the casing. The air intake control method includes:

[0006] Obtain relevant parameters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation;

[0007] Based on relevant parameters, calculate the target opening angle for the air inlet panel to open or close the air inlet. ;

[0008] Among these, the relevant parameters include at least the operating parameters of the compressor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the operating parameters of the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and the indoor and outdoor ambient temperatures.

[0009] Furthermore, after acquiring relevant parameters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation, the air intake control method also includes:

[0010] Based on relevant parameters, calculate the real-time load factor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation. ;

[0011] Based on real-time load factor Calculate the target opening angle .

[0012] Furthermore, based on relevant parameters, the real-time load factor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation is calculated. ,include:

[0013] The real-time load factor is calculated using the following formula. :

[0014]

[0015] in, This refers to the compressor's current operating frequency. This is the compressor's maximum operating frequency. The indoor ambient temperature Set the temperature for the user. The maximum temperature difference threshold set by the user. The target temperature for the indoor heat exchanger. This represents the current actual temperature of the indoor heat exchanger. This represents the current actual current of the compressor. This is the rated current of the compressor; Let be the weight coefficient, and satisfy... .

[0016] Furthermore, the air intake control methods also include:

[0017] make The value range is from 0 to 1;

[0018] When calculated Then take ; and / or, when calculated Then take .

[0019] Furthermore, based on the real-time load factor Calculate the target opening angle ,include:

[0020] The target opening angle is calculated using the following formula. :

[0021]

[0022] Where r is a nonlinear adjustment factor. This is the minimum angle of the air inlet in the circumferential direction of the casing. This is the maximum angle of the air inlet in the circumferential direction of the casing.

[0023] Furthermore, the air intake control methods also include:

[0024] When r=1, the target opening angle With real-time load factor They are linearly correlated; and / or,

[0025] When r > 1, the target opening angle The angle changes more smoothly under low load and more sensitively under high load; and / or,

[0026] When r < 1, the target opening angle It is more sensitive to angle changes under low load and more gradual under high load.

[0027] Furthermore, the air intake control method also includes: adjusting the target opening angle. The range is from 0° to 60°.

[0028] Furthermore, the target opening angle for the air inlet panel to open or close the air inlet is calculated. Subsequently, air intake control methods also include:

[0029] Get the current opening angle of the air inlet panel when the air inlet is open or closed. ;

[0030] when At the same time, maintain the current opening angle of the air intake panel. constant;

[0031] when At that time, the current opening angle of the air intake panel will be... Adjust to the target opening angle .

[0032] Furthermore, the casing also houses a control system and a drive component that communicates with the control system; the drive component is driven to connect to the air inlet panel; the air inlet control method also includes:

[0033] Obtain the operating parameters of the air intake panel during its movement;

[0034] Based on the operating parameters, determine whether the control system is obstructed;

[0035] If the control system is determined to be obstructed, the protection mechanism of the control system is triggered.

[0036] The operating parameters include at least the drive current of the drive components during the movement of the air intake panel. The change in angle of the air intake panel after the control system issues a motion command. .

[0037] Furthermore, based on the operating parameters, determine whether the control system is obstructed, including:

[0038] When the following conditions are met: , Or satisfy: , When the safety limit is exceeded;

[0039] The control system is determined to be obstructed;

[0040] in, This represents the theoretical no-load current of the air intake panel at the current angle. This represents the theoretical change in the angle of the air intake panel.

[0041] Furthermore, the air intake control methods also include:

[0042] make The value range is 1 to 2;

[0043] make The value range is from 0.1 to 0.5.

[0044] Furthermore, the protection mechanism includes at least one of the following:

[0045] The current torque output of the control drive component is 0;

[0046] Control the drive component to rotate in the opposite direction;

[0047] After a preset time t, the control drive component continuously drives the air intake panel to the target opening / closing angle n times. If, after n operations, the control system is still determined to be obstructed, it indicates that the control system is in a fault state and a fault alarm is issued.

[0048] According to another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioning indoor unit is provided, applicable to the aforementioned air intake control method, the air conditioning indoor unit comprising:

[0049] The housing includes the air inlet.

[0050] An air inlet panel is installed inside the housing. The air inlet panel includes a first air inlet panel and a second air inlet panel. The first air inlet panel and the second air inlet panel are arranged to move towards or away from each other along the circumference of the housing to open or close the air inlet.

[0051] The control system is located inside the casing. The control system includes an acquisition module and an adjustment module. The acquisition module is used to acquire relevant parameters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation. The adjustment module is used to control the first air inlet panel and the second air inlet panel to move towards or away from each other along the circumference of the casing.

[0052] Furthermore, the indoor unit of the air conditioner also includes:

[0053] The drive components are housed within the casing;

[0054] The transmission structure is housed inside the casing. The input end of the transmission structure is connected to the output end of the drive component, and the output end of the transmission structure is connected to the first air inlet panel and the second air inlet panel respectively.

[0055] Furthermore, the transmission structure includes:

[0056] The drive gear is connected to the output end of the drive component;

[0057] A first drive shaft and a second drive shaft, wherein a first driven gear is provided on the first drive shaft and a second driven gear is provided on the second drive shaft, and the driving gear, the first driven gear and the second driven gear mesh in sequence;

[0058] The first link and the second link are connected at both ends to the first drive shaft and the first air inlet panel, respectively, and at both ends to the second drive shaft and the second air inlet panel, respectively.

[0059] Furthermore, the housing includes a bottom shell located at the bottom, on which a first mating part is provided. The first mating part extends circumferentially along the bottom shell. The bottom of both the first air inlet panel and the second air inlet panel are provided with a second mating part. The first mating part and the second mating part are connected in a compatible manner so that the first air inlet panel and the second air inlet panel are slidably disposed along the extending direction of the first mating part.

[0060] In this part, one of the first mating part and the second mating part is a guide groove and the other is a pulley.

[0061] Furthermore, the indoor unit of the air conditioner also includes a magnetic assembly, comprising a magnetic component and a magnetic adsorption component, wherein one of the magnetic component and the magnetic adsorption component is disposed on the side of the first air inlet panel near the second air inlet panel, and the other of the magnetic component and the magnetic adsorption component is disposed on the side of the second air inlet panel near the first air inlet panel.

[0062] According to another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner is provided, comprising an outdoor unit and an indoor unit as mentioned above.

[0063] The present invention provides an air intake control method applicable to an air conditioner indoor unit. The air conditioner indoor unit includes a casing and an air intake panel disposed within the casing. The casing includes an air inlet, and the air intake panel is movably disposed along the circumference of the casing. The air intake control method includes: acquiring relevant parameters of the air conditioner indoor unit during operation; and calculating a target opening angle for the air intake panel to open or close the air inlet based on the relevant parameters. Among them, the relevant parameters include at least the operating parameters of the compressor of the air conditioner indoor unit, the operating parameters of the indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner indoor unit, and the indoor and outdoor ambient temperatures.

[0064] When the compressor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is running at high frequency, the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large, or the heat load of the indoor heat exchanger is high, the calculated target opening angle is... The air intake area will increase accordingly, thereby effectively alleviating the problem of insufficient air volume caused by limited air intake in high-power operation mode by automatically expanding the air intake area. This increases the air flow into the evaporator, significantly improves heat exchange efficiency, shortens the time to reach the set temperature, and avoids energy efficiency degradation caused by insufficient air intake. This helps to solve the problem of low heat exchange efficiency in air conditioners due to insufficient air intake area in related technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0065] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0066] Figure 1 A control logic diagram provided by an embodiment of the air intake control method according to the present invention is shown;

[0067] Figure 2 A diagram illustrating the protection mechanism of a control system provided by an embodiment of the air intake control method according to the present invention is shown;

[0068] Figure 3 A control flowchart according to an embodiment of an air conditioner indoor unit is shown;

[0069] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure provided by an embodiment of an air conditioner indoor unit according to the present invention is shown;

[0070] Figure 5 A partial structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of an air conditioner indoor unit according to the present invention is shown;

[0071] Figure 6 A top view of a portion of the structure provided by an embodiment of an air conditioner indoor unit according to the present invention is shown;

[0072] Figure 7 A first-view structural schematic diagram of the air intake panel provided by an embodiment of an air conditioning indoor unit according to the present invention is shown;

[0073] Figure 8 A second-view structural schematic diagram of the air intake panel provided by an embodiment of an air conditioning indoor unit according to the present invention is shown.

[0074] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0075] 1. Housing;

[0076] 2. Air inlet;

[0077] 3. Bottom shell;

[0078] 4. First Coordination Unit;

[0079] 5. Second Coordination Unit;

[0080] 10. Air intake panel;

[0081] 11. First air intake panel;

[0082] 12. Second air intake panel;

[0083] 20. Drive components;

[0084] 30. Transmission structure;

[0085] 31. Drive gear;

[0086] 32. First drive shaft;

[0087] 320. First driven gear;

[0088] 33. Second drive shaft;

[0089] 330. Second driven gear;

[0090] 34. First link;

[0091] 35. Second link. Detailed Implementation

[0092] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0093] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown, one aspect of the technical solution applied to the present invention provides an air intake control method applicable to an air conditioner indoor unit. The air conditioner indoor unit includes a housing 1 and an air intake panel 10 disposed within the housing 1. The housing 1 includes an air inlet 2, and the air intake panel 10 is movably disposed along the circumference of the housing 1. The air intake control method includes:

[0094] Obtain relevant parameters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation;

[0095] Based on relevant parameters, calculate the target opening angle for the air inlet panel 10 to open or close the air inlet 2. ;

[0096] Among these, the relevant parameters include at least the operating parameters of the compressor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the operating parameters of the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and the indoor and outdoor ambient temperatures.

[0097] When the compressor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is running at high frequency, the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large, or the heat load of the indoor heat exchanger is high, the calculated target opening angle is... The air intake area will increase accordingly, thereby effectively alleviating the problem of insufficient air volume caused by limited air intake in high-power operation mode by automatically expanding the air intake area. This increases the air flow into the evaporator, significantly improves heat exchange efficiency, shortens the time to reach the set temperature, and avoids energy efficiency degradation caused by insufficient air intake. This helps to solve the problem of low heat exchange efficiency in air conditioners due to insufficient air intake area in related technologies.

[0098] The system calculates the target opening angle when under low load or near the set temperature. Smaller or even completely closed design limits the air intake area. This avoids unnecessary excessive air intake, which can cause heat loss (when heating) or cold air loss (when cooling), reducing fan load and operating noise, improving the user's quiet experience, and helping to maintain stable indoor temperature, thus achieving energy savings.

[0099] Compared to the logic of traditional single-mode operation (such as only high fan speed), this application establishes a "load-air intake demand" mapping model, which deeply binds the opening and closing action of the air intake panel 10 with the air conditioner's operating mode. By collecting air conditioner operating parameters, the real-time load rate is calculated, and then the target opening and closing angle of the air intake panel 10 is derived. This enables intelligent control of air intake on demand, improving the air conditioning system's response speed and adaptability to environmental changes.

[0100] In some implementations, after acquiring relevant parameters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation, the air intake control method further includes:

[0101] Based on relevant parameters, calculate the real-time load factor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation. ;

[0102] Based on real-time load factor Calculate the target opening angle .

[0103] By introducing a quantitative indicator, the real-time load factor, complex air conditioning operating conditions (such as compressor frequency, temperature difference, and current) are transformed into a unified and standardized numerical signal. This allows the system to more accurately sense the current heat exchange pressure. Compared to traditional "step-by-step" or "qualitative" control (such as switching only between "high / medium / low" fan speeds), continuous calculation based on the load factor enables smooth adjustment of the air inlet panel's 10° opening angle.

[0104] Under high load conditions, the real-time load factor is high, and the system automatically increases the opening and closing angle to ensure sufficient airflow through the evaporator, preventing airflow bottlenecks caused by excessive suction resistance and ensuring heat exchange efficiency at high power.

[0105] When the load is low or close to the set temperature, the real-time load factor is low, the system reduces the opening angle, effectively reduces unnecessary air circulation, reduces heat exchange loss caused by excessive ventilation (cool air loss during cooling and hot air loss during heating), and at the same time reduces the energy consumption of the fan in the inefficient zone, thereby improving the overall energy consumption efficiency of the unit.

[0106] By driving the air intake panel 10 with a real-time load factor, the system can respond more subtly to changes in indoor temperature. It rapidly increases air intake during the initial stages of cooling and heating to accelerate temperature changes, and then gradually reduces air intake as the set temperature approaches to maintain a constant temperature. This dynamic adjustment results in a smoother and more stable airflow pattern, avoiding the discomfort caused by sudden changes in air volume and enhancing user comfort.

[0107] In some implementations, the real-time load factor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation is calculated based on relevant parameters. ,include:

[0108] The real-time load factor is calculated using the following weighted fusion algorithm formula. :

[0109]

[0110] in, This refers to the compressor's current operating frequency. This is the compressor's maximum operating frequency. The indoor ambient temperature Set the temperature for the user. The maximum temperature difference threshold set by the user. The target temperature for the indoor heat exchanger. This represents the current actual temperature of the indoor heat exchanger. This represents the current actual current of the compressor. This is the rated current of the compressor; Let be the weight coefficient, and satisfy... .

[0111] In some implementations, the air intake control method further includes:

[0112] make The value range is from 0 to 1;

[0113] When calculated Then take ; and / or, when calculated Then take .

[0114] In some implementations, based on the real-time load factor Calculate the target opening angle ,include:

[0115] The target opening angle is calculated using the following formula. :

[0116]

[0117] Where r is a nonlinear adjustment factor. The minimum angle of the air inlet 2 in the circumferential direction of the casing 1. The maximum angle of the air inlet 2 in the circumferential direction of the casing 1.

[0118] In some implementations, the air intake control method further includes:

[0119] When r=1, the target opening angle With real-time load factor They are linearly correlated; and / or,

[0120] When r > 1, the target opening angle The angle changes more smoothly under low load and more sensitively under high load; and / or,

[0121] When r < 1, the target opening angle It is more sensitive to angle changes under low load and more gradual under high load.

[0122] By adjusting the value of r, different opening and closing angle mapping relationships of the air intake panel 10 can be achieved.

[0123] In some embodiments, the air intake control method further includes: adjusting the target opening angle. The range is from 0° to 60°.

[0124] In some implementations, the target opening angle for opening or closing the air inlet 2 is calculated using the air inlet panel 10. Subsequently, air intake control methods also include:

[0125] Get the current opening angle of the air inlet panel 10 when it opens or closes the air inlet 2. ;

[0126] when At the same time, maintain the current opening angle of the air intake panel 10. constant;

[0127] when At that time, the current opening angle of the air intake panel 10 will be... Adjust to the target opening angle .

[0128] in, It is 5°.

[0129] To avoid frequent opening and closing of the air intake panel 10, a dead zone is set. This setting is to prevent mechanical fatigue and wear caused by frequent small-amplitude reciprocating motion of the drive motor, gear set and linkage mechanism of the air intake panel 10, which would affect the user experience and be detrimental to the overall service life of the device.

[0130] In some embodiments, if the air conditioner is set to sleep or silent mode, the air intake panel 10 is forcibly not opened to reduce wind noise.

[0131] In some embodiments, the housing 1 further includes a control system and a drive component 20 communicatively connected to the control system, the drive component 20 being drivenly connected to the air inlet panel 10; the air inlet control method further includes:

[0132] Obtain the operating parameters of the air inlet panel 10 during its movement;

[0133] Based on the operating parameters, determine whether the control system is obstructed;

[0134] If the control system is determined to be obstructed, the protection mechanism of the control system is triggered.

[0135] The operating parameters include at least the drive current of the drive component 20 during the movement of the air inlet panel 10. The change in angle of the air intake panel 10 after the control system issues a motion command. .

[0136] By using motor current monitoring and position feedback to determine whether the mechanism is obstructed, this method avoids the traditional detection methods that rely solely on current or position. Instead, it uses a dual-parameter criterion of current and position, which greatly improves the logical rigor and accuracy of the judgment and prevents mechanical damage caused by frequent shutdowns due to false alarms or missed alarms.

[0137] In some implementations, determining whether the control system is obstructed based on operating parameters includes:

[0138] When the following conditions are met: , Or satisfy: , When the safety limit is exceeded;

[0139] The control system is determined to be obstructed;

[0140] in, This represents the theoretical no-load current of the air intake panel 10 at the current angle. This represents the theoretical angle change of the air intake panel 10.

[0141] Judgment logic: When the current surge criterion of the drive component 20 and the position lag criterion of the air inlet panel 10 are simultaneously satisfied, or the current surge criterion is satisfied alone and the current exceeds the safety limit (such as 200% of the rated current), the control system is determined to be blocked. If the system is determined to be blocked, the control system will execute the protection mechanism.

[0142] When the current exceeds the safety limit (e.g., 200% of the rated current), the system immediately determines that the circuit is blocked, regardless of the angle change. This is designed to address the risk of sudden, severe mechanical jamming or short circuit, ensuring that power can be cut off instantly in the most extreme and dangerous situations to prevent motor burnout or mechanical structure breakage.

[0143] A blockage is identified when the current exceeds 1.5 times the no-load current and the angle lag exceeds 70% (i.e., the actual movement is less than 30% of the theoretical movement). This condition is specifically used to identify soft jamming or gradual resistance, such as increased resistance caused by poor guide rail lubrication, slight obstruction by foreign objects, or gear wear. At this time, the current may not have reached the dangerous limit, but the movement is obviously blocked. Meeting both parameters simultaneously can eliminate false judgments caused by fluctuations in a single parameter, ensuring accurate triggering of the protection action.

[0144] During the initial startup of an air conditioner or when there are sudden load changes, the current will naturally fluctuate, and there may also be slight noise in the angle feedback. Setting a threshold of 1.5 times the no-load current can tolerate normal start-up and shutdown shocks and light load fluctuations, avoiding unnecessary shutdown protection caused by current peaks under normal operating conditions, thereby reducing user inconvenience caused by false alarms.

[0145] In some implementations, the air intake control method further includes:

[0146] make The value range is 1 to 2;

[0147] make The value range is from 0.1 to 0.5.

[0148] Preferably, a is 1.5 and b is 0.3.

[0149] In some implementations, the protection mechanism includes at least one of the following:

[0150] The current torque output of the control drive component 20 is 0;

[0151] Control drive component 20 to rotate in the opposite direction;

[0152] After waiting for a preset time t, the control drive component 20 continuously drives the air intake panel 10 to move to the target opening and closing angle n times. If, after n operations, the control system is still determined to be obstructed, it indicates that the control system is in a fault state and a fault alarm is issued.

[0153] After waiting for 2 seconds, try controlling the air intake panel 10 to open or close towards the target angle again. Movement; the maximum number of retries is set to 3. If the obstruction is still determined after 3 retries, the control system will enter the fault state of the air intake panel 10; send a fault code to the main control board, display maintenance prompts on the user terminal, and record the operating parameters (current, angle, load) at the time of the fault to non-volatile memory for easy after-sales analysis.

[0154] As can be seen, the air intake control method of this application dynamically adjusts the air intake by quantifying the load, avoiding unnecessary excessive heat loss from the air intake at low loads and energy efficiency degradation caused by insufficient air intake at high loads. Simultaneously, the obstruction protection logic effectively prevents the risk of motor burnout or gear damage due to foreign object obstruction, thus extending product lifespan. Furthermore, the introduction of hysteresis comparison and noise linkage correction avoids visual interference and noise fluctuations caused by frequent operation of the air intake panel 10.

[0155] like Figures 4 to 8 As shown, in another aspect of the technical solution of the present invention, an air conditioner indoor unit is provided, which is applicable to the air intake control method mentioned above. The air conditioner indoor unit includes a housing 1, an air intake panel 10, and a control system. The housing 1 includes an air inlet 2. The air intake panel 10 is disposed inside the housing 1 and includes a first air intake panel 11 and a second air intake panel 12. The first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 are arranged to move towards or away from each other along the circumference of the housing 1 to open or close the air inlet 2. The control system is disposed inside the housing 1 and includes an acquisition module and an adjustment module. The acquisition module is used to acquire relevant parameters of the air conditioner indoor unit during operation, and the adjustment module is used to control the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 to move towards or away from each other along the circumference of the housing 1.

[0156] The adjustment module includes a motor drive circuit that supports forward and reverse rotation control and PWM adjustment of a brushless motor or stepper motor, driving the left and right air intake panels 10 via a gear set. The control system also includes:

[0157] Main control module;

[0158] Actuator: DC air conditioner main control board (MCU), responsible for logic judgment and signal output;

[0159] Feedback module: Motor current sampling circuit, used to detect stall and position endpoint.

[0160] By allowing the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 to move synchronously or independently, symmetrical or angled air intake channels can be formed, making the airflow into the indoor unit more uniform and avoiding airflow short-circuiting or local eddies, thereby improving the overall heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator. During high-load operation, the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 open simultaneously. Compared to opening on one side or using fixed small holes for air intake, this significantly increases the effective air intake cross-sectional area, meeting the urgent need for large airflow during high-power cooling and heating, and shortening the time required to adjust the room temperature.

[0161] In low-load or silent mode, the adjustment module controls the opening or closing of the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12, reducing ineffective airflow loss and fan noise, and lowering energy consumption. In high-load mode, it automatically expands the air intake and responds quickly to temperature changes; when approaching the set temperature, it smoothly adjusts the opening to avoid strong airflow or temperature fluctuations, improving the user's subjective comfort.

[0162] In some embodiments, the indoor unit of the air conditioner further includes a drive component 20 and a transmission structure 30; the drive component 20 is disposed inside the housing 1; the transmission structure 30 is disposed inside the housing 1, the input end of the transmission structure 30 is connected to the output end of the drive component 20, and the output end of the transmission structure 30 is connected to the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 respectively.

[0163] Compared to the solution that uses two independent motors to drive the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 respectively, this application only requires one drive motor, significantly reducing the hardware costs of the motor, drive circuit, and control chip. Eliminating the need for independent dual-path control logic and complex synchronous control algorithms makes the overall control architecture simpler, reduces the difficulty of software development and maintenance, and facilitates cost control in large-scale mass production.

[0164] The rotation of the drive component 20 is synchronously transmitted to the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 through the transmission structure 30, ensuring that the two move towards or away from each other at the same speed and with the same stroke, thus avoiding asynchronous opening and closing caused by dual-motor control errors. At the same time, it ensures that the air inlet channels open symmetrically from left to right, making the airflow distribution entering the indoor unit more uniform, avoiding airflow deviation or uneven local heat exchange caused by one side's air inlet area being larger than the other side, thereby improving the overall heat exchange efficiency and cooling and heating effects of the unit.

[0165] In some embodiments, the transmission structure 30 includes a drive gear 31, a first transmission shaft 32, a second transmission shaft 33, a first connecting rod 34, and a second connecting rod 35; the drive gear 31 is connected to the output end of the drive component 20; a first driven gear 320 is provided on the first transmission shaft 32, and a second driven gear 330 is provided on the second transmission shaft 33, and the drive gear 31, the first driven gear 320, and the second driven gear 330 mesh sequentially; both ends of the first connecting rod 34 are respectively connected to the first transmission shaft 32 and the first air inlet panel 11, and both ends of the second connecting rod 35 are respectively connected to the second transmission shaft 33 and the second air inlet panel 12; wherein, the drive component 20 is a motor or other components.

[0166] The rotational motion driven by the motor is forcibly transmitted from the driving gear 31 to the first driven gear 320 and the second driven gear 330 through gear meshing. Regardless of the load change, the speed and phase of the first transmission shaft 32 and the second transmission shaft 33 are strictly locked by the gear ratio. This fundamentally eliminates the synchronization errors that may exist in electronic control (such as inconsistent timing between the two motors, signal delay, etc.).

[0167] The first link 34 and the second link 35 convert the rotational motion of the drive shaft into the reciprocating motion of the air inlet panel 10. Due to the geometric symmetry of the transmission paths on both sides, the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 are always kept centrally symmetrical during opening and closing, ensuring the balanced distribution of the airflow and optimizing the indoor heat exchange efficiency.

[0168] This application integrates the drive motor, the active gear 31, the two driven gears, and the double-sided air intake panels 10 into an integrated linkage mechanism. The synchronous and symmetrical opening and closing of the left and right air intake panels 10 can be achieved by a single drive motor. This solves the problems of complex structure, high cost, and poor synchronization caused by dual-motor drive or independent control in related technologies, and has the advantage of structural simplification.

[0169] In some embodiments, the housing 1 includes a bottom shell 3 located at the bottom, on which a first mating part 4 is provided. The first mating part 4 extends circumferentially along the bottom shell 3. The bottom of the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 are both provided with a second mating part 5. The first mating part 4 and the second mating part 5 are adapted to be connected so that the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 are slidably disposed along the extending direction of the first mating part 4. In this embodiment, one of the first mating part 4 and the second mating part 5 is a guide groove and the other is a pulley.

[0170] This guiding structure effectively eliminates lateral clearance and vibration of the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 during movement, ensuring stability even at high speeds or under wind pressure. This significantly reduces operating noise and improves the user experience. Simultaneously, rolling contact reduces wear on the contact surfaces. Compared to direct sliding contact, the combination of pulleys and guide grooves has a longer service life, reducing problems such as increased clearance and decreased motion accuracy caused by wear.

[0171] The guide groove, with a radial width slightly larger than the pulley's outer diameter by 1mm, provides a small lateral clearance within the guide groove. This clearance is used to accommodate assembly and thermal deformation errors, preventing the formation of a rigid geometric closed loop. The guide groove, in conjunction with a limiting rod, restricts the movement trajectory of the air inlet panel 10. The air conditioner housing is located outside the bottom shell 3, covering it and preventing the connecting rod from damaging the appearance of the air conditioner housing.

[0172] An arc-shaped guide structure consisting of an arc-shaped guide groove and a pulley is adopted to realize the rotary opening and closing motion of the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12. The pulley set at the bottom of the air inlet panel 10 is embedded in the arc-shaped guide groove inside the air conditioner bottom shell 3. The center of the guide groove is located at the center line of the air conditioner body, so that the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 move along the arc trajectory during the opening and closing process, ensuring that the motion path is controllable. At the same time, the change of curvature radius is effectively used to achieve a smooth transition of the transmission ratio, avoiding mechanical impact and vibration, and improving the stability of operation.

[0173] In some embodiments, the indoor unit of the air conditioner further includes a magnetic suction assembly, which includes a magnetic element and a magnetic adsorption element. One of the magnetic element and the magnetic adsorption element is disposed on the side of the first air inlet panel 11 near the second air inlet panel 12, and the other of the magnetic element and the magnetic adsorption element is disposed on the side of the second air inlet panel 12 near the first air inlet panel 11.

[0174] The magnetic assembly utilizes the attractive force provided by magnetism to enable the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 to automatically attract and close when the drive component 20 stops working or is in its initial position. No additional mechanical latches or spring reset mechanisms are required; the automatic closure of the panels is achieved solely through magnetic force, simplifying the mechanical structure and reducing the failure rate.

[0175] Furthermore, the magnetic adsorption provides continuous and uniform pressure, ensuring that the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 fit tightly together in the closed state, effectively filling the tiny gaps at the panel seams. This tight seal not only prevents external dust, hair, and other foreign objects from entering the casing 1 through the gaps in the air intake 2 and contaminating the heat exchanger, but also reduces unintended exchange of indoor and outdoor air, improving the air conditioner's heat insulation performance in standby mode. At the same time, it avoids the obvious gaps or protrusions that may occur with traditional mechanical clips or hinge structures, giving the surface of the air intake panel 10 a unified and continuous visual effect.

[0176] In some implementations, when the air conditioner is set to high or ultra-high fan speed, the device starts operating to increase the air intake. At this time, the drive component 20 drives the drive gear 31 to rotate. Because the drive gear 31, the first driven gear 320, and the second driven gear 330 mesh sequentially, they can simultaneously rotate. Since the relative position of the driven gears and the drive shaft is fixed, the drive shaft rotates through the driven gears. At this time, the connecting rod drives the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 to slide along the guide groove on the bottom shell 3, thus opening the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12.

[0177] When the air conditioner is switched off from high or ultra-high fan speed, the drive component 20 reverses direction, and the drive gear 31 drives the first driven gear 320 and the second driven gear 330 to rotate synchronously in opposite directions. This continuously drives the transmission shaft, connecting rod, and air inlet panel 10 to move. When the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 approach the center position, the magnetic components embedded in the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 generate an attractive force, causing the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 to close, achieving a sealed state when not in operation.

[0178] In this application, the specific control logic is as follows:

[0179] The control system of the indoor unit of the air conditioner collects and analyzes operating parameters such as fan speed and operating mode in real time. When the system detects that it has entered a high-load operating mode such as high fan speed, super-strong speed, or rapid cooling / heating, the control system determines that the current operating condition requires an increase in air intake to match the high air volume demand. It then sends a start command to the drive component 20, which drives the drive gear 31 to rotate forward. Through the rotational motion of the drive gear 31-driven gear-transmission shaft, the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 are driven to rotate and open along the arc-shaped guide groove. The target opening angle between the first air intake panel 11 and the second air intake panel 12 is determined. Controlled by the number of stepping pulses of the motor, it can achieve continuous adjustment from 0° to the preset maximum opening angle, ensuring that the air intake area matches the current operating power.

[0180] When the system exits the high-load mode, a return command is issued, causing the drive component 20 to rotate in the opposite direction. This drives the drive gear 31 to reverse, pulling the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 back towards the center along the guide groove via the same transmission path. When the first air inlet panel 11 and the second air inlet panel 12 approach the closed position, the magnetic components embedded in the panels generate an adsorption force, achieving automatic sealing and closure in the non-working state, ensuring the overall aesthetic appearance and dustproof performance of the unit. This control method does not require additional airflow or position sensors; it only uses the existing operating status signals of the control system for logical judgment and action triggering. It features a simple structure, low cost, and high reliability, achieving intelligent management of on-demand opening and closing, significantly improving user experience and system energy efficiency.

[0181] According to another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner is provided, comprising an outdoor unit and an indoor unit as mentioned above.

[0182] The dynamic air intake capacity of the indoor air conditioner unit is no longer isolated, but rather works in synergy with the heat exchange efficiency of the compressor, fan, and condenser of the outdoor unit. During high-load operation, the indoor unit increases airflow by expanding its intake area, matching the high power output of the outdoor unit to ensure the entire unit operates at its optimal point on the energy efficiency ratio curve. Furthermore, the operating status of the outdoor unit (such as inverter frequency and exhaust temperature) can serve as feedback signals to further refine the opening control of the indoor unit's air intake panel 10, achieving efficient energy flow matching between the indoor and outdoor units.

[0183] During the initial stage of high-load cooling or heating, the indoor unit's air intake panel is fully open (100%), which, combined with the high-frequency operation of the outdoor unit, rapidly replaces indoor air, significantly shortening the time required to reach the set temperature. During the temperature maintenance phase, the indoor unit can fine-tune the air intake area according to load requirements, working in conjunction with the low-frequency stable operation of the outdoor unit to prevent excessive room temperature fluctuations and provide a more stable and comfortable indoor environment. This solves the problem of poor temperature control accuracy caused by insufficient air intake in traditional cabinet air conditioners under partial load.

[0184] As can be seen from the above description, the embodiments of the present invention achieve the following technical effects:

[0185] When the compressor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is running at high frequency, the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large, or the heat load of the indoor heat exchanger is high, the calculated target opening angle is... The opening angle will increase accordingly, thereby automatically expanding the air intake area and effectively alleviating the problem of insufficient airflow caused by limited air intake in high-power operation mode. This increases the airflow into the evaporator, significantly improving heat exchange efficiency, shortening the time to reach the set temperature, and avoiding energy efficiency degradation due to insufficient air intake. This helps solve the problem of low heat exchange efficiency in air conditioners due to insufficient air intake area in related technologies. At low load or near the set temperature, the system calculates the target opening angle. Smaller or even completely closed design limits the air intake area. This avoids unnecessary excessive air intake, which can cause heat loss (when heating) or cold air loss (when cooling), reducing fan load and operating noise, improving the user's quiet experience, and helping to maintain stable indoor temperature, thus achieving energy savings.

[0186] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0187] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0188] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" is generally based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention; the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0189] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0190] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this invention.

[0191] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air intake control method, applicable to an indoor unit of an air conditioner, characterized in that, The indoor unit of the air conditioner includes a casing (1) and an air inlet panel (10) disposed within the casing (1). The casing (1) includes an air inlet (2), and the air inlet panel (10) is movably disposed along the circumference of the casing (1). The air inlet control method includes: Obtain relevant parameters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation; Based on the relevant parameters, calculate the target opening angle of the air inlet panel (10) to open or close the air inlet (2). ; The relevant parameters include at least the operating parameters of the compressor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the operating parameters of the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and the indoor and outdoor ambient temperatures.

2. The air intake control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After acquiring the relevant parameters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation, the air intake control method further includes: Based on the relevant parameters, calculate the real-time load factor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation. ; Based on the real-time load factor Calculate the target opening angle .

3. The air intake control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The real-time load factor of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation is calculated based on the relevant parameters. ,include: The real-time load factor is calculated using the following formula. : in, The current operating frequency of the compressor. This refers to the maximum operating frequency of the compressor. The indoor ambient temperature Set the temperature for the user. The maximum temperature difference threshold set by the user. The target temperature for the indoor heat exchanger. The current actual temperature of the indoor heat exchanger. This refers to the current actual current of the compressor. The rated current of the compressor; Let be the weight coefficient, and satisfy... .

4. The air intake control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The air intake control method further includes: make The value range is from 0 to 1; When calculated Then take ; and / or, when calculated Then take .

5. The air intake control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, According to the real-time load factor Calculate the target opening angle ,include: The target opening angle is calculated using the following formula. : in, r It is a non-linear adjustment factor. The minimum angle of the air inlet (2) in the circumferential direction of the housing (1) is given by the air inlet (2). The maximum angle of the air inlet (2) in the circumferential direction of the housing (1).

6. The air intake control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The air intake control method further includes: When setting r When =1, the target opening angle With the real-time load coefficient They are linearly correlated; and / or, When setting r When >1, the target opening angle The angle changes more smoothly under low load and more sensitively under high load; and / or, When setting r When <1, the target opening angle It is more sensitive to angle changes under low load and more gradual under high load.

7. The air intake control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air intake control method further includes: The target opening angle The range is from 0° to 60°.

8. The air intake control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The target opening angle for the air inlet (2) to be opened or closed by the air inlet panel (10) is calculated. Subsequently, the air intake control method further includes: Obtain the current opening angle of the air inlet panel (10) when the air inlet (2) is opened or closed. ; when At the same time, maintain the current opening angle of the air inlet panel (10). constant; when At that time, the current opening angle of the air inlet panel (10) is... Adjust to the target opening / closing angle .

9. The air intake control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (1) is also provided with a control system and a drive component (20) that is communicatively connected to the control system. The drive component (20) is driven to be connected to the air inlet panel (10). The air intake control method further includes: Obtain the operating parameters of the air inlet panel (10) during its movement; Based on the operating parameters, determine whether the control system is obstructed; If the control system is determined to be blocked, the protection mechanism of the control system is triggered; The operating parameters include at least the driving current of the driving component (20) during the movement of the air inlet panel (10). The change in angle of the air intake panel (10) after the control system issues a motion command. .

10. The air intake control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The step of determining whether the control system is blocked based on the operating parameters includes: When the following conditions are met: , Or satisfy: , When the safety limit is exceeded; The control system is determined to be obstructed; in, This represents the theoretical no-load current of the air intake panel (10) at the current angle. This is the theoretical angle change of the air intake panel (10).

11. The air intake control method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The air intake control method further includes: make The value ranges from 1 to 2; and / or, make The value range is from 0.1 to 0.

5.

12. The air intake control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The protection mechanism includes: The current torque output of the drive component (20) is controlled to be 0; and / or, Control the drive component (20) to rotate in the opposite direction; and / or, After waiting for a preset time t, the drive component (20) is controlled to continuously drive the air inlet panel (10) to the target opening angle n times. If, after n operations, the control system is still determined to be obstructed, it indicates that the control system is in a fault state and a fault alarm is issued.

13. An indoor unit for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air intake control method applicable to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the air conditioning indoor unit comprises: Housing (1), the housing (1) includes an air inlet (2); An air inlet panel (10) is disposed inside the housing (1). The air inlet panel (10) includes a first air inlet panel (11) and a second air inlet panel (12). The first air inlet panel (11) and the second air inlet panel (12) are disposed in opposite directions or in opposite directions along the circumference of the housing (1) to open or close the air inlet (2). The control system is located inside the housing (1). The control system includes an acquisition module and an adjustment module. The acquisition module is used to acquire relevant parameters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner during operation. The adjustment module is used to control the first air inlet panel (11) and the second air inlet panel (12) to move towards or away from each other along the circumference of the housing (1).

14. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 13, characterized in that, The indoor unit of the air conditioner also includes: A drive component (20) is disposed inside the housing (1); A transmission structure (30) is disposed inside the housing (1). The input end of the transmission structure (30) is connected to the output end of the drive component (20). The output end of the transmission structure (30) is connected to the first air inlet panel (11) and the second air inlet panel (12) respectively.

15. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 14, characterized in that, The transmission structure (30) includes: The drive gear (31) is connected to the output end of the drive component (20); A first drive shaft (32) and a second drive shaft (33) are provided. A first driven gear (320) is provided on the first drive shaft (32), and a second driven gear (330) is provided on the second drive shaft (33). The driving gear (31), the first driven gear (320) and the second driven gear (330) mesh in sequence. The first link (34) and the second link (35) are connected at both ends to the first drive shaft (32) and the first air inlet panel (11), respectively, and at both ends to the second drive shaft (33) and the second air inlet panel (12), respectively.

16. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 13, characterized in that, The housing (1) includes a bottom shell (3) located at the bottom. A first mating part (4) is provided on the bottom shell (3). The first mating part (4) extends circumferentially along the bottom shell (3). A second mating part (5) is provided at the bottom of the first air inlet panel (11) and the second air inlet panel (12). The first mating part (4) and the second mating part (5) are adapted to be connected so that the first air inlet panel (11) and the second air inlet panel (12) are slidably arranged along the extension direction of the first mating part (4). In this configuration, one of the first mating part (4) and the second mating part (5) is a guide groove and the other is a pulley.

17. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 13, characterized in that, The indoor unit of the air conditioner also includes: The magnetic assembly includes a magnetic component and a magnetic adsorption component. One of the magnetic component and the magnetic adsorption component is disposed on the side of the first air inlet panel (11) near the second air inlet panel (12), and the other of the magnetic component and the magnetic adsorption component is disposed on the side of the second air inlet panel (12) near the first air inlet panel (11).

18. An air conditioner, characterized in that, It includes an outdoor air conditioning unit and an indoor air conditioning unit as described in any one of claims 13 to 17.

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