Air conditioner and wireless communicator thereof

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of air conditioners, and discloses an air conditioner and a wireless communication device thereof, which comprise a shell, a circuit board, an antenna and an electric connecting wire, the shell is detachably mounted on a main machine and has an installation cavity formed inside, the circuit board is built in the installation cavity, the antenna comprises a connecting end and a communication end, the connecting end extends into the installation cavity and is electrically connected with the circuit board, and the communication end is exposed outside the shell, one end of the electric connecting wire extends into the installation cavity and is electrically connected with the circuit board, and the other end is electrically connected with the main machine. The application can install one wireless communication device in the indoor unit of the air conditioner and install another wireless communication device in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, so that a wiring channel for a communication connecting wire between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is not needed, that is, a person installing after sale does not need to punch holes and lay wires, and a user also does not need to pre-bury a wiring pipe when installing at home, so that the installation is simple, fast, time-saving and labor-saving, the efficiency of installing after sale is improved, the installation cost of the air conditioner is reduced, and the indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner can be more freely laid out and installed by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to an air conditioner and its wireless communicator. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, air conditioner indoor and outdoor units are usually connected by wired communication. This means that during after-sales installation, it is usually necessary to drill holes in the wall to run the communication cable between the indoor and outdoor units. Obviously, after-sales installation of air conditioners is more difficult and the wiring is more complicated. Alternatively, in scenarios where conduits have been pre-embedded in the walls or ceilings during home decoration, if the installation position of the air conditioner needs to be adjusted, the installers will need to rearrange or replace the communication cable, which is also time-consuming and labor-intensive. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this application is to solve the technical problem that the installation of communication connections between the indoor and outdoor units of existing air conditioners is cumbersome, time-consuming, and labor-intensive.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a wireless communicator for an air conditioner, employing the technical solution described below:

[0005] The air conditioner includes a main unit, and the wireless communicator includes:

[0006] The housing is detachably mounted on the host, and an installation cavity is formed inside the housing.

[0007] The circuit board is built into the mounting cavity;

[0008] The antenna includes a connection end and a communication end, the connection end extending into the mounting cavity and electrically connected to the circuit board, and the communication end exposed outside the housing;

[0009] An electrical connection wire extends one end into the mounting cavity and is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the other end is electrically connected to the host.

[0010] In some embodiments, the housing is provided with a first connector along a first direction, and the first connector is provided with a connection hole communicating with the mounting cavity along the first direction; the connection end of the antenna passes through the connection hole to the mounting cavity.

[0011] In some embodiments, the wireless communicator further includes a first sealing ring, which is sleeved on the connecting end and located between the connecting end and the wall of the connecting hole;

[0012] And / or, the antenna has an annular protrusion on its outer periphery, the protrusion abutting against the first connector, and the protrusion being configured to block the connector from the outside of the connector hole;

[0013] And / or, the housing is further provided with a second connector, through which the electrical connection wire passes, and the second connector is configured to seal the connection between the electrical connection wire and the housing.

[0014] In some embodiments, the outer wall of the connecting end is provided with an external thread, the inner wall of the connecting hole is provided with an internal thread, and the connecting end is threadedly connected to the connecting hole through the external thread and the internal thread.

[0015] In some embodiments, the housing includes a front cover and a back cover, the back cover and the front cover being fitted together to form the mounting cavity.

[0016] In some embodiments, a second sealing ring is provided between the back cover and the front cover;

[0017] And / or, the back cover is connected to the front shell by at least two first connectors, and a sealing strip is also provided in the mounting cavity, the sealing strip being located within the inner perimeter of all the first connectors;

[0018] And / or, the first connector is disposed on the face shell, and the face shell is further provided with reinforcing ribs protruding from the periphery of the first connector, the reinforcing ribs being configured to enhance the bending strength of the first connector.

[0019] Secondly, this application also provides a wireless communicator for an air conditioner, which adopts the following technical solution:

[0020] The air conditioner includes a main unit, and the wireless communicator includes:

[0021] The communication device is the aforementioned wireless communicator;

[0022] A protective shell is fitted onto the communication body from the front.

[0023] And / or, a protective sleeve, fitted over the first connector of the communication body and the portion of the antenna extending out of the first connector.

[0024] Thirdly, this application embodiment also provides an air conditioner, which adopts the following technical solution: the air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and the wireless communicator provided in the first aspect is set as a first communicator, and the wireless communicator provided in the second aspect is set as a second communicator;

[0025] The indoor unit is electrically connected to either the first communicator or the second communicator;

[0026] The second communicator is electrically connected to the outdoor unit;

[0027] The outdoor unit is wirelessly connected to the first or second communicator on the indoor unit via the second communicator thereon.

[0028] In some embodiments, the back of the housing of the wireless communicator is provided with a plurality of mounting holes, and the plurality of mounting holes form a plurality of mounting positions;

[0029] The housing is detachably mounted to the side of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit via a bracket structure;

[0030] The bracket structure includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket is installed on the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, and the second bracket is installed in the corresponding mounting position through a second connector, and the second bracket is snap-fitted to the first bracket.

[0031] In some embodiments, the first bracket includes a connecting part and a fastening part connected together. The connecting part is detachably installed on the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, and the fastening part has a frame structure and a fastening hole is provided on the side opposite to the connecting part.

[0032] The second bracket includes a first mounting part, which has a snap-fit ​​part; the first mounting part is detachably mounted to the mounting position corresponding to the housing via the second connector, and the snap-fit ​​part is inserted into the buckle hole so that the first bracket supports the second bracket.

[0033] In some embodiments, the second bracket further includes a second mounting portion, which is formed by bending one end of the first mounting portion along the thickness direction of the first mounting portion;

[0034] The second mounting part is located around the fastening part and is connected to the fastening part of the first bracket via a third connector.

[0035] In some embodiments, both the first support and the second support are made of rigid metal material;

[0036] And / or, the first bracket is formed by bending a plate, and the second bracket is formed by molding a plate;

[0037] And / or, a shock-absorbing component is provided between the connecting part and the indoor unit or the outdoor unit.

[0038] Compared with the prior art, the air conditioner and its wireless communicator provided in this application have the following advantages:

[0039] The air conditioner's wireless communicator is detachably installed on the air conditioner's main unit. A circuit board is housed inside the casing, while an antenna electrically connected to the circuit board is exposed outside the casing. An electrical connection cable connects one end to the circuit board and the other end to the main unit. For example, one wireless communicator's casing can be installed in the indoor unit, with the other end of the wireless communicator's electrical connection cable electrically connected to the indoor unit. Similarly, another wireless communicator's casing can be installed in the outdoor unit, with the other end of the wireless communicator's electrical connection cable electrically connected to the outdoor unit. This eliminates the need for a dedicated wiring channel between the indoor and outdoor units. In other words, after-sales personnel no longer need to drill holes or lay wiring, and users do not need to pre-install conduits during home renovation. This simplifies installation, saving time and effort and significantly improving after-sales installation efficiency, thereby reducing air conditioner installation costs. Furthermore, users can more freely arrange the layout of the indoor and outdoor units according to their specific needs. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To more clearly illustrate the solutions in this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application or corresponding prior art. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. Wherein:

[0041] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the wireless communicator of an air conditioner from one perspective in one example of this application; in this diagram, the wireless communicator is the first communicator and is connected to a bracket structure.

[0042] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the wireless communicator of the central air conditioner from another perspective;

[0043] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of a wireless communicator for an air conditioner in one example of this application. In this view, the wireless communicator also includes a protective sleeve, a protective tube, etc., and is connected to a support structure.

[0044] Figure 4 This is another exploded three-dimensional diagram of the wireless communicator of an air conditioner in one example of this application;

[0045] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the wireless communicator of an air conditioner in one example of this application after removing the back cover and other components; the diagram shows the installation position of the sealing strip.

[0046] Figure 6 This is a rear view of the wireless communicator of an air conditioner in one example of this application;

[0047] Figure 7 This is a rear view of an air conditioner's wireless communicator with a second bracket installed in one example of this application; in this figure, the second bracket is installed in a mounting position on the back cover.

[0048] Figure 8 This is a rear view of an air conditioner's wireless communicator with a second bracket installed in one example of this application; in this figure, the second bracket is mounted on another mounting position on the back cover, and this mounting position is from which the second bracket... Figure 7 The mounting position after rotating the center mounting position 90 degrees counterclockwise;

[0049] Figure 9 This is a rear view of an air conditioner's wireless communicator with a second bracket installed, as shown in one example of this application; in this figure, the second bracket is installed at another mounting position on the back cover; and this mounting position is from which the second bracket... Figure 7 The mounting position after rotating the center mounting position 90 degrees clockwise;

[0050] Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the wireless communicator of an air conditioner from one perspective in one example of this application; in this diagram, the wireless communicator is the second communicator and is connected to a bracket structure.

[0051] Figure 11 yes Figure 10 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a wireless communicator for an air conditioner; in this diagram, an electrical connection cable is attached to the handle of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner.

[0052] Figure 12 yes Figure 10 Another three-dimensional structural diagram of the wireless communicator of the central air conditioner;

[0053] Figure 13 yes Figure 10 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the wireless communicator of the central air conditioner from another perspective;

[0054] Figure 14 This is a cross-sectional view of the wireless communicator of an air conditioner in one example of this application;

[0055] Figure 15 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an air conditioner outdoor unit with a first bracket installed in one example of this application;

[0056] Figure 16 yes Figure 15 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the Chinese and foreign machines with the second communicator mounted on the first bracket;

[0057] Figure 17 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an air conditioner indoor unit installed vertically with a first bracket installed, as shown in one example of this application.

[0058] Figure 18 yes Figure 17 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the indoor unit with the first communicator mounted on the first bracket;

[0059] Figure 19 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an air conditioner indoor unit with a first communicator installed in a horizontal installation, as shown in one example of this application.

[0060] The labels in the attached diagram are as follows:

[0061] 1000, Air conditioner; 100, Main unit; 110, Indoor unit; 120, Outdoor unit; 121, Handle; 200, Wireless communicator; 210, First communicator / Communication main body; 220, Second communicator; 300, First direction; 400, Bracket structure; 410, First bracket; 411, Connecting part; 412, Fastening part; 4121, Fastening hole; 413, Shock absorber; 420, Second bracket; 421, First mounting part; 422, Snap-fit ​​part; 423, Second mounting part; 430, Second connector; 440, Third connector;

[0062] 1. Housing; 11. Front cover; 111. Reinforcing rib; 12. Back cover; 121. Mounting hole; 122. Mounting position; 122. Groove; 123. Limiting protrusion; 13. Mounting cavity; 14. First connector; 141. Connecting hole; 1411. Internal thread; 15. Second connector; 16. First connecting piece; 17. Sealing strip;

[0063] 2. Antenna; 21. Connecting end; 211. External thread; 22. Communication end; 23. Boss;

[0064] 3. Electrical connection wire; 4. First sealing ring; 5. Second sealing ring;

[0065] 6. Protective shell; 7. Protective sleeve; 71. Flange; 8. Fourth connector; 9. Third connector; 10. Protective tube. Detailed Implementation

[0066] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The terms used in this specification are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present application. For example, terms such as “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer” indicate orientations or positions based on the orientations or positions shown in the accompanying drawings and are for ease of description only, and should not be construed as limiting the present technical solution.

[0067] The terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a particular order. "A plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0068] In the description, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application, when an element is referred to as "fixed to," "mounted to," "set on," or "connected to" another element, it can be directly or indirectly located on that other element. For example, when an element is referred to as "connected to" another element, it can be directly or indirectly connected to that other element. When the term "and / or" is used, it means including three parallel options; for example, "option A and / or option B" includes option A, or option B, or options that satisfy both A and B simultaneously.

[0069] Furthermore, the terms "embodiment," "implementation," "example," etc., used herein refer to specific features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with an embodiment that may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. These phrases appearing in various places throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are they independent or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0070] This application provides a wireless communicator 200 for an air conditioner. The wireless communicator 200 is mainly used for wireless communication between the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 of an air conditioner 1000. Of course, in practice, it can also be used for wireless communication between two electrical components of other products, or for wireless communication between two other products. No particular limitation is made here.

[0071] It should be noted that the air conditioner 1000 includes a main unit 100, which can be either the indoor unit 110 or the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000. In this embodiment, to achieve wireless communication between the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000, both the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 are equipped with wireless communicators 200. However, because the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 have different operating environments—for example, the indoor unit 110 is not exposed to wind and rain, while the outdoor unit 120 is exposed to sunlight year-round and has a harsher operating environment—the requirements for waterproofing and sun protection are different. Therefore, the wireless communicators 200 installed on the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 are basically the same in terms of their main structure. The main difference is that the wireless communicator 200 installed on the outdoor unit 120 has additional waterproof and sun-protective components compared to the wireless communicator 200 installed on the indoor unit 110. Of course, the wireless communicator 200 installed on the indoor unit 110 can also be the same as the wireless communicator 200 installed on the outdoor unit 120.

[0072] For ease of description, the following explanation will focus on the wireless communicator 200 installed on the indoor unit 110.

[0073] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the wireless communicator 200 includes a housing 1, a circuit board (not shown), an antenna 2, and an electrical connection wire 3. The housing 1 is detachably mounted on the main unit 100. An installation cavity 13 is formed inside the housing 1. The circuit board is housed within the installation cavity 13, and the antenna 2 and electrical connection wire 3 are both mounted on the housing 1. This allows the wireless communicator 200 to be packaged separately from the indoor unit 110 and outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000 as a part for after-sales installation, facilitating transportation and storage. When after-sales maintenance is required, the housing 1 can be directly removed from the main unit 100 to replace the wireless communicator 200, etc.

[0074] To enable the wireless communication function of the wireless communicator 200, both the antenna 2 and the electrical connection wire 3 are electrically connected to the circuit board. Specifically, as shown... Figure 1 As shown, antenna 2 includes a connection terminal 21 (see figure). Figure 3 The circuit board has a communication terminal 22 and a connection terminal 21 extending into the mounting cavity 13 and electrically connected to the circuit board. The communication terminal 22 is exposed outside the housing 1. In addition, one end of the electrical connection cable 3 extends into the mounting cavity 13 and is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the other end of the electrical connection cable 3 is electrically connected to the host 100.

[0075] For example, a wireless communicator 200 is installed on both the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000. When the indoor unit 110 of the air conditioner 1000 receives a remote control command to start cooling or heating, the antenna 2 of the wireless communicator 200 on the indoor unit 110 can receive the corresponding command sent by the indoor unit 110 and wirelessly transmit the command to the antenna 2 of the wireless communicator 200 on the outdoor unit 120. The antenna 2 of the wireless communicator 200 on the outdoor unit 120 then transmits the signal command to the outdoor unit 120 through a circuit board connected to it. In this way, the outdoor unit 120 can execute the corresponding command to cooperate with the indoor unit 110 to enable the air conditioner 1000 to perform cooling, heating or other operations.

[0076] It should be noted that, in order to ensure wireless communication of signal commands, the antenna 2 of the wireless communicator 200 can extend along the direction of gravity when the wireless communicator 200 is installed. For example, when the wireless communicator 200 is installed vertically, the antenna 2 extends vertically and the communication end 22 is located at the top of the housing 1.

[0077] In summary, compared with the prior art, the wireless communicator 200 of the air conditioner 1000 has at least the following beneficial effects: the wireless communicator 200 of the air conditioner 1000 is detachably installed on the main unit 100 of the air conditioner 1000 through the housing 1, and a circuit board is set inside the housing 1, while an antenna 2 electrically connected to the circuit board is exposed outside the housing 1, and an electrical connection line 3 is provided, with one end connected to the circuit board and the other end connected to the main unit 100. For example, the housing 1 of one wireless communicator 200 is installed in the indoor unit 110 of the air conditioner 1000, and the other end of the electrical connection line 3 of the wireless communicator 200 is electrically connected to the indoor unit 110. In addition, another wireless... The casing 1 of the communicator 200 is installed on the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000, and the other end of the electrical connection cable 3 of the wireless communicator 200 is electrically connected to the outdoor unit 120. In this way, there is no need to set up a wiring channel for the communication connection cable between the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120. That is, after-sales installation / maintenance personnel no longer need to drill holes and lay wires, and users do not need to pre-bury wiring pipes during home decoration. On the one hand, the installation is simple and quick, saving time and effort, which can greatly improve the efficiency of after-sales installation and thus reduce the installation cost of air conditioners. On the other hand, users can arrange the layout and installation of the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000 more freely according to the actual scenario.

[0078] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the following will be discussed in conjunction with the appendix. Figures 1 to 9 The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application are clearly and completely described. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0079] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1As shown, in order to improve the firmness and safety of the connection between the antenna 2 and the housing 1, the housing 1 is provided with a first connector 14 along the first direction 300. The first connector 14 is provided with a connection hole 141 along the first direction 300. The connection hole 141 communicates with the mounting cavity 13, and the connection end 21 of the antenna 2 passes through the connection hole 141 to the mounting cavity 13.

[0080] For example, the housing 1 of the wireless communicator 200 can be a cuboid or cube-shaped housing 1, and the thickness of the housing 1 is not large, that is, the housing 1 can be a flat housing 1, and the first direction 300 can be set to a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the housing 1 in the longitudinal section. For example, in this embodiment, the wireless communicator 200 is usually vertically mounted on the host 100, and the vertical direction can be set as the first direction 300.

[0081] It should be noted that the first connector 14 may be waterproof, that is, it may be a waterproof connector.

[0082] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, to achieve waterproofing and other sealing at the connection between the antenna 2 and the first connector 14, the wireless communicator 200 also includes a first sealing ring 4. The first sealing ring 4 is fitted onto the connection end 21 of the antenna 2, and is located between the connection end 21 and the wall of the connection hole 141 (see...). Figure 14 This is to prevent rainwater and other liquids from entering the gap between the antenna 2 and the first connector 14 and then into the mounting cavity 13, thereby improving the safety and service life of the wireless communicator 200.

[0083] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 14 As shown, to achieve waterproofing and sealing at the connection between antenna 2 and the first connector 14, an annular protrusion 23 is provided on the outer periphery of antenna 2. The protrusion 23 abuts against the first connector 14 and is configured to block the connection hole 141 from the outside. Understandably, when antenna 2 is installed in housing 1, the protrusion 23 of antenna 2 is located on the outside of the connection hole 141 and abuts against the first connector 14 to directly block the connection hole 141, preventing external rainwater, air condensation, and other liquids from entering the connection hole 141, thereby preventing them from entering the mounting cavity 13 and improving the security and service life of the wireless communicator 200.

[0084] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in order to improve the firmness and safety of the connection between the electrical connection wire 3 and the housing 1, the housing 1 is also provided with a second connector 15, through which the electrical connection wire 3 passes, and the second connector 15 is configured to seal the connection between the electrical connection wire 3 and the housing 1.

[0085] It should be noted that, to simplify the overall structure of the wireless communicator 200, the second connector 15 and the first connector 14 are located on opposite sides of the housing 1. For example, the first connector 14 is located on the upper side of the housing 1, and the second connector 15 is located on the lower side of the housing 1. Of course, in other embodiments, the second connector 15 can also be located in other parts of the housing 1, which is not particularly limited here. In addition, to achieve waterproof protection for the electrical connection wire 3 and the connection between the electrical connection wire 3 and the housing 1, the second connector 15 can be a waterproof connector.

[0086] It should also be noted that, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the wireless communicator 200 also includes a third connector 9 and a protective tube 10. The protective tube 10 is sleeved on the electrical connection cable 3. For example, the protective tube 10 can be a corrugated pipe to provide waterproof and sun protection for the electrical connection cable 3. In addition, the third connector 9 is located on the side where the other end of the electrical connection cable 3 enters the host 100 to provide waterproof protection at the connection between the electrical connection cable 3 and the host 100. The third connector 9 can also be a waterproof connector.

[0087] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the outer wall of the connecting end 21 of the antenna 2 has an external thread 211, and the inner wall of the connecting hole 141 has an internal thread 1411. The connecting end 21 is threadedly connected to the connecting hole 141 by the external thread 211 and the internal thread 1411. In this way, on the one hand, the antenna 2 and the housing 1 of the wireless communicator 200 can be packaged as separate parts or packaged together separately at the factory, which is convenient for transportation and storage; on the other hand, during the use of the wireless communicator 200, the antenna 2 can be directly removed and replaced, which is very convenient and quick, and improves the efficiency of after-sales maintenance.

[0088] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, to simplify the manufacturing and installation of the wireless communicator 200, the housing 1 includes a front cover 11 and a back cover 12, wherein the back cover 12 and the front cover 11 are fitted together to form a mounting cavity 13.

[0089] It should be noted that relevant structures can be provided on the back cover 12 to install the back cover 12 of the housing 1 onto the host 100. Relevant decorative patterns can be provided on the side of the front cover 11 away from the back cover 12 (i.e., the front side), so that the housing 1 can also become a decorative part. Alternatively, a logo can be provided on the front of the front cover 11, or a label with relevant information can be affixed so that the housing 1 can also serve as an identification function.

[0090] For example, such as Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, both the first connector 14 and the second connector 15 are disposed on the faceplate 11. Additionally, as... Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the outer shell 11 is further provided with a reinforcing rib 111 protruding from the periphery of the first connector 14. The reinforcing rib 111 is configured to enhance the bending strength of the first connector 14. For example, the reinforcing rib 111 is located on one side of the first connector 14 in the thickness direction of the shell 1. In this way, when the first connector 14 is subjected to compressive force in the thickness direction of the shell 1, the reinforcing rib 111 can provide support for the first connector 14, which helps to reduce the probability of the antenna 2 bending at the first connector 14.

[0091] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 and Figure 14 As shown, to prevent moisture from entering the mounting cavity 13 through the gap at the connection between the back cover 12 and the front cover 11, a second sealing ring 5 is provided between the back cover 12 and the front cover 11. Exemplarily, the second sealing ring 5 can be pre-installed on the back cover 12, and then the back cover 12 can be fitted onto the front cover 11. Alternatively, the second sealing ring 5 can be a waterproof rubber sleeve.

[0092] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, to achieve a closed connection between the back cover 12 and the front cover 11, the back cover 12 can be connected to the front cover 11 via at least two first connectors 16. Additionally, as... Figure 5 As shown, a sealing strip 17 is also provided in the mounting cavity 13 of the housing 1. The sealing strip 17 is located in all the first connecting members 16 (see Figure 1). Figure 4 The inner circumference of the faceplate 11. For example, the side of the faceplate 11 facing the back cover 12 has a recessed mounting groove (not shown in the figure), and a connecting hole (not shown in the figure) protrudes from the mounting groove. The first connector 16 is threaded into the connecting hole to connect the back cover 12 to the faceplate 11. Wherein, as... Figure 5 As shown, the mounting groove is located around the sealing strip 7. This places the first connector 16 around the sealing strip 17, which reduces the possibility of water seepage at the connection of the first connector 16 and helps to improve the waterproof performance and service life of the wireless communicator 200.

[0093] This application embodiment also provides a wireless communicator 200 for an air conditioner, such as... Figures 10 to 14As shown, the wireless communicator 200 includes a communication body 210 and a protective shell 6; or, the wireless communicator 200 includes a communication body 210 and a protective sleeve 7; or, the wireless communicator 200 includes a communication body 210, a protective shell 6, and a protective sleeve 7. The communication body 210 is the aforementioned wireless communicator 200, designated as the first communicator 210. The wireless communicator 200 including at least one of the protective shell 6 and the protective sleeve 7 is designated as the second communicator 220. Understandably, the communication body 210 of the second communicator 220 can be the same as the first communicator 210. Thus, by directly providing at least one of the protective shell 6 and the protective sleeve 7 around the first communicator 210, the waterproof and sun-proof performance of the second communicator 220 can be improved. This makes the second communicator 220 suitable not only for the indoor unit 110 of the air conditioner 1000 but also for the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000, which is subject to constant exposure to sunlight, wind, and rain.

[0094] Understandably, the wireless communicator 200 installed on the indoor unit 110 of the air conditioner 1000 can be either the first communicator 210 or the second communicator 220, depending on the specific application. The wireless communicator 200 installed on the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000 can be the second communicator 220.

[0095] In this embodiment, as Figures 10 to 12 As shown, the protective shell 6 is fitted onto the communication body 210 from the front. In this way, the protective shell 6 can prevent the shell 1 of the communication body 210 from being exposed to sunlight, and can also prevent the shell 1 from being directly exposed to wind and rain, thereby reducing the probability of the shell 1 aging, cracking, or delamination and water ingress.

[0096] In addition, the protective sleeve 7 is fitted onto the first connector 14 of the communication main body 210 and the part of the antenna 2 extending out of the first connector 14. In this way, the first connector 14 can be protected by the protective sleeve 7, and rainwater and other moisture can be prevented from seeping into the mounting cavity 13 from the connection between the first connector 14 and the antenna 2, which helps to improve the waterproofness and service life of the wireless communicator 200.

[0097] For example, to improve the ease of assembly and disassembly and structural reliability of the second communicator 220, such as Figure 12 As shown, the protective shell 6 can be detachably installed on the shell 1 of the communication main body 210 via the fourth connector 8, so as to be quickly installed on the shell 1 from the front of the main shell, which facilitates the protection of the shell 1.

[0098] In addition, such as Figures 10 to 12As shown, the protective sleeve 7 has a circumferentially protruding flange 71. When the protective sleeve 7 is fitted onto the first connector 14, the flange 71 of the protective sleeve 7 is supported by the reinforcing rib 111, thereby improving the strength of the protective sleeve 7. For example, at the connection of the antenna 2, the waterproof sleeve can provide the first waterproof protection at the connection between the antenna 2 and the housing 1. In addition, since a first sealing ring 4 is provided between the connection end 21 of the antenna 2 and the connection hole 141 of the first connector 14, the first sealing ring 4 can also provide a second waterproof protection at the connection between the antenna 2 and the housing 1. Thus, two levels of waterproof protection can be achieved, which greatly improves the waterproof performance and service life of the wireless communicator 200.

[0099] Based on the aforementioned wireless communicator 200 for air conditioners, this application embodiment also provides an air conditioner 1000, which includes an indoor unit 110 and an outdoor unit 120. The wireless communicator 200 without a protective casing 6 and / or a protective cover 7 is designated as a first communicator 210, and the wireless communicator 200 with a protective casing 6 and / or a protective cover 7 is designated as a second communicator 220. The indoor unit 110 is electrically connected to either the first communicator 210 or the second communicator 220, and the outdoor unit 120 is electrically connected to the second communicator 220. The outdoor unit 120 can wirelessly communicate with the first communicator 210 or the second communicator 220 on the indoor unit 110 via the second communicator 220.

[0100] This eliminates the need for a wiring channel for the communication connection between the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000. In other words, after-sales installation / maintenance personnel no longer need to drill holes or lay wires, and users do not need to pre-install wiring conduits during home decoration. On the one hand, installation is simple and quick, saving time and effort, which can greatly improve after-sales installation efficiency and reduce the installation cost of the air conditioner 1000. On the other hand, users can more freely arrange the layout and installation of the indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000 according to the actual scenario.

[0101] In some embodiments, the back of the housing 1 of the wireless communicator 200 (e.g., the first communicator 210, the second communicator 220) is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 121 (see...). Figure 4 and Figure 6 Multiple mounting holes 121 form multiple mounting positions 122. For example, two horizontally arranged mounting holes 121 can form one mounting position 122 (see [reference]). Figure 7 The two vertically arranged mounting holes 121 can form another mounting position 122 (see...). Figure 8 or Figure 9 To accommodate different installation scenarios and different air conditioner 1000 models.

[0102] like Figure 2 and Figure 13As shown, to improve the installation flexibility of the wireless communicator 200, the housing 1 can be detachably installed on the side of the indoor unit 110 or outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000 via the bracket structure 400, to meet the needs of vertical and horizontal installation of the indoor unit 110 of the air conditioner 1000. Specifically, the bracket structure 400 includes a first bracket 410 and a second bracket 420, wherein the first bracket 410 is installed on the indoor unit 110 or the outdoor unit 120, and the second bracket 420 is installed in the corresponding mounting position 122 via the second connector 430, and the second bracket 420 is snap-fitted to the first bracket 410.

[0103] For example, in order to make the wireless communicator 200 relatively thin and light, and not occupy too much space in the mounting holes 121, the back cover 12 of the housing 1 is provided with a recess 122 (see Figure 4 The groove 122 has a limiting protrusion 123 at its center. Correspondingly, the second bracket 420 has a positioning hole (not shown in the figure). The groove 122 has multiple mounting holes 121, and all the mounting holes 121 are located on the periphery of the limiting protrusion 123. For example, the groove 122 is a quadrilateral groove 122, and all the mounting holes 121 can be arranged in a quadrilateral shape similar to the groove 122. In this way, the second bracket 420 can be rotated 90° to adjust its placement position in the groove 122 as needed. After the second bracket 420 is placed in the groove 122, the second bracket 420 can be positioned and installed by the insertion and engagement between the limiting protrusion 123 and the positioning hole. Then, the second connector 430 is threadedly connected to the corresponding mounting hole 121 to pre-install the second bracket 420 on the back cover 12 of the wireless communicator 200 at the corresponding mounting position 122.

[0104] Similarly, if the wireless communicator 200 is to be installed on the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000, the first bracket 410 can be pre-installed on the side wall (e.g., the rear wall) of the outdoor unit 120 of the air conditioner 1000 (see...). Figure 15 Then, the wireless communicator 200 (e.g., the second communicator 220) pre-installed with the second bracket 420 is connected to the first bracket 410 on the outdoor unit 120 via the second bracket 420, so as to realize the detachable installation of the wireless communicator 200 on the outdoor unit 120 (see...). Figure 16 ).

[0105] Similarly, if the wireless communicator 200 is to be installed on the indoor unit 110 of the air conditioner 1000, a first bracket 410 can be pre-installed on the side wall (e.g., the rear wall) of the indoor unit 110 of the air conditioner 1000 (see...). Figure 17(Vertical installation), and then the wireless communicator 200 (e.g., the second communicator 220) pre-installed with the second bracket 420 is connected to the first bracket 410 on the indoor unit 110 via the second bracket 420, so as to realize the detachable installation of the wireless communicator 200 on the indoor unit 110 (see Figure 18 ). Among them, for the indoor unit 110 of the horizontally installed air conditioner 1000 (see Figure 19 The installation method of the wireless communicator 200 is the same as that of the vertical installation method, and will not be described again here.

[0106] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 13 and Figure 15 As shown, the first bracket 410 includes a connecting part 411 and a fastening part 412 connected together. The connecting part 411 is detachably installed on the indoor unit 110 or the outdoor unit 120. The fastening part 412 has a frame-like structure and a fastening hole 4121 is provided on the side opposite to the connecting part 411. Correspondingly, as... Figure 2 and Figure 13 As shown, the second bracket 420 includes a first mounting portion 421, and the first mounting portion 421 is provided with a snap-fit ​​portion 422. The first mounting portion 421 is detachably mounted to the corresponding mounting position 122 of the housing 1 via a second connector 430, and the snap-fit ​​portion 422 is inserted into the snap hole 4121 so that the first bracket 410 supports the second bracket 420.

[0107] For example, the first mounting part 421 can be positioned in the groove 122 of the back cover 12 at the corresponding mounting position 122, and then the first mounting part 421 of the second bracket 420 can be installed on the back cover 12 by threading the second connector 430 with the corresponding mounting hole 121 in the groove 122. One end of the snap-fit ​​part 422 is connected to the first mounting part 421, and the other end is a free end, which protrudes from the first mounting part 421 in the depth direction of the groove 122 and faces away from the antenna 2. Thus, when the snap-fit ​​part 422 is engaged with the buckle hole 4121, the other end of the snap-fit ​​part 422 extends into the buckle hole 4121, and one end of the snap-fit ​​part 422 abuts against the buckle part 412 of the first bracket 410, forming an assembly structure in which the first bracket 410 supports the second bracket 420.

[0108] As an example, in order to enhance the connection strength between the first bracket 410 and the second bracket 420 and improve the ability of the wireless communicator 200 to withstand storms and snow, both the first bracket 410 and the second bracket 420 can be supported by rigid metal materials.

[0109] It should be noted that, in some embodiments, in order to simplify the manufacturing process of the wireless communication device, the first bracket 410 may be formed by bending a plate, and correspondingly, the second bracket 420 may also be formed by molding a plate.

[0110] In addition, such as Figure 2 and Figure 13 As shown, a shock-absorbing component 413 is provided between the connecting portion 411 of the first bracket 410 and the indoor unit 110 or the outdoor unit 120. For example, when a wireless communicator is installed on the indoor unit 110, a shock-absorbing component 413 can be provided between the connecting portion 411 of the first bracket 410 and the side wall of the indoor unit 110 to reduce the impact of the vibration of the indoor unit 110 on the wireless communicator 200. Similarly, when a wireless communicator is installed on the outdoor unit 120, a shock-absorbing component 413 can be provided between the connecting portion 411 of the first bracket 410 and the side wall of the outdoor unit 120 to reduce the impact of the vibration of the outdoor unit 120 on the wireless communicator 200.

[0111] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 13 As shown, to further enhance the connection stability between the first bracket 410 and the second bracket 420, the second bracket 420 also includes a second mounting portion 423, which is formed by bending one end of the first mounting portion 421 along the thickness direction of the first mounting portion 421. After the first bracket 410 and the second bracket 420 are snapped together, the second mounting portion 423 is located around the snap-fit ​​portion 412, and can be connected to the snap-fit ​​portion 412 of the first bracket 410 via a third connector 440, thereby enhancing the tight and stable connection between the first bracket 410 and the second bracket 420.

[0112] It should be noted that, in this document, the first connector 16, the second connector 430, the third connector 440 and the fourth connector 8 may be, but are not limited to, screws, bolts, etc., and no special limitation is made here.

[0113] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A wireless communicator for an air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising a main unit, characterized in that, The wireless communicator includes: The housing is detachably mounted on the host, and an installation cavity is formed inside the housing. The circuit board is built into the mounting cavity; The antenna includes a connection end and a communication end, the connection end extending into the mounting cavity and electrically connected to the circuit board, and the communication end exposed outside the housing; An electrical connection wire extends one end into the mounting cavity and is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the other end is electrically connected to the host.

2. The wireless communicator for an air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing is provided with a first connector along a first direction, and the first connector is provided with a connection hole communicating with the mounting cavity along the first direction; the connection end of the antenna passes through the connection hole to the mounting cavity.

3. The wireless communicator for an air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The wireless communicator further includes a first sealing ring, which is sleeved on the connecting end and located between the connecting end and the wall of the connecting hole; And / or, the antenna has an annular protrusion on its outer periphery, the protrusion abutting against the first connector, and the protrusion being configured to block the connector from the outside of the connector hole; And / or, the housing is further provided with a second connector, through which the electrical connection wire passes, and the second connector is configured to seal the connection between the electrical connection wire and the housing.

4. The wireless communicator for an air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer wall of the connecting end is provided with an external thread, and the inner wall of the connecting hole is provided with an internal thread. The connecting end is threadedly connected to the connecting hole through the external thread and the internal thread.

5. The wireless communicator for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The housing includes a front cover and a back cover, which are fitted together to form the mounting cavity.

6. The wireless communicator for an air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, A second sealing ring is provided between the back cover and the front cover; And / or, the back cover is connected to the front shell by at least two first connectors, and a sealing strip is also provided in the mounting cavity, the sealing strip being located within the inner perimeter of all the first connectors; And / or, the first connector is disposed on the face shell, and the face shell is further provided with reinforcing ribs protruding from the periphery of the first connector, the reinforcing ribs being configured to enhance the bending strength of the first connector.

7. A wireless communicator for an air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising a main unit, characterized in that, The wireless communicator includes: The communication subject is the wireless communicator as described in any one of claims 2 to 6; A protective shell is fitted onto the communication body from the front. And / or, a protective sleeve, fitted over the first connector of the communication body and the portion of the antenna extending out of the first connector.

8. An air conditioner, comprising an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, characterized in that, The wireless communicator described in any one of claims 1 to 6 is designated as the first communicator, and the wireless communicator described in claim 7 is designated as the second communicator; The indoor unit is electrically connected to either the first communicator or the second communicator; The second communicator is electrically connected to the outdoor unit; The outdoor unit is wirelessly connected to the first or second communicator on the indoor unit via the second communicator thereon.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that, The back of the housing of the wireless communicator has multiple mounting holes, which form multiple mounting positions. The housing is detachably mounted to the side of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit via a bracket structure; The bracket structure includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket is installed on the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, and the second bracket is installed in the corresponding mounting position through a second connector, and the second bracket is snap-fitted to the first bracket.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first bracket includes a connecting part and a fastening part connected together. The connecting part is detachably installed on the indoor unit or the outdoor unit. The fastening part has a frame structure and a fastening hole is provided on the side opposite to the connecting part. The second bracket includes a first mounting part, which has a snap-fit ​​part; the first mounting part is detachably mounted to the mounting position corresponding to the housing via the second connector, and the snap-fit ​​part is inserted into the buckle hole so that the first bracket supports the second bracket.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second bracket further includes a second mounting portion, which is formed by bending one end of the first mounting portion along the thickness direction of the first mounting portion; The second mounting part is located around the fastening part and is connected to the fastening part of the first bracket via a third connector.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 10, characterized in that, Both the first bracket and the second bracket are made of rigid metal material; And / or, the first bracket is formed by bending a plate, and the second bracket is formed by molding a plate; And / or, a shock-absorbing component is provided between the connecting part and the indoor unit or the outdoor unit.

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