A control device and air conditioning system

Abstract

The application is suitable for the field of air conditioner control technology, and provides a control device and an air conditioner system, wherein the control device comprises a controller and a sensor; the controller comprises a first micro control unit, a first wireless module and a switch unit for controlling the on-off of the power supply of the air conditioner; the sensor comprises a second micro control unit, a second wireless module and a sensing unit for detecting human bodies; the controller and the sensor are independently installed structures, and the two establish wireless communication through the first wireless module and the second wireless module. The control device has the controller and the sensor which are independent of each other, the user can place the sensor at any position according to actual needs, can not only ensure that the sensing range of the sensor improves the detection accuracy, but also can solve the problem of misoperation caused by the fact that the running state of the air conditioner cannot be known, and achieves the purpose of saving energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning control technology, and in particular to a control device and an air conditioning system. Background Technology

[0002] Air conditioners are high-energy-consuming electrical appliances in the home. When users leave without turning them off, the continued operation of the air conditioner results in wasted electricity. Related technologies include air conditioners that can sense human presence, or human body sensors that work in conjunction with air conditioners, aiming to turn off the air conditioner when no one is detected, thus saving energy. However, these solutions are limited by the installation location of the human body sensor and the status of the air conditioner, resulting in problems such as poor accuracy of human body sensing and the possibility of accidental activation, making it difficult to achieve the intended energy-saving goal. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a control device and an air conditioning system, which aims to solve the problems of poor accuracy of human body sensing and easy accidental start-up of existing air conditioning systems, so as to achieve the purpose of energy saving.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a control device for controlling an air conditioner, including a controller and a sensor. The controller includes a first microcontroller unit, a first wireless module, and a switching unit for controlling the power supply of the air conditioner. The sensor includes a second microcontroller unit, a second wireless module, and a sensing unit for detecting a human body. The controller and the sensor are independent of each other and establish wireless communication between them through the first wireless module and the second wireless module.

[0005] The control device provided in this embodiment has independent controllers and sensors. Users can place the sensors in any location as needed, ensuring their sensing range covers the area of ​​human activity and improving the accuracy of human detection within the scene. If the sensor does not detect anyone in the scene within a certain period, it determines that the person has left the scene and sends a control signal to the controller via wireless communication. Upon receiving the control signal, the controller cuts off the air conditioner's power supply via a switching unit, preventing energy waste caused by the air conditioner running continuously when no one is in the scene. Simultaneously, controlling the air conditioner by cutting off its power supply through the controller avoids the problem of accidental activation caused by the sensor directly sending control signals to the air conditioner. Accurate air conditioner on / off control can be achieved without knowing the air conditioner's operating status, thereby saving energy.

[0006] In one embodiment, the controller is independent of the air conditioner and is connected in series in the power line of the air conditioner to cut off the power to the air conditioner and shut it down.

[0007] In one embodiment, the controller is integrated as a smart socket, connected in series between the mains power supply and the air conditioner's power line. The switching unit is used to switch the power line on and off. The controller adopts a smart socket configuration, requiring no electrical knowledge from the user. Simply unplug the air conditioner from the wall socket, insert the controller into the wall socket, and then plug the air conditioner into the controller's socket to complete the installation. This enables the air conditioner to have a smart "unattended shutdown" user experience.

[0008] In one embodiment, the controller further includes a power metering unit for calculating the power consumption of the air conditioner, thereby calculating data such as the real-time power and cumulative power consumption of the air conditioner, providing an accurate data basis for the air conditioner control function.

[0009] In one embodiment, the sensing unit includes at least one of the following: an infrared human body sensor, a radar human body sensor, and an image human body sensor. Providing different types of human body sensors allows the user to place the sensor in an appropriate location for human detection based on the actual sensor type used.

[0010] In one embodiment, the second wireless module includes an infrared transmitting unit, and the first wireless module includes an infrared receiving unit. Using infrared communication, no network configuration is required, the cost is extremely low, and it can seamlessly simulate remote control commands for all brands of air conditioners.

[0011] In one embodiment, the second microcontroller unit is configured to: upon detecting a human body through the sensing unit within a preset time period, send a control signal for the switching unit to the controller via the second wireless module; the first microcontroller unit is configured to: after receiving the control signal for the switching unit sent by the sensor via the first wireless module, control the switching unit to disconnect the power supply to the air conditioner. This solution introduces a delayed judgment mechanism, which can effectively distinguish between a person's brief absence and a long-term unoccupied state, avoiding misjudgments caused by temporary human activity, and improving the accuracy of control and user experience.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first microcontroller unit is configured to, upon receiving a control signal from the sensor transmitted by the first wireless module, control the switching unit to disconnect the power supply to the air conditioner when the switching unit is in a powered-on state. This solution performs a power-off operation when the air conditioner is determined to be on, avoiding erroneous operation of the air conditioner's on / off control, and improving the accuracy of air conditioner control and user experience.

[0013] Secondly, this application provides an air conditioning system, including an air conditioner and the aforementioned control device. The air conditioning system provided in this application includes the aforementioned control device and air conditioner; users can also purchase and use the air conditioning system, and the related technical effects are described above.

[0014] In one embodiment, the controller is integrated inside the air conditioner; or, the controller is independent of the air conditioner and connected in series in the power supply line of the air conditioner. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the control device and air conditioner in this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the installation positions of the controller and sensor in this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another installation location for the control device and air conditioner in this application; Figure 4 This is another structural schematic diagram of the control device and air conditioner in this application.

[0017] The figures in the diagram are labeled as follows: 10-Control device; 11-Controller; 111-First microcontroller unit; 112-First wireless module; 113-Switch unit; 12-Sensor; 121-Second microcontroller unit; 122-First wireless module; 123-Sensing unit; 20 - Air conditioner; 30 - Air conditioning system. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0019] It should be understood that, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "comprising" indicates the presence of a described feature, integral, step, operation, element, and / or component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or collections thereof. It should also be understood that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "and / or" refers to any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0020] Furthermore, in the description of this application and the appended claims, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0021] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0022] It should be understood that the sequence number of each step in the following embodiments does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0023] To illustrate the technical solution of this application, specific embodiments are described below.

[0024] Related technologies include air conditioners capable of sensing human presence, or human body sensors that work in conjunction with air conditioners, aiming to turn off the air conditioner when no one is detected, thus saving energy. However, these solutions are limited by the installation location of the human body sensor and the status of the air conditioner, resulting in problems such as poor accuracy in sensing human presence and the risk of accidental activation, making it difficult to achieve the intended energy-saving goal. For example, the air conditioner itself is often installed near the ceiling or in a corner of the room, or the human body sensor is partially placed near the air conditioner's power cord, which is a certain distance from the area where people are active. This makes it difficult for the sensor to effectively cover the area where people are active, leading to poor accuracy in sensing human presence.

[0025] Furthermore, independently installed human body sensors cannot detect the operating status of the air conditioner. If the human body sensor detects that no one is present when the air conditioner is off, it may send a control signal to the air conditioner, causing the air conditioner to turn on accidentally and resulting in wasted energy.

[0026] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a control device and an air conditioning system, aiming to solve the problems of poor accuracy in human body sensing and easy accidental activation in existing air conditioning systems, thereby achieving the goal of energy saving.

[0027] Some embodiments of this application provide a control device 10 for controlling an air conditioner 20, including a controller 11 and a sensor 12. The controller 11 includes a first microcontroller unit 111, a first wireless module 112, and a switching unit 113. The switching unit 113 controls the power supply to the air conditioner 20; when the switching unit 113 controls the power supply to the air conditioner 20 to be disconnected, the air conditioner 20 stops consuming power.

[0028] Sensor 12 includes a second microcontroller unit 121, a second wireless module 122, and a sensing unit 123. The sensing unit 123 is used to detect the presence of human activity within its coverage area.

[0029] The controller 11 and the sensor 12 are independent structures, meaning that the controller 11 and the sensor 12 can be installed in different locations. They establish wireless communication through the first wireless module 112 and the second wireless module 122.

[0030] In use, the user can place the sensor 12 in an area where people are active, for example, for the air conditioner 20 in the living room. Figure 2 As shown, sensor 12 can be placed on a table in the living room; it can also be placed near a coffee table or sofa. For the bedroom air conditioner 20, sensor 12 can be placed near the foot of the bed. In other embodiments, sensor 12 can also be installed on a wall with a good view, such as... Figure 3As shown, sensor 12 can be installed on the adjacent side wall of the wall where the air conditioner is located. Sensor 12 can continuously monitor whether there is human activity within a certain range. If no person is detected in the scene by sensing unit 123 within a certain period of time, it is determined that the person has left the scene. At this time, controller 11 sends a control signal to controller 20 via wireless communication. After receiving the control signal, controller 11 can cut off the power supply of air conditioner 20 through switch unit 113, avoiding the waste of energy caused by air conditioner 20 continuing to run when no one is in the scene. At the same time, controlling air conditioner 20 by cutting off the power supply of air conditioner 20 by controller can avoid the problem of accidental start-up caused by sensor 12 directly sending control signals to air conditioner 20. The control device can achieve accurate on / off control of air conditioner 20 without knowing the operating status of air conditioner 20, thereby achieving the purpose of saving energy.

[0031] The control device 10 provided in the above embodiments has an independent controller 11 and a sensor 12. The user can place the sensor 12 at any position according to actual needs to ensure that the human body sensing range can cover the range of human activity, improve the detection coverage and the accuracy of human body sensing in the scene, so that the air conditioner 20 can be turned off at the expected time, which can save energy and avoid the air conditioner 20 being turned off accidentally and affecting the user's use.

[0032] Furthermore, the control device 10 in this application requires no internal modifications to the air conditioner 20 and is applicable to any model of air conditioner 20, allowing users to use it immediately upon purchase. Even older models of air conditioners 20, or those lacking relevant smart features, can achieve the function of sensing human presence and intelligently shutting off using the control device 10 provided in this application. Users do not need to replace their existing air conditioner 20; they can simply purchase the control device 10 to enjoy a smart user experience.

[0033] In some implementations, such as Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the controller 11 is a structure independent of the air conditioner 20, and it is connected in series in the power supply line of the air conditioner 20 during installation. Correspondingly, the switching unit 113 can be an electrical structure such as a relay, solid-state relay, dual-channel thyristor, or power MOSFET, which responds to electrical signals to control the conduction or disconnection between relevant contacts, so as to cut off the power supply to the air conditioner 20 and turn it off.

[0034] In some more specific embodiments, the controller 11 is integrated into a product configuration such as a smart socket, such as Figure 4As shown, the controller 11 is connected in series between the mains power supply and the power line of the air conditioner 20. The switching unit 113 is used to switch the power line of the air conditioner 20 on and off. The controller 11 has a plug and a socket. During installation, the plug of the controller 11 is inserted into the user's wall socket to connect to the mains power supply, and then the plug of the air conditioner 20's power line is inserted into the socket of the controller 11, thus making the controller 11 the part that actually connects to the mains power supply for the air conditioner 20, replacing the wall socket. The switching unit 113 inside the controller 11 controls the connection or disconnection between the plug and the socket, thereby controlling the power supply of the air conditioner 20.

[0035] Using the above method, users do not need relevant electrical knowledge. They only need to unplug the air conditioner 20 from the wall socket, then plug the controller 11 into the wall socket, and then plug the air conditioner 20 into the socket of the controller 11 to complete the installation between the controller 11 and the air conditioner 20, thereby enabling the air conditioner 20 to have an intelligent "unattended shutdown" user experience.

[0036] In some specific embodiments, the second microcontroller unit 121 is configured to send a control signal for the switching unit 113 to the controller 11 via the second wireless module 112 if no human body is detected by the sensing unit 123 within a preset time period. This control signal is used to trigger the first microcontroller unit 11 to control the switching unit 123 to disconnect the power supply to the air conditioner 20.

[0037] That is, the first microcontroller unit 111 is configured to control the switch unit 123 to disconnect the power supply of the air conditioner 20 after receiving the control signal of the switch unit 123 sent by the sensor 12 through the first wireless module 112.

[0038] When the air conditioner 20 is running, the sensing unit 123 continuously monitors the indoor environment and sends the monitored status information to the second microcontroller unit 121. The second microcontroller unit 121 has a preset timeout, such as 10 minutes. When no person is detected for the first time at a certain moment, the second microcontroller unit 121 starts an internal timer. If the second microcontroller unit 121 does not detect any person within the preset timeout, it determines that the room is unoccupied and sends a control signal to the controller 11 via wireless communication. Upon receiving the control signal, the first microcontroller unit 111 controls the switch unit 113 to perform a power-off operation, thereby turning off the air conditioner 20. If a person is detected again during the timeout period, the timer is immediately reset and normal monitoring resumes.

[0039] The aforementioned solution incorporates a delayed judgment mechanism, which effectively distinguishes between brief periods of absence and prolonged periods of vacancy, avoiding misjudgments caused by temporary personnel activity and improving control accuracy and user experience. Simultaneously, this solution automatically cuts off the power to the air conditioner 20 after confirming prolonged absence, effectively preventing continuous energy waste and demonstrating significant energy-saving effects.

[0040] In some embodiments, the first microcontroller unit 111 is further configured to: after receiving a control signal from the switch unit 123 sent by the sensor 12 via the first wireless module 112, and while the switch unit 123 is in a powered-on state, control the switch unit 123 to disconnect the power supply to the air conditioner 20. If the second microcontroller unit 121 does not detect the presence of any person within a preset time period, it determines that the room is unoccupied and sends a control signal to the controller 11 via wireless communication. After receiving the control signal, the first microcontroller unit 111 first determines the state of the switch unit 113. If the switch unit 113 is in a powered-on state, i.e., the air conditioner 20 is on, it controls the switch unit 113 to perform a power-off operation, thereby turning off the air conditioner 20. If the switch unit 113 is in a powered-off state, i.e., the air conditioner 20 is off, it is not necessary to control the switch unit 113 to perform a power-off operation, maintaining the current power-off state, which can effectively reduce the possibility of the air conditioner 20 being turned on accidentally. This solution performs a power-off operation when the air conditioner is determined to be on, avoiding erroneous operation of the air conditioner's on / off control, improving the accuracy of air conditioner control and user experience.

[0041] In some embodiments, the controller 11 also includes a power metering unit for calculating the power consumption of the air conditioner 20. The power metering unit can use a power metering chip (such as HLW8032) to collect the voltage and current flowing through the controller 11 in real time. The first microcontroller unit 111 can calculate the real-time power, cumulative power consumption, and other data of the air conditioner 20 based on the data it detects, providing an accurate data basis for the air conditioner control function.

[0042] In some more specific implementations, the controller 11 can be configured via a mobile phone or other device to automatically turn off the air conditioner 20 when it detects that the real-time power of the air conditioner 20 exceeds a threshold or the cumulative power consumption reaches a threshold, thereby saving energy.

[0043] In some more specific implementations, the real-time power consumption and cumulative power consumption data of the air conditioner 20 can also be sent to a mobile phone, allowing users to monitor the operation of the air conditioner 20 in real time. Furthermore, after the user leaves the room, the real-time power consumption of the air conditioner 20 can be used to confirm whether the aforementioned "human body sensing-automatic shutdown" process has been completed.

[0044] In different implementations, the sensing unit 123 can be one or more of an infrared human body sensor, a radar wave human body sensor, and an image human body sensor. An infrared human body sensor can determine the presence and movement of a person by detecting changes in the infrared heat emitted by the human body. A radar wave human body sensor detects the human body by emitting and receiving reflected high-frequency radio waves, and has good penetrating power. An image human body sensor can capture images using a built-in camera and use algorithms to analyze the images to determine whether they contain human features.

[0045] The aforementioned sensors can be used individually or in combination. In specific applications, users should place sensor 12 in an appropriate location based on the type of sensor used. For example, if using a motion-sensitive infrared human body sensor, it should be positioned facing the area where people frequently move around, avoiding direct contact with the air vents of air conditioner 20, windows, or other locations prone to temperature fluctuations to prevent airflow interference that could lead to misjudgments. If using a radar-wave human body sensor with higher detection accuracy, it can be installed behind obstacles or within decorative surfaces, utilizing its strong penetrating power for concealed detection, but large metal objects must be avoided. If using an image-based human body sensor, its field of view should be wide enough to cover the entire space to be monitored, and the installation angle should be carefully considered to avoid direct exposure to strong light and to ensure privacy.

[0046] In different implementations, there can be various wireless communication methods between the controller 11 and the sensor 12.

[0047] In some embodiments, the first wireless module 112 and the second wireless module 122 are Wi-Fi modules. They establish a communication connection through a local area network (LAN) built by a home wireless router, enabling remote control via the existing home network. As in some of the aforementioned implementations, users can check the status of the air conditioner 20 and manually intervene even when they are not at home via a mobile app.

[0048] In some embodiments, the first wireless module 112 and the second wireless module 122 are directly paired and connected via Bluetooth protocol, which has the advantage of extremely low power consumption. Furthermore, mobile phones can also directly pair with the controller 11 or sensor 12 nearby to view relevant information.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first wireless module 112 and the second wireless module 122 communicate using a Zigbee mesh network, making them suitable for coordinated operation with other Zigbee devices (such as gateways and sensors) in a smart home system.

[0050] In summary, despite the existence of various wireless communication methods, infrared communication is a preferred embodiment of this solution due to its maximum versatility—it requires no network configuration, has extremely low cost, and can seamlessly simulate remote control commands from all brands of air conditioners 20. Specifically, the second wireless module 122 includes an infrared transmitting unit capable of transmitting infrared signals; the first wireless module 112 includes an infrared receiving unit capable of receiving the infrared signals transmitted by the second wireless module 122 and performing related tasks.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioning system 30 is also provided, including an air conditioner 20 and the aforementioned control device 10.

[0052] The sensing unit 123 in the control device 10 can be flexibly arranged in the optimal monitoring position indoors to achieve accurate perception of the presence of people; the controller 11 intelligently controls the power supply of the air conditioner 20 according to the judgment result of the sensing unit 123, and the specific details can be found in the previous text.

[0053] In some specific implementations, the controller 11 is integrated inside the air conditioner 20. In other words, the air conditioning system 30 comprises two independent parts: the air conditioner 20 and the sensor 12. The first microcontroller unit 111, the first wireless module 112, and the switching unit 113 of the controller 11 are designed as components of the air conditioner 20 control system. They can be interconnected with the control circuit of the air conditioner 20 via independent circuits, or directly integrated into the control circuit of the air conditioner 20. The switching unit 113 is not externally connected to the power supply line of the air conditioner 20, but is directly connected in series in the internal power supply circuit of the air conditioner 20, or controls the operating state of the air conditioner 20 through logic signals. This deep integration scheme makes the air conditioner 20 a complete intelligent entity, maintaining the product's integrity and aesthetics.

[0054] In some implementations, sensor 12 can establish wireless communication directly with air conditioner 20 via its second wireless module 122. In this case, sensor 12 acts as an independent smart sensor, capable of directly sending signals or control commands (such as shutdown commands) containing the presence status of people to the main control system of air conditioner 20. The communication protocol of sensor 12 is compatible with the remote control protocol of air conditioner 20, thus enabling functional upgrades without any modifications to the hardware of air conditioner 20.

[0055] The above-described implementation can also be combined, that is, the sensor 12 communicates with the controller 11 integrated inside the air conditioner 20. When the sensor 12 detects a "continuously unattended" state, it directly sends a control signal to the air conditioner 20. Upon receiving the control signal from the sensor 12, the controller 11 can either perform a shutdown or standby operation through the control circuit of the air conditioner 20, or cut off the power supply of the air conditioner 20 through its switching unit 113.

[0056] In other embodiments, the controller 11 in the air conditioning system 30 is independent of the air conditioner 20 and is connected in series in the power supply line of the air conditioner 20 during use. That is, the air conditioning system 30 includes three independent parts: the air conditioner 20, the controller 11, and the sensor 12. Related details can also be found in the foregoing description.

[0057] In a complete embodiment of this application, a control device 10 is provided, comprising an independent controller 11 and a sensor 12, for controlling an air conditioner 20.

[0058] Air conditioner 20 and control device 10 can be sold as an air conditioning system 30, with pre-designed installation and control methods. Control device 10 can also be sold separately, allowing users to control their existing air conditioner 20 after purchasing it. The controller 11 is implemented as a smart socket, connecting to a wall power source via a mains plug and supplying power to the air conditioner 20.

[0059] The controller 11 integrates a first microcontroller unit 111, a power metering unit, a first wireless module 112, and a relay serving as a switching unit 113. The sensor 12 includes a human detection unit 123, integrated with the second microcontroller unit 121 and the second wireless module 122 in a separate housing, which can be placed by the user at the optimal monitoring location indoors. The first wireless module 112 and the second wireless module 122 establish wireless communication via infrared light.

[0060] When the detection unit does not detect a human signal at time T1, the second microcontroller unit 121 starts an internal timer. If no person is detected within a preset 10-minute time threshold, a control signal is sent. After receiving the control signal, the first wireless module 112 of the controller 11 controls the switch unit 113 to cut off the power and turn off the air conditioner 20, or the control circuit of the air conditioner 20 receives the control signal and controls the air conditioner 20 to turn off. The above implementation achieves optimal arrangement of the sensor 12 and convenient installation of the controller 11 through a split structure. Combined with a delay judgment mechanism, it effectively distinguishes between short-term absence and long-term unoccupied state. The air conditioner 20 is automatically turned off through a universal infrared communication method, which significantly reduces energy waste and does not require any modification to the existing air conditioner 20. It has high reliability, strong versatility and excellent energy-saving effect.

[0061] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the above-described division of functional units and modules is merely an example. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional units and modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional units or modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. The functional units and modules in the embodiments can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit. Furthermore, the specific names of the functional units and modules are only for easy differentiation and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. The specific working process of the units and modules in the above system can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0062] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail or recorded in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0064] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus / device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus / device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0065] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0066] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A control device for controlling an air conditioner, characterized in that, include: The controller includes a first microcontroller unit, a first wireless module, and a switching unit for controlling the power supply of the air conditioner. The sensor includes a second microcontroller unit, a second wireless module, and a sensing unit for detecting the human body; The controller and the sensor are independent structures, and they establish wireless communication through the first wireless module and the second wireless module.

2. The control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is independent of the air conditioner and is connected in series in the power supply line of the air conditioner.

3. The control device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is integrated as a smart socket and is connected in series between the mains power supply and the power line of the air conditioner. The switching unit is used to switch the power line on and off.

4. The control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The controller also includes a power metering unit for calculating the power consumption of the air conditioner.

5. The control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing unit includes at least one of the following: an infrared human body sensor, a radar wave human body sensor, and an image human body sensor.

6. The control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second wireless module includes an infrared transmitting unit, and the first wireless module includes an infrared receiving unit.

7. The control device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The second microcontroller unit is configured to send a control signal for the switching unit to the controller via the second wireless module if no human body is detected by the sensing unit within a preset time period. The first microcontroller unit is configured to control the switching unit to disconnect the power supply of the air conditioner after receiving the control signal of the switching unit sent by the sensor through the first wireless module.

8. The control device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The first microcontroller unit is further configured to: after receiving the control signal of the switching unit sent by the sensor through the first wireless module, control the switching unit to disconnect the power supply of the air conditioner when the switching unit is in a powered-on state.

9. An air conditioning system, characterized in that, Includes an air conditioner and the control device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The air conditioning system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The controller of the control device is integrated inside the air conditioner; or, the controller is independent of the air conditioner and connected in series in the power supply line of the air conditioner.

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