An air conditioner and the control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner (1) comprising an outdoor unit; an indoor unit (2); at least one first sensor (5) and at least one second sensor (6) which are disposed in the indoor unit (2); at least one guiding member (7) which is disposed in the indoor unit (2) and which has louvers moving in horizontal and vertical directions to blow the air into the environment; a remote control (3) which communicates wirelessly with the indoor unit (2); at least one transmitter (4) which is disposed on the remote control (3); and a control unit (8) which ensures that the location of the remote control (3) is detected based on differences in signal strength of the signals sent by the transmitter (4) and received by the first and second sensors (5 and 6) and that the guiding member (7) is moved toward the region where the remote control (3) is located so as to enable the air to be blown toward the location of the remote control (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner which ensures that the air flow is directed towards the user by means of the remote control.

[0002] In order for the user to cool down or warm up effectively in hot and cold weather, the air blown from the indoor unit into the environment is preferred to be directed straight toward the user. When the user changes position, he / she is required to adjust the horizontal and vertical louvers to a certain position such that the air continues to be blown toward him / her. In the state of the art, this is achieved by using sensors such as a camera, multi-pixel thermal sensor, or radar, and detecting the person and their position in the environment through image processing and modeling techniques, thus ensuring that the air blown from the indoor unit is automatically directed toward the user.

[0003] In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No. CN107525237, an air conditioner and the control method thereof are disclosed, wherein an infrared sensor and radar are used to detect whether a user is present in the space to be conditioned.

[0004] In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2021057527, an air conditioner and the control method thereof are disclosed, comprising an infrared sensor which detects the number and characteristics of people in the environment and controls the room temperature and air-blowing speed.

[0005] In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No. JP2902611, an air conditioner and the control method thereof are disclosed, wherein the horizontal and vertical louvers are controlled to blow the air toward the user by means of a human detection sensor.

[0006] In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No. JP6017207, an air conditioner and the control method thereof are disclosed, wherein the user's position is detected by means of a camera and the air is blown toward the said position.

[0007] However, in the embodiments wherein the position of people is detected by a camera and the air is blown toward the said position, issues such as privacy concerns and invasion of personal space arise. In the thermal, infrared, and similar imaging methods, various problems occur due to incorrect detection of targets.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is the realization of an air conditioner comprising a remote control which provides the control of the air flow direction.

[0009] The air conditioner realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises an outdoor unit; an indoor unit; at least two sensors which are disposed in the indoor unit; at least one guiding member which is disposed in the indoor unit and which has louvers moving in horizontal and vertical directions to blow the air into the environment; a remote control which communicates wirelessly with the indoor unit; at least one transmitter which is disposed on the remote control; and a control unit which ensures that the location of the remote control is detected based on differences in signal strength of the signals sent by the transmitter and received by the sensors and that the guiding member is moved toward the region where the remote control is located so as to enable the air to be blown toward the location of the remote control.

[0010] In the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit calculates the signal arrival times at the sensors, time-of-flight or phase difference of the signals transmitted by the transmitter disposed on the remote control, and determines the location of the remote control.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises a first sensor disposed preferably on the right side, and a second sensor disposed on the left side.

[0012] In the embodiment of the present invention, depending on the magnitude of the phase difference between the arrival times of the signals emitted by the transmitter at the first and second sensors, the guiding member is enabled to be rotated toward the right, left, or center region so as to blow the air toward the user. In this embodiment of the present invention, the phase difference between the arrival times of the signals emitted by the transmitter at the first and second sensors is calculated by using the triangulation method, based on the distance between the transmitter and the first and second sensors, the arrival times of the signals emitted by the transmitter at the first and second sensors, and the distance between the first and second sensors.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises a button which is disposed on the remote control and which activates the transmitter on the remote control so as to transmit signals to the first and second sensors. When the said button is pressed, the air conditioner switches to the operating mode wherein the air is automatically directed toward the user.

[0014] By means of the present invention, the signal strength of the signals transmitted by the transmitter on the remote control is detected by the first and second sensors, and based on the difference in signal strength, the location of the remote control, and hence the user, is determined. When the signal strength between the first sensor and the transmitter is greater than the signal strength between the second sensor and the transmitter, it is determined that the remote control whereon the transmitter is disposed is located more to the right from the perspective of the air conditioner.

[0015] When the signal strength between the first sensor and the transmitter is equal to the signal strength between the second sensor and the transmitter or within a difference value determined by the manufacturer, it is determined that the remote control whereon the transmitter is disposed is located directly in front of the air conditioner.

[0016] When the signal strength between the first sensor and the transmitter is less than the signal strength between the second sensor and the transmitter, it is determined that the remote control whereon the transmitter is disposed is located more to the left from the perspective of the air conditioner. By determining the difference value for the signal arrival strength at the first and second sensors, the number of defined regions, e.g., right, left, center, can be increased.

[0017] In the embodiment of the present invention, after the position of the remote control is determined, the guiding member is actuated so as to direct the louvers toward the remote control, hence toward the user, such that the air is blown directly into the region where the user is located.

[0018] By means of the present invention, without using cameras or similar sensors, and without using visual, audio, or other personal information, the position of the remote control, hence of the user, is detected and the air is enabled to be blown to the said position.

[0019] An air conditioner realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figure, where: Figure 1 - is the schematic view of an air conditioner and a remote control.

[0020] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows. 1. Air conditioner 2. Indoor unit 3. Remote control 4. Transmitter 5. First sensor 6. Second sensor 7. Guiding member 8. Control unit 9. Button

[0021] The air conditioner (1) comprises an outdoor unit; an indoor unit (2); at least one first sensor (5) and at least one second sensor (6) which are disposed in the indoor unit (2); at least one guiding member (7) which is disposed in the indoor unit (2) and which has louvers moving in horizontal and vertical directions to blow the air into the environment; a remote control (3) which communicates wirelessly with the indoor unit (2); at least one transmitter (4) which is disposed on the remote control (3); and a control unit (8) which ensures that the location of the remote control (3) is detected based on differences in signal strength of the signals sent by the transmitter (4) and received by the first and second sensors (5 and 6) and that the guiding member (7) is moved toward the region where the remote control (3) is located so as to enable the air to be blown toward the location of the remote control (3) (Figure 1).

[0022] In the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (8) calculates the signal arrival times at the first and second sensors (5 and 6), time-of-flight or phase difference of the signals transmitted by the transmitter (4) disposed on the remote control (3), and determines the location of the remote control (3).

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises a first sensor (5) and a second sensor (6) disposed on the right and left sides of the indoor unit (2).

[0024] In this embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the transmitter (4) and the first sensor (5) and the distance between the transmitter (4) and the second sensor (6) are calculated based on the arrival times of the signal emitted by the transmitter (4) at the first sensor (5) and the second sensor (6), and if the distance between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is greater than the distance between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4), it is determined that the remote control (3) whereon the transmitter (4) is disposed, and hence the user, is positioned closer to the first sensor (5) and the guiding member (7) is rotated toward the said side so as to blow the air toward the user.

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, if the distance between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is less than the distance between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4), it is determined that the remote control (3) whereon the transmitter (4) is disposed, and hence the user, is positioned closer to the second sensor (6) and the guiding member (7) is rotated toward the said side so as to blow the air toward the user.

[0026] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, if the distance between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is equal to or approximately equal to the distance between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4), it is determined that the remote control (3), and hence the user, is located in the central area between the first and second sensors (5 and 6) and the guiding member (7) is rotated toward the said side so as to blow the air toward the user.

[0027] In the embodiment of the present invention, depending on the magnitude of the phase difference between the arrival times of the signals emitted by the transmitter (4) at the first and second sensors (5 and 6), the control unit (8) ensures that the guiding member (7) is rotated toward the right, left, or center region so as to blow the air toward the user. In this embodiment of the present invention, the phase difference between the arrival times of the signals emitted by the transmitter (4) at the first and second sensors (5 and 6) is calculated by using the triangulation method, based on the distance between the transmitter (4) and the first and second sensors (5 and 6), the arrival times of the signals emitted by the transmitter (4) at the first and second sensors (5 and 6), and the distance between the first and second sensors (5 and 6).

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises a button (9) which is disposed on the remote control (3) and which activates the transmitter (4) so as to send signals to the first and second sensors (5 and 6). When the said button (9) is pressed, the transmitter (4) generates a signal. Then, as described above, the arrival times of the signals emitted by the transmitter (4) at the first and second sensors (5 and 6) are used to calculate the position of the transmitter (4), and hence the user, in the environment such that the air is directed toward the user.

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention, IR, ultra-wideband (UWB), ultrasonic, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), Wi-Fi, RFID, or magnetic field signal processing techniques are used.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises the first and second sensor (5 and 6) disposed on the right and left sides, respectively, of the indoor unit (2). The signal strength of the signals transmitted by the transmitter (4) on the remote control (3) is detected by the first and second sensors (5 and 6), and based on the difference in signal strength, the location of the remote control (3), and hence the user, is determined. When the signal strength between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is greater than the signal strength between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4), it is determined that the remote control (3) whereon the transmitter (4) is disposed is located more to the right from the perspective of the air conditioner (1).

[0031] When the signal strength between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is equal to the signal strength between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4) or within a difference value determined by the manufacturer, it is determined that the remote control (3) whereon the transmitter (4) is disposed is located directly in front of the air conditioner (1).

[0032] When the signal strength between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is less than the signal strength between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4), it is determined that the remote control (3) whereon the transmitter (4) is disposed is located more to the left from the perspective of the air conditioner (1). By determining the difference value for the signal arrival strength at the first and second sensors (5 and 6), the number of defined regions, e.g., right, left, center, can be increased.

[0033] In the embodiment of the present invention, after the position of the remote control (3) is determined, the guiding member (7) is actuated so as to direct the louvers toward the remote control (3), hence toward the user, such that the air is blown directly into the region where the user is located.

[0034] By means of the present invention, without using cameras or similar sensors, and without using visual, audio, or other personal information, the position of the remote control (3), hence of the user, is detected and the air is enabled to be blown to the said position.

Claims

1. An air conditioner (1) comprising an outdoor unit; an indoor unit (2); at least one first sensor (5) and at least one second sensor (6) which are disposed in the indoor unit (2); at least one guiding member (7) which is disposed in the indoor unit (2) and which has louvers moving in horizontal and vertical directions to blow the air into the environment and a remote control (3) which communicates wirelessly with the indoor unit (2), characterized by at least one transmitter (4) which is disposed on the remote control (3); and a control unit (8) which ensures that the location of the remote control (3) is detected based on differences in signal strength of the signals sent by the transmitter (4) and received by the first and second sensors (5 and 6) and that the guiding member (7) is moved toward the region where the remote control (3) is located so as to enable the air to be blown toward the location of the remote control (3).

2. An air conditioner (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (8) which calculates the signal arrival times at the first and second sensors (5 and 6), time-of-flight or phase difference of the signals transmitted by the transmitter (4) disposed on the remote control (3), and determines the location of the remote control (3).

3. An air conditioner (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a first sensor (5) and a second sensor (6) disposed on the right and left sides of the indoor unit (2).

4. An air conditioner (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (8), depending on the magnitude of the phase difference between the arrival times of the signals emitted by the transmitter (4) at the first and second sensors (5 and 6), which ensures that the guiding member (7) is rotated toward the right, left, or center region so as to blow the air toward the user.

5. An air conditioner (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a button (9) which is disposed on the remote control (3) and which activates the transmitter (4) so as to send signals to the first and second sensors (5 and 6).

6. A control method suitable for an air conditioner as in any one of the above claims, comprising the steps of calculating the distance between the transmitter (4) and the first sensor (5) and the distance between the transmitter (4) and the second sensor (6) based on the arrival times of the signal emitted by the transmitter (4) at the first sensor (5) and the second sensor (6), and if the distance between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is greater than the distance between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4), determining that the remote control (3) whereon the transmitter (4) is disposed, and hence the user, is positioned closer to the first sensor (5) and rotating the guiding member (7) toward the said side so as to blow the air toward the user.

7. A control method as in Claim 6, comprising the step of determining, if the distance between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is less than the distance between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4), that the remote control (3) whereon the transmitter (4) is disposed, and hence the user, is positioned closer to the second sensor (6) and rotating the guiding member (7) toward the said side so as to blow the air toward the user.

8. A control method as in Claim 6, comprising the steps of determining, if the distance between the first sensor (5) and the transmitter (4) is equal to or approximately equal to the distance between the second sensor (6) and the transmitter (4), determined that the remote control (3), and hence the user, is located in the central area between the first and second sensors (5 and 6) and rotating the guiding member (7) toward the said side so as to blow the air toward the user.

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