Air conditioner

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of air conditioning, and discloses an air conditioner. The air conditioner comprises: at least one indoor unit, the indoor unit comprising an indoor main control board; an outdoor unit, comprising: an outdoor unit casing having a front panel and a side panel, an electrical control box arranged within the outdoor unit casing, and an outdoor main control board arranged within the electrical control box and connected to the indoor main control board; and an NFC control board, located on the front panel or the side panel.

Description

air conditioner

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 2024228902833, filed on November 26, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application belongs to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular relates to an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0004] Currently, air conditioners, especially multi-split air conditioners, commonly use a combination of DIP switches, buttons, and digital displays on the outdoor main control board in various situations such as installation, commissioning, parameter setting, operational status inspection, fault repair, and software upgrades. This method has several drawbacks. For example, it requires disassembling and reassembling the unit's casing, which is cumbersome; button operation is complex and difficult, and improper operation may pose a risk of electric shock, requiring professional personnel; furthermore, the DIP switches, buttons, and digital displays are susceptible to damage from the operating environment and age, and once they fail, the aforementioned functions will become unusable.

[0005] In related technologies, there is a technical solution that sets up an NFC control board in the outdoor unit that is connected to the outdoor main control board. By establishing communication between the external NFC device and the air conditioner through the NFC control board, the operating status of the air conditioner can be accurately read and the air conditioner can be monitored and set without disassembling the air conditioner panel or touching the outdoor main control board.

[0006] NFC control boards typically include an NFC chip and an NFC antenna. To ensure communication quality between the NFC chip and the outdoor main control board, the communication distance between them needs to be as short as possible, which severely limits the installation location of the NFC control board. Furthermore, using NFC (Near Field Communication) usually requires the user to place the external NFC device (terminal) against or near the antenna of the air conditioner's NFC control board, which makes operation inconvenient and negatively impacts the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, comprising:

[0008] At least one indoor unit, the indoor unit comprising:

[0009] Indoor main control board;

[0010] Outdoor unit, which includes:

[0011] An outdoor unit housing, the outdoor unit housing having a front panel and side panels;

[0012] The electrical control box is located inside the outdoor unit housing;

[0013] The outdoor main control board is located inside the electrical control box and connected to the indoor main control board.

[0014] An NFC control board is located inside the outdoor unit housing and is mounted on the front panel or side panel.

[0015] According to some embodiments of this application, the NFC control board includes:

[0016] The control chip is connected to the outdoor main control board;

[0017] An NFC chip is connected to the control chip;

[0018] An NFC antenna is connected to the NFC chip to enable the NFC chip to communicate with external NFC devices.

[0019] According to some embodiments of this application, the NFC control board further includes a memory connected to the control chip.

[0020] According to some embodiments of this application, the NFC control board further includes a level conversion circuit, which is electrically connected between the outdoor main control board and the memory, and is used to power the memory.

[0021] According to some embodiments of this application, the outdoor main control board includes a first communication interface, which is connected to the control chip via a connecting cable, so that the outdoor main control board provides power to the control chip and enables bidirectional communication between the outdoor main control board and the control chip.

[0022] According to some embodiments of this application, the first communication interface is an RS-485 interface.

[0023] According to some embodiments of this application, a switching circuit is also included, wherein a first terminal of the switching circuit is connected to a first output port of the control chip, a second terminal of the switching circuit is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, a third terminal of the switching circuit is grounded, and the power supply terminal of the NFC chip is connected between the third terminal and the ground.

[0024] The first output port outputs a switch signal to control the switching state of the switch circuit; wherein, when the switch circuit is in the open state, the NFC chip is powered on; when the switch circuit is in the closed state, the NFC chip is powered off.

[0025] According to some embodiments of this application, the switching circuit includes:

[0026] The first resistor has one end as the first terminal of the switching circuit.

[0027] A controllable switch, the control terminal of which is connected to the other end of the first resistor, and the second terminal of the controllable switch is the third terminal of the switching circuit;

[0028] The second resistor has one end connected between the first resistor and the control terminal, and the other end connected to the first terminal of the controllable switch as the second terminal of the switching circuit.

[0029] According to some embodiments of this application, the controllable switch is a transistor or a MOSFET.

[0030] According to some embodiments of this application, the control chip and the NFC chip are bidirectionally connected via a bus. The NFC chip includes a second output port and is configured to: when detecting an excitation signal sent by the external NFC device, transmit it to the control chip via a communication signal and output a first level through the second output port;

[0031] The control chip includes an input port connected to the second output port, and the control chip is configured to respond to the excitation signal when it receives the communication signal and the first level.

[0032] According to some embodiments of this application, a mounting portion is formed on the front panel or side panel, the mounting portion being used to accommodate the NFC housing, and the NFC control board being mounted inside the NFC housing.

[0033] According to some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is also provided, comprising:

[0034] At least one indoor unit, the indoor unit comprising:

[0035] Indoor main control board;

[0036] Outdoor unit, which includes:

[0037] An outdoor unit housing, the outdoor unit housing having a front panel and side panels;

[0038] The electrical control box is located inside the outdoor unit housing;

[0039] The outdoor main control board is located inside the electrical control box and connected to the indoor main control board.

[0040] An NFC control board is located inside the outdoor unit housing and is mounted on the front panel or side panel.

[0041] According to some embodiments of this application, the NFC control board includes:

[0042] NFC antenna;

[0043] An NFC chip is connected to the NFC antenna to enable the NFC chip to communicate with an external NFC device.

[0044] The control chip is connected to the outdoor main control board and the NFC chip. The control chip is configured to receive the excitation signal sent by the external NFC device and execute corresponding read and write commands in response to the excitation signal. Attached Figure Description

[0045] Figure 1 is a system block diagram of an air conditioner according to some embodiments of this application;

[0046] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner according to some embodiments of this application;

[0047] Figure 3 is a front view of an outdoor unit according to some embodiments of this application;

[0048] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an outdoor unit that omits the outdoor heat exchanger according to some embodiments of this application;

[0049] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the front panel of the outdoor unit having NFC function according to some embodiments of this application;

[0050] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the NFC housing mounted on the front panel according to some embodiments of this application;

[0051] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the outdoor unit with NFC function on the side panel according to some embodiments of this application;

[0052] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the NFC housing mounted on the side plate according to some embodiments of this application;

[0053] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the mounting portion on the side panel of the outdoor unit according to some embodiments of this application;

[0054] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the control system of an air conditioner according to some embodiments of this application;

[0055] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the control system of an air conditioner according to some other embodiments of this application;

[0056] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the NFC control board and the outdoor main control board according to some embodiments of this application;

[0057] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the NFC control board and the outdoor main control board according to other embodiments of this application;

[0058] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the NFC control board and the outdoor main control board according to some other embodiments of this application;

[0059] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the circuit connection between the control chip and the NFC chip according to some embodiments of this application.

[0060] In the above diagrams: Air conditioner 100; Outdoor unit 10; Indoor unit 20; Wired controller 30; Outdoor unit housing 1; Outdoor air inlet 11; Outdoor air outlet 12; Front panel 13; Side panel 14; Mounting part 15; Throttling device 16; Outdoor heat exchanger 2; Outdoor fan 3; Compressor 4; Indoor heat exchanger 5; Outdoor main control board 51; Driver board 52; NFC control board 6; NFC chip 61; NFC antenna 62; Control chip 63; Memory 64; Level conversion circuit 65; Switching circuit 7; Indoor main control board 8; NFC housing 9. Detailed Implementation

[0061] To make the technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, the application is described and illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments provided in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0062] Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are merely some examples or embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can apply this application to other similar scenarios based on these drawings without any creative effort. Furthermore, it is understood that although the efforts made in this development process may be complex and lengthy, for those skilled in the art related to the content disclosed in this application, any changes to design, manufacturing, or production based on the technical content disclosed in this application are merely relevant technical means and should not be construed as insufficient disclosure of the content of this application.

[0063] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a mutually exclusive, independent, or alternative embodiment. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments without conflict.

[0064] The terms "connection," "linked," and "coupled" used in this application are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections. "Multiple" in this application refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship. The terms "first," "second," and "third" used in this application are merely to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of objects.

[0065] This application provides an air conditioner 10, and the air conditioner 10 provided in some embodiments of this application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] In some embodiments of the air conditioner 100 provided in this application, referring to FIG1, the air conditioner 100 may include at least one indoor unit 20. The indoor unit 20 is typically installed indoors and used for heat exchange with the indoor environment. The indoor unit 20 may be a wall-mounted, floor-standing, ceiling-mounted, ducted, curtain-mounted, or ceiling-mounted unit. The air conditioner 100 may include an outdoor unit 10. The outdoor unit 10 is typically installed outdoors and used to carry indoor heat to the outside. In some embodiments, the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 may be an integrated unit or a split unit. The indoor unit 20 may include an indoor unit housing. The indoor unit housing forms the exterior of the indoor unit 20. A mounting cavity is formed within the indoor unit housing. The mounting cavity is used to accommodate and fix various components in the indoor unit 20. The indoor unit housing may include an air inlet. The air inlet communicates with the mounting cavity and serves as an inlet for external air to flow into the indoor unit housing, allowing indoor air to enter the mounting cavity through the air inlet. The indoor unit housing may include an air outlet. The air outlet is connected to the mounting cavity. The air outlet serves as the outlet for the heat exchange airflow inside the indoor unit casing, allowing the airflow inside the mounting cavity to flow out through the air outlet.

[0067] In some embodiments, referring to FIG2, the indoor unit 20 may include an indoor heat exchanger 5. The indoor heat exchanger 5 is disposed within the mounting cavity and is used for heat exchange with the airflow within the indoor unit housing. The indoor unit 20 may include an indoor fan. The indoor fan is disposed within the mounting cavity and is used to drive the air within the mounting cavity to flow from the air inlet to the air outlet.

[0068] In some embodiments, referring to FIG3, the outdoor unit 10 may include an outdoor unit housing 1. The outdoor unit housing 1 has an internal receiving space and forms the exterior of the outdoor unit 10. Referring to FIG4, the outdoor unit housing 1 may include an outdoor air inlet 11. The outdoor air inlet 11 may communicate with the receiving space. The outdoor air inlet 11 may be used to introduce outdoor air into the receiving space. Referring to FIG3, the outdoor unit housing 1 may include an outdoor air outlet 12. The outdoor air outlet 12 may communicate with the receiving space. The outdoor air outlet 12 may be used to exhaust air from the receiving space to the outside of the receiving space. The outdoor unit housing 1 may include a chassis, which serves as the base of the outdoor unit 10 and forms the bottom of the outdoor unit housing 1, providing mounting positions for the various components of the outdoor unit 10.

[0069] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 5, the outdoor unit housing 1 includes a front panel 13 connected to the front side of the chassis. An outdoor air outlet 12 is formed on the front panel 13. The outdoor unit housing 1 may include side panels 14 located at both ends along the length of the chassis. An outdoor air inlet 11 may be formed on one of the two side panels 14. Referring to FIG. 2, the outdoor unit 10 may include an outdoor heat exchanger 2. The outdoor heat exchanger 2 may be disposed within a receiving space. Referring to FIG. 4, the outdoor unit 10 may include an outdoor fan 3. The outdoor fan 3 may be disposed within a receiving space. The rotation of the outdoor fan 3 causes outdoor air to enter the receiving cavity through the outdoor air inlet 11 and exchange heat with the outdoor heat exchanger 2. The heat-exchanged outdoor air then flows out of the receiving cavity through the outdoor air outlet 12.

[0070] In some embodiments, referring to FIG2, the air conditioner 100 may include a compressor 4. The compressor 4 is disposed within the outdoor unit housing 1. The compressor 4 is used to compress refrigerant gas in a low-temperature, low-pressure state into refrigerant gas in a high-temperature, high-pressure state, and discharge the compressed refrigerant gas to the condenser 42. The compressor 4 may be an inverter compressor. The air conditioner 100 may include a throttling device 16. The throttling device 16 is used for throttling. The throttling device 16 may be disposed in the indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10.

[0071] In some embodiments, the air conditioner 100 may include a refrigerant circuit. Referring to Figure 2, a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit is shown. Connecting pipes are used to connect the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 to form a refrigerant circuit for refrigerant circulation. Through this refrigerant circuit, the air conditioner 100 allows the refrigerant to circulate sequentially through the compressor 4, condenser 42, throttling device 16, and evaporator 44, enabling indoor cooling or heating. One of the evaporator 44 and the condenser 42 is an indoor heat exchanger 5, and the other is an outdoor heat exchanger 2. It is understood that when the indoor heat exchanger is used as a condenser, the air conditioner 100 functions as a heater in heating mode; when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, the air conditioner 100 functions as a cooler in cooling mode.

[0072] In some embodiments, the refrigeration and heating cycles include compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes. Cooling or heating is provided to the indoor space through the refrigerant's heat absorption and release processes, thereby regulating the indoor temperature. Specifically: the condenser condenses the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant compressed by the compressor into a liquid refrigerant, and heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process; the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the condenser enters a throttling device, which expands the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant after condensation into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant; the low-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of the throttling device enters the evaporator, where it absorbs heat and evaporates into a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas, which returns to the compressor 5. The evaporator achieves the cooling effect by utilizing the latent heat of refrigerant evaporation to exchange heat with the material being cooled. Throughout this entire cycle, the air conditioner 100 can regulate the temperature of the indoor space.

[0073] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner 100 may include a controller. The controller is electrically connected to the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 to control the operation of their internal components, so that the various components of the air conditioner 100 operate to achieve their predetermined functions. It is understood that the controller is electrically connected to at least the compressor 4, the throttling device 16, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan 3. The controller refers to a device that can generate operation control signals based on instruction operation codes and timing signals to instruct the air conditioner 100 to execute control commands. For example, in response to a received power-on or power-off command from a user, the controller can execute an operation related to the object selected by the power-on or power-off command. The controller has an indoor main control board 8 and an outdoor main control board 51.

[0074] In some embodiments of this application, referring to FIG10, the indoor unit 20 may include an indoor main control board 8. The indoor main control board 8 is mounted on the indoor unit housing and is electrically connected to the indoor fan, used to at least control the operation of the indoor fan. Continuing to refer to FIG10, the outdoor unit 10 may include an outdoor main control board 51. The outdoor main control board 51 is mounted inside the outdoor unit housing 1. It is understood that the indoor main control board 8 and the outdoor main control board 51 are communicatively connected to enable data information within the outdoor main control board 51 and the indoor main control board 8 to be transmitted to each other, coordinating and managing the overall operation of the air conditioner 100.

[0075] In some embodiments of this application, the outdoor unit 10 may include an electrical control box, which is housed within a recessed space inside the outdoor unit housing 11. The outdoor main control board 51 is housed within the electrical control box. The electrical control box protects the outdoor main control board 51, preventing contamination of its electrical components by objects in the external space, thus improving safety. It is understood that the outdoor main control board 51 is electrically connected to at least the indoor main control board 8, the compressor 4, and the outdoor fan 3 of the indoor unit 20, so that it controls the compressor 4 and the outdoor fan 3 to operate according to control commands issued by the indoor main control board 8.

[0076] In some embodiments of this application, referring to FIG11, the outdoor unit 10 may include a drive board 52. The drive board 52 is communicatively connected to the outdoor main control board 51, and its output is connected to the outdoor unit load to drive the load. The outdoor unit load may include a compressor 5 and an outdoor fan 3. In some embodiments of this application, the drive board 52 and the outdoor main control board 51 communicate via HomeBus. The drive board 52 is configured to receive control commands transmitted by the outdoor main control board 51 and drive the outdoor unit load according to the control commands. In some embodiments, the outdoor main control board 51 and the drive board 52 are separate structures, and the drive board 52 may be mounted on the outdoor main control board 51. The air conditioner 100 may include a wired controller 30. The wired controller 30 is used to transmit user control signals, causing the air conditioner 100 to be controlled by the wired controller 30 to realize various functions of the air conditioner, thereby allowing the user to control the operation of the air conditioner 100 through the wired controller 30. Continuing to refer to FIG11, the wired controller 30 is communicatively connected to the indoor main control board 8 through a communication unit. The communication unit can be a HomeBus communication unit.

[0077] In some embodiments, a snap-fit ​​installation structure can be designed to facilitate quick assembly of the drive board 52 and the outdoor main control board 51. An anti-vibration and buffer structure is added to improve operational stability. A heat dissipation structure can be provided to ensure effective heat dissipation for the drive board 52 and the outdoor main control board 51 under high load operation. The drive board 52 and the outdoor main control board 51 can have reserved functional expansion interfaces for future functional upgrades; modular interfaces are provided for easy maintenance and replacement; and a waterproof and dustproof structure is provided to improve reliability.

[0078] Currently, air conditioners, especially multi-split air conditioners, commonly use a combination of DIP switches, buttons, and digital displays on the outdoor main control board in various situations such as installation, commissioning, parameter setting, operational status inspection, fault repair, and software upgrades. This method has many drawbacks. For example, it requires disassembling and reassembling the unit's casing panel, which is cumbersome; button operation is complex and difficult, and improper operation may cause electric shock risks, requiring professional personnel to perform the task; furthermore, the DIP switches, buttons, and digital displays are easily affected by factors such as the operating environment and the age of the unit, and once they fail, the aforementioned functions will not be possible.

[0079] To address the operational difficulties encountered by air conditioners in various situations, including installation and commissioning, parameter setting, operational status inspection, fault repair, and software upgrades, this application proposes an embodiment where, referring to FIG7, the air conditioner 100 may include an NFC control board 6. The NFC control board 6 is located inside the outdoor unit housing 1 and is electrically connected to the outdoor main control board 51.

[0080] The NFC control board 6 is used to establish a communication connection with external NFC devices. Through these devices, the operating status of the air conditioner 100 can be accurately read and the air conditioner 100 can be monitored and set without disassembling the casing panel or touching the outdoor main control board 51. This not only eliminates the cumbersome steps of disassembling the casing panel and reduces the difficulty of operation, but also avoids the potential risk of electric shock. Furthermore, it reduces reliance on the reliability of DIP switches, buttons, and digital displays, and can even eliminate the installation of DIP switches, buttons, and digital displays, thus reducing the overall cost of the multi-split air conditioner 100 and improving the overall market competitiveness of the unit.

[0081] In some embodiments of this application, referring to FIG12, the NFC control board 6 may include an NFC chip 61. The NFC control board 6 may include an NFC antenna 62. The NFC antenna 62 is connected to the NFC chip 61 to enable the NFC chip 61 to communicate with an external NFC device. In some embodiments, the external NFC device may include an NFC module, a client, and a display. The external NFC device may be a mobile phone, a handheld processing device, a wearable device, an all-in-one handheld device, etc. The NFC module is used to establish an NFC connection with the air conditioner 100. When the external NFC device is attached to or near the NFC antenna 62, the NFC control board 6 will acquire the NFC excitation command sent by the mobile phone and communicate with the outdoor main control board 51 and the external NFC device to complete the corresponding read / write commands.

[0082] Taking a mobile phone as an example of an external NFC device, when it is necessary to monitor or read the operating data of the air conditioner 100, the user only needs to bring the mobile phone with NFC enabled and the corresponding APP installed close to the NFC antenna 62 of the NFC control board 6. The mobile phone then sends an operating data reading command to the air conditioner 100. After receiving the operating data reading command, the outdoor main control board 51 will send the operating data to the mobile phone through the NFC control board 6. In this way, the operating data of the air conditioning system can be viewed on the mobile phone, which is simple to operate and reduces costs. In order to facilitate the user to attach and / or bring the external NFC device close to the NFC antenna 62, in some embodiments of this application, the NFC control board 6 is installed on the front panel 13 or the side panel 14, so that the NFC control board 6 is relatively close to the user for convenient operation.

[0083] In some embodiments, a small power management module can be provided to ensure a stable power supply for the NFC control board 6 when communicating with external devices. This power management module can obtain power from the outdoor main control board 51 or other power input terminals, ensuring that the NFC control board 6 operates in low-power mode and can quickly respond to requests from external NFC devices when needed. To ensure the stability of the NFC signal and the communication distance, a signal amplifier can be integrated on the NFC control board 6 to enhance the signal reception and transmission capabilities of the NFC antenna 62. This effectively improves the reliability and effective distance of NFC communication, especially in environments with weak signals or high interference. Considering the potential for electromagnetic interference in the air conditioner's operating environment, the NFC control board 6 can enhance its stability by adding anti-interference circuitry. For example, EMI (electromagnetic interference) filters and shielding measures can be added to reduce the impact of high-frequency electromagnetic noise in the outdoor unit on NFC communication. Since the NFC control board 6 is typically installed inside the outdoor unit, it may be exposed to humid and dusty environments. Therefore, the NFC control board 6 can use a waterproof and dustproof design, such as an IP65 or higher-rated package, to protect the chips and circuits from external environmental damage and extend the device's lifespan. IP65 is an international standard that indicates the dustproof rating of an electrical enclosure and its ability to withstand water jets from nozzles. This means that the equipment can be used in relatively harsh environments with good protective performance.

[0084] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 6 and 8, the air conditioner 100 may include an NFC housing 9, the NFC housing 9 having space inside to accommodate an NFC control board 6, the NFC control board 6 being installed inside the NFC housing 9. By providing the NFC housing 9, not only can the NFC control board 6 be effectively protected, but its installation can also be conveniently achieved. In some embodiments, referring to Figures 7 and 9, a mounting portion 15 may be formed on the front panel 13 or the side panel 14, the mounting portion 15 being used to accommodate the NFC housing 9. In some embodiments of this application, the NFC housing 9 can be snapped and fixed within the mounting portion 15 by a snap-fit ​​structure.

[0085] Referring to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of the mounting portion in some embodiments of this application. In other embodiments, the mounting portion 15 can be other structures that accommodate the NFC housing 9, such as a groove structure formed inside the front panel 13 or side panel 14, etc., and this application does not limit its structure. The NFC control board 6 is mounted on the side panel 14 or the front panel 13. The NFC control board 6 is independent of the outdoor main control board 51, so that the NFC control board 6 and the outdoor main control board 51 are separated and the distance between the NFC control board 6 and the outdoor main control board 51 is relatively large. In order to ensure the communication quality between the NFC control board 6 and the outdoor main control board 51, in some embodiments of this application, the NFC control board 6 may include a control chip 63.

[0086] Referring to Figure 10, the control chip 63 is connected between the outdoor main control board 51 and the NFC chip 61. The control chip 63 is configured to receive excitation signals sent by an external NFC device and, in response to the excitation signals, execute corresponding read / write commands. The control chip 63 can be a processor (CPU). It is understood that the read / write commands can include data reading commands and data writing commands. The data read can be the operating status data of the air conditioner 100, or device information data stored in the outdoor main control board 51; the data written can be parameter settings, debugging parameters, etc. The control chip 63 is communicatively connected to the outdoor main control board 51, enabling data information to be transferred between the two. The control chip 63 and the NFC chip 61 can also communicate via an IIC bus, allowing data information to be transferred between them. Data transmission between the control chip 63 and the NFC chip 61 via the IIC (Inter-Integrated Circuit) bus enables bidirectional data transmission between the two chips, improving data transmission efficiency and ensuring data accuracy.

[0087] In some embodiments of this application, by separately configuring a control chip 63 on the NFC control board 6, the control chip 63 and the outdoor main control board 51 can achieve bidirectional communication through a communication interface, thereby improving the communication distance and communication quality between the NFC control board 6 and the outdoor main control board 51. This makes the installation position of the NFC control board 6 not limited by the communication distance, thus improving the installation flexibility of the NFC control board 6.

[0088] In some embodiments, to enhance the ease of fixing and disassembling the NFC housing 9, the mounting part 15 can adopt a spring-loaded snap-fit ​​structure. This structure allows for faster and simpler installation and disassembly. The snap-fit ​​design uses spring tension to secure the NFC housing 9, and when disassembly or maintenance is required, it can be easily removed by simply pulling or pressing the spring snap-fit. To improve the adjustability and flexibility of the NFC housing 9, the mounting part 15 can be designed as a sliding rail structure. The NFC housing 9 can move easily along the sliding rail and be secured by slots or locking mechanisms at specific locations. The sliding rail structure provides more installation position options, such as adjusting the horizontal or vertical position of the housing by sliding to ensure better communication quality between the NFC control board 6 and the outdoor main control board 51. Since the control chip 63 (such as a processor CPU) may generate heat during operation, a heat dissipation structure such as a heat sink or heat pipe can be incorporated into the design of the control chip 63. Especially during high-load operation, the control chip 63 may generate heat; incorporating a heat dissipation design can effectively extend the chip's lifespan and ensure its stable operation. To reduce system complexity and installation space, the control chip 63 can be designed as an integrated chip, integrating multiple functions such as NFC control, data processing, and communication interfaces (such as IIC bus) onto the same chip. This reduces the area of ​​the circuit board and lowers circuit complexity, while improving the efficiency and stability of data transmission.

[0089] In some embodiments of this application, referring to FIG13, the NFC control board 6 may include a memory 64. The memory 64 is connected to the control chip 63. In some embodiments of this application, by setting the memory 64, the storage space for data and parameters can be significantly expanded, supporting the storage of more data and parameters, effectively avoiding the situation where the internal storage space of the NFC chip 61 is insufficient and unable to handle large amounts of data. The memory 64 and the control chip 63 can communicate bidirectionally via an IIC bus.

[0090] In some embodiments of this application, the outdoor main control board 51 may include a first communication interface. The first communication interface is connected to the control chip 63 via a connecting cable, so that the outdoor main control board 51 provides power to the control chip 63, and at the same time, enables bidirectional communication between the outdoor main control board 51 and the control chip 63.

[0091] In some embodiments of this application, when the air conditioner 100 is powered on, the NFC control board 6 can obtain power from the outdoor main control board 51 through the first communication interface to power the entire control board. Therefore, it is not necessary to equip the NFC control board 6 with a separate power module, saving space and cost. In some embodiments of this application, the first communication interface is an RS-485 interface. RS-485 communication has strong anti-interference capability against external electromagnetic interference (EMI). The use of RS-485 communication between the control chip 63 and the outdoor main control board 51 can ensure the stability of data transmission between the two.

[0092] In some embodiments of this application, the NFC control board 6 may include a level conversion circuit 65. The level conversion circuit 65 is electrically connected between the outdoor main control board 51 and the memory 64, and is used to power the memory 64. By setting the level conversion circuit 65, the voltage output by the outdoor main control board 51 can be converted into the operating voltage of the memory 64, assisting in data storage.

[0093] In some embodiments of this application, referring to FIG14, the outdoor main control board 51 can provide a +5V power supply. The operating voltage of the memory 64 can be +3.3V. In some embodiments of this application, the level conversion circuit 65 can obtain a +5V power supply voltage from the first communication interface and convert it into the operating voltage of the memory 64, +3.3V, to power the memory 64.

[0094] In some embodiments of this application, the NFC chip 61 may include a second output port, which can output a detection signal when an excitation signal is detected. The detection signal is a first level. The NFC chip 61 is configured to: when detecting an excitation signal sent by an external NFC device, transmit it to the control chip 63 via a communication signal, and output the first level through the second output port. The control chip 63 may include an input port connected to the second output port. The control chip 63 is configured to: respond to the received excitation signal upon receiving the communication signal and the first level.

[0095] In some embodiments of this application, the control chip 63 is configured to respond to the excitation only after simultaneously receiving the communication signal and the first level. This ensures the synchronization between the signals, enabling it to more reliably identify the valid excitation signal and preventing false responses due to noise, communication errors, or other abnormal conditions.

[0096] In some embodiments of this application, the first level is a low level. Of course, in other embodiments, the first level can be a high level, depending on the design goals and application requirements, and this application does not limit it. Furthermore, compared to the control chip 63, the NFC chip 61 has weaker anti-interference capabilities and is prone to crashing after being subjected to electromagnetic interference, causing the second output port to fail to output the first level, thereby causing the entire NFC control board 6 to fail to respond to stimuli. To solve the above technical problems, in some embodiments of this application, the power supply of the NFC chip 61—NFC—is isolated from the power supply of other circuit parts in the NFC control board 6 through a switching circuit 7 and is controlled by the control chip 63 of the NFC control board 6.

[0097] In some embodiments of this application, the power supply can be 5V or other values. Those skilled in the art can set it according to the parameters of the NFC chip and actual needs, and this application does not limit it.

[0098] In some embodiments of this application, the control chip 63 includes a first output port for outputting a switch signal. It is understood that the switch signal may include both low-level and high-level signals, used to control the switching state of the switch circuit 7. In some embodiments of this application, when the switch circuit 7 is in the open state, the NFC chip 61 is powered on; when the switch circuit 7 is in the closed state, the NFC chip 61 is powered off.

[0099] In some embodiments of this application, the switch circuit 7 may include a first terminal. The first terminal of the switch circuit 7 is connected to the first output port of the control chip 63. The first terminal of the switch circuit 7 is a controlled terminal, controlled by the switch signal output from the first output port. The switch circuit 7 may include a second terminal, which is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply of the control chip 63. The switch circuit 7 may include a third terminal, which is connected to the power supply terminal of the NFC chip 61.

[0100] In some embodiments of this application, when the switch signal is a low-level signal, the switch circuit 7 is turned on, and the NFC chip 61 is powered on by the power supply output by the switch circuit 7; when the switch signal is a high-level signal, the switch circuit 7 is turned off, and the NFC chip 61 is powered off. In other embodiments, the switch circuit 7 can be turned off when the switch signal is a low-level signal and turned on when the switch signal is a high-level signal, which mainly depends on the specific design of the switch circuit 7.

[0101] In some embodiments of this application, the power supply to the power terminal of the NFC chip 61 can be independently controlled by setting the switch circuit 7. When the NFC chip 61 is affected by electromagnetic interference and cannot output the first level at the second output port, the control chip 63 can only detect the communication signal and cannot detect the first level at the input port. At this time, the control chip 63 can power off and then power on the NFC chip 61 by changing the level of the switch signal, and after completing a reset, it can respond to the stimulus again. In some embodiments of this application, by setting the switch circuit 7, when the NFC chip 61 is not needed, the control chip 63 can control the switch circuit 7 to be turned off, thereby controlling the NFC chip 61 to be powered off, which is beneficial for energy saving.

[0102] In some embodiments of this application, the switching circuit 7 may include a controllable switch V1. The controllable switch can be any switching device that satisfies the above-described functions, such as a transistor, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), etc. The switching circuit may include a first resistor. One end of the first resistor is the first terminal of the switching circuit. The controllable switch V1 has three terminals. The control terminal of the controllable switch V1 is connected to the other end of the first resistor, i.e., the control terminal of the controllable switch V1 is connected to the first output port of the control chip 63 through the first resistor. The first terminal of the controllable switch V1 can be the second terminal of the switching circuit 7, connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the second terminal of the controllable switch V1 can be the third terminal of the switching circuit 7.

[0103] In some embodiments of this application, the switching circuit 7 may include a second resistor R2. One end of the second resistor R2 is connected between the first resistor R1 and the control terminal, and the other end is connected to the first terminal of the controllable switch V1, serving as the second terminal of the switching circuit 7. The first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 can be used as voltage divider resistors. The first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 work together to not only convert the switching signal into an appropriate voltage, ensuring that the controllable switch V1 can be correctly turned on or off, realizing the switching control of powering the NFC chip 61, but also to protect the switching circuit, preventing excessive current from flowing into the control terminal of the controllable switch V1, thus effectively protecting the controllable switch V1. In addition, the input signal of the controllable switch V1 can be adjusted through the first resistor R1, thereby realizing the adjustment and control of the amplification factor and operating state of the controllable switch V1. The second resistor R1 can limit the operating point of the controllable switch V1 and further stabilize the operating state of the controllable switch V1, reducing the influence of noise and interference.

[0104] In some embodiments, to further enhance anti-interference capabilities and security, an optocoupler can be added to the switching circuit 7 to achieve electrical isolation between the input and output terminals. The optocoupler can effectively block high voltage and high frequency noise, ensuring more stable signal transmission between the control chip and the NFC chip. To enhance the security and stability of the switching circuit 7, a dual-channel current monitoring system can be designed to monitor the power supply status of the NFC chip and the operating status of the switching circuit. Once an abnormal current or overcurrent is detected, the circuit can automatically disconnect the power supply through the overcurrent protection circuit to prevent damage to the NFC chip. Considering that the voltage requirements of the NFC chip may vary under different operating environments, the switching circuit 7 can be designed with dynamic voltage regulation, that is, automatically adjusting the supply voltage (such as 3.3V, 5V, etc.) according to actual needs. Through a built-in voltage regulation module (such as a linear regulator or DC-DC converter), the system can provide appropriate voltage in different operating modes, ensuring that the NFC chip always operates stably within its operating voltage range.

[0105] In some embodiments of this application, the control chip 63, the power supply, and the NFC chip are connected to a common ground. That is, the ground interface of the control chip 63, the ground terminal of the NFC chip, and the power supply ground are connected together. It is understood that the power supply has a positive terminal VCC and a negative terminal GND. The output between the positive VCC and the negative GND provides a power supply voltage, such as 5V, to support the operation of the control chip 63 and the NFC chip. Of course, the power supply voltage can also be other voltage values ​​required for the adaptation, where the negative GND refers to the power ground, used for grounding.

[0106] In some embodiments of this application, the controllable switch V1 can be a transistor or a MOSFET. In some embodiments of this application, when the controllable switch V1 is a transistor or a MOSFET, the power supply +5V-NFC of the NFC chip 61 can be isolated from the power supply of other circuit parts in the NFC control board 6, avoiding electrical interference and ensuring the stability of the power supply +5V-NFC of the NFC chip 61.

[0107] In some embodiments of this application, the switching circuit 7 is configured to be turned on when the switching signal is a low-level signal and turned off when the switching signal is a high-level signal.

[0108] In some embodiments of this application, referring to FIG15, taking a PNP transistor as an example, the base B of the PNP transistor is the control terminal of the controllable switch V1 and is connected to the first output port of the control chip 63. The emitter E of the PNP transistor is the first terminal of the controllable switch V1 and is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply. The collector C of the PNP transistor is the second terminal of the controllable switch V1 and is connected to the power supply terminal of the NFC chip 61. The first resistor R1 can be a current-limiting resistor, used to limit the current flowing through the PNP transistor. By setting the first resistor R1, excessive current flowing through the PNP transistor is avoided, preventing the PNP transistor from being damaged and effectively protecting it. In some embodiments of this application, by selecting a PNP transistor as a switch, it can switch between conduction and turn-off in a shorter time, improving the circuit response speed. Simultaneously, the power consumed by the transistor in the off state is lower, which helps save energy.

[0109] In some embodiments, to further improve the fault tolerance and anti-interference capability of the switching circuit, an NPN transistor can be introduced on the basis of a PNP transistor to realize a combination of bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). By combining PNP and NPN transistors to form a differential pair, more accurate control of the current switch can be achieved, especially suitable for switching high-current loads. Adding load feedback control to the power control circuit allows for dynamic adjustment of the switch's operating state through the feedback circuit. Especially when the load current fluctuates significantly, load feedback can detect and adjust the power output in real time, ensuring stable system operation. The controllable switch V1 can be equipped with a low-voltage detection circuit, automatically disconnecting the power supply when the power supply voltage is lower than a set threshold, protecting the NFC chip from low-voltage damage. Furthermore, the system can automatically restart the NFC chip after the voltage returns to normal. To avoid overheating of the switching circuit due to prolonged operation, an overheat protection function can be designed for the controllable switch V1. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the switching circuit in real time, automatically cutting off power when the set temperature is exceeded, preventing component damage due to overheating.

[0110] In some embodiments of this application, the controllable switch V1 can be a PNP transistor, a PMOS transistor, or a P-type IGBT transistor. In specific implementations, the connection method can be referenced to that of a PNP transistor, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0111] Finally, it should be noted that 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 or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0112] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising: At least one indoor unit, the indoor unit comprising: Indoor main control board; Outdoor unit, which includes: An outdoor unit housing, the outdoor unit housing having a front panel and side panels; The electrical control box is located inside the outdoor unit housing; The outdoor main control board is located inside the electrical control box and connected to the indoor main control board. An NFC control board is located inside the outdoor unit housing and is mounted on the front panel or side panel.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein, The NFC control board includes: The control chip is connected to the outdoor main control board; An NFC chip is connected to the control chip; An NFC antenna is connected to the NFC chip to enable the NFC chip to communicate with external NFC devices.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein, The NFC control board also includes a memory, which is connected to the control chip.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein, The NFC control board also includes a level conversion circuit, which is electrically connected between the outdoor main control board and the memory, and is used to power the memory.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein, The outdoor main control board includes a first communication interface, which is connected to the control chip via a connecting cable, so that the outdoor main control board provides power to the control chip and enables bidirectional communication between the outdoor main control board and the control chip.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein, It also includes a switching circuit, the first end of which is connected to the first output port of the control chip, the second end of which is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, the third end of which is grounded, and the power supply terminal of the NFC chip is connected between the third end and the ground. The first output port outputs a switch signal to control the switching state of the switch circuit; wherein, when the switch circuit is in the open state, the NFC chip is powered on; when the switch circuit is in the closed state, the NFC chip is powered off.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein, The switching circuit includes: The first resistor has one end as the first terminal of the switching circuit. A controllable switch, the control terminal of which is connected to the other end of the first resistor, and the second terminal of the controllable switch is the third terminal of the switching circuit; The second resistor has one end connected between the first resistor and the control terminal, and the other end connected to the first terminal of the controllable switch as the second terminal of the switching circuit.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein, The controllable switch is a transistor or a MOSFET; and / or, the control chip, the power supply, and the NFC chip are connected to a common ground.

9. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein, The control chip and the NFC chip are connected bidirectionally via a bus. The NFC chip includes a second output port and is configured to: when it detects an excitation signal sent by the external NFC device, transmit it to the control chip via a communication signal and output a first level through the second output port; The control chip includes an input port connected to the second output port, and the control chip is configured to respond to the excitation signal when it receives the communication signal and the first level.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein, A mounting portion is formed on the front panel or side panel, the mounting portion being used to accommodate the NFC housing, and the NFC control board is mounted inside the NFC housing.

11. An air conditioner, comprising: At least one indoor unit, the indoor unit comprising: Indoor main control board; Outdoor unit, which includes: An outdoor unit housing, the outdoor unit housing having a front panel and side panels; The electrical control box is located inside the outdoor unit housing; The outdoor main control board is located inside the electrical control box and connected to the indoor main control board. An NFC control board is located inside the outdoor unit housing and is mounted on the front panel or side panel.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein, The NFC control board includes: NFC antenna; An NFC chip is connected to the NFC antenna to enable the NFC chip to communicate with an external NFC device. The control chip is connected to the outdoor main control board and the NFC chip. The control chip is configured to receive the excitation signal sent by the external NFC device and execute corresponding read and write commands in response to the excitation signal.

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