Air conditioner, target temperature determination method, program, and storage medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioners cannot automatically determine the target temperature for air-conditioning control, requiring user input even in automatic operation modes.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner system that includes an air-conditioning storage and a controller, which determines the target temperature by acquiring external air temperature data and using pre-stored temperature ranges and determination criteria to calculate a temporary target temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the air conditioner operates in automatic operation mode, then the operation mode is automatically selected, but the target temperature cannot be automatically determined and still requires user input

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic operation mode selectionVSAvoiduser input requirement for target temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The air conditioner determines the target temperature automatically based on detected ambient temperature and stored determination criteria, without requiring user input. The system serves itself by using its own detection capabilities and pre-stored data to make control decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The air conditioner pre-stores temperature determination criteria that define relationships between ambient temperatures and target temperatures for different operation modes. When automatic operation is selected, the system uses these pre-prepared criteria to immediately determine appropriate target temperatures without waiting for user input

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If the air conditioner uses pre-stored temperature determination criteria to automatically determine target temperature, then automatic target temperature determination is achieved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic target temperature determinationVSAvoidsystem structure with storage and control units
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage unit stores universal temperature determination criteria that can be applied across different operation modes and ambient temperature conditions. The control unit uses these universal criteria to determine target temperatures in various scenarios, making the system broadly applicable without requiring mode-specific complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4534917A1Air conditioner, target temperature determination method, program, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4534917A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4534917A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4534917A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An air conditioner includes an air-conditioning storage and an air-conditioning controller. The air-conditioning storage stores a temperature range and a temperature determination criterion. The controller acquires an external air temperature of a control space, acquires the temperature range and the temperature determination criterion, determines as to which of a heating range, an intermediate range, and a cooling range of the temperature range the external air temperature falls within, determines a first temporary target temperature based on the external air temperature and the temperature determination criterion corresponding to a determined temperature range, and determines a target temperature based on the first temporary target temperature.