Air conditioner and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners lack the ability to accurately differentiate between living and non-living areas within an indoor space, leading to inefficient temperature control and unnecessary air flow in areas where users do not occupy, resulting in discomfort and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner equipped with a camera for image processing to classify living and non-living areas, and adjustable wind adjusters that control airflow direction and intensity based on temperature sensors, ensuring tailored airflow to each area for enhanced comfort and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If wind adjusters in all outlets are identically controlled to form uniform airflow over entire area, then temperature can be uniformly changed in all directions, but unnecessary air control is performed in areas where users do not mainly move or live
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the indoor space into multiple areas (first area and second area) based on user presence detection. Wind adjusters in different outlets are independently controlled according to the detected user location, allowing selective airflow control only in areas where users are present, thereby avoiding energy waste in unoccupied areas while maintaining temperature control effectiveness.
2Productivity
If camera-based area classification is implemented to distinguish living and non-living areas, then airflow can be optimized for comfort and energy efficiency, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensors or occupancy detectors with a camera-based visual recognition system. The camera captures images of the indoor space, and through image processing algorithms, automatically identifies areas where users are present. This substitution provides accurate area classification with relatively simple hardware, achieving both comfort optimization and energy efficiency without requiring complex mechanical sensing systems.
3Speed
If direct airflow is formed in living area when temperature is beyond set range, then temperature reaches desired level quickly, but air flow discomfort occurs when approaching desired temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the airflow mode based on the temperature difference between the current indoor temperature and the desired temperature. When the temperature difference is large (beyond set range), direct airflow is activated for rapid cooling or heating. When the temperature difference becomes small (approaching desired temperature), the system automatically switches to indirect airflow mode to avoid user discomfort from direct air blasts, thus providing adaptive temperature control that balances speed and comfort throughout the cooling or heating process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner including: a; a panel which is disposed in the lower side of the case, and has an inlet and a plurality of outlets disposed around the inlet; a fan which is disposed in the case; a plurality of wind adjuster which is disposed in each of the outlet, and adjusts a wind direction of air flowing through each of the outlet in the up-and-down side direction; a camera which obtains an image of an indoor space; and a controller which controls the wind adjuster based on image information obtained from the camera, wherein the controller divides the plurality of outlets into a first area outlet and a second area outlet, and adjusts each of the plurality of wind adjusters so that air discharged from the first area outlet and air discharged from the second area outlet are formed differently in the up-and-down side direction.