Air conditioner

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners often discharge direct wind that can make users feel uncomfortable, and they lack the ability to mix natural and heat-exchanged air effectively, while also being prone to deformation and difficult to clean.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner features a housing with a discharge panel and a reinforcing member that includes unit cells with through holes, a support frame, and a cleaning brush to guide and clean the rear surface of the discharge panel, allowing for controlled air discharge and easy maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the air blowing fan rotates at high RPM to maintain heat exchange efficiency, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but direct wind reaches the user causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoiddirect wind discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge panel is divided into multiple discharge holes distributed across the panel surface. This segmentation disperses the air flow into multiple smaller streams rather than a single concentrated jet, reducing the direct wind impact on users while maintaining the required heat exchange efficiency through the fan's high RPM operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If the discharge panel is made thin to improve aesthetics, then appearance is improved, but the panel becomes prone to deformation from pressing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel appearanceVSAvoidpanel resistance to deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing member is positioned specifically at the rear of the discharge panel, providing localized structural support exactly where needed to prevent deformation from pressing. This allows the discharge panel to maintain its thin, aesthetically pleasing appearance while the strategically placed reinforcing member compensates for the reduced structural strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the discharge panel structure is sealed to prevent interior exposure, then interior exposure is minimized, but cleaning the rear surface becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterior exposure preventionVSAvoidcleaning accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing member acts as an intermediary structure positioned between the discharge panel and the interior components. It provides the necessary structural support and interior coverage while its open design with unit cells and through holes allows cleaning brushes to access and clean the rear surface of the discharge panel, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of interior exposure prevention and cleaning accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple discharge holes are provided to disperse air flow, then direct wind is reduced, but the discharge panel becomes vulnerable to deformation from external pressing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect wind reductionVSAvoidpanel resistance to pressing

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge panel is segmented into multiple discharge holes, which disperses air flow to reduce direct wind impact on users. This segmentation inherently creates a structure with more openings and potentially reduced structural continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcing member features unit cells with partitions and through holes that create an asymmetric, honeycomb-like structure. This asymmetric reinforcement pattern provides enhanced structural strength to counteract the vulnerability created by the multiple discharge holes, while the through holes allow air flow and cleaning access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enables the air conditioner to discharge air in various ways, prevent panel deformation, and facilitate easy cleaning, ensuring user comfort and improved reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger to exchange heat with air flowing into the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a fan configured to discharge the heat exchanged air out of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow: Fan

Data Source

PatentUS11022325B2Air conditioner

Publication Date: 2021.06.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is an air conditioner including a housing having a suction port and a discharge port, a discharge panel having a plurality of discharge holes and disposed at the discharge port, a blowing fan provided inside the housing, and a reinforcing member disposed at a rear of the discharge panel to support the discharge panel. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the discharge panel from being deformed by pressing, and to minimize the exposure of the inside of the air conditioner through the discharge hole of the discharge panel.