Air Conditioner Door Unit Closing Control to Prevent Finger Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners with openable fronts often experience issues where fingers or other objects get jammed during the closing operation, leading to incomplete or obstructed closure.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner incorporates a controller that adjusts the closing speed of the door unit, allowing it to stop at a preset distance from the opening for a set time before continuing closure, and can control multiple openings to close sequentially, ensuring complete closure without jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the door unit closes at a constant high speed, then the closing operation is efficient and quick, but fingers or obstacles may be jammed during the closing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The door unit's closing speed is dynamically adjusted during the closing operation. The controller reduces the closing speed when the door unit approaches the fully closed position, allowing time for fingers or obstacles to be removed from the closing path. This dynamic speed adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining high productivity during most of the closing operation while preventing harmful finger jamming near the end position.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing operation is divided into multiple phases with different speed characteristics. The door unit operates at a first closing speed during the initial phase and transitions to a second, slower closing speed during the final phase. This periodic action pattern allows the system to achieve both efficient closing and safety, preventing finger jamming during the slower final approach.
2Reliability
If the door unit closes completely without stopping, then the closure is complete and secure, but obstacles may be jammed preventing proper closure
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs a preliminary stopping action before the door unit reaches the fully closed position. The door unit stops at a predetermined position before complete closure, allowing the user to remove any obstacles or fingers that may be in the closing path. After the stop, the door unit resumes closing to achieve complete closure. This preliminary action prevents obstacle jamming while ensuring reliable complete closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors the closing operation and implements feedback control by stopping the door unit at a predetermined position before complete closure. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when the door unit is approaching the closed position and automatically pause, giving the user an opportunity to clear obstacles. The feedback ensures both safety and complete closure reliability.
3Loss of time
If multiple openings close simultaneously, then the overall closing operation is completed quickly, but it increases the risk of multiple jamming points and reduces safety
Solution Approach 1:
The closing operation is segmented into sequential phases, with each opening closing one after another rather than simultaneously. The controller controls the door units to close in a predetermined sequence, with each door unit completing its closing operation before the next one begins. This segmentation reduces the risk of multiple jamming incidents occurring at the same time and allows the user to respond to each closing event individually, improving safety while maintaining reasonable efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner to prevent fingers from being jammed therein during a closing operation of an opening and a method of controlling the same are provided. The air conditioner includes a housing in which an opening is formed, a door unit provided to be movable around the opening to open or close the opening, and at least one configured to control the door unit to stop at a position spaced a preset first distance from the opening during a closing operation of the door unit and control the closing operation of the door unit.