Air Conditioner Indoor Unit Mode Switching to Reduce Draft Feeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioner indoor units often create a draft feeling due to direct airflow, which can be uncomfortable and inefficient in heating and cooling, as they do not effectively distribute air uniformly across a room without hitting individuals.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner indoor unit is designed with a control unit that switches between normal and wide modes, allowing the airflow direction to be adjusted using wind-direction regulating plates, extending the airflow range vertically and reducing wind velocity, thereby increasing the air conditioning capacity while minimizing draft feelings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the airflow direction is fixed in normal mode, then the air conditioning capacity is high, but the airflow directly hits persons causing draft feeling
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner provides two operational modes: normal mode with fixed airflow direction for high cooling capacity, and wide mode with vertically extended airflow range for comfort. The system dynamically switches between these modes based on occupancy detection, resolving the contradiction between high air conditioning capacity and prevention of draft feeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the airflow distribution parameters by extending the vertical range of airflow in wide mode compared to normal mode. This parameter change allows the airflow to cover a broader vertical area, reducing direct impact on persons while maintaining effective air conditioning through optimized capacity settings.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the airflow range is extended vertically in wide mode, then the airflow covers the entire body without draft feeling, but the air conditioning capacity becomes lower
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts operational mode based on real-time occupancy detection. When persons are detected, it switches to wide mode with extended vertical airflow range and lower capacity settings. When no persons are present, it operates in normal mode with fixed airflow direction and high capacity, optimizing both comfort and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioner uses its own sensor to detect occupancy and automatically adjusts its operational parameters. The system self-regulates by switching between normal and wide modes based on detected conditions, eliminating the need for manual intervention and optimizing performance automatically.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the air conditioning capacity is reduced in wide mode, then energy consumption is lowered, but the cooling effect may be insufficient for large spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different airflow characteristics for different spatial zones. Wide mode extends airflow vertically to cover areas where persons are present, while normal mode concentrates airflow for high-capacity cooling of entire spaces. The system selects the appropriate mode based on local occupancy conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of reducing capacity across all operating conditions, the system applies partial action by reducing capacity only in wide mode when persons are detected. In normal mode without persons, the system maintains high capacity for efficient whole-space cooling, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption only when comfort is the priority.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioner indoor unit is configured to be capable of changing the direction of an airflow that is blown out through a blow-out port. The air-conditioner indoor unit includes a control unit that switches between a normal mode and a wide mode. The control unit extends at least vertically a range that is to be reached by the airflow in an air-conditioning target space in the wide mode compared with the normal mode and causes the air conditioning capacity of the wide mode to be lower than the air conditioning capacity of the normal mode.