Air Conditioner Pressure-Based Wind Control for User Location Comfort

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners struggle to create a comfortable indoor environment when the sensor is not placed at the intended location by the user, leading to ineffective control based on sensor measurements rather than user-defined preferences.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner system that communicates with a portable terminal equipped with an air pressure measurement unit, allowing it to calculate wind velocity and determine the presence direction, enabling the air conditioner to adjust wind direction and airflow volume to optimize comfort at the user's desired location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the air conditioner is controlled based on values measured by a sensor mounted on the indoor unit, then the control system is simple and reliable, but the air conditioner cannot set a comfortable environment at the user's intended location when the sensor is not placed there

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to set comfortable environment at user's intended locationVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a portable terminal as an intermediary device that measures air pressure and communicates with the air conditioner. This mediator enables the air conditioner to obtain environmental data from the user's intended location without requiring direct sensor installation at that location, thus improving adaptability while maintaining system simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable terminal serves multiple functions: it acts as a mobile sensor for air pressure measurement, a communication device for data transmission, and a user interface for controlling the air conditioner. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different user locations without adding dedicated sensors at each position

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

2Measurement precision

If the air conditioner uses a fixed sensor placement for environmental measurement, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement accuracy at the user's intended location deteriorates when the sensor is not placed there

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental measurement accuracy at user's locationVSAvoidsensor placement flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static sensor placement to a dynamic measurement approach where the portable terminal can be moved to different locations. The air conditioner dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time air pressure measurements from the user's current location, improving measurement precision without requiring fixed sensor installation at multiple positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The portable terminal acts as a mobile intermediary that brings the measurement capability to the user's intended location rather than requiring the location to have a fixed sensor. This mediator enables accurate environmental measurement at any user position while keeping the overall system simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the air conditioner adjusts wind direction and airflow volume based on real-time air pressure data from the portable terminal, then the comfort at the user's location is improved, but the device complexity and control complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser comfort at intended locationVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback loop where the portable terminal continuously measures air pressure at the user's location and communicates this data to the air conditioner. The air conditioner uses this feedback to automatically adjust wind direction and airflow volume, improving user comfort through real-time adaptation without requiring complex manual controls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The air conditioner performs self-adjustment of its operation based on air pressure data from the portable terminal. The system automatically determines the user's location and adjusts its output accordingly, eliminating the need for complex user intervention while improving comfort at the intended location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enables the air conditioner to effectively set a preferred environment at the user's intended location, providing improved comfort by adjusting wind direction and airflow volume based on real-time wind data from the portable terminal.

Implementation Method 1

an air pressure measurement unit configured to measure an air pressure value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir pressure measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP3748249B1Air conditioning control system and air conditioner
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3748249B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3748249B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3748249B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air conditioning control system includes: an air pressure measurement unit (111) configured to measure an air pressure value; an air conditioning unit (136) whose wind direction and airflow volume are changeable; a wind velocity calculation unit (132) configured to calculate a wind velocity of wind received by a portable terminal (110) from a variation in a plurality of atmospheric pressure values and to specify a presence direction that is a direction in which the portable terminal (110) is present with respect to the air conditioner(130); an air conditioning control determination unit (134) configured to determine a wind direction and an airflow volume of the air conditioning unit (136) in accordance with the wind velocity and the presence direction; and an air conditioning control unit (135) configured to control the air conditioning unit (136) so that the determined wind direction and airflow volume are obtained.