Air Conditioner Program Update Timing for Uninterrupted Power Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air conditioner systems face issues with program updates being interrupted due to power supply disruptions, especially when the communication adapter is integrated within the indoor unit, making it difficult for users to recognize the update process and ensuring timely completion of updates.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner incorporates a controller that determines a continuous power supply period based on factors like seasonal usage, timer settings, and temperature differences to ensure uninterrupted power supply during program updates, allowing for seamless updates of the communication adapter's program.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the communication adapter is integrated inside the indoor unit and supplied with power from the indoor unit, then the device structure is simplified and power supply is more stable during normal operation, but the power supply to the communication adapter is interrupted when the indoor unit is powered off, preventing program updates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller determines a continuous power supply period in advance (when temperature difference is large, timer is set, or calendar indicates appropriate time) before initiating the program update. This preliminary determination ensures that the update will occur during a period when power interruption is unlikely, thus preventing update failure while maintaining the integrated device structure.
2Reliability
If the communication adapter has a display unit to show update status, then the user can recognize the update process and avoid interrupting power supply, but the display unit is invisible when the adapter is integrated inside the indoor unit, making it useless for user notification
Solution Approach 1:
The display function is extracted from the integrated communication adapter and reassigned to the remote controller. The controller communicates update status information to the user through the remote controller's display, which remains visible and accessible to the user. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining user awareness of the update process while preserving the space-saving integrated structure.
3Ease of operation
If the user is notified of the update process through a visible display, then the user can avoid interrupting power supply during update, but integrating the adapter inside the indoor unit makes the display invisible and ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The remote controller serves as an intermediary between the integrated communication adapter and the user. It receives update status information from the adapter and presents it to the user through its own visible display. This intermediary solution allows the user to recognize the update process and avoid interrupting power supply, while the adapter remains integrated inside the indoor unit.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a program update system for an air conditioner, which can complete update of a program without delay. A controller 51 determines whether it is summer or winter. If it is summer or winter, the controller 51 updates a communication program 52a to a downloaded update program. Or, the controller 51 determines whether a user has set timer on/off. If the user has set the timer on/off, the controller 51 updates the communication program 52a to the downloaded update program. Or, the controller 51 captures room temperature Ti and set temperature Tp, and determines whether a temperature difference ΔT calculated using the captured room temperature Ti and the set temperature Tp is greater than or equal to a threshold temperature difference Tth. If the temperature difference ΔT is greater than or equal to the threshold temperature difference Tth, the controller 51 updates the communication program 52a to the downloaded update program.