Air-conditioning apparatus and air-conditioning system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air-conditioning systems do not allow easy checking of the sanitation state of the indoor unit, including contamination, without removing panels.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating translucent panels in the air-conditioning apparatus and system, allowing visual inspection of internal components, and using a portable terminal and server to analyze image data for maintenance determination via two-dimensional codes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If panels are made opaque for aesthetic purposes, then design appearance is improved, but sanitation checking becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidsanitation state detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The panel is divided into a translucent portion and an opaque portion. The translucent portion allows visual inspection of the sanitation state (filter, heat exchanger, etc.) while the opaque portion maintains aesthetic appearance. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the aesthetic function from the inspection function within the same panel structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If panels are made translucent for sanitation checking, then sanitation monitoring is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitation state detectionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If panels are removed for sanitation checking, then sanitation inspection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitation state detectionVSAvoidpanel removal operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If frequent maintenance is performed to ensure sanitation, then sanitation quality is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitation qualityVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The translucent panel enables preliminary visual inspection of the sanitation state without disassembly. Users can check the filter, heat exchanger, and other components for contamination before it becomes severe, allowing for timely maintenance scheduling that minimizes operational disruption while ensuring sanitation quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The translucent panel provides continuous visual feedback on the sanitation state of internal components. This feedback mechanism allows users to monitor contamination levels in real-time and perform maintenance only when necessary, rather than following a fixed maintenance schedule, thus improving productivity while maintaining sanitation quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20240167723A1Air-conditioning apparatus and air-conditioning system

Publication Date: 2024.05.23 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

An air-conditioning apparatus includes an indoor unit. The indoor unit includes a first panel provided in a front surface where an air outlet is provided in the indoor unit, a second panel to which a filter for an air inlet is attached, the second panel being provided in the front surface of the indoor unit, and a third panel provided in a side surface of the indoor unit. At least one of the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel is formed from a translucent member.