Air Conditioner Wireless MIMO Communication for Multi-Floor Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioner systems face communication delays and instability due to the need for wired connections and limitations in wireless signal transmission across multiple floors, especially when outdoor units are installed in basements or on roofs, leading to attenuated signals and reduced communication quality.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner system employs a communication unit with multiple omni-directional antennas installed in the units, enabling direct wireless communication between indoor and outdoor units without the need for separate communication lines, using frequency bands like 400 MHz and 900 MHz to overcome signal loss and distance issues, and supports Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology for stable and efficient data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired communication method is used to connect indoor unit and outdoor unit, then communication stability is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase due to communication line connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired communication system with a wireless communication system. The indoor unit and outdoor unit are equipped with wireless communication modules that transmit data through radio waves, eliminating the need for physical communication lines while maintaining communication functionality between units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication module as an intermediary between the indoor unit and outdoor unit. This module handles data transmission wirelessly, acting as a mediator that enables communication without direct physical connection, thus simplifying installation while maintaining reliability.
2Extent of automation
If outdoor unit processes data from multiple indoor units in a wired system, then centralized control is achieved, but communication delay increases due to staged transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication network into multiple wireless nodes (indoor units and outdoor units) that can communicate directly with each other. Each unit is equipped with wireless communication capability, allowing distributed data exchange without requiring all data to pass through a single centralized processing point, thereby reducing communication delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic communication routing where data can be transmitted directly between relevant units based on real-time needs. The wireless communication system allows flexible, adaptive data paths rather than fixed staged transmission, enabling faster response times while maintaining centralized control capabilities when needed.
3Device complexity
If single antenna is used for wireless communication in indoor unit, then device simplicity is maintained, but communication coverage and signal stability deteriorate especially in multi-floor buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antennas within the indoor unit to create a unified wireless communication system. By integrating multiple antennas (typically arranged in a diversity configuration), the system achieves improved signal coverage and stability across multiple floors while maintaining a compact, simple device structure from the user's perspective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-antenna (one-dimensional) approach to a multi-antenna (multi-dimensional) system. The multiple antennas are positioned at different spatial locations and orientations within the indoor unit, creating a three-dimensional antenna array that provides omnidirectional or multi-directional coverage, significantly improving communication reliability in multi-floor buildings.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an air conditioner including a plurality of units having an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The plurality of units includes a controller configured to control an input/output and control to operate according to setting and a communication unit configured to transmit and receive data in a wireless communication method between the plurality of units. The communication unit includes a plurality of antenna connection units respectively connected to the plurality of antennas, and a transmission/reception unit configured to apply a signal of a certain frequency band to the plurality of antennas through the plurality of antenna connection units, and to process a signal received from the plurality of antennas. The communication unit includes a plurality of antennas, and is configured to transmit and receive data through multiple input and output, so that the plurality of units can directly communicate wirelessly, specify a frequency of a signal used in consideration of obstacles in a building and installation distances, and perform multiple input and output by using the plurality of antennas, thereby achieving stable communication by securing communication coverage, and improving efficiency and stability according to the management and operation of the air conditioner.