Air-conditioning apparatus and installation-position determination method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air-conditioning systems require infrastructure such as servers and networks to determine the installation positions of indoor units, leading to increased costs and workload.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning apparatus and method that uses temperature sensors in indoor units to detect indoor temperatures, allowing the remote control to determine the relative installation positions of the indoor units without additional devices or infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a working drawing is used to determine installation positions, then the determination method is simple, but it becomes very hard to accurately know the installation position when the working drawing is not present or the actual installation position differs from the drawing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation position determination accuracyVSAvoiddetermination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air-conditioning apparatus itself performs the installation position determination function by detecting indoor temperatures and analyzing spatial relationships, eliminating the need for external servers, networks, and dedicated determination devices. The system uses its own temperature sensors and controller to autonomously determine installation positions of indoor units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical approach of climbing to the ceiling to check type names and serial numbers with a thermal field-based approach using temperature sensors to detect and analyze temperature distributions, thereby determining installation positions without direct physical inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If additional devices such as servers, networks, and installation-position determination devices are provided to determine installation positions, then the determination accuracy is improved, but the cost and workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation position determination accuracyVSAvoidsystem implementation cost and workload

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensors and controller, originally designed for air-conditioning control functions, are made multi-functional by enabling them to also perform installation position determination. This eliminates the need for dedicated determination devices and reduces overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The air-conditioning apparatus autonomously performs installation position determination using its own temperature detection capabilities, eliminating the need for external servers, networks, and dedicated determination devices that would increase cost and implementation workload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If workers climb up to the ceiling to check type names and manufacturer's serial numbers, then the installation position can be identified, but the workload and time required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindoor unit identification informationVSAvoidtime required for position determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically climbing to the ceiling to visually inspect type names and serial numbers with a thermal field-based detection method using temperature sensors, enabling remote and automated identification of indoor unit installation positions without physical access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines installation positions through temperature detection and analysis, eliminating the need for workers to manually climb to the ceiling and check identification information, thereby significantly reducing both workload and time requirements.

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

Enables accurate determination of indoor unit installation positions without the need for additional infrastructure, reducing costs and workload while maintaining operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of indoor units include respective temperature sensors configured to detect indoor temperatures that are respective temperatures of indoor air to be sucked into the plurality of indoor units

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20250146689A1Air-conditioning apparatus and installation-position determination method

Publication Date: 2025.05.08 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units installed in an air-conditioning target space, and a remote control. The plurality of indoor units include respective temperature sensors configured to detect indoor temperatures that are respective temperatures of indoor air to be sucked into the plurality of indoor units. The remote control includes a remote-control-side controller configured to control the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units. The remote-control-side controller is configured to determine relative installation positions of the plurality of indoor units based on the indoor temperatures detected at the plurality of indoor units.