Air conditioning system control device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air-conditioning systems require additional light emitting and receiving devices to calculate the degree of influence between indoor units, which is inefficient and unnecessary.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning system control apparatus that calculates the degree of influence between indoor units using operation data, determining if units are in the same space and estimating their positional relationship without the need for specific devices, employing an influence-degree calculation unit, room determination unit, and position estimation unit based on temporal correlation and machine learning methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If light emitting and receiving devices are added to calculate the degree of influence between air-conditioning indoor units, then the measurement precision of distance and influence degree is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance measurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical measurement system (light emitting and receiving devices) with a thermal field-based measurement approach. By analyzing temperature distribution and thermal influence between indoor units, the system calculates distance and degree of influence without requiring additional optical hardware. This substitution eliminates complex light-based measurement mechanisms while achieving the same functional objectives through thermal parameter analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The air-conditioning indoor units utilize their own operational thermal data to determine spatial relationships and influence degrees. The system processes temperature measurements already generated during normal operation to calculate distances and influence relationships, eliminating the need for separate dedicated measurement devices. Each unit's operational data serves dual purposes: both cooling/heating function and spatial relationship determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If light emitting and receiving devices are installed in each air-conditioning indoor unit, then the degree of influence calculation accuracy is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfluence degree calculation accuracyVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the air-conditioning indoor units multi-functional by enabling them to perform both their primary cooling/heating function and the secondary function of determining spatial relationships and influence degrees. The same sensors and control systems used for temperature regulation are repurposed to calculate distances and influence relationships, eliminating the need for separate dedicated measurement devices and simplifying the manufacturing process.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex optical measurement systems with a simplified thermal analysis approach that uses existing operational data. By substituting light-based measurement mechanisms with thermal field analysis, the system achieves influence degree calculation without requiring additional specialized components, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining calculation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If additional light emitting and receiving devices are added to the air-conditioning system, then the position estimation accuracy between indoor units is improved, but the use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition estimation accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes temperature data already generated during normal air-conditioning operation to determine positional relationships between units. By repurposing operational thermal measurements for position estimation, the system avoids the additional energy consumption that would result from operating separate light emitting and receiving devices dedicated solely to measurement functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces energy-consuming optical measurement systems with a passive thermal analysis approach. Instead of actively emitting light to determine positions, the system passively analyzes thermal influence patterns that naturally occur during normal operation, thereby achieving position estimation without the additional energy expenditure required by active optical measurement devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3677853B1Air conditioning system control device
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3677853B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3677853B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3677853B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The air-conditioning system control apparatus includes an influence-degree calculation unit that calculates a degree of influence between two air-conditioning indoor units that are selected from a plurality of air-conditioning indoor units as a pair of air-conditioning indoor units, based on operation data on the pair of air-conditioning indoor units.