Airflow Direction Control Using Grid-Based Target Area Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioner systems face challenges in precisely controlling airflow direction to specific areas within a room, especially when the number of area sections increases, leading to increased complexity in setting air direction, higher chances of human error, and a significant development burden due to the exponential growth of possible air direction patterns.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates up/down and left/right air direction control boards with stepping motors, controlled by a microcomputer that uses binary values to determine targeted area sections and calculates logical sums to adjust the air direction control boards, eliminating the need for extensive pre-defined tables and reducing microcomputer capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the number of area sections is increased to control airflow more precisely, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases exponentially due to the exponential growth of possible air direction patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the indoor space into a grid of area sections (e.g., 3x3 or 5x5 sections) and controls airflow to each section independently using up/down and left/right air direction control boards. This segmentation allows precise airflow control to specific areas without requiring exponential control patterns, as each section can be addressed through coordinated control of the two independent control boards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamically adjustable air direction control boards that can change their angles in real-time based on the target area section. The control boards are not fixed to predetermined positions but can dynamically adjust to direct airflow to any of the divided area sections, enabling precise control with a limited number of physical components.
2Ease of operation
If predefined tables are used to control air direction to specified areas, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time increases due to the vast amount of development and evaluation time required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls airflow direction by changing the parameters (angles) of the air direction control boards based on the target area section coordinates. Instead of using predefined tables with fixed control patterns, the system calculates the required angles dynamically based on the target section's position in the grid, significantly reducing development time while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If extensive predefined tables are created to cover all generation patterns of targeted area sections, then reliability is improved, but loss of substance increases due to the waste of microcomputer capacity and memory resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of storing extensive predefined control tables in memory with a computational approach that calculates control parameters in real-time. Instead of retrieving pre-stored control patterns from memory, the system computes the required air direction board angles based on the target area section, eliminating the need for large memory tables while ensuring reliable control.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the number of area sections is increased to cover more indoor space, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the exponential increase in possible generation patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the up/down and left/right air direction control boards universal components that can serve multiple functions. The same two control boards can direct airflow to any of the divided area sections by adjusting their angles, rather than requiring dedicated control mechanisms for each section. This multi-functionality enables the system to adapt to different indoor space configurations without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
This approach allows for precise airflow control without user intervention, improves software quality, reduces development time, and conserves microcomputer resources, even with a large number of area sections, enhancing comfort and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an up/down air direction control stepping motor for adjusting an angle of the up/down air direction control board; a left/right air direction control stepping motor for adjusting an angle of the left/right air direction control board
Data Source
AI summary
A control device 15 includes: a target area deciding unit 21 for setting either of binary values of 0 and 1 to plural area sections and deciding a targeted area section for air-conditioning; and an area air direction control unit 22 for carrying out control operation, so that when controlling at least one of air direction control stepping motors directed to the targeted area section for air-conditioning, a left/right air direction control stepping motor carries out control operation based on depth direction one-dimensional data obtained by calculating a logical sun of each column in depth direction of each area section in a group of area sections, and an up/down air direction control stepping motor carries out control operation based on left/right direction one-dimensional data obtained by calculating a logical sum of each column in left/right direction of each area section in the group of area sections.