Ceiling-mounted air conditioner

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ceiling-mounted air conditioners have open air intakes even when not in operation, which can compromise their appearance and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A ceiling-mounted air conditioner design featuring an elevation unit that lifts and lowers a door panel to open or shut an air intake, utilizing a shaft driving unit, rotation elements, and moving elements to control the door panel's movement, allowing for adjustable air intake functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the air intake is always kept open in conventional ceiling-mounted air conditioners, then the operational functionality is maintained, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates when the unit is not in operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidoperational functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The air intake panel is designed to be dynamically adjustable between open and closed positions. The panel can be rotated about a vertical axis to change its orientation, allowing it to be closed for aesthetic purposes when the air conditioner is not in use, and opened when operational functionality is required. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing both aesthetic appeal and operational functionality at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Shape

If a door panel is added to control the air intake opening and closing, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air intake panel serves multiple functions: it acts as both a structural component for air intake and a movable door panel for aesthetic closure. The panel can be positioned in different orientations (open or closed) to serve different purposes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving the aesthetic improvement.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The air intake panel is designed to be dynamically adjustable between open and closed positions. The panel can be rotated about a vertical axis to change its orientation, allowing it to be closed for aesthetic purposes when the air conditioner is not in use, and opened when operational functionality is required. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing both aesthetic appeal and operational functionality at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If an elevation unit with multiple moving elements and rotation elements is installed to control the door panel, then the air intake control functionality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair intake control functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The air intake panel is designed to be dynamically adjustable between open and closed positions. The panel can be rotated about a vertical axis to change its orientation, allowing it to be closed for aesthetic purposes when the air conditioner is not in use, and opened when operational functionality is required. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing both aesthetic appeal and operational functionality at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2378214B1Ceiling-mounted air conditioner
Publication Date: 2020.02.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2378214B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2378214B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2378214B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A ceiling-mounted air conditioner is provided. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner includes an intake panel, which has an air intake, a door panel, which can be lifted up to and down from the intake panel, and a plurality of elevation driving units, which are disposed on the intake panel and apply driving force to the door panel so as for the door panel to be lifted up and down and thus to open or shut the air intake of the intake panel. Therefore, it is possible to improve the exterior appearance of the ceiling-mounted air conditioner and facilitate the design of the ceiling-mounted air conditioner.