Air Conditioner Controller Circuit for Guided Cool and Room Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners lack precise control over airflow direction and movement, leading to inefficient temperature distribution and comfort in rooms, especially when trying to direct cooling or heating effects towards specific areas or individuals.

Innovation Solution

A controller circuit for air conditioners that includes a cooling/heating establishment section, fan controlling sections for blower fans, and an enclosure attitude controlling mechanism to adjust the position of secondary air outlets relative to the primary air outlet, allowing for directed airflow and enhanced temperature distribution by using room air to assist in cooling or heating effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional air conditioners use natural convection for airflow direction after release, then the system structure remains simple, but the airflow direction and movement cannot be controlled delicately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow direction controlVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the second enclosures movable rather than fixed. The enclosures can change their attitude (orientation) dynamically to direct airflow toward occupants. This is achieved through driving mechanisms that allow the enclosures to rotate or pivot, enabling real-time adjustment of airflow direction based on occupancy positions without requiring complex active control systems for each airflow stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the airflow control system into multiple independent components: a first enclosure with a first air outlet for primary cool air discharge, and multiple second enclosures with second air outlets for room air discharge. Each enclosure can be controlled independently, allowing selective direction of different airflow streams to different areas or occupants, thereby achieving delicate control through modular segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If multiple air outlets are used to spread cool air over wider area, then temperature distribution improves, but airflow direction control becomes less precise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distributionVSAvoidairflow targeting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by giving different functions to different enclosures and air outlets. The first enclosure discharges cool air in one direction while second enclosures discharge room air in different directions toward specific occupants. Each enclosure is optimized for its specific local function, allowing wide area coverage through multiple outlets while maintaining precise targeting capability for each individual outlet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses room air discharged from second enclosures as an intermediary to deliver cooling effects to occupants. Instead of directly discharging all cool air toward occupants, the system uses room air as a carrier that interacts with the cool air stream, providing indirect cooling that reaches occupants effectively while maintaining control over direction through the adjustable second enclosures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If airflow rate is reduced to improve comfort, then energy consumption decreases, but cooling coverage area shrinks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcooling coverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses room air from second enclosures as an intermediary carrier that extends the reach of the cool air stream. By introducing this additional airflow medium, the system can maintain lower cool air discharge rates (reducing energy consumption) while still achieving wide coverage area, as the room air acts as a booster that propagates the cooling effect throughout the space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes existing room air as a free resource to extend cooling coverage. Instead of requiring high energy input to propel cool air across the entire space, the system leverages the naturally available room air that is discharged by the second enclosures to carry and distribute the cooling effect, thereby achieving wide coverage with minimal additional energy expenditure.

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

This solution enables precise control over airflow direction, ensuring comfortable temperature environments by directing cooling or heating effects efficiently towards individuals and specific areas within a room, even when the airflow rate decreases, maintaining effective cooling or heating coverage.

Implementation Method 1

a first blower fan so as to induce the discharge of the airflow of a cool air through a first air outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

second blower fans so as to induce the discharge of the airflows of a room air through second air outlets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

a cooling operation in a refrigerant circuit... the airflow of the cool air is discharged... through heat exchange

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

a driving mechanism changing respective attitude of the second enclosures relative to the first enclosure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Motion:

Data Source

PatentUS9964324B2Controller circuit for air conditioner with cool air guided with room temperature airstream
Publication Date: 2018.05.08 FUJITSU GENERAL LTD
  • US9964324B2 patent drawing
  • US9964324B2 patent drawing
  • US9964324B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A first fan controlling section of a controller circuit is configured to control a first blower fan so as to induce the discharge of the airflow of a cool air through a first air outlet defined in a first enclosure of an indoor unit of the air conditioner. A second fan controlling section is configured to control second blower fans so as to induce the discharge of the airflows of a room air through second air outlets, respectively, defined in a pair of second enclosures disposed on the opposite sides of the first enclosure. An enclosure attitude controlling section is configured to change the respective attitude of the second enclosures relative to the first enclosure.