Method and air conditioning module for air conditioning an area in which a person is present

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioning systems for personal lounge areas are not simple, flexible, or compact enough to effectively regulate temperature and humidity for individual climatic comfort, often requiring complex control systems and separate components.

Innovation Solution

A compact and flexible air conditioning module with a fan, heating module, and integrated sensor arrangement that determines air temperature and humidity, allowing for separate control of the fan and heating module in heating, cooling, and measuring modes, prioritizing temperature or humidity parameters based on perceived comfort needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a compact air conditioning module with integrated sensors is used, then device complexity is reduced and flexibility is improved, but measurement precision may be affected due to the compact integration of components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidtemperature and humidity measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fan, heating module, and sensor arrangement into a single integrated air conditioning module. This merging of previously separate components into one compact unit reduces system complexity while maintaining measurement precision through proper internal arrangement of the sensor arrangement in the air flow path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated air conditioning module performs multiple functions: air circulation via the fan, heating through the heating module, and environmental monitoring via the sensor arrangement. This multi-functionality in a single device reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall system complexity

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate control of fan and heating module is implemented, then adaptability to different climate conditions is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclimate condition adaptabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically adjusts the operation of the fan and heating module based on real-time sensor data. The fan speed and heating power can be independently varied to adapt to different climate conditions, providing versatility while using a relatively simple control architecture that responds automatically to environmental changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the sensor arrangement is positioned in the air flow, then measurement precision is improved for local climate detection, but the device dimensions increase due to additional space requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal climate measurement accuracyVSAvoidmodule volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor arrangement is nested within the air flow path created by the fan, and the heating module is integrated around or adjacent to this flow path. This nesting arrangement allows the sensors to be positioned optimally for measuring local climate conditions without requiring additional external space, as all components are contained within the compact module volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 provides a simple, effective, and flexible method to optimize individual climatic comfort by directly regulating air temperature and humidity in a personal lounge area, eliminating the need for a central control system and allowing independent operation of multiple modules.

Implementation Method 1

a fan (10) for generating an air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFan: Fan

Implementation Method 2

a heating module (11) for heating the air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3326849B1Method and air conditioning module for air conditioning an area in which a person is present
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 ELEKTROSIL SYST DER ELEKTRONIK
  • EP3326849B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3326849B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3326849B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to design a method and an air conditioning module as compactly and flexibly as possible, it is proposed to integrate a fan, a heating module and a sensor arrangement in the air conditioning module and to operate the fan in a first direction of rotation in measurement mode.