Occupant-Tracking Airflow Control With Pre-Conditioning in Air Conditioners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners struggle to efficiently direct air currents based on the position of a human body, leading to discomfort due to temperature differences between the targeted area and surrounding spaces, especially when the user is far or moving.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system that automatically adjusts air current direction and volume based on detected human body position, using reference temperatures and sensors to optimize operation modes and terminate unnecessary automatic operations, ensuring comfortable indoor environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air conditioner automatically controls the air current based on the detected human body position, then the convenience for the user is improved, but the temperature difference between the specific area and surrounding indoor areas increases causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner performs a preparation operation before executing automatic wind direction control based on human body position. This preliminary action involves operating at maximum air volume with horizontal discharge angles and full left-right swing to pre-distribute temperature throughout the room, thereby reducing temperature differences that would otherwise cause discomfort when localized air currents are directed at detected positions
2Ease of operation
If the air current is directed to the position of the human body, then the comfort at the detected position is improved, but the air current does not reach the position or reaches only a specific area causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preparation operation with maximum air volume and full left-right swing before directing air currents to detected human body positions. This preliminary action ensures that the air current reaches the target position reliably and that temperature is pre-distributed across the room, preventing situations where the air current fails to reach the intended area or creates localized discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioner dynamically adjusts the wind direction control based on detected human body positions while maintaining the ability to perform full left-right swing. The system adapts the discharge direction in real-time to track moving users, ensuring the air current reliably reaches the current position while the preparation operation ensures comprehensive coverage
3Temperature
If the preparation operation is performed before automatic operation, then the temperature distribution is improved, but the operation time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner performs a preparation operation with maximum air volume and horizontal discharge angles before executing automatic wind direction control. This preliminary temperature distribution phase is implemented as a standard preparatory step to ensure comfortable conditions before localized air currents are directed at detected positions, accepting the time investment as necessary for overall comfort
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an air conditioner, including a temperature detection unit (120) configured to detect an indoor temperature, a human body detection unit (130) configured to rotatably operate and detect a person within an indoor area, a position determination unit (140) configured to determine a position of the person based on data detected by the human body detection unit (130), and a control unit (110) configured to perform an automatic operation for controlling a current of air according to the position of the person, determined by the position determination unit (140), if the indoor temperature reaches a first reference temperature according to an entry of an automatic operation mode and to perform a preparation operation for executing the automatic operation if the indoor temperature does not reach the first reference temperature, in the case where the automatic operation mode has been set.