Overlapping Air Outlet Panel for Multi-Mode Airflow Comfort

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing air conditioner devices with cylindrical cabinet types have a large moving area for the air-conditioning air outlet panel due to the inclusion of both grille and micro-pore areas, which complicates the overall design and user comfort, as users experience poor comfort due to unregulated airflow.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner device features an air-conditioning air outlet panel with a first plate body for the air outlet grille, a second plate body for micro-pores, and a third plate body for a closed area, where at least two plate bodies are overlapped to reduce the moving area, allowing the device to switch between different working states using a driving mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the air-conditioning air outlet panel includes both grille area and micro-pore area with closed area for ensuring appearance, then user comfort is improved through multiple air outlet modes, but the panel size becomes excessively large leading to excessive moving area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair outlet modesVSAvoidmoving area of air-conditioning air outlet panel
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing the micro-pore area plate body and closed area plate body within the spatial envelope of the grille area plate body. These plate bodies are arranged in an overlapping configuration where they share the same projection area, allowing multiple functional areas to coexist without increasing the overall moving area of the air-conditioning air outlet panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional layout where grille area, micro-pore area, and closed area would occupy separate spatial regions to a three-dimensional overlapping arrangement. By utilizing the depth dimension and arranging plate bodies in an overlapping manner, the patent enables multiple air outlet modes to be achieved within the same projected area, thereby reducing the moving area while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the air-conditioning air outlet panel is made large to include all functional areas, then different air outlet modes can be achieved, but the overall design of the air conditioner device becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair outlet modesVSAvoidoverall design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent simplifies the overall design by nesting the micro-pore area plate body and closed area plate body within the grille area plate body's spatial envelope. This nested arrangement reduces the number of independent moving components and simplifies the mechanical structure required to achieve different air outlet modes, thereby reducing design complexity while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple functional plate bodies into a compact overlapping configuration where they share common spatial resources and movement mechanisms. By combining the grille area, micro-pore area, and closed area into an integrated overlapping structure, the patent reduces the overall device complexity while preserving all required air outlet modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3569947B1Air-conditioner device
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE INC OF ZHUHAI
  • EP3569947B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3569947B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3569947B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided are an air-conditioning air outlet panel and an air conditioner device with the air-conditioning air outlet panel, the air-conditioning air outlet panel includes a plate body and a driving mechanism for driving the plate body to move. The plate body includes a first plate body (21), a second plate body (22), and a third plate body (23). The first plate body (21) is provided with an air outlet grille (211), the second plate body (22) is provided with a plurality of air outlet micro-pores, and the third plate body (23) is provided with a closed area. At least two plate bodies of the first plate body (21), the second plate body (22) and the third plate body (23) are overlapped to reduce a moving area of the entire plate body of the air-conditioning air outlet panel. The driving mechanism drives the plate body to move and is configured to expose the air outlet grille (211) on the first plate body (21), the air outlet micro-pores in the second plate body (22) and the closed area on the third plate body (23) at an opening (31) of a decorative panel (3) of an air conditioner device respectively, so as to enable the air conditioner device to be in different working states.