Rotating Indoor AC Temperature Sensor for Wide-Angle Wall Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning indoor units have limited temperature detection ranges, particularly failing to detect the temperature of outer walls effectively, which affects comfort and energy efficiency, especially in seasons with significant temperature differences between indoor and outdoor environments.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit is equipped with a temperature sensor that can rotate and detect temperatures in all horizontal directions, allowing for a wider detection range, including the outer wall temperature, to enhance thermal calculation and comfort by accurately measuring the thermal load from the installation wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the temperature sensor is fixed to detect only in a narrow range, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature detection range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is made rotatable to dynamically change its detection direction, allowing it to scan multiple horizontal directions including the outer wall direction. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling wide detection coverage without requiring multiple fixed sensors, thus maintaining simple device configuration while expanding measurement range.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor's detection capability is extended from a single fixed direction to multiple horizontal directions through rotation. This adds the dimension of angular movement to the detection space, transforming a one-dimensional detection limitation into a multi-dimensional detection capability that covers the outer wall and other areas.
2Device complexity
If the temperature sensor is directed away from the outer wall, then the device structure is simplified, but the outer wall temperature cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable temperature sensor can dynamically orient itself toward the outer wall when needed for accurate thermal calculation, then rotate to other positions for general monitoring. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing the sensor to access the outer wall detection position without requiring permanent complex structural arrangements.
3Ease of manufacture
If the temperature sensor detects only in limited directions, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the comfort and energy saving performance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By adding rotational capability to the temperature sensor, the system transitions from detecting temperature in limited fixed directions to scanning across multiple horizontal directions. This dimensional expansion enables comprehensive detection coverage including outer wall areas without requiring multiple sensors, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving adaptability.
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 more accurate thermal calculations, improving comfort and energy efficiency by allowing the air-conditioning system to better account for the temperature of the outer wall, leading to more effective heating or cooling and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor 800 that rotates and detects a temperature of a target in all horizontal directions
Data Source
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AI summary
[Object] To obtain, for example, an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that can detect a temperature in a wide range. [Solution] In an indoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus including a body 1 placed on a wall surface of a room that is an air-conditioned space, the indoor unit 100 including a temperature sensor 800 disposed at a position projecting from the body 1, and including a temperature detector 804 that detects a temperature based on heat radiation from a target and a motor 801 that causes the temperature detector 804 to rotate, the position being a place where the temperature sensor 800 is capable of detecting a temperature in all the horizontal directions by rotating the temperature detector 804.