Air Conditioner Indoor Unit With Single-Switch Dust Box Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioner indoor units with multiple dust boxes require multiple limit switches for detection, complicating layout, increasing occupied space, and reducing reliability and assemblability, with potential failures in detection leading to reduced reliability.

Innovation Solution

A single determination unit and lever mechanism are used to determine proper accommodation of adjacent dust boxes, simplifying wiring and reducing components, with a notification system to ensure accurate detection and prevent improper operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple limit switches are provided for each dust box, then the mounting state of each dust box can be detected, but the wiring layout becomes complicated and the occupied space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidwiring complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple limit switches are merged into a single determination unit that can detect the mounting state of multiple dust boxes simultaneously. The determination unit integrates the detection functions of what would otherwise require separate limit switches, simplifying the overall detection system while maintaining the ability to monitor each dust box's mounting state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The determination unit is designed with multi-functionality to detect the mounting states of multiple dust boxes using a single device. This universal detection mechanism eliminates the need for dedicated limit switches for each dust box, reducing wiring complexity and occupied space while preserving detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple limit switches are provided for each dust box, then the mounting state of each dust box can be detected, but the occupied space in the indoor unit increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidoccupied space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple limit switches are provided for each dust box, then the mounting state of each dust box can be detected, but the assemblability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidassemblability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Device complexity

If a single determination unit is used for multiple dust boxes, then the wiring layout is simplified and space is reduced, but the detection of each dust box's mounting state must be achieved through a shared mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring complexityVSAvoiddetection mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The determination unit internally segments the detection function for each dust box while maintaining a unified external interface. Each dust box's mounting state is detected through dedicated internal sensing elements within the determination unit, allowing individual detection without requiring separate external limit switches and wiring for each dust box.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4049742B1Indoor unit of air conditioner

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST

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AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to achieve structure simplification, improved assemblability, and space savings. An indoor unit (1) comprises: a filter for capturing foreign matter; a cleaning device for removing the foreign matter adhering to the filter from the filter; two dust boxes (10) for retaining the foreign matter removed by the cleaning device; a dust box accommodation part (20) for accommodating the two dust boxes (10) and removably holding the two dust boxes; and a determination unit for determining whether the two dust boxes (10) are properly accommodated in the dust box accommodation part (20). The dust box accommodation part (20) is configured to be able to accommodate the dust boxes (10) from a predetermined direction. The determination unit has one switch. When a pressed state of the switch is maintained, the determination unit determines that both two dust boxes (10) are properly accommodated in the dust box accommodation part (20).