Air Conditioner Sleep Modes for Cooling and Waking Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners fail to provide a comfortable sleep environment as they do not adapt indoor temperature according to the user's desired sleep operation duration and fail to cater to both cooling and heating needs, leading to discomfort during sleep and difficulty in waking up.
Innovation Solution
A method to control the sleep operation of an air conditioner by activating multiple sub-modes, including a falling-asleep mode to reduce indoor temperature, a deep sleep mode to maintain and adjust indoor temperature, and a waking mode to increase indoor temperature, based on user input and sleep cycle characteristics, ensuring comfortable sleep and convenient waking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the air conditioner maintains a constant target indoor temperature throughout the cooling operation, then the initially set temperature is preserved, but the user feels cold after a certain time during sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static temperature control system to a dynamic one that automatically adjusts the target indoor temperature based on the operation mode and elapsed time. The controller changes the target temperature according to predefined patterns during cooling and heating operations, particularly during sleep modes, to adapt to human physiological changes throughout the night.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through automatic temperature adjustments at different time intervals during operation. During sleep mode, the system periodically modifies the target temperature to account for the user's changing thermal needs - lowering it initially to facilitate falling asleep, then raising it during deep sleep, and adjusting it again before waking, creating a rhythmic temperature profile that matches sleep cycles.
2Device complexity
If the air conditioner uses an average sleep time of 8 hours for sleep operation control, then the control is simplified, but it fails to achieve efficient sleep operation control for users with different sleep durations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the sleep operation duration to match the user's actual needs rather than using a fixed 8-hour average. The controller adjusts operational parameters based on the elapsed time and current operation mode, allowing flexible adaptation to various sleep durations while maintaining efficient control through automated temperature adjustments at different stages of the sleep period.
3Reliability
If the air conditioner provides sleep operation only for cooling, then the cooling function is optimized, but it fails to satisfy the user's desire for sleep operation for heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a sleep operation control method that functions effectively in both cooling and heating modes. The same control logic and temperature adjustment patterns are applied regardless of whether the air conditioner is in cooling or heating operation, making the sleep function universally applicable to both seasonal needs and eliminating the need for separate control strategies.
4Temperature
If the indoor temperature is increased in the intermediate and final stages of sleep operation, then the skin temperature of the user is increased, but it disturbs their sound sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by implementing staged temperature adjustments throughout the sleep period. Temperature increases are applied periodically at appropriate intervals - first to facilitate falling asleep, then maintained during deep sleep, and finally increased again in the waking stage. This rhythmic pattern of temperature changes aligns with natural sleep cycles and prevents disturbance during critical sleep phases.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method to control the sleep operation of an air conditioner is provided. The method includes determining whether or not a sleep operation is activated and sequentially performing a plurality of sub-modes of the sleep operation when the sleep operation is activated.