U.S. patent application number 16/492832 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for control method of air deflectors of air conditioner, and air conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI. The applicant listed for this patent is GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI. Invention is credited to Ganbin CHEN, Qunbo LIU, Xinliang WANG, Handong XUE, Kai YU, Hui ZHANG.
Application Number | 20200400336 16/492832 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005072824 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200400336 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WANG; Xinliang ; et
al. |
December 24, 2020 |
CONTROL METHOD OF AIR DEFLECTORS OF AIR CONDITIONER, AND AIR
CONDITIONER
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air
conditioners, and in particular to a control method of air
deflectors of an air conditioner, and the air conditioner. In the
control method of the air deflectors of the air conditioner, after
a startup command is received, before the air deflectors of the air
conditioner move from an air outlet of the air conditioner to
preset positions, the air deflectors start to rotate for unfolding,
wherein the preset positions are final positions where the air
deflectors move outward and downward relative to the air outlet,
and the process when the air deflectors move outward and downward
is partially overlapped with the process when the air deflectors
rotate for unfolding in time. In the present disclosure, since the
rotation unfolding of the air deflectors in a startup phase does
not need to be performed after the air deflectors move to the
preset positions, but start before the air deflectors move to the
preset positions, the rotation unfolding of the air deflectors does
not need to take a separate time. Therefore, the startup time would
be considerably shortened, which facilitates improving the user
experience.
Inventors: |
WANG; Xinliang; (Guangdong,
CN) ; ZHANG; Hui; (Guangdong, CN) ; YU;
Kai; (Guangdong, CN) ; LIU; Qunbo; (Guangdong,
CN) ; XUE; Handong; (Guangdong, CN) ; CHEN;
Ganbin; (Guangdong, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI |
Guangdong |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF
ZHUHAI
Guangdong
CN
|
Family ID: |
1000005072824 |
Appl. No.: |
16/492832 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
October 18, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2017/106673 |
371 Date: |
September 10, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/06 20130101;
F24F 13/15 20130101; F24F 13/1426 20130101; F24F 11/79 20180101;
F24F 2013/1433 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/79 20060101
F24F011/79; F24F 13/14 20060101 F24F013/14; F24F 13/15 20060101
F24F013/15; F24F 13/06 20060101 F24F013/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2017 |
CN |
201710156104.5 |
Claims
1. A control method of air deflectors of an air conditioner,
wherein after a startup command is received, before air deflectors
(1) of the air conditioner move from an air outlet (2) of the air
conditioner to preset positions, the air deflectors (1) rotate for
unfolding, wherein the preset positions are final positions where
the air deflectors (1) move outward and downward relative to the
air outlet, and the process when the air deflectors (1) move
outward and downward is partially overlapped with the process when
the air deflectors (1) rotate for unfolding in time.
2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein after the
startup command is received, while the air deflectors (1) start to
move from the air outlet (2) to the preset positions, the air
deflectors (1) start to rotate for unfolding.
3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein after the
startup command is received, when the air deflectors (1) move from
the air outlet (2) to anti-interference positions located above the
preset positions, the air deflectors (1) rotate for unfolding,
wherein the anti-interference positions are positions configured to
prevent upper parts of the air deflectors (1) from interfering with
the air outlet (2) in the process when the air deflectors (1)
rotate for unfolding.
4. The control method according to claim 1, wherein after a
shutdown command is received, the air deflectors (1) move in anyone
of the following manners: while the air deflectors (1) start to
move from the preset positions to the air outlet (2), the air
deflectors (1) start to rotate for folding; after the air
deflectors (1) rotate for folding, the air deflectors (1) move from
the preset positions to the air outlet (2); and after the air
deflectors (1) move from the preset positions to the air outlet
(2), the air deflectors (1) rotate for folding.
5. An air conditioner, comprising an air outlet (2), a plurality of
air deflectors (1), a first power means and a second power means,
wherein the first power means is configured to control the air
deflectors (1) to move between the air outlet (2) and preset
positions below an outer side of the air outlet (2), the second
power means is configured to control the air deflectors (1) to
rotate for unfolding or folding, wherein after a startup command is
received, the second power means is configured to control the air
deflectors (1) to rotate for unfolding before the first power means
starts to control the air deflectors (1) to move from the air
outlet (2) to the preset positions, and the process when the air
deflectors (1) move outward and downward is partially overlapped
with the process when the air deflectors (1) rotate for unfolding
in time.
6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein after the
startup command is received, the second power means is configured
to start to rotate the air deflectors (1) to unfold, while the
first power means starts to move the air deflectors (1) from the
air outlet (2) to the preset positions.
7. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein after the
startup command is received, the second power means is configured
to start to control the air deflectors (1) to rotate for unfolding,
when the first power means controls the air deflectors (1) to move
from the air outlet (2) to anti-interference positions located
above the preset positions, wherein the anti-interference positions
are positions configured to prevent the upper parts of the air
deflectors (1) from interfering with the air outlet (2) in the
process when the air deflectors (1) rotate for unfolding.
8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the first
power means comprises a first stepping motor, the second power
means comprises a second stepping motor, after the startup command
is received, the second power means is configured to control the
air deflectors (1) to rotate for unfolding after the first power
means acts for X steps, X=1, 2, 3 . . . , wherein when the first
power means acts for the X steps, the air deflectors (1) is
configured to move from the air outlet (2) to the anti-interference
positions.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein after a
shutdown command is received, the first power means and the second
power means is configured to start acting at the same time, in
order to start to rotate the air deflectors (1) to fold while
starting to move the air deflectors (1) from the preset positions
to the air outlet (2).
10. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein after a
shutdown command is received, the first power means is configured
to control the air deflectors (1) to move from the preset positions
to the air outlet (2), after the second power means controls the
air deflectors (1) to rotate for folding; or, after a shutdown
command is received, the second power means is configured to
control the air deflectors (1) to rotate for folding, after the
first power means controls the air deflectors (1) to move from the
preset positions to the air outlet (2).
Description
[0001] The present application is based on the application with a
CN application number of 201710156104.5 and filed on Mar. 16, 2017,
and claims the its priority, and the disclosure content of the CN
application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air
conditioners, and in particular, to a control method of air
deflectors of an air conditioner, and the air conditioner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An air outlet structure of an air conditioner generally
includes an air outlet and a plurality of air deflectors arranged
at the air outlet. In related art, in an air conditioner startup
phase, the air deflectors are generally controlled to move outward
and downward relative to the air outlet to preset positions, and
then the air deflectors rotate to unfold the air deflectors,
wherein the preset positions are final positions where the air
deflectors move outward and downward relative to the air
outlet.
[0004] Since the rotation unfolding of the air deflectors in the
startup phase would be performed after the air deflectors move to
the preset positions, the startup time is relatively long, and the
user experience is worse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a control
method of air deflectors of an air conditioner, and the air
conditioner, in order to improve the problem of a relatively long
startup time of the air conditioner in the related art.
[0006] In order to solve the above technical problem, a first
aspect of the present disclosure provides a control method of air
deflectors of an air conditioner, wherein after a startup command
is received, before air deflectors of the air conditioner move from
an air outlet of the air conditioner to preset positions, the air
deflectors rotate for unfolding, wherein the preset positions are
final positions where the air deflectors move outward and downward
relative to the air outlet, and the process when the air deflectors
move outward and downward is partially overlapped with the process
when the air deflectors rotate for unfolding in time.
[0007] Alternatively, after the startup command is received, while
the air deflectors start to move from the air outlet to the preset
positions, the air deflectors start to rotate for unfolding.
[0008] Alternatively, after the startup command is received, when
the air deflectors (1) move from the air outlet to
anti-interference positions located above the preset positions, the
air deflectors rotate for unfolding, wherein the anti-interference
positions are positions configured to prevent upper parts of the
air deflectors from interfering with the air outlet in the process
when the air deflectors rotate for unfolding.
[0009] Alternatively, after a shutdown command is received, the air
deflectors move in anyone of the following manners:
[0010] while the air deflectors start to move from the preset
positions to the air outlet (2), the air deflectors start to rotate
for folding;
[0011] after the air deflectors rotate for folding, the air
deflectors move from the preset positions to the air outlet;
and
[0012] after the air deflectors move from the preset positions to
the air outlet, the air deflectors rotate for folding.
[0013] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides an air
conditioner, comprising an air outlet, a plurality of air
deflectors, a first power means and a second power means, wherein
the first power means is configured to control the air deflectors
to move between the air outlet and preset positions below an outer
side of the air outlet, the second power means is configured to
control the air deflectors to rotate for unfolding or folding,
wherein after a startup command is received, the second power means
is configured to control the air deflectors to rotate for unfolding
before the first power means starts to control the air deflectors
to move from the air outlet to the preset positions, and the
process when the air deflectors move outward and downward is
partially overlapped with the process when the air deflectors
rotate for unfolding in time.
[0014] Alternatively, after the startup command is received, the
second power means is configured to start to rotate the air
deflectors to unfold, while the first power means starts to move
the air deflectors from the air outlet to the preset positions.
[0015] Alternatively, after the startup command is received, the
second power means is configured to start to control the air
deflectors to rotate for unfolding, when the first power means
controls the air deflectors to move from the air outlet to
anti-interference positions located above the preset positions,
wherein the anti-interference positions are positions configured to
prevent the upper parts of the air deflectors from interfering with
the air outlet in the process when the air deflectors rotate for
unfolding.
[0016] Alternatively, the first power means comprises a first
stepping motor, the second power means comprises a second stepping
motor, after the startup command is received, the second power
means is configured to control the air deflectors to rotate for
unfolding after the first power means acts for X steps, wherein
when the first power means acts for the X steps, the air deflectors
is configured to move from the air outlet to the anti-interference
positions.
[0017] Alternatively, after a shutdown command is received, the
first power means and the second power means is configured to start
acting at the same time, in order to start to rotate the air
deflectors to fold while starting to move the air deflectors from
the preset positions to the air outlet.
[0018] Alternatively, after a shutdown command is received, the
first power means is configured to control the air deflectors to
move from the preset positions to the air outlet, after the second
power means controls the air deflectors to rotate for folding; or,
after a shutdown command is received, the second power means is
configured to control the air deflectors to rotate for folding,
after the first power means controls the air deflectors to move
from the preset positions to the air outlet.
[0019] According to the control method of the air deflectors of the
air conditioner provided by the present disclosure, before the air
deflectors move from the air outlet to the preset positions, the
air deflectors start to rotate for unfolding, since the rotation
folding of the air deflectors in the startup phase does not need to
be performed after the air deflectors move to the preset positions,
the startup time would be considerably shortened, which facilitates
improving the user experience.
[0020] Other features of the present disclosure and advantages
thereof would become apparent from the following detailed
description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with
reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] To illustrate technical solutions in the embodiments of the
present disclosure or in the prior art more clearly, a brief
introduction on the drawings which are needed in the description of
the embodiments or the prior art is given below. Apparently, the
drawings in the description below are merely some of the
embodiments of the present disclosure, based on which other
drawings would be obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art
without any creative effort.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a state schematic diagram of air deflectors in
a startup phase according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a state schematic diagram of air deflectors
after shutdown is completed according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a control flow diagram of air deflectors in a
startup phase according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0025] Reference signs: 1. air deflectors; 2. air outlet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0026] A clear and complete description of technical solutions in
the embodiments of the present disclosure will be given below, in
combination with the drawings in the embodiments of the present
disclosure. Apparently, the embodiments described below are merely
a part, but not all, of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is
merely illustrative and is in no way used as a limitation to the
present disclosure or the application or use thereof. All of other
embodiments, obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based
on the embodiments in the present disclosure without any creative
effort, fall into the protection scope of the present
disclosure.
[0027] Techniques, methods and devices known to those of ordinary
skill in related art may not be discussed in detail, but where
appropriate, the techniques, methods and devices should be
considered as a part of the authorized specification.
[0028] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be
understood that the terms "first", "second" and the like are used
for defining part and components, and are only for the purpose of
facilitating the distinction between the corresponding parts and
components. If not stated otherwise, the above words have no
special meaning, and thus cannot be construed as limitations to the
protection scope of the present disclosure.
[0029] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be
understood that orientation or positional relationships indicated
by orientation words such as "front, back, up, lower, left, right",
"transverse, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal" and "top, bottom"
and the like are generally based on orientation or positional
relationships when an air conditioner is normally used; and the
orientation words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and
outside of the contour of each component itself.
[0030] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 respectively show state schematic diagrams
of air deflectors in a startup completion phase and a shutdown
completion phase, and FIG. 3 shows a control flow diagram of the
air deflectors in a startup phase according to one embodiment of
the present disclosure. With reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a
control method of air deflectors of an air conditioner provided by
the present disclosure includes the following steps: after a
startup command is received, before the air deflectors 1 of the air
conditioner start to move from an air outlet 2 of the air
conditioner to preset positions, starting to control the air
deflectors 1 to rotate for unfolding
[0031] As in the prior art, in the present disclosure, the preset
positions still refer to final positions where the air deflectors 1
move outward and downward relative to the air outlet 2, that is to
say, in the startup phase, the air deflectors 1 do not continue to
move downward and outward after moving to the preset positions.
[0032] In the present disclosure, since the rotation unfolding of
the air deflectors 1 in the startup phase does not need to be
performed after the air deflectors 1 move to the preset positions,
but would be performed before the air deflectors 1 move to the
preset positions, the rotation unfolding of the air deflectors 1
does not need to take a separate time, therefore, the startup time
would be considerably shortened, which facilitates improving the
user experience.
[0033] As an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the
startup command is received, while starting to control the air
deflectors 1 to move from the air outlet 2 to the preset positions,
the air deflectors 1 start to rotate for unfolding. In this way,
the rotation unfolding of the air deflectors 1 in the startup phase
would be performed at the same time as the movement of the air
deflectors 1, and the rotation unfolding of the air deflectors 1
does not need to take an additional time, so that the startup time
would be shortened.
[0034] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, after the
startup command is received, when the air deflectors 1 start to
move from the air outlet 2 to anti-interference positions located
above the preset positions, the air deflectors 1 start to rotate
for unfolding. Of course, in this case, when the air deflectors 1
rotate for unfolding, the air deflectors continue to move downward
and outward from the anti-interference positions, until moving to
the preset positions, and the movement process in the startup phase
is completed.
[0035] In the present disclosure, the anti-interference positions
are positions configured to prevent the upper parts of the air
deflectors 1 from interfering with the air outlet 2 in the process
when the air deflectors 1 rotate for unfolding.
[0036] In the above another embodiment, in the startup phase, the
rotation unfolding of the air deflectors 1 is started when the air
deflectors 1 move to the anti-interference positions. On one hand,
since the rotation unfolding of the air deflectors 1 is started
before the air deflectors 1 move to the preset positions, the
movement process of the air deflectors 1 is partially overlapped
with the rotation unfolding process of the air deflectors 1, and
the rotation unfolding of the air deflectors 1 does not need to
take an additional time, so that the startup time can be
considerably shortened, on the other hand, since the rotation
unfolding of the air deflectors 1 is not simultaneously performed
with the movement of the air deflectors 1, but is started when the
air deflectors 1 move to the anti-interference positions, the
rotation unfolding of the air deflectors 1 is slightly later than
the movement of the air deflectors 1. Therefore, the interference
between the upper part of the air deflectors 1 with the air outlet
2 in the rotation unfolding process would also be effectively
avoided, such that the rotation unfolding process of the air
deflectors 1 is smoother.
[0037] Since the time taken for the rotation unfolding or rotation
folding of the air deflectors 1 is shorter than the movement time
of the air deflectors 1 between the air outlet and the preset
positions, the slight interference between the air deflectors 1 and
the air outlet 2 is only present in the early stage of the startup
phase in general, in the shutdown phase, even if the rotation of
the air deflectors 1 and the movement of the air deflectors 1 are
performed at the same time, since the air deflectors 1 have been
folded prior to the interference with the air outlet 2, no
interference is generated. Therefore, in the present disclosure, in
the shutdown phase, the rotation folding of the air deflectors 1
and the movement of the air deflectors 1 would be performed
simultaneously or sequentially, wherein when the rotation folding
of the air deflectors 1 and the movement of the air deflectors 1
are performed sequentially, the rotation folding of the air
deflectors 1 would be performed before the movement of the air
deflectors 1, or the rotation folding of the air deflectors 1 would
be performed after the movement of the air deflectors 1. Based on
this, in the control method provided by the present disclosure,
after the shutdown command is received, the air deflectors 1 could
be controlled to move in any of the following manners:
[0038] while starting to control the air deflectors 1 to move from
the preset positions to the air outlet 2, starting to control the
air deflectors 1 to rotate for folding;
[0039] after the air deflectors 1 rotate for folding, starting to
control the air deflectors 1 to move from the preset positions to
the air outlet 2; and
[0040] after the air deflectors 1 move from the preset positions to
the air outlet 2, starting to control the air deflectors 1 to
rotate for folding.
[0041] In order to shorten the shutdown time, alternatively, the
rotation folding of the air deflectors 1 and the movement of the
air deflectors 1 are performed at the same time.
[0042] The present disclosure further provides an air conditioner,
including an air outlet 2, a plurality of air deflectors 1, a first
power means and a second power means, wherein the first power means
is configured to control the air deflectors 1 to move between the
air outlet 2 and preset positions below the outer side of the air
outlet 2, the second power means is configured to control the air
deflectors 1 to rotate for unfolding or to rotate for folding,
wherein after a startup command is received, the second power means
starts to control the air deflectors 1 to rotate for unfolding
before the first power means controls the air deflectors 1 to move
from the air outlet 2 to the preset positions.
[0043] Unlike the air conditioner in the prior art, in the air
conditioner of the present disclosure, in the startup phase, the
second power means for controlling the rotation of the air
deflectors 1 does not start to act after the first power means for
controlling the movement of the air deflectors 1 completes the
action, but starts to act before the first power means completes
the action, so that the air deflectors 1 start to rotate for
unfolding before moving to the preset positions, so that the
startup time is relatively short, the startup efficiency is
relatively high, and the user experience is better.
[0044] In order to cause the second power means to start to act
before the first power means completes the action, in the air
conditioner of the present disclosure, after the startup command is
received, the second power means start to control the air
deflectors 1 to rotate for unfolding, while the first power means
starts to control the air deflectors 1 to move from the air outlet
2 to the preset positions, in this way, the second power means and
the first power means start to act at the same time, and the action
of the second power means does not need to take an additional time,
so that the startup time would be shortened.
[0045] In another embodiment, the second power means would also
start to control the air deflectors 1 to rotate for unfolding, when
the first power means controls the air deflectors 1 to move from
the air outlet 2 to anti-interference positions located above the
preset positions, the second power means acts slightly later than
the first power means, thereby being not only able to shorten the
startup time, but also being able to prevent the interference
between the air deflectors 1 and the air outlet 2, and the startup
process would be smoother. Of course, after the first power means
controls the air deflectors 1 to move from the air outlet 2 to
anti-interference positions, it still continues to control the air
deflectors 1 to move from the anti-interference positions to the
preset positions, until controlling the air deflectors 1 to move to
the preset positions, and the action of the first power means in
the startup phase is completed.
[0046] In the above embodiment, the first power means includes a
first stepping motor, the second power means includes a second
stepping motor. Furthermore, after the startup command is received,
the second power means start to control the air deflectors 1 to
rotate for unfolding after the first power means acts for X steps,
X=1, 2, 3, . . . , wherein when the first power means acts for the
X steps, the air deflectors 1 move from the air outlet 2 to the
anti-interference positions. Based on this, the second stepping
motor is delayed behind the first stepping motor for X steps, and
then the air deflectors 1 are controlled to start to rotate for
unfolding when moving to the anti-interference positions in the
startup phase. Accordingly, the startup time is shortened, and the
startup smoothness is improved.
[0047] In addition, in the air conditioner of the present
disclosure, after the shutdown command is received, the first power
means and the second power means act according to any one of the
following manners:
[0048] the first power means and the second power means start to
act at the same time;
[0049] the first power means starts to control the air deflectors 1
to move from the preset positions to the air outlet 2, after the
second power means controls the air deflectors 1 to rotate for
folding; and,
[0050] the second power means starts to control the air deflectors
1 to rotate for folding, after the first power means controls the
air deflectors 1 to move from the preset positions to the air
outlet 2.
[0051] If the first power means and the second power means start to
act at the same time, it means that while starting to control the
air deflectors 1 to move from the preset positions to the air
outlet 2, the air deflectors 1 is started to be controlled to
rotate for folding, since the rotation folding and the movement of
the air deflectors 1 in the shutdown phase are performed at the
same time, the rotation folding of the air deflectors 1 does not
need to take an additional time, so that the shutdown time would be
shortened considerably.
[0052] Therefore, based on the control method and the air
conditioner provided by the present disclosure, the startup time
would be shortened, and experiments show that the present
disclosure would shorten the startup time by 50% compared with the
prior art, would considerably improve the efficiency, and
significantly improve the user experience.
[0053] The above descriptions are only exemplary embodiments of the
present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the disclosure,
and any modifications, equivalents, improvements and the like, made
within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure, should
be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *