VARIABLE SPEED, ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED, ROOM AIR CONDITIONER

• US 20080041075A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Fasolo, Paul, Violand, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,784,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/160
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/027 mounted in wall openings, e.g. in windows
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/22 Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/30 Condensation of water from cooled air
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An air handling system for cooling and/or heating a room includes a sleep mode. The system includes a fan assembly to transport air from the system into the room. A user interface transmits a sleep mode signal upon activation of the sleep mode by a user. A control unit controls the climate control unit to gradually change an ambient temperature in the room over a predetermined period of time in response to the sleep mode signal transmitted by the user interface. Further, the fan assembly has a substantially continuously adjustable speed within a range of speeds defined by a predetermined upper limit and a predetermined lower limit. The control unit adjusts the speed of the fan assembly according to a desired speed of the fan assembly input via the user interface. A multi-position switch defines the predetermined upper and lower limits.

Claims

1. An air handling system for heating and/or cooling a room, the system comprising:

a user interface for transmitting a sleep mode signal upon activation of a sleep mode by a user;

a climate control unit for heating and/or cooling air to be transported from the air conditioner to the room; and

a control unit for controlling the climate control unit to gradually change an ambient temperature in the room over a predetermined period of time in response to the sleep mode signal transmitted by the user interface.

2. The air handling system according to claim 1 further comprising a fan assembly to transport the air from the system into the room, wherein the control unit controls the fan assembly and the climate control unit to gradually raise the ambient temperature in the room over the predetermined period of time in response to the sleep mode signal transmitted by the user interface, and wherein after gradually raising the ambient temperature, the control unit decreases the temperature to an original set point after a second predetermined period of time.

3. The air handling system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is a remote device for communicating an operator input instruction to the control unit via a wireless communication link.

4. The air handling system according to claim 3, wherein the wireless communication link is one of a group consisting of a radio frequency communication link and an infrared communication link.

5. The air handling system according to claim 1 further comprising a visual indicator to identify that the sleep mode is currently selected.

6. The air handling system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an air filter that removes debris from the air being transported from the system into the room; and

a filter check indicator for notifying a user to check the air filter.

7. The air handling system according to claim 6 wherein the filter check indicator is activated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

8. The air handling system according to claim 6 wherein the filter check indicator is activated upon detection of an increased resistance to the flow of air through the air filter.

9. A variable speed air handling system for a room, the air handling system comprising:

a fan assembly to transport air from the air handling system into the room, the fan assembly having a substantially continuously adjustable speed within a range of speeds defined by a predetermined upper limit and a predetermined lower limit;

a user interface for inputting at least a desired speed of the fan assembly;

a control unit for adjusting the speed of the fan assembly according to the desired speed of the fan assembly input via the user interface; and

a multi-position switch for defining the predetermined upper and lower limits.

10. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 9 further comprising a display portion to display a visual indication of the approximate speed of the fan assembly.

11. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 9, wherein the visual indication displayed by the display portion is an integer value representing a speed of the fan assembly that most closely approximates an actual speed of the fan assembly.

12. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 9, wherein the user interface is a remote device for communicating an operator input instruction to the control unit via a wireless communication link.

13. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 12, wherein the wireless communication link is one of a group consisting of a radio frequency communication link and an infrared communication link.

14. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 9, further comprising a climate control unit for removing thermal energy from the air to be transported from the air handling system by the fan assembly, wherein the climate control unit is a refrigeration unit for removing thermal energy from the air to be transported from the system by the fan assembly.

15. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 9 further comprising:

an air filter that removes debris from the air being transported from the system into the room; and

a filter check indicator for notifying a user to check the air filter.

16. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 9 wherein the filter check indicator is activated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

17. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 9 wherein the filter check indicator is activated upon detection of an increased resistance to the flow of air through the air filter.

18. An air handling system for a room, the air handling system comprising:

a fan assembly to transport air from the air handling system into the room;

an air filter that removes debris from the air being transported from the system into the room; and

a filter check indicator for notifying a user to check the air filter.

19. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 18 wherein the filter check indicator is activated upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

20. The variable speed air handling system according to claim 18 wherein the filter check indicator is activated upon detection of an increased resistance to the flow of air through the air filter.