Air conditioning apparatus with a controller that utilizes two set temperature ranges

• US 8,973,845 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Kanaya, Osamu, Hattori, Taro
• Primary Examiner(s): Elve, Alexandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alvare, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/208,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20120097748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 621/77, 621/85, 621/86, 624/08, 624/09, 624/11, 165/53, 165/54, 165/122, 236/35, 236/49.3, 236/38, 237/2.A
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0014 having two or more outlet openings
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0047 mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/0616 Outlets that have intake openings
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/20 Heat-exchange fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An air-conditioning apparatus includes a temperature sensor for detecting a heat exchanger temperature or an inlet air temperature, a controller that performs variable control of the direction of the indoor unit air blow vane or the air flow speed or rate of the blower fan, and a remote controller that remote-controls indoor unit operation, wherein temperatures set via the remote controller are divided into two set temperature ranges and during heating operation the controller sets at least the air blow vane to a horizontal or downward direction on the basis of the two set temperature ranges and the heat exchanger temperature or the inlet air temperature.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning apparatus comprising:

a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a heat exchanger or a temperature of inlet air;

a main controller that is configured to perform variable control of a direction of an air blow vane, an air flow speed, or air volume of a blower fan in an indoor unit; and

a remote controller that remote-controls operation of the indoor unit, wherein temperatures set via the remote controller are classified into two set temperature ranges including a lower set temperature range and a higher set temperature range that is a range higher than the lower set temperature range; and

the main controller is configured to set at least the air blow vane to a horizontal or downward direction on the basis of which of the two set temperature ranges a temperature set by the remote controller falls within and a temperature of either the heat exchanger or inlet air at the time of heating operation;

the main controller is configured to set the air blow vane to a horizontal direction when the temperature of the heat exchanger is lower than a predetermined temperature and the temperature that is inputted by the remote controller falls within the higher set temperature range;

the main controller is configured to set the air blow vane to a downward direction when the temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature and the temperature that is inputted by the remote controller falls within the higher set temperature range;

the main controller is configured to set the air blow vane to a downward direction or set an air flow speed of the blower fan to a high level, regardless of the temperature of the heat exchanger when the temperature that is inputted by the remote controller falls within the lower set temperature range.

2. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to determine whether or not an occupant is in a room based upon which of the two set temperature ranges a temperature value set by the remote controller falls within, and controls a direction of an air blow vane or an air flow speed or air volume of a blower fan on the basis of the determination.

3. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,

wherein an air flow speed or air volume of a blower fan can be manually changed by the remote controller.

4. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower set temperature range is between 10°

and 16°

C.

5. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the higher set temperature range is between 17°

and 28°

C.