RELATED APPLICATIONS

Benefit is claimed to India Provisional Application No. 3987/CHE/2011, entitled "Machine to Machine Enabled Air Conditioning System" by PADMALAYAM NARAYANA KURUP, Ajith Kumar filed on 21st November 2011, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a control unit for an air conditioning system. More particularly, the invention provides the control unit that is capable of performing machine to machine communication for facilitating reduction in power consumption in air conditioners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to have control systems for air conditioners that are capable of performing machine to machine communication. The control systems implement user inputs in achieving a desired room temperature. These conventional control systems involve a basic electronic circuitry and other related components to receive instructions from the user and implement them.

In spite of all the requirements of the user, the existing air conditioning system may be using energy more than required at certain circumstances. One of such circumstances can be functioning of a condenser or a refrigeration component when there is no requirement of functioning. This results in improper utilization and may imply disregard of control systems to external conditions such as temperature and pressure. There appears to be requirement of contribution in the art for the betterment of existing operating conditions of control systems of the air conditioners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner control unit is provided. The air conditioner control unit includes a microcontroller. The microcontroller includes a memory with a set of predefined instructions and processor. The memory is connected to the processor. The memory including a temperature analysis module configured to analyze temperature related inputs. The temperature analysis module includes a temperature receiving module configured for receiving a internal temperature data, an atmospheric temperature data, and a user desired temperature data, a computation module configured for facilitating analysis of the internal temperature, the atmospheric temperature, and the user desired temperature, and a control command module configured for providing a control command to an air conditioning system and air vents operating system based on output of the temperature analysis. The computation module is further configured for comparing the user input temperature with the outside atmospheric temperature.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling an air conditioning system is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a user desired temperature value, monitoring a internal temperature and atmospheric temperature, maintaining current working conditions of the air conditioner and providing a control command to keep an air vent operating system closed when the internal temperature is greater than the user desired temperature value, and turning the air conditioner off and providing an open control command to the air vents operating system to open the air vents when the user desired temperature value and the atmospheric temperature are equal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Figure 1a illustrates a household application of a temperature processing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1b illustrates another application of a temperature processing device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is block diagram of a temperature processing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a temperature analysis module that is present in a temperature processing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a working method of a temperature analysis module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The terms 'internal temperature ',' internal temperature data' or 'internal temperature value' are used interchangeably and commonly refer to a closed space or a room or a cabin of an automobile. Further, there are terms such as 'temperature data', 'temperature value' and 'temperature' that are also used interchangeably; they all pertain to degree of hotness or coldness of a space or simply 'temperature'.

Figure 1a illustrates a household application of a temperature processing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with the present embodiment, the household application implies an air conditioning system 102 that is used for residential purposes or in any buildings. In an embodiment, the components that reside indoor 110 include an air conditioner control unit 100, a second temperature sensor 106, and an air conditioning system 102. The air conditioning system 102 may be compressor and condenser type system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present embodiment. The components that are outdoor 112 include a first temperature sensor 104. An air vents operating system 108 is present to bridge contact between the indoor 110 and the outdoor 112. There are many methods and apparatuses that can be used for opening and closing the ventilation of any closed space.

Some of them use electric, mechanical, electromechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, hydro-pneumatic, electro-hydraulic actuators and so on to open and close the air ventilation.

Each of such systems can be used in the present invention. However, the air vents operating system 108 of the present system is capable of communicating, i.e. having the capability of performing machine to machine communication with the air conditioner control unit 100. In other words, the air vents operating system 108 receives and performs based on the control commands (open and close) of the air conditioner control unit 100.

In an embodiment, the first temperature sensor 104, the second temperature sensor 106, the air vents operating system 108, and the air conditioning system 102 is connected to the air conditioner control unit 100. The air conditioner control unit 100 is capable of establishing machine to machine based communication with the air conditioning system 102 and the air vents operating system 108. The first temperature sensor 104 provides temperature readings of atmosphere and the second temperature sensor 106 provides an internal temperature of a room or a closed space. These temperature readings are transferred to the air conditioner control unit 100. Both wired as well as wireless modes of communication can be established between the air conditioner control unit 100 and the first temperature sensor 104, the second temperature sensor 106, the air conditioning system 102, and air vents operating system 108.

Figure 1b illustrates another application of a temperature processing device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

The present embodiment provides application of the present invention in automobiles. A vehicle 114 is shown with a closed space or cabin for using the air conditioning system 102. The second temperature sensor 106 is present inside the vehicle to monitor the internal temperature. The first temperature sensor 104 monitors atmospheric temperature.

The air conditioner control unit 100 is connected to the air vents operating system 108, the air conditioning system 102, the first temperature sensor 104, and the second temperature sensor 106. The air vents operating system 108 receives instructions or commands from the air conditioner control unit 100.

The implementations in figures 1a and 1b are exemplary in nature. There can be other applications for the system as be clear to the person skilled in the art.

Figure 2 is block diagram of the air conditioner control unit 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The air conditioner control unit 100 is a microcontroller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the air conditioner control unit 100 includes a memory 202, a processor 204, a bus 206, a communication interface 208, a transmitter 210, a receiver 212, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 214, and a temperature analysis module 216.

The input from the first and the second temperature sensors 104 and the 106 is received at the receiver 212 if the mode of the communication between the air conditioner control unit 100 and the temperature sensors 104 and 106 is wireless. When a wired communication mode between the temperature sensors 104 and 106 and the air conditioner control unit 100 is used, the input is received through an Input/Output (I/O) port 220. Pre-defined instructions are stored in the memory 202, more specifically, the temperature analysis module 216. The inputs from the temperature sensors 104 and 106, and the air conditioning system 102 are processed to control the air conditioning system 102. The temperature analysis module 216 present in the memory 202 with the aid of the RAM 214 performs the set of instructions as defined. The bus 206 provides connectivity between all the components of the microcontroller, the air conditioner control unit 100.
Other components and their functionalities of the microcontroller, the air conditioner control unit 100 are known to the person skilled in the art and will not be explained further in the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the temperature analysis module 216 that is present in the air conditioner control unit 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the temperature analysis module 216 includes a temperature receiving module 302, a temperature storage module 304, a computation module 306, and a control command module 308.

The temperature receiving module 302 is configured to receive temperature related data from the temperature sensors 104, and 106 and a user desired temperature from the air conditioning system 102. Thereafter, the temperature readings or related data that are received are stored in the temperature storage module 304. The computation module 306 is configured to analyze the temperature readings from the sensors 104 and 106 and the air conditioning system 102. For example, the computation module 306 compares the room temperature with the user desired temperature. If the room temperature is greater than the user desired temperature, the control command module 308 provides control command; a close command to the air vents operating system 108 and maintains the current working conditions of the air conditioning system 102.

The computation module 306 is further configured to compare the user input temperature with the atmospheric temperature. If the user input temperature and the atmospheric temperature are equal, the control command module 308 sends close command to the air vents operating system 108 and to turn off the air conditioning system 102. In an embodiment, the control commands to the air conditioning system 102 and the air vents operating system 108 are sent through the transmitter 210 (refer Figure 2).

Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a working method 400 of a temperature analysis module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

At step 402, the atmospheric temperature T1 and the room temperature T2 are continuously monitored. The temperatures T1 and T2 are monitored by the first temperature sensor 104 and the second temperature sensor 106. At step 404, a user desired temperature T3 is received from the air conditioning system 102 at the temperature processing device.

The analysis of the temperatures T1, T2 and T3 starts at step 406. At step 406, it is verified if the room temperature T2 is greater than or equal to the user desired temperature T3. If yes, at step 408, the air conditioner control unit 100 provides command to the air conditioning system 102 to keep the current working conditions continued and to the air vents operating system 108 to keep the air ventilation closed. At step 410, the atmospheric temperature T1, the room temperature T2 and the user desired temperature T3 are monitored. Thereafter, at step 412, it is verified if the atmospheric temperature T1 and the user desired temperature T3 are equal. In case they are equal, at step 414, the air conditioner control unit 100 provides control commands to the air conditioning system 102 and the air vents operating system 108. The control commands include turning off the air conditioning system 102 and opening the air vents operating system 108.

The present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments; it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. Furthermore, the various devices, modules, selectors, estimators, and the like described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry, for example, complementary metal oxide semiconductor based logic circuitry, firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software embodied in a machine readable medium. For example, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits, such as application specific integrated circuit.

We claim:

1. An air conditioning control unit comprising:

a microcontroller comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to the processor, the memory with a set of predefined instructions, comprising a temperature analysis module configured to analyze temperature related inputs through the processor, wherein the temperature analysis module comprises:

a temperature receiving module configured for receiving a internal temperature data, an atmospheric temperature data, and a user desired temperature data;

a computation module configured for facilitating analysis of the internal temperature, the atmospheric temperature, and the user desired temperature; and

a control command module configured for providing a control command to an air conditioning system and air vents operating system based on output of the temperature analysis.

2. The air conditioning control unit of claim 1, wherein the computation module is further configured for comparing the user input temperature with the outside atmospheric temperature.

3. The air conditioning control unit of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller further comprises:

transmitter for transmitting control commands from the control command module to the air conditioning system and the air vent operating system.

4. The air conditioning control unit of claim 1, wherein in providing the control command, the control command module provides the command to the air vent operating system to keep the air vent closed when the atmospheric temperature is greater than the user desired temperature.

5. The air conditioning control unit of claim 5, wherein the control command module further provides the command to keep the air condition system functioning at current working conditions when the internal temperature is greater than the user set temperature.

6. The air conditioning control unit of claim 1, wherein in providing the control command, the control command module provides the command to open the air vent system when the atmospheric temperature and the user set temperature are equal.

7. The air conditioning control unit of claim 6, wherein the control command module further provides the command of turning the air conditioning system off when the atmospheric temperature and the user set temperature are equal.

8. The air conditioning control unit of claim 1, wherein the temperature analysis module further comprises:

a temperature storage module configured for storing internal temperature data, atmospheric temperature data, and user set temperature data.

9. The air conditioning control unit of claim 1, further comprising a first temperature sensor to monitor and provide atmospheric temperature data.

10. The air conditioning control unit of claim 1, further comprising a second temperature sensor to monitor and provide internal temperature data.

11. A method of controlling an air conditioner, comprising:

receiving a user desired temperature value;

monitoring a internal temperature and atmospheric temperature;

maintaining current working conditions of the air conditioner and providing a control command to keep an air vent operating system closed when the internal temperature is greater than the user desired temperature value; and

turning the air conditioner off and providing an open control command to the air vents operating system to open the air vents when the user desired temperature value and the atmospheric temperature are equal.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

continuously analyzing the user desired temperature value, the internal temperature and the atmospheric temperature;

comparing the internal temperature and the user desired temperature; and

comparing the user desired temperature and the atmospheric temperature.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

storing the user desired temperature value, the internal temperature, and the atmospheric temperature.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting control commands to the air vents operating system to open or close air vents.