DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is related to an air conditioning system. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a method of operating an air conditioning system using a timer circuit.

BACKGROUND

Air conditioning system is provided in the automobiles for comfort of the occupants. The present air conditioning system in the automobiles consists of a temperature sensing device known as thermistor. The thermistor is a resistor device composed of semiconductors which have a resistance that varies as a function of temperature. The thermistor switches OFF Air Conditioner (AC) compressor when the desired temperature is achieved and switches ON the AC compressor when the temperature increases. The problem with the present air conditioning system is that, the air conditioning system can lead to over cooling or under cooling. Faulty thermistor readings in the air-conditioning system leads to less or no cooled air being released, which results from dirty wire connectors in the thermistor. Further, the faulty thermistor generates a higher resistance level than needed and communicates false temperature changes which results in overcooling. Therefore the air conditioning system has to be manually switched OFF and switched ON at regular time intervals to maintain the desired temperature.

Hence, there exists a need to operate an air conditioning system using a timer circuit which eliminates manual intervention for regularly switching ON and switching OFF the air conditioning system.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

One object of the present disclosure is to switch ON and switch OFF AC compressor at predefined time interval automatically using a timer circuit.

One object of the present disclosure is to eliminate the complexity of a thermistor in the air conditioning system and thereby reducing cost of the air conditioning system.

One object of the present disclosure is to increase fuel efficiency of the automobile by switching ON and switching OFF the AC compressor regularly using the timer circuit.

One object of the present disclosure is to provide a control mechanism for the timer circuit to set the time intervals as per the requirement of user of the air conditioning system.

One object of the present disclosure is to increase human comfort and to make driving ease by automatically switching ON and switching OFF the AC.

SUMMARY

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of operating an Air Conditioning (AC) system. The method comprises triggering a timer circuit upon activation of an AC switch to provide a timer pulse output, wherein the timer pulse output is a high timer pulse output for a first predefined time interval followed by a low timer pulse output for a second predefined time interval. The timer pulse output is received by a compressor relay, wherein the compressor relay performs at least one of activating an AC compressor for the first predefined time interval upon determining the timer pulse output to be the high timer pulse output and deactivating the AC compressor for the second predefined time interval upon determining the timer pulse output to be the low timer pulse output.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning system. The system comprises a timer circuit, a compressor relay and an AC compressor. The timer circuit provides a timer pulse output upon activation of an AC switch, wherein the timer pulse output is a high timer pulse output for a first predefined time interval followed by a low timer pulse output for a second predefined time interval. The compressor relay receives the timer pulse output and performs at least one of: activating an AC compressor for the first predefined time interval upon determining the received timer pulse output to be the high timer pulse output and deactivating the AC compressor for the second predefined time interval upon determining the received timer pulse output to be the low timer pulse output.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects and features described above, further aspects, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig.1 illustrates a block diagram of an air conditioning system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.2 illustrates a method of operating an air conditioning system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Fig.3 shows a timer pulse output of a timer circuit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific aspect disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure is related to a method of operating an air conditioning system.

Fig.1 illustrates block diagram of an air conditioning system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the air conditioning system is used in the automobile. However, a person skilled in the art would understand that, the air conditioning system can be used in other enclosed areas. The air conditioning system 100 comprises a battery 103, a timer circuit 105, a compressor relay 107 and an AC compressor 109. The battery 103 is coupled to the timer circuit 105 and the compressor relay 107. The battery 103 provides power supply to the timer circuit 105 and the compressor relay 107. The timer circuit 105 used in the present disclosure is an 8-pin mini dual-in-package (DIP) Integrated Chip (IC). A person skilled in the art would understand that any other type of IC not limiting to the 8-pin mini DIP can be used as a timer circuit. The compressor relay 107 acts an electronic switch for the AC compressor 109.

In an embodiment, the air conditioning system 100 is activated by switching ON an AC switch. The AC switch is the regular ON/OFF switch of the air conditioning system 100. When the AC switch is switched ON, the timer circuit 103 is triggered and ON/OFF cycles of the timer circuit 103 is started i.e the timer circuit 103 provides a timer pulse output. The timer pulse output is high for a first predefined time interval and low for the second predefined time interval. In an embodiment, the first predefined time interval for the high timer pulse output and the second predefined time interval for the low timer pulse output can be changed based on the desired temperature inside the cabin of the automobile. In an embodiment, the first predefined time interval and the second predefined time interval is in the range of 5-20 seconds. The compressor relay 107 receives the timer pulse output from the timer circuit 103. When the received timer pulse output is high, the compressor relay 107 is switched ON and triggers the AC compressor 109. The AC compressor 109 is in active state for the first predefined time interval. When the AC compressor is activated, the AC compressor compresses the refrigerant and provides cool air. When the compressor relay 107 receives low timer pulse output, the compressor relay 107 is switched OFF. The compressor relay 107 in turn deactivates the AC compressor 109. The AC compressor 109 will be in inactive state for the second predefined time interval. The process of activating and deactivating the AC compressor 109 is continued until the AC switch is in ON state.

Fig.2 illustrates a method of operating an air conditioning system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. At step 201, the timer circuit 103 is triggered by activating an AC switch. Upon triggering, the timer circuit 105 provides a timer pulse output. The timer pulse output is high for the first predefined time interval and the timer pulse output is low for the second predefined time interval. The compressor relay 107 receives the timer pulse output from the timer circuit 105 at step 203. Upon determining the received timer pulse output to be high, the compressor relay 107 activates the AC compressor 109 for the first predefined time interval at step 205. Upon determining the time pulse output to be low, the compressor relay 107 deactivates the AC compressor 109 for the second predefined time interval at step 207.

Fig.3 shows timer pulse output of a timer circuit 103 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The air conditioning system 100 is activated when the AC switch is switched ON and simultaneously the timer circuit 105 configured in the air conditioning system 100 is triggered. The timer circuit 105 provides the timer pulse output. The timer circuit 105 provides high timer pulse output and low timer pulse output alternatively. The timer pulse output is high for 16 seconds and low for next 15 seconds. The high/low cycles of the timer circuit 105 continues until the AC switch is in active state. When the compressor relay 107 receives the high timer pulse output, the compressor relay 107 activates the AC compressor 109 for 16 seconds and when the compressor relay 107 receives the low timer pulse output, the compressor relay 107 deactivates the AC compressor 109 for 15 seconds. The high/low cycles of the timer circuit 105 continues until the timer circuit 105 is switched OFF. In another exemplary embodiment, the high timer pulse output is for 10 seconds and low timer pulse output is for 17 seconds based on the temperature inside the cabin of the automobile. In this scenario, the compressor relay 107 activates the AC compressor 109 for 10 seconds and deactivates the AC compressor 109 for 17 seconds.

Referral Numerals

Reference Number Description
Air conditioning system 100
Battery 103
Timer Circuit 105
Compressor Relay 107
AC compressor 109

Advantages:

The present disclosure eliminates manual intervention for switching ON/OFF air conditioning system at regular intervals by using a timer circuit.

The present disclosure eliminates the use of a thermistor in the air conditioning system by using a timer circuit.

The present disclosure reduces load on the vehicle engine and also increases fuel efficiency by switching ON/OFF the AC compressor at regular intervals using the timer circuit.

Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
,CLAIMS:
1. A method of operating an Air Conditioning (AC) system, the method comprising:
triggering a timer circuit upon activation of an AC switch to provide a timer pulse output, wherein the timer pulse output is a high timer pulse output for a first predefined time interval followed by a low timer pulse output for a second predefined time interval;
receiving the timer pulse output by a compressor relay and performing at least one of:
activating an AC compressor for the first predefined time interval upon determining the timer pulse output to be the high timer pulse output; and
deactivating the AC compressor for the second predefined time interval upon determining the timer pulse output to be the low timer pulse output.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predefined time interval of the high timer pulse output is in the range of 5-20 seconds.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second predefined time interval of the low timer pulse output is in the range of 5-20 seconds.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the timer circuit provides the timer pulse output until the AC switch is deactivated.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprises providing power supply to the timer circuit and the compressor relay using a battery.

6. An Air Conditioning (AC) system comprising:
a timer-circuit for providing a timer pulse output upon activation of an AC switch, wherein the timer pulse output is a high timer pulse output for a first predefined time interval followed by a low timer pulse output for a second predefined time interval;
a compressor relay being capable of receiving the timer pulse output and performing at least one of:
activating an AC compressor for the first predefined time interval upon determining the received timer pulse output to be the high timer pulse output; and
deactivating the AC compressor for the second predefined time interval upon determining the received timer pulse output to be the low timer pulse output.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first predefined time interval for the high timer pulse output is in the range of 5-20 seconds.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second predefined time interval for the low timer pulse output is in the range of 5-20 seconds.

9. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the timer circuit provides the timer pulse output until the AC switch is deactivated.

10. The system as claimed in claim 6 further comprises a battery for providing power supply to the timer circuit and the compressor relay.