Air conditioning appliance using an asymmetric sensor pair for transient temperature measurment

Abstract

A method for directing AC unit functions based on sensor readings in an AC unit is provided. The method includes obtaining a primary temperature from a primary sensor group. The primary sensor group includes one or more primary sensors. The method includes directing the AC unit based on the primary sensor group. The method further includes obtaining a secondary temperature from a secondary sensor group. The secondary sensor group includes one or more secondary sensors. The method includes directing the AC unit based on the secondary temperature. The method also includes detecting an adjustment event that corresponds to a fan speed adjustment. The method further includes determining an adjusted temperature between the primary temperature and the secondary temperature. The method also includes directing the AC unit based on the adjusted temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for directing AC unit functions based on sensor readings in an AC unit, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a primary temperature from a primary sensor group, wherein the primary sensor group comprises one or more primary sensors;   directing the AC unit based on the primary sensor group;   obtaining a secondary temperature from a secondary sensor group, wherein the secondary sensor group comprises one or more secondary sensors;   directing the AC unit based on the secondary temperature;   detecting an adjustment event, the adjustment event corresponding to a fan speed adjustment;   determining an adjusted temperature between the primary temperature and the secondary temperature using the primary sensor group and the secondary sensor group; and    directing the AC unit based on the adjusted temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the adjusted temperature comprises determining a weighted average between a contemporary temperature at the primary sensor group and a contemporary temperature at the secondary sensor group. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the weighted average comprises: 
 increasing a weight of the primary temperature over a predetermined interval of time; and   decreasing a weight of the secondary temperature over the predetermined interval of time.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the weight of the primary temperature reading increases linearly over the interval of time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the weight of the primary temperature reading increases exponentially over the interval of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the secondary temperature comprises an offset value added to a temperature measured by the secondary sensor group. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 determining the adjusted temperature is equal to the primary temperature; and 
 in response to determining that the adjusted temperature is equal to the primary temperature, inhibiting a subsequent determination of the adjusted temperature and directing the AC unit based on the primary temperature.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fan speed adjustment comprises an increase in a fan speed.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 determining the increase in the fan speed, wherein determining the increase in the fan speed comprises determining that a measured fan speed is above a threshold fan speed.    
     
     
         10 . An air conditioner (AC) unit, comprising: 
 a fan for providing air flow through the AC unit;   a primary sensor group, comprising one or more primary temperature sensors;   a secondary sensor group, comprising one or more secondary temperature sensors;   a controller configured to direct a conditioning operation, the conditioning operation comprising: 
 obtaining a primary temperature from the primary sensor group; 
 directing the AC unit based on the primary sensor group; 
 obtaining a secondary temperature from the secondary sensor group; 
 directing the AC unit based on the secondary temperature; 
 detecting an adjustment event, the adjustment event corresponding to a fan speed adjustment; 
 determining an adjusted temperature between the primary temperature and the secondary temperature using the primary sensor group and the secondary sensor group; and  
 directing the AC unit based on the adjusted temperature. 
   
     
     
         11 . The AC unit of  claim 10 , wherein determining the adjusted temperature comprises determining a weighted average between a contemporary temperature at the primary sensor group and a contemporary temperature at the secondary sensor group. 
     
     
         12 . The AC unit of  claim 11 , wherein determining the weighted average comprises: 
 increasing a weight of the primary temperature over a predetermined interval of time; and   decreasing a weight of the secondary temperature over the predetermined interval of time.   
     
     
         13 . The AC unit of  claim 12 , wherein the weight of the primary temperature reading increases linearly over the interval of time. 
     
     
         14 . The AC unit of  claim 12 , wherein the weight of the primary temperature reading increases exponentially over the interval of time. 
     
     
         15 . The AC unit of  claim 10 ,. the secondary temperature comprises an offset value added to a temperature measured by the secondary sensor group. 
     
     
         16 . The AC unit of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 determining the adjusted temperature is equal to the primary temperature; and   in response to determining that the adjusted temperature is equal to the primary temperature, inhibiting a subsequent determination of the adjusted temperature and directing the AC unit based on the primary temperature.    
     
     
         17 . The AC unit of  claim 10 , wherein the fan speed adjustment comprises an increase in a fan speed.  
     
     
         18 . The AC unit of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 determining the increase in the fan speed, wherein determining the increase in the fan speed comprises determining that a measured fan speed is above a threshold fan speed.