Air conditioning appliance with event detection

Abstract

An air conditioner unit includes an indoor portion in fluid communication with an indoor space and a sensor. A method of operating the air conditioner unit includes monitoring, with the sensor, an atmospheric condition of indoor air from the indoor space. The method also includes detecting an event in the indoor space based on the monitored atmospheric condition of the indoor air and providing an emergency notification in response to the detected event in the indoor space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an air conditioner unit, the method comprising: 
 monitoring, by a sensor of the air conditioner, an atmospheric condition of indoor air from an indoor space in fluid communication with an indoor portion of the air conditioner unit;   detecting an event in the indoor space based on the monitored atmospheric condition of the indoor air; and   providing an emergency notification in response to the detected event in the indoor space.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitored atmospheric condition is humidity, and wherein the detected event is an accumulation of moisture in the indoor space. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disabling at least one component of the air conditioner unit in response to the detected event. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein disabling at least one component of the air conditioner unit in response to the detected event comprises disabling a sealed system of the air conditioner unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising activating a fan of the air conditioner unit to draw the indoor air from the indoor space towards the sensor of the air conditioner unit while monitoring the atmospheric condition of the indoor air. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the event in the indoor space based on the monitored atmospheric condition of the indoor air comprises determining the monitored atmospheric condition is outside of a predefined operating range of the air conditioner unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining the monitored atmospheric condition is outside of the predefined operating range of the air conditioner unit comprises determining the monitored atmospheric condition is above the predefined operating range by at least a predetermined threshold amount. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, further comprising monitoring the atmospheric condition of the indoor air with a second sensor, wherein the event is detected based on atmospheric condition data from the first sensor and the second sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recording an alert in a memory of a controller of the air conditioner unit in response to the detected event in the indoor space. 
     
     
         10 . An air conditioner unit, comprising: 
 an indoor portion in fluid communication with an indoor space;    a sensor; and   a controller, the controller configured for: 
 monitoring, with the sensor, an atmospheric condition of indoor air from the indoor space; 
 detecting an event in the indoor space based on the monitored atmospheric condition of the indoor air; and 
 providing an emergency notification in response to the detected event in the indoor space. 
   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the monitored atmospheric condition is humidity, and wherein the detected event is an accumulation of moisture in the indoor space. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for disabling at least one component of the air conditioner unit in response to the detected event. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 12 , wherein disabling at least one component of the air conditioner unit in response to the detected event comprises disabling a sealed system of the air conditioner unit. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for activating a fan of the air conditioner unit to draw the indoor air from the indoor space towards the sensor of the air conditioner unit while monitoring the atmospheric condition of the indoor air. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein detecting the event in the indoor space based on the monitored atmospheric condition of the indoor air comprises determining the monitored atmospheric condition is outside of a predefined operating range of the air conditioner unit. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 15 , wherein determining the monitored atmospheric condition is outside of the predefined operating range of the air conditioner unit comprises determining the monitored atmospheric condition is above the predefined operating range by at least a predetermined threshold amount. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, further comprising monitoring the atmospheric condition of the indoor air with a second sensor, wherein the event is detected based on atmospheric condition data from the first sensor and the second sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for recording an alert in a memory of the controller of the air conditioner unit in response to the detected event in the indoor space.