Apparatus and method for controlling a room air conditioner

A method for controlling the operation of a room air conditioner unit having a compressor, an electric fan motor, a fan, a blower, an evaporator, a condenser, and a power supply comprising the steps of:

• detecting whether a TIMER mode of operation has been selected;
• detecting whether the unit power is on;
• detecting whether a COOL mode of operation has been selected;
• detecting whether a FAN ONLY mode of operation has been selected;
• setting a desired temperature at a temperature set point;
• measuring current ambient room temperature;
• storing said ambient room temperature in memory;
• calculating the temperature difference between said ambient room temperature and said temperature set point;
• storing user-programmed operating parameters for said unit in non-volatile memory;
• indicating a demand for cooling based on said temperature difference;
• verifying the temperature of said evaporator;
• detecting whether a MONEY SAVER.RTM. mode of operation has been selected;
• measuring the voltage of said power supply applied to said unit;
• detecting whether a SMART FAN mode of operation has been selected;
• verifying that a minimum time period has elapsed since the last operation of said compressor ended;
• verifying that a minimum time period has elapsed since the last change in speed of said fan motor;
• operating said compressor based on a mode of operation detected, a demand for cooling indicated, an evaporator temperature verified, a power supply voltage measured, and a minimum time period since operation of said compressor verified;
• and
• operating said fan motor based on a mode of operation detected, a demand for cooling indicated, a power supply voltage measured, and a minimum time period since a last change in fan motor speed verified.

A room air conditioner unit having a compressor, an electric fan motor, a fan, a blower, an evaporator, a condenser, a controller, and a power supply, said controller comprising:

• a TIMER switch pad for user selection of a timer mode of operation of said unit;
• an on/off switch pad for user control of power to said unit;
• a COOL switch pad for user selection of a cooling mode of operation of said unit;
• a FAN ONLY switch pad for user selection of a fan only mode of operation of said unit;
• a microprocessor;
• a memory connected to said microprocessor;
• means for entering and storing in said memory a desired temperature set point;
• means for measuring and storing in said memory a current ambient room temperature;
• means for calculating a temperature difference between said ambient room temperature and said temperature set point;
• means for storing user-programmed operating parameters for said unit in said memory;
• means for indicating a demand for cooling based on said temperature difference;
• means for verifying the temperature of said evaporator;
• a MONEY SAVER.RTM. switch pad for user selection of a money saver mode of operation of said unit;
• means for measuring the voltage of said power supply applied to said unit;
• a SMART FAN switch pad for user selection of a smart fan mode of operation of said unit;
• means for verifying that a minimum time period has elapsed since the last operation of said compressor ended;
• means for verifying that a minimum time period has elapsed since the last change in speed of said fan motor;
• means for operating said compressor based on a mode of operation selected, a demand for cooling indicated, an evaporator temperature verified, a power supply voltage measured, and a minimum time period since operation of said compressor verified;
• and
• means for operating said fan motor based on a mode of operation detected, a demand for cooling indicated, a power supply voltage measured, and a minimum time period since a last change in fan motor speed verified.

A method for controlling the speed of an air conditioner motor and fan comprising the steps of:

• setting a desired temperature at a temperature set point;
• measuring ambient room temperature;
• calculating the temperature difference between said ambient temperature and said temperature set point;
• operating said motor and said fan at a
• (a) first speed when said ambient temperature equals said temperature set point, or when said ambient temperature is increasing and said temperature difference is in a first incremental range;
• (b) second speed when said ambient temperature is increasing and said temperature difference is in a second incremental range, or when said ambient temperature is decreasing and said temperature difference is in a third incremental range;
• (c) third speed when said ambient temperature is increasing and said temperature difference is in a fourth incremental range, or when said ambient temperature is decreasing and said temperature difference is in a fifth incremental range;
• or
• (d) fourth speed when said ambient temperature is increasing and said temperature difference is in a sixth incremental range, or when said ambient temperature is decreasing and said temperature difference is in a seventh incremental range.