Air conditioner units and methods for determining indoor room temperatures

Abstract

Air conditioner units and methods for determining indoor room temperatures are provided. A method includes calculating a difference between a first temperature received from a first temperature sensor and a second temperature received from a second temperature sensor. The first and second temperature sensors are disposed within an indoor portion of an air conditioner unit, the first temperature sensor disposed proximate an indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner unit, the second temperature sensor spaced from the indoor heat exchanger relative to the first temperature sensor. The method further includes modifying the second temperature based on the difference to obtain a corrected temperature, and outputting the corrected temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner unit, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor portion;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor portion;   a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion,   a first temperature sensor disposed within the indoor portion and proximate the indoor heat exchanger;   a second temperature sensor disposed within the indoor portion and spaced from the indoor heat exchanger relative to the first temperature sensor; and   a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the controller configured for:
 calculating a difference between a first temperature received from the first temperature sensor and a second temperature received from the second temperature sensor; 
 modifying the second temperature based on the difference to obtain a corrected temperature; and 
 outputting the corrected temperature. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured for applying a predetermined correction factor to the difference to obtain a corrected difference, and wherein the second temperature is modified based on the corrected difference to obtain the corrected temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured for determining whether the indoor heat exchanger is in a heating mode or a cooling mode. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the calculating step comprises subtracting the second temperature from the first temperature when the indoor heat exchanger is in the cooling mode. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the modifying step comprises decreasing the second temperature based on the difference when the indoor heat exchanger is in the cooling mode. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the calculating step occurs only when the first temperature is greater than the second temperature when the indoor heat exchanger is in the cooling mode. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the calculating step comprises subtracting the first temperature from the second temperature when the indoor heat exchanger is in the heating mode. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the modifying step comprises increasing the second temperature based on the difference when the indoor heat exchanger is in the heating mode. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the calculating step occurs only when the second temperature is greater than the first temperature when the indoor heat exchanger is in the heating mode. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature sensor is in contact with the indoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature sensor is in contact with a coil of the indoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature sensor is spaced from the indoor heat exchanger along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower fan and a heating unit each disposed at least partially within an interior of the bulkhead. 
     
     
         14 . A method for determining an indoor room temperature, the method comprising:
 calculating a difference between a first temperature received from a first temperature sensor and a second temperature received from a second temperature sensor, the first and second temperature sensors disposed within an indoor portion of an air conditioner unit, the first temperature sensor disposed proximate an indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner unit, the second temperature sensor spaced from the indoor heat exchanger relative to the first temperature sensor;   modifying the second temperature based on the difference to obtain a corrected temperature; and   outputting the corrected temperature.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising applying a predetermined correction factor to the difference to obtain a corrected difference, and wherein the second temperature is modified based on the corrected difference to obtain the corrected temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining whether the indoor heat exchanger is in a heating mode or a cooling mode. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the calculating step comprises subtracting the second temperature from the first temperature when the indoor heat exchanger is in the cooling mode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the calculating step occurs only when the first temperature is greater than the second temperature when the indoor heat exchanger is in the cooling mode. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the calculating step comprises subtracting the first temperature from the second temperature when the indoor heat exchanger is in the heating mode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the calculating step occurs only when the second temperature is greater than the first temperature when the indoor heat exchanger is in the heating mode.