Single-package air conditioner and methods of operation

Abstract

A single-package air conditioner unit, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, an internal temperature sensor, a remote temperature sensor, and a controller. The outdoor heat exchanger may be disposed in an outdoor portion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan. The indoor heat exchanger may be disposed in an indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The internal temperature sensor may be attached to the cabinet within the indoor portion. The remote temperature sensor may be spaced apart from the cabinet. The controller may be in operative communication with the compressor, the internal temperature sensor, and the remote temperature sensor. The controller may be configured to initiate a conditioning operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an air conditioner comprising a cabinet and a remote temperature sensor spaced apart from the cabinet, the cabinet housing an internal temperature sensor and a sealed system, the sealed system comprising an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor portion and an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor portion, the method comprising:
 receiving a remote temperature value from the remote temperature sensor;   evaluating the remote temperature value according to one or more predetermined criteria;   receiving an internal temperature value from the internal temperature sensor;   making a selection between the remote temperature value and the internal temperature value based on the evaluation; and   directing the sealed system based on the selection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote temperature value is a detected temperature value corresponding to a temperature at the remote temperature sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the detected temperature value is detected within a predetermined time period following detection of a previous temperature value corresponding to a previous temperature at the remote temperature sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the detected temperature value is detected following a failed temperature detection event wherein no value was received from the remote temperature sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote temperature value replaces a preset failing temperature value stored within the air conditioner, the preset failing temperature value being predetermined to fail the one or more predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein making the selection comprises selecting the remote temperature value in response to the remote temperature value meeting the one or more predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein making the selection comprises selecting the internal temperature value in response to the remote temperature value failing to meet the one or more predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal temperature value is received in response to transmission of a polling signal to the internal temperature sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined criteria includes a criterion that the remote temperature value is within a predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
         10 . A single-package air conditioner unit defining a mutually-perpendicular vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction, the single-package air conditioner unit comprising:
 a cabinet defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion;   an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in the outdoor portion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan;   a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger;   an internal temperature sensor attached to the cabinet within the indoor portion;   a remote temperature sensor spaced apart from the cabinet; and   a controller in operative communication with the compressor, the internal temperature sensor, and the remote temperature sensor, the controller being configured to initiate a conditioning operation, the conditioning operation comprising
 receiving a remote temperature value from the remote temperature sensor, 
 evaluating the remote temperature value according to one or more predetermined criteria, 
 receiving an internal temperature value from the internal temperature sensor, 
 making a selection between the remote temperature value and the internal temperature value based on the evaluation, and 
 directing the compressor based on the selection. 
   
     
     
         11 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the remote temperature value is a detected temperature value corresponding to a temperature at the remote temperature sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the detected temperature value is detected within a predetermined time period following detection of a previous temperature value corresponding to a previous temperature at the remote temperature sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the detected temperature value is detected following a failed temperature detection event wherein no value was received from the remote temperature sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the remote temperature value replaces a preset failing temperature value stored within the single-package air conditioner unit, the preset failing temperature value being predetermined to fail the one or more predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         15 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein making the selection comprises selecting the remote temperature value in response to the remote temperature value meeting the one or more predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         16 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein making the selection comprises selecting the internal temperature value in response to the remote temperature value failing to meet the one or more predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         17 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the internal temperature value is received in response to transmission of a polling signal to the internal temperature sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more predetermined criteria includes a criterion that the remote temperature value is within a predetermined temperature range.