System and method for operating an air conditioner unit

Abstract

An air conditioner unit includes a variable speed compressor for circulating refrigerant through an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan, and an outdoor fan. A controller obtains an indoor temperature using an indoor temperature sensor and operates the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at a first capacity level to adjust the indoor temperature toward a target temperature. The controller determines that a rate of change of the indoor temperature is below a predetermined rate threshold and operates the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at a second capacity level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner unit comprising:
 a refrigeration loop comprising an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger;   a variable speed compressor operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and being configured for urging a flow of refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger;   an indoor fan configured for urging a flow of indoor air through the indoor heat exchanger;   an outdoor fan configured for urging a flow of outdoor air through the outdoor heat exchanger;   an indoor temperature sensor; and   a controller operably coupled to the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, the outdoor fan, and the indoor temperature sensor, the controller being configured to:
 obtain an indoor temperature using the indoor temperature sensor; 
 operate the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at a first capacity level to adjust the indoor temperature; 
 determine that a rate of change of the indoor temperature is below a predetermined rate threshold; and 
 operate the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at a second capacity level. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 obtain a target room temperature;   operate the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan to minimize a difference between the indoor temperature and the target room temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the indoor temperature is within 2 degrees Fahrenheit above or below the target room temperature; and   stop operation of the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the rate of change of the indoor temperature is above the predetermined rate threshold; and   maintain operation of the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at the first capacity level.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 operate the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at the second capacity level to adjust the indoor temperature;   determine that the rate of change of the indoor temperature is below the predetermined rate threshold; and   operate the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at a third capacity level.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a command to enter a quiet operating mode before operating the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at the first capacity level.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first capacity level comprises operation of each of the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at or below 25% of a respective rated capacity. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second capacity level comprises operation of each of the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at or above 35% of a respective rated capacity. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the rate of change of the indoor temperature is below the predetermined rate threshold comprises:
 determining that a predetermined time interval has passed since the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan began operating at the first capacity level; and   determining that the indoor temperature has not changed by at least a predetermined temperature differential within the predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined time interval is between about 1 minutes and 20 minutes. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the variable speed compressor is an inverter compressor. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating an air conditioner unit, the air conditioning unit comprising a refrigeration loop, a variable speed compressor, an indoor fan, an outdoor fan, and an indoor temperature sensor, the method comprising:
 obtaining an indoor temperature using the indoor temperature sensor;   operating the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at a first capacity level to adjust the indoor temperature;   determining that a rate of change of the indoor temperature is below a predetermined rate threshold; and   operating the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at a second capacity level.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 obtaining a target room temperature;   operating the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan to minimize a difference between the indoor temperature and the target room temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining that the indoor temperature is within 2 degrees Fahrenheit above or below the target room temperature; and   stopping operation of the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining that the rate of change of the indoor temperature is above the predetermined rate threshold; and   maintaining operation of the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at the first capacity level.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 operating the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at the second capacity level to adjust the indoor temperature;   determining that the rate of change of the indoor temperature is below the predetermined rate threshold; and   operating the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at a third capacity level.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a command to enter a quiet operating mode before operating the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at the first capacity level.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first capacity level comprises operation of each of the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at or below 25% of a respective rated capacity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second capacity level comprises operation of each of the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan at or above 35% of a respective rated capacity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining that the rate of change of the indoor temperature is below the predetermined rate threshold comprises:
 determining that a predetermined time interval has passed since the variable speed compressor, the indoor fan, and the outdoor fan began operating at the first capacity level; and   determining that the indoor temperature has not changed by at least a predetermined temperature differential within the predetermined time interval.