Supplemental Heat Source in Self-Contained Heat Pump Room Conditioning Units

Abstract

A room conditioning unit having a heat pump is disclosed herein. An electronics board can be located in a compartment in an indoor portion of the room conditioning unit. During heating mode, air can be passed across the electronics board to warm the air, and the warmed air can then be mixed with intake air that is being directed toward the indoor coil for heating.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an indoor portion configured to be positioned within an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil; and   an outdoor portion configured to be positioned about an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil,   wherein the indoor portion comprises electronics configured to control operations of the air conditioning unit,   wherein the electronics generate heat when controlling operations of the air conditioning unit, and   wherein the heat generated by the electronics is provided to the internal portion of the building.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the indoor portion comprises a blower configured to draw air into the indoor portion and blow air out of the indoor portion and into the internal portion of the building. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the indoor portion comprises an air inlet configured to receive air from the internal portion of the building and an air outlet configured to provide air to the internal portion. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the indoor portion comprises a filter configured to filter air entering the indoor portion. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the indoor portion comprises a fan configured to draw air past the electronics to extract heat generated by the electronics. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein the fan is configured to draw air past the electronics and to the blower. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein the fan is configured to draw air past the electronics and through the indoor heat exchanging coil. 
     
     
         8 . An air conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an indoor portion configured to be positioned within an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil; and   an outdoor portion configured to be positioned about an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil,   wherein the indoor portion comprises a fan and a heat sink associated with electronics, and   wherein the fan is configured to draw air past the heat sink to remove heat from the heat sink.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 8 , wherein the indoor portion comprises a blower configured to draw air into the indoor portion and blow air out of the indoor portion and into the internal portion of the building. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 8 , wherein the indoor portion comprises an air inlet configured to receive air from the internal portion of the building and an air outlet configured to provide air to the internal portion. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 8 , wherein the indoor portion comprises a filter configured to filter air entering the indoor portion. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 9 , wherein the fan is configured to draw air past the heat sink and to the blower. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 8 , wherein the fan is configured to draw air past the heat sink and through the indoor heat exchanging coil. 
     
     
         14 . An air conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an indoor portion configured to be positioned within an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil; and   an outdoor portion configured to be positioned about an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil,   wherein the indoor portion comprises a blower and a heat source separate from the indoor heat exchanging coil,   wherein the heat source is configured to generate heat, and   wherein the blower is configured to provide the heat from the heat source to the internal portion of the building.   
     
     
         15 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 14 , wherein blower is configured to draw air into the indoor portion and blow air out of the indoor portion and into the internal portion of the building. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 14 , wherein the indoor portion comprises an air inlet configured to receive air from the internal portion of the building and an air outlet configured to provide air to the internal portion. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 14 , wherein the indoor portion comprises a filter configured to filter air entering the indoor portion. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 14 , wherein the indoor portion comprises a fan configured to draw air past the heat source to extract the heat from the heat source. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 18 , wherein the fan is configured to draw air past the heat source and to the blower. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 18 , wherein the fan is configured to draw air past the heat source and through the indoor heat exchanging coil.