Air conditioner units with improved makeup air systems and methods

Abstract

An air conditioner unit and methods of operating the same are provided. The air conditioner unit may include a housing and a makeup air system. The housing defines an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. Methods of operating the air conditioner unit may include, and/or a controller of the air conditioner unit may be configured for, determining an air quality characteristic and operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit comprising a housing and a makeup air system, the housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion, the method comprising: 
 determining an air quality characteristic; and operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the makeup air system comprises a door, the door movable between an open position wherein makeup air flow from the outdoor portion is permitted and a closed position wherein air flow directly from the outdoor portion is obstructed, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic comprises determining a position of the door based on the determined air quality characteristic and moving the door to the determined position. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the makeup air system comprises a fan operable to urge a flow of air between the outdoor portion and the indoor portion, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic comprises determining a speed of the fan based on the determined air quality characteristic and operating the fan at the determined speed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the air quality characteristic comprises measuring at least one of an outdoor air quality characteristic with an outdoor air quality sensor and an indoor air quality characteristic with an indoor air quality sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the air quality characteristic comprises measuring both of the outdoor air quality characteristic with the outdoor air quality sensor and the indoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality sensor.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising comparing the outdoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality characteristic, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic is in response to the comparison of the outdoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality characteristic. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the air quality characteristic comprises receiving, by a controller of the air conditioner unit, air quality data via a wireless signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the air quality data represents an outdoor air quality characteristic, further comprising measuring, with an indoor air quality sensor of the air conditioner unit, an indoor air quality characteristic.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising comparing the outdoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality characteristic, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic is in response to the comparison of the outdoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality characteristic. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a user notification of the determined air quality characteristic and receiving an input in response to the user notification, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic comprises operating the makeup air system based on the received input. 
     
     
         11 . An air conditioner unit, comprising: 
 a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion; a makeup air system; and a controller, the controller configured for:     determining an air quality characteristic; and operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic.     
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the makeup air system comprises a door, the door movable between an open position wherein air flow from the outdoor portion is permitted and a closed position wherein air flow from the outdoor portion is obstructed, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic comprises determining a position of the door based on the determined air quality characteristic and moving the door to the determined position. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the makeup air system comprises a fan operable to urge a flow of air between the outdoor portion and the indoor portion, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic comprises determining a speed of the fan based on the determined air quality characteristic and operating the fan at the determined speed. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein determining the air quality characteristic comprises measuring at least one of an outdoor air quality characteristic with an outdoor air quality sensor and an indoor air quality characteristic with an indoor air quality sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 14 , wherein determining the air quality characteristic comprises measuring both of the outdoor air quality characteristic with the outdoor air quality sensor and the indoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality sensor.  
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured for comparing the outdoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality characteristic, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic is in response to the comparison of the outdoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality characteristic. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein determining the air quality characteristic comprises receiving, by the controller of the air conditioner unit, air quality data via a wireless signal. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 17 , wherein the air quality data represents an outdoor air quality characteristic, further comprising measuring, with an indoor air quality sensor of the air conditioner unit, an indoor air quality characteristic.  
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured for comparing the outdoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality characteristic, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic is in response to the comparison of the outdoor air quality characteristic with the indoor air quality characteristic. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured for providing a user notification of the determined air quality characteristic and receiving an input in response to the user notification, wherein operating the makeup air system in response to the determined air quality characteristic comprises operating the makeup air system based on the received input.