Air conditioner appliance and methods for generating white noise

Abstract

An air conditioning system includes a microphone and an air conditioner unit configured for conditioning a room. The air conditioning unit includes a fan and a controller in signal communication with the fan and the microphone. The method includes receiving a command indicative of operating the air conditioning unit in a sound mode, activating the fan of the air conditioner unit in response to the received command, monitoring, through the microphone, an environment noise condition, and adjusting a speed of the fan in response to the monitored environment noise condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising a microphone and an air conditioner unit configured for conditioning a room, the air conditioning unit comprising a fan and a controller in signal communication with the fan and the microphone, the method comprising: 
 receiving, by the controller, a command indicative of operating the air conditioning unit in a sound mode;   activating, by the controller, the fan of the air conditioner unit in response to the received command;   monitoring, through the microphone, an environment noise condition; and   adjusting, by the controller, a speed of the fan in response to the monitored environment noise condition.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microphone is integrated into the air conditioning unit.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for communication over a network, wherein the microphone comprises an external device in network communication with the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the external device comprises one or more of a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, a smart watch, a thermostat, and a smart home system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a command indicative of a sound level while operating the air conditioning unit in the sound mode.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the command indicative of a sound level comprises a desired speed of the fan.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the environment noise condition comprises an ambient noise level monitored by the microphone.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a packaged terminal air conditioner.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fan of the air conditioning unit comprises a centrifugal fan. 
     
     
         10 . An air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising: 
 a microphone; and   an air conditioner unit for conditioning a room, the air conditioner unit comprising a fan and a controller in signal communication with the fan and the microphone, the controller configured to perform an operation, the operation comprising: 
 receiving a command indicative of operating the air conditioning unit in a sound mode;  
 activating the fan of the air conditioner unit in response to the received command;  
 monitoring, through the microphone, an environment noise condition; and 
 adjusting a speed of the fan in response to the monitored environment noise condition.  
   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the microphone is integrated into the air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured for communication over a network, wherein the microphone comprises an external device in network communication with the controller. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning system of  claim 12 , wherein the external device comprises one or more of a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, a smart watch, a thermostat, and a smart home system. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a command indicative of a sound level while operating the air conditioning unit in the sound mode.  
     
     
         15 . The air conditioning system of  claim 14 , wherein the command indicative of a sound level comprises a desired speed of the fan.  
     
     
         16 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the environment noise condition comprises an ambient noise level monitored by the microphone.  
     
     
         17 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a packaged terminal air conditioner.  
     
     
         18 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the fan of the air conditioning unit comprises a centrifugal fan.