System and method for generating white noise using a packaged terminal air conditioner unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11530822-B2
Application number	US-201916568454-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2019
Priority date	Sep 12, 2019
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

A packaged terminal air conditioner unit (PTAC) includes a bulkhead that defines an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. An outdoor fan is positioned within the outdoor portion and a controller is communicatively coupled with the outdoor fan for receiving a command to generate white noise and operating the outdoor fan to create the white noise at a desired decibel level to block out ambient sounds. A user may regulate the outdoor fan speed when the PTAC is not heating or cooling by setting a desired decibel level, e.g., using a control panel of the PTAC.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioner unit, comprising:
a bulkhead defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion;
an outdoor fan positioned within the outdoor portion for urging a flow of air through the outdoor portion; and
a controller communicatively coupled with the outdoor fan, the controller configured for:
receiving a command to generate white noise;
obtaining a nominal room noise level; and
operating the outdoor fan to generate the white noise at a decibel level equal to the nominal room noise level plus a noise spike tolerance threshold.

2. The air conditioner unit of claim 1 , wherein the outdoor fan is a variable speed fan and wherein operating the outdoor fan to generate the white noise comprises:
adjusting a speed of the outdoor fan to regulate a decibel level of the white noise.

3. The air conditioner unit of claim 1 , wherein receiving the command to generate the white noise comprises:
receiving a command to operate the outdoor fan in a high noise mode, a medium noise mode, or a low noise mode of operation.

4. The air conditioner unit of claim 3 , wherein the outdoor fan rotates at 1300 RPM in the high noise mode, at 1200 RPM in the medium noise mode, and at 1000 RPM in the low noise mode.

5. The air conditioner unit of claim 1 , wherein the noise spike tolerance threshold is between about 5 and 15 decibels.

6. The air conditioner unit of claim 1 , wherein the noise spike tolerance threshold is about 6 decibels.

7. The air conditioner unit of claim 1 , wherein receiving the command to generate the white noise comprises:
receiving a command to operate the outdoor fan to generate the white noise at a user selected decibel level.

8. The air conditioner unit of claim 1 , wherein a user generates the command to generate the white noise using a user interface panel.

9. The air conditioner unit of claim 8 , wherein the user interface panel has a high noise button, a medium noise button, and a low noise button.

10. A method of generating white noise using a packaged terminal air conditioner unit, the method comprising:
receiving a command to generate the white noise;
obtaining a nominal room noise level; and
operating the outdoor fan to generate the white noise at a decibel level equal to the nominal room noise level plus a noise spike tolerance threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the outdoor fan is a variable speed fan and wherein operating the outdoor fan to generate the white noise comprises:
adjusting a speed of the outdoor fan to regulate a decibel level of the white noise.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the command to generate the white noise comprises:
receiving a command to operate the outdoor fan in a high noise mode, a medium noise mode, or a low noise mode of operation.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the outdoor fan rotates at 1300 RPM in the high noise mode, at 1200 RPM in the medium noise mode, and at 1000 RPM in the low noise mode.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the noise spike tolerance threshold is between about 6 decibels.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the command to generate the white noise comprises:
receiving a command to operate the outdoor fan to generate the white noise at a user selected decibel level.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein a user generates the command to generate the white noise using a user interface panel.

17. An air conditioner unit, comprising:
a bulkhead defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion;
an outdoor fan positioned within the outdoor portion for urging a flow of air through the outdoor portion; and
a controller communicatively coupled with the outdoor fan, the controller configured for:
receiving a command to generate white noise;
obtaining a nominal room noise level; and
operating the outdoor fan to generate the white noise at a decibel level equal to the nominal room noise level plus a noise spike tolerance threshold.

18. The air conditioner unit of claim 17 , wherein the outdoor fan is a variable speed fan and wherein operating the outdoor fan to generate the white noise comprises:
adjusting a speed of the outdoor fan to regulate a decibel level of the white noise.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Shaffer Timothy Scott

Classifications

• F24F1/40 Primary

  Vibration or noise prevention at outdoor units (for outdoor units compressors F24F1/12) · CPC title

• F24F11/65

  for selecting an operating mode · CPC title

• F24F13/24 Primary

  Means for preventing or suppressing noise · CPC title

• F24F2013/245

  using resonance · CPC title

• F24F1/027

  mounted in wall openings, e.g. in windows · CPC title