CN107435978B

CN107435978B - Indoor unit of air conditioner

Info

Publication number: CN107435978B
Application number: CN201710270195.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金知虹; 卢珍熙; 李亮和
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2016-05-27
Filing date: 2017-04-24
Publication date: 2020-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-24
Also published as: CN107435978A; KR20170133966A; KR101936209B1

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner. The indoor unit of the air conditioner of the present embodiment includes a sensor device provided on a side surface portion of a casing. And, the sensor device includes: a housing suction part for sucking air for detecting dust amount; and a housing discharge portion for discharging air sucked through the housing suction portion.

Description

Indoor unit of air conditioner

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner.

Background

An air conditioner (air conditioner) is a device that maintains air in a prescribed space in an optimum state according to the use and purpose. Generally, the air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, and drives a refrigeration cycle for performing compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes of a refrigerant, thereby being capable of supplying cold or hot wind to the prescribed space.

The predetermined space may be various according to a place where the air conditioner is used. For example, when the air conditioner is disposed in a home or an office, the predetermined space may be an indoor space of a house or a building.

When the air conditioner is operated with cold air, the outdoor heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit functions as an evaporator. In contrast, in the case where the air conditioner is operated with hot wind, the indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator.

The air conditioner is divided into a vertical type, a wall-mounted type or a ceiling type according to the setting position. The vertical air conditioner is an air conditioner vertically arranged in an indoor space, and the wall-mounted air conditioner is an air conditioner attached to a wall surface. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner is an air conditioner installed on a ceiling.

The air conditioner may be provided with a dust sensor. The dust sensor is used for detecting the amount of dust contained in the air of the indoor space and controlling the operation of the air conditioner based on the information of the detected amount of dust.

The present applicant has filed a patent (hereinafter, referred to as a prior art) on an air conditioner having a dust sensor and has been disclosed. The information of the prior art documents is as follows.

1. Korea 10-2006-

2. The invention relates to a method for operating a split air conditioner

The separate type air conditioner disclosed in the prior art is constituted by a wall-mounted type air conditioner. The indoor unit of the air conditioner includes a dust sensor mounted to a filter unit, and the dust sensor may be disposed at a position easily contacting indoor air sucked into the interior of the filter unit. With this arrangement, the dust sensor can detect the amount of dust contained in the air sucked into the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

Disclosure of Invention

However, this prior art has a problem in that it is difficult to accurately detect the amount of dust contained in the air because the flow rate of air to be sucked is relatively fast. That is, a phenomenon occurs in which dust contained in the air is discharged from the dust sensor without being detected.

Further, if the dust sensor is provided at the outlet side of the filter unit, it is difficult to accurately detect the amount of dust in the indoor space because it detects the amount of dust contained in the air having filtered a predetermined amount of dust.

In addition, dust is accumulated in the dust sensor after a long time in a state where the dust sensor is mounted in the indoor unit, and it becomes difficult for the dust sensor to accurately measure the amount of dust if the amount of accumulated dust increases. Accordingly, a dust sensor needs to be cleaned, and since the dust sensor is mounted inside the indoor unit in the above-described conventional art, there is a problem in that the dust sensor is removed and cleaned.

In order to solve the above problem, an object of the present embodiment is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner, the indoor unit including a sensor device that easily detects an amount of dust in an indoor space.

In particular, the present embodiment aims to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner, in which the indoor unit is not affected by the intake and exhaust airflow and which is easy to detect based on the amount of dust of a dust sensor.

Another object of the present embodiment is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which a dust sensor mounted in the indoor unit of the air conditioner is easily separated or cleaned.

In addition, an object of the present embodiment is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner that allows air to smoothly flow into a dust sensor, thereby facilitating measurement of the amount of dust discharged.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner of the present embodiment includes a sensor device provided on a side surface portion of a casing (housing).

The sensor device includes: a case (case) suction part for sucking air for detecting an amount of dust; and a housing discharge portion for discharging air sucked through the housing suction portion.

The airflows B1, B2 for detecting the amount of dust are generated independently of the airflows a1, a2 for conditioning the air.

The sensor device includes: a housing having the housing intake portion and the housing discharge portion; and a dust sensor disposed inside the housing.

The case includes a first case joined to a side surface of the housing and including a first connecting portion.

The housing also includes a second housing having a second coupling portion engaged with the first coupling portion.

The dust sensor is disposed in an internal space formed by the first housing and the second housing.

The first housing includes: a substrate supporting part for supporting a sensor substrate of the dust sensor; and a through hole through which an electric wire for supplying power to the inside of the housing is passed.

The second housing includes a suction guide portion communicating with the housing suction portion and for causing air sucked from the housing suction portion to flow into the dust sensor.

The second housing further includes a discharge guide portion communicating with the housing discharge portion and guiding the air passing through the dust sensor to the housing discharge portion.

The second housing further includes a sensor approaching hole configured to penetrate between the suction guide portion and the discharge guide portion, thereby guiding approaching to the dust sensor.

The second housing further includes a sensor support portion extending from the suction guide portion toward the first housing direction and supporting the dust sensor.

The housing further includes a third housing detachably engageable with the first housing or the second housing.

The case suction part and the case discharge part are formed in a third case.

A through hole for guiding the suction and discharge of air is formed in the third housing.

The through hole includes the housing suction part and the housing discharge part.

The third housing further includes a dividing portion provided on both sides of the through hole.

The lower portion of the through hole forms the housing suction portion, and the upper portion of the through hole forms the housing discharge portion.

The through hole is circular or elliptical.

The dust sensor includes: a sensor substrate supported by the housing; and a sensor case provided on one side of the sensor substrate and provided with a light transmitting portion and a light receiving portion.

The sensor housing includes: a sensor suction portion for flowing in air sucked through the housing suction portion; a sensor discharge portion that discharges air from the sensor housing and leads to the housing discharge portion; and a sensor flow path extending upward from the sensor suction portion toward the sensor discharge portion.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to another embodiment includes a sensor device including a dust sensor provided on a side surface portion of a casing and having a cleaning hole.

The sensor device includes: a first housing engaged with a side surface portion of the housing; a second housing engaged with the first housing and having a sensor proximity hole that may be adjacent to a cleaning hole of the dust sensor; and a third housing detachably engageable with the second housing.

The third housing includes: a housing suction portion for sucking air into the sensor flow path; and a housing discharge portion for discharging air passing through the sensor flow path.

The following effects are obtained according to the above embodiment: the sensor device is arranged on the side surface of the indoor unit casing, so that the sensor device can easily measure the dust amount without being influenced by the air flow sucked into and discharged from the indoor unit. In particular, the following advantages are provided: since the flow rate of the air flowing into the sensor device is low, the amount of dust contained in the air can be accurately measured.

In addition, since the sensor device includes the housing and the dust sensor disposed inside the housing, the dust sensor can be protected by the housing, so that the operational reliability of the dust sensor can be improved.

In addition, since the sensor device can be provided so as to be separable from the indoor unit, there is an advantage that cleaning or maintenance of the sensor device is easy.

Further, since the housing provided in the sensor device is provided so as to be openable, there is an advantage that the proximity of the dust sensor becomes easy.

In particular, the housing includes first to third housings, the third housing being detachably engaged with the second housing, and the second housing may be formed with a hole that can be approached by the dust sensor. Therefore, the user merely separates the third housing to expose the second housing, and can easily approach the dust sensor through the hole. As a result, there is an advantage that the dust sensor can be easily cleaned only by opening the casing without separating the sensor device from the indoor unit.

Further, the housing suction portion formed in the third housing, the suction guide portion formed in the second housing, and the sensor suction portion formed in the dust sensor are arranged in the front-rear direction, and the housing suction portion or the suction guide portion is formed to be larger than the size of the sensor suction portion, so that there is an advantage that air can smoothly flow into the sensor device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view showing a structure of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a partial structure of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along III-III' of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing the structure of the first housing of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the structure of the second housing of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 and 11 are diagrams showing the structure of a third housing of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a front view showing the structure of a dust sensor of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along XIII-XIII' of fig. 4.

Fig. 14 is an experimental graph showing a difference in dust amount detected according to the size of the housing suction portion in the sensor device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and those skilled in the art who understand the technical idea of the present invention may suggest other embodiments within the scope of the same technical idea.

Fig. 1 is a front view showing a structure of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a partial structure of the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along III-III' of fig. 1.

Referring to fig. 1, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an indoor unit 10. For example, the indoor unit 10 may be a wall-mounted indoor unit installed on a wall surface of an indoor space.

The indoor unit 10 includes an outer case 100 for forming an external appearance. The housing 100 includes: a front surface part 101 for forming a front appearance of the indoor unit; and side surface portions 103 provided on both sides of the front surface portion 101 and extending rearward from the front surface portion 101 toward a wall surface.

The housing 100 further includes a rear surface portion 105 disposed behind the side surface portion 103. The rear surface portion 105 is disposed between the two side surface portions 103 and is joined to a wall surface of an indoor space.

The front part 101, the two side parts 103, and the rear part 105 form an internal space in which a plurality of components provided in the indoor unit 10 can be accommodated. The plurality of components may include a heat exchanger (not shown), a fan (not shown), and the like.

The indoor unit 10 further includes a suction grill 120 disposed at an upper portion of the casing 100. The suction grill (grip) 120 may form an upper surface portion of the casing 100. The suction grill 120 is formed with a suction port 125 for sucking air in the indoor space into the indoor unit 10. The air sucked from the suction port 125 can be cooled or heated while passing through the heat exchanger.

The indoor unit 10 further includes a discharge plate 140, and the discharge plate 140 is disposed at a lower portion of the casing 100 and has a discharge port 142 for discharging air sucked into the indoor unit 10. A discharge vane (vane)145 may be disposed at the discharge port 142, and the discharge vane 145 may be movably disposed to adjust a discharge direction or an air volume of the air discharged from the discharge port 142. For example, the discharge vane 145 may be rotatable in a front-rear direction about hinge shafts disposed at both ends of the discharge vane 145.

When the fan is driven, air in the indoor space is sucked into the indoor unit 10 through the suction grill 120, and heat exchange is performed in the heat exchanger. The heat-exchanged air may be discharged through the discharge port 142.

In the present embodiment, a description has been given of a case where the suction unit for sucking air into the indoor unit is located at the upper part of the indoor unit and the discharge unit for discharging air is located at the lower part of the indoor unit. However, in contrast, the suction part may be located at a lower portion of the indoor unit, and the discharge part may be located at an upper portion of the indoor unit. As another example, a suction portion or a discharge portion may be additionally formed on the front surface 101 of the housing 100.

In order to solve the above problem, the indoor unit 10 according to the present invention can be configured to generate airflows such as upper suction and lower discharge, lower suction and upper discharge, front suction and lower discharge, and upper suction and front discharge.

The side surface part 103 of the housing 100 may have a sensor device 200 capable of detecting the amount of dust contained in the air of the indoor space. By providing the sensor device 200 on the side surface 103, the amount of dust can be detected by sucking only a small amount of air into the sensor device 200 without being affected by the air flow sucked and discharged by the indoor unit 10.

Specifically, referring to fig. 2, air in the indoor space can be sucked into the indoor unit 10 (suction airflow a1) from the upper side of the indoor unit 10 through the suction port 125. The air that has exchanged heat inside the indoor unit 10 can be discharged to the front or the lower side of the indoor unit 10 through the discharge port 142 (discharge airflow a 2).

The sensor device 200 is provided on the side surface 103. The sensor device 200 includes: a housing suction part 255 that sucks air for detecting the amount of dust; and a casing discharge part 256 for discharging the air with the detected dust amount into the indoor space. Indoor air around the sensor device 200 can be sucked into the sensor device 200 through the housing suction part 255 (sensor suction airflow B1). The air whose dust amount has been detected inside the sensor device 200 can be discharged to the outside of the sensor device 200 through the case discharge portion 256 (sensor discharge airflow B2).

As described above, by providing the sensor device 200 in the side surface portion 103, the sensor intake airflow B1 and the sensor exhaust airflow B2 can be generated independently of the intake airflow a1 and the exhaust airflow a 2. As a result, the sensor intake air flow B1 and the sensor exhaust air flow B2 are not affected by the intake air flow a1 and the exhaust air flow a2, and therefore, the flow rate of the air flowing into the sensor device 200 can be reduced, and the amount of dust contained in the air can be accurately measured.

Referring to fig. 3, the sensor device 200 is detachably engaged with the side surface part 103 of the housing 100. The sensor device 200 includes an engagement protrusion 212 a. The side surface 103 includes a side surface engagement portion 103a to which the engagement protrusion 212a can be engaged.

The side engagement portion 103a may include a hole or a groove into which the engagement protrusion 212a can be inserted. Also, the engagement protrusion 212a may be provided with a hook type protrusion that is elastically deformable. The engagement projection 212a is detachably attached to the side engagement portion 103a, and thus the sensor device 200 is detachably attached to the indoor unit 10.

According to this structure, when cleaning or maintenance of the sensor device 200 is required, the sensor device 200 is separated from the indoor unit 10, thereby facilitating the cleaning or maintenance.

The sensor device 200 can be attached to another indoor unit or easily installed in another indoor space after being detached. Therefore, the following advantages are provided: in particular, in the case where a living space or an office space is divided into a plurality of spaces or rooms and indoor units are provided in the respective spaces, the sensor device 200 can be attached to and detached from the indoor unit in the space in which the amount of dust needs to be measured, thereby facilitating the measurement of the amount of dust.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 6 and 7 are views showing the structure of a first housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 4 and 5, a sensor device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

housings

210, 230, 250; a dust sensor 270 disposed inside the

housing

210, 230, 250.

The

housing

210, 230, 250 includes: a first case 210 engaged with the side surface 103 of the housing 100; a second housing 230 engaged with the front of the first housing 210; and a third housing 250 coupled to a front of the second housing 230.

The direction is defined. The first to

third casings

210, 230, and 250 are arranged on the side of the casing 100 with reference to the overall structure of the indoor unit 10, and when the indoor unit 10 is viewed from the side, it can be understood that: the first housing 210 is disposed at a rear portion of the sensor device 200, and the third housing 250 is disposed at a front portion of the sensor device 200. Therefore, hereinafter, a case where the third housing 250 forms the front of the sensor device 200 and the first housing 210 forms the rear of the sensor device 200 will be described.

A case suction portion 255 for sucking air and a case discharge portion 256 for discharging air are formed in a front portion of the sensor device 200. That is, the sensor device 200 is configured to suck air from the front, detect the amount of dust, and then discharge the dust from the front of the sensor device 200.

The first housing 210 includes a first housing body 211 for forming an arrangement space of the dust sensor 270. In detail, the first housing body 211 includes: a housing engagement portion 212 that engages with the side surface portion 103 of the housing 100; and a contour portion 213 protruding forward from an outer peripheral surface of the housing joint portion 212.

The housing engaging portion 212 may have a circular plate shape, and the contour portion 213 may have a ring shape. The first housing body 211 may have a cylindrical shape with a front portion opened according to the structures of the housing engagement portion 212 and the contour portion 213.

The housing engagement portion 212 includes an engagement projection 212a that engages with the side surface engagement portion 103a of the side surface portion 103. The engaging projection 212a is provided so as to project rearward from the rear surface of the housing engaging portion 212.

The first housing 210 includes a substrate support part 214 for supporting a sensor substrate 271 of the dust sensor 270. The substrate support portion 214 is provided to protrude forward from the front surface of the housing joint portion 212. The substrate supporting part 214 is provided to support an outer surface of the sensor substrate 271, and may have a shape bent a plurality of times corresponding to a shape of the sensor substrate 271.

The first housing 210 further includes a support protrusion 215 for supporting the rear surface of the sensor substrate 271. The support protrusion 215 protrudes forward from the front surface of the housing engagement portion 212, and may be provided in plurality. The substrate supporting part 214 is disposed to surround the sensor substrate 271, and the supporting protrusion 215 may be provided to support the rear surface of the sensor substrate 271 inside the substrate supporting part 214.

The first housing 210 further includes a first coupling portion 216 coupled to the second housing 230. The first coupling portion 216 may be provided to protrude forward from the front surface of the housing coupling portion 212. A predetermined coupling member is coupled to the first coupling portion 216 and extends toward the second housing 230, so that the second coupling portion 236 of the second housing 230 can be coupled thereto. The first and

second housings

210 and 230 can be stably joined by joining the first and

second coupling portions

216 and 236.

The first housing 210 has a through hole 217. The electric wire can pass through the through hole 217. The electric wire may be connected with an internal part of the indoor unit 10 and may extend to the dust sensor 270. The power supply of the indoor unit 10 may supply power to the dust sensor 270 through the electric wire. The electric signal of the dust sensor 270 may be transmitted to a control unit (not shown) of the indoor unit 10 via the electric wire.

The contoured portion 213 also includes a first hook (hook)218 that engages the third housing 250. The first hook 218 is detachably engaged with a second hook 258 provided to the contour portion 213 of the third housing 250. The first and

second hooks

218, 258 are detachably engaged with each other. The first and

second hooks

218 and 258 may be provided in plurality.

Fig. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the structure of the second housing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 8 and 9, the second housing 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a second housing body 231 coupled to the first housing 210. The second case body 231 may have a substantially circular plate shape.

The second housing main body 231 has a plurality of through holes formed therein. The plurality of through holes include a first through hole 232 for guiding air sucked through the case suction part 255 of the third case 250 to the dust sensor 270. The first through hole 232 may be referred to as a "suction guide portion".

A sensor support 235 for supporting the dust sensor 270 may be provided at a lower portion of the first through hole 232. The sensor support 235 extends rearward from the rear surface of the second housing body 231 toward the first housing 210, and may support a lower portion of the dust sensor 270.

Among the plurality of through holes, a second through hole 233 for guiding the air discharged from the dust sensor 270 to the case discharge part 256 of the third case 250 is further included. The second through hole 233 may be referred to as a "discharge guide".

In order to allow a user to approach the dust sensor 270, a third through hole 234 is further formed to penetrate through the plurality of through holes. The third through hole 234 may be referred to as a "sensor proximity hole".

The sensor proximity hole 234 may be configured to communicate with the purge hole 275 of the dust sensor 270. That is, the sensor proximity aperture 234 may be located forward of the purge aperture 275. In a state where the third housing 250 is separated, the cleaning hole 275 is exposed to the outside through the sensor proximity hole 234. The user approaches the dust sensor 270 through the sensor approach hole 234 and the cleaning hole 275, and thus can perform cleaning of the dust sensor 270.

The second through hole 233 may be positioned at an upper side of the first through hole 232. Correspondingly, the sensor discharge part 274 of the dust sensor 270 may be positioned at an upper side of the sensor suction part 273. The dust sensor 270 is configured such that air drawn into a lower portion of the dust sensor 270 flows into an upper portion of the dust sensor 270.

The third through hole 234 may be located between the first through hole 232 and the second through hole 233. The third through hole 234 is disposed at a position corresponding to the cleaning hole 275, and may be disposed at a position corresponding to a sensor flow passage 279 (see fig. 13) which is an air flow passage inside the dust sensor 270. The sensor flow path 279 may be understood as: and an air flow path extending upward from the sensor suction portion 273 toward the sensor discharge portion 274.

The first to third through

holes

232, 233, 234 may be divided by a dividing rib (rib) 239. The partitioning rib 239 may include: a first partitioning rib for partitioning the first through-hole 232 and the third through-hole 234; and a second partitioning rib for partitioning the third through hole 234 and the second through hole 233.

The second housing body 231 further includes a second coupling portion 236 engaged with the first housing 210. As described above, the first case 210 and the second case 230 can be joined by joining a predetermined coupling member to the second coupling member 236 and the first coupling portion 216 of the first case 210. A plurality of the second coupling parts 236 may be provided at both sides of the second case body 231.

The second housing main body 231 includes a third coupling portion 237 engaged with the third housing 250. The third coupling portion 237 is detachably engaged with a fourth coupling portion 257 provided to the third housing 250. For example, the third coupling portion 237 may include a coupling hole, and the fourth coupling portion 257 may include a hook inserted into the coupling hole. As another example, the third coupling portion 237 may be provided with a hook, and the fourth coupling portion 257 may include a coupling hole into which the hook is inserted. A plurality of the third coupling portions 237 may be provided at both sides of the second case body 231.

Fig. 10 and 11 are views showing the structure of a third housing of an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 10 and 11, the third housing 250 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a third housing body 251 coupled to the first housing 210 and the second housing 230. For example, the third casing main body 251 may have a substantially circular plate shape.

The third housing 250 includes: a case suction part 255 for sucking indoor air; a case discharge part 256 for discharging the air passing through the dust sensor 270 to an indoor space. The casing suction part 255 and the casing discharge part 256 are provided with through holes penetrating the front and rear of the third casing main body 251, respectively.

The housing discharge part 256 may be located at an upper side of the housing suction part 255. Such a configuration may correspond to: the second through hole 233 of the second housing 230 is positioned above the first through hole 232, and the sensor discharge portion 274 of the dust sensor 270 is positioned above the sensor suction portion 273.

The third housing 250 further includes a dividing portion 254 for dividing the housing suction portion 255 and the housing discharge portion 256. The housing suction part 255 is formed at a lower side of the dividing part 254, and the housing discharge part 256 is formed at an upper side of the dividing part 254. Also, a plurality of the dividing parts 254 may be provided at both sides of the case suction part 255 and the case discharge part 256.

The housing suction part 255 may have a substantially semicircular or semi-elliptical shape. The casing discharge part 256 may be positioned above the casing suction part 255 and may have a substantially semicircular or semi-elliptical shape. The shape of the casing suction part 255 and the casing discharge part 256 may be the same, and may have the same area.

With this shape, it is possible to easily suck room air in a relatively wide area in front of the sensor device 200 into the housing suction part 255. Also, the housing suction part 255 and the housing discharge part 256 have shapes and areas corresponding to each other, whereby a pressure loss of air passing through the sensor flow passage 279 can be prevented.

The description is made based on other points of view.

Through

holes

255 and 256 for guiding the intake and discharge of air are formed in the third housing main body 251. The through

holes

255, 256 may have a substantially circular or elliptical shape. The housing main body 251 further includes a partition portion 254 provided on both sides of the through

holes

255 and 256. According to the dividing portion 254, the lower portion of the through hole forms the housing suction portion 255, and the upper portion of the through hole forms the housing discharge portion 256.

The third housing 250 further includes a second hook 258 coupled to the first housing 210. The second hook 258 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the third casing main body 251. The plurality of second hooks 258 may be disposed at intervals on the edge of the housing main body 251. Also, the second hook 258 is detachably engaged with the first hook 218 of the first housing 210.

The third housing 250 further includes a fourth coupling portion 257 separably engaged with the second housing 230. The fourth connecting portion 257 may protrude rearward from the dividing portion 254. The fourth coupling portion 257 may be provided in plurality corresponding to the number of the dividing portions 254.

Fig. 12 is a front view showing the structure of a dust sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along XIII-XIII' of fig. 4.

Referring to fig. 12 and 13, a dust sensor 270 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be disposed in an inner space defined by the first and

second housings

210 and 230. In other words, the dust sensor 270 may be disposed between the first case 210 and the second case 230.

In detail, the dust sensor 270 includes: a sensor substrate 271 provided with a terminal portion 285; and a sensor case 272 joined to the sensor substrate 271 and incorporating a heater 283, a light transmitting unit 281, and a light receiving unit 282. The terminal portion 285 may be connected to an electric wire or a predetermined connector (connector) connected to the electric wire.

A sensor flow path 279, which is a flow path of air for detecting the amount of dust, may be provided inside the sensor housing 272.

The sensor housing 272 further includes a sensor suction portion 273 for sucking air passing through the third housing 250 and the second housing 230. The sensor suction portion 273 is disposed at a lower portion of the sensor case 272 and penetrates the front surface of the sensor case 272.

Also, the heater 283 may be provided at one side of the sensor suction part 273. The heater 283 functions to increase the temperature of the air around the sensor suction portion 273. When the heater 283 is driven, the temperature of the air around the sensor suction portion 273 is increased to lower the density thereof, thereby lowering the pressure thereof. Therefore, the pressure of the air around the sensor device 200, that is, around the housing suction portion 255 is relatively high, and an air flow from the housing suction portion 255 toward the sensor suction portion 273 is generated.

The air sucked through the sensor suction portion 273 tends to flow upward due to the decrease in density. Therefore, the sensor flow channel 279 can extend upward from the sensor suction portion 273.

Also, a sensor discharge portion 274 for discharging air may be formed at an upper side of the sensor flow path 279. The sensor discharge portion 274 may be formed to penetrate the front surface of the sensor housing 272. That is, the sensor discharge portion 274 is disposed above the sensor suction portion 273. According to this configuration, the casing discharge part 256 may be disposed on the upper side of the casing suction part 255, and the second through hole 233 may be disposed on the upper side of the first through hole 232.

A light transmitting unit 281 and a light receiving unit 282 may be disposed on both sides of the sensor flow path 279. The light transmitting unit 281 and the light receiving unit 282 include a light transmitting unit 281 that is disposed on one side of the sensor flow channel 279 and irradiates light. As an example, the Light transmitting part 281 may include a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

The light transmitting unit 281 and the light receiving unit 282 include a light receiving unit 282, and the light receiving unit 282 is disposed on the other side of the sensor flow passage 279, and measures sensitivity of light scattered by dust contained in the air when the light irradiated from the light transmitting unit 281 acts on the air flowing in the sensor flow passage 279. As an example, the light receiving portion 282 may include a Photodiode detector (photo detector). The light receiving portion 282 may receive a lower sensitivity of light as the amount of dust contained in the air increases, and thus the output voltage value may become high. That is, the light sensitivity is inversely proportional to the output voltage value.

The sensor housing 272 includes a cleaning aperture 275 that a user can access to clean the dust sensor 270. The purge hole 275 is formed by forming an opening in at least a portion of the front face of the sensor housing 272. The sensor proximity hole 234 of the second housing 230 is disposed in front of the cleaning hole 275, and the front of the sensor proximity hole 234 can be shielded by the third housing 250.

The user can clean foreign substances such as dust accumulated in the dust sensor 270 through the cleaning hole 275. Accordingly, first, the third housing 250 may be separated from the first housing 210 and the second housing 230. Then, the sensor proximity hole 234 is exposed to the outside, and the user can approach the cleaning hole 275 through the sensor proximity hole 234 without detaching the second housing 230, thereby easily cleaning the dust sensor 270.

The case suction part 255 of the first case 250, the second through hole 232 of the second case 230, and the sensor suction part 273 of the dust sensor 270 may be arranged in a row in the front-rear direction. That is, the housing suction part 255 may be formed in front of the sensor device 200, and the second through hole 232 and the sensor suction part 273 may be disposed at intervals in order from the housing suction part 255 to the rear. According to this configuration, the indoor air can be easily sucked into the sensor suction part 273 via the case suction part 255 and the second through hole 232.

The diameter d1 of the housing suction part 255 may be formed to be larger than the diameter d3 of the sensor suction part 273. Also, the diameter d2 of the second through hole 232 may be formed to be larger than the diameter d3 of the sensor suction part 273. According to this structure, the inlet side flow path of the sensor suction part 273 is formed to be relatively large, and thus a small flow resistance can be generated. Accordingly, the amount of air sucked can be sufficiently generated, and thus the dust amount detection by the dust sensor 270 can be easily realized. In this case, the output voltage value obtained by the light receiving portion 282 may be formed to be equal to or higher than a preset voltage value, which is a level capable of satisfying the sensor sensitivity required when detecting the amount of dust.

The operation of the sensor device 200 will be briefly described with reference to fig. 12 and 13.

When the heater 283 of the sensor device 200 is driven, the temperature of the air on the sensor intake portion 273 side rises and the density thereof decreases, thereby generating an air flow P1 from the outside (front) of the sensor device 200 toward the sensor intake portion 273. At this time, air may be sucked into the sensor suction part 273 via the case suction part 255 and the second through hole 232.

When the air sucked through the sensor suction part 273 rises along the sensor flow path 279, the dust particles P contained in the air also rise. Light L1 is irradiated from the light transmitting portion 281, and the irradiated light acts on the dust particles and is scattered. Then, the scattered light is received by the light receiving portion 282 at L2, and the received light sensitivity is converted into an output voltage value. Based on the output voltage value, the amount of dust can be determined.

The air rising along the sensor flow path 279 is discharged through the sensor discharge portion 274. Since the sensor discharge portion 274 is provided at the front surface of the sensor device 200, air can be discharged to the front of the sensor device 200 through the sensor discharge portion 274.

As described above, the diameter d1 of the housing suction part 255 may be formed to be larger than the diameter d3 of the sensor suction part 273. The graph in fig. 14 represents: the diameter of the sensor suction portion 273 is set to 4mm, and the change in the number of dust particles discharged is detected (counted) from the change in the dust amount concentration on the horizontal axis while changing the diameter of the housing suction portion 255.

The reference value on the graph indicates a state where no flow resistance due to the structure of the sensor device is generated at the inlet side of the sensor suction part 273, that is, a state where the inlet side of the sensor suction part 273 is completely opened. Therefore, in this state, it can be considered that the intake flow rate of air is the maximum. As an example, when the dust concentration is 300. mu.g/m³When the number of dust particles counted is about 900, the dust concentration is 250. mu.g/m³Ash of hour, countThe number of dust particles may be about 800.

In contrast, in the case where the diameter of the housing suction part 255 is 2.5mm smaller than the diameter of the sensor suction part 273, there may be a result that the third housing 250 shields a portion of the sensor suction part 273. This acts as a resistance to the suction flow of air and the number of dust particles counted may be reduced. As an example, when the dust concentration is 300. mu.g/m³When the number of dust particles counted is about 630, the dust concentration is 250. mu.g/m³The number of dust particles counted may be about 580.

When the diameter of the case suction portion 255 is 4mm, which is the same as the diameter of the sensor suction portion 273, the inlet side of the sensor suction portion 273 may be opened more. At this time, the sucked air flows in from the upper side, the lower side, and the front of the sensor suction part 273, respectively, and thus, even if the diameter of the case suction part 255 is the same as the diameter of the sensor suction part 273, it is difficult to be regarded as being completely opened in terms of air flow. That is, flow resistance may be generated.

However, the resistance to the suction flow may be reduced as compared with the case where the diameter of the housing suction part 255 is 2.5mm, and thus the number of counted dust particles may be reduced. As an example, when the dust concentration is 300. mu.g/m³When the number of the counted dust particles is about 820, the dust concentration is 250. mu.g/m³The number of dust particles counted may be about 700.

In the case where the diameter of the case suction part 255 is 6mm larger than the diameter of the sensor suction part 273, there is a possibility that the inlet side of the sensor suction part 273 is almost completely opened. Therefore, the resistance to inflow may be more reduced than in the case where the diameter of the housing suction part 255 is 4mm, and thus the number of counted dust particles may be reduced. As an example, when the dust concentration is 300. mu.g/m³When the number of the counted dust particles is about 840, the dust concentration is 250. mu.g/m³While counting dust particlesThe number of (2) may be about 720.

However, in the case where the diameter of the housing suction part 255 is 4mm and 6mm, the difference between the number of counted dust particles is not significant. The dust particles counted when the diameter of the housing suction part 255 is 4mm are at a desired level, i.e., the dust concentration is 300. mu.g/m ³800 of the counted number, the dust concentration is 250 mug/m³650 of the counted number are needed.

In order to conclude the above, the diameter of the housing suction part 255 of the present embodiment may be formed to be the same as the diameter of the sensor suction part 273 or to be larger than the diameter of the sensor suction part 273. With this configuration, a sufficient suction flow rate can be generated, and the amount of dust can be easily detected.

Claims

1. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising:

a housing having a front surface portion, a side surface portion, and a rear surface portion joined to a wall surface;

a suction grill provided at an upper portion of the housing for sucking the conditioned air;

a discharge plate provided at a lower portion of the housing and discharging air sucked through the suction grill; and

a sensor device disposed on a side surface portion of the housing,

the sensor device includes:

a first housing engaged with a side surface portion of the housing;

a second housing engaged with the first housing and formed with a sensor proximity hole;

a dust sensor that is provided in an inner space of the first and second housings, detects an amount of dust in air, and is exposed to the outside through the sensor proximity hole; and

a third housing that is joined to the second housing and shields the sensor proximity hole, and that includes: a housing suction part which sucks air for detecting dust amount; a housing discharge part discharging air sucked through the housing suction part,

the housing suction part is formed at a lower portion of the third housing, the housing discharge part is formed at an upper portion of the third housing,

a heater is provided at a lower portion of the dust sensor, the heater being provided inside the housing suction part and guiding air sucked through the housing suction part.

2. The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the first casing includes a first coupling portion, and the second casing includes a second coupling portion to be joined to the first coupling portion.

3. The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the first casing includes:

a substrate support part for supporting a sensor substrate of the dust sensor; and

and a through hole through which an electric wire for supplying power to the inside of the housing is passed.

4. The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the second casing includes:

a suction guide portion communicating with the housing suction portion and flowing air sucked from the housing suction portion into the dust sensor; and

a discharge guide communicating with the housing discharge part and guiding the air passing through the dust sensor to the housing discharge part.

5. The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 4,

the second housing includes a sensor approaching hole configured to penetrate between the suction guide portion and the discharge guide portion so as to guide approaching to the dust sensor.

6. The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 4,

the second housing further includes a sensor support portion extending from the suction guide portion toward the first housing and supporting the dust sensor.

7. The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1,

the third housing is detachably engageable with the first housing or the second housing.

8. The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1,

a through hole for guiding the suction and discharge of air is formed in the third housing,

9. The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 8,

the third housing further includes a both-side dividing portion provided to the through-hole,