KR0168179B1 - Airconditioner and the control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a method of controlling the same, wherein when a product is not used by installing a closing panel for selectively closing the door at an entrance of an indoor unit that allows indoor air to enter and exit, foreign substances such as dust enter the indoor unit. By preventing the product, the performance of the product can be improved, and a closed panel having a smooth flat surface can be installed in the doorway, thereby improving the aesthetics of the product.

Description

Air conditioner and its control method

1 is an external perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state in which a closed panel is in close contact with an intake port.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 with the closed panel removed.

3 is an external perspective view of a closed panel in the air conditioner shown in FIG.

4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the air conditioner shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the air conditioner of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1, with the closing panel separated from the inlet. FIG.

6 is a control circuit block diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an external perspective view of an air conditioner according to the prior art.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

2: indoor unit 4: intake port

6 discharge port 12 light receiving unit

16: operation selection switch 20: closed panel

24 permanent magnet 28 electromagnet

30 elastic body 36 control means

38: power supply means 58: magnetic force generating means

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an air conditioner and a control method for opening and closing an entrance and exit formed by an indoor unit to allow indoor air to enter and exit by a closing panel.

As a conventional air conditioner, there is, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-15508 published in Japan on April 5, 1988. As shown in FIG. 8, the air conditioner disclosed in the publication includes an intake port 84 formed in the indoor unit 82 to suck indoor air, a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging indoor air, and discharged heat-exchanged indoor air into the room. It consisted of the discharge port 88. The front of the indoor unit 82 is provided with an optical receiver 92 for receiving a control signal transmitted from the remote controller 90, the optical receiver 92 is a control signal output from the optical receiver 92 An amplifying integrated circuit 94 for amplifying is connected. The amplification integrated circuit 94 is connected to an electronic control device 96 which receives a control signal output from the amplification integrated circuit 94 and controls a horizontal louver of a compressor, an indoor fan, and a discharge port.

In the air conditioner according to the related art configured as described above, when indoor air is sucked into the indoor unit 82 through the suction port 84, the indoor air sucked into the indoor unit 82 exchanges heat inside the indoor unit 82. Heat exchange in the machine. Next, the air heat-exchanged from the discharge port 88 to the room is discharged. The room is then cooled, for example.

By the way, in the conventional air conditioner as described above, the intake port is always open even when the room is not air-conditioned. Therefore, foreign matter such as dust enters the indoor unit through the suction port and adheres to the surface of the heat exchanger, thereby degrading the performance of the heat exchanger.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and control method capable of improving the performance of the product, and can improve the aesthetics of the product.

In order to achieve the above object, the air conditioner according to the present invention includes a control means, a key input means for inputting a user's operation command to the control means, an entrance and exit formed in an indoor unit to allow indoor air to enter, and closing the entrance and exit. An elastic body that exerts a pulling force on the closing panel to close the door, the magnetic force generating means for applying a force to the closing panel to open the door according to a control signal output from the control means; Characterized in that consisting of.

In addition, the control method of the air conditioner according to the present invention determines whether the operation key is turned on, and when it is determined that the operation key is turned on, by applying power to the electromagnet to separate the closing panel from the entrance and open the entrance, the operation mode According to the present invention, the compressor and the indoor fan are driven to harmonize the indoor air, and if the operation stop key is turned on, and if it is determined that the operation stop key is turned on, the door is closed by closing the power supply to the electromagnet and sticking the closing panel to the entrance. It is characterized by closing.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the indoor unit 2 is formed with an intake port 4 for sucking indoor air, and the indoor unit 2 below the intake port 4 is provided with the indoor unit 2. A discharge port 6 for discharging air from the room is formed. The inlet 4 and the outlet 6 constitute an entrance formed in the indoor unit to allow indoor air to enter and exit the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The discharge port 6 has a horizontal louver 8 for controlling the vertical direction of the air discharged from the indoor unit 2 to the room, and a vertical louver for controlling the left and right directions of the air discharged from the indoor unit 2 to the room ( 10) is installed. The lower part of the indoor unit 2 is provided with a light receiving unit 12 for receiving a control signal of light transmitted from a remote controller (not shown). The indoor unit 2 under the light receiving unit 12 is provided with a display unit 14 which receives a state of air conditioning from a control unit described later and displays a state of air conditioning of one of 'operation', 'reservation' and 'blowing'. It is. The indoor unit 2 under the display unit 14 is provided with an operation selection switch 16 for manually selecting the air conditioning operation without using the remote controller. The remote controller, the light receiving unit 12, and the operation selection switch 16 constitute key input means for inputting a user's operation command to the control means described later in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In order to drive the compressor and the outdoor fan of the outdoor unit (not shown), the lower part of the indoor unit 2 is provided with a wire pipe 17 for protecting the electric wire. A refrigerant pipe 18 is provided at a lower portion of the indoor unit 2 so as to circulate the refrigerant from the compressor described later and the condenser not shown to the indoor unit 2. The front panel of the indoor unit 2 is provided with a closing panel 20 to selectively close the suction port 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, a fixing leg 22 is formed on an inner surface of the closure panel 20 to fix the closure panel 20 to the indoor unit 2. The inner side of the closure panel 20 is provided with a permanent magnet 24 to separate the closure panel 20 from the inlet 4 of the indoor unit (2).

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the fixing leg of the closing panel 20 is provided on the front surface of the indoor unit 2 to couple the closing panel 20 to the indoor unit 2. An engaging hole 26 into which the 22 is inserted is formed. An electromagnet 28 is provided on the front surface of the indoor unit 2 to selectively push the closing panel 20 from the inlet 4 of the indoor unit 2 to apply a force to the permanent magnet 24. have. In order to close the suction port 4, the closing panel 20 is brought into close contact with the indoor unit 2, and at the same time, the elastic body 30 prevents the closing panel 20 from being separated from the indoor unit 2. It is fixed to the closing panel 20 and the coupling hole 26 of the indoor unit 2.

An indoor heat exchanger (32) is installed in the indoor unit (2) to heat exchange air entering the indoor unit (2) from the room through the inlet (4). An indoor fan 34 sucks indoor air into the intake port 4 and simultaneously passes the surface of the indoor heat exchanger 32 so as to discharge the heat-exchanged indoor air into the interior of the lower side of the indoor heat exchanger 32. Installed in

As shown in FIG. 6, the control means 36 is a microcomputer for controlling the air conditioning operation and the opening and closing operation of the intake port according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The power supply means 38 receives an alternating current voltage from an external alternating current power supply and supplies an alternating voltage of 220 V to a compressor driving circuit and a fan motor driving circuit described later, while simultaneously supplying a 12 V direct current to a stepping motor driving circuit and an inlet opening / closing means described later. It is a transformer, rectification and voltage regulation circuit which supplies a voltage and supplies a DC voltage of 5V to the control means.

The initialization circuit 40 receives a DC voltage of 5V from the power supply means 38 when the AC voltage of 220V is supplied to the power supply means 38 from an external AC power supply and initializes the control means 36 to the control means 36. It is a capacitor that outputs.

The light receiving unit 12 is a light receiving module that receives a control signal of an operating mode and driving conditions made of infrared rays from the remote controller and outputs a control signal to the control means 36.

The display unit 14 is a light emitting diode that receives a state of air conditioning from the control means 36 and displays a state of air conditioning of one of 'operation', 'reservation' and 'blowing'.

The operation selection switch 16 is a switch in which a user manually selects one operation command of 'cooling', 'automatic', and 'remote controller'.

The humidity sensor 42 is connected to the control means 36 to input the indoor humidity to the control means 36.

The temperature sensor 44 is connected to the control means 36 to input the temperature of the room to the control means 36.

The stepping motor driving circuit 46 outputs the DC voltage of one of various magnitudes and directions in accordance with the control signal output from the control means 36 and the power supply means 38 and the control means 36. Is a switching circuit connected between. Stepping motors SM and 48 are connected to the stepping motor driving circuit 46 to receive a DC voltage from the stepping motor driving circuit 46 and rotate the horizontal louver 8.

The fan motor driving circuit 50 supplies the AC motor having the magnitude of one of various sizes to the fan motor 52 according to the control signal output from the control means 36 and the fan motor 52. It is a switching circuit connected between 52. The fan motor 51 is connected to the indoor fan 34 to rotate the indoor fan 34.

The compressor drive circuit 52 is a switch connected between the power supply means 38 and the compressor 54 to apply an AC voltage of 220V to the compressor 54 in accordance with the control signal output from the control means 36. to be.

The inlet opening / closing means 56 supplies the power to apply a voltage to the transistor TR1 that is turned on in accordance with a control signal output from the control means 36 and the electromagnet 28 when the transistor TR1 is turned on. It consists of a relay RY1 which operates by receiving a voltage from the means 38.

The electromagnet 28 and the permanent magnet 24 in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, in accordance with a control signal output from the control means 36, to open the inlet 4 The magnetic force generating means 58 which applies the pushing force to the closing panel 20 is comprised.

Hereinafter, a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in connection with an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above.

In FIG. 7, S denotes a step.

As an initial condition for operation description, it is assumed that the contact RY1c of the relay RY1 is open. In addition, it is assumed that the closure panel 20 is in close contact with the indoor unit 2 and closes the suction port 4, as shown in FIG.

First, when the user inserts the plug connected to the power supply means 38 into the outlet in step S1, an AC voltage of 220V is output to the power supply means 38 from an external AC power source. Next, an AC voltage of 220 V is output from the power supply means 38 to the compressor drive circuit 52 and the fan motor drive circuit 50, and from the output terminal VCC of the power supply means 38. A DC voltage of 12 V is output to the stepping motor drive circuit 46 and the inlet opening and closing means 56. At the same time, a DC voltage of 5 V is output from the output terminal VDD of the power supply means 38 to the initialization circuit 40, the control means 36 and the inlet opening and closing means 56.

Next, a high level initialization command is output from the initialization circuit 40 to the control means 36. The control means 36 then initializes the parameters specified in the memory of the control means 36 for the air conditioning operation to harmonize the indoor air and the opening and closing operation of the inlet 4.

Next, in step S2, the user inputs an operating condition to the remote controller. Then, the infrared control signal is output from the remote controller to the light receiving unit 12. Next, a control signal of an operation mode and an operating condition is output from the light receiving unit 12.

Next, in step S3, the control means 36 determines whether a driving instruction has been input from the light receiving portion 12 to the control means 36. As a result of this determination, in the case where it is determined from the light receiving unit 12 that a driving command has been input to the control means 36, the flow proceeds to step S4 (if YES).

In step S4, a high level control signal is output from the output terminal 05 of the control means 36 to the base of the transistor TR1 of the inlet opening / closing means 56 via the resistor R1. At the same time, the stepping motor drive circuit 46 and the fan motor drive circuit 50 and the compressor drive circuit 52 are controlled from the control means 36 according to the operating conditions input from the light receiving unit 12 to the control means 36. ), A control signal is output. At the same time, the current state of air conditioning is output from the output terminal of the control means 36 to the display section 14.

Next, the transistor TR1 is turned on. Then, a DC voltage of 5V is applied from the power supply means 38 to the relay RY1 to close the contact RY1c of the relay RY1. Next, a DC voltage of 12 V is applied to the electromagnet 28 from the output terminal VCC of the power supply means 38. Subsequently, a current flows through the electromagnet 28 and a magnetic force having a pushing force against the magnetic force generated in the permanent magnet 24 is generated from the electromagnet 28. Then, a force acts on the closure panel 20 from the electromagnet 28 in the direction in which the closure panel 20 is separated from the inlet 4 of the indoor unit 2. The closure panel 20 is then separated from the inlet 4 of the indoor unit 2. The inlet 4 is then opened as shown in FIG.

At the same time, a voltage is applied from the stepping motor driving circuit 46 to the stepping motor 48, a voltage is applied from the fan motor driving circuit 50 to the fan motor 51, and the compressor driving circuit 52 is applied. Is applied to the compressor 54. Then, the direction of the horizontal louver 8 is set according to the rotation of the stepping motor 48. At the same time, the indoor fan 34 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the fan motor 51. At the same time, the compressor 54 is operated to compress the refrigerant. The indoor air is then heat exchanged in the indoor heat exchanger 32 to condition the indoor air. Then, for example, the room is cooled.

Next, in step S5, the control means 36 determines whether or not a driving stop command has been input from the light receiving unit 12. As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the operation stop command is input from the light receiving unit 12, the flow proceeds to step S6 (if YES).

In step S6, a low level control signal is output from the output terminal 05 of the control means 36 to the base of the transistor TR1 of the inlet opening / closing means 56 via the resistor R1. At the same time, the control means 36 drives the stepping motor drive circuit 46, the fan motor drive circuit 50, and the compressor drive circuit 52 from the light receiving unit 12 according to the operating conditions input to the control means. A stop control signal is output. At the same time, the state of low-level air conditioning is output from the output terminal of the control means 36 to the display portion 14.

Next, the transistor TR1 is turned off. Then, no voltage is applied to the relay RY1 from the power supply means 38 so that the contact RY1c of the relay RY1 is opened. Next, no voltage is applied to the electromagnet 28 from the output terminal VCC of the power supply means 38. Subsequently, no current flows in the electromagnet 28 so that a magnetic force having a pushing force against the magnetic force generated in the permanent magnet 24 is not generated from the electromagnet 28. Therefore, no force acts on the closure panel 20 from the electromagnet 28. Then, the closing panel 20 is in close contact with the suction port 4 by the pulling force of the elastic body 30 to close the suction port 4.

At the same time, no voltage is applied from the stepping motor driving circuit 46 to the stepping motor 48, no voltage is applied from the fan motor driving circuit 50 to the fan motor 51, and the compressor driving circuit ( No voltage is applied to the compressor 54 from 52. Then the stepping motor 48 does not rotate so that the direction of the horizontal louver 8 is fixed in the current direction. At the same time, the indoor fan 34 stops in accordance with the stop of the fan motor 51. At the same time, the compressor 54 is stopped to stop the compression and circulation of the refrigerant. Subsequently, indoor air is not heat-exchanged in the indoor heat exchanger 32 so that the indoor air is not harmonized. Then, for example, cooling of the room is stopped.

Next, in step S7, the control means 36 determines whether an AC voltage of 220 V is being supplied to the power supply means 38 from an external AC power supply at present. As a result of this determination, the level of the voltage supplied from the power supply means 38 to the control means 36 is smaller than the level preset to the control means 36, so that the power supply means 38 is supplied from an external AC power source. If it is determined that the AC voltage of 220V is not supplied, the control program for the air conditioning operation and the opening / closing operation of the inlet port is terminated (if NO).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S3 that no driving command is input from the light receiving section 12 to the control means 36 (if NO), the control means 36 proceeds to the step S3 and continues the above. From the light receiving unit 12, it is determined whether a driving command has been input to the control means 36.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S5 that the operation stop command has not been input from the light receiving unit 12, the flow proceeds to step S4 (in the case of NO), and the suction port 4 is opened as described above, and the room is opened. Harmonize the air.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that an AC voltage of 220V is being supplied to the power supply means 38 from an external AC power supply at present, the process proceeds to step S2 (in the case of YES) and the user as described above. Waiting for inputting an operation condition and an operation command to the remote controller or the operation selection switch 16.

According to the air conditioner and the control method according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above, the closing panel for selectively closing the inlet (4) to the inlet (4) of the indoor unit (2) that sucks the indoor air ( By installing 20, the product performance can be improved by preventing foreign substances such as dust from entering the indoor unit 2 when the product is not used, and the inlet port 4 is provided with a closed panel 20 having a smooth flat surface. By installing it in, it has a very good effect to improve the aesthetics of the product.

On the other hand, as another embodiment of the present invention, the closing panel 20 is installed in the discharge port 6 of the indoor unit 2, when the product is operated to separate the closing panel 20 from the discharge port (6) The discharge opening 6 may be opened to discharge air from the discharge opening 6, and the discharge opening 6 may be closed by the closing panel 20 when no product is used.

According to the air conditioner and the control method according to the present invention as described above, by installing a closing panel to selectively close the entrance to the entrance of the indoor unit for the indoor air, the dust and the like in the indoor unit when not using the product It is possible to improve the performance of the product by preventing foreign matter from entering, and by installing a closed panel having a smooth flat surface at the entrance, there is a very excellent effect of improving the aesthetics of the product.

Claims (3)

An air conditioner, comprising: control means, key input means for inputting a user's operation command to the control means, an entrance and exit formed in the indoor unit to allow indoor air to enter and exit, a closing panel for closing the entrance, and closing the entrance and exit. And an elastic body for applying a pulling force to the closing panel so that the closing panel is pressed, and a magnetic force generating means for applying a force to the closing panel to open the doorway according to a control signal output from the control means. group. The magnetic force generating device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic force generating means generates a magnetic force having a force pushing against the magnetic force generated in the permanent magnet in accordance with a permanent magnet installed in the closed panel to generate a magnetic force and a control signal output from the control means. Air conditioner, characterized in that made of an electromagnet installed in the indoor unit to generate. In the control method of the air conditioner, it is determined whether the operation key is on, and when it is determined that the operation key is on, power is supplied to the electromagnet to separate the closing panel from the entrance, thereby opening the entrance and opening the compressor according to the operation mode. And the indoor fan to harmonize the indoor air, determine whether the operation stop key is on, and when it is determined that the operation stop key is on, shut off the entrance by closing the power supply to the electromagnet and attaching the closing panel to the entrance. The control method of the air conditioner characterized by the above-mentioned.