KR101382021B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment inputs an operating condition and is provided with at least one touch screen contacted by a user and a position corresponding to each partitioned area to generate vibration when the touch screen is divided into a plurality of areas. An input device having a plurality of actuators for transmitting vibration to the touch screen and a control unit for controlling the operation of the actuator, and an air conditioner body that operates in response to the operating conditions input through the touch screen, The input device includes an LCD provided on the rear side of the touch screen, an inverter PCB controlling the operation of the LCD, supplying power to the plurality of actuators, a touch PCB for recognizing a command input through the touch screen, and the The body operation of the air conditioner, of course, the And comprises a main control unit for controlling the information displayed to the outside, the main control portion controls so as to operate simultaneously said plurality of actuators corresponding to the operating conditions input through the touch screen. According to this, since the user can check whether the operation condition is input by tactile sense, there is an advantage that the user can accurately check whether the operation command input.

Actuator, vibration

Description

Air conditioner

The present embodiment relates to an air conditioner.

In general, an air conditioner is a cooling / heating device installed in a space or a wall of an interior such as an office or a home to cool or heat a room, and is a device consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator to constitute a series of refrigeration cycles. .

The air conditioner may be broadly divided into a separate air conditioner in which the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are separately installed, and an integrated air conditioner in which the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are installed integrally.

On the other hand, the indoor unit of the separate air conditioner is provided with a main body, a display unit provided on one side of the main body, and a button unit is formed with various buttons for the operation of the air conditioner.

The user adjusts the on / off or operating state of the air conditioner using the button unit or the remote controller. And, if the operating condition is input by the button unit or the remote control, whether or not the input is confirmed visually or audio.

However, when the operation input is visually displayed as described above, the user must check this one by one, and when it is displayed acoustically, it is difficult for the user to check it by indoor noise or external noise.

The present embodiment is proposed to solve the problems as described above, and aims to propose an air conditioner that allows the user to confirm whether or not to input the operating condition by accurately checking the operating condition. do.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an air conditioner is configured to input operating conditions and a touch screen contacted by a user and a position corresponding to each divided area when the touch screen is divided into a plurality of areas. At least one input device having a plurality of actuators for generating a vibration to transmit the vibration to the touch screen and a control unit for controlling the operation of the actuator and air to operate in response to the operating conditions input through the touch screen A conditioner main body is included, and the input device includes an LCD provided on a rear side of the touch screen, an inverter PCB for controlling the operation of the LCD, and supplying power to the plurality of actuators, which is input through the touch screen. Touch PCB and air conditioner for command recognition In addition to the main body operation, and includes a main control unit for controlling the information displayed to the outside through the LCD, the main control unit controls the plurality of actuators to operate simultaneously in response to the operating conditions input through the touch screen .

An actuator corresponding to an area contacted by a user among the plurality of divided areas of the touch screen may vibrate, and at least one of actuators corresponding to an area other than the area contacted by the user may vibrate.

The vibration of the actuator corresponding to the area in which the user is in contact is greater than the vibration of the actuator corresponding to an area other than the area in which the user is in contact.
The on / off mode of the actuator can be selected through the touch screen.

According to the embodiment as proposed, since the user can tactilely confirm whether the operation condition is input, there is an advantage that the user can accurately confirm whether the operation command input.

In addition, since the user can accurately check whether the operation command is input, there is an advantage that the hassle of having to check whether the operation command is input again is removed.

In addition, when the actuator adjacent to the contact area of the plurality of actuators vibrate, there is an advantage that the user can feel the vibration even when the vibration intensity is small. In addition, when the number of actuators operated among a plurality of actuators is adjusted, there is an advantage that can reduce the unnecessary operation of the actuator.

In addition, since the user can select whether or not the vibration of the actuator, there is an advantage that can satisfy the user's preference.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a front door of an indoor unit of the air conditioner is opened.

1 and 2, the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes a main body 100 forming an appearance and a front door 110 selectively shielding a front surface of the main body 100. Included.

In detail, the main body 100 includes a front frame 120 provided at a rear side of the front door 110, a rear frame 150 coupled to a rear side of the front frame 120, and the front frame 120. A pair of suction units (130, 140) coupled to both lower ends of the) and the base 160 is coupled to the suction unit (130, 140) and the lower side of the back frame 150.

In addition, an upper surface discharge port 122 is formed at an upper side of the front frame 120, and a front discharge hole 126 is formed at both sides. The discharge vanes 124 and 128 are selectively coupled to the discharge ports 122 and 126 to selectively shield the discharge ports and control the direction of the discharged air.

Side suction ports 132 and 142 are vertically formed in the pair of suction units 130 and 140. In addition, suction vanes 134 and 144 are coupled to the suction ports 132 and 142 to selectively open and close the suction ports 132 and 142. In addition, a lower suction port 162 is formed in the base 160.

The front door 110 is rotatably mounted to the main body 100. In addition, an inside of the front door 110 is provided with an input device 200 for the user to operate the operating state of the air conditioner. A portion of the input device 200 is exposed to the outside of the front door 110 to be in contact with the user.

Hereinafter, the input device 300 will be described in detail.

3 is a front view illustrating an internal configuration of the input apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the input apparatus.

3 and 4, the input device 200 according to the present embodiment may include an operation condition input of an air conditioner, a display unit 210 displaying a state of an input operation condition, and the display. The display case 230 on which the unit 210 is seated, the main controller 250 controlling the operation state of the display unit 210, and a protective cover protecting the display case 230 and the controller 250. 270 is included.

In detail, the display unit 210 displays a touch screen 221 for inputting operating conditions by a user's touch, information input by the touch screen 221 or an operating state of the main body, an operating environment, and the like. An LCD (LCD) 222, an LCD control unit 223 for controlling the LCD 222, and an LCD connection line 224 connecting the LCD control unit 223 and the control unit 250 is included.

The touch screen 221 is a screen that allows the user to directly receive input data on the screen so that when a finger or an object touches a character or a figure displayed on the screen, the position is detected and specific processing is performed by the stored software. Say.

The touch screen 210 forms an invisible infrared ray on the screen to form numerous rectangular grids on the screen, and when the fingertips or other objects contact the grids, the coordinate recognition unit (to be described later) displays the coordinates of the contacted portions. Figure out.

The touch screen 221 is connected to the coordinate recognition unit 300 by a signal connection line 202, and the coordinate recognition unit 300 is connected to the control unit 250 by a coordinate connection line 306.

The LCD 222 is provided at the rear side of the touch screen 221, and the LCD controller 223 is provided at the rear side of the LCD 222. The LCD control unit 223 performs a function of applying a voltage or passing light to form the screen on the LCD 222, the liquid crystal of the LCD 222 by the LCD control unit 223 in various directions While being arranged, a screen is formed on the LCD 222.

In addition, the user may check various information displayed on the LCD 222 through the touch screen 221.

Meanwhile, a power supply unit 260 is connected to the lower side of the display case 230. In addition, a plurality of actuators 240 are provided on an inner surface of the display case 230. In addition, the plurality of actuators 240 are disposed at a portion adjacent to the edge of the display case 240, and the actuators 240 are connected to the power supply unit 260 by connection lines (not shown).

When the display unit 210 is mounted on the display case 230, the actuator 240 comes into contact with the rear surface of the display unit 210.

The actuator 240 vibrates while a user inputs an operating condition through the touch screen 221. The vibration is transmitted to the touch screen 221 which the user is in contact with through the LCD control unit 223 and the LCD 222, so that the user can check whether the operating conditions are input by touch. As the actuator 240, for example, a servo motor, a piezoelectric actuator, or the like may be used.

In this embodiment, the operation of the actuator 240 may be controlled by the LCD control unit 223 or the main control unit 250.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the actuator 240 is provided on the display case 230 to generate vibration. Alternatively, the actuator 240 may be provided at any position capable of transmitting vibration to the touch screen 221. For example, it may be provided in the LCD control unit 223 or may be provided in the protective cover 270.

Meanwhile, a speaker 290 is mounted on the protective cover 270. The speaker 290 is a part constituting an example of the sound output means for outputting the operating state of the air conditioner, such as music or melody. In addition, a speaker seating rib 292 for guiding the seating of the speaker 290 is protruded from an inner rear side of the protective cover 270 on which the speaker 290 is seated. In addition, a speaker hole 294 is formed on the rear surface of the protective cover 270 on which the speaker 390 is seated so that music or melody output from the speaker 290 is transferred to the outside of the protective cover 270. do.

Hereinafter, various operation modes of the actuator 240 will be described.

5 is a view showing an operating state of the actuator according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, when a user inputs an operation condition through the touch screen 221, coordinates of a point touched by the user from the coordinate recognition unit 300 are obtained, and the controller 250 is obtained. The controller 250 controls to operate only the actuator 240 positioned adjacent to the coordinate touched by the user.

In detail, the touch screen 221 may be divided into four quadrants having the same area.

In this case, when the upper right side of the touch screen 221 is called the first quadrant A, the second quadrant B, the third quadrant C, and the fourth quadrant D may be defined in the counterclockwise direction. Can be. At least one actuator 240 may be provided at a position corresponding to each of the quadrants or at a position adjacent thereto.

In the present embodiment, each quadrant is defined by being divided into left and right and up and down of the touch screen 221, but may be divided into four quadrants by a pair of diagonal lines drawn on the touch screen 221. . In addition, the number of quadrants that divide the touch screen 210 is not limited to the above description.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the user touches the second quadrant B of the touch screen 210 as an example, the actuator 240b corresponding to the second quadrant B is turned on to vibrate. Actuators 240a, 240c, and 240b corresponding to the other quadrants A, C, and D remain off.

In this case, since the actuator 240 that is far from the coordinates touched by the user is kept off, power consumption due to unnecessary operation of the actuator 240 may be reduced.

Here, the vibration time of the actuator 240 is preferably such that the user can feel the vibration in the state in contact with the contact portion 310.

In addition, when a user inputs an operating condition through the touch screen 210, but the input is not made correctly, or when the user touches a margin that cannot be input, the actuator 240 does not operate. You will not feel vibration.

When there is no vibration, the user may recognize that the operating condition is not input correctly and may input the operating condition again.

6 is a view showing an operating state of the actuator according to the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the largest vibration is generated in the actuator 240 for being closest to the coordinates touched by the user, and less vibration is generated in the actuator 240 having a long distance.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 6, when the user touches the second quadrant B of the touch screen 221 as an example, the greatest vibration is generated in the actuator 240b corresponding to the second quadrant B. FIG. Is generated, and the minimum vibration is generated in the actuators 240a, 240c, 240b corresponding to the other quadrants A, C, and D.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of actuators are vibrated, the vibration intensity of each actuator is different, so that the user can feel the vibration better.

7 is a view showing an operating state of the actuator according to the third embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the fourth, which is the farthest from among the actuators 240a, 240c, and 240d corresponding to the quadrants A, C, and D other than the second quadrant B touched by the user. Actuator 240d corresponding to quadrant D remains off, and actuators 240a and 240c corresponding to other first and third quadrants A and C may cause minimum vibration to occur. have.

In addition to the above embodiment, the operation of the actuator 240 may further include the following embodiment.

First, when a user inputs an operating condition through the touch screen 221, the plurality of actuators 240 may simultaneously vibrate at the same intensity.

As another example, the intensity of the vibration generated by the actuator 240 may be adjusted according to the operating intensity of the air conditioner input through the touch screen 221.

For example, the vibration generated by the actuator 240 may be maximized when the user selects the strong wind, and the vibration generated by the actuator 240 may be minimized when the user selects the weak wind. have.

In addition, when the user lowers the indoor desired temperature, the intensity of the vibration generated by the actuator 240 may be increased.

As another example, the on / off mode of the actuator 240 may be selected according to the user's selection. If the user does not want to feel the vibration, the user may select the off mode in which the actuator 240 does not operate through the touch screen 221.

On the other hand, when the user wants to feel the vibration, the user may select the on mode in which the actuator 240 operates through the touch screen 221. According to this embodiment, by allowing the user to select the on / off of the actuator 240, it is possible to obtain the advantage that can satisfy the user's preferences.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the air conditioner indoor unit according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state in which the front door of the air conditioner indoor unit according to the fourth embodiment is opened.

8 and 9, the indoor unit 40 of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes a main body 400 forming an appearance and a front door 410 selectively shielding a front surface of the main body 400. And an input device 500 configured to surround the right end of the front door 410 so that a user inputs an operating condition of the air conditioner. In the present embodiment, since the configuration of the main body 400 is the same as the original embodiment, only the input device will be described below in detail.

10 is an exploded perspective view of the input device according to the fourth embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, the input apparatus 500 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a display unit for inputting an operating condition, displaying a state of the input operating condition, and a display case on which the display unit is seated. The display unit includes a touch screen 520 capable of inputting a command by a touch and an LCD 530 for displaying information, and the display case includes an LCD cover for supporting the LCD 530. 540 and a front case 510 provided at the front of the LCD 530 to form a front appearance.

In addition, the input device 500 includes a rear case 550 coupled to the front case 510 by a connecting bracket 560, a main controller 570 for controlling the operation of the air conditioner, and A touch PCB 572 for recognizing a command input through the touch screen 520 and a protective cover 580 fastened to the rear surface of the front door 510 are included.

In detail, the front case 510 forms a front half skeleton of the input device 510, and the front case 510 is formed in a square shape, and the right end of the front case 510 is rounded to the rear. It is bent. As such, the right end of the front case 510 is bent roundly to the rear, in consideration of the coupling with the connection bracket 560.

In addition, a rectangular display hole 512 is formed through the front case 510. The display hole 512 is a portion to expose the touch screen 520 to the front. Therefore, the image of the LCD 530 can be viewed forward through the display hole 512, and the user may contact the touch screen 520.

In addition, the front case 510 is provided with a plurality of actuators 590. In addition, the actuator 590 is located inside the front case 510.

The actuator 590 vibrates while a user inputs an operating condition through the touch screen 520. Then, the vibration of the actuator 590 is transmitted to the user so that the user can confirm whether or not the operating condition input.

In the present embodiment, the actuator 590 is provided in the front case 510, but may be provided in the LCD cover 540. That is, since the front case 510 and the LCD cover 540 are coupled to each other, even if the actuator 590 is provided in any part, the vibration can be transmitted to the touch screen 520. Of course, when the actuator 590 is provided to the front case 510, the vibration may be more effectively transmitted to the touch screen 520.

On the other hand, the LCD cover 540 is formed in a square shape, the right end is bent to the rear side. The LCD 530 is attached to the front of the LCD cover 540. In addition, the inverter PCB 542 is coupled to the right end of the LCD cover 540. The inverter PCB 542 has a function of controlling signal conversion or backlight brightness of the LCD 530. The inverter PCB 542 is formed in a long rectangular shape up and down, and is fastened to the LCD cover 540 by a screw or the like.

In this case, the actuator 590 may be connected to the inverter PCB 542 by a connection line 592 to receive power.

In addition, various types of information displayed on the LCD 530 may be controlled by a separate LCD controller (not shown), or may be controlled by the main controller 570.

On the other hand, the main control unit 570, as well as the operation of the air conditioner, to control the information displayed to the outside through the LCD 530, the PCB (PCB) provided on the rear side of the rear case 550 )to be. In addition, the main controller 570 may control the operation of the actuator 590 in response to an operation command input through the touch screen 520.

The touch PCB 572 is provided below the main controller 570. The touch PCB 572 has a function of recognizing the coordinates of the touch screen 520 to determine the type of command.

Here, the operation of the actuator 590 is the same as the original embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fifth embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 11.

11 and 12, the indoor unit 60 of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes a main body formed by the rear frame 610 and the front frame 620, and a front surface provided on the front of the main body. Panel 630 is included.

In detail, the front of the front frame 620 is shielded by the front panel 630, the suction grill 640 is formed on the upper side of the front panel 630, that is, the upper surface of the front frame 620. The front panel 630 may be installed to be spaced apart from the front frame 620 by a predetermined distance, so that external air may be introduced through the gap between the front panel 630 and the front frame 620.

An outlet 622 is formed at the lower end of the front frame 620. Therefore, the air introduced into the indoor unit 60 through the discharge port 622 is discharged to the outside of the indoor unit again.

A display unit 624 is provided on an upper right side of the discharge port 622, and an operation button 626 is provided at one side of the display unit 624 to operate an operation of the indoor unit.

Here, the operation button 626 generally corresponds to an on / off button, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured to adjust the overall operation of the indoor unit 60.

In detail, the operation button 626 is exposed to the outside of the front frame 620 through the through hole 621 inside the front frame 620.

In addition, a control unit 650, that is, a PCB is provided at a rear side of the operation button 626, and a switch 652 is formed on the PCB to selectively contact the operation button 626. In addition, an actuator 660 for generating vibration is provided on the rear side of the controller 650.

Therefore, when the user presses the operation button 626, the operation button 626 presses the switch 652, and a signal is transmitted to the control unit 650. Then, the control unit 650 operates the indoor unit 60 in response to the signal of the operation button 626, and at the same time to operate the actuator 660.

At this time, since the actuator 660 is operated while the operation button 626 is pressing the switch 652, when the actuator 660 is operated, the vibration generated by the actuator 660 is It is transmitted to the operation button 626 through the control unit 650 so that the user can feel the vibration.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the vibration selection button 628 is provided to allow the user to select the on / off mode of the actuator 660. In addition, when the vibration selection button 628 is pressed, the actuator 660 vibrates. Therefore, the user can determine whether the mode of the actuator 660 is changed by the vibration transmitted to the vibration selection button 628. In addition, since the user can select whether the vibration, there is an advantage that can satisfy the user's preference.

In the present embodiment, a vibration selection button 628 is provided for selecting an on / off mode of the actuator. Alternatively, the vibration selection button 628 is not provided, and according to the pressing time of the operation button 626. The on / off mode of the actuator 660 may be selected.

In detail, when a user presses the operation button 626 to a reference time or less, the controller 650 operates the indoor unit 60 in response to a signal of the operation button 626.

In this state, when the user continuously presses the operation button 626 over the reference time, the mode of the actuator 660 is changed. Here, whether the mode of the actuator 660 is changed may be confirmed by the vibration of the actuator 660.

For example, when the previous mode was the on mode of the actuator 660, when the user presses the operation button 626 below the reference time, the actuator 660 vibrates and stops. When the user continuously presses the operation button 626 over a reference time, the actuator 660 vibrates again, so that the user can check whether the mode is changed, and the mode of the actuator 660 is turned off. The mode is changed.

On the other hand, when the previous mode was the off mode of the actuator 660, the actuator 660 remains off even if the user presses the operation button 626 to the reference time or less. In addition, when the user continuously presses the operation button 626 over a reference time, the actuator 660 vibrates, so that the user can check whether the mode is changed, and the mode of the actuator 660 is on mode. Is changed to

Here, the present embodiment has been described with an example that one operation button 626 is provided, but if a plurality of operation buttons 626 is provided, the actuator 660 in a position corresponding to each operation button 626 May be provided. In this case, even if a plurality of actuators are provided, the on / off mode of the entire actuator may be selected by using any one button.

In the present embodiment, the actuator 660 is coupled to the control unit 650. Alternatively, the actuator 660 is electrically connected to the control unit 650 in a state in which the actuator 660 is coupled to the operation button 626. Connected to, the vibration of the actuator 660 may be transmitted directly to the operation button 626.

Although the above embodiments have been described with respect to the separate air conditioner, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the same applies to the input device of the integrated air conditioner.

In addition, in the above embodiments, the input device enables the input of the operation command of the air conditioner and also displays the operating state of the air conditioner, so that the input device may be referred to as a "display device." There will be.

Further, in the above embodiments, it is proposed that the input device is provided in the air conditioner, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the input device may be equally applicable even when the input device is separated from the air conditioner. That is, for example, the input device may correspond to a remote controller.

1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment.

2 is a view showing a state in which the front door of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is opened.

3 is a front view showing an internal configuration of the input device according to the first embodiment.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the input device.

5 shows an operating state of the actuator according to the first embodiment;

6 shows an operating state of the actuator according to the second embodiment;

7 is a view showing an operating state of the actuator according to the third embodiment.

8 is a perspective view of an air conditioner indoor unit according to a fourth embodiment.

9 is a view showing a state in which the front door of the air conditioner indoor unit according to the fourth embodiment is opened.

10 is an exploded perspective view of the input device according to the fourth embodiment.

11 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the fifth embodiment.

12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 11;

Claims (17)

delete delete delete delete delete delete delete Input the operating conditions, and when the user touches the touch screen when partitioning the touch screen into a plurality of areas are provided at least one position corresponding to each partitioned area to generate a vibration to transmit the vibration to the touch screen A plurality of actuators; An input device having a control unit for controlling the operation of the actuator; And An air conditioner main body which operates in response to an operating condition input through the touch screen is included. The input device, An LCD provided on the rear side of the touch screen; An inverter PCB for controlling the operation of the LCD and supplying power to the plurality of actuators; A touch PCB for recognizing a command input through the touch screen; And A main controller for controlling the information displayed to the outside through the LCD as well as the main body operation of the air conditioner; And the main controller controls the plurality of actuators to simultaneously operate in response to an operation condition input through the touch screen. delete delete 9. The method of claim 8, And an actuator corresponding to an area touched by a user among the plurality of partitioned areas of the touch screen, and at least one of actuators corresponding to an area other than the area touched by the user. According to claim 11, And wherein the vibration of the actuator corresponding to the area in which the user is in contact is greater than the vibration of the actuator corresponding to an area other than the area in which the user is in contact. delete 9. The method of claim 8, And an on / off mode of the actuator can be selected through the touch screen. delete delete delete

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