KR102000064B1 - An controller and a method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The control device of one embodiment of the present invention includes an output device; A central processing unit; A memory storing data relating to a reservation operation for performing an operation based on a preset reservation time and an operation mode in association with the central processing unit; And stored in the memory, executed by the central processing unit, and when the reserved time arrives while performing the preset general operation, the reserved operation is indicated by the output device. It may include a program to conceal the display.
Method of operating a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of performing a preset general operation; Determining whether to set a reservation operation to perform the operation at a preset reservation time; Performing a reservation operation when the reservation time arrives; Determining whether the reservation time has elapsed; And returning to the normal operation when the reservation time has elapsed. It may include.

Description

CONTROLLER AND A METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to a control device and a control device control method when the reservation operation is started and the reservation time has elapsed.

In general, the control device is a device for controlling electronic devices such as TV, video, audio, air conditioner, cable broadcasting converter, satellite broadcasting converter, fan. In some cases, the control device may remotely control various electronic devices through wireless transmission or wired communication at a control frequency.

The control device may be applied to an air conditioner. Multi-type air conditioners, which are frequently used in large buildings such as buildings, require multiple indoor units to be connected to one outdoor unit, and these indoor units are installed in the room for air conditioning. It becomes possible.

Multi-type air conditioners may require a central controller that can control all the indoor units at once and an individual controller that can individually control each indoor unit. The individual controller can be operated and turned off at the time desired by the user.

The control device and the control device operation method of the embodiment of the present invention can perform the conventional operation mode after the reserved operation.

The control device of one embodiment of the present invention includes an output device; A central processing unit; A memory storing data relating to a reservation operation for performing an operation based on a preset reservation time and an operation mode in association with the central processing unit; And stored in the memory, executed by the central processing unit, and when the reserved time arrives while performing the preset general operation, the reserved operation is indicated by the output device. When the reserved time is exceeded, the output device is reserved operation. It may include a program to conceal the display.

Method of operating a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of performing a preset general operation; Determining whether to set a reservation operation to perform the operation at a preset reservation time; Performing a reservation operation when the reservation time arrives; Determining whether the reservation time has elapsed; And returning to the normal operation when the reservation time has elapsed. It may include.

When the reserved operation is finished, the control device of the embodiment of the present invention returns to the previous operation mode and can continuously make the temperature or humidity of the indoor air comfortable.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a plurality of reserved driving operations are reserved, the indoor driving environment may be changed at a specific time by performing a reserved driving operation according to priority, thereby reducing power consumption and performing efficient operation. .

The control device according to an embodiment of the present invention may display an icon indicating a plurality of reserved operations, so that the user may easily grasp the operation mode or the desired temperature value of the reserved operation that is currently performed.

The control device according to an embodiment of the present invention stores the desired temperature to normally operate, and can automatically change the desired temperature at a desired day or time in accordance with a user's needs or environmental factors, thereby maximizing efficiency.

1 is a view of a control system including a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front view showing the front of the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 to 6 is a view showing a change in accordance with the operation of the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
7 and 8 are graphs showing the operation of the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating a method of operating a control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, but such elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first contact may be referred to as the second contact, and likewise, the second contact may be referred to as the first contact, and the first contact and the second contact may be All are contacts, but may not be the same contact.

The terminology used in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The use of an indication may indicate either or both of the singular or plural forms of the term, and vice versa.

It will be understood that the term “and / or” refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the listed related items. As used herein, the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" designate the presence of specified features, integers, steps, actions, elements and / or components, It will be further understood that it does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, actions, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

The term "if" refers to "when" or "upon", or "in response to determining" or "detected," depending on the context. Can be interpreted to mean. Similarly, the phrase "if determined" or "if [specified condition or event is detected]" means "on decision" or "in response to a decision" or "on detection of [specified condition or event]," depending on the context. Or in response to detecting [specified condition or event].

In the following, embodiments of computing devices, user interfaces for such devices, and related processes for using such devices can be described.

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

1 is a diagram of a control system including a control device 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the control device 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used in an air conditioner system.

The control device 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided in various electronic devices that require control. For example, the controller 140 may be used to control a plurality of lighting devices, refrigerators, showcases, image output devices, etc., but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment in which the control device 140 controls the operation of the indoor unit 130 of the multi-air conditioner system. Hereinafter, a multi air conditioner system will be described.

The multi-air conditioner system including the control device 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an indoor unit 130 that coordinates indoor air, an outdoor unit 120 that operates in conjunction with the indoor unit 130, and an indoor unit ( 130 and a central controller 110 for controlling the outdoor unit 120.

The central controller 110 may be connected to the plurality of indoor units 130 and the plurality of outdoor units 120 to transmit and receive signals. The central controller 110 may include input means for inputting a command and output means for displaying control data or information. The input means of the central controller 110 may include a broad input device 60 such as a mechanical button or a touchpad for detecting a touch input. The output means of the central controller 110 may include a device for generating light, including a light source (LED emitting device, such as a light emitting diode or an organic light emitting diode).

The central controller 110 may include a microprocessor capable of performing information processing, and may transmit and receive a control signal in association with the microprocessor. As shown in FIG. 1, the central controller 110 may be connected to the indoor unit 130 and the outdoor unit 120, and may perform wireless or wired communication with the indoor unit 130 and the outdoor unit 120, but is not limited thereto. .

The central controller 110 may control the individual indoor unit 130 and the individual outdoor unit 130. The central controller 110 may control the control of the individual indoor unit 130. For example, the central controller 110 may lock the central control to lock the control unit 140 for controlling each of the plurality of indoor units 130 to control the control of the individual indoor unit 130.

When the central controller 110 locks the multi-air conditioner system, the central controller 110 may transmit a signal to the controller 140 that restricts the input of the input device of the controller 140 to control the individual indoor unit 130. Can be.

When the control device 140 becomes the central control lock, setting or performing various functions may be restricted.

The control device 140 may be applied to the air conditioner. In general, an air conditioner is a cooling / heating system that cools a room by a repetitive action of inhaling hot air in a room, exchanging heat with a low temperature refrigerant, and then discharging it into the room. A condenser-expansion valve-evaporator that forms a series of cycles.

The air conditioner is mainly divided into an outdoor unit 120 installed outdoors and an indoor unit 130 mainly installed inside a building. The outdoor unit 120 may include a condenser and a compressor, and an indoor unit 130 may include an evaporator. The outdoor unit 120 and the indoor unit 130 may be connected to the central controller 110 to receive a control signal. Each of the plurality of indoor units 130 may be individually connected to the control device 140 to receive a control signal and operate in response thereto.

The multi air conditioner system may include a controller 140. The controller 140 may control the individual indoor unit 130. The controller 140 may convert the operation mode of the indoor unit 130. The operation mode may include cooling, dehumidification, air cleaning or heating.

2 is a front view showing the front of the control device 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3, the control device 140 may include a central processing unit 10 that performs various signal processing and operations, and a memory 20 that stores programs or data in association with the central processing unit 10. In addition, the CPU 10 may include an interface device 30 that connects the CPU 10 to peripheral devices related to an input or an output.

The central processing unit 10 may perform various functions for the control unit 140, and execute or perform various sets of software programs and / or instructions stored in the memory 20 to process data. The CPU 10 may process a signal based on information stored in the memory 20.

For example, the CPU 10 may generate a signal for commanding the reservation operation or display the contents thereof on the screen according to data about the reservation operation stored in the memory 20.

The CPU 10 may determine whether the reservation operation is reserved based on the data stored in the memory 20. When the reserved driving is reserved, the CPU 10 may calculate a time to start the reserved driving.

The CPU 10 may display the time remaining until the reservation operation is started on the output device 50 based on the program stored in the memory 20 and the data related to the reservation operation, but is not limited thereto. No. The central processing unit 10 may operate the indoor unit when the reserved operation time is exceeded.

The central processing unit 10 may determine whether the reservation operation is set when the power of the control unit 140 is turned on. When the reservation operation is set, the CPU 10 may determine whether the reservation time has arrived.

For example, the central processing unit 10 continuously determines whether the reservation time has arrived or has been exceeded by using the timer 70, and when the reservation time has elapsed, a general operation or a plurality of reserved operations that have been previously performed are reserved. Other reserved driving can be performed.

Memory 20 may include fast random access memory. The memory 20 may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other nonvolatile solid state memory devices, but may include, but are not limited to, a readable storage medium.

For example, the memory 20 may include, but is not limited to, an EEP-ROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory). The EEP-ROM can be written and erased by the central processing unit 10 during the operation of the central processing unit 10. The EEP-ROM may be a storage device in which the information stored therein is maintained without being erased even when the power supply of the control device 140 is turned off and the power supply is stopped.

The memory 20 may store various programs or data in association with the central processing unit 10. The memory 20 may store a program for performing a reserved operation and information about the reserved operation. The program may control the form and flow output by the output device 50 in the course of performing the reservation operation.

The program stored in the memory 20 may control the indoor unit 130 based on a time when driving is scheduled and a desired temperature value. The program may perform the reserved operation at the reserved time when the operation is reserved, and display the reserved operation by the output device 50. For example, the output device 50 may display whether or not the reservation operation is an icon or may blink the icon.

The program may determine whether reserved driving is set. When the program determines that the reserved driving is not set, the program may maintain the driving being performed at that time.

When the program determines that the reservation operation is set, the program may determine whether the reservation time arrives. The program may start the reservation operation when the reservation time arrives. When the program starts the reservation operation, the program may display an icon indicating the reservation operation as an output device.

When the reservation time is exceeded, the program may conceal an icon indicating the reservation operation displayed by the output device 50. When the reserved driving is terminated, the program may perform the operation that was in progress before starting the reserved driving.

The program may determine the priority of the plurality of reserved driving when a plurality of reserved driving is set. The program may perform the reservation operation having a higher priority when the reservation times of the plurality of reservation operations overlap.

When a plurality of reserved driving is reserved, the reserved driving may have different reservation days or reservation times.

The interface device 30 may connect input and output peripherals to the central processing unit 10 and the memory 20.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the CPU 10, the memory 20, or the interface device 30 may be implemented on a single chip, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be implemented on separate chips.

The control device 140 may further include a timer 70 for checking the time. The CPU 10 may determine whether a predetermined time has elapsed to perform the control using the timer 70.

The timer 70 may be used when the program determines whether or not the reservation time of the reservation driving has arrived.

The control device 140 may further include an input / output device 40. The input / output device 40 may connect peripheral devices such as the output device 50 or the input device 60 with the interface device 30. According to an exemplary embodiment, the input / output device 40 may include an output device 50 or an input / output controller (not shown) for controlling the input device 60, but is not limited thereto.

The control device 140 may further include an output device 50 having a visual or audio output means, an input device 60 capable of receiving a command, or a communication unit 80 capable of communicating with the indoor unit 150. have.

The output device 50, the input device 60, or the communication unit 80 may be connected to the input / output device 40.

The output device 50 may include a speaker that outputs sound or a display device that emits light to provide a visual display. The input device 60 may include means for receiving input from an external source such as a physical button, a dial, a slider switch, a click wheel, or the like.

The output device 50 includes a light emitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, and a flexible display. It may include at least one of a flexible display, a 3D display, but various methods are not limited thereto.

The output device 50 may display information for controlling a target to which the control device 140 is connected. When the control device 140 is applied to the multi-air conditioner system, the output device 50 may display information necessary for conditioning the air.

For example, the output device 50 may display an operation mode such as cooling, heating, dehumidification, or air cleaning, and may display room temperature, wind direction, presence of a heat source in the room, but is not limited thereto. In addition, it is possible to display a wide range of information necessary for control.

According to an embodiment, the output device 50 may include a touch sensitive touch screen. The touch sensitive touch screen can display a visual output to the user and accept input from the user based on the tactile touch.

The visual output may include graphics, text, icons, video, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output may correspond to user interface entities.

The touch sensitive touch screen detects a contact thereon and can convert the detected contact corresponding to user interface objects displayed on the touch screen.

According to an embodiment, the input device 60 may include a mechanical button as shown in FIG. 2. The input device 60 may receive a plurality of commands. When the control device 140 of one embodiment is applied to the multi-air conditioner system, the input device 60 is a button for adjusting the wind direction, additional operation, function setting, ventilation, reservation setting, wind strength, operation mode or temperature It may include.

When the output device 50 includes a touch sensitive touch screen, each of the buttons of the input device 60 mentioned above may be replaced by a user interface displayed on the touch screen.

The input device 60 and the output device 50 may be controlled by an input / output controller (not shown) included in the input / output device 40. If the output device 50 includes a touch screen, the input / output controller (not shown) may include capacitive, resistive, infrared and surface acoustic wave technologies, other proximity sensor arrays, etc. to sense contact. The present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of sensing technologies that are known or will be developed later may be used.

The input device 60 and the output device 50 may correspond to a program stored in the memory 20 or a command for performing the above-mentioned function.

The control device 140 may further include a communication unit 80. The communication unit 80 may be connected to the indoor unit 130 and the interface device 30. The communication unit 80 may receive a control signal from the interface device 30 and transmit it to the indoor unit 130. The communication unit 80 may use a wireless or wired communication method in communication with the indoor unit 130, but is not limited thereto.

The communication unit 80 may receive a signal transmitted from the CPU 10 from the interface device 30. The communication unit 80 may modulate a signal for operating the indoor unit 130 transmitted by the central processing unit 10 and transmit the modulated signal to the indoor unit 130 when the driving reservation time or the preparation time.

When the controller 140 wirelessly communicates with the indoor unit 130, the communicator 80 may include a radio frequency (RF) circuit. The communication unit 80 may transmit and receive an RF signal that is an electromagnetic signal. The RF circuitry interconverts electrical and electromagnetic signals and can communicate with communication networks and other communication devices through the electromagnetic signals.

For example, the RF circuit may include, but is not limited to, an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, tuners, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a memory, and the like. Circuitry can be included.

The output device 50 may display the time remaining until the driving reservation time. The output device 50 may blink the remaining time until the operation reservation time, but is not limited thereto. The output device 50 may display an icon indicating that driving is reserved.

The output device 50 may display information for controlling an object to which the control device 140 is applied. When the control device 140 is applied to the air conditioner, the information for controlling may include room temperature, desired temperature, operation mode, wind strength, current time or current day of the week. The output device 50 may display the information to be controlled by a predetermined icon including a character or a picture.

Referring to FIG. 2, the output device 50 of the control device 140 of one embodiment may display the operation mode of the air conditioner on the upper left side (I270). The operation mode may include dehumidification, cooling, heating, air cleaning, and the like. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the output device 50 may display that the current operation mode of the air conditioner is in a cooling state.

The output device 50 may display the temperature (I250). The output device 50 may display the temperature in segments (88 segments). The temperature may include a current temperature or a desired temperature of the room. The output device 50 may display an icon indicating whether the content displayed by the temperature is a current temperature or a desired temperature of the room (I210).

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the icon I210 indicates that the temperature displayed by the segment (88 segment) is a current temperature of the room including the letter 'present temperature', but is not limited thereto. ) May indicate that the temperature indicated by the segment (88 segment) is the desired temperature, including a letter such as 'desired temperature'.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the output device 50 may display a current day of the week, a current time, and the like at the lower right. The output device 50 may display a current time, a reservation time, a time remaining until the reservation time, and the like by using a segment (88 segment). The output device 50 may display an icon I220 indicating what time is displayed by the segment 88.

In FIG. 2, the icon I220 includes the letter 'current time' to indicate that the time displayed by the segment 88 is the current time, but is not limited thereto. The icon I220 may be the desired temperature. Alternatively, it may include a character such as 'time remaining'.

The output device 50 may display the wind strength of the indoor unit 130 of the air conditioner. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the output device 50 may display the strength of the wind of the indoor unit 130 in a plurality of angles (I260). The stronger the wind strength of the indoor unit 130, the greater the number of cramps I260, and the weaker the wind strength of the indoor unit 130, the less the plurality of cramps I260.

The position of the icon shown in FIG. 2 is only one embodiment, and the arrangement of the icon may vary.

The control device 140 may give various commands according to the object to be controlled. The input device 60 may include a mechanical button. The input device 60 may include a button for receiving various commands that vary depending on the object to which the control device 140 is applied. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the input device 60 according to the function of the indoor unit 130, the wind direction, additional operation, function setting, ventilation, reservation setting, wind strength, operation selection, operation / stop, or temperature setting button It may include, but not limited to, there are various embodiments not limited to the type or number of buttons.

The input device 60 may include a plurality of direction keys B120a, B120b, B130a, and B130b for reservation setting. The plurality of direction keys B120a, B120b, B130a, and B130b may include buttons of up, down, left, and right directions.

The control device 140 may store the priorities of the plurality of reserved driving according to the value input from the input device 60. For example, the user may specify the priority of the plurality of reserved operations while setting the plurality of reserved operations. When a plurality of reserved operations overlap, the control device 140 may store which reserved operation is to be preferentially performed, and if necessary, read the data and perform the operation.

The plurality of direction keys B120a, B120b, B130a, and B130b may be used to set reserved driving. The plurality of direction keys B120a, B120b, B130a, and B130b may be used to input a reservation day or a reservation time of the reservation operation. Temperature control button (B150) can adjust the desired temperature.

For example, the left and right arrow keys B130a and B130b may be used to select a reservation day, and the up and down arrow keys B120a and B120b may be used to input a reservation time. Not.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the control device 140 is shown to include an output device 50 for displaying various information and an input device 60 including a plurality of mechanical buttons to receive inputs, but the means Without being limited, the mechanical buttons may be replaced with a user interface (UI) displayed on the touch screen when the output device 50 includes a touch sensitive touch screen.

4 to 6 are views showing a change in accordance with the operation of the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 to 6, when a plurality of reserved driving operations are reserved, the controller 140 may change whether or not to perform the reserved driving according to a change in the current time.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the reservation time arrives, the control device 140 may perform a reservation operation. When performing the reserved operation, the controller 140 may display a desired temperature or wind strength.

When the reservation setting button B110 is touched, the controller 140 may enter a driving reservation mode for reserving driving. The controller 140 may receive a reservation time, a day of the week, or a desired temperature through the plurality of direction keys B120a, B120b, B130a, and B130b in the operation reservation mode.

The plurality of reserved operations may have different operation modes or desired temperatures.

In the following, the controller 140 is reserved for two reserved driving, the reservation time of the first reserved driving (hereinafter, 'first reserved time') is from 8 am to 8 pm, the second reservation driving reservation The time (hereinafter referred to as 'second reservation time') describes the change of the output device 50 when it is from 2 pm to 6 pm. In the first reserved operation, the operation mode may be cooling, and in the second reserved operation, the operation mode may be dehumidification.

The first reserved operation has a desired temperature (hereinafter referred to as 'first desired temperature') of 20 degrees Celsius and the second reserved operation has a desired temperature (hereinafter referred to as 'second desired temperature') of 22 degrees Celsius. Will be described with an example.

The control device 140 may perform a general operation of operating in the operation mode or the desired temperature according to the user's arbitrary selection. In normal operation, the desired temperature can be adjusted using the temperature control button (B150). The controller 140 may perform the reserved driving when the reserved driving is reserved or when the reserved time arrives.

When the first reservation time arrives, the control device 140 may perform a first reservation operation. Referring to FIG. 4, at 8 am, the control device 140 may start the first reserved operation. The controller 140 may display the first desired temperature (I250). When the control device 140 starts the first reserved operation, the control device 140 may send a signal to the indoor unit 130 to change a desired temperature, an operation mode, or wind strength.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, when the first reserved operation is started, the output device 50 may display the first reserved operation. For example, the output device 50 may indicate that the first reserved operation is being performed by blinking an icon including the letter 'reserved 1'. When the first reservation time arrives, the output device 50 may display a desired temperature (I250). The output device 50 may display whether the currently displayed temperature value represents a desired temperature or a current temperature (I210).

The controller 140 may also display the wind strength of the indoor unit 130 (I260). In the case of FIG. 4, before the first reservation time arrives, the output device 150 displays the strength of the wind of the indoor unit 130 as 'strong', and as soon as the first reservation time arrives, The strength of the wind can be displayed as 'medium'.

The wind strength may be selected at the time of setting the reservation operation, or may be determined according to a difference between a present temperature of a room where the indoor unit 130 is installed and a set desired temperature value, but is not limited thereto.

When the reserved operation is performed, the output device 50 may indicate that the reserved operation is performed (I230). The output device 50 may display an icon I230 including the letter 'reservation 1' to indicate that the first reservation operation is being performed. According to an exemplary embodiment, when the reserved operation is performed, an icon representing the reserved operation may blink, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the second reservation time arrives, the control device 140 may indicate that the second reservation time is performed. For example, the output device 50 may blink an icon including the letter 'reservation 2' to indicate that the second reservation operation is being performed. When the second reservation time arrives, the controller 140 may perform the second reservation operation. When reservation times of a plurality of reservation operations overlap each other, one of the plurality of reservation operations may have priority. When the reservation time of the plurality of reserved driving overlaps, the controller 140 may determine the priority among the plurality of reserved driving.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, when the second reservation time arrives, the control device 140 may determine the priority of the first reservation operation and the second reservation operation. The control device 140 may start the second reserved operation when the second reserved operation has a priority over the first reserved operation. When the second reserved operation has a priority over the first reserved operation, the control device 140 may transmit a signal for the second reserved operation to the indoor unit 130.

When the controller 140 performs the first reserved operation, the controller 140 may blink an icon indicating the first reserved operation. The controller 140 may display a plurality of icons indicating a plurality of reserved operations when a plurality of reserved operations are set. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 5, the controller 140 may set two reserved driving operations, and display two icons displaying two reserved driving operations, respectively. The control device 140 may display a first reservation icon I230 indicating the first reserved operation and a second reservation icon I240 indicating the second reserved operation.

For example, when the first reserved operation and the second reserved operation are set, the first reserved icon I230 and the second reserved icon I240 are displayed to indicate that the first reserved operation and the second reserved operation are set. The icon corresponding to the reservation operation currently being performed may blink. However, this is only one embodiment, and in another embodiment, only an icon representing the reserved operation being performed may be displayed.

The controller 130 may display the reserved operation at 2 pm, which is the start time of the second reserved operation. When 2 pm arrives, the controller 130 may display the second desired temperature (I250).

The controller 140 may display the wind strength of the indoor unit 130 (I260). In the case of FIG. 5, before the second reservation time arrives, the output device 150 displays the strength of the wind of the indoor unit 130 as 'medium', and when the second reservation time arrives, The strength of the wind can be expressed as 'about'.

The controller 140 may indicate that the operation mode of the second reserved operation is dehumidification.

The controller 140 may display the second desired temperature at the moment when the second reservation time arrives. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the second desired temperature may be 22 degrees Celsius. When the second reservation time arrives, the controller 140 may blink the icon I240 indicating the second reservation operation.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the reserved time of the reserved driving is over, the controller 140 may return to the operation state before performing the reserved driving. For example, the controller 140 may return to the normal operation after the reservation time has elapsed, if the controller 140 is performing the normal operation in the operation mode or the desired temperature by the user's input before performing the reserved operation. have.

When a plurality of reserved driving is set, the controller 140 may perform another reserved driving when the reserved time of one reserved driving has elapsed and is during the reserved time of another reserved driving. For example, if the time when the second reservation time elapses is during the first reservation time, the control device 140 may terminate the second reservation operation and perform the first reservation operation.

When the second reservation time has elapsed, the output device 50 may conceal an icon indicating the second reservation time. When the second reservation time is elapsed, the output device 50 may indicate that the operation mode of the first reservation operation is cooling. The output device 50 may conceal the second reservation time indication to indicate that the second reservation operation has ended.

When the first reservation time is over, the control device 140 may conceal an icon indicating the first reservation operation. If the first reservation time is over, the control device 140 may perform normal operation. The normal operation may be an operation that was performed before the first reserved operation is performed.

7 and 8 are graphs showing the operation of the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 illustrates an embodiment in which the control device 140 performs one reserved operation. The first reservation time at which the first reservation operation is performed may be from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. The control device 140 may perform a general operation. When the first reservation time arrives, the control device 140 may enter the first reservation operation. When the first reservation time elapses, the controller 140 returns to the normal operation performed before the first reservation time.

The control device 140 may perform the operation according to the value input by the user during normal operation. For example, the control device 140 may set the desired temperature to 18 (° C.) during normal operation. The controller 140 may set the desired temperature to 20 ° C. at the time of performing the first reserved operation.

8 illustrates an embodiment in which the control device 140 performs two reservation operations. The reservation time of the first reservation operation may be 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

The reservation time of the second reservation operation may be from 2 pm to 6 pm. The reservation time of the first reservation operation may be 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. The desired temperature of the first reserved operation may be 20 (° C). The desired temperature of the second reserved operation may be 22 (° C).

When the first reservation time arrives, the control device 140 may perform the first reservation operation. The controller 140 may determine the priority between the first reserved operation and the second reserved operation when the second reserved time arrives while the first reserved operation is being performed. When the second reserved operation has a priority to the first reserved operation, the control device 140 may perform the second reserved operation.

If the first reservation time remains when the second reservation time elapses, the controller 140 may perform the first reservation operation. If the first reservation time is over, the control device 140 may perform normal operation.

9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating a method of operating a control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the method of operating a control apparatus according to an embodiment may include performing a preset general operation (S410), and determining whether to set a reservation operation for performing an operation at a preset reservation time (S420); Performing a reservation operation when the reservation time arrives (S460); Determining whether the reservation time has elapsed (S470); And when the reservation time has elapsed, returning to normal operation (S480). It may include.

The control device operating method may include performing a preset general operation (S410). The normal operation may be performed based on the operation mode or the desired temperature input by the user.

The control device 140 may determine whether the reserved operation is set (S420). If the reservation operation is set, the control device 140 may determine a reservation time at which the reservation operation is performed (S440). If the reserved operation is not set, the control device 140 may maintain the current state and continuously perform the normal operation (S430). When the reservation operation is set even during the normal operation, the control device 140 may perform the reservation operation when the reservation time of the set reservation operation arrives.

When the reservation time of the reservation operation arrives (S450), the control device 140 may start the reservation operation (S460). The control device 140 may determine whether the reservation time of the reservation operation has elapsed (S470).

If the reservation time has elapsed (S470), the control device 140 may return to normal operation (S480).

Referring to FIG. 10, in a method of operating a control device according to another embodiment, a plurality of reserved operations may be provided.

For example, in the case of two preset reserved operations, the controller may first perform a quick reservation time of the two reserved operations.

The control device may perform a normal operation (S510). The control device can determine whether the reserved operation is set (S520). If the reserved operation is not set, the control device can maintain the current state and continue the normal operation. The control device can determine whether any one of the plurality of reservation operations has arrived (S530).

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the reservation time (first reservation time) of the first reservation operation is earlier than the reservation time (second reservation time) of the second reservation operation.

When the first reservation time arrives, the control device 140 may perform a first reservation operation (S540).

When the second reservation time arrives while performing the first reserved operation (S550), the controller may determine a priority between the first reserved operation and the second reserved operation (S560). If the priority of the second reserved operation is higher than the first reserved operation, the control device may switch the operation to perform the second reserved operation (S570).

The controller may determine whether the reservation time (second reservation time) of the second reservation operation has been exceeded (S580). When the second reservation time has elapsed, the control device may determine whether a reservation time (first reservation time) of the first reservation operation remains (S590). If the first reservation time remains when the second reservation time elapses, the controller may switch driving to perform the first reservation operation (S555). If the first reservation time has elapsed, the controller may perform normal operation.

The control device may display an icon indicating the time remaining until the reservation time of the first reserved operation or the second reserved operation is reached. The icon may be in the form of a segment representing a number (88 segment), but is not limited thereto.

Although all components constituting the embodiments of the present invention have been described as being combined or operating as one, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. Within the scope of the present invention, depending on the embodiment, all the components may operate selectively in combination with one or more.

Although all components may each be implemented as one independent hardware, a computer having a program module in which some or all of each component is selectively combined to perform some or all functions combined in one or more hardware. It may be implemented as a program.

The plurality of codes and code segments constituting the computer program may be easily inferred by those skilled in the art. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium and read and executed by a computer, thereby implementing embodiments of the present invention. The storage medium of the computer program may include a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, a carrier wave medium, and the like.

The terms "comprise", "comprise" or "having" described above mean that a corresponding component may be included unless specifically stated otherwise, and thus does not exclude other components. It should be construed that it may further include other components.

All terms, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise defined.

Terms commonly used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, should be interpreted to coincide with the contextual meaning of the related art, and shall not be construed in an ideal or excessively formal sense unless explicitly defined in the present invention.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

The embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

110: central controller
120: outdoor unit
130: indoor unit
140: controller
10: central processing unit
20: memory
30: interface device
40: input / output device
50: output device
60: input device
70: timer
80: communication unit

Claims (18)

Output device;
A central processing unit; And
A memory for storing data relating to a plurality of reservation operations including reservation days, reservation times, and operation modes, and priorities between the plurality of reservation operations;
The central processing unit,
If there is at least two or more reservation operations in which the reservation day and at least a portion of the reservation time overlap, among the plurality of reservation operations, check the priority between the at least two or more reservation operations,
And controlling the operation to be performed according to at least one of the at least two reservation operations based on the identified priority. The method of claim 1,
The central processing unit,
During the operation according to any one of the at least two or more reserved operations, a control device for checking whether a reservation time of at least one reserved operation having a higher priority than the reserved operation being performed during the operation is arrived. . The method of claim 2,
The central processing unit,
If the reservation time of at least one reservation operation having a higher priority than the reservation operation being performed among the at least two reservation operations arrives, controlling the operation to be performed according to the at least one reservation operation having the highest priority. Control unit. delete The method of claim 1,
Further comprising;
The central processing unit,
And storing the priorities of the plurality of reserved operations according to values input from the input device. The method of claim 1,
The at least two reservation operations include a first reservation operation in which the reservation day and the reservation time at least partially overlap and a second reservation operation having a higher priority than the first reservation operation,
The central processing unit,
And a control unit outputting a display corresponding to the second reserved operation through the output device when a reservation time of the second reserved operation arrives during the operation according to the first reserved operation. The method of claim 6,
The central processing unit,
And a control unit outputting a display corresponding to the first reserved operation through the output device, when the time when the reservation time of the second reserved operation elapses is included in the reserved time of the first reserved operation. The method of claim 6,
The central processing unit,
When the time point when the reservation time of the second reservation operation has elapsed is not included in the reservation time of the first reservation operation,
And a control device for concealing a display corresponding to the second reserved operation outputted through the output device. The method of claim 6,
The first reserved operation and the second reserved operation,
And a control device having different operation modes or desired temperatures. The method of claim 1,
And the memory stores data even when the power is turned off. The method of claim 1,
The central processing unit,
When the power is turned on, it is determined whether at least one of the plurality of reserved operations is set,
And when the at least one reserved operation is set, determine whether a reservation time of the at least one reserved operation has arrived. Priority among the at least two or more reservation operations when there is at least two or more reservation operations in which the reservation day and the reservation time at least partially overlap among a plurality of preset reservation operations including a reservation day, a reservation time, and an operation mode Confirming; And
And performing an operation according to any one of the at least two reservation operations based on the identified priority. delete The method of claim 12,
Performing the operation,
Determining whether a reservation time of at least one reservation operation having a higher priority than the reservation operation in which the operation is performed arrives during the operation according to any one of the at least two reservation operations. Control device operation method comprising. The method of claim 14,
Performing the operation,
Performing the operation according to the at least one reserved operation having the higher priority when the reserved time of the at least one reserved operation having a higher priority than the reserved operation being performed is arrived among the at least two reserved operations. Control device operation method comprising. The method of claim 12,
The plurality of reservation operations include a first reservation operation in which the reservation day and the reservation time at least partially overlap and a second reservation operation having a higher priority than the first reservation operation,
Performing the operation,
And performing an operation according to the second reservation operation when a reservation time of the second reservation operation arrives while the operation according to the first reservation operation is performed. The method of claim 16,
Performing the operation,
And switching to performing the operation according to the first reservation operation when the time when the reservation time of the second reservation operation elapses is included in the reservation time of the first reservation operation. The method of claim 12,
And when the operation is performed according to any one of the at least two reservation operations, displaying an icon representing a time remaining until a reservation time corresponding to the reservation operation being performed is exceeded.

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