KR102152732B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an input device for receiving an input for driving; A lighting device including a plurality of light sources arranged to emit light in at least one area of the closed curve in order to display information for the set driving; A memory for storing light pattern information in a manner in which a plurality of light sources emit light according to a set operation; A control unit that continuously determines whether there is an input in the input device; And light emission of changing the light pattern of the lighting device to indicate that there is an operation input in the input device when a signal is received from the control unit and that the input device has an input. It includes;

Description

Air conditioner

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner in which a lighting device is installed in a main body.

The air conditioner is installed to provide a more comfortable indoor environment to humans by discharging cold and hot air into the room to create a pleasant indoor environment, adjusting the indoor temperature, and purifying the indoor air. In general, an air conditioner includes an indoor unit configured as a heat exchanger and installed indoors, and an outdoor unit configured with a compressor and a heat exchanger to supply refrigerant to the indoor unit.

The air conditioner is controlled separately from an indoor unit composed of a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit composed of a compressor and a heat exchanger, and is operated by controlling power supplied to the compressor or the heat exchanger. In addition, the air conditioner may be connected to at least one indoor unit to the outdoor unit, and is operated in a cooling or heating mode by supplying a refrigerant to the indoor unit according to a requested operation state.

The air conditioner is always installed in an indoor room or living room, occupying space, and mainly uses only cooling and heating as its main functions, and has a disadvantage in that its practical use period is shorter than that of other home appliances.

In the air conditioner according to the prior art, there are cases where an installed lighting device or a display device displays text or the like indicating the operating state of the air conditioner, or is used only as a lighting decoration regardless of the operating state. The air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention provides a light pattern indicating whether the lighting device has input to the input device.

An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems includes: an input device receiving an input for driving; A lighting device including a plurality of light sources arranged to emit light in at least one area of the closed curve in order to display information for the set driving; A memory for storing light pattern information in a manner in which a plurality of light sources emit light according to a set operation; A control unit that continuously determines whether there is an input in the input device; And light emission of changing the light pattern of the lighting device to indicate that there is an operation input in the input device when a signal is received from the control unit and that the input device has an input. It includes;

When there is a driving input to the input device, the light emission control unit may cause the lighting device to emit light in a lower area of the closed curve.

The lighting device may emit light at the 6 o'clock portion of the closed curve, and form tails in which the amount of light gradually decreases on both sides thereof.

When there is a driving input to the input device, the light emission control unit may overlap light patterns of different colors on a region of the light pattern in which the lighting device previously emits light.

The lighting device may emit a white light pattern to indicate that there is a driving input to the input device.

When the lighting device displays a light pattern indicating that there is a driving input to the input device for a predetermined period of time, the light emission control unit may return to the existing light pattern.

The light emission control unit may overlap the yellow light pattern on the white light pattern when the light pattern of the lighting device is white at the moment there is a driving input to the input device.

The lighting device further includes a reflector forming a closed curve, and a plurality of light sources are disposed inside the closed curve, and light can be irradiated toward the reflector.

The closed curve may be triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, circular, or elliptical.

The plurality of light sources sequentially emit light, and the plurality of light sources may gradually adjust the amount of light according to the light pattern information.

When there is an input from an input device, the air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may display it as a lighting device so that the user can determine whether or not the item input by the user is properly input.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention emits light with a light pattern indicating that there is an input to the input device, and returns to the existing light pattern after a preset time, thereby providing a light pattern with no disconnection. It is possible to provide comfort by not feeling eye strain or the like.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, when emitting a lighting device with a light pattern indicating that there is an input in the input device, overlaps the existing light pattern, thereby minimizing eye fatigue due to excessive light pattern change. I can.

When there is an input for changing the temperature of the lighting device to the input device, the rise or fall of the temperature value is displayed by a change in the color of the light pattern, so that the user can intuitively grasp the temperature change.

1 is a perspective view of an air conditioner in operation according to an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a perspective view of an air conditioner when stopped according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention,
4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention,
5 is a front view showing the interior of the lighting device of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a lighting device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a block diagram showing components for controlling an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
8 and 9 are views showing changes in light patterns of the lighting device of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
10 is a view showing a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and a method of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in a variety of different forms, and only these embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and are common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to completely inform the scope of the invention to those who have, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. The same reference numerals refer to the same components throughout the specification.

Terms such as first and second may be used to describe various elements, but these 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, a first contact may be referred to as a second contact, likewise, a second contact may be referred to as a first contact, and the first contact and the second contact are two. All are in contact, but may not be the same.

Terms used in the description of the invention are only for describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the invention. When used in the description of the invention and in the appended claims, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The use of a mark may indicate either the singular usage or the plural form of the term, or both, 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 related items listed. The terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” as used herein designate the presence of specified features, integers, steps, actions, elements and or components, It will be further understood that the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, actions, elements, components and/or groups thereof is not excluded.

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

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

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

1 is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention when operating, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention when stopped.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioner includes a main body 1 that sucks indoor air through an air inlet, air-conditions it, and discharges it through an air outlet, and a lighting device 2 installed in the main body 1.

The main body 1 has an air intake port through which indoor air is sucked into the main body 1. The main body 1 is formed with an air discharge port through which air conditioned from the inside of the main body 1 is discharged to the outside of the main body 1. A plurality of air outlets may be formed in the main body 1. The main body 1 may include a rear case 12 and a front case 13 installed in front of the rear case 12. The rear case 12 and the front case 13 may form the exterior of the main body 1.

The lighting device 2 may be disposed in the main body 1 to advance and retreat. The lighting device 2 may be retracted in a direction closer to the main body 1 and may be advanced in a direction away from the main body 1. The lighting device 2 may form the main body 1 and the air intake passage P when advancing. The air suction passage P may be formed to be open in the vertical direction between the lighting device 2 and the main body 1. When the air intake passage (P) is opened in the vertical direction, the upper and lower surfaces of the air intake passage (P) can be opened, respectively, and the lighting device (2) has the upper, lower, and rear surfaces, respectively, as well as the front and left sides. Each of the side and the right side may have a closed shape. When the lighting device (2) is in the advanced position, indoor air is raised from the lower side of the air intake passage (P) to the air intake passage (P) and can be sucked into the air intake passage (P), and the indoor air is It is lowered from the upper side of the air suction passage P to the air suction passage P and may be sucked into the air suction passage P.

3 is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view showing the inside of the lighting device of the machine, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the lighting device of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The body 1 may have an air intake 4 formed on the front side. The main body 1 may have a plurality of air outlets 6 and 8 in addition to the front surface. The plurality of air discharge ports 6 and 8 may be formed to discharge air in different directions. The plurality of air discharge ports 6 and 8 may be formed to be distributed in a plurality of positions of the main body 1.

The main body 1 may have a side air discharge port 6 formed on at least one of the left and the right side, and a lower air discharge port 8 may be formed at the bottom. The main body 1 may have side air outlets 6 formed on the left and right sides of the main body 1, respectively.

The body 1 may have a left air discharge port 6A on the left side, and a right air discharge port 6B on the right side. Air conditioned inside the main body 1 can be distributed and discharged in three directions through the left air discharge port 6A, the right air discharge port 6B, and the lower air discharge port 8.

Hereinafter, when the left air outlet 6A and the right air outlet 6B are separately described, they are referred to as left air outlet 6A and right air outlet 6B, and in other cases, left air outlet (6A) and the right air discharge port 6B are referred to as side air discharge ports 6, and are described.

A blowing unit 14 and a heat exchanger 15 may be installed in the main body 1. The blowing unit 14 and the heat exchanger 15 may be installed between the rear case 12 and the front case 13.

The rear case 12 may form a flow path for air. The air blown by the blowing unit 14 may be guided to the rear case 12 and flow to the air outlet. The rear case 12 may form a rear exterior of the main body 1. The rear case 12 may form the exterior of the upper, lower, left and right four circumferential surfaces of the main body 1. The rear case 12 may have a left air discharge port 6A on the left side, and a right air discharge port 6B on the right side. The left air discharge port 6A may be formed to be opened in the left and right directions on the left side of the rear case 12. The right air discharge port 6B may be formed to be opened on the right side of the rear case 12 in the left and right directions. The rear case 12 may further have a lower air discharge port 8 formed at the bottom thereof. The lower air discharge port 8 may be formed to be opened in a vertical direction under the rear case 12.

The front case 13 may form the front appearance of the body 1. An air intake port 4 may be formed in the front case 13. The air intake port 4 may be formed to be opened in the front case 13 in the front-rear direction. The front case 13 may be provided with a suction grille 13a that protects the interior of the main body 1. The suction grille 13a may be formed to be located at the air intake port 4. The intake grille 13a may be formed to cross the air inlet 4.

The blowing unit 14 may suck air through the air inlet 4 and pass it through the heat exchanger 15 and then discharge it through the air outlets 6 and 8. The blowing unit 14 may be composed of a centrifugal blowing unit that sucks air in front and blows air in the circumferential direction. The blowing unit 14 may include a motor 16 installed on the rear case 12 and a blower 17 installed on a rotating shaft of the motor 16. The blowing unit 14 may further include an orifice 18 for guiding air to the blower 17. The motor 16 may be installed with a rotating shaft facing the front. The blower 17 may be a centrifugal fan such as a turbo fan that sucks air in front and blows air in the circumferential direction. The orifice 18 may form a flow path of air blown by the blower 17 together with the rear case 12. An air guide for guiding air blown by the blower 17 may be formed in the rear case 12. The rear case 12 may function as a fan housing surrounding the motor 16 and the blower 17. An air hole 19 through which air passes may be formed in the orifice 18. The air hole 19 may be formed at a position between the blower 17 and the heat exchanger 15.

The heat exchanger 15 may be installed to face the air inlet 4. The heat exchanger 15 may be installed to be positioned between the front case 13 and the orifice 18. The heat exchanger 15 may be installed perpendicular to at least one of the front case 13 and the orifice 18.

The air conditioner may include a filter 20 that purifies the air sucked through the air inlet 4. The filter 20 may be installed on the front side of the front case 13 so as to be detachably attached to the left and right slides. A sliding guide through which the filter 20 slides left and right may be formed in the front case 13.

The main body 1 includes a side discharge vane 22 for guiding the air discharged through the side air discharge port 6 to the side of the lighting device 2, and a lower discharge vane 22 for guiding the air discharged through the lower air discharge port 8 24) may be included.

The side discharge vane 22 may include a left discharge vane 22A for guiding the air discharged to the left air discharge port 6A, and a right discharge vane 22B for guiding the air discharged to the right air discharge port 6B. I can. The left discharge vane 22A can be installed to be rotated in the left and right directions around a vertical rotation center on the left side of the main body 1, and when it is rotated to protrude to the left of the main body 1, the left air discharge port 6A The discharged air can be guided. The right discharge vane 22B can be installed to be rotated left and right around a vertical rotation center on the right side of the body 1, and when it is rotated to protrude to the right of the body 1, the right air discharge port 6B The discharged air can be guided. The left discharge vane (22A) and the right discharge vane (22B) may rotate in opposite directions when the air conditioner is operated, and other configurations and actions other than the rotation direction may be the same. When the vanes 22A and the right discharge vanes 22B are separately described, they are referred to as left discharge vanes 22A and right discharge vanes 22B, and the other common configurations are referred to as side discharge vanes 22. ) And explain.

The lower discharge vane 24 can adjust the vertical wind direction of the air discharged through the lower air discharge port 8 while rotating up and down around the horizontal rotation center. The lower discharge vane 24 may have a horizontal center of rotation located inside the body 1.

The air conditioner includes a side discharge vane driving mechanism 26 that rotates the side discharge vanes 22; And a lower discharge vane drive mechanism 28 for rotating the lower discharge vane 24.

The side discharge vane driving mechanism 26 may be installed in the main body 1, and the side discharge vane 22 may be connected to the side discharge vane driving mechanism 26. The side discharge vane driving mechanism 26 may include a side discharge vane driving motor installed in the main body 1. The side discharge vane drive mechanism 26 may include a left discharge vane drive mechanism 26A for rotating the left discharge vane 22A, and a right discharge vane drive mechanism 26B for rotating the right discharge vane 22B. . Hereinafter, when each of the left discharge vane drive mechanism 26A and the right discharge vane drive mechanism 26B is separately described, it will be referred to as the left discharge vane drive mechanism 26A and the right discharge vane drive mechanism 26B. Other common configurations are referred to as side discharge vane drive mechanisms 26 and described.

The lower discharge vane drive mechanism 28 may be installed in the main body 1, and the lower discharge vane 24 may be connected to the lower discharge vane drive mechanism 28. The lower discharge vane driving mechanism 28 may include a lower discharge vane driving motor installed in the main body 1.

The lighting device 2 may be formed larger in size than the air inlet 4. The lighting device 2 is located in front of the air intake 4 to cover the air intake 4, and the air intake 4 is not visible from the outside. The lighting device 2 may function as a decorative device for enhancing the decorative beauty of the air conditioner, or as a display for displaying information. The lighting device 2 may form a lighting pattern that can be seen from the outside. The lighting device 2 is capable of forming a ring-shaped lighting pattern, it is possible to form a ring-shaped lighting pattern with one side open, and it is possible to form a point (spot) lighting pattern. Here, as for the ring shape with one side open, the angle of the opened area may be less than 90°, and the angle of the opened area may be formed in a semi-ring shape, such as forming a'C' shape, and the angle of the opened area exceeding 180° While it is possible to open less than 270°, of course, it may include a curved shape other than a ring shape and a point shape.

The air conditioner may include a lighting device driving mechanism 40 for advancing and retreating the lighting device 2. The lighting device driving mechanism 40 may include a motor 42, a pinion 44 and a rack 46. A plurality of lighting device driving mechanisms 40 may be installed, and a plurality of lighting device driving mechanisms 40 may advance and retreat the entire lighting device 2. When the motor 42 is installed in the main body 1, the pinion 44 may be installed on the rotating shaft of the motor, and the rack 46 may be installed in the lighting device 2. When the motor 42 is installed in the lighting device 2, the pinion 44 may be installed on the rotating shaft of the motor, and the rack 46 may be installed in the main body 1. The lighting device driving mechanism 40 may move the lighting device 2 forward when the air conditioner is operated. The lighting device driving mechanism 40 may move the lighting device 2 backward when the air conditioner is stopped.

Hereinafter, the lighting device 2 will be described in detail.

The lighting device 2 includes a lighting device base 50; A first cover 60 disposed on the lighting device base 50; A light emitting device 70 for irradiating light in an outward direction between the lighting device base 50 and the first cover 60 and between the lighting device base 50 and the first cover 60; A second cover (80) having a gap (78) between the first cover (60) and; It includes a reflector 90 for reflecting the light irradiated from the light emitting device 70 to the front surface of the first cover 60 through the gap 78. When light is irradiated from the light emitting device 70, the light may be irradiated to the reflector 90 between the lighting device base 50 and the first cover 60, and is reflected from the reflector 90 toward the gap 78. Can be. Light reflected from the reflector 90 toward the gap 78 may be illuminated on the front surface of the first cover 60 after passing through the gap 78, and a lighting pattern may be formed on the front surface of the first cover 60. I can. The light generated by the light emitting device 70 positioned behind the first cover 60 may be irradiated to the front surface 64 of the first cover 60 without transmitting the first cover 60.

The lighting device base 50 may be installed on the main body 1. The lighting device base 50 may form the rear exterior of the lighting device 2. The lighting device base 50 may be connected to the main body 1 to be located outside the main body 1. The lighting device base 50 may be connected to the lighting device driving mechanism 40 and may be moved by the lighting device driving mechanism 40. One of the motor 42 and the rack 46 may be installed on the lighting device base 50. The lighting device base 50 may form the front surface of the main body 1 and an air suction passage P. The rear surface of the lighting device base 50 may be an air intake guide surface. The lighting device base 50 may form the main body 1 and the air intake passage P when advancing, and the air passes between the rear surface of the lighting device base 50 and the front surface of the main body 1, and the air inlet ( 4) can be inhaled. A light emitting device 70 may be installed on the lighting device base 50. A first cover 60 may be installed on the lighting device base 50. A second cover 80 may be installed on the lighting device base 50.

The first cover 60 may be installed on the lighting device base 50. The first cover 60 may be seen from the outside of the lighting device 2 and may constitute a part of the front side of the lighting device 2. In the lighting device 2, a space in which the light emitting device 70 can be accommodated may be formed between the first cover 60 and the lighting device base 50. The outer circumference 61 of the first cover 60 may be spaced apart from the inner circumference of the reflector 90. The first cover 60 may be formed in a convex shape toward the front. The first cover 60 may be formed such that the front surface 64 is convex toward the front. The first cover 60 may face the reflector 90 only in part of the front surface 64. In the first cover 60, a portion of the front surface 64 may face the reflector 90, and another area of the front surface 64 may not face the reflector 90. The front surface 64 of the first cover 60 includes a first area facing the inner circumferential surface of the reflector 90 in the left and right direction, and a second area not facing the inner circumferential surface of the reflector 90 in the left and right direction. Can include. The front surface 64 of the first cover 60 may include a lighting pattern forming portion in which an illumination pattern is formed, and a lighting pattern non-forming portion in which an illumination pattern is not formed. The light reflected by the reflector 90 is illuminated in a partial area (first area) of the front surface 64 of the first cover 60 facing the reflector 90, and the front surface 64 of the first cover 60 The illumination pattern may be formed only in a partial area (the first area) facing the silver reflector 90. The illumination pattern may not be formed in another area (the second area) of the front surface 64 of the first cover 60 that does not face the reflector 90, and is formed on the front surface 64 of the first cover 60 The lighting pattern is not widely spread over the entire front surface 64 of the first cover 60, and is mainly clear in a partial area (first area) facing the reflector 90 among the front surface 64 of the first cover 60. It can look like it. The first cover 60 may be installed so that the rear surface 63 faces the lighting device base 50. The first cover 60 may have a concave rear surface 63. The front surface 64 of the first cover 60 may face the front of the air conditioner. The front surface 64 of the first cover 60 may be convexly rounded toward the front, and the light reflected from the reflector 90 may be illuminated on the front surface 64 of the first cover 60. The first cover 60 may be a surface on which a lighting pattern is formed when the light emitting device 70 is turned on. The first cover 60 may be formed to be larger than the overall size of the light emitting device 70, and may function as a shield to hide the light emitting device 70 from outside. The first cover 60 may function as a lighting plate on which the lighting pattern L to be displayed by the lighting device 2 is expressed. The first cover 60 may be formed to be opaque, and the light reflected from the reflector 90 may be irradiated to the front surface 64 of the first cover 60 through the gap 78, and the first cover ( Light irradiated to the front surface 64 of 60) may be expressed on the front surface of the first cover 60. The first cover 60 may be provided with a first cover fastening part 66 in which the first cover 60 is fastened to the lighting device base 50 with a fastening member such as a screw. The first cover fastening portion 66 may be formed on the rear surface 63 of the first cover 60 to protrude toward the lighting device base 50. The first cover fastening portion 66 may be formed of at least one boss portion formed on the first cover 60. The first cover 60 may have a white color on the front surface 64, and the color of the lighting pattern formed on the front surface 64 of the first cover 60 may be changed according to the color of light reflected from the reflector 90. have.

The light emitting device 70 may be disposed in the space S formed inside the reflector 90. The light emitting device 70 may have a plurality of modes in which at least one of the size of the lighting pattern formed on the front surface of the first cover 60 and the position of the lighting pattern are different.

In the light emitting device 70, at least one light source may selectively express a plurality of lighting patterns. One light source may emit various lights having different colors and illuminances from each other, and may emit various lights having at least one of different colors and illuminances according to a combination of the color and illuminance of light emitted by one light source. The light emitting device 70 may include a plurality of light sources 71 and 72, and the plurality of light sources 71 and 72 may be controlled together or selectively according to the light emitting mode.

The light emitting device 70 may include a circuit board 74 on which a light source is installed. The light emitting device 70 may include a plurality of circuit boards, and the plurality of light sources 71 and 72 may be distributedly disposed on a plurality of circuit boards. The plurality of circuit boards 74 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other. The light emitting device 70 may have at least two light sources installed on the same circuit board 74 together.

The light emitting device 70 may be installed such that a plurality of light sources 71 and 72 are sequentially positioned along a circular virtual line O, and may radiate light radially. The light emitting device 70 may have different lighting patterns formed on the front surface 64 of the first cover 60 for each light emitting mode. The light emitting device 70 may include a main circuit board 75 on which a plurality of circuit boards 74 are installed.

A plurality of circuit boards 74 may be installed to be spaced apart from the main circuit board 75. The plurality of circuit boards 74 may be installed on the main circuit board 75 to face different directions. The plurality of circuit boards 74 may be installed so that one surface thereof faces the inner circumference of the reflector 90. The light sources 71 and 72 may be installed on a surface facing the reflector 90 among both sides of the circuit board 74, and each of the light sources 71 and 72 is directed toward the inner circumference of the reflector 90 Light can be irradiated. The light emitting device 70 may be arranged such that a plurality of light sources 71 and 72 radiate light radially. All of the plurality of light sources 71 and 72 may be turned on together, and when some of the light sources 71 and 72 are turned on, the others may be turned off. The light emitting device 70 may have a plurality of light patterns having different numbers of light sources to be turned on among the plurality of light sources 71 and 72.

7 is a block diagram showing components for controlling an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the air conditioner has a control unit 210 that performs various signal processing and calculations, a memory 220 that stores programs or data in connection with the control unit 210, and exchanges signals with the control unit 210. It may include a light emission control unit 230, a lighting device 240 for receiving a signal from the light emission control unit 230 to emit light, a fan 250 for blowing air, an input device 260, and the like.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lighting device ( 240), a memory 220 for storing light pattern information, which is a method of emitting light according to a set operation, a control unit 210 and a lighting device 240 for continuously determining whether there is an input When controlling to emit light based on pattern information, and receiving a signal indicating that there is an input in the input device 260 from the control unit 210, the lighting device 240 is used to indicate that there is a driving input in the input device 260. It includes a light emission control unit 210 for changing the light pattern.

The controller 210 may execute or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in the memory 220 to perform various functions for the air conditioner and process data. The controller 210 may process a signal based on information stored in the memory 220.

For example, the control unit 210 executes a program stored in the memory 220 to display the indoor temperature, start temperature, power saving temperature, reservation of reserved operation, the type of operation currently being performed, etc. The light pattern information can be transmitted to the light emission control unit 230 according to the type or state of the device.

The control unit 210 may load the light pattern information from the memory 220. The controller 210 may grasp what information is input by the user from the input device 260. The controller 210 may perform a driving mode corresponding to a signal input by a user. The controller 210 may control the speed of the fan 250 based on the input signal. The control unit 210 may control the light emission control unit 230 based on the driving mode. The input device 260 may be a wired or wireless remote control. When the input device 260 is a remote control, the air conditioner may further include a communication device that connects the input device 260 and the controller 210.

The controller 210 may receive photo pattern information from the memory 220. The controller 210 may grasp light pattern information corresponding to the driving mode input by the user. For example, when a natural wind mode is input, the control unit 210 may load the corresponding light pattern information from the memory 220 and transmit the corresponding light pattern information to the light emission control unit 230.

The controller 210 may continuously determine whether there is an input in the input device. When there is an input to the input device 260, the control unit 210 may transmit a signal to the light-emitting control unit 230 to emit light.

The controller 210 may determine whether an input received by the input device 260 indicates what. The controller 210 may perform what is indicated by the input received by the input device 260. For example, when the input received from the input device 260 is cooling, the control unit 210 may perform a cooling operation, and when the input device 260 is dehumidified, the control unit 210 may perform a dehumidification operation. The controller 210 may grasp a light pattern corresponding to a driving input from the light pattern information.

The control unit 210 may transmit information on the light pattern corresponding to the input driving to the light emission control unit 210. The light emission control unit 210 may receive information on a light pattern corresponding to a driving input to the input device 260 from the control unit 210. The light emission control unit 210 may determine a shape of the light pattern that the lighting device 240 emits light based on the information on the received light pattern.

The light emission control unit 210 may change the light pattern of the lighting device 240 to indicate that the input device 260 has a driving input. The light emission control unit 210 may control the lighting device 240 to emit light based on the light pattern information.

When there is an input to the input device 260, the light emission control unit 210 may cause the lighting device 240 to emit light in a lower area of the closed curve. The lighting device 240 may emit light at the 6 o'clock portion of the closed curve, and may form a tail in which the amount of light gradually decreases on both sides.

When there is a driving input to the input device 260, the light emission control unit 210 may control the lighting device 240 to overlap light patterns of different colors on a region of the light pattern that has been previously emitted. The lighting device 240 may emit a white light pattern to indicate that there is a driving input to the input device 260.

When the lighting device 240 displays a light pattern indicating that there is a driving input to the input device 260 for a predetermined period of time, the light emission control unit 210 may return to the existing light pattern. The light emission control unit 210 may overlap the yellow light pattern on the white light pattern when the light pattern of the lighting device 240 is white at the moment there is a driving input to the input device 260.

The lighting device 240 may further include a reflector forming a closed curve. In the lighting device 240, a plurality of light sources may be disposed inside the closed curve. The plurality of light sources can irradiate light toward the reflector.

When the input device 260 receives an input for changing the temperature, the lighting device 240 may change the color of the light pattern to display an increase or decrease in a temperature value. For example, when the input device 260 receives an input for increasing the temperature value, the lighting device 240 may display a red light pattern. For example, when the input device 260 receives an input for lowering the temperature value, the lighting device 240 may display a blue light pattern, but the color is not limited thereto. The amount of light may gradually decrease as the plurality of light sources increase clockwise or counterclockwise away from the light sources emitting light adjacent to 6 o'clock on the closed curve.

The memory 220 may include a high-speed random access memory. The memory 220 may also include a nonvolatile memory such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other nonvolatile solid state memory devices, but is not limited thereto and may include a readable storage medium.

For example, the memory 220 may include an EEP-ROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), but is not limited thereto. In the EEP-ROM, information may be written and erased by the controller 210 while the controller 210 is operating. The EEP-ROM may be a storage device in which information stored therein is not erased and retained even when the power supply of the air conditioner is turned off and the power supply is stopped.

The memory 220 may store light pattern information, which is a method in which the lighting device 240 emits light. For example, the memory 220 may store light pattern information, which is a method of emitting light according to a set operation of a plurality of light sources. The memory 220 may provide the light pattern information to the controller 210 when the controller 210 requests it. The light pattern information may be information on a plurality of light patterns corresponding to a plurality of operations of the air conditioner. For example, the light pattern information may be information that determines how the lighting device 240 displays the operation of the air conditioner in a specific type of light pattern and color.

The air conditioner may further include an output device (not shown). For example, the output device (not shown) may include a speaker that outputs sound or a display device that emits light for visual display. The input device 260 may include a means for receiving an external input such as a physical button, a dial, a slider switch, and a click wheel.

Output devices (not shown) are LPD (light emitting polymer display), liquid crystal display, thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, organic light-emitting diode, and flexible display. It may include at least one of a (flexible display) and a 3D display, but various methods, not limited thereto, may be applied.

The output device (not shown) may display information necessary for air conditioning. For example, the output device (not shown) may display an operation mode such as cooling, heating, dehumidification, or air cleaning, but is not limited thereto and may display information in a broad sense required for control.

Depending on the embodiment, the output device (not shown) may include a touch-sensitive touch screen. The touch-sensitive touch screen may display a visual output to the user and accept an input from the user based on a tactile contact.

The visual output may include graphics, text, icons, videos, and combinations thereof. According to an embodiment, some or all of the visual output may correspond to user interface objects.

The touch-sensitive touch screen may detect a contact thereon, and convert the detected contact to correspond to user interface objects displayed on the touch screen.

The light emission control unit 210 may transmit and receive signals with the control unit 210. The light emission control unit 210 may receive light pattern information from the control unit 210. The light emission control unit 210 may receive a signal from the control unit 210 and adjust the degree of change of the light patterns of the plurality of light sources.

The lighting device 240 may include a plurality of light sources. The lighting device 240 may emit light by receiving a signal from the light emitting control unit 210. The light emission control unit 210 may continuously emit light in an adjacent order based on the light pattern information.

The light emission control unit 210 may gradually change the amount of light in an adjacent order of a plurality of light sources of the lighting device 240. The light emission control unit 210 may control the light pattern of the lighting device 240 to be different according to the operation input to the input device 260. The light emission control unit 210 may adjust the speed at which the plurality of light sources continuously emit light and turn off according to the speed of the fan 250.

The lighting device 240 may emit light in at least one area of the virtual closed curve. The lighting device 240 may include a reflector forming a closed curve. The lighting device 240 may have a form in which a plurality of light sources are disposed inside a closed curve. A plurality of light sources may be disposed inside the closed curve. The plurality of light sources may be in the form of irradiating light toward the reflector. The closed curve may be a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a circle, or an ellipse, but is not limited thereto, and may have more shapes than those forming the closed curve.

8 and 9 are diagrams showing changes in light patterns of a lighting device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the air conditioner may receive a driving mode input from a user. The air conditioner can receive various inputs from a user through an input device. For example, the air conditioner can receive various remote control inputs.

Referring to FIG. 8A, the air conditioner may display a light pattern L1 corresponding to the driving of the lighting device 2. In other embodiments, the lighting device 2 can be used for lighting with an aesthetic effect.

Referring to (b) of FIG. 8, when there is a new input in the input device 260 while the lighting device 2 is displaying the light pattern based on the light pattern information, the air conditioner is sent to the input device 260. A light pattern L2 indicating that there is an input may be displayed. For example, when there is a driving input to the input device 260, the lighting device 2 may display a light pattern of a different color to overlap an area of the previously displayed light pattern.

Referring to (c) of FIG. 8, when the lighting device 2 displays a light pattern indicating that there is an operation input to the input device 260 for a certain period of time, the air conditioner may return to the existing light pattern. The air conditioner may overlap the yellow light pattern on the white light pattern when there is a driving input to the input device 260 and the light pattern of the lighting device 240 is white.

Referring to FIG. 9, a light pattern indicating that there is an input to an input device may be different according to embodiments.

Referring to (a) of FIG. 9, when there is an input to the input device, the air conditioner may cause the lighting device 2 to emit light in a lower area of the closed curve. The lighting device 2 may emit light at the 6 o'clock portion of the closed curve, and form tails in which the amount of light gradually decreases on both sides.

Referring to (b) of FIG. 9, when there is an input to the input device, the lighting device 2 emits light at the 6 o'clock portion of the closed curve, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and an exemplary embodiment in which light is emitted from another part of the closed curve Can exist.

Referring to (c) of FIG. 9, when there is an input to the input device, the air conditioner may cause the lighting device 2 to emit light over the entire area of the closed curve, but is not limited thereto. The air conditioner can return to the existing light pattern when the lighting device 2 displays a light pattern indicating that there is a driving input to the input device for a certain period of time.

10 is a view showing a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention may receive a driving input from a user (S510). When a driving input is received from a user, the control unit can determine what the input driving is. When a driving input is received, the controller may transmit to the light emission controller whether there is an input before performing the driving. When it is determined that there is an input to the input device, the light emission control unit may receive a light pattern to be displayed from the control unit. The lighting device may display the presence of an input to an input device such as a remote control in a light pattern.

When a driving input is received from a user, the air conditioner may emit light patterns corresponding to driving (S520). For example, the air conditioner may include a plurality of light patterns corresponding to a plurality of operations.

The air conditioner may receive an input from the remote control (S530). In the description of FIG. 7, it is described that the input device includes a wired or wireless remote control. The input device described in FIG. 7 may include a communication module that performs communication between a wired or wireless remote control and a control unit, but is not limited thereto.

When the air conditioner receives an input through the remote control, the presence of the input may be displayed in a light pattern (S540). The air conditioner may overlap a light pattern indicating that there is an input on an existing light pattern. The air conditioner can display a light pattern indicating that there is an input in white. When the existing light pattern is white, the air conditioner may display a light pattern indicating that there is an input in yellow.

The air conditioner can display a light pattern indicating that there is an input to the remote control for a certain period of time. The air conditioner displays a light pattern indicating that there is an input on the remote control, and when a certain time elapses, it can return to the existing light pattern. For example, if the air conditioner is displaying the light pattern corresponding to the cooling operation and the light pattern indicating that there is an input on the remote control is displayed, the light pattern corresponding to the cooling operation will be displayed again after a certain period of time passes. I can.

Even if all the constituent elements constituting an embodiment of the present invention are described as being combined into one or operating in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment. As long as it is within the scope of the object of the present invention, depending on the embodiment, all the constituent elements may be selectively combined into one or more to operate.

All components may be implemented as one independent hardware, but a computer having a program module that performs some or all functions combined in one or more hardware by selectively combining some or all of the components It can also be implemented as a program.

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

Terms such as "include", "consist of" or "have" described above, unless otherwise stated, mean that the corresponding constituent element may be embedded, and thus, other constituent elements are not excluded. It should be interpreted as being able to further include other components.

All terms, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs.

Terms generally used, such as terms defined in the dictionary, should be interpreted as being consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and are not interpreted as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless explicitly defined in the present invention.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications and variations 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 explain the technical idea, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

1: main body 2: lighting panel
4: air intake port 6,8: air outlet port
50: lighting panel base 60: first cover
64: front surface of the first cover 70: light emitting device
78: gap 80: second cover
82: opening 90: reflector
91,92: reflective surface 93,94,95,96: reflector
99: light diffusion unit 100: light transmission cover
S: space D1: inner diameter of the reflector
D2: outer diameter of the first cover

Claims (10)

An input device for receiving an input for driving;
A lighting device including a plurality of light sources arranged to emit light in at least one area of the closed curve in order to display information for the set driving;
A memory for storing light pattern information in a manner in which the plurality of light sources emit light according to a set operation;
A control unit for continuously determining whether there is an input in the input device; And
When the lighting device is controlled to emit light based on the light pattern information, and when a signal indicating that there is an input in the input device is received from the control unit, the light pattern of the lighting device is to indicate that there is a driving input in the input device. Includes; a light emission control unit for changing the
When the lighting device has a driving input to the input device, the light emission control unit determines that there is a driving input to the input device on a region of the first light pattern in which at least some of the plurality of light sources of the lighting device emit light. An air conditioner that overlaps and displays the indicated second optical pattern, and returns to the existing first optical pattern when the second optical pattern is displayed for a predetermined period of time. The method of claim 1,
When there is a driving input to the input device, the light emission control unit
An air conditioner that causes the lighting device to emit light in a lower area of the closed curve. The method of claim 2,
The lighting device emits light at a 6 o'clock portion of the closed curve, and forms tails in which the amount of light gradually decreases on both sides of the air conditioner. The method of claim 1,
When there is a driving input to the input device, the light emission control unit
An air conditioner controlling the first light pattern and the second light pattern of a different color to overlap each other. The method of claim 4,
The lighting device emits a white light pattern to indicate that there is a driving input to the input device. delete The method of claim 5,
The light emission control unit overlaps the yellow light pattern on the white light pattern when the light pattern of the lighting device is white when there is a driving input to the input device. The method of claim 1,
The lighting device further comprises a reflector forming a closed curve,
The plurality of light sources are disposed inside the closed curve, and the air conditioner irradiates light toward the reflector. The method of claim 1,
When the lighting device receives an input for changing the temperature of the input device,
An air conditioner that displays an increase or decrease in temperature by changing the color of the light pattern. The method of claim 1,
The plurality of light sources is an air conditioner that gradually decreases the amount of light as the plurality of light sources increase in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction from a light source emitting light adjacent to 6 o'clock on the closed curve.

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