KR102155556B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems includes: an input device receiving an input for setting a driving operation; A fan for blowing air to harmonize the room according to the operating setting; A lighting device including a plurality of light sources; 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 adjusts the speed of the fan according to the set operation; And a light emission control unit configured to emit light from a plurality of light sources based on the light pattern information, and adjust the degree of change of the light patterns of the plurality of light sources based on the fan speed.

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 according to the embodiment of the present invention provides a light pattern that intuitively shows the operating state of the lighting 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 setting a driving operation; A fan for blowing air to harmonize the room according to the operating setting; A lighting device including a plurality of light sources; 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 adjusts the speed of the fan according to the set operation; And a light emission control unit configured to emit light from a plurality of light sources based on the light pattern information, and adjust the degree of change of the light patterns of the plurality of light sources based on the fan speed.

The plurality of light sources continuously emit light in an adjacent order, and the controller may adjust a speed at which the plurality of light sources continuously emit light according to the speed of the fan.

The light emission control unit may stepwise adjust the amount of light of the lighting device according to the speed of the fan.

The fan speed is determined to be different from each other in a plurality of steps, and the light emission control unit may adjust the amount of light of the lighting device based on a ratio according to the number of steps.

The lighting device may emit light in at least one area of the virtual closed curve.

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

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

The control unit may perform a natural wind mode in which the speed of the fan is varied in a preset pattern.

The light emission control unit may adjust a change speed of the light pattern of the light source according to a pattern in which the speed of the fan is changed.

The lighting device emits light in a pattern that rotates a virtual closed curve, and the light emission control unit may determine a rotation speed of the rotating light pattern of the lighting device according to the speed of the fan.

When the speed of the fan is changed, the light emission control unit may operate the lighting device for a predetermined time.

The air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may provide convenience by allowing the user to intuitively grasp the operating state of the air conditioner by adjusting the degree of change of the light pattern according to the speed of the fan.

In the air conditioner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lighting device forms a closed curve-shaped light pattern, so that the air conditioner can effectively display the air volume.

The air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may allow a user to intuitively sense the air volume of the air conditioner by adjusting the amount of light of the lighting device.

The air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may provide a natural wind to a user by performing a natural wind mode in which the amount of air changes according to a preset pattern, thereby providing comfort.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention performs a natural wind mode in which the air volume changes according to a preset pattern, and adjusts the change speed of the light pattern of the lighting device as the air volume changes, so that the user can intuitively change the air volume. Can be made aware.

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 is a view showing an optical pattern of a lighting device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a view showing an optical pattern of a lighting device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
10 is a view showing a method of displaying a natural wind mode by a lighting device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
11 is a view showing the form of a lighting device of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
12 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 includes 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 in the left direction 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 (the first area) facing the reflector 90 of 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 exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an input device 260 that receives an input for operation setting, a fan 250 that blows air conditioned according to the operation setting, and a lighting device 240 including a plurality of light sources. ), a memory 220 for storing light pattern information, which is a method in which a plurality of light sources emit light according to a set operation, and operation is set from the control unit 210 and the control unit 210 that control the fan speed according to the set operation In the case of receiving a signal indicating that the fan 250 is operated, the speed of the fan 250 is changed according to the set operation, a plurality of light sources are emitted based on the light pattern information, and the light pattern of the lighting device is It may include a light emission control unit 230 for adjusting the degree of change.

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 include a communication device that receives wireless or wired input from a remote control or the like.

The controller 210 may adjust the speed of the fan 250 according to the set operation. The control unit 210 may transmit different command signals to the light emission control unit 230 according to the rotational speed of the fan 250. For example, the control unit 210 may transmit a signal to the light emission control unit 230 to increase the amount of light of the lighting device 240 as the rotational speed of the fan 250 increases. The control unit 210 may transmit a signal indicating that the operation is set to the light emission control unit 230. The controller 210 may adjust the speed at which the plurality of light sources continuously emit light according to the speed of the fan 250.

The controller 210 may determine the speed of the fan 250 to be different from each other in a plurality of steps. For example, the controller 210 may change the speed of the fan 250 according to four stages of a weak wind, a medium wind, a strong wind, and a power wind, so that the speed of the fan 250 is different.

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 control the fan 250 according to the input operation mode. For example, when a natural wind mode in which the fan speed is changed in a preset pattern is input, the controller 210 may change the speed of the fan 250 according to the preset pattern. Information on a preset pattern defining a change in the speed of the fan may be stored in the memory 220. When the natural wind mode is input, the controller 210 may load information on a preset pattern from the memory 220. When performing the natural wind mode, the controller 210 may continuously change the speed of the fan 250 at a predetermined time or at random time intervals. For example, when performing the natural wind mode, the controller 210 may continuously change the wind speed to a weak wind, a neutral wind, a strong wind, and a power wind at regular time intervals or at random time intervals regardless of the order.

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 displays the operation of the air conditioner in a specific type of light pattern and color. The aesthetically expressed light pattern information may define, for example, a light pattern of the lighting device 240 corresponding to a plurality of stages of the air volume of the air conditioner. For example, based on the light pattern information, the lighting device may increase or decrease the amount of light as the amount of air increases, and the amount of light is not limited to any one. In another example, the lighting device 240 may increase the rotational speed of the light pattern rotating the closed curve according to the air volume of the air conditioner, but is not limited to any one embodiment.

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 230 may transmit and receive signals with the control unit 210. The light emission control unit 230 may receive light pattern information from the control unit 210. The light emission control unit 230 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 emission control unit 230. The light emission control unit 230 may continuously emit light in an adjacent order based on the light pattern information. The light emission control unit 230 may receive the rotational speed of the fan 250 from the control unit 210. The light emission control unit 230 may gradually adjust the amount of light of the lighting device 240 according to the rotational speed of the fan 250.

The speed of the fan 250 may be determined to be different from each other in a plurality of steps. For example, the rotation speed of the fan 250 may be a preset value corresponding to a plurality of stages, and the light emission control unit 230 may be configured according to a plurality of light quantity values corresponding to the plurality of stages of the fan 250, respectively, The amount of light of the lighting device 240 can be adjusted.

The light emission control unit 230 may continuously emit light of a plurality of light sources of the lighting device 240 in an adjacent order. The light emission control unit 230 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 triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, circular, or elliptical shape, but is not limited thereto, and may have more shapes than those forming the closed curve.

The controller 210 may instruct to perform the natural wind mode in which the speed of the fan 250 is changed in a preset pattern. Information on a preset pattern for varying the speed of the fan may be stored in the memory 220. The preset pattern for varying the speed of the fan may be to change the speed of the fan at predetermined or random times. In other embodiments, the preset pattern for changing the speed of the fan may be that the speed of the fan 250 continuously changes as time passes, but is not limited to any one embodiment.

When receiving a signal indicating that the controller 210 performs the natural wind mode, the light emission control unit 230 may emit light according to the light pattern indicating the natural wind mode. For example, the light emission control unit 230 may rotate the light emitted from the lighting device 240 by a predetermined number along a closed curve to indicate the natural wind mode. When receiving a signal indicating that the natural wind mode is performed from the control unit 210, the light emission control unit 230 may cause the lighting device 240 to emit light for a predetermined time.

When the light emission control unit 230 receives a signal indicating that the speed of the fan has changed from the control unit 210, the light-emitting control unit 230 may emit light for a predetermined period of time. The light emission control unit 230 may emit light with a light pattern representing the speed of the fan for a predetermined period of time, and may return to an existing light pattern.

The lighting device 240 may emit light in a pattern rotating the closed curve. The light emission control unit 230 may determine the rotation speed of the rotating light pattern of the lighting device 240 according to the rotation speed of the fan 250. The light emission control unit 230 may change the speed at which the light emitted by the lighting device 240 rotates along a closed curve according to the speed of the fan. For example, the light emission control unit 230 may increase the speed of the fan, The speed at which the light emitted by the lighting device 240 rotates along the closed curve may be increased, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The lighting device 240 may form an optical pattern that rotates a closed curve. The lighting device 240 may form a tail in an opposite direction in which the rotating light pattern rotates. The lighting device 240 may cause a plurality of light sources to sequentially emit light. The lighting device 240 may allow a plurality of light sources to gradually adjust the amount of light in an order determined by the light pattern information. The lighting device 240 may allow the light sources to gradually adjust the amount of light so that the rotating light pattern forms a tail in the opposite direction in which it rotates.

8 and 9 are views showing an optical pattern of a lighting device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the light pattern (L1) of the lighting device 2 when the wind speed of the air conditioner is weak wind in (a), and the lighting device 2 when the wind speed of the air conditioner is medium wind in (b). In the light patterns L2 and (c) of ), the light pattern L3 of the lighting device 2 when the wind speed of the air conditioner is strong wind can be confirmed.

The lighting device 2 can adjust the amount of light according to the wind speed of the air conditioner. The lighting device 2 may increase the amount of light of the light source as the wind speed of the air conditioner increases, so that the size of the light pattern formed on the first cover 60 increases.

Referring to FIG. 9, the lighting device 2 may emit light in a light pattern rotating a closed curve. 9(a), (b), (c), and (d) sequentially show the process of changing the optical pattern rotating the closed curve. In FIG. 9A, the lighting device 2 may emit light for the first time in a 6 o'clock direction to form an optical pattern L1. In (b) of FIG. 9, the lighting device 2 may cause the light pattern L2 to rotate clockwise. The light pattern may form a tail in a counterclockwise direction, which is the opposite direction of rotation. 9C and 9D show that the optical pattern continuously rotates (L3, L4).

The lighting device 2 may form an optical pattern that rotates a closed curve. The lighting device 2 may form a tail in the opposite direction in which the rotating light pattern rotates. The lighting device 2 may allow a plurality of light sources to sequentially emit light. The lighting device 2 may allow a plurality of light sources to gradually adjust the amount of light in an order determined by the light pattern information. The lighting device 2 may allow the light sources to gradually adjust the amount of light so that the rotating light pattern forms a tail in the opposite direction in which it rotates.

10 is a diagram illustrating a method of displaying a natural wind mode by a lighting device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the air conditioner may receive a driving mode input from a user. For example, the air conditioner may receive an input from a user to perform a natural wind mode in which the fan speed is changed in a preset pattern.

When the air conditioner receives an input to perform the natural wind mode, the lighting device may form a light pattern that rotates the closed curve. The lighting device may form a light pattern representing a natural wind mode. For example, the air conditioner may rotate the light emitted by the lighting device by a predetermined number along a closed curve to indicate the natural wind mode. For example, the preset number may be three times. The lighting device can return to the existing light pattern when the light rotates three times along the closed curve.

11 is a view showing the form of a lighting device of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the lighting device 2 may emit light in at least one area of the virtual closed curve. The lighting device 2 may include a reflector forming a closed curve. The lighting device 2 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), a pentagon (b), a hexagon (c), a circle, or an ellipse, but is not limited thereto, and may have more shapes than those forming the closed curve.

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

Referring to FIG. 12, in the control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment, the operation is set by the user (S510), the fan is operated according to the set operation (S520), and light is emitted based on the rotational speed of the fan. It may include step S530.

In operation S510 of receiving the operation setting, the air conditioner may receive an air volume set by the user or an operation such as cooling, heating, or dehumidification. In the case of a set operation, the air conditioner may operate the fan according to the set initial speed value of the fan (S520). The air conditioner may determine the rotation speed of the fan differently according to the initial air volume value or the input air volume value.

The air conditioner may change the light emitting pattern of the lighting device in response to the set operation (S530). The lighting device can visually display the operation of the air conditioner. The air conditioner determines the rotational speed of the fan, and according to the rotational speed, the degree of change of the light pattern emitted by the lighting device can be adjusted. For example, when the air volume of the air conditioner is a weak wind, the lighting device may emit light for a predetermined time with the amount of light of 25%. When the air volume of the air conditioner is neutral, the lighting device may emit light for a predetermined time at 50% of the amount of light. When the air conditioner's air volume is strong wind, the lighting device may emit light for a predetermined time with a light volume of 75%. When the air conditioner's air volume is a power wind, the lighting device may emit light for a preset time at 100% of the amount of light. The preset time may be 3 seconds, but is not limited thereto.

After the lighting device emits light in a light pattern corresponding to the fan speed for a preset time, the air conditioner may return to the previous light pattern (S540). For example, the lighting device can form light patterns based on various functions, and when a change in the operation mode such as a change in air volume occurs, it emits light with a corresponding light pattern, and when a preset time elapses, the existing light You can regress in a pattern.

In FIG. 12, it is shown that there is a step of emitting light (S530) after the step of operating the fan (S520), but the lighting device changes the light pattern in response to the fan operation (S520) and the rotational speed of the fan ( S530) is not limited to the order that can occur together when the operation is set.

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 component may be included, and thus other components 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 (14)

An input device that receives an input for driving setting;
A fan for blowing air to harmonize the room according to the operation setting;
A lighting device including a plurality of light sources;
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 that adjusts the rotational speed of the fan according to the set operation; And
Including; based on the light pattern information, a light emission control unit for lighting at least one light source of the plurality of light sources,
The lighting device further comprises a reflector forming a closed curve,
The plurality of light sources are disposed inside the closed curve to irradiate light toward the reflector,
The light emission control unit emits light of the plurality of light sources based on an operation setting input from the input device, and adjusts the degree of change of the light pattern with respect to the plurality of light sources based on the speed of the fan. The method of claim 1,
The light emission control unit is an air conditioner that adjusts the amount of light of the lighting device in steps according to the rotational speed of the fan. The method of claim 2,
The fan speed is determined to be different from each other in a plurality of steps,
The light emission control unit adjusts the amount of light of the lighting device based on a ratio according to the number of steps. The method of claim 1,
The plurality of light sources continuously emit light in an adjacent order,
The light emission control unit adjusts the speed at which the plurality of light sources continuously emit light according to the speed of the fan. The method of claim 1,
The lighting device is an air conditioner emitting at least one area of a closed curve. delete The method of claim 1,
The closed curve is a triangle, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, circular or elliptical air conditioner. The method of claim 1,
The control unit instructs to perform a natural wind mode in which the fan speed is changed in a preset pattern. The method of claim 8,
The light emission control unit adjusts the change speed of the light pattern of the light source according to the pattern in which the speed of the fan is changed. The method of claim 8,
When the natural wind mode is performed, the light emission control unit
An air conditioner for causing the lighting device to emit light for a predetermined time in a light pattern representing the natural wind mode. The method of claim 1,
The lighting device emits light in a pattern that rotates the closed curve,
The light emission control unit determines the rotation speed of the rotating light pattern of the lighting device according to the rotation speed of the fan. The method of claim 11,
The light pattern is an air conditioner that forms a tail in a direction opposite to which it rotates. The method of claim 11,
The plurality of light sources sequentially emit light,
The plurality of light sources is an air conditioner that gradually adjusts the amount of light according to an order determined by the light pattern information. The method of claim 1,
When the speed of the fan is changed, the light emission control unit
An air conditioner that operates the lighting device for a predetermined period of time.

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