KR20090101736A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An air conditioner is provided to unify entire front of the air conditioner and enhance the beauty. CONSTITUTION: An air conditioner comprises an air conditioning unit (2) and front panel (150). The air conditioning unit inhales indoor air and then exhausts the air after air conditioning. The front panel is placed at the front of the air conditioning unit. The front cover is installed at front of the frame and comprises light diffusion part (164). The display is installed at the front frame and irradiates light to the light diffusion part.

Description

Air Conditioner {Air conditioner}

 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and in particular, a light diffuser is formed on a front cover constituting the front appearance of an air conditioner, and a display is installed behind the light diffuser to display information on the light diffuser or by means of a light diffuser. The air conditioner is concealed and hidden.

 In general, an air conditioner is used to cool or heat a room or purify the air by using a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator to create a more comfortable indoor environment for a user. .

The separate type and the integrated type are functionally the same, but the separate type connects the indoor unit and the outdoor unit separated by the refrigerant pipes by installing the cooling / heating unit in the indoor unit and the heat radiating / cooling and compression unit in the outdoor unit, and the integrated type by cooling heat dissipation. Integrate the function of the hole in the wall of the house or hang the device on the window is installed directly.

14 is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to the prior art, and FIG. 15 is a front view of the air conditioner according to the prior art.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a conventional air conditioner includes a base 501, a cabinet 502 disposed on an upper side of a rear portion of the base 501 and an open front surface thereof, and a base of the base 501. A front upper panel 504 disposed above the front part, and having a front air discharge port 504a formed on an upper part of the front part, and having left and right air discharge ports 504b and 104c formed on both inclined side surfaces; ), The front lower panel 505 disposed between the front part of the front panel and the base 51, and the left and right suctions disposed between the left and right side parts of the front panel 504 and the base 501. Grills 506 and 507.

An upper and lower driving panel 510 is provided on the front of the front cabinet 504 so that the front upper panel 504 can open and close the front air discharge port 504a. The front and rear drive panels 512 are installed on the front surface of the front cabinet 504 so as to be retractable so as to eliminate the step between the front cabinet 504 and the upper and lower drive panels 510 during the ascension. The left and right vanes 514 and 116 are rotated on both upper sides of the front upper panel 504 so as to open and close the 504b and 104c and adjust the wind direction of the air discharged through the left and right air outlets 504b and 104c. Possibly mounted.

On the other hand, a display 517 for displaying the operation information of the air conditioner is fixedly installed on the upper side of the front lower panel 505 which is substantially the front side of the air conditioner.

The display 517 includes a display window 518a for displaying operation information of the air conditioner, a display panel 518 having a button 518b for driving and operating the air conditioner, and a display window of the display panel 518. 518a, including an LED installed at the rear.

However, since the air conditioner according to the prior art has gaps 518c and 518d between the display window 518a and the display panel 518 and between the button 518b and the display panel 518, the gaps are not used when the air conditioner is not used. As a result of dust, the cleanliness or water penetrates and the safety is reduced. The display panel 518 and the display window 518a are always exposed to the front side of the air conditioner, and the display window 518a and the display panel 518 There is a problem that the front aesthetics of the air conditioner is low by giving a feeling separated from each other.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems of the prior art, it is not necessary to install a display window for displaying the information of the display on the front of the air conditioner, the front of the air conditioner itself to display the information of the display The purpose is to provide an air conditioner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that does not require a display window, which is inexpensive and enables high-quality appearance.

Air conditioner according to the present invention for solving the above problems, the air conditioning unit is discharged after the air is sucked and air-conditioned; A front panel disposed in front of the air conditioning unit, the front panel comprising: a front frame; A front cover installed in front of the front frame and having a light diffusion portion; And a display installed at the front frame so as to be positioned behind the light diffusing unit and irradiating light to the light diffusing unit.

The front cover includes a transparent member formed transparently, and a decorative portion formed on a rear surface of the transparent member, wherein the light diffusing portion is formed on the decorative portion.

The light diffusing portion is formed only in front of the display on the rear surface of the decorative portion.

The display is an LED PCB assembly disposed behind the light diffusing unit.

The LED assembly is a dot matrix in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged vertically and horizontally on a circuit board, and the light diffusing portion is formed in front of each of the plurality of LEDs, respectively.

The display is an LCD panel disposed behind the light diffusing unit.

The display is a graphic display disposed behind the light diffusing unit.

In the air conditioner of the present invention configured as described above, an optical diffuser is formed on the front cover, and the display is installed behind the light diffuser to display information by the light diffuser, so that a separate display window for displaying the display contents needs to be installed. There is no advantage in that the structure is simple and the display is covered by the light diffusing unit so that the front appearance of the air conditioner can give a sense of unity as a whole.

In addition, the air conditioner of the present invention, the front cover includes a transparent member and a decorative portion, the light diffusing portion is formed in the decorative portion, the display information appearing in the light diffusing portion is turned on through the decorative portion as the light diffusing portion changes bright when the display is on. As shown in FIG. 1, the display information of the display may be soft and calm.

In addition, the air conditioner of the present invention has the advantage that the light diffusing portion is formed only in front of the display of the back of the decorative portion, the cost is low.

1 is a perspective view of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention at a standstill;

2 is a perspective view of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention in operation;

3 is an exploded perspective view of the front panel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A shown in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B shown in FIG.

6 is a front view of the main part when the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention is in operation;

7 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a display illustrating a case in which LEDs turned on / off are changed among the displays illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a front panel showing a case where an LED on / off of the display illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 is changed;

10 is a sectional view of the essential parts when another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention is stopped;

11 is a sectional view of the essential parts of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention;

12 is a sectional view of essential parts of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention;

13 is a sectional view of the essential parts of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention;

14 is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to the prior art,

15 is a front view of an air conditioner according to the prior art.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

2: air conditioning unit 150: front panel

152: front frame 154,154 ': display

155: LED 155A: All-in LED

155B: Off-In LED 156: Circuit Board

160: front 161: transparent member

162: decorative portion 164,164 ', 164 ″: light diffusing portion

170: front holder 240: control panel

250: control unit

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

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

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes an air intake part 6 through which air in the room is sucked, and an air conditioner 2. An air discharge part 10 through which air, air that has been heated, cooled, or purified, is discharged.

The air conditioner 2 may be applied to any case such as a stand type air conditioner, a wall-mounted air conditioner, a ceiling type air conditioner, or the like.

The air conditioning unit 2 has an air intake unit 6 formed at the lower portion, and an air discharge unit 10 is formed at the upper portion, which inhales air through the lower portion, air-conditions the inside, and discharges the air-conditioned air through the upper portion. It has a flow path structure and includes the base 12, the cabinet 20, the suction panel 40, and the discharge panel 50.

The base 12 supports the cabinet 20 and the suction panel 40.

The cabinet 20 forms an exterior of the rear part of the air conditioner 2 and is installed to be located above the rear part of the base 12.

The suction panel 40 is installed to be disposed on the upper left and right sides of the front part 12 of the base 12, which is the lower front left and right positions of the cabinet 20.

 The discharge panel 50 is disposed above the front of the cabinet 20, and the air discharge units 10 are formed at left and right sides, respectively.

The air conditioner 2 has an air outlet port 80 having an air outlet 78 formed thereon and is raised above the air conditioner 2 at an inner upper portion of the air conditioner 2, and the air conditioner 2 above the air conditioner 2. It is made of a structure that is lowered to the inner upper portion.

 The discharge port unit 80 is raised to an upper position of the air conditioner 2 so that the air discharge port 78 is opened / exposed or lowered into the air conditioner 2 to cover the upper surface of the air conditioner 2 while the air discharge port ( 78) is sealed / hidden.

The air conditioner 2 is provided with vanes 90 and 100 for guiding the air together with opening and closing the air suction unit 6 and the air discharge unit 10 together.

Hereinafter, the vanes 90 and 100 may open and close both the air inlet 6 and the air outlet 10 at the same time, and guide both the intake air and the discharge air.

That is, the vanes 90 and 100 serve as suction doors and suction vanes that guide the air sucked into the air suction part 6 while the lower part opens and closes the air suction part 6, and the upper part discharges air. It opens and closes the unit 10 and serves as a discharge door and a discharge vane for guiding the air discharged to the air discharge unit 10, and is formed to be long in the vertical direction as a whole.

  In front of the air conditioning unit 2, the front panel 150 constituting the front side appearance of the air conditioner is disposed.

The front panel 150 is disposed in front of the entire front surface of the air conditioning unit 2, is disposed in front of the front lower portion of the air conditioning unit 2, or is disposed in front of the front upper part of the air conditioning unit 2, and the air conditioning unit ( It is demonstrated that it is arrange | positioned in front of the whole front surface of 2) and covers the front surface of the air conditioning part 2. As shown in FIG.

The front panel 150 may be fixedly installed in front of the air conditioning unit 2, may be connected to the air conditioning unit 2 so as to rotate laterally toward the center of one side of the left and right sides, and the air conditioning unit ( It is also possible to be arranged to move forward and backward in the front and rear direction of 2), and will be described as being connected laterally to the air conditioning unit 2 to one side of the left and right for services such as a display to be described later.

3 is an exploded perspective view of the front panel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. The air conditioner according to one embodiment is a front view of the main part when in operation.

The front panel 150 includes a front frame 152 disposed in front of the air conditioner 2, a display 154 installed in the front frame 152, and a front cover 160 disposed in front of the front frame 152. And a front holder 170 that fixes the front cover 160 to the front frame 150.

The front panel 150 includes a front frame 152 forming a rear exterior of the front panel 150, a front cover 160 forming a front exterior of the front panel 150, and a front holder 170 of the front panel. A connection part is formed to form an edge appearance of the 150 and is rotatably connected to the air conditioning unit 2 in one of the front frame 152, the front cover 160, and the front holder 170.

The front frame 152 is provided with a display mounting unit 153 on which a display 154 is installed, and an opening 153a through which light emitted from the display 154 passes is formed in the display mounting unit 153.

The front cover 160 includes a transparent member 161 formed to be transparent, and a decoration part 162 formed on at least one surface of the front and rear surfaces of the transparent member 160.

When the decorative part 162 is formed on the rear surface of the transparent member 161, the decorative part 162 is seen through the transparent member 161 when viewed from the front of the front panel 150, and the decorative side of the front side of the air conditioner is represented.

The decorative part 162 may have a pattern for expressing a specific design, a non-transparent color, and the like to enhance the front aesthetics of the front panel 150.

The decorative part 162 may consist of the printing part integrally formed by the screen printing etc. in the back surface of the transparent member 161, and may be comprised from the film, the sheet | seat, or plate body which were attached to the back surface of the transparent member 161. As shown in FIG.

 The decoration part 162 expresses the decorative beauty through the transparent member 160 and hides the display 154 when the display 154 is off, and the design of the front of the display 154 and the front periphery of the display 154 It is formed larger than the display 154 to provide a sense of unity, and is integrally formed around the front of the display 154 as well as the front of the display 154.

Meanwhile, the front panel 150, in particular the front cover 160, includes a light diffusion unit 164 to diffuse light emitted from the display 154.

The light diffusing unit 164 is a portion for diffusing light so that the light radiated from the display 154 spreads out and appears evenly as a whole.

 The light diffusing unit 164 is a kind of screen displaying information on the display 154. The light diffusing unit 164 may be formed as a rectangle or a circle, and at least one of the avatar and the picture expressing the driving state of the air conditioning unit is specified. The pattern 165 is embossed, so that the light diffusing unit 164 is generally bright while the specific pattern 165 is dark.

The light diffusing unit 164 is not easily seen by the decoration unit 162 when light is not irradiated from the display 154, and is brightened by the irradiated light when light is irradiated from the display 154 to illuminate the decoration unit 162. It is formed in the decorative portion 162 to be seen through.

The light diffusion unit 164 is formed to be positioned before and after the decoration unit 162 on the rear surface of the decoration unit 162.

The display 154 is installed to be located behind the light diffusing unit 164 to irradiate light to the light diffusing unit 164.

The display 154 is turned off when the air conditioner 2 is not in operation and is concealed in the decoration part 162 and the light diffusing part 164, and is turned on when the air conditioner 2 is operated, and the number is displayed as the light diffusing part 164. And at least one of a symbol, a letter, a figure, and a picture are displayed, and at least one of a number, a symbol, a letter, a figure, and a picture is variably displayed according to driving and air conditioning of the air conditioner 2.

That is, the display 154 is hidden by the decorative part 162 and the light diffusing part 164 when the air conditioner 2 is stopped and is not visible from the front of the front panel 150, and the light diffuser when the air conditioner 2 is in operation. Backlighting to the light diffusing unit 164 behind the unit 164 to display at least one of a number, a symbol, a letter, a figure, and a picture on the light diffusing unit 164, and operates the air conditioner 2. If the air conditioning situation and the like are changed, at least one of the numbers, symbols, characters, figures, and figures displayed on the light diffusion unit 164 is changed.

 The display 154 is composed of an LED PCB assembly, a graphic display, or the like for displaying the numbers, symbols, letters, figures, and figures (hereinafter, referred to as 'numbers') as described above. The LED 155 is described as being composed of a dot matrix in which a plurality of columns are arranged on the circuit board 156 in the horizontal and vertical directions.

On the other hand, the number of light diffusing unit 164 may be formed in front of the display 154, may be formed in plurality in front of each of the LED 155 to correspond to each of the LED 155, a plurality of It will be described as formed in front of each of the LED (155).

That is, when the light is irradiated from the display 154, the front panel 150 is illuminated by the light diffusing unit 164 by the irradiated light, and the numbers are displayed on the decoration unit 162 while being visible through the decoration unit 162. It is engraved.

In the display 154, a plurality of LEDs 155A corresponding to a number and the like of the plurality of LEDs 155 are turned on and the other LEDs 155B are turned off.

In the control of the display 154 as described above, the light diffusion unit 164 is illuminated by the light of the LED 155A only to the light diffusion unit 164A positioned in front of the LED 155A that is turned on, and the LED is turned off. The light diffusing portion 164B positioned in front of 155B is covered by the decorative portion 162, and the numerals and the like are engraved on the front panel 150 by a combination of the light diffusing portions 164A which are bright.

That is, when the display 154 is turned on, the front panel 150 is contrasted by the contrast between the portion 164A of the light diffusing unit 164 that is brightly displayed by the display 154 and the decorative unit 162 located at the periphery. Numbers and the like are displayed, and the decoration unit 162 expresses the decorative beauty around the numbers and the like.

On the other hand, when the LEDs 155A and 155B that are turned on / off in the display 154 are changed, the light diffusion unit 164 is displayed with the numbers and the like being changed while the brighter portions 164A are changed.

That is, when the LED 155 is controlled on / off, the front panel 150 emits light emitted from the display 154 to the light diffuser 164 and emits light from the light diffuser 164. The portion 164A is visible through the decorative portion 162 and displays numbers and the like, wherein the decorative portion 162 shows the light diffusing portion 164 when the light diffusing portion 164 is bright, and the light diffusing portion 164. ) Is a translucent portion that makes the light diffusing portion 164 invisible when the light is dark.

On the other hand, when the color of the light irradiated to the light diffusing unit 164 is changed, the front panel 150 is a color, such as the number displayed on the light diffusing unit 164 is changed, the LED constituting the display 154 155 is composed of LEDs of varying colors.

When the brightness of the light irradiated to the light diffusing unit 164 is changed, the front panel 150 may change the brightness of the numbers and the like displayed on the light diffusing unit 164. ) Consists of LEDs whose brightness is variable.

Meanwhile, reference numeral 158 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a display cover that covers the display installation unit 153 and protects the display 154.

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

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes an operation unit 240 for operating / stopping the air conditioner, a desired temperature, an operation mode such as cooling / heating / dehumidifying / blowing, wind strength, and the like, and an operation unit 240. The control unit 250 further controls the air conditioner, in particular, the air conditioner 2, and the display 154 according to the operation of the control panel.

When the operation of the air conditioner is input through the operation unit 240, the controller 250 turns on some of the LEDs 155a of the display 154 according to the desired temperature, the operation mode, and the wind strength, and then the user's operation or the like. When the desired temperature, the operation mode and the wind strength are changed, the LED 155 which is turned on / off of the display 154 is changed.

The front panel 150 has a variable number of LEDs displayed on the light diffusion unit 164 according to the position of the LEDs 155A turned on among the plurality of LEDs 155, that is, the horizontal / vertical arrangement of the LEDs 155A turned on. do.

In addition, the controller 250 may control the display 154 such that the color of light irradiated to the light diffusion unit 164 varies according to an operation mode such as cooling and heating.

For example, when the operation mode manipulated through the manipulation unit 240 is the cooling operation, the controller 250 may display the LED 155A turned on among the LEDs 155 to irradiate the blue light to the light diffusion unit 164. 154, and when the operation mode operated through the operation unit 240 is a heating operation, the controller 250 causes the LED 155A turned on among the LEDs 155 to emit red light to the light diffusion unit 164. When the driving mode controlled by the display unit 154 and the operation mode 240 is clean driving, the controller 250 controls that the LED 155A turned on among the LEDs 155 transmits white light to the light diffusion unit 164. Control display 154 to illuminate.

In addition, the controller 250 may control the display 154 such that the brightness of the light irradiated to the decoration unit 162 varies according to blowing strength or room temperature.

For example, when the blowing intensity is strong wind, the control unit 250 controls the display 154 so that the LED 155A turned on among the LEDs 155 irradiates the light diffusing unit 164 with light having an upper limit setting illuminance. When the air blowing intensity is a mild wind, the controller 250 controls the display 154 so that the LED 155A turned on among the LEDs 155 irradiates the light diffusion unit 164 with light having a lower limit.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention configured as described above is as follows.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a display showing a case in which the LEDs on / off of the displays shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 are changed, and FIG. Front view of the front panel showing the case.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, when the air conditioner 2 is stopped, the display 154 has all of the plurality of LEDs 155 off, and the light diffuser 164 is not hidden by the decorative part 162. For example, the user may feel the decoration of the decoration unit 162 in front of the front panel 150.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8A, the LEDs 155A which are turned on among the plurality of LEDs 155 during operation of the air conditioning unit 2 are positioned in a '25' shape on the circuit board 156 as a whole. When the display 154 is controlled, the light diffusing unit 164 only brightens the front portion of the LED 155A that is turned on, as shown in FIG. 9A, and the user or the like is placed in front of the front panel 150. In the '25' visible through the decorative portion 162 will be confirmed.

In the above state, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the LEDs 155A which are turned on by changing the on / off of some of the plurality of LEDs 155 are '24' on the circuit board 156 as a whole. When the display 154 is controlled to be positioned in the shape of ', the light diffusing unit 164 is partially changed to a bright part, as shown in FIG. 9B, and a user or the like is placed in front of the front panel 150. The '24' visible through the decoration unit 162 is confirmed.

10 is a sectional view of an essential part of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an essential part of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment is formed such that the light diffusing portion 164 ′ is surrounded by the decorative portion 162 such that the light diffusing portion 164 ′ is viewed together with the decorative portion 162 when viewed from the front of the front panel 150. Since the same as the embodiment of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

That is, in the front panel 150, the light diffusion portion 164 'is formed directly on the back of the transparent member 161, and the decorative portion 162 is formed around the edge of the light diffusion portion 164'. It is formed into a structure surrounding it.

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment has a structure in which the light diffusing unit 164 ′ is visible from the front of the front panel 150 regardless of whether the display 154 is on or off, When the air conditioner 2 is turned off, the light diffusing unit 164 ′ is not clearly seen by the decoration of the decoration unit 162, but is irradiated on the display 154 when the display 154 is turned on, that is, when the air conditioner 2 is turned on. It is brightened by the light and it becomes clear.

12 is a sectional view of an essential part of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an essential part of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

In the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, a display is formed of an LCD panel 154 ', and a single light diffusing portion 164 ″ is formed in front of the LCD panel 154'.

The light diffusing portion 164 ″ is formed larger than the LCD panel 154 'and overlaps with the LCD panel 154' before and after.

In the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, when the LCD panel 154 'is controlled to display numbers, the numbers and the like displayed on the LCD panel 154' are reflected on the light diffusion unit 164 ″, and the user or the like is displayed. The number and the like reflected on the light diffusing unit 164 ″ are checked.

Claims (7)

An air conditioning unit configured to discharge indoor air after being sucked and air-conditioned; A front panel disposed in front of the air conditioning unit, The front panel includes a front frame; A front cover installed in front of the front frame and having a light diffusion portion; And a display installed at the front frame so as to be positioned behind the light diffusing unit and irradiating light to the light diffusing unit.  The method of claim 1, The front cover includes a transparent member formed transparently, and a decorative portion formed on the back of the transparent member, The light diffuser is an air conditioner formed in the decoration part.  The method of claim 2, And the light diffusing unit is formed only in front of the display of the rear surface of the decorative unit.  The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And the display is an LED PCB assembly disposed behind the light diffusion unit. The method of claim 4, wherein The LED assembly is a dot matrix in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged in a plurality of columns vertically and horizontally on a circuit board, The light diffusion unit is formed in front of each of the plurality of LED air conditioner. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And the display is an LCD panel disposed behind the light diffusing unit. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And the display is a graphic display disposed behind the light diffusing unit.