KR20140133731A - An air conditioner and a method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an outdoor unit allowing a refrigerant to exchange heat; an indoor unit exchanging the refrigerant with the outdoor unit, and conditioning indoor air; and a power receiving unit receiving power adjustment signals providing grades for power usage degrees, wherein the outdoor unit or the indoor unit has a processor, a memory, and a program stored in the memory, executed by the processor, and executing a power limitation mode limiting the operable ranges of various operations in order to control power consumption according to the grades of the power adjustment signals when the outdoor unit or the indoor unit receives the power adjustment signals.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner and an air conditioner,

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an air conditioner and an air conditioner control method which change the control method according to a power adjustment signal supplied from an electric power company or the like.

The air conditioner is installed to provide a comfortable indoor environment for humans by discharging cold air to the room to adjust the room temperature and purify the room air to create a pleasant indoor environment. Generally, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit which is constituted by a heat exchanger and installed in a room, and an outdoor unit which is constituted by a compressor, a heat exchanger and the like and supplies the refrigerant to the indoor unit.

Such an air conditioner is controlled separately by an indoor unit constituted by a heat exchanger, an outdoor unit constituted by a compressor, a heat exchanger and the like, and controlled by a power source supplied to a compressor or a heat exchanger. Also, at least one indoor unit may be connected to the outdoor unit, and the air conditioner is operated in the cooling or heating mode by supplying the refrigerant to the indoor unit according to the requested operation state.

When the liquid refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure is supplied from the compressor of the outdoor unit to the indoor unit through the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit during the cooling operation, the refrigerant expands and vaporizes in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit, When the temperature of the air is lowered and the indoor fan is rotated, the cool air is discharged into the room. When the gas refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure is supplied from the compressor of the outdoor unit to the indoor unit during the heating operation, the gas refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure is liquefied in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit The air warmed by the released energy is discharged to the room according to the operation of the indoor fan.

In the summer and winter, the use of air conditioners is maximized throughout the country, and power consumption can become extreme. Therefore, there is a growing debate about the systems that can control power use nationwide. In the case of a method of guiding to reduce the use of various electronic devices during a time when power consumption is high, researches on an air conditioner for controlling power consumption are needed.

The plurality of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that controls power consumption on its own based on a power adjustment signal.

An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an outdoor unit for heat-exchanging refrigerant; An indoor unit for exchanging the outdoor unit with the refrigerant and for harmonizing the indoor air; And a power receiving device for receiving a power regulation signal that provides a rating for the degree of power usage, wherein the outdoor or indoor device is stored in a processor, memory and memory, and is executed by a processor, And a program for executing a power limiting mode for limiting the movable range of various operations in order to adjust the power consumption amount corresponding to the class of the power adjusting signal when the power adjusting signal is received.

An air conditioner control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: receiving a power adjustment signal that provides a rating of a degree of power usage; Determining a rating of the power adjustment signal; And limiting the setting or degree of various operations to adjust the power consumption amount corresponding to the class of the power adjustment signal.

The air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention does not need to control the power consumption and control the user separately based on the power adjustment signal received from the power company or the like.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention adjusts the operation frequency of the compressor based on the rating of the power adjustment signal, so that the power adjustment can be facilitated.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention adjusts the set temperature or the set air volume of the indoor unit based on the power adjustment signal so that the outdoor unit and the indoor unit can adjust the power efficiently in response to the power adjustment signal.

In the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention, the outdoor unit assigns priority to a plurality of indoor units, and determines whether or not the indoor unit operates in accordance with the priority. The temperature and humidity of the important space, Can be maintained comfortably.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention can transmit a power adjustment signal to a portable terminal capable of information browsing so that the user can easily confirm the operating condition of the air conditioner that is changed due to the power adjustment signal.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention may display the power adjustment signal and the operation state based on the power adjustment signal in the indoor unit so that the user can grasp that the setting of the air conditioner is being adjusted due to the power adjustment signal.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention can limit the setting of the operation mode that the user can select as the level of the power adjustment signal increases and control the amount of power consumption by limiting the degree of the operation mode.

FIG. 1 is a view showing contents of an air conditioner to which power is supplied according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
2 is a view illustrating the structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view illustrating an operation method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a system including an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating a path for receiving a power adjustment signal of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 are views showing the operation of a display of an indoor unit and an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention, and the manner of achieving them, will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. To fully disclose the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

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

The terms used in the description of the invention are intended to be illustrative only of specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The use of an indication may denote either or both of the singular and plural forms of the term and vice versa.

It will be understood that the term "and / or" refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the listed related items. The terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

The term " if, "as used herein refers to the term" when "or" upon ", or" in response to determining "or" Quot; and "to " Similarly, the phrase " when determined "or" when an " specified condition or event is detected " Quot; or "in response to detecting [the specified condition or event]. &Quot;

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

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

1 is a view showing the contents of an air conditioner to which power is supplied according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an air conditioner 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention can operate as a power source supplied by a power company 10.

The air conditioner (30) is a cooling / heating system that sucks hot air in the room and heat-exchanges it with coolant of low temperature and then discharges it into the room to cool the room or to heat the room by the opposite action, Compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator to form a series of cycles.

The air conditioner is mainly divided into an outdoor unit installed outside the room and an indoor unit installed inside the building, and a condenser and a compressor are installed in the outdoor unit and an evaporator is installed in the indoor unit. The outdoor unit and the indoor unit can be connected to a central controller (not shown) to receive control signals.

The air conditioner 30 can receive the power supplied by the power company 10 via the power receiving device 20. The power receiving apparatus 20 can extract the power adjustment signal from the power source supplied by the power company 10. The power receiving apparatus 20 may include, but is not limited to, a router or a modem for extracting a power adjustment signal from a power source.

The air conditioner 30 can adjust the power consumption based on the power adjustment signal. For example, the air conditioner 30 can control the power consumption by controlling the operation differently according to the plurality of classes of the power adjustment signal. For example, the air conditioner 30 can control the operation of a plurality of indoor units or the operation of a compressor of an outdoor unit to control the power consumption.

The power receiving apparatus 20 may further include a switching circuit (not shown) for varying the signal to be sent to the air conditioner 30, depending on the class of the power adjusting signal. The switching circuit (not shown) converts the class of the power adjustment signal into a signal recognizable by the air conditioner 30 and transmits the signal to the air conditioner 30. [

2 is a view showing a structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the indoor unit 200 of the air conditioner may be installed in the air conditioning space, that is, the indoor space 100. The indoor unit 200 may include an auxiliary heater 220, an indoor heat exchanger 230, and an indoor fan 240 at the rear of the indoor intake port 210 located at the front.

The air in the indoor space 100 is sucked into the air conditioner through the indoor suction port 210. The sucked indoor air passes through the indoor heat exchanger 230 to perform heat exchange, And can be discharged to the indoor space through the indoor unit.

The indoor fan 240 can form a flow path for sucking indoor air into the air conditioner and then discharging the indoor air. The auxiliary heater 220 can control the temperature of the indoor space 100 when performing the defrosting operation during the heating operation It can be operated supplementary to prevent lowering.

The outdoor unit 400 may be installed outside the air conditioning space, that is, outdoors through a conduit 250 through which the refrigerant flows, and connected to the indoor unit 200. The outdoor unit 400 includes a compressor 410 for compressing the refrigerant to convert the refrigerant into high temperature and high pressure refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 420 for condensing the refrigerant in the cooling operation and evaporating the refrigerant in the heating operation, An outdoor fan 430 for forming a flow path for sucking air into the outdoor unit 400 and discharging the refrigerant, and an expansion device 440 for expanding the refrigerant to convert the refrigerant into a low-temperature low-pressure refrigerant.

When the air conditioner starts the heating operation, the processor can send a control signal for operation to each of the aforementioned driving units. In accordance with the control signal transmitted from the processor, the indoor fan 240 starts to rotate, and the compressor 410 can compress and discharge the refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure.

The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 420 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 230 and performs heat exchange with the air sucked into the indoor unit 200 by the rotational force of the indoor fan 240. The indoor air that has been sucked in a relatively low temperature state can rise in temperature by heat exchange.

The refrigerant heat-exchanged through the indoor heat exchanger 230 flows in the order of the expansion device 440 and the outdoor heat exchanger 420 and then flows into the compressor 410. The refrigerant then flows into the compressor 410 and the indoor heat exchanger 230, the expansion device 440, and the outdoor heat exchanger 420, the indoor temperature can be raised to a desired level by repeating the heating cycle. In the case of the cooling cycle, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 410 can be supplied to the indoor unit 200 through the expansion device 440 and changed to a low temperature.

3 is a view illustrating an operation method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, an air conditioner according to an embodiment may vary the control method based on a power adjustment signal.

In one embodiment, when the air conditioner receives the power adjustment signal, the air conditioner can grasp the amount of power consumption demanded by the power adjustment signal. For example, the power adjustment signal may be any of a plurality of classes. In one embodiment, the outdoor unit can grasp the class of the power adjustment signal and can grasp the power consumption demand amount.

The outdoor unit can control the operation state of the air conditioner so as to satisfy the power consumption. For example, the outdoor unit can adjust the operating frequency of the compressor based on the power consumption requirement. For example, the power adjustment signal may include three classes (first class, second class and third class).

The air conditioner can adjust the degree of operation according to the level of the power adjustment signal. The air conditioner can set different operating criteria corresponding to each class of power adjustment signal. Depending on the rating, the air conditioner can limit the operating mode or the degree of operation that can be set by the user.

The air conditioner can stop operation if the power regulation signal is of the first class. The air conditioner can immediately turn off the power when the power control signal has a first class rating. The air conditioner may have an increased degree of restriction of the power regulation signal from the third class to the first class. In FIG. 3, the three levels of the power adjustment signal are shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may vary depending on the level of the signal supplied by the power company.

The air conditioner can reduce the settable range of the set temperature when the level of the power adjustment signal is the second grade. For example, the air conditioner can reduce the temperature settable range by 4 DEG C when the level of the power adjustment signal is the second class, but this is only one embodiment.

For example, when the air conditioner performs the cooling operation, in general, if the temperature can be set to 18 ° C, it can not be set to less than 22 ° C in the case of the second grade of the power adjustment signal.

The air conditioner can reduce the temperature settable range by 2 캜 when the level of the power adjustment signal is the third grade. For example, for example, if the air conditioner performs cooling operation, in general, if the temperature can be set up to 18 ° C, then if the rating of the power regulation signal is class 2, it can not be set below 20 ° C can do.

The air conditioner can reduce the settable range of the set wind speed when the level of the power adjustment signal is the second class. For example, the limit range of the set wind speed can be set to correspond to each of a plurality of classes of the power adjustment signal. For example, if the power regulation signal is of the second class, the air conditioner can be set to the lowest wind speed of the indoor unit. For example, if the power regulation signal is of the third grade, the air conditioner may be a stage selected by the user during the middle stage and the weak stage, except for the stage where the set wind speed of the indoor unit is the strongest.

The air conditioner can determine what the rating of the power regulation signal is. The outdoor unit can control the operation of the compressor (not shown) based on the power adjustment signal.

For example, when the air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention uses an inverter to adjust the operating frequency of the compressor, the operating frequency of the compressor can be controlled based on the power adjusting signal.

For example, if the power regulation signal is of a first class, the air conditioner can turn off the compressor. If the power regulation signal is of a second class, the air conditioner can reduce the operating frequency of the compressor to 50%. If the power regulation signal is of a third rating, the air conditioner can reduce the operating frequency of the compressor to 75%.

For example, when the air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention is a constant speed air conditioner, the power of the compressor can be turned on / off according to the level of the power adjustment signal.

For example, the constant speed air conditioner can stop the operation of the compressor when the power adjustment signal is of the first class. When the power adjustment signal is of the second or third class, the air conditioner can control the power consumption by maintaining the operation of the compressor and adjusting the set temperature or the set air flow rate of the indoor unit, but this is only one example And shall not be limited to this.

For example, the air conditioner of another embodiment may stop the operation of the compressor regardless of its class, but is not limited thereto, when receiving the power adjustment signal.

The air conditioner can perform the control to meet the power consumption requirement. The air conditioner can adjust the operation frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit 120, turn on / off the outdoor unit 120, and adjust the operation or the operation state of the indoor unit 130 to meet the power consumption requirement.

The air conditioner can individually control the operation of a plurality of indoor units. The air conditioner can assign priority to a plurality of indoor units and determine whether the indoor unit is operated based on the assigned priority.

The indoor units having the priority order assigned by the outdoor unit 120 may be a plurality of indoor units corresponding to the first, second, or third order. When there are a plurality of indoor units 130, the indoor units corresponding to the first rank, the indoor units corresponding to the second rank, and the indoor units corresponding to the third rank can be plural.

The air conditioner of one embodiment can control the operation of a plurality of indoor units according to the level of the power adjustment signal. For example, when the level of the power adjustment signal is the third grade, the air conditioner can stop the operation of the third-ranked indoor unit among the plurality of indoor units. For example, when the level of the power adjustment signal is the second class, the air conditioner can stop the operation of the second and third indoor units of the plurality of indoor units. For example, when the level of the power adjustment signal is the first class, the air conditioner can stop the operation of all the indoor units among the plurality of indoor units.

The display of the indoor unit can display the set temperature or the set air volume of the indoor unit. The indoor unit can store data on the set temperature and the set air volume corresponding to each class of the power adjustment signal. The indoor unit display can display the set temperature and the set air volume that match the rating of the power adjustment signal.

However, the contents of the table in FIG. 3 are only examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

4 illustrates a system including an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4, an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power receiving device 20 that receives a power adjustment signal from a power company 10 or the like, Receives the power adjustment signal from the receiving outdoor unit 30, the indoor unit 40 that receives the power adjustment signal from the outdoor unit 30, the remote control unit 60 that controls the indoor unit 40, and the indoor unit 40, And may include a portable terminal 50 for browsing.

The outdoor unit (30) can receive power from the electric power company (10). The power receiving apparatus 20 can extract the power adjustment signal from the power source supplied from the power company 10. The power receiving apparatus 20 and the power company 10 can perform a kind of power line communication.

The power receiving apparatus 20 may be integrated with the outdoor unit 30, or may be separately provided. The power receiving apparatus (not shown) may include a router or a model for extracting a power adjustment signal from a power supply, but is not limited thereto.

The power receiving apparatus 20 may further include a switching circuit (not shown) for varying a signal to be sent to the air conditioner, depending on the class of the power adjusting signal. The switching circuit (not shown) converts the class of the power adjustment signal into a signal recognizable by the air conditioner and transmits the signal to the air conditioner.

The power receiving apparatus 20 may include a power device for receiving power from the power company and separating the power adjusting signal and a switching circuit for converting the power adjusting signal into a signal recognizable by the air conditioner. The power device and the switching circuit may be configured separately, but are not limited thereto.

4, the power receiving apparatus 20 is connected to the outdoor unit 30 (connected to the power receiving apparatus C), but is not limited thereto. Each of the plurality of indoor units 40, B, , But is not limited thereto.

For example, the power receiving apparatus 20 can transmit a power adjustment signal to a plurality of indoor units 40 included in a plurality of groups (dotted box processed portions). When the power receiving device 20 is connected to the A portion, it can transmit a power adjustment signal to one indoor unit group.

When the power receiving device 20 is connected to the part B, it can transmit a power adjustment signal to one indoor unit.

The control method of the air conditioner may vary depending on the portion to which the power receiving device 20 is connected. For example, when the power receiving apparatus 20 is connected to the outdoor unit 30, the outdoor unit 30 can determine a direction for adjusting the power consumption by itself.

The outdoor unit 30 can reduce the power consumption of the entire air conditioner by transmitting a countermeasure to the indoor unit 40 after the outdoor unit itself adjusts the power consumption.

For example, when the outdoor unit 30 receives the power adjustment signal, it can determine the degree of operation or on / off of the compressor according to its level. The outdoor unit 30 can adjust the overall power consumption of the air conditioner by changing the operation direction of the indoor unit 40 in addition to adjusting the operation degree of the compressor.

The outdoor unit 30 can perform the same or different control direction of the connected indoor units 40 based on the power adjustment signal. For example, in order to reduce power consumption, the outdoor unit 30 may reduce the power consumption of the plurality of indoor units 40 connected to the outdoor unit 30 or adjust the power consumption of the indoor units 40 differently according to the importance.

When the power receiving apparatus 20 is directly connected to the indoor unit 40 (connected to the B), the indoor unit 40 can examine a method of adjusting the power consumption by itself. For example, the indoor unit 40 can grasp the class of the power regulation signal and control the operation corresponding thereto.

The indoor unit (40) can communicate with other indoor units or outdoor units to determine its own operation or direction of operation. For example, when the outdoor unit 30 itself lowers the power consumption and the power consumption is maintained below the level requested by the power adjustment signal, the indoor unit 40 can continue to operate normally

When it is difficult for the outdoor unit 30 to reduce its own power consumption, each of the plurality of indoor units 40 may start an operation for reducing the power consumption. For example, when the difference between the current power consumption and the power consumption demanded by the power adjustment signal is too small, the outdoor unit 30 adjusts the set temperature or the set air volume of the indoor unit 40 to adjust the power consumption .

The outdoor unit (30) can adjust the power consumption of the air conditioner based on the power adjustment signal. For example, the outdoor unit 30 can control the operation of the compressor (not shown) based on the power adjustment signal. For example, when the air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention uses an inverter to adjust the operating frequency of the compressor, the operating frequency of the compressor can be controlled based on the power adjusting signal.

The power adjustment signal may be one of a plurality of classes. The outdoor unit 30 is lowered to the level of the power adjustment signal, and the operation frequency of the compressor can be adjusted. For example, the power adjustment signal may include three classes.

For example, when the air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention is a constant speed air conditioner, the power of the compressor can be turned on / off according to the level of the power adjustment signal.

The outdoor unit (30) can be connected to a plurality of indoor units (40). The outdoor unit (30) can give priority to the plurality of indoor units (40). The outdoor unit 30 can determine whether or not the indoor unit 40 operates according to the priority order. When receiving the power adjustment signal, the outdoor unit (30) can determine whether to operate the plurality of indoor units (40) based on the priority order.

The indoor unit 40 is provided with an expansion valve (not shown) for expanding the refrigerant supplied from the connected outdoor unit 30, an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant, indoor air introduced into the indoor heat exchanger, (Not shown), a plurality of sensors (not shown), and control means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the indoor unit.

The indoor unit 40 may include a discharge port for discharging the heat-exchanged air, and the discharge port may be provided with a wind direction adjusting means for closing the discharge port and controlling the direction of the discharged air. The indoor unit 40 can control the air intake and the air to be discharged by controlling the rotation speed of the indoor fan to adjust the air volume.

Each of the plurality of indoor units may be individually connected to a remote controller to receive a control signal and operate correspondingly.

The indoor unit 40 can communicate with the remote controller 60 in a wired or wireless manner. The indoor unit 130 may include a communication module (not shown) for wired or wireless communication with the remote controller 60. When receiving the control signal from the remote controller 60, the indoor unit 130 may notify the remote controller 60 that the control signal has been received, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The indoor unit 40 can transmit the operation state to the remote controller 60. [ The indoor unit 130 can transmit the on / off status or the operation status to the remote controller 140 when the status changes. The indoor unit 130 can communicate with the remote controller 140 when an event occurs or during a predetermined period.

The indoor unit (40) can receive the power adjustment signal from the outdoor unit (30). The indoor unit 130 can adjust the set air temperature that sets the amount of wind discharged by the indoor unit or the set temperature that sets the desired temperature of the air in the room where the indoor unit is harmonized based on the power adjustment signal. For example, the power adjustment signal may be any one of a first class, a second class, or a third class, and the indoor unit 40 may raise or lower the set air volume or the set temperature according to the rating of the power adjustment signal have.

The indoor unit (40) can store information about a reference for adjusting the set air volume or the set temperature according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. For example, the indoor unit 40 may store a table in which the set air volume or the set temperature is set according to the rating of the power adjustment signal, but the method is not limited thereto.

The indoor unit 40 can transmit the power adjustment signal to the portable terminal 50 that can view the information. The indoor unit 40 may transmit a power adjustment signal to the portable terminal 50 so that the user can easily confirm the operating condition of the air conditioner.

The portable terminal 50 can communicate with the indoor unit 40. The portable terminal 50 can receive the power adjustment signal from the indoor unit 40. [ The portable terminal 50 can receive information on the operation of the air conditioner from the indoor unit 40. [

The air conditioner may include a remote controller (60). The remote controller 60 can control each of the indoor units 40. The remote controller 60 can change the operation mode of the indoor unit 40. [ The operating mode may include cooling, dehumidifying, air cleaning or heating, and the like.

5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, the outdoor unit 120 includes a compressor 250 for exchanging the heat of the refrigerant transferred from the indoor unit 130, an outdoor unit processor 210 for controlling the operation of the compressor 250 in response to the power adjustment signal, . ≪ / RTI >

The outdoor unit processor 210 may perform various functions for the outdoor unit 120 and may execute or execute various software programs and / or sets of instructions stored in the outdoor unit memory 220 for processing data. The outdoor unit processor 210 can process signals based on the information stored in the outdoor unit memory 220.

The power receiving apparatus 240 may receive an external power source and may extract a power adjustment signal that provides information on the degree of power usage from the power source. The power receiving apparatus 240 may include a power device that receives power from the power company and separates the power adjusting signal and a switching circuit that converts the power adjusting signal into a signal recognizable by the air conditioner. The power device and the switching circuit may be configured separately, but are not limited thereto.

5, the power receiving apparatus 240 is illustrated as being included in the outdoor unit 120, but is not limited thereto and may be configured separately from the outdoor unit 120. [ In another embodiment, the power receiver 240 may be included in the indoor unit 130, or may transmit the power adjustment signal to the indoor unit 130, but is not limited thereto.

For example, the outdoor unit 120 may include, but is not limited to, the switching circuit of the power receiving apparatus 240. The power device may provide power to the power source 250.

The outdoor unit processor 210 can receive a power adjustment signal from the power receiving device 240. [ The outdoor unit processor 210 can control the operation of the compressor based on the power adjustment signal. The outdoor unit processor 210 can adjust the operation frequency according to the power adjustment signal when the compressor 250 is of the inverter type. The outdoor unit processor 210 can determine on / off based on the power adjustment signal when the compressor 250 is a constant speed compressor that continuously compresses the refrigerant at a constant speed.

When the outdoor unit processor 210 receives the power adjustment signal, the outdoor unit processor 210 can grasp the power consumption demanded by the power adjustment signal. For example, the power adjustment signal may be any of a plurality of classes. The outdoor unit processor 210 can grasp the class of the power adjustment signal and can grasp the power consumption requirement amount.

The outdoor unit processor 210 can control the operation state of the air conditioner so as to satisfy the power consumption. For example, the outdoor unit processor 210 can adjust the operating frequency of the compressor based on the power consumption requirement.

The outdoor unit processor 210 may execute a power limiting mode that limits the range of operation of various operations in order to adjust the amount of power consumption corresponding to the class of the power adjustment signal. For example, when the indoor unit changes the set temperature due to the power adjustment signal, the outdoor unit processor 210 can adjust the operation of the compressor 250 accordingly. For example, the outdoor unit processor 210 may vary the manner of controlling the compressor 250, depending on the type of the compressor 250.

The outdoor unit processor 210 can grasp the power consumption requirement from the power adjustment signal. The outdoor unit processor 210 can grasp the power consumption requirement amount by the level of the power adjustment signal.

The power adjustment signal can be any of a plurality of classes. The outdoor unit processor 210 may control the power consumption of the outdoor unit according to the level of the power control signal. For example, the outdoor unit processor 210 may adjust the operation frequency of the compressor 250 to adjust the power consumption of the outdoor unit.

The outdoor unit processor 210 can control the operation of the compressor based on the power adjustment signal. When the compressor 250 is of the inverter type, the outdoor unit processor 210 can adjust the operation frequency of the compressor 250 according to the level of the power adjustment signal to adjust the power consumption.

For example, if the power conditioning signal is of a first class, the outdoor unit processor 210 may turn off the compressor 250. If the power regulation signal is of a second class, the outdoor unit processor 210 may reduce the operating frequency of the compressor 250 to 50%. If the power regulation signal is of a third grade, the outdoor unit processor 210 may reduce the operating frequency of the compressor 250 to 75%.

The outdoor unit processor 210 can control the operation of a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit 120 differently. The outdoor unit processor 210 can control the operation of each of the plurality of indoor units on the basis of the power adjustment signal. The outdoor unit processor 210 may assign priority to each of the plurality of indoor units and determine whether the indoor unit is operated based on the priority.

The outdoor unit processor 210 can adjust the number of indoor units to be operated among a plurality of indoor units according to the level of the power adjustment signal. The outdoor unit processor 210 can reduce the number of indoor units to be operated as the level of the power adjustment signal is higher

The outdoor unit processor 210 may output control information for meeting the power consumption requirement. The outdoor unit processor 210 may output the control information to the outdoor unit communication unit 230. The control information may include a current power consumption requirement, information on the operating state of the compressor in the outdoor unit, or an instruction to turn on / off the indoor unit. The outdoor unit processor 210 may cause the outdoor unit communication unit 230 to transmit the operation frequency of the compressor 250 or the operation of the compressor 250 to the indoor unit.

For example, if the number of the indoor units 130 connected to the outdoor unit 120 is three and the class of the power control signal is the first class, the outdoor unit processor 210 transmits a signal to turn off the power to all the indoor units 130 . When the level of the power adjustment signal is the second class, the outdoor processor 210 may transmit a signal to turn off the power to the indoor units 130 except the first indoor unit 130. If the level of the power adjustment signal is the third grade, the outdoor processor 210 may transmit a signal to turn off the power to the indoor units 130 except for the first and second indoor units 130. This is not common to all the embodiments because it can be varied depending on the number of the indoor units 130.

The outdoor unit memory 220 may include a high-speed random access memory. The outdoor unit memory 220 may also include non-volatile memory, such as, but not limited to, one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state memory devices.

For example, the outdoor unit memory 220 may include, but is not limited to, an EEP-ROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory). The EEP-ROM can be written and erased by the outdoor unit processor 210 during the operation of the outdoor unit processor 210. The EEP-ROM may be a storage device in which the information stored therein is not erased even when the power supply of the outdoor unit 120 is turned off and the power supply is stopped.

The outdoor unit memory 220 may store various programs or data in cooperation with the outdoor unit processor 210.

The outdoor unit memory 220 controls the operation state so as to grasp the power consumption demand amount demanded by the power adjustment signal and to meet the power consumption demand when receiving the power adjustment signal that provides information on the degree of power use And a program for outputting control information for satisfying the power consumption requirement to the communication device.

The program can control the operation of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit. The program can grasp the amount of power consumption demanded by the power adjustment signal. The program can adjust the operation frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit or the operation of the indoor unit according to the power consumption demand, and thereby adjust the power consumption of the air conditioner.

The program may be stored in both the memory of the indoor unit and the memory 220 of the outdoor unit, but is not limited thereto. In the case of the embodiment stored in the indoor unit, the program will be described in detail in the description of the indoor unit 130 again.

The power receiving apparatus 240 can receive external power. The power receiving apparatus 240 can extract the power adjustment signal from the external power supply. The power receiving apparatus 240 may be a receiver on one side of the power line communication. The power line communication may be one in which a signal having a frequency different from that of the power source for supplying power to the household appliance is added and communicated.

The power receiving apparatus 240 can grasp the power adjusting signal in the supplied power supply and deliver it to the processor 210. [ The power receiving apparatus 240 may extract the power adjustment signal and transmit the remaining power to the power supply unit 260. [ The power supply unit 260 may convert the power received from the power receiving apparatus 240 to DC and supply the power to the outdoor unit processor 210, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The outdoor unit communication unit 230 receives an instruction from the outdoor unit processor 210 and can communicate with the indoor unit or the portable terminal. The outdoor unit communication unit 230 may be connected to the outdoor unit processor 210. The outdoor unit communication unit 230 may receive the signal transmitted from the outdoor unit processor 210. The outdoor unit communication unit 230 may transmit a signal generated by the outdoor unit processor 210 to the indoor unit or the portable terminal, but the communication partner is not limited thereto. The outdoor unit communication unit 230 can transmit the power adjustment signal to the indoor unit and information on the operation mode of the compressor 250. [

The outdoor unit communication unit 230 can perform wired / wireless communication. When the outdoor communication unit 230 performs wireless communication, the outdoor communication unit 230 may include an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit. The outdoor unit communication unit 230 can transmit and receive RF signals, which are electromagnetic signals. The RF circuit converts electrical signals and electromagnetic signals to each other, and can communicate with the communication network and other communication devices through electromagnetic signals.

For example, the RF circuitry may include, but is not limited to, an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, Lt; / RTI > circuit.

The outdoor unit 120 of one embodiment includes a compressor 250 that serves to compress refrigerant, an electric motor for a compressor that drives the compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger that dissipates the compressed refrigerant, and an outdoor heat exchanger that is disposed at one side of the outdoor heat exchanger, An outdoor fan comprising an outdoor fan for promoting heat radiation and an electric motor for rotating the outdoor fan, an expansion mechanism for expanding the condensed refrigerant, a cooling / heating switching valve for changing the flow path of the compressed refrigerant, An accumulator for removing foreign substances and supplying a refrigerant of a certain pressure to the compressor, and the like. The outdoor unit 120 may further include other sensors, valves, supercooling units, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

Depending on the class of the power adjustment signal, the air conditioner can limit the operation of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit for a certain period of time and make the operation impossible. For example, if the rating of the power regulation signal is class 1, the air conditioner may immediately turn off the power and not operate for a period of time, but this is not so.

5, the indoor unit 130 includes an indoor unit processor 310 for performing various signal processing and arithmetic operations, an indoor unit memory 320 for storing programs or data in cooperation with the indoor unit processor 310, A display 340 for receiving control signals from the indoor unit processor 310 and displaying information, and an indoor unit communication unit 330 for communicating with an outdoor unit or the like.

The indoor unit processor 310 may perform various functions for the indoor unit 130 and may execute or execute various software programs and / or sets of instructions stored in the indoor unit memory 320 to process the data. The indoor unit processor 310 may process the signal based on the information stored in the indoor unit memory 320. The indoor unit memory 320 may store various programs or data in cooperation with the indoor unit processor 310.

According to the embodiment, the indoor unit processor 310 may receive the power adjustment signal from the outdoor unit, the portable unit, or the power receiving unit. For example, the indoor unit processor 310 may receive the power adjustment signal through the indoor unit communication unit 330, but is not limited thereto.

The indoor unit processor 310 can perform various controls based on the received power adjustment signal. The indoor unit processor 310 can control the set temperature or the set air volume based on the power adjustment signal. For example, as the level of the power adjustment signal increases, the set temperature can be set to be close to the outdoor temperature. As the level of the power adjustment signal increases, the set air flow rate can be lowered.

The indoor unit processor 310 can transmit the power adjustment signal to the portable terminal through the indoor unit communication unit 330. In other embodiments, the indoor unit processor 310 may transmit the power adjustment signal to the server by the indoor unit communication unit 330 and may allow the portable terminal to receive the power adjustment signal from the server, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The indoor unit processor 310 can transmit information on the operating state of the air conditioner to the portable terminal by the indoor unit communication unit 330. [

The indoor unit processor 310 can control the operation of the indoor unit based on the control information. The control information may include information on the power consumption requirement or the operating state of the compressor of the outdoor unit. The indoor unit processor 310 can control the set temperature or the set air volume based on the information on the operating state of the compressor of the outdoor unit. For example, the indoor unit processor 310 can maintain the set temperature or the set air flow rate when the operating frequency of the compressor becomes lower than the operating frequency before the outdoor unit receives the power adjusting signal, but is not limited thereto.

For example, when the power consumption reduction obtained by reducing the operating frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit satisfies the power adjustment signal sufficiently, the indoor unit processor can maintain the set temperature or the set air volume of the indoor unit.

In one embodiment, when the power consumption reduction obtained by reducing the operating frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit does not sufficiently satisfy the power adjustment signal, the indoor unit processor may control the set temperature of the indoor unit to be close to the outdoor temperature or lower the set air volume.

The indoor unit processor 310 can limit the set temperature range according to the level of the power adjustment signal. The indoor unit 130 may further include a blowing fan 350 for blowing air into the room. The indoor unit processor 310 can limit the rotational speed of the blowing fan 350 according to the level of the power adjustment signal.

The outdoor unit processor 210 or the indoor unit processor 310 may limit the operation of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit for a predetermined time according to the level of the power adjustment signal. For example, the outdoor unit processor 210 or the indoor unit processor 310 may set an auto-off mode to automatically turn off the outdoor unit or the indoor unit when receiving the power adjustment signal.

The outdoor unit processor 210 or the indoor unit processor 310 can change the time until the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is turned off according to the level of the power adjustment signal in the automatic shutdown mode. When the outdoor unit processor 210 or the indoor unit processor 310 performs the automatic shutdown mode, it is possible to determine the time until the power of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is turned off according to the level of the power adjustment signal.

The indoor unit memory 320 may include a high-speed random access memory. The indoor unit memory 320 may also include non-volatile memory such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state memory devices, but may include readable storage media.

The memory 320 of the indoor unit 130 can store programs. The program may analyze the power adjustment signal to determine the amount of power consumption required. The program can grasp the class of the power adjustment signal and grasp the power consumption requirement amount. Power consumption requirements may vary depending on the laws and regulations of each country.

For example, if the level of the power adjustment signal is the first level, the power consumption is set to 0, the power consumption is reduced to 75% in the case of the second class, and 50% , But this can vary depending on the situation.

The program can set the set amount of the air to be discharged by the indoor unit or the desired temperature of the air in the room in which the indoor unit is harmonized based on the control information or the power adjustment signal. The indoor unit memory 320 may store information about a reference for adjusting the set air volume or the set temperature according to the rating of the power adjustment signal.

For example, the indoor unit memory 320 may store information regarding a plurality of steps of the set air flow rate or the set temperature, which are defined to correspond to a plurality of classes of the power adjustment signal.

The indoor unit 130 may include, but is not limited to, an output device for displaying information and an input device for receiving input. The output device may include a speaker that outputs sound or a display 340 that emits light to provide a visual indication. The input device may include means for accepting inputs from the outside such as physical buttons, dials, slider switches, click wheels, and the like.

The display 340 may be a light emitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display display, and a 3D display. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The display 340 may display the operation information of the indoor unit 130. [ For example, the display 340 may display an operation mode such as cooling, heating, dehumidifying or air cleaning, and may indicate the room temperature, the wind direction, the presence or absence of a heat source in the room, It is possible to display the optical information required for the control.

According to an embodiment, the display 340 may include, but is not limited to, a touch sensitive touch screen that displays a visual output to a user and accepts input from a user based on the tactile contact.

The display 340 may display the settings to be changed based on the power adjustment signal and the power adjustment signal. The display 340 can display the set air volume or the set temperature that is changed due to the power adjustment signal. The display 340 may indicate that the indoor unit or the outdoor unit is currently being controlled based on the power adjustment signal.

The indoor unit communication unit 330 may be connected to the indoor unit processor 310. The indoor unit communication unit 330 may receive the signal transmitted by the indoor unit processor 310. The indoor unit communication unit 330 may transmit the signal generated by the indoor unit processor 310 to the outdoor unit, the remote control unit, or the portable terminal, but the communication partner is not limited thereto.

The indoor unit communication unit 330 can receive the control information. The control information may include information on the power consumption requirement or the operating state of the compressor of the outdoor unit.

The indoor unit communication unit 330 may transmit a power adjustment signal to the portable terminal. The indoor unit communication unit 330 can transmit the changed control information due to the power adjustment signal to the portable terminal. The indoor unit communication unit 330 can receive the power adjustment signal and the operating state of the compressor from the outdoor unit. The indoor unit communication unit 330 can receive a signal for turning on / off the power from the outdoor unit.

The indoor unit communication unit 330 may be connected to the outdoor unit communication unit 230 by wire or wirelessly. The indoor unit communication unit 330 can transmit and receive various signals to and from the outdoor unit communication unit 230. The indoor unit communication unit 330 can receive a power adjustment signal or a rating signal from the outdoor unit communication unit 230.

6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating a path for receiving a power adjustment signal of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 6, the air conditioner can receive a power adjustment signal from the power receiving device. For example, the power receiving device may extract a power regulation signal from a power source supplied from a utility.

The air conditioner receives the power adjustment signal from the power receiving device and can change the operating state according to the level of the power adjustment signal. The air conditioner can determine a settable operation mode or operation degree according to the level of the power adjustment signal.

The air conditioner can transmit to the portable device information about the type of operation currently being performed, the degree of operation, and the rating of the power adjustment signal.

The portable device 50 can display information about the type of operation, the degree of operation, and the level of the power adjustment signal received from the air conditioner as an output unit.

Referring to FIG. 7, the portable device 50 can receive the power adjustment signal from the power company 10. The portable device 50 can determine whether or not the air conditioner 30 should execute the power limiting mode based on the power adjustment signal. The portable device 50 can indicate that the user recognizes that the air conditioner is appropriate to execute the power limiting mode.

The portable device 50 can transmit the power adjustment signal to the air conditioner. The air conditioner can receive the power adjustment signal from the portable device (50). In another embodiment, the portable device 50 may send an instruction to the air conditioner to execute a power limiting mode.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 are views showing the operation of a display of an indoor unit and an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the outdoor unit 120 may assign a priority to each of the plurality of indoor units 130.

The outdoor unit 120 can individually control the operation of a plurality of indoor units. The outdoor unit 120 may assign priority to a plurality of indoor units and determine whether the indoor unit 130 operates based on the assigned priority.

The indoor units having the priority order assigned by the outdoor unit 120 may be a plurality of indoor units corresponding to the first, second, or third order. When there are a plurality of indoor units 130, the indoor units corresponding to the first rank, the indoor units corresponding to the second rank, and the indoor units corresponding to the third rank can be plural.

The indoor unit 130 connected to the outdoor unit 120 has three units and the processor 210 can transmit a signal to turn off the power to all the indoor units 130 when the level of the power control signal is the first class.

If the level of the power adjustment signal is the second class, the processor 210 may transmit a signal to power off the remaining indoor units 130 except for the first indoor unit 130.

If the level of the power adjustment signal is the third level, the processor 210 may transmit a signal to turn off the power to the indoor units 130 other than the first and second indoor units 130. This is not common to all the embodiments because it can be varied depending on the number of the indoor units 130.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are views showing the operation of a display of an indoor unit and an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the indoor unit 130 may receive a power adjustment signal from the outdoor unit 120 or a power receiving device (not shown).

The indoor unit 130 can adjust the set air temperature that sets the amount of wind discharged by the indoor unit or the set temperature that sets the desired temperature of the air in the room where the indoor unit is harmonized based on the power adjustment signal. The indoor unit 130 may store information regarding a reference for adjusting the set air flow rate or the set temperature according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. The indoor unit 130 can adjust the set air flow rate or the set temperature based on the information about the plurality of steps of the set air flow rate or the set air temperature which are defined to correspond to the plurality of classes of the power adjustment signal.

For example, the power adjustment signal may be any of a first class, a second class, or a third class, and the indoor unit 130 may raise or lower the set air volume or the set temperature according to the rating of the power adjustment signal have.

The indoor unit 130 can display various kinds of information on the display 340. The indoor unit 130 can display the set temperature, the set air volume B, and the class A of the power adjustment signal on the display 340. [

The indoor unit 130 may store information regarding a reference for adjusting the set air flow rate or the set temperature according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. For example, the indoor unit 130 may store a table in which the set air volume or the set temperature is set according to the rating of the power adjustment signal, but the method is not limited thereto.

For example, referring to FIG. 10A, in the case where the indoor unit 130 performs the cooling operation, when the level of the power adjustment signal is class 3 (DRM 3), the set air volume is set to medium or less, The temperature can be limited to 22 ° C or higher. 10B, when the indoor unit 130 performs the cooling operation, when the level of the power adjustment signal is class 2 (DRM 2), the set air flow rate is set to be weak and the set temperature is set to 24 ° C or higher . Referring to FIG. 10C, the indoor unit 130 can stop the operation when the cooling control operation is performed and the power control signal has the first class (DRM 1).

The display 340 of the indoor unit 130 can display the rating, the set temperature, and the set air volume of the power adjustment signal simultaneously or separately, as described above.

The control value of the indoor unit 130 according to the level of the power adjustment signal described above is only one example for explaining the contents of the invention, and in other embodiments, the control value may vary.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the level of the power adjustment signal is represented by DRM, but this is only an example and is not limited to the method or means for displaying.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, a method of controlling an air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment includes receiving (S510) a power adjustment signal that provides a rating of the degree of power use, determining a rating of the power adjustment signal S520) and executing a power limiting mode (S530) for limiting the range of operation of various operations in order to adjust the amount of power consumption corresponding to the class of the power adjustment signal.

In step S510 of receiving the power adjustment signal, the air conditioner may receive a power adjustment signal from the power receiving device. For example, the outdoor unit or the indoor unit of the air conditioner can receive the power adjustment signal from the electric power receiving apparatus.

The power supplied by the power company may include a power adjustment signal whose frequency component is different from that of the power supply component. The power receiving device can extract the power adjustment signal from the power source.

In step S520 of grasping the class of the power adjustment signal, the processor of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit can grasp the class of the power adjustment signal and can grasp the power consumption demand amount accordingly. The power consumption requirement may require reduction of power consumption by percentage, or may require reduction to a certain amount or less, but it is not limited to the method required.

In step S530 of executing a power limiting mode that limits the range of operation of various operations in order to adjust the power consumption amount in accordance with the level of the power adjustment signal, the air conditioner controls the operation state based on the power adjustment signal .

For example, when the object receiving the power adjustment signal is an outdoor unit of the air conditioner, the outdoor unit can adjust the operation frequency according to the power adjustment signal when the compressor is an inverter type. In the step of controlling the operation state (S530), the outdoor unit can determine on / off based on the power adjustment signal when the compressor is a constant speed compressor that continuously compresses the refrigerant at a constant speed.

The power adjustment signal may be one of a plurality of classes. The step (S530) of executing the power limitation mode can adjust the operating frequency of the compressor in accordance with the power consumption requirement amount. For example, when the compressor of the outdoor unit is of the inverter type, the processor of the outdoor unit can adjust the operation frequency of the compressor according to the power consumption requirement to adjust the power consumption.

The power adjustment signal may be one of a plurality of classes. In operation S530, when the object receiving the power adjustment signal is an outdoor unit, the operation frequency of the compressor can be adjusted according to the level of the power adjustment signal. For example, if the power regulation signal is a first class, the processor of the outdoor unit can turn off the compressor. If the power regulation signal is of a second class, the processor of the outdoor unit can reduce the operating frequency of the compressor to 50%. If the power regulation signal is of grade 3, the processor of the outdoor unit can reduce the operating frequency of the compressor to 75%.

The step (S530) of executing the power limitation mode may control the set air flow rate or the set temperature based on information about a plurality of steps of the set air flow rate or the set air temperature corresponding to a plurality of classes of the power adjustment signal.

Step S530 of executing the power limitation mode may limit the operating frequency range of the compressor in accordance with the level of the power adjustment signal. Step S530 of executing the power limitation mode may limit the set temperature range according to the level of the power adjustment signal.

Step S530 of executing the power limitation mode may limit the set wind speed range in accordance with the class of the power adjustment signal. The step (S530) of executing the power limitation mode may limit the operation of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit for a predetermined time period according to the class of the power adjustment signal.

In the step S530 of executing the power limitation mode, it is possible to set an automatic power off mode for automatically turning off the power according to the level of the power adjustment signal. The step S530 of executing the power limitation mode may change the time until the power is turned off according to the power adjustment signal in the auto-off mode.

For example, if the power regulation signal is of a first class, the air conditioner can immediately turn off the power. If the power regulation signal is of a second class, the air conditioner can turn off the power within 10 minutes. If the power regulation signal is of a third rating, the air conditioner can turn off the power within 30 minutes. Depending on the level of the power adjustment signal, the time to turn off automatically may be different, but the time presented is only one example, and depending on the situation, the time may be different.

Depending on the class of the power adjustment signal, the air conditioner can limit the operation of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit for a certain period of time and make the operation impossible. For example, if the rating of the power regulation signal is class 1, the air conditioner may immediately turn off the power and not operate for a period of time, but this is not so.

For example, when the indoor unit performs the cooling operation, when the level of the power adjustment signal is class 3, the set air volume may be limited to medium or less, and the set temperature may be limited to 22 ° C or higher. In the case of performing cooling operation of the indoor unit, when the level of the power adjustment signal is class 2, the set air volume is set to be weak and the set temperature may be limited to 24 ° C or higher. When the indoor unit performs the cooling operation, the operation can be stopped when the power adjustment signal has the first class.

The indoor unit can determine whether to operate based on the control information. The plurality of indoor units may be operated or not depending on the power adjustment signal, respectively. The indoor unit can determine whether or not the indoor unit is operating according to the information on whether or not the indoor unit determined by the outdoor unit operates. The indoor unit can determine the operation degree based on the control information.

For example, when the outdoor unit is of the constant speed type, the air conditioner can adjust the power consumption by adjusting the set temperature or the set air volume of the indoor unit. The outdoor unit or the indoor unit that receives the power adjustment signal may include a plurality of outdoor units connected to each other and power used by a plurality of indoor units, and may operate in different directions.

The air conditioner control method of one embodiment may further include a step (not shown) of transmitting the power adjustment signal to a portable terminal capable of information browsing. The indoor unit can transmit the power adjustment signal to the portable terminal capable of reading the information. The indoor unit 130 may transmit a power adjustment signal to the portable terminal so that the user can easily confirm the operating condition of the air conditioner.

The air conditioner control method of one embodiment may further include a step (not shown) of outputting control information for meeting a plurality of power consumption requirements based on the power adjustment signal. The control information may include information on the current power consumption requirement or the operating state of the compressor of the outdoor unit.

For example, the outdoor unit can give priority to each of the plurality of indoor units. The outdoor unit can determine whether or not the indoor unit operates based on the given priority. The control information may include information that the outdoor unit determines whether the indoor unit is operated based on the priority.

The power adjustment signal is any one of a plurality of classes, and the outdoor unit can control the operation of each of the plurality of indoor units in a different manner. The number of indoor units to be operated among a plurality of indoor units can be adjusted according to the class of the power adjustment signal.

When there are three indoor units connected to the outdoor unit and the power control signal is of the first class, the processor of the outdoor unit can transmit a signal to turn off the power to all the indoor units.

If the level of the power adjustment signal is the second class, the processor of the outdoor unit can transmit a signal to turn off the power to the indoor units other than the first indoor unit. If the level of the power adjustment signal is the third grade, the processor of the outdoor unit can transmit a signal to turn off the power to the indoor units other than the first and second indoor units. This is not common to all embodiments because it can vary depending on the number of indoor units.

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

All of the components may be implemented as one independent hardware, but a part or all of the components may be selectively combined to provide a computer having a program module that performs some or all of the functions combined in one or a plurality of hardware May be implemented as a program.

A plurality of codes and code segments constituting a computer program may be easily deduced by those skilled in the art. Such a computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, readable and executed by a computer, thereby realizing an embodiment of the present invention. As the storage medium of the computer program, a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, a carrier wave medium, or the like may be included.

It is to be understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", or "having" as used in the foregoing description mean that the constituent element can be implanted unless specifically stated to the contrary, But should be construed as further including other elements.

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

Commonly used terms, such as predefined terms, should be interpreted to be consistent with the contextual meanings of the related art, and are not to be construed as ideal or overly formal, unless expressly defined to the contrary.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention but to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas falling within the scope of the same shall be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

10: Electricity company
20: Power receiving device
30: Air conditioner

Claims (16)

An outdoor unit for heat-exchanging the refrigerant;
An indoor unit for exchanging the refrigerant with the outdoor unit and for harmonizing the indoor air; And
And a power receiving device for receiving a power adjustment signal that provides a rating for the degree of power usage,
The outdoor unit or the indoor unit includes:
A processor, a memory, and various operations that are stored in the memory and executed by the processor, and when the outdoor unit or the indoor unit receives the power adjustment signal, An air conditioner comprising a program for executing a power limiting mode that limits the range. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the processor limits the set temperature range according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the outdoor unit includes a compressor including an inverter for adjusting an operation frequency,
Wherein the processor controls the operating frequency of the compressor based on the rating of the power adjustment signal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the processor limits the set wind speed range according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the indoor unit includes a blowing fan for blowing air into the room,
Wherein the processor limits the rotational speed of the blower fan according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the processor limits the operation of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit for a predetermined time according to the level of the power adjustment signal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the processor sets an automatic shut-off mode for automatically turning off the outdoor unit or the indoor unit according to the level of the power adjustment signal. 8. The method of claim 7,
In the auto-off mode, the processor sets the time until the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is turned off according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. The method according to claim 1,
When the outdoor unit is connected to a plurality of indoor units, upon receipt of the rating signal,
And controls the operation state of each of the plurality of indoor units according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. Receiving a power adjustment signal that provides a rating for the degree of power usage;
Determining a rating of the power adjustment signal; And
And executing a power limiting mode for limiting a range of operation of various operations in order to adjust a power consumption amount corresponding to a rating of the power adjustment signal. 11. The method of claim 10,
Executing the power limitation mode,
Wherein the operating frequency range of the compressor is limited according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. 11. The method of claim 10,
Executing the power limitation mode,
And limits the set temperature range according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. 11. The method of claim 10,
Executing the power limitation mode,
And limits the set wind speed range according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. 11. The method of claim 10,
Executing the power limitation mode,
And the operation of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is restricted for a predetermined time according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. 11. The method of claim 10,
Executing the power limitation mode,
And sets an automatic power off mode for automatically turning off the power according to the rating of the power adjustment signal. 16. The method of claim 15,
Executing the power limitation mode,
And in a case where the air conditioner is in the auto-off mode, the time until the power is turned off is changed according to the power adjustment signal.

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