WO2023210963A1

WO2023210963A1 - Air conditioner and control method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2023210963A1
Application number: PCT/KR2023/003454
Authority: WO
Inventors: 문효주; 김영진; 한대철; 손이규; 조일용; 최영준; 하동수
Original assignee: 삼성전자주식회사
Priority date: 2022-04-27
Filing date: 2023-03-15
Publication date: 2023-11-02
Also published as: KR20230152496A

Abstract

The disclosed air conditioner may comprise: an indoor unit; an outdoor unit, which is connected to the indoor unit and includes a plurality of electronic devices; an input unit for acquiring a user input and transmitting a signal corresponding to the user input; and a controller for setting, on the basis of the signal received from the input unit, a maximum current applied to the outdoor unit, and regulating, on the basis of the set maximum current, a driving current applied to each of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit.

Description

Air conditioner and its control method

The disclosed invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof.

An air conditioner is a device that cools or heats air using the movement of heat generated from evaporation and condensation of a refrigerant, and discharges the cooled or heated air to condition the air in an indoor space. During cooling or heating operation, the air conditioner circulates refrigerant through a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, and discharges heat-exchanged air from the indoor heat exchanger into the indoor space, thereby cooling or heating the indoor space.

Generally, an air conditioner includes a remote controller and can control the outdoor unit and the indoor unit according to a signal input through the remote controller. In order to control air conditioners more easily, separate input devices such as contact controllers are also provided in addition to remote controllers. However, there are limitations in controlling the outdoor unit using external input devices such as conventional contact controllers.

The disclosed invention provides an air conditioner and a control method that allows a user to adjust the maximum current that can be applied to an outdoor unit.

An air conditioner according to an embodiment includes an indoor unit; an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit and including a plurality of electronic devices; an input unit that obtains a user input and transmits a signal corresponding to the user input; and a controller that sets the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit based on the signal received from the input unit and adjusts the driving current applied to each of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit based on the set maximum current. May include ;.

The controller may control the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit so that the total driving current of the plurality of electronic devices is kept constant at the set maximum current.

The plurality of electronic devices include a compressor and an outdoor fan, and the controller may control the compressor and the outdoor fan so that a total driving current of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit corresponds to the set maximum current. .

The controller includes a plurality of contact terminals connected to the input unit, and determines the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit based on the voltage of the signal applied to a first contact terminal among the plurality of contact terminals. You can.

The input unit includes a regulator connected to the first contact terminal of the controller, and the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal may be changed based on the operation of the regulator.

The regulator includes a plurality of resistance elements arranged in series; and a plurality of switch elements branched from nodes between the plurality of resistance elements and arranged in parallel, wherein the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal is determined by one of the plurality of switch elements. It can be determined based on one closure.

The regulator may include a variable resistor provided to vary the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal.

The air conditioner further includes a remote controller that is connected to the controller by wire or wirelessly and is provided to select an input mode of the input unit, wherein the controller determines the input mode of the input unit through the remote controller to set the maximum current. Based on the input mode being selected, the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit may be adjusted in response to the signal transmitted from the input unit.

A method of controlling an air conditioner according to an embodiment includes obtaining user input through an input unit; receiving a signal corresponding to the user input from the input unit by a controller; setting the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit based on the received signal; It may include adjusting the driving current applied to each of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit based on the set maximum current.

The plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit may be controlled so that the total driving current of the plurality of electronic devices is kept constant at the set maximum current.

The plurality of electronic devices include a compressor and an outdoor fan, and adjusting the driving current includes the compressor and the outdoor fan such that a total driving current of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit corresponds to the set maximum current. It may include controlling;

Setting the maximum current may include setting the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit based on the voltage of the signal applied to a first contact terminal among a plurality of contact terminals provided in the controller. there is.

The voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal may be changed based on the operation of a regulator provided in the input unit and connected to the first contact terminal.

The voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal may be determined based on the closure of any one of a plurality of switch elements included in the regulator.

Setting the maximum current may be performed in response to the signal transmitted from the input unit based on the input mode of the input unit being selected as the maximum current input mode through a remote controller.

The disclosed air conditioner and its control method allow a user to adjust the maximum current that can be applied to the outdoor unit. That is, the user can easily set the maximum value of the current applied to the outdoor unit using the input unit. Since the user can select the maximum current of the outdoor unit within a predetermined range, the energy consumption of the air conditioner can be adjusted according to the user's intention. Since the energy consumption of the outdoor unit can be adjusted according to user demand, user convenience regarding adjustment of energy consumption efficiency can be improved.

Additionally, the disclosed air conditioner and its control method enable continuous operation of the compressor by continuously supplying the maximum current set by the user to the outdoor unit. Therefore, noise caused by the operation of the outdoor unit can be reduced, and performance degradation of the air conditioner can also be reduced.

1 shows the configuration of an air conditioner according to one embodiment.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

Figure 3 shows the interior of the main controller according to one embodiment.

Figure 4 shows connections between the configurations of the air conditioner and the contact terminals of the main controller according to one embodiment.

5 is a circuit diagram of an input unit according to one embodiment.

Figure 6 is a flowchart explaining a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

Figure 7 is a table illustrating the relationship between indoor temperature settings and the output voltage of the input unit.

Figure 8 is a table illustrating the relationship between the current setting of the outdoor unit and the output voltage of the input unit.

Figure 9 is a graph to explain the difference between the prior art and the disclosed control method of the air conditioner.

The embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only preferred examples of the disclosed invention, and at the time of filing this application, there may be various modifications that can replace the embodiments and drawings in this specification.

Throughout this specification, when a part is said to be “connected” to another part, this includes not only direct connection but also indirect connection, and indirect connection refers to connection through a wireless communication network. Includes.

Additionally, the terms used herein are used to describe embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or limit the disclosed invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but are not intended to indicate the presence of one or more other features. The existence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not excluded in advance.

In addition, terms including ordinal numbers such as “first”, “second”, etc. used in this specification may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms, and the terms It is used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, a first component may be named a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be named a first component without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Additionally, terms such as "~unit", "~unit", "~block", "~member", and "~module" may refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation. For example, the terms may refer to at least one hardware such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) / application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), at least one software stored in memory, or at least one process processed by a processor. there is.

The codes attached to each step are used to identify each step, and these codes do not indicate the order of each step. Each step is performed differently from the specified order unless a specific order is clearly stated in the context. It can be.

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

1 shows the configuration of an air conditioner according to one embodiment. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioner 1 includes an outdoor unit 10 provided in an outdoor space to perform heat exchange between outdoor air and a refrigerant, and an outdoor unit 10 provided in an indoor space to perform heat exchange between indoor air and a refrigerant. Includes an indoor unit (20). The outdoor unit 10 may be located outside the air conditioning space, and the indoor unit 20 may be located within the air conditioning space. The air conditioned space refers to a space that is cooled or heated by the air conditioner (1). For example, the outdoor unit 10 may be placed outside a building, and the indoor unit 20 may be placed in a space separated from the outside by a wall, such as a living room or office.

The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are connected through external pipes (P1, P2). The refrigerant may circulate through the outdoor unit 10, external pipes (P1, P2), and the indoor unit 20. One end of the external pipes (P1, P2) may be connected to a pipe valve provided on one side of the outdoor unit (10). Additionally, the external pipes P1 and P2 may be connected to refrigerant pipes provided inside the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20.

The refrigerant circulates between the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10 along the refrigerant flow path, and absorbs or releases heat through a change in state (e.g., change in state from gas to liquid, change in state from liquid to gas). You can. The air conditioner (1) may include a liquid pipe (P1) that is connected between the outdoor unit (10) and the indoor unit (20) and serves as a passage through which the liquid refrigerant flows, and a gas pipe (P2) through which the gaseous refrigerant flows. there is. The liquid pipe (P1) and the gas pipe (P2) may extend inside the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20.

The outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 11 that compresses the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 12 that performs heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant, an outdoor fan 13 provided around the outdoor heat exchanger to flow air, and a cooling operation. Or, based on the heating operation, a four-way valve (14) that guides the refrigerant compressed by the compressor (11) to the outdoor heat exchanger (12) or the indoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve (15) that depressurizes the refrigerant, And it may include an accumulator 16 that prevents liquid refrigerant that has not evaporated from flowing into the compressor 11.

The outdoor unit 10 may include various electronic devices. In addition to the above-described compressor 11, outdoor fan 13, four-way valve 14, expansion valve 15, and accumulator 16, the outdoor unit 10 includes a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant, and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant. It may include various electronic devices such as a temperature sensor, a control panel, and a processor that controls the operation of the outdoor unit 10.

The compressor 11 includes a compressor motor and compresses low-pressure gaseous refrigerant to high pressure using the rotational force of the compressor motor. The compressor 11 can change its operating frequency to correspond to the capability required by the indoor unit 20. The compressor 11 may be an inverter air compressor, a positive displacement compressor, or a dynamic compressor, and various types of compressors that the designer can consider may be used.

The outdoor unit 10 can operate by receiving electrical energy from an external power source. Power and/or current supplied to the outdoor unit 10 may be distributed to electronic devices included in the outdoor unit 10. For example, the current applied to the outdoor unit 10 may be distributed to the compressor 11, the outdoor fan 13, the four-way valve 14, the expansion valve 15, and the accumulator 16. Accordingly, a driving current may be applied to each of the compressor 11, the outdoor fan 13, the four-way valve 14, the expansion valve 15, and the accumulator 16.

The outdoor unit 10 may be provided with a current sensor 17 that can detect the driving current of the outdoor unit 10. The current sensor 17 can detect the driving current of each electronic device included in the outdoor unit 10. The current sensor 17 may transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the detected driving current value of the outdoor unit 10 to the controller 100 .

The driving current applied to each of the electronic devices of the outdoor unit 10 may be adjusted by the controller 100. For example, the controller 100 controls the first driving current applied to the compressor 11 and the second driving current applied to the outdoor fan 13 based on the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 set according to the user input. can be adjusted. The controller 10 may transmit a control signal to the outdoor unit 10, and the outdoor unit 10 may adjust the driving current applied to the electronic devices of the outdoor unit 10 based on the received control signal.

The controller 100 may control the electronic devices included in the outdoor unit 10 so that the total driving current of the electronic devices of the outdoor unit 10 corresponds to the set maximum current. For example, the controller 100 may control the electronic devices of the outdoor unit 10 so that the total driving current of the electronic devices included in the outdoor unit 10 is kept constant at a set maximum current. The controller 100 may control the outdoor unit 10 so that the driving current of the outdoor unit 10 is maintained within a predetermined error range of the set maximum current.

The indoor unit 20 may include an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The indoor heat exchanger performs heat exchange between indoor air and refrigerant. An indoor fan can move indoor air to an indoor heat exchanger. A plurality of indoor fans may be provided. Indoor heat exchanger temperature sensors may be provided on both sides (inlet and outlet) of the indoor heat exchanger to detect the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor may be installed around the inlet and/or outlet of the indoor heat exchanger, or may be installed to contact a refrigerant pipe connected to the inlet and/or outlet of the indoor heat exchanger. An indoor temperature sensor may be provided inside the indoor unit 20 to detect the indoor temperature. The temperature sensor may be implemented as at least one of a bimetal thermometer, a thermistor thermometer, or an infrared thermometer. In addition, the air conditioner 1 may include various temperature sensors.

During cooling operation, the refrigerant may emit heat from the outdoor heat exchanger 12 of the outdoor unit 10 and absorb heat from the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit 20. During cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 11 of the outdoor unit 10 is first supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 12 through the four-way valve 14, and then to the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit 20 through the expansion valve 15. can be supplied. During cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 12 operates as a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, and the indoor heat exchanger operates as an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant. During cooling operation, the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor (11) moves to the outdoor heat exchanger (12). The liquid or near-liquid refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (12) is expanded and depressurized in the expansion valve (15). Two-phase refrigerant that passes through the expansion valve 15 moves to the indoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger exchanges heat with the surrounding air and evaporates. Accordingly, the temperature of the heat-exchanged surrounding air decreases and cold air is discharged to the outside of the indoor unit 20.

During heating operation, the refrigerant may emit heat from the indoor heat exchanger and absorb heat from the outdoor heat exchanger (12). That is, during heating operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 11 may be first supplied to the indoor heat exchanger through the four-way valve 14 and then to the outdoor heat exchanger 12. In this case, the indoor heat exchanger operates as a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, and the outdoor heat exchanger 12 operates as an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant. During heating operation, the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 moves to the indoor heat exchanger. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger exchanges heat with low-temperature, dry air. The refrigerant condenses into a liquid or near-liquid refrigerant and releases heat, and as the air absorbs the heat, warmth is discharged to the outside of the indoor unit 20.

Although the air conditioner 1 has been described as including one outdoor unit 10 and one indoor unit 20, it may also include a plurality of outdoor units 10 and a plurality of indoor units 20. For example, a plurality of indoor units 20 may be connected to one outdoor unit 10. Additionally, the shape of the indoor unit 20 is not limited to that described. Any type of indoor unit 20 can be applied as long as it is installed in an indoor space and can cool or heat the indoor space.

Additionally, the air conditioner 1 may include a remote controller 30, an input unit 40, and a controller 100. The controller 100 may be electrically connected to the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, the remote controller 30, and the input unit 40. The outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, and the input unit 40 may be connected to the controller 100 by wire. The remote controller 30 may be connected to the controller 100 by wire or wirelessly. The input unit 40 may be referred to as a 'contact controller', and the controller 100 may be referred to as a 'main controller'.

The remote controller 30 and the input unit 40 can obtain user input. The input unit 40 may obtain a user input regarding the indoor temperature setting or the current setting of the outdoor unit 10. Remote controller 30 may also obtain user input regarding room temperature settings. The controller 100 may receive signals corresponding to user input from each of the remote controller 30 and the input unit 40.

The controller 100 can control the operations of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20. The controller 100 may receive a signal corresponding to a user input from at least one of the remote controller 30 or the input unit 40. The controller 100 may operate the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 in response to a user input input through at least one of the remote controller 30 or the input unit 40. The controller 100 can control the operation of the air conditioner 1 based on the received electrical signal.

The controller 100 may function as an adapter to connect various indoor units to the air conditioner 1. The controller 100 is capable of controlling indoor units produced by the same manufacturer as the manufacturer of the outdoor unit 10, as well as controlling indoor units produced by different manufacturers and/or indoor units with different communication protocols. .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the controller 100 may include a memory 110, a processor 120, and a communication interface 200.

The memory 110 can remember/store various information necessary for the operation of the air conditioner 1. The memory 110 may store instructions, applications, data, and/or programs necessary for the operation of the air conditioner 1. The memory 110 includes volatile memory such as Static Random Access Memory (S-RAM) and Dynamic Random Access Memory (D-RAM) for temporarily storing data, and ROM (Read Memory) for long-term storage of data. It may include non-volatile memories such as Only Memory, Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), and Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM).

The processor 120 may generate a control signal for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 1 based on instructions, applications, data, and/or programs stored in the memory 110. The processor 120 is hardware and may include a logic circuit and an operation circuit. The processor 120 may process data according to programs and/or instructions provided from the memory 110 and generate control signals according to the processing results. The memory 110 and the processor 120 may be implemented as one control circuit or as a plurality of circuits.

The communication interface 200 may include a circuit for electrically connecting the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, the remote controller 30, and the input unit 40. For example, the communication interface 200 may include a plurality of contact terminals 210 connected to the input unit 40. The connection between the controller 100 and the input unit 40 is explained in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Additionally, the communication interface 200 may include a wired communication circuit and/or a wireless communication circuit for communicating with the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20. The communication interface 200 transmits a control signal transmitted from the processor 120 to the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20, or transmits an electrical signal transmitted from the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 to the processor 120. You can.

Additionally, the communication interface 200 can communicate with an access point (AP) (not shown) provided separately in the air conditioning space, and can be connected to a network through the access point. The communication interface 200 may communicate with an external device (eg, a smartphone) through an access point. The communication interface 200 can receive information about an external device connected to the access point and can transmit the information about the external device to the processor 120. Through this, the user can remotely control the air conditioner (1).

The remote controller 30 may include an input unit 31 and a display 32. The input unit 31 of the remote controller 30 can obtain user input and output an electrical signal (voltage or current) corresponding to the user input to the controller 100. For example, the remote controller 30 may provide a power on/off input to turn on or off the air conditioner 1, an operation mode selection input to set the operation mode of the air conditioner 1, and/or adjust the indoor temperature. Temperature control input can be obtained to do this.

The input unit 31 of the remote controller 30 may be implemented with various buttons and/or dials. For example, the plurality of buttons may include a push switch that is activated by a user pressing it, a membrane switch, and/or a touch switch that is activated by contact with a part of the user's body. You can. The buttons include an operation mode button to select operation modes such as cooling operation, heating operation, and blowing operation, a temperature button to set the target temperature of the indoor space (conditioned space), a wind direction button to set the wind direction, and/ Alternatively, it may include a wind volume button to set the wind strength (rotation speed of the indoor fan). These buttons may also be implemented as rotatable dials.

The display 32 of the remote controller 30 may display information regarding the status and/or operation of the air conditioner 1 . The display 32 can display information input by the user or information provided to the user on various screens. The display 32 may display information related to the operation of the air conditioner 1 as at least one of an image or text. Additionally, the display 32 may display a graphic user interface (GUI) that enables control of the air conditioner 1. That is, the display 32 can display a UI element (User Interface Element) such as an icon.

Display 32 may include various types of display panels. For example, the display 32 may include a liquid crystal display panel (LCD Panel), a light emitting diode panel (LED Panel), an organic light emitting diode panel (OLED Panel), Alternatively, it may include a micro LED panel. The display 32 may be implemented as a touch display. The touch display may include a display panel that displays an image and a touch panel that receives touch input. When the display 32 is provided as a touch display, a separate input unit 31 may not be provided in the remote controller 30.

The input unit 40 can obtain user input. For example, the input unit 40 may obtain an operation mode selection input for selecting an operation mode, a temperature setting input for setting the indoor temperature, or a current setting input for setting the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10. can do. The input unit 40 may be a separate input device that is distinct from the remote controller 30. The input unit 40 may be provided with a simpler structure than the remote controller 30. The indoor temperature setting or the current setting of the outdoor unit 10 can be easily input through the input unit 40. The input unit 40 may be referred to as a ‘contact controller’.

The input unit 40 may include a driving mode input unit 41 and a controller 42. The driving mode input unit 41 and the controller 42 may each be provided as a rotatable dial. The shape of the operation mode input unit 41 and the controller 42 is not limited to a dial and can be provided in various forms. The driving mode input unit 41 and the controller 42 may include various buttons.

The operation mode input unit 41 may be provided to select the operation mode of the air conditioner (1). The input unit 40 may transmit an electrical signal (driving mode selection signal) corresponding to the operation of the driving mode input unit 41 to the controller 100. For example, the operation mode of the air conditioner 1 may include a cooling operation mode, a heating operation mode, and an automatic operation mode. The air conditioner 1 can operate in an operation mode selected according to the operation of the operation mode input unit 41. That is, the air conditioner 1 can perform cooling operation, heating operation, or automatic operation. The user can select power-off, cooling operation, heating operation, or automatic operation by manipulating the operation mode input unit 41.

The controller 42 may obtain user input regarding the indoor temperature setting or the current setting of the outdoor unit 10. By manipulating the controller 42, the user can set a target temperature for the indoor space or set the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit 10. The input unit 40 may transmit a signal corresponding to the operation of the controller 42 to the controller 100. The controller 100 can selectively adjust the target temperature for the indoor space or adjust the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit 10 based on the signal received from the input unit 40.

By making it possible to set the indoor temperature or the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 with one controller 42, the number of parts can be reduced and costs can be reduced. Additionally, if the controller 42 for setting the indoor temperature is already installed, the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 can be set without changing the equipment using the installed controller 42. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first controller for setting the indoor temperature and the second controller for setting the current of the outdoor unit 10 may be provided separately.

The controller 100 may determine the signal transmitted from the input unit 40 through the operation of the controller 42 as a first signal (target temperature setting signal) or a second signal (maximum current setting signal). That is, the signal generated according to the operation of the controller 42 may be determined as a first signal for setting the target temperature or a second signal for setting the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10. For example, the controller 100 may determine the signal corresponding to the operation of the controller 42 as the first signal or the second signal based on the input mode of the input unit 40.

The input mode of the input unit 40 can be selected through the remote controller 30. The remote controller 30 may be provided to select the input mode of the input unit 40. For example, the remote controller 30 may include a button for selecting/changing the input mode of the input unit 40. However, it is not limited to the example, and a button for selecting/changing the input mode of the input unit 40 may be provided on the input unit 40 rather than on the remote controller 30.

The remote controller 30 may transmit a selection signal for selecting an input mode of the input unit 40 to the controller 100. The input mode of the input unit 40 may include a first input mode (target temperature input mode) and a second input mode (maximum current input mode). The user input obtained by the controller 42 when selecting the first input mode can be used to adjust the target temperature. When selecting the second input mode, the user input obtained by the controller 43 can be used to adjust the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10. That is, the controller 100 may determine a target parameter to be adjusted by the operation of the controller 42 based on the input mode of the input unit 40. The target parameter may be the target temperature of the indoor space or the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10.

When the user operates the remote controller 30 and selects the input mode of the input unit 40 as the first input mode (target temperature input mode), the controller 100 operates from the input unit 40 according to the operation of the controller 42. The transmitted signal may be determined as the first signal for setting the target temperature for the indoor space. In this case, the controller 100 sets the target temperature based on the first signal and controls the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 so that the indoor temperature of the space where the indoor unit 20 is located reaches the set target temperature. there is. In order to bring the indoor temperature to the target temperature, frequency adjustment of the compressor 11 included in the outdoor unit 10 and/or on-off control of the compressor 11 may be performed.

When the user operates the remote controller 30 and selects the input mode of the input unit 40 as the second input mode (maximum current input mode), the controller 100 operates from the input unit 40 according to the operation of the controller 42. The transmitted signal may be determined as the second signal for setting the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10. In this case, the controller 100 may determine the maximum value of the current applied to the outdoor unit 10 in response to the second signal. Accordingly, a current smaller than or equal to the determined maximum current is applied to the outdoor unit 10.

Generally, the standard maximum current (peak current) that can be applied to the outdoor unit 10 is predetermined at the design stage, and the current applied to the outdoor unit 10 when the outdoor unit 10 is in operation is controlled so that it cannot exceed the standard maximum current. do. However, depending on the outdoor environmental conditions (e.g., outdoor temperature), indoor environmental conditions (e.g., indoor temperature), and/or installation environmental conditions (e.g., pipe length), the current applied to the outdoor unit 10 is based on the standard set at the design stage. Even if the current is kept lower than the maximum current, the cooling performance or heating performance of the air conditioner 1 may not deteriorate. That is, when the outdoor unit 10 operates at a predetermined reference maximum current, a situation may occur in which more energy is consumed than the energy required to achieve the actually required cooling/heating performance. And since the cooling/heating performance felt by each user is different, the user may want to reduce the energy consumption of the air conditioner 1 based on the cooling performance/heating performance felt. In the case of the existing air conditioner (1), the user could not change the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit (10).

In order to reduce this energy consumption, the disclosed air conditioner 1 allows the user to set the maximum current that can be applied to the outdoor unit 10. That is, the user can easily set the maximum value of the current applied to the outdoor unit 10 using the input unit 40. The controller 100 may set the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 according to the user input and adjust the driving current applied to each of the electronic devices of the outdoor unit 10 based on the set maximum current. That is, the driving current of electronic devices such as the compressor 11 and the outdoor fan 13 may be limited based on the set maximum current.

In this way, since the user can select the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 within a predetermined range, the energy consumption of the air conditioner 1 can be adjusted according to the user's intention. For example, if the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 is set low, the energy consumption of the outdoor unit 10 may be reduced. Since the energy consumption of the outdoor unit 10 can be adjusted according to user demand, user convenience regarding adjustment of energy consumption efficiency can be improved.

The components of the air conditioner 1 are not limited to those described above. In addition to the components of the outdoor unit 1 described above, other components may be added.

Figure 3 shows the interior of the main controller according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 shows connections between the configurations of the air conditioner and the contact terminals of the main controller according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the controller 100 may include a main circuit board 101 and a plurality of contact terminals 210 . A memory 110 and a processor 120 may be mounted on the main circuit board 101. The processor 120 may also be referred to as 'Micom'. A plurality of contact terminals 210 may be included in the communication interface 200. In addition to the contact terminals 210, the communication interface 200 may include terminal blocks for connection to other devices.

The outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, the remote controller 30, and the input unit 40 may be connected to the plurality of contact terminals 210. The contact terminals 210, the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, the remote controller 30, and the input unit 40 may each be connected with wires and/or cables.

The outdoor unit 10 may be connected to the F1 terminal and the F2 terminal among the contact terminals 210. The controller 100 can communicate with the outdoor unit 10 through the F1 terminal and the F2 terminal. For example, the signal generated by the processor 120 of the controller 100 may be transmitted to the outdoor unit 10 through the F1 terminal, and the signal generated by the outdoor unit 10 may be transmitted to the processor 120 through the F2 terminal. ) can be transmitted.

The indoor unit 20 may be connected to the TR terminal, TEI terminal, and TEO terminal among the contact terminals 210. As described above, the indoor unit 20 may include an indoor temperature sensor and an indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor. A signal generated by the indoor temperature sensor of the indoor unit 20 may be input to the processor 120 of the controller 100 through the TR terminal. A signal generated by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor of the indoor unit 20 may be input to the processor 120 of the controller 100 through the TEI terminal and the TEO terminal.

The remote controller 30 may be connected to terminals F3 and F4 among the contact terminals 210. The controller 100 can communicate with the remote controller 30 through terminals F3 and F4. For example, the signal generated by the processor 120 of the controller 100 may be transmitted to the remote controller 30 through the F3 terminal, and the signal generated by the remote controller 30 may be transmitted to the processor 120 through the F4 terminal. It can be sent to (120).

The input unit 40 may be connected to the COM terminal, AUT terminal, HP terminal, CO terminal, AV1 terminal, and AV2 terminal among the contact terminals 210. The COM terminal, AUT terminal, HP terminal, and CO terminal may be connected to the operation mode input unit 41 of the input unit 40. The COM terminal may refer to a common terminal, an Auto operation signal may be input to the AUT terminal, a heating operation signal may be input to the HP terminal, and a cooling operation signal may be input to the CO terminal. Depending on the operation of the operation mode input unit 41, a signal may be input to one of the AUT terminal, HP terminal, and CO terminal.

The AV1 terminal and AV2 terminal may be connected to the controller 42 of the input unit 40. The AV1 terminal may be referred to as a first contact terminal, and the AV2 terminal may be referred to as a second contact terminal. The voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) may vary depending on the operation of the regulator 42. In other words, the voltage applied between the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) and the second contact terminal (AV2) may vary depending on the operation of the regulator 42. The controller 100 may determine the target temperature for the indoor space or the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit 10 based on the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal).

5 is a circuit diagram of an input unit according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the operation mode input unit 41 of the input unit 40 may include a plurality of switch elements S1, S2, and S3. The switch elements S1, S2, and S3 included in the operation mode input unit 41 may be referred to as 'mode switch elements.' One end of the S1 switch element may be connected to the AUT terminal, one end of the S2 switch element may be connected to the HP terminal, and one end of the S3 switch element may be connected to the CO terminal. The other ends of each of the S1 switch element, S2 switch element, and S3 switch element may be connected to the COM terminal.

When the operation mode input unit 41 is provided as a dial, as the dial rotates, one of the S1 switch element, S2 switch element, and S3 switch element may be closed, and the other two switch elements may be opened. When the S1 switch element is closed, the auto operation signal is input to the AUT terminal, when the S2 switch element is closed, the heating operation signal is input to the HP terminal, and when the S3 switch element is closed, the cooling operation signal can be input to the CO terminal. Therefore, one of auto operation, heating operation, and cooling operation can be selected according to the operation of the operation mode input unit 41. The controller 100 may operate the air conditioner 1 in automatic operation, heating operation, or cooling operation based on the operation mode selection signal received through the operation mode input unit 41.

The regulator 42 of the input unit 40 may include a plurality of resistance elements (R1, R2, R3, ..., Rn) arranged in series. In addition, the regulator 42 is branched from the nodes (N1, N2, N3, ..., Nn) between the plurality of resistance elements (R1, R2, R3, ..., Rn) and arranged in parallel. It may include a plurality of switch elements (SW1, SW2, SW3, ..., SWn). A plurality of switch elements included in the regulator 42 may be referred to as ‘control switch elements.’

For example, one end of the SW1 switch element (the first switch element) may be connected to the first node (N1) between the first resistor element (R1) and the second resistor element (R2). One end of the SW2 switch element (second switch element) may be connected to the second node (N2) between the second resistor element (R2) and the third resistor element (R3). One end of the SW3 switch element (third switch element) may be connected to the third node (N3) between the third resistor element (R3) and the fourth resistor element (not shown). The other end of each of the plurality of switch elements (SW1, SW2, SW3, ..., SWn) may be connected to the first contact terminal (AV1). Therefore, a plurality of switch elements (SW1, SW2, SW3, ..., SWn) can be arranged in parallel.

When the regulator 42 is provided as a dial, as the dial rotates, one of the plurality of switch elements (SW1, SW2, SW3, ..., SWn) may be closed and the other switch elements may be opened. For example, when the needle on the dial of the regulator 42 points to the number 10, the SW1 switch element (the first switch element) is closed, and the SW2 switch element (the second switch element) to the SWn switch element (the nth switch element) is closed. It can be opened. In this case, a circuit network may be formed by the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal), the second resistance element (R2), the n-th resistance element (Rn), and the second contact terminal (AV2), and the first contact terminal (AV1) A signal can be input to the terminal). The voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) may be determined based on the sum of the second resistance element (R2) to the n-th resistance element (Rn) and the power supply voltage (VDD) supplied to the input unit 40. there is.

As another example, when the needle on the dial of the regulator 42 points to the number 9, the SW2 switch element (second switch element) is closed, the SW1 switch element (first switch element) is open, and the SW3 switch element (third switch element) is closed. switch element) to SWn switch element (nth switch element) can also be opened. In this case, a circuit network may be formed by the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal), the third resistance element (R3), the n-th resistance element (Rn), and the second contact terminal (AV2), and the first contact terminal (AV1) A signal can be input to the terminal). The voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) may be determined based on the sum of the third resistor element R3 to the nth resistor element Rn and the power supply voltage VDD supplied to the input unit 40. there is.

In this way, the number of resistance elements connected between the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) and the second contact terminal (AV2 terminal) may vary depending on the operation of the regulator 42, and the resistance value may vary accordingly. Therefore, the magnitude of the voltage applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) may change according to the operation of the regulator 42. The controller 100 may determine the target temperature for the indoor space or the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit 10 based on the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal).

In Figure 5, the regulator 42 of the input unit 40 includes a plurality of resistance elements (R1, R2, R3, ..., Rn) and a plurality of switch elements (SW1, SW2, SW3, ..., SWn). It has been described as including, but is not limited to this. The regulator 42 may include a variable resistor provided to vary the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal). Depending on the operation of the regulator 42, the resistance value of the variable resistor may change, and the magnitude of the voltage applied to AV1 may change accordingly.

Referring to FIG. 6, user input may be obtained through the input unit 40 (601). For example, the input unit 40 may obtain an operation mode selection input for selecting an operation mode, a temperature setting input for setting the indoor temperature, or a current setting input for setting the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10. can do.

The controller 100 may receive a signal corresponding to the user input from the input unit 40 (602). The input unit 40 may transmit an electrical signal (driving mode selection signal) corresponding to the operation of the driving mode input unit 41 to the controller 100. Additionally, the input unit 40 may transmit a signal corresponding to the operation of the controller 42 to the controller 100.

The controller 100 may adjust the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit 10 based on the signal received from the input unit 40 (603). The controller 100 may determine the signal generated according to the operation of the controller 42 as the second signal (maximum current setting signal) for setting the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10. For example, based on the input mode of the input unit 40 being selected as the maximum current input mode through the remote controller 30, the controller 100 converts a signal corresponding to the operation of the regulator 42 into a maximum current setting signal. You can decide. The controller 100 may adjust the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit 10 in response to a signal transmitted from the input unit 40 according to the operation of the controller 42.

When the user operates the remote controller 30 and selects the input mode of the input unit 40 as the second input mode, the controller 100 transmits the signal transmitted from the controller 42 of the input unit 40 to the outdoor unit 10. It can be determined as the second signal for setting the maximum current. In this case, the controller 100 may determine the maximum value of the current applied to the outdoor unit 10 based on the voltage of the second signal. That is, the current applied to the outdoor unit 10 can be adjusted to be less than or equal to the determined maximum value. If the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 is set low, the energy consumption of the outdoor unit 10 may be reduced.

Figure 7 is a table 700 illustrating the relationship between the room temperature setting and the output voltage of the input unit. Figure 8 is a table 800 illustrating the relationship between the current setting of the outdoor unit and the output voltage of the input unit.

Referring to the table 700 of FIG. 7 and the table 800 of FIG. 8, the output voltage of the input unit 40 refers to the voltage applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) of the controller 100. The Micom input voltage refers to the voltage delivered to the processor 120 of the controller 100. The voltage applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) may be converted and then transmitted to the processor 120 of the controller 100.

The output voltage of the input unit 40 may vary within a predetermined voltage range (eg, from 0V to 10V). Correspondingly, the Micom input voltage can vary within the range from 0V to 10V. The output voltage of the input unit 40 may vary depending on the operation of the regulator 42.

When the needle of the dial of the controller 42 shown in FIG. 5 points to the number 0, the output voltage of the input unit 40 may be 0V. When the needle on the dial of the regulator 42 points to the number 10, the output voltage of the input unit 40 can be 10V. The output voltage of the input unit 40, that is, the voltage applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) of the controller 100, may change continuously.

Referring to the table 700 of FIG. 7, when the input mode of the input unit 40 is selected as the target temperature input mode, a target temperature corresponding to the voltage applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) may be set. For example, in response to a voltage ranging from 7.6V to 10V being applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) of the controller 100, the target temperature of the indoor space may be set to 30°C, which is the highest set temperature. In response to a voltage of 7.2V to 7.6V being applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) of the controller 100, the target temperature of the indoor space may be set to 29°C. As the voltage applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) decreases, the set target temperature may also decrease. In response to a voltage ranging from 0V to 2.8V being applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal), the target temperature of the indoor space may be set to 18°C, which is the minimum set temperature.

Referring to the table 800 in FIG. 8, when the input mode of the input unit 40 is selected as the maximum current input mode, the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 corresponding to the voltage applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) is can be set. For example, in response to a voltage ranging from 7.2V to 10V being applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) of the controller 100, the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 may be set to 100% of the predetermined reference maximum current. You can. In response to a voltage ranging from 6.8V to 7.2V being applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) of the controller 100, the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 may be limited to 95% of the predetermined reference maximum current. As the voltage applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal) decreases, the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 may also be set low. In response to a voltage ranging from 0V to 3.6V being applied to the first contact terminal (AV1 terminal), the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 may be limited to 50% of the predetermined reference maximum current.

In this way, the disclosed air conditioner 1 allows the user to set the maximum current that can be applied to the outdoor unit 10. That is, the user can easily set the maximum value of the current applied to the outdoor unit 10 using the input unit 40. The controller 100 may set the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 according to the user input and adjust the driving current applied to each of the electronic devices of the outdoor unit 10 based on the set maximum current. The controller 100 may control the electronic devices included in the outdoor unit 10 so that the total driving current of the electronic devices of the outdoor unit 10 corresponds to the set maximum current. For example, the controller 100 may control the electronic devices of the outdoor unit 10 so that the total driving current of the electronic devices included in the outdoor unit 10 is kept constant at a set maximum current. The controller 100 may control the outdoor unit 10 so that the driving current of the outdoor unit 10 is maintained within a predetermined error range of the set maximum current.

Since the user can select the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 within a predetermined range, the energy consumption of the air conditioner 1 can be adjusted according to the user's intention. Since the energy consumption of the outdoor unit 10 can be adjusted according to user demand, user convenience regarding adjustment of energy consumption efficiency can be improved.

Referring to graph 910 of FIG. 9, in the prior art, when the power consumption of the air conditioner 1 reaches a predetermined peak power, that is, when the driving current of the entire air conditioner 1 increases to the peak current, the outdoor unit The compressor (11) of (10) is controlled on and off. When the compressor 11 is turned off, the driving current of the air conditioner 1 decreases, and when the compressor 11 is turned on, the driving current of the air conditioner 1 increases again. In this way, the prior art controls the compressor 11 on and off so that the driving current of the air conditioner 1 does not exceed the peak current. However, if the compressor 11 is repeatedly turned on and off, noise may be generated and the performance of the air conditioner 1 may temporarily deteriorate excessively.

Referring to graph 920 of FIG. 9, the disclosed air conditioner 1 can set the maximum current of the outdoor unit 10 according to a user input and operate the outdoor unit 10 based on the set maximum current. The maximum current value set in response to the user input may be smaller than the predetermined reference maximum current value (= peak current value). The disclosed air conditioner (1) can consistently supply a set maximum current to the outdoor unit (10). The disclosed air conditioner (1) enables continuous operation of the compressor (11) by continuously supplying the maximum current set to the outdoor unit (10). Therefore, noise problems caused by turning the compressor 11 on and off do not occur. Additionally, since the compressor 11 can operate continuously, the problem of excessive temporary deterioration in the performance of the air conditioner 1 does not occur.

In this way, the disclosed air conditioner and its control method enable the user to adjust the maximum current that can be applied to the outdoor unit. That is, the user can easily set the maximum value of the current applied to the outdoor unit using the input unit. Since the user can select the maximum current of the outdoor unit within a predetermined range, the energy consumption of the air conditioner can be adjusted according to the user's intention. Since the energy consumption of the outdoor unit can be adjusted according to user demand, user convenience regarding adjustment of energy consumption efficiency can be improved.

Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in the form of a storage medium that stores instructions executable by a computer. Instructions may be stored in the form of program code, and when executed by a processor, may create program modules to perform operations of the disclosed embodiments.

A storage medium that can be read by a device may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-transitory storage medium' simply means that it is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g. electromagnetic waves). This term refers to cases where data is semi-permanently stored in a storage medium and temporary storage media. It does not distinguish between cases where it is stored as . For example, a 'non-transitory storage medium' may include a buffer where data is temporarily stored.

Methods according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be provided and included in a computer program product. Computer program products are commodities and can be traded between sellers and buyers. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g. compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)) or through an application store (e.g. Play StoreTM) or on two user devices (e.g. It can be distributed (e.g. downloaded or uploaded) directly between smartphones) or online. In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product (e.g., a downloadable app) is stored on a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a relay server. It can be temporarily stored or created temporarily.

As described above, the disclosed embodiments have been described with reference to the attached drawings. A person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention can be practiced in forms different from the disclosed embodiments without changing the technical idea or essential features of the present invention. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and should not be construed as limiting.

Claims

indoor unit;

an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit and including a plurality of electronic devices;

an input unit that obtains a user input and transmits a signal corresponding to the user input; and

Setting the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit based on the signal received from the input unit,

An air conditioner comprising a controller that adjusts a driving current applied to each of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit based on the set maximum current.
According to paragraph 1,

The controller is

An air conditioner that controls the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit so that the total driving current of the plurality of electronic devices is kept constant at the set maximum current.
According to paragraph 1,

The plurality of electronic devices include a compressor and an outdoor fan,

The controller is

An air conditioner that controls the compressor and the outdoor fan so that the total driving current of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit corresponds to the set maximum current.
According to paragraph 1,

The controller is

Includes a plurality of contact terminals connected to the input unit,

An air conditioner that determines the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit based on the voltage of the signal applied to a first contact terminal among the plurality of contact terminals.
According to paragraph 4,

The input unit

It includes a regulator connected to the first contact terminal of the controller,

An air conditioner wherein the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal changes based on the operation of the regulator.
According to clause 5,

The regulator is

A plurality of resistance elements arranged in series; and

A plurality of switch elements branched from nodes between the plurality of resistance elements and arranged in parallel,

An air conditioner wherein the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal is determined based on the closure of any one of the plurality of switch elements.
According to clause 5,

The regulator is

An air conditioner comprising a variable resistor provided to vary the voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal.
According to paragraph 1,

It further includes a remote controller connected to the controller by wire or wirelessly and provided to select an input mode of the input unit,

The controller is

An air conditioner that adjusts the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit in response to the signal transmitted from the input unit, based on the input mode of the input unit being selected as the maximum current input mode through the remote controller.
Obtain user input through an input unit;

receiving a signal corresponding to the user input from the input unit by a controller;

setting the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit based on the received signal;

A method of controlling an air conditioner comprising: adjusting a driving current applied to each of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit based on the set maximum current.
According to clause 9,

The plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit are:

A method of controlling an air conditioner wherein the total driving current of the plurality of electronic devices is controlled to be kept constant at the set maximum current.
According to clause 9,

The plurality of electronic devices include a compressor and an outdoor fan,

Adjusting the driving current is,

Controlling the compressor and the outdoor fan so that the total driving current of the plurality of electronic devices included in the outdoor unit corresponds to the set maximum current.
According to clause 9,

Setting the maximum current is,

Setting the maximum current applied to the outdoor unit based on the voltage of the signal applied to a first contact terminal among a plurality of contact terminals provided in the controller.
According to clause 12,

The voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal is,

A control method of an air conditioner that is changed based on the operation of a regulator provided in the input unit and connected to the first contact terminal.
According to clause 13,

The voltage of the signal applied to the first contact terminal is,

A control method of an air conditioner determined based on the closure of any one of a plurality of switch elements included in the regulator.
According to clause 9,

Setting the maximum current is,

A control method of an air conditioner performed in response to the signal transmitted from the input unit based on the input mode of the input unit being selected as the maximum current input mode through a remote controller.