Patent ID: 6171185
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: F24F,G05D

Abstract:
In a method of operating an air conditioner which includes an air inlet, an air outlet, a heat exchanger, an air circulating fan, and an air direction regulating mechanism at the air outlet, the method comprising the steps of:selecting between a normal operation for the air conditioner and a power saving operation for the air conditioner:detecting a room temperature of room air within a room:establishing a normal setup temperature in response to a selection of said normal operation;establishing a power saving setup temperature in response to a selection of said power saving operation:conducting said room air across the heat exchanger to change the temperature of the room air in accordance with a difference between the room temperature detected and said power saving setup temperature; anddischarging the room air back into the room through the air outlet until the room temperature detected corresponds substantially to the power saving setup temperature;the improvement comprising:establishing a plurality of different intermediate temperatures over a range extending between said normal setup temperature and said power saving setup temperature in response to the selection of said power saving operation, said intermediate temperatures each differing by incremental amounts; andconducting said room air across the heat exchanger to change the temperature of the room air in accordance with differences between the room temperature detected and each one of said power saving setup temperatures during said power saving operation.