Air conditioner and method of controlling the same

An air conditioner to prevent fingers from being jammed therein during a closing operation of an opening and a method of controlling the same are provided. The air conditioner includes a housing in which an opening is formed, a door unit provided to be movable around the opening to open or close the opening, and at least one configured to control the door unit to stop at a position spaced a preset first distance from the opening during a closing operation of the door unit and control the closing operation of the door unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Jan. 7, 2016 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number 10-2016-0001892, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an air conditioner provided to prevent fingers from being jammed therein during a closing operation of an opening and a method of controlling the same.

BACKGROUND

An air conditioner is an apparatus configured to perform indoor cooling or heating, circulates a refrigerant between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and performs cooling or heating operation using properties that ambient heat is absorbed when the refrigerant in a liquid state evaporates and the heat is emitted when the refrigerant is liquefied.

Recently, air conditioners, in which an opening is formed in a front surface of a main body to improve quality of an exterior thereof and the opening can be opened or closed using a door unit, are being developed.

In the case of such an air conditioner, because the opening is open while the air conditioner is used and the opening is closed while the air conditioner is not used, an opening or closing operation of the door unit is performed when an operation signal for the air conditioner is input by a user. In this case, obstacles, such as fingers of the user or other objects (hereinafter, referred to as obstacles), are jammed, and thus there is a problem in that the opening is incompletely closed, is closed in a state in which the obstacles are jammed, or the like.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioner such that closing speeds of door units are adjusted during a closing operation of opening, and a method of controlling the same.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioner such that a closing speed of a door unit are adjusted after the door unit stops at a position spaced a preset distance from an opening for a preset time during closing operation of the opening, and a method of controlling the same are provided.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioner such that door units are controlled to be sequentially closed while a plurality of openings are closed, and a method of controlling the same.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a housing in which an opening is formed, a door unit provided to be movable around the opening to open or close the opening, and at least one processor configured to control the door unit to stop at a position spaced a preset first distance from the opening during a closing operation of the door unit and control the closing operation of the door unit.

The air conditioner may include the controller which controls closing speeds of the door unit before and after the door unit stops to be different.

The air conditioner may include the controller which controls a closing speed of the door unit before the door unit stops to be a preset first speed, and controls a closing speed of the door unit after the door unit stops to be a preset second speed slower than the first speed.

The air conditioner may include the controller which controls a closing speed of the door unit after the door unit stops to be slower than that of the door unit before the door stops.

The air conditioner may include the controller which controls the door unit to stop at the position spaced the preset first distance from the opening for a preset first time during the closing operation of the door unit, and controls the closing operation of the door unit.

When a plurality of openings are formed in the housing, the controller may control the closing operation of the door unit such that the openings are closed sequentially.

The air conditioner may include controller which controls the closing operation of the door unit such that the openings are sequentially closed in a direction from an upper surface to a lower surface of the air conditioner.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the method of controlling an air conditioner, which includes a housing in which an opening is formed and a door unit configured to open or close the opening, is provided. The method includes controlling a closing operation of the door unit to have a first speed which is preset, and controlling the closing operation of the door unit to have a preset second speed when the door unit reaches a position spaced a preset first distance from the opening.

The controlling of the closing operation of the door unit to have the preset second speed may include controlling the closing operation of the door unit to have the preset second speed slower than the first speed.

When a plurality of openings are formed in the housing, the closing operation of the door unit may be controlled such that the plurality of openings are closed sequentially.

When the plurality of openings are formed in the housing, the closing operation of the door unit may be controlled such that the plurality of openings are sequentially closed in a direction from an upper surface to a lower surface of the air conditioner.

The method may further comprise controlling the door unit to stop for a preset first time when the door unit reaches the position spaced the preset first distance from the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a view illustrating an exterior of an air conditioner1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIGS. 2 and 3are exploded views illustrating the air conditioner1according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, and 3, an indoor unit of the air conditioner1includes a housing10having at least one opening17and forming an exterior, a heat exchanger20configured to exchange heat with air introduced into the housing10, a blower unit30configured to circulate air into or out of the housing10, a discharge unit40configured to discharge air blown from the blower unit30to the outside of the housing10, and a door unit60provided to be movable around the opening17to open or close the opening17.

The housing10includes a front panel10ain which at least one opening17is formed, a rear panel10bdisposed behind the front panel10a, side panels10cprovided between the front panel10aand the rear panel10b, and upper and lower panels10drespectively disposed above and below the side panels10c. At least one opening17may be provided in a circular shape, and at least two openings17may be disposed to be spaced apart in an up-down direction in the front panel10a. A suction inlet19may be formed in the rear panel10bso that outside air is suctioned into the housing10.

The suction inlet19is provided in the rear panel10bdisposed behind the heat exchanger20and guides air outside the housing10to be introduced into the housing10. The air introduced into the housing10through the suction inlet19absorbs or loses heat while passing through the heat exchanger20. The air which exchanged heat while passing through the heat exchanger20is discharged to the outside of the housing10by the blower unit30.

The heat exchanger20is disposed between a blower fan32and the suction inlet19and absorbs heat from air introduced through the suction inlet19or transfers heat to the air introduced through the suction inlet19. The heat exchanger20may include tubes21and headers22coupled to upper and lower sides of the tubes21. However, the type of heat exchanger20is not limited thereto. At least one heat exchanger20described above may be provided to correspond to the number of openings17.

The blower grills34may be provided in a discharging direction of the blower fans32. In the present embodiment, a mixed flow fan may be applied as each of the blower fans32. However, the type of blower fan32is not limited thereto and may include any device capable of blowing air introduced from the outside of the housing10to be discharged to the outside of the housing10. For example, the blower fan32may be provided as a cross fan, a turbo fan, or a sirocco fan. Meanwhile, the number of blower fans32is not limited, and in the present embodiment, at least one blower fan32may be provided to correspond to at least one opening17.

Each of the blower grills34may be disposed in front of the blower fan32to guide an air flow. In addition, the blower grills34may also be disposed between the blower fans32and the discharge units40to minimize an external influence on the blower fan32.

The blower grill34may include a plurality of blades35. A wind direction and a flow rate of air blown to the discharge unit40by the blower fan32may be adjusted by adjusting the number, a shape, or an arrangement angle of the plurality of blades35.

Door operating units66which will be described below may be provided at centers of the blower grills34. Each of the door operating units66and each fan driver33may be disposed on the same line in a front-rear direction. Through such a structure, the plurality of blades35of the blower grill34may be provided to be positioned in front of fan blades of the blower fans32.

Some embodiments, the blower unit30may also include ducts36. Each of the ducts36may be formed in a circular shape which surrounds the blower fan32, and may be provided to guide a flow of air flowing toward the blower fan32. That is, the duct36may guide air which is suctioned through the suction inlet19and passes through the heat exchanger20to flow toward the blower fan32.

In addition, the blower unit30may include the fan drivers33provided at centers of the blower fans32and configured to drive the blower fans32, and the fan drivers33may include motors.

The discharge unit40is provided to discharge air, of which heat has been exchanged in the housing10, to the outside of the housing10. The discharge unit40may be provided in plurality. For example, the discharge units40may include a first discharge unit40-1, a second discharge unit40-2, and a third discharge unit40-3.

Each of the discharge units40-1,40-2, and40-3may be provided to be opened or closed by the door unit60. For example, the door unit60may include a first door unit60-1configured to open or close the first discharge unit40-1, a second door unit60-2configured to open or close the second discharge unit40-2, and a third door unit60-3configured to open or close the third discharge unit40-3. An arrangement example of the door unit60is not limited thereto, the door unit60may be provided to have the number of door units to correspond to the number of discharge units. Hereinafter, the first door unit60-1will be described as an example, and a description of the first door unit60-1may include descriptions of the other door units60-2and60-3.

The first door unit60-1is provided to open or close the first discharge unit40-1and to discharge air, of which heat has been exchanged, to the outside of the housing10. More specifically, the first door unit60-1may open or close the first discharge unit40-1using a control of a controller (hereinafter, seeFIG. 7) which will be described below and may control air, of which heat has been exchanged, to flow from at least one discharge unit among the first discharge unit40-1to the third discharge unit40-3.

The first door unit60-1may be provided to be movable between a door opening position60aat which the first discharge unit40-1is opened and a door closing position60bat which the first discharge unit40-1is closed. Specifically, the first door unit60-1may be provided to be movable forward-backward between the door opening position60aand the door closing position60b.

The first door unit60-1may include a door blade62and a door operating unit66configured to operate the door blade62.

The door blade62may be formed in a circular shape to correspond to the shape of the first discharge unit40-1. When the first door unit60-1is positioned at the door opening position60a, the door blade62is provided to be spaced apart from a guide opening43of a discharge guide45, and when the first door unit60-1is positioned at the door closing position60b, the door blade62is provided in contact with the guide opening43of the discharge guide45to close the first discharge unit40-1.

The door blade62may include a blade body63provided in a circular shape to correspond to the first discharge unit40-1and a blade coupling unit64configured to extend from the blade body63and to be couple to the door operating unit66.

The blade body63may be provided in a shape of a circular plate. One side surface of the blade body63may be provided toward the outside of the housing10, and the other side may be provided toward the blower unit30.

A display may be provided on one side surface of the blade body63to display an operating state of the air conditioner1or to manipulate the air conditioner1.

The display may be provided with a plasma display panel, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an electro luminescence (EL) panel, an electrophoretic display (EPD) panel, an electrochromic display (ECD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, an organic LED (OLED) panel, or the like. However, the display is not limited thereto, but may be implemented in various types known to those skilled in the art.

The door operating unit66may be provided such that the door blade62is movable. The door operating unit66may include a motor. The door operating unit66may be coupled to the blade coupling unit64of the door blade62to move the door blade62.

In addition, the blower grill34may be disposed around the door operating unit66, and air flowing from the blower fan32provided behind the blower grill34may pass through the blower grill34and may be discharged forward.

Hereinafter, an operation of the air conditioner1according to one embodiment will be described in detail.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6are views illustrating an operation of the air conditioner1according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 4, 5, and 6, air introduced into the housing10from the outside may exchange heat through the heat exchanger20. The air which is air-conditioned by the heat exchanger20is discharged to the outside of the housing10by the blower unit30.

The air conditioner1discharges air, which passed through the heat exchanger20, to the outside through at least one discharge unit40among the first discharge unit40-1to the third discharge unit40-3. That is, the air conditioner1may discharge air through at least one discharge unit40among the first to third discharge units40-1,40-2, and40-3, and thus indoor air may be air-conditioned.

Each of the discharge units40-1,40-2, and40-3may be opened or closed by operating the door unit60. When the first door unit60-1is positioned at the door opening position60a, air of which heat has been exchanged may be discharged through the first discharge unit40-1. With the same method, each of the second and third door units60-2and60-3is positioned at the door opening position60a, air of which heat has been exchanged may be discharged through each of the second and third discharge units40-2and40-3.

Each of the discharge units40-1,40-2, and40-3may be selectively opened according to a manipulation of a user, and a degree of opening may be adjusted according to a movement of the door unit60. Hereinafter, an operation method of the door unit60may be described in detail with the first discharge unit40-1as an example.

FIGS. 4 and 5are views illustrating an operation example of the air conditioner1when the door unit60of the air conditioner1is in an open state according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, when the first door unit60-1is open, air of which heat has been exchanged may be discharged through the first discharge unit40-1. In this case, the first door unit60-1is positioned at the door opening position60a, the door blade62is separated from the guide opening43, and thus the first discharge unit40-1is opened.

At this moment, the air flowing from the blower unit30flows to the first discharge unit40-1through a first discharging path40-la formed by a guide body46.

In addition, when air is discharged to the outside of the housing10through the first discharge unit40-1, the air is discharged to the outside while a wind speed generated by the blower unit30is maintained.

Meanwhile, when an operation stop command for the air conditioner1is input, the first door unit60-1moves to the door closing position60bas illustrated inFIG. 6.

At this moment, the air conditioner1may control a closing operation of the first door unit60-1such that the first door unit60-1stops at a position spaced a preset distance from the opening17and the closing operation is subsequently performed.

In addition, in some embodiments, the air conditioner1may control closing operations of the first to third door units60-1,60-2, and60-3such that the closing operations of the first to third door units60-1,60-2, and60-3are sequentially performed. Hereinafter, a closing operation of each of the door units60-1,60-2, and60-3will be described in detail with reference to a control block diagram which will be described below.

FIG. 7is a control block diagram of the air conditioner1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 7, the air conditioner1according to one embodiment may include the door unit60, an input unit70, a memory80, and a controller (e.g., at least one processor)90.

The input unit70may receive a control command for the air conditioner1from a user. The input unit70may employ a graphic user interface (GUI) method, such as a hard key, a proximity sensor, or a touch pad method. When the input unit70employs the GUI method such as the touch pad or the like, the input unit70may be implemented as a touch screen panel and may also have a mutual layer structure with the display. However, an example of the input unit70is not limited thereto, and the input unit70may be implemented in various types known to those skilled in the art.

The memory80may store various types of data, control programs, or applications for driving and controlling the air conditioner1. For example, the memory80may store control programs and applications for controlling the door unit60of the air conditioner1.

The memory80may store user interfaces (UIs), objects (for example, images, text, icons, buttons, and the like) for providing the UIs, user information, text, databases, and relevant data related to the control program or application for controlling the air conditioner1.

The memory80may include at least one type of storage medium among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, a secure digital (SD), an extreme digital (XD) memory, or the like), a random access memory (RANI), a static RANI (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disc. However, an example of the memory is not limited thereto, and the memory may be implemented in various types known to skilled in the art.

The controller90serves to control an overall operation of the air conditioner1and signal flows between internal components of the air conditioner1and to process data. The controller90may control an opening or closing operation of the door unit60of the air conditioner1when a control command for the air conditioner1is input by a user or the air conditioner1meets a preset condition.

The controller90may include a ROM configured to store processors, control programs or applications for controlling the air conditioner1and a RANI used as a storage medium configured to store signals or data input from an outside of the air conditioner1or to correspond to various operations performed in the air conditioner1. Hereinafter, the concepts of the ROM and RAM of the controller90may include the concepts of the ROM and RAM of the memory80.

The controller90may control an opening operation of the door unit60such that the door unit60is positioned at the door opening position60awhen an operation command for the air conditioner1is input by a user. The controller90may adjust an opening degree of the door unit60according to the operation command input by the user.

The controller90may control a closing operation of the door unit60such that the door unit60is positioned at the door closing position60bwhen an operation stop command for the air conditioner1is input by the user. For example, when the door unit60reaches a position spaced a first distance, which is preset, from the opening17during a closing operation of the door unit60, the controller90may control the door unit60to stop for a first time which is preset and the closing operation to be subsequently performed. Here, the first distance may be set to about 9 mm, and the first time may be set to about two seconds. However, setting examples of the first distance and first time are not limited thereto, and the first distance and first time may be variously adjusted by a user. According to the present disclosure, as a control process is added to stop the door unit60for a preset time during the closing operation of the door unit60, a time for avoiding finger jamming may be provided for a user.

The controller90may control a closing speed of the door unit60to be different before and after the door unit60stops. For example, the controller90may control a closing speed of the door unit60before the door unit60stops to be a first speed which is preset, and may control a closing speed of the door unit60after the door unit60stops to be a second speed slower than the first speed. As the closing speed of the door unit60decreases after the door unit60stops, a conveying force of the door unit60decreases, and as a result, a control for injury protection for a user may be additionally provided.

The controller90may also control a closing operation of the door unit60such that a plurality of openings17are sequentially closed. For example, the controller90may control the closing operation of the door unit60such that the plurality of openings17are sequentially closed in a direction from an upper surface to a lower surface of the air conditioner1. That is, the closing operation of the door unit60may be controlled such that the first door unit60-1, the second door unit60-2, and the third door unit60-3are sequentially closed. As the controller90sequentially controls the closing operations of the plurality of door units60-1,60-2, and60-3, a time for avoiding finger jamming during the closing operations of the door units60-1,60-2, and60-3may be secured for a user.

Meanwhile, the above-described method of controlling the door units60-1,60-2, and60-3may be applied to the detailed method of controlling the door units60-1,60-2, and60-3in the same manner. That is, when the door unit60reach a position spaced a preset first distance from the openings17, the controller90may control the closing operation of the door unit60to stop the door unit60for a preset first time and to perform a closing operation.

The air conditioner1according to one embodiment has been described as above. In the above-described air conditioner, a phenomenon of finger jamming of a user during a closing operation of door unit60can be prevented by only controlling an operation of the door unit60without installing additional sensors or units.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling the air conditioner1according to one embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control process of the air conditioner1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 9is a view for describing the control process shown inFIG. 8according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, the control process for the air conditioner1may include controlling a closing operation of the door unit60to have a first speed v1which is preset at operation110, controlling the door unit60to stop when the door unit60reaches a position spaced a preset first distance dl from the opening17at operations120and130, and controlling the closing operation of the door unit60to have a second speed v2which is preset when a preset first time elapses after the door unit60stops at operations140and150.

First, when an operation stop command for the air conditioner1is input by a user, the controlling of the closing operation of the door unit60to have the preset first speed v1may be performed at operation110.

When the door unit60does not reach the position spaced the preset first distance dl from the opening17, the controlling of the closing operation of the door unit60to have the preset first speed v1may be subsequently performed at operations120and110.

Next, when the door unit60reaches the position spaced the preset first distance dl from the opening17, the controlling of the door unit60to stop for the preset first time may be performed at operations120and130. Here, the first time may be set to two seconds but may vary according to user setting. According to the control method of the present disclosure, since a control process in which the door unit60stops for a preset time during a closing operation of the door unit60is added, a time for avoiding finger jamming may be provided for a user. Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the stopping of the door unit60may also be omitted. In this case, when the door unit reaches the position spaced the preset first distance from the opening, a process150which will be described below may be performed immediately.

When the first time does not elapse in a state in which the door unit60stops, the stopped state of the door unit60may be continuously maintained at operations140and130.

When the first time elapses in the state in which the door unit60stops, controlling the closing operation of the door unit60to have a second speed v2may be performed at operations140and150. Here, the second v2may be slower than the above-described first speed v1. As a closing speed of the door unit60decreases after the door unit60stops, a conveying force decreases during the closing operation of the door unit60, and as a result, a control for injury protection for a user can be provided.

FIG. 10is a flowchart illustrating another example of a control process of the air conditioner1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 11is a view for describing the control process shown inFIG. 10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIGS. 10 and 11are illustrated based on a case in which a plurality of door units60are included, and hereinafter, the control process of the air conditioner1will be described based on a case in which the first to third door units60are included.

Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, a method of controlling the air conditioner1according to another example of one embodiment sequentially performs closing controls for the plurality of door units60-1,60-2, and60-3. That is, the method may include a process of sequential closing controls for the first to third door units60-1,60-2, and60-3.

First, a control process of a closing operation of the first door unit60-1may be performed at operation160. Here, the first door unit60-1may be a door unit60, which is the most difficult for a user to access, among the plurality of door units60, and for instance, may be a door unit60provided at a position adjacent to the upper panel10dof the air conditioner1. However, the door unit60that is controlled to be closed first may be arbitrarily changed by user setting.

When the closing operation of the first door unit60-1starts, the first door unit60-1may move from the door opening position60ato the door closing position60b.

When a second time which is preset elapses after the closing operating of the first door unit60-1starts, a control process of a closing operation of the second door unit60-2may be performed at operations170and180. Here, the second time may be adjusted in the range of about three to ten seconds. However, a setting example of the second time is not limited thereto.

When the closing operation of the second door unit60-2starts, the second door unit60-2may move from the door opening position60ato the door closing position60b.

When a third time which is preset elapses after the closing operation of the second door unit60-2starts, a control process of a closing operation of the third door unit60-3may be performed at operations190and200. Here, the third time may be set to be the same as the above-described second time or may also be set different from the above-described second time in some embodiments.

When the closing operation of the third door unit60-3starts, the third door unit60-3may move from the door opening position60ato the door closing position60b.

As the method of controlling the air conditioner1according to the present disclosure sequentially controls the closing operations of the plurality of door units60-1,60-2, and60-3, a user can sufficiently secure a time for avoiding finger jamming during closing operations of the door units of the air conditioner.

As is apparent from the above description, according to an air conditioner and a method of controlling the same according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a phenomenon of finger jamming of a user can be prevented during closing operations of door units by controlling operations of the door units without installing additional sensors or units.

In addition, a user can secure a time for avoiding finger jamming during closing operations of door units of the air conditioner.

As described above, the air conditioner and the method of controlling the same according to one embodiment have been described. The technical concept of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may include changes in the range in which those skilled in the art may easily perform.