Patent Publication Number: US-8534092-B2

Title: Indoor unit of air conditioner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0044990, filed in Korea on May 13, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner. 
     2. Background 
     In general, an air conditioner cools or heats a designated space, such as, for example, an indoor room, by performing heat-exchange between air from the space and low-temperature or high-temperature refrigerant as appropriate, and then discharging the heat-exchanged air into the space. Generally, an air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger. Besides an air cooling and heating function, air conditioners may include various additional functions, such as, for example, air purification and filtering, dehumidification, and other such functions. 
     Types of air conditioners may include a split type air conditioner in which an outdoor unit and an indoor unit are separately installed, and an integrated type air conditioner in which an outdoor unit and an indoor unit are integrally provided. The split type air conditioner may minimize introduction of noise generated by a compressor in the outdoor unit into the designated space and may reduce a volume of the indoor unit installed in the space. 
     The indoor unit of the split type air conditioner may include a heat exchanger that performs a heat exchange between air and refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit, and a fan that takes in and discharges the air. Therefore, the indoor unit includes a flow path to which the air is introduced into the indoor unit and discharged from the indoor unit, and a width of the indoor unit may be set to provide an appropriate flow path. Even though the air conditioner is mainly used when the weather requires the space to be cooled or heated, the indoor unit remains in the space. As such, the appearance of the indoor unit may designed to blend with or complement other indoor articles in the space. If the indoor unit is mounted on an interior wall, the indoor unit has a certain width and extends outward a certain distance into the space. 
     If the indoor unit protrudes excessively far into the room, even when the indoor unit is not operated, the indoor unit may detract from the utility and appearance of the space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a non-operating state of an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment as broadly described herein. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a operating state of an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment as broadly described herein. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side sectional views of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIGS. 4A-4D  are side sectional views of an indoor unit of the air conditioner in accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein. 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  are perspective and side sectional views of an indoor unit of the air conditioner in accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein. 
         FIGS. 6A-6B  are perspective views of an indoor unit of the air conditioner in accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate operating states of the indoor unit shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood by those of ordinary skill in this technological field that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural, electrical, as well as procedural changes may be made without departing from the scope as broadly described herein. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     The air conditioner  500  shown in  FIG. 1  may include an indoor unit  100  to condition air in a designated space, such as, for example, an indoor space, or room, and an outdoor unit  200  connected to the indoor unit  100  by refrigerant pipes  300 . As described above, the air conditioner  500  is capable of performing a process of cooling and heating a space, a process of humidifying or dehumidifying air, a process of purifying air, and other processes as appropriate. 
     In the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , the indoor unit  100  and the outdoor unit  200  are separated, and the indoor unit  100  may be mounted on a wall or other room structure as appropriate. An indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger may be respectively provided in the indoor unit  100  and the outdoor unit  200 . In order to cool the room space, room air is cooled by evaporating a refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger, and in order to heat the room space, the air is heated by evaporating the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger and condensing the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger. 
     In order to design the air conditioner so that it blends well with the room environment, a width of the indoor unit  100  may be reduced. However, an indoor heat exchanger and a fan are provided in the indoor unit  100 , and a flow path extends therethrough, thus requiring a sufficient amount of interior space. Therefore, in certain circumstances, it may appear that the performance of the indoor unit  100  may be in inverse proportion to the width of the indoor unit  100 . When the air conditioner is not in use, it is preferable that the width of the indoor unit  100  be minimized so as to optimize the use of space in the room and be more visually appealing. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a non-operating state of the air conditioner  500  in which a width of the indoor unit  100  may be decreased when the indoor unit  100  is not operated. The width of the indoor unit  100  may be increased, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the indoor unit  100  is operated to provide an appropriate flow path, thereby maximizing utility of the room space and improving appearance when the air conditioner  500  is not in use. 
     Hereinafter, detailed methods of varying the width of the indoor unit  100  according to whether or not the air conditioner  500  is operated will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3A-7B . 
     The indoor unit  100  shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B  may include a heat exchanger  110 , a fan  120  that draws in air and then directs the air toward the heat exchanger  110  and discharges the heat-exchanged air into a room space, and a driving device  140  that adjusts relative positions of the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  based on whether or not the indoor unit  100  is operated. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , both the distance between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 , and an interior angle α between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  may be adjusted based on whether or not the indoor unit  100  is operated. One end of the heat exchanger  110  and a corresponding end of the fan  120  may be rotatably connected by a hinge h, and the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  may be rotated about the hinge h such that the angle α between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  may be adjusted while the indoor unit  100  is operated. The angle α between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  during operation of the indoor unit  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3B , may be less than the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  during non-operation of the indoor unit  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . Operating the indoor unit  100  may be defined broadly as supplying electricity to the indoor unit  100 , or narrowly as turning on the fan  120 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 3A , in the non-operating state of the indoor unit  100 , the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  are disposed substantially in a line and a width of the indoor unit  100  may be minimized. When the indoor unit  100  is not operated, the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  may be about 180°. The hinge h that rotatably connects the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  allows the connecting angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  to be adjusted based on whether or not the indoor unit  100  is operated. In certain embodiments, the fan  120  may be one or more axial fans having a small blade height to facilitate this movement and minimize the width of the fan  120 . 
     An upper end of the heat exchanger  110  may be rotatably connected to a base frame  160  of the indoor unit  100  by a hinge h 2 , and a lower end of the heat exchanger  110  may be rotatably connected to an upper end of the fan  120  by the hinge h, and to a front housing  130   a  by a hinge h 1 . A lower end of the fan  120  may be connected to a slider  155  that is slidably coupled to a slide guide  151  provided on the base frame  160 . Vertical movement of the slider  155  is guided by the slide guide  151  such that when the fan  120  connected to the slider  155  is raised or lowered along the slide guide  151 , the angle between the fan  120  and the heat exchanger  110  is changed. 
     The indoor unit  100  includes a housing (front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b ) provided with an inlet  131  through which air is introduced into the housing and an outlet  136  through which air is discharged from the housing. A flow path within the housing, from the inlet  131  to the outlet  136  via the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 , may be adjusted based on whether or not the indoor unit  100  is operated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , when the indoor unit  100  is operated, the flow path is formed within the housing of the indoor unit  100 . That is, the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  is changed to an angle less than 180° so as to form the flow path and allow the heat-exchanged air to be re-supplied to the room space through the fan  120 . When the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  are arranged in a line, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the inner space of the indoor unit  100  is not sufficient to form the flow path inside the housing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , the flow path from the inlet  131  to the outlet  136  via the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  may be selectively generated as necessary. The flow path may be minimized, or substantially eliminated, during non-operation of the indoor unit  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3A , and is generated, or maximized, during operation of the indoor unit  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . The selective generation and removal of the flow path is controlled based on whether or not there is enough inner space in the housing. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3B , the flow path starts at the inlet  131  and passes through the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 . The flow path may include a bending section. The bending section may be changed based on relative positions of the inlet  131  and the outlet  136 . Further, when the flow path is eliminated, as shown in  FIG. 3A , one or both of the inlet  131  and the outlet  136  may be blocked. 
     A driving force to raise or lower the lower end of the fan  120  together with the slider  155  along the slide guide  151  may be generated by a driving device  140  including, for example, a motor  141  and a gear assembly  145 . The gear assembly  145  may be driven by the motor  141  and may include, for example, a worm gear or a rack-pinion arrangement. Other arrangements may also be appropriate. The gear assembly  145  may use the driving force of the motor  141  to raise or lower the slider  155  as the motor  141  is rotated. The driving device  140  may be fixed to the fan  120  so that the driving device  140  may be rotated together with the fan  120  relative to the heat exchanger  110 . 
     When operation of the indoor unit  100  is initiated, for example, when operation of the fan  120  of the indoor unit  100  is initiated, the motor  141  of the driving device  140  is rotated and the driving force of the motor  141  raises the slider  155 , thereby decreasing the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 , expanding the housing, and forming the flow path, as shown in  FIG. 3B . If the driving device  140  includes a worm gear, the slider  155  may be prevented from falling due to the weight of the slider  155  itself even if power applied to the motor  141  is released. 
     The housing of the indoor unit  100  may include a front housing  130   a  and a rear housing  130   b , and the front housing  130   a  and the rear housing  130   b  may partially overlap each other. In other words, one of the front housing  130   a  or the rear housing  130   b  may be partially inserted into the other when the indoor unit  100  does not operate, as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
     When the indoor unit  100  is not operated, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  is maintained at about 180°, but when the indoor unit  100  is operated, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the driving device  140  is driven such that the angle α between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  is decreased (changed) to an angle less than 180°. If the width of the indoor unit  100  is increased to accommodate this change, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the front housing  130   a  slides away from the rear housing  130   b  so as to increase the width of the indoor unit  100 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a plurality of inlets  131  and a plurality of outlets  136  are provided on the front housing  130   a . Further, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the front housing  130   a  is connected to the lower end of the heat exchanger  110  by the hinge h 1 , and thus the sliding of the front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b  may correspond to vertical movement of the slider  155  and corresponding displacement of the heat exchanger  110 . 
     Since the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  are connected by the hinge h, the distance between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 , the relative positions of the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 , or the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 , may vary and the flow path in the housing may be generated or eliminated within the inner space of the indoor unit  100 , based on whether or not the indoor unit  100  of the air conditioner is operated. Therefore, the above configuration allows the width of the indoor unit  100  to vary. 
     Although the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  includes the driving device  140  to change the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 , the driving device  140  may be mounted at other locations. 
     In the embodiments of the indoor unit  100  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D  since the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  are connected by the hinge h, the relative positions of the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  may be changed and the flow path through the housing may be generated or eliminated based on whether or not the indoor unit  100  is operated. However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4A , the driving device  140  to change the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  is provided on the heat exchanger  110 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4B , the driving device  140  is fixed to the slider  155 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4C , opposite ends of the driving device  140  are respectively mounted on the fan  120  and the base frame  160 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4D , the driving device  140  directly connects the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 . 
     The embodiments of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  each include a driving device  140  including a motor  141  and a gear assembly  145 . The embodiments of  FIGS. 4C and 4D  each include a linear driving device  140 . Such a linear driving device  140  may include, for example, a rigid link which may be powered/rotated by a motor, a telescoping link, or other linear driving device as appropriate. 
     The respective embodiments of  FIGS. 4A-4D  differ from each other in that the mounting positions of the driving devices  140  or components of the driving devices  140  may be varied, but are similar in that the angle between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  in each is changed by the driving device  140 . As far as the indoor unit  100  has a structure in which the relative positions between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  are changeable, structures of the indoor unit  100  as embodied and broadly described herein are not limited to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B  and  4 A- 4 D. 
       FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate another embodiment of the indoor unit  100  of the air conditioner as broadly described herein.  FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the inside of the indoor unit  100  in a non-operating state, and  FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of an operating state.  FIG. 5C  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the indoor unit  100  shown in  FIG. 5A , and  FIG. 5D  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the indoor unit  100  shown in  FIG. 5B . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D , a distance between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  of the indoor unit  100  is variable. That is, at least one of the heat exchanger  110  or the fan  120  may be displaced in the horizontal direction, and the distance between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  may be increased by moving the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  apart. This change in distance between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  causes a change in the width of the indoor unit  100 . Therefore, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D , the width of the indoor unit  100  may be changed based on a change in the distance between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120 . When the indoor unit  100  is operated, the width of the indoor unit  100  is increased, and when the indoor unit  100  is not operated, the width of the indoor unit  100  is decreased. The decrease in the width of the housing during non-operation of the fan  120  may be caused by partially overlapping the front housing  130   a  over the rear housing  130   b , or by partially inserting one of the front housing  130   a  or the rear housing  130   b  into the other. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D , the front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b  are aligned in a horizontal direction. In certain embodiments, the front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b  may be aligned in the vertical direction, or disposed in a stacking position when the width of the indoor unit  100  is at the minimum width. 
     In more detail, the housing of the indoor unit  100  of the air conditioner shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D  includes a front housing  130   a  and a rear housing  130   b , and the width of the indoor unit  100  may be varied by overlapping the front housing  130   a  and the rear housing  130   b  such that the front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b  are slideable relative to each other. 
     At least one inlet  131  may be provided on a side surface of the rear housing  130   b  such that air is introduced in to the housing through the inlet  131  when the front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b  are in an “open” position as shown in  FIG. 5D , and the inlet  131  is blocked when the front housing  130   a  and the rear housing  130   b  overlap each other as shown in  FIG. 5C . That is, when the indoor unit  100  is not operated, the front housing  130   a  is located at the inside of the rear housing  130   b  and the inlet  131  formed on the rear housing  130   b  is blocked by a corresponding portion of the front housing  130   a , thereby preventing introduction of foreign substances into the housing through the inlet  131  when the indoor unit  100  is not operated. Therefore, the inlet  131  may be opened to the outside only during operation of the indoor unit  100 . This type of flow path shielding structure is not limited to the inlet  131 , but at least one of the inlet  131  or the outlet  136 , or both, may be configured so as to be opened to the outside only during operation of the indoor unit  100 , and the flow path may be generated or eliminated by the opening or blockage of one of the inlet  131  or the outlet  136 , or both. As shown in  FIGS. 5C and 5D , outlet  136  through which air is discharged from the heat exchanger  110  may be provided on the front surface of the front housing  130   a.    
     The indoor unit  100  may also include a driving device  140  to guide the movement of the front housing  130   a  or the rear housing  130   b . The driving device  140  shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D  may include, for example, a motor and a gear assembly. The gear assembly may include, for example, a rack and a pinion to convert the rotating force of the motor into a horizontal reciprocating motion. The driving device  140  may be mounted on the rear housing  130   b  fixed to a wall of the room space, but the mounting position of the driving device  140  is not limited thereto. 
     The heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  of the indoor unit  100  of the air conditioner in accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein may be in close contact with each other when the width of the indoor unit  100  is at its minimum, and may be relatively distantly separated from each other when the width of the indoor unit  100  is at its maximum. In certain embodiments, the fan  120  may be coupled to the rear housing  130   b , but may be displaced by a designated distance within the rear housing  130   b  in order to sufficiently obtain a smoothly curved flow path from the inlet  131  to the outlet  136 . 
     A separate driving device to change the position of the fan  120  may be provided. However, the fan  120  may be configured such that a fan housing  123  of the fan  120  moves together with the front housing  130   a  within a predetermined displacement range. For example, protrusions  130   p  and  123   p  may be respectively formed on an inner end of the front housing  130   a  and a front end of the fan housing  123 . As the front housing  130   a  moves, the protrusions  130   p  and  123   p  engage, allowing the fan  120  to be drawn away from the rear housing  130   b  by the front housing  130   a  on which the heat exchanger  110  is mounted. Therefore, when operation of the indoor unit  100  is initiated and the front housing  130   a  is slidably displaced in a direction of increasing the width of the indoor unit  100 , the protrusion  130   p  of the front housing  130   a  engages the protrusion  123   p  of the fan housing  123 , thereby allowing the fan  120  to be displaced in the moving direction of the heat exchanger  110 . Thus, when the front housing  130   a  of the indoor unit  100  is driven, the width of the indoor unit  100  is increased as the distance between the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  is increased, and a flow path is created. 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the indoor unit  100  in a non-operating state of the air conditioner, and  FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the indoor unit  100  in an operating state of the air conditioner, in accordance with another embodiment as broadly described herein. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b  are aligned in the vertical direction, as shown in  FIG. 6A , when in a non-operating state. The vertically aligned state is released in a direction of increasing the width of the housing (and decreasing a height) when the indoor unit  100  is operated, as shown in  FIG. 6B , and the housings  130   a  and  130   b  are horizontally arranged. Further, the heat exchanger  110  may be provided in the front/upper housing  130   a  and the fan  120  may be provided in the rear/lower housing  130   b.    
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the indoor unit  100  may include a first main body  100   a  including the heat exchanger  110  and a second main body  100   b  including the fan  120 . The first main body  100   a  or the second main body  100   b  may be displaced such that the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b  are either horizontally disposed or vertically aligned, based on whether or not the indoor unit  100  is operated. When the first main body  100   a  or the second main body  100   b  is displaced, the relative positions of the heat exchanger  110  and the fan  120  may be changed. As shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B , the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b  are aligned in the vertical direction when the indoor unit  100  is not operated, as shown in  FIG. 6A , and are disposed in the horizontal direction when the indoor unit  100  is operated as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     At least one inlet  131  may be provided on upper and front surfaces of the first main body  100   a  and an upper surface of the second main body  100   b . When the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b  are disposed in the horizontal direction and thus a flow path is formed in the indoor unit  100 , as shown in  FIG. 6B , the air introduced through the inlet  131  may be discharged into a room space through an outlet  136  provided on the lower surfaces of the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b.    
     The heat exchanger  110  may be divided into at least two heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b , and the respective heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  may be hinge-coupled such that a angle between the heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  is changeable. In particular, the angle of the heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  may be changed such that a width of the heat exchanger  110  in the horizontal direction is increased when a width of the indoor unit  100  in the horizontal direction is increased. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the heat exchanger  110  provided in the front housing  130   a  is divided into at least two heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b , and the respective heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  are hinge-coupled such that the angle between them is changeable by the displacement of the first main body  100   a  or the second main body  100   b.    
     When the indoor unit  100  is not operated, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the heat exchanger  110 , divided into the first heat exchanger  110   a  and the second heat exchanger  110   b , is displaced so as to be in close contact with the inner surface of the front housing  130   a  of the first main body  100   a . When the indoor unit  100  is operated, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the angle between the first and second heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  is increased so as to increase an area in which heat exchange may be carried out. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a driving device  140  of the indoor unit  100  shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . As described above, the decrease in the width of the indoor unit  100  during non-operation of the fan  120  is caused by partially overlapping or vertically aligning the front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b.    
     The indoor unit  100  may include at least one link  146  and driving gear  143  to drive the front and rear housing  130   a  and  130   b  such that relative positions of the two housings  130   a  and  130   b  may be changed. A lower end of the link  146  slides in a guide groove formed in one of the two housings  130   a  and  130   b , and an upper end of the link  146  is rotatable around the lower end of the link  146 . The link  146  allows the first main body  100   a  to be displaced such that the relative position of the first main body  100   a  is changeable along the upper surface of the second main body  100   b.    
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the front and rear housings  130   a  and  130   b  are aligned in the vertical direction in a non-operating state, and the vertically aligned position of the housings  130   a  and  130   b  is released in a direction of increasing the width of the indoor unit  100  during operation of the indoor unit  100 . Further, as described above, the heat exchanger  110  is provided in the front housing  130   a  and the fan  120  is provided in the rear housing  130   b.    
     An operating method of the indoor unit  100  shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  will be described in more detail. 
     The first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b  are connected by the link  146  so as to allow the relative positions between the first and second main bodies  100   a  and  100   b  to vary. The link  146  is rotatably connected to a rotary arm  145  driven by a first driving motor  144  provided on the second main body  100   b.    
     The lower end of the link  146  is guided along and moveable a guide groove  130   b   1  formed in the second main body  100   b . The upper end of the link  146  is rotatably coupled to the first main body  100   a . Therefore, the first main body  100   b  and the second main body  100   b  may be displaced relative to each other by the link  146 . The embodiment of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  is just one example illustrating displacement of the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b  so as to change the relative positions of the two main bodies  100   a  and  100   b . Other variations enabling displacement of the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b  using a link and a driving gear may fall within in the scope of embodiments as broadly described herein. 
     Further, a second driving motor  141  may be connected to one end of one of the two heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  provided in the indoor unit  100 . The second driving motor  141  changes the angle between the heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  based on whether or not the indoor unit  100  is operated. As shown in  FIG. 7B , the angle between the heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  is changed when the indoor unit  120  is operated. During the process of generating the flow path inside the indoor unit  100 , the angle between the heat exchangers  110   a  and  110   b  may be increased. 
     At least one driving gear  143  may be provided on a contact surface between the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b  to provide driving force to guide a vertical or horizontal arrangement of the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b . The at least one driving gear  143  may include an independent driving device (for example, a driving motor) to provide driving force to vertically align the first main body  100   a  on the second main body  100   b , or to horizontally position the first main body  100   a  beside the second main body  100   b , and simultaneously prevent rapid position changes (for example, lowering of the first main body) so as to enable smooth movement of the first main body  100   a  and the second main body  100   b.    
     In certain embodiments, order to raise or lower the first main body  100   a , screw threads corresponding to driving gears  142  and  143  may be formed on the surface of the housing. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , screw threads may be formed on the lower surface of the first main body  100   a . Therefore, the first and second driving gears  142  and  143  may be rotatable in a regular or reverse direction, thereby allowing the first main body  100   a  to be smoothly displaced in a horizontal direction. 
     As described above, a width of an indoor unit of an air conditioner in accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein may be changed according to whether or not the indoor unit or the fan in the indoor unit is operated. 
     In an air conditioner in accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein, the width thereof is variable based on whether or not an indoor unit of the air conditioner is operated, thus increasing space utility and improving interior effects. 
     An indoor unit of an air conditioner is provided. 
     In an indoor unit of an air conditioner, a width thereof is variable according to whether or not the indoor unit of the air conditioner is operated. 
     An indoor unit of an air conditioner as embodied and broadly described herein may include a housing, an heat exchanger disposed inside of the housing, an fan disposed in the housing, introducing air into the housing and then transporting the introduced air toward the heat exchanger, and discharging the heat-exchanged air to an room space and a driving device changing relative positions of the heat exchanger and the fan after electricity is supplied to the indoor unit. 
     An indoor unit of an air conditioner as embodied and broadly described herein may include an heat exchanger exchanging heat between a refrigerant and air, an fan disposed in front of or in the rear of the heat exchanger and a housing provided with an inlet through which the air is introduced into the housing and an outlet through which the air is discharged to the outside of the housing, wherein a flow path within the housing from the inlet of the housing to the outlet of the housing via the heat exchanger and the fan is changed after electricity is supplied to the indoor unit. 
     An indoor unit of an air conditioner as embodied and broadly described herein may include a housing, an heat exchanger disposed inside the housing, an fan disposed inside of the housing, and the unit has a first width when the unit is not operated and a second width when the unit is operated. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.