Patent Application
20250155153
The disclosure relates to an indoor unit including a plurality of fans and a controlling method thereof.
Recently, air conditioners have been installed in various places such as homes, offices, shops, etc.
An air conditioner can cool a room by drawing in air from the room, lowering the temperature of the air through heat exchange with a refrigerant, and discharging it into the room. To this end, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit which is installed in an outdoor space and an indoor unit which is installed in an indoor space.
The indoor unit may include a plurality of fans, and may discharge cold air into the room using the plurality of fans.
An indoor unit according to an example embodiment includes: a plurality of fans, a temperature sensor, and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to: based on an input for setting a mode of the indoor unit to a pet mode being received, set a mode of the indoor unit to the pet mode; and set a set temperature of the indoor unit to a specified temperature in the pet mode, drive a bottom fan among the plurality of fans, and control a temperature of a space where the indoor unit is located based on the set temperature and a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
A method of controlling an indoor unit including a plurality of fans according to an example embodiment includes: based on an input for setting a mode of the indoor unit to a pet mode being received, setting a mode of the indoor unit to the pet mode, and setting a set temperature of the indoor unit to a specified temperature in the pet mode, driving a bottom fan among the plurality of fans, and controlling a temperature of a space where the indoor unit is located based on the set temperature and a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
In a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, the computer instructions, when executed by at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, of an indoor unit according to an example embodiment, cause the indoor unit to: based on an input for setting a mode of the indoor unit to a pet mode being received, set a mode of the indoor unit to the pet mode; and set a set temperature of the indoor unit to a specified temperature in the pet mode, drive a bottom fan among the plurality of fans, and control a temperature of a space where the indoor unit is located based on the set temperature and a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be modified in various ways, so example embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to specific example embodiments, but include all modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives according to example embodiments of the disclosure. Throughout the description of the accompanying drawings, similar components may be denoted by similar reference numerals.
In describing the disclosure, when it is decided that a detailed description for the known functions or configurations related to the disclosure may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the disclosure, the detailed description therefor may be omitted.
In addition, the following example embodiments may be modified in several different forms, and the scope of the technical spirit of the disclosure is not limited to the following example embodiments. Rather, these example embodiments are provided to transfer the spirit of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
Terms used in the disclosure are used simply to describe various example embodiments rather than limiting the scope of the disclosure. Singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
In the disclosure, the expressions “have”, “may have”, “include” or “may include” used herein indicate existence of corresponding features (e.g., elements such as numeric values, functions, operations, or components), but do not exclude presence of additional features.
In the disclosure, the expressions “A or B”, “at least one of A or/and B”, or “one or more of A or/and B”, and the like may include any and all combinations of one or more of the items listed together. For example, the term “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “at least one of A or B” may refer to all of the case (1) where at least one A is included, the case (2) where at least one B is included, or the case (3) where both of at least one A and at least one B are included.
Expressions “first”, “second”, “1st,” “2nd,” or the like, used in the disclosure may indicate various components regardless of sequence and/or importance of the components, will be used simply in order to distinguish one component from the other components, and do not limit the corresponding components.
When it is described that an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being “(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to” or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it should be understood that it may be directly coupled with/to or connected to the other element, or they may be coupled with/to or connected to each other through an intervening element (e.g., a third element).
When an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being “directly coupled with/to” or “directly connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it should be understood that there is no intervening element (e.g., a third element) in-between.
An expression “˜configured (or set) to” used in the disclosure may be replaced by an expression, for example, “suitable for,” “having the capacity to,” “˜designed to,” “˜adapted to,” “˜made to,” or “˜capable of” depending on a situation. A term “˜configured (or set) to” may not necessarily refer to “specifically designed to” in hardware.
An expression “˜an apparatus configured to” may refer, for example, to an apparatus “is capable of” together with other apparatuses or components. For example, a “processor configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C” may refer, for example, to a dedicated processor (e.g., an embedded processor) for performing the corresponding operations or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor) that may perform the corresponding operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.
In various example embodiments, a ‘module’ or a ‘˜er’ may perform at least one function or operation, and be implemented as hardware or software or be implemented as a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of ‘modules’ or a plurality of ‘˜er’ may be integrated into at least one module and be implemented as at least one processor except for a ‘module’ or a ‘˜er’ that needs to be implemented as specific hardware.
Various elements and regions in the drawings are schematically drawn in the drawings. Therefore, the technical concept of the disclosure is not limited by a relative size or spacing drawn in the accompanying drawings.
Hereinafter, various example embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
In addition, the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200 may be connected through a pipe. via piping. Further, a refrigerant may circulate between the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200 through the pipe.
The indoor unit 100 may discharge air. To this end, the indoor unit 100 may include a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging air drawn into the indoor unit 100 through an inlet with a refrigerant, and a fan for discharging the heat-exchanged air through an outlet. The outdoor unit 200 may include a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging the refrigerant with outdoor air, and a fan for introducing outdoor air into the heat exchanger and discharging the heat-exchanged air to the outside.
The air conditioner 1000 may further include an expansion valve for expanding the refrigerant. In this case, the expansion valve may be disposed in the indoor unit 100 or the outdoor unit 200.
The indoor unit 100 may vaporize the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit 200 during a cooling operation and discharges the air with the lowered temperature to the outside, thereby controlling the temperature of the space where the indoor unit 100 is located.
The indoor unit 100 may perform communication with the outdoor unit 200. For example, the indoor unit 100 may transmit signals to the outdoor unit 200 for controlling the outdoor unit 200. Further, the outdoor unit 200 may control various operations of components of the outdoor unit 200 based on the signals received from the indoor unit 100.
The above-described configurations of the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200 are merely examples to illustrate the operation of the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200. In other words, the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200 may further include various configurations to perform a cooling function in addition to the above-described configurations, and may provide cooling through various methods.
The indoor unit 100 according to the present disclosure may operate in a pet mode. The pet mode may refer, for example, to a mode for controlling the temperature of a space in which a pet is located. Accordingly, the present disclosure can provide a comfortable environment for a pet while minimizing and/or reducing energy waste due to cooling unnecessary spaces through the pet mode.
Referring to
The plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 may discharge air. To this end, a plurality of outlets 11, 12, 13 may be provided on the front of the indoor unit 100, as shown in
The plurality of outlets 11, 12, 13 (see, e.g.,
In addition, the indoor unit 100 may be a stand-alone indoor unit. In this case, the plurality of outlets 11, 12, 13 may be arranged in a vertical direction. Further, the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 may be arranged in a vertical direction. In this case, the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 may be arranged in tiers. For example, the first fan 111 may be disposed on top of the second fan 112. For example, the first fan 111 may be stacked on top of the second fan 112. The second fan 112 may be disposed on top of the third fan 113. For example, the second fan 112 may be stacked on top of the third fan 113. The first fan 111 may be referred to as the top fan, the second fan 112 may be referred to as the middle fan, and the third fan 113 may be referred to as the bottom fan.
In addition, the first fan 111 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the outlet 11, the second fan 112 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the outlet 12, and the third fan 113 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the outlet 13. For example, the outlet 11 may be disposed in front of the first fan 111, the outlet 12 may be disposed in front of the second fan 112, and the outlet 13 may be disposed in front of the third fan 113.
The plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 may be individually driven. Accordingly, air may be discharged through at least one of the plurality of outlets 11, 12, 13.
For example, when the bottom fan 113 among the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 is driven and the remaining fans 111, 112 are not driven, air may be discharged through the outlet 13 among the plurality of discharge outlets 11, 12, 13.
In the above-described example, the indoor unit 100 is described as including three outlets and three fans, but this is an example, and the number of outlets and fans may be two or more. In this case, since the indoor unit 100 is a stand-alone indoor unit, the outlets and fans may be arranged in a vertical direction.
For example, as shown in
The temperature sensor 120 may detect a temperature. The temperature sensor 120 may detect a temperature for a space in which the indoor unit 100 is located.
The temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 may be compared to a set temperature and used to control the temperature of the space where the indoor unit 100 is located. In this case, the set temperature may be set by a user (e.g., the desired temperature) or may be set to a preset temperature according to the mode of the indoor unit 100. The mode of the indoor unit 100 may include a pet mode.
As shown in
For example, when the indoor unit 100 is 1.8 m, the first height at which the temperature sensor 120 is installed in the indoor unit 100 may be 1.5 m. However, this is simply an example, and the size of the indoor unit 100 and the first height at which the temperature sensor 120 is installed may have various values.
The indoor unit 100 may include a plurality of temperature sensors. For example, as shown in
The second height may be lower than the first height. For example, when the indoor unit 100 is 1.8 m, the first height at which the first temperature sensor 125 is installed in the indoor unit 100 may be 1.5 m, and the second height at which the second temperature sensor 120 is installed in the indoor unit 100 may be 1.0 m. However, this is merely an example, and the size of the indoor unit 100, the first height at which the first temperature sensor 125 is installed, and the second height at which the second temperature sensor 120 is installed may have various values.
The one or more processors 130 may include various processing circuitry and control the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 and the temperature sensor 120, and the overall operations and functions of the indoor unit 100.
The one or more processors 130 may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a many integrated core (MIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a neural processing unit (NPU), a hardware accelerator, or a machine learning accelerator. The one or more processors 130 may control one or any combination of the other components of the indoor unit 100, and may perform communication-related operations or data processing. The one or more processors 130 may execute one or more programs or instructions stored in memory. For example, the one or more processors 130 may perform a method according to an embodiment by executing one or more instructions stored in the memory.
When a method according to an embodiment includes a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations may be performed by one processor or by a plurality of processors. For example, when a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation are performed by the method according to an embodiment, all of the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may be performed by the first processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by the first processor (e.g., a general-purpose processor) and the third operation may be performed by the second processor (e.g., an artificial intelligence-dedicated processor).
The one or more processors 130 may be implemented as a single core processor including a single core, or as one or more multicore processors including a plurality of cores (e.g., homogeneous multicore or heterogeneous multicore). When the one or more processors 130 are implemented as a multicore processor, each of the plurality of cores included in the multicore processor may include an internal memory of the processor 130, such as a cache memory and an on-chip memory, and a common cache shared by the plurality of cores may be included in the multicore processor. Each of the plurality of cores (or some of the plurality of cores) included in the multi-core processor may independently read and perform program instructions to implement the method according to an embodiment, or all (or some) of the plurality of cores may be coupled to read and perform program instructions to implement the method according to an embodiment.
When a method according to an embodiment includes a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations may be performed by one core of a plurality of cores included in a multi-core processor, or may be performed by a plurality of cores. For example, when a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation are performed by a method according to an embodiment, all of the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may be performed by the first core included in the multi-core processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by the first core included in the multi-core processor and the third operation may be performed by the second core included in the multi-core processor.
In the various embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor may refer, for example, to a system-on-chip (SoC) in which one or more processors and other electronic components are integrated, a single-core processor, a multi-core processor, or a core included in a single-core processor or multi-core processor, and here, the core may be implemented as CPU, GPU, APU, MIC, DSP, NPU, hardware accelerator, or machine learning accelerator, etc., but the core is not limited to the various example embodiments illustrated in the present disclosure. The processor 130 may include various processing circuitry and/or multiple processors. For example, as used herein, including the claims, the term “processor” may include various processing circuitry, including at least one processor, wherein one or more of at least one processor, individually and/or collectively in a distributed manner, may be configured to perform various functions described herein. As used herein, when “a processor”, “at least one processor”, and “one or more processors” are described as being configured to perform numerous functions, these terms cover situations, for example and without limitation, in which one processor performs some of recited functions and another processor(s) performs other of recited functions, and also situations in which a single processor may perform all recited functions. Additionally, the at least one processor may include a combination of processors performing various of the recited/disclosed functions, e.g., in a distributed manner. At least one processor may execute program instructions to achieve or perform various functions.
The one or more processors 130 may be referred to as the processor 130.
When an input (e.g., a user input) for selecting the mode of the indoor unit 100 to a pet mode is received, the processor 130 sets the mode of the indoor unit 100 to the pet mode.
A user input may be input via buttons provided on the indoor unit 100 or via a remote controller for controlling the indoor unit 100.
In addition, a user input may be input via electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices (e.g., smart watches). Specifically, a user may execute an application installed in the electronic device, enter a user account into the application, and connect to a server through the user account. The server may register devices by user account, and control and manage the registered devices. Accordingly, the user may connect to the server through the user account where the indoor unit 100 is registered using the application, and enter a user input for setting the mode of the indoor unit 100 to a pet mode. In this case, the server may transmit a command for setting the mode of the indoor unit 100 to the pet mode, to the indoor unit 100.
In addition, the pet mode may refer, for example, to a mode for controlling the temperature of the space where a pet is located.
For example, assuming that the pet is a dog, a dog's normal body temperature is 38.5° C. to 39.5° C., which is higher than a human's normal body temperature, and unlike humans, dogs have less ability to regulate their body temperature than humans because their sweat glands are not fully developed. In addition, when the temperature of the living space of a dog is low, the body temperature may drop, which may weaken the dog's immunity (e.g., when the body temperature of a dog drops by 1° C., the immunity may decrease by 30%).
In view of the above, the indoor unit 100 in the present disclosure may provide a comfortable environment for a pet by controlling the temperature of the space where the pet is located through the pet mode.
The processor 130 may set the set temperature of the indoor unit 100 to a preset (e.g., specified) temperature in the pet mode, and drives the bottom fan 113 among the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113.
The preset temperature may be 26° C., which may be set during the manufacturing phase of the indoor unit 100. For example, in the case of dogs, the preset temperature may be determined with consideration of the fact that they generally start to feel hot when the temperature is above 25° C., and their body temperature rises when the temperature is above 28° C. However, this is only an example, and the preset temperature may be set to various values considering the type and size of the pet.
The preset temperature may be set by a user input. Here, the user input may be a user input for selecting the type of pet.
For example, the processor 130 may identify the preset temperature based on the type of pet selected by a user input. In this case, different types of pets may have different lengths of fur. For example, the preset temperature may be set to 26° C. as a default value. When the pet selected by a user input is a long-haired pet, the processor 130 may identify the preset temperature as a first temperature, and if the pet selected by a user input is a short-haired pet, identify the preset temperature as a second temperature.
The second temperature may be higher than the first temperature. The second temperature may be higher than the default temperature, and the first temperature may be lower than the default temperature. For example, when the pet is a long-haired pet, the first temperature may be 25° C., and when the pet is a short-haired pet, the second temperature may be 27° C. However, these values are merely examples, and the preset temperatures may vary. In other words, since the longer the hair, the more the pet feels relatively hot, the set temperature for long-haired pets may be set lower than the set temperature for short-haired pets.
As mentioned above, the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 may be arranged in tiers. In this case, the bottom fan 113 may be the fan located at the lowest among the plurality of fans.
For example, referring to
However, in the case of a pet, since the size is less than 1 m, the space where the pet is located (or the space where the pet lives) 620 (e.g., a space of 1.0 m from the floor) may be a space lower than the living space 610 defined with respect to humans. Therefore, when there are no humans and only pets in the space where the indoor unit 100 is located, operating all of the plurality of fans of the stand-alone indoor unit may be waste of energy, which is unnecessary.
Accordingly, when the mode of the indoor unit 100 is the pet mode, the processor 130 drives the fan located at the lowest position among the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113, that is, the bottom fan 113. This is because, considering the height at which the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 are installed in the indoor unit 100, the bottom fan 113 among the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113 is the fan closest to the space where the pet is located. In this case, the remaining fans 111, 112 may not be driven.
The processor 130 controls the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit 100 is located based on the set temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120.
Controlling the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit 100 is located may refer, for example, to controlling at least one component of the indoor unit 100 or the outdoor unit 200 such that the temperature of the air-conditioned space into which the indoor unit 100 discharges air, e.g., the indoor temperature, becomes the set temperature. In this case, the indoor temperature may be a temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120.
For example, the processor 130 may adjust the operating frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit 200.
For example, when the indoor temperature is higher than the set temperature, the processor 130 may transmit a signal for increasing the operating frequency of the compressor to the outdoor unit 200. The outdoor unit 200 may increase the operating frequency of the compressor based on the signal received from the indoor unit 100. Accordingly, the indoor temperature may be lowered. When the indoor temperature reaches the set temperature, the processor 130 may transmit a signal to the outdoor unit 200 to decrease the operating frequency of the compressor to maintain the indoor temperature at the set temperature. The outdoor unit 200 may lower the operating frequency of the compressor based on the signal received from the indoor unit 100.
However, this is one example, and the processor 130 may also adjust the rotation speed of the bottom fan 133. For example, the processor 130 may increase the rotation speed of the bottom fan 133 when the indoor temperature is above the set temperature, and decrease the rotation speed of the bottom fan 133 when the indoor temperature decreases and reaches the set temperature, in order to maintain the indoor temperature at the set temperature.
The processor 130 may also control the operating frequency of the compressor and the rotation speed of the fan.
The processor 130 may adjust the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 based on a preset adjustment value, and control the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit 100 is located based on the adjusted temperature and the set temperature.
For example, as described above in
The first height may refer, for example, to a height for measuring the temperature of a typical human living space, which may be determined during the manufacturing phase of the indoor unit 100. However, the space in which a pet is located is lower than the living space defined with respect to humans. Therefore, using the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 installed at the first height to control the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit 100 is located may not be effective in controlling the temperature of the space in which a pet is located.
Accordingly, the processor 130 may adjust the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 using a preset adjustment value.
For example, the processor 130 may obtain the adjusted temperature by subtracting a preset adjustment value from the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120. In an example, the preset adjustment value may be a value between 1° C. and 2° C. However, this is an example, and the preset adjustment value may be various values. In other words, the preset adjustment value may be determined experimentally by measuring the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 and the temperature for the space where the pet is located, depending on the first height at which the temperature sensor 120 is installed in the indoor unit 100.
In other words, during a cooling operation of the indoor unit 100, a space at a higher position within the space in which the indoor unit 100 is located may have a higher temperature and a space at a lower position may have a lower temperature due to the difference in air density according to a temperature. Therefore, in order to more effectively control the temperature of the space where the pet is located, which is lower than the living space defined with respect to humans, the processor 130 may obtain an adjusted temperature by subtracting a preset adjustment value from the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 located at the first height. Subsequently, the processor 130 may control the temperature of the space where the indoor unit 100 is located by comparing the adjusted temperature and the set temperature.
As described above in
In this case, the processor 130 may control the temperature of the space where the indoor unit 100 is located based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 located at a relatively lower height among the first temperature sensor 125 and the second temperature sensor 120 and the set temperature. In other words, the processor 130 may control the operation of the indoor unit 100 by comparing the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 120 and the set temperature.
The temperature sensor 125 located at the first height may be a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a typical human living space, and the temperature sensor 120 located at the second height may be a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a space in which a pet is located. In this case, the first height and the second height may be determined during the manufacturing phase of the indoor unit 100.
In other words, in that the space where the pet is located is lower than the living space defined with respect to humans, the indoor unit 100 may further include the temperature sensor 120 for measuring the temperature of the space where the pet is located, in addition to the temperature sensor 125 for measuring the average temperature of the human living space.
Accordingly, when the mode of the indoor unit 100 is the pet mode, the processor 130 may control the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit 100 is located by comparing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 installed at the second height and the set temperature, and when the mode of the indoor unit 100 is not the pet mode, by comparing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 125 installed at the first height and the set temperature.
The processor 120 may control the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit 100 is located based on the temperature received from the electronic device for detecting the temperature of the space in which the pet is located and the set temperature.
The electronic device may be a household appliance capable of detecting a temperature. In one example, the electronic device may be a sensor device that is mobile and capable of measuring air quality such as temperature, humidity, and fine dust. However, this is an example, and the electronic device may be various types of home appliances that include a temperature sensor.
In this case, the electronic device may be located in the same space as the indoor unit 100. The electronic device may detect a temperature and transmit the detected temperature to the indoor unit 100. To this end, the electronic device may perform communication with the indoor unit 100 over a network. For example, the electronic device may be connected to a server via an access point using Wi-Fi, and may perform communication with the indoor unit 100 via the server.
In this case, the electronic device may be manufactured in a small size considering portability so that the user can measure air quality in various spaces using the electronic device. Accordingly, when the electronic device is located in the same space as the indoor unit 100, the electronic device may measure a temperature of a space lower than the temperature sensor of the indoor unit 100 (e.g., a temperature sensor installed at the first height), and the temperature measured by the electronic device may be more consistent with the temperature of the space where the pet is located than the temperature measured by the temperature sensor of the indoor unit 100.
Accordingly, the processor 130 may control the temperature of the space where the indoor unit 100 is located by comparing the temperature received from the electronic device and the set temperature.
As such, referring to
Although the above-described example describes that the processor 130 drives only the bottom fan 113, this is only one example, and the processor 130 may additionally drive other fans of the plurality of fans 111, 112, 113.
For example, as shown in
In other words, for example, when a window or the like is open, the indoor temperature may not drop quickly by driving only one fan due to the outdoor air. Accordingly, when the indoor temperature does not reach the set temperature within a certain period of time, the processor 130 may additionally drive another fan. In this case, the processor 130 may additionally drive another fan in the order close to the bottom fan 113 considering the space where the pet is located.
Referring to
The memory 140 may store at least one instruction regarding the indoor unit 100. In addition, the memory 140 may store an operating system (O/S) for driving the indoor unit 100. The memory 140 may also store various software programs or applications for operating the indoor unit 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The memory 140 may include a volatile memory such as a frame buffer, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, etc. or magnetic storage media such as a hard disk, etc.
For example, the memory 140 may store various software modules for operating the indoor unit 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, and the processor 130 may control the operation of the indoor unit 100 by executing various software modules stored in the memory 140. In other words, the memory 120 may be e accessed by the processor 130, and the data may be read/written/modified/deleted/updated, etc. by the processor 130. Meanwhile, the term ‘memory 140’ in this disclosure may be used to include the memory 140, ROM (not shown) or RAM (not shown) in the processor 130, or a memory card (e.g., micro SD card, memory stick) mounted on the indoor unit 100.
The communication unit 150 includes circuitry. In addition, the communication unit 150 may perform communication.
The communication unit 150 may perform communication with an electronic device. In other words, the communication unit 150 may transmit a signal to the electronic device and receive a signal from the electronic device via a communication module. Here, the electronic device may include smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, and home appliances (e.g., sensor devices).
In this case, the communication unit 150 may perform communication with the electronic device via a network. For example, the communication unit 150 may be connected to a server through an access point using Wi-Fi, and may perform communication with smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, and home appliances (e.g., sensor devices) through the server. However, this is only an example, and the communication unit 150 may perform communication with the electronic device via various communication methods such as 5G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Bluetooth, Zigbee, wired/wireless Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Ethernet, etc.
The processor 130 may include various processing circuitry and perform communication with the electronic device via the communication unit 150 to control the indoor unit 100. The processor 130 may include various processing circuitry and/or multiple processors. For example, as used herein, including the claims, the term “processor” may include various processing circuitry, including at least one processor, wherein one or more of at least one processor, individually and/or collectively in a distributed manner, may be configured to perform various functions described herein. As used herein, when “a processor”, “at least one processor”, and “one or more processors” are described as being configured to perform numerous functions, these terms cover situations, for example and without limitation, in which one processor performs some of recited functions and another processor(s) performs other of recited functions, and also situations in which a single processor may perform all recited functions. Additionally, the at least one processor may include a combination of processors performing various of the recited/disclosed functions, e.g., in a distributed manner. At least one processor may execute program instructions to achieve or perform various functions.
For example, when a command for setting the mode of the indoor unit 100 to the pet mode is received via the communication unit 150, the processor 130 may set the mode of the indoor unit 100 to the pet mode. In another example, when a command for selecting the type of pet is received via the communication unit 150, the processor 130 may identify a set temperature to be set in the pet mode based on the selected type of pet, In another example, when the temperature detected by the electronic device is received via the communication unit 150, the processor 130 may control the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit 100 is located based on the set temperature and the received temperature.
The communication unit 150 may perform communication with the outdoor unit 200. In other words, the communication unit 150 may transmit a signal to the outdoor unit 200 and receive a signal from the outdoor unit 200 via a communication module. For example, the communication unit 150 may perform communication with the outdoor unit 200 via a communication method using a power line, a serial communication method, a wired communication method using a refrigerant pipe, etc. In addition, the communication unit 150 may perform communication with the outdoor unit 200 via a communication method such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc.
The input unit 160 includes circuitry. The input unit 160 may receive a user input for setting or selecting various functions supported by the indoor unit 100. To this end, the input unit 160 may include at least one button. The input unit 160 may also be implemented as a touch screen capable of performing the function of the display 171 simultaneously. Furthermore, the input unit 160 may receive a remote control signal from a remote controller for controlling the indoor unit 100.
In this case, the processor 120 may control the operation of the indoor unit 100 based on a user input received via the input 160. For example, the processor 120 may control the indoor unit 100 based on an on/off command of the indoor unit 100, an on/off command of a function of the indoor unit 100, etc. inputted via the input unit 160. Specifically, when a user input for setting the mode of the indoor unit 100 to the pet mode is received via the input unit 160, the processor 130 may set the mode of the indoor unit 100 to the pet mode. Further, when a user input for selecting the type of pet is received via the input unit 160, the processor 130 may identify a set temperature to be set in the pet mode based on the selected type of pet.
The output unit 170 may include various circuitry including, for example, a display 171 and a speaker 172.
The display 171 may display various information. To this end, the display 171 may be implemented as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like. The display 171 may also be implemented as a touch screen capable of performing the function of the input unit 170 simultaneously. Specifically, the processor 130 may display information related to the operation of the indoor unit 100 on the display 171. For example, the processor 130 may display information indicating that the mode of the indoor unit 100 is the pet mode on the display 171.
The speaker 172 may output audio. Specifically, the processor 130 may output various notification sounds or voice guidance messages related to the operation of the indoor unit 100 via the speaker 172. For example, the processor 130 may output a voice guidance message indicating that the indoor unit 100 is in the pet mode via the speaker 172.
When a user input for setting the mode of the indoor unit to the pet mode is received, the mode of the indoor unit is set to the pet mode (S1010).
In the pet mode, the set temperature of the indoor unit is set to a preset (e.g., specified) temperature, the bottom fan among a plurality of fans is driven, and the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit is located is controlled based on the set temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor (S1020).
The plurality of fans may be arranged in tiers, and the bottom fan may be the fan located at the lowest among the plurality of fans.
Step S1020 may include adjusting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor based on a preset adjustment value, and controlling the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit is located based on the adjusted temperature and the set temperature.
Step S1020 may include obtaining the adjusted temperature by subtracting the preset adjustment value from the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
In addition, the indoor unit may include first and second temperature sensors located at different heights. In this case, step S1020 may include controlling the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit is located based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor located at a relatively lower height among the first and second temperature sensors and the set temperature.
Step S1020 may include controlling the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit is located based on the temperature received from the electronic device for detecting the temperature of the space in which the pet is located and the set temperature.
Step S1020 may include identifying the preset temperature based on the type of pet selected by a user input, and different types of pets may have lengths of fur.
In this case, step S1020 may include, when the pet selected by the user input is a long-haired pet, identifying the preset temperature as a first temperature, and when the pet selected by the user input is a short-haired pet, identifying the preset temperature as a second temperature, and the second temperature may be higher than the first temperature.
An example method of controlling the indoor unit in the pet mode has been described above.
The methods according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a purchaser. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a purchaser. The computer program product can be distributed in the form of a storage medium that is readable by machines (e.g.: a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed directly on-line (e.g.: download or upload) through an application store (e.g.: PlayStore™), or between two user devices (e.g.: smartphones). In the case of on-line distribution, at least a portion of a computer program product (e.g.: a downloadable app) may be stored in a storage medium readable by machines such as the server of the manufacturer, the server of the application store, or the memory of the relay server at least temporarily, or may be generated temporarily.
The components (e.g., modules or programs) according to various embodiments described above may include a single entity or a plurality of entities, and some of the corresponding sub-components described above may be omitted or other sub-components may be further included in the various embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, some components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into one entity and perform the same or similar functions performed by each corresponding component prior to integration.
Operations performed by the modules, the programs, or the other components according to the various embodiments may be executed in a sequential manner, a parallel manner, an iterative manner, or a heuristic manner, or at least some of the operations may be performed in a different order or be omitted, or other operations may be added.
Terms “˜er/or” or “module” used in the disclosure may include units configured by hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used compatibly with terms such as, for example, logics, logic blocks, parts, circuits, or the like. The “˜er/or” or “module” may be an integrally configured part or a minimum unit performing one or more functions or a part thereof. For example, the module may be configured by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
A non-transitory computer-readable medium that performs a controlling method according to an embodiment may be provided. The non-transitory computer-readable medium is a medium that stores data on a semi-permanent basis and is readable by a device. For example, the above-described various applications or programs may be stored and provided in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as CDs, DVDs, hard disks, Blu-ray disks, USBs, memory cards, ROMs, and the like.
In addition, the above-described various embodiments may be implemented as software including instructions stored in machine-readable storage media, which can be read by machine (e.g.: computer). The machine refers to a device that calls instructions stored in a storage medium, and can operate according to the called instructions, and may include an electronic device (e.g.: air conditional 1000) according to the aforementioned embodiments.
In case the instructions are executed by a processor, the processor may perform a function corresponding to the instructions by itself, or using other components under its control. The instructions may include a code that is generated or executed by a compiler or an interpreter.
Although various example embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described above, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the disclosure including the claims and their equivalents, and such modifications are not to be understood in isolation from the technical ideas or prospect of the disclosure. It will also be understood that any of the embodiment(s) described herein may be used in connection with any other embodiment(s) described herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2022-0130408 | Oct 2022 | KR | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2023/013952 designating the United States, filed on Sep. 15, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0130408, filed on Oct. 12, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/KR2023/013952 | Sep 2023 | WO |
| Child | 19022209 | US |
