AIR CONDITIONER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2024/003319 designating the United States, filed on Mar. 15, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0054740, filed on Apr. 26, 2023, and 10-2023-0077759, filed on Jun. 16, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Field

The disclosure relates to an air conditioner and a method for controlling the same, and for example, to an air conditioner capable of checking whether a window is closed based on a rear temperature, and a method for controlling the same.

Description of Related Art

An air conditioner is a device for cooling or heating air using a refrigeration cycle and discharging cooled or heated air to adjust an indoor temperature.

Various types of air conditioners may be provided depending on an arrangement type of components, and a window-type air conditioner, which is easily installed, has also recently been used.

The window-type air conditioner may be installed on a window frame, and the window-type air conditioner may be installed on the inside of an external window to enable the window installed on the window frame to be closed or opened depending on an outdoor temperature (or season). Even if the window-type air conditioner is installed on the window frame, a user may selectively close or open the external window.

However, heat exchange with outdoor air is required for an operation of the air conditioner. Accordingly, if the air conditioner is operated while the external window is closed or not sufficiently opened, its cooling performance may be reduced.

Therefore, the recent window-type air conditioner requires a method for determining whether the window of the window frame on which the air conditioner is installed is closed or opened.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an air conditioner capable of determining whether a window is closed based on a rear temperature, and a method for controlling the same.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is an air conditioner including: an exhaust port disposed at a rear side of the air conditioner; a fan configured to dissipate heat generated in a heat exchanger to the exhaust port; a temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner and configured to detect a rear temperature of the air conditioner; at least one memory storing at least one instruction; and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to operate based on the at least one instruction, wherein at least one processor is configured to cause the air conditioner to: control the fan to dissipate heat generated in the heat exchanger based on a cooling operation mode being set, and determine whether to terminate an operation in the cooling operation mode based on temperature change information generated based on temperature information detected by the temperature sensor at a specified time interval.

At least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to cause the air conditioner to: store a first temperature detected by the temperature sensor in the memory based on an operation execution command for the cooling operation mode being input, and generate the temperature change information based on a second temperature detected by the temperature sensor after a specified time.

At least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to calculate the temperature change information based on a difference value between the first temperature and the second temperature, or calculate a temperature increase rate at each specified time unit as the temperature change information.

At least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to generate the temperature change information based on the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor in a specified cycle after the specified time.

The specified cycle may range from five to thirty seconds.

At least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to determine termination of the operation in the cooling operation mode based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor being at or above a specified reference temperature for a specified time or more.

The air conditioner may further include a communication device comprising communication circuitry configured to receive outdoor weather information, wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to set the reference temperature based on the outdoor weather information.

The air conditioner may further include a pipe temperature sensor configured to detect a compressor pipe temperature, wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to determine the termination of the operation in the cooling operation mode based on the generated temperature change information based on the temperature detected by the pipe temperature sensor being at or above a specified temperature.

The air conditioner may further include an intake disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner, wherein the temperature sensor may be disposed in a middle region between the intake and the exhaust port, in upper regions of the intake and the exhaust port.

The air conditioner may further include a display, wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to cause the electronic device to: control the display to display error information based on the operation in the cooling operation mode being terminated based on the temperature change information.

The air conditioner may further include a communication device comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with a user terminal device, wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to control the communication device to transmit error information to the user terminal device based on the operation in the cooling operation mode being terminated based on the temperature change information.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is a method for controlling an air conditioner, the method including: controlling a fan to dissipate heat generated in a heat exchanger to an exhaust port based on a cooling operation mode being set; detecting a temperature by a temperature sensor disposed at a rear side of the air conditioner at a specified time interval; and terminating an operation in the cooling operation mode based on temperature change information generated based on temperature information detected at the specified time interval.

In the detecting, a first temperature detected by the temperature sensor may be stored in a memory based on an operation execution command for the cooling operation mode being input, and the temperature change information may be generated based on a second temperature detected by the temperature sensor after a specified time.

In the detecting, the temperature change information may be calculated based on a difference value between the first temperature and the second temperature, or a temperature increase rate at each specified time unit may be calculated as the temperature change information.

In the detecting, the temperature change information may be generated based on the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor in a specified cycle after a specified time.

In the terminating, termination of the operation in the cooling operation mode may be determined based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor being at or above a specified reference temperature for a specified time or more.

The method may further include: receiving outdoor weather information; and setting the reference temperature based on the outdoor weather information.

The method may further include detecting a compressor pipe temperature, wherein in the terminating, the termination of the operation in the cooling operation mode may be determined based on the generated temperature change information based on the compressor the pipe temperature being at or above a specified temperature.

The method may further include displaying error information based on the operation in the cooling operation mode being terminated based on the temperature change information.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium including a program which, when executed by at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, of an air conditioner, causes the air conditioner to perform a method for controlling an air conditioner, wherein the method includes: controlling a fan to dissipate heat generated in a heat exchanger to an exhaust port based on a cooling operation mode being set, detecting a temperature by a temperature sensor disposed at a rear side of the air conditioner at a specified time interval, and terminating an operation in the cooling operation mode based on temperature change information generated based on temperature information detected at the specified time interval.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above or other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an installation example of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an installation example of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating an example operation for determining a window closed state according to various embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example operation of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram illustrating an example operation of each component included in the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling an air conditioner according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of determining whether an error condition occurs based on temperature information according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood that various example embodiments of the present disclosure and terms used herein are not intended to limit technical features described in the present disclosure, and rather are intended to include various modifications, equivalents, and substitutions of the corresponding embodiments.

Throughout the accompanying drawings, similar components are denoted by similar reference numerals.

A singular noun corresponding to an item is intended to include one or more of the items unless a relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present disclosure, an expression such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B”, “A, B, or C”, “at least one of A, B, and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, or the like may include any one of the items listed together or all possible combinations thereof.

A term “and/or” includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any one of the plurality of related items.

Terms such as “first”, “second”, or the like may be used simply to distinguish one element and another element from each other, and do not limit the corresponding components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order).

In case that a component (for example, a first component) is mentioned to be “coupled with/to” or “connected to” another component (for example, a second component) with or without terms “operatively or communicatively”, it should be understood that the component may be directly coupled to another component (e.g., in a wired manner), in a wireless manner, or through a third component).

It should be further understood that terms “include”, “have” or the like, used in the disclosure specify the presence of features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts mentioned in the disclosure or combinations thereof, and do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

In that a component is referred to as being “connected”, “coupled”, “supported”, or “in contact” with another component, it includes not only a case where the components are directly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact with each other, but also a case where the components are indirectly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact with each other through a third component.

In case that a component is referred to be disposed “on” another component, it includes not only a case where the component is in contact with another component, but also a case where still another component is interposed between the two components.

In addition, terms such as “fore end”, “front end”, “rear end”, “upper portion”, “lower portion”, “upper end”, and “lower end” used in the present disclosure are defined based on the drawings. The shapes and positions of respective components are not limited by these terms.

In addition, a temperature used in the present disclosure is described assuming a temperature in Celsius. However, a temperature value may be used in Fahrenheit in implementation.

An air conditioner according to various example embodiments may refer, for example, to a device that performs functions such as air purification, ventilation, humidity adjustment, cooling, and heating in an air-conditioned space (hereinafter referred to as “indoor”), and indicates a device having at least one of these functions.

Terms used in disclosure may be interpreted as having the same meanings as meanings generally known to those skilled in the art unless defined otherwise.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to various example of the present disclosure is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

A cooling device 200 may include a refrigerant circuit that circulates a refrigerant. The refrigerant may be circulated along the refrigerant circuit and may absorb or release heat during a state change (e.g., a state change from gas to liquid or vice versa). The refrigerant circuit may be referred to as a heat pump device.

To induce the state change of the refrigerant, the refrigerant circuit may include a compressor 210, an indoor heat exchanger 220, an expansion valve 230, and an outdoor heat exchanger 240.

The compressor 210 may compress the refrigerant in a gaseous state to create a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The high-temperature/high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 210 may be introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger 240.

At least one sensor for measuring an operation state of the compressor 210 may be provided on a side of the compressor 210. For example, the sensor may be a compressor pipe temperature sensor 270. The compressor pipe temperature sensor 270 may be a temperature sensor that is attached to a pipe region through which the compressor 210 discharges the refrigerant and measures a temperature at a discharge region of the compressor 210. The temperature measured by the pipe temperature sensor 270 may be referred to as a pipe temperature and may also be referred to as a discharge temperature of the compressor.

The outdoor heat exchanger 240 may perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air by utilizing a phase change (e.g., evaporation or condensation) of the refrigerant. For example, the refrigerant may release heat to outdoor air while the refrigerant condenses in the outdoor heat exchanger 240, and the refrigerant may absorb heat from outdoor air while the refrigerant flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger evaporates.

An outdoor fan 250 may be provided near the outdoor heat exchanger 240. The outdoor fan 250 may blow outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 240 to promote the heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air.

At least one sensor for measuring the outdoor environment may be provided on a side of the outdoor heat exchanger 240. For example, the sensor may be provided as an environmental sensor. The outdoor part sensor may be disposed at any position inside or outside an outdoor part. For example, the sensor may include a temperature sensor for detecting an air temperature around the air conditioner or a humidity sensor for detecting air humidity around the air conditioner.

A refrigerant temperature sensor for detecting a refrigerant temperature in a refrigerant pipe to check an operation of the air conditioner, or a refrigerant pressure sensor for detecting a refrigerant pressure in the refrigerant pipe, may be provided on a side of the outdoor heat exchanger 240.

The expansion valve 230 may lower the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in a liquid state, thereby converting the refrigerant into a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The low-temperature/low-pressure liquid refrigerant discharged from the expansion valve 230 may be introduced to the indoor heat exchanger 220.

The indoor heat exchanger 220 may perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air by utilizing the phase change (e.g., evaporation or condensation) of the refrigerant. For example, the refrigerant may absorb heat from indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 220 while the refrigerant evaporates, and indoor air may be cooled by blowing indoor air cooled through the cooled indoor heat exchanger 220.

As described above, the refrigerant may emit heat from the outdoor heat exchanger 240 and absorb heat from the indoor heat exchanger 220. Through this operation, the indoor heat exchanger 220 may cool indoor air.

For the heat exchange of the refrigerant with indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 220, an indoor intake for taking in indoor air may be provided in a front region of the air conditioner. Through the indoor intake, indoor air may be introduced into the air conditioner. Here, a filter may be disposed on one side of the intake to filter a foreign material in air taken in through the indoor intake.

An indoor discharge port may be provided at a front side of a housing. For example, air in which the heat exchange occurs in the indoor heat exchanger 220 may be discharged to the outside of the housing (e.g., an indoor space) through the indoor discharge port.

An airflow guide may be provided at one side of the indoor discharge port to guide a direction of discharged air. For example, the airflow guide may include a blade disposed on the indoor discharge port. For example, the airflow guide may include an auxiliary fan for adjusting a discharge airflow. The airflow guide is not limited thereto, and may be omitted.

A blower 260 may include an indoor fan and a fan motor. For example, the indoor fan may include an axial fan, a radial fan, a crossflow fan, or a centrifugal fan.

The indoor heat exchanger 220 may be disposed between the blower 260 and the indoor discharge port, or between the indoor intake and the blower 260. The indoor heat exchanger 220 may absorb heat from air introduced through the indoor intake. The indoor heat exchanger 220 may include a heat exchange tube through which the refrigerant flows, and a heat exchange fin in contact with the heat exchange tube to increase a heat transfer area.

A drain tray for collecting condensate generated in the indoor heat exchanger 220 may be provided at one side of the indoor heat exchanger 220. The condensate collected in the drain tray may be drained to the outside through a drain hose. The drain tray may be provided to support the indoor heat exchanger 220.

The refrigerant in the gaseous state that is discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 220 may be introduced to the compressor 210 and circulated through the refrigerant circuit again. For example, the air conditioner may perform a cooling or heating function through a phase change process of the refrigerant circulated through the outdoor heat exchanger 240 and the indoor heat exchanger 220. The compressor 210 may intake the refrigerant gas through the intake and compress the refrigerant gas. The compressor 210 may discharge the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas through a discharge port.

The refrigerant may be circulated in an order of the compressor 210, the outdoor heat exchanger 240, the expansion valve 230, and the indoor heat exchanger 220 through the refrigerant pipe, or may be circulated in an order of the compressor 210, the indoor heat exchanger 220, the expansion valve 230, and the outdoor heat exchanger 240.

For example, if the air conditioner includes one outdoor part and one indoor part directly connected to each other through the refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may be circulated between one outdoor part and one indoor part through the refrigerant pipe.

For example, if the air conditioner includes one outdoor part connected to two or more indoor parts through the refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may flow to the plurality of indoor parts through the refrigerant pipes branching from the outdoor part. The refrigerants discharged from the plurality of indoor parts may join and be circulated to the outdoor part. For example, the plurality of indoor parts may be directly connected in parallel to one outdoor part through separate refrigerant pipes.

The plurality of indoor parts may each be operated independently based on an operation mode set by a user. For example, some of the plurality of indoor parts may be operated in a cooling mode and others may be operated in a heating mode simultaneously. The refrigerant may be introduced to each of the indoor parts in a high or low pressure state selectively along a designated circulation path through a flow switching valve described below, and discharged and circulated to the outdoor part.

For example, if the air conditioner may include two or more outdoor parts and two or more indoor parts connected to each other through the plurality of refrigerant pipes, the refrigerants discharged from the plurality of outdoor parts may join and flow through one refrigerant pipe, and then branch off at some point and be introduced to the plurality of indoor parts.

The plurality of outdoor parts may all be driven or at least some thereof may not be driven, based on an operation load based on an operation amount of the plurality of indoor parts. The refrigerant may be introduced and circulated to the outdoor parts selectively driven using the flow switching valve. The air conditioner may include an expansion device to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant introduced to the heat exchanger. For example, the expansion device may be disposed within the indoor part or the outdoor part, or may be disposed in both the parts.

For example, the expansion valve 230 may lower the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant using a throttling effect. The expansion device may include an orifice capable of reducing a cross-sectional area of a flow path. The refrigerant passing through the orifice may have its temperature and pressure lowered.

For example, the expansion valve 230 may be implemented as an electronic expansion valve capable of adjusting an opening ratio (a ratio of a cross-sectional area of a valve flow path in a partially open state to a cross-sectional area of the valve flow path in a fully open state). An amount of the refrigerant passing through the expansion valve 230 may be controlled based on the opening ratio of the electronic expansion valve.

The air conditioner may further include a flow switching valve disposed on a refrigerant circulation flow path. The flow switching valve may include, for example, a four-way valve. The flow switching valve may determine the refrigerant circulation flow path based on the operation mode of the indoor part (e.g., a cooling operation or a heating operation). The flow switching valve may be connected to the discharge port of the compressor.

The air conditioner may include an accumulator. The accumulator may be connected to the intake of the compressor 210. The low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, which is evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, may be introduced into the accumulator.

The accumulator may separate the refrigerant liquid from the refrigerant gas if the refrigerant, which is a mixture of the refrigerant liquid and the refrigerant gas, is introduced thereinto, and provide the refrigerant gas, from which the refrigerant liquid is separated, to the compressor.

An illustrated example describes that the refrigerant circuit is disposed within one cooling device 200. However, in implementation, two separate devices may be provided, including the expansion valve 230 and the indoor heat exchanger 220 implemented as the indoor part, and the compressor 210 and the heat exchanger 240 implemented as the outdoor part.

For example, if the above-described components are embedded in one housing, the air conditioner may be referred to as the window-type air conditioner or a portable air conditioner. Conversely, if the above-described components are divided and included in separate devices, the air conditioner may be referred to as a wall-mounted air conditioner, a stand-alone air conditioner, a system air conditioner, or the like.

If divided and included in such separate devices, the air conditioner may include one outdoor part and one indoor part connected to each other through the refrigerant pipe. For example, the air conditioner may include one outdoor part connected to two or more indoor parts through the refrigerant pipe. For example, the air conditioner may include two or more outdoor parts and two or more indoor parts connected to one another through the plurality of refrigerant pipes.

The outdoor part may be electrically connected to the indoor part. For example, information (or commands) for controlling the air conditioner may be input through an input interface disposed on the outdoor part or the indoor part, and the outdoor part and the indoor part may be operated simultaneously or sequentially in response to a user input.

The following description assumes that the outdoor part and the indoor part described above belong to the window-type air conditioner or an integrated air conditioner, disposed in one housing. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, even if the outdoor part and the indoor part divided from each other and are implemented as the plurality of housings, the present disclosure may also be applied to a case where the outdoor part is installed in a region such as the window frame, or the discharge port or intake of the outdoor part is installed to be selectively opened or closed by a window or a sealing device.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, an air conditioner 100 may include a cabinet forming its exterior, and the cabinet may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is approximately long and narrow. A length of the cabinet may be shorter than a length of a typical window frame, and a width of the cabinet may also be narrower than a width of a window installed in a typical window frame.

A front side of the cabinet may be disposed toward the indoor space, and a rear side of the cabinet may be disposed toward an outdoor space. An example installation form is described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Two openings 20 and 30 may be disposed in the rear side of the cabinet. First, the first opening may be the exhaust port 20 for discharging air from the outdoor heat exchanger, and the second opening may be the intake 30 for taking in outdoor air into the cabinet.

In this way, the air conditioner may intake outdoor air through the intake 30 and discharge heat-exchanged air to the exhaust port 20. The illustrated example shows that the intake 30 is disposed at a rear left side of the air conditioner 100, and the exhaust port 20 is disposed at a rear right side thereof. However, in implementation, the intake may be disposed on the left side and the exhaust port is disposed on the right side. In addition, depending on an implementation method, the intake 30 may be disposed at a lower rear side of the air conditioner 100, and the exhaust port 20 may be disposed at an upper rear side of the air conditioner.

Through this arrangement, outdoor air may be introduced into the air conditioner 100 through the intake 30 of the air conditioner, and air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger may be discharged through the exhaust port 20.

The outdoor heat exchanger may be operated normally only if outdoor air is sufficiently taken in and discharged through the exhaust port 20 and the intake 30 described above. However, if the air conditioner is operated while the external window is not opened (or outdoor air is not introduced into the air conditioner), heat may not be dissipated from the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby increasing superheat in a refrigeration cycle and a discharge temperature of the compressor.

Such an increase in the discharge temperature of the compressor not only may cause a decrease in cooling performance, but also may cause an abnormal condition in the exterior of the air conditioner or the window frame (or the window) if this condition persists. Therefore, it is necessary to check whether the heat exchange in the outdoor heat exchanger is performed normally.

Accordingly, the present disclosure uses a temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner to check a state where the external window is not opened.

A temperature sensor 140 may be disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner. For example, the temperature sensor 140 may be disposed in a middle region between the outdoor intake 30 and the outdoor exhaust port 20, in upper regions of the outdoor intake and the outdoor exhaust port. For example, air emitted from the exhaust port may rise due to its high temperature, the temperature sensor 140 may thus be disposed in the upper region of the exhaust port to measure a temperature of air emitted from the exhaust port more accurately. Although the illustrated example shows that the temperature sensor 140 is disposed in the upper region, the temperature sensor 140 may also be disposed in a region higher than the upper region of the exhaust port.

An operation for determining the window closed state based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 140 is described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams each illustrating an installation example of the air conditioner according to various embodiments. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates an environment where the rear side of the air conditioner is exposed to the outside, and FIG. 4 illustrates an environment where the rear side of the air conditioner is interfered with by the window.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the window-type air conditioner may be installed in the window frame of a building. The present disclosure assumes and describes that the window-type air conditioner is installed in the window frame. However, the present disclosure may be applied to any environment where the rear side of the air conditioner may be opened and closed by a separate structure other than the window frame.

Depending on an installation environment, the air conditioner may be installed while the window is constantly opened. However, as illustrated in the drawing, the external window may be installed to be opened or closed based on user selection.

If the window is installed to be opened or closed based on the user selection, the air conditioner may be operated in various environments where the window is fully opened, partially opened, and closed.

If the air conditioner is operated while the window is fully opened to expose the rear side (or most of the rear side) of the air conditioner to the outside, the air conditioner may be operated normally because this state corresponds to a normal environment.

However, if the air conditioner is operated while the window is closed, or if the air conditioner is operated while the exhaust port, which discharges heated air to the outside, is covered by the window as shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchange in the outdoor heat exchanger may not proceed smoothly, thus increasing the temperature in the outdoor heat exchanger. For example, heated air discharged from the outdoor exhaust port 20 of the air conditioner may be introduced into the outdoor intake 30 of the air conditioner rather than being emitted to the outside because heated air is blocked by the window. For example, heated air discharged from the outdoor exhaust port 20 may be directly introduced into the outdoor intake 30 of the air conditioner, thus preventing and/or inhibiting the outdoor heat exchanger from performing smooth heat exchange.

Heated air discharged from the outdoor exhaust port 20 may remain in a rear region of the air conditioner, and accordingly, deformation of the outdoor fan or an outdoor part cover may occur. In addition, deformation of not only the air conditioner but also the window frame or the window on which the air conditioner is installed may occur.

Therefore, the air conditioner requires a method for checking whether the window is closed or not sufficiently opened.

The present disclosure uses the temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner as described above to determine whether the window is opened or a window open state based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

The air conditioner may require a long time for the detection if the window open state is determined solely based on whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is at or above a predetermined temperature. For example, the air conditioner may determine the window closing state based on an operation for comparing a temperature value measured by the temperature sensor with a predetermined temperature value. However, the fact that the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor reaches the predetermined (e.g., specified) temperature value indicates that the air conditioner 100 is operated for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes or more). However, the air conditioner or the window frame (or the window) may be damaged due to high-temperature air emitted from the air conditioner 100 during its operation for this period.

To address this issue, the present disclosure uses temperature information received from the temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner as described above, and checks whether the window is closed based on a temperature change rate (or a temperature change level). For ease of description, the following descriptions uses the expression “checking whether the window is closed”. However, the expression “whether the window is closed” includes not only the window closed state but also a state where the window is not opened sufficiently to prevent and/or reduce air discharged from the discharge port of the air conditioner from being sufficiently discharged to an external environment.

An example detection operation is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating an example operation for determining the window closed state according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 5, if the cooling operation mode is set (or the cooling operation starts), the air conditioner 100 may check the temperature detected by the temperature sensor at a predetermined time interval. If the air conditioner 100 is operated in the cooling operation mode, high-temperature air may be discharged from the exhaust port, and accordingly, the temperature measured by the temperature sensor may gradually increase. The setting to the cooling operation mode may not only include the user commanding the air conditioner 100 to operate a cooling function, but also include a scheduled operation or the cooling function of the air conditioner 100 being activated if the measured indoor temperature is at or above the predetermined temperature and meets a predetermined condition.

However, different temperature increase patterns may occur if the exhaust port is completely exposed to the outside and if the exhaust port is not exposed to the outside. For example, if the exhaust port is completely exposed to the outside, air discharged from the exhaust port may be quickly discharged to the outside. Accordingly, a temperature increase measured by the temperature sensor may not be significant, and even if the air conditioner is operated for a long time, the measured temperature may not differ from an actual outdoor temperature by a predetermined degree or more.

However, if the exhaust port is closed or covered by the window, the temperature measured by the temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner 100 may increase more quickly than the case where the exhaust port is exposed to the outside, and the maximum measured temperature may also have a very large difference from the actual outdoor temperature.

In this respect, the present disclosure checks the temperature change level using the temperature sensor disposed at the rear side, and checks whether the window is opened based on the checked temperature change level (or the temperature change rate). The temperature change rate indicates a temperature increase level within a predetermined time unit, which may be 1 minute. Accordingly, the temperature change rate described above may be a temperature value change per minute. However, such values are simply examples, and the above-described time unit may be expressed differently. In addition, the temperature value and the temperature change rate may be expressed in Celsius units, and may also be expressed in Fahrenheit units.

The present disclosure may check whether the window is opened much faster than an existing checking method by checking whether the window is opened based on the temperature change level. For example, while the existing detection method requires about 30 minutes, the method according to the present disclosure may determine the window open state within one to five minutes.

The following description describes the air conditioner 100 as determining the window closed state based on the above-described temperature change for ease of description. However, the above-described window closed state includes a state where the window is not opened by a predetermined amount or more (for example, the exhaust port at the rear side of the air conditioner is covered by the window although the window is not completely closed). The air conditioner 100 may determine a situation where it is difficult to implement the cooling performance of the air conditioner 100 or a situation where the heat exchange is not smoothly performed in the outdoor heat exchanger, rather than the window closed state.

The air conditioner 100 is shown as determining whether to open the window only based on the temperature increase level. However, in implementation, the air conditioner 100 may consider various additional conditions, and may also determine whether to open the window based on such additional conditions.

For example, the air conditioner 100 may be operated while the window is closed, and stop the cooling operation by determining the window closed state based on a temperature increase rate. However, the user may restart the air conditioner without opening the window.

In this case, air in the indoor space, where the temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner already reaches at a high temperature due to the cooling operation in the window closed state. Accordingly, the temperature increase level at each predetermined time unit in the high-temperature state may not be significant compared to that in an initial operation. To determine this case, the air conditioner 100 may check the temperature during the initial operation, and determine that the operation is performed while the window is closed if the temperature checked using the temperature sensor is at or above the predetermined temperature, and a measured temperature value at or above the predetermined temperature is maintained for a predetermined time (for example, three minutes).

For example, the above-described predetermined temperature may be 55 degrees and this predetermined temperature may vary depending on an outdoor temperature (or weather conditions). In case of high solar irradiance in summer, an outdoor measured temperature may reach or exceed 55 degrees, and accordingly, the above-described predetermined temperature may be set to 65 degrees instead of 55 degrees based on the outdoor temperature. The predetermined temperature may be changed in proportion to the outdoor temperature, or may be set to a temperature corresponding to a temperature range to which the outdoor temperature belongs. The predetermined temperature may be either increased or decreased. The above-described numerical range (temperature value or time) is only an example and may vary depending on the implementation environment, performance of the air conditioner, or the like. An operation for changing the above-described predetermined temperature based on the outdoor temperature (or weather information) is described below with reference to FIG. 6.

The air conditioner may not only use the value measured by the temperature sensor but also consider other factors in determining whether to close the window based on the above-described temperature change.

For example, at point where the air conditioner starts its operation in the cooling operation mode, air discharged from the exhaust port may rise quickly, and this rise may quickly occur not only in the state where the window is closed but also in the state where the window is fully opened. Therefore, the air conditioner may malfunction if the air conditioner determines whether the window is closed based solely on the temperature increase rate in an initial state of its operation in the cooling operation mode. Accordingly, in addition to the temperature increase rate, the air conditioner may determine whether the window is closed based on the temperature change only if a difference between an initial operation temperature and a currently measured temperature is a predetermined temperature difference (for example, 11 degrees) or more, or if a temperature measured by the pipe temperature sensor of the compressor is 95 degrees or more. The pipe temperature sensor may be the pipe temperature sensor shown in FIG. 1.

In this way, the air conditioner according to the present disclosure may determine whether the window is closed based on conditions corresponding to various cases as well as one condition. For example, an example of determining whether the window is closed based on three conditions is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 6, the air conditioner 100 may include an input interface (e.g., including circuitry) 110, a communication device (e.g., including communication circuitry) 120, an output interface (e.g., including circuitry) 130, the sensor 140, a control device (e.g., including processing circuitry) 150, and the cooling device 200.

The input interface 110 may include various circuitry including, for example, any type of user input means including buttons, switches, a touchscreen, and/or a touch pad. The user may directly input setting data (e.g., desired indoor temperature, setting for an operation mode such as cooling, heating, dehumidification, or air purification, discharge port selection setting, and/or wind speed setting) through the input interface. In addition, the user may input not only a current operation condition of the air conditioner 100, but also the scheduled operation, a start condition of the scheduled operation (e.g., operation point information or operation condition (in which indoor temperature is at or above the predetermined temperature)), or the like through the above-described input interface.

The input interface 110 may also be connected to an external input device. For example, the input interface may be electrically connected to a wired remote controller. The wired remote controller may be installed at a specific position in the indoor space (e.g., on a portion of a wall).

The user may input setting data regarding the operation of the air conditioner 100 by manipulating the wired remote controller. An electrical signal corresponding to the setting data obtained through the wired remote controller may be transmitted to the input interface.

In addition, the input interface may include an infrared sensor. The user may input the setting data regarding the operation of the air conditioner 100 remotely using a wireless remote controller. The setting data input through the wireless remote controller may be transmitted to the input interface as an infrared signal.

In addition, the input interface 110 may include a microphone. A user voice command may be obtained through the microphone. The microphone may convert the user voice command into the electrical signal and transmit the converted electrical signal to the control device 150. The control device 150 may control the components of the air conditioner to execute a function corresponding to the user voice command.

The setting data (e.g., the desired indoor temperature, setting for the operation mode such as cooling, heating, dehumidification, or air purification, the discharge port selection setting, and/or the wind speed setting) obtained through the input interface 110 may be transmitted to the control device 150 described below. For example, the setting data obtained through the input interface 110 may be transmitted to an external device through the communication device.

The sensor 140 may include an environmental sensor disposed in a space inside or outside the housing. For example, the sensor may include at least one temperature sensor and/or humidity sensor disposed in a predetermined space inside or outside the housing (e.g., the rear side of the air conditioner as shown in FIG. 2, or a compressor pipe as shown in FIG. 1). For example, an indoor part sensor may include the refrigerant temperature sensor 270 for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe passing through the indoor part. For example, the indoor part sensor may include each refrigerant temperature sensor for detecting the inlet, middle, and/or outlet temperature of the refrigerant pipe passing through the indoor heat exchanger.

For example, each environmental information detected by the indoor part sensor may be transmitted to the control device 150 described below or transmitted to the external device through the communication device 120.

The communication device 120 may include various communication circuitry, including, for example, at least one of a short-range communication module or a long-range communication module. The communication device 120 may include at least one antenna for communicating with another device in a wireless manner.

The short-range communication module (or a short-range wireless communication module) may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication module, a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, a ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, or the like, and is not limited thereto.

The long-range communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-range communication and may include a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may transmit and receive a wireless signal to and from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server through a mobile communication network.

The communication device 120 may communicate with the external device such as a server, a mobile device, or another home appliance through a surrounding access point (AP). The access point (AP) may connect the local area network (LAN) to which the air conditioner or a user device is connected to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The air conditioner or the user device may be connected to the server through the wide area network (WAN).

The communication device 120 may receive the weather information through an external server (e.g., a server providing the weather information or a manufacturer server). Here, the weather information may include information about the outdoor temperature, the weather condition (cloudy, clear, or the like), an ultraviolet (UV) index, or the like.

The control device 150 may include various circuitry and may be electrically connected to each component of the cooling device 200 and may control an operation of each component. For example, the control device 150 may adjust a frequency of the compressor and control the flow switching valve to switch a circulation direction of the refrigerant. The control device 150 may adjust a rotation speed of the outdoor fan. In addition, the control device 150 may generate a control signal to adjust an opening degree of the expansion valve. Under the control of the control device 150, the refrigerant may be circulated along a refrigerant circulation circuit including the compressor, the flow switching valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the indoor heat exchanger.

Each of the various temperature sensors included in the air conditioner 100 may transmit the electrical signal corresponding to the detected temperature to the control device 150. For example, each humidity sensor included in the air conditioner 100 may transmit the electrical signal corresponding to the detected humidity to the control device 150.

The control device 150 may include various circuitry and obtain the user input from a user terminal device including the mobile device or the like through the communication device 120, and may obtain the user input directly through the input interface 110 or through the remote controller.

The control device 150 may control components included in the cooling device 200, including the blower or the like, in response to the received user input.

The control device 150 may control the components of the cooling device 200, including the compressor or the like, based on information about the user input received from the indoor part. For example, the control device 150 may control the components of the cooling device 200 to perform the operation of the air conditioner corresponding to the selected operation mode if the control device 150 receives a control signal corresponding to the user input for selecting the operation mode, such as the cooling operation, the heating operation, a blowing operation, a defrost operation, or a dehumidification operation.

The control device 150 may include at least one processor 151 and at least one memory 152.

The memory 152 may retain/store various information necessary for the operation of the air conditioner. The memory 152 may store instructions, applications, data, and/or programs necessary for the operation of the air conditioner. For example, the memory 152 may store various programs for the cooling operation, heating operation, dehumidification operation, and/or defrost operation of the air conditioner. The memory 152 may include a volatile memory such as a static random access memory (S-RAM) or a dynamic random access memory (D-RAM) for temporarily storing data. In addition, the memory 152 may include a non-volatile memory such as a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), and an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) for long-term storage of data.

The memory 152 may store the temperature information initially measured by the temperature sensor during the initial operation of the air conditioner. Alternatively, the memory 152 may store the temperature information periodically measured by the temperature sensor.

The processor 151 may include various processing circuitry and generate a control signal for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100 based on the instructions, applications, data and/or programs stored in the memory 152.

The processor 151 may be a hardware device that includes a logic circuit and an arithmetic circuit. The processor 151 may process data based on the program and/or instructions provided from the memory 152, and generate the control signal based on a processing result. The memory 152 and the processor 151 may be implemented as one control circuit or may be implemented as a plurality of circuits. Thus, the processor 151 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 processor 151 may control the cooling device 200 to perform the cooling operation if the cooling operation mode is input (or a cooling command). In detail, the processor 151 may control the fan to dissipate heat generated in the heat exchanger. In implementation, even if the cooling operation mode is not input, the processor 151 may automatically control the cooling device 200 to perform the cooling operation if a situation meets scheduled information preset by the user.

The processor 151 may perform a series of detection operations to determine whether the window is closed. For example, the processor 151 may generate the temperature change information based on the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor at the predetermined time interval.

For example, if a command to perform the operation in the cooling operation mode is input to the processor 151, the processor 151 may store the temperature detected by the temperature sensor as an initial operation temperature in the memory 152. In addition, the processor 151 may generate the temperature change information based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor after a predetermined time. The temperature change information may simply be a temperature difference value between two times, or may be calculated as the temperature increase rate at each predetermined time unit (for example, the number of degrees increased per second).

In addition, the processor 151 may determine that the window closed state is reached and terminate the cooling operation mode if the temperature change information causes a change in the predetermined temperature at each predetermined time unit or if the detected temperature is maintained for the predetermined time or more.

The processor 151 may perform the termination determination described above if the predetermined condition is met. For example, the processor 151 may determine that the window closed state is reached under a condition such as the temperature measured by the pipe temperature sensor being at or above the predetermined temperature, the initial temperature being at or below the predetermined temperature, or the difference between the initial temperature and the current temperature being at or above the predetermined value.

In addition, the processor 151 may obtain outdoor weather information from the communication device 120, and set a predetermined reference temperature based on the outdoor weather information. For example, the processor 151 may set the predetermined reference temperature to a high value if the outdoor temperature is high, and set the predetermined temperature to a low value if the outdoor temperature is low. For example, the processor 151 may use a reference temperature of 55 degrees if the outdoor temperature is less than 30 degrees, and use a reference temperature of 65 degrees if the outdoor temperature is 30 degrees or above. The above-described example shows that the processor 151 uses a different reference temperature based on one criterion (for example, whether the outdoor temperature is 30 degrees or more or less than 30 degrees). However, in implementation, the criterion described above may be divided into more detailed segments. In addition, in implementation, the processor 151 may also calculate the reference temperature by applying a predetermined calculation formula to the outdoor temperature.

In addition, although the present disclosure describes the air conditioner 100 as calculating or determining the reference temperature. However, in implementation the air conditioner 100 may be operated by receiving the reference temperature information from the external server (not shown).

In addition, in implementation, the air conditioner 100 may set the reference temperature described above not only based on the outdoor temperature, but also based on the installation environment (e.g., information input by the user or an installation engineer). For example, the influence of the outdoor temperature may differ depending on whether a window is disposed in a position directly exposed to sunlight or in a position not exposed to sunlight. A window disposed between a veranda and a room without direct exposure to the outdoor space may be less affected by the influence of the outdoor environment. Therefore, the air conditioner 100 may set the above-described reference information based on the installation environment described above.

The output interface 130 may include various circuitry and be electrically connected to the control device 150 and output information related to the operation of the air conditioner under the control of the control device 150. For example, the output interface 130 may output information such as the operation mode, wind direction, wind volume, or temperature selected by the user input. In addition, the output interface 130 may output sensing information obtained from the sensor and warning/error messages.

The output interface 130 may include a display and a speaker. The speaker may be an audio device that outputs various sounds. The display may display information input by the user or information provided to the user using various graphic elements. For example, operation information of the air conditioner may be displayed as at least one of an image or text. In addition, the display may include an indicator that provides specific information. The display may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel, a micro LED panel, and/or a plurality of LEDs, etc.

If an error such as the window closed state is checked, the output interface 130 may display a message guiding the window closed state or output a voice message, and may also output a message or voice request to open the window to resolve the error. In addition, such error information may be transmitted to the user terminal device through the communication device 120.

The cooling device 200 may include the refrigerant circuit. A specific configuration of the cooling device 200 is described with reference to FIG. 1, and a redundant description thereof may not be repeated here.

A basic configuration of the air conditioner is shown and described with reference to FIG. 6. However, in implementation, some of the configurations shown in the drawing may be omitted, and additional configurations that are not shown in the drawing may be provided.

For example, the air conditioner may include a power module (e.g., power supply) for supplying power to each component therein. For example, the power module may be connected to an external power source to supply power to each component included in the air conditioner.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example operation of the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 7, the user may input the cooling command to the air conditioner through a remote controller 10 if the window in the window frame on which the air conditioner is installed is closed (710).

If the cooling command is input, the air conditioner 100 may control the cooling device 200 to discharge cooled air through the indoor discharge port. The air conditioner 100 may store the temperature information measured by the temperature sensor in the memory.

The air conditioner 100 may be operated while the window is closed (720), and accordingly, the temperature measured by the temperature sensor may increase more quickly than the measured temperature while the window is opened, and the air conditioner 100 may check that the operation is performed while the window closed based on this temperature change.

Accordingly, the air conditioner 100 may stop (or suspend) the cooling operation and display an error code (or an error message) (730).

If the air conditioner 100 is capable of communicating with a user terminal device 300, the air conditioner 100 may transmit the information to enable the user terminal device 300 to display the information that the window is closed.

If the user opens the window and restarts the air conditioner upon display of such a notification or error message, the air conditioner 100 may perform the cooling operation normally again.

If the user restarts the air conditioner without opening the window after the error is displayed, the temperature measured at an operation point of the air conditioner is relatively high as described above with reference to FIG. 5, and if the operation is maintained in that state for the predetermined time (e.g., three minutes), the air conditioner may determine the window closed state faster than the existing detection method and terminate the cooling operation.

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram illustrating example operation of each component included in the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates example operation timing of each component included in the air conditioner. A first waveform 810 indicates an operation waveform of a compressor 210 (Comp), a second waveform 820 indicates an operation waveform of the blower 260 (Fan in), a third waveform 830 indicates an operation waveform of the outdoor fan 250 (Fan Out), a fourth waveform 840 indicates a temperature value measured by the temperature sensor (Outdoor Temp) disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner, and a fifth waveform 850 indicates a temperature value measured by the pipe temperature sensor (Discharge Temp) detecting a compressor pipe temperature.

If the cooling command is input (or the performance of the cooling function is triggered), a system may be turned on, the blower 260 may first be operated, and the compressor 210 may then be operated. In addition, in response to the operation of the compressor 210, the outdoor fan 250 may also be operated.

The air conditioner 100 may periodically measure and store the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor. In the illustrated example, as the compressor 210 is operated while the window is closed, air discharged from the exhaust port 20 may introduced into the air conditioner 100 through the intake 30 rather than being emitted to the outdoor space. Therefore, the air conditioner 100 may check that the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor is continuously increased over time. In this way, the air conditioner 100 may determine that the window is closed if the increase rate of the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor is the predetermined value or more.

The air conditioner 100 may determine that the window is closed if a temperature increase value is the predetermined value or more, and if the difference between the initial temperature and the measured temperature is the predetermined value or more. Here, the initial temperature may refer to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor at a time point at which the compressor 210 starts its operation, if the cooling operation mode is commanded by the user. The initial temperature described above may instead be defined as a temperature at a time point at which the air conditioner is initially turned on, rather than a time point at which the compressor 210 starts its operation, and may correspond to the temperature at the time point at which the cooling operation mode is commanded by the user. Alternatively, the air conditioner 100 may store all temperature values measured at the aforementioned time points, and use either the lowest temperature value among the stored temperature values or an average value among the corresponding temperature values.

As described above, if the pipe temperature is the predetermined value or more, the air conditioner may determine the window closed state and suspend the cooling operation.

If the air conditioner determines the window closed state, the air conditioner may display the error message and suspend the operations of the compressor 210 and the outdoor fan. In this way, as the operation of the compressor is suspended, not only the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor but also the discharge temperature of the compressor (or the pipe temperature sensor) may drop.

If the user then recognizes the window closed state, opens the window, and restarts the air conditioner (e.g., sets a restart), the compressor and the outdoor fan may resume their operations.

In addition, in response to an operation termination command from the user, the operation of the compressor may be terminated, and after the operation of the compressor is terminated, the outdoor fan may additionally be operated for a predetermined time and then be suspended, and if the automatic drying function is activated, the indoor fan may also be operated for a predetermined time and then be terminated.

The illustrated example shows and describes that the compressor and the outdoor fan are continuously operated during the cooling operation mode. However, in implementation, their operations may be temporarily suspended if the temperature in the indoor space falls to a user-specified temperature or below.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for controlling an air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 9, if the cooling operation mode is set (S910), the fan may be controlled to dissipate heat generated in the heat exchanger to the exhaust port (S920).

The temperature measured by the temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner may be detected at the predetermined time interval (S930). For example, a first temperature detected by the temperature sensor may be stored in the memory if an operation execution command for the cooling operation mode is input, and the temperature change information may be generated based on a second temperature detected by the temperature sensor after the predetermined time. For example, the temperature change information may be calculated based on a difference value between the first temperature and the second temperature, or the temperature increase rate at each predetermined time unit may be calculated as the temperature change information. Here, the temperature change information may be generated based on the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor at a predetermined cycle after the predetermined time. Here, the predetermined cycle may range from five to thirty seconds.

The operation in the cooling operation mode may be terminated based on the temperature change information generated based on the temperature information detected at the predetermined time interval (S940). An example operation for determining the termination of the operation in the cooling operation mode based on the temperature information is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for determining whether the error condition occurs based on the temperature information according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 10, the temperature may be detected at each predetermined time unit (S1010). The detected temperature may include the temperature measured by the temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner described above, and the temperature measured based on the pipe temperature of the compressor included in the air conditioner. For example, the temperature values may be measured by the sensors described above in the predetermined cycle (for example, every five to thirty seconds). Although the drawing shows and describes the use of the temperature information detected by the two temperature sensors. However, in implementation, the air conditioner may use only the information measured by the temperature sensor disposed at the rear side of the air conditioner, or may further use temperature information measured by a temperature sensor other than the two temperature sensors described above.

The air conditioner 100 may store initially measured temperature information as the initial temperature in the memory. The initial temperature may refer, for example, to a temperature at a time point at which the air conditioner 100 starts its operation in the cooling mode, a temperature at a time point at which the air conditioner 100 is turned on, or a temperature measured at a time point at which a cooling start command is input from the user. The initial temperature may be an average temperature among the temperatures measured at the above-described time points rather than a temperature value measured at a specific time point, or an average temperature of temperature values measured during a predetermined period of operation from the above-described time points.

The air conditioner 100 may determine whether the measured temperature is at or above the predetermined temperature (or the reference temperature) (S1020). The predetermined temperature refers to the reference temperature for determining whether the temperature at the rear side of the air conditioner is at a high-temperature state, and may be, for example, 55 degrees. In this way, the predetermined temperature value may be changed based on the weather information received from the external server. For example, if the outdoor temperature is 30 degrees or above, the reference temperature described above may be 65 degrees.

Upon using the external weather information, the air conditioner 100 may change the reference temperature described above in various ways. For example, a reference temperature corresponding to a range of outdoor temperatures may be used to set the reference temperature to 55 degrees if the outdoor temperature is between 20 and 30 degrees, and to set the reference temperature to 65 degrees if the outdoor temperature is 30 degrees or above. The reference temperature described above may be calculated and used based on a calculation formula using a specific outdoor temperature value. For example, if the outdoor temperature is 25 degrees, the reference temperature may be set to 55 degrees, and whenever the outdoor temperature increases by one degree relative to the reference temperature, the reference temperature may also increase by one degree, or a predetermined weight may be applied to an increase range of the reference temperature.

In implementation, rather than using only the outdoor temperature value, the air conditioner 100 may consider information such as the weather condition (e.g., wind or rain), thereby reducing a change range of the reference temperature in the weather condition such as wind or rain, and increasing the increase range of the reference temperature in cases of a high UV index or clear weather.

If a measured temperature is at or above the predetermined reference temperature (S1020-Y), the air conditioner 100 may determine whether the state where the measured temperature is at or above the reference temperature is maintained for the predetermined time or more (S1030). For example, as described above with reference to FIG. 5, an initially measured temperature may be at or above the reference temperature described above if the user restarts the air conditioner without opening the window, although the air conditioner starts cooling while the window is closed. Therefore, the air conditioner 100 may determine that the window is closed if the initially measured temperature is at or above the reference temperature described above, and this state where the measured temperature is at or above the reference temperature is maintained for the predetermined time (for example, three minutes) or more. The predetermined time described above is only an example, and in implementation, the air conditioner 100 may use a different value. In addition, the predetermined time described above may also be changed based on the outdoor temperature and/or the weather condition, similar to the example in which the reference temperature described above is changed.

For example, the air conditioner 100 may start the timer if the measured temperature is at or above the predetermined reference temperature and periodically compare time information provided by the timer with the periodically measured temperature. Here, the timer may be a component that increments and outputs a value at each predetermined time unit (for example, one second).

For example, after the timer is started, if the next measured temperature is still at or above the predetermined temperature, the air conditioner 100 may check whether a counting value of the above-described timer is maintained to be increased, and whether the counting value is at or above a predetermined value (e.g., a value corresponding to the predetermined time). If the counting value is less than the predetermined value, the air conditioner 100 may maintain a current state until the next time the temperature information is detected. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, after the predetermined temperature or above is detected, the air conditioner 100 may perform an operation for determining whether the high-temperature state is continuously maintained for the predetermined time (e.g., for three minutes), as shown in FIG. 10. Accordingly, FIG. 10 shows that the air conditioner 100 performs step S1030 again if the high-temperature state is not maintained for the predetermined time or more (S1030-N). However, the air conditioner 100 may also be implemented to return to the initial step (S1010) if the high-temperature state is not maintained for the predetermined time or more (S1030-N).

After the timer is started, if the next measured temperature is below the predetermined temperature (the reference temperature), the air conditioner 100 may perform determining the temperature increase rate as described below, instead of determining whether to maintain the high-temperature state. In implementation, if the timer is started as described above, the air conditioner 100 may only determine whether the periodically measured temperature remains at or above the reference temperature for the predetermined time, rather than proceeding with a process for determining the temperature increase rate. In this case, the air conditioner 100 may suspend the timer operation if the measured temperature temporarily falls below the predetermined temperature, and may resume the timer if the temperature rises back to the predetermined temperature or above. In addition, if a temperature lower than the reference temperature is detected, the air conditioner 100 may reset the timer and return to the previous initial step.

If the measured temperature is below the predetermined reference temperature (S1020-N), the air conditioner 100 may determine whether the temperature increase rate at each predetermined time unit is at or above a predetermined increase rate (S1040). The comparison operation between the temperature increase rates is described in detail with reference to FIG. 5, and a redundant description thereof is thus omitted.

If the measured temperature is below the predetermined increase rate, the air conditioner 100 may check whether a difference between the currently measured temperature and the initial temperature is a predetermined temperature difference (for example, 11 degrees) or more (S1050), and whether the compressor pipe temperature is at or above the predetermined temperature (for example, 95 degrees) (S1060). The air conditioner 100 may also determine that the window is closed if the currently measured temperature is higher than the initial temperature by the predetermined temperature difference or more and the pipe temperature is at or above the predetermined temperature.

As described above, the controlling method of the present disclosure may detect not only a case where the measured outdoor temperature is at or above the predetermined temperature, but also a case where the increase rate of the measured outdoor temperature is at or above the predetermined increase rate, thereby checking whether the window is closed or whether the window disposed to be adjacent to the exhaust port is closed. This configuration makes it possible to check whether air may be exchanged with outdoor air more quickly. In addition, the method may check the window closed state or the like more quickly, thereby more quickly preventing/reducing deformation of the window, the window frame, or the like due to high-temperature air emitted from the exhaust port.

Referring to FIG. 10, checking whether the window is closed is shown and described as being performed using the following three determination operations: a) checking whether the detected temperature is the predetermined temperature (S1020 or S1030); b) checking the temperature increase rate (S1040); and c) checking the temperature difference (S1050 or S1060). In the implementation, the three determination operations described may be performed simultaneously in parallel, or may be determined in a different order from the illustrated order. In addition, in the implementation, additional operations may be used in addition to the three determination operations described above, and some of the operations may be omitted in the implementation of the three determination operations described above.

According to the present disclosure, the various example embodiments described above may be implemented in software including an instruction stored in a machine-readable storage medium (for example, a computer-readable storage medium). A machine may be an apparatus that invokes the stored instruction from the storage medium, may be operated based on the invoked instruction, and may include the electronic device (e.g., electronic apparatus A) according to the disclosed embodiments. If the instruction is executed by the processor, the processor may perform a function corresponding to the instruction directly or using another component under control of the processor. The instruction may include a code provided or executed by a compiler or an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. The “non-transitory storage medium” may refer to a tangible device and may indicate that this storage medium does not include a signal (e.g., electromagnetic wave), and this term does not distinguish a case where data is stored semi-permanently in the storage medium and a case where data is temporarily stored in the storage medium from each other.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the methods according to the various embodiments described above may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a commodity between a seller and a purchaser. The computer program product may be distributed in a form of the machine-readable storage medium (for example, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed online through an application store (for example, PlayStore™). In case of the online distribution, at least a part of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily provided on a storage medium such as the memory of a manufacturer server, an application store server, or a relay server.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in a computer-readable recording medium or a device similar thereto that uses software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. In some cases, the various example embodiments described in the disclosure may be implemented by a processor itself. According to software implementation, the various embodiments such as the procedures and functions described in the disclosure may be implemented by separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform at least one function or operation described in the disclosure.

Computer instructions for performing processing operations of the device according to the various embodiment of the present disclosure described above may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium may allow a specific device to perform the processing operations of the device according to the various embodiments described above in case that the computer instructions are executed by a processor of the specific device. A specific example of the non-transitory computer-readable medium may include a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a hard disk, a Blu-ray disk, a universal serial bus (USB), a memory card, a read-only memory (ROM), or the like.

Each of the components (for example, modules or programs) according to the 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 of the components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into one entity, and may perform functions performed by the respective corresponding components before being integrated in the same or similar manner. Operations performed by the modules, the programs or other components according to the various embodiments may be executed in a sequential manner, a parallel manner, an iterative manner or a heuristic manner, and at least some of the operations may be performed in a different order, omitted, or supplemented with other operations.

Although various example embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described hereinabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned example embodiments, and may be variously modified by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure including the accompanying claims. These modifications should also be understood to fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.