AIR CONDITIONER

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2024/003092 designating the United States, filed on Mar. 11, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0052257, filed on Apr. 20, 2023, and 10-2023-0086126, filed on Jul. 3, 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.

Description of Related Art

An air conditioner is a device that performs functions such as air purification, ventilation, humidity control, cooling, and heating in an air-conditioned space, and refers to a device having at least one of these functions.

An air conditioner may use a refrigeration cycle to perform cooling or heating of a space. An air conditioner may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator, and piping. A refrigerant may circulate through the compressor, the condenser, the expansion device, and the evaporator along the piping.

Air conditioners may be categorized as split-type and integral-type. A split-type air conditioner may include an indoor unit that is placed indoors and an outdoor unit that is placed outdoors. An integral-type air conditioner may have both an indoor unit and an outdoor unit within one housing.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an air conditioner having an improved structure to form a flow path through which an airflow with a low velocity may efficiently flow.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an air conditioner having an improved structure capable of changing a direction of an airflow discharged from an outlet.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an air conditioner having an improved structure so that an airflow discharged from an outlet may be efficiently distributed.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an air conditioner having an improved structure to prevent/reduce dew condensation around a discharge panel, a blade, and/or an outlet.

An air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a housing including a first portion in which an outlet is formed and a second portion disposed on one side of the first portion in a first direction, a heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air, a fan disposed inside the housing and configured to cause air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger to flow to the outlet, a discharge panel configured to cover the first portion and the second portion of the housing and in which a plurality of discharge holes through which air flowing from the outlet is discharged, each of the discharge holes having a size smaller than that of the outlet, is formed in a first region corresponding to the first portion and a second region corresponding to the second portion, respectively, and a guide rib disposed between the first portion and the first region and configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet to the second region.

An air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a housing including a first portion in which an outlet is formed and a second portion located on one side of the first portion in a first direction, a heat exchanger disposed in the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air, a fan configured to cause air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger to flow to the outlet, a discharge panel configured to cover the first portion and the second portion and fixed to the housing and in which a panel opening and a plurality of discharge holes, located outwardly of a perimeter of the panel opening and having a size smaller than that of the panel opening, are formed, a blade rotatably provided relative to the housing between a first position covering the panel opening and a second position opening the panel opening, and a guide rib located on one side of the outlet in a second direction different from the first direction, and extending in a direction such that the second portion is located in the first direction relative to the first portion as a distance from the outlet in the second direction increases.

An air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a housing including an inlet and an outlet, a heat exchanger disposed in the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air, a fan disposed in the housing and configured to cause the air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger to flow to the outlet, a discharge panel having a plurality of discharge holes, each of the discharge holes having a size smaller than that of the outlet, and disposed on one side of the outlet, the discharge panel including an outlet-facing region provided in a position corresponding to the outlet and an extension region provided in a position where a distance from the outlet is greater than a distance from the outlet to the outlet-facing region, and a guide rib disposed between the discharge panel and the outlet and configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet toward the extension region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioning system according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner from one direction according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the air conditioner from another direction according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the air conditioner from the rear according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a discharge panel is separated from the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating example components such as a housing of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which cold air is discharged from the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner with a blade in a first position according to various embodiments;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner with a blade in a second position according to various embodiments;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating an example configuration such as a blade and a guide panel of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating an example configuration such as a blade and a guide panel of the air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner with the blade in a second position according to various embodiments;

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view illustrating an example configuration such as a housing and an insulation of the air conditioner according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of an air conditioner according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments of the disclosure and terms used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described herein to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions.

In describing of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related elements.

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items unless clearly indicated otherwise in a related context.

In the disclosure, phrases, 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”, and “at least one of A, B, or C” may include any one or all possible combinations of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In addition, the terms ‘portion’, ‘part’, ‘module’ and ‘member’ may be implemented in hardware or software. Depending on various embodiments, a plurality of ‘portions’, ‘parts’, ‘modules’, and ‘members’ may be implemented as a single element, or a single ‘portions, ‘part’, ‘module’, or ‘member’ may include a plurality of elements.

Terms such as “1st”, “2nd”, “primary”, or “secondary” may be used simply to distinguish an element from other elements, without limiting the element in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

When an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being “(functionally or communicatively) coupled” or “connected” to another element (e.g., a second element), the first element may be connected to the second element, directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third element.

It will be understood that when the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including”, and/or “comprising” are used in the disclosure, they specify the presence of the specified features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

When a given element is referred to as being “connected to”, “coupled to”, “supported by” or “in contact with” another element, it is to be understood that it may be directly or indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element. When a given element is indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with another element, it is to be understood that it may be connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element through a third element.

It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

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

According to an embodiment, an air conditioner may include a heat pump device to perform a cooling function or a heating function. The heat pump device may include a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant is circulated through a compressor, a first heat exchanger, and an expansion device and a second heat exchanger. All of the components of the heat pump device may be embedded in a single housing forming an exterior of an air conditioner, which includes a window-type air conditioner or a portable air conditioner. Various configurations of the heat pump device may be divided and embedded in a plurality of housings forming a single air conditioner, which includes a wall-mounted air conditioner, a stand-type air conditioner, and a system air conditioner.

The air conditioner including the plurality of housings may include at least one outdoor unit installed outdoors and at least one indoor unit installed indoors. For example, the air conditioner may be provided such that a single outdoor unit and a single indoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe. Alternatively, the air conditioner may be provided such that a single outdoor unit is connected to two or more indoor units by a refrigerant pipe. The air conditioner may be provided such that two or more outdoor units and two or more indoor units are connected by a plurality of refrigerant pipes.

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

The air conditioner may include an outdoor heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit, an indoor heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit, and a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.

The outdoor heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and air from outdoor through a phase change of the refrigerant (e.g., evaporation or condensation). For example, while the refrigerant is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant may radiate heat to the outdoor air. While the refrigerant flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger evaporates, the refrigerant may absorb heat from the outdoor air.

The indoor unit is installed indoors. For example, according to the arrangement method of the indoor unit, the air conditioner may be classified into a ceiling-type indoor unit, a stand-type indoor unit, a wall-type indoor unit, and the like. For example, the ceiling-type indoor unit may be classified into a 4-way type indoor unit, a 1-way type indoor unit, a duct type indoor unit and the like according to a method of discharging air.

The indoor heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and outdoor air through a phase change of the refrigerant (e.g., evaporation or condensation). For example, while the refrigerant evaporates in the indoor unit, the refrigerant may absorb heat from the indoor air. The indoor space may be cooled by blowing the indoor air cooled through the cooled indoor heat exchanger. While the refrigerant is condensed in the indoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant may radiate heat to the indoor air. The indoor space may be heated by blowing the indoor air heated through the high-temperature indoor heat exchanger.

The air conditioner may perform a cooling or heating function by a phase change process of a refrigerant circulated between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. To circulate the refrigerant, the air conditioner may include a compressor to compress the refrigerant. The compressor may draw refrigerant gas through an inlet and compress the refrigerant gas. The compressor may discharge high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas through an outlet. The compressor may be disposed inside the outdoor unit.

Through the refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may be circulated sequentially through the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion device, and the indoor heat exchanger or sequentially circulated through the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the expansion device, and the outdoor heat exchanger.

For example, in the air conditioner, when a single outdoor unit and a single indoor unit are directly connected through a refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may be circulated between the single outdoor unit and the single indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe.

For example, in the air conditioner, when a single outdoor unit is connected to two or more indoor units through a refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may flow from the single outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units through branched refrigerant pipes. Refrigerant discharged from the plurality of indoor units may be combined and circulated to the outdoor unit. For example, each of the plurality of indoor units may be directly connected in parallel to the single outdoor unit through a separate refrigerant pipe.

Each of the plurality of indoor units may be operated independently according to an operation mode set by a user. In other words, some of the plurality of indoor units may be operated in a cooling mode while others of the plurality of indoor units are operated in a heating mode. The refrigerant may be selectively introduced into each indoor unit in a high-pressure state or a low-pressure state, discharged, and circulated to the outdoor unit along a circulation path that is designated through a flow path switching valve to be described in greater detail below.

For example, in the air conditioner, when two or more outdoor units and two or more indoor units are connected by the plurality of refrigerant pipes, refrigerant discharged from the plurality of outdoor units may be combined and flow through one refrigerant pipe, and then diverged again at a certain point and introduced into the plurality of indoor units.

The plurality of outdoor units may be driven or at least some of the plurality of outdoor units may not be driven, in accordance with to a driving load corresponding to an operating amount of the plurality of indoor units. At that time, the refrigerant may be provided through a flow path switching valve to be introduced into and circulated to an outdoor unit that is selectively driven. The air conditioner may include the expansion device to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger. For example, the expansion device may be disposed inside the indoor unit or inside the outdoor unit, or disposed both inside the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

The expansion device may reduce the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant using a throttling effect. The expansion device may include an orifice configured to reduce a cross-sectional area of a flow path. A temperature and pressure of the refrigerant passing through the orifice may be lowered.

For example, the expansion device may be implemented as an electronic expansion valve configured to adjust an opening ratio (a ratio of a cross-sectional area of a flow path of a valve in a partially opened state to a cross-sectional area of the flow path of the valve in a fully opened state). According to the opening ratio of the electronic expansion valve, the amount of refrigerant passing through the expansion device may be adjusted.

The air conditioner may further include a flow path switching valve disposed on the refrigerant circulation path. The flow path switching valve may include a 4-way valve. The flow path switching valve may determine a refrigerant circulation path depending on an operation mode of the indoor unit (e.g., cooling operation or heating operation). The flow path switching valve may be connected to the outlet of the compressor.

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

When a refrigerant mixture of refrigerant liquid and refrigerant gas is introduced, the accumulator may separate the refrigerant liquid from the refrigerant gas, and supply the refrigerant gas separated from the refrigerant liquid to the compressor.

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

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include at least one sensor. For example, the outdoor unit sensor may be provided as an environmental sensor. The outdoor unit sensor may be disposed at a given position of the inside or the outside of the outdoor unit. For example, the outdoor unit sensor may include a temperature sensor configured to detect an air temperature around the outdoor unit, an air humidity sensor configured to detect air humidity around the outdoor unit, or a refrigerant temperature sensor configured to detect a refrigerant temperature in a refrigerant pipe passing through the outdoor unit, or a refrigerant pressure sensor configured to detect a refrigerant pressure in a refrigerant pipe passing through the outdoor unit.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include an outdoor unit communication circuitry. The outdoor unit communication circuitry may be configured to receive a control signal from an indoor unit controller of the air conditioner, which will be described in greater detail below. Based on a control signal received through the outdoor unit communication circuitry, the outdoor unit may control the operation of the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion device, the flow path switching valve, the accumulator, or the outdoor fan. The outdoor unit may transmit a measurement value detected by the outdoor unit sensor to the indoor unit controller through the outdoor unit communication circuitry.

The outdoor unit communication circuitry may include at least one of a short-range field communication module or a long-range field communication module.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a housing, a blower configured to circulate air inside or outside the housing, and the indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with air introduced into the housing.

The housing may include an inlet. Indoor air may flow into the housing through the inlet.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a filter configured to filter out foreign substance in air that is introduced into the inside of the housing through the inlet.

The housing may include an outlet. Air flowing inside the housing may be discharged to the outside of the housing through the outlet.

An airflow guide configured to guide a direction of air discharged through the outlet may be provided in the housing of the indoor unit. For example, the airflow guide may include a blade positioned in the outlet. For example, the airflow guide may include an auxiliary fan for regulating an exhaust airflow, but is not limited thereto. The airflow guide may be omitted.

The indoor heat exchanger and the blower arranged on a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet may be disposed inside the housing of the indoor unit.

The blower may include an indoor fan and a fan motor. For example, the indoor fan may include an axial fan, a mixed-flow fan, a cross-flow fan and a centrifugal fan.

The indoor heat exchanger may be arranged between the blower and the outlet or between the inlet and the blower. The indoor heat exchanger may absorb heat from air introduced through the inlet or transfer heat to air introduced through the inlet. The indoor heat exchanger may include a heat exchange tube through which refrigerant flows, and heat exchange fins in contact with the heat exchange tube to increase a heat transfer area.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a drain tray disposed below the indoor heat exchanger to collect condensed water generated in the indoor heat exchanger. The condensed water contained in the drain tray may be drained to the outside through a drain hose. The drain tray may be arranged to support the indoor heat exchanger.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include an input interface. The input interface may include any type of user input means including a button, a switch, a touch screen and/or a touch pad. A user can directly input setting data (e.g., desired indoor temperature, cooling/heating/dehumidifying/air cleaning operation mode setting, outlet selection setting, and/or air volume setting) through the input interface.

The input interface may 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 location (e.g., a part of a wall) in an indoor space. A user may input setting data related to the operation of the air conditioner by manipulating the wired remote controller. An electrical signal corresponding to the setting data obtained by the wired remote controller may be transmitted to the input interface. In addition, the input interface may include an infrared sensor. A user may remotely input the setting data for operating the air conditioner using a wireless remote controller. The setting data received by the wireless remote controller may be transmitted to the input interface as an infrared signal.

The input interface may include a microphone. A user's voice command may be obtained through the microphone. The microphone may convert a user's voice command into an electrical signal and transmit the converted electrical signal to the indoor unit controller. The indoor unit controller may control components of the air conditioner to perform a function corresponding to the user's voice command. The setting data obtained through the input interface (e.g., desired indoor temperature, cooling/heating/dehumidifying/air cleaning operation mode setting, outlet selection setting, and/or air volume setting) may be transmitted to the indoor unit controller to be described in greater detail below. For example, the setting data obtained through the input interface may be transmitted to the outside, that is, to the outdoor unit or a server through an indoor unit communication circuitry to be described in greater detail below.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a power module. The power module may be connected to an external power source to supply power to components of the indoor unit.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include an indoor unit sensor. The indoor unit sensor may be an environmental sensor disposed inside or outside the housing. For example, the indoor unit sensor may include one or more temperature sensors and/or humidity sensors disposed in a predetermined space inside or outside the housing of the indoor unit. For example, the indoor unit sensor may include a refrigerant temperature sensor configured to detect a refrigerant temperature of a refrigerant pipe passing through the indoor unit. For example, the indoor unit sensor may include a refrigerant temperature sensor each configured to detect a temperature of an entrance, a middle portion and/or an exit of the refrigerant pipe passing through the indoor heat exchanger.

For example, each environmental information detected by the indoor unit sensor may be transmitted to the indoor unit controller to be described in greater detail below or transmitted to the outside through the indoor unit communication circuitry to be described in greater detail below.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include the indoor unit communication circuitry. The indoor unit communication circuitry may include at least one of a short-range wireless communication module and a long-range wireless communication module. The indoor unit communication circuitry may include at least one antenna for wirelessly communicating with other devices. The outdoor unit may include the outdoor unit communication circuitry. The outdoor unit communication circuitry may also include at least one of a short-range wireless communication module and a long-range wireless communication module.

The short-range wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication module, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication module, and a Zigbee communication module, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, an ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The long-range wireless communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-range wireless communication, and may include a mobile communication circuitry. The mobile communication circuitry transmits and receives radio signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server in a mobile communication network.

The indoor unit communication circuitry may communicate with an external device such as a server, a mobile device and other home appliances through an access point (AP). The AP may connect a local area network (LAN), to which an air conditioner or a user device is connected, to a wide area network (WAN) to which a server is connected. The air conditioner or the user device may be connected to the server through the WAN. The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include the indoor unit controller configured to control components of the indoor unit including the blower. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include an outdoor unit controller configured to control components of the outdoor unit including the compressor. The indoor unit controller may communicate with the outdoor unit controller through the indoor unit communication circuitry and the outdoor unit communication circuitry. The outdoor unit communication circuitry may transmit a control signal generated by the outdoor unit controller to the indoor unit communication circuitry, or transmit a control signal, which is transmitted from the indoor unit communication circuitry, to the outdoor unit controller. In other words, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit may perform bi-directional communication. The outdoor unit and the indoor unit may transmit and receive various signals generated during the operation of the air conditioner.

The outdoor unit controller may be electrically connected to components of the outdoor unit and may control the operation of each component. For example, the outdoor unit controller may adjust a frequency of the compressor and control the flow path switching valve to change a circulation direction of the refrigerant. The outdoor unit controller may adjust a rotational speed of the outdoor fan. The outdoor unit controller may generate a control signal to adjust the opening degree of the expansion valve. Under the control of the outdoor unit controller, the refrigerant may be circulated along the refrigerant circulation circuit including the compressor, the flow path switching valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the indoor heat exchanger.

Various temperature sensors included in the outdoor unit and the indoor unit may transmit electrical signals corresponding to detected temperatures to the outdoor unit controller and/or the indoor unit controller. For example, the humidity sensors included in the outdoor unit and the indoor unit may respectively transmit electrical signals corresponding to the detected humidity to the outdoor unit controller and/or the indoor unit controller.

The indoor unit controller may obtain a user input from a user device including a mobile device through the indoor unit communication circuitry, or directly obtain a user input through the input interface or the remote controller. The indoor unit controller may control components of the indoor unit including the blower in response to the received user input. The indoor unit controller may transmit information related to the received user input to the outdoor unit controller of the outdoor unit.

The outdoor unit controller may control components of the outdoor unit including the compressor based on the information related to the user input received from the indoor unit. For example, when a control signal corresponding to a user input for selecting an operation mode such as a cooling operation, a heating operation, a fan operation, a defrosting operation, or a dehumidifying operation is received from the indoor unit, the outdoor unit controller may control components of the outdoor unit to perform an operation of the air conditioner corresponding to the selected operation mode.

The outdoor unit controller and the indoor unit controller may include a processor and a memory, respectively. The indoor unit controller may include at least one a first processor and at least one a first memory, and the outdoor unit controller may include at least one a second processor and at least one a second memory.

The memory may record/store various types of information necessary for the operation of the air conditioner. The memory may store instructions, applications, data and/or programs necessary for the operation of the air conditioner. For example, the memory may store various programs for the cooling operation, the heating operation, the dehumidifying operation, and/or the defrosting operation of the air conditioner. The memory may include volatile memory, such as a static random access memory (S-RAM) and a dynamic random access memory (D-RAM) for temporarily storing data. In addition, the memory 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 processor may include various processing circuitry and generate a control signal for controlling an operation of the air conditioner based on instructions, applications, data, and/or programs stored in the memory. The processor may be hardware and may include a logic circuit and an arithmetic circuit. The processor may process data according to a program and/or instructions provided from the memory, and may generate a control signal according to a processing result. The memory and the processor may be implemented as one control circuit or as a plurality of circuits.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include an output interface. The output interface may be electrically connected to the indoor unit controller, and output information related to the operation of the air conditioner under the control of the indoor unit controller. For example, the output interface may output information, such as an operation mode selected by a user input, a wind direction, a wind volume, and a temperature. The output interface may output sensing information obtained from the indoor unit sensor or the outdoor unit sensor, and output warning/error messages.

The output interface may include a display and a speaker. The speaker may be a sound device and configured to output various sounds. The display may display information, which is input by a user or provided to a user, as various graphic elements. For example, operational information of the air conditioner may be displayed as at least one of an image and text. 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.

Hereinafter, various example embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, for ease of description, a window-type air conditioner installed in a window and/or a window frame will be described as an example. However, the content of the present disclosure may also be applied to other types of air conditioners. For example, the content of the present disclosure may be applied to portable air conditioners, wall-mounted air conditioners, ceiling-mounted air conditioners, and floor-standing air conditioners.

Terms such as “up”, “down”, “front”, and “rear” used in the following description will be defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each configuration are not limited by these terms. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 to 19, when an air conditioner 3 or 3-1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is mounted on a mounting assembly 2, a direction facing an indoor space may be defined as a forward (+X direction), and a direction in which the air conditioner 3 faces an outdoor space may be defined as a rearward (−X direction). In addition, when the air conditioner 3 or 3-1 is mounted on the mounting assembly 2, a direction facing vertically upward may be defined as an upward (+Z direction), and a direction in which the air conditioner 3 faces vertically downward may be defined as a downward (−Z direction). In addition, when the air conditioner 3 or 3-1 is mounted on the mounting assembly 2, a direction parallel to the +Y direction and the −Y direction based on the drawings may be defined as a horizontal direction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example air conditioning system according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, an air conditioning system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the mounting assembly 2.

The mounting assembly 2 may be configured to support the air conditioner 3, which will be described in greater detail below. The mounting assembly 2 may allow the air conditioner 3 to be mounted on a structure A.

The mounting assembly 2 may be configured to be installable on the structure A. The mounting assembly 2 may be configured to be mountable on the structure A. The mounting assembly 2 may be configured to be fixable to the structure A.

The mounting assembly 2 may be configured to seal between the air conditioner 3 and the structure A. The mounting assembly 2 may be configured to seal indoor I and outdoor O.

For example, the structure A may include a window and/or a window frame. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The structure A may be provided in various forms depending on the type of the air conditioner 3. For example, the structure A may include at least one of a wall, a ceiling, or a floor.

The air conditioning system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the air conditioner 3.

The air conditioner 3 may be configured to be supported and held by the mounting assembly 2. The air conditioner 3 may be configured to be mounted on the structure A by being mounted on the mounting assembly 2. The air conditioner 3 may be installed on the structure A via the mounting assembly 2. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the air conditioner 3 may be mounted on the structure A without the mounting assembly 2. For example, unlike what is shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 3 may be configured to perform an air conditioning function without being mounted on the structure A.

The air conditioner 3 may be configured to cool or heat the indoor I. The air conditioner 3 may be configured to exchange heat with indoor air and outdoor air, respectively. For example, the air conditioner 3 may perform a heat exchange operation using a refrigerant cycle, and may be configured to exchange heat between indoor air and a refrigerant, and to exchange heat between outdoor air and the refrigerant. The air conditioner 3 may be configured to absorb heat from the indoor air and transfer heat to the outdoor air when cooling the indoor I. Furthermore, the air conditioner 3 may be configured to transfer heat to the indoor air and absorb heat from the outdoor air when heating the indoor I.

A portion of the air conditioner 3 may be configured to face the indoor I. Another portion of the air conditioner 3 may be configured to face the outdoor O.

The air conditioning system 1 described above with reference to FIG. 1 is merely an example of a system that allows an air conditioner to be installed and to operate in an air conditioning system according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner from one direction according to various embodiments. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the air conditioner from another direction according to various embodiments. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the air conditioner from the rear according to various embodiments. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner according various embodiments. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner according to various embodiments. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 7, the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing 10. The housing 10 may be configured to form the overall appearance of the air conditioner 3. The housing 10 may form at least a portion of an outer surface of the air conditioner 3. The housing 10 may be configured to accommodate various configurations of the air conditioner 3 therein. The housing 10 may have a substantially box shape.

For example, the housing 10 may include a front case 11. For example, the housing 10 may include a rear case 12. The front case 11 may be configured to be detachably couplable to the rear case 12.

The front case 11 may be configured to face the indoor I (see FIG. 1). For example, the front case 11 may be configured to form at least a portion of a front exterior of the air conditioner 3.

The rear case 12 may be configured to face the outdoor O (see FIG. 1). For example, the rear case 12 may be configured to form at least a portion of a rear exterior of the air conditioner 3.

For example, the housing 10 may include a front panel 14. The front panel 14 may form at least a portion of a front surface of the housing 10. The front panel 14 may be provided with a second outlet 11b, which will be described in greater detail below.

The front panel 14 may be at least partially covered by a discharge panel 50, which will be described in greater detail below. In an example, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the front panel 14 may be substantially entirely covered by the discharge panel 50, and thus the front panel 14 may not be exposed on the front exterior of the air conditioner 3. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a portion of the front panel 14 may be covered by the discharge panel 50, while another portion may not be covered by the discharge panel 50 and may be exposed to an outside to form a portion of the front exterior of the air conditioner 3.

For example, the housing 10 may include a top panel 15. The top panel 15 may form an upper surface of the air conditioner 3.

For example, the housing 10 may include a first side panel 16. The first side panel 16 may form a right side surface of both side surfaces of the air conditioner 3 in a horizontal direction (Y direction).

For example, the housing 10 may include a second side panel 17. The second side panel 17 may form a left side surface of both side surfaces of the air conditioner 3 in the horizontal direction (Y direction). The second side panel 17 may be provided on an opposite side of the first side panel 16.

For example, the housing 10 may include a rear panel 18. The rear panel 18 may form a rear surface of the air conditioner 3.

For example, the housing 10 may include a base 13. The base 13 may form a lower surface of the air conditioner 3. The base 13 may be configured to support at least a portion of a configuration disposed inside the air conditioner 3.

For example, the housing 10 may include a top cover 19. For example, the top cover 19 may be configured to form a portion of the upper surface and/or a portion of the rear surface of the air conditioner 3. However, the housing 10 may not include a separate top cover 19. For example, the top cover 19 may be provided as one configuration of the top panel 15 or one configuration of the rear panel 18. For example, a portion of the top cover 19 may be provided as one configuration of the top panel 15, and another portion of the top cover 19 may be provided as one configuration of the rear panel 18.

For example, referring to FIGS. 2 to 7, the front case 11 is shown as including the front panel 14, the top panel 15, the first side panel 16, and the second side panel 17, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the front case 11 may be formed to include only the front panel 14 and the top panel 15. For example, the front case 11 may further include other configurations in addition to the front panel 14, the top panel 15, the first side panel 16, and the second side panel 17.

For example, referring to FIGS. 2 to 7, the rear case 12 is shown as including the rear panel 18, the base 13, and the top cover 19, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the rear case 12 may be formed to include only the rear panel 18. For example, the rear case 12 may further include other configurations in addition to the rear panel 18, the base 13, and the top cover 19.

The housing 10 of the air conditioner 3 described above may be merely an example of a housing provided in an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. An air conditioner according to the present disclosure may include a housing having different structures and shapes.

The housing 10 may include a first inlet 12a formed to allow outdoor air to be introduced. The outdoor air may be introduced into the housing 10 via the first inlet 12a.

The first inlet 12a may be disposed to face the outdoor O (see FIG. 1). The first inlet 12a may be in communication with the outdoor O. For example, the first inlet 12a may be formed in the rear case 12 to allow outdoor air to be introduced. For example, the first inlet 12a may be formed in the rear panel 18. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the first inlet 12a may be formed in different segments of the housing 10 facing the outdoor O.

The housing 10 may include a first outlet 12b formed to discharge air that has exchanged heat with a first heat exchanger 40 to the outdoor O. The outdoor air introduced into the housing 10 via the first inlet 12a may be discharged to the outdoor O via the first outlet 12b after being heat exchanged with the first heat exchanger 40.

The first outlet 12b may be disposed to face the outdoor O (see FIG. 1). The first outlet 12b may be in communication with the outdoor O. For example, the first outlet 12b may be formed in the rear case 12. For example, the first outlet 12b may be formed in the rear panel 18. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the first outlet 12b may be formed in different segments of the housing 10 facing the outdoor O.

The first outlet 12b may be distinguishable from the first inlet 12a. The first outlet 12b may be formed spaced apart from the first inlet 12a.

A first flow path P1 may be formed inside the housing 10. The first flow path P1 may be formed to allow air introduced from the outdoor to flow. The first flow path P1 may be formed between the first inlet 12a and the first outlet 12b. For example, the first heat exchanger 40 may be provided on the first flow path P1. For example, a first fan assembly 100 may be provided on the first flow path P1.

The housing 10 may include a second inlet 11a formed to allow indoor air to be introduced. The indoor air may be introduced into the housing 10 via the second inlet 11a.

The second inlet 11a may be disposed to face the indoor I (see FIG. 1). The second inlet 11a may be in communication with the indoor I. For example, the second inlet 11a may be formed in the front case 11 to allow indoor air to be introduced. For example, the second inlet 11a may be formed in the second side panel 17. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the second inlet 11a may be formed in different segments of the housing 10 facing the indoor I.

The housing 10 may include a second outlet 11b formed to discharge air that has exchanged heat with a second heat exchanger 60 to the outside of the housing 10. The indoor air introduced into the housing 10 via the second inlet 11a may be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 via the second outlet 11b after being heat exchanged with the second heat exchanger 60. As will be described in greater detail below, the air discharged to the outside of the housing 10 via the second outlet 11b may be discharged to the indoor I (see FIG. 1) through a plurality of discharge holes 50h or a panel opening 55 (see FIG. 8, etc.) formed in the discharge panel 50.

The second outlet 11b may be disposed to face the indoor I (see FIG. 1). The second outlet 11b may be in communication with the indoor I. For example, the second outlet 11b may be formed in the front case 11. For example, the second outlet 11b may be formed in the front panel 14 and may be covered by the discharge panel 50. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the second outlet 11b may be formed in different segments of the housing 10 facing the indoor I.

The second outlet 11b may be distinguishable from the second inlet 11a. The second outlet 11b may be formed spaced apart from the second inlet 11a.

A second flow path P2 may be formed inside the housing 10. The second flow path P2 may be formed to allow air introduced from the indoor to flow. The second flow path P2 may be formed between the second inlet 11a and the second outlet 11b. For example, the second heat exchanger 60 may be provided on the second flow path P2. For example, a second fan assembly 200 may be provided on the second flow path P2.

The first flow path P1 and the second flow path P2 may be configured to be partitioned from each other. The outdoor air flowing through the first flow path P1 and the indoor air flowing through the second flow path P2 may not mix inside the housing 10.

The air conditioner 3 may include the discharge panel 50. The discharge panel 50 may cover at least a portion of the housing 10. For example, the discharge panel 50 may cover a portion of the housing 10 in which the second outlet 11b is formed. The discharge panel 50 may be disposed on one side of the second outlet 11b. The discharge panel 50 may be disposed spaced apart from the second outlet 11b.

In an example, the discharge panel 50 may cover the front panel 14 in which the second outlet 11b is formed. The discharge panel 50 may form at least a portion of the front exterior of the air conditioner 3.

The discharge panel 50 may be configured to discharge at least a portion of the air discharged through the second outlet 11b. In other words, the indoor air introduced into the housing 10 from the indoor I (see FIG. 1) through the second inlet 11a may heat exchange with the second heat exchanger 60, and then at least a portion of the heat-exchanged air may sequentially pass through the second outlet 11b and the discharge panel 50 to be discharged back into the indoor I.

In an example, the discharge panel 50 may include the plurality of discharge holes 50h configured to discharge the air flowing from the second outlet 11b. The plurality of discharge holes 50h formed in the discharge panel 50 may each be formed to have a size smaller than that of the second outlet 11b.

In an example, the discharge panel 50 may include a panel opening 55 (see FIG. 8, etc.) configured to discharge the air discharged through the second outlet 11b. The panel opening 55 may be formed to have a size larger than that of each of the plurality of discharge holes 50h described above. As shown in FIG. 8, etc., the panel opening 55 may have a size larger than the second outlet 11b, but may alternatively may have a size approximately corresponding to the second outlet 11b, or may have a size larger than each of the plurality of discharge holes 50h but smaller than the second outlet 11b.

The discharge panel 50 may be coupled to the housing 10. Specifically, the discharge panel 50 may be coupled to the front case 11. The discharge panel 50 may remain in a fixed position relative the housing 10.

The discharge panel 50 may be formed in a substantially flat plate shape. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the discharge panel 50 may be formed in various shapes.

A detailed description of a structure of the discharge panel 50 will be provided in greater detail below.

The air conditioner 3 may include a blade 20. The blade 20 may be configured to open or cover the panel opening 55 (see FIG. 8). The blade 20 may have a shape approximately corresponding to the panel opening 55.

The blade 20 may be configured to cover the panel opening 55 at a position spaced apart from the second outlet 11b. When covering the panel opening 55, the blade 20 may be disposed substantially parallel to the discharge panel 50.

The blade 20 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the housing 10. Furthermore, the blade 20 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the discharge panel 50. The blade 20 may be coupled to the housing 10.

The blade 20 may be configured to guide the indoor air discharged through the panel opening 55. The blade 20 may be configured to adjust a discharge direction of the air discharged into the indoor through the panel opening 55.

The blade 20 may be configured to discharge a portion of the air discharged from the second outlet 11b while covering the second outlet 11b and the panel opening 55. In other words, after the indoor air introduced into the housing 10 from the indoor I (see FIG. 1) through the second inlet 11a exchanges heat with the second heat exchanger 60, a portion of the heat-exchanged air may sequentially pass through the second outlet 11b and the blade 20 to be discharged back into the indoor I.

In an example, the blade 20 may include a plurality of discharge holes 20h configured to discharge the air flowing from the second outlet 11b. The plurality of discharge holes 20h formed in the blade 20 may each be formed to have a size smaller than the second outlet 11b. With the blade 20 covering the second outlet 11b and/or the panel opening 55, a portion of the air discharged from the second outlet 11b may be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 20h of the blade 20.

A more detailed description of a structure of the blade 20 will be provided below.

The air conditioner 3 may include the first heat exchanger 40. The first heat exchanger 40 may be configured to exchange heat with the outdoor air introduced through the first inlet 12a. The first heat exchanger 40 may be disposed inside the housing 10. The first heat exchanger 40 may be disposed on the first flow path P1. The first heat exchanger 40 may be disposed to face the first inlet 12a. The first heat exchanger 40 may also be referred to as an outdoor heat exchanger in that it exchanges heat with outdoor air.

The air conditioner 3 may include the second heat exchanger 60. The second heat exchanger 60 may be configured to exchange heat with the indoor air introduced through the second inlet 11a. The second heat exchanger 60 may be disposed inside the housing 10. The second heat exchanger 60 may be disposed on the second flow path P2. At least a portion of the second heat exchanger 60 may be disposed to face the second inlet 11a. For example, the second heat exchanger 60 may be configured to surround at least a portion of the second fan assembly 200. For example, the second heat exchanger 60 may be configured to cover at least a portion of the second fan assembly 200. The second heat exchanger 60 may also be referred to as an indoor heat exchanger in that it exchanges heat with indoor air.

For example, the first heat exchanger 40 may be provided as a condenser, and the second heat exchanger 60 may be provided as an evaporator. In this case, the air conditioner 3 may be configured to cool the indoor. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first heat exchanger 40 may be provided as an evaporator, and the second heat exchanger 60 may be provided as a condenser. In this case, the air conditioner 3 may be configured to heat the indoor.

The air conditioner 3 may include a drain pan 80. The drain pan 80 may be configured to collect condensed water generated in the second heat exchanger 60. The drain pan 80 may be configured to support the second heat exchanger 60. The drain pan 80 may be configured to support the second fan assembly 200. For example, the drain pan 80 may include a seating portion 81 on which a base 230 of the second fan assembly 200 is seated.

The air conditioner 3 may include a compressor 70. The compressor 70 may be configured to compress a refrigerant to a state of a high-temperature and high-pressure. The refrigerant compressed in the compressor 70 may be introduced into the first heat exchanger 40 or the second heat exchanger 60.

For example, the compressor 70 may be disposed below the second fan assembly 200. For example, the compressor 70 may be disposed below the drain pan 80.

The air conditioner 3 may include a compressor cover 71. The compressor cover 71 may be configured to cover the compressor 70. The compressor cover 71 may prevent/block the compressor 70 from being exposed to the outside. The compressor cover 71 may be configured to protect the compressor 70.

The air conditioner 3 may include an expansion device. The expansion device may be configured to expand the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchanger 40 or the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchanger 60.

The air conditioner 3 may include a control box 90. The control box 90 may accommodate a printed circuit board on which various electronic components are mounted.

The air conditioner 3 may include a control panel 30. The control panel 30 may be configured to obtain a user input. The control panel 30 may be configured to display information about operation, status, various settings, indoor temperature, and/or humidity of the air conditioner 3. The control panel 30 may be electrically connected to a controller of the air conditioner 3. In an example, the control panel 30 may be disposed on a front side of the front case 11.

The air conditioner 3 may include the first fan assembly 100. The first fan assembly 100 may be configured to cause outdoor air to flow within the housing 10. The first fan assembly 100 may be configured to cause outdoor air to flow between the first inlet 12a and the first outlet 12b.

For example, an intake side 101 of the first fan assembly 100 may be arranged to face the first inlet 12a. For example, a discharge side 102 of the first fan assembly 100 may be arranged to face the first outlet 12b.

The first fan assembly 100 may include a first fan 110. For example, the first fan 110 may be disposed to face at least a portion of the first heat exchanger 40.

The first fan assembly 100 may include a first fan motor 120 for driving the first fan 110.

The first fan assembly 100 may include a first frame 130 configured to guide the outdoor air. For example, the first frame 130 may extend along an extension direction of the first fan 110. For example, the first frame 130 may have a shape extending in the substantially vertical direction (Z direction).

The air conditioner 3 may include the second fan assembly 200. The second fan assembly 200 may be configured to cause indoor air to flow within the housing 10. The second fan assembly 200 may be configured to cause indoor air to flow between the second inlet 11a and the second outlet 11b.

For example, an intake side 201 of the second fan assembly 200 may be arranged to face the second inlet 11a. For example, a discharge side 202 of the second fan assembly 200 may be arranged to face the second outlet 11b. For example, the discharge side 202 of the second fan assembly 200 may be disposed to face the blade 20.

The second fan assembly 200 may include a second fan 210. For example, the second fan 210 may be disposed to face at least a portion of the second heat exchanger 60.

The second fan assembly 200 may include a second fan motor 220 for driving the second fan 210.

The second fan assembly 200 may include a second frame 240 configured to guide the indoor air. For example, the second frame 240 may extend along the extension direction of the second fan 210. For example, the second frame 240 may have a shape extending in the substantially vertical direction (Z direction).

Referring to FIG. 7, the first frame 130 and the second frame 240 may be configured to be in contact with each other. For example, the first frame 130 and the second frame 240 may be configured to partition the first fan 110 and the second fan 210. For example, a partition portion 132 of the first frame 130 and the second frame 240 may be coupled to each other to partition the first fan 110 and the second fan 210. For example, the first frame 130 and the second frame 240 may be configured to partition the first flow path P1 and the second flow path P2. As a result, the indoor air and the outdoor air may not mix inside the housing 10.

The configurations of the air conditioner 3 described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7 are merely examples of configurations that may be provided in an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, and an air conditioner according to the present disclosure may include an example configuration.

In the following, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 18, various features of the structure and function when the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger 60 is discharged through the second outlet 11b, the discharge panel 50 and/or the blade 20 in the air conditioner 3 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in greater detail. Hereinafter, for ease of description, the second inlet 11a may be referred to as an inlet 11a. In addition, the second outlet 11b may be referred to as an outlet 11b. In addition, the second heat exchanger 60 may be referred to as a heat exchanger 60. In addition, the second fan assembly 200 and the second fan 210 may be referred to as a fan assembly 200 and/or a fan 210, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a discharge panel is separated from the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 8, the discharge panel 50 of the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may cover a portion of a housing 10. The discharge panel 50 may cover a portion of the housing 10, in which the outlet 11b is formed, from one side.

The discharge panel 50 may be coupled to the housing 10. In an example, the discharge panel 50 may be coupled to the front surface of the housing 10 in the X direction. For example, the discharge panel 50 may be coupled to the front case 11. The discharge panel 50 may be coupled to a front panel 14 to cover a front side of the front panel 14. The discharge panel 50 may remain in the fixed position relative to the housing 10.

In an example, the housing 10 may include a panel mounting portion 11c on which the discharge panel 50 is mounted, and the discharge panel 50 may include a coupling hook 56 configured to be coupled to the panel mounting portion 11c. The panel mounting portion 11c may be provided on a front surface of the front panel 14, and the coupling hook 56 may be provided on a rear surface of the discharge panel 50 facing the front surface of the front panel 14. As the coupling hook 56 is coupled to the panel mounting portion 11c, the discharge panel 50 may be mounted on the housing 10.

In an example, the discharge panel 50 may be detachably mounted on the front case 11.

However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the discharge panel 50 may be coupled to the housing 10 by various structures. Alternatively, the discharge panel 50 may be formed integrally with the housing 10.

As described above, the discharge panel 50 may include the plurality of discharge holes 50h configured to discharge the air flowing from the outlet 11b. The plurality of discharge holes 50h may each be formed to have a size smaller than the size of the outlet 11b.

As described above, the discharge panel 50 may include the panel opening 55 configured to discharge the air flowing from the outlet 11b. The plurality of discharge holes 50h of the discharge panel 50 may have a size smaller than the panel opening 55.

The plurality of discharge holes 50h of the discharge panel 50 may be positioned on an outer side of the perimeter of the panel opening 55. In other words, the panel opening 55 may be formed on an inward portion of an outer border of the discharge panel 50.

In an example, the panel opening 55 may be formed in a central portion of the discharge panel 50 substantially in the horizontal direction (Y direction). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the panel opening 55 may be formed at a position biased to one side in the horizontal direction (Y direction) or at a position biased to one side in the vertical direction (Z direction) in the discharge panel 50.

The panel opening 55 may have a shape extending elongate in one direction (e.g., the Z direction as shown in the drawings), but is not limited thereto.

The blade 20 of the air conditioner 3 may be configured to be movable between a first position 20A (see FIG. 13) covering the panel opening 55 and a second position 20B (see FIG. 14, FIG. 17) opening the panel opening 55. For example, the blade 20 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the housing 10 between the first position 20A (see FIG. 13) and the second position 20B (see FIG. 14, FIG. 17).

As used herein, the expression “the blade 20 covers the panel opening 55” may refer to the case where the blade 20 is disposed to cover substantially all of the panel opening 55 in a width direction (substantially the Y direction, based on the drawings). When the blade 20 covers the panel opening 55, a rear surface of the blade 20 may be disposed to face an inner side of the panel opening 55. Furthermore, when the blade 20 covers the panel opening 55, the rear surface of the blade 20 may be disposed to face the outlet 11b.

In addition, as used herein, the expression “the blade 20 opens the panel opening 55” may refer to the case where the blade 20 is disposed to open the panel opening 55 by a wider width than in the first position 20A covering the panel opening 55. In other words, a flow path for the air discharged from the outlet 11b through the panel opening 55 may become wider when the blade 20 opens the panel opening 55 than when the blade 20 covers the panel opening 55. The expression “the blade 20 opens the panel opening 55” may be defined to mean the same as “the blade 20 does not completely cover the panel opening 55” or “the blade 20 partially covers the panel opening 55”.

The blade 20 may be rotatably coupled to the housing 10. The discharge panel 50 and the blade 20 may be separated from each other. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and in an air conditioner according to an embodiment, the blade may be rotatably coupled to the discharge panel.

The air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may operate in a wind-free operation mode to implement a wind-free airflow. The wind-free operation mode may refer to a low-airflow operation mode in which air is discharged at a certain speed or less while avoiding blowing directly blown toward a user. When the air conditioner 3 operates in the wind-free operation mode, the air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger 60 may be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 50h of the discharge panel 50 and/or the plurality of discharge holes 20h of the blade 20. In this case, in an example, the blade 20 may be disposed to cover the panel opening 55.

When the blade 20 is disposed to open the panel opening 55, the majority of the air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger 60 may be discharged through the panel opening 55.

In an embodiment with reference to FIG. 8, an example has been described in which a portion of the discharge panel 50, in which the plurality of discharge holes 50h is formed, has a shape surrounding the perimeter of the panel opening 55, and correspondingly, the blade 20 is surrounded by the discharge panel 50. However, in an air conditioner according to an embodiment, the blade may be provided on one side of the discharge panel, such as being disposed between the discharge panel and the housing. In this case, the panel opening opened or covered by the blade may be defined as a space formed to be opened or covered by the blade on one side of the discharge panel.

However, for ease of description, the present disclosure will be described herein on the premise of an example in which, as shown in FIG. 8, the panel opening 55 is surrounded by a portion of the discharge panel 50 in which the plurality of discharge holes 50h is formed, and correspondingly, the blade 20 is also disposed to be surrounded by the discharge panel 50.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration such as a housing of the air conditioner according to various embodiments. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the housing 10 of the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first portion 10a in which the outlet 11b is formed and a second portion 10b disposed on one side of the first portion 10a. The first portion 10a and the second portion 10b of the housing 10 may each be a portion defined on one surface of the front panel 14 facing the discharge panel 50.

The second portion 10b of the housing 10 may be positioned on one side in a first direction Z relative to the first portion 10a. In other words, the first portion 10a and the second portion 10b of the housing 10 may be positioned in the first direction Z relative to each other. The first portion 10a and the second portion 10b of the housing 10 may be configured to be partitioned such that their positions along a Z-axis extending in the first direction Z are different from each other.

In an example, the first direction Z may be aligned with the vertical direction (up-and-down direction) of the air conditioner 3. More specifically, the first portion 10a of the housing 10 may be positioned higher than the second portion 10b.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7 and the like, the compressor 70 may be disposed on a lower portion of the air conditioner 3. In this case, the heat exchanger 60 may be positioned above the compressor 70. The fan assembly 200 may be positioned above the compressor 70. The second flow path P2 extending from the inlet 11a to the outlet 11b may be positioned above the compressor 70.

The outlet 11b may be formed at a position corresponding to the position in which the second flow path P2 is formed. In other words, the outlet 11b may be formed in a range of positions (heights) corresponding to the second flow path P2 in the first direction Z.

The first portion 10a of the housing 10 may be located at a position corresponding to the heat exchanger 60, the fan assembly 200, and the second flow path P2 in the first direction Z. In other words, the first portion 10a of the housing 10 may cover the heat exchanger 60, the fan assembly 200, and the second flow path P2 from the front (+X direction). The second portion 10b of the housing 10 may be located at a position corresponding to the compressor 70 and the compressor cover 71 in the first direction Z. In other words, the second portion 10b of the housing 10 may cover the compressor 70 and the compressor cover 71 from the front (+X direction).

Accordingly, the outlet 11b may be formed in the first portion 10a of the housing 10 as shown in FIG. 9, and may not be formed to extend to the second portion 10b due to structural constraints.

Although the first portion 10a of the housing 10 is previously defined as the portion where the outlet 11b is formed, this does not necessarily refer to a portion of the housing 10 that is located exactly at the same position as the outlet 11b. As shown in FIG. 9, the first portion 10a of the housing 10 may be defined to include a portion of the housing 10 that differs in position from the outlet 11b in a second direction Y, on the premise that its position in the first direction Z corresponds to that of the outlet 11b.

The outlet 11b may extend in the first direction Z. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the outlet 11b may have a shape such that a length in the first direction Z is longer than a length in the second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction, but a ratio between the length of the outlet 11b in the first direction Z and the length in the second direction Y is not limited to what is shown.

The discharge panel 50 may cover the first portion 10a and the second portion 10b of the housing 10. A portion of the first portion 10a of the housing 10 corresponding to the panel opening 55 of the discharge panel 50 and a portion of the second portion 10b of the housing 10 corresponding to the panel opening 55 of the discharge panel 50 may be covered by the blade 20 in a position that covers the panel opening 55.

In response to the housing 10 being partitioned into the first portion 10a and the second portion 10b, the discharge panel 50 may include a plurality of regions partitioned as follows.

The discharge panel 50 may include a first region 51 corresponding to the first portion 10a of the housing 10 and a second region 52 corresponding to the second portion 10b of the housing 10.

The first region 51 of the discharge panel 50 may cover the first portion 10a of the housing 10. The first region 51 of the discharge panel 50 may be positioned such that its position in the first direction Z (e.g., position along the Z-axis) substantially corresponds to that of the first portion 10a of the housing 10.

The second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 may cover the second portion 10b of the housing 10. The second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 may be located such that its position in the first direction Z (e.g., position along the Z-axis) substantially corresponds to that of the second portion 10b of the housing 10.

The second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 may be positioned on one side in the first direction Z relative to the first region 51. In other words, the first region 51 and the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 may be positioned in the first direction Z with respect to each other. The first region 51 and the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 may be configured to be partitioned such that their positions along the Z-axis extending in the first direction Z are different from each other.

In an example, the first region 51 and the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 may be located in the up-and-down direction of the air conditioner 3 with respect to each other. For example, when the first portion 10a of the housing 10 is positioned higher than the second portion 10b, the first region 51 of the discharge panel 50 may be positioned higher than the second region 52.

In each of the first region 51 and the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50, the plurality of discharge holes 50h may be formed. Thus, when the air conditioner 3 operates in the wind-free operation mode, the air discharged from the outlet 11b may be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 50h formed in each of the first region 51 and the second region 52.

However, since the outlet 11b is formed in the first portion 10a of the housing 10, in the absence of a separate structure for guiding or controlling the airflow, the airflow discharged through the outlet 11b may be relatively low in the proportion flowing into the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 compared to the proportion flowing into the first region 51. In this case, a problem may arise in that a flow rate of the airflow discharged from the discharge panel 50 is not uniform across the entire area of the discharge panel 50. When the air conditioner 3 runs in a cooling operation mode, the cold air discharged through the outlet 11b may flow intensively toward the first region 51 of the discharge panel 50, which may cause issues such as dew to condense on the first region 51 of the discharge panel 50.

The discharge panel 50 may include a plurality of regions partitioned by criteria different from those described above.

The discharge panel 50 may include an outlet-facing region 53 and an extension region 54. The outlet-facing region 53 and the extension region 54 may be defined by being partitioned from each other.

The outlet-facing region 53 may be provided in a position corresponding to the outlet 11b. For example, the outlet-facing region 53 may be provided in a position where its position in the first direction Z (e.g., position on the Z-axis) corresponds to that of the outlet 11b and its position in the second direction Y (e.g., position on the Y-axis) corresponds to that of the outlet 11b. The outlet-facing region 53 may be formed to face the outlet 11b. The outlet-facing region 53 may be located in front of the outlet 11b (+X direction). The outlet-facing region 53 is not necessarily located at exactly the same position as the outlet 11b in the first direction Z and the second direction Y, and may be defined in a position approximately corresponding to the outlet 11b.

The extension region 54 may be provided in a position where a distance from the outlet 11b is greater than a distance from the outlet 11b to the outlet-facing region 53. For example, the extension region 54 may be provided on an outward direction beyond a boundary of the outlet-facing region 53. The extension region 54 may be defined as a region extending outwardly from the outlet-facing region 53.

In an example, at least a portion of the panel opening 55 may be formed in the outlet-facing region 53. As shown in FIG. 10, the outlet-facing region 53 may be defined as all of which is a portion of the panel opening 55. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and in an example, the outlet-facing region 53 may be defined as a region in which the plurality of discharge holes 50h is formed in at least a portion thereof.

When the blade 20 is in a position covering the panel opening 55, the outlet-facing region 53 may be covered by the blade 20. Since the plurality of discharge holes 20h is formed in the blade 20, a portion of the air discharged from the outlet 11b may be guided to the outlet-facing region 53 and discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 20h formed in the blade 20 when the air conditioner 3 operates in the wind-free operation mode.

The plurality of discharge holes 50h may be formed in at least a portion of the extension region 54. However, as shown in FIG. 10, a portion of the panel opening 55 (a portion of a second extension region 54b to be described in greater detail below) may be provided with a portion of the extension region 54 such that the plurality of discharge holes 50h is not formed. In an embodiment, the plurality of discharge holes 50h may be formed over almost the entirety of the extension region distinguished from the outlet-facing region 53. Thus, when the air conditioner 3 runs in the wind-free operation mode, a portion of the air discharged from the outlet 11b may be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 50h formed in the extension region 54.

The extension region 54 may include a plurality of regions extending in different directions from the outlet-facing region 53.

For example, the extension region 54 may include a first extension region 54a extending in the second direction Y from the outlet-facing region 53. The first extension region 54a may be located at a position different from the outlet-facing region 53 in the second direction Y (e.g., a different position along the Y-axis), while being located at a corresponding position in the first direction Z (e.g., the same position along the Z-axis).

In an example, the first extension region 54a may be defined as a region extending in the horizontal direction from the outlet-facing region 53. The first extension region 54a may be located in the horizontal direction of the air conditioner 3 with respect to the outlet-facing region 53, while being located at a height corresponding to the outlet-facing region 53 in the vertical direction.

The extension region 54 may include a second extension region 54b extending from the outlet-facing region 53 and the first extension region 54a in the first direction Z. The second extension region 54b may be located at a different position in the first direction Z with respect to each of the first extension region 54a and the outlet-facing region 53 (e.g., the same position along the Z-axis).

In an example, the second extension region 54b may be defined as a region extending in the vertical direction from the outlet-facing region 53 and the first extension region 54a. For example, the second extension region 54b may extend downwardly from the outlet-facing region 53 and the first extension region 54a.

The plurality of discharge holes 50h may be formed in each of the first extension region 54a and the second extension region 54b of the discharge panel 50. Thus, when the air conditioner 3 runs in the wind-free operation mode, the air discharged from the outlet 11b may be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 50h formed in each of the first extension region 54a and the second extension region 54b.

In a portion of the second extension region 54b, a portion of the panel opening 55 may be formed, as shown in FIG. 10. When the blade 20 is in a position to cover the panel opening 55, the air flowing from the outlet 11b into the second extension region 54b may be discharged not only through the plurality of discharge holes 50h formed in the second extension region 54b, but also through the plurality of discharge holes 20h formed in a portion of the blade 20 that covers a portion of the second extension region 54b corresponding to the panel opening 55.

The outlet-facing region 53 of the discharge panel 50 may correspond to a portion of the first region 51 of the discharge panel 50 described above. The first extension region 54a of the extension region 54 of the discharge panel 50 may correspond to another portion of the first region 51 of the discharge panel 50 described above. A region combining the outlet-facing region 53 and the first extension region 54a of the discharge panel 50 may correspond to the first region 51.

The second extension region 54b of the extension region 54 of the discharge panel 50 may correspond to the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 described above.

However, due to a difference in distance from the outlet 11b, in the absence of a separate structure for guiding or controlling the airflow, the airflow discharged through the outlet 11b may be relatively low in the proportion flowing into the extension region 54 compared to the proportion flowing into the outlet-facing region 53. The proportion of airflow discharged from the outlet 11b flowing into the second extension region 54b may also be lower than the proportion flowing into the first extension region 54a. In this case, a problem may arise in that a flow rate of the airflow discharged from the discharge panel 50 is not uniform across the entire area of the discharge panel 50. When the air conditioner 3 runs in the cooling operation mode, the cold air discharged through the outlet 11b may flow intensively toward the outlet-facing region 53 of the discharge panel 50, which may cause issues such as dew to condense on the outlet-facing region 53 and the surrounding area.

While an inclined surface 11s of the housing 10 described hereinafter may improve to some extent that a portion of the air flowing from the outlet 11b is guided to the first extension region 54a of the discharge panel 50, it is nevertheless possible that the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b may not be sufficiently guided to the second extension region 54b.

As such, since the outlet 11b is provided in a biased position on one surface of the housing 10, the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b may not be not efficiently distributed over the entire area of the discharge panel 50, and in particular, when the air conditioner 3 runs in the cooling operation mode, cold air may be concentrated in the first region 51 (or in the outlet-facing region 53) of the discharge panel 50, causing dew to condense in a portion of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20. Even when the air conditioner 3 runs in a heating operation mode and there is little possibility of dew condensation on the discharge panel 50 or the like, a reduction in the blowing efficiency of the air conditioner 3 may occur when warm air is concentrated only in the first region 51 (or in the outlet-facing region 53) without being distributed.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner according to various embodiments. FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which cold air is discharged from the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a guide rib 300. The guide rib 300 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b to the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50. The guide rib 300 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b toward the extension region 54. The guide rib 300 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b to the second portion 10b of the housing 10.

The guide rib 300 may be disposed between the outlet 11b of the housing 10 and the discharge panel 50. For example, the guide rib 300 may be disposed between the first portion 10a of the housing 10 and the first region 51 of the discharge panel 50.

In an example, the guide rib 300 may be disposed forward of the outlet 11b (+X direction). The guide rib 300 may be disposed rearward of the discharge panel 50 (−X direction).

However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the guide rib 300 may be disposed between the first portion 10a of the housing 10 and the first region 51 of the discharge panel 50 and may also be disposed between the second portion 10b and the second region 52.

The guide rib 300 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b to the second region 52 when the blade 20 is located in the first position 20A (see FIG. 13) covering the panel opening 55. When the blade 20 of the air conditioner 3 is located in the second position 20B (see FIG. 14) opening the panel opening 55, the majority of the air discharged through the outlet 11b may be discharged through the panel opening 55. Accordingly, in this case, the proportion of a flow rate of the air guided to the second region 52 by the guide rib 300 may be relatively very small.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment may include a plurality of guide ribs 300. In other words, the guide rib 300 may include a plurality of guide ribs 300.

Each of the plurality of guide ribs 300 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b to the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50. Each of the plurality of guide ribs 300 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b toward the extension region 54.

For example, at least a portion of the plurality of guide ribs 300 may be arranged spaced apart from each other along the first direction Z. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, at least a portion of the plurality of guide ribs 300 may be arranged spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction (up-and-down direction) of the housing 10.

For example, the plurality of guide ribs 300 may include a first row of guide ribs 300a and a second row of guide ribs 300b.

The first row of guide ribs 300a may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b to the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50. The first row of guide ribs 300a may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b toward a portion of the first extension region 54a located on one side of the outlet 11b and the second extension region 54b.

The second row of guide ribs 300b may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b to the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50. The second row of guide ribs 300b may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b toward a portion of the first extension region 54a located on the other side of the outlet 11b and the second extension region 54b.

Each of the guide ribs 300a included in the first row of guide ribs 300a may be arranged along the first direction Z with respect to each other. In an example, each of the guide ribs 300a included in the first row of guide ribs 300a may be arranged along the vertical direction of the housing 10 with respect to each other.

Each of the guide ribs 300b included in the second row of guide ribs 300b may be arranged along the first direction Z with respect to each other. In an example, each of the guide ribs 300b included in the second row of guide ribs 300b may be arranged along the vertical direction of the housing 10 with respect to each other.

The first row of guide ribs 300a and the second row of guide ribs 300b may be disposed spaced apart from each other. In an example, the first row of guide ribs 300a and the second row of guide ribs 300b may be disposed spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction Y of the housing 10.

For example, the first row of guide ribs 300a may be disposed on one of two sides of the outlet 11b in the second direction Y. The second row of guide ribs 300b may be disposed on the other of two sides of the outlet 11b in the second direction Y.

In an example, the first row of guide ribs 300a may be disposed on one side of the outlet 11b in the horizontal direction, and the second row of guide ribs 300b may be disposed on the other side of the outlet 11b in the horizontal direction.

The outlet 11b may be disposed between the first row of guide ribs 300a and the second row of guide ribs 300b.

The first row of guide ribs 300a may be disposed in the first portion 10a of the housing 10. Each of the guide ribs 300a included in the first row of guide ribs 300a may be arranged along a longitudinal direction of the outlet 11b in the first portion 10a of the housing 10. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a portion of the first row of guide ribs 300a may be disposed in the second portion 10b of the housing 10.

The second row of guide ribs 300b may be disposed in the first portion 10a of the housing 10. Each of the guide ribs 300b included in the second row of guide ribs 300b may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the outlet 11b in the first portion 10a of the housing 10. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a portion of the second row of guide ribs 300b may be disposed in the second portion 10b of the housing 10.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first row of guide ribs 300a and the second row of guide ribs 300b may be disposed symmetrically with respect to the outlet 11b, but are not limited thereto.

While FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate only the plurality of guide ribs 300 arranged along two distinct rows, in an air conditioner according to an embodiment, the plurality of guide ribs may be arranged along three or more distinct rows, or along only one row.

Hereinafter, the structure of a single guide rib 300 will be described in greater detail.

The guide rib 300 may extend such that, as a distance from a first end 301 adjacent to the outlet 11b in the second direction Y increases, a distance to the second portion 10b of the housing 10 in the first direction Z decreases. In other words, the guide rib 300 may extend in a direction in which the second portion 10b of the housing 10 is located in the first direction Z with respect to the first portion 10a, as it moves farther from the outlet 11b in the second direction Y. In other words, the guide rib 300 may be configured such that a distance from a second end 302, opposite the first end 301, to the second portion 10b of the housing 10 may be shorter than the distance from the first end 301 to the second portion 10b of the housing 10.

The guide rib 300 may extend in a direction such that as the distance from the first end 301 adjacent to the outlet 11b increases in the second direction Y, it becomes closer to the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 in the first direction Z. In other words, the guide ribs 300 may be configured such that the distance from the second end 302, opposite the first end 301, to the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50 may be shorter than the distance from the first end 301 to the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50.

The guide rib 300 may extend such that as the distance from the first end 301 adjacent to the outlet 11b increases in the second direction Y, the distance to the second extension region 54b in the first direction Z decreases. In other words, the guide rib 300 may be configured such that the distance from the second end 302, opposite the first end 301, to the second extension region 54b may be shorter than the distance from the first end 301 to the second extension region 54b.

The guide rib 300 may be located on one side of the outlet 11b in the second direction Y. The guide rib 300 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged from the outlet 11b and flowing in the second direction Y in a direction inclined in the first direction Z with respect to the second direction Y.

In an example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the guide rib 300 may extend such that, as the distance in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the housing 10 increases from the first end 301 adjacent to the outlet 11b, the distance to the second portion 10b of the housing 10 in the vertical direction becomes shorter. For example, when the first portion 10a of the housing 10 is located above the second portion 10b, the guide rib 300 may be formed to be inclined downwardly, as it extends away from the outlet 11b in the horizontal direction of the housing 10.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, each of the guide ribs 300a included in the first row of guide ribs 300a may extend in the −Z direction as it moves away from the outlet 11b in a −Y direction. Each of the guide ribs 300b included in the second row of guide ribs 300b may extend in the −Z direction as it moves farther from the outlet 11b in the +Y direction.

The guide rib 300 may be formed to protrude from the first portion 10a of the housing 10 toward the discharge panel 50. In an example, the guide rib 300 may be formed to protrude from the first portion 10a of the housing 10 toward the front (+X direction).

In such a manner, when the guide rib 300 protrudes from the first portion 10a of the housing 10, there is a separation space between the first portion 10a and the discharge panel 50 such that the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b may change its flow direction in a position adjacent to the first portion 10a and then flow toward the discharge panel 50. Thus, the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b may be more efficiently distributed over the entire area of the discharge panel 50.

The inclined surface 11s may be provided on one surface of the housing 10 that faces the discharge panel 50. In other words, the front panel 14 may include the inclined surface 11s facing the discharge panel 50. The inclined surface 11s may be provided on at least the first portion 10a of the housing 10, and may also be provided on the second portion 10b of the housing 10.

The inclined surface 11s may extend in a direction approaching the discharge panel 50 as it moves away from the outlet 11b (see FIG. 13). The inclined surface 11s may extend such that it becomes closer to the discharge panel 50 in the third direction X as a distance from the outlet 11b increases in the second direction Y. In an example, the inclined surface 11s may be formed to extend forward as it moves away from the outlet 11b in the horizontal direction.

With such a configuration, a portion of the air discharged from the outlet 11b may flow along the inclined surface 11s in the second direction Y, and may be guided toward the first extension region 54a of the discharge panel 50.

The guide rib 300 may be disposed on the inclined surface 11s. The guide rib 300 may protrude from the inclined surface 11s toward the discharge panel 50. The guide rib 300 may provide an effect of allowing the air flowing along the inclined surface 11s to be more efficiently guided in the second direction Y, in addition to providing an effect of allowing the air flowing along the inclined surface 11s to be guided in the first direction Z. In other words, the guide rib 300 may efficiently guide the air flowing along the inclined surface 11s to the first extension region 54a, and may also be configured to allow a portion thereof to be guided to the second extension region 54b (and the second region 52).

The guide rib 300 may be formed integrally with the housing 10. Specifically, the guide rib 300 may be formed integrally with the front panel 14. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the guide rib 300 may be provided as a separate configuration distinct from the housing 10.

The guide rib 300 may be spaced apart from the rear surface of the discharge panel 50. In this case, the flow of air may not be blocked between the guide rib 300 and the discharge panel 50, and dew condensation may be prevented/reduced by avoiding contact between the guide rib 300 and the discharge panel 50. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the guide rib 300 and the discharge panel 50 may be in contact with each other.

With such a configuration described above, the guide rib 300 may be configured to change the direction of the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b, and the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b may be efficiently distributed over the entire area of the discharge panel 50. In addition, when the air conditioner 3 runs in the cooling operation mode, the guide rib 300 may prevent/suppress cold air from being concentrated and flowing to a specific area of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20, and may prevent/reduce dew condensation. Furthermore, in such a manner, the air conditioner 3 may form a flow path through which airflow with a low wind speed may efficiently flow by appropriately changing the direction of the airflow using the guide rib 300.

The description of the structure of the guide rib 300 described above with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 is merely an example of a guide rib that guides the airflow so that the airflow flowing from the outlet may be distributed over the entire area of the discharge panel in an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. An air conditioner according to the present disclosure may include a guide rib of various structures that may provide the above effects.

For example, the number of guide ribs included in an air conditioner according to the present disclosure is not limited to what is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

The guide rib included in an air conditioner according to the present disclosure may be disposed at various positions depending on the position in which the outlet is formed. For example, in case the outlet 11b is provided in a position biased to one side of the first portion 10a of the housing 10 in the second direction Y, it may be necessary only to guide a portion of the airflow to the other side in the second direction Y and to the first direction Z in order for the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b to be evenly distributed over the entire area of the discharge panel 50. In this case, the air conditioner 3 may include only a single row of guide ribs 300 disposed on the other of the two sides of the outlet 11b in the second direction Y. Alternatively, the air conditioner 3 may include a plurality of rows of guide ribs 300, all disposed on the other of the two sides of the outlet 11b in the second direction Y.

In an air conditioner according to an embodiment, a panel opening may not be formed in the discharge panel. In this case, in contrast to the above description with reference to FIG. 10 and the like, a plurality of discharge holes may be formed in the outlet-facing region of the discharge panel corresponding to the outlet, instead of a portion of the panel opening. In such an example, as also described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12, the air conditioner may include guide ribs configured to guide a portion of the air discharged from the outlet.

In an air conditioner according to an embodiment, the guide ribs may be provided on a rear surface of the discharge panel. In this case, the guide ribs may be formed to protrude from the rear surface of the discharge panel toward the first portion of the housing.

In an air conditioner according to an embodiment, the guide ribs may be configured to be rotatable by the housing under power provided by a drive source. By rotating the guide ribs based on a preset condition, a controller of the air conditioner may more efficiently control the direction of the airflow discharged from the outlet.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner with a blade in a first position according to various embodiments. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner with a blade in a second position according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the blade 20 of the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured to be movable between the first position 20A covering a panel opening 55 and the second position 20B opening the panel opening 55.

The blade 20 may be configured to be movable relative to the housing 10. Furthermore, the blade 20 may be configured to be movable relative to the discharge panel 50.

For example, the blade 20 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the housing 10 between the first position 20A and the second position 20B. In an example, the blade 20 may be rotatably coupled to the housing 10.

When the blade 20 is in the first position 20A, the panel opening 55 may be covered by the blade 20 and the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b may be discharged through the entire area of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20.

The air flowed by a fan 210 may have a tendency to flow to be discharged toward the front (+X direction) through the outlet 11b. In other words, the air discharged through the outlet 11b may have a tendency to flow toward the blade 20. It has been described above that in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air discharged through the outlet 11b may be distributed using a structure, such as the guide ribs 300 or an inclined surface 11s.

To allow for more efficient dispersion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b, the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a guide panel 400. The guide panel 400 may be configured to guide a portion of the airflow discharged through the outlet 11b to the discharge panel 50 when the blade 20 is positioned in the first position 20A. The guide panel 400 may be configured to guide a portion of the airflow discharged through the outlet 11b to the plurality of discharge holes 50h formed in the discharge panel 50 when the blade 20 is positioned in the first position 20A.

The guide panel 400 may be disposed between the outlet 11b and the blade 20 when the blade 20 is positioned in the first position 20A. When the blade 20 is positioned in the first position 20A, a portion of the air discharged from the outlet 11b may first reach the guide panel 400 before reaching the blade 20.

The guide panel 400 may be disposed parallel to the blade 20 when the blade 20 is positioned in the first position 20A. The guide panel 400 may block a portion of the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b toward the blade 20 when the blade 20 is positioned in the first position 20A.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the blade 20 is positioned in the first position 20A, the guide panel 400 may be configured to block and distribute a portion of the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b toward the blade 20. For example, the guide panel 400 may guide a portion of the airflow in the second direction Y to flow to the plurality of discharge holes 50h formed in the discharge panel 50. Specifically, the guide panel 400 may guide a portion of the airflow to flow in the horizontal direction of the housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 13, even when the guide panel 400 blocks a portion of the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b toward the blade 20 due to the blade 20 being in the first position 20A, a portion of the blocked airflow may flow to a space beyond the guide panel 400 and be discharged through the discharge holes 20h of the blade 20.

As such, the guide panel 400 may guide the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b and efficiently distribute the guided airflow over the entire area of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20.

The guide panel 400 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the housing 10. The guide panel 400 may be arranged to maximally cover the outlet 11b and to maximally block the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b to the blade 20 when the blade 20 is positioned in the first position 20A (see FIG. 13). The guide panel 400 may cover the outlet 11b by a narrower width than in the above case when the blade 20 is positioned in the second position 20B (see FIG. 14). The guide panel 400 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the housing 10 as the blade 20 rotates between the first position 20A and the second position 20B.

In an example, the guide panel 400 may be rotatable in conjunction with the blade 20. The guide panel 400 may rotate to be substantially parallel to the blade 20 as the blade 20 rotates between the first position 20A and the second position 20B. For example, the guide panel 400 may be connected to the blade 20 by a rotational link 610, and may rotate together in conjunction with the rotation of the blade 20.

A more detailed description of the rotational link 610 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 14, with the panel opening 55 open, the blade 20 may adjust the direction in which the air is discharged through the panel opening 55 depending on the degree to which the panel opening 55 is open. In other words, the direction in which the air is discharged through the panel opening 55 may vary depending on an angle at which the blade 20 is rotated from the first position 20A to the second position 20B.

In this case, the guide panel 400 may be arranged parallel to the blade 20 in the second position 20B to guide the direction of the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b parallel to the blade 20.

As such, as the guide panel 400 is rotatable in conjunction with the blade 20, the airflow may be efficiently discharged through the panel opening 55 when the blade 20 opens the panel opening 55. The direction of the airflow discharged through the panel opening 55 may be guided together not only by the blade 20 but also by the guide panel 400.

A portion of the guide panel 400 may be disposed between the first portion 10a of the housing 10 and the first region 51 of the discharge panel 50. Another portion of the guide panel 400 may be disposed between the second portion 10b of the housing 10 and the second region 52 of the discharge panel 50.

The guide panel 400 may be formed to have a substantially flat plate shape. The guide panel 400 may extend in a direction parallel to a direction in which the blade 20 and the panel opening 55 extend (e.g., the first direction Z).

As described above, the guide panel 400 may be configured to change the direction of the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b, and the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b may be efficiently distributed over the entire area of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20. When the air conditioner 3 runs in the cooling operation mode, the guide panel 400 may prevent and/or reduce cold air from being concentrated and flowing to a specific area of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20, and may prevent/reduce dew condensation. The air conditioner 3 may form a flow path through which airflow with a low with speed may efficiently flow by appropriately changing the direction of the airflow using the guide panel 400.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, a structure in which the blade 20 and the guide panel 400 rotate in an interlocked state will be described in greater detail using an example.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating an example configuration including a blade and a guide panel of the air conditioner according to various embodiments. FIG. 16 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating an example configuration including a blade and a guide panel of the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the rotational link 610 connecting the blade 20 and the guide panel 400. The rotational link 610 may be configured to allow the blade 20 and the guide panel 400 to be rotatable in conjunction with each other.

As shown in FIG. 15, the blade 20 may be configured to receive a rotational force from a blade motor M provided in the housing 10. The blade 20 may include a first housing coupling portion 21 rotatably coupled to the housing 10. The first housing coupling portion 21 may be connected to the blade motor M. The blade 20 may receive power from the blade motor M via the first housing coupling portion 21. With such a configuration, the blade 20 may be configured to be rotatable about a first rotary axis R1 relative to the housing 10. In an example, the first rotary axis R1 may be aligned with the first direction Z.

The blade 20 may include a first rotational link coupling portion 23 rotatably coupled to the rotational link 610. The rotational link 610 may be rotatably coupled to the blade 20 by the first rotational link coupling portion 23. When the blade 20 is rotated relative to the housing 10, the rotational link 610 may rotate together with the blade 20 in conjunction with the rotation of the blade 20. In an example, the rotational link 610 may rotate about a rotary axis aligned with the first rotary axis R1 relative to the blade 20, which may be a rotary axis in a direction aligned with the first direction Z.

The guide panel 400 may include a second housing coupling portion 410 rotatably coupled to the housing 10. The guide panel 400 may be configured to be rotatable about a second rotary axis R2 relative to the housing 10. In this case, the second rotary axis R2 may be parallel to the first rotary axis R1. In an example, the second rotary axis R2 may be aligned with the first direction Z.

The guide panel 400 may include a second rotational link coupling portion 420 rotatably coupled to the rotational link 610. The rotational link 610 may be rotatably coupled to the guide panel 400 by the second rotational link coupling portion 420. In an example, the rotational link 610 may rotate about a rotary axis in a direction parallel to the second rotary axis R2 relative to the guide panel 400, which may be a rotary axis in a direction aligned with the first direction Z.

By such a configuration, when the blade 20 receiving a driving force from the blade motor M rotates about the first rotary axis R1, the rotational link 610 may rotate together with the blade 20, and the guide panel 400 connected to the rotational link 610 may also rotate together with the rotational link 610.

While FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment in which the blade motor M is disposed at a lower portion of the housing 10, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the blade motor M may be disposed at various positions, such as an upper portion of the housing 10.

The blade 20 may be rotatably coupled to the upper and lower portions of the housing 10, respectively. In addition, the guide panel 400 may be rotatably coupled to the upper and lower portions of the housing 10, respectively. The rotational link 610 may be disposed on the upper lower portions of the housing 10, respectively. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the rotational link 610 may be disposed only on the lower portion of the housing 10, only on the upper portion of the housing 10, or at any other position to provide the effect of interlocking the rotation of the blade 20 and the guide panel 400.

The structure of the rotational link 610 described above is merely an example of a structure configured to allow the blade and the guide panel to rotate in conjunction with each other in an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The air conditioner 3 may include a fixing link 620 connecting the blade 20 and the guide panel 400. The fixing link 620 may rotatably support the blade 20 and the guide panel 400 relative to the housing 10.

The fixing link 620 may maintain a fixed position relative to the housing 10. The fixing link 620 may be fixed to the front panel 14 of the housing 10. In an example, the fixing link 620 may be formed integrally with the front panel 14. The fixing link 620 may be connected to the front panel 14 at a border portion of the outlet 11b.

The blade 20 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the fixing link 620. The blade 20 may include a first fixing link coupling portion 24 that is rotatably coupled to the fixing link 620. In an example, the blade 20 may rotate relative to the fixing link 620 about a rotary axis in a direction parallel to the first rotary axis R1 described above, which may be a rotary axis in a direction aligned with the first direction Z.

The guide panel 400 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the fixing link 620. The guide panel 400 may include a second fixing link coupling portion 430 that is rotatably coupled to the fixing link 620. In an example, the guide panel 400 may rotate relative to the fixing link 620 about a rotary axis in a direction parallel to the second rotary axis R2 described above, which may be a rotary axis in a direction aligned with the first direction Z.

By such a configuration, the blade 20 and the guide panel 400 may be stably supported relative to the housing 10.

In an example, the fixing link 620 may be provided in a plurality. Each of the plurality of fixing links 620 may be provided in the first portion 10a and the second portion 10b of the housing 10. However, the number and arrangement of the fixing links 620 are not limited thereto.

The structure of the fixing link 620 described above is merely an example of a structure configured to allow the blade and the guide panel to be rotatably supported relative to the housing in an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In an air conditioner according to an embodiment, the guide panel may be configured to rotate by directly receiving a driving force from a motor, and the blade may be configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the guide panel by receiving a driving force via a rotational link connecting the guide panel and the blade. In an air conditioner according to an embodiment, the blade and the guide panel may each be rotated by independently receiving a driving force. In this case, appropriate control of the respective driving source of the blade and the guide panel may still provide the same effect as in a structure where the blade and the guide panel rotate in conjunction with each other.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an example configuration of the air conditioner with the blade in a second position according to various embodiments. FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating an example configuration including a housing and an insulation of the air conditioner according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the air conditioner 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an insulation member (hereinafter referred to as an insulation) 500.

When the air conditioner 3 runs in the cooling operation mode, a rim portion of the outlet 11b of the housing 10 may be continuously exposed to cold air. In this case, issues may arise, such dew condensation, on the rim portion of the outlet 11b.

To reduce the thermal conductivity between the rim portion of the outlet 11b and the cold air discharged through the outlet 11b, the insulation 500 may be attached to the housing 10 along the rim portion of the outlet 11b.

The insulation 500 may be configured to include a material having a lower thermal conductivity than a material included in the housing 10. The material of the insulation 500 may have a lower thermal conductivity than at least a material of the rim portion of the outlet 11b among the housing 10.

In an example, the housing 10 may be configured to include various plastic materials having a given rigidity. In an example, the insulation 500 may be configured to include an expanded polypropylene (EPP) material. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the housing 10 and the insulation 500 may each be configured to include various materials, on the premise that the insulation 500 has a lower thermal conductivity than the housing 10.

To allow the airflow to exit the outside of the housing 10 via the outlet 11b, the insulation 500 may include an opening 510 provided to correspond to the outlet 11b. The insulation 500 may be formed in the shape of a closed loop having approximately the opening 510.

As such, the insulation 500 may be attached to the rim portion of the outlet 11b, it is possible to insulate between the rim portion of the outlet 11b and the cold air, and to prevent/reduce dew condensation on a peripheral portion of the outlet 11b.

When the blade 20 is in the second position 20B of opening the panel opening 55, as shown in FIG. 17, a portion of the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b toward the panel opening 55 may interfere with a portion 50e (hereinafter referred to as a panel opening rim portion 50e) of the discharge panel 50 provided on one side of the rim of the panel opening 55 of the discharge panel 50. In this case, the panel opening rim portion 50e may be continuously interfered with by cold air when the air conditioner 3 is running in the cooling operation mode, causing dew condensation thereon.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the structure of the fan assembly 200 may cause the air flowing from the inlet 11a to the outlet 11b to be biased to one side (the +Y direction side, based on the drawings) due to centrifugal force. When the cold air is thus biased to one side, the degree of interference with the panel opening rim portion 50e may further increase, which may be problematic.

To address such issues, the air conditioner 3 may include an outlet guide 520 configured to guide the airflow discharged through the outlet 11b. The outlet guide 520 may guide the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b toward the panel opening 55 to prevent/reduce interference with the panel opening rim portion 50e of the discharge panel 50 when the blade 20 is positioned in the second position 20B.

In an example, the outlet guide 520 may be provided at the rim portion of the outlet 11b.

In an example, the outlet guide 520 may extend toward a central axis of the panel opening 55 as it approaches the discharge panel 50. As shown in FIG. 17, the outlet guide 520 may extend in a direction inclined by a certain angle al with respect to the front-to-back direction X of the housing 10.

In an example, the outlet guide 520 may be provided on one side of the rim of the opening 510 of the insulation 500. In other words, the outlet guide 520 may be a configuration included in the insulation 500. In this case, the outlet guide 520 may extend in a direction closer to the center of the opening 510 of the insulation 500 as it approaches the discharge panel 50.

With such a configuration, the outlet guide 520 may guide the airflow flowing toward the panel opening 55 in a direction away from the panel opening 55. Thus, it is possible to prevent/reduce dew condensation on the panel opening rim portion 50e of the discharge panel 50 due to the interference of cold air.

However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the outlet guide 520 may be configured separately from the insulation 500.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating an example configuration of an air conditioner according to various embodiments.

In describing the configuration of an air conditioner 3-1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to FIG. 19, the same reference numerals may be assigned to the same or similar reference numerals as the configuration of the air conditioner 3 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 18, and a description thereof may not be repeated here.

Referring to FIG. 19, the air conditioner 3-1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing 10-1. Although not shown in FIG. 19, the air conditioner 3-1 may include a discharge panel covering one side of the housing 10-1, and since the structure or features of the discharge panel of the air conditioner 3-1 correspond to the discharge panel 50 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 18, a detailed description thereof may not be repeated here.

The housing 10-1 may include the outlet 11b through which air introduced from an indoor space and heat exchanged with a heat exchanger is discharged.

The housing 10-1 may include a first portion 10a-1 in which the outlet 11b is formed and a second portion 10b-1 disposed on one side of the first portion 10a-1. The first portion 10a-1 and the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10 may each be a portion defined on one surface of the housing 10-1 facing the discharge panel.

The second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1 may be positioned on one side in the first direction Z relative to the first portion 10a-1. In other words, the first portion 10a-1 and the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1 may be positioned in the first direction Z relative to each other. The first portion 10a-1 and the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1 may be configured to be partitioned such that their positions along the Z-axis extending in the first direction Z are different from each other.

For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1 may be positioned above the first portion 10a-1.

For example, in the air conditioner 3-1 according to an embodiment of FIG. 19, a compressor may be disposed at an upper portion of the air conditioner 3-1, and a heat exchanger may be disposed at a low portion of the compressor. Furthermore, a fan assembly may be positioned below the compressor. A flow path extending from an inlet to an outlet 11b-1 may be positioned above the compressor.

Accordingly, in the air conditioner 3-1 according to the example of FIG. 19, the outlet 11b-1 may be disposed in a position adjacent to a lower portion rather than an upper portion of the air conditioner 3-1, and correspondingly, the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1 may be positioned above the first portion 10a-1.

As described in the examples according to FIGS. 1 to 18, such a biased formation of the outlet 11b-1 at the lower portion of the housing 10-1 may result in the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b-1 not flowing evenly over the entire area of the discharge panel.

To address such an issue, the air conditioner 3-1 may include a guide rib 300-1 configured to guide a portion of the airflow discharged through the outlet 11b-1. The guide rib 300-1 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b-1 to the second portion 10b of the housing 10.

The guide rib 300-1 may guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b-1 to flow upwardly (+Z direction). The guide rib 300-1 may guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b-1 to flow in the horizontal direction (+Y direction, −Y direction).

The guide rib 300-1 may extend such that, as a distance in the first direction Z from a first end 301-1 adjacent to the outlet 11b-1 increases, a distance to the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1 in the second direction Y decreases. In other words, the guide rib 300-1 may extend in a direction in which the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1 is located in the first direction Z with respect to the first portion 10a-1, as it moves farther from the outlet 11b-1 in the second direction Y. In other words, the guide rib 300-1 may be configured such that a distance from a second end 302-1, opposite the first end 301-1, to the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1 may be shorter than the distance from the first end 301-1 to the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1.

The guide rib 300-1 may be configured to guide a portion of the air discharged from the outlet 11b-1 and flowing in the second direction Y in an upward direction inclined toward the first direction (+Z direction) with respect to the second direction Y.

For example, the guide rib 300-1 may be formed to face upwardly (+Z direction) of the housing 10-1 as it moves away from the outlet 11b-1 in the horizontal direction of the housing 10-1.

An inclined surface 11s-1 may be provided on one surface of the housing 10-1 facing the discharge panel. The inclined surface 11s-1 may be provided on at least the first portion 10a-1 of the housing 10-1, and may also be provided in the second portion 10b-1 of the housing 10-1.

The inclined surface 11s-1 may extend in a direction approaching the discharge panel with increasing distance from the outlet 11b-1. In an example, the inclined surface 11s-1 may be formed to extend forward away from the outlet 11b-1 in the horizontal direction.

With such a configuration, a portion of the air discharged from the outlet 11b-1 may be guided to flow along the inclined surface 11s in the second direction Y.

The guide rib 300-1 may be disposed on the inclined surface 11s-1. The guide rib 300-1 may protrude from the inclined surface 11s-1 toward a discharge panel 50-1. The guide rib 300-1 may provide an effect of allowing the air flowing along the inclined surface 11s-1 to be more efficiently in the second direction Y, and in addition to providing an effect of allowing the air flowing along the inclined surface 11s-1 to be guided upwardly in the first direction Z.

The description of the structure of the guide rib 300-1 or the effects provided therefrom may correspond to the description of the structure or effects of the guide rib 300 described in FIGS. 1 to 18, so a detailed description thereof may not be repeated here.

While FIGS. 9 to 19 have described various example embodiments in which the second portion 10b or 10b-1 of the housing 10 or 10-1 is positioned on one side of the first portion 10a or 10a-1 in the Z direction (vertical direction of the air conditioner 3 or 3-1), the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, the second portion of the housing may be positioned in different directions, such as on one side in the Y direction (horizontal direction of the air conditioner) with respect to the first portion, and the position or shape of the guide rib may vary accordingly.

The above has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 using an example of an integral-type air conditioner 3 or 3-1 in which configurations for exchanging heat with indoor air and configurations for exchanging heat with outdoor air are accommodated in a single housing 10 or 10-1, the present disclosure may also be applied to an indoor unit of a split-type air conditioner in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are separately configured.

An air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include the housing 10 including the first portion 10a in which the outlet 11b is formed and the second portion 10b disposed on one side of the first portion in the first direction Z, the heat exchanger 60 disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air, the fan 210 disposed inside the housing and configured to flow the air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger to the outlet, the discharge panel 50 configured to cover the first portion 10a and the second portion 10b of the housing and in which a plurality of discharge holes 50h through which air flowing from the outlet is discharged, each having a size smaller than that of the outlet, is formed in the first region 51 corresponding to the first portion and the second region 52 corresponding to the second portion, respectively, and the guide rib 300 disposed between the first portion and the first region and configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet to the second region. According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the guide rib 300 to change a direction of the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b. The airflow discharged from the outlet 11b may be efficiently distributed over the entire area of the discharge panel 50 by the guide rib 300. In addition, when the air conditioner 3 runs in a cooling operation, the guide rib 300 may prevent/suppress cold air from being concentrated and flowing to a specific area of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20, and may prevent/reduce dew condensation. In addition, the air conditioner 3 may form a flow path through which airflow with a low speed may efficiently flow by appropriately changing a direction of the airflow using the guide rib 300.

The guide rib 300 may extend such that a distance to the second portion 10b in the first direction Z decreases as a distance from one end 301 adjacent to the outlet 11b in the second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction increases.

The first portion 10a may be positioned above the second portion 10b. The guide rib 300 may be formed to be inclined downwardly as the guide rib gets extends away from the outlet in a horizontal direction of the housing.

The guide rib may comprise a plurality of guide ribs. At least a portion of the plurality of guide ribs may be arranged spaced apart from each other along the first direction Z.

The plurality of guide ribs may include the first row of guide ribs 300a arranged along the first direction, and the second row of guide ribs 300b disposed spaced apart from the first row of guide ribs and arranged along the first direction. The outlet 11b may be disposed between the first row of guide ribs 300a and the second row of guide ribs 300b.

The first row of guide ribs 300a may be disposed on one side of the outlet 11b in the second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction. The second row of guide ribs 300b may be disposed on another side of the outlet 11b in the second direction Y.

The guide rib 300 may protrude from the first portion 10a of the housing toward the discharge panel 50.

The first portion 10a of the housing may be provided with the inclined surface 11s that faces the discharge panel and extends in a direction such that the inclined surface becomes closer to the discharge panel as a distance from the outlet increases. The guide rib may be disposed on the inclined surface.

The discharge panel may further include the panel opening 55 having a size larger than that of each of the plurality of discharge holes 50h. The air conditioner may further include the blade 20 configured to be rotatable relative to the housing between the first position 20A covering the panel opening and the second position 20B opening the panel opening. The guide rib 300 may guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet to the second region 52 when the blade is positioned in the first position 20A.

The air conditioner may further include the guide panel 400 configured to be rotatable relative to the housing 10. The guide panel 400 may be disposed parallel to the blade 20 between the outlet 11b and the blade 20 when the blade is positioned in the first position 20A, and may be configured to guide a portion of the airflow discharged through the outlet to the discharge panel 50. According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the guide panel 400 to change the direction of the airflow discharged from the outlet 11b. The airflow discharged from the outlet 11b may be efficiently distributed over the entire area of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20 by the guide panel 400. In addition, when the air conditioner 3 runs in a cooling operation, the guide panel 400 may prevent/suppress cold air from being concentrated and flowing to a specific area of the discharge panel 50 and the blade 20, and may prevent/reduce dew condensation. In addition, the air conditioner 3 may form a flow path through which airflow with a low speed may efficiently flow by appropriately changing the direction of the airflow using the guide panel 400.

A portion of the guide panel 400 may be disposed between the first portion 10a of the housing and the first region 51 of the discharge panel. Another portion of the guide panel 400 may be disposed between the second portion 10b of the housing and the second region 52 of the discharge panel.

The blade 20 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the housing about the first rotary axis R1. The guide panel 400 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the housing about the second rotary axis R2 parallel to the first rotary axis in conjunction with rotation of the blade. The air conditioner may further include the link 610 and 620 connecting the blade 20 and the guide panel 400 and rotatably coupled to each of the blade and the guide panel.

The air conditioner may further include the outlet guide 520 provided at a rim portion of the outlet 11b and configured to guide the airflow discharged through the outlet. The outlet guide 520 may extend toward a central axis of the panel opening 55 as the outlet guide approaches the discharge panel 50 to prevent/reduce the airflow flowing from the outlet 11b toward the panel opening 55 from interfering with the rim portion 50e of the panel opening 55 of the discharge panel 50 when the blade is positioned in the second position 20B. According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the outlet guide 520 to prevent/reduce dew condensation on the discharge panel 50 due to the interference of cold air flowing toward the panel opening 55 with the rim portion 50e of the panel opening 55 of the discharge panel 50.

The air conditioner may further include the insulation 500 attached to the housing along a rim portion of the outlet and configured to include a material having a lower thermal conductivity than a material of the housing. According to the present disclosure, the insulation 500 may be attached to the rim portion of the outlet 11b, it is possible to insulate between the rim portion of the outlet 11b and cold air, and to prevent/reduce dew condensation on a periphery portion of the outlet 11b.

The insulation 500 may include the opening 510 provided to correspond to the outlet, and the outlet guide 520 provided on one side of a rim of the opening, extending in a direction such that the outlet guide becomes closer to a center of the opening as the outlet guide approaches the discharge panel, and configured to guide the airflow discharged through the outlet.

An air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include the housing 10 including the first portion 10a in which the outlet 11b is formed and the second portion 10b located on one side of the first portion in the first direction Z, the heat exchanger 60 disposed in the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air, the fan 210 configured to cause the air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger to flow to the outlet, the discharge panel 50 configured to cover the first portion and the second portion and fixed to the housing and in which the panel opening 55 and the plurality of discharge holes 50h, located outwardly of a perimeter of the panel opening and having a size smaller than that of the panel opening, are formed, the blade 20 rotatably provided relative to the housing between the first position 20A covering the panel opening and the second position 20B opening the panel opening, and the guide rib 300 located on one side of the outlet 11b in the second direction Y different from the first direction, and extending in a direction such that the second portion 10b is located in the first direction Z relative to the first portion 10a as a distance from the outlet in the second direction Y increases.

The guide rib may include the plurality of guide ribs 300 arranged along the first direction Z in the first portion 10a with respect to each other.

The air conditioner may further include the guide panel 400 configured to be rotatable relative to the housing as the blade rotates between the first position and the second position. The guide panel may be disposed parallel to the blade between the outlet and the blade when the blade is positioned in the first position 20A, and may be configured to guide a portion of the airflow discharged through the outlet to the plurality of discharge holes 50h.

An air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include the housing 10 including the inlet 11a and the outlet 11b, the heat exchanger 60 disposed in the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air, the fan 210 disposed in the housing and configured to cause the air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger to flow to the outlet, the discharge panel 50 having the plurality of discharge holes 50h, each having a size smaller than that of the outlet, and disposed on one side of the outlet, the discharge panel including the outlet-facing region 53 provided in a position corresponding to the outlet and the extension region 54 provided in a position where a distance from the outlet is greater than a distance from the outlet to the outlet-facing region, and the guide rib 300 disposed between the discharge panel 50 and the outlet 11b and configured to guide a portion of the air discharged through the outlet 11b toward the extension region 54.

The extension region 54 may include the first extension region 54a extending from the outlet-facing region 53 in the first direction Y, and the second extension region 54b extending from the outlet-facing region 53 and the first extension region 54a in the second direction Z perpendicular to the first direction. The guide rib 300 may extend such that a distance in the second direction Z to the second extension region 54b decreases as a distance in the first direction Y from one end 301 adjacent to the outlet increases.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the guide rib to appropriately change the direction of the airflow, thereby forming the flow path through which airflow with a low speed may efficiently.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the guide panel to appropriately change the direction of the airflow, thereby forming the flow path through which airflow with a low speed may efficiently flow.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the guide rib to efficiently change the direction of the airflow discharged from the outlet.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the guide panel to efficiently change the direction of the airflow discharged from the outlet.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the guide rib to efficiently distribute the airflow discharged from the outlet.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the guide panel to efficiently distribute the airflow discharged from the outlet.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may prevent/reduce cold air from being concentrated and flowing to a specific area of the discharge panel and the blade by the guide rib during a cooling operation, and may prevent/reduce dew condensation.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may prevent/reduce cold air from being concentrated and flowing to a specific area of the discharge panel and the blade by the guide panel during a cooling operation, and may prevent/reduce dew condensation.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the outlet guide to prevent/reduce dew condensation on the discharge panel due to cold air flowing toward the panel opening.

According to the present disclosure, the air conditioner may include the insulation to prevent/reduce dew condensation on the periphery portion of the outlet.

The effects to be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the detailed description.

While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with reference to various example embodiments, it should be understood by those of skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It will also be understood that any of the embodiment(s) described herein may be used in conjunction with any other embodiment(s) described herein.