Air conditioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12055308-B2
Application number	US-201916978126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 7, 2018
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

An air conditioner including a sliding door, which forms a front surface part thereof and moves in a lateral direction to be opened and closed; a sliding door motor for enabling movement of the sliding door; a sliding door position sensor which may include a first position sensor and second position sensor for detecting the position of the sliding door; and a control part for controlling an opening/closing operation of the sliding door based on sensing data of the sliding door position sensor and a rotational speed of the sliding door motor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An air conditioner, comprising:
a sliding door, forming a front surface part of the air conditioner, configured to move in a first direction and a second direction to respectively open and close the air conditioner,
wherein the first and second directions are opposite directions;
a sliding door motor configured to enable movement of the sliding door;
a sliding door position sensor configured to detect a position of the sliding door;
a first proximity sensor configured to sense whether a user approaches;
a second proximity sensor disposed below the first proximity sensor;
a projection module configured to project a predetermined image in a forward direction of the second proximity sensor based on the first proximity sensor sensing the user; and
a control part configured to control opening and closing operations of the sliding door based on at least one of sensing data from the sliding door position sensor and a rotational speed of the sliding door motor.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the control part determines whether the sliding door is closed based on the sensing data, and when the sliding door is not closed and the rotational speed of the sliding door motor is reduced while the sliding door performs a closing operation, controls the sliding door such that the sliding door stops moving, and
wherein the sliding door position sensor comprises:
a first position sensor configured to sense a state where the sliding door is closed; and
a second position sensor configured to sense a state where the sliding door is open.

3. The air conditioner of claim 2 , wherein, when the first position sensor senses the sliding door while the sliding door performs a closing operation, the control part controls the sliding door motor such that the sliding door motor stops rotating and controls the sliding door such that the sliding door finishes the closing operation.

4. The air conditioner of claim 2 , wherein, when the first position sensor does not sense the sliding door and the rotational speed of the sliding door motor is reduced while the sliding door performs a closing operation, the control part controls the sliding door such that the sliding door stops moving.

5. The air conditioner of claim 4 , wherein the control part controls the sliding door such that the sliding door, having stopped moving, is opened.

6. The air conditioner of claim 2 , wherein, when the second position sensor senses the sliding door while the sliding door performs an opening operation, the control part controls the sliding door motor such that the sliding door motor stops rotating and controls the sliding door such that the sliding door finishes an opening operation.

7. The air conditioner of claim 2 , wherein, when the second position sensor does not sense the sliding door and the rotational speed of the sliding door motor is reduced while the sliding door performs an opening operation, the control part controls the sliding door such that the sliding door stops moving.

8. The air conditioner of claim 7 , wherein the control part is configured to output a notification of abnormality.

9. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the control part comprises:
a first control part configured to control opening and closing operations of the sliding door based on sensing data from the sliding door position sensor and the rotational speed of the sliding door motor, and
a second control part configured to receive a signal from the first proximity sensor or the second proximity sensor and to communicate the signal to the first control part.

10. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the control part comprises:
a first control part configured to control opening and closing operations of the sliding door based on sensing data from the sliding door position sensor and the rotational speed of the sliding door motor, and
a second control part configured to output a notification encouraging the user to withdraw when the first proximity sensor senses the user approaches.

11. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein, when the first proximity sensor senses the user approaches while the sliding door performs a closing operation, the control part reduces movement speed of the sliding door.

12. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein, when the first proximity sensor senses the user approaches while the sliding door performs an opening operation, the control part restarts an opening operation of the sliding door after stopping movement of the sliding door for a predetermined period of time.

13. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the control part controls the sliding door motor such that the sliding door is opened, when the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor sense the user.

14. The air conditioner of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display module configured to receive a touch input,
wherein the control part controls the sliding door motor such that the sliding door is opened, when the first proximity sensor senses the user and the touch input is received.

15. The air conditioner of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to sense whether a water vessel for humidification is mounted,
wherein when a sliding door-off instruction is input and the water vessel for humidification is mounted, the control part controls the sliding door motor such that sliding door is closed.

16. The air conditioner of claim 15 , wherein the control part is configured to output a notification asking for placement of the water vessel for humidification when the water vessel for humidification is not mounted.

17. The air conditioner of claim 1 , further comprising a cabinet forming an exterior of the air conditioner,
wherein the sliding door is disposed at a front of the cabinet, and the second proximity sensor is disposed at a lower end of the sliding door or at a base which supports the cabinet.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Gyeong Giyeong
• Lee Jungwon
• Choi Byeongjin
• Kwon Mingu
• Kim Kangyoung
• Mun Seongkuk
• Bae Junseok
• Shin Kyuyeol

Classifications

• F24F13/20

  Casings or covers · CPC title

• F24F1/0087

  with humidification means · CPC title

• F24F11/52

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · CPC title

• F24F2120/12

  Position of occupants · CPC title

• F24F11/38 Primary

  Failure diagnosis · CPC title