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KR-20260063617-A - Air conditioner for performing power saving control and method for controlling the same

KR20260063617AKR 20260063617 AKR20260063617 AKR 20260063617AKR-20260063617-A

Abstract

An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include a first indoor unit placed in a first space, an air conditioning module, a first detection sensor placed in the first indoor unit and detecting a moving object within the first space, a memory storing at least one instruction, and at least one processor including a circuit device. The air conditioner may detect a person in the first space based on the sensor detection value of the first detection sensor, determine whether a person is detected from a second space within the house other than the first space when the first space changes from an occupied state where a person is present to an absent state where no person is present, and control the first indoor unit (102) to perform a first energy-saving operation when a person is detected from the second space within a first reference time.

Inventors

  • 황준
  • 김동현
  • 홍진우

Assignees

  • 삼성전자주식회사

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241030

Claims (20)

  1. In the air conditioner (100), A first indoor unit (102) placed in a first space; Air conditioning module (212); A first detection sensor (110) disposed in the first indoor unit (102) and detecting a moving object within the first space; Memory (214) for storing at least one instruction; and It includes at least one processor (210) including a circuit device, and When the above at least one instruction is executed individually or collectively by the above at least one processor (210), the air conditioner (100) is, Based on the sensor detection value of the first detection sensor (110), a person occupied in the first space is detected, and When the first space changes from an occupied state where a person is present to an absent state where no person is present, it is determined whether a person was detected from a second space within the house other than the first space, and An air conditioner (100) that controls the first indoor unit (102) to perform a first energy-saving operation when a person is detected from the second space within a first reference time.
  2. In paragraph 1, The air conditioner (100) controls the first indoor unit (102) to perform an absence-based power saving operation, which performs at least one intermediate power saving operation, and then performs the first power saving operation, when no person is detected from the second space within the first reference time.
  3. In paragraph 2, The above at least one intermediate power saving operation includes at least one of an intermediate power saving operation operating in a windless mode or an intermediate power saving operation controlling a target temperature, in an air conditioner (100).
  4. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 3, The first indoor unit (102) includes an indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioning module (212), and The above first energy-saving operation is an air conditioner (100) that operates in a soft-off state that activates the first detection sensor (110) of the first indoor unit (102) and stops the operation of the indoor heat exchanger of the first indoor unit (102).
  5. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 4, The first indoor unit (102) includes an indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioning module (212), and The first energy-saving operation is an air conditioner (100) that operates for a first duration after adjusting the target temperature of the air conditioner (100), activates the first detection sensor (110) of the first indoor unit (102), and operates in a soft-off state that stops the operation of the indoor heat exchanger of the first indoor unit (102).
  6. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 5, The above air conditioner (100) performs at least one intermediate power saving operation when a user is absent from the space in the house, and then performs the absence power saving operation that performs the first power saving operation. The above absence power saving operation is set to one of a plurality of user-specified modes based on user input, and According to the above plurality of user-defined modes, the duration of each of the at least one intermediate power saving operation and the first power saving operation varies, and When a person is detected from the second space within a first reference time, the operation of controlling the first indoor unit (102) to perform a first energy-saving operation is such that when a user is set to a user-specified mode among some of the plurality of user-specified modes, when a person is detected from the second space within the first reference time, the first indoor unit (102) is controlled to perform the first energy-saving operation without performing at least one intermediate energy-saving operation. The above-mentioned custom mode is a custom mode in which the duration of at least one intermediate power saving operation and the first power saving operation is set shorter than the remaining custom mode, in an air conditioner (100).
  7. In paragraph 6, The air conditioner (100) controls the first indoor unit (102) to perform the absence-saving operation regardless of whether a person is detected from the second space within the first reference time when the remaining user-specified mode is set.
  8. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 7, The above air conditioner (100) performs at least one intermediate power saving operation when a user is absent from the space in the house, and then performs the absence power saving operation that performs the first power saving operation. The above absence power saving operation operates at one of a plurality of power saving learning levels, and depending on the plurality of power saving learning levels, the duration of each of the at least one intermediate power saving operation and the first power saving operation varies, and The above air conditioner (100) controls the first indoor unit (102) to perform the first energy-saving operation without performing the at least one intermediate energy-saving operation when a person is detected from the second space within the first reference time when the above air conditioner (100) is set to some of the energy-saving learning levels among the plurality of energy-saving learning levels. The above-mentioned partial power saving learning level is a power saving learning level in which the duration of at least one intermediate power saving operation and the first power saving operation is set shorter than the remaining power saving learning level, in an air conditioner (100).
  9. In paragraph 8, The air conditioner (100) controls the first indoor unit (102) to perform the absence-saving operation regardless of whether a person is detected from the second space within the first reference time when the remaining energy-saving learning level is set.
  10. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 9, When a person is detected from the second space within the first reference time, the operation of controlling the first indoor unit (102) to perform the first energy-saving operation is, An air conditioner (100) that controls the first indoor unit (102) to perform the first energy-saving operation when the number of people decreased in the first space and the number of people increased in the second space match.
  11. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 10, The above air conditioner (100) is, It further includes a communication module (1620) that communicates with a server, and Registered as a first user account on the above server, When the above first space changes from the above occupancy state to the above absence state, An air conditioner (100) that determines that a person has been detected from the second space based on receiving information from the server, via the communication module (1620), that a mobile device registered to the first user account has connected to the Wi-Fi network in the home.
  12. In Paragraph 11, The operation of determining that a person has been detected from the second space based on receiving information from the server that a mobile device registered to the first user account has connected to the home Wi-Fi network is: If the mobile device is connected to the Wi-Fi network of the home from the time interval during which the first space is in an occupancy state, and remains connected to the Wi-Fi network of the home even after the state of absence is changed, it is determined that a person has been detected from the second space, and An air conditioner (100) that does not determine that a person has been detected from the second space, even if the mobile device is connected to the Wi-Fi network of the home during the time period when the first space is occupied.
  13. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 12, The above air conditioner (100) is, It further includes a communication module (1620) that communicates with a server, and Registered as a first user account on the above server, When the above first space changes from the state of occupancy to the state of absence of a person, An air conditioner (100) that determines that a person has been detected from the second space based on receiving information from the server, through the communication module (1620), that a person has been detected from a human detection sensor in a house that is registered to the first user account and placed in a space other than the first space.
  14. In Paragraph 13, The operation of determining that a person has been detected from the second space based on the fact that a mobile device registered to the first user account has received information that a person has been detected from a person detection sensor in the home is, If the number of people detected by the human detection sensor in the above-mentioned residence increases compared to the number of people detected during the time interval when the above-mentioned first space is occupied, it is determined that a person has been detected from the above-mentioned second space, and An air conditioner (100) that, when the number of people detected by the human presence sensor in the above-mentioned house does not increase compared to the number of people detected during the time interval when the above-mentioned first space is occupied, determines that a person has not been detected from the above-mentioned second space even if a person has been detected by the human presence sensor in the above-mentioned house.
  15. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 14, The above air conditioner (100) is, It further includes a communication module (1620) that communicates with a server, and Registered as a first user account on the above server, When the above first space changes from the above occupancy state to the above absence state, Controls the robot vacuum cleaner in the home registered to the first user account to move to a space other than the first space, and An air conditioner (100) that determines that a person has been detected from the second space based on receiving information that a robot vacuum cleaner in the above-mentioned house has detected a person from another space.
  16. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 15, The above air conditioner (100) includes a plurality of indoor units (102, 102a, 102b) including the first indoor unit (102), and An air conditioner (100) that detects a person from the second space using a second detection sensor of a second indoor unit placed in the second space.
  17. In a method for controlling an air conditioner, The above air conditioner includes a first indoor unit disposed in a first space, and a first detection sensor disposed in the first indoor unit and detecting a moving object within the first space. The above air conditioner control method is, A step of detecting a person occupied in the first space based on the sensor detection value of the first detection sensor; A step of determining whether a person is detected from a second space within the house other than the first space when the first space changes from an occupied state where a person is present to an absent state where no person is present; and An air conditioner control method comprising the step of controlling the first indoor unit to perform a first energy-saving operation when a person is detected from the second space within a first reference time.
  18. In Paragraph 17, An air conditioner control method further comprising the step of controlling the first indoor unit to perform an absence-based power saving operation, which performs the first power saving operation, after performing at least one intermediate power saving operation, if no person is detected from the second space within the first reference time.
  19. In paragraph 17 or 18, The above first indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchanger, and The above first energy-saving operation is an air conditioner control method that operates in a soft-off state by activating the first detection sensor of the first indoor unit and stopping the operation of the indoor heat exchanger of the first indoor unit.
  20. A computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon for performing the method of any one of paragraphs 17 through 19 on a computer.

Description

Air conditioner for performing power saving control and method for controlling the same One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an air conditioner that performs power saving control, a method for controlling the air conditioner, and a computer-readable recording medium having a program for performing the air conditioner control method on a computer. Various types of air conditioners are widely used in indoor spaces. Since air conditioners have high power consumption, methods to reduce power consumption are required. Air conditioners can be equipped with various sensors, such as human presence sensors and temperature sensors. By utilizing these various sensors, air conditioners can control the environment of the air-conditioned space and control the operation of the unit. Air conditioners can perform energy-saving control using human presence sensors. However, it is difficult to ensure the accuracy of determining whether a person is absent from the target space. Additionally, there is a problem involving a waiting time required from the moment it is determined that a person is absent until energy-saving operation is initiated. The present invention can be easily understood from the combination of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, where reference numerals denote structural elements. FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the operation of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an air conditioner control method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the process of performing a power saving operation without a component according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the process of a component power saving operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an air conditioner control method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a plurality of intermediate power saving operations and a plurality of power saving learning levels according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the duration of a plurality of intermediate power saving operations and soft-off steps according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the change in power consumption when performing absent power saving operation at a basic level according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the change in power consumption when performing absent power saving operation at a third learning level according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the process of controlling the set temperature and wind speed at each operating stage according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the process of adjusting the set temperature and wind speed in each intermediate power saving operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an air conditioner control method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the duration of a plurality of intermediate power saving operations and soft-off steps in each user-defined mode according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a process of adjusting a power saving learning level according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the structure of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a drawing showing an air conditioner, an external device, and a server according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the process of detecting a person from a second space and performing a first power-saving operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a process for determining an increase or decrease in the number of people according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a process for determining whether a person is detected in a second space according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 21 is a drawing illustrating a process for determining whether a person is detected in a second space according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a process for determining whether a person is detected in a second space according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 is a drawing illustrating a process for determining whether a person is detected in a second space according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a process for determin