Air conditioner and method of controlling the same

Abstract

An air conditioner and a method of controlling the air conditioner are disclosed. It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an air conditioner and a method of controlling the air conditioner, which is capable of improving a structure to supply stable power, and effectively reset an outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit, in a multi-unit type air conditioner that is operated with the plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line. The air conditioner further includes reset control units, which are provided on the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, respectively, to receive a reset signal transmitted through the communication line and to reset the outdoor unit or the at least one indoor unit.

1 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 an outdoor unit;    at least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line; and    reset control units provided on the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, respectively, to receive a reset signal transmitted through the communication line and to reset at least one of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit.    
   
   
       2 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the at least one indoor unit is reset by a reset signal generated from the outdoor unit; and    the outdoor unit is reset by a reset signal generated from the at least one indoor unit.    
   
   
       3 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a plurality of indoor units are provided, and at least one of the indoor units is set as a master indoor unit; and    the master indoor unit generates the reset signal to reset the outdoor unit.    
   
   
       4 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit each comprise a control unit; and    the reset signal is a signal to reset each of the control units.    
   
   
       5 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the reset signal is attached with an address of at least one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit to be reset; and    only the outdoor or the indoor unit designated by the address is reset in response to the reset signal.    
   
   
       6 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reset signal has an electrical characteristic which is distinguished from general communication signals transmitted through the communication line.  
   
   
       7 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the reset control unit of the at least one indoor unit is a first reset control unit to detect whether a communication signal input through the communication line corresponds to the reset signal and to generate a first reset control signal if it is determined that the communication signal corresponds to the reset signal; and    the reset control unit of the outdoor unit is a second reset control unit to detect whether the communication signal input through the communication line corresponds to the reset signal and to generate a second reset control signal if it is determined that the communication signal corresponds to the reset signal.    
   
   
       8 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second reset control units each comprise a comparator to respectively: receive a reference signal having a same electrical characteristic as the reset signal, receive the communication signal transmitted through the communication line, compare the communication signal with the reference signal, determine that the reset signal has been generated if the reference signal and the communication signal coincide with each other, and generate the first reset control signal and the second reset control signal.  
   
   
       9 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second reset control units each comprise a delay relay to respectively: receive the communication signal transmitted through the communication line, and be turned on when the communication signal has a same electrical characteristic as the reset signal, and generate the first reset control signal and the second reset control signal.  
   
   
       10 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the electrical characteristic of the reset signal includes a voltage signal having a constant level which is maintained during predetermined time.  
   
   
       11 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one indoor unit further comprises a first reset drive unit to generate a first reset drive signal to reset a control unit thereof, the first reset drive unit generates the first reset drive signal in response to the first reset control signal generated from the first reset control unit.  
   
   
       12 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the outdoor unit further comprises a second reset drive unit to generate a second reset drive signal to reset a control unit thereof, the second reset drive unit generates the second reset drive signal in response to at least one of the second reset control signal generated from the second reset control unit and a predetermined variation of supplied power.  
   
   
       13 . A method of controlling an air conditioner in which at least one indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit through a communication line, power is individually supplied to the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, and the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit receive reset signals transmitted through the communication line and are reset, comprising: 
 generating a reset signal and transmitting the reset signal through the communication line by one of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit; and    receiving the reset signal transmitted through the communication line by the other one of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, such that the other one is reset.    
   
   
       14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one indoor unit comprises a first control unit, a first reset control unit, and a first reset drive unit, the method further including, 
 controlling overall operations of the at least one indoor unit with the first control unit;    detecting, with the first reset control unit, whether a communication signal input through the communication line corresponds to the reset signal and generating a first reset control signal if it is determined that the communication signal corresponds to the reset signal; and    generating a first reset drive signal, with the first reset drive unit, to reset the first control unit, the first reset drive unit generating the first reset drive signal in response to the first reset control signal generated from the first reset control unit.    
   
   
       15 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the outdoor unit comprises a second control unit, a second reset control unit, and a second reset drive unit, the method further including, 
 controlling overall operations of the outdoor unit with the second control unit;    detecting, with the second reset control unit, whether a communication signal input through the communication line corresponds to the reset signal and generating a first reset control signal if it is determined that the communication signal corresponds to the reset signal; and    generating a second reset drive signal, with the second reset drive unit, to reset the second control unit, the second reset drive unit generating the second reset drive signal in response to at least one of the second reset control signal and a predetermined variation of supplied power.    
   
   
       16 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further including, attaching the reset signal with an address of one of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit which is to be reset; and 
 wherein only the one of the outdoor unit or the at least one indoor unit designated by the address is reset in response to the reset signal.    
   
   
       17 . A method of controlling an air conditioner in which at least one indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit through a communication line, power is individually supplied to the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit by a power supply, and the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit receive reset signals transmitted through the communication line and are reset, comprising: 
 resetting the outdoor unit first in response to resumption of the power supply when the power supply to the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit is discontinued and resumed; and    resetting the at least one indoor unit with the reset outdoor unit.    
   
   
       18 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one indoor unit comprises a plurality of indoor units, and the outdoor unit, when re-operated by the reset, tracks a plurality of the indoor units and resets the plurality of the indoor units.  
   
   
       19 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one indoor unit comprises a first control unit, a first reset control unit, and a first reset drive unit, the method further including, 
 controlling overall operations of the at least one indoor unit with the first control unit;    detecting, with the first reset control unit, whether a communication signal input through the communication line corresponds to the reset signal and generating a first reset control signal if it is determined that the communication signal corresponds to the reset signal; and    generating, with the first reset drive unit, a first reset drive signal to reset the first control unit, the first reset drive unit generating the first reset drive signal in response to the first reset control signal generated from the first reset control unit.    
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the outdoor unit comprises a second control unit, a second reset control unit, and a second reset drive unit, the method further including, 
 controlling overall operations of the outdoor unit the second control unit;    detecting, with the second reset control unit, whether a communication signal input through the communication line corresponds to the reset signal and generating a first reset control signal if it is determined that the communication signal corresponds to the reset signal; and    generating, with the second reset drive unit, a second reset control signal to reset the second control unit, the second reset drive unit generating the second reset drive signal in response to at least one of the second reset control generated from the second reset control unit and a predetermined variation of supplied power.    
   
   
       21 . A method of controlling an air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to an outdoor unit through a communication line, power is individually supplied to the outdoor unit and the plurality of the indoor units, and the outdoor unit and the plurality of the indoor units receive reset signals through the communication line and are reset, comprising: 
 setting at least one of the plurality of indoor units as a master indoor unit;    generating, with the master indoor unit, a reset signal to reset the outdoor unit when the outdoor unit may not generate reset signals to reset the plurality of the indoor units; and    receiving, with the outdoor unit, the reset signal generated from the master indoor unit and being reset.    
   
   
       22 . The method as set forth in  claim 21 , further including, 
 attaching each of the reset signals with an address of the outdoor unit or one of the plurality of indoor units to be reset; and    wherein only the outdoor unit or one of the plurality of indoor units designated by the address is reset in response to the each of the reset signals.    
   
   
       23 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 an outdoor unit;    at least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit though a communication line; and    power supply units to individually supply power to the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit.    
   
   
       24 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the power supply unit of the outdoor unit is adapted to supply power corresponding to that required by the outdoor unit.  
   
   
       25 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 23 , further comprising circuit breakers provided on the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, respectively, to cut off at least one of the power supply to the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit when an abnormality of power supply to the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit is incurred.  
   
   
       26 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 an outdoor unit;    at least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line;    power supply units to individually supply power to the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit; and    reset control units provided on the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, respectively, to receive a reset signal transmitted through the communication line and to reset at least one of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit.    
   
   
       27 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 an outdoor unit;    at least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line; and    means for receiving a reset signal transmitted through the communication line and for resetting at least one of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, the means for receiving provided on the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, respectively.    
   
   
       28 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the means for receiving of the at least one indoor unit detects whether a communication signal input through the communication line corresponds to the reset signal and generates a first reset control signal if it is determined that the communication signal corresponds to the reset signal; and 
 the means for receiving of the outdoor unit detects whether the communication signal input through the communication line corresponds to the reset signal and generates a second reset control signal if it is determined that the communication signal corresponds to the reset signal.    
   
   
       29 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the means for receiving of the at least one indoor unit and the means for receiving of the outdoor unit each respectively: receive a reference signal having a same electrical characteristic as the reset signal, receive the communication signal transmitted through the communication line, compare the communication signal with the reference signal, determine that the reset signal has been generated if the reference signal and the communication signal coincide with each other, and generate the first reset control signal and the second reset control signal.