Apparatus and method for controlling air-conditioner

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling an air-conditioner for generating a first control signal for controlling an air-conditioner in a minimum operation mode or a second control signal for controlling the air-conditioner for controlling the air-conditioner in a maximum operation mode based on a room temperature and a desired temperature previously set by a user, and controlling an indoor fan and an outdoor fan and compressing capacity of compressors of the air-conditioner in multistage based on the first or second control signal and the outdoor temperature. By controlling compressing capacity of the air-conditioner, a rotation speed of an outdoor fan and an indoor fan in multistage based on an outdoor temperature and control signals for controlling a room temperature, a load coping capability can be enhanced.

1 . An apparatus for controlling an air-conditioner for generating a first control signal for controlling an air-conditioner in a minimum operation mode or a second control signal for controlling the air-conditioner in a maximum operation mode based on a room temperature and a desired temperature previously set by a user, and controlling an indoor fan and an outdoor fan and compressing capacity of compressors of the air-conditioner in multistage based on the first or second control signal and an outdoor temperature.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 a room temperature detector installed in a room and detecting the room temperature;    an outdoor temperature detector installed at an outdoor unit and detecting the outdoor temperature;    a controller of an indoor unit for generating the first control signal for operating the air-conditioner in the minimum operation mode or the second control signal for operating the air-conditioner in the maximum operation mode based on the detected room temperature and the desired temperature previously set by the user, and outputting the first and second control signals; and    a controller of an outdoor unit for generating a third control signal for controlling the compressing capacity of the compressors of the air-conditioner and a rotation speed of the outdoor fan in multistage based on the first and second control signals and the detected outdoor temperature, and outputting the third control signal to the compressors, the outdoor fan, and the controller of the indoor unit,    wherein the controller of the indoor unit controls the rotation speed of the indoor fan in multistage according to the third control signal.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the compressors and a small compressing capacitor compressor and a high compressing capacity compressor.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the controller of the outdoor unit receives the first control signal and the room temperature information, it turns on only the small compressing capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at a low speed to the outdoor fan, and 
 when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the low speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the low speed to the indoor fan,    wherein the room temperature information is lower than 26°.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the controller of the outdoor unit receives the first control signal and the room temperature information, it turns on only the small compressing capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at a middle speed to the outdoor fan, and 
 when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed to the indoor fan,    wherein the room temperature information is 26°˜35°.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the controller of the outdoor unit receives the first control signal and the room temperature information, it turns on only the high compressing capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at a middle speed to the outdoor fan, and 
 when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed to the indoor fan,    wherein the room temperature information is 36°˜45°.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the controller of the outdoor unit receives the first control signal and the room temperature information, it turns on only the high compressing capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at a high speed to the outdoor fan, and 
 when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed to the indoor fan,    wherein the room temperature information is greater than 45°.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the controller of the outdoor unit receives the second control signal and the room temperature information, it turns on only the high compressing capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed to the outdoor fan, and 
 when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed to the indoor fan,    wherein the room temperature information is smaller than 26°.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the controller of the outdoor unit receives the second control signal and the room temperature information, it turns on only the high compressing capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed to the outdoor fan, and 
 when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed to the indoor fan,    wherein the room temperature information is 260°˜30°.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the controller of the outdoor unit receives the second control signal and the room temperature information, it turns on both the high compressing capacity compressor and the small compressing capacitor compressor simultaneously and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed to the outdoor fan, and 
 when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed to the indoor fan,    wherein the room temperature information is 31°˜40°.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the controller of the outdoor unit receives the second control signal and the room temperature information, it turns on both the high compressing capacity compressor and the small compressing capacitor compressor simultaneously and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at a maximum high speed to the outdoor fan, and 
 when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the maximum high speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the maximum high speed to the indoor fan,    wherein the room temperature information is greater than 40°.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein in order to prevent damage of the compressors owing to an overload, when both the small compressing capacity compressor and the high compressing capacitor compressor are being turned on simultaneously for a first predetermined time, the controller of the outdoor unit turns on the high compressing capacity compressor and the small compressing capacitor compressor alternately for a second predetermined time.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for controlling a unitary air-conditioner comprising: 
 a thermostat installed in a room, detecting a room temperature, generating a first control signal for operating the air-conditioner in a minimum operation mode or a second control signal for operating the air-conditioner in a maximum operation mode based on the detected room temperature and a desired temperature previously set by a user, and outputting the first or the second control signal;    an outdoor temperature detector installed at an outdoor unit and detecting an outdoor temperature; and    a controller, of an outdoor unit, for controlling a small compressing capacity compressor and/or high compressing capacity compressor of the air-conditioner based on the first or second control signal and the detected outdoor temperature, and controlling a rotation speed of an outdoor fan of the air-conditioner in multistage,    wherein the thermostat rotates an indoor fan of the air-conditioner at the same rotation speed as the rotation speed of the outdoor fan.    
   
   
       14 . A method for controlling an air-conditioner comprising: 
 detecting a room temperature;    generating a first control signal for controlling an air-conditioner in a minimum operation mode or a second control signal for controlling the air-conditioner in a maximum operation mode based on the room temperature and a desired temperature previously set by a user; and    controlling an indoor fan, an outdoor fan and compressing capacity of compressors based on the first or second control signal and the outdoor temperature.