Air conditioner and control method thereof

Abstract

An air conditioner and a method for controlling an air conditioner are provided for controlling the direction in which conditioned air is discharged during powerful operation. The air conditioner is provided with a control unit. The control unit is connected, among other things, to a compressor, a four-way switching valve, a pressure-reducing device, a remote control, a fan motor, a flap motor, a temperature sensor, and an infrared sensor. The control unit controls the compressor, the four-way switching valve, the pressure-reducing device, the fan motor, and the flap motor. When a command for powerful operation is entered from the remote control, the control unit temporarily increases the rotational speed of the cross-flow fan, the operating frequency of the compressor, and the like, enhances the air conditioning capacity, and controls the direction of the horizontal flap according to the direction in which people are present in the room.

1 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 an air conditioning mechanism configured and arranged to perform air conditioning of indoor air;    an air deflector configured and arranged relative to the air conditioning mechanism to selectively adjust an air flow direction in which conditioned air is discharged from the air conditioning mechanism; and    a control unit operatively coupled to the air conditioning mechanism to selectively perform powerful operation whereby a capacity of said air conditioning mechanism is temporarily increased,    said control unit being further operatively coupled to the air deflector to selectively adjust the air flow direction of said air deflector in accordance with a signal representing a detected direction in which people are present during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said control unit is configured and arranged to selectively adjust the air flow direction of said air deflector so that air is discharged in the detected direction in which people are present during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said control unit is configured and arranged to selectively adjust the air flow direction of said air deflector so that air is discharged in a direction in which people are not present during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said control unit is configured and arranged to selectively maintain the air flow direction of said air deflector at a fixed orientation during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said control unit is further configured and arranged to selectively change a swing range of said air deflector to a different swing range during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a timer configured and arranged to selectively limit a time in which said control unit performs said powerful operation.    
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 6 , wherein 
 said control unit is further operatively coupled to said timer such that a time at which said air deflector is stopped during said powerful operation is set in said timer.    
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said air deflector comprises a vertically movable flap.    
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sensor configured and arranged to detect said people during said powerful operation and output the signal representing the detected direction of said people to said control unit.    
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said control unit is further configured and arranged to selectively adjust the air flow direction of said air deflector when said powerful operation is set during cooling operation.    
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling an air conditioner comprising: 
 operating an air conditioning mechanism for performing air conditioning of indoor air;    controlling said air conditioning mechanism for selectively performing powerful operation such that a capacity of said air conditioning mechanism is temporarily increased; and    adjusting an air deflector for selectively controlling an air flow direction of conditioned air discharged from said air conditioning mechanism such that the air flow direction of said air deflector is adjusted in accordance with a detected direction in which people are present during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         12 . The method for controlling an air conditioner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein 
 the adjusting of the air flow direction of said air deflector is adjusted so that air is discharged in the detected direction in which people are present during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         13 . The method for controlling an air conditioner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein 
 the adjusting of the air flow direction of said air deflector is adjusted so that air is discharged in a direction in which people are not present during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 2 , wherein 
 said control unit is configured and arranged to selectively maintain the air flow direction of said air deflector at a fixed orientation during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 2 , wherein 
 said control unit is further configured and arranged to selectively change a swing range of said air deflector to a different swing range during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 2 , wherein 
 said air deflector comprises a vertically movable flap.    
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 3 , wherein 
 said control unit is configured and arranged to selectively maintain the air flow direction of said air deflector at a fixed orientation during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 3 , wherein 
 said control unit is further configured and arranged to selectively change a swing range of said air deflector to a different swing range during said powerful operation.    
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner as recited in  claim 2 , wherein 
 said air deflector comprises a vertically movable flap.