Apparatus to operate air conditioner system and method of controlling the same

Abstract

An apparatus to control an air conditioner system and a method for controlling the same, in which an operational priority is given to an air conditioner or a ventilation system according to peripheral environment and a season such that the air conditioner and the ventilation system are selectively operated to provide optimum air conditioning environment. The method of controlling the air conditioner system including the air conditioner to cool and heat a room and the ventilation device to perform a ventilation operation includes detecting an outdoor temperature, determining a season by comparing the outdoor temperature with a preset reference temperature, and determining an operational priority relative to the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the determined season.

1 . A method of controlling an air conditioner system including an air conditioner to cool and heat a room and a ventilation device to perform a ventilation operation, the method comprising:
 detecting an outdoor temperature;   determining a season by comparing the outdoor temperature with a preset reference temperature; and   determining an operational priority relative to the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the determined season.   
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the season is determined as summer if the outdoor temperature is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature, and the season is determined as winter if the outdoor temperature is equal to or lower than a second reference temperature. 
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the season is determined as spring or fall if the outdoor temperature is lower than the first reference temperature and higher than the second reference temperature. 
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the operational priority is assigned to the air conditioner if the season is determined as summer or winter. 
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the operational priority is assigned to the ventilation device if the season is determined as spring or fall. 
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selectively operating the air conditioner or the ventilation device according to the determined operational priority.   
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, if ventilation is needed when the air conditioner is operated according to the determined operational priority, the operation of the air conditioner is stopped and the ventilation device is operated. 
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , when a ventilation step of the ventilation device is adjusted based on a descending speed of an indoor temperature changed during the operation of the air conditioner. 
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the ventilation device is operated after stopping the operation of the air conditioner when an indoor pollution degree is detected during the operation of the air conditioner, and when the detected indoor pollution degree reaches a preset marginal pollution degree. 
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, if the cooling/heating operation is needed when the ventilation device is operated according to the determined operational priority, the operation of the ventilation device is stopped, and the air conditioner is operated. 
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the air conditioner is operated after stopping the operation of the ventilation device when an indoor temperature is detected during the operation of the ventilation device, and the detected indoor temperature reaches a preset marginal temperature. 
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting a priority control mode for the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to a user's command, and operating the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to the priority control mode.   
   
   
       13 . An apparatus to control an air conditioner system including an air conditioner to cool and heat a room and a ventilation device to perform a ventilation operation, the apparatus comprising:
 a temperature sensor to detect an outdoor temperature; and   a controller to determine a season by comparing the outdoor temperature with a preset reference temperature and determining operational priority relative to the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the determined season.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the controller determines the season as summer if the outdoor temperature is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature, and controls the air conditioner to perform a cooling operation while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the controller determines the season as winter if the outdoor temperature is equal to or lower than a second reference temperature, and controls the air conditioner to perform a heating operation while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the controller determines the season as spring or fall if the outdoor temperature is lower than the first reference temperature, and controls the ventilation device to perform the ventilation operation while assigning the operational priority to the ventilation system. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the controller determines the season as spring or fall if the outdoor temperature is higher than the second reference temperature, and controls the ventilation device to perform the ventilation operation while assigning the operational priority to the ventilation system. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the controller stops the operation of the air conditioner and starts the operation of the ventilation device when the ventilation operation is required while the air conditioner is being operated according to determined operational priority. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the controller stops the operation of the air conditioner and starts the operation of the ventilation device when the ventilation operation is required while the air conditioner is being operated according to determined operational priority. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the controller stops the operation of the ventilation device and starts the operation of the air conditioner when the cooling/heating operation is required while the ventilation device is being operated according to determined operational priority. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an input unit to select a priority control mode for the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to a user's command,   wherein the controller operates the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to the selected priority control mode.   
   
   
       22 . An apparatus to control an air conditioner system including an air conditioner and a ventilation device, the apparatus comprising:
 a first sensor to detect an outdoor temperature;   a second sensor to detect a pollutant of a unit room; and   a controller to determine a priority to one of an air conditioner and a ventilation device according to the outdoor temperature to selectively control the air conditioner and ventilation device according to the priority and the pollutant.