Controller for an air conditioning apparatus

Abstract

A controller for an air conditioner is provided that may include a communication device configured to communicate with the air conditioner, and an output device configured to display, on a management screen, information received from the air conditioner communicatively connected to the communication device. Once the communication device is communicatively connected to the air conditioner, the output device may receive product information of the air conditioner from the air conditioner and display the management screen corresponding to the product information received.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controller for an air conditioner, comprising:
 a communication device configured to communicate with the air conditioner; and   an output device configured to display, on a management screen, information received from the air conditioner communicatively connected to the communication device, wherein, once the communication device is communicatively connected to the air conditioner, the output device receives product information of the air conditioner from the air conditioner and displays the management screen corresponding to the product information received.   
     
     
         2 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the communication device is disconnected from the air conditioner and is connected to an another-type air conditioner, the communication device receives the product information from the another-type air conditioner, and the output device displays, on the management screen, the product information received from the another-type air conditioner. 
     
     
         3 . The controller according to  claim 2 , wherein the management screen comprises a communication state display region to display a communication state, and wherein the communication state display region displays information indicating normal communication or occurrence of a communication error. 
     
     
         4 . The controller according to  claim 2 , wherein the output device displays, on the management screen, a product display region and a plurality of information display regions to display an operation state of the air conditioner, and wherein a layout of the plurality of information display regions and a layout of the product display region on the management screen are constant regardless of a category or a type of the air conditioner communicatively connected to the communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The controller according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the plurality of information display regions displays fixed information displayed in common regardless of the category or type of the air conditioner, and variable information that varies with the category or type of the air conditioner. 
     
     
         6 . The controller according to  claim 5 , wherein, if the type of the air conditioner communicatively connected is changed, the output device continuously displays the fixed information on the at least one of the plurality of information display regions, and deletes or changes a portion or all of the variable information or adds information thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The controller according to  claim 5 , wherein a number of the variable information displayed on the at least one of the plurality of information display regions varies with the category or type of the air conditioner. 
     
     
         8 . The controller according to  claim 5 , wherein the fixed information is changed in terms of a display position on the at least one of the plurality of information display regions according to the category or type of the air conditioner. 
     
     
         9 . The controller according to  claim 5 , wherein the variable information comprises:
 common information displayed in common for air conditioners communicatively connected to the communication device, wherein the air conditioners belong to a same category; and   individual information displayed individually for each of different types of air conditioners belonging to the same category.   
     
     
         10 . The controller according to  claim 9 , wherein the individual information is displayed or not displayed on the information display region according to the type of the air conditioner. 
     
     
         11 . The controller according to  claim 9 , wherein a portion or all of the common information is the same or different according to the category of the air conditioner. 
     
     
         12 . The controller according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of information display regions comprises a plurality of display blocks to display the fixed information and the individual information, and wherein the fixed information and the individual information corresponding to the air conditioner communicatively connected to the communication device are displayed on each of the plurality of display blocks. 
     
     
         13 . The controller according to  claim 12 , wherein information displayed on at least one of the plurality of display blocks varies with the category or type of the air conditioner. 
     
     
         14 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the output device displays a unit change screen when a unit change command is input. 
     
     
         15 . The controller according to  claim 14 , wherein the unit change screen displays a selection portion to select a unit of at least one of a temperature, a pressure, a flow rate, or a capacity. 
     
     
         16 . The controller according to  claim 15 , wherein the unit change screen displays a default unit selection portion to set a default unit. 
     
     
         17 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein, if a unit of information received from the air conditioner communicatively connected is different from that set in the controller, the unit of the information received is converted into a set unit, and the output device displays unit-converted information on the management screen. 
     
     
         18 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a remote controller. 
     
     
         19 . A controller for an air conditioner, comprising:
 a communication device configured to communicate with at least one of a plurality of air conditioners; and   an output device configured to display, on a management screen, information received from any one air conditioner communicatively connected to the communication device among the plurality of air conditioners, wherein the output device displays, on the management screen, a plurality of information display regions to display an operation state of the air conditioner communicatively connected, and wherein a layout of the plurality of information display regions on the management screen is constant regardless of a category or a type of the air conditioner communicatively connected to the communication device.   
     
     
         20 . A controller for an air conditioner, comprising:
 a communication device configured to communicate with the air conditioner; and   an output device configured to display, on a management screen, information received from the air conditioner communicatively connected to the communication device, wherein the output device displays the management screen to display an operation state of the air conditioner communicatively connected, and wherein the output device displays a unit change screen when a unit change command for changing a unit of information displayed on the management screen is input.   
     
     
         21 . The controller according to  claim 20 , wherein, if a unit of information received from the air conditioner communicatively connected is different from that set for the unit change screen, the unit of the information received is converted into a set unit, and the output device displays unit-converted information on the management screen. 
     
     
         22 . A controller, comprising:
 a communication device configured to communicate with a first air conditioner; and   an output device configured to display, on a management screen, information received from the first air conditioner communicatively connected to the communication device, wherein, once the communication device is communicatively connected to the first air conditioner, the output device receives product information of the first air conditioner from the first air conditioner and displays the management screen corresponding to the product information received, and wherein, if the communication device is disconnected from the first air conditioner and is connected to a second air conditioner, the communication device receives the product information from the second air conditioner, and the output device displays, on the management screen, the product information received from the second air conditioner.   
     
     
         23 . The controller according to  claim 22 , wherein the management screen comprises a communication state display region to display a communication state, and wherein the communication state display region displays information indicating normal communication or occurrence of a communication error. 
     
     
         24 . The controller according to  claim 22 , wherein the controller is a remote controller.