Air conditioner

Abstract

The air conditioner may include a sensing unit for sensing a breakdown or an operation state of a motor. The state of the motor is sensed using a non-contact type sensor, whereby it is possible to easily monitor states of a compressor and a fan motor, to sense progress of the abnormality of the compressor and the fan motor or whether the compressor and the fan motor have broken down, and to estimate the expected lifespan of the compressor or the fan motor based on the state thereof using the monitored results. Damage to the air conditioner may be prevented due to abnormality of the compressor or the fan motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a display to display an operation state of the air conditioner;   a motor configured to be rotated to generate driving force;   a driving controller to control driving of the motor;   a sensing unit to sense an abnormality of the motor; and   a controller to control operation of the air conditioner based on data received from the sensing unit, wherein   the sensing unit is provided on a power cable, wherein operation current from the driving controller flows to the motor via the power cable, the sensing unit for sensing the operation current to sense a breakdown and an operation state of the motor, and   in response to a control command from the controller, the display outputs the operation state of the motor and outputs a warning message regarding the abnormality of the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor is provided at one of an outdoor unit fan, an indoor unit fan, and a compressor of the air conditioner. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit is detachably attached to one of three-phase power lines coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit is to surround the power cable. The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit is spaced apart from the power cable by a predetermined distance to sense the operation current flowing in the power cable using an induced current, and the sensing unit is not electrically connected to the power cable. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner according to claim  5 , wherein the sensing unit has a clip shape such that the sensing unit is provided on the power cable. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit includes:
 a sensor to sense the operation current in the power cable; and   a signal processing unit to determine the operation state or the abnormality of the motor based on the sensed operation current.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner according to  claim 7 , wherein when a current waveform of the sensed operation current changes, the signal processing unit transmits data to the controller. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner according to  claim 8 , wherein when the current waveform of the sensed operation current changes, the signal processing unit determines that a bearing is worn and transmits, to the controller, data regarding a breakdown. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner according to  claim 7 , wherein when a specific current frequency is contained in the sensed operation current, the signal processing unit transmits, to the controller, data thereabout. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner according to  claim 10 , wherein when the specific current frequency is contained in the sensed operation current, the signal processing unit determines that a stator at the motor is abnormal and transmits, to the controller, data regarding a breakdown. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner according to  claim 10 , wherein in response to determining, based on the data received from the signal processing unit, that the motor has broken, the controller controls the operation of the air conditioner to stop and controls the display to display a warning. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner according to  claim 10 , wherein in response to determining, based on the data received from the signal processing unit, that an abnormal current or an abnormal frequency is provided in the operation state of the motor, the controller controls the operation of the air conditioner to be continuously performed and controls the display to display a warning related to the abnormality of the motor. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner according to  claim 10 , wherein in response to determining that the data from the signal processing unit are data generated due to the abnormality of the motor, the controller controls the data to be transmitted to another unit such that a warning is output at the another unit. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein when the motor is abnormal, the display differently displays a warning message regarding a breakdown that has occurred and a warning message regarding the abnormality of the motor in response to the control command from the controller. 
     
     
         16 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a display;   a motor to provide a driving force;   a driving controller to control driving of the motor;   a sensing device to sense an abnormality of the motor; and   a controller to control operation of the air conditioner based on information received from the sensing device, wherein   the sensing device to sense an operation current on a cable from the driving controller to the motor, the sensing device to sense a breakdown or an operation state of the motor, and   in response to a control command from the controller, the display to display the operation state of the motor or a warning message regarding the abnormality of the motor.   
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner according to  claim 16 , wherein the sensing device is provided on the power cable. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner according to  claim 16 , wherein the sensing device is detachably coupled to one of three-phase power lines coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner according to  claim 16 , wherein the sensing device includes:
 a sensor to sense the operation current flowing in the cable; and   a signal processing unit to determine the operation state or the abnormality of the motor based on the sensed operation current.   
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner according to  claim 19 , wherein when a current waveform of the sensed operation current changes, the signal processing unit transmits data to the controller.