Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner that further provides a lighting function is provided. The air conditioner can increase space utilization of a ceiling by the lighting device being integrally installed in the indoor unit. In addition, heat generated at the lighting device can be radiated by the cooling structure provided in the indoor unit, and thereby overheating of the lighting device can be prevented. The air conditioner includes a blowing fan configured to flow air, a housing in which an intake port is formed to suction air by the blowing fan, a lighting device provided in the housing, and a cooling channel configured to guide the air suctioned by the blowing fan to pass the lighting device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a blowing fan configured to flow air;   a housing in which an intake port is formed to suction air by the blowing fan;   a lighting device provided in the housing; and   a cooling channel configured to guide the air suctioned by the blowing fan to pass the lighting device.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the lighting device is positioned along an outer perimeter of the intake port. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the lighting device and the intake port are positioned at a panel positioned at a lower portion of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the intake port is provided in an annular shape. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the housing is provided with a suction channel in communication with the intake port to guide the suctioned air to a heat exchanger, and   wherein one side of the cooling channel is in communication with the suction channel.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is provided with a discharge port configured to extend along an outer perimeter of the intake port. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 6 , wherein the lighting device is positioned between the intake port and the discharge port. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the lighting device comprises:
 a light source configured to emit light, and   a heat sink configured to radiate heat generated at the light source.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner of  claim 8 , wherein the cooling channel is provided so that the air suctioned via the cooling channel passes the heat sink. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner of  claim 9 , wherein the heat sink is provided with a metallic material comprising aluminum. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner of  claim 8 , wherein the lighting device is further provided with a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the heat sink. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner of  claim 11 , wherein the blowing fan is further configured to operate according to a result sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner of  claim 12 , wherein, when a heating or cooling operation is not performed, the blowing fan is further configured to operate when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is higher than a certain temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner of  claim 13 , wherein the blowing fan is further configured to operate at a lower speed when the heating or cooling operation is not performed than when the heating or cooling operation is performed. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner of  claim 13 , the blowing fan is further configured to stop operating when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is less than the certain temperature. 
     
     
         16 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a housing in which an intake port in an annular shape and a discharge port positioned at an outer side of a suction channel in a radial direction are formed;   a blowing fan positioned inside the housing and configured to flow air;   a lighting device installed in the housing; and   a cooling channel provided at the housing and configured to guide suctioned air to pass a heat sink,   wherein the lighting device comprises a light source installed at the housing, and   wherein the heat sink is configured to radiate heat generated at the light source.   
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein the lighting device is positioned at a lower surface of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein the cooling channel is positioned between the suction channel and a discharge channel. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein the lighting device further comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the heat sink. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein, when a heating or cooling operation is not performed, the blowing fan is configured to operate for a certain time when the temperature of the heat sink sensed by the temperature sensor is higher than a certain temperature.