Dehumidifier and method for controlling same

Abstract

A dehumidifier sets a target humidity value based on an input humidity value received through an input interface during a power-saving mode, acquires an indication frequency of a compressor based on the target humidity value and a humidity value detected by a humidity sensor, and reduces the acquired indication frequency of the compressor at a specified rate to control the operation of the compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dehumidifier comprising:
 a compressor;   an input interface comprising circuitry configured to receive an input; and   at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to cause the dehumidifier to reduce an indication frequency of the compressor by a specified ratio in response to a power-saving mode received via the input interface.   
     
     
         2 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , further comprising a humidity sensor configured to detect a humidity,
 wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: set a target humidity value based on an input humidity value received via the input interface, and determine the indication frequency of the compressor based on the target humidity value and a humidity value detected by the humidity sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to:
 acquire an input humidity value via the input interface during a general mode,   acquire a preferred humidity value by learning the acquired input humidity value, and   set the target humidity value based on the acquired preferred humidity value.   
     
     
         4 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to:
 acquire an input humidity value of a current operation cycle received via the input interface before a power-off command is received upon receiving the power-off command via the input interface during the general mode,   acquire a first average of input humidity values of pre-stored operation cycles, and acquires a second average of the acquired first average and the acquired input humidity value of the current operation cycle, and   acquire the acquired second average as the preferred humidity value by rounding down the ones place of the second average by a specified unit.   
     
     
         5 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to:
 set the target humidity value by adding a specified humidity value to the preferred humidity value based on the preferred humidity value being within a reference humidity range, and   set the preferred humidity value as the target humidity value based on the preferred humidity value being out of the reference humidity range.   
     
     
         6 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: release the power-saving mode based on a variation in the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor being equal to or less than a specified first setting value after a first period has elapsed since the power-saving mode was started, and the humidity value detected by a humidity sensor being equal to or greater than a specified second setting value after a second period, different from the first period, has elapsed since the power-saving mode was started, and control operation of the compressor at the determined indication frequency of the compressor based on releasing the power-saving mode. 
     
     
         7 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: re-perform the power-saving mode based on the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor in response to the release of the power-saving mode being less than a specified third setting value, or the detected humidity value exceeding a value obtained by subtracting a specified fourth setting value from the input humidity value. 
     
     
         8 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first heat exchanger connected to the compressor;   a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger; and   a fan configured to blow the air heat-exchanged by the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger,   wherein the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the fan are integrally provided inside the housing, and   an airflow path of the first heat exchanger, an airflow path of the second heat exchanger, and an airflow path of the fan are the same flow path.   
     
     
         9 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , further comprising a communicator comprising communication circuitry configured to receive a power price,
 wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to reduce the specified ratio more as the received power price increases.   
     
     
         10 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 9 , further comprising a display,
 wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control the display to display a level of the power-saving mode corresponding to the received power price during the power-saving mode.   
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a dehumidifier including a compressor, the method comprising:
 setting a target humidity value based on an input humidity value received via an input interface during a power-saving mode,   determining an indication frequency of the compressor based on the target humidity value and a humidity value detected by a humidity sensor, and   controlling the operation of the compressor by reducing the determined indication frequency of the compressor by a specified ratio.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the setting of the target humidity value comprises:
 acquiring an input humidity value received via the input interface during a general mode;   acquiring a preferred humidity value by learning the acquired input humidity value; and   setting the target humidity value based on the acquired preferred humidity value.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the acquiring of the preferred humidity value comprises:
 acquiring an input humidity value received via the input interface before a power-off command is received upon receiving the power-off command via the input interface during a general mode;   acquiring a first average of input humidity values of operation cycles stored in a memory;   acquiring a second average of the acquired first average and the acquired input humidity value; and   acquiring the acquired second average as the preferred humidity value by rounding down the ones place of the second average by a preset unit, and   wherein the setting of the target humidity value comprises setting the target humidity value based on the preferred humidity value and a specified humidity value based on the preferred humidity value being less than a reference humidity value, and setting the preferred humidity value as the target humidity value based on the preferred humidity value being equal to or greater than the reference humidity value.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 releasing the power-saving mode based on a variation in the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor after a first period has elapsed since the power-saving mode was started being equal to or less than a specified first setting value and a humidity value detected by the humidity sensor after a second period has elapsed since the power-saving mode was started is equal to or greater than a preset second setting value;   controlling operation of the compressor at the determined indication frequency of the compressor in response to the release of the power-saving mode; and   re-performing the power-saving mode based on a humidity value detected by the humidity sensor in response to the release of the power-saving mode being less than a specified third setting value or the detected humidity value being greater than a value obtained by subtracting a specified fourth setting value from the input humidity value.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a power price via a communicator;   identifying a specified ratio corresponding to the received power price; and   reducing the indication frequency of the compressor based on the identified specified ratio,   wherein the specified ratio corresponding to the received power price increases as the power price increases.