Air conditioner having lighting module and method for operating air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner according to an embodiment includes: a main body frame, a panel frame facing a surface of the main body frame and comprising an inlet through which air is introduced into an inside of a main body portion and an outlet through which air is discharged to an outside of the main body portion, a grill panel arranged on a front surface of the panel frame, and a lighting module arranged between the panel frame and the grill panel and detachably coupled to a lighting module-coupling portion provided on a side of the panel frame at a specified height in a first direction perpendicular to a ceiling surface in a state in which the panel frame is installed on a ceiling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a main body frame;   a panel frame arranged to face a surface of the main body frame and comprising an inlet configured introduce air through the inlet into an inside of a main body portion and an outlet configured to discharge air to an outside of the main body portion;   a grill panel arranged on a front surface of the panel frame; and   a lighting module comprising at least one case arranged between the panel frame and the grill panel and detachably coupled to a lighting module-coupling portion provided on a side of the panel frame at a specified height in a first direction perpendicular to a ceiling surface in a state in which the panel frame is installed on a ceiling.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the lighting module comprises:
 a light-emitting unit including circuitry;   a first case accommodating the light-emitting unit and comprising a fixing portion coupled to the lighting module-coupling portion; and   a second case coupled to the first case and comprising a light-emitting surface configured to diffuse light of the light-emitting unit to an outside.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the first case comprises:
 a base portion comprising a side on which a plurality of protrusions are arranged in a second direction in which the first case extends; a cover portion arranged at a specified distance from the base portion and comprising a reflective surface configured to reflect the light of the light-emitting unit and a plurality of fastening hooks in the second direction; and a side wall connecting the base portion to the cover portion, and   the second case comprises:   a first support portion connected to a side of the light-emitting surface and comprising a plurality of fixing holes respectively configured to be coupled to the plurality of protrusions; and a second support portion connected to another surface of the light-emitting surface and comprising a fastening portion comprising a plurality of fastening holes respectively configured to be fastened with the plurality of fastening hooks.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein the light-emitting surface comprises an inclined surface having a specified inclination angle with respect to the ceiling based on the lighting module being coupled to the lighting module-coupling portion. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein the light-emitting unit comprises a plate extending in the second direction and arranged on the base portion; and a plurality of light-emitting devices comprising circuitry arranged in the second direction on a surface of the plate opposite to another surface of the plate in contact with the base portion, and
 the reflective surface comprises a curved surface having a specified curvature configured to reflect light generated from the light-emitting devices towards the light-emitting surface.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein a maximum height from the base portion to the reflective surface is equal to a height from the base portion to the fastening portion. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein the fixing portion comprises a plurality of fixing portions arranged at both end portions of the base portion and on the side wall,
 the lighting module-coupling portion comprises a seating portion and a plurality of fixing grooves respectively corresponding to the plurality of fixing portions, and   the side wall and one side of the base portion of the lighting module are seated on the seating portion such that the plurality of fixing portions are respectively coupled to the plurality of fixing grooves.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising an illuminance sensor arranged in the panel frame. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor arranged in the panel frame. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit comprising circuitry configured to change a mode of the lighting module. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating an air conditioner, the method comprising:
 identifying a lighting mode of the air conditioner;   receiving an illuminance signal from an illuminance sensor;   determining an on/off operation a lighting module according to a recognition value of the illuminance sensor; and   controlling a brightness of the lighting module based on the illuminance signal corresponding to a specified illuminance range,   wherein, based on the lighting mode being a main lighting mode,   in the determining of the on/off operation of the lighting module, based on the recognition value of the illuminance sensor being 0, the brightness of the lighting module is controlled to have a maximum value, and   in the determining of the brightness of the lighting module, based on the illuminance signal corresponding to a specified low-illuminance range, a lighting brightness is controlled to be dark, and based on the illuminance signal not corresponding to the specified low-illuminance range, a lighting is controlled to be off.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein, when the lighting mode is an auxiliary lighting mode,
 in the determining of the on/off operation of the lighting module, based on the recognition value of the illuminance sensor being 0, the lighting module is controlled to be off, and   in the determining of the brightness of the lighting module, based on the illuminance signal corresponding to a specified low-illuminance range, a lighting brightness is controlled to decrease, and based on the illuminance signal not corresponding to the specified low-illuminance range, the lighting brightness is controlled to increase.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a motion-sensing signal from a motion sensor; and   controlling the brightness of the lighting module according to the motion-sensing signal.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying an operation state of the air conditioner; and   controlling a color and the brightness of the lighting module according to the operation state of the air conditioner.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the operation state of the air conditioner comprises operation states according to an operation mode and a speed of a blower fan, and
 the identifying of the operation state of the air conditioner comprises: receiving an operation mode comprising a cooling mode, a heating mode, a blowing mode, and a purifying mode; and receiving a speed of the blower fan.