U.S. patent application number 11/032054 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-24 for apparatus and method for controlling air-conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Hwang, Yoon-Jei, Hyun, Seung-Youp, Lee, Won-Hee, Song, Chan-Ho.
Application Number | 20050257538 11/032054 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34934296 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050257538 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hwang, Yoon-Jei ; et
al. |
November 24, 2005 |
Apparatus and method for controlling air-conditioner
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling an air-conditioner for generating a
first control signal for controlling an air-conditioner in a
minimum operation mode or a second control signal for controlling
the air-conditioner for controlling the air-conditioner in a
maximum operation mode based on a room temperature and a desired
temperature previously set by a user, and controlling an indoor fan
and an outdoor fan and compressing capacity of compressors of the
air-conditioner in multistage based on the first or second control
signal and the outdoor temperature. By controlling compressing
capacity of the air-conditioner, a rotation speed of an outdoor fan
and an indoor fan in multistage based on an outdoor temperature and
control signals for controlling a room temperature, a load coping
capability can be enhanced.
Inventors: |
Hwang, Yoon-Jei; (Seoul,
KR) ; Hyun, Seung-Youp; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee,
Won-Hee; (Seoul, KR) ; Song, Chan-Ho;
(Wacheon, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34934296 |
Appl. No.: |
11/032054 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/179 ; 62/180;
62/229 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/77 20180101;
F25B 13/00 20130101; F25B 2313/0294 20130101; F25B 2313/0293
20130101; F25B 49/02 20130101; Y02B 30/70 20130101; F25B 2400/0751
20130101; F25B 2700/2106 20130101; F25B 2600/0251 20130101; F24F
2110/12 20180101; F25B 2700/2104 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/179 ;
062/180; 062/229 |
International
Class: |
F25D 017/00; F25B
001/00; F25B 049/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2004 |
KR |
36521/2004 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for controlling an air-conditioner for generating a
first control signal for controlling an air-conditioner in a
minimum operation mode or a second control signal for controlling
the air-conditioner in a maximum operation mode based on a room
temperature and a desired temperature previously set by a user, and
controlling an indoor fan and an outdoor fan and compressing
capacity of compressors of the air-conditioner in multistage based
on the first or second control signal and an outdoor
temperature.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a room temperature
detector installed in a room and detecting the room temperature; an
outdoor temperature detector installed at an outdoor unit and
detecting the outdoor temperature; a controller of an indoor unit
for generating the first control signal for operating the
air-conditioner in the minimum operation mode or the second control
signal for operating the air-conditioner in the maximum operation
mode based on the detected room temperature and the desired
temperature previously set by the user, and outputting the first
and second control signals; and a controller of an outdoor unit for
generating a third control signal for controlling the compressing
capacity of the compressors of the air-conditioner and a rotation
speed of the outdoor fan in multistage based on the first and
second control signals and the detected outdoor temperature, and
outputting the third control signal to the compressors, the outdoor
fan, and the controller of the indoor unit, wherein the controller
of the indoor unit controls the rotation speed of the indoor fan in
multistage according to the third control signal.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the compressors and a small
compressing capacitor compressor and a high compressing capacity
compressor.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the controller of the
outdoor unit receives the first control signal and the room
temperature information, it turns on only the small compressing
capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at a low speed to the outdoor fan, and
when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the low speed is
applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit
applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor
fan at the low speed to the indoor fan, wherein the room
temperature information is lower than 26.degree..
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the controller of the
outdoor unit receives the first control signal and the room
temperature information, it turns on only the small compressing
capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at a middle speed to the outdoor fan, and
when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed
is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit
applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor
fan at the middle speed to the indoor fan, wherein the room
temperature information is 26.degree..about.35.degree..
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the controller of the
outdoor unit receives the first control signal and the room
temperature information, it turns on only the high compressing
capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at a middle speed to the outdoor fan, and
when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed
is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit
applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor
fan at the middle speed to the indoor fan, wherein the room
temperature information is 36.degree..about.45.degree..
7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the controller of the
outdoor unit receives the first control signal and the room
temperature information, it turns on only the high compressing
capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at a high speed to the outdoor fan, and
when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed is
applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit
applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor
fan at the high speed to the indoor fan, wherein the room
temperature information is greater than 45.degree..
8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the controller of the
outdoor unit receives the second control signal and the room
temperature information, it turns on only the high compressing
capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at the middle speed to the outdoor fan,
and when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the middle
speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor
unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the
outdoor fan at the middle speed to the indoor fan, wherein the room
temperature information is smaller than 26.degree..
9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the controller of the
outdoor unit receives the second control signal and the room
temperature information, it turns on only the high compressing
capacity compressor and, at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed to the outdoor fan, and
when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed is
applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit
applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor
fan at the high speed to the indoor fan, wherein the room
temperature information is 260.degree..about.30.degree..
10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the controller of the
outdoor unit receives the second control signal and the room
temperature information, it turns on both the high compressing
capacity compressor and the small compressing capacitor compressor
simultaneously and, at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed to the outdoor fan, and
when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the high speed is
applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of the indoor unit
applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor
fan at the high speed to the indoor fan, wherein the room
temperature information is 31.degree..about.40.degree..
11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the controller of the
outdoor unit receives the second control signal and the room
temperature information, it turns on both the high compressing
capacity compressor and the small compressing capacitor compressor
simultaneously and, at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at a maximum high speed to the outdoor
fan, and when the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan at the
maximum high speed is applied to the outdoor fan, the controller of
the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan at the maximum high speed to the indoor
fan, wherein the room temperature information is greater than
40.degree..
12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein in order to prevent damage of
the compressors owing to an overload, when both the small
compressing capacity compressor and the high compressing capacitor
compressor are being turned on simultaneously for a first
predetermined time, the controller of the outdoor unit turns on the
high compressing capacity compressor and the small compressing
capacitor compressor alternately for a second predetermined
time.
13. An apparatus for controlling a unitary air-conditioner
comprising: a thermostat installed in a room, detecting a room
temperature, generating a first control signal for operating the
air-conditioner in a minimum operation mode or a second control
signal for operating the air-conditioner in a maximum operation
mode based on the detected room temperature and a desired
temperature previously set by a user, and outputting the first or
the second control signal; an outdoor temperature detector
installed at an outdoor unit and detecting an outdoor temperature;
and a controller, of an outdoor unit, for controlling a small
compressing capacity compressor and/or high compressing capacity
compressor of the air-conditioner based on the first or second
control signal and the detected outdoor temperature, and
controlling a rotation speed of an outdoor fan of the
air-conditioner in multistage, wherein the thermostat rotates an
indoor fan of the air-conditioner at the same rotation speed as the
rotation speed of the outdoor fan.
14. A method for controlling an air-conditioner comprising:
detecting a room temperature; generating a first control signal for
controlling an air-conditioner in a minimum operation mode or a
second control signal for controlling the air-conditioner in a
maximum operation mode based on the room temperature and a desired
temperature previously set by a user; and controlling an indoor
fan, an outdoor fan and compressing capacity of compressors based
on the first or second control signal and the outdoor temperature.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an air-conditioner and,
more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling an
air-conditioner.
[0003] 2. Description of the Conventional Art
[0004] In general, an air-conditioner, especially, a unitary
air-conditioner, which is employed in factories, offices, hotels or
homes, is a sort of a central cooling and heating system which
applies cold blast or hot blast to each room through a duct
installed in a building.
[0005] The unitary air-conditioner independently supplies cold
blast or hot blast to a zone (e.g., a room) required to be cooled
or heated through a zone controller installed between ducts
positioned in the building.
[0006] A conventional unitary air-conditioner will now be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0007] FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing the construction
of a unitary air-conditioner.
[0008] With reference to FIG. 1, the conventional unitary
air-conditioner includes one outdoor unit 1 fixedly installed
outside a building (i.e., a 2-story house (Z2)); an indoor unit 2
connected with the outdoor unit 1 through a refrigerant pipe,
fixedly installed in a basement or a wall of the building and
supplying cold blast or hot blast into the building; an outlet duct
4 connected to an inlet port and an outlet port, and separately
installed in the wall of each floor of the building; and zone
controllers 5A-5D installed between the inlet duct 3 and the outlet
duct 4 and discriminating introduced air and exhausted air
delivered through the inlet duct 3 and the outlet duct 4.
[0009] With reference to FIG. 2, the outdoor unit 1 includes: a
compressor 1A for compressing a refrigerant gas; a first heat
exchanger 1B connected with the compressor 1A through a refrigerant
pipe, condensing refrigerant gas when the unitary air-conditioner
is in a cooling mode, and absorbing latent heat when the unitary
air-conditioner is in a heating mode; an expansion valve 1C for
reducing a pressure of the refrigerant gas or expanding the
refrigerant gas; and an outdoor fan (not shown) for supplying
external air to the first heat exchanger 1B to heighten heat
exchange performance of the first heat exchanger 1B.
[0010] The indoor unit 2 includes: a second heat exchanger 2A
connected with the first heat exchanger 1B by the expansion valve
1C; and an indoor fan (not shown) positioned at the second heat
exchanger 2A and inducing cold blast or hot blast to the inlet duct
3.
[0011] The inlet duct 3 and the outlet duct 4 are connected to the
inlet port and the outlet port of the indoor unit 2 and installed
at a corresponding zone (e.g., at the first floor (Z1) or the
second floor (Z2). The inlet duct 3 and the outlet duct 4 include a
discharge passage 3A for supplying cold blast or hot blast to a
corresponding zone and a suction opening 4A for sucking indoor air
to circulate indoor air, respectively.
[0012] The zone controllers 5A.about.5D are valves installed at the
inlet duct 3 and the outlet duct 4 installed at the zones Z1 and Z2
in order to supply cold blast or hot blast to the zones Z1 and Z2.
Namely, the zone controllers 5A.about.5D are electrically connected
with a controller (not shown) of the unitary air-conditioner. The
controller detects a temperature or humidity of the corresponding
zones, compares the detected temperature or humidity value with a
pre-set value, and controls cold blast or hot blast according to
the comparison result.
[0013] The conventional unitary air-conditioner controls the indoor
unit 2 and the outdoor unit 1 according to a control signal
outputted from a thermostat installed in the room. Namely, the
conventional unitary air-conditioner controls the indoor unit 2 and
the outdoor unit 1 in a minimum operation mode or a maximum
operation mode based on a first control signal (Y1) for operating
the air-conditioner in the minimum operation mode or the second
control signal (Y2) for operating the air-conditioner in the
maximum operation mode according to a room temperature. Herein,
when the air-conditioner is in the cooling mode, if a current room
temperature is lower than a room temperature which has been
previously set by a user, the first control signal (Y1) rotates the
indoor fan and the outdoor fan at a low speed and operates only one
compressor. When the air-conditioner is in the cooling mode, if the
current room temperature is higher than the pre-set room
temperature, the first control signal (Y1) rotates the indoor fan
and the outdoor fan at a high speed and operates two compressors
simultaneously.
[0014] For example, the unitary air-conditioner controls to turn
on/turn off only one of two compressors according to the first
control signal or controls to turn on/turn off the two compressors
simultaneously according to the second control signal. In this
case, the indoor fan is rotated at a low speed according to the
first control signal and rotated at a high speed according to the
second control signal.
[0015] Thus, since the unitary air-conditioner controls the outdoor
fan and compressors based only on the control signal detected by a
temperature controller positioned in the room, a load coping
capability deteriorates relatively.
[0016] A U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,957 issued on Feb. 18, 2003 also
discloses an air-conditioner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus and method for controlling an air-conditioner capable
of enhancing load coping capability by controlling compressing
capacity, a rotation speed of an outdoor fan and a rotation speed
of an indoor fan of an air-conditioner in multistage. based on
control signals for controlling an outdoor temperature and an
indoor temperature.
[0018] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided an apparatus for controlling an
air-conditioner for generating a first control signal for
controlling an air-conditioner in a minimum operation mode or a
second control signal for controlling the air-conditioner for
controlling the air-conditioner in a maximum operation mode based
on a room temperature and a desired temperature previously set by a
user, and controlling an indoor fan and an outdoor fan and
compressing capacity of compressors of the air-conditioner in
multistage based on the first or second control signal and the
outdoor temperature.
[0019] To achieve the above object, there is also provided an
apparatus for controlling a unitary air-conditioner including: a
thermostat installed in a room, detecting a room temperature,
generating a first control signal for operating the air-conditioner
in a minimum operation mode or a second control signal for
operating the air-conditioner in a maximum operation mode based on
the detected room temperature and a desired temperature previously
set by a user, and outputting the first or the second control
signal; an outdoor temperature detector installed at an outdoor
unit and detecting an outdoor temperature; and a controller, of an
outdoor unit, for controlling a small compressing capacity
compressor and/or high compressing capacity compressor of the
air-conditioner based on the first or second control signal and the
detected outdoor temperature, and controlling a rotation speed of
an outdoor fan of the air-conditioner in multistage, wherein the
thermostat rotates an indoor fan of the air-conditioner at the same
rotation speed as the rotation speed of the outdoor fan.
[0020] To achieve the above object, there is also provided a method
for controlling an air-conditioner including: detecting a room
temperature; generating a first control signal for controlling an
air-conditioner in a minimum operation mode or a second control
signal for controlling the air-conditioner in a maximum operation
mode based on the room temperature and a desired temperature
previously set by a user; and controlling an indoor fan, an outdoor
fan and compressing capacity of compressors based on the first or
second control signal and the outdoor temperature.
[0021] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0023] In the drawings:
[0024] FIGS. 1 and 2 are a schematic view showing the construction
of a unitary air-conditioner in accordance with a conventional
art;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a
unitary air-conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for controlling the
unitary air-conditioner in accordance with the preferred embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0027] FIG. 5 is a table showing an operation condition table for
controlling a rotation speed of an outdoor fan and compressing
capacity of compressors based on first and second control signals
generated according to a room temperature and a pre-set reference
temperature and an outdoor temperature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] An apparatus and method for controlling an air-conditioner
capable of enhancing a load coping capability by generating a first
control signal for controlling an air-conditioner in a minimum
operation mode or a second control signal for controlling the
air-conditioner for controlling the air-conditioner in a maximum
operation mode based on a room temperature and a desired
temperature previously set by a user, and controlling an indoor fan
and an outdoor fan and compressing capacity of compressors of the
air-conditioner in multistage based on the first or second control
signal and the outdoor temperature, in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention will now be described with
reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a
unitary air-conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, a unitary air-conditioner in accordance
with the present invention includes: a controlling unit 100 for
generating a control signal for controlling the unitary
air-conditioner; an indoor fan 200 rotated in multistage according
to the control signal; an outdoor fan 300 rotated in multistage
according to the control signal; and compressors 400 for
controlling compressing capacity according to the control
signal.
[0031] The controlling unit 100 of the unitary air-conditioner
includes: a room temperature detector 10 installed in a room and
detecting a room temperature; an outdoor temperature detector
installed in an outdoor unit and detecting an outdoor temperature;
a controller 20 of an indoor unit for generating a first control
signal Y1 for operating the air-conditioner in a minimum operation
mode or a second control signal Y2 for operating the
air-conditioner in a maximum operation mode based on the detected
room temperature and a desired temperature previously set by a
user, and outputting the first and second control signals Y1 and
Y2; and a controller 40 of the outdoor unit for generating a third
control signal for controlling compressing capacity of the
compressors 400 and a rotation speed of the outdoor fan 300 in
multistage based on the first or the second control signal Y1 or Y2
and the detected outdoor temperature and outputting the generated
third control signal to the compressors 400, the outdoor fan 300
and the controller 20 of the indoor unit. Herein, the controller 20
of the indoor unit controls a rotation speed of the indoor fan 200
according to the third control signal.
[0032] Preferably, the first and second control signals Y1 and Y2
are generated by using a thermostat, instead of the room
temperature detector 10 and the controller 20 of the indoor
unit.
[0033] Preferably, the compressors 400 include a compressor with
small compressing capacity and a compressor with high compressing
capacity. Assuming that a total compressing capacity of the large
compressing capacity compressor and the high compressing capacity
compressor is 100%, it is preferred that the compressing capacity
of the small compressing capacity compressor is set as 40% and the
compressing capacity of the high compressing capacity compressor is
set as 60%.
[0034] The operation of the apparatus for controlling the unitary
air-conditioner in accordance with the present invention will now
be described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for controlling the
unitary air-conditioner in accordance with the preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0036] First, the room temperature detector 10 installed in a room
detects a room temperature and applies the detected room
temperature to the controller 20 of the indoor unit. At this time,
the outdoor temperature detector 30 detects an outdoor temperature
and applies the detected outdoor temperature information to the
controller 40 of the outdoor unit (step S1).
[0037] The controller 20 of the indoor unit generates the first
control signal Y1 for operating the air-conditioner in the minimum
operation mode or the second control signal Y2 for operating the
air-conditioner in the maximum operation mode based on the detected
room temperature and the pre-set desired temperature, and applies
the first or the second control signal Y1 or Y2 to the controller
40 of the outdoor unit (step S2).
[0038] The controller 40 of the outdoor unit generates a
compressing capacity control signal for controlling compressing
capacity of the compressors 400 in multistage and a speed control
signal for controlling a rotation speed of the outdoor fan 300 and
the indoor fan 200 in multistage based on the first or second
control signal Y1 or Y2 and the outdoor temperature information.
The controller 40 of the outdoor unit outputs the compressing
capacity control signal to the compressors 400 and the speed
control signal to the outdoor fan 300 and the indoor fan 200 (steps
S3.about.S5).
[0039] Operation conditions for controlling the compressing
capacity of the compressors 400 and the rotation speed of the
outdoor fan 300 and the indoor fan 200 based on the first or second
control signal Y1 or Y2 and the outdoor temperature information
will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 as
follows.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a table showing an operation condition table for
controlling a rotation speed of an outdoor fan and compressing
capacity of compressors based on a room temperature, first and
second control signals generated according to a pre-set reference
temperature and an outdoor temperature.
[0041] First, when the first control signal Y1 and room temperature
information (i.e., 26.degree..about.35.degree.) are received, the
controller 40 of the outdoor unit turns on only the small
compressing capacity compressor (having the compressing capacitor
of 40%) and applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan 300 at a
middle speed to the outdoor fan 300 simultaneously. When the
voltage for rotating the outdoor fan 300 at the middle speed is
applied to the outdoor fan 300, preferably, the controller 40 of
the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan 300 at the middle speed to the indoor fan
200.
[0042] When the first control signal Y1 and room temperature
information (i.e., 36.degree..about.45.degree.) are received, the
controller 40 of the outdoor unit turns on only the high
compressing capacitor compressor (having the 60% of compressing
capacity) and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating the
outdoor fan 300 in the middle speed to the outdoor fan 300. In this
case, preferably, the controller 40 applies the same voltage as the
voltage for rotating the outdoor fan 300 at the middle speed to the
indoor fan 200.
[0043] When the first control signal Y1 and room temperature
information (higher than 45.degree.) are received, the controller
40 of the outdoor unit turns on only the high compressing capacity
compressor (having the 60% of compressing capacitor) and, at the
same time, applies a voltage for rotating the outdoor fan 300 at a
high speed to the outdoor fan 300. In this case, preferably, the
controller 40 of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the
voltage for rotating the outdoor fan 300 at the high speed to the
indoor fan 200.
[0044] When the second control signal Y2 and room temperature
information (lower than 26.degree.) are received, the controller 40
of the outdoor unit turns on only the high compressing capacity
compressor (having the 60% of compressing capacity) and at the same
time applies the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan 300 at the
middle speed to the outdoor fan 300. In this case, preferably, the
controller 40 of the indoor unit applies the same voltage as the
voltage for rotating the outdoor fan 300 at the middle speed to the
indoor fan 200.
[0045] When the second control signal Y2 and room temperature
information (26.degree..about.30.degree.) are received, the
controller 40 of the outdoor unit turns on only the high
compressing capacitor compressor (having 60% of compressing
capacitor) and, at the same time, applies a voltage for rotating
the outdoor fan 300 at a high speed to the outdoor fan 300. In this
case, preferably, the controller 40 of the indoor unit applies the
same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor fan 300 at the
high speed to the indoor fan 200.
[0046] When the second control signal Y2 and room temperature
information (31.degree..about.40.degree.) are received, the
controller 40 of the outdoor unit turns on the high compressing
capacity compressor and the small compressing capacity compressor
simultaneously, and at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan 300 at the high speed to the outdoor fan
300. In this case, preferably, the controller 40 of the indoor unit
applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the outdoor
fan 300 at the high speed to the indoor fan 200.
[0047] When the second control signal Y2 and room temperature
information (higher than 40.degree.) are received, the controller
40 of the outdoor unit turns on the high compressing capacity
compressor and the small compressing capacitor compressor
simultaneously, and at the same time, applies a voltage for
rotating the outdoor fan 300 at a maximum high speed to the outdoor
fan 300. In this case, preferably, the controller 40 of the outdoor
unit applies the same voltage as the voltage for rotating the
outdoor fan 300 at the maximum high speed to the indoor fan
200.
[0048] When an outdoor temperature is 41.degree. or higher and the
small compressing capacity compressor and the high compressing
capacitor compressor are both being turned on for a first
predetermined time (i.e., 30.about.40 minutes), the controller 40
of the outdoor unit turns on the high compressing capacitor
compressor and the small compressing capacitor compressor for a
second predetermined time (i.e., 10.about.20 minutes) alternately,
in order to prevent damage of the compressor due to an
overload.
[0049] The present invention has discovered through several times
of trial and error and experimentation the fact that the load
coping capability can be enhanced by controlling the compressing
capacity, the outdoor fan and the indoor fan according to the
operation conditions as shown in FIG. 5.
[0050] As so far described, the apparatus and method for
controlling the air-conditioner in accordance with the present
invention has the following advantages.
[0051] That is, for example, by controlling the compressing
capacity and the rotation speed of the outdoor fan and the indoor
fan based on the first or second control signal Y1 or Y2 generated
based on the room temperature and the desired temperature
previously set by the user and the outdoor temperature in
multistage, the load coping capability can be enhanced.
[0052] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described
embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing
description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be
construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the
appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that
fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of
such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the
appended claims.
* * * * *