U.S. patent application number 15/397304 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-20 for air conditioner.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jung Ho KIM, Kyoung-Rock KIM, Joon-Ho YOON.
Application Number | 20170205082 15/397304 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57590368 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170205082 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Kyoung-Rock ; et
al. |
July 20, 2017 |
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.
Inventors: |
KIM; Kyoung-Rock; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; YOON; Joon-Ho; (Suwon-si, KR) ; KIM;
Jung Ho; (Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
57590368 |
Appl. No.: |
15/397304 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/77 20180101;
F24F 11/30 20180101; F24F 13/078 20130101; F24F 1/0047 20190201;
F24F 1/0007 20130101; F24F 1/0011 20130101; F24F 2110/10 20180101;
F21V 33/0088 20130101; F24F 13/14 20130101; F24F 2221/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 1/00 20060101
F24F001/00; F24F 13/14 20060101 F24F013/14; F24F 11/00 20060101
F24F011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 15, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0005641 |
Claims
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.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Jan. 15, 2016
in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial
number 10-2016-0005641, the entire disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner
including a lighting device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] An air conditioner is an apparatus which maintains
comfortable indoor air suitable for human activity using a
refrigeration cycle. A general air conditioner may maintain an
optimal indoor temperature by cooling or heating air surrounding a
heat exchanger according to a phase change of a refrigerant which
flows in the heat exchanger and discharging the cooled or heated
air indoors.
[0004] An air conditioner is provided with a refrigeration cycle in
which a refrigerant circulates through a compressor, a condenser,
an expansion valve, and an evaporator in a forward or reverse
direction, wherein the compressor provides a gaseous refrigerant at
a high temperature and high pressure and the condenser provides a
liquid refrigerant at room temperature and high pressure. The
expansion valve decompresses the liquid refrigerant at room
temperature and high pressure, and the evaporator evaporates the
decompressed refrigerant into a gaseous state at a low
temperature.
[0005] In the case of a separated type air conditioner for which
each of an indoor unit and outdoor unit are separately installed,
the indoor unit may be installed at a ceiling for efficient
utilization of an indoor space. The indoor unit may be provided
with a discharge port which discharges air cooled or heated by a
heat exchanger. The discharge port may be provided with a blade
which guides movement of air. The blade may be provided to be
rotatable by a drive unit. A direction of an air current discharged
may be controlled by the blade being rotated by the drive unit.
[0006] The above information is presented as background information
only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No
determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to
whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with
regard to the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
[0007] Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least
the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at
least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the
present disclosure is to provide an air conditioner capable of also
performing a function of a lighting device by an indoor unit being
installed at a ceiling.
[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an
air conditioner capable of radiating heat generated at a lighting
device by a cooling structure being provided in an indoor unit.
[0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an
air conditioner is provided. 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.
[0010] The lighting device may be positioned along an outer
perimeter of the intake port.
[0011] The lighting device and the intake port may be positioned at
a panel positioned at a lower portion of the housing.
[0012] The intake port may be provided in an annular shape.
[0013] The housing may be provided with a suction channel in
communication with the intake port to guide the suctioned air to a
heat exchanger, and one side of the cooling channel may be in
communication with the suction channel.
[0014] The housing may be provided with a discharge port configured
to extend along an outer perimeter of the intake port.
[0015] The lighting device may be positioned between the intake
port and the discharge port.
[0016] The lighting device may comprise a light source configured
to emit light and a heat sink configured to radiate heat generated
at the light source.
[0017] The cooling channel may be provided so that the air
suctioned via the cooling channel passes the heat sink.
[0018] The heat sink may be provided with a metallic material
comprising aluminum.
[0019] The lighting device may be further provided with a
temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the heat
sink.
[0020] The blowing fan may be further configured to operate
according to a result sensed by the temperature sensor.
[0021] When a heating or cooling operation is not performed, the
blowing fan may operate when the temperature sensed by the
temperature sensor is higher than a certain or preset
temperature.
[0022] The blowing fan may operate at a lower speed when the
heating or cooling operation is not performed than when the heating
or cooling operation is performed.
[0023] The blowing fan may stop operating when the temperature
sensed by the temperature sensor is less than the certain or preset
temperature.
[0024] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
an air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes 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. The lighting
device may comprise a light source installed at the housing and the
heat sink may be configured to radiate heat generated at the light
source.
[0025] The lighting device may be positioned at a lower surface of
the housing.
[0026] The cooling channel may be positioned between the suction
channel and a discharge channel.
[0027] The lighting device may further comprise a temperature
sensor configured to sense a temperature of the heat sink.
[0028] When a heating or cooling operation is not performed, the
blowing fan may operate for a certain or predetermined time when
the temperature of the heat sink sensed by the temperature sensor
is higher than a certain or preset temperature.
[0029] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the
disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction
with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the
present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of
certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent
from the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an air conditioner according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a portion of the air
conditioner shown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an air conditioner according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0035] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a portion of a side
cross-section of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0036] Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like
reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements,
features, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] The following description with reference to the accompanying
drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of
various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the
claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details
to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as
merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize that various changes and modifications of the
various embodiments described herein can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition,
descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be
omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0038] The terms and words used in the following description and
claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are
merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent
understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description
of various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for
illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the
present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
[0039] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an,"
and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component
surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
[0040] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0041] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an air conditioner according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a side
cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a view
illustrating a portion of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 2
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an air conditioner 1 according to
one embodiment may include an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The
indoor unit may be installed at a ceiling C of an indoor space. At
least a portion of the indoor unit may be embedded in the ceiling
C. Hereinafter, the air conditioner 1 installed at the ceiling C
refers to the indoor unit.
[0043] The air conditioner 1 may include a housing 10 provided in a
substantially cylindrical shape, a heat exchanger 30 provided
inside the housing 10, and a blowing fan 40 which flows air.
[0044] The housing 10 may be provided to have a substantially
circular shape when viewed from a vertical direction. The shape of
the housing 10 is not limited to the circular shape. The housing 10
may include an upper housing 11 and a lower housing 12 coupled to a
lower portion of the upper housing 11.
[0045] When the air conditioner 1 is embedded in the ceiling C, the
upper housing 11 may be disposed inside the ceiling C. The lower
housing 12 may be coupled to the lower portion of the upper housing
11 to be exposed to the outside. The shape of the housing 10 is not
limited to the above descriptions. For example, an intermediate
housing may be further provided between the upper housing 11 and
the lower housing 12. In addition, when the air conditioner 1 is
not embedded in the ceiling C but installed outside the ceiling C,
both the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 may be provided
to be exposed to the outside.
[0046] An intake port 20 into which air is suctioned may be
disposed at a central portion of the lower housing 12, and a
discharge port 50 through which air heat-exchanged by the heat
exchanger 30 is discharged may be provided at an outer side of the
intake port 20 in a radial direction. The air suctioned through the
intake port 20 may be heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 30
provided inside the air conditioner 1 and discharged through the
discharge port 50.
[0047] The lower housing 12 is provided with a lower panel 2 which
forms a bottom surface of the air conditioner 1, and the intake
port 20 may be formed at a central portion of the lower panel 2.
The lower panel 2 may be provided in a circular plate shape. The
discharge port 50 may be provided in an annular shape at an outer
side of the lower panel 2.
[0048] An air current control unit 100 may be disposed at the lower
housing 12. The air current control unit 100 may be provided in a
substantially cylindrical shape and provided at the lower housing
12. The air current control unit 100 may be provided to receive a
driving force from a driving source (not shown) and be lifted and
lowered.
[0049] An outer circumferential surface 110 of the air current
control unit 100 may form one side surface of a discharge channel
which is in communication with the discharge port 50. An inner
circumferential surface of the air current control unit 100 may
form a suction channel 21 which connects the intake port 20 and the
blowing fan 40 so that air suctioned via the intake port 20 is
introduced into the blowing fan 40.
[0050] An air current discharged via the discharge port 50 may be
varied by the air current control unit 100. For example, a curved
surface may be formed at a lower portion of the air current control
unit 100. A lower end portion of the curved surface may be provided
to face an outer side of the discharge port 50 in a radial
direction. The air current control unit 100 may be lifted and
lowered to change an air current of the air discharged from the
discharge port 50.
[0051] The discharge port 50 through which air heat-exchanged by
the heat exchanger 30 is discharged may be provided at the outer
side of the intake port 20 in the radial direction. The discharge
port 50 may be provided in a substantially annular shape. The
discharge port 50 may be disposed at an outer side of the heat
exchanger 30 in a radial direction.
[0052] The discharge channel may be provided inside the housing 10
to communicate with the discharge port 50. One side of the
discharge channel may be connected to the heat exchanger 30 and the
other side may be connected to the discharge port 50. The air
suctioned via the intake port 20 may be heat-exchanged by the heat
exchanger 30, pass through the discharge channel, and be discharged
to the outside via the discharge port 50.
[0053] Meanwhile, a filter (not shown) may be provided at an upper
side of the intake port 20 to filter dust included in the air
suctioned through the intake port 20.
[0054] The heat exchanger 30 is provided inside the housing 10, and
may be disposed in an air channel between the intake port 20 and
the discharge port 50. The heat exchanger 30 may include tubes (not
shown) in which a refrigerant flows and a header (not shown)
connected to outside refrigerant pipes for supplying the
refrigerant to the tubes or recovering the refrigerant from the
tubes. The tubes may be provided with a plurality of heat exchanger
fins to widen a heat radiating area.
[0055] The heat exchanger 30 may be provided to have a
substantially annular shape when viewed from the vertical
direction. The shape of the heat exchanger 30 may be provided to
correspond to the shape of the housing 10. The shape of the heat
exchanger 30 may be provided to correspond to the shape of the
discharge port 50. The drain tray may be provided below the heat
exchanger 30. Condensate generated at the heat exchanger 30 may be
collected by the drain tray. For example, the heat exchanger 30 may
be disposed in the drain tray.
[0056] The blowing fan 40 may be provided at an inner side of the
heat exchanger 30 in a radial direction. The blowing fan 40 may be
a centrifugal fan which suctions air in an axial direction and
discharges the air in a radial direction. The air conditioner 1 may
be provided with a blower motor 41 for driving the blowing fan
40.
[0057] With the above-described configuration, the air conditioner
1 may suction indoor air, cool the suctioned air, and discharge the
cooled air indoors, or may suction indoor air, heat the suctioned
air, and discharge the heated air indoors.
[0058] A lighting device 6 may be provided at a lower portion of
the air conditioner 1. The lighting device 6 may be installed at
the lower housing 12. The lighting device 6 may be provided to be
on the same plane as the lower panel 2. The intake port 20 is
formed at the central portion of the lower panel 2, and the
lighting device 6 may be disposed at the outer side of the intake
port 20. The lighting device 6 may be provided in an annular shape
to surround the outer side of the intake port 20. As another
example, a plurality of lighting devices 6 may be provided at the
outer side of the intake port 20 and positioned to be separated
from each other by a predetermined distance.
[0059] A lighting device according to the related art is not able
to be positioned at a position at which an air conditioner is
installed, but needs to be positioned around the air conditioner.
Accordingly, when the air conditioner 1 is installed and the air
conditioner 1 interferes with a lighting device, a nearby area may
become dark as the lighting device is not able to be positioned
around the air conditioner 1. Alternatively, to prevent the above
case, a lighting device needs to be additionally installed around
the air conditioner or a position at which the air conditioner 1 is
installed needs to be moved.
[0060] However, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, since
the lighting device 6 is integrally installed at the air
conditioner 1, space utilization of the ceiling C may be increased.
When the air conditioner 1 is installed according to the embodiment
of the present disclosure, a nearby area of the air conditioner 1
may be prevented from becoming dark due to the air conditioner 1
interfering with a lighting device. In addition, a range of choice
on a position of the air conditioner 1 may be expanded because it
is not necessary to move the air conditioner 1 or install
additional lighting due to interference with a lighting device.
[0061] As described above, since the lighting device 6 is
integrally installed in the air conditioner 1, the space
utilization of the ceiling C at which the air conditioner 1 is
installed may be increased.
[0062] The lighting device 6 includes a light source 60 which emits
light. A light emitting diode (LED) may be used as the light source
60. Types of the light source 60 are not limited to the LED and
various types of light source may be used.
[0063] The lighting device 6 may further include a heat sink 61
which may radiate heat generated at the light source 60. The heat
sink 61 may be provided with a metallic material such as aluminum
or the like having a high thermal conductivity. The heat sink 61
may be installed at one side of the light source 60 to quickly
radiate heat received from the light source 60.
[0064] As described above, since the heat sink 61 is installed at
the light source 60 and quickly radiates the heat generated at the
light source 60, overheating of the light source 60 may be
prevented.
[0065] A temperature of the heat sink 61 may increase when the heat
received from the light source 60 is larger than heat radiated by
the heat sink 61. When the temperature of the heat sink 61
increases, the heat sink 61 may not efficiently radiate the heat
generated at the light source 60. Therefore, a cooling structure
which may cool the heat sink 61 may be provided at the lower
housing 12. Hereinafter, a cooling structure which may cool the
heat sink 61 will be described.
[0066] A cooling intake port 63 may be formed at one side of the
lower housing 12. For example, the cooling intake port 63 may be
formed at the lower panel 2. Air suctioned via the cooling intake
port 63 may pass through the light source 60 and the heat sink 61.
A cooling channel 62 which guides the air suctioned via the cooling
intake port 63 to pass the heat sink 61 may be further provided at
the lower housing 12. One side of the cooling channel 62 may be
connected to the cooling intake port 63 and the other side may be
connected to the suction channel 21.
[0067] Outside air may be suctioned via the cooling intake port 63
by a suction force of the blowing fan 40. The air suctioned via the
cooling intake port 63 may flow through the cooling channel 62 and
pass the heat sink 61. When the heat sink 61 is at a high
temperature due to the heat received from the light source 60, the
heat sink 61 may exchange heat with the air flowing through the
cooling channel 62. Heat of the heat sink 61 is transferred to the
air flowing through the cooling channel 62, and thereby the
temperature of the heat sink 61 may be lowered. The air suctioned
via the cooling intake port 63 may exchange heat with the heat sink
61, move to the suction channel 21, join the air suctioned via the
intake port 20, and move to the heat exchanger 30.
[0068] As described above, the temperature of the heat sink 61 may
be lowered by the air suctioned by the blowing fan 40. Since the
temperature of the heat sink 61 is lowered by the suctioned air,
the heat sink 61 may efficiently receive and radiate the heat
generated at the light source 60.
[0069] When only the light source 60 is turned on while a heating
or cooling operation of the air conditioner 1 is turned off, air is
not suctioned to the cooling channel 62 because the blowing fan 40
does not operate. When air is not suctioned to the cooling channel
62, radiation efficiency of the heat sink 61 may be decreased.
[0070] To prevent the radiation efficiency from decreasing, the
heat sink 61 may be cooled by intermittently operating only the
blowing fan 40 even in a state in which the heating or cooling
operation of the air conditioner 1 is turned off.
[0071] The lighting device 6 may further include a temperature
sensor 65 which senses the temperature of the heat sink 61. When a
temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 65 is higher than a
preset temperature, a controller comprising at least one processor
(not shown) may operate the blowing fan 40. The blowing fan 40 may
operate for a preset time or until the temperature sensed by the
temperature sensor 65 is less than the preset temperature.
[0072] The blowing fan 40 may be operated at a lower speed than
when the heating or cooling operation of the air conditioner 1 is
performed. Air may flow through the cooling channel 62 by the
operation of the blowing fan 40. The temperature of the heat sink
61 may be lowered by exchanging heat with the air flowing through
the cooling channel 62. Accordingly, the heat generated at the
light source 60 may be efficiently radiated.
[0073] Although the embodiment in which the blowing fan 40 operates
according to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 65 is
described above, the blowing fan 40 may also be operated based on
different types of methods. As an example, the blowing fan 40 may
be provided to operate for a preset time at predetermined time
intervals when the heating or cooling operation of the air
conditioner 1 is not performed. The blowing fan 40 may also be set
to intermittently operate or be provided to continuously operate at
a low speed even when the heating or cooling operation of the air
conditioner 1 is not performed, i.e., the heating or cooling
operation of the air conditioner 1 is turned off.
[0074] As described above, since the temperature of the heat sink
61 is provided to be lowered by the air flowing through the cooling
channel 62, volume of the heat sink 61 may be reduced. The heat
sink 61 may efficiently radiate the heat generated at the light
source 60. Accordingly, the heat sink 61 may prevent lifetime
expectancy of the light source 60 from being shortened due to a
high temperature.
[0075] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an air conditioner according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 is a view
illustrating a portion of a side cross-section of an air
conditioner according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0076] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an air conditioner 7 according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an air conditioner
installed at a ceiling and has a quadrangular shaped lower surface.
Similarly to the air conditioner 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a
blowing fan and a heat exchanger may be provided inside a housing
70.
[0077] The air conditioner 7 may be different from the air
conditioner 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 in terms of an overall
exterior, but the configuration of the lighting device 6 applied to
the air conditioner 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 may be similarly
applicable to a configuration of a lighting device 8.
[0078] An intake port 73 may be installed at a central portion of a
lower surface of the housing 70, and a discharge port 71 through
which air heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger is discharged may be
positioned at an outer side of the intake port 73. A blade 72
provided to be rotatable about a rotating shaft 720 may be provided
at a side of the discharge port 71. By varying an angle of the
blade 72, an air current direction of the air discharged via the
discharge port 71 may be varied.
[0079] The lighting device 8 may be provided between the intake
port 73 and the discharge port 71. The lighting device 8 may be
positioned on the same plane as the intake port 73. The lighting
device 8 may include a light source 80 and a heat sink 81 connected
to the light source 80 to radiate heat generated at the light
source 80. The heat sink 81 may be provided with a temperature
sensor 85 which senses a temperature of the heat sink 81.
[0080] The housing 70 may be provided with a cooling channel 82
which guides air suctioned by the blowing fan to pass the heat sink
81. One side of the cooling channel 82 may communicate with the
suction channel 21 and the other side may communicate with a
cooling intake port 83 formed at the lower surface of the housing
70. Air suctioned via the cooling intake port 83 may pass through a
space in which the heat sink 81 is positioned by the cooling
channel 82. The suctioned air passing the heat sink 81 may cool the
heat sink 81.
[0081] When the temperature of the heat sink 81 sensed by the
temperature sensor 85 is higher than a preset temperature, a
controller comprising at least one processor (not shown) may
operate the blowing fan for a predetermined time or until the
temperature of the heat sink 81 is less than the preset temperature
even when a heating or cooling operation of the air conditioner 7
is not performed.
[0082] As described above, since the lighting device 8 is
integrally installed in the air conditioner 7 installed at the
ceiling, space utilization of the ceiling at which the air
conditioner 7 is installed may be increased. In addition, since
heat radiation of the lighting device 8 is efficiently performed by
the cooling channel 82, overheating of the lighting device 8 may be
prevented.
[0083] The air conditioner according to an embodiment can increase
space utilization of a ceiling by the lighting device being
integrally installed in the indoor unit.
[0084] 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.
[0085] While the present disclosure has been shown and described
with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended
claims and their equivalents.
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