Indoor device for air conditioner

• US 10,203,150 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2014
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeong, Changhoon, An, Suhyun, Kwon, Huijae
• Primary Examiner(s): Savani, Avinash A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Becton, Martha M
• Application Number:
  US14/510,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20150105013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0092 with heating or cooling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0047 mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/005 mounted on the floor; standing on the floor
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/10 Arrangements for mounting in particular locations, e.g. for built-in type, for corner type
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/005 combined with control means

Abstract

An indoor device for an air conditioner is provided. Display of an operation state of the indoor device and reception of an operation signal of a remoter controller may be performed through a single window, reducing production costs and realizing a more elegant exterior.

Claims

1. An indoor device for an air conditioner, the indoor device comprising:

a panel forming at least a portion of an outer appearance of the indoor device;

a receiver window mounted in an installation hole defined in the panel, the receiver window being formed of a light transmitting material;

a receiver disposed under the receiver window at a position that corresponds to a center of the receiver window to receive a manipulation signal of a remote controller; and

at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed adjacent to the receiver to emit light toward the receiver window, to display an operation state of the indoor device to an outside of the indoor device, wherein the receiver window includes;

an exposed portion having a shape corresponding to a shape of the installation hole and mounted in the installation hole; and

a stepped portion which is stepped to protrude outward from the exposed portion, wherein the installation hole has a shape corresponding to a shape of the exposed portion, and wherein the at least one LED is disposed outside of a periphery of the installation hole at a position that corresponds to the stepped portion of the receiver window.

2. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein the indoor device further comprises:

an inspection hole defined on the panel;

a corner cover that opens and closes the inspection hole, the corner cover having the installation hole; and

a controller mounted inside the corner cover, and having the receiver and the at least one LED.

3. The indoor device according to claim 2, wherein the controller comprises:

a case fixed to the corner cover to define an exterior thereof; and

a PCB mounted inside the case, wherein the at least one LED and the receiver are mounted on the PCB.

4. The indoor device according to claim 2, wherein a connector fixing portion for a connector that connects an electric wire that extends from the controller to an electric wire that extends from an electronic component is further disposed in the inspection hole.

5. The indoor device according to claim 4, wherein the connector is mounted on the connector fixing portion in a state in which the connector is spaced apart from a wall of the inspection hole.

6. The indoor device according to claim 4, wherein the connector is mounted on the connector fixing portion so that the electric wires are connected to each other in a vertical direction.

7. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one LED and the receiver are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB).

8. The indoor device according to claim 7, further comprising a support disposed between the PCB and the receiver.

9. The indoor device according to claim 8, wherein the support is in the form of a rod that allows the receiver to be positioned at a position corresponding to a center of the receiver window and connected to the PCB at an off-center position.

10. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is disposed at a position which is closer to the receiver window than the at least one LED.

11. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein at least one LED is disposed on each of both lateral sides of the receiver.

12. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one LED emits light from a first side of the receiver window toward a second side of the receiver window.

13. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one LED emits light having a plurality of colors.

14. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one LED emits light having three colors.

15. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one LED comprises a plurality of LEDs, wherein the plurality of LEDs is disposed at a same distance from the receiver, and wherein the plurality of LEDs emits light having colors different from each other.

16. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein a groove or pattern is provided in an inner surface of the receiver window to diffuse the light emitted from the at least one LED.

17. The indoor device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver window comprises an extension that extends from an inner surface of the receiver window and disposed at a position that corresponds to the at least one LED and that protrudes along an extension line of the at least one LED to disperse the light emitted from the at least one LED.