Air conditioner having an enhanced user perception

• US 20050109048A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Choong Hee
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/005 mounted on the floor; standing on the floor
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0063 by the mounting or arrangement of the heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0073 characterised by the mounting or arrangement of filters
• 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

Abstract

An air conditioner having an enhanced user perception and a controlling method thereof are provided. A predetermined character and/or its applied character image are/is displayed on a display window of the air conditioner. The character and/or the character image are/is changed depending on the operational states of the air conditioner, so that the user perceives the operational state of the air conditioner more conveniently. The air conditioner has advantages in that the user can perceive the operational state of the air conditioner more conveniently, the user can be stimulated to purchase the product, and a use term of the air conditioner can be extended.

Claims

1. An air conditioner having an enhanced user perception, comprising:

a panel forming an appearance of either side of the air conditioner; and

a display part formed on the panel, for displaying a specific character and/or a character image of the character.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a state display part for displaying an operational state of the air conditioner as a symbol.

3. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the character is displayed in various appearances depending on an operational state of the air conditioner.

4. The air conditioner of claim 1, further comprising a speaker for displaying an operational state of the air conditioner as sound and/or voice.

5. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the character and/or the character image is varied by a user'"'"'s choice.

6. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the character and/or the character image is transmitted from an external device and is stored in the air conditioner.

7. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the character and/or the character image is downloaded from a network and is stored in the air conditioner.

8. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the display part is an LCD.

9. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the panel is a front panel formed at a front side of the air conditioner.

10. An home appliance having an enhanced user perception, comprising:

a panel forming an appearance of either side of a home appliance; and

a display part formed on the panel, for displaying a specific character and/or a character image of the character.

11. An air conditioner having an enhanced user perception, comprising:

a key input part manipulated by a user to control an operation of the air conditioner;

an operational state display part for at least displaying a predetermined character and/or a character image of the character adapted for an operational state of the air conditioner; and

a control part for judging a signal transmitted from the key input part to control the air conditioner and judging the character and/or the character image adapted for the operational state of the air conditioner to transmit a predetermined character and/or a character image to the operational state display part and allow the transmitted character and/or the character image to be displayed on the operational state display part.

12. The air conditioner of claim 11, further comprising a data input part for inputting the new character and/or the character image to the control part.

13. The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the data input part is at least one selected from the group consisting of a computer connected by a network, a mobile means connected by a wireless network, and a remote controller.

14. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the key input part comprises a character set button for selecting a kind of the character and/or a kind of the character image.

15. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the operational state display part is installed in an indoor unit of an air conditioner system.

16. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the key input part is a plurality of buttons formed on an outer surface of the air conditioner or a remote controller.

17. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the character and/or the character image is uploaded from an external to the air conditioner.

18. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the character and/or the character image is manufactured by a user of the air conditioner.

19. The air conditioner of claim 17, wherein the character and/or the character image is uploaded to the air conditioner by a wiring communication or a wireless communication.

20. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the character and/or the character image is designated suitable depending on an operational state of the air conditioner.

21. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the character and/or the character image is displayed even at the time of operation start and completion of the air conditioner.

22. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the character and/or the character image is varied depending on an operational state of the air conditioner.

23. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein when the operational state of the air conditioner is changed, only the character image is changed without any change of the character.

24. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein when an operation of the air conditioner starts but there no exists the character and/or the character image designated by a user, a designation is requested or a character predesignated in manufacture is displayed.