Apparatus for testing air conditioner

• US 20060112700A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Ki-bum, Sung, Si-kyong, Ha, Do-yong, Yoon, Pil-hyun, Choi, Sung-oh
• Application Number:
  US11/285,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20060112700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control

Abstract

An apparatus for testing an air conditioner is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first wireless device connected to the air conditioner, and a second wireless device connected to a test terminal. The first wireless device transmits and receives test result information and test-related information based on a testing program installed in the test terminal in a local-area wireless communication manner, and the second wireless device transmits and receives the test-related information and test result information based on the testing program in the local-area wireless communication manner. Therefore, local-area wireless communication can be carried out between the air conditioner and the test terminal, thereby making it possible to significantly save trouble for installation of testing instruments, such as cables and a converter, and to significantly curtail costs and manpower for test work.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing an air conditioner, comprising:

a first wireless device connected to the air conditioner, the first wireless device transmitting and receiving test result information and test-related information based on a testing program installed in a test terminal in a local-area wireless communication manner; and

a second wireless device connected to the test terminal, the second wireless device transmitting and receiving the test-related information and test result information based on the testing program in the local-area wireless communication manner.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first wireless device includes:

a connector connected to a connector of an operation/test control unit provided in the air conditioner; and

a local-area wireless communication unit for receiving the test result information from the operation/test control unit through the connector of the first wireless device, transmitting the received test result information to the second wireless device in the local-area wireless communication manner, receiving the test-related information from the second wireless device in the local-area wireless communication manner, and delivering the received test-related information to the operation/test control unit through the connector of the first wireless device.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first wireless device further includes a converter for converting the test result information from the operation/test control unit, received through the connector of the first wireless device, into that of a communication protocol of the test terminal, and the test-related information from the second wireless device, received in the local-area wireless communication manner, into that of a communication protocol of the air conditioner, respectively.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the local-area wireless communication unit is a universal serial bus (USB) Bluetooth module.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second wireless device includes:

a connector connected to a connector of the test terminal; and

a local-area wireless communication unit for receiving the test result information transmitted from the first wireless device in the local-area wireless communication manner, delivering the received test result information to the test terminal through the connector of the second wireless device, receiving the test-related information from the test terminal through the connector of the second wireless device, and transmitting the received test-related information to the first wireless device in the local-area wireless communication manner.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the local-area wireless communication unit is a USB Bluetooth module.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the connector of the second wireless device is a USB connector.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the air conditioner is of a separated type wherein indoor and outdoor units are separated from each other; and

the operation/test control unit is provided in the outdoor unit.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the test terminal is a portable terminal.

10. An apparatus for testing an air conditioner, comprising:

an operation/test control unit for controlling driving of the air conditioner and testing the air conditioner;

a first wireless device connected to the operation/test control unit;

a test terminal equipped with a testing program for testing the air conditioner; and

a second wireless device connected to the test terminal,

wherein the first wireless device transmits and receives test result information and test-related information based on the testing program in a local-area wireless communication manner, and the second wireless device transmits and receives the test-related information and test result information based on the testing program in the local-area wireless communication manner.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

the air conditioner is of a separated type wherein indoor and outdoor units are separated from each other; and

the operation/test control unit is provided in the outdoor unit.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein each of the first and second wireless devices includes a local-area wireless communication unit for performing local-area wireless communication,

wherein the local-area wireless communication unit is a USB Bluetooth module.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first wireless device includes a converter for converting the test result information, delivered from the operation/test control unit, into that of a communication protocol of the test terminal, and the test-related information, received from the second wireless device in the local-area wireless communication manner, into that of a communication protocol of the air conditioner, respectively.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the test terminal is a portable terminal.

15. An apparatus for testing an air conditioner, comprising:

a first wireless device for the air conditioner, the first wireless device including;

a first connector connected to a connector of an operation/test control unit provided in the air conditioner; and

a first local-area wireless communication unit for receiving test result information from the operation/test control unit through the first connector, transmitting the received test result information to a test terminal in a local-area wireless communication manner, receiving test-related information from the test terminal in the local-area wireless communication manner, and delivering the received test-related information to the operation/test control unit through the first connector; and

a second wireless device for the test terminal, the second wireless device including;

a second connector connected to a connector of the test terminal; and

a second local-area wireless communication unit for receiving the test result information transmitted from the first wireless device in the local-area wireless communication manner, delivering the received test result information to the test terminal through the second connector, receiving the test-related information from the test terminal through the second connector, and transmitting the received test-related information to the first wireless device in the local-area wireless communication manner.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the first wireless device further includes a converter for converting the test result information from the operation/test control unit into that of a communication protocol of the test terminal, and the test-related information from the second wireless device, received in the local-area wireless communication manner, into that of a communication protocol of the air conditioner, respectively.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein each of the first local-area wireless communication unit and second local-area wireless communication unit is a USB Bluetooth module.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the second connector is a USB connector.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

the air conditioner is of a separated type wherein indoor and outdoor units are separated from each other; and

the operation/test control unit is provided in the outdoor unit.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the test terminal is a portable terminal.