Air conditioning system

• US 20090108084A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Shin, Jun, Lee, Hee Jun
• Application Number:
  US12/216,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20090108084A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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

Abstract

In an air conditioning system, a first controller converts the communication method of an external command inputted into the second controller and transmits the same to an air conditioner. Further, the first controller displays operating information of the air conditioner. Accordingly, the structure of the air conditioning system is simplified, and installation costs are reduced.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system, comprising:

an air conditioner;

a first controller networked to the air conditioner in a first communication method and displaying operating information of the air conditioner; and

a second controller networked to the first controller in a second communication method and receiving a first external command for controlling the operation of the air conditioner,

wherein the first communication method is different from the second communication method, and

the first controller converts a communication method of the first external command to transmit the same so that the first external command can be transmitted to the air conditioner.

2. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the first controller receives an external signal in the second communication method in response to the first external command, generates control data for controlling the air conditioner on the basis of the external signal, and sends a control signal corresponding to the control data to the air conditioner in the first communication method.

3. The air conditioning system of claim 2, wherein the first controller comprises:

a first communication module for receiving the external signal from the first controller;

a control module for generating the control data on the basis of the external signal;

a communication method conversion module for generating the control signal from the control data;

a second communication module for sending the control signal to the air conditioner; and

a display module for displaying the operating information of the air conditioner.

4. The air conditioning system of claim 3, wherein the control module and the communication method conversion module are integrally formed with each other.

5. The air conditioning system of claim 3, wherein the first communication module, the control module, the communication method conversion module, the second communication module, and the display module are integrally formed with each other.

6. The air conditioning system of any one of claims 1, wherein the first controller includes an input module for inputting a second external command for controlling the operation of the air conditioner, and

the first controller generates control data for controlling the air conditioner on the basis of an external signal corresponding to the second external command, and send a control signal corresponding to the control data to the air conditioner in the first communication method.

7. The air conditioning system of any one of claims 1, further comprising a facility connected to the first controller via a network,

wherein the second controller controls the operation of the facility through the first controller.

8. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein the facility includes a ventilator.

9. The air conditioning system of any one of claims 1, wherein the second controller makes a web connection to the first controller.

10. The air conditioning system of claim 9, wherein the first controller transmits to the second controller a web page for displaying the operating information of the air conditioner.

11. The air conditioning system of any one of claims 1, wherein the first controller and the second controller are connected via an internet network.

12. The air conditioning system of any one of claims 1, further comprising a facility operating independently from the second controller and dry contact-connected to the first controllers,

wherein the first controller works in interlink with the facility and the air conditioner to control the operation of the others.

13. The air conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the facility includes any one of firefighting equipment, lighting equipment, door locking equipment, and ventilation equipment.

14. The air conditioning system of any one of claims 12, wherein the first controller performs TCP/IP communication with the second controller, and the first controller performs RS-485 communication with the air conditioner.

15. The air conditioning system of any one of claims 1, wherein the air conditioner includes an indoor unit installed in an indoor spaces, and the first controller displays at least one of the operation mode of the indoor unit, the room temperature of the indoor space, and the set temperature of the indoor unit.

16. The air conditioning system of any one of claims 1, wherein the second controller comprises:

a UI implementation module for displaying the operating information of the air conditioner and implementing an interface so as to receive the first external command;

a UI driving module for controlling the operation of the UI implementation module and generating external command data on the basis of the first external command; and

a UI communication module for generating an external signal on the basis of the external command data and sending the same to the first controllers.