APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ONE OR MORE OUTDOOR DEVICES, AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME

• US 20120179297A1
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Jaesik, Jeon, Duckgu
• Granted Patent: US 9,372,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/68 Arrangement of multiple separate outdoor units
• 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 11/42 of outdoor units
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/52 Weather protecting means, e.g. against wind, rain or snow

Abstract

An apparatus, a method for controlling one or more outdoor devices, and an air conditioning system are provided. A freezing prevention function for an outdoor device may be activated or deactivated based on weather information received from an external weather information providing server or weather information input by a user, and freezing prevention may be performed using state and operation information of the outdoor device as necessary. Thus, user convenience may be improved, stability of the outdoor device and an air conditioning system having the same enhanced, and operation efficiency improved.

Claims

1. A apparatus in communication with and configured to control one or more outdoor devices, wherein the apparatus activates or deactivates a freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

a first communication module connected to an external weather information providing server and configured to receive the weather information therefrom;

a comparison module configured to compare the weather information with pre-set weather conditions and generate a signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the comparison results; and

a second communication module configured to transmit the signal to the one or more outdoor devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

an input module configured to receive the weather information or receive a control command for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a storage module configured to store the weather information received via the first communication module or received via the input module.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the weather information providing server either wirelessly or through a wireline.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the one or more outdoor devices either wirelessly or through a wireline.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control apparatus in communication with and configured to remotely control the one or more outdoor devices.

8. An air conditioning system, comprising:

one or more outdoor devices installed at an outer side of a building and configured to perform air conditioning for the building; and

an apparatus connected to an external weather information providing server, the apparatus being configured to receive weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed and activate or deactivate a freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the weather information.

9. The air conditioning system of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a first communication module configured to receive the weather information from the external weather information providing server;

a comparison module configured to compare the weather information with pre-set weather conditions and generate a signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the comparison results; and

a second communication module configured to transmit the signal to the one or more outdoor devices.

10. The air conditioning system of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

an input module configured to receive the weather information or receive a command for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function, wherein the comparison module compares the weather information received via the first communication module or the weather information received via the input module with the pre-set weather conditions.

11. The air conditioning system of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a storage module configured to store the weather information received via the first communication module or received via the input module.

12. The air conditioning system of claim 9, wherein the second communication module receives state information and operation information from each of the one or more outdoor devices, and the comparison module compares the state information and the operation information with pre-set operation conditions in order to perform the freeze prevention function for the corresponding outdoor device, and activates or deactivates the freeze prevention function for the corresponding outdoor device on the basis of the comparison results.

13. The air conditioning system of claim 12, further comprising:

one or more gateways connected between the apparatus and the one or more outdoor devices, wherein the one or more gateways receive the state information and operation information of the one or more outdoor devices from the one or more outdoor devices, transmit the received state and operation information to the apparatus, and deliver the signal to the one or more outdoor devices.

14. The air conditioning system of claim 13, wherein the apparatus and the gateways are connected through the Internet.

15. The air conditioning system of claim 13, wherein the gateways and the one or more outdoor devices are connected through one or more communication schemes among wireless communication, serial communication, pipe communication, power line communication, and LAN.

16. The air conditioning system of claim 13, wherein when the freeze prevention function has been set according to the signal, the one or more outdoor devices compare their respective state information and operation information with the pre-set operation conditions for performing the freeze prevention function and activate or deactivate the freeze prevention function on the basis of the comparison results.

17. The air conditioning system of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the weather information providing server either wirelessly or through a wireline.

18. The air conditioning system of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the one or more outdoor devices either wirelessly or through a wireline.

19. The air conditioning system of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control apparatus in communication with and configured to remotely control the one or more outdoor devices.

20. A method for controlling one or more outdoor devices using an apparatus connected to the one or more outdoor devices, the method comprising:

receiving weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed;

comparing the weather information with pre-set weather conditions; and

activating or deactivating a freeze prevention function on the basis of the comparison results.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, in receiving the weather information, the apparatus is connected to an external weather information providing server, either wirelessly or through a wireline, to receive the weather information, or receives the weather information directly from a user.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving state information and operation information from the one or more outdoor devices;

comparing the state information and the operation information with the pre-set operation conditions for performing the freeze prevention function of a corresponding outdoor device; and

starting or terminating the freeze prevention function of the corresponding outdoor device on the basis of the comparison results.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the method comprises a method for remotely controlling the one or more outdoor devices using a remote control apparatus connected to the one or more outdoor devices

24. An apparatus in communication with one or more outdoor devices, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed, generate a signal for activating or deactivating a freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the weather information, and transmit the signal to the one or more outdoor devices.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor compares the weather information with pre-set weather conditions and generate the signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the comparison results.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to receive via an input module the weather information or a control command for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to store the received weather information.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a weather information providing server either wirelessly or through a wireline to obtain the weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the one or more outdoor devices either wirelessly or through a wireline.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control apparatus in communication with and configured to remotely control the one or more outdoor devices.