Air conditioner having an enhanced user perception

• US 7,640,757 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Choong Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules; Frantz F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahim; Azim
• Application Number:
  US10/957,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20050109048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 622/62, 624/26, 236/64, 165/120, 165/122, 165/124
• US Class Current: 62/129
• 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;

a display part formed on the panel displaying an avatar comprising character images of a character in various appearances depending on an operational state of the air conditioner;

a controller disposed inside the air conditioner and connected to the display part, the controller directly controlling the display part displaying the avatar changing from one of the character images with one of the various appearances to another one of the character images with another one of the various appearances when the controller changes the operational state of the air conditioner; and

a state display part formed on panel displaying the operational state of the air conditioner as a symbol.

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

3. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the character images are varied by a user'"'"'s choice.

4. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the character images are transmitted from an external device and is stored in the air conditioner.

5. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the character images are downloaded from a network and is stored in the air conditioner.

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

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

22. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the character images of the character in various appearances are different from each other on a background of the character images so as to indicate different operational states of the air conditioner.

8. 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 at least displaying an avatar comprising character images of a character in various appearances adapted for an operational state of the air conditioner;

a state display part displaying the operational state of the air conditioner as a symbol; and

a controller connected to the key input part and judging a signal transmitted from the key input part to control the operational state of the air conditioner, the controller being disposed inside the air conditioner and connected to the operational state display part, the controller directly controlling the operational state display part displaying the avatar changing from one of the character images with one of the various appearances to another one of the character images with another one of the various appearances when the controller changes the operational state of the air conditioner.

9. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising a data input part for inputting the character images to the control part.

10. The air conditioner of claim 9, 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.

11. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the key input part comprises a character set button for selecting the character images of one of a plurality of characters.

12. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the operational state display part is installed in an indoor unit of an air conditioner system.

13. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the key input part is a plurality of buttons formed on an outer surface of the air conditioner or a remote controller.

14. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the character images are uploaded from an external device to the air conditioner.

15. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the character images are manufactured by a user of the air conditioner.

16. The air conditioner of claim 14, wherein the character images are uploaded to the air conditioner by a wiring communication or a wireless communication.

17. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the character images are designated depending on an operational state of the air conditioner.

18. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the character images are displayed even at the time of operation start and completion of the air conditioner.

19. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the character images are varied depending on an operational state of the air conditioner.

20. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein when the operational state of the air conditioner is changed, only a background of the character image is changed without any change of appearance of the character.

21. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein when an operation of the air conditioner starts and the character is not designated by a user, a designation is requested or one of the character images of a character predesignated in manufacture is displayed.

23. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the character images of the character in various appearances are different from each other on a background of the character images so as to indicate different operational states of the air conditioner.