Air conditioner and method for controlling the same based on a calculated value of a malfunctioning sensor
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising an outdoor device, a plurality of indoor devices, each including a sensor and an indoor expansion valve, the method comprising:
- detecting a malfunctioning sensor of any one of the plurality of indoor devices;
when the malfunctioning sensor of any one of the plurality of indoor devices is detected, determining whether the air conditioner is operating by a normal superheat control, wherein the normal superheat control performs in a general heating or cooling mode;
when the air conditioner is operating by the normal superheat control, calculating a temperature value of the malfunctioning sensor based on a temperature value of a normal functioning sensor of another indoor device of the plurality of indoor devices and controlling the indoor device that includes the malfunctioning sensor based on the calculated temperature value of the malfunctioning sensor, wherein an opening degree of the indoor expansion valve of the another indoor device including the normal functioning sensor is equal to or greater than, or equal to or less than an opening degree of the indoor expansion valve of the indoor device including the malfunctioning sensor, and wherein the normal functioning sensor senses a temperature of refrigerant and the indoor expansion valve throttles the refrigerant;
determining whether the air conditioner operates by a direct control operation of the outdoor device when the air conditioner does not operate by the normal superheat control, wherein the direct control operation of the outdoor device is to control regardless of the value of the normal functioning sensor; and
in case of the direct control operation of the outdoor device, controlling the indoor device regardless of the value of the normal functioning sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Air conditioner and a method for controlling the air conditioner based on a calculated value of a malfunctioning sensor are provided. The method for controlling the air conditioner having a plurality of indoor devices includes detecting a malfunctioning sensor of any one of the plurality of indoor devices, calculating a value of the malfunctioning sensor based on a value of a normal functioning sensor of another indoor device of the plurality of indoor devices, and controlling the indoor device based on the calculated value of the non-functioning sensor.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising an outdoor device, a plurality of indoor devices, each including a sensor and an indoor expansion valve, the method comprising:
- detecting a malfunctioning sensor of any one of the plurality of indoor devices;
when the malfunctioning sensor of any one of the plurality of indoor devices is detected, determining whether the air conditioner is operating by a normal superheat control, wherein the normal superheat control performs in a general heating or cooling mode;
when the air conditioner is operating by the normal superheat control, calculating a temperature value of the malfunctioning sensor based on a temperature value of a normal functioning sensor of another indoor device of the plurality of indoor devices and controlling the indoor device that includes the malfunctioning sensor based on the calculated temperature value of the malfunctioning sensor, wherein an opening degree of the indoor expansion valve of the another indoor device including the normal functioning sensor is equal to or greater than, or equal to or less than an opening degree of the indoor expansion valve of the indoor device including the malfunctioning sensor, and wherein the normal functioning sensor senses a temperature of refrigerant and the indoor expansion valve throttles the refrigerant;determining whether the air conditioner operates by a direct control operation of the outdoor device when the air conditioner does not operate by the normal superheat control, wherein the direct control operation of the outdoor device is to control regardless of the value of the normal functioning sensor; and
in case of the direct control operation of the outdoor device, controlling the indoor device regardless of the value of the normal functioning sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- detecting a malfunctioning sensor of any one of the plurality of indoor devices;
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7. An air conditioner comprising:
- an outdoor device that compresses a refrigerant and performs a heat exchange with outdoor air;
a plurality of indoor devices that connects to the outdoor device and performs a heat exchange with indoor air, wherein each of the plurality of indoor devices includes a sensor that senses a temperature of refrigerant and an indoor expansion valve that throttles the refrigerant; and
a controller configured to detect a malfunctioning sensor of any one of the plurality of indoor devices, wherein, when the controller detects the malfunctioning sensor of any one of the plurality of indoor devices, the controller determines whether the air conditioner is operating by a normal superheat control, wherein the normal superheat control performs in a general heating or cooling mode, when the air conditioner is operating by the normal superheat control, the controller calculates a temperature value of the malfunctioning sensor based on a temperature value of a normally functioning sensor of another indoor device of the plurality of indoor devices, and controls the indoor device including the malfunctioning sensor based on the calculated temperature value of the malfunctioning sensor, wherein an opening degree of the indoor expansion valve of the another indoor device including the normally functioning sensor is equal or similar to an opening degree of the indoor expansion valve of the indoor device including the malfunctioning sensor, determines whether the air conditioner operates by a direct control operation of the outdoor device when the air conditioner does not operate by the normal superheat control, wherein the direct control operation of the outdoor device is to control regardless of the value of the normally functioning sensor, wherein in case of the direct control operation of the outdoor device, the controller controls the indoor device regardless of the value of the normally functioning sensor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
- an outdoor device that compresses a refrigerant and performs a heat exchange with outdoor air;
Specification