초록 ▼

A dry operation is performed during a room-cooling mode of an air conditioner by performing a pattern of heating, cooling, and blowing-only steps. The pattern of steps is controlled as a function of sensed room temperature to ensure that the room temperature is kept within a predetermined comfort ra

A dry operation is performed during a room-cooling mode of an air conditioner by performing a pattern of heating, cooling, and blowing-only steps. The pattern of steps is controlled as a function of sensed room temperature to ensure that the room temperature is kept within a predetermined comfort range.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of dry operating an air conditioner, the air conditioner including an air inlet and air outlet, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an air flow path from the inlet to the outlet, a compressor for compressing refrigerant conducted betwe

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of dry operating an air conditioner, the air conditioner including an air inlet and air outlet, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an air flow path from the inlet to the outlet, a compressor for compressing refrigerant conducted between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, an adjustable valve for controlling a direction of flow of refrigerant to switch between heating and cooling modes, a variable speed fan for circulating air from the inlet to the outlet, the fan being operable in a blowing-only mode wherein the fan operates with the compressor off, air directing blades extending across the outlet for regulating a direction in which the air is discharged, a motor-driven adjuster the orientation of the blades to vary the air discharge direction, an inputting mechanism for inputting a selected operating mode and an established room temperature, and a temperature sensor for sensing room temperature, the method comprising the steps of:(A1) determining whether a dry operation is selected;(A2) operating the air conditioner in a predetermined cycle if the dry operation is selected, the cycle including:(A21) operating the air conditioner in a cooling mode until an established temperature is reached,(A22) performing a heating operation for a preset time period if the sensed temperature is below a predetermined comfort temperature which is higher than the established temperature, and(A23) performing a cooling operation to return the temperature to the established temperature;(A3) determining, subsequent to the step (A23), an execution time period in which the cycle was performed;(A4) increasing a speed of the fan if the execution time period determined in step (A3) exceeded a reference time period; and(A5) operating the adjuster to change an orientation of the blades if the execution time period determined in the step (A3) exceeded a reference time period.