초록 ▼

A dehumidifying apparatus of an air conditioner and a control method thereof by which a heating/dehumidifying operation is performed when a room temperature is lowered. When the room temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the air conditioner is switched to a cooling operation to perform a

A dehumidifying apparatus of an air conditioner and a control method thereof by which a heating/dehumidifying operation is performed when a room temperature is lowered. When the room temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the air conditioner is switched to a cooling operation to perform a heating/dehumidifying operation, so that heating and cooling operations are inter-switched according to changes of room temperature to keep the room temperature from dropping and to improve dehumidifying efficiency according to increased temperature of the indoor heat exchanger, the apparatus comprising: a four-way valve for changing flow of coolant to thereby transform a cooling cycle to a heating cycle; room temperature detecting unit for detecting a room temperature; outdoor temperature detecting unit for detecting an outdoor temperature; and a control unit for controlling drive of the four-way valve according to the room temperature detected by the room temperature detecting unit when the outdoor temperature detected by the outdoor temperature detecting unit is above a predetermined temperature to thereby switch to cooling/heating and to controllably drive the compressor, the outdoor fan and the indoor fan according to the cooling/heating switch.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A dehumidifying control apparatus of an air conditioner comprising a cooling/heating mechanism which includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger having an outdoor fan, a capillary tube, and an indoor heat exchanger having an indoor fan, the dehumidifying control appa

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A dehumidifying control apparatus of an air conditioner comprising a cooling/heating mechanism which includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger having an outdoor fan, a capillary tube, and an indoor heat exchanger having an indoor fan, the dehumidifying control apparatus comprising:a four-way valve arranged to control a direction of flow of refrigerant fluid compressed by the compressor, the valve movable between a heating position for establishing a heating cycle, and a cooling position for establishing a cooling cycle;room temperature detecting means for detecting a room temperature;room temperature establishing means for establishing a room temperature;a user-actuated selector for selecting a humidifying mode of operation; andcontrol means connected to the room temperature detecting means, the room temperature establishing means, the user-actuated selector, and the heating/cooling mechanism for:comparing a detected room temperature with an established room temperature when a dehumidifying mode is selected by a user,executing a cooling operation, if the detected room temperature is higher than the established room temperature, until the detected room temperature reaches the established room temperature,executing a detecting operation by reducing a speed of the indoor fan and stopping at least one of the outdoor fan and the compressor, beginning when the detected room temperature reaches the established room temperature and ending when the detected room temperature reaches a heating/dehumidifying operation starting temperature which is higher than the established room temperature by a predetermined amount, andexecuting a heating/dehumidifying operation in response to the detected room temperature reaching the heating/dehumidifying operation starting temperature, wherein the four-way valve is automatically switched between the cooling position and the heating position, and the outdoor fan and the compressor are alternately operated and stopped within a predetermined cycle.