초록 ▼

Disclosed herein is an air conditioner and method of controlling the same. The air conditioner includes a compressor having a capacity variable according to a duty control signal. The duty control signal controls the compressor to undergo a loading time for maintaining a loading state in a cycle and

Disclosed herein is an air conditioner and method of controlling the same. The air conditioner includes a compressor having a capacity variable according to a duty control signal. The duty control signal controls the compressor to undergo a loading time for maintaining a loading state in a cycle and an unloading time for maintaining an unloading state in a cycle. The air conditioner further includes a control unit for determining the loading time and the unloading time according to the variation of a total required cooling capacity to generate the duty control signal even before a corresponding cycle is over, if the total required cooling capacity has been varied in a corresponding cycle while the compressor is operated, and controlling the compressor according to the duty control signal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air conditioner, comprising:a compressor having a capacity variable according to a duty control signal, the duty control signal controlling the compressor to undergo a loading time for maintaining a loading state in a cycle and an unloading time for maintaining an unloading state in a cycle; a

1. An air conditioner, comprising:a compressor having a capacity variable according to a duty control signal, the duty control signal controlling the compressor to undergo a loading time for maintaining a loading state in a cycle and an unloading time for maintaining an unloading state in a cycle; and a control unit for determining the loading time and the unloading time according to the variation of a total required cooling capacity to generate the duty control signal even before a corresponding cycle is over, when the total required cooling capacity has been varied in a corresponding cycle while the compressor is operated, and controlling the compressor according to the duty control signal. 2. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control unit applies the duty control signal to the corresponding cycle.3. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control unit applies the duty control signal to a new cycle following the corresponding cycle.4. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein if the total required cooling capacity has been decreased in the unloading state of the corresponding cycle, the control unit generates a duty control signal for decreasing the loading time to correspond to the decreased total required cooling capacity, and decreases the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal generated in the corresponding cycle.5. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein if the total required cooling capacity has been increased in the unloading state of the corresponding cycle, the control unit generates a duty control signal on the basis of a remaining time of the corresponding cycle and the loading time corresponding to the increased total required cooling capacity, and increases the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal.6. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 5, wherein if the loading time corresponding to the increased total required cooling capacity is not longer than the remaining time, the control unit increases the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal in the corresponding cycle.7. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 5, wherein if the loading time corresponding to the increased total required cooling capacity is longer than the remaining time, the control unit increases the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal in a new cycle starting from the time when the total required cooling capacity is increased.8. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein if the total required cooling capacity has been decreased in the loading state of the corresponding cycle, the control unit generates the duty control signal on the basis of the elapsing loading time of the corresponding cycle and the loading time corresponding to the decreased total required cooling capacity, and decreases the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal.9. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 8, wherein if the loading time corresponding to the decreased total required cooling capacity is longer than the elapsing loading time, the control unit decreases the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal generated in the corresponding cycle.10. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 8, wherein if the loading time corresponding to the decreased total required cooling capacity is not longer than the elapsing loading time, the control unit switches its loading state to a unloading state, and maintains the unloading state until the corresponding cycle is over so as to decrease the capacity of the compressor.11. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein if the total required cooling capacity has been increased in the loading state of the corresponding cycle, the control unit generates a duty control signal for increasing the loading time to correspond to the increased total required cooling capacity, and maintains the loading state until the increased loading time is over so as to increase the capacity of the compressor.12. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control unit is installed in an outdoor unit connected to a group of indoor units, and determines whether the total required cooling capacity has been varied on the basis of a total required cooling capacity obtained by summing up cooling capacities required by the indoor units.13. A method of controlling an air conditioner including a compressor with a capacity varied according to a duty control signal having a loading time and an unloading time in a corresponding cycle, comprising the steps of:a) operating the compressor; b) determining whether a total required cooling capacity has been varied; and c) determining a loading time and an unloading time according to the variation of the total required cooling capacity to generate a duty control signal even before a corresponding cycle is over, when the total required cooling capacity has been varied in a corresponding cycle, and controlling the compressor according to the duty control signal. 14. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the step of summing up cooling capacities required by a plurality of indoor units connected to an outdoor unit, wherein the step b) is performed on the basis of the summed required cooling capacity.15. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step b) includes the step of determining whether the variation time of the total required cooling capacity is in the loading or unloading state of the corresponding cycle.16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the step b) includes the step of decreasing the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal generated on the basis of the loading time corresponding to the decreased required cooling capacity in the corresponding cycle if the total required cooling capacity has been decreased in the unloading state of the corresponding cycle.17. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein if the total required cooling capacity has been increased in the unloading state of the corresponding cycle, the step b) includes the steps of calculating the remaining time of the corresponding cycle, comparing the remaining time with the loading time corresponding to the increased total required cooling capacity, and increasing the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal in the corresponding cycle if the corresponding loading time is not longer than the remaining time, or increasing the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal in a new cycle if the corresponding loading time is longer than the remaining time.18. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein if the total required cooling capacity has been decreased in the loading state of the corresponding cycle, the step b) includes the steps of calculating an elapsing loading time in the corresponding cycle, comparing the remaining time with the loading time corresponding to the decreased total required cooling capacity, and decreasing the capacity of the compressor according to the duty control signal in the corresponding cycle if the corresponding loading time is longer than the elapsing loading time, or switching the loading state to the unloading state and maintaining the unloading state until the corresponding cycle is over so as to decrease the capacity of the compressor if the corresponding loading time is not longer than the elapsing loading time.19. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein if the total required cooling capacity has been increased in the loading state of the corresponding cycle, the step b) includes the steps of determining the loading time to correspond to the increased total required cooling capacity, calculating a loading time exceeding a previous loading time in the determined loading time, and maintaining the loading state until the exceeding loading time is over so as to increase the capacity of the compressor.