Abstract: An air conditioner controlling method of an air conditioner repeater is provided. The method includes based on a remote controller being connected to the air conditioner repeater via a cable, generating pairing information, transferring the generated pairing information to the remote controller via the cable, based on a response message for the pairing information being received from the remote controller via the cable, performing pairing with the remote controller, and based on the wired connection with the remote controller is released and an air conditioner and the air conditioner repeater are connected via a cable, transferring a wireless signal received from the remote controller in a Bluetooth method to the air conditioner.

Abstract: An air conditioner controlling method of an air conditioner repeater is provided. The method includes based on a remote controller being connected to the air conditioner repeater via a cable, generating pairing information, transferring the generated pairing information to the remote controller via the cable, based on a response message for the pairing information being received from the remote controller via the cable, performing pairing with the remote controller, and based on the wired connection with the remote controller is released and an air conditioner and the air conditioner repeater are connected via a cable, transferring a wireless signal received from the remote controller in a Bluetooth method to the air conditioner.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes at least one indoor unit and a wired controller connected to the indoor unit through two lines to receive power from the indoor unit and to perform data communication with the indoor unit. Each of the indoor unit and the wired controller includes a communication unit that modulates a low-frequency communication signal into a high-frequency communication signal and transmits the high-frequency signal and demodulates a received high-frequency signal into a low-frequency signal. When a plurality of indoor units and a wired controller perform communication, a communication signal is transmitted after being modulated into a high-frequency signal and linking the high-frequency signal with DC power. This reduces the inductance of an inductor required to separate the linked high-frequency signal into DC power and a communication signal and the capacitance of a capacitor required to link the signal with DC power, reducing PCB size and inductor and capacitor costs.

Abstract: An indoor unit performs a control operation to not supply power to a load device through a power/communication line simultaneously with other indoor units. An air conditioning system may includes an indoor unit including a microcomputer to output a power application signal to supply power to a load device through a power/communication line, and a duplicate power application prevention unit to interrupt the power application signal from the microcomputer when the power is simultaneously applied to the power/communication line by a different indoor unit, to prevent the power from being duplicately applied to the power/communication line.

Abstract: A damper including a cylinder, a piston inserted in the cylinder, a movable member disposed in the piston to be movable in the cylinder in a length direction of the cylinder, and a weight sensor mounted on an inner surface of the cylinder, facing an end of the piston, to perceive weight loaded on the piston through contact with the movable member. When applied to a washing machine, the damper is capable of perceiving accurate weight of the laundry supplied in the washing machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner, in which, when a temperature sensor is rotated, the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is increased or the temperature sensing cycle is elongated in a rotating section where an object does not exist rather than in a rotating section where the object exists. Further, the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is increased or the temperature sensing cycle is elongated if the object is located at a short distance from the air conditioner rather than if the object is located at a normal distance from the air conditioner, and the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is decreased or the temperature sensing cycle is shortened if the object is located at a long distance from the air conditioner rather than if the object is located at a normal distance from the air conditioner.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes at least one indoor unit and a wired controller connected to the indoor unit through two lines to receive power from the indoor unit and to perform data communication with the indoor unit. Each of the indoor unit and the wired controller includes a communication unit that modulates a low-frequency communication signal into a high-frequency communication signal and transmits the high-frequency signal and demodulates a received high-frequency signal into a low-frequency signal. When a plurality of indoor units and a wired controller perform communication, a communication signal is transmitted after being modulated into a high-frequency signal and linking the high-frequency signal with DC power. This reduces the inductance of an inductor required to separate the linked high-frequency signal into DC power and a communication signal and the capacitance of a capacitor required to link the signal with DC power, reducing PCB size and inductor and capacitor costs.

Abstract: An indoor unit performs a control operation to not supply power to a load device through a power/communication line simultaneously with other indoor units. An air conditioning system may includes an indoor unit including a microcomputer to output a power application signal to supply power to a load device through a power/communication line, and a duplicate power application prevention unit to interrupt the power application signal from the microcomputer when the power is simultaneously applied to the power/communication line by a different indoor unit, to prevent the power from being duplicately applied to the power/communication line.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigerator and a defrost control method thereof that are capable of sensing an amount of frost formed on an evaporator based on a change amount of absolute humidity in the refrigerator to control a defrost operation. A defrost control method of a refrigerator including a storage chamber and an evaporator to cool the storage chamber, includes sensing absolute humidity in the storage chamber, determining an estimated amount of frost formed on the evaporator using time segments in which the absolute humidity in the storage chamber decreases, and controlling a defrost operation based on the estimated amount of frost. According to the present embodiments, it is possible to perform the defrost operation at the point of time for optimum defrost, thereby maximizing energy efficiency and cooling efficiency.

Abstract: An air conditioner in which a Carrier Sensing Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) algorithm is provided on a bidirectional RS-485 communication line, and a communication method thereof. The air conditioner includes an RS-485 communication module to transmit and receive data in an RS-485 communication mode, and a microcomputer to determine presence or absence of data on a communication line when data to be transmitted is generated, occupy the communication line if no data is present on the communication line, and then transmit the generated data to the communication line.

Abstract: A damper including a cylinder, a piston inserted in the cylinder, a movable member disposed in the piston to be movable in the cylinder in a length direction of the cylinder, and a weight sensor mounted on an inner surface of the cylinder, facing an end of the piston, to perceive weight loaded on the piston through contact with the movable member. When applied to a washing machine, the damper is capable of perceiving accurate weight of the laundry supplied in the washing machine.

Abstract: An oscillatory wave generating unit and an oscillatory wave sensing unit are installed at both ends of a refrigerant pipe of an evaporator of the cooling system, an amount of frost formed on the refrigerant pipe is determined by comparing a wave form of an oscillatory wave generated from one end of the refrigerant through the oscillatory wave generating unit and a wave form of the oscillatory wave sensed by the other one end of the refrigerant through the oscillatory wave sensing unit, and whether or not a defrosting operation is performed is determined by a result of the determination. The cooling system increases the accuracy in sensing the amount of the frost formed on the evaporator of a refrigerator, a Kimchi refrigerator, or an air conditioner, and respectively starts and ends the defrosting operation at proper points of time, thus enhancing a heat-exchanging performance and increasing energy efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigerator and a defrost control method thereof that are capable of sensing an amount of frost formed on an evaporator based on a change amount of absolute humidity in the refrigerator to control a defrost operation. A defrost control method of a refrigerator including a storage chamber and an evaporator to cool the storage chamber, includes sensing absolute humidity in the storage chamber, determining an estimated amount of frost formed on the evaporator using time segments in which the absolute humidity in the storage chamber decreases, and controlling a defrost operation based on the estimated amount of frost. According to the present embodiments, it is possible to perform the defrost operation at the point of time for optimum defrost, thereby maximizing energy efficiency and cooling efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner, in which, when a temperature sensor is rotated, the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is increased or the temperature sensing cycle is elongated in a rotating section where an object does not exist rather than in a rotating section where the object exists. Further, the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is increased or the temperature sensing cycle is elongated if the object is located at a short distance from the air conditioner rather than if the object is located at a normal distance from the air conditioner, and the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is decreased or the temperature sensing cycle is shortened if the object is located at a long distance from the air conditioner rather than if the object is located at a normal distance from the air conditioner.

Abstract: Disclosed are a turbidity sensor, which correctly senses a turbidity of water although the surface of the turbidity sensor is covered with foreign substances, such as scale, and an electric home appliance having the turbidity sensor. The turbidity sensor includes a light emitting part emitting light, a first light receiving part receiving light emitted from the light emitting part and travelling straight, a second light receiving part receiving light emitted from the light emitting part and scattered, and a control unit determining a turbidity of water according to a ratio of the amounts of the light received by the plurality of light receiving parts. The first light receiving part is installed in a direction of directly receiving the light emitted from the light emitting part, and the second light receiving part is installed in another direction of not directly receiving the light emitted from the light emitting part.

Abstract: A device to detect a heat source, which can detect position of a heat source faster and more efficiently using a sensor capable of detecting a heat source, a home appliance having such a detecting device and a method of detecting a heat source are disclosed. The heat source detecting method includes performing a first mode to scan an overall area to be searched, performing a second mode to scan at least one specific region included in the area to be searched, and detecting a heat source in the area to be searched by selectively controlling a sensor the first mode and the second mode. Accordingly, a period of renewing position information of a heat source is shortened, and unnecessary detecting operation is eliminated. As a result, the heat source detecting device can more efficiently detect a heat source, using a sensor having limited performance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method to detect a heart-rate and an air conditioning system having the apparatus. As peak points of vital signs acquired from a user are detected via determination of a period, a reliable heart rate variability is calculated based on the peak points. As the emotional state of the user can be diagnosed based on vital signs of the user, optimal air-conditioning control according to physical characteristics or emotional state of the user can be accomplished by sequentially controlling a variety of air-conditioning control factors according to the priority thereof until the user becomes comfortable.