APPARATUS TO OPERATE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

Abstract

An apparatus to control an air conditioner system and a method for controlling the same, in which an operational priority is given to an air conditioner or a ventilation system according to peripheral environment and a season such that the air conditioner and the ventilation system are selectively operated to provide optimum air conditioning environment. The method of controlling the air conditioner system including the air conditioner to cool and heat a room and the ventilation device to perform a ventilation operation includes detecting an outdoor temperature, determining a season by comparing the outdoor temperature with a preset reference temperature, and determining an operational priority relative to the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the determined season.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2006-110748, filed on Nov. 9, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to an air conditioner system including an air conditioner to provide cool air or warm air into a room and a ventilation system to exchange indoor air with outdoor air, and more particularly, to an apparatus to operate an air conditioner system and a method of controlling the same, in which an operational priority is assigned to an air conditioner or a ventilation system according to a peripheral environment and a season such that the air conditioner and the ventilation system can be selectively operated, thereby providing optimum air conditioning environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, air conditioners are used for feeding warm air or cool air into a room. The air conditioners circulate a liquid-phase refrigerant between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit in such a manner that the liquid-phase refrigerant absorbs ambient heat when it is evaporated, and discharges the heat when it is liquefied, thereby performing cooling or heating operations.

Typically, an air conditioner is equipped with one outdoor unit and one indoor unit. However, recently, a multi-system air conditioner equipped with at least one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units having various shapes and capacities is increasingly used for cooling or heating large-scale buildings, such as high-story buildings or complex apartments having a plurality of partitioned spaces.

Such a multi-system air conditioner includes communication lines between the outdoor unit and the indoor units so that the outdoor unit makes communication with the indoor units according to predetermined communication protocols through the communication lines, and the indoor units are operated based on a preset temperature and a room temperature.

Recently, in order to purify an interior space having the multi-system air conditioner, a ventilation system having a plurality of ventilators is installed together with the multi-system air conditioner. The ventilation system discharges indoor air from the interior space to an exterior and allows outdoor air to be introduced into the interior space by controlling an air feeding and exhaust device.

As described above, both the multi-system air conditioner and the ventilation system are installed in the same space to provide the optimum air conditioning environment, however, if the multi-system air conditioner and the ventilation system are simultaneously operated, the cooling and heating efficiency of the multi-system air conditioner may be suddenly dropped due to the operation of the ventilation system. In addition, if the user stops the operation of the ventilation system so as to solve the above problem, the indoor air becomes impure, so that the interior space may be polluted.

In order to solve the problems, the user must directly determine the operation of the multi-system air conditioner and the ventilation system so as to individually control the operation of the multi-system air conditioner and the ventilation system. However, this causes the inconvenience of the user. In addition, if the operational condition of the multi-system air conditioner and the ventilation system is fixedly set, the operation of the multi-system air conditioner and the ventilation system may not match with peripheral environmental conditions which are changed every moment.

In addition, the ventilation system is used for all seasons, but the multi-system air conditioner is used in summer and winter for cooling and heating a room, so that it is necessary to properly incorporate the multi-system air conditioner with the ventilation system in order to satisfy user's demand, which gradually becomes complicated and diversified. However, the above individual control scheme for the multi-system air conditioner and the ventilation system makes it difficult to provide the optimum air conditioning environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides an apparatus to operate an air conditioner system and a method of controlling the same, in which an operational priority is selectively assigned to a multi-system air conditioner or a ventilation system depending on a season or an peripheral environment (a temperature or pollution state) in the air conditioner system including the multi-system air conditioner and the ventilation system, thereby providing optimum air conditioning environment.

The present general inventive concept provides an apparatus to operate an air conditioner system and a method of controlling the same, capable of satisfying user's demand to assign an operational priority to a multi-system air conditioner or a ventilation system according to user's selection.

Additional aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a method of controlling an air conditioner system including an air conditioner to cool and heat a room and a ventilation device to perform a ventilation operation, the method including detecting an outdoor temperature, determining a season by comparing the outdoor temperature with a preset reference temperature, and determining an operational priority relative to the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the determined season.

The season may be determined as summer if the outdoor temperature is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature, and the season may be determined as winter if the outdoor temperature is equal to or lower than a second reference temperature.

The season may be determined as spring or fall if the outdoor temperature is lower than the first reference temperature and higher than the second reference temperature.

The operational priority may be assigned to the air conditioner if the season is determined as summer or winter.

The operational priority may be assigned to the ventilation device if the season is determined as spring or fall.

The method may further include selectively operating the air conditioner or the ventilation device according to the determined operational priority.

If ventilation is needed when the air conditioner is operated according to the determined operational priority, the operation of the air conditioner may be stopped and the ventilation device may be operated.

A ventilation step of the ventilation device may be adjusted based on a descending speed of an indoor temperature changed during the operation of the air conditioner.

The ventilation device may be operated after stopping the operation of the air conditioner when an indoor pollution degree is detected during the operation of the air conditioner, and when the detected indoor pollution degree reaches a preset marginal pollution degree.

If the cooling/heating operation is needed when the ventilation device is operated according to the determined operational priority, the operation of the ventilation device may be stopped, and the air conditioner may be operated.

The air conditioner may be operated after stopping the operation of the ventilation device when an indoor temperature is detected during the operation of the ventilation device, and when the detected indoor temperature reaches a preset marginal temperature.

The method may further include selecting a priority control mode for the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to a user's command, and operating the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to the priority control mode.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an apparatus to operate an air conditioner system including an air conditioner to cool and heat a room and a ventilation device to perform a ventilation operation, the apparatus including a temperature sensor to detect an outdoor temperature, and a controller to determine a season by comparing the outdoor temperature with a preset reference temperature and to determine an operational priority relative to the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the determined season.

The controller may determine the season as summer if the outdoor temperature is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature, and may control the air conditioner to perform a cooling operation while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner.

The controller may determine the season as winter if the outdoor temperature is equal to or lower than a second reference temperature, and may control the air conditioner to perform a heating operation while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner.

The controller may determine the season as spring or fall if the outdoor temperature is lower than the first reference temperature and higher than the second reference temperature, and may control the ventilation device to perform the ventilation operation while assigning the operational priority to the ventilation system.

The controller may stop the operation of the air conditioner and may start the operation of the ventilation device when the ventilation operation is required while the air conditioner is being operated according to determined operational priority.

The controller may stop the operation of the ventilation device and may start the operation of the air conditioner when the cooling/heating operation is required while the ventilation device is being operated according to determined operational priority.

The apparatus may further include an input unit to select a priority control mode for the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to a user's command, and the controller may operate the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to the selected priority control mode.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an apparatus to control an air conditioner system including an air conditioner and a ventilation device, the apparatus including a sensor to detect an outdoor temperature, and a controller to determine a priority to one of an air conditioner and a ventilation device according to the outdoor temperature to selectively control the air conditioner and ventilation device.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an apparatus to control an air conditioner system including an air conditioner and a ventilation device, the apparatus including a sensor to detect a pollutant of a unit room, and a controller to selectively control the air conditioner and ventilation device according to the detected pollutant.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an apparatus to control an air conditioner system including an air conditioner and a ventilation device, the apparatus including a first sensor to detect an outdoor temperature, a second sensor to detect a pollutant of a unit room, and a controller to determine a priority to one of an air conditioner and a ventilation device according to the outdoor temperature to selectively control the air conditioner and ventilation device according to the priority and the pollutant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an air conditioner system having a multi-system air conditioner integrated with a ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structure to control an air conditioner system having a multi-system air conditioner integrated with a ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a multi-system air conditioner and a ventilation system according to an operational priority in an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a multi-system air conditioner according to an operational priority in an air conditioner system in the method of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of ventilation steps in the method of the air conditioner system of FIGS. 1-4; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a ventilation system according to an operational priority in an air conditioner system in the method of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an air conditioner system in which a multi-system air conditioner (hereinafter, simply referred to as air conditioner) is integrated with a ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The air conditioner system includes the air conditioner having at least one outdoor unit 10 coupled to a plurality of indoor units 20, and the ventilation system having a plurality of ventilation units 30 to be connected to the air conditioner. In addition, the air conditioner system has a communication line 40 between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor units 20 or between the indoor units 20 and the ventilation units 30, so that communication can be made between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor units 20, or between the indoor units 20 and the ventilation units 30.

Further, the indoor units 20 and the ventilation units 30 are divided into a plurality of groups 1, 2, 3 . . . N according to a unit space or location. For example, the group 1 may include indoor units 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 . . . 1-n, and the ventilation devices 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 . . . 1-n.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structure to control an air conditioner system including an air conditioner 50 coupled with a ventilation system 60 according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the air conditioner system controls the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60 according to an operational priority. The air conditioner 50 controls a room temperature, for example, cools and heats a room, and the ventilation system 60 controls indoor ventilation. In addition, the air conditioner system includes the communication line 40 connected between the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60, so that communication can be made between the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioner 50 has a structure in which the plural indoor units 20 are connected to one outdoor unit 10. The air conditioner 50 includes an input unit 51 as an input module, which receives an operation mode (the control of the air conditioner and the ventilation system according to priority), a target temperature (Ts: a target temperature value of an interior space under cooling/heating operation), and a marginal pollution degree (Em: a marginal density of a pollutant, for example, CO₂, in the interior space under a cooling and/or heating operation), an indoor temperature sensor 52 to detect the present temperature of air in the interior space, an outdoor temperature sensor 53 to detect the temperature of outdoor air, an air conditioner controller 54 to control the overall operation of the air conditioner 50, a compressor 55 turned on/off according to the present temperature and the target temperature, and a load device 56, such as an outdoor fan, an indoor fan, and a valve, to operate the air conditioner 50 suitable for the operation mode according to a control signal of the air conditioner controller 54. The air conditioner 50 may have a similar structure or component to a conventional air conditioner except the controlling of the air conditioner 50.

When inputting the operation mode into the input unit 51, an automatic priority control mode or a manual priority control mode is selected to control the operational priority of the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60, and the user selects the operational priority relative to the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60 when the manual priority control mode is selected.

The air conditioner controller 54 includes a microcomputer which outputs a compressor control signal used to turn on/off the compressor 55 according to the comparison result between an indoor temperature Tr and a target temperature Ts. If the priority control operation for the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60 is selected through the input unit 51, the air conditioner controller 54 compares the outdoor temperature To with preset reference temperatures T1 and T2 and then determines a present season, thereby performing a cooling/heating operation according to the determined season. The present season may be one of the spring, summer, fall, and winter. However, the present general inventive concept is not limited thereto. The present season may be a period between the spring and the summer, between the summer and the fall, between the fall and the winter, and/or between the winter and the spring, for example.

The ventilation system 60 includes the plural ventilators 30 which can communicate with the air conditioner 50. The ventilation system 60 includes an input unit 61 as an input module, which receives an operation mode (the control operation of the air conditioner or the ventilation system according to priority), a target pollution degree (Es: a target density of CO₂ in an interior space under a ventilation operation), and a marginal temperature (Tm: a marginal temperature value for the interior space under the ventilation operation), a pollution sensor 62 to detect a present pollution degree of a pollutant (a density of CO₂) of the interior space, a ventilation controller 63 to control the overall operation of the ventilation system 60, an air dispensing fan 64 to forcefully suck or introduce the outdoor air into the interior space, and an exhaust fan 65 to forcefully exhaust or discharge the indoor air to an outside thereof. The ventilation system 60 may have a similar structure or component to that of a conventional ventilation system except the controlling of the ventilation system 60.

When inputting the operation mode into the input unit 61, an automatic priority control mode or a manual priority control mode is selected in order to control the operational priority of the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60, and the user selects the operational priority relative to the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60 when the manual priority control mode is selected.

If the user does not select the priority control mode for the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60, the priority control mode is automatically defaulted as the automatic priority control mode. In addition, default values are automatically set even if the marginal pollution degree (Em: the marginal density of CO₂ for the interior space under a cooling/heating operation) and the marginal temperature (Tm: a marginal temperature value for the interior space under the ventilation operation) are not input into the input module 61 when the air conditioner 50 and the ventilation system 60 operated under the priority control mode.

Meanwhile, although the individual construction of the air conditioner controller 54 and the ventilation controller 63 is described as an example to realize the air conditioner system according to the present general inventive concept, a wire/wireless controller may be used by integrally constructing the air conditioner controller 54 and the ventilation controller 63 according to the requirements and the design conditions of the air conditioner system. In addition, the input unit 51 of the air conditioner 50 may be integrated with the input unit 61 of the ventilation system 60 as a single input unit as a single input module.

Hereinafter, operational procedure and the effects of the apparatus to operate the air conditioner system having the structure and the method of controlling the same will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an air conditioner and a ventilation system according to an operational priority thereof in an air condition system according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

As an initial condition for the description purpose of the operation according to the present embodiment, the plural indoor units 20 (for example, indoor units 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, . . . ) and the plural outdoor units 30 (for example, ventilation units 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, . . . ) are installed in one space, and are set as a same group (group 1, group 2, . . . or group N) in the air condition system having a structure in which the air conditioner 50 is integrated with the ventilation system 60. Hereinafter, the method of controlling the air conditioner system according to a priority in any one group among predetermined groups will be described as an example.

First, the user selects the automatic priority control mode or the manual priority control mode through the input unit 51 of the air conditioner 50, or the input module 61 of the ventilation system 60 (operation S100).

Accordingly, the air conditioner controller 54 and the ventilation controller 63 determine whether the selected priority control mode is the manual priority control mode (operation S200). If the selected priority control mode is not the manual priority control mode, the air conditioner controller 54 and the ventilation controller 63 determine that the selected priority control mode is the automatic priority control mode (default mode is the automatic priority control mode), so the controllers 54 and 63 detect an outdoor temperature To through the outdoor temperature sensor 53 (operation S300).

The detected outdoor temperature To is compared with the preset first reference temperature T1 (an outdoor temperature used for determining a season is about 30° C.). If the outdoor temperature To is equal to or higher than the first reference temperature T1, the season is determined as summer, so that a cooling operation is performed while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner (operation S600).

If the outdoor temperature To is lower than the first reference temperature T1, the outdoor temperature To is compared with the second reference temperature T2 (a temperature used to determine a season is about 0° C., for example). If the outdoor temperature To is equal to or lower than the second reference temperature T2, the season is determined as winter, so that a heating operation is performed while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner (operation S600).

In contrast, if the outdoor temperature To is lower that the first reference temperature T1 and/or higher than the second reference temperature T2, the season is determined as spring or fall, so that the ventilation operation is performed while assigning the operational priority to the ventilation system (operation S800).

In this case, the first and second reference temperatures T1 and T2 may be preset by the user or a manufacturer of the air conditioner system. When the first and second reference temperatures T1 and T2 are not preset, the first and second reference temperatures T1 and T2 are set as default values.

If the priority control mode is the automatic priority control mode (or, the default mode), it is necessary to assign the operational priority to the air conditioner or the ventilation system based on the season while considering the peripheral environment of the air conditioner system. In general, when the outdoor temperature To is equal to or higher than 30° C., and equal to or lower than 0° C., it may be summer or winter. Accordingly, the cooling/heating operation is performed while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner. Other temperature conditions may signify spring or fall, so the ventilation operation is performed while assigning the operational priority to the ventilation system.

Meanwhile, when the priority control mode selected in operation S200 represents the manual priority control mode, the controllers determine whether the user assigns the operational priority to the air conditioner (operation S700). If the user assigns the operational priority to the air conditioner, the air conditioner control mode starts in operation S600. If the user does not assign the operational priority to the air conditioner, the ventilation system control mode starts in operation S800.

Hereinafter, the cooling/heating operation (operation S600) performed when the operational priority is assigned to the air conditioner according to the selected priority control mode or the season will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of an air conditioner in an air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the air conditioner control mode starts, the number of operable ventilation steps may be automatically obtained through following equation 1 according to the number of the indoor units 20 and the number of the ventilators (ventilation devices) 300 belonging to a predetermined group.

The number of operable ventilation steps=(a level of an air flow rate of a ventilator (ventilation device)×N)+1+(M−1)

Here, the level the air flow rate of the ventilator 30 is classified into three levels (high, middle, and low levels). The N denotes the number of the ventilators 30, and the M denotes the number of the indoor units 20.

For example, if three ventilators 30 are connected to two indoor units 20 in one group, operable ventilation steps are automatically obtained as 0 to 10 steps as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the ventilation step starts from the step 10.

Then, after the user receives the target temperature Ts (a target temperature of an indoor space under a heating/cooling operation) and the marginal pollution degree Em (the marginal density of CO₂ for an indoor space under a heating/cooling operation) through the input unit 51 of the air conditioner 50 (operation S604), the air conditioner control mode starts (operation S606).

An operation of heating/cooling components of the air conditioner 50 may be a conventional heating/cooling operation. Since the conventional heating/cooling operation is a well-known technology, details thereof will be omitted below.

If the air conditioner control starts, the room temperature Tr is detected through the indoor temperature sensor 52 of the air conditioner 50 and input to the air conditioner controller 54 (operation S608).

Accordingly, the air conditioner controller 54 calculates an indoor temperature descending speed V_T for a predetermined time interval (operation S610), and the calculated indoor temperature descending speed V_T is divided by a preset reference temperature descending speed V_TS, thereby calculating a speed constant value K (operation S612).

Then, the calculated speed constant value K is compared with a preset reference constant value Ks. If the speed constant value K is smaller than the reference constant value Ks, the indoor temperature descending speed V_T is in a slow state. Accordingly, the ventilation step is lowered by one step until the speed constant value K reaches the reference constant value Ks (operation S616).

Here, according to the season or the outdoor temperature, the ventilation step may not be changed according to the change of the speed constant value K with respect to the reference constant value Ks, for example, until the speed constant value K reaches the reference constant value Ks. That is, the ventilation step may be changed or may not be changed according to the speed constant value K and the determined season among a plurality of seasons.

The pollution sensor 62 detects a present pollution degree Er of an interior space where the air conditioner 50 is operating so as to input the pollution degree Er to the ventilation controller 63 during the air conditioner control mode (operation S618), and the ventilation controller 63 compares the detected indoor pollution degree Er with the preset marginal pollution degree Em (operation S620).

As a result of the above comparison, if the indoor pollution degree Er is lower than the marginal pollution degree Em, the controller determines that the indoor air is not thick (contaminated) yet and then determines whether a present air temperature Tr of an interior space reaches the target temperature Ts (operation S622). If the indoor temperature Tr does not reach the target temperature Ts, the control procedure returns to operation S608 so as to perform the air conditioner control mode.

As a result of the determination, if the indoor temperature Tr reaches the target temperature Ts, the air conditioner control mode is stopped so as to terminate the cooling/heating operation (operation S624).

In addition, even when the indoor pollution degree Er is equal to or higher than the marginal pollution degree Em in operation S620, the air conditioner control mode is stopped so as to terminate the cooling/heating operation (operation S624).

If the air conditioner control mode is stopped, the controller determines whether the priority control mode represents the automatic priority control mode (operation S626). If the priority control mode represents the automatic priority control mode, operation S800 is performed such that the ventilation system control mode starts. If the priority control mode does not represent the automatic priority control mode, since the user has manually selected the air condition control mode, the control mode is fixed as the present air conditioner control mode instead of the ventilation system control mode. Accordingly, operation S608 is performed.

Meanwhile, if the speed constant value K is greater than the reference constant value Ks, the indoor temperature descending speed V_T is in a normal state. Accordingly, the ventilation step is not changed to a lower level, and the indoor pollution degree Er is detected in operation S618.

Here, according to the season or the outdoor temperature, the ventilation step may be changed according to the change of the speed constant value K with respect to the reference constant value Ks, for example, the speed constant value K is greater than the reference constant value K. That is, the ventilation step may be changed or may not be changed according to the speed constant value K and the determined season among a plurality of seasons

Hereinafter, details will be described with reference to FIG. 6 regarding the ventilation operation (operation S800) performed under the ventilation system control mode according to the determined priority control mode or season.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a ventilation system according to an operational priority in an air conditioner system of the present general inventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, if the operational priority is assigned to the ventilation system, the operable ventilation steps are automatically calculated and then determined through equation 1 according to the number of the indoor units 20 and the number of the ventilators 30 in the group (operation S802). The scheme of calculating the ventilation steps is the same as that of the air conditioner control mode.

For example, if two indoor units 20 are connected three ventilators 30 in one group, the operable ventilation steps are automatically obtained as 0 to 10 steps as illustrating in FIG. 5, and the ventilation steps start from a first step.

Meanwhile, since the ventilation steps are determined as ventilation steps adjusted in the air conditioner control mode when the ventilation system control mode starts after the air conditioner control mode is performed, the determination step (operation S802) of the ventilation steps may be omitted.

Thereafter, after a user inputs a target pollution degree Es (the target density of CO₂ for an interior space during the ventilation operation) and a marginal temperature Tm (the marginal temperature value for the interior space during the ventilation operation) (operation S804), the ventilation system control mode starts (operation S806).

The operation of the ventilation system under the ventilation system control mode is the typical ventilation operation. In addition, since the typical ventilation operation is a well-known technology, details thereof will be omitted below.

If the ventilation system control mode starts, the pollution sensor 62 of the ventilation system 60 detects the present pollution degree Er of an interior space so as to input the pollution degree Er to the ventilation controller 63 (operation S808).

Accordingly, the ventilation controller 63 compares the detected indoor pollution degree Er with the target pollution degree Es (operation S810). If the indoor pollution degree Er reaches the target pollution degree Es, the ventilation system control mode is stopped so as to terminate the ventilation operation (operation S818).

If the result shows that the indoor pollution degree Er is greater than the target pollution degree Es, the ventilation controller 63 determines that indoor air is thick so as to increase the ventilation step by one step from a present step until the indoor pollution degree Er reaches the target pollution degree Es (operation S812).

The indoor temperature sensor 52 detects a present temperature Tr of an interior space where the ventilation operation is performed so as to input the air temperature Tr to the air conditioner controller 54 during the ventilation system control mode (operation S814), and the air condition controller 54 compares the detected temperature Tr with the preset marginal temperature Tm (operation S816).

If the comparison result shows that the indoor temperature Tr is less than the marginal temperature Tm, the ventilation controller 63 determines that it is unnecessary to heat/cool the indoor air and returns to operation S808 so as to continuously perform the ventilation system control mode. If the indoor temperature Tr is equal to or greater than the marginal temperature Tm, the ventilation controller 63 stops the ventilation system control mode so as to terminate the ventilation operation (operation S818).

If the ventilation system control mode is stopped, it is determined that the priority control mode represents the automatic priority control mode (operation S820). If the priority control mode represents the automatic priority control mode, operation S600 is performed such that the operational priority is assigned to the air conditioner. If the priority control mode does not represent the automatic priority control mode, it means that the user manually assigns the operational priority to the ventilation system, so the operational priority is not handed to the air conditioner, and operation S808 is performed in a state in which the operational priority is assigned to the ventilation system.

The present general inventive concept can also be embodied as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recording medium and a computer-readable transmission medium. The computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves or signals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission through the Internet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments to accomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present general inventive concept pertains.

As described above, according to an apparatus to operate an air conditioner system and a method of controlling the same, an energy efficiency can be maximized by selectively controlling an air conditioner and a ventilation system in the order of the priority according to seasons or peripheral environments (a temperature or a pollution degree) in the air conditioner system having the air conditioner integrated with the ventilation system. In addition, it is possible to provide the user with optimum air conditioning environment (superior air quality and temperature condition) matching with peripheral environment which is changed every moment.

In addition, according to the present invention, a user selects the control of the air conditioner or the control of the ventilation system according to priority so that user's demand, which gradually becomes complicated and diversified, can be satisfied.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an air conditioner system including an air conditioner to cool and heat a room and a ventilation device to perform a ventilation operation, the method comprising:

detecting an outdoor temperature;

determining a season by comparing the outdoor temperature with a preset reference temperature; and

determining an operational priority relative to the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the determined season.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the season is determined as summer if the outdoor temperature is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature, and the season is determined as winter if the outdoor temperature is equal to or lower than a second reference temperature.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the season is determined as spring or fall if the outdoor temperature is lower than the first reference temperature and higher than the second reference temperature.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operational priority is assigned to the air conditioner if the season is determined as summer or winter.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the operational priority is assigned to the ventilation device if the season is determined as spring or fall.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

selectively operating the air conditioner or the ventilation device according to the determined operational priority.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, if ventilation is needed when the air conditioner is operated according to the determined operational priority, the operation of the air conditioner is stopped and the ventilation device is operated.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, when a ventilation step of the ventilation device is adjusted based on a descending speed of an indoor temperature changed during the operation of the air conditioner.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the ventilation device is operated after stopping the operation of the air conditioner when an indoor pollution degree is detected during the operation of the air conditioner, and when the detected indoor pollution degree reaches a preset marginal pollution degree.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, if the cooling/heating operation is needed when the ventilation device is operated according to the determined operational priority, the operation of the ventilation device is stopped, and the air conditioner is operated.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the air conditioner is operated after stopping the operation of the ventilation device when an indoor temperature is detected during the operation of the ventilation device, and the detected indoor temperature reaches a preset marginal temperature.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a priority control mode for the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to a user's command, and operating the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to the priority control mode.

13. An apparatus to control an air conditioner system including an air conditioner to cool and heat a room and a ventilation device to perform a ventilation operation, the apparatus comprising:

a temperature sensor to detect an outdoor temperature; and

a controller to determine a season by comparing the outdoor temperature with a preset reference temperature and determining operational priority relative to the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the determined season.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller determines the season as summer if the outdoor temperature is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature, and controls the air conditioner to perform a cooling operation while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller determines the season as winter if the outdoor temperature is equal to or lower than a second reference temperature, and controls the air conditioner to perform a heating operation while assigning the operational priority to the air conditioner.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller determines the season as spring or fall if the outdoor temperature is lower than the first reference temperature, and controls the ventilation device to perform the ventilation operation while assigning the operational priority to the ventilation system.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the controller determines the season as spring or fall if the outdoor temperature is higher than the second reference temperature, and controls the ventilation device to perform the ventilation operation while assigning the operational priority to the ventilation system.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller stops the operation of the air conditioner and starts the operation of the ventilation device when the ventilation operation is required while the air conditioner is being operated according to determined operational priority.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the controller stops the operation of the air conditioner and starts the operation of the ventilation device when the ventilation operation is required while the air conditioner is being operated according to determined operational priority.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the controller stops the operation of the ventilation device and starts the operation of the air conditioner when the cooling/heating operation is required while the ventilation device is being operated according to determined operational priority.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

an input unit to select a priority control mode for the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to a user's command,

wherein the controller operates the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to the selected priority control mode.

22. An apparatus to control an air conditioner system including an air conditioner and a ventilation device, the apparatus comprising:

a first sensor to detect an outdoor temperature;

a second sensor to detect a pollutant of a unit room; and

a controller to determine a priority to one of an air conditioner and a ventilation device according to the outdoor temperature to selectively control the air conditioner and ventilation device according to the priority and the pollutant.