Background Art The air conditioner maintains a temperature, a humidity, and the like of a desired space to suitable states by using a refrigerating cycle consisting of a compressing, condensing, expansion, and evaporating processes of refrigerant. The processes of the refrigerating cycle is carried out by a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, provided to an indoor unit or an outdoor unit placed in a room or an outdoor. In general, the indoor unit is provided with an evaporator for absorbing heat, and an evaporator fan (indoor fan), and the outdoor unit is provided with a compressor and a compressor fan (outdoor fan). In general, though the condenser is provided to the outdoor unit, the condenser may be provided to the indoor unit. In the meantime, the indoor unit has an inlet grill in a lower part thereof for drawing room air, and an outlet grill in an upper part thereof for discharging the air having heat exchanged at the evaporator and conditioned to a required temperature to the room again. The outlet grill has vertical louvers and horizontal louvers for regulating wind direction of the discharged air in vertical and horizontal directions.

However, the related art air conditioner, and a method for controlling the related art air conditioner have the following problems.

The related art air conditioner is controlled uniformly, such that the temperature

and humidity of the room are within ranges generally considered comfortable without taking a user into account. That is, the related art air conditioner is controlled such that the temperature and the relative humidity of the room are simply within ranges of about 22 ~ 26°C and 30-60% respectively without taking the user into account, even though the temperature and the humidity that a person feels comfortable differ from person to person. Therefore, it has been difficult for the related art air conditioner to air condition the room at a temperature, and a humidity optimal to a person.

Particularly, developed further from carrying out air conditioning suitable to specific room requirement, recently it is suggested carrying out air conditioning suitable to personal requirements. Nevertheless, even a personal air conditioner air-conditions without taking user characteristics into account, an optimal air conditioning to the user has been failed.

Disclosure of Invention An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner, and a method for controlling the same, which can provide an optimum state to a user.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention provides an air conditioner having a compressor, a compressor fan, an evaporator, and an evaporator fan, including an input part for receiving user information which is a basic data on a user, a controlling part for classifying user types based on the user information, determining a comfort zone according to the user type, and controlling different parts of the air conditioner to satisfy the comfort zone.

Preferably, the user type is classified by at least one of sensitivities to a temperature, a humidity, a wind direction, and a wind speed, and the comfort zone is at least one of the temperature, the humidity, the wind direction, and the wind speed. The user information is at least one kinds of basic information intrinsic to the user, variable

information that that is variable depending on a user's state, and selective information that is selected by the user. The basic information includes at least a face shape, and year, month, and day of birth. The variable information includes at least the present health state of the user. The selective information includes subjective sensitivities to the temperature, the humidity, the wind direction, and the wind speed, the user feels.

The comfort zone is preferably defined with enthalpies and temperatures on a psychrometric chart. The comfort zone further includes the wind direction and the wind speed.

Preferably, the user types are classified as levels of proximity to a wood type, a fire type, an earth type, a metal type, and a water type constitutions based on five elementary physical constitutions. The comfort zone is fixed in a direction at least the wind speed is reduced in a case the user type has a low wood type characteristic. The comfort zone is fixed in a direction at least the temperature is reduced in a case the user type has a high fire type characteristic. The comfort zone is fixed in a direction at least relative humidity is increased in a case the user type has a high earth type characteristic.

The comfort zone is fixed in a direction at least the relative humidity is reduced in a case the user type has a high metal type characteristic. The comfort zone is fixed in a direction at least the temperature is increased in a case the user type has a high water type characteristic.

Preferably, the input part is a combination of at least one of a keypad for the user to input the user information personally, a camera for taking a photograph of the user, a scanner for scanning a user's photograph, and a personal computer connected to the air conditioner through a network. More preferably, The air conditioner as further includes an output part for displaying the comfort zone fixed according to the user type.

In the meantime, the air conditioner controls the compressor, the compressor

fan, the evaporator, and the evaporator fan for controlling the temperature and the humidity. The air conditioner preferably further includes a humidify sensing part for sensing humidity. More preferably, the air conditioner further includes a humidifying part, and a dehumidifying part. More preferably, the air conditioner further includes a wind direction controlling part for controlling a wind direction of air from the air conditioner.

In other aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an air conditioner, including the steps of inputting user information which is a basic data on a user, classifying user types based on the user information, and determining a comfort zone according to the user type.

The step of classifying user types based on the user information preferably includes the step of classifying the user type at least one of sensitivities to a temperature, a humidity, and a wind direction, and a wind speed, and the step of determining a comfort zone according to the user type includes the step of determining at least one of the temperature, humidity, the wind direction, and the wind speed. The step of inputting user information which is a basic data on a user preferably includes the step of inputting at least one kinds of basic information intrinsic to the user, variable information that that is variable depending on a user's state, and selective information that is selected by the user.

The basic information includes at least a user shape, and year, month, and day of birth of the user.

Thus, the present invention can air condition the most suitable to the user who uses the air conditioner.

Brief Description of Drawings The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further

understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiment (s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings; FIG. 1 illustrates a psychrometric chart showing a comfort zone used in a related art air conditioner; FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for controlling an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 illustrates a concept showing one example of a method used in the step for classifying a type of user in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 illustrates a psychrometric chart showing a principle of an air conditioner and a method for controlling the same of the present invention; FIG. 5 illustrates a psychrometric chart showing a principle of a controlling method of the present invention in a case the user type is fire in FIG. 2; FIG. 6 illustrates a psychrometric chart showing a principle of a controlling method of the present invention in a case the user type is water in FIG. 2; FIG : 7 illustrates a psychrometric chart showing a principle of a controlling method of the present invention in a case the user type is earth in FIG. 2; FIG. 8 illustrates a psychrometric chart showing a principle of a controlling method of the present invention in a case the user type is metal in FIG. 2; and FIG. 9 illustrates a diagram showing a system of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for CarrYing Out the Invention Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In describing the embodiments, detailed descriptions of parts identical to a general air conditioner will be omitted.

An air conditioner and a method for controlling the same of the present invention will be described, with reference to FIG. 1.

As described in the related art, in the related art air conditioner, ranges of temperature and humidity (called as a comfort zone) are fixed uniformly, in which it is considered that a user feels comfortable, and the related art air conditioner is controlled such that a space (called as a'cooling space') intended to cool, such as a room, is within the comfort zone. In general, the comfort zone set by ASHRAE is used as the comfort zone, which falls on zone in which the temperature is in a range of 22-26°C, and the relative humidity is in a range of 30-60%. That is, in the related art, no user who uses the air conditioner is taken into account, the air conditioner is controlled uniformly such that the cooling space is within the comfort zone. However, sine the comfort zone differs from person to person, it is not preferable to fix the comfort zone uniformly. That is, a temperature, and a humidity at which one person feels comfortable may not be comfortable to other person.

According to researches of the invention, it is verified that the comfort zone differs significantly depending on personal, or subjective factors, such as health conditions, physical constitutions, years, months, and days of births, biorhythms, races, sex, age, occupations, and the like. Moreover, the inventor notes that personal sensitivities to the temperature, humidity, flow rate, and wind speed have close relations with the health conditions, the physical constitutions, and the years, months, and days of births (four pillars). The inventor also notes that other personal factors, such as ages, sex, and races give secondary influences to the sensitivities of temperature, and humidity.

As described, since the personal sensitivities to the temperature, and humidity differ from person to person, it is preferable that the users of the air conditioner are classified into types, and different comfort zones are set for the different types of users.

According to this, it is preferable that the user types are classified with reference to preset criteria, different comfort zones (hereafter called as"modified comfort zone") are fixed according to the different user types, and the air conditioner is controlled such that the cooling space is within ranges of the modified comfort zone.

That is, as shown in arrows in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the comfort zone on the psychrometric chart is shifted appropriately according to the user type.

A method for controlling an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to FIG. 2.

The method for controlling an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of providing user information of the air conditioner (S3), classifying a user type based on the user information (S5), determining a comfort zone according to the user type (S7), and controlling the air conditioner to achieve the comfort zone (S9).

Though the user types can be classified in different methods, it is the most preferable that the user types are classified with reference to the personal sensitivities to the temperature and humidity mainly, and to the flow rate and wind speed of air supplementarily, based on which the comfort zone is determined, and the air conditioner is controlled such that the cooling space is within the determined comfort zone, i. e. , the cooling space is within preset ranges of temperature, humidity, wind direction, and wind speed of air.

Basic data for classifying the user type, i. e. , the user information will be described.

Basically, the user information is dependent on each user, and preferably, at least one kinds of basic information intrinsic to the user, that is not changeable, variable information that that is variable depending on a user's state, and selective information

that is selected by the user, and therefore has a strong sense of subjectivity. The basic information is intrinsic information if the user is fixed, such as, race, sex, year, month, and day of birth, and face shape, of the user. The variable information is information that, though not intrinsic, can influence to the personal sensitivities to the temperature and humidity, and variable depending on a user's state, such as the present health condition, and personal disease history. The selective information is basic information that can be made objective to a certain degree, and information that, different from the variable information, has a strong sense of subjectivity, such as information representing a degree of sensitivity to a temperature, and humidity the user feels.

Based on above user information, the type of the user is fixed. Though the user type can be classified in a variety of methods, since the air conditioner is controllable with respect to a temperature, humidity, a wind direction, and a wind speed of the air, it is preferable that the classification represents degrees of sensitivities to the temperature, the humidity, the wind direction, and the wind speed.

In the meantime, there can be a variety of methods for fixing the user type. A correlation between the user information and the user type can be determined, statistically. However, it is verified from the researches of the inventor that it is very desirable if the user type is classified according to eastern medicine coupled with eastern philosophic theories. For an example, the inventor's research reveals that the five elementary physical constitutions show very close correlation with the sensitivities to the temperature, humidity, the wind direction, and wind speed. Therefore, the inventor suggests classifying the user types by the five elementary physical constitutions. The five elementary physical constitutions are major factors that influence to health of the five viscera and six entrails, and classified into wood, fire, earth, metal, and water types. Moreover, according to the inventor's research, since types based on

the year, month, day, and time (four pillars) of birth of the user, i. e. , strengths of the four pillars (strong or weak) have a high correlation with the sensitivities of the temperature, humidity, the wind direction, and the wind speed, the user types may be classified by using the strengths of the four pillars. Therefore, it is very effective that the user types are classified by the types of the five elementary physical constitutions, and by the types of the year, month, day, and time (four pillars) of birth of the user.

In the meantime, the five elementary physical constitutions can be determined by the eastern medical science. However, the inventor's research reveals that the five elementary physical constitutions of the user can be known relatively readily from a face shape of the user, and an aspect ratio of the user face. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the five elementary physical constitutions can be determined by a width of a particular part of the face'F', and a length of the face may be added thereto, further. For an example, the five elementary physical constitutions can be classified with reference to at <BR> <BR> least two of a width'u'of an upper part of the face, i. e. , a width in a neighborhood of the temples, or a forehead, a width'c'in a neighborhood of cheekbone, and a width'1' <BR> <BR> in a neighborhood of a lower part of the face, i. e. , a jaw, and the length'h'of the face may be added thereto. That is, the five elementary physical constitutions can be represented with a function of the width of the upper part of the face, the width of a central part of the face, the width of the lower part of the face, and the length. Because the function can be fixed statistically, or by using eastern philosophy, detailed description of which will be omitted.

In the meantime, though the user types may be simply classified into wood, fire, earth, metal, and water types, it is preferable that the user types are classified into a degree of proximity to one of the types, such as a user has much (strong), or small (weak) wood type nature of physical constitution. It is more preferable that the user

types are classified into degrees of proximities to different types, such as a user has much earth type nature, and small metal type nature of physical constitutions.

Relations between the user types by the five elementary physical constitutions and the user sensitivities to the temperature, the humidity, the wind direction, and the wind speed will be described, with reference to FIG. 4.

The wood type shows characteristics weak to the humidity and dryness, but strong to wind. The fire type shows characteristics of having a warm body, but weak to dryness. The earth type shows characteristics strong to the humidity, but weak to wind.

The metal type shows characteristic strong to dryness. The water type shows characteristics weak to the humidity, and having cold body.

According to the characteristics of the user types, if the wood type characteristic is fairly high in the user, the user likes the wind, or at least does not dislike the wind. If the fire type characteristic is fairly high in the user, the user dislikes heat. If the earth type characteristic is fairly high in the user, the user fairly adaptive to a comparatively high humidity. If the metal type characteristic is fairly high in the user, the user is adaptive to dryness. If the water type characteristic is fairly high in the user, the user dislikes cold.

Thus, if the user types are classified by the five elementary physical constitutions, the comfort zone is modified according to the characteristics of the five elementary physical constitutions, and the air conditioner is controlled such that the cooling space is within the modified comfort zone, the most comfortable cooling space can be provided to the user.

The control of an air conditioner according to the five elementary physical constitutions will be described, with reference to FIGS. 5-8.

In the following description, increment/decrement of the temperature, humidity,

and the like represent increment/decrement with reference to conditions (An ASHRAE comfort zone) of a temperature, and humidity of 25°C and 45% in the case of summer, and of the temperature, and humidity of 22°C and 50% in the case of winter.

Referring to FIG. 5, if the fire type characteristic is high, the comfort zone CZ is shifted to a left side on the pyschrometric chart, to fix the modified comfort zone in a direction the temperature is low. Numerous experiments and researches of the inventor reveal that it is preferable that the temperature is set lower by approx. 1. 5-3. 5°C than a standard condition. Moreover, though the temperature may be maintained at a temperature of the modified comfort zone, it is also possible that the temperature is dropped temporarily, and returns to an original comfort zone, again. Opposite to this, in a case the fire type characteristic is low, it is preferable that the temperature is set higher by approx. 1. 5-3. 5°C than the standard condition.

Referring to FIG. 6, if the water type characteristic is high, the comfort zone CZ is shifted to a right side on the pyschrometric chart, to fix the modified comfort zone in a direction the temperature is high. Numerous experiments and researches of the inventor reveal that it is preferable that the temperature is set higher by approx. 1. 5- 3. 5°C than a standard condition. Moreover, though the temperature may be maintained at a temperature of the modified comfort zone, it is also possible that the temperature is maintained at the temperature of the modified comfort zone initially, and returns to an original comfort zone again after a preset time period is passed. Opposite to this, in a case the water type characteristic is low, it is preferable that the-temperature is set lower by approx. 1. 5-3. 5°C than the standard condition.

Referring to FIG. 7, if the earth type characteristic is high, the comfort zone CZ is shifted to an upper side on the pyschrometric chart, to fix the modified comfort zone in a direction the relative humidity is high. Numerous experiments and researches of the

inventor reveal that it is preferable that the relative humidity is set higher by approx.

10 ~ 20% than a standard condition. However, since in general human being is less sensitive to humidity than to the temperature, it is possible that the relative humidity is, not set higher, but maintained the standard condition. Moreover, though the humidity may be maintained at a humidity of the modified comfort zone, it is also possible that the humidity is maintained at the humidity of the modified comfort zone initially, and returns to an original comfort zone again after a preset time period is passed. Opposite to this, in a case the earth type characteristic is low, it is preferable that the humidity is set lower by approx. 10-20% than the standard condition.

Referring to FIG. 8, if the metal type characteristic is high, the comfort zone CZ is shifted to a lower side on the pyschrometric chart, to fix the modified comfort zone in a direction the relative humidity is low. Numerous experiments and researches of the inventor reveal that it is preferable that the relative humidity is set lower by approx. 10 - 20% than a standard condition. However, since in general human being is less sensitive to humidity than to the temperature, it is possible that the relative humidity is, not set higher, but maintained the standard condition. Moreover, though the humidity may be maintained at a humidity of the modified comfort zone, it is also possible that the humidity is maintained at the humidity of the modified comfort zone initially, and returns to an original comfort zone again after a preset time period is passed. Opposite to this, in a case the metal type characteristic is low, it is preferable that the humidity is set higher by approx. 10-20% than the standard condition. On the other hand, in the case of the metal type, controlling the air conditioner similar to the water type is also viable.

Meanwhile, in a case of the wood type characteristic, it is preferable to maintain a standard wind speed, or increases the standard wind speed, slightly. Opposite to this, if

the wood type characteristic is low, in which the user is sensitive to wind, if is preferable that the wind speed is set to low, and the numerous experiments and researches reveal it is preferable that the wind speed is maintained to be below approx.

0. 15m/s.

In the meantime, the classification of the user types is not limited to the five elementary physical constitutions. For example, the user types may be classified by <BR> <BR> levels of strength of the user's viscera, i. e. , the heart, the kidneys, the stomach, the lung, and the liver. This is because the five elementary physical constitutions are related to health of the five viscera and six entrails. The researches and experiments of the inventor reveal that it is preferable that the user with a strong heart modifies the comfort zone similar to the fire type of the five elementary physical constitutions, the user with strong kidneys modifies the comfort zone similar to the water type of the five elementary physical constitutions, the user with a strong stomach modifies the comfort zone similar to the earth type of the five elementary physical constitutions, the user with a strong lung modifies the comfort zone similar to the metal type of the five elementary physical constitutions, and the user with a strong liver modifies the comfort zone similar to the wood type of the five elementary physical constitutions.

As another method of the user type classification, the user types may be classified into taeyangin, taeeumin, soyangin, and soeumin according to the sasang constitutional medicine, which is a creative medical theory of Korea, in which the taeeumin shows a disposition similar to the wood type, soyangin shows a disposition similar to the earth type, the taeyangin shows a disposition similar to the metal type, and the soeumin shows a disposition similar to the water type.

In the meantime, though the foregoing user types by the five elementary physical constitutions, by the strengths of the four pillars, by the sasang constitutional

medicine, and by the strengths of the five viscera and six entrails may be applied individually, it is also viable that appropriate weights are given to the different types, to apply the types in a combination.

The methods of user type classification are not limited to above examples. That is, if a function relating the user information and the user type is provided by preparing statistics of the user information appropriately, any form of user type classification is viable. For an example, correlations of a height, a weight, a fatness, a native place, an occupation, and the like of the user to the user sensitivity to the temperature, the humidity, and the wind speed may be find out. The researches of the inventor reveal that students or muscular laborers prefer a low temperature, while women dislike a low temperature.

Thus, as described before, basically, even if the user classification is based on the user's intrinsic information, the user classification may be based on variable information, such as user's health state, or the like, used independently, or additionally.

Or, the user classification may based on the selective information, such as the user's subjective sensitivity to the temperature, the humidity, the wind direction, and the wind speed, used independently, or additionally.

Once the user type and the comfort zone for the user type are fixed, it is required to control parts of the air conditioner appropriately to maintain the room to be within the comfort zone. In this instance, though the modified comfort zone is represented with the temperatures, the relative humidities, the wind speeds, and the wind directions, it is preferable that the air conditioner is controlled with respect to the temperature, enthalpy, the wind speed, and air flow rate. For an example, as shown in FIG. 7, if the air conditioner is controlled to increase the enthalpy in a case it is required to increase the relative humidity, the relative humidity is increased at the end.

Referring to FIG. 9, an example of a preferable air conditioner for embodying the foregoing method for controlling an air conditioner of the present invention will be described.

The air conditioner includes a controlling part 1 for controlling the air conditioner. The controlling part 1 has an input part 12 connected thereto for user's input of various instructions thereto, and a temperature sensing part 14 connected thereto for sensing room and outdoor temperatures. It is preferable that the controlling part 1 has a humidity sensing part 16 connected thereto for measuring the humidity, and controlling the humidity, precisely.

The input part 12 may be a keypad for the user to input the user information personally, or a camera for taking a photograph of the user, or a scanner for scanning a user's photograph. Of course, the keypad, the camera, and the scanner may be used in combination. Or, a personal computer 20 may be connected to the controlling part 1 of the air conditioner through a network, so that the user information is provided to the personal computer 20 at first, and the user information is provided to the controlling part 1. The network may be a LAN between the air conditioner and the personal computer 20, or the INTERNET.

Above system enables the user to input the physical constitution, year, month, day of birth, and user information thereto, personally. It is required that the controlling part 1 has a program for determining the user type in a case the controlling part 1 receives information, such as user's face through the camera or the scanner, where the camera, or the scanner is used for determining the user type by using a user face shape.

It is also possible that a database of the user information and the user types is prepared, and the user determines the user's physical constitution with reference to the database, and inputs to the controlling part 1.

Meanwhile, the controlling part 1 has an output part 32 connected thereto for displaying various kinds of information for the user. The output part 32 has a function for displaying information on things the user inputs through the input part 12, and the present temperature, the humidity, and the like, and preferably the comfort zone fixed according to the user type.

The controlling part also has a compressor driving part 34, a compressor fan driving part 36, an evaporator fan driving part 38, for appropriate control of the compressor driving part 34, the compressor fan driving part 36, and the evaporator fan driving part 38, to control the temperature and the humidity, and the air flow rate from the air conditioner can be controlled by controlling the evaporator fan driving part 38. In this instance, it is preferable that the evaporator is inverter controlled. In more detail, when it is intended to increase the temperature, the evaporator temperature is increased and/or reduces the wind speed, and when it is intended to drop the temperature, the evaporator temperature is dropped and/or increases the wind speed. When it is intended to increase the humidity, a humidifying mode is carried out, i. e. , the evaporator temperature is increased, and when it is intended to drop the humidity, a dehumidifying mode is carried out, i. e. , the evaporator temperature is dropped sharply, and the wind speed is increased.

It is also preferable that the controlling part 1 has a heating part 58 like a heater, a dehumidifying part 54 like a dehumidifier, and a humidifying part 36 like a humidifier connected thereto, further. Because, even though the temperature and the humidity can be controlled by controlling the compressor, the compressor fan, and the evaporator fan, positive heating, humidifying, and dehumidifying are required for more precise control of the temperature and the humidity.

In the meantime, it is preferable that, not only the air flow rate from the air

conditioner, but also the wind direction therefrom is controlled appropriately.

Therefore, it is more preferable that a wind direction controlling part 52 is connected to the controlling part 1 for controlling a direction of wind from the air conditioner. The wind direction controlling part 52 controls operation of the vertical louvers and the horizontal louvers provided to the outlet grill of the air conditioner. In the related art air conditioner, the vertical louvers and the horizontal louvers are rotated in up/down and left/right directions at regular intervals for controlling the wind direction in up/down and left/right directions, simply. However, in the present invention, the vertical louvers and the horizontal louvers are controlled according to the user type, such that the wind is directed to a place other than the user by controlling the louver, if the user type is a type that dislikes the wind.

In the meantime, even if there are many users in the space, i. e. , in the room intended to be cooled, the present invention is also applicable. For an example, a plurality of user types are classified, and a common denominator is find out, and the air conditioner is controlled appropriately according to the common denominator.

Moreover, even in a case the air conditioner with identical parts is operated as a heat pump, the principle of the present invention is applicable.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Industrial Applicability The air conditioner, and method for controlling the same can air condition suitable to the user's physical constitution that uses the air conditioner, comfortably.

That is, since a temperature, a humidity, a flow rate, and a wind speed the most suitable to the user of the air conditioner can be provided to the user, user's convenience is improved.

The automatic control of the air conditioner to the temperature, the humidity, the flow rate, and the wind speed the most suitable to the user leads the user not to change setting of the operation condition of the air conditioner frequently, that permits energy saving.