Air conditioner with solar cell

Abstract

Provided is an air conditioner with a solar cell. The air conditioner includes a solar cell panel that can be switched to one of a first disposition where a power generation region of the solar cell panel is exposed to the sun and a second disposition where the power generation region is not exposed to the sun. Therefore, the power generation region of the solar cell panel can be protected from external environments.

1 . An air conditioner with a solar cell, the air conditioner comprising:
 an outdoor unit configured to exchange heat with outdoor air; and   a solar cell panel disposed at a side of the outdoor unit and comprising a plurality of parts that are relatively movable, the plurality of parts comprising power generation regions configured to generate electricity from solar light,   wherein as the plurality of parts are moved relatively to each other, areas of the power generation regions exposed to the sun are varied.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parts comprise a first part and a second part that are connected to each other and slidable relative to each other,
 wherein as the first and second parts are slid, the areas of the power generation regions of the first and second parts exposed to the sun are varied.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the power generation regions of the first and second parts is screened in a minimum light-receiving power generation operation, and
 all the power generation regions of the first and second parts are exposed to the sun in a maximum light-receiving power generation operation.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , further comprising a panel connection part configured to connect the solar cell panel to the outdoor unit,
 wherein the panel connection part comprises a guide part configured to guide sliding directions of the first and second parts.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parts of the solar cell panel are rotatable relative to each other, and as the plurality of parts are rotated, the areas of the power generation regions of the plurality of parts exposed to the sun are varied. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a panel connection part configured to connect the solar cell panel to the outdoor unit; and   a hinge part configured to connect the plurality of parts,   wherein the panel connection part comprises:   a first connection part configured to rotatably connect a first part of the plurality of parts to the outdoor unit; and   a second connection part configured to rotatably connect a second part of the plurality of parts to the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner according to  5 , wherein the plurality of parts comprise first to third parts which are foldable on one another by rotating the first to third parts;
 in a minimum light-receiving power generation operation, the power generation regions of the first and second parts are screened by rotating the first and second parts to a folded state, and the power generation region of the third part is exposed to the sun; and   in a maximum light-receiving power generation operation, all the first to third parts are rotated to an extended state such that all the power generation regions of the first to third parts are exposed to the sun.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein as the plurality of parts are moved relative to each other, the solar cell panel is selectively switched to one of a first disposition where the power generation regions of the plurality of parts are exposed to the sun and a second disposition where the power generation regions of the plurality of parts are not exposed to the sun. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of parts of the solar cell panel are rotatable to a folded state, and
 the plurality of parts are kept in an extended state in the first disposition and are kept in the folded state in the second disposition.   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner according to  claim 9 , wherein the power generation regions of the plurality of parts are exposed to the sun in the first disposition, and the plurality of parts are folded in the second disposition such that the power generation regions of the plurality of parts face each other. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner according to  claim 8 , wherein the solar cell panel is rotatably connected to the outdoor unit,
 in the first disposition, the solar cell panel is kept in a rotated state where the power generation regions are exposed to the sun, and   in the second disposition, the solar cell panel is kept in a rotated state where the power generation regions face the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner according to  11 , further comprising a panel connection part configured to connect the solar cell panel to the outdoor unit,
 wherein a point of the panel connection part is rotatably connected to the outdoor unit, and the other point of the panel connection part is rotatably connected to the solar cell panel.   
     
     
         13 . An air conditioner with a solar cell, the air conditioner comprising:
 an outdoor unit configured to exchange heat with outdoor air; and   a solar cell panel connected to the outdoor unit and comprising a power generation region configured to generate electricity from solar light, the solar cell panel being selectively switched to one of a first disposition where the power generation region is exposed to the sun and a second disposition where the power generation region is not exposed to the sun.   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the solar cell panel comprises a plurality of parts that are rotatable to a folded stated,
 wherein the plurality of parts are kept in an extended state in the first disposition, and the plurality of parts are kept in the folded state in the second disposition.   
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner according to  claim 14 , wherein respective power generation regions of the plurality of parts are exposed to the sun in the first disposition, and the power generation regions of the plurality of parts are folded to face each other in the second disposition. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a hinge part configured to connect the plurality of parts; and   a panel connection part configured to connect the solar cell panel to the outdoor unit,   wherein the panel connection part comprises:   a first connection part configured to rotatably connect a first part of the plurality of parts and the outdoor unit; and   a second connection part configured to rotatably connect a second part of the plurality of parts and the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , further comprising a shield configured to selectively screen the power generation region,
 wherein in the first disposition, the shield is kept in an opened state such that the power generation region is exposed to the sun, and in the second disposition, the shield is kept in a state where the shield screens the power generation region.   
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner according to  claim 17 , wherein the power generation region is selectively screened by sliding the shield along an outer surface of the solar cell panel. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the solar cell panel is rotatably connected to the outdoor unit,
 wherein in the first disposition, the solar cell panel is kept in a rotated state where the power generation region is exposed to the sun, and   in the second disposition, the solar cell panel is kept in a rotated state where the power generation region faces the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner according to  claim 19 , further comprising a panel connection part configured to connect the solar cell panel to the outdoor unit,
 wherein a point of the panel connection part is rotatably connected to the outdoor unit, and the other point of the panel connection part is rotatably connected to the solar cell panel.