Method of performing cooling according to cooling capacity and air conditioner according thereto

Abstract

Provided are an air conditioner for performing a cooling operation according to a cooling capacity selected by a user, and a method of controlling the air conditioner. The air conditioner includes: a compressor, at least one memory storing one or more instructions, and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to execute the one or more instructions stored in the memory and to: receive an input for selecting one of a plurality of cooling capacities of the air conditioner, as a maximum cooling capacity capable of being output by the air conditioner, obtain a frequency corresponding to the maximum cooling capacity, of the compressor, in response to a determination to output the cooling capacity of the air conditioner as the maximum cooling capacity, based on a desired temperature set in the air conditioner and an indoor temperature, and, based on the obtained frequency, control the compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a compressor;   at least one memory storing one or more instructions; and   at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to execute the one or more instructions stored in the at least one memory and to:   receive an input for selecting one of a plurality of cooling capacities of the air conditioner as a maximum cooling capacity capable of being output by the air conditioner;   obtain a frequency of the compressor corresponding to the maximum cooling capacity, in response to a determination to output the cooling capacity of the air conditioner as the maximum cooling capacity, based on a desired temperature set in the air conditioner and an indoor temperature; and   control the compressor, based on the obtained frequency.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising an expansion valve,
 wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to:   control the compressor to operate at the obtained frequency;   determine a target suction superheat of the air conditioner, based on the obtained frequency, the maximum cooling capacity, and an outdoor temperature; and   adjust a degree of opening of the expansion valve, based on the determined target suction superheat.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan motor,
 wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to:   obtain a rotation speed of the fan motor, the rotation speed corresponding to the maximum cooling capacity; and   control the fan motor to operate at the obtained rotation speed.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cooling capacities comprise a rated cooling capacity specified for the air conditioner, a cooling capacity greater than the rated cooling capacity, and a cooling capacity less than the rated cooling capacity. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 4 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to represent the plurality of cooling capacities by ratios to the rated cooling capacity, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 4 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control a display to display an image indicating the rated cooling capacity of the plurality of cooling capacities, in correspondence with the rated cooling capacity. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to receive an input for selecting one of the plurality of cooling capacities as a maximum cooling capacity for a period of reducing the indoor temperature to the desired temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to receive an input for selecting one of the plurality of cooling capacities as a maximum cooling capacity for a period of maintaining the indoor temperature after the indoor temperature reaches the desired temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control a display to display a user interface including the plurality of cooling capacities, bases on an input for adjusting the desired temperature of the air conditioner being received. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control a display to display a user interface including the plurality of cooling capacities, based on an input for selecting a power-saving mode of the air conditioner being received. 
     
     
         11 . A method, performed by an air conditioner, of performing cooling according to a cooling capacity, the method comprising:
 receiving an input for selecting one of a plurality of cooling capacities of the air conditioner, as a maximum cooling capacity capable of being output by the air conditioner;   obtaining a frequency of a compressor, wherein the frequency corresponds to the maximum cooling capacity, in response to a determination to output the cooling capacity of the air conditioner as the maximum cooling capacity, based on a desired temperature set in the air conditioner and an indoor temperature; and   controlling the compressor, based on the obtained frequency.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 controlling the compressor to operate at the obtained frequency;   determining a target suction superheat of the air conditioner, based on the obtained frequency, the maximum cooling capacity, and an outdoor temperature; and   adjusting a degree of opening of an expansion valve, based on the determined target suction superheat.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 obtaining a rotation speed of a fan motor, the rotation speed corresponding to the maximum cooling capacity; and   controlling the fan motor to operate at the obtained rotation speed.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cooling capacities comprise a rated cooling capacity specified for the air conditioner, a cooling capacity greater than the rated cooling capacity, and a cooling capacity less than the rated cooling capacity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising representing the plurality of cooling capacities by ratios to the rated cooling capacity, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising displaying an image indicating the rated cooling capacity of the plurality of cooling capacities, in correspondence with the rated cooling capacity. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the receiving of the input for selecting one of the plurality of cooling capacities as the maximum cooling capacity comprises receiving an input for selecting one of the plurality of cooling capacities as a maximum cooling capacity for a period of reducing the indoor temperature to the desired temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the receiving of the input for selecting one of the plurality of cooling capacities as the maximum cooling capacity comprises receiving an input for selecting one of the plurality of cooling capacities as a maximum cooling capacity for a period of maintaining the indoor temperature after the indoor temperature reaches the desired temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising displaying a user interface including the plurality of cooling capacities, based on an input for adjusting the desired temperature of the air conditioner being received. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising displaying a user interface including the plurality of cooling capacities, based on an input for selecting a power-saving mode of the air conditioner being received.