IP Library Granted Patent US 12,480,667
Granted Patent B2
US 12,480,667 · App. 17/742,650 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Air-conditioning system

Inventors: Chinsoo Hyon (Seoul, KR); Sehwan Bae (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
F24F1/0073B01D46/0004B01D46/0049B01D46/0086B01D46/4245B01D46/448B01D46/46B01D46/58B01D46/681F24F1/0014F24F1/0025F24F1/0047F24F11/56B01D2279/50F24F2110/10F24F2110/50F24F2221/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,480,667
App. No.
17/742,650
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air-conditioning system is provided that may include a first air-processing apparatus, which includes a first inlet formed in a first surface thereof that extends perpendicular to a floor or a ceiling and a first outlet formed in a second surface thereof perpendicular to the first inlet and induces air introduced into the first inlet to exchange heat with refrigerant and to be discharged through the first outlet, and a second air-processing apparatus, which includes a second outlet formed therein so as to be open in a same direction as the first outlet and a second inlet formed therein so as to be open in a same direction as the first inlet. The air-conditioning system may be driven in a combined operation mode in which the first and second air-processing apparatuses operate simultaneously or an independent operation mode in which one of the first air-processing apparatus or the second air-processing apparatus operates.

Claims (27)

1 . An air-conditioning system, comprising:

a first air-processing apparatus having a first inlet, formed in a first surface thereof that extends perpendicular to a floor or a ceiling, and a first outlet, formed in a second surface thereof that extends perpendicular to the first inlet, the first air-processing apparatus being configured to induce air introduced into the first inlet to exchange heat with refrigerant and to be discharged through the first outlet;

a second air-processing apparatus having a second outlet, formed therein so as to be open in a same direction as the first outlet, and a second inlet, formed therein so as to be open in a same direction as the first inlet, wherein the air-conditioning system is operatable in a combined operation mode in which the first air-processing apparatus and the second air-processing apparatus operate simultaneously, or is driven in an independent operation mode in which only one of the first air-processing apparatus or the second air-processing apparatus operates, wherein the first air-processing apparatus and the second air-processing apparatus are different types of air-processing modules which are combined with each other so as to extend in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first air-processing apparatus comprises a first pre-filter disposed in the first inlet, wherein the second air-processing apparatus comprises a second pre-filter disposed in the second inlet, and wherein the first air-processing apparatus and the second air-processing apparatus are disposed adjacent to each other;

a guide rail disposed on one side of the first air-processing apparatus and one side of the second air-processing apparatus; and

a filter cleaner configured to automatically move along the guide rail when operation is stopped in order to clean at least one of the first pre-filter or the second pre-filter.

2 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the air-conditioning system is automatically driven in the combined operation mode or the independent operation mode based on a state of air in an indoor space.

3 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein, when an indoor temperature is equal to or lower than a heating reference temperature and air quality data is equal to or greater than a reference value, the first air-processing apparatus performs a heating operation, and the second air-processing apparatus performs an air purification operation in which air introduced into the second inlet is filtered and filtered air is discharged through the second outlet, and wherein, when the indoor temperature is equal to or lower than the heating reference temperature and the air quality data is less than the reference value, the first air-processing apparatus performs the heating operation and the second air-processing apparatus is not operated.

4 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein, when an indoor temperature is equal to or higher than a cooling reference temperature and air quality data is equal to or greater than a reference value, the first air-processing apparatus performs a cooling operation, and the second air-processing apparatus performs an air purification operation in which air introduced into the second inlet is filtered and filtered air is delivered to the second outlet, and wherein, when the indoor temperature is equal to or higher than the cooling reference temperature and the air quality data is less than the reference value, the first air-processing apparatus performs the cooling operation and the second air-processing apparatus is not operated.

5 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein, when an indoor temperature is higher than a heating reference temperature but lower than a cooling reference temperature and air quality data is equal to or greater than a reference value, the second air-processing apparatus performs an air purification operation in which air introduced into the second inlet is filtered and filtered air is delivered to the second outlet.

6 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein, when an indoor temperature is lower than a cooling reference temperature and air quality data is equal to or greater than a reference value, the second air-processing apparatus performs an air purification operation in which air introduced into the second inlet is filtered and filtered air is delivered to the second outlet, and wherein, when the indoor temperature is equal to or higher than the cooling reference temperature and the air quality data is less than the reference value, the first air-processing apparatus performs the cooling operation and the second air-processing apparatus is not operated.

7 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of objects to be sensed is disposed on the guide rail so as to be spaced apart from each other in a lateral direction, and wherein the filter cleaner determines a position thereof based on the plurality of objects to be sensed which is detected by a sensor provided therein.

8 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein, when the first air-processing apparatus or the second air-processing apparatus is operating, if the filter cleaner enters a section corresponding to an air-processing apparatus that is operating, the air-processing apparatus that is operating temporarily stops operating while the filter cleaner passes through the section corresponding thereto.

9 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an end plate disposed at a first end or a second end of the guide rail to restrict movement of the filter cleaner in one direction.

10 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 9 , wherein the filter cleaner comprises a battery and a connection terminal configured to receive power required to charge the battery, and wherein the end plate comprises a charging terminal configured to be connected to the connection terminal of the filter cleaner and a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the charging terminal when the connection terminal and the charging terminal are connected to each other.

11 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the filter cleaner comprises:

a dust container device that forms a space to accommodate foreign substances; and

a dust container guide coupled to the dust container device and configured to move in an upward-downward direction, and wherein the dust container device and the dust container guide are detachably coupled to each other via a magnet.

12 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the second air-processing apparatus comprises:

a filter device configured to remove foreign substances from air introduced into the second inlet;

a cover configured to open or close a lower side of the filter device; and

a filter-drive device configured to move the filter device downwards when the cover is opened.

13 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 12 , wherein the second air-processing apparatus further comprises a filter-mount coupled to the filter device, wherein, when the filter device is separated from the filter-mount and is then recoupled thereto, the filter-drive device moves the filter device and the filter-mount upwards, and wherein, when the filter-mount returns to a position prior to descending, the cover is closed.

14 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a remote control device comprising a display configured to display replacement indicator information prompting a user to replace the filter device and a transmitter configured to transmit a filter device replacement input, wherein the second air-processing apparatus further comprises an interface configured to receive the filter device replacement input and open the cover in response to the filter device replacement input.

15 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the first air-processing apparatus comprises a first louver configured to adjust a flow direction of air discharged through the first outlet, wherein the second air-processing apparatus comprises a second louver configured to adjust a flow direction of air discharged through the second outlet, wherein the first louver and the second louver are disposed in a line, and wherein, in the combined operation mode, an orientation of the second louver is adjusted in consideration of an orientation of the first louver.

16 . The air-conditioning system according to claim 15 , wherein, in the combined operation mode, when the first air-processing apparatus performs a heating operation, the first louver and the second louver rotate in a first direction to form a vertical air current, and when the first air-processing apparatus performs a cooling operation, the first louver and the second louver rotate in a second direction, the second direction being a direction opposite the first direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2025
From: HYON, CHINSOO; BAE, SEHWAN
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 072667/0472 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2021-0065988 · May 24, 2021 · national
KR 10-2021-0174215 · Dec 7, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220373197A1 · Nov 24, 2022
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