IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,540,738
Granted Patent B2
US 12,540,738 · App. 17/975,860 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Air conditioner including lighting module

Inventors: Joonho Yoon (Suwon-si, KR); Gahyun Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Mingi Cho (Suwon-si, KR); Donghyun Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Sungwoo Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Mingu Jeon (Suwon-si, KR); Jinwoo Hong (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
F24F1/0014F24F1/0022F24F1/0047F24F13/14F24F2221/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,540,738
App. No.
17/975,860
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air conditioner including an air conditioning module, a lighting module and a discharge guide between the air conditioning module and the lighting module. The air conditioning module includes a housing, air inlet, air outlet, heat exchanger, and fan. The lighting module includes a moveable lighting panel. The discharge guide moves with the lighting module. The lighting panel is moveable between a first position in which the lighting panel allows air to enter the air inlet and to be discharged from the air outlet and the discharge guide blocks the discharged air from entering the air inlet, and a second position in which the lighting panel restricts air from entering the air inlet and from being discharged from the air outlet as compared to the first position.

Claims (40)

1 . An air conditioner comprising:

an air conditioning module comprising:

a housing including an air inlet and an air outlet,

a heat exchanger in the housing, and

a fan in the housing;

a lighting module comprising a lighting panel that overlaps the air inlet and the air outlet and that is movable with respect to the housing and is thereby movable with respect to the air inlet and the air outlet; and

a discharge guide between the air conditioning module and the lighting module that moves with the lighting module and thereby moves with respect to the air inlet and the air outlet,

wherein the lighting panel is moveable between:

a first position in which the lighting panel allows air to enter the air inlet and allows air to be discharged from the air outlet, and the discharge guide blocks the air that is discharged from the air outlet from entering the air inlet, and

a second position in which the lighting panel restricts air from entering the air inlet and restricts air from being discharged from the air outlet as compared to when the lighting panel is in the first position.

2 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein a length of the discharge guide is greater than a length of the air outlet.

3 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the discharge guide comprises:

a guide region that guides the air that is discharged from the air outlet; and

a blocking region on opposite sides of the guide region and that blocks the air that is discharged from the air outlet from entering the air inlet.

4 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the discharge guide is coupled to a top surface of the lighting panel.

5 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the discharge guide is inserted into the air outlet when the lighting panel is in the second position.

6 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the discharge guide comprises:

a downwardly-inclined sloped surface.

7 . The air conditioner of claim 6 , wherein the discharge guide comprises:

an inclination adjusting unit configured to adjust an inclination of the slope.

8 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the lighting module further comprises a lighting frame having a space configured to accommodate the lighting panel when the lighting panel is in the second position.

9 . The air conditioner of claim 8 , wherein the lighting panel protrudes downwardly from the lighting frame when the lighting panel is in the first position.

10 . The air conditioner of claim 8 , further comprising:

a gap between an edge of the lighting panel and the lighting frame,

wherein the gap increases as the lighting panel moves from the second position to the first position.

11 . The air conditioner of claim 10 , wherein the lighting frame comprises:

a sloped surface that is inclined downwardly and that surrounds the edge of the lighting panel.

12 . The air conditioner of claim 10 , wherein when the lighting panel is in the first position:

air passes through one part of the edge of the lighting panel and then enters the air inlet, and

air is discharged from the air outlet and then passes through a different part of the edge of the lighting panel.

13 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is in a center portion of the housing on a bottom surface of the housing, and the air outlet is on opposite sides of the air inlet on the bottom surface of the housing.

14 . The air conditioner of claim 13 , wherein the lighting panel comprises:

a pair of first edges facing each other; and

a pair of second edges connecting end portions of the pair of first edges, and

when the lighting panel is in the first position, air passes through the pair of first edges and is sucked through the air inlet, and is then discharged from the air outlet and passes through the pair of second edges.

15 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , further comprising:

an elevating unit comprising:

a support pillar supporting the lighting panel, and

an elevating driving unit configured to elevate the support pillar.

16 . The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein, when the lighting panel is in the second position, the lighting panel blocks air from entering the air inlet and blocks air from being discharged from the air outlet.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2022
From: YOON, JOONHO; KIM, GAHYUN; CHO, MINGI; KIM, DONGHYUN; KIM, SUNGWOO; JEON, MINGU; HONG, JINWOO
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061577/0996 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0175200 · Dec 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2022015203 · Oct 7, 2022
Related Publication 20230175707A1 · Jun 8, 2023
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