KR101424558B1 - An air conditioner and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for precisely controlling the movement of a front panel for opening and closing a front face of an air conditioner, and a control method thereof.

To this end, A front panel for opening and closing a front surface of the housing; A moving device for moving the front panel; An opening / closing sensor for sensing a moving position of the front panel; And a control unit for controlling the movement of the front panel to a moving position corresponding to the reference position by comparing the detected movement position of the front panel with a reference position, Can be grasped accurately using a minimum number of sensors, and the position of the front panel can be precisely controlled by simple structure change of the sensor.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an air conditioner and a control method thereof that accurately control the movement of a front panel that opens and closes an air conditioner front face.

Background Art [0002] In general, an air conditioner is a device used for indoor cooling or heating, and is a device for sucking in indoor air to cool or heat the inhaled air, and then discharging it to the room to harmonize the indoor air. In a conventional air conditioner (specifically, an indoor unit), an air inlet for sucking air and an air outlet for discharging air are provided in a housing forming an outer appearance, and various mechanical devices are provided in the housing for air conditioning .

Such an air conditioner is classified into a wall-mounted type fixedly installed on a wall surface, a ceiling-mounted type installed on a ceiling of a room, and a stand-type installed on a floor of an indoor unit depending on its installation position. Each air conditioner has an air inlet and an air outlet at appropriate positions according to its shape and installation position.

Recently, air conditioners have been greatly influenced not only by the air conditioning performance but also by the appearance of the products, and the manufacturers are making various efforts to improve the appearance design while maintaining the air conditioning performance. It is necessary to prevent the air inlet and the air outlet from being exposed forward in order to improve the appearance design in an elegant and elegant manner. If the air inlet and the air outlet are exposed forward, the mechanical image is emphasized and the aesthetics of the product are degraded.

As described above, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-44294 (published on Apr. 27, 2007) discloses an air conditioner in which an air inlet port and an air outlet port are not exposed to the front of the housing.

In the stand-type air conditioner disclosed in the publication, an air inlet is provided on both lower sides of the housing, and an air outlet is provided on both upper and upper sides of the housing. Since the air inlet and the air outlet are installed on both sides of the housing, the air inlet and the air outlet are not visible at the front face of the housing. In addition, a sliding door for opening / closing the air outlet of the front surface is installed at the upper part of the front surface of the housing so that the air outlet of the front surface is covered with the sliding door so that the air outlet is not exposed to the outside when the air conditioner is not operated.

However, in the conventional air conditioner, when the air conditioner is operated, the sliding door is lowered and the air outlet port is exposed to the front. As a result, the appearance of the air conditioner changes when the air conditioner is not operated and when the air conditioner is operated, and a mechanical image is highlighted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner which does not deteriorate the air conditioner performance, And an air conditioner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner control method for precisely controlling a moving position and an open / close state of a front panel for opening and closing an air inlet and an air outlet when an air conditioner operates.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner comprising: a housing; A front panel for opening and closing a front surface of the housing; A moving device for moving the front panel; An opening / closing sensor for sensing a moving position of the front panel; And a controller for comparing the sensed movement position of the front panel with a reference position and controlling the movement of the front panel to a movement position corresponding to the reference position.

The moving device is provided at the upper and lower portions of the front panel to move the front panel in the forward and backward directions.

The open / close detection device includes a sensor for outputting an electrical signal varying according to a movement position of the front panel, and a signal generator for generating a signal output from the sensor.

The sensor is a plurality of photosensors provided on the upper and lower portions of the housing, and the plurality of photosensors have different phase differences to generate different electrical signals from each other.

Wherein the signal generator is a plurality of slits moving in conjunction with the mobile device to generate a signal output from the sensor, the plurality of slits having different shapes to generate electrical signals different from each other .

The opening and closing sensing device may further include a foreign matter removing unit provided in the signal generating unit to prevent an electrical signal of the sensor from being changed by a foreign object, and the foreign matter removing unit may be a brush provided at both ends of the signal generating unit .

Wherein the controller is configured to maintain the electrical signal of the sensor in an off state when the front panel is completely closed.

And the control unit confirms whether the front panel is opened or closed and the moving position by using an electric signal outputted from the sensor.

The control unit checks the position of the front panel using an electrical signal output from the sensor when the initial power is input, and controls the movement of the front panel according to the identified position of the front panel.

And the control unit controls to wait for an operation command when the confirmed front panel position is in a completely closed state.

And the controller controls the mobile device to operate so that the front panel is completely closed when the position of the front panel is not completely closed.

The control unit checks the position of the front panel to fully close the front panel and then operates the air conditioner to the last operating state before the power failure.

And the control unit stores the movement position of the front panel corresponding to each operation mode in advance as the reference position.

The control unit may determine whether the front panel is open or closed by combining electrical signals output from the plurality of photosensors.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an air conditioner including a housing and a front panel for opening and closing a front surface of the housing, the method comprising: moving the front panel; Sensing a movement position of the front panel; Comparing the sensed movement position of the front panel with a reference position and controlling movement of the front panel to a movement position corresponding to the reference position.

And the sensing step generates an electrical signal that changes according to the movement position of the front panel.

The control step may include checking whether the front panel is opened or closed using the electrical signal generated in the sensing step, and controlling the movement of the front panel according to the identified position of the front panel.

The control step stores in advance the movement position of the front panel corresponding to each operation mode of the air conditioner as the reference position.

The air conditioner according to the present invention and its control method do not deteriorate the air conditioning performance, and when the air conditioner operates, the air inlets and the air outlets are not exposed at the front of the air conditioner, And appearance is superior due to small change in appearance at the time of operation.

Further, the present invention can accurately grasp the position and opening / closing state of the front panel moving when the air conditioner operates by using a minimum sensor, and can precisely control the position of the front panel through simple structure change of the sensor.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a closed state of a front panel of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, Sectional view showing a state in which the front panel of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention is opened.

1 to 3, an air conditioner (specifically, an indoor unit) of the present invention includes a housing 11 forming an outer appearance, a front panel 31 provided on the front surface of the housing 11 so as to be movable in forward and backward directions, First and second panel moving devices 40 and 50 for moving the front panel 31 in the forward and backward directions and a moving position of the first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50, Closing sensors 60 and 70 for detecting the opening and closing states of the front panel 31 according to the moving positions of the first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50.

The housing 11 is divided into a blower installation room 12 in which a blower 21 is installed and a heat exchanger installation room 13 in which a heat exchanger 25 is installed. The blower installation chamber 12 is provided at a lower portion of the housing 11 and the heat exchanger installation chamber 13 is provided at an upper portion of the blower installation chamber 12 to be connected to the blower installation chamber 12. A partition plate (14) for partitioning these spaces is provided between the blower installation room (12) and the heat exchanger installation room (13).

The front panel of the heat exchanger installation chamber 13 is provided with a mounting panel 15 on which the first panel moving device 40 is mounted and the second panel moving device 50 is mounted on the bottom of the blower mounting chamber 12 A mounting block 17 is installed. A rear air inlet 19 for sucking outside air is provided on the rear surface of the housing 11 so as to be connected to the blower installation room 12.

The blower 21 includes a blowing fan 22, a fan motor 23 for rotating the blowing fan 22, and a blowing fan 22, and guides the sucked air to the heat exchanger installation chamber 13 And a fan case (24). The front and rear surfaces of the fan case 24 are opened to suck air, and the upper portion of the fan case 24 is connected to the heat exchanger installation chamber 13.

The front panel 31 is installed on the front surface of the housing 11 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction so as to open and close the open front of the housing 11. [ Side air intake ports 32 for sucking outside air into the housing 11 are provided on both lower sides of the front panel 31. Passing through the heat exchanger 25 on both upper sides of the front panel 31 And an air outlet 33 for discharging the heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing 11 is provided.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a first panel moving device and a first opening and closing detection device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the first panel moving device of FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a second panel moving device and a second opening / closing detection device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the second panel moving device of FIG.

4 to 7, on the inner surface of the front panel 31, a pair of engaging members 35 and 37, which are respectively engaged with the first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50, are provided. Each of the engaging members 35 and 37 is provided with engaging grooves 36 and 38 into which upper portions of the engaging bars 42 and 52 of the first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50 are inserted .

The first panel moving device 40 includes a first gear box 41 coupled to a pair of engaging members 35 of the front panel 31 and a second pinion gear 41 for moving the first gear box 41. [ (44) and a first motor (45) for rotating the first pinion gear (44).

The first gear box 41 includes a coupling bar 42 coupled to the pair of coupling members 35, a first rack gear portion 43 connected to the first pinion gear 44 in a gear- And a first guide 47 connected to the gear portion 43 to move the front panel 31. The first pinion gear 44 and the first motor 45 are installed on the mounting panel 15. [ The mounting panel 15 is provided with a first slide hole 46 through which the first rack gear portion 43 is slidably inserted and a through hole 16 through which the first guide 47 passes.

The second panel moving device 50 also has a rack-pinion structure like the first panel moving device 40. The second panel moving device 50 includes a second gear box 51 coupled to a pair of engaging members 37 of the front panel 31 and a second pinion gear 51 for moving the second gear box 51. [ A second pinion gear 54, and a second motor 55 for rotating the second pinion gear 54.

The second gear box 51 includes a coupling bar 52 engaged with the pair of coupling members 37, a second rack gear portion 53 connected to the second pinion gear 54 in a gear- And a second guide 57 connected to the gear portion 53 to move the front panel 31. The second pinion gear 54 and the second motor 58 are installed in a mounting block 17 provided at a lower portion of the housing 11. The mounting block 17 is provided with a second slide hole 56 into which the second rack gear portion 53 is slidably inserted and a through hole 18 through which the second guide 57 passes.

The first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50 simultaneously push and pull the upper and lower portions of the front panel 31 to move the front panel 31 in the forward and backward directions perpendicular to the ground.

In the present invention, the first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50 for moving the front panel 31 are not limited to the rack-and-pinion structure as shown and described, and may be a cylinder device, a linear motor, Various other linear moving devices capable of moving the front panel 31 can be used.

8 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an operation structure of a panel moving device and an opening / closing sensor of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8, the first opening / closing detection device 60 generates an electrical signal corresponding to the moving position of the first panel moving device 40, and generates an electrical signal that changes according to the moving position of the first panel moving device 40. That is, And a first signal generator 62 that moves in conjunction with the first panel moving device 40 to generate a signal output from the first optical sensor 61 . A first foreign material removing unit 63 (brush) for removing foreign substances attached to the first optical sensor 61 is mounted on both ends of the first signal generating unit 62.

The first optical sensor 61 is a photosensor composed of a light emitting portion 61a and a light receiving portion 61b. The light emitted from the light emitting portion 61a is generated by the first signal generating portion 62, And is inputted to the light-receiving unit 61b to generate a high or low electrical signal.

The first signal generator 62 is coupled to the first rack gear portion 43 of the first panel moving device 40 and is connected to the first rack gear portion 43 of the first optical sensor 61 The light is blocked at a position where the first signal generator 62 protrudes to generate a high signal at the first optical sensor 61, At a position where the generating portion 62 does not protrude, light passes through the first optical sensor 61 to generate a low signal.

The second open / close detection device 70 senses the open / close state of the front panel 31 according to the moving position of the second panel moving device 50, A second optical sensor 71 for outputting an electrical signal and a second signal generator 72 for moving in conjunction with the second panel moving device 50 to generate a signal output from the second optical sensor 71 ). Similarly to the first signal generator 62, the second signal generator 72 is equipped with a second foreign material removing unit 73 (brush) for removing foreign substances attached to the second optical sensor 71 at both ends.

The second optical sensor 71 is a photosensor composed of a light emitting portion 71a and a light receiving portion 71b. Light emitted from the light emitting portion 71a is generated by the second signal generating portion 72, And is input to the light receiving unit 71b to generate a high or low electrical signal.

The second signal generator 72 is coupled to the second rack gear portion 53 of the second panel moving device 50 and is driven by the second rack gear portion 53 to move the second optical sensor 71 The light is blocked at the position where the second signal generating portion 72 protrudes to generate a high signal at the second optical sensor 71 and the second signal is generated at the position where the second signal generating portion 72 is projected, At a position where the generating portion 72 does not protrude, light passes through the second optical sensor 71 to generate a low signal.

5 and 7, the slits of the first signal generator 62 and the second signal generator 72 are different from those of the first signal generator 62 in the moving position of the front panel 31 And the second signal generator 72 is configured as a slit for determining whether the front panel 31 is open or closed.

9A to 9C are views showing an operation state of the opening / closing sensing device according to the position of the front panel in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. 9B shows an operation state of the open / close sensing devices 60 and 70 in the fully open position of the front panel 31, and Fig. 9C shows the operation states of the front panel 31 Of the open / close detection device 60 (70) at a certain open position.

10 is a table showing electrical signals of the optical sensor according to the positions of the front panel of Figs. 9A to 9C.

10, the electrical signals of the first and second optical sensors 61 and 71 are different according to the position of the front panel 31. The electrical signal values are determined according to the operation mode of the air conditioner, Data is stored in the control unit, which will be described later, and the front panel 31 is moved to the operation mode position corresponding to the operation of the air conditioner.

The present invention minimizes the power consumption of the control unit, which will be described later, by setting the electrical signals of the first and second optical sensors 61 and 71 to the off state (H) at the position where the front panel 31 is completely closed.

11 is a view showing another configuration example in which the shape of the opening / closing sensor in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention is changed. As shown in FIG. 11, 1 and the second optical sensors 62, 72, respectively. An EX-OR signal is generated by combining the electrical signals that are differently generated by the first and second optical sensors 62 and 72, (1) to (8)) and the front panel (31).

12 is a table showing an output signal of the optical sensor according to the position of the front panel of FIG.

12, the electrical signals of the first and second optical sensors 61 and 71 are changed according to the position of the front panel 31, The panel 31 is moved.

In the present invention, the first and second open / close sensing devices 60 and 70, which sense the movement position of the front panel 31, are not limited to the slits as shown and described, 61) 71 may have a phase difference of 90 degrees with respect to each other.

13 is a block diagram of a front panel movement control of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 104 includes a driving unit 106 and a display unit 108. The input unit 100, the sensor unit 102, do.

The input unit 100 includes a key operation unit or a remote control signal receiving unit for inputting operation information such as a set temperature, a set air volume, a set wind direction, and the like in a desired operation mode (for example, cooling or heating operation).

The sensor unit 102 outputs an electrical signal generated according to the shape of the first and second signal generators 62 and 72 that move in conjunction with the movement of the front panel 31. The first and second signal generators 62 and 72, 2 optical sensors 61 (71).

The control unit 104 is a microcomputer for controlling the overall operation of the air conditioner according to the operation mode input from the input unit 100. When the initial power is input, Signal to confirm the initial position of the front panel 31 and wait for an operation command when the confirmed front panel 31 is in the fully closed state. When the position of the identified front panel 31 is not completely closed, the first and second motors 45 and 55 are driven through the driving unit 106 until the front panel 31 is completely closed .

When the front panel 31 is completely closed after the initial power is inputted, the controller 104 checks the previous operation state and operates the air conditioner in the last operation state before the power failure when returning from the power failure. At this time, the position of the front panel 31 is precisely controlled when the front panel 31 is moved according to the operation mode of the air conditioner. To this end, the control unit 104 previously stores the position of the front panel 31 according to the operation mode of the air conditioner, as shown in FIG. 10, and moves the front panel 31 to the corresponding operation mode.

Further, the control unit 104 generates an exclusive (EX-OR) signal by combining electric signals that are differently generated from the first and second optical sensors 61 and 71, It is determined whether the front panel 31 is moved or not. To this end, the control unit 104 previously stores the position of the front panel 31 as shown in FIG. 12, and moves the front panel 31 to the corresponding position.

10 and 12, when the front panel 31 is completely closed, the control unit 104 switches off the electrical signals of the first and second optical sensors 61 and 71 in the off state H, To minimize power consumption.

The driving unit 106 includes first and second motors 45 and 45 for moving the first and second gear boxes 41 and 51 to move the front panel 31 in the forward and backward directions in accordance with the control signal of the control unit 104 ) 55, and controls the driving of the fan motor 23 that rotates the blowing fan 22 to change the discharge air volume.

The display unit 108 displays an operation state of the air conditioner or displays an error mode and the like on the outside in accordance with a control signal of the control unit 104, thereby visually displaying an operation state of the front panel 31, The moving position of the front panel 31 according to the operating state of the air conditioner can be known.

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the air conditioner and the control method thereof will be described.

FIG. 14 is an operational flowchart for controlling the position of the front panel in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention, and will be described based on the output signal value of the optical sensor shown in FIG.

First, when the initial power is supplied to the air conditioner (200), the controller 104 receives the electrical signals generated by the first and second optical sensors 61 and 71 and confirms the position of the front panel 31 (202).

The method of confirming the position of the front panel 31 in the control unit 104 is different from that of the first and second optical sensors 61 and 71 according to the position of the front panel 31, (EX-OR) signal by combining the generated electrical signals, compares the generated combined signal with the output signal value of FIG. 12 stored in advance, and generates data (1 to 8) corresponding to the combined signal And confirms what state the current position of the front panel 31 is.

Then, the control unit 104 determines whether the detected position of the front panel 31 is the fully closed state corresponding to the state (8) in FIG. 11 (204) (7), the first and second motors 45 and 55 are operated through the driving unit 106 until the front panel 31 is completely closed.

When the first and second motors 45 and 55 are operated, the first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50 are operated simultaneously and are connected to the first and second motors 45 and 55, The first and second rack gear portions 43 and 53 engaged with the first and second pinion gears 44 and 54 move backward while the first and second pinion gears 44 and 54 rotate, When the first and second rack gear portions 43 and 53 move backward, the front panel 31 coupled to the first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50 moves backward to the rear of the housing 11 And the front panel 31 is moved to the closed position corresponding to 8 in Fig. 11 (206).

When the front panel 31 starts to move toward the closed position corresponding to the position 8 in Fig. 11 in response to the operation of the first and second motors 45 and 55, the control unit 104 feeds back to the front panel 31).

11, the method of confirming the movement position of the front panel 31 in the control unit 104 may be the same as that of the first and second optical sensors 61 and 71 according to the position of the front panel 31 (EX-OR) signal is generated by combining optical signals that are different from each other, and the generated combined signal is compared with the output signal value of FIG. 12 stored in advance and data To find the state of the front panel 31 in the state.

When the front panel 31 reaches the closed position corresponding to the position 8 in Fig. 11 in accordance with the operation of the first and second motors 45 and 55, the control unit 104 controls the first and second motors 45 55), and maintains the standby state until an operation command is input (208).

If the front panel 31 is in the fully closed state after the initial power is turned on, the standby state is maintained until the operation command is inputted without any additional control operation (208).

Thereafter, the control unit 104 checks the operation state before the initial power is turned on (210), and determines whether the power is restored after the power failure (212).

As a result of the determination in step 212, if the operation is not returned after the power failure, the standby state remains unchanged until the operation command is input. If the operation is returned after the power failure, the control unit 104 operates the air conditioner in the last operation state before the power failure (214).

At this time, the controller 104 moves the front panel 31 to the corresponding operation mode to operate the air conditioner in the final operation state before the power failure.

The controller 104 operates the first and second motors 45 and 55 to move the first and second panel moving devices 40 and 50 to the housing 100 in order to move the front panel 31 to the corresponding operation mode. (11). More specifically, when the first and second pinion gears 44 and 54 connected to the first and second motors 45 and 55 are rotated and engaged with the first and second pinion gears 44 and 54 When the first and second rack gear portions 43 and 53 advance forward and the first and second rack gear portions 43 and 53 advance forward, The front panel 31 coupled to the front panel 50 is advanced to the front of the housing 11 and the front panel 31 is moved to the open position corresponding to 1 to 7 of Fig.

When the front panel 31 starts to move to the open position corresponding to 1 to 7 of Fig. 11, the air inlet 32 and the air outlet 33 start to be exposed to the side, and the controller 104 controls the front panel 31, While moving the front panel 31 to a position corresponding to the operation mode.

When the front panel 31 is moved to the position corresponding to the operation mode, the controller 104 operates the fan motor 23 so that external air flows through the side air inlet 32 of the front panel 31 and the housing 11 And then flows into the heat exchanger installation chamber 13 through the fan case 24 after the air is introduced into the blower installation room 12 through the rear air intake port 19 of the air conditioner. The air introduced into the heat exchanger installation chamber 13 is heat-exchanged through the heat exchanger 25 in the forward direction from the rear and then discharged to the outside through the air outlet 33 of the front panel 31, Harmonize.

1 is an external perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a side sectional view showing a closed state of the front panel of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a front panel of the air conditioner in an open state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a first panel moving device and a first opening and closing detection device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an enlarged perspective view of the first panel moving device of FIG.

6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a second panel moving device and a second opening / closing detection device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the second panel moving device of FIG. 6. FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an operation structure of a panel moving device and an opening / closing sensor of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating an operation state of the opening / closing sensing device according to the position of the front panel in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a table showing the output signals of the optical sensors according to the positions of the front panels of Figs. 9A to 9C.

11 is a view showing another configuration example of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the shape of the opening / closing sensing device is changed.

12 is a table showing an output signal of the optical sensor according to the position of the front panel of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a front panel movement control of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an operation flowchart for controlling the position of the front panel in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

11: Housing 31: Front panel

32: air inlet port 33: air outlet port

40, 50: first and second panel moving devices 43, 53: first and second rack gear portions

44, 54: first and second pinion gears 45, 55: first and second motors

60, 70: first and second opening / closing sensors 61, 71: first and second optical sensors

62, 72: first and second signal generating units 63, 73: first and second foreign matter removing units

Claims (21)

A housing (11); A front panel 31 for opening / closing the front surface of the housing 11; A moving device (40, 50) for moving the front panel (31); An opening / closing sensing device (60, 70) for sensing a moving position of the front panel (31); And a controller (104) for controlling the movement of the front panel (31) to a movement position corresponding to the reference position by comparing the movement position of the detected front panel (31) with a reference position, The opening / closing detection device (60, 70) Sensors (61, 71) for outputting electrical signals varying according to the movement position of the front panel (31); And the plurality of slits move in conjunction with the movement of the front panel (31) so that the sensors (61, 71) output an electrical signal varying with the movement position of the front panel (31) Harmonics. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the moving devices (40, 50) are provided at upper and lower portions of the front panel (31) to move the front panel (31) in the forward and backward directions. delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein the sensors (61, 71) are a plurality of photosensors provided at upper and lower portions of the housing (11). 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the plurality of photosensors have different phase differences to generate different electrical signals from each other. delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein the plurality of slits have different shapes so as to generate electrical signals different from each other outputted from the sensors (61, 71). The method according to claim 1, The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a foreign matter removing unit (63, 73) for preventing electrical signals of the sensors (61, 71) from being changed by foreign substances. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the foreign matter removing unit (63, 73) is a brush provided at both ends of the plurality of slits. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the controller (104) maintains electrical signals of the sensors (61, 71) in an off state when the front panel (31) is completely closed. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the control unit (104) checks whether the front panel (31) is open or closed and the moving position by using an electrical signal output from the sensors (61, 71). The method according to claim 1, The control unit 104 checks the position of the front panel 31 using the electrical signals output from the sensors 61 and 71 when the initial power is input, And controls the movement of the front panel (31). 13. The method of claim 12, Wherein the control unit (104) controls to wait for an operation command when the detected position of the front panel (31) is in a completely closed state. 13. The method of claim 12, The control unit 104 operates the moving devices 40 and 50 so that the front panel 31 is completely closed when the detected position of the front panel 31 is not completely closed Air conditioner. The method according to claim 1, The controller 104 confirms the position of the front panel 31 and completely closes the front panel 31 to operate the air conditioner in the final operating state before the power failure, Air conditioner. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the control unit (104) stores the moving position of the front panel (31) corresponding to each operation mode in advance as the reference position. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the control unit (104) determines whether the front panel (31) is opened or closed by combining electric signals output from the plurality of photosensors and a moving position. A control method for an air conditioner having a housing (11) and a front panel (31) for opening / closing a front surface of the housing (11) Moving the front panel (31); Sensing a movement position of the front panel (31); And controlling movement of the front panel (31) to a movement position corresponding to the reference position by comparing the movement position of the detected front panel (31) with a reference position, In the sensing step, Moving a plurality of slits in association with movement of the front panel (31); Wherein the sensors (61, 71) generate an electrical signal corresponding to a movement position of the front panel (31) in accordance with the movement of the plurality of slits. delete 19. The method of claim 18, The control step may include checking whether the front panel 31 is opened or closed using the electrical signal generated in the sensing step and checking whether the front panel 31 is open or closed according to the determined position of the front panel 31 And the control unit controls the movement of the air conditioner. 19. The method of claim 18, Wherein the controlling step stores the moving position of the front panel (31) corresponding to each operation mode of the air conditioner in advance as the reference position.

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