JP2003042507A - Air-conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the comfortableness in a room by uniformalizing the temperature distribution in the room. SOLUTION: An air-conditioning system 8 has a human feeling sensor 9 which can estimate the feeling of a person by measuring the physiological quantity of the autonomic nervous system of the person and detecting the activity of the autonomic nerve of the person while the sensor 9 is fitted to the person, and an air conditioner 10 which inputs the feeling of the person estimated by means of the sensor 9 as a control index and air-conditions the room 40 in accordance with the control index. In the room 40, a first temperature sensor 41 which detects the temperature in the vicinity of the ceiling 43 of the room 40, a second temperature sensor 42 which detects the temperature in the vicinity of the floor 44 of the room 40 are set up. When the temperature detected by means of the first sensor 41 is higher than that detected by means of the second sensor 42 by a prescribed value or more and the sensor 9 estimates that the room is cold and uncomfortable, the air conditioner 10 leads the warm air in the vicinity of the ceiling 43 to the vicinity of the floor 44 by functioning as a circulator.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention measures the physiological amount of a person's autonomic nervous system, estimates the person's senses, and operates the air conditioner according to the estimated senses and the temperature distribution in the room. Regarding the harmony system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an air conditioner detects an indoor temperature by a temperature sensor incorporated in an indoor unit or a remote controller for controlling the operation of the indoor unit, and the indoor temperature is detected by the remote controller or the like. The air conditioning in the room is performed by controlling the operation of the compressor of the outdoor unit, the fan of the indoor unit, and the like so as to match the set temperature set by the use (first conventional technique).

In addition, a wall-mounted indoor unit in an air conditioner dedicated to cooling functions as a circulator when the temperature near the ceiling rises above a predetermined value during the operation of other heating equipment, and warms the air near the ceiling. Is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-111541 in which the uneven temperature distribution in the room is eliminated (second prior art).

[0004]

However, in the air conditioner of the first prior art described above, the air conditioning in the room does not necessarily reflect the thermal comfort or incompatibility of the person in the room. Not not.

In the air conditioner of the second prior art,
The indoor unit does not eliminate the uneven temperature distribution in the room during the cooling operation or the heating operation of the air conditioner.

An object of the present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning system which can improve the indoor comfort by making the indoor temperature distribution uniform.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a person is attached to a person, the physiological amount of the autonomic nervous system of the person is measured, the activity of the autonomic nerve of the person is detected, and the person is detected. An air conditioning system having a human sensor capable of estimating the human sense and an air conditioner that inputs the human sense estimated by the human sensor as a control index and air-conditions the room according to the control index. A first temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature near the ceiling and a second temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature near the floor are installed in the room, and the air conditioner detects the first temperature detecting means by the first temperature detecting means. The detected temperature is
The temperature is higher than the detected temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means by a predetermined value or more, and when it is estimated that the human sensation sensor is cold and uncomfortable, it functions as a circulator and circulates warm air near the ceiling to circulate the floor. It is characterized by being configured to lead to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, the air conditioner is:
Functions as a circulator when the detected temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means is higher than the detected temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means by a predetermined value or more and the human sensor is estimated to be cold and uncomfortable. However, the warm air around the ceiling is circulated and guided to near the floor.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, the air conditioner is:
Functions as a circulator when the detected temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means is higher than the detected temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means by a predetermined value or more and the human sensor is estimated to be cold and uncomfortable. However, the warm air around the ceiling is circulated and guided to near the floor.

The invention according to a fourth aspect is the first to the third aspects.
In any one of the above-mentioned inventions, the autonomic nervous system physiological amount detected by the human sensor is a sweat rate, a pulse rate and a skin temperature.

The invention described in claim 1 or 4 has the following effects.

In the air conditioner, the detected temperature near the ceiling detected by the first temperature detecting means is higher than the detected temperature near the floor detected by the second temperature detecting means by a predetermined value or more, and the human sensor is When it is estimated to be cold and uncomfortable, it functions as a circulator and is configured to circulate warm air near the ceiling to guide it to the floor, so that the temperature near the ceiling is high and the temperature near the floor is low. The unevenness of the temperature distribution can be eliminated and the indoor comfort can be improved.

Further, the human sensor attached to a person is
The air conditioner stays in the room because the person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount is measured to estimate the person's sensation, and the air conditioner performs air conditioning according to the estimated sensation. In order to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling of the person wearing the human sensor, air conditioning can be suitably performed.

The invention described in claim 2 has the following effects.

In the air conditioner, during the heating operation, the temperature detected near the ceiling detected by the first temperature detecting means is equal to the second temperature.
It functions as a circulator when it is estimated that the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is higher than a predetermined value near the floor and the human sensor is uncomfortable because it is cold, and the warm air near the ceiling is circulated around the floor. Since it is configured to guide the air conditioning apparatus, the air conditioner is not heated more than necessary, so that the energy consumption during the heating operation can be reduced.

The invention described in claim 3 has the following operation.

In the air conditioner, during the cooling operation, the temperature detected near the ceiling detected by the first temperature detecting means is equal to the second temperature.
It functions as a circulator when it is estimated that the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is higher than a predetermined value near the floor and the human sensor is uncomfortable because it is cold, and the warm air near the ceiling is circulated around the floor. Since it is configured to lead to, the temperature near the floor can be quickly raised by the warm air near the ceiling.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the present invention. The air conditioning system 8 shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a person, measures a person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount, and estimates a person's sensation (thermal comfort or uncomfortable feeling) 9 And an air conditioner 10 that performs air conditioning in accordance with the human sensation estimated by the human sensation sensor 9.

The air conditioner 10 is, as shown in FIG.
The outdoor unit 11, the indoor unit 12, and the control device 13 are provided, and the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14 of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor refrigerant pipe 15 of the indoor unit 12 are connected via connecting pipes 24, 25.

The outdoor unit 11 is installed outdoors, and the compressor 16 is arranged in the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. The accumulator 17 is on the suction side of the compressor 16 and the four-way valve 18 is on the discharge side via the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. This four-way valve 1
8, an outdoor heat exchanger 19 is connected via an outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. An outdoor fan 20 that blows air toward the outdoor heat exchanger 19 is arranged adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 19.

On the other hand, the indoor unit 12 is installed indoors, the indoor heat exchanger 21 is provided in the indoor refrigerant pipe 15, and
An electric expansion valve 22 is arranged near the indoor heat exchanger 21 in the indoor refrigerant pipe 15. An indoor fan 23 that blows air to the indoor heat exchanger 21 is arranged adjacent to the indoor heat exchanger 21.

Further, the control device 13 controls the operation of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 12. This control device 13
Actually, the outdoor control device 13A installed in the outdoor unit 11
And an indoor control device 13B installed in the indoor unit 12. The outdoor control device 13A controls the compressor 16, the four-way valve 18, and the outdoor fan 20 in the outdoor unit 11,
The indoor control device 13B controls the electric expansion valve 22 and the indoor fan 23 in the indoor unit 12, respectively. The outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B are connected by a communication line 26 so that they can communicate with each other.

The air conditioner 10 is set to the cooling operation or the heating operation by switching the four-way valve 18 by the outdoor control device 13A. That is, the outdoor control device 13
When A switches the four-way valve 18 to the cooling side, the refrigerant flows as shown by the solid line arrow, the outdoor heat exchanger 19 functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 21 functions as an evaporator, which results in a cooling operation state.
The indoor heat exchanger 21 of the indoor unit 12 cools the room. Further, when the outdoor control device 13A switches the four-way valve 18 to the heating side, the refrigerant flows as indicated by the broken line arrow, the indoor heat exchanger 21 functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 19 functions as an evaporator. Then, the indoor heat exchanger 21 of the indoor unit 12 heats the room.

In addition, the indoor control device 13B includes the indoor unit 12
The electric expansion valve 2 in the indoor unit 12 according to the air conditioning load of the
2, the indoor fan 23 in the indoor unit 12 is controlled.
Control the fan drive system.

Further, the indoor control device 13B has a set temperature change signal from a remote controller (not shown) and a human sensation estimated by the human sensation sensor 9 (FIG. 1) (thermal comfort or uncomfortable feeling). By receiving control indices (described later) based on the above, and transmitting these to the outdoor control device 13A, the outdoor control device 13A varies at least one of the capacity of the compressor 16 and the rotation speed of the outdoor fan 20, and the indoor control device 13B changes the rotation speed of the indoor fan 23, and air conditioning is controlled.

The human sensation sensor 9 measures a person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount to detect the activity of the person's autonomic nerve,
The person's sense is estimated, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a skin temperature sensor 27, a sweat rate sensor 28, a pulse rate sensor 29, a skin temperature detection circuit 30, a sweat rate detection circuit 31, a pulse rate. The detection circuit 32, the control index estimation unit 33, and the wireless module 34 are included.

Reference numeral 35 in FIG. 1 is a human sense sensor 9
Is an ON / OFF switch, and reference numeral 36 is a pulse rate display window. Reference numeral 37 is a temperature display window for displaying the set temperature of the air conditioner 10 and the skin temperature of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9. These ON / OFF switches 35,
The pulse rate display window 36 and the temperature display window 37 are provided on the front side of the sensor body 38 of the human sensor 9.

The skin temperature sensor 27 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 has a thermistor and is provided on the back surface or the side peripheral portion of the sensor body 38 so as to contact the skin of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 and Measure skin temperature. Skin temperature detection circuit 3
0 detects the skin temperature of the wearer of the human sensor 9 from the measurement value of the skin temperature sensor 27.

The sweat rate sensor 28 has two electrodes,
The sensor body 38 is provided on the back surface or the side peripheral portion of the sensor body 38 and contacts the skin of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 to measure the skin electrical reaction (GSR) thereof. The sweat rate detection circuit 31 detects the human sensor 9 from the measured value (GSR) of the sweat rate sensor 28.
To detect the amount of perspiration of the wearer.

The pulse rate sensor 29 is provided on the back surface of the sensor body 38 and comes into contact with the skin of the wearer.
Pulse rate of the wearer is measured, and the pulse rate detection circuit 32 detects the pulse rate of the wearer of the human sensor 9 from the measured value of the pulse rate sensor 29.

Skin temperature detecting circuit 30, sweating amount detecting circuit 3
1. The skin temperature, the amount of sweat, and the pulse rate detected by the pulse rate detection circuit 32 are the autonomic nervous system physiological quantities that represent the activity of the autonomic nerves. In general, the activity of the autonomic nerve, particularly the sympathetic nerve, is activated when the human sense is in a tense state or in an uncomfortable state, which increases the sweating rate and the pulse rate as shown in FIG. Skin temperature drops due to blood rising. Further, the activity of the sympathetic nerve is calmed down when the human sense is in a relaxed state or in a comfortable state, which reduces the amount of sweat and the pulse rate and raises the skin temperature.

In the control index estimating section 33 shown in FIG. 3, the skin temperature, the amount of sweat, and the pulse rate detected by the skin temperature detecting circuit 30, the sweat rate detecting circuit 31, and the pulse rate detecting circuit 32 rise with time. Or, by comprehensively analyzing whether there is a tendency to decrease, it is possible to find out what kind of sensory state the wearer of the human sensor 9 is currently in, particularly a thermal comfortable sensory state based on heat or cold. The sensation of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 whether it is present or uncomfortable is objectively estimated and used as a control index.

The wireless module 34 includes the control index estimating unit 3
Convert the control index estimated in 3 into a weak radio signal,
Indoor control device 1 for indoor unit 12 in air conditioner 10
3B or a remote controller (not shown) capable of transmitting a control signal to the indoor control device 13B. The transmission of the control index by the wireless module 34 is performed in a state where it is confirmed that the human sensor 9 is worn by a person.

The indoor control device 13B, to which the control index is directly or indirectly input via the remote controller from the wireless module 34 of the human sensor 9, is the outdoor unit 11
In cooperation with the outdoor control device 13A, the four-way valve 18 is switched according to the control index, the set temperature is set, and the compressor 1
6 and the rotation speeds of the outdoor fan 20 and the indoor fan 23 are determined to control the air conditioning by the air conditioner 10 so that the person wearing the human sensor 9 is most comfortably and thermally comfortable. To do.

At this time, the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B respectively detect by the first temperature sensor 41 as the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature sensor 42 as the second temperature detecting means shown in FIG. The detected temperature obtained is also considered as follows. Here, the first temperature sensor 41 is
The temperature near the ceiling 43 of the room 40 is detected, and the second temperature sensor 42 detects the temperature near the floor 44 of the room 40.
Both are composed of a thermistor or the like.

In the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B, when the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 feels hot, the human sensation sensor 9 estimates this sensation as a control index and transmits it to the indoor control device 13B or the like. The air conditioner 10 is set to the cooling operation mode without considering the temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor 41 and the second temperature sensor 42, the set temperature is appropriately set, and the compressor 16, the outdoor fan 20, and the indoor fan 2 are set.
The number of rotations of 3 is increased to cause the air conditioner 10 to perform the cooling operation.

Outdoor control unit 13A and indoor control unit 13
When the air conditioner 10 is already in the cooling operation state when the indoor control device 13B or the like receives the control index, the B sets the set temperature low to increase the capacity of the compressor 16 and the outdoor fan 20. Also, the rotation speed of the indoor fan 23 is increased to cause the air conditioner 10 to perform a strong cooling operation.

Further, the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B feel that the person wearing the human sensor 9 feels cold,
When the human sensation sensor 9 estimates this sensation as a control index and transmits it to the indoor control device 13B or the like, the temperature near the ceiling 43 detected by the first temperature sensor 41 is detected by the second temperature sensor 42 on the floor. When it is lower than a value obtained by adding a predetermined temperature to the temperature near 44 (for example, when the temperature near the ceiling 43 is substantially equal to the temperature near the floor 44), the air conditioner 10 is set to the heating operation mode and the set temperature is appropriately set. Set, compressor 16, outdoor fan 20 and indoor fan 2
3 is rotated, and the air conditioning apparatus 10 is caused to perform the heating operation.

When the air conditioner 10 is already in the heating operation, the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 feels cold, and the human sensation sensor 9 estimates this sensation as a control index and transmits it to the indoor control device 13B or the like. Sometimes the first temperature sensor 41
When the temperature near the ceiling 43 detected by the above is higher than the temperature near the floor 44 detected by the second temperature sensor by a predetermined temperature or more, the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B detect the compressor 16 and the outdoor. The fan 20 is stopped and the rotation of only the indoor fan 23 is continued to cause the air conditioner 10 to function as a circulator. As a result, the warm air near the ceiling 43 is circulated as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5 and guided to the vicinity of the floor 44, the uneven temperature distribution in the room 40 is eliminated, and excessive heating operation is suppressed.

When the air conditioner 10 is in the cooling operation state, the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 feels cold, and the human sensation sensor 9 estimates this sensation as a control index and transmits it to the indoor control device 13B or the like. If the temperature near the ceiling 43 detected by the first temperature sensor 41 is higher than the temperature near the floor 44 detected by the second temperature sensor by a predetermined temperature or more, the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B does not stop the operation of the air conditioner 10, but stops the compressor 16 and the outdoor fan 20 and keeps only the indoor fan 23 rotating to allow the air conditioner 10 to function as a circulator. As a result, the warm air near the ceiling 43 is circulated to the vicinity of the floor 44 by circulating as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, the uneven temperature distribution in the room 40 is eliminated, and the temperature near the floor 44 where people are in the room 40 is rapidly increased. The temperature is raised to.

Therefore, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

The air conditioner 10 includes the first temperature sensor 4
It is estimated that the detected temperature near the ceiling 43 detected by 1 is higher than the detected temperature near the floor 44 detected by the second temperature sensor 42 by a predetermined value or more, and the human sensor 9 is cold and uncomfortable. At the time, it functions as a circulator and is configured to circulate warm air near the ceiling 43 and guide it to near the floor 44, so that the temperature near the ceiling 43 is high,
The unevenness of the temperature distribution in the room 40 where the temperature near the floor 44 is high can be eliminated, and the comfort of the room 40 can be improved.

The human sensation sensor 9 attached to a person measures the person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount to estimate the person's sense, and the air conditioner 10 air-conditions according to the estimated sense. Therefore, the air conditioning apparatus 10 can suitably perform the air conditioning so as to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling of the person who is in the room 40 and wears the human sensor 9.

In the air conditioner 10, during the heating operation, the temperature detected near the ceiling 43 detected by the first temperature sensor 41 is a predetermined value or more than the temperature detected near the floor 44 detected by the second temperature sensor 42. It is high and functions as a circulator when it is estimated that the human sensation sensor 9 is cold and uncomfortable, and circulates the warm air near the ceiling 43 to circulate the floor 4
The air conditioner 1 is configured to be guided to the vicinity of 4
Since 0 is not overheated more than necessary,
Energy consumption during heating operation can be suppressed.

In the air conditioner 10, during the cooling operation, the temperature detected near the ceiling 43 detected by the first temperature sensor 41 is a predetermined value or more than the temperature detected near the floor 44 detected by the second temperature sensor 42. It is high and functions as a circulator when it is estimated that the human sensation sensor 9 is cold and uncomfortable, and circulates the warm air near the ceiling 43 to circulate the floor 4
Since it is configured to lead to the vicinity of 4, the temperature near the floor 44 can be quickly raised by the warm air near the ceiling 43, and the cold caused by excessive cooling can be quickly eliminated.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0048]

As described above, according to the air conditioning system of the present invention, the indoor temperature distribution can be made uniform and the indoor comfort can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circuit in the air conditioner of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing the human sensor of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing a relationship between a human sense and an autonomic nervous system physiological amount.

5 is a conceptual diagram showing an interior of a house in which the air conditioner of FIG. 1 is installed.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 Air conditioning system 9 Human sensor 10 Air conditioner 12 Indoor unit 13A outdoor control device 13B Indoor control device 23 Indoor fan 27 Skin temperature sensor 28 Perspiration sensor 29 pulse rate sensor 33 Control index estimation unit 40 indoor 41 first temperature sensor (first temperature detecting means) 42 second temperature sensor (second temperature detecting means) 43 ceiling 44 floors

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuo Takahashi             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Hisashi Tokizaki             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Mitsuru Toyota             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Yosuke Ungata             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Kazuya Cold Water             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiko Hashimoto             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3L056 BG03 BG05                 3L060 AA05 AA06 CC02 CC11 DD07                       EE01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A human sensor which is attached to a person, measures the physiological amount of the person's autonomic nervous system, detects the activity of the person's autonomic nerve, and can estimate the person's sensation. An air conditioning system having an air conditioner that inputs a feeling estimated by a feeling sensor as a control index and air-conditions a room according to the control index, wherein the temperature in the vicinity of the ceiling is detected in the room. The first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature near the floor are installed, and in the air conditioner, the detected temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means is detected by the second temperature detecting means. The temperature is higher than the detected temperature by a predetermined value or more, and when it is estimated that the human sensation sensor is cold and uncomfortable, it functions as a circulator and circulates warm air near the ceiling to guide it to near the floor. Special Air conditioning system to collect. 2. In the air conditioner, the detected temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means during heating operation is higher than the detected temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means by a predetermined value or more, and the human sensor is provided. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system functions as a circulator when it is estimated that the vehicle is cold and uncomfortable, and circulates warm air near the ceiling to guide it to near the floor. 3. In the air conditioner, the detected temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means is higher than the detected temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means by a predetermined value or more during the cooling operation, and the human sensor is provided. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system functions as a circulator when it is estimated that the vehicle is cold and uncomfortable, and circulates warm air near the ceiling to guide it to near the floor. 4. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic nervous system physiological amount detected by the human sensor is a sweat rate, a pulse rate, and a skin temperature.