JP2003120987A - Air conditioning equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning equipment capable of eliminating waste of consumption electric power sufficiently. SOLUTION: This air conditioning equipment 1 stops the operation of a main body when it detects opening of a door 20 in a closing forget detection part 7 continuously for a fixed period of time or more. Consequently, operation for many hours while the door or a window in a room is opened is not performed to suppress waste of consumption electric power sufficiently in order to realize the economical air conditioning equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for adjusting a room temperature to a comfortable temperature by cooling or heating.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an air conditioner has been widely used as a device for adjusting a room temperature to a comfortable temperature (set temperature). A general air conditioner has a room temperature setting function for intermittently operating a compressor and a blower so that the room temperature reaches a set temperature.

Further, in order to eliminate waste of power consumption due to forgetting to turn off the air conditioner, it has been proposed to add a function to prevent turning off. For example, there has been proposed an operation control device that detects the presence or absence of a person in the room and stops the operation of the air conditioner if there is no person in the room (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-875).
45, JP-A 64-59564).

As a method for determining the presence / absence of a person in the room, there is a method of determining that there is an person in the room when illuminating light in the room is detected, and a method of detecting when a sound in an audible range above a certain level is detected in the room. There are methods such as deciding that there is a room occupant, and deciding that there is a room occupant when detecting changes in infrared rays due to the human body in the room.

[0005]

However, the above operation control device only controls the operation stop of the air conditioner based on whether there is a person in the room and forgets to close the door or window of the room. (Room doors and windows open)
However, if there is a person in the room, the operation of the air conditioner is continued. Also, it was not possible to inform the occupants that the doors and windows were open. Therefore, it takes a long time for the person in the room to notice that the door or the window is open and to close the door or the window, and the waste of the power consumption of the air conditioner is not sufficiently suppressed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of sufficiently eliminating waste of power consumption.

Further, according to the present invention, an air conditioner capable of sufficiently eliminating the waste of power consumption by notifying the occupants of the open state of the room doors and windows and promptly closing the open doors and windows. To provide.

[0008]

The air conditioner of the present invention comprises:
The following configuration is provided to solve the above problems.

(1) In an air conditioner for adjusting the temperature in a room by intermittent operation of a compressor and a blower, an open / closed state detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of a door or a window of the room,
Operation control means for stopping the operation of the compressor and the blower when the open / close state detecting means detects that the door or the window is open continuously for a certain period of time.

In the above construction, the open / closed state detecting means detects the open / closed state of the door or window of the room. The open / closed state of the door or window can be detected by using a micro switch, an infrared sensor, or the like. When the open / close state detecting means continuously detects that the door or window of the room is open for a certain period of time or longer, the operation control means stops the operation of the compressor and the blower.

Therefore, by going out with the door of the room open, the operation of the air conditioner body is automatically stopped even if the air conditioner body is forgotten to be turned off. For this reason, when there is no person in the room, the air-conditioning device that has been forgotten to turn off does not continue to operate forever, and waste of power consumption can be suppressed.

Further, when there is a person in the room, it is possible to make the person in the room recognize that the door or window of the room is open by stopping the operation of the air conditioner. This allows the occupant to close the open door or window. Therefore, the air conditioner is not operated for a long time with the door or window of the room open, and the waste of power consumption can be sufficiently suppressed.

(2) Opening / closing state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the door or window of the room in an air conditioner for adjusting the temperature in the room by intermittent operation of the compressor and the blower,
Operation control means for reducing the air volume of the blower when the open / closed state detection means detects that the door or the window is open.

In the above structure, when the open / close state detecting means continuously detects that the door or window of the room is open for a certain period of time or more, the operation control means reduces the air volume of the blower, thereby reducing the volume of the apparatus main body. Reduce power consumption. Further, by reducing the air volume of the blower, it is possible to make the person in the room recognize that the door or window of the room is open. This allows the occupant to close the open door or window. Therefore, the air conditioner is not operated for a long time with the door or window of the room open, and the waste of power consumption can be sufficiently suppressed.

(3) When the operation control means reduces the air volume of the blower and then the open / close state detecting means detects that the door or window is open for a certain period of time, the compressor is opened. And means for stopping the operation of the blower.

In the above structure, the operation of the air conditioner main body is stopped when the open / close state detecting means continuously detects that the door or window of the room is open for a certain period of time after reducing the air volume of the blower. .

Therefore, the air-conditioning apparatus which has been forgotten to turn off does not continue to operate forever, and the waste of power consumption can be further suppressed.

(4) The operation control means is provided with a switching means for switching between valid and invalid.

In the above structure, since the switching means is provided,
The user can freely select whether or not to stop the operation of the air conditioner when the room door or window is open.

(5) When the presence of a person in the room is detected by the presence person detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a person in the room, the door or window of the room is opened. It is provided with an informing means for informing that it is in a state.

In the above structure, when there is a person in the room,
Since the notification that the door or window of the room is open is made, it is possible to make the person in the room securely close the door or window.

(6) The open / closed state detecting means includes means for counting the number of persons entering / leaving the room, and the person detecting means for occupying the room determines the presence / absence of the person in the room from the count value of the persons entering / leaving the room. .

In the above arrangement, the presence or absence of a person in the room is determined by counting the number of persons entering and leaving the room. Specifically, if the counted number of persons entering the room is larger than the number of people leaving the room, it is determined that there is a person in the room.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner which is an embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 1 of this embodiment has a control unit 2 for controlling the operation of the main body, an operation unit 3 in which keys for input operations are arranged, and a control transmitted by radio waves or infrared rays from a remote control device (not shown). The remote control receiving unit 4 for receiving the code, the room temperature detecting unit 5 for detecting the temperature inside the room, the driving unit 6 for driving the blower 11 and the compressor 12, and the door 20 of the room where the air conditioner 1 is attached. The system includes a forget-to-close detection unit 7 that detects an open / closed state, and a notification unit 8 that notifies that the door 20 is forgotten to be closed.

The control unit 2 controls the drive unit 6 so that the room temperature detected by the room temperature detecting unit 5 reaches a preset temperature (hereinafter referred to as a set temperature), and the blower 11 and the compressor. Twelve intermittent operation commands. The set temperature can be easily set by a remote controller (not shown) or a key operation on the operation unit 3. The control unit 2 includes a RAM that stores data (such as the set temperature) generated during operation, a ROM that stores an operation program, and a CPU that executes the operation program.

The forgetting to close detection section 7 includes a light emitting element 21 and a light receiving element 22 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a room to which the air conditioner 1 of this embodiment is attached,
FIG. 2A shows a state where the door is closed, and FIG. 2B shows a state where the door is open. In FIG. 2, 2
Reference numeral 0 is a door that is opened and closed when entering or exiting this room (the room where the air conditioner 1 is attached). This door 20
It is attached to the outside of the chamber so as to rotate (in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 2A).

It should be noted that the door 20 does not rotate further into the room than in the state shown in FIG. 2 (A).

A light emitting element 21 and a light receiving element 22 are attached to the wall on the outside of the room with the door 20 interposed therebetween. The light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 are attached at substantially the same height. The light emitting element 21 may be a light emitting element that outputs visible light, but is preferably one that outputs invisible infrared light.

When the door 20 is closed as shown in FIG. 2A, the light beam output from the light emitting element 21 is received by the light receiving element 21. On the contrary, when the door 20 is opened as shown in FIG. 2B, the light beam output from the light emitting element 21 is output from the light emitting element 21 because the optical path to the light receiving element 22 is divided by the door 21. The formed light beam is not received by the light receiving element 22.

The light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 are
As shown in FIG. 3, the optical path is attached so as to be located slightly above the knob of the door 20 (a few mm above).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner of this embodiment.

In the air conditioner 1 of this embodiment, when the cooling or heating operation is started, the intermittent operation of the blower 11 and the compressor 12 is controlled so that the room temperature detected by the room temperature detector 5 becomes a preset temperature. Set temperature control is performed (s1). The air conditioner 1 determines whether or not the forget-to-close function for stopping the operation of the main body is effective when the door 20 is opened due to forgetting to close while executing the set temperature control related to s1 (s2). .

Whether to activate the forget-to-close function can be easily switched by a key input operation on the operation unit 3 or the remote controller.

If the air-conditioning device 1 is set so that the forget-to-close function is not enabled, the
At 1, the set temperature control is executed. The setting that does not enable the forget-to-close function is a setting when operating the air conditioning device 1 with the door 20 opened for a special reason, and normally operates the air-conditioning device 1 with the setting that enables the forget to close function. Let

The air conditioner 1 determines whether the door 20 is in the open state or the closed state if the function of forgetting to close is set to be valid (s3). The determination regarding s3 is performed based on whether or not the light beam output from the light emitting element 21 is received by the light receiving element 22.

When the air conditioner 1 determines in s3 that the door 20 is closed, it returns to s1 and repeats the processes of s1 to s3. On the contrary, if it is determined in s3 that the door 20 is open, the process proceeds to s4, the timer for measuring the continuous time during which the door 20 is open is reset (s4), and the timer is started (s5). This timer is provided in the control unit 2.

If the door 20 is open and no one is in the room, the air conditioner 1 has been forgotten to be turned off, and the power consumed by the air conditioner 1 is wasted. Even if someone is in the room, the air conditioning effect in the room is reduced because the door 20 is open, and in this case as well, power consumed by the air conditioner 1 is wasted.

In the air conditioner 1 of this embodiment, the door 20 is closed without stopping the operation until a predetermined fixed time (for example, 2 to 3 minutes) elapses after the timer is started in s5. Wait for it to be played (s6, s7). This fixed time is set to be slightly longer than the time required to enter and leave the room. Therefore, the air conditioner 1 does not stop its operation in s8, which will be described later, due to entering or leaving the room.

The air conditioner 1 stops the timer (s) when the door 20 is closed before the above-mentioned certain time has elapsed.
9) Return to s1 and repeat the above process. The reason why the door 20 is closed before the elapse of the certain period of time is that a person in the room notices that the door 20 is open and closes the door 20.

On the contrary, in the air conditioner 1, if the door 20 is not closed even after the lapse of the predetermined time, the operation is stopped in s8, and this processing is finished. The door 20 was not closed before the elapse of the certain period of time, for example, when a person in the room did not notice that the door 20 was open, or when no one was in the room.

Therefore, the air conditioner 1 is never operated without anyone in the room, and is never operated with the door 20 open even if someone is in the room.

Since the operation of the air conditioner 1 is stopped, the person in the room notices that the door 20 is open, and after closing the door 20, the operation of the air conditioner 1 is restarted.

Therefore, wasteful power consumption due to forgetting to turn off the air conditioner 1 is suppressed, and if someone in the room recognizes that the door 20 is open, the door 20 is closed and then the air conditioner is turned on again. Since the operation of 1 can be started, the waste of power consumption can be sufficiently suppressed, which is very economical.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a step for weakly changing the blowing air may be inserted between s3 and s4 (s10). By doing so, it is possible to make the person in the room recognize that the door 20 is open by switching the air flow, and to promptly close the door 20. Further, since the power consumption of the air conditioner 1 is suppressed by weakening the air flow, it is possible to further suppress the power consumed until the operation is stopped in s8.

Further, instead of s10 shown in FIG. 5, FIG.
You may make it perform s11 shown to. s11 is
This is a step of outputting a message indicating that the door 20 is opened by voice from the notification unit 8. For example, the notification unit 8 outputs a voice message "The door 20 is open. Please close it." Accordingly, it is possible to surely make the person in the room recognize that the door 20 is open, and to close the door 20 more quickly.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a human body detecting sensor 25 for detecting a change in infrared rays due to a human body is provided in a room,
You may make it perform the process shown in FIG. Figure 8
The same step numbers (s *) are attached to the same processes as those in FIGS. 4 to 6.

Specifically, when it is detected in s3 that the door 20 is open, it is determined from the output of the human body detection sensor 25 whether there is a person in the room (s15). When it is determined that there is a person in s15, the notification unit 8 outputs a voice message indicating that the door 20 is open (s11). On the contrary, if it is determined in s15 that there is no person in the room, the processes in and after s4 are executed.

If it is determined in s15 that there are no people in the room, the operation of the air conditioner 1 may be immediately stopped in s8.

In the above description, it is assumed that the human body detection sensor 25 detects whether or not there is a person in the room.
As shown in FIG. 2, two sets of light emitting elements 21 and light receiving elements 22 are arranged above and below the door 20, and the number of persons entering the room and the number of persons leaving the room are counted. Alternatively, it may be determined that there is a person in the room. 9A shows a state in which the door is closed, and FIG. 9B shows a state in which the door is open. In this way, by using the two sets of the light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 22, the traveling direction of the person can be detected, so that the entering person and the leaving person can be distinguished and counted.

In this case, when the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 21 is not received by the light receiving element 22, the door 20
Is closed and it is determined that the door 20 is open when the light receiving element 22 receives infrared rays.
Further, when the light receiving element 22 does not receive infrared rays temporarily, it is determined that a person has passed. The direction of travel of a person is
The determination is made based on the timing shift when infrared rays are not received by the two light receiving elements 22.

Further, if the above-mentioned method of arranging the light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element in the vertical direction is applicable to a room which is a sliding door.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the operation of the air conditioner 1 is controlled according to the open / closed state of the door 20 has been shown.
Instead of the door, the operation of the air conditioner 1 may be controlled according to the open / closed state of the window.

Further, when the user operates the air conditioner 11 with the door 20 opened for some reason, the forgetting to close function may be disabled.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, wasteful power consumption due to forgetting to turn off the air conditioner or forgetting to close the door can be sufficiently suppressed, which is economical.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mounting position of a sensor that detects opening and closing of a door.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a mounting position of a sensor that detects opening and closing of a door.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of an air conditioner which is another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of an air conditioner which is another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a mounting position of a sensor or the like for detecting opening / closing of a door.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of an air conditioner which is another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a mounting position of a sensor that detects opening and closing of a door.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-air conditioning equipment 20-door 21-Light emitting device 22-Light receiving element

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner for adjusting the temperature in a room by intermittent operation of a compressor and a blower, an open / closed state detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of a door or a window of the room, and the door or the door by the open / closed state detecting means. When it is detected that the window is in the open state, the air volume of the blower is reduced, and further, the air volume of the blower is reduced, and then the open / close state detection means continuously opens the door or window for a certain period of time. When it is detected, the operation control means for stopping the operation of the compressor and the blower, the switching means for switching the operation control means between effective and ineffective, and the occupant detection for detecting whether or not there is a person in the room Means, and an informing means for informing that the door or window of the room is in an open state when detecting that there is an in-room person by the in-room person detecting means, For example was the air-conditioning equipment. 2. In an air conditioner for adjusting the temperature in a room by intermittent operation of a compressor and a blower, an open / closed state detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of a door or a window of the room, and an open / closed state detecting means are continuously operated for a predetermined time. And an operation control means for stopping the operation of the compressor and the blower when it is detected that the door or the window is open. 3. An air conditioner for adjusting the temperature in a room by intermittent operation of a compressor and a blower, an open / closed state detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of a door or a window of the room, and the door / window by the open / closed state detecting means. An air conditioner comprising: an operation control unit that reduces the air flow rate of the blower when it is detected that the window is open. 4. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the operation control means reduces the air volume of the blower, and when the open / close state detecting means detects that the door or window is in an open state continuously for a predetermined time. The air conditioner according to claim 3, comprising means for stopping the operation of the blower. 5. The air conditioner according to claim 2, further comprising switching means for switching between valid and invalid of the operation control means. 6. A room occupant detection means for detecting whether or not a person is present in the room, and a door or window of the room is opened when the presence of a room occupant is detected by the room occupant detection means. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising an informing unit for informing that it is. 7. The open / closed state detecting means includes means for counting the number of persons entering / leaving the room, and the person detecting means for occupying the room determines the presence / absence of a person in the room from the count value of the persons entering / leaving the room. The air conditioner according to Item 6.