JP2004263964A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner for determining the existence of the presence of an intruder even when visible light quantity is little. <P>SOLUTION: A crime prevention control device 12 operates an alarm device 50 such as a horn by determining that the intruder exists in a room when there is an area where temperature detected by a matrix IR sensor 2 for air conditioning changes by a prescribed value or more in a prescribed time when a door lock driving part 4 is not in a normal unlocking state and the visible light quantity detected by a receiving light sensor 5 is prescribed quantity or less. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner that air-conditions a room, and more particularly to an air conditioner that includes a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of a room based on the intensity of radiated infrared rays.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a security monitoring device in which a device for obtaining a visible light image such as a video camera is arranged in a room for the purpose of monitoring the security of a room such as a vehicle (see Patent Document 1 below). Further, an infrared sensor is provided as an air conditioner for air-conditioning the room. The air-conditioning unit is operated according to the room temperature and the like based on the radiated infrared intensity detected by the infrared sensor. Things are known.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-224433
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the security monitoring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot monitor an intruder or the like when the amount of visible light is small, such as at night. When the amount of visible light is small, a method using a night vision camera such as an infrared camera can be considered, but there is a problem that the apparatus is complicated and generally expensive. In response to this problem, the present inventors focused on an air conditioning infrared sensor for detecting the indoor temperature.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an air conditioner that can determine the presence or absence of an intruder even when the amount of visible light is small.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the invention described in claim 1,
An air conditioning unit (1) for sending conditioned air into the room;
Temperature detection means (2) for detecting the temperature of each area based on the radiant infrared intensity of each area in the room;
A control unit (10) for controlling the operation of the air conditioning unit (1) based on the temperature of each area detected by the temperature detection unit (2),
Unlocking determining means (S100) for determining whether or not the entrance to the room is normally unlocked by a normal operation;
Visible light amount detecting means (5) for detecting the amount of visible light in the room,
The control means (10) determines that the unlocking determination means (S100) has not been unlocked normally, and when the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detection means (5) is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the temperature detection means. If there is an area in which the temperature detected by (2) has changed by a predetermined value or more within a predetermined time, it is determined that an intruder is present in the room.
[0007]
According to this, even at night or the like when the amount of visible light is small, the temperature detecting means for air conditioning (2) can detect a temperature change based on infrared rays emitted by the human body, and the control means (10) can detect the human body. . Therefore, the control means (10) can determine the presence or absence of an intruder by detecting a human body in a room where the entrance is not normally unlocked.
[0008]
Further, as in the second aspect of the present invention, the control means (10) determines that the unlocking determination means (S100) has not been unlocked normally and the visible light amount detection means (5) detects the visible light amount. When the light amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, if there is an area in which the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (2) has increased by the predetermined value or more within the predetermined time, it is determined that an intruder has entered the room. be able to.
[0009]
Further, as in the invention according to claim 3, the control means (10) determines that the unlocking determination means (S100) is not normally unlocked, and the visible light amount detection means (5) detects the visible light amount. When the light amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, if there is an area where the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (2) has increased by the predetermined value or more within the predetermined time and an area has decreased by the predetermined value or more, the room Thus, it can be determined that the intruder has moved.
[0010]
Further, in the invention according to claim 4, the control means (10) determines that the unlocking determination means (S100) has not been unlocked normally, and determines that the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detection means (5) is not sufficient. When the temperature is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, a region in which the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (2) rises by the predetermined value or more within the predetermined time and a region having substantially the same temperature as this region continuously exceed a predetermined number. In some cases, it is determined that an intruder is present in the room.
[0011]
According to this, by setting the number of regions assumed to be occupied by the human body to a predetermined number, it is possible to prevent an erroneous determination that an intruder exists when there is a temperature rise due to factors other than the intruder. It is. Therefore, the accuracy of determining the presence or absence of an intruder can be improved.
[0012]
Further, in the invention according to claim 5, there is provided a visible light image acquiring means (3) for acquiring a visible light image of a room, and the control means (10) determines that the unlocking determination means (S100) is normally unlocked. When it is determined that there is no intruder, and the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detecting means (5) is larger than the predetermined amount, the presence of an intruder is determined based on the visible light image acquired by the visible light image acquiring means (3). It is characterized by determining.
[0013]
According to this, in the daytime when the amount of visible light is large, the presence or absence of an intruder can be reliably determined based on the visible light image acquired by the visible light image acquiring means (3).
[0014]
In the invention according to claim 6,
The control means (10) detects the temperature when the unlocking determination means (S100) determines that the lock is not normally unlocked and the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detecting means (5) is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. If there is an area in which the temperature detected by the means (2) has changed by the predetermined value or more within the predetermined time,
The lighting means (60) for illuminating the room is turned on, and the presence of an intruder is determined based on the visible light image acquired by the visible light image acquiring means (3).
[0015]
According to this, even in the nighttime where the amount of visible light is small, when the temperature detecting means (2) detects a temperature change which is considered to be based on infrared rays emitted by an intruder, the control means (10) illuminates the room. It is possible to reliably determine the presence or absence of an intruder based on the visible light image acquired by the visible light image acquisition means (3) by increasing the brightness in (60). Therefore, the accuracy of determining the presence or absence of an intruder can be improved without keeping the lighting means (60) lit at night or the like.
[0016]
In the invention according to claim 7, the control means (10) stores the visible light image acquired by the visible light image acquiring means (3) when it is determined that an intruder exists in the room. Features.
[0017]
According to this, it is easy to identify the intruder by reproducing the stored image.
[0018]
The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the control means (10) outputs a notification signal when it is determined that an intruder is present in the room.
[0019]
According to this, it is possible to notify the owner, the security company, and the like of the presence of the intruder.
[0020]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an alarm means (50) for issuing an alarm, and the control means (10) activates the alarm means (50) when it is determined that an intruder exists in the room. It is characterized by controlling.
[0021]
According to this, the presence of the intruder can be notified to the neighborhood by the operation of the alarm means (50).
[0022]
It should be noted that the reference numerals in parentheses attached to the respective means are examples showing the correspondence with specific means described in the embodiment described later.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an air conditioner for a vehicle.
[0025]
The air conditioning unit 1 of the air conditioner for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1 is arranged on the front side of an instrument panel in the front of the cabin of the vehicle. Although not shown, the air conditioning unit 1 is a blower for blowing air into the room, a cooling heat exchanger for cooling the blown air, a heating heat exchanger for heating the blown air, It is a well-known air-conditioning unit including an air mix door for adjusting a ratio of air to be heated, a blow mode door for controlling a blow mode of conditioned air, and the like.
[0026]
Reference numeral 11 denotes an air-conditioning control device (A / C control device) which forms a part of the control means in the present embodiment. The air-conditioning control device 11 includes an outside air temperature sensor that detects an outside air temperature of a vehicle (not shown), a water temperature sensor that detects a cooling water temperature (not shown), and an IR sensor (infrared sensor) that will be described later. 2 and the like and read as an environmental condition signal. Further, output signals from various operation switches of an operation panel unit (not shown) are input to the air conditioning control device 11.
[0027]
The air-conditioning control device 11 controls the operation of each operating unit of the air-conditioning unit 1 according to a predetermined program or map based on signals from the sensors and various operation switches. .
[0028]
Here, the IR sensor 2, which is one of the environmental condition detecting means, will be described. The IR sensor 2 is disposed in the upper part on the front side in the vehicle interior, and divides the vehicle interior into a plurality of visual field regions (32 regions surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 2 in this example) as shown in FIG. This is a device that detects the intensity of radiated infrared light in each region (a so-called matrix IR sensor).
Thereby, the surface temperature of the vehicle interior (the interior surface or the inner surface of the glass) or the surface temperature of the occupant or the like for each area is detected and output to the air conditioning control device 11.
[0029]
The IR sensor 2 is a temperature detecting unit in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view of the interior of the vehicle as viewed from the windshield (front side of the vehicle), and shows a state where four occupants are on board.
[0030]
Reference numeral 12 shown in FIG. 1 is a security control device that constitutes a control device 10 that is a control unit of the present embodiment, together with the air conditioning control device 11. The security controller 12 is associated with the aforementioned IR sensor 2, CCD camera 3, door lock drive unit 4, light receiving sensor 5, and alarm device 50 such as a horn and a hazard lamp.
[0031]
The CCD camera 3 is disposed adjacent to the IR sensor 2 at the upper front side in the vehicle interior, and transmits a visible light image of a region substantially equivalent to the visual field region of the IR sensor 2 shown in FIG. Output. The CCD camera 3 is a visible light image acquisition unit in the present embodiment.
[0032]
The door lock drive unit 4 includes an actuator and the like for locking a door serving as an entrance into and out of the vehicle compartment, receives a key rotation operation, or receives a normal operation such as unlocking or receiving a locking signal, and normalizes the door. It is for unlocking or locking. The door lock driving section 4 outputs to the security control device 12 whether or not the door is normally unlocked by the normal operation.
[0033]
In addition, the signal that the security control device 12 inputs whether or not the door is normally unlocked is not directly input from the door lock drive unit 4 but is an input of an information signal regarding the door lock from within the vehicle communication path. It may be.
[0034]
The light receiving sensor 5 is a sensor for detecting the amount of visible light in the vehicle compartment, and outputs the detected amount of visible light to the security control device 12. In the present embodiment, the light receiving sensor 5 is also used as a light receiving sensor for a light control system that controls turning on and off of a headlight, a tail light, and the like, and the output of the light receiving sensor 5 is also output to the light control system. It has become. The light receiving sensor 5 is a visible light amount detecting unit in the present embodiment.
[0035]
The alarm device 50 is a horn as sounding means, a hazard lamp as light emitting means, or the like. Then, the security control device 12 controls the operation of the alarm device 50 and the like according to the procedure described later based on the signals from the IR sensor 2, the CCD camera 3, the door lock drive unit 4 and the light receiving sensor 5, and the like. Has become.
[0036]
Next, the operation of the air conditioner for a vehicle based on the configuration described above in relation to intruder detection will be described.
[0037]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall schematic control operation of the security control device 12 of the control device 10.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 3, the security control device 12 first determines whether or not the door is in the normally unlocked state based on a signal from the door lock drive unit 4 (step S100). Step S100 is unlocking determination means in the present embodiment for determining whether the door is normally unlocked by the normal operation. If it is determined that the door is in the normally unlocked state, the process returns to step S100.
[0039]
When it is determined in step S100 that the door is not in the normally unlocked state, it is determined from the signal from the light receiving sensor 5 whether the visible light amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount (step S200). The predetermined amount of visible light used as a criterion here is the amount of light at which a clear visible light image can be obtained by the CCD camera 3.
[0040]
If it is determined in step S200 that the visible light amount is larger than the predetermined amount (bright), the process proceeds to step S300, in which the visible light image in the vehicle interior acquired by the CCD camera 3 is analyzed to determine whether there is a human body in the interior. Judge. Specifically, the presence of a human body is determined by confirming the presence or absence of the contour of the human body in the image or the presence or absence of a moving object corresponding to the size of the human body by image processing of the visible light image.
[0041]
When it is determined in step S300 that there is no human body in the room, the process returns to step S100.
[0042]
If it is determined in step S200 that the amount of visible light is equal to or smaller than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step S400, and the temperature of each area (the area 32 shown in FIG. 2) detected by the IR sensor 2 is input every second. I do. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a region whose temperature has increased by 5 ° C. or more in one second (step S400).
[0043]
If it is determined in step S400 that there is no area whose temperature has increased by 5 ° C. or more in one second, the process returns to step S100.
[0044]
If it is determined in step S400 that there is an area having a temperature rise of 5 ° C. or more in one second, the process proceeds to step S500, and an area having substantially the same temperature as the area having a temperature rise of 5 ° C. or more in one second determined in step S400. However, it is determined whether or not there is a region adjacent to the above-mentioned temperature rising region, in other words, whether or not there are two or more regions having substantially the same temperature consecutively including the above-mentioned temperature rising region.
[0045]
The size of one region where the temperature is detected by the IR sensor 2 of the present embodiment is smaller than the size assumed to be occupied by the human body. Therefore, in step S500, the minimum number of regions assumed to be occupied by the human body (two continuous regions in this example) is set as a criterion. If it is determined in step S500 that there are not two or more continuous areas, that is, if it is determined that there is only one area, the process returns to step S100.
[0046]
If it is determined in step S300 that there is a human body in the room, and if it is determined in step S500 that there are two or more continuous areas, security control device 12 outputs an activation signal to alarm device 50 (step S600). For example, the horn is intermittently sounded, and the hazard lamp is blinked. Then, the process returns to step S100.
[0047]
According to the above configuration and operation, in the daytime when the amount of visible light is large, it is possible to reliably detect an intruder in the vehicle interior based on the visible light image of the CCD camera 3. In addition, even at night or the like when the amount of visible light is small, the air conditioner IR sensor 2 can detect a temperature rise based on infrared rays emitted by the intruder and detect an intruder in the vehicle interior.
[0048]
Since the IR sensor 2 also serves as a sensor for controlling the air-conditioning unit 1 and a sensor for detecting an intruder, the mounting space and cost can be reduced as compared with a case where a dedicated sensor is provided for each.
[0049]
Further, by performing the determination in step S500 shown in the flow of FIG. 3, it is possible to suppress erroneous determination that there is an intruder when the temperature rises due to factors other than the intruder. Therefore, the accuracy of determining the presence or absence of an intruder can be improved.
[0050]
For example, in step S400 of FIG. 3, when the temperature of the region 21 and the region 22 shown in FIG. 2 rises by 5 ° C. or more, it is determined that the intruder has got into the vehicle interior by some method (an irregular method). be able to. Further, from this state, when the temperatures of the regions 23 and 24 increase by 5 ° C. or more and the temperatures of the regions 21 and 22 decrease, it can be determined that the intruder has moved in the vehicle interior.
[0051]
In addition, when the temperature of the region 23 rises by 5 ° C. or more and the temperature of the region 22 decreases, if the temperature of the region 21 is substantially the same as the temperature of the region 22, an intruder at the position occupying the regions 21 and 22 may be It can be determined that the user has moved to a position occupying the regions 21 and 23.
[0052]
In this manner, by making a determination based on the number of continuous areas assumed to be occupied by a human body, it is possible to prevent, for example, erroneously determining heat generation of a portable electronic device or the like left in a vehicle compartment as an intruder.
[0053]
Further, when an intruder entering the vehicle interior is detected, the presence of the intruder can be notified to the neighborhood by the alarm device 50.
[0054]
(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0055]
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in a method of determining an intruder such as at night when the amount of visible light is small. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the security control device 12 is also linked to a room lamp 60, which is an illuminating means for illuminating the interior of the vehicle. Then, the security control device 12 controls the lighting of the room lamp 60.
[0057]
Next, an operation related to intruder detection in the present embodiment based on the above configuration will be described.
[0058]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main part of a schematic control operation of the security control device 12.
[0059]
As shown in FIG. 5, when it is determined in step S500 that there are two or more continuous areas, the room lamp 60 is turned on (step S510). Then, similarly to step S300, the visible light image in the vehicle cabin acquired by the CCD camera 3 is analyzed to determine whether or not there is a human body in the cabin (step S520). If it is determined in step S520 that there is no human body in the room, the process returns to step S100, and if it is determined that there is a human body in the room, the process proceeds to step S600.
[0060]
According to the above-described configuration and operation, even when the amount of visible light is small, such as at night, when the IR sensor 2 detects a temperature change that is considered to be based on infrared rays emitted by an intruder, the security control unit 12 sets the room in the room. The presence or absence of an intruder can be reliably determined based on the visible light image of the CCD camera 3 after being brightened by the lamp 60. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the presence or absence of an intruder without continuously lighting the room lamp 60 at night or the like.
[0061]
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0062]
The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a visible light image is stored. The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment.
[0063]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main part of a schematic control operation of the security control device 12 according to the third embodiment.
[0064]
As shown in FIG. 6, when it is determined in step S300 that there is a human body in the room and when step S510 is executed, the security control device 12 stores the visible light image of the CCD camera 3 (step S550). ). Then, step S600 is executed thereafter.
[0065]
According to the above-described configuration and operation, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and it is easy to identify the intruder by reproducing the visible light image stored in the security control device 12.
[0066]
(Other embodiments)
In each of the above embodiments, the security control device 12 controls the operation of the alarm device 50 when detecting an intruder in the vehicle interior, but may output a notification signal to the outside. According to this, it is also possible to notify the owner, the security company, and the like of the presence of the intruder. Further, both the operation of the alarm device 50 and the output of the notification signal to the outside may be executed.
[0067]
In the second embodiment, the intruder is detected again by the CCD camera 3 after the room lamp 60 is turned on. In the third embodiment, the CCD camera 3 is turned on after the room lamp 60 is turned on. Although the image is stored, both the re-detection by the CCD camera 3 and the image recording may be performed.
[0068]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, when the amount of visible light is equal to or less than the predetermined amount in step S200, the intruder is monitored by the IR sensor 2, but monitoring is performed by the IR sensor 2 and the CCD camera 3. For example, when an intruder is detected, an alarm may be issued.
[0069]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the IR sensor 2 and the CCD camera 3 are provided in the upper front part of the vehicle interior. is not.
[0070]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the visible light image acquiring means is the CCD camera 3, but the visible light image acquiring means is not limited to this as long as the visible light image can be acquired. For example, a CMOS camera or the like may be used.
[0071]
In addition, real values such as 1 second, 5 ° C., and 2 regions in the above embodiments are examples, and can be appropriately set according to various characteristics such as an indoor configuration and IR sensor characteristics.
[0072]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the air-conditioning apparatus air-conditions the interior of the vehicle. However, the present invention can be applied to an air-conditioning apparatus that air-conditions the interior of a house or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle cabin, and is a diagram illustrating a temperature detection region by an IR sensor 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overall schematic control operation of the security control device 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main part of a schematic control operation of a security control device 12 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main part of a schematic control operation of a security control device 12 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 air conditioning unit 2 IR sensor (infrared sensor, temperature detecting means)
3 CCD camera (visible light image acquisition means)
5. Light receiving sensor (visible light amount detecting means)
10 control device (control means)
11 air conditioning control device (part of control means)
12 Security control device (part of control means)
21, 22, 23, 24 Area 50 Alarm device (alarm means)
60 room lamp (lighting means)
S100 unlocking determination means

Claims (9)

An air conditioning unit (1) for sending conditioned air into the room;
Temperature detection means (2) for detecting a temperature of each area based on a radiation infrared intensity of each area in the room;
A control unit (10) for controlling the operation of the air conditioning unit (1) based on the temperature of each area detected by the temperature detection unit (2),
Unlocking determining means (S100) for determining whether or not the entrance to the room is normally unlocked by a normal operation;
A visible light amount detecting means (5) for detecting a visible light amount in the room,
The control means (10) determines that the unlocking determination means (S100) has not been unlocked normally, and when the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detection means (5) is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, An air conditioner characterized by determining that there is an intruder in the room when there is an area in which the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (2) has changed by a predetermined value or more within a predetermined time. The control means (10) determines that the unlocking determining means (S100) has not been unlocked normally and that the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detecting means (5) is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. When there is an area in which the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (2) has increased by the predetermined value or more within the predetermined time, it is determined that the intruder has entered the room. 2. The air conditioner according to 1. The control means (10) determines that the unlocking determining means (S100) has not been unlocked normally and that the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detecting means (5) is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. If there is an area in which the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (2) has increased by the predetermined value or more within the predetermined time and an area has decreased by the predetermined value or more, it is determined that the intruder has moved in the room. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination is performed. The control means (10) determines that the unlocking determining means (S100) has not been unlocked normally and that the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detecting means (5) is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. When the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (2) rises by the predetermined value or more within the predetermined time and the region having substantially the same temperature as this region continuously exceed the predetermined number, The air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein it is determined that the intruder is present. A visible light image acquisition unit (3) for acquiring a visible light image of the room;
The control means (10) determines that the unlocking determination means (S100) has not been properly unlocked, and when the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detection means (5) is larger than the predetermined amount, The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the presence of the intruder is determined based on the visible light image acquired by the visible light image acquiring means (3). The control means (10) determines that the unlocking determination means (S100) has not been unlocked normally, and when the visible light amount detected by the visible light amount detection means (5) is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. If there is an area in which the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (2) has changed by the predetermined value or more within the predetermined time,
The lighting unit (60) that illuminates the room is turned on, and the presence of the intruder is determined based on the visible light image acquired by the visible light image acquiring unit (3). Air conditioner. The said control means (10) memorize | stores the visible light image acquired by the said visible light image acquisition means (3), when it determines with the said intruder existing in the said room. The air conditioner according to claim 6. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control means (10) outputs a notification signal when it is determined that the intruder exists in the room. apparatus. An alarm means (50) for issuing an alarm;
The control means (10) controls the operation of the alarm means (50) when it is determined that the intruder is present in the room. The air conditioner according to item 1.

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