JP2010014350A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner that can automatically make an installation position setting for an indoor unit in the absence of an operator's or user's installation position setting for the indoor unit at installation. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner includes a substantially boxlike body having an inlet for drawing room air and an outlet for delivering conditioned air, an infrared sensor mounted on a front surface of the body at a predetermined angle of depression to scan a temperature detection target area transversely and detect temperatures of temperature detection targets, and a control part for controlling the air conditioner in response to detecting humans or heating apparatus through the infrared sensor. At least upon an operation start, the control part makes a scan with the infrared sensor to obtain thermal image data on a room, determines the installation position of the body in the room according to the thermal image data, and sets the direction of wind delivered from the outlet according to the installation position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

  For example, in a wall-mounted air conditioner, an indoor unit is usually installed on a high wall of a room. However, the left and right positions on the wall where the indoor unit is installed are various. It may be installed at the approximate center in the left-right direction of the wall, or may be installed close to the right or left wall as viewed from the indoor unit. Hereinafter, in this specification, the left-right direction of the room is defined as the left-right direction viewed from the indoor unit.

  When the indoor unit is installed at the approximate center in the left-right direction of the wall, the direction of the air blown from the indoor unit has little effect on the room, but it is installed close to the right or left wall as viewed from the indoor unit. If air is blown from the indoor unit toward the approaching right or left wall, the air conditioning in the living space is insufficient, and the air conditioning efficiency deteriorates and the comfort is impaired. In addition, the wall to which air is directly blown from the indoor unit is likely to be contaminated and peeled.

Therefore, when the user selects the installation position on the wall of the indoor unit, “center installation”, “left installation”, “right installation” with the remote controller installation position setting switch, and “central installation” is selected, The wind direction of the left and right wind direction blades is controlled to swing left and right by 150 degrees about the center with respect to the installation wall. Further, when “left installation” is selected, the wind direction of the left and right wind direction blades is controlled to swing left and right only within 75 degrees rightward from the center. In addition, when “right installation” is selected, an air conditioner has been proposed in which the wind direction of the left and right blades is controlled to swing left and right only within 75 degrees leftward from the center (for example, , See Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-106919 A

  However, Patent Document 1 described above is inconvenient for the user because the user of the air conditioner needs to set the installation position of the indoor unit. In addition, although not described in the said patent document 1, the installation contractor of an air conditioner may input the installation position of an indoor unit.

  As described above, the conventional air conditioner needs to input the installation position of the indoor unit by a remote controller or the like (sometimes depending on the indoor unit main body) at the time of installation by the installer or user, which is inconvenient and indoors. If you forget to enter the installation position of the machine, air conditioning efficiency will deteriorate and comfort will be impaired. In addition, there is a problem that dirt, peeling, and the like are likely to occur on the wall directly blown from the indoor unit.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. Even when an operator or a user does not set the installation position of the indoor unit during installation, the indoor unit installation position is automatically set. An air conditioner capable of performing the above is provided.

The air conditioner according to the present invention is a substantially box-shaped main body having a suction port for sucking room air and a blow-out port for blowing out conditioned air;
An infrared sensor that is attached downward to the front surface of the main body at a predetermined depression angle and that detects the temperature of the temperature detection target by scanning the temperature detection target range from side to side;
The presence of a person or a heat generating device is detected by the infrared sensor, and a control unit that controls the air conditioner is provided.
The control unit scans the infrared sensor at least when the operation is started to obtain thermal image data of the room, determines an installation position of the main body in the room based on the thermal image data, and blows out from the outlet. The direction of the blown air to be blown is set corresponding to the installation position.

  In the air conditioner according to the present invention, the control unit scans the infrared sensor at least at the start of operation to obtain thermal image data of the room, determines the installation position of the main body in the room based on the thermal image data, and from the outlet Since the direction of the blown air blown out is set according to the installation position, the installation position of the indoor unit is automatically set even if the operator or user does not set the installation position of the indoor unit during installation. It can be carried out.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
First, an outline of the present embodiment will be described. The air conditioner (indoor unit) is equipped with a movable infrared sensor that detects the temperature while scanning the temperature detection target range, and detects the presence of people and heat-generating equipment by detecting the heat source using the movable infrared sensor. To perform proper control.

  Usually, the indoor unit is installed on a wall at a high place in the room, but the left and right positions on the wall on which the indoor unit is installed are various. It may be installed at the approximate center in the left-right direction of the wall, or may be installed close to the right or left wall as viewed from the indoor unit.

  The air conditioner of this embodiment uses a movable infrared sensor at the time of start-up to determine the left and right positions on the wall where the air conditioner itself is installed, and automatically blows out the wind direction (left and right flaps) accordingly. Etc. are set. Thus, the air conditioning efficiency is prevented from deteriorating and the comfort is impaired, and the wall to which air is directly blown from the indoor unit is prevented from being contaminated or peeled off.

  FIGS. 1 to 24 are diagrams showing the first embodiment. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the air conditioner 100, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the air conditioner 100, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing 5 that houses the movable infrared sensor 3, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the movable infrared sensor 3 ((a) is a movable infrared ray). FIG. 7 shows a state in which the sensor 3 is moved to the right end, (b) a state in which the movable infrared sensor 3 is moved to the center, (c) a state in which the movable infrared sensor 3 is moved to the left end). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a vertical light distribution viewing angle in a longitudinal section of the movable infrared sensor 3, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing thermal image data of a room where the housewife 12 holds the infant 13, and FIG. 9 is a room of an arbitrary size The figure which shows a mode that the air conditioner 100 is installed, FIG. 10 is a positive whose one side of a floor surface is 3600 mm. The floor and wall surface are expanded by the triangle method for the room space where the air conditioner 100 is installed near the center of the longitudinal wall of the 16 tatami mat room, where two rooms (equivalent to 8 tatami mats) are arranged. FIG. 11 shows the detection area of the floor area 22, the wall area 20, and the boundary area 21 between the floor and the wall when acquiring thermal image data under the installation conditions of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. FIG. 12 shows a room in which the air conditioner 100 is installed in the vicinity of the center of the wall in the short direction of a room of 16 tatami mat equivalent, in which two square rooms (equivalent to 8 tatami mat) each having a floor of 3600 mm are arranged side by side. FIG. 13 is a diagram in which a floor surface and a wall surface are developed by a triangle method with respect to a space, and FIG. 13 shows a floor surface region 25, a wall surface region 23, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a detection area area of a boundary line area 24 between a floor surface and a wall surface, and FIG. 14 shows one side of the floor surface For a room space in which the air conditioner 100 is installed near the right end of the longitudinal wall of a 16 tatami mat room with two 3600 mm square (8 tatami mat) rooms, FIG. 15 is a developed view of the wall surface. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating detection of a floor surface region 28, a wall surface region 26, and a boundary region 27 between the floor surface and the wall surface when acquiring thermal image data under the installation conditions of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. FIG. 16 is a perspective view when the air conditioner 100 is installed near the center of the room installation wall 50 and the blowing air 29 is blown to the right side, and the blowing air 30 is blown to the left side. FIGS. 17B and 17B are a perspective view when the air conditioner 100 is installed near the right end of the installation wall 50 of the room and the blowing air 29 is blown to the right side, and the blowing air 30 is blown to the left side. (B) and FIG. 18 show the installation / operation conditions of FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing room thermal image data under the installation / operating conditions of FIG. 16B, FIG. 20 is a diagram combining FIGS. 18 and 19, and FIG. Is a diagram showing room thermal image data under the installation / operation conditions of FIG. 17 (a), FIG. 22 is a diagram showing room thermal image data under the installation / operation conditions of FIG. 17 (b), and FIG. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the relationship between the distance L between the air conditioner 100 and the left and right walls and the area (number of pixels) S. FIG.

  The overall configuration of the air conditioner 100 (indoor unit) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. 1 and FIG. 2 are external perspective views of the air conditioner 100, but the view angle is different, and FIG. 1 shows that the upper and lower flaps 43 (up and down wind direction control plates, two on the left and right) are closed. FIG. 2 is different from FIG. 2 in that the upper and lower flaps 43 are open and the left and right flaps 44 (left and right wind direction control plates, many) are visible.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100 (indoor unit) has a suction port 41 for sucking room air on the upper surface of a substantially box-shaped indoor unit housing 40 (defined as a main body).

  Moreover, the blower outlet 42 which blows off conditioned air is formed in the lower part of the front, and the blower outlet 42 is provided with the upper and lower flaps 43 and the left and right flaps 44 for controlling the direction of the blown air. The upper and lower flaps 43 control the up and down direction of the blowing air, and the left and right flaps 44 control the left and right direction of the blowing air.

  A movable infrared sensor 3 (an example of an infrared sensor) is provided on the outlet 42 in the lower part of the front surface of the indoor unit housing 40. The movable infrared sensor 3 is attached downward at an depression angle of about 24.5 degrees. The depression angle is an angle formed by the central axis of the movable infrared sensor 3 and a horizontal line. In other words, the movable infrared sensor 3 is mounted downward at an angle of about 24.5 degrees with respect to the horizon.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioner 100 (indoor unit) includes a blower 45 inside, and a heat exchanger 46 is disposed so as to surround the blower 45.

  The heat exchanger 46 is connected to a compressor or the like mounted on an outdoor unit (not shown) to form a refrigeration cycle. It operates as an evaporator during cooling operation and as a condenser during heating operation.

  Room air is sucked in by the blower 45 from the suction port 41, heat exchange is performed with the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle in the heat exchanger 46, passes through the blower 45, and is blown out into the room from the outlet 42.

  At the air outlet 42, the vertical and horizontal flaps 43 and left and right flaps 44 (not shown in FIG. 3) control the vertical and horizontal wind directions. In FIG. 3, the upper and lower flaps 43 are at a horizontal blowing angle.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the movable infrared sensor 3 has eight light receiving elements (not shown) arranged in a row in the vertical direction inside the metal can 1. On the upper surface of the metal can 1, there are provided lens windows (not shown) for passing infrared rays through the eight light receiving elements. The light distribution viewing angle 2 of each light receiving element is 7 degrees in the vertical direction and 8 degrees in the horizontal direction. In addition, although the light distribution viewing angle 2 of each light receiving element showed 7 degrees of vertical directions and 8 degrees of horizontal directions, it is not limited to 7 degrees of vertical directions and 8 degrees of horizontal directions. The number of light receiving elements changes according to the light distribution viewing angle 2 of each light receiving element. For example, the product of the vertical light distribution viewing angle of one light receiving element and the number of light receiving elements may be made constant.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the movable infrared sensor 3 as seen from the back side (from the inside of the air conditioner 100). As shown in FIG. 5, the movable infrared sensor 3 is housed in the housing 5. A stepping motor 6 that drives the movable infrared sensor 3 is provided above the housing 5. The movable infrared sensor 3 is attached to the air conditioner 100 by fixing the attachment portion 7 integrated with the housing 5 to the lower front portion of the air conditioner 100. In a state where the movable infrared sensor 3 is attached to the air conditioner 100, the stepping motor 6 and the housing 5 are vertical. The movable infrared sensor 3 is attached to the inside of the housing 5 downward at an included angle of about 24.5 degrees.

  The movable infrared sensor 3 is rotationally driven within a predetermined angle range in the left-right direction by the stepping motor 6 (this rotational drive is expressed as being movable here), but as shown in FIG. It moves from a) to the left end portion (c) via the central portion (b), and when it reaches the left end portion (c), it is reversed and moved in the reverse direction. This operation is repeated. The movable infrared sensor 3 detects the temperature of the temperature detection target while scanning the room temperature detection target range from side to side.

  Here, the acquisition method of the thermal image data of the wall and floor of the room by the movable infrared sensor 3 will be described. The movable infrared sensor 3 and the like are controlled by a microcomputer programmed with a predetermined operation. A microcomputer programmed with a predetermined operation is defined as a control unit. In the following description, a description that each control is performed by the control unit (a microcomputer programmed with a predetermined operation) is omitted.

  When acquiring thermal image data of the wall or floor of the room, the movable infrared sensor 3 is moved in the left-right direction by the stepping motor 6, and the movable angle of the stepping motor 6 (the rotational drive angle of the movable infrared sensor 3) is 1.6. The movable infrared sensor 3 is stopped at each position every predetermined time for a predetermined time (0.1 to 0.2 seconds).

  After the movable infrared sensor 3 is stopped, it waits for a predetermined time (a time shorter than 0.1 to 0.2 seconds), and the detection results (thermal image data) of the eight light receiving elements of the movable infrared sensor 3 are captured.

  After capturing the detection result of the movable infrared sensor 3, the stepping motor 6 is driven again (moving angle 1.6 degrees) and then stopped, and the eight light receiving elements of the movable infrared sensor 3 are detected by the same operation. Capture the results (thermal image data).

  The above operation is repeated, and thermal image data in the detection area is calculated based on the detection results of 94 movable infrared sensors 3 in the left-right direction.

  Since the movable infrared sensor 3 is stopped at 94 positions every 1.6 degrees of the movable angle of the stepping motor 6 and the thermal image data is captured, the movable range of the movable infrared sensor 3 in the horizontal direction (the angle for rotationally driving in the horizontal direction) Range) is about 150.4 degrees.

  When the movable infrared sensor 3 is moved in the left-right direction by the stepping motor 6 to acquire thermal image data of the wall or floor of the room, the direction of the upper and lower flaps 43 of the air conditioner 100 is fixed horizontally. The left and right flaps 44 acquire room thermal image data for two cases of tilting to the right and maximizing to the left. This point will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 7 shows a vertical light distribution viewing angle in a vertical cross section of the movable infrared sensor 3 in which eight light receiving elements are arranged in a vertical row in a state where the air conditioner 100 is installed at a height of 1800 mm from the floor of the room. Indicates.

  The angle 7 ° shown in FIG. 7 is the vertical light distribution viewing angle of one light receiving element.

  Further, an angle 37.5 ° in FIG. 7 indicates an angle from a wall to which the air conditioner 100 in a region that does not enter the vertical field of view of the movable infrared sensor 3 is attached. If the depression angle of the movable infrared sensor 3 is 0 °, this angle is 90 ° −4 (number of light receiving elements below the horizontal) × 7 ° (vertical light distribution viewing angle of one light receiving element) = 62. It becomes °. Since the movable infrared sensor 3 of the present embodiment has a depression angle of 24.5 °, 62 ° -24.5 ° = 37.5 °.

  FIG. 8 shows a result of calculation as thermal image data based on a detection result obtained by moving the movable infrared sensor 3 in the left-right direction in a living scene where the housewife 12 is holding the infant 13 in a room equivalent to 8 tatami mats. Indicates.

  FIG. 8 shows thermal image data acquired on a day when the season is winter and the weather is cloudy. Therefore, the temperature of the window 14 is as low as 10 to 15 ° C. Housewives 12 and infants 13 have the highest temperatures. In particular, the temperature of the upper body of the housewife 12 and the infant 13 is 26-30 ° C. Thus, by moving the movable infrared sensor 3 in the left-right direction, for example, temperature information of each part of the room can be acquired.

  FIG. 9 shows a state where the air conditioner 100 is installed in a room of an arbitrary size. The air conditioner 100 is installed on the installation wall 50 (broken hatched portion). On the right side of the installation wall 50 is the right wall 17. The left wall 16 is on the left side of the installation wall 50. A front wall 19 is located in front of the installation wall 50. Further, there is a floor 18 under the installation wall 50.

  The detection area area of the thermal image data that can be acquired by moving the movable infrared sensor 3 having the vertical light distribution viewing angle shown in FIG. 7 in 94 positions (angle 150.4 °) in the left-right direction is an air conditioner. The right wall 17, the left wall 16, the front wall 19, and the floor 18 as viewed from 100 are mainly used.

  FIG. 10 shows a room space in which the air conditioner 100 is installed near the center of the longitudinal wall of a room of 16 tatami mats, in which two square rooms (equivalent to 8 tatami mats) each having a floor of 3600 mm are arranged. It is the figure which developed the floor surface and the wall surface by the triangle method.

  Similar to FIG. 9, the detection target area area as a thermal image to be acquired is the right wall 17, the left wall 16, the front wall 19, and the floor 18 as viewed from the air conditioner 100.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing detection area regions of the floor surface region 22, the wall surface region 20, and the boundary region 21 between the floor surface and the wall surface when acquiring thermal image data under the installation conditions of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. is there. When the installation height of the air conditioner 100 is 1800 mm (FIG. 7), the wall surface region 20, the floor surface region 22, and the floor 18 in the thermal image corresponding to 752 pixels obtained from 8 vertical elements * 94 horizontal resolutions that can be acquired. And a boundary region 21 between the wall surface (the right wall 17, the left wall 16, and the front wall 19).

  The light receiving elements a to c are dominant in the detection element that detects the floor surface region 22 on the near side when viewed from the air conditioner 100. In addition, the light receiving elements e to h are the main detecting elements for detecting the wall surface region 20.

  The light receiving elements d and e have a floor 18 and a wall surface (the right wall 17, the left wall 16, and the front wall 19) because of the relationship between the left and right angles and the vertical light distribution viewing angle of the movable infrared sensor 3 (FIG. 7). ) Is detected near the boundary line 21).

  Accordingly, in FIG. 11, the floor area 22 is a lower area and the wall surface area 20 is an upper area in the acquired thermal image, and the floor 18 and the wall surfaces (the right wall 17, the left wall 16, and the front wall 19). The boundary line region 21 is positioned between the floor surface region 22 and the wall surface region 20.

  FIG. 12 shows a room space in which an air conditioner 100 is installed near the center of a short-side wall of a room of 16 tatami mat equivalent to two rooms of a square (equivalent to 8 tatami mat) each having a side of the floor of 3600 mm. It is the figure which developed the wall surface of the floor surface by the triangle method.

  13 shows a floor area 25, a wall area 23, a floor 18 and a wall surface (right wall 17, left wall 16, front wall when acquiring thermal image data under the installation conditions of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. 19) shows the detection area of the boundary line area 24. When the installation height of the air conditioner 100 is 1800 mm (FIG. 7), the wall surface region 23, the floor surface region 25, and the floor 18 in the thermal image corresponding to 752 pixels obtained from the vertical 8 element * horizontal 94 resolution that can be acquired. And a boundary region 24 between the wall surface (the right wall 17, the left wall 16, and the front wall 19).

  The light receiving elements a to e are dominant in the detection element that detects the floor surface region 25 on the near side when viewed from the air conditioner 100. Compared to FIG. 11, the floor surface area 25 near the center of the detection area area is wider. Further, the floor area 25 near both ends of the detection area area is narrowed. This is because the room shown in FIG. 12 is longer than the room shown in FIG. 10 when viewed from the air conditioner 100.

  In addition, the light receiving elements c to h are the main detecting elements for detecting the wall surface region 23. Compared to FIG. 11, the wall surface region 23 near the center of the detection area region is narrower. Further, the wall surface region 23 near both ends of the detection area region is widened. This is also because the room shown in FIG. 12 is longer than the room shown in FIG. 10 when viewed from the air conditioner 100.

  The light receiving elements c to f have a floor 18 and a wall surface (the right wall 17, the left wall 16, the front wall 19) because of the relationship between the left and right angles and the vertical light distribution viewing angle of the movable infrared sensor 3 (FIG. 7). ) Is detected near the boundary line.

  Accordingly, also in FIG. 13, the floor area 25 is a lower area and the wall surface area 23 is an upper area in the acquired thermal image, and the floor 18 and the wall surface (the right wall 17, the left wall 16, and the front wall 19). The boundary line area 24 is positioned between the floor area 25 and the wall area 23.

  FIG. 14 shows a room space in which an air conditioner 100 is installed near the right end of a longitudinal wall of a room of 16 tatami mats, in which two square rooms (equivalent to 8 tatami mats) each having a side of 3600 mm are arranged side by side. It is the figure which developed the floor surface and the wall surface by the triangle method.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing detection area areas of a floor area 28, a wall area 26, and a boundary area 27 between the floor and the wall surface when acquiring thermal image data under the installation conditions of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. is there. When the installation height of the air conditioner 100 is set to 1800 mm (FIG. 7), the wall surface area 26, the floor area 28, and the floor 18 in the thermal image corresponding to 752 pixels obtained from 8 vertical elements * 94 horizontal resolution that can be acquired. And a boundary region 27 between the wall surface (the right wall 17, the left wall 16, and the front wall 19).

  The light receiving elements a to e are dominant in the detection element that detects the floor surface region 25 on the near side when viewed from the air conditioner 100. The floor area 28 is biased to the left side of the detection area area. This is because the air conditioner 100 is installed near the right end of the wall in the longitudinal direction of the room, so that the floor 18 does not enter the detection region when the movable infrared sensor 3 moves in the left-right direction from near the center to the right end. Because.

  Further, all of the light receiving elements a to h detect the wall surface region 26. The wall surface area 26 is widened from the left to the right of the detection area area. About 1/3 on the right side of the detection area is only the wall surface area 26. This is also because the air conditioner 100 is installed near the right end of the longitudinal wall of the room.

  The light receiving elements a to f have a floor 18 and a wall surface (the right wall 17, the left wall 16, and the front wall 19) because of the relationship between the left and right angles and the vertical light distribution viewing angle of the movable infrared sensor 3 (FIG. 7). ) Is detected in the vicinity of the boundary line 27). Since the air conditioner 100 is installed near the right end of the wall in the longitudinal direction of the room, the boundary line area 27 does not exist in about 1/3 of the right side of the detection area area.

  Next, an example of room thermal image data that can be acquired using the movable infrared sensor 3 will be described. The air conditioner 100 is cooled or heated. At this time, the upper and lower flaps 43 are fixed in a direction in which the blown air becomes horizontal or higher. The temperature of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet 42 is maintained for a predetermined time in a state where there is a predetermined temperature difference from the room air, and the thermal image data of the room is acquired using the movable infrared sensor 3 during that time. The left and right flaps 44 acquire thermal image data for each of the first state tilted to the maximum on the right side and the second state tilted to the maximum on the left side. However, the inclination of the left and right flaps 44 may not be the maximum.

  FIG. 16 is a perspective view when the air conditioner 100 is installed near the center of the installation wall 50 in the room and the blowing air 29 is blown to the right side, and a perspective view when the blowing air 30 is blown to the left side (b). It is. When blowing the blowing air 29 to the right, the left and right flaps 44 are tilted to the right to the maximum (first state). Further, when blowing the blown air 30 to the left, the left and right flaps 44 are tilted to the left to the maximum (second state). However, the inclination of the left and right flaps 44 to the left and right may not be the maximum.

  FIG. 17 is a perspective view when the air conditioner 100 is installed near the right end of the installation wall 50 in the room, and the blown air is blown to the right, and a perspective view when the blown air is blown to the left (b). It is. The directions of the left and right flaps 44 are the same as in the case of FIG.

  FIG. 18 shows thermal image data of the room acquired under the installation / operation conditions shown in FIG. In this case, the air conditioner 100 is installed near the center of the installation wall 50 of the room, and the blowing air 29 having a predetermined temperature difference from the room air is blown to the right side. A temperature change of 17 appears. The temperature change of the right wall 17 is defined as a right wall temperature change distribution 32. A temperature change does not appear in any part other than the wall 17 on the right side of the room.

  FIG. 19 shows the thermal image data of the room acquired under the installation / operation conditions shown in FIG. In this case, the air conditioner 100 is installed near the center of the installation wall 50 in the room, and the blowout air 30 having a predetermined temperature difference from the room air is blown out to the left side. Sixteen temperature changes appear. This temperature change of the left wall 16 is defined as a left wall temperature change distribution 31. A temperature change does not appear in any part other than the left wall 16 of the room.

  FIG. 20 is a combination of FIG. 18 and FIG. The right wall temperature change distribution 32 and the left wall temperature change distribution 31 appear symmetrically. The right wall surface temperature change distribution 32 and the left wall surface temperature change distribution 31 have the same area and the same heat distribution temperature.

  FIG. 21 shows the thermal image data of the room acquired under the installation / operation conditions shown in FIG. In this case, the air conditioner 100 is installed in the vicinity of the right end of the installation wall 50 in the room, and the blowing air 29 having a predetermined temperature difference from the room air is blown out on the right side. A temperature change of 17 appears. The temperature change of the right wall 17 is defined as a right wall temperature change distribution 34. A temperature change does not appear in any part other than the wall 17 on the right side of the room. The right wall surface temperature change distribution 34 has a larger area and a higher heat distribution temperature than the right wall surface temperature change distribution 32 of FIG. The difference in temperature of the heat distribution is expressed by changing the type of hatching.

  FIG. 22 shows the thermal image data of the room acquired under the installation / operation conditions shown in FIG. In this case, the air conditioner 100 is installed in the vicinity of the right end of the room installation wall 50, and the blowout air 30 having a predetermined temperature difference from the room air is blown out on the left side. Sixteen temperature changes appear. The temperature change of the right wall 17 is defined as a left wall temperature change distribution 33. A temperature change does not appear in any part other than the left wall 16 of the room. Compared with the left wall surface temperature change distribution 31 of FIG. 19, the left wall surface temperature change distribution 33 has a smaller area and a lower temperature of the heat distribution. The difference in temperature of the heat distribution is expressed by changing the type of hatching. The hatching of the left wall surface temperature change distribution 33 indicates that the temperature (temperature change) of the heat distribution is low by making it rougher than the hatching of the left wall surface temperature change distribution 31.

  FIG. 23 is a combination of FIG. 21 and FIG. When the right wall temperature change distribution 34 and the left wall temperature change distribution 33 are compared, the area of the right wall temperature change distribution 34 is larger than the area of the left wall temperature change distribution 33 and the heat distribution of the right wall temperature change distribution 34 is. The temperature (temperature change) of the heat distribution of the left wall surface temperature change distribution 33 is high (temperature change). The difference in temperature (temperature change) of the heat distribution is represented by the difference in the type of hatching.

  Although not shown, when the air conditioner 100 is installed near the left end of the installation wall 50 in the room, it is apparent that thermal image data that is the opposite of that in FIG. 23 is obtained.

  Based on the above results, when the air conditioner 100 is installed, etc., the air conditioner 100 itself automatically determines the installation position of the air conditioner 100 in the room, and sets the blowing wind direction according to it. explain. Conventionally, the installation work or the user of inputting the installation position of the air conditioner 100 with a remote controller at the time of installation or the like is not required by the above-described automatic installation position setting process. A remote control installation position input unit is also unnecessary.

  The process in which the air conditioner 100 itself determines the installation position of the air conditioner 100 and sets the blowing air direction according to the determination is defined as “installation position automatic determination process”.

The timing (timing) for performing the installation position automatic determination process will be described first. Some of the following are possible.
(1) It is always performed at the time of starting operation, and if it exceeds a certain number of detections, it will not be performed thereafter as confirmed information. (2) Always when starting operation.
(3) The installation position automatic determination processing button is provided on the remote controller or the main body, and the installation position automatic determination processing is performed only when this installation position automatic determination processing button is pressed. This case is performed by the installer or user during installation or relocation.

  Among the above (1) to (3), (1) is dominant. However, in (1), when the air conditioner 100 is moved (although rarely), the installation position in the room of the air conditioner 100 may change. Need to be added. As the program, the thermal image data of the room in the first automatic installation position determination process (before the relocation) is stored in the memory, and the process of periodically updating the thermal image data of the room stored in the memory is added. . If the thermal image data of the room stored in the memory changes, it can be determined that the room is to be moved and the installation position automatic determination process is performed again.

When a command for installation position automatic determination processing is issued, the control unit of the air conditioner 100 performs the following processing.
(1) Start cooling or heating operation.
(2) The upper and lower flaps 43 are horizontally blown.
(3) The left and right flaps 44 are tilted to the right at a maximum or near angle, and the movable infrared sensor 3 is scanned to acquire thermal image data of the first room (for example, FIGS. 18 and 21).
(4) The left and right flaps 44 are tilted to the left at a maximum or near angle, and the movable infrared sensor 3 is scanned to acquire thermal image data of the second room (for example, FIGS. 19 and 22).
(5) The thermal image data of the first room is compared with the thermal image data of the second room (for example, FIGS. 20 and 23). And the installation position of the air conditioner 100 in a room is determined based on the comparison result.

As a determination method, the following method can be considered.
(1) The areas of the heat distribution due to the influence of the blowing temperature are compared on the left and right, and if they are the same area, it is determined that the installation is central. For example, since the right wall surface temperature change distribution 32 and the left wall surface temperature change distribution 31 in FIG. 20 have the same area, it is determined that the center wall is installed. Further, the right wall surface temperature change distribution 34 and the left wall surface temperature change distribution 33 in FIG. 23 have an area of the right wall surface temperature change distribution 34 larger than the area of the left wall surface temperature change distribution 33. It is determined that it is installed near the right end of 50).
(2) The installation position in the room of the air conditioner 100 is determined by comparing the temperature (temperature change) of the heat distribution due to the influence of the blowing temperature on the left and right. For example, the right wall surface temperature change distribution 32 and the left wall surface temperature change distribution 31 in FIG. 20 have the same heat distribution temperature (temperature change), and thus are determined to be centrally installed. Further, in the right wall surface temperature change distribution 34 and the left wall surface temperature change distribution 33 in FIG. 23, the heat distribution temperature (temperature change) of the right wall surface temperature change distribution 34 is the temperature of the left wall temperature change distribution 33 (temperature change). Therefore, it is determined that the corner is installed (installed near the right end of the installation wall 50).
(3) The installation position of the air conditioner 100 in the room is determined by comparing the product of the temperature (temperature change) and the area of the heat distribution due to the influence of the blowing temperature on the left and right.
The installation position of the air conditioner 100 in the room is determined on the basis of any one of the above (1) to (3) or (1) + (2).

  When it is determined that the installation position of the air conditioner 100 in the room is substantially installed near the right end of the installation wall 50, the direction of the left and right flaps 44 is swung to the right and left about the center with respect to the installation wall 50 by a predetermined angle. Control to do.

  When it is determined that the installation position of the air conditioner 100 in the room is substantially near the right end of the installation wall 50, the direction of the left and right flaps 44 is controlled to swing from the center of the installation wall 50 to the right by a predetermined angle.

  When it is determined that the installation position of the air conditioner 100 in the room is substantially near the left end of the installation wall 50, the direction of the left and right flaps 44 is controlled to swing from the center of the installation wall 50 to the left by a predetermined angle.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the relationship between the distance L and the area (number of pixels) S between the air conditioner 100 and the left and right walls. The area (number of pixels) S on the vertical axis in FIG. 24 is obtained by replacing the influence of the wall surface temperature by the blown hot / cold air with the area.

  The installation positional relationship can be determined by obtaining the distance L between the air conditioner 100 and the left and right walls from the degree of influence of the wall temperature of the acquired thermal image and comparing the areas of the left and right wall temperatures.

  The swing angle of the left and right flaps 44 may be changed according to the distance L between the air conditioner 100 and the left and right walls. If the distance L between the air conditioner 100 and the left and right walls becomes longer, the swing angle can be widened to the opposite side of the swing side from the center.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the air conditioner 100 itself determines the installation position in the room (mainly the position in the left-right direction on the installation wall 50), and the blowout according to the installation position. Since the wind is controlled, conventionally, the installation work or the user of inputting the installation position of the air conditioner 100 with the remote controller at the time of installation or the like becomes unnecessary. Moreover, the installation position input part of the remote control is not required. Furthermore, it can respond only by changing the control program of the control unit (microcomputer).

  In the above description, thermal image data of the room space where the air conditioner 100 is installed is obtained by rotating the movable infrared sensor 3 in the left-right direction within a predetermined angle range. The sensor is not limited to the movable infrared sensor 3. Thermal image data of the room space in which the air conditioner 100 is installed may be acquired using one fixed infrared sensor whose light distribution viewing angle almost covers the entire target room space, or Alternatively, a plurality of fixed infrared sensors having different fields of view may be used, and thermal image data of the room space in which the air conditioner 100 is installed may be acquired by connecting the thermal image data acquired at the same timing.

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment and is a perspective view of the air conditioner 100. FIG. FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment and is a perspective view of the air conditioner 100. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the first embodiment and is a longitudinal sectional view of the air conditioner 100. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment and shows the light distribution viewing angles of the movable infrared sensor 3 and the light receiving element. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the first embodiment, and is a perspective view of a housing 5 that houses the movable infrared sensor 3. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the first embodiment, and is a perspective view of the vicinity of the movable infrared sensor 3 ((a) is a state where the movable infrared sensor 3 is moved to the right end, and (b) is a state where the movable infrared sensor 3 is moved to the center. The movable state, (c) is the state in which the movable infrared sensor 3 is moved to the left end). FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment, and shows a vertical light distribution viewing angle in a vertical cross section of the movable infrared sensor 3. The figure which shows Embodiment 1 and is a figure which shows the thermal image data of the room where the housewife 12 is holding the infant 13. FIG. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment, and shows a state in which the air conditioner 100 is installed in a room of an arbitrary size. In the diagram showing the first embodiment, the air conditioner 100 is installed near the center of the wall in the longitudinal direction of a room equivalent to 16 tatami mats, in which two rooms of a square (equivalent to 8 tatami mats) each having a floor of 3600 mm are arranged side by side The floor surface and the wall surface which were developed with the triangle method to the room space which was done. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the first embodiment, and detection of a floor area 22, a wall area 20, and a boundary area 21 between the floor and the wall when acquiring thermal image data under the installation conditions of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. The figure which shows an area area | region. In the diagram showing the first embodiment, the air conditioner 100 is placed near the center of the wall in the short direction of a room corresponding to 16 tatami mats, in which two square rooms (equivalent to 8 tatami mats) each having a side surface of 3600 mm are arranged side by side. The figure which expanded the floor surface and the wall surface with the triangle method with respect to the installed room space. 12 is a diagram illustrating the first embodiment, and detection of a floor area 25, a wall area 23, and a boundary area 24 between the floor and the wall when acquiring thermal image data under the installation conditions of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. The figure which shows an area area | region. In the figure showing Embodiment 1, the air conditioner 100 is placed near the right end of the wall in the longitudinal direction of a room equivalent to 16 tatami mats, where two square rooms (equivalent to 8 tatami mats) each having a floor of 3600 mm are arranged side by side. The figure which expanded the floor surface and the wall surface with the triangle method with respect to the installed room space. 14 is a diagram illustrating the first embodiment, and detection of a floor area 28, a wall area 26, and a boundary area 27 between the floor and the wall when acquiring thermal image data under the installation conditions of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. The figure which shows an area area | region. In the figure which shows Embodiment 1, the perspective view (a) at the time of installing the air conditioner 100 in the center vicinity of the installation wall 50 of a room, and blowing off the blowing air on the 29 right side and the case of blowing off the blowing air 30 on the left side FIG. In the figure which shows Embodiment 1, the perspective view (a) at the time of installing the air conditioner 100 near the right end of the installation wall 50 of a room, and blowing the blowing air 29 on the right side, and the case where the blowing air 30 is blown off on the left side FIG. FIG. 17 shows the first embodiment, and shows the thermal image data of the room under the installation / operation conditions of FIG. FIG. 17 shows the first embodiment, and shows the thermal image data of the room under the installation / operation conditions of FIG. FIG. 20 shows the first embodiment, and is a diagram in which FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are combined. FIG. 18 shows the first embodiment, and shows the thermal image data of the room under the installation / operation conditions of FIG. FIG. 18 shows the first embodiment, and shows the thermal image data of the room under the installation / operation conditions of FIG. FIG. 23 shows the first embodiment and is a diagram in which FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 are combined. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment and shows the relationship between the distance L between the air conditioner 100 and the left and right walls and the area (number of pixels) S;

Explanation of symbols

  1 metal can, 2 light distribution viewing angle, 3 movable infrared sensor, 5 housing, 6 stepping motor, 7 mounting part, 12 housewife, 13 infants, 14 windows, 16 left wall, 17 right wall, 18 floor, 19 Front wall, 20 Wall area, 21 Boundary area, 22 Floor area, 23 Wall area, 24 Boundary area, 25 Floor area, 26 Wall area, 27 Boundary area, 28 Floor area, 29 , 30 Blow air, 31 Left wall temperature change distribution, 32 Right wall temperature change distribution, 33 Left wall temperature change distribution, 34 Right wall temperature change distribution, 40 Indoor unit housing, 41 Air inlet, 42 Air outlet, 43 Upper and lower flaps, 44 left and right flaps, 45 blower, 46 heat exchanger, 50 installation wall, 100 air conditioner.

Claims (6)

A substantially box-shaped body having a suction port for sucking air in the room and a blow-out port for blowing out conditioned air;
An infrared sensor that is attached downward to the front surface of the main body at a predetermined depression angle and that detects the temperature of the temperature detection target by scanning the temperature detection target range from side to side;
The presence of a person or heat generating device is detected by the infrared sensor, and a control unit that controls the air conditioner is provided.
The control unit scans the infrared sensor at least when the operation is started to obtain thermal image data of the room, determines an installation position of the main body in the room based on the thermal image data, and blows out from the air outlet. An air conditioner characterized in that the direction of the blown air blow is set corresponding to the installation position.   When the air outlet is provided with an up / down air direction control plate for controlling the air direction in the up / down direction of the blown air, and when the control unit scans the infrared sensor to acquire the thermal image data of the room, the control unit The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the wind direction control plate is horizontally blown.   The left and right wind direction control plate for controlling the left and right wind direction of the blown air is provided at the outlet, and when the control unit scans the infrared sensor to acquire thermal image data of the room, the left and right wind direction control plate is provided. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermal image data is acquired for each of a first state tilted to the right side and a second state tilted to the left side.   The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit sets left and right wind directions of blown air blown from the blower outlet in correspondence with the installation position.   The process of setting the direction of the blown air blown from the blowout outlet corresponding to the installation position of the main body of the control unit is always performed at the start of operation of the air conditioner, and confirmed information when a certain number of detections is exceeded. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is not performed thereafter. The said control part judges the installation position in the said room of the said main body in any one of (1)-(3) shown below, or (1) and (2), It is characterized by the above-mentioned. An air conditioner according to any one of the above.
(1) Compare the areas of the thermal distribution of the thermal image data on the left and right;
(2) The temperature of the thermal distribution of the thermal image data is compared between right and left;
(3) The product of the area of the thermal distribution of the thermal image data and the temperature of the thermal distribution of the thermal image data is compared on the left and right.

Images