JP2010206714A - Equipment control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power-saving and low-cost equipment control system by accurately detecting the absence of humans and make loading apparatus halt. <P>SOLUTION: A microphone 3 detects sound within a control area in which an air-conditioning system 2 has been installed. A controller 1 includes a presence detection means 10a for detecting that a human is present, when the microphone 3 detects that a sound-pressure level has equaled or exceeded a prescribed sound-pressure reference value at least for a prescribed number of times within unit time; an absence determination means 10b for determining that a human is absent, when a presence detection means 10a does not detect the presence of humans at least for prescribed absence determination period; a load control means 10c for operating the air-conditioning system 2 with a preset operation content, when the presence detection means 10a detects the presence of humans and for stopping the air conditioning system 2, when the absence determination means 10b determines the absence of humans; a sound-pressure level storage means 14 for storing a history of the sound pressure level of the sound detected by the microphone 3; and a sound pressure reference value setting means 10d for setting the sound-pressure reference value in a prescribed time zone from the history of the sound-pressure level. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a device control system.

  Conventionally, as a device control system that automatically turns on lighting fixtures installed in toilets and corridors, a human sensor consisting of a pyroelectric infrared sensor is used to detect the presence of a person in the detection area. There is provided a system that turns on the fixture and extinguishes the luminaire because there is no presence detection for a certain period of time.

  In this type of equipment control system, the lighting device to be controlled is turned on when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person, and the lighting device is turned off when the presence sensor cannot detect the presence of a person. Power can be saved by turning off lighting fixtures in unnecessary places, and lighting fixtures are automatically turned on when a person is detected, which eliminates the need to turn on lighting fixtures and improves usability There was an advantage of doing.

  In addition, as a device control system that controls the bathroom heater installed in the bathroom, a sound sensor that detects sound in the bathroom is used, and the bathroom heater operates in the strong mode when the sound sensor is not detecting sound. In addition, a system that operates the bathroom heating device in a weak mode when a sound sensor detects sound has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-267197 A

  The former device control system described above has already been put to practical use in entrances, toilets, corridors, etc., but its application range has been expanded, and people are detected by human sensors in living spaces such as living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. It is conceivable to turn on the lighting fixtures or operate the air conditioner. However, a human sensor using a pyroelectric infrared detection element erroneously detects a change in the amount of incident light due to fluctuations in external light or curtains, and the lighting fixture malfunctions, resulting in unnecessary power consumption. There was a problem.

  In the latter device control system described above, when a sound is detected by the sound sensor, it is determined that a person is present. When the ambient noise changes according to the time zone, the person is detected by detecting the ambient noise. If there is an error, there is a possibility of erroneous detection, and the load device malfunctions due to erroneous human detection, resulting in a problem of wasteful power consumption.

  In order to prevent erroneous detection as described above, for example, an image of a detection area may be captured by an image sensor, and image processing may be performed to detect the presence or absence of a person. In comparison, the image sensor and its processing circuit are expensive, and there is a problem that the cost of the device control system is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a low-cost device control system that saves power by accurately detecting the absence of a person and stopping a load device. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that sound detection means for detecting sound generated in a control area where a load device to be controlled is installed, and a sound pressure level equal to or higher than a predetermined sound pressure reference value. If the number of times the sound detection means detects the sound within a unit time is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times, the presence detection means that detects that a person is present in the control area continuously detects the presence of the person for a predetermined absence determination time. If there is no person in the control area, the absence determination means, the load control means for controlling the load device to stop when the absence determination means determines the absence of the person, and the sound detected by the sound detection means. A sound pressure level storage means for storing a pressure level history, and a sound pressure level in a silent state in a predetermined time period is obtained from a sound pressure level history stored in the sound pressure level storage means, and a predetermined sound pressure level is determined from the sound pressure level in the silent state. In time Characterized in that a sound pressure reference value setting means for setting a kick sound pressure reference value.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brightness detection means for detecting the brightness of the control area according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the presence detection means is configured to detect a sound whose sound pressure level is equal to or higher than a sound pressure reference value. If the number of times detected within the unit time is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times, or if the brightness detected by the brightness detecting means changes more than a predetermined illuminance change threshold within a predetermined change time, a person is present in the control area. It is characterized by detecting.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that in the invention of claim 2, illuminance change threshold setting means for setting the illuminance change threshold for each time zone is provided.

  The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 3, further comprising brightness storage means for storing a history of brightness detection results detected by the brightness detection means in each time zone, wherein the illuminance change threshold setting means is brightness An illuminance change threshold is set for each time zone based on the history of brightness detection results stored in the storage means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the presence detecting means changes the brightness detected by the brightness detecting means more than the illuminance change threshold in the direction of becoming brighter within the change time. It is only characterized by detecting the presence of a person.

  By the way, if there is a person in the control area, the person who is in the control area generates some sound, or even if the person is not moving, for example, operating the TV or audio device Sound may be generated from the device. According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the presence detection means detects the presence of a person based on the detection result of the sound detection means, the presence of the person is detected by a human sensor using a pyroelectric infrared detection element. The presence detection is detected if a sound whose sound pressure level is equal to or higher than the sound pressure reference value is detected a predetermined number of times or more within a unit time. Since the means detects that a person is present, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of sudden noise. In addition, the ambient noise such as outside the house is expected to change greatly depending on the time zone. However, the sound pressure reference value setting means determines whether the silent state in the predetermined time zone is based on the sound pressure level history stored in the sound pressure level storage means. Since the sound pressure level is obtained and the sound pressure reference value for the specified time period is set from the sound pressure level in the silent state, even if the sound pressure level in the silent state changes depending on the time period, the presence of people due to ambient noise It is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneous detection. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a low-cost device control system that reduces power consumption by accurately detecting the absence of a person and stopping a load device without using an expensive sensor such as an image sensor. it can.

  In addition, when a person enters the control area in a dark state, it is assumed that the control area is brightened by turning on the lighting fixtures or opening curtains or shutters. In this case, the illuminance in the control area is expected to change rapidly in a short time. According to the invention of claim 2, the presence detection means detects that there is a person in the control area even when the brightness detected by the brightness detection means changes by a predetermined illuminance change threshold value within a predetermined change time. Therefore, even if a person in the control area turns on the lighting apparatus without making a sound, the presence of the person can be detected, and the presence / absence of the person can be detected more reliably.

  In addition, the illuminance change before and after the lighting fixture is turned on and the illuminance change before and after opening and closing the shutters and curtains are expected to vary depending on the time zone. Since it is set every time, the presence / absence of a person can be detected more reliably from the change in illuminance in the control area.

  Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 4, a history of brightness detection results in each time zone is stored in the brightness storage unit, and the illuminance change threshold setting means has the brightness in each time zone. Since the illuminance change threshold is set based on the history of detection results, even if the illuminance change before and after lighting the luminaire and the illuminance change before and after opening and closing the shutters and curtains vary depending on the time zone, It is possible to more reliably detect the presence / absence of a person from the change in illuminance.

  In addition, when a person enters the control area while the control area is dark, the person who enters the control area brightens the control area, whereas when a person leaves the control area, the control area It is expected that the inside of the control area will be darkened by turning off the area lighting or closing the shutters and curtains. In the invention of claim 2 or 3, since it is detected that there is a person even when the brightness detected by the brightness detecting means changes in the direction of darkening, the brightness changes in the dark direction within a predetermined change time. After the presence detection means detects the presence because it has changed more than the threshold value, it is determined that the sound detection means cannot detect a sound above the sound pressure reference value more than a predetermined number of times, so it is determined that the sound is absent. Unit time elapses from the point in time until the absence can be detected. On the other hand, according to the invention of claim 5, the presence detection means is used only when the brightness detected by the brightness detection means changes more than the illuminance change threshold in a direction in which the brightness becomes brighter within a predetermined change time. Since the presence is detected, it is not detected that there is a person when the brightness detected by the brightness detection means changes in the direction of darkening, and the time until it is determined that the person is absent can be shortened.

It is a schematic block diagram of the apparatus control system of Embodiment 1. It is a flowchart same as the above. It is a flowchart of the presence detection process by a detection sound same as the above. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the apparatus control system of Embodiment 2. The sensor subunit | mobile_unit same as the above is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a bottom view. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement same as the above. It is a flowchart of the presence detection process by a human sensitive sensor same as the above. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the apparatus control system of Embodiment 3. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement same as the above. It is a flowchart of the presence detection process by an illumination sensor same as the above. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement same as the above. It is a flowchart of the presence detection process by an illumination sensor same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the other structure of an apparatus control system same as the above.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiment 1 of this invention is demonstrated based on FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of the first embodiment. The air conditioner 2 is a load device installed in a room to be controlled (control area), and the sound in the room is collected to be an electrical signal. A microphone 3 (sound detection means) for conversion and a controller 1 for controlling the operating state of the air conditioner 2 based on the sound detection signal of the microphone 3 are provided as main components.

  The controller 1 includes a CPU 10, an A / D conversion unit 11, a device driving unit 12, a time measuring unit 13, and a sound pressure level storage unit 14. Further, the presence detection means 10a, absence determination means 10b, load control means 10c, and sound pressure reference value setting means 10d are realized by the arithmetic function of the CPU 10.

  The A / D converter 11 converts the sound pressure level (analog signal) of the sound detection signal input from the microphone 3 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the CPU 10. The time measuring means 13 outputs time information indicating the current time to the CPU 10.

  When the detected value of the sound pressure level converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 11 is input, the CPU 10 stores the sound pressure in the sound pressure level storage unit 14 based on the time information input from the time measuring means 13. Store level history information. Table 1 shows the history information of the sound pressure level stored in the sound pressure level storage unit 14, and shows each time zone (0-1 o'clock, 1 o'clock-2 o'clock,. -24 o'clock), the initial value of the sound pressure reference value determined from the sound pressure level of the silent state expected for each time zone, and the average value (dBA) obtained from the sound pressure level data for the previous day, An average value (dBA) every 5 minutes obtained from the sound pressure level data for that day is stored.

  The sound pressure reference value setting means 10d of the CPU 10 obtains an average value of the sound pressure level inputted from the A / D conversion unit 11 every 5 minutes and stores it in the sound pressure level storage unit 14 and in each time zone. The minimum value of the average value obtained every 5 minutes is obtained as the sound pressure level in the silent state, and this sound pressure level is set as the sound pressure reference value for the time period. The sound pressure reference value setting means 10d further calculates the average of the sound pressure average values every 5 minutes when the average value of the sound pressure levels every 5 minutes is obtained in each time zone, and obtains the sound pressure average value for the previous day. It is stored in the sound pressure level storage unit 14. Here, since the sound pressure level data for the current day is not accumulated in the sound pressure level storage unit 14 during the initial use or the first 5 minutes of each time zone, the sound pressure reference value setting means 10d When the sound pressure average value for minutes is stored in the sound pressure level storage unit 14, the sound pressure average value for the previous day is set as the sound pressure reference value, and the sound pressure average value for the previous day is set as the sound pressure level storage unit. If the value is not stored in 14, the initial value stored in advance in the sound pressure level storage unit 14 is set as the sound pressure reference value. Note that the difference between the sound pressure average value obtained every 5 minutes and the sound pressure reference value is less than a predetermined threshold so that the sound of an exceptionally large volume generated at a certain time does not greatly affect the sound pressure reference value. If it is larger, it is also desirable to ignore the sound pressure average value at this time by judging it as noise. In addition, it is conceivable that the television is always operated during the day. In such a case, the sound pressure level in the silent state is calculated from the average value of the sound pressure level detected by the microphone 3 including the sound of the television. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of ambient noise as being in the room.

  The presence detection unit 10a of the CPU 10 calculates the sound pressure level of the sound detection signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 11 and the current sound pressure reference value set by the sound pressure reference value setting unit 10d. By comparing the levels, if a sound whose sound pressure level is equal to or higher than the current sound pressure reference value is input a predetermined number of times or more within a unit time, it is detected that there is a person in the control area.

  The absence determination unit 10b of the CPU 10 determines that there is no person in the control area unless the presence detection unit 10a continuously detects the presence of a person for a predetermined absence determination time.

  The load control means 10c of the CPU 10 outputs a control command for controlling the load device in accordance with the detection result of the presence / absence of a person in the control area. When the presence detection means 10a detects the occupancy, the air conditioner A control command for operating 2 with a preset operation content is output to the device drive unit 12. Moreover, the load control means 10c will output the control command which stops the air conditioner 2 to the apparatus drive part 12, if the absence determination means 10b determines absence of a person.

  Here, the control operation of the air conditioner 2 by the controller 1 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 and the time chart of FIG. 4.

  The CPU 10 of the controller 1 executes the control program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 at predetermined time intervals. First, the presence detection unit 10a detects the presence based on the input from the A / D conversion unit 11 (S1). ), It is determined whether the presence in the control area is detected (S2). If the presence of the room is detected, the CPU 10 clears the count value T1 of the non-detection time timer (not shown) that counts the time during which the presence of the room is not detected, and restarts the non-detection time timer. At the same time (S3), the load control means 10c causes the device drive unit 12 to output a control command for operating the air conditioner 2 in a predetermined operation state in response to the presence detection (S4), and the control program is terminated.

  If no occupancy is detected in the determination of S2, the absence determination means 10b of the CPU 10 determines whether or not the count value T1 of the non-detection time timer is equal to or greater than a predetermined absence determination time Ta (S5). If T1 is less than the absence determination time Ta, it shifts to the process of S4 mentioned above, without determining with absence. On the other hand, if the count value T1 is greater than or equal to the absence determination time Ta in the determination of S5, the absence determination means 10b of the CPU 10 is absent because the absence of the person has not been detected continuously for the absence determination time Ta or longer. (S6), the control instruction for stopping the air conditioner 2 according to the absence determination result is output from the load control means 10c to the device drive unit 12 (S7), and the air conditioner 2 is stopped. End the control program.

  Next, the presence detection process (S1 process) by the presence detection unit 10a of the CPU 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the presence detection unit 10a of the CPU 10 starts the presence detection process, first, the sound pressure level converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 11 is fetched, and this sound pressure level and the sound pressure reference value setting unit 10d are set. Then, the level is compared with the current sound pressure reference value (S10). Here, if the sound pressure level is equal to or higher than the sound pressure reference value, the presence detection unit 10a determines whether or not a detection period timer for measuring a predetermined unit time is activated (S11), and the detection period timer is activated. If not, 1 is set to the number of detections C2 at which the sound pressure level is detected to be equal to or higher than the sound pressure reference value (S12), the detection period timer is started (S13), and the presence detection process is terminated. . If the detection period timer is activated as a result of the determination in S11, 1 is added to the number of detections C2 (S14), and then the level of the detection number C2 is compared with the predetermined reference number C0 (S15). Here, if the number of detections C2 is less than the reference number C0, the presence detection unit 10a ends the presence detection process, and if the number of detections C2 is equal to or greater than the reference number C0, the presence detection unit 10a has a person in the control area. Then, the detection is performed (S16), the detection period timer is stopped (S17), the number of detection times C2 is set to 0 (S18), and the presence detection process is terminated. If it is determined in S10 that the sound pressure level is lower than the sound pressure reference value, the presence detection unit 10a of the CPU 10 determines whether or not the detection period timer is activated (S19). The detection count C2 is set to 0 (S18), the presence detection process is terminated, and if it is activated, the presence detection process is terminated. FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the presence detection process and the absence determination process. The detected value of the sound pressure level is a sound pressure reference value set for each time zone (Vth1 before time t2 and times t2 to t5. When a sound that is equal to or higher than Vth2, Vth1 after time t5) is detected a predetermined number of times within a predetermined detection period (unit time), the presence detection means 10a detects the presence of a person (time t1, FIG. 4). t3, t4). Further, when the presence detection unit 10a detects the presence, the absence determination unit 10b does not determine the absence state (undecided), and the state where the presence detection unit 10a does not detect the presence continues for the absence determination time Ta (time) The absence determination is performed at t6).

  By the way, when there is a person in the control area, it is considered that a sound is generated when a person in the control area performs some activity, or a sound is generated from the operated device by operating a television or an audio device, for example. It is done. In contrast, in this system, the presence detection means 10a of the CPU 10 detects the presence of a person based on the detection result of the microphone 3, and the presence of the person is detected by a human sensor using a pyroelectric infrared detection element. It does not falsely detect fluctuations in ambient light as a person, as in the case of detection, and it detects TV sound even when a human sensor cannot detect a person as in the case of a person watching the TV. By doing so, the person in the control area can be detected. Moreover, the presence detection means 10a detects that a person is present in the control area if a sound whose sound pressure level is equal to or higher than a predetermined sound pressure reference value is detected a predetermined number of times within a unit time. If there is little risk of erroneous detection of sudden noise, and if the presence detection by the presence detection means 10a has not continued for the absence determination time, the absence determination means 10b is absent, that is, is absent. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the absence of a person in the control area, and when there is no person, the load device is stopped, thereby reducing the power consumption of the load device.

  Further, ambient noise such as outside the house is expected to vary greatly depending on the time zone. For example, although it is expected to be quiet in the midnight time zone but become noisy in the daytime time zone, the sound pressure reference value setting means 10d of the CPU 10 is expected. Then, the sound pressure level of the silent state in the predetermined time zone is obtained from the sound pressure level history information stored in the sound pressure level storage unit 14, and the sound pressure reference value in the predetermined time zone is set from the sound pressure level of the silent state. Therefore, even if the sound pressure level in the silent state changes with time, the possibility of erroneous detection of ambient noise can be reduced. Here, if the sound pressure reference value is set lower than the sound pressure level in the silent state, it is erroneously detected that the user is in the room due to ambient noise, and the air conditioner 2 that is the load device continues to operate or the sound pressure reference If the value is set higher than the sound pressure level in the silent state, the presence / absence detection error is detected such that the presence of a person is erroneously detected and the air conditioner 2 is stopped. Equipment malfunction may occur, but the sound pressure reference value is set for each time zone based on the sound pressure level history information, so the presence or absence of people in the control area must be detected reliably. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the presence / absence of a person in the control area without using an expensive sensor such as an image sensor. When no person is present, the load device is stopped to save power. The planned low-cost device control system can be realized.

  In addition, the controller 1 may be comprised with the main | base station of the intercom system provided with the operation function of the load apparatus, and the microphone 3 which detects the sound of a control area can be shared with the microphone for intercom calls.

(Embodiment 2)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a schematic system configuration diagram of the second embodiment, and shows an air conditioner 2 that is a load device installed in a room to be controlled, and a microphone 3 that collects sound in the room and converts it into an electrical signal. Further, the operation of the air conditioner 2 is controlled based on the sensor slave unit 5 which is provided with the human sensor 4 and attached to the ceiling of the room to be controlled, and the sound detection signal of the microphone 3 and the human body detection signal of the human sensor 4. The controller 1 is provided as a main component. In addition, since it is the same as that of Embodiment 1 except the point provided with the human sensitive sensor 4, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to a common component and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The sensor slave unit 5 includes a microphone 3 for collecting sound in the room and converting it into an electric signal, and a human sensor 4 for detecting the presence of a person in the room. The human sensor 4 has a pyroelectric infrared detection element that detects the presence of a person in the detection area by detecting heat rays radiated from the human body, and detects the presence of a person in the detection area set in the room. When detected, a human body detection signal is output to the controller 1.

  6A is a front view of the sensor slave unit 5, and FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the sensor slave unit 5. The body 20 of the sensor slave unit 5 has a disk-shaped flange portion 21 on the lower side. A pair of mounting brackets that are made of a synthetic resin molded product having a bottomed cylindrical shape, are housed in a form in which a portion excluding the flange portion 21 is embedded in an embedding hole provided in the ceiling, and are fixed to the upper surface side of the flange portion 21 It attaches to a ceiling on both sides of the ceiling material between 22 and 22 and the flange part 21. As shown in FIG. Here, a lens 23 for condensing visible light and heat rays on the human sensor 4 is provided at the center of the lower surface of the flange portion 21. In addition, a sound hole 24 for allowing sound to pass through a portion corresponding to the microphone 3 is opened on the lower surface of the flange portion 21. In addition, since the structure of the sensor subunit | mobile_unit 5 containing the attachment bracket 22 is conventionally well-known, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Here, the control operation of the air conditioner 2 by the controller 1 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8 and the time chart of FIG.

  The CPU 10 of the controller 1 executes the control program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 at a predetermined time interval. First, the presence detection unit 10a detects the presence based on the detection results of the microphone 3 and the human sensor 4 ( S21), it is determined whether there is detection by the human sensor 4 and whether there is detection by the sound sensor (microphone 3), respectively (S22, S23). Here, if there is occupancy detection based on the detection output of the human sensor 4 or occupancy detection based on the output of the microphone 3, the CPU 10 does not detect the occupancy time timer (not shown). The count value T1 is cleared, the non-detection time timer is restarted (S24), and a control command for operating the air conditioner 2 in a predetermined operation state is driven from the load control means 10c in response to the presence detection. Then, the control program is terminated (S25).

  If no occupancy is detected in the determinations of S22 and S23, the absence determination unit 10b of the CPU 10 determines whether or not the count value T1 of the non-detection time timer is equal to or greater than a predetermined absence determination time Ta (S26). If the count value T1 is less than the absence determination time Ta, the absence of the absence is determined and the process proceeds to S25 described above. On the other hand, if the count value T1 is greater than or equal to the absence determination time Ta in the determination of S26, the absence determination means 10b of the CPU 10 is absent because the absence of the person has not been detected continuously for the absence determination time Ta or longer. (S27), the load control means 10c outputs a control command for stopping the air conditioner 2 to the device drive unit 12 (S28), stops the air conditioner 2, and then ends the control program.

  Next, the presence detection process (the process of S21) by the presence detection unit 10a of the CPU 10 will be described. In addition, since the process in which the presence detection unit 10a detects the presence of the room from the output of the microphone 3 is the same as the process described in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and the presence of the room is detected from the detection output of the human sensor 4. The detection process will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the presence detection means 10a of the CPU 10 starts the presence detection process based on the detection output of the human sensor 4, first, the output of the human sensor 4 is taken in and it is determined whether or not there is a detection of the heat ray by the human sensor 4. (S31). Here, if there is detection by the human sensor 4, the presence detection means 10a determines whether or not a human detection sensor detection period timer for measuring a predetermined unit time is running (S32), and the detection period timer. If is not activated, 1 is set to the number of detections C1 at which the human sensor 4 has detected a heat ray (S33), the detection period timer is activated (S34), and the presence detection process is terminated. If the detection period timer is activated as a result of the determination in S32, 1 is added to the number of detections C1 (S35), and the level of the detection number C1 is compared with the predetermined reference number CJ (S36). Here, if the number of detections C1 is less than the reference number CJ, the presence detection unit 10a ends the presence detection process, and if the number of detections C1 is equal to or greater than the reference number CJ, the presence detection unit 10a has a person in the control area. Then, detection is performed (S37), the detection period timer is stopped (S38), the number of detections C1 is reset to 0 (S39), and the presence detection process is terminated. If it is determined in S31 that the human sensor 4 has not detected the heat ray, the presence detection unit 10a of the CPU 10 determines whether or not the detection period timer is activated (S40). The number of detections C1 is cleared (S39), the presence detection process is terminated, and if it is activated, the presence detection process is terminated.

  Thus, in the presence detection means 10a of the CPU 10, the output of the human sensor 4 comprising the microphone 3 for detecting the sound generated in the control area and the pyroelectric infrared detecting element for detecting the heat rays radiated from the person is obtained. The presence detection means 10a detects the presence of a person based on the presence of the person, and the presence detection means 10a detects the presence of a person in the control area if the number of times the sound pressure level is detected within the unit time is equal to or more than a predetermined number of times. It is detected that there is a person in the control area if it is detected a predetermined number of times within a unit time, and a single noise or fluctuation of external light is detected. The possibility of erroneous detection can be reduced. Further, if the presence detection by the presence detection means 10a does not continue for the absence determination time or more, the absence determination means 10b determines that there is no person in the control area, that is, the absence of the person in the control area. Can be detected accurately, and unnecessary power consumption can be reduced by stopping the load device when it is absent.

  Here, FIGS. 9A to 9C show combinations of the timing when the sound pressure level of the detected sound of the microphone 3 exceeds the sound pressure reference value and the timing when the human sensor 4 detects the heat ray, respectively. If the number of times the human sensor 4 detects a heat ray within the unit time Tc as shown in FIG. 9B is a predetermined number or more (for example, 2 times or more), it is determined that the user is in the room. As shown in FIG. 9C, if the number of times that the sound exceeding the sound pressure reference value is detected within the unit time Tb is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (for example, twice or more), it is determined that the user is in the room. As shown in FIG. 4, if the number of times that a sound or heat ray with a sound pressure level equal to or higher than the sound pressure reference value is detected within the unit time Tb or Tc is less than a predetermined number, it is not determined that the user is in the room.

(Embodiment 3)
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a schematic system configuration diagram of the third embodiment. The air conditioner 2 that is a load device installed in a room (control area) to be controlled and the sound in the room are collected into an electrical signal. Sensor sub-unit 5 having microphone 3 to be converted, human sensor 4 and brightness sensor 6 attached to the ceiling of the room to be controlled, sound detection signal of microphone 3, human body detection signal and brightness of human sensor 4 A controller 1 that controls the operating state of the air conditioner 2 based on the brightness detection signal of the height sensor 6 is provided as a main component. In addition, since it is the same as that of other embodiment mentioned above except the point provided with the brightness sensor 6, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to a common component and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The brightness sensor 6 is composed of a photodiode, for example, and outputs a brightness detection signal corresponding to the ambient brightness to the controller 1. The brightness sensor 6 is disposed inside the body 20 of the sensor slave 5 at a position facing the lens 23, and light is incident on the brightness sensor 6 through the lens 23. The detection output of the brightness sensor 6 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 15 of the controller 1 and input to the CPU 10.

  By the way, when the room to be controlled is dark, a person who enters this room turns on the lighting equipment or opens a shutter or curtain during the daytime to take in outside light. At this time, since the brightness in the room changes greatly in a short time, it is possible to determine that there is a person in the room by detecting this steep illuminance change by the brightness sensor 6. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the presence detection unit 10a of the CPU 10 detects the presence of a person based on the detection sound of the microphone 3 and the detection outputs of the human sensor 4 and the brightness sensor 6, and the first embodiment. Alternatively, by combining the brightness sensor 6 with the device control system 2, even if a person enters the room without making a sound or passing through the detection area of the human sensor 4, the brightness change in the control area can The presence of can be detected.

  Here, the control operation of the load device (for example, the air conditioner 2) by the controller 1 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 and 12 and the time chart of FIG.

  The CPU 10 of the controller 1 executes the control program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 at predetermined time intervals. First, the presence detection unit 10a exists based on the detection results of the microphone 3, the human sensor 4, and the brightness sensor 6. Detection is performed (S41), and it is determined whether there is detection by the human sensor 4, whether there is detection by the sound sensor (microphone 3), and whether there is detection by the brightness sensor 6, respectively (S42). , S43, S44). Here, if any of the presence detection based on the detection output of the human sensor 4, the presence detection based on the output of the microphone 3, or the presence detection based on the output of the brightness sensor 6, the CPU 10 detects the presence of the room. The count value T1 of a non-detection time timer (not shown) that counts the non-detection time is cleared, the non-detection time timer is restarted (S45), and the air conditioner 2 in a predetermined operating state from the load control means 10c. A control command for operating is output to the device drive unit 12 (S46), and the control program is terminated.

  If no occupancy is detected in the determinations of S42, S43, and S44, the absence determination unit 10b of the CPU 10 determines whether or not the count value T1 of the non-detection time timer is equal to or greater than a predetermined absence determination time Ta (S47). If the count value T1 is less than the absence determination time Ta, the absence of the absence is determined, and the process proceeds to the above-described processing of S46. On the other hand, if the count value T1 is equal to or greater than the absence determination time Ta in the determination of S47, the absence determination means 10b of the CPU 10 is absent because the absence of the person is not detected continuously for the absence determination time Ta or longer. (S48), a control command for stopping the air conditioner 2 according to the absence determination result is output from the load control means 10c to the device drive unit 12 (S49), and the air conditioner 2 is stopped. End the control program.

  Next, the presence detection process (the process of S41) by the presence detection unit 10a of the CPU 10 will be described. Note that the process in which the presence detection unit 10a detects the occupancy from the output of the microphone 3 is the same as the process described in the first embodiment, and the process of detecting the occupancy from the detection output of the human sensor 4 is the second embodiment. Since these processes are the same as those described above, the description of these processes will be omitted, and the process of detecting occupancy from the detection output of the brightness sensor 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the presence detection unit 10 a of the CPU 10 starts the presence detection process based on the detection output of the brightness sensor 6, first, the detection output is captured from the brightness sensor 6. Here, the presence detection means 10a prepares five buffers L1 to L5 as buffers for storing the detection output of the brightness sensor 6. When the detection output of the brightness sensor 6 is newly fetched, the buffer L1 The detection output stored in the buffer L2, the detection output stored in the buffer L2 in the buffer L3, the detection output stored in the buffer L3 in the buffer L4, and the detection output stored in the buffer L4. After the transfer to the buffer L5, the detection output newly fetched this time is stored in the buffer L1 (S51). That is, in the buffer Ln (n = 1 to 5), the detection outputs for the past five times are stored in descending order of the number n. Next, the presence detection means 10a stores the maximum value of the detection outputs stored in the five buffers L1 to L5 in the buffer LNmax, and stores the number n of the buffer storing the maximum value in the buffer Nmax ( S52). In addition, the presence detection unit 10a stores the minimum value of the detection outputs stored in the five buffers L1 to L5 in the buffer LNmin, and stores the number n of the buffer storing the maximum value in the buffer Nmin (S53). ). Then, the presence detection unit 10a determines the difference between the maximum value stored in the buffer LNmax and the minimum value stored in the buffer LNmin, that is, the brightness within a predetermined change time (the time for capturing the detection output from the brightness sensor 6 five times). The amount of change dL (= LNmax−LNmin) is obtained, and the level of this change amount dL is compared with a preset illuminance change threshold (S54). The amount of change dL of brightness within the change time is If it is equal to or greater than the illuminance change threshold, it is detected that there is a person in the control area (S55), and if the brightness change amount dL is less than the illuminance change threshold, it is not detected that there is a person in the control area. .

  Here, FIG. 13 is a time chart showing the detection output of the brightness sensor 6. For example, when a person entering the room turns on the lighting equipment or a person going out of the room turns off the lighting equipment, Since the detection output of the brightness sensor 6 changes greatly within the unit time Td, and the amount of change dL within the unit time Td becomes equal to or greater than the illuminance change threshold, the presence detection means 10a is said to have a person in the control area. Perform detection.

  If the brightness change amount dL within the unit time Td is equal to or greater than the illuminance change threshold, when the presence detection unit 10a detects that a person is present in the control area, for example, when a person leaves the room. Even if the detection output of the brightness sensor 6 changes significantly in a short time in the direction of darkening, for example, by turning off the lighting fixture, it is detected that a person is present. In this case, since presence detection based on the output of the microphone 3 or the human sensor 4 cannot be performed continuously for a predetermined absence determination time thereafter, it is determined that the person is absent. A predetermined absence determination time elapses until the absence can be detected from the point in time when the presence detection is performed. Therefore, the presence detection unit 10a may detect that a person is present only when the brightness detected by the brightness sensor 6 has changed by an illuminance change threshold or more in a direction in which the brightness sensor 6 becomes brighter within a predetermined change time Td. When the brightness changes suddenly in the direction of darkening, the detection that a person is present is not performed, so that it is prevented that a person is considered to be out of the control area. it can.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the presence detection process in this case, and the processes from S51 to S54 are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. Then, in the process of S54, the presence detection unit 10a obtains a difference between the maximum value stored in the buffer LNmax and the minimum value stored in the buffer LNmin, and sets the brightness change amount dL within the unit time Td in advance. If the brightness change amount dL is equal to or greater than the illuminance change threshold value after comparing the height with the measured illuminance change threshold value (S54), the buffer number Nmax storing the maximum value and the buffer storing the minimum value are stored. The number Nmin is compared with the number Nmin to determine whether the number Nmax is smaller than the number Nmin (S56). Here, if the number Nmax is smaller than the number Nmin, that is, if the maximum value detection output is newer than the minimum value detection output, the presence detection means 10a detects that a person is present in the control area (S55), If the maximum detection output is older than the minimum detection output, it is not detected that a person is present in the control area.

  In addition, the amount of change in brightness that occurs before and after turning on the luminaire and before and after opening the curtain is small in the early morning hours when the room is relatively bright, and large in the evening and night when the room is relatively dark. It is expected to be. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, an illuminance change threshold value storage unit 16 that stores the illuminance change threshold value for each time zone is provided in the controller 1, and the illuminance change threshold value is determined for each time zone to determine the illuminance change threshold value storage unit 16. The illuminance change threshold setting means 10e to be stored in the memory may be configured by the arithmetic function of the CPU 10, and the illuminance change before and after lighting the lighting fixture and the illuminance change before and after opening and closing the shutters and curtains vary depending on the time zone. However, it is possible to more reliably detect the illuminance change due to the person leaving or entering the room. Here, the CPU 10 of the controller 1 stores a history of brightness detection results detected by the brightness sensor 6 in each time slot in a memory (brightness storage means) (not shown). The illuminance change threshold setting means 10e Since the illuminance change threshold value is determined for each time zone based on the history of brightness detection results stored in the memory and stored in the illuminance change threshold value storage unit 16, the illuminance change associated with the person leaving or entering the room Even when the time varies, it is possible to more reliably detect the presence / absence of a person from the change in illuminance. For example, in a time zone where the room is sufficiently bright even in the absence of light such as in the daytime, it is considered that the illuminance does not change greatly even if the lighting fixture is turned off or turned on. Therefore, the illuminance change threshold setting means 10e records the brightness detection result history. Based on the above, the illuminance change threshold is set to a smaller value than at night. Further, in a time zone where the room is dark such as at night, the illuminance is considered to change significantly by turning off or turning on the lighting fixtures. Therefore, the illuminance change threshold setting means 10e includes a history of brightness detection results. Based on this, the illuminance change threshold is set to a larger value than in the daytime.

  In this embodiment, the presence detection means 10a of the CPU 10 detects the presence of a person in the control area based on the sound detection signal of the microphone 3, the human body detection signal of the human sensor 4, and the brightness detection signal of the brightness sensor 6. Although it is detected, the presence of a person in the control area may be detected based only on the sound detection signal of the microphone 3 and the brightness detection signal of the brightness sensor 6.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the operation of the air conditioner 2 is controlled based on the presence / absence of a person in the control area, but this is not intended to limit the load device to be controlled to the air conditioner 2. A load device other than the device 2 may be a control target. When the user is in the room, the load device is operated in a predetermined operation state. When the user is absent, the operation of the load device is stopped to save energy. it can.

  Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, when the presence of a person is detected in the control area, the load control unit 10c operates the load device in a predetermined operation state. However, the load device operates according to the switch ON operation. The load control unit 10c may perform control to stop the load device when it is determined that a person is absent.

1 Controller 2 Air conditioner (load equipment)
3 Microphone (Sound detection means)
4 Human sensor 5 Sensor slave 6 Brightness sensor (brightness detection means)
10 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10a Presence detection means 10b Absence determination means 10c Load control means 10d Sound pressure reference value setting means 11 A / D conversion part 12 Equipment drive part 13 Time measuring means 14 Sound pressure level memory | storage part

Claims (5)

  Sound detection means for detecting a sound generated in a control area where a load device to be controlled is installed, and the number of times the sound detection means detects a sound whose sound pressure level is equal to or higher than a predetermined sound pressure reference value within a unit time. If the presence detection means for detecting that there is a person in the control area if the number of times is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times continues to detect the presence of a person for a predetermined absence determination time or more, it is determined that there is no person in the control area. Absence determining means, load control means for controlling the load device to stop when the absence determining means determines the absence of a person, and a sound pressure level for storing a history of sound pressure levels detected by the sound detecting means The sound pressure level in a predetermined time zone is obtained from the sound pressure level history stored in the storage means and the sound pressure level storage means, and the sound pressure base in the predetermined time zone is determined from the sound pressure level in the silent state. Equipment control system, characterized in that it includes a sound pressure reference value setting means for setting the value.   Brightness detection means for detecting the brightness of the control area, wherein the presence detection means is a predetermined number of times the sound detection means has detected a sound whose sound pressure level is equal to or higher than the sound pressure reference value within a unit time. When it is above or when the brightness detected by the brightness detecting means changes within a predetermined change time by a predetermined illuminance change threshold value, it is detected that a person is present in the control area. The device control system according to 1.   The apparatus control system according to claim 2, further comprising an illuminance change threshold setting unit configured to set the illuminance change threshold for each time period.   Brightness storage means for storing a history of brightness detection results detected by the brightness detection means in each time zone, and the illuminance change threshold setting means is configured to store the brightness detection results stored in the brightness storage means. 4. The device control system according to claim 3, wherein the illuminance change threshold is set for each time zone based on a history.   The presence detection means detects that a person is present only when the brightness detected by the brightness detection means changes by more than the illuminance change threshold in the direction of brightening within the change time. The apparatus control system according to any one of 2 to 4.

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