JP2015014428A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a security function by utilizing means for detecting a person.SOLUTION: An air conditioner includes: a CMOS image sensor; person outline detection means; hand outline detection means; alarm operation start means; and alarm operation stop means. The person outline detection means detects the outline of a person existing in a room by the CMOS image sensor. The hand outline detection means detects the outline of a hand of the person existing in the room by the CMOS image sensor. The alarm operation start means starts an alarm operation when the person outline detection means detects the outline of the person. The alarm operation stop means stops the alarm operation when the hand outline detection means detects the predetermined outline of the hand of a person, after the alarm operation start means starting the alarm operation.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an air conditioner.

  For example, the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes means for detecting the position of a human body from acquired data, and performs air conditioning between a region where a person is detected and a region where a person is likely to move. .

JP 2012-197985 A

  The present embodiment provides an air conditioner that realizes a security function using a means for detecting a person.

  The air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes a CMOS image sensor, a human contour detection unit, a hand contour detection unit, an alarm operation start unit, and an alarm operation stop unit. The person outline detecting means detects the outline of a person existing in the room by the CMOS image sensor. The hand contour detecting means detects the contour of a human hand existing in the room by a CMOS image sensor. The alarm operation starting means starts the alarm operation when the human contour detecting means detects the human contour. The alarm operation stop unit stops the alarm operation when the hand contour detection unit detects a predetermined human hand contour after the alarm operation start unit starts the alarm operation.

External appearance perspective view which shows an example of the indoor unit which comprises the air conditioner which concerns on this embodiment The figure which shows an example of schematic structure of the unit cell with which a CMOS image sensor is provided The figure which shows an example of the room where the indoor unit is installed Block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device FIG. 2 equivalent diagram showing an example of a human body contour pattern (part 1) FIG. 2 equivalent diagram showing an example of a human body contour pattern (part 2) FIG. 2 equivalent view showing an example of a hand contour pattern (part 1) FIG. 2 equivalent view showing an example of a hand contour pattern (part 2) Flow chart showing an example of operation contents by the security function FIG. 3 equivalent view showing an example of a state in which a person exists in the room when the outing mode is set FIG. 3 equivalent diagram showing an example of a state in which the alarm operation is stopped when the outing mode is set

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an air conditioner will be described with reference to the drawings. An air conditioner indoor unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a CMOS image sensor 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the CMOS image sensor 11 has a plurality of unit cells C each including a photodiode and an amplifier. The CMOS image sensor 11 includes a noise canceller, a readout circuit, and the like. In this case, the CMOS image sensor 11 is provided in the upper part of the center of the front surface of the indoor unit 10. The installation position of the CMOS image sensor 11 can be changed as appropriate. The CMOS image sensor 11 may be one having as high sensitivity as possible to visible light and infrared light.

An air suction port (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the indoor unit 10, and an air outlet 12 is provided at the lower front portion of the indoor unit 10. Inside the indoor unit 10, an air passage that communicates the air inlet and the outlet 12 is provided. A heat exchanger and a blower fan (not shown) are provided in the ventilation path. The blower outlet 12 is provided with a plurality of upper and lower louvers 13 that extend long in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of left and right louvers 14 that are positioned on the deeper side of the ventilation path than these upper and lower louvers 13 and extend in the vertical direction. The upper and lower louvers 13 are arranged so as to face each other in the vertical direction, and change the vertical direction of the wind blown from the outlet 12 by swinging in the vertical direction. The left and right louvers 14 are arranged so as to oppose each other in the left-right direction, and change the direction of the wind blown from the air outlet 12 in the left-right direction by swinging in the left-right direction.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit 10 is installed on the upper wall surface of the room 100. Then, the indoor unit 10 sucks the air in the room 100 from the air suction port by the blowing action of the blower fan, exchanges heat with the heat exchanger, and the heat-exchanged air, that is, cold air or warm air. The wind is sent out from the air outlet 12 into the room 100.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a control device 20 that controls the overall operation of the air conditioner is provided inside the indoor unit 10. The control device 20 controls the temperature of the CMOS image sensor 11 and the room 100. A temperature sensor 21 to detect, a humidity sensor 22 to detect the humidity of the room 100, a fan motor 23 to drive the sending fan, an upper and lower louver drive motor 24 to drive the upper and lower louvers 13, a left and right louver drive motor 25 to drive the left and right louvers 14, For example, a communication unit 27 including an alarm device 26 including a buzzer, a network communication module 271, and a remote control communication module 272 is connected. The network communication module 271 performs wireless communication with an external mobile communication terminal 30 via a communication network (not shown). The remote control communication module 272 performs wireless communication using infrared rays with the external remote controller 40. The infrared signal transmitted from the remote controller 40 is, for example, a signal for instructing a change in the set temperature, a signal for instructing a change in the set humidity, a signal for instructing switching between the heating operation and the cooling operation, This is a signal for instructing switching of the operation mode.

Further, the control device 20 executes a control program in a CPU (not shown) to thereby detect a human contour detection processing unit 41, a hand contour detection processing unit 42, an alarm operation start processing unit 43, an alarm operation stop processing unit 44, and a notification processing unit. 45 is virtually realized by software. The processing units 41 to 45 may be realized by hardware as an integrated circuit, for example.
The person outline detection processing unit 41 is an example of a person outline detection unit, and detects the outline of a person existing in the room 100 by the CMOS image sensor 11. That is, when the contour obtained by the CMOS image sensor 11 matches a pre-stored human body contour pattern, the human contour detection processing unit 41 detects the contour as a “human contour”. As the human body contour pattern, for example, various patterns can be set in addition to the patterns Pa and Pb shown in FIGS. Moreover, as a case where the contour obtained by the CMOS image sensor 11 matches the human body contour pattern, in addition to a case where both contours are completely matched, a case where both contours are substantially matched, for example, a case where the contours are approximately 80% to 90% match May also be set to include. Further, the human body contour pattern can be set more finely or more coarsely according to the number of unit cells C included in the CMOS image sensor 11.

  The hand contour detection processing unit 42 is an example of a hand contour detection unit, and detects the contour of a human hand existing in the room 100 by the CMOS image sensor 11. That is, when the contour obtained by the CMOS image sensor 11 matches a hand contour pattern stored in advance, the hand contour detection processing unit 42 detects the contour as a “human hand contour”. As hand contour patterns, various patterns can be set in addition to the patterns Pc and Pd shown in FIGS. Moreover, as a case where the contour obtained by the CMOS image sensor 11 matches the hand contour pattern, in addition to a case where both contours are completely matched, a case where both contours are generally matched, for example, a case where approximately 80% to 90% is matched. May also be set to include. The hand contour pattern can be set more finely or more coarsely according to the number of unit cells C included in the CMOS image sensor 11.

The alarm operation start processing unit 43 is an example of an alarm operation start unit, and starts a predetermined alarm operation when the human contour detection processing unit 41 detects “person's contour”. In this case, the alarm operation start processing unit 43 is set to sound an alarm sound via the alarm device 26 as an alarm operation. The content of the alarm operation is not limited to the alarm sound by the alarm device 26.
The alarm operation stop processing unit 44 is an example of an alarm operation stop unit. After the alarm operation start processing unit 43 starts the alarm operation, the hand contour detection processing unit 42 sets a predetermined “human hand”. When the “contour” is detected, the alarm operation is stopped. In this case, the alarm operation stop processing unit 44 is set to stop the alarm operation when the state shown in FIG. 7, for example, “the contour of a human hand” with all five fingers open is detected. Has been. The predetermined “contour of the human hand” can be appropriately changed and set via the remote controller 40, for example.

  The notification processing unit 45 is an example of a notification unit. When the alarm operation start processing unit 43 starts an alarm operation, information indicating that the alarm operation has started is transmitted to an external mobile communication terminal via the network communication module 271. 30. As a result, the mobile communication terminal 30 is notified that the alarm operation has started. Based on the information received from the air conditioner, the portable communication terminal 30 outputs character information or voice information indicating that an alarm operation has started.

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to set an outing mode that is selected when the user goes out, for example. This outing mode can be set, for example, when the user inputs an outing mode setting operation via the remote controller 40.
The person contour detection processing unit 41 is set to start the “person contour” detection process when the outing mode is set. In addition, when the alarm operation stop processing unit 44 stops the alarm operation after the start of the “person outline” detection process, the human contour detection processing unit 41 “persons” until the outing mode is set again. Is set to be stopped. In addition, the person contour detection processing unit 41 is set to stop the “person contour” detection process even when the outing mode is canceled after the “person contour” detection process is started. Yes. The outing mode can be canceled when the user inputs an operation for canceling the outing mode via the remote controller 40, for example.

  In addition, the hand contour detection processing unit 42 is set to start the detection process of “the contour of a human hand” when the outing mode is set. In addition, the hand contour detection processing unit 42 starts the detection process of “the contour of the human hand”, and when the alarm operation stop processing unit 44 stops the alarm operation, until the outing mode is set again. It is set to stop the detection process of “the contour of the human hand”. In addition, the hand contour detection processing unit 42 stops the “human hand contour” detection process even when the outing mode is canceled after starting the “human hand contour” detection process. Is set to

  Next, an example of operation | movement of the security function with which the air conditioner which concerns on this embodiment is provided is demonstrated. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when the outing mode is set (S1: YES), the control device 20 of the air conditioner detects “person's contour” and “person's hand contour”. Is started (S2). Then, when “the outline of the person” is detected (S3: YES), the control device 20 starts an alarm operation (S4). Thereafter, the control device 20 continues the alarm operation until a predetermined “contour of the human hand” is detected. Then, when a predetermined “contour of a human hand” is detected (S5: YES), the control device 20 stops the alarm operation (S6) and ends this security operation.

According to the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, when the outing mode is set, that is, when the user is absent, for example, when a person M enters the room 100 as shown in FIG. An alarm sound is emitted from the air conditioner. This warning operation is not stopped unless a predetermined “human hand outline” is detected by the CMOS image sensor 11. Accordingly, the alarm operation can be stopped if the user knows the predetermined “contour of the human hand”, but the user who does not know the predetermined “contour of the human hand”. Person M other than cannot stop the alarm operation.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, a user who knows a predetermined “contour of human hand” in the vicinity of the indoor unit 10 has a predetermined “contour of human hand”, in this case, 5 The alarm operation can be stopped by causing the CMOS image sensor 11 to recognize the contour of the hand H with all the fingers open.

  According to the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, the CMOS image sensor 11 detects the outline of a person existing in the room 100 and the CMOS image sensor 11 detects the outline of a person's hand existing in the room 100. It has a function. Then, when a contour of a person is detected, an alarm operation is started. After the alarm operation is started, the alarm operation is stopped when a predetermined “contour of a human hand” is detected. Thus, by using the CMOS image sensor 11 mounted as a means for detecting a person, an alarm operation that can be stopped only by a user who knows a predetermined “contour of a human hand” can be realized. And an innovative security function can be realized.

Further, according to the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, when the outing mode that is the predetermined mode is set, the detection process of the “contour of the person” and the detection process of the “contour of the human hand” are started. When the alarm operation is stopped, the “person outline” detection process and the “person hand outline” are stopped until the outing mode is set again. In other words, the “person outline” and “person hand outline” detection process is executed on the condition that the outing mode is set. Thereby, when a user exists in the room 100, it is possible to prevent an alarm operation from being erroneously started.
Further, according to the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, when the alarm operation is started, the external mobile communication terminal 30 is notified to that effect. Thereby, it can be notified to the user who has gone out carrying the portable communication terminal 30 that the intruder has occurred.

  Further, according to the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, the CMOS image sensor 11 is employed as a means for detecting a person, not a pyroelectric sensor or an expensive thermopile that is inexpensive but has low detection sensitivity. Thereby, the outline of a person or the outline of a person's hand existing in the room 100 can be detected based on the image, and the detection accuracy can be greatly improved. In recent years, relatively inexpensive CMOS image sensors have been provided. Therefore, by adopting such an inexpensive CMOS image sensor, it is possible to prevent the configuration from becoming expensive.

  The air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes a CMOS image sensor, a human contour detection unit, a hand contour detection unit, an alarm operation start unit, and an alarm operation stop unit. The person outline detecting means detects the outline of a person existing in the room by the CMOS image sensor. The hand contour detecting means detects the contour of a human hand existing in the room by a CMOS image sensor. The alarm operation starting means starts the alarm operation when the human contour detecting means detects the human contour. The alarm operation stop unit stops the alarm operation when the hand contour detection unit detects a predetermined human hand contour after the alarm operation start unit starts the alarm operation. According to this configuration, an epoch-making security function using a CMOS image sensor that is a means for detecting a person can be realized.

  This embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the drawing, 11 is a CMOS image sensor, 30 is a portable communication terminal, 41 is a human contour detection processing unit (human contour detection means), 42 is a hand contour detection processing unit (hand contour detection means), and 43 is an alarm action start processing unit. (Alarm operation start means), 44 indicates an alarm operation stop processing section (alarm operation stop means), and 45 indicates a notification processing section (notification means).

Claims (3)

A CMOS image sensor;
Human contour detection means for detecting the contour of a person existing in the room by the CMOS image sensor;
Hand contour detecting means for detecting the contour of a human hand existing in the room by the CMOS image sensor;
An alarm action starting means for starting an alarm action when the person outline detecting means detects a person's outline;
After the alarm action start means starts the alarm action, the alarm action stop means stops the alarm action when the hand outline detection means detects a predetermined human hand outline;
Air conditioner equipped with.   The human contour detection means and the hand contour detection means start a contour detection process when a predetermined mode is set, and then, when the alarm operation stop means stops the alarm operation, the predetermined mode again. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the contour detection process is stopped until the value is set.   The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising notification means for notifying an external mobile communication terminal that the alarm operation has started when the alarm operation start means starts the alarm operation.

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