JP2017036916A - Air conditioner and thermal image sensor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a thermal image acquiring portion of high definition is expensive, in an air conditioner in which hot/cool feeling of a person is estimated and fed back to air conditioning.SOLUTION: An air conditioner controlling air conditioning of a space, includes a thermal image acquiring portion for acquiring a thermal image indicating a temperature distribution of the space, a calculating portion for specifying a two-dimensional human body region as a two-dimensional region corresponding to a person including a region of clothing in the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquiring portion, determining a human body temperature as a temperature including the clothing of the person staying in the space on the basis of the temperature distribution of the two-dimensional human body region, calculating a differential value between the human body temperature and an ambient temperature obtained from the temperature of the region excluding the two-dimensional human body region, as an index of a heat radiation amount from the person including the clothing, and estimating hot/cool feeling of the person staying in the space on the basis of the differential value, and a control portion for controlling the air conditioner on the basis of the hot/cool feeling of the person staying in the space, estimated by the calculating portion. The calculating portion estimates the hot/cool feeling of the person on the basis of the difference between the differential value between the human body temperature and the ambient temperature, and a prescribed threshold value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to an air conditioner equipped with a thermography (thermal image acquisition unit) capable of measuring a two-dimensional temperature distribution, and a thermal image sensor system used in the air conditioner.

  In recent years, various applications using infrared rays have been developed. Infrared rays in the near-infrared region having a wavelength of 0.7 to 2.5 micrometers are used for night vision cameras, TV remote controllers, and the like. In addition, infrared light in the mid-infrared region with a wavelength of 2.5 to 4.0 micrometers is often used for identification of substances. The substance is identified by determining the absorption spectrum unique to the measurement object by spectroscopically measuring the transmission spectrum of the measurement object obtained by irradiating the measurement object with infrared rays. Furthermore, infrared rays in the far infrared region having a wavelength of 4.0 to 10 micrometers are used for measuring the surface temperature of a substance. Since there is a black body radiation spectrum peak near normal temperature, the surface temperature of the substance can be measured in a non-contact manner by detecting infrared rays radiated from the substance. This is generally used as thermography to capture the surface temperature of a substance in two dimensions. In the past, thermography was mainly used for industrial applications such as heat distribution analysis in research and development, facility maintenance in factories, etc., quality control in production lines, and the like. In these applications, thermography having a relatively large number of pixels is often used.

  On the other hand, recently, as in Patent Document 1, there has been a movement to mount thermography on an air conditioner. In this patent document 1, a person's position and activity amount are estimated from indoor temperature distribution, and the estimated result is fed back to the operation of the air conditioner. By doing so, it is said that a more comfortable and efficient air conditioner can be realized.

  Furthermore, in patent document 2, skin temperature, such as a face, is measured, heat dissipation and sleep depth are estimated, and the air conditioner according to the estimated result is controlled. This makes it possible to provide a comfortable sleep.

  Furthermore, in patent document 3, the surface temperature of a human body is detected and the air conditioner is controlled according to the detected result. By doing so, it is said that the comfort in the bathroom and undressing room can be further improved and the heat shock can be mitigated.

JP 2001-304655 A JP 7-225042 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-22240

  When a thermography is used as a means for detecting the temperature of a very small part of a human body such as a face in an air conditioner as in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to use a thermography having a high number of pixels because the measurement target area is narrow. Therefore, the subject that the cost of an air conditioner became high occurred. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 does not disclose or suggest how the surface temperature of the human body can be measured to realize a comfortable environment.

  The present application mainly solves the above-described problems, and uses a low-cost thermography with a small number of pixels and estimates a thermal feeling of whether a person feels hot or cold and is comfortable. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of realizing an environmental temperature and a thermal image sensor system used in the air conditioner.

  In order to achieve the above object, a thermal image acquisition unit that acquires a thermal image representing a temperature distribution in space, and (i) a person who includes a clothing region in the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit. 2D human body area, which is a two-dimensional area, is identified, and (ii) human body temperature is determined based on the temperature distribution of the 2D human body area, including the clothes of people in the space, and (iii) clothes are also included As an index of the amount of heat released from a person, a difference value between the human body temperature and the ambient temperature measured by a temperature sensor installed at a predetermined position around the person is calculated. Equivalent to the difference value when the user feels a feeling, a calculation unit that estimates the thermal sensation of a person in the space based on a difference from a predetermined threshold value, and a person in the space estimated by the calculation unit And a controller that controls the air conditioner based on the thermal sensation of the air.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the air conditioner which estimates a human thermal sensation and implement | achieves a comfortable environmental temperature can be provided at low cost.

FIG. 1A schematically shows the appearance of an air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is an example of a thermal image used in the air conditioner 100. FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the set point Tc. FIG. 4A is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification. FIG. 4B is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification. FIG. 4C is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a circadian rhythm. FIG. 6 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the second modification. FIG. 7 is an example of a thermal image used in the second modification. FIG. 8A is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the third modification. FIG. 8B is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the third modification. FIG. 8C is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the third modification. FIG. 9 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the fourth modification. FIG. 10 is an example of a thermal image used in the fourth modification. FIG. 11 is an example of a thermal image used in the fourth modification. FIG. 12 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the fourth modification. FIG. 13 is an example of a thermal image used in the fourth modification. FIG. 14 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the fourth modification. FIG. 15A is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the fifth modification. FIG. 15B is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the sixth modification. FIG. 16 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the seventh modification. FIG. 17 is an example of a thermal image and temperature distribution used in Modification 7. FIG. 18 is an example of a thermal image or the like used in Modification 9. FIG. 19 is an example of a thermal image or the like used in Modification 10. FIG. 20A is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the tenth modification. FIG. 20B is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the tenth modification. FIG. 21 is an example of a thermal image used in Modification 11. FIG. 22 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the eleventh modification. FIG. 23 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the modification 12. FIG. 24 is an example of a temperature distribution used in Modification 12. FIG. 25 is an example of a thermal image or the like used in Modification 13. FIG. 26 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the modification 13. FIG. 27 is an example of a thermal image or the like used in Modification 14. FIG. 28 is a configuration example of the air conditioner 100 according to the modification 14. FIG. 29 schematically shows the appearance of an air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 30 is a configuration example of an air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 31 is an example of a remote control screen used in the air conditioner 200. FIG. 32 is a configuration example of an air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 33 is an example of a remote control screen used in the air conditioner 200. FIG. 34 is a configuration example of an air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 35 is an example of a remote control screen used in the air conditioner 200. FIG. 36 is a configuration example of a thermal image sensor system 300 according to an application form of the present invention.

<Outline of each aspect of the invention>
An air conditioner according to an aspect of the present invention includes a thermal image acquisition unit that acquires a thermal image representing a temperature distribution in a space, and (i) heat acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit in an air conditioner that performs air conditioning control of the space. Identify the area corresponding to the person in the image, (ii) determine the human body temperature, which is the temperature of the person in the space based on the temperature distribution of the area corresponding to the person, and (iii) correspond to the human body temperature and the person Based on the difference between the ambient temperature obtained from the temperature of the region other than the region and the thermal value of the person in the space based on the difference value, based on the thermal sense of the person in the space estimated by the calculation unit And a controller that controls at least one of the air volume, air temperature, and air direction of the air conditioner. The thermal image acquisition unit and the calculation unit may constitute a thermal image sensor system separated from the air conditioner.

  Further, the calculation unit may estimate a human thermal sensation based on a difference between a difference value between the human body temperature and the ambient temperature and a predetermined threshold value.

  Further, the control unit controls to increase the ambient temperature when the difference value obtained by subtracting the ambient temperature from the human body temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold, and the difference value obtained by subtracting the ambient temperature from the human body temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold. If it is smaller, the ambient temperature may be controlled to be lowered.

  Furthermore, the calculation unit may correct the predetermined threshold based on the amount of human activity.

  Furthermore, the calculation unit may correct the predetermined threshold based on whether the air conditioner is performing a cooling operation or a heating operation.

  Furthermore, the predetermined threshold value may be corrected based on the ambient temperature.

  Furthermore, the calculation unit may determine the human body temperature based on the temperature average value of all the pixels in the region corresponding to the person in the thermal image.

  Further, the calculation unit divides the region corresponding to the person into a plurality of human body parts, weights each of the plurality of human body parts, and based on the temperature average value of all the pixels in the region corresponding to the weighted person. The temperature may be set.

  Further, the calculation unit may reduce the weighting of the human body part where the skin is exposed in a plurality of human body parts as compared to other human body parts.

  Further, the calculation unit divides the region corresponding to the person into a plurality of temperature ranges, weights each of the plurality of temperature ranges, and based on the temperature average value of all the pixels in the region corresponding to the weighted person The temperature may be set.

  Further, the calculation unit may reduce the weighting on the low temperature side and increase the weighting on the high temperature side in the plurality of temperature ranges.

  Furthermore, the calculation unit may determine the human body temperature based on the temperature average value of all the pixels in the region corresponding to the person in the thermal image and the temperature maximum value of all the pixels.

  Furthermore, the calculation unit may determine the ambient temperature based on the mode value of the pixel temperature in the region other than the region corresponding to the person.

  Further, the calculation unit may specify a floor region or / and a ceiling region included in a space in the thermal image, and may determine an ambient temperature based on the temperature of the floor region or / and the temperature of the ceiling region.

  Furthermore, the calculation unit may use a value measured by a temperature sensor worn by a person in the space or attached to something worn as the ambient temperature.

  Furthermore, the calculation unit is measured by a value measured by a temperature sensor that acquires the ambient temperature of the air conditioner installed in the air conditioner, or by a temperature sensor attached to a remote control that can remotely operate the air conditioner. The value obtained may be used as the ambient temperature.

  Further, the calculation unit may specify a region indicating a predetermined range of temperature in the thermal image as a region corresponding to a person.

  Further, the calculation unit may specify an area indicating a predetermined range of temperature in the thermal image and an area where a predetermined number or more continues as an area corresponding to a person.

  Moreover, as another aspect, the air conditioner performs air conditioning control of a space, and a thermal image acquisition unit that acquires a thermal image representing a temperature distribution of the space, and a thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit A region that corresponds to a person is identified, a thermal unit that estimates the thermal sensation of the person in the space in the identified region, and the thermal sensation of the person in the space estimated by the computational unit is notified to the person in the space And a notification unit.

  Furthermore, the notification unit displays an image, characters, or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in the space on the display unit provided in the air conditioner body or the display unit provided on the remote controller of the air conditioner. And you can notify people in the space.

  Further, the notification unit may notify the person in the space of the thermal sensation of the person in the space by changing the display color of the display unit.

  Further, the calculation unit generates a correction image in which characters or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in the space are superimposed around the coordinates of the region corresponding to the person in the thermal image, and the notification unit is a display unit By displaying the corrected image, the thermal sensation of the person in the space may be notified to the person in the space.

  Furthermore, the notification unit notifies a terminal other than the air conditioner to a command for displaying an image, characters, or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in the space on the display unit of the terminal via the network. It doesn't matter.

  In addition, the notification unit transmits to the terminals other than the air conditioner via the network (i) a thermal image, (ii) information on the coordinates of the region corresponding to the person specified by the calculation unit, and (iii) the estimated temperature. (Iv) a correction image obtained by superimposing characters or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in the space around the coordinates of the region corresponding to the person in the thermal image generated by the calculation unit. A command for displaying on the display unit may be transmitted.

  Further, the calculation unit generates a corrected image in which characters or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in the space are superimposed around the coordinates of the region corresponding to the person in the thermal image, and the notification unit A command for displaying the corrected image on the display unit of the terminal may be notified to a terminal other than the air conditioner.

  Furthermore, the calculation unit determines a human body temperature that is a temperature of a person in the space based on a temperature distribution of a region corresponding to a person, and an ambient temperature obtained from a temperature of a region other than the region corresponding to a person. The thermal sensation of the person in the space may be estimated based on the difference value.

  Furthermore, the correction reception part which receives correction of the estimated thermal sensation is provided, and a calculating part may correct | amend the estimated thermal sensation based on the information which the correction reception part received.

  In addition, a correction receiving unit that receives correction of the estimated thermal sensation is provided, and the calculation unit estimates the thermal sensation of the person based on the difference between the difference value between the human body temperature and the ambient temperature and a predetermined threshold value. The predetermined threshold value may be changed based on the information received by the correction receiving unit.

  Moreover, as another aspect, the air conditioner that performs air conditioning control of a space, the air conditioner that performs air conditioning control of the space, and a thermal image acquisition unit that acquires a thermal image representing a temperature distribution of the space A temperature sensor that acquires the ambient temperature of the air conditioner, and a region corresponding to a person in the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit when the ambient temperature acquired by the temperature sensor is a predetermined temperature range. A computing unit that identifies and estimates the thermal sensation of a person in the space in the identified area, and a person in the space estimated by the computing unit when the ambient temperature acquired by the temperature sensor is in a predetermined temperature range And a controller that controls at least one of the air volume, the air temperature, and the air direction of the air conditioner based on the thermal sensation.

  Further, when the ambient temperature is not in the predetermined temperature range, the calculation unit does not perform calculation, and when the ambient temperature is not in the predetermined temperature range, the control unit determines whether the air conditioner of the air conditioner is in accordance with the ambient temperature. Control contents regarding at least one of the air volume, the air temperature, and the wind direction may be determined and controlled.

  Moreover, as another aspect, it is a thermal image sensor system, Comprising: The thermal image acquisition part which acquires the thermal image showing the temperature distribution of space, (i) The person in the thermal image which the thermal image acquisition part acquired Identify the corresponding area, (ii) determine the human body temperature, which is the temperature of the person in the space, based on the temperature distribution of the area corresponding to the person, and (iii) the human body temperature and the area other than the area corresponding to the person And an arithmetic unit for estimating a thermal sensation of a person in the space based on a difference value from the ambient temperature obtained from the temperature.

  Further, as another aspect, there is provided a thermal sensation estimation method for estimating a thermal sensation of a person from a thermal image acquired by a thermal image sensor that acquires a thermal image by a computer. The human body temperature is determined based on the temperature distribution of the region corresponding to the person, and the human body temperature, which is the temperature of the person in the space, is determined from the human body temperature and the temperature of the region other than the region corresponding to the person. The thermal sensation of the person in the space was estimated based on the difference value with the ambient temperature.

  Another aspect is a thermal sensation estimation program for estimating a thermal sensation of a person from a thermal image acquired by a thermal image sensor that acquires a thermal image, wherein (i) the thermal image acquisition unit acquires The area corresponding to the person in the thermal image is determined, (ii) the human body temperature, which is the temperature of the person in the space, is determined based on the temperature distribution of the area corresponding to the person, and (iii) the human body temperature and the person A calculation process is included that estimates the thermal sensation of a person in the space based on the difference value from the ambient temperature obtained from the temperature of the region other than the corresponding region.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element and description may be abbreviate | omitted. Further, the drawings schematically show the respective constituent elements mainly for easy understanding.

  Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a specific example of the present invention. Numerical values, shapes, components, steps, order of steps and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept are described as optional constituent elements. In all the embodiments, the contents can be combined. In addition, the configuration in each modification described in each embodiment is the same, and the configuration described in each modification may be combined.

<Detailed description of each aspect of the invention>
[First Embodiment]
The air conditioner 100 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using drawing.

  2, the air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment includes a thermal image acquisition unit 110, a temperature sensor 120, a calculation unit 130, a control unit 160, a louver 171, a compressor 172, and a fan 173. With. The calculation unit 130 includes a position specifying unit 131, a human body temperature calculation unit 132, a difference temperature calculation unit 133, a thermal sensation estimation unit 134, and a set point setting unit 135. Each structure of this air conditioner 100 may be arrange | positioned in any of the indoor unit installed indoors, and the outdoor unit installed outdoor. The air conditioner 100 may have a configuration other than these configurations.

  The thermal image acquisition unit 110 is a so-called thermography attached to the front surface of the air conditioner 100. The thermal image acquisition unit 110 has a viewing angle Φ in the left-right direction, and can acquire a two-dimensional thermal image of an object existing in the front space of the air conditioner 100. Moreover, the thermal image acquisition unit 110 has a viewing angle in the vertical direction, and can capture the presence of the person 102 in the front space of the air conditioner 100. The thermal image acquisition unit 110 has, for example, a group of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and has a structure that can acquire a two-dimensional thermal image at a time. In addition to this structure, for example, the thermal image acquisition unit 110 has a pixel group (line sensor) arranged in a one-dimensional shape, and acquires a two-dimensional thermal image by scanning the pixel group one-dimensionally. A structure may be used, or one or more pixels may be included, and one or more pixels may be scanned two-dimensionally to obtain a two-dimensional thermal image. Here, the configuration of the thermal image acquisition unit 110 is not limited.

  In the first embodiment, when the person 102 exists in the space of the viewing angle Φ in front of the air conditioner 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the thermal image acquisition unit 110 of the person 102 as illustrated in FIG. A thermal image 103a including a temperature distribution can be acquired. Hereinafter, the thermal image 103a will be described.

  In the thermal image 103a, the portion (pixel) where the temperature of the object in the space is higher is displayed with a higher density. In FIG. 1B, a pixel having a higher temperature is displayed in a color closer to black. The display of the thermal image is not limited to this.

  Now, the person 102 shown to FIG. 1A is wearing the jacket 102a and the trousers 102b. The surface temperature of the jacket 102a and the pants 102b is close to the ambient temperature. For this reason, for example, when the ambient temperature is a room temperature of about 25 ° C., the surface temperature of the person 102 detected by the thermal image acquisition unit 110 is the other part (face, neck, both hands, both feet) where the skin is exposed. The part of the outer garment 102a and trousers 102b has fallen rather than. Therefore, the surface temperature of the outer garment 102a and the pants 102b is displayed with a lower relative density (in a color close to the color of the surrounding pixels) than the surface temperature of the part where the skin is exposed. Become. Further, in the above temperature environment, the ambient temperature is lower than the temperature of the clothing surface. Therefore, when there is no object below the ambient temperature within the viewing angle Φ, the density of the region other than the person in the thermal image 103a is the lowest. For example, when the room temperature is about 25 ° C., the facial skin temperature is about 33 ° C. on average, the temperature of the jacket 102a is about 27 ° C., the temperature of both hands (exposed portions) is about 30 ° C., and the temperature of the pants 102b is about 28 ° C. When the temperature of both feet (exposed portions) is about 29 ° C., the temperature distribution is as shown in the thermal image 103a. However, the temperature of the clothing surface such as the outer garment 102a and the trousers 102b depends on the material and thickness of the clothing, and may be other temperatures. In addition, the surface temperature of the skin varies depending on individual differences and activity levels. When the person 102 is not present and the temperature of the object existing within the viewing angle Φ is uniform, the distribution is uniform as shown in the thermal image 103b of FIG. 1B.

Next, each configuration and function of the air conditioner 100 will be described.
The temperature distribution acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit 110 is transmitted to the calculation unit 130 as a thermal image. The temperature sensor 120 is a sensor such as a thermistor or a thermocouple that can measure the temperature at one point in space or one point on the surface of a member. The temperature sensor 120 is arrange | positioned at the air inlet etc. of the air conditioner 100, for example, and measures ambient temperature. In addition, the position of the temperature sensor 120 may be arranged at a place other than the air suction port, and the position is not limited here. The ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 is transmitted to the calculation unit 130.

  In the calculation unit 130, the position specifying unit 131 analyzes the thermal image transmitted from the thermal image acquisition unit 110 and specifies the position of the person 102 in the space. A method for specifying the position of a person will be described later. The human body temperature calculation unit 132 analyzes the thermal image transmitted from the thermal image acquisition unit 110 and determines a region estimated to fall under the person 102. Then, the human body temperature calculation unit 132 cuts out the determined area, and determines (determines) the average temperature of the cut out area as the human body temperature. A method for specifying the human region and a method for calculating the average value of the temperature will be described later. The difference temperature calculation unit 133 acquires the human body temperature (A value) calculated by the human body temperature calculation unit 132 and the ambient temperature (B value) detected by the temperature sensor 120, and the difference temperature (C value) between them. (Ie, C = A−B).

  The thermal sensation estimation unit 134 acquires the differential temperature (C value) calculated by the differential temperature calculation unit 133. Further, the thermal sensation estimation unit 134 acquires the set point Tc set in the set point setting unit 135. Then, the thermal sensation estimation unit 134 compares the difference temperature (C value) with the set point Tc to determine whether the person 102 feels hot or cold (hereinafter, this is referred to as thermal sensation). ).

  Here, the set point Tc set in the set point setting unit 135 is a temperature difference (C value) when a person feels that it is neither hot nor cold and just right [= human body temperature (A value) −ambient Temperature (B value)]. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, if the difference is smaller than the set point Tc, that is, if the ambient temperature rises relative to the human body temperature, the person will feel warmth or heat according to the rise. . On the other hand, if the difference becomes larger than the set point Tc, that is, if the ambient temperature falls with respect to the human body temperature, the person feels coolness or cold according to the lowered amount. The value of the set point Tc may be obtained by experiment or may be calculated by simulation, for example.

  As described above, the calculation unit 130 can estimate the position and thermal sensation of the person 102 existing within the viewing angle Φ. The estimated position and thermal sensation of the person 102 are input to the control unit 160. The control unit 160 controls the louver 171, the compressor 172, and the fan 173 according to the thermal sensation determined by the thermal sensation estimation unit 134 of the arithmetic unit 130. For example, when it is determined that the person 102 feels hot, the control unit 160 controls the louver 171 in the direction in which the person 102 is present and operates the compressor 172 and the fan 173 to generate cold air. Do. By doing so, the ambient temperature of the person 102 is lowered, so that the person 102 does not get hot and can spend comfortably.

  As described above, the temperature difference between the average temperature of the region corresponding to the person 102, that is, the human body temperature (A value) and the ambient temperature (B value) of the person 102 is obtained to estimate the thermal sensation. Thus, the following effects are obtained.

  In general, in an air conditioner, the room temperature can be set, but the amount of clothing of a person cannot be set. For example, in summer, even if the temperature is the same, people feel cool when they are lightly worn, and people feel hot when they are thickly worn. For example, in the winter, even if the temperature is the same, people feel cold if they are thin, and people feel warm if they are thick. That is, if the amount of clothes is different, even if the ambient temperature is the same, the thermal sensation of the person will be different. Therefore, just by maintaining the ambient temperature at the same temperature, the thermal sensation varies depending on the amount of clothing, and it is necessary to change the set temperature of the air conditioner.

  As in this embodiment, the average temperature of the area corresponding to the person 102 including the clothes area, that is, the temperature difference (C value) between the human body temperature (A value) and the ambient temperature (B value) of the person 102 is calculated. What is required is nothing other than estimating the amount of heat released from the body in consideration of clothing. In general, since the amount of energy consumed by a person is approximately the same every day, it is preferable that the amount of heat radiated from the body is maintained substantially constant. Therefore, the thermal sensation is estimated by comparing the difference temperature (C value), which is an index of the amount of heat released from the body, with the set point Tc determined in advance based on the ideal amount of heat released. Can do. If the thermal sensation can be estimated, even if the amount of clothing is changed, the thermal sensation can be accurately estimated in the calculation unit 130 without causing the person 102 to bother to declare the amount of clothing. As a result, it is possible to provide a comfortable space regardless of the amount of clothes without having to change the set temperature.

  As other effects, the following effects can be expected. In the present embodiment, the average value of the area corresponding to the person 102 is obtained as the value extracted from the thermal image 103a. For this reason, it may be mentioned that an image with a coarse resolution may be used. For example, in order to measure the temperature of the nose for estimation of thermal sensation, it is necessary to have a thermal image resolution enough to resolve a several centimeter square area in a room. However, in the present embodiment, it is only necessary to obtain the average value of the area corresponding to the person 102, and thus such a high resolution is unnecessary. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to sufficiently estimate the thermal sensation of the person 102 even with an inexpensive thermal image acquisition unit 110 with low resolution.

  Of course, the driving amount of the louver 171, the compressor 172, and the fan 173 by the controller 160 may be constant regardless of the deviation amount of the differential temperature (C value) from the set point Tc, or according to the deviation amount. It may be changed. For example, when the deviation amount is large, the driving amount of the compressor 172 or the fan 173 may be increased, and when the deviation amount is small, the driving amount of the compressor 172 or the fan 173 may be reduced.

Some further modifications will be described below.
(Modification 1)
In the first modification, the set point Tc is changed according to time based on the fact that the deep body temperature of the person fluctuates throughout the day (generally referred to as “circadian rhythm”).

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification. In the modification shown in FIG. 4A, the calculation unit 130 further includes configurations of a circadian rhythm storage unit 136 and a clock 137. The circadian rhythm storage unit 136 stores, for example, a typical circadian rhythm (a person's deep body temperature that fluctuates in one day) shown in FIG. The clock 137 is an internal clock of the air conditioner 100, and provides the time point information to the set point setting unit 135. The set point setting unit 135 refers to the time of the clock 137 and sets the set point Tc that has been corrected according to the time based on the deep body temperature stored in the circadian rhythm storage unit 136. As in this modification, by estimating the thermal sensation based on the set point Tc corrected by the set point setting unit 108, it is possible to reduce the feeling of the ambient temperature of the person during the day due to circadian rhythm. Can also maintain a comfortable environment.

  In general, the deep body temperature is higher in the afternoon than in the morning, so that it is known that the afternoon feels relatively warmer in the afternoon than in the morning even at the same temperature. Therefore, the afternoon set point Tc may be set higher, and the set point Tc may be corrected in a manner proportional to the amount of body temperature fluctuation of the circadian rhythm.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification. The modification shown in FIG. 4B has a configuration in which the internal clock 137 is replaced with an external clock 190. This modification considers that the wake-up time and bedtime differ depending on the person, and refers to the time of a clock 190 (for example, an alarm clock) owned by the person, not the clock provided in the air conditioner 100. For example, the circadian rhythm reference position stored in the circadian rhythm storage unit 136 can be changed based on the wake-up time set in the clock 190. The clock 190 may be a bedroom lighting or a sleep meter other than the alarm clock. The sleep meter is a meter that can estimate a sleep time, a wake-up time, a sleep time, a sleep depth, and the like from a human body movement or the like. That is, the wake-up time and the bedtime can be estimated from the time when the bedroom lighting is turned on / off and the value of the sleep meter. By making it like this modification, the comfortable air conditioner optimized for every individual can be provided.

  FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating still another configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification. The modification shown in FIG. 4C has a configuration in which a plurality of circadian rhythms are stored in the circadian rhythm storage unit 136 and a circadian rhythm determination unit 138 is further provided. The circadian rhythm is said to have a large temperature fluctuation range for people who live regularly, and a smaller temperature fluctuation range for irregular people. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the circadian rhythm (rhythm 1) of the regular person and the circadian rhythm (rhythm 2) of the irregular person are stored in the circadian rhythm storage unit 136. The circadian rhythm determination unit 138 determines whether the circadian rhythm is regular or irregular based on the wake-up time and the bedtime obtained from the clock 190, and notifies the setpoint setting unit 135 of the determination result. The set point setting unit 135 selects a circadian rhythm of either rhythm 1 or rhythm 2 according to the determination notified from the circadian rhythm determination unit 138, and sets the set point Tc. By adopting this modified example, it is possible to provide a comfortable air conditioner optimized for each individual depending on whether a person's lifestyle is regular or irregular.

  Here, as an example, the circadian rhythm is shown in two ways, regular life and irregularity, but of course, it may be further subdivided. Further, the circadian rhythm shown in FIG. 5 is merely a schematic example, and the body temperature fluctuation range and the like may be arbitrarily set, and are not limited here.

(Modification 2)
In the second modification, the set point Tc is changed according to the amount of activity based on the fact that when the amount of heat released from the body increases due to exercise, it feels warmer than at rest.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the second modification. In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the calculation unit 130 further includes configurations of an activity amount calculation unit 139 and a buffer 140. For example, in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the thermal image 103c is a thermal image at time T1, and the thermal image 103d is a thermal image at time T2 after a predetermined time from time T1. At this time, the position specifying unit 131 specifies the position of the person 102 at time T1 from the thermal image 103c, and specifies the position of the person 102 at time T2 from the thermal image 103d. The buffer 140 stores the position of the person specified by the position specifying unit 131 at each time. The activity amount calculation unit 139 estimates the activity amount of the person 102 from the variation amount of the person's position stored in the buffer 140 and transmits the activity amount to the set point setting unit 135. The set point setting unit 135 corrects the set point Tc based on the activity amount estimated by the activity amount calculating unit 139. With this modification, it is possible to estimate the thermal sensation corresponding to the amount of human activity. Based on the thermal sensation obtained by the estimation, the control unit 160 can control the compressor 172 and the fan 173 according to the amount of human activity. Thereby, it becomes possible to provide a comfortable surrounding environment even if it is active.

Note that when the amount of activity is large, the amount of heat radiation usually increases, so there are many cases where the set point Tc is increased according to the amount of activity. Here, the amount of activity is estimated by paying attention to the change in the position of the person. However, the amount of activity may be estimated by monitoring the position of a high temperature part such as a hand instead of the position. By doing so, the amount of activity can be estimated even when working in a sitting position, such as when ironing, so that a more comfortable air conditioner can be provided.
Further, in the second modification, as an example of estimating the amount of activity, a method using a change in the position of a person in a thermal image has been described. However, as long as the activity amount can be estimated, a method other than the method using the thermal image may be used, and the activity amount estimation method is not particularly limited.

(Modification 3)
In the third modification, the set point Tc is changed according to the season based on the difference in feeling between summer and winter even at the same temperature.

  In particular, the temperature difference between the four seasons in Japan clearly appears, and it is known that the way of feeling is different between summer and winter even at the same temperature. Usually, in a hot season such as summer, the body gets used to the heat, so that even at a high ambient temperature (for example, 28 ° C.), it feels appropriate. On the other hand, in cold seasons such as winter, the body gets used to cold, so it feels appropriate even at a low ambient temperature (for example, 20 ° C.). Therefore, in summer, it is comfortable even if the difference temperature between the ambient temperature and the average temperature of people is small compared to other seasons, and in winter, the difference temperature between the ambient temperature and the average temperature of people is compared with other seasons. The bigger one is more comfortable.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the third modification. In the modification shown in FIG. 8A, the calculation unit 130 further includes a configuration of a heating / cooling determination unit 141. The heating / cooling determination unit 141 determines a control mode such as whether the air conditioner 100 is performing a heating operation or a cooling operation. The set point setting unit 135 corrects the set point Tc based on the control mode determination result in the heating / cooling determination unit 141. For example, if the control mode is the cooling operation, the set point Tc is set to 3.0 ° C., and if the control mode is the heating operation, the set point Tc is set to 4.0 ° C. By doing so, it is possible to provide a comfortable air conditioner that is also adapted to adapting to the warmth and coolness of the body depending on the season.

  FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the third modification. The modification shown in FIG. 8B is a configuration in which the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 is input to the set point setting unit 135 without the configuration of the heating / cooling determination unit 141. The set point setting unit 135 estimates the current season from the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 (the temperature before the room becomes comfortable by air conditioning), and corrects the set point Tc. Of course, the set point setting unit 135 may directly correct the set point Tc based on the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 without estimating the season. The ambient temperature may be the ambient temperature estimated by the thermal sensation estimation unit 134 from the thermal image (described later in Modification 7).

  Further, FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating still another configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the third modification. In the modification shown in FIG. 8C, the calculation unit 130 further includes a configuration of the calendar unit 142. The calendar unit 142 has date information. The set point setting unit 135 estimates the current season from the date obtained from the calendar unit 142 and corrects the set point Tc. By doing so, it is possible to provide a comfortable air conditioner that is also adapted to adapting to the warmth and coolness of the body depending on the season.

(Modification 4)
In the fourth modification, an individual is identified and the set point Tc is changed based on the individual difference in the thermal sensation that the person receives even in the same environment.

  As a method for discriminating an individual from a thermal image, for example, height can be detected. For example, FIG. 10 shows Mr. X's thermal image 103e and Mr. Y's thermal image 103f. The height of a person can be easily obtained by calculation from the standing position and the height of the person on the image. That is, the distance from the air conditioner 100 to the person can be known depending on whether the standing position on the image is above or below, and the height can be calculated from the acquired height of the person. Mr. X in the thermal image 103e and Mr. Y in the thermal image 103f can discriminate individuals from the difference in height.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the fourth modification. In the modification shown in FIG. 9, the calculation unit 130 further includes configurations of a person determination unit 143 and a buffer 144. The human discrimination unit 143 analyzes the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit 110 and discriminates an individual from his / her height as described above. The buffer 144 stores in advance a set point Tc for each individual (in this example, Mr. X and Mr. Y). The buffer 144 receives an individual discrimination result from the person discrimination unit 143 and transmits the set point Tc stored for the individual to the set point setting unit 135.

  Here, the set point Tc for each individual can be determined as follows. For example, an individual is placed at a position where the thermal image acquisition unit 110 can acquire a thermal image, and the air conditioner 100 is operated while changing the temperature. Then, at a timing when it is felt that it is neither hot nor cold, an individual inputs a specific signal to the air conditioner 100 (for example, transmission by a remote controller not shown). The air conditioner 100 calculates a set point from the ambient temperature acquired by the temperature sensor 120 when a specific signal is input, the human body temperature determined by the human body temperature calculation unit 132, and the like. The information is stored in the buffer 144 together with the personal height information acquired by the determination unit 143. Further, when setting the set point Tc for each individual, information (eg, cold, hot, cold) from self-reporting from the individual may be taken into account. For example, the set point of Mr. Y who self-reported coldness is set low. By setting in this way, it functions to control the amount of heat release in a relatively lower direction, so that it has the effect of making it difficult to feel cold even if it is cold.

  In this way, the set point setting unit 135 acquires the personal set point Tc determined by the person determining unit 143 from the buffer 144 and sets it. Then, the thermal sensation estimation unit 134 determines the thermal sensation based on the individual set point Tc. Thereby, the air conditioner which can implement | achieve the ambient temperature optimized with respect to an individual is realizable.

  In the above embodiment, the individual is identified by calculating the height from the thermal image obtained by the thermal image acquisition unit 110. However, the method for identifying an individual is not limited to this method, and other methods may be used. For example, the individual may be determined based on a difference in temperature distribution, or the individual may be determined based on an image of a separately provided CCD camera or the like.

[How to determine human body temperature (A value)]
Next, a calculation method of the average temperature of the region corresponding to the person 102, that is, the human body temperature (A value) in the calculation unit 130 will be described with reference to FIG.

  For example, as described above, when the room temperature is about 25 ° C., the facial skin temperature is about 33 ° C. on average, the temperature of the jacket 102a is about 27 ° C., the temperature of both hands (exposed part) is about 30 ° C., and the pants 102b The temperature of the foot is about 28 ° C., and the temperature of both feet (exposed portions) is about 29 ° C. Therefore, a region that is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature compared to the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 120 can be set as a region corresponding to the person 102. In this way, the calculation unit 130 calculates information regarding the human region for calculating the human body temperature (A value) and the position of the person 102 to be output to the control unit 160.

  For example, in this case, assuming that the pixel portion that is 1 ° C. or more higher than the ambient temperature (25 ° C.) is the person 102, the region surrounded by the bold line shown in FIG. it can. In this manner, a predetermined pixel portion or more may be determined as a region corresponding to a person. In addition to this, it may be added as a condition for specifying a human region that a predetermined number or more of pixel portions at 26 ° C. or higher are continuous. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the thermal image may include a region such as a lighting fixture that generates heat at 26 ° C. or higher when it is turned on. Even in this case, for example, if a region in which pixels of 26 ° C. or higher are continuous by 10 pixels or more is recognized as a person, a heating object such as these lighting fixtures is not detected as a person. Therefore, since highly accurate human detection is possible, it is possible to reliably estimate the thermal sensation and provide a comfortable surrounding environment.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the region of 1 ° C. or higher with respect to the ambient temperature is set as the region corresponding to the person. However, not only the lower limit temperature but also the upper limit temperature may be set. For example, the upper limit temperature may be 40 ° C., and the region higher than 40 ° C. may not be a region corresponding to a person. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 11 (c), if there is an object that generates heat due to a factor other than metabolism of the human body such as a smartphone in the chest pocket, and the region is higher than 40 ° C., You may exclude the area | region from the area | region applicable to a person. By doing so, it is possible to accurately estimate the amount of heat released by a person due to metabolism, so that the thermal sensation can be estimated with higher accuracy, and a more comfortable surrounding environment can be provided.

  In this embodiment, a region corresponding to a person is set with a threshold whether the temperature is higher by 1 ° C. or more than the ambient temperature. However, for example, it may be determined as 26 ° C. regardless of the ambient temperature. Can be set. Also, the number of continuous pixels is 10 pixels as an example here, but of course this is not limited to 10 pixels, and may be set as appropriate according to the specifications of the thermal image acquisition means used. Further, although the upper limit temperature is set to 40 ° C., of course, this is only an example, and other temperatures may be set and the temperature is not limited to 40 ° C. In addition, the thermal images acquired in time series may be compared, and the portion that has moved may be set as an area corresponding to the person 102. Here, the means is not limited.

  Here, as an optimal configuration, the temperature average value of the region corresponding to the person 102 is determined (obtained) from the thermal image as a human body temperature (A value) in the calculation unit 130, and the thermal sensation of the person 102 is determined. Estimated. However, other values may be used as the human body temperature as long as the amount of heat dissipation including clothing can be estimated by taking the difference from the ambient temperature. For example, it may be an integral value of the temperature of the region corresponding to the person 102, may be the maximum value, or may be a mode value or a median value, and is not limited here.

  Up to this point, the case where the ambient temperature is about 25 ° C. has been described. However, when the ambient temperature is as high as about 33 ° C., for example, the skin temperature of the face is about 33 ° C. on the average, and the temperature of the outerwear 102a and the pants 102b is not so different from the ambient temperature, and both are 33 It becomes about ℃. Moreover, since the temperature of both hands (exposed part) and both feet is equal to the ambient temperature, it is difficult to detect the region of the person 102 on the thermal image.

  However, if the ambient temperature is usually about 33 ° C., there is no heat release from the skin or the like, and the body is hot. Therefore, in this case, the control unit 160 may directly determine the ambient temperature and start the cooling operation without determining (not calculating) the thermal sensation and the position of the person in the calculation unit 130. . The configuration at this time is shown in FIG. As described above, when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the cooling is started regardless of the thermal sensation and the ambient temperature is set to a predetermined temperature (for example, 33 ° C.) or lower. If the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature (predetermined temperature range), it becomes possible to discriminate the human area, so that it is possible to provide a comfortable ambient environment by estimating the thermal sensation by the calculation unit 130. become able to.

  Although the predetermined temperature has been described as 33 ° C. here, the present invention is not limited to this. If the temperature is lower than the surface temperature of an exposed part such as a human face, the predetermined temperature may be set lower, and the temperature and range are not limited here. The process of estimating the thermal sensation by the thermal sensation estimation unit 134 described so far and controlling the control unit 160 is executed regardless of the ambient temperature (without limiting the temperature range). However, for example, if the surrounding environment is 10 ° C., everyone feels cold, and if the surrounding environment is 30 ° C., everyone feels hot. Therefore, only when the ambient temperature measured by the temperature sensor 120 is within a predetermined range, the thermal sensation estimator 134 may estimate the thermal sensation and control the controller 160. And if it is the ambient temperature below the predetermined range, everyone can feel that it is cold, and the heating operation may be performed without estimating the thermal sensation. In this case, assuming that everyone feels hot, the cooling operation may be performed without estimating the thermal sensation. By doing so, the calculation load by the calculation unit 130 is reduced, and an air conditioner with low power consumption can be provided. Here, the range of the ambient temperature at which the thermal sensation is estimated is set to 10 ° C. to 30 ° C. However, of course, the range is not limited to this range, and may be freely set within a range not departing from the gist. In addition, the effect of performing the thermal sensation estimation only within the predetermined temperature range described above does not depend on the thermal sensation estimation method, but by a method other than the thermal sensation estimation method described in the present embodiment. Needless to say, there are similar effects.

  Further, a thermal image (reference thermal image) when a person does not exist within the range of the viewing angle Φ is acquired in advance, and the calculation unit 130 calculates a difference between the actually acquired thermal image and the reference thermal image. By taking it, the difference temperature (C value) which is the difference between the human body temperature (A value) and the ambient temperature (B value) can be directly obtained. This will be described with reference to FIGS. A thermal image 103g illustrated in FIG. 13A is a reference thermal image acquired when the person 102 does not exist within the viewing angle Φ. Since the luminaire is present within the viewing angle Φ, there is a high temperature region in the luminaire region. This reference thermal image is stored in the background data buffer 145 in the configuration shown in FIG. Next, a thermal image 103h illustrated in FIG. 13B is a thermal image acquired when the person 102 is present within the viewing angle Φ. The thermal image 103h is sent to the difference processing unit 146. The difference processing unit 146 acquires a difference between the thermal image 103h and the thermal image 103g stored in the background data buffer 145. The image becomes a thermal image 103i shown in FIG. Since this thermal image has already been subtracted from the ambient temperature, it is not necessary to perform a subtraction process in the calculation unit 130 to obtain the C value as in the configuration of FIG. With respect to the obtained thermal image 103i, an area having a predetermined temperature or higher is set as an area corresponding to the person 102, and an average value of each pixel is obtained to obtain a differential temperature (C value). The thermal sensation estimation unit 134 can estimate thermal sensation based on the obtained differential temperature (C value).

  By doing so, the temperature sensor 120 is not necessary, so that the air conditioner can be configured at a lower cost. In addition, even if there is a heat generating object such as a lighting fixture, a region corresponding to a person can be reliably detected by taking the difference. Further, here, whether or not there is a person within the viewing angle Φ is compared in time series with the acquired thermal images, and if there is no change for a predetermined time or more, it may be determined that there is no person. For example, about 5 minutes is appropriate as the predetermined time, but it may be set appropriately according to the specification or may be adjusted.

  The air conditioner 100 is usually present at a higher position than the position of the person 102, and the temperature at the higher position is usually higher. For this reason, a value lower by a certain temperature than the value measured by the temperature sensor 120 may be set as the ambient temperature (B value). Further, the ambient temperature (B value) may be set by offsetting a constant temperature with respect to the value measured by the temperature sensor 120 according to the height, position and other conditions where the air conditioner 100 is installed. Absent.

Further modifications will be described below.
Here, the air conditioner 100 further includes a receiver 180. In the above embodiment, the temperature sensor 120 mounted on the air conditioner 100 is used as the temperature sensor, but here, a case where measurement is performed using a temperature sensor provided separately from the air conditioner 100 will be described.

(Modification 5)
FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the fifth modification. The modification shown in FIG. 15A has a configuration in which a remote controller 191 is provided separately from the air conditioner 100. The remote controller 191 includes a temperature sensor 193 and a transmitter 194. Normally, the remote controller 191 is used for turning on / off the operation of the air conditioner 100, the wind direction, the air volume, temperature adjustment, and the like. In the fifth modification, a temperature sensor 193 is added to the remote controller 191 to control the ambient temperature. It was decided to measure.

  The ambient temperature measured by the temperature sensor 193 is sent to the transmitter 194 and is wirelessly transmitted from there to the receiver 180 in the air conditioner 100. Subsequent operations are the same as described above. Normally, the position of the remote controller 191 is closer to a person in the room than the main body of the air conditioner 100, so the temperature measured by the remote controller 191 is closer to the ambient temperature of the person in the room. Therefore, the accuracy of the thermal sensation estimated by the calculation unit 130 is further improved, and a more comfortable ambient environment can be provided.

(Modification 6)
FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the sixth modification. The modification shown in FIG. 15B has a configuration in which a wearable terminal 192 is provided separately from the air conditioner 100. The wearable terminal 192 includes a temperature sensor 193 and a transmitter 194 as with the remote controller 191. Wearable terminal 192 is worn by a person in the room. The wearable terminal 192 includes various devices such as a bracelet-type activity meter. For example, a smart phone, a wristwatch-type smart watch, or the like may be used. The ambient temperature measured by the temperature sensor 193 attached to the device attached to such a person is transmitted from the transmitter 194 to the receiver 180 of the air conditioner 100. Subsequent operations are the same as described above.

  As described above, since the ambient temperature measured by a wearable terminal 192 or the like is a direct measurement of the ambient temperature of the person, the accuracy of thermal sensation estimated in the calculation unit 130 is determined. Will be further improved, and a more comfortable surrounding environment can be provided.

(Modification 7)
A case where the ambient temperature is estimated from a thermal image instead of a temperature sensor will be described. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the modification example 7. As illustrated in FIG. The configuration in FIG. 16 differs from the configuration in FIG. 2 in that an ambient temperature estimation unit 147 is provided instead of the temperature sensor 120. The ambient temperature estimation unit 147 inputs the thermal image from the thermal image acquisition unit 110 and calculates the ambient temperature (B value). Here, processing in the ambient temperature estimation unit 147 will be described.

  FIG. 17A is a thermal image 103j photographed by the thermal image acquisition unit 110, and includes regions corresponding to the person 102 and the lighting fixture. In addition, the ambient temperature is about 23 ° C., the average skin temperature of the face is about 33 ° C., the temperature of the jacket 102a is about 27 ° C., the temperature of both hands (exposed portions) is about 30 ° C., the temperature of the trousers 102b is about 28 ° C. The temperature of both feet (exposed portions) is about 29 ° C.

  The ambient temperature estimation unit 147 calculates a histogram of the thermal image 103j. The histogram is shown in FIG. As in the example described above, the region from 26 ° C. to 40 ° C. can be regarded as a region corresponding to a person, and the other regions can be considered as indoor background regions. Then, 23 ° C., which is the mode other than that corresponding to the person 102, is detected as the ambient temperature (B value). In this thermal image 103j, there is a region corresponding to a lighting fixture in a region other than a person, but generally there is a small proportion of heating elements other than a person in the room, so in a region other than a person. By acquiring the mode value, the ambient temperature can be obtained with high accuracy. By doing so, since the temperature sensor 120 can be omitted, a more inexpensive air conditioner can be provided.

(Modification 8)
The histogram calculation may be applied to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 120 (for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 2) mounted on the air conditioner 100. For example, when the temperature accuracy of the temperature sensor 120 is ± 2 ° C. and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 120 is 24 ° C. as shown in FIG. 17C, for example, the thermal image 103j within 24 ° C. ± 2 ° C. The mode value in the histogram (23 ° C. in FIG. 17C) may be used as the ambient temperature (B value). By doing so, it is possible to estimate the ambient temperature (B value) with higher accuracy. In general, since the air conditioner is installed at a high position even in a room, the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 120 is often higher than the ambient temperature of a person. Therefore, a range in which measurement variation or the like is taken into consideration with respect to a temperature at which the predetermined temperature is lower than the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 120 may be set as the existence range of the ambient temperature (B value).

(Modification 9)
Another method for estimating the ambient temperature from the thermal image will be described. FIG. 18A shows a state in which the air conditioner 100 is attached to a wall surface in the room, and the thermal image acquisition unit 110 has a vertical viewing angle θ. The thermal image acquisition unit 110 is arranged so that the indoor ceiling 104 and the floor 105 are included in the vertical viewing angle θ. In addition, a person 102 stands in the room and is within the vertical viewing angle θ of the thermal image acquisition unit 110. The thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit 110 in this state is schematically shown as a thermal image 103k in FIG. In addition to the area corresponding to the person 102, the thermal image 103k includes both an area corresponding to the ceiling 104 and an area corresponding to the floor 105. Here, the temperature of the region corresponding to the floor 105 and the temperature of the region corresponding to the ceiling 104 may be acquired, and an average value may be used as the ambient temperature of the person 102. In general, since warm air rises, the ceiling temperature is warm compared to the floor temperature. Since the periphery of the position where a person is present is located approximately in the middle of the ceiling and the floor, by obtaining the average of the temperature corresponding to the ceiling 104 and the temperature corresponding to the floor 105, the ambient temperature can be accurately determined. It becomes possible to estimate. By doing so, since the temperature sensor 120 can be omitted, a more inexpensive air conditioner can be provided.

  The region corresponding to the floor 105 may be a temperature near the standing position of the person 102, and the temperature of the region corresponding to the ceiling 104 may be extracted from the pixels on the uppermost line of the thermal image 103k. It does not matter and the selection method is not limited. In addition, here, the average value of the temperature of the area corresponding to the ceiling 104 and the temperature of the area corresponding to the floor 105 is not limited to the average value. For example, when estimating the temperature at a low position, When the temperature ratio of the area corresponding to the floor 105 is increased and the temperature at the high position is estimated, the calculation may be performed with the temperature ratio of the area corresponding to the ceiling 104 being increased. The method is not limited.

(Modification 10)
Up to this point, an ordinary front thermal image of the person 102 has been described, but there are various situations other than this in the actual room. Here, as other situations, a computation method of the computation unit regarding the case of facing backward and the situation just entered / exited from a cold place will be described.

  A thermal image 103m in FIG. 19A is a thermal image of the person 102 facing the front. A thermal image 103n in FIG. 19B is a thermal image of the person 102 facing backward. A thermal image 103p in FIG. 19C is a thermal image of the person 102 facing the front immediately after entering the room from a cold place. FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the tenth modification. In the modification shown in FIG. 20A, the configuration of the human body temperature calculation unit 148 of the calculation unit 130 is different from the configuration of FIG.

  The human body temperature calculation unit 148 analyzes the thermal image transmitted from the thermal image acquisition unit 110 and obtains the average value (A value) of the temperature corresponding to the person 102. In addition, the human body temperature calculation unit 148 obtains the maximum value (D value) of the temperature corresponding to the person 102. Then, the human body temperature calculation unit 148 determines the current state of the person 102 in the thermal image from the average temperature value (A value) and the maximum temperature value (D value). For example, if the average temperature value (A value) is not within a predetermined range (for example, 25 ° C. ± 3 ° C.) and is 22 ° C. or less, the entire body is cold just entering from a cold place. It is judged. Similarly, if it is 28 ° C or higher, it is determined that the room has just been entered from a hot place. When the average value (A value) of the temperature is in the range of 25 ° C. ± 3 ° C. and the maximum value of the temperature (D value) is, for example, 31 ° C. or less, it is determined that it faces backward. Normally, the temperature of the face is about 33 ° C., but if it is lower than that, it is considered that the face temperature cannot be measured, so it is determined that the face is facing backward.

  In this way, by combining the average value (A value) and the maximum value (D value) of the temperature, it is possible to estimate what state the person 102 is in. Therefore, for the thermal image 103p shown in FIG. 19C, as shown in FIG. 19D, the average temperature value (A value) is outside the range of 25 ° C. ± 3 ° C. It is judged that the room has been entered. For the thermal image 103n, the average temperature value (A value) is in the range of 25 ° C. ± 3 ° C., but since the maximum temperature value (D value) is 31 ° C. or less, It is judged that they are facing backwards. For the thermal image 103m, the average temperature value (A value) is in the range of 25 ° C. ± 3 ° C., and the maximum temperature value (D value) is 31 ° C. or higher, so there is no transient state. It is judged to be facing the front.

  For the thermal image 103m determined to be facing the front, the average temperature value (A value) may be the calculation result in the human body temperature calculation unit 148, that is, the human body temperature (E value). On the other hand, if it is determined that the room has entered from a cold place as in the thermal image 103p, a command may be issued directly to the controller 160 without estimating the thermal sensation to warm the person 102. If it is determined that the image is facing backward as in the thermal image 103n, a correction value obtained by multiplying the average value (A value) of the temperature by a predetermined value is set as the human body temperature (E value). That's fine. The difference between the human body temperature (E value) set in this way and the ambient temperature (B value) obtained from the temperature sensor 120 is obtained to obtain a difference temperature (C value). Estimate and control feeling. By doing so, it is possible to perform control according to the thermal sensation of the person even in a transient state of the person or a state where the person is not facing the front.

  If the human body state determination unit 149 that can determine the state of the human body is provided as in the configuration of FIG. 20B, the human body temperature calculation unit 148 does not need to correct the average temperature value (A value). That is, when the human body state determination unit 149 determines that the person 102 is facing backward, the set point setting unit 135 may correct the value of the set point Tc to estimate the thermal sensation. If it is determined that the person has entered the room, the person 102 may be warmed by issuing a command directly to the control unit 160 without estimating the thermal sensation.

  In the above description, the temperature range 25 ° C. ± 3 ° C. is used as a reference for determining the human state from the average value (A value) and the maximum value (D value) of the temperature in the human body temperature calculation unit 148 and the human body state determination unit 149. In addition, a judgment criterion such as a maximum value of 31 ° C. However, of course, these temperatures are examples, and other values may be adopted.

  Further, when it is determined by the human body state determination unit 149 that the person 102 continues to face backward for a predetermined period (for example, about 10 minutes), a thermal image acquisition unit of the air conditioner 100 is displayed by a warning unit (not shown). A warning may be given to the person 102 so as to face 110. By doing so, it becomes possible to accurately estimate the thermal sensation without changing the set point Tc or correcting the average value (A value) of the temperature. Can be provided. As warning means, in addition to guiding by voice, a display lamp (not shown) mounted on the main body may be turned on, or a message to that effect may be displayed on a remote control, etc. However, the means is not limited here. Further, the predetermined period for issuing the warning may not be 10 minutes, and may be long or short.

(Modification 11)
Up to this point, the entire region corresponding to the person in the thermal image has been processed as a single bundle. In this modification, an example in which the region corresponding to the person is divided into a plurality of human body parts will be described. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the eleventh modification. In the modification shown in FIG. 22, the calculation unit 130 includes a part determination unit 150 and a weighting addition unit 151.

  For example, in a person with coldness, the temperature of the limbs is particularly affected by the ambient temperature, and the temperature is close to the ambient temperature. In this case, since the difference between the part such as the hand or foot and the ambient temperature becomes small, it is determined that the heat radiation amount is small as it is. Therefore, in this modified example, weighting is performed for each human body part. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, the part discriminating unit 150 discriminates a head, a torso, a hand, a foot, and a toe in a region corresponding to the person 102, and divides it into five human parts. Then, the part determination unit 150 calculates an average value of temperatures for each of the plurality of divided human body parts. The weighting addition unit 151 inputs the temperature average value for each human body part calculated by the part determination unit 150, and gives weighting to the temperature average value for each human body part. The difference temperature calculation unit 133 obtains a difference temperature (C value) from the weighted average value (F value) and the ambient temperature (B value). Note that it is not necessary to calculate the temperature average value for each human body part, and the same temperature average value (F value) can be obtained as a result even if the temperature of all the pixels included in each human body part is weighted.

  Here, if the weights of the exposed human body part (exposed part), the hand and the toe, are reduced, the human thermal sensation can be more accurately reflected, and the thermal sensation can be accurately estimated. become able to. In this example, the head, torso, hand, foot, and toe are used as the human body parts. However, the present invention is not limited to these five human body parts, and more human body parts are discriminated. It doesn't matter if you don't mind. Furthermore, the weighting for each human body part may be performed in combination with the human discrimination unit 143 as shown in FIG. That is, a weight for each human body part that is different for each individual determined by the human determination unit 143 may be given. In this case, a weighting coefficient may be provided in the buffer 144.

(Modification 12)
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the modification 12. As illustrated in FIG. In the modification shown in FIG. 23, the calculation unit 130 includes a weighting addition unit 151 and a temperature range division unit 152.

  The temperature range dividing unit 152 divides a region corresponding to the person 102 in the acquired thermal image into a plurality of (six in FIG. 24) temperature ranges as shown in FIG. Further, the temperature range dividing unit 152 analyzes how many pixels are in each temperature range. The weighting addition unit 151 gives weights to each range divided by the temperature range division unit 152. For example, the weighting of the relatively low temperature range close to the outside air temperature in the divided temperature range may be reduced. And the weighting addition part 151 calculates the average value of each weighted temperature range as a human body temperature (F value). The difference temperature calculation unit 133 obtains a difference temperature (C value) from the human body temperature (F value) calculated by the weighting addition unit 151 and the ambient temperature (B value). Thereby, even when the hand part or the toe part is cold, the thermal sensation can be estimated more accurately.

  Here, as a countermeasure for coldness, the weight on the low temperature side is reduced in the area corresponding to the person 102. However, this weighting coefficient may be arbitrarily changed according to the purpose, and the coefficient and the number of divisions are not limited here.

(Modification 13)
Next, a process when the person 102 is sitting behind the desk 106 will be described. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the modification 13. As illustrated in FIG. In the modified example illustrated in FIG. 26, the calculation unit 130 includes a floor plan estimation unit 153.

  In a room such as a living room, furniture such as desks and shelves may be arranged, and a thermal image captured by the thermal image acquisition unit 110 may be captured while a part of the body is blocked. For example, if a thermal image is taken when the lower body of the person 102 is shielded by the desk 106 as shown in FIG. 25A, the lower body is still taken as shown in the thermal image 103r of FIG. The In addition, the dotted line in FIG.25 (b) is added in order to show arrangement | positioning of the desk 106, and does not show temperature information. Therefore, the floor plan estimation unit 153 estimates the floor plan of the room from the thermal image obtained from the thermal image acquisition unit 110, and the surface temperature information of the person 102 obtained from the estimated floor plan is the temperature information of the whole body or the body. Estimate whether some temperature information. In the case of an image of only the upper body of the body like the thermal image 103r, the ratio of the area of the face portion having a relatively high temperature in the area determined to be the person 102 is high, so the average value of the surface temperature of the person 102 Becomes higher than the average value of the surface temperature of the whole body. Therefore, the floor plan estimation unit 153 increases the set point Tc set by the set point setting unit 135 when it is estimated that the thermal image 103r is an image of only the upper body of the body. Thereby, even when furniture such as a desk 106 and a shelf is arranged, it is possible to accurately estimate the thermal sensation. Therefore, it is possible to realize control of the air conditioner that is more realistic.

  Note that the lowermost position of the region identified as a person in the thermal image can be expected to be the foot. Therefore, the floor plan estimation unit 153 continues to plot the lowermost position of the region determined to be a person in the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit 110, for example (that is, obtain the trajectory that the person walks), Learning the area that is not plotted in the area as an area where furniture such as a desk is arranged makes it possible to estimate the floor plan. Of course, the estimation method is not limited to this method, and may be estimated by image recognition using a CCD camera or the like (not shown), and the method is not limited here.

(Modification 14)
Next, the thermal sensation estimation of a person facing sideways will be described. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the modification 14. In the modification shown in FIG. 28, the calculation unit 130 includes a human orientation estimation unit 154.

  When the person is facing sideways, the percentage of the area of the face part with relatively high temperature is lower than when facing the front, so the average value of the person's surface temperature obtained from the thermal image is low Become. Therefore, the human orientation estimation unit 154 estimates the human orientation from the thermal image obtained from the thermal image acquisition unit 110. For example, when it is estimated from the thermal image 103s that the person 102 is facing the right side, the human direction estimation unit 154 determines that the average value of the surface temperature calculated from the thermal image 103s is calculated to be low. The set point Tc set by the setting unit 108 is lowered. Thereby, even if it is a case where the person is not facing the front, a thermal sensation can be estimated correctly. Therefore, it is possible to realize control of the air conditioner that is more realistic.

  In the human orientation estimation unit 154, for example, when the person is facing sideways, it can be seen that the temperature distribution of the upper part recognized as the person 102 is asymmetrical as in the thermal image 103s. Therefore, the direction of the person can be estimated from the temperature distribution at the top of the image. In addition, although the case where it turned sideways was demonstrated here, of course, the case where it faces back is also possible. For example, the temperature of a person's face is usually about 33 ° C., but if the maximum value of the upper temperature distribution is significantly lower than 33 ° C. in the region corresponding to a person, the temperature is measured lower due to the influence of hair. It is estimated that Therefore, in that case, it can be estimated that it is looking backward. Of course, other methods may be used for estimating the direction of the person. For example, it may be estimated by image recognition such as by taking a picture with a CCD camera (not shown) and recognizing the position of the eyes. It is not intended to limit.

[Second Embodiment]
The air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which the notification unit 210 is attached to a position that can be visually recognized by the person 102 in the air conditioner 100 shown in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 29 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of an air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 29, the air conditioner 200 includes a thermal image acquisition unit 110 attached to the front surface of the casing, a calculation unit 230 attached to the inside, and a control unit 160. The thermal image acquisition unit 110 has the same configuration as that described in the first embodiment, has a left-right viewing angle Φ, and two-dimensional heat of an object existing in the front space of the air conditioner 200. Images can be measured. Since the thermal image that can be acquired is the same as the thermal image described in the first embodiment, a description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the configuration and function of the air conditioner 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The thermal image including the temperature distribution of the person acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit 110 is transmitted to the calculation unit 230. The calculation unit 230 identifies the position of the person 102 from the thermal image input from the thermal image acquisition unit 110 and estimates the thermal sensation. The thermal sensation estimated by the calculation unit 230 may be estimated from the difference between the human body temperature and the ambient temperature as in the first embodiment. However, as another method, the thermal sensation is acquired from a thermal image. It may be estimated from the temperature of a person's hand or nose, and may not necessarily be estimated from a thermal image, and the method is not limited here.

  Based on the thermal sensation and position of the person 102 estimated by the calculation unit 230, the control unit 160 operates to control the louvers 171, the compressor 172, and the fan 173 so as to keep the ambient temperature of the person 102 comfortable. To do. In addition, in this embodiment, the thermal feeling of the person 102 estimated by the calculation unit 230 is given to the notification unit 210. The notification unit 210 includes a display unit provided in the main body of the air conditioner 200, for example, an LED. This LED changes the color of light emission based on the thermal sensation of the person 102 estimated by the calculation unit 230. For example, when the computing unit 230 estimates that the person 102 is comfortable, it emits green light, when it is estimated to be hot, it emits light in a warm color system such as red or orange, and when it is estimated to be cold, it emits light in a cold color system such as blue or light blue.

  In this way, the person 102 can immediately determine how the air conditioner 200 is now estimating his / her thermal sensation. Therefore, since the air conditioning will be further strongly conditioned in the future or is approaching almost comfortably, it can be predicted whether the air conditioning will be weakened in the future, so that there is an effect of not feeling uneasy.

  Further, if there is a difference between the thermal sensation displayed on the notification unit 210 and the thermal sensation felt by the user, the set in the arithmetic unit 230 is made through a remote controller 291 as shown in FIG. It is possible to change the set point Tc set by the point setting unit 135 (correct thermal sensation). For example, even when the notification unit 210 emits green light (assuming that it is comfortable), when the person 102 feels warm, he presses the “warm” button on the remote 291 to instruct correction. it can. A signal transmitted from the remote controller 291 in response to the depression of the button is received as a correction reception unit by the receiver 280 shown in the configuration of FIG. 32, and the received signal is transferred to the set point setting unit 135 in the calculation unit 230. . For example, as shown in the first embodiment, when the thermal sensation is estimated based on the difference between the human body temperature and the ambient temperature, the set point Tc that is a threshold value may be set slightly larger (if changed). It will be. By doing so, the controller 160 reduces the temperature of the compressor 172, so that the ambient temperature of the person 102 decreases, and it is possible to spend comfortably.

  As described above, it is possible to provide a comfortable ambient environment optimized for each individual by causing the set point setting unit 135 in the air conditioner 200 to recognize the thermal sensation currently felt by the remote controller 291 or the like. It becomes possible. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9 of the first embodiment, the set individual may be specified, and the thermal feeling setting may be stored in the buffer 144. A comfortable air conditioner can be realized.

  In the above description, three colors are emitted. Of course, the color of the color may be changed in an analog manner or another color may be used depending on the amount of deviation from the set point Tc. I do not care.

  Further, in the above example, the notification of the thermal sensation of the person has been described using the LED provided in the notification unit 210, but even if it is other than that, for example, it may be displayed on the display unit provided by the remote controller 291 with characters or the like I do not care. That is, as shown in FIG. 34, the thermal sensation estimated by the arithmetic unit 230 is transmitted from the transmitter 294 to the remote controller 291, and the received remote controller 291 displays the received result as shown in FIG. It may be displayed on the screen. By doing so, the person 102 can immediately determine how the air conditioner 200 is now estimating. Therefore, since the air conditioning will be further strongly conditioned in the future or is approaching almost comfortably, it can be predicted whether the air conditioning will be weakened in the future, so that there is an effect of not feeling uneasy. Of course, as shown in FIG. 35, it may be displayed based on the acquired thermal image so that the thermal sensation of a plurality of persons can be understood. In this case, the notification unit 210 is displayed with characters on the remote control and the air conditioner is displayed with the color of LED on the air conditioner. However, other means may be used for notification, such as smartphones and tablets. The means is not limited.

  For example, the calculation unit 230 generates a correction image in which characters or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in space are superimposed around the coordinates of a region corresponding to a person in the thermal image, and the notification unit 210 By displaying the corrected image on the display unit, the person in the space may be notified of the thermal sensation of the person in the space. Thereby, the thermal sensation estimation result regarding the person can be displayed in a small display area such as a display unit of the remote controller. For example, even for a user who does not know that the system has a thermal sensation estimation function, the user can recognize that the display is a display of a result of the system estimating the thermal sensation with respect to the user.

  In addition, the notification unit 210 notifies a terminal other than the air conditioner 200 via a network to a command for displaying an image, characters, or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in the space on the display unit of the terminal. May be. Here, the terminal other than the air conditioner 200 may be any terminal having a display function and a communication function, such as a smartphone and a tablet. Thereby, the user can grasp | ascertain the present thermal sensation estimation condition with the smart phone etc. which are always hold | maintaining, without holding a remote control in hand.

  In addition, the notification unit 210 transmits a thermal image, information on the coordinates of the region corresponding to the person specified by the calculation unit 230, and a thermal image generated by the calculation unit 230 to a terminal other than the air conditioner 200 via the network. A command for displaying a corrected image in which characters or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in the space are superimposed on the periphery of the coordinates of the area corresponding to the person in the terminal may be transmitted. . That is, the air conditioner 200 simply sends necessary information to an external terminal, and the correction image is generated and displayed on the external terminal. Thereby, since heavy processing, such as generating a correction image in air conditioner 200, is not carried out, the processing amount by the side of air conditioner 200 is reduced.

  Further, the calculation unit 230 generates a corrected image in which characters or symbols representing the thermal sensation of a person in space are superimposed around the coordinates of a region corresponding to the person in the thermal image, and the notification unit 210 A command for displaying a corrected image on a display unit of the terminal may be notified to a terminal other than the air conditioner 200 via the network. That is, the air conditioner 200 generates a necessary correction image, and the external terminal performs only the process of displaying it. Accordingly, the user can grasp the current thermal sensation estimation state without having to store a special algorithm for generating a corrected image in an external terminal.

  Further, the calculation unit 230 determines a human body temperature, which is a temperature of a person in the space, based on a temperature distribution of a region corresponding to a person, and a surrounding obtained from the human body temperature and a temperature of a region other than the region corresponding to the person. You may estimate the thermal sensation of the person in space based on the difference value with temperature.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the position specifying unit 131 specifies the position of the person from the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquiring unit 110 has been described. However, the method for specifying the position of a person is not limited to this method, and other methods may be used. For example, the position of a person may be specified based on information from sensors (pyroelectric sensors, cameras, millimeter wave radars, etc.) provided separately in the air conditioners 100 and 200 and the like.

  In the first and second embodiments, information related to the position of the person specified by the position specifying unit 131 may be output to the human body temperature calculating unit 132. Thereby, the process of “analyzing the thermal image and determining the region estimated to correspond to the person 102” performed by the human body temperature calculation unit 132 may be reduced or omitted.

[Application form]
In the said 1st and 2nd embodiment, the air conditioner incorporating the structure which acquires a thermal image and / or the structure which estimates a human thermal sensation was demonstrated. However, the configuration for acquiring a thermal image and / or the configuration for estimating the thermal sensation of a person can be modularized to be a separate configuration.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 36, the thermal image acquisition unit 110, the human body temperature calculation unit 132, the difference temperature calculation unit 133, the thermal sensation estimation unit 134, and the set point setting unit 135 are modularized to have versatility. A thermal image sensor system 300 can be formed. If modularized in this way, it can be expected that the air conditioner on which the thermal image sensor system 300 is mounted will be reduced in size and cost. In the thermal image sensor system 300 having versatility as described above, the ambient temperature necessary for the differential temperature calculation unit 133 may be supplied from a temperature sensor included in the main body or the remote control of the air conditioner. The estimation unit 147 may be included in the configuration and may be estimated from the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit 110. In this way, if modularized to have a separate configuration, the thermal image sensor system 300 can be mounted on a device other than the air conditioner. The device other than the air conditioner is, for example, a camera, a lighting device, or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, and is not particularly limited.

  Moreover, it is also possible to make the structure which estimates a human thermal sensation into a separate structure as software (not shown). That is, it is a recording medium (including a disk, an external memory, etc.) in which processes (programs) related to the human body temperature calculation unit 132, the differential temperature calculation unit 133, the thermal sensation estimation unit 134, and the set point setting unit 135 are written. May be. Moreover, the act which provides the process (program) regarding the human body temperature calculation part 132, the difference temperature calculation part 133, the thermal sensation estimation part 134, and the setpoint setting part 135 via a network shall also be included. In this case, the main body that processes the software may be a calculation unit installed in the air conditioner, a calculation unit included in a PC (personal computer), a smartphone, or the like, or via a network. The processing may be performed by a cloud server or the like. In this case, information regarding the thermal image may be acquired from the outside.

  The example of modularization or separate configuration as software described here is not limited to the example described above, and part of the configuration included in the calculation unit 130 or the calculation unit 230 is modularized or software. A separate configuration may be used.

  Note that the configuration described in the above-described embodiment is an example, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course, it is possible to combine the embodiments described above and inventions obtained by modifying them.

  The air conditioner according to the present invention is useful because it can provide a comfortable ambient environment without being operated by accurately estimating the thermal sensation of a person with an inexpensive configuration.

100, 200 Air conditioner 102 Person 102a Outerwear 102b Trousers 103a-103s Thermal image 104 Ceiling 105 Floor 106 Desk 110 Thermal image acquisition unit 120, 193 Temperature sensor 130, 230 Calculation unit 131 Position specifying unit 132, 148 Human body temperature calculation unit 133 Difference temperature calculation unit 134 Thermal sensation estimation unit 135 Set point setting unit 136 Circadian rhythm storage unit 137, 190 Clock 138 Circadian rhythm determination unit 139 Activity amount calculation unit 140, 144 Buffer 141 Heating / cooling determination unit 142 Calendar unit 143 People Discriminator 145 Background data buffer 146 Difference processor 147 Ambient temperature estimator 149 Human body state determiner 150 Part determiner 151 Weighted adder 152 Temperature range separator 153 Floor plan estimator 160 Controller 171 Louver 172 Presser 173 fans 180 and 280 receivers 191 and 291 remote control 192 wearable devices 194,294 transmitter 210 notifying unit 300 thermal imaging sensor system

Claims (22)

An air conditioner that controls the air conditioning of a space,
A thermal image acquisition unit that acquires a thermal image representing the temperature distribution of the space;
(I) A two-dimensional human body region that is a two-dimensional region corresponding to a person, including at least a part of an exposed part of a person and at least a part of a clothing part in the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit And (ii) determining a human body temperature that is a temperature including the clothes of a person in the space based on the temperature distribution of the two-dimensional human body region, and (iii) the amount of heat radiation from the person including the clothes As an index, a difference value between the human body temperature and an ambient temperature measured by a temperature sensor installed at a predetermined position around the person is calculated, and the difference value and the person feel a predetermined thermal sensation. A calculation unit that estimates the thermal sensation of a person in the space based on a difference from a predetermined threshold that is determined in advance,
An air conditioner comprising: a control unit that controls the air conditioner based on a thermal sensation of a person in the space estimated by the calculation unit.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls at least one of an air volume, an air temperature, and an air direction of the air conditioner based on a thermal sensation of a person in the space estimated by the arithmetic unit. Air conditioner.   The control unit controls to increase the ambient temperature when a difference value obtained by subtracting the ambient temperature from the human body temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold, and a difference value obtained by subtracting the ambient temperature from the human body temperature. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the ambient temperature is controlled to be lowered when the temperature is smaller than the predetermined threshold.   The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit corrects the predetermined threshold based on a human activity amount.   The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit corrects the predetermined threshold based on whether the air conditioner is performing a cooling operation or a heating operation.   The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit corrects the predetermined threshold based on an ambient temperature.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit determines the human body temperature based on a temperature average value of all pixels of the two-dimensional human body region in the thermal image.   The computing unit divides the two-dimensional human body region into a plurality of human body parts, weights each of the plurality of human body parts, and based on the temperature average value of all pixels of the two-dimensional human body region after weighting The air conditioner of Claim 1 which defines human body temperature.   The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein in the plurality of human body parts, the calculation unit weights a human body part with exposed skin smaller than other human body parts.   The computing unit divides the two-dimensional human body region into a plurality of temperature ranges, weights the plurality of temperature ranges, and based on the temperature average value of all the pixels of the two-dimensional human body region after weighting The air conditioner of Claim 1 which defines human body temperature.   11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein in the plurality of temperature ranges, the calculation unit decreases weighting on a low temperature side and increases weighting on a high temperature side.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit determines the human body temperature based on a temperature average value of all pixels of the two-dimensional human body region and a maximum temperature value of all pixels in the thermal image.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a temperature sensor that is worn or worn by a person in the space.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a temperature sensor installed in the air conditioner.   The said temperature sensor is an air conditioner of Claim 14 installed in the air inlet of the said air conditioner.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a temperature sensor attached to a remote control capable of remotely operating the air conditioner.   The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 16, wherein the calculation unit specifies a region indicating a temperature in a predetermined range in the thermal image as the two-dimensional human body region.   The calculation unit according to any one of claims 2 to 16, wherein the calculation unit specifies, as the two-dimensional human body region, a region indicating a temperature in a predetermined range and a region where a predetermined number or more continues in the thermal image. The air conditioner described in the paragraph.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is a value corresponding to a difference between the human body temperature and the ambient temperature when a person does not feel either heat or cold. A thermal image sensor system,
A thermal image acquisition unit for acquiring a thermal image representing a temperature distribution in space;
(I) A two-dimensional human body region that is a two-dimensional region corresponding to a person, including at least a part of an exposed part of a person and at least a part of a clothing part in the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit And (ii) determining a human body temperature that is a temperature including the clothes of a person in the space based on the temperature distribution of the two-dimensional human body region, and (iii) the amount of heat radiation from the person including the clothes As an index, a difference value between the human body temperature and an ambient temperature measured by a temperature sensor installed at a predetermined position around the person is calculated, and the difference value and the person feel a predetermined thermal sensation. A thermal image sensor system comprising: a calculation unit that estimates a thermal sensation of a person in the space based on a difference from a predetermined threshold value that corresponds to the difference value when A thermal sensation estimation method for estimating a thermal sensation of a person from a thermal image acquired by a thermal image sensor that acquires a thermal image by a computer,
The computer is
In the thermal image, identify a two-dimensional human body region that is a two-dimensional region corresponding to a person, including at least a part of the exposed part of the person and at least a part of the clothing part,
Based on the temperature distribution of the two-dimensional human body region, a human body temperature that is a temperature including the clothes of a person in the space is determined, and the human body temperature and the person are used as an index of the amount of heat released from the person including the clothes. Calculate the difference value from the ambient temperature measured by the temperature sensor installed at a predetermined position around
Based on the difference between the difference value and the difference value when the person feels a predetermined thermal sensation, and a predetermined threshold value determined in advance, the thermal sensation of the person in the space is determined. Estimation method for thermal sensation. A thermal sensation estimation program that estimates a thermal sensation of a person from a thermal image acquired by a thermal image sensor that acquires a thermal image,
(I) In the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit, a two-dimensional human body region that is a two-dimensional region corresponding to a person, including at least a part of an exposed part of the person and at least a part of a clothing part Identify,
(Ii) determining a human body temperature that is a temperature including clothes of a person in the space based on the temperature distribution of the two-dimensional human body region;
(Iii) As a measure of the amount of heat released from the person including the clothes, a difference value between the human body temperature and an ambient temperature measured by a temperature sensor installed at a predetermined position around the person is calculated. ,
(Iv) The temperature of the person in the space based on the difference between the difference value and the difference value that corresponds to the difference value when the person feels a predetermined thermal sensation. A thermal sensation estimation program that includes arithmetic processing to estimate the sensation.