JP2022190086A - air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of facilitating air-conditioning control to a specific position other than that of a person.

SOLUTION: An air conditioner 1 includes: an indoor unit 100 having a fan 101 and a wind direction control section 102 for controlling a direction of an air current generated by the fan 101; and an operation terminal 200 having a light emission section 201 for emitting light and operating an operation of the indoor unit 100 by using the light emission from the light emission section 201. The wind direction control section 102 performs air-conditioning control to a light emitting position that is the position of the light emission section 201 when the light emission section 201 emits light.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to air conditioners.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, air conditioners have been proposed that are capable of performing air conditioning control that matches the preferences of the user of the air conditioner. For example, there has been proposed an air conditioner that identifies a user based on image information obtained by capturing an image of the user of the air conditioner, and changes the air conditioning settings to those stored in association with the user. (See Patent Document 1, for example).

JP 2011-220612 A

However, with the conventional technology, it is difficult to perform air conditioning control for a specific position other than a person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that facilitates air conditioning control for a specific position other than a person.

An air conditioner of the present invention comprises an indoor unit having a fan, a wind direction control section for controlling the direction of airflow generated by the fan, a main control section for controlling the operation of the wind direction control section, and a light emitting section for emitting light. and an operation terminal for operating the indoor unit using light emitted from the light emitting unit, wherein the main control unit has a memory, and the main control unit controls the light emission A light emission position, which is the position of the light emitting unit when the unit emits light, is recorded in the memory as a control target position for air conditioning control, and the control target position is used for the air conditioning control in the room in cooperation with the air conditioner. When the position to be controlled is the position of at least one of the ventilation fan, the dehumidifier, and the air cleaner that improves efficiency, and the position to be controlled is the position of at least one of the ventilation fan and the dehumidifier, the main control unit performs the control The main control unit controls the operation of the airflow direction control unit so as not to blow air toward a target position, and when the control target position is the position of the air cleaner, the main control unit blows air toward the control target position. The operation of the wind direction control unit is controlled so as to perform

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air conditioner that facilitates air conditioning control for a specific position other than a person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows roughly the structure of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an indoor unit roughly. (a) and (b) are diagrams showing an example of a hardware configuration of a main control unit. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an operating terminal roughly. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the air conditioner (specifically, location registration processing). It is a figure which shows an example of the image acquired by an image sensor part.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.
The air conditioner 1 has an indoor unit 100 and an operation terminal 200 for operating the indoor unit 100 . The air conditioner 1 may further have an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit 100 .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the indoor unit 100. As shown in FIG.
Indoor unit 100 has fan 101 , wind direction control section 102 , image sensor section 103 , light receiving section 104 , function section 105 , communication section 106 , and main control section 107 .

Fan 101 generates airflow. For example, the fan 101 is rotated by a motor provided in the indoor unit 100 to generate airflow.

The wind direction control unit 102 has flaps 102a and louvers 102b. The wind direction control unit 102 controls the direction of airflow generated by the fan 101 .

The flap 102a controls the direction of airflow from the indoor unit 100 in the vertical direction. For example, when the air-conditioning control is to blow air toward the light emitting position, which is the position of the light emitting unit 201 when the light emitting unit 201 emits light, the flap 102a is opened so that the airflow from the indoor unit 100 moves toward the light emitting position. Operate. On the other hand, when the air conditioning control is to blow air in a direction other than the light emitting position, the flap 102a operates so that the airflow from the indoor unit 100 is directed in a direction other than the light emitting position.

The louver 102b controls the direction of airflow from the indoor unit 100 in the horizontal direction. For example, when the air conditioning control is to blow air toward the light emitting position, the louver 102b operates so that the airflow from the indoor unit 100 moves toward the light emitting position. On the other hand, when the air conditioning control is to blow air in a direction other than the light emitting position, the louver 102b operates so that the airflow from the indoor unit 100 is directed in a direction other than the light emitting position.

The image sensor unit 103 has, for example, multiple imaging elements. The image sensor unit 103 is a device that detects an image, such as a thermal image sensor or a camera. The image sensor unit 103 may be a device that acquires the temperature distribution in the control range of air conditioning control.

The light receiving unit 104 detects signals transmitted from the operation terminal 200 . The light receiving unit 104 is, for example, a sensor that detects signals transmitted from the operation terminal 200 .

A signal transmitted from the operation terminal 200 is, for example, an infrared signal. In this case, the light receiver 104 is an infrared sensor.

The functional unit 105 controls the operating mode of the indoor unit 100 . The operation mode is, for example, heating operation, cooling operation, dehumidification operation, or air blowing operation.

The communication section 106 receives the signal transferred from the light receiving section 104 . For example, the communication unit 106 transfers the signal transferred from the light receiving unit 104 to the main control unit 107 as a control signal.

The main control unit 107 controls the fan 101 , the wind direction control unit 102 , the image sensor unit 103 , the light receiving unit 104 , the function unit 105 and the communication unit 106 . The main control unit 107 may have a memory in which information (for example, information indicating the position of the operation terminal 200) is stored. For example, the main controller 107 controls the operation of the wind direction controller 102 .

3A and 3B are diagrams showing an example of the hardware configuration of the main control unit 107. FIG.

The main controller 107 is composed of, for example, a processor 107a and a memory 107b. The processor 107a is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes programs stored in the memory 107b. In this case, the functions of the main control unit 107 are implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. Software and firmware can be stored in memory 107b as programs.

The memory 107b is a computer-readable recording medium, for example, a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), a nonvolatile memory, or a combination of a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. is.

The main control unit 107 may be configured with a processing circuit 107c as dedicated hardware such as a single circuit or a composite circuit. In this case, the functions of the main control unit 107 are realized by the processing circuit 107c.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the operation terminal 200. As shown in FIG.
The operation terminal 200 includes a light emitting unit 201 that emits light, a display unit 202, an operation unit 203, a communication unit 204, and a control unit 205 (also called a terminal control unit). The operation terminal 200 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, or a remote controller. The operation terminal 200 operates the indoor unit 100 using light emitted from the light emitting unit 201 .

The light emitting unit 201 is a light source that emits light. The light emitting unit 201 converts a control instruction from the user into a signal such as an infrared signal, and outputs the converted signal toward the indoor unit 100 . However, a light source that emits light other than infrared rays may be used as the light emitting section 201 .

The display unit 202 displays the setting state of the air conditioner 1 such as the set temperature, the set humidity, the air volume, the wind direction, and the operation mode, for example. The display unit 202 is, for example, a liquid crystal screen.

The user inputs instructions to the operation unit 203 such as operation start or stop of the air conditioner 1, set temperature, air volume, wind direction, operation mode, and position registration processing. The operation unit 203 is, for example, push buttons or a touch panel. A user of the air conditioner 1 uses the operation unit 203 to transmit a control instruction to the air conditioner 1 .

The communication unit 204 transfers a signal (for example, a user's control instruction) transmitted from the control unit 205 to the light emitting unit 201 .

A control unit 205 controls the light emitting unit 201 , the display unit 202 , the operation unit 203 and the communication unit 204 . For example, the control unit 205 transmits a control instruction input from the operation unit 203 by the user to the communication unit 204 . The hardware configuration shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B can be applied to the controller 205 as well as the main controller 107 .

Next, position registration processing, which is processing for registering the control target position in the indoor unit 100, will be described. A control target position is a position as a control target for air conditioning control. For example, the control target position is a specific position other than a person.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the air conditioner 1 (specifically, location registration processing).
In step S1, the user operates the operation terminal 200, so that the state of the operation terminal 200 shifts to the position registration processing state.

In step S<b>2 , the user uses the operation terminal 200 to send an instruction to the indoor unit 100 to start the location registration process. Specifically, when the user operates the operation terminal 200, the light emitting unit 201 emits light, and a signal (referred to as a start signal) for starting the position registration process is transmitted from the operation terminal 200 to the indoor unit 100 (specifically, is transmitted toward the light receiving unit 104).

Light emission (for example, infrared rays) of the light emitting unit 201 may include a control instruction other than the start signal, for example, a control instruction for selecting an operation mode.

It is desirable that the light emitting unit 201 is directed toward the indoor unit 100 when the light emitting unit 201 emits light. The light emitting unit 201 lights or blinks during a predetermined period.

In step S<b>3 , the start signal input to the light receiving unit 104 is input to the main control unit 107 through the communication unit 106 .

In step S<b>4 , main control section 107 controls image sensor section 103 so that image sensor section 103 detects the position of operation terminal 200 . The image sensor unit 103 detects an image in front of the indoor unit 100 . Specifically, the imaging elements arranged in the vertical direction simultaneously scan in the vertical direction. Therefore, the image in front of the indoor unit 100 is detected by continuously scanning in the horizontal direction. However, the image detection method is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the image sensor unit 103 may detect an image in front of the indoor unit 100 by simultaneously scanning in the vertical and horizontal directions.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an image acquired by the image sensor unit 103. As shown in FIG.
The image sensor unit 103 detects light emitted from the light emitting unit 201 (for example, light 201a shown in FIG. 6) when the light emitting unit 201 emits light. Specifically, while the light emitting unit 201 is emitting light, the image sensor unit 103 scans the front of the indoor unit 100 and acquires an image (that is, image data) as shown in FIG.

When the light emission of the light emitting unit 201 is blinking, the image sensor unit 103 may acquire two or more images. When the light emission of the light emitting unit 201 is blinking, the position of the light emitting unit 201 when the light emitting unit 201 emits light (that is, the light emission position) can be specified with high accuracy.

When the scanning of the image sensor unit 103 is completed, the image (that is, image data) acquired by the image sensor unit 103 is transmitted to the main control unit 107 (step S5).

In step S<b>6 , the main control unit 107 identifies the position of the operation terminal 200 using the light emission position detected by the image sensor unit 103 . Specifically, the main control unit 107 acquires an image (ie, image data) from the image sensor unit 103, and determines the position of the light from the light emitting unit 201 in the image (ie, the position of the light 201a shown in FIG. 6). position). Thereby, the position of the operation terminal 200 (specifically, the light emitting unit 201) is detected. In steps S5 and S6 , the image sensor unit 103 may detect the position of the light from the light emitting unit 201 and transmit position information indicating the position of the light to the main control unit 107 .

In step S7, the main control unit 107 determines whether the position of the light from the light emitting unit 201 within the image has been detected.

If the main control unit 107 can detect the position of the light from the light emitting unit 201 within the image (Yes in step S7), the process proceeds to step S8.

If the main control unit 107 cannot detect the position of the light from the light emitting unit 201 within the image (No in step S7), the position registration process ends. In this case, the user may perform the location registration process again from step S1.

In step S8, the main control unit 107 registers the position of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 201 detected in step S7 (that is, the light emitting position) as a control target position for air conditioning control. For example, the main control unit 107 records the light emitting position in the memory as a control target position for air conditioning control. In this case, the memory is, for example, memory 107b shown in FIG.

In step S<b>9 , the user uses the operation terminal 200 to send to the indoor unit 100 a control instruction for air conditioning control for the light position registered in step S<b>8 .

A control instruction (also referred to as function assignment) for air conditioning control is, for example, whether to blow air toward a control target position or to blow air in a direction other than the control target position. Control instructions for air conditioning control may be settings of the air conditioner 1 such as target temperature, target humidity, air volume, wind direction, or operation mode.

When a plurality of controlled positions are registered in the indoor unit 100, a control instruction is transmitted to the indoor unit 100 for each controlled position. Thereby, control contents are assigned to each control target position registered in the indoor unit 100 . The plurality of control target positions are, for example, positions of devices described later.

A control instruction for air conditioning control input to the light receiving unit 104 is input to the main control unit 107 through the communication unit 106 . A control instruction for air conditioning control is recorded in the memory of the main control unit 107 (for example, the memory 107b shown in FIG. 3).

In step S10, the main control unit 107 controls the control instruction input from the operation terminal 200 to the indoor unit 100 (i.e., the user's instruction) or the content recorded in the memory of the main control unit 107 (e.g., light emission position). Then, the operation of the wind direction control unit 102 is controlled so as to perform air conditioning control for the control target position registered in step S8. The wind direction control unit 102 performs air conditioning control for the light emitting position, which is the position of the light emitting unit 201 when the light emitting unit 201 emits light.

Air-conditioning control is, for example, control for blowing air toward a light emission position registered as a control target position or control for blowing air in a direction other than the light emission position. For example, the main control unit 107 controls the direction of the airflow from the wind direction control unit 102 by changing the directions of the flaps 102a and the louvers 102b. Furthermore, the main control unit 107 controls the setting of the air conditioner 1 by controlling the function unit 105 according to the control instruction.

After the process of step S10, the user may execute the process of step S1 again. Thereby, one or more control target positions can be registered in the indoor unit 100 .

For example, the user repeats the above-described processing from step S1 at a position desired to be registered as a control target position. Thereby, various control target positions can be registered in the indoor unit 100 .

The controlled position is, for example, the position of the device. The device is, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a ventilation fan, an electric fan, a dehumidifier, or an air purifier. By setting the positions of these devices in the air conditioner 1 as control target positions, the air conditioner 1 can perform air conditioning control in cooperation with these devices.

When the position to be controlled is the position of the temperature sensor, the air conditioning control is control for adjusting the temperature at the light emitting position as the position to be controlled. In this case, the indoor unit 100 preferentially adjusts the temperature of the airflow at the controlled position over other positions so that the temperature at the controlled position approaches the target temperature.

When the position to be controlled is the position of the humidity sensor, the air conditioning control is control for adjusting the humidity at the light emitting position as the position to be controlled. In this case, the indoor unit 100 preferentially adjusts the humidity of the airflow at the control target position over other positions so that the humidity at the control target position approaches the target humidity.

When the position to be controlled is the position of the ventilation fan, the air conditioning control is control to blow air in a direction other than the light emitting position. That is, the wind direction control unit 102 is controlled so as not to blow air toward the ventilation fan. As a result, the airflow from the indoor unit 100 can be prevented from flowing directly into the ventilation fan, and efficient ventilation by the ventilation fan can be prevented from being hindered.

When the position to be controlled is the position of the electric fan, the air conditioning control is control to blow air toward the light emitting position. That is, the wind direction control unit 102 is controlled to blow air toward the electric fan. By directing the airflow from the indoor unit 100 toward the electric fan, the amount of indoor air circulated by the electric fan can be improved.

When the position to be controlled is the position of the dehumidifier, the air conditioning control is control to blow air in a direction other than the light emitting position. That is, the wind direction control unit 102 is controlled so as not to blow air toward the dehumidifier. Thereby, the efficiency of the dehumidifier can be increased, and the dehumidification function of the air conditioner 1 and the dehumidifier can be used to efficiently dehumidify the room.

When the position to be controlled is the position of the air purifier, air conditioning control is control to blow air toward the light emitting position. That is, the wind direction control unit 102 is controlled to blow air toward the air purifier. By directing the airflow from the indoor unit 100 to the air cleaner, indoor air is efficiently collected to the air cleaner. This can improve the efficiency of the air cleaner (ie, the amount of indoor air cleaning).

As described above, by registering the positions of various devices in the air conditioner 1 as control target positions, the functions of each device can be sufficiently exhibited. As a result, the efficiency of indoor air conditioning control can be improved in cooperation with various devices.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can easily instruct air conditioner 1 of the control target position for air conditioning control by operating operation terminal 200 . Since the user performs the above-described position registration process at a position to be registered as a control target position, the user can intuitively indicate to the air conditioner 1 the region to which the wind blows or the region to which the wind does not blow.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the air conditioner 1 that facilitates air conditioning control for a specific position other than a person.

In addition, by operating the operation terminal 200, the user can easily instruct the air conditioner 1 of the equipment that performs air conditioning control in cooperation with the air conditioner 1. FIG. For example, by registering the position of a temperature sensor or the position of a humidity sensor in the indoor unit 100 as a position to be controlled, temperature control or humidity control can be performed preferentially at the position to be controlled.

1 air conditioner 100 indoor unit 101 fan 102 wind direction control unit 102a flap 102b louver 103 image sensor unit 104 light receiving unit 105 function unit 106 communication unit 107 main control unit 200 operation terminal 201 Light emitting unit 201a Light 202 Display unit 203 Operation unit 204 Communication unit 205 Control unit.

Claims (6)

an indoor unit comprising a fan, a wind direction control unit that controls the direction of airflow generated by the fan, and a main control unit that controls the operation of the wind direction control unit;
An air conditioner comprising: an operation terminal that has a light emitting unit that emits light and that operates the indoor unit using light emitted from the light emitting unit,
The main control unit has a memory,
The main control unit records a light emitting position, which is a position of the light emitting unit when the light emitting unit emits light, in the memory as a control target position for air conditioning control,
The control target position is a position of at least one of a ventilation fan, a dehumidifier, and an air purifier that cooperates with the air conditioner to improve the efficiency of the air conditioning control in the room,
When the control target position is at least one of the ventilation fan and the dehumidifier, the main control unit controls the operation of the wind direction control unit so as not to blow air toward the control target position,
When the control target position is the position of the air cleaner, the main control unit controls the operation of the wind direction control unit so as to blow air toward the control target position.
Air conditioner. The wind direction control unit has a louver for controlling the direction of lateral airflow from the indoor unit,
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the louver operates such that airflow from the indoor unit is directed toward the light emitting position or other than the light emitting position. The wind direction control unit has a flap that controls the direction of vertical airflow from the indoor unit,
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the flap operates so that airflow from the indoor unit is directed toward the light emitting position or other than the light emitting position. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the indoor unit has an image sensor unit that detects light emission of the light emitting unit when the light emitting unit emits light. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the main control section specifies the position of the operation terminal using the light emission position detected by the image sensor section. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the main control section controls the operation of the wind direction control section based on the light emission position recorded in the memory.

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