JP2023107521A - Air-conditioning control system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air-conditioning control system that can improve the thermal comfort of an object person while suppressing reduction of the thermal comfort of another person in a room existing around the object person.SOLUTION: An air-conditioning control system includes: air conditioning means of performing air conditioning in an object space in which a plurality of areas are set; person detection means of detecting a person in the object space; object person determination means of determining whether a person in the object space is a control object person or a control-exclusion object person; and control means of controlling the air conditioning means. The plurality of air conditioning means are provided correspondingly with the plurality of areas. When the control object person and the control-exclusion object person are simultaneously present in the same area, the control means performs exclusion object person corresponding control of controlling so as to make air conditioning by the air conditioning means corresponding to an adjacent area as an area adjacent to a specific area stronger than air conditioning by the air conditioning means corresponding to the specific area as an area where the control object person and the control-exclusion object person are simultaneously present.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present disclosure relates to air conditioning control systems.

An air conditioner for air-conditioning a space to be air-conditioned, comprising: a wind direction plate for controlling the direction of air blowing into the space to be air-conditioned; a sensor for detecting temperature distribution in the space to be air-conditioned; A sensor information analysis unit that detects a person present in the area and the position of the person or an area including the position, and acquires first information about the temperature at the position or the area, and a wind direction to the position or the area and a determination unit that determines whether the first information satisfies conditions for human comfort, wherein the control unit controls the first information is known to control the wind direction plate so that the first information satisfies the conditions for comfort when the conditions for comfort are not satisfied (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

WO2021/038696

However, in the air conditioning control system as shown in Patent Document 1, thermal comfort and intellectual productivity are improved by efficiently cooling and warming by conveying the airflow of the air conditioner toward the target person. However, in a space with multiple people, airflow transport toward the target person may deteriorate the thermal comfort and intellectual productivity of other people in the room around the target person. have a nature. For this reason, if both a person with low or underdeveloped ability to adapt well to environmental temperature (e.g., the elderly, children, etc.) and a person without such ability are in the same area at the same time, thermal comfort can be improved for both at the same time. It is difficult to satisfy sexuality and intellectual productivity.

The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems. The purpose is to suppress the deterioration of the thermal comfort of other occupants in the surroundings of the subject and to improve the thermal comfort of the subject, even when people with different adaptability to the environmental temperature are present at the same time. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning control system capable of improving performance.

An air-conditioning control system according to the present disclosure includes air-conditioning means for air-conditioning a target space, human detection means for detecting a person in the target space, and whether or not the person in the target space is a person to be controlled. and a control means for controlling the air conditioning means. A plurality of areas are set in the target space, and the air conditioning means includes A plurality of human detection means are provided corresponding to each of the areas, the human detection means can detect in which of the plurality of areas the person in the target space is located, and the control means is the same When the person to be controlled and the person to be excluded from control are present in the area at the same time, the air conditioning means corresponding to the specific area that is the area in which the person to be controlled and the person excluded from control are present at the same time and exemption target person correspondence control is performed so that the air conditioning unit corresponding to the adjacent area, which is the area adjacent to the specific area, is controlled so that the air conditioning is stronger.

According to the air conditioning control system according to the present disclosure, even when persons with different adaptability to the environmental temperature are present at the same time, it is possible to suppress deterioration in the thermal comfort of other persons present in the surroundings of the subject. In addition, it is possible to improve the subject's thermal comfort.

2 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the target space of the air conditioning control system according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air conditioner included in the air conditioning control system according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the waist of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning control system according to Embodiment 1; FIG. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation example of the air conditioning control system according to Embodiment 1;

A mode for implementing an air conditioning control system according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the positional relationship of each structure may be expressed based on the illustrated state. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and any combination of the embodiments, any modification of the constituent elements of the embodiments, or each Any component of the embodiment can be omitted.

Embodiment 1.
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the target space of the air conditioning control system. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air conditioner included in the air conditioning control system. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an enlarged waist portion of the air conditioner. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning control system. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the air conditioning control system.

The air conditioning control system according to this embodiment performs air conditioning in a target space 1 as shown in FIG. The target space 1 is, for example, the internal space of one room. The air conditioning control system includes an air conditioner 201 . The air conditioner 201 is a device that mainly controls the thermal environment in the target space 1 by performing air conditioning in the target space 1 . The air conditioner 201 is installed on the wall surface or ceiling surface of the room related to the target space 1 . In the configuration example described here, the air conditioner 201 is installed on the ceiling surface.

The air conditioner 201 is air conditioning means for conditioning the air in the target space 1 by adjusting the temperature, humidity, etc. of the air in the target space 1 . The air conditioner 201 is capable of air conditioning operation including one or both of cooling operation and heating operation. Also, the air conditioner 201 may be capable of performing one or more of dehumidifying operation, humidifying operation, and blowing operation.

An air conditioner 201 of this embodiment is an indoor unit of an air conditioner. An air conditioner 201, which is an indoor unit, is connected to an outdoor unit via a pipe through which a refrigerant flows. Illustrations of the piping and the outdoor unit are omitted in the present disclosure. In addition, the present disclosure also omits illustration of each device constituting a refrigeration cycle necessary for the air conditioner to perform the air conditioning operation, a blower fan for blowing air into the target space 1, and the like. Devices that make up the refrigeration cycle include, for example, heat exchangers and compressors.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the air conditioner 201 has a housing 20 . A housing 20 of the air conditioner 201 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape. A rectangular or square bottom panel 21 is provided at the bottom of the housing 20 of the air conditioner 201 . A suction port 22 is formed in the bottom panel 21 . The suction port 22 is an opening for taking air into the housing 20 from the outside. A filter (not shown) is mounted on the suction port 22 . In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2 , the suction port 22 is arranged in the center of the bottom panel 21 .

Further, a blowout port 23 is formed in the lower surface panel 21 . The air outlet 23 is an opening for discharging air from the inside of the housing 20 to the outside. In the illustrated configuration example, the bottom panel 21 is formed with four outlets 23 . The four outlets 23 are arranged around the inlet 22 as shown in FIG. The four outlets 23 are provided along each side of the bottom panel 21, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the air conditioner 201 has a vertical louver 24 and a horizontal louver 25 . The upper and lower louvers 24 and the left and right louvers 25 are provided at each of the outlets 23 . The vertical louver 24 is for adjusting the blowing angle of the air blown out from the blowing port 23 in the vertical direction. The left and right louvers 25 are for adjusting the blowing angle of the air blown out from the blowing port 23 in the left and right direction.

The upper and lower louvers 24 are rectangular plate-shaped members. One end of the upper/lower louver 24 is rotatably attached to a central portion of the lower surface panel 21 of the edges of the outlet 23 . As the vertical louver 24 rotates around this one end, the blowing angle of the air blown out from the blowing port 23 in the vertical direction is changed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the left and right louvers 25 are composed of a plurality of rectangular plate-shaped members. The plurality of rectangular plate-shaped members are arranged along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the outlet 23 . One end of the left and right louvers 25 is rotatably attached to the far side portion of the edge of the outlet 23 . By rotating the left and right louvers 25 around this one end, the blowing angle of the air blown out from the blowing port 23 in the left and right direction is changed.

The upper and lower louvers 24 and the left and right louvers 25 configured as described above are an example of wind direction changing means capable of changing the direction in which the air is blown into the room from the outlet 23 . The air conditioner 201 in this embodiment can blow air in various directions by changing the combination of the orientation of the upper and lower louvers 24 and the orientation of the left and right louvers 25 .

In addition, since the vertical louver 24 is oriented most upward, the outlet 23 is blocked by the vertical louver 24 . The air conditioner 201 in this embodiment can stop blowing air from some of the plurality of air outlets 23 by closing the air outlets 23 with the upper and lower louvers 24 . be.

An air passage is formed inside the housing 20 to communicate with the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 . A heat exchanger and a blower fan are installed in the air passage leading from the inlet 22 to the outlet 23 . The heat exchanger heats or cools the air through heat exchange between the air flowing through the air passage and the refrigerant. Whether air is heated or cooled by the heat exchanger depends on the type of air conditioning operation performed by the air conditioner 201 . The heat exchanger heats or cools the air to adjust the temperature and humidity of the air to generate conditioned air. Specifically, the heat exchanger heats the air during the heating operation. During cooling operation, the heat exchanger cools the air. Further, during the blowing operation, the air that has passed through the heat exchanger is generated as normal temperature conditioned air.

The blower fan is for generating an airflow in the air passage inside the housing 20 from the suction port 22 toward the blowout port 23 . When the blower fan operates, air is sucked from the suction port 22 and air is blown out from the blowout port 23. - 特許庁The air sucked from the suction port 22 passes through the air passage inside the housing 20 of the air conditioner 201 in order of the heat exchanger and the blower fan. The air that has passed through the blower fan, that is, the conditioned air is blown out from the outlet 23 . Warm air is blown out from the outlet 23 during the heating operation. Cold air is blown out from the outlet 23 during cooling operation. Air of normal temperature is blown out from the outlet 23 during the blowing operation. At this time, the direction in which the air is blown out from the outlet 23 is adjusted by the upper and lower louvers 24 and the left and right louvers 25 arranged on the leeward side of the blower fan. The air conditioner 201 can blow air of various temperatures in various directions.

In the air conditioning control system according to this embodiment, a plurality of areas are set within the target space 1 . A plurality of air conditioners 201, which are air conditioning means, are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of areas. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1 , four air conditioners 201 are installed in the target space 1 . Four areas are set in the target space 1 corresponding to each of these air conditioners 201 . That is, in this example, the number of areas in the target space 1 and the number of air conditioners 201 are equal. Also, in this example, each area is set according to the distance from the outlet 23 of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the area. In other words, each area is set as a range that the airflow from the outlet 23 of each air conditioner 201 can reach. In the illustrated example, each area is circular with a radius of about 4 m.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1 , the surface temperature sensor 11 is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 20 of the air conditioner 201 . The surface temperature sensor 11 is a sensor that detects the surface temperature of an object to be detected in the target space 1 without contact. The surface temperature sensor 11 periodically detects the surface temperature of the object to be detected in the target space 1 . For example, the surface temperature sensor 11 may be configured to include an infrared sensor having a plurality of thermopiles (not shown). The surface temperature sensor 11 may scan the temperature detection range by rotationally driving the infrared sensor, and generate thermal image data of the temperature detection range using the output of the infrared sensor. Objects to be detected within the temperature detection range may include, for example, a human body, a floor surface, a wall surface, and the like. By using the surface temperature sensor 11, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of a person in the target space 1, and if there is a person in the target space 1, specify the position of the person and measure the surface temperature of the person's body. Detection becomes possible.

The surface temperature sensor 11 may be provided with an SOI (Silicon on Insulator) diode type uncooled infrared image sensor instead of the thermopile. In the case of the SOI diode method, since a silicon diode is used in the sensor section, it can be manufactured using only a silicon semiconductor line, and there is an advantage that the production cost is low.

With such a configuration, the surface temperature sensor 11 scans the target range described above and acquires the surface temperature distribution within the range in a non-contact manner. By processing the detection result of the surface temperature sensor 11, that is, the surface temperature distribution data acquired by the surface temperature sensor, with the environment control device 100 or the like, which will be described later, for example, from the temperature difference with the background, the temperature of the heat source including the people in the room can be detected. It is possible to detect the presence/absence and position thereof, surface skin temperature of the human body, parts of the human body (exposed and non-exposed parts of the skin, head, etc.), and the like.

Also, based on the detection result of the surface temperature sensor 11, the sensible temperature of the people in the room can be obtained. In this case, the more exposed the skin of the human body, the easier it is to detect the sensible temperature. Furthermore, the number of people in the target space 1 can also be detected by processing the surface temperature distribution data acquired by the surface temperature sensor with the environmental control device 100 or the like. Furthermore, it is possible to detect the entry and exit of people from the target space 1 based on the change in the number of people in the target space 1 .

Next, the configuration of the air-conditioning control system according to this embodiment will also be described with reference to FIG. The air conditioner 201 provided in the target space 1 is an example of the environment control device 200 included in the air conditioning control system. The air conditioning control system may also include, as the environmental control device 200, a blower 202, a ventilation device 203, and a humidity control device 204, as shown in FIG. 4, for example. The air blower 202, the ventilation device 203 and the humidity control device 204 can also be included in the aforementioned air conditioning means.

The blower 202 is a device that controls the air environment of the target space 1 by generating an airflow within the target space 1 . The ventilation device 203 is a device that controls the air environment of the target space 1 by ventilating the air within the target space 1 . The humidity control device 204 is a device that controls the air environment of the target space 1 by adjusting the amount of moisture contained in the air within the target space 1 . The humidity control device 204 is, for example, a humidifier or a dehumidifier.

The air conditioning control system according to this embodiment includes an environment control device 100 . The environmental control device 100 is configured by a processing circuit including, for example, a microcomputer. When the environmental control device 100 has a microcomputer, the environmental control device 100 has a processor and memory (not shown). The memory stores a control program. The processor reads and executes programs stored in memory.

When the processor executes the control program, the environment control device 100 executes preset processing to control the air conditioner 201, the fan 202, the ventilation device 203, and the humidity control device 204, which are the environment control devices 200. control behavior. In particular, the functions of the information acquisition unit 101, the air conditioning control content determination unit 110, and the control unit 120, which will be described later, are realized by the processor executing the programs stored in the memory.

The processing circuit that implements the functions of the environmental control device 100 may be formed as dedicated hardware, for example. The processing circuitry may also be partly formed as dedicated hardware and further comprise a processor and memory. A processing circuit, part of which is at least one piece of dedicated hardware, can be, for example, a single circuit, multiple circuits, programmed processors, parallel programmed processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or combinations thereof.

A processor is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory includes, for example, non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memories such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM and EEPROM, or magnetic disks, flexible disks, optical disks, compact disks, mini-disks and DVDs.

When the processing circuit comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, the functions of the environmental control device 100 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. Software and firmware are written as programs and stored in memory. As described above, the processor reads out and executes a program stored in the memory to perform preset processing and realize the functions of the environmental control device 100 .

As such, the processing circuitry may implement the functionality of the climate controller 100 through hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. It should be noted that each of the environmental control devices 200 is not limited to a configuration in which the operation is controlled by a single environmental control device 100 . The operation of the environmental control device 200 may be controlled by cooperation of a plurality of devices.

The environmental control device 100 includes an information acquisition section 101 , an air conditioning control content determination section 110 and a control section 120 . The information acquisition unit 101 acquires information from an information source. In the illustrated configuration example, there are sensors 10 as information sources. The air-conditioning control system according to this embodiment includes a biological information sensor 12 and an environment information sensor 13 in addition to the surface temperature sensor 11 described above as the sensors 10 .

The biological information sensor 12 may include, for example, the following sensors.
・Camera that captures visible images in the target space 1 ・Quasi-millimeter wave/millimeter wave radar application sensor ・Electroencephalogram sensor ・Heart rate sensor

The environment information sensor 13 may include, for example, the following sensors.
・Room temperature sensor ・Humidity sensor ・Air quality (carbon dioxide concentration, dust concentration, VOC concentration, etc.) sensor

The information acquisition unit 101 acquires detection data of these sensors 10 . In particular, the biometric information sensor 12 and the information acquisition unit 101 constitute biometric information acquisition means for acquiring biometric information of a person in the target space 1 . The biometric information acquisition means may acquire biometric information from a person's self-declaration other than the biometric information sensor 12, for example. At this time, for example, by operating the remote control of the air conditioner 201 or the like, it is conceivable that the biometric information can be self-reported.

The air conditioning control content determination unit 110 includes a storage unit 111 , a human detection unit 112 , a target person determination unit 113 and a control device determination unit 114 . The storage unit 111 stores detection data of the sensors 10 acquired by the information acquisition unit 101 .

The human detection unit 112 detects a person in the target space 1 using the detection data stored in the storage unit 111 , particularly the detection result of the surface temperature sensor 11 . The surface temperature sensor 11 , the information acquisition unit 101 and the human detection unit 112 constitute human detection means for detecting a human in the target space 1 . Note that the human detection means is not limited to the one using the surface temperature sensor 11 . For example, if the biological information sensor 12 is provided with a camera that captures a visible image within the target space 1, the human detection unit 112 detects a person within the target space 1 using the image captured by the camera. good too. The human detection means configured as described above can detect in which of the above-described areas the person in the target space 1 is located.

The target person determination unit 113 is a target person determination unit that determines whether a person in the target space 1 is a person to be controlled or a person to be excluded from control. The target person determination unit 113 determines whether or not each person detected by the human detection unit 112 is a control exclusion target person. A person excluded from control is a person who is excluded from being subject to active air environment control by the air conditioner 201, which is air conditioning means. For example, the subject determination unit 113 determines a so-called thermally weak person as a control exclusion subject. A thermally vulnerable person is a person who has low or underdeveloped ability to adapt well to environmental temperature, specifically the elderly, children, and the like. In addition, the ability to adapt well to the environmental temperature here means, for example, in a hot environment, heat is released from peripheral parts such as limbs, and conversely, in a cold environment, the heat is suppressed by reducing the blood flow to the limbs. It refers to the ability to suppress the drop in deep temperature. It can be said that such thermally weak people are generally likely to experience changes in physical condition when exposed to cold or warm air from the air conditioner 201 or the like.

The target person determination unit 113 uses the detection data stored in the storage unit 111, that is, the detection results of the surface temperature sensor 11, the biological information sensor 12, and the environment information sensor 13 to determine whether the person in the target space 1 is excluded from control. It is determined whether or not the person is a target person. Note that the target person determination unit 113 determines that a person determined as not being a control exclusion target person is a control target person.

For example, when determining that a thermally vulnerable person is a control exclusion subject as described above, the subject determining unit 113 detects changes in the temperature of the subject's extremities (hands and feet, etc.) detected by the biological information sensor 12. It is determined whether or not the person to be determined is a thermally weak person by a known method using Then, if the determination subject is a thermally weak person, the subject determination unit 113 determines that the determination subject is a control exclusion subject.

In addition, the subject determination unit 113 detects at least one of human skin temperature, sensible temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, etc. as biological information by the surface temperature sensor 11 and the biological information sensor 12, and uses this biological information. can be used to estimate a person's stress level. Then, the subject determination unit 113 determines that a person who has a high stress level when the temperature in the target space 1 changes is a thermally weak person who is vulnerable to changes in environmental temperature, that is, a control exclusion subject.

For example, the subject determination unit 113 may calculate the sensible temperature from the detection result of the surface temperature sensor 11 and estimate the stress level. Further, the subject determination unit 113 may estimate the blood flow by chromaticity analysis of the human face using the image captured by the camera, and estimate the stress level from the estimated blood flow. Further, when the biological information sensor 12 includes an electroencephalogram sensor, the subject determination unit 113 may estimate the stress level of the person from the electroencephalogram of the person.

When the biological information sensor 12 includes a quasi-millimeter wave/millimeter wave radar application sensor, the quasi-millimeter wave/millimeter wave radar application sensor can acquire, for example, a person's respiration rate, heart rate, etc. as biological information. Also, when the biometric information sensor 12 includes a heartbeat sensor, a person's heartbeat can be acquired as biometric information. The subject determination unit 113 extracts the HF component, which is the high-frequency variation component, and the LF component, which is the low-frequency variation component, based on the heart rate variation detected in this way, and calculates the numerical value of the HF component and the LF/ At least one of the HF value may be used to estimate the person's state of tension. For example, it may be estimated that the lower the HF component, which is the index of relaxation in the autonomic nerves, the higher the stress level of the person. Also, it may be estimated that the greater the value of LF/HF, the higher the stress level of the person.

In addition, the target person determination unit 113 estimates the height of the person from the detection data of the surface temperature sensor 11 or the camera, and if the person's age group is a child, the person is a thermally vulnerable person, that is, a control exemption target. may be determined to be a person. Alternatively, for example, by operating the remote controller or the like of the air conditioner 201, the user inputs self-declaration of information such as being sensitive to heat or cold, and the subject determination unit 113, based on such self-declaration, It may be determined whether or not the person is a person excluded from control.

Based on the detection result of the human detection unit 112 and the determination result of the target person determination unit 113, the control device determination unit 114 determines the environment control device 200 whose operation content is to be changed and the operation content after the change of the environment control device 200. to decide. When a person to be controlled and a person to be excluded from control are in the same area at the same time, the control device determination unit 114 selects one or both of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the specific area and the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the adjacent area. The environment control device 200 whose operation content is to be changed is determined. A specific area is an area in which a person subject to control and a person excluded from control are present at the same time. Adjacent areas are areas adjacent to a specific area.

Then, the control device determination unit 114 determines operation details such that the air conditioning device 201 corresponding to the adjacent area is stronger than the air conditioning device 201 corresponding to the specific area. In this case, the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the adjacent area may be strengthened, or the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the specific area may be weakened. Further, the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the adjacent area may be strengthened and the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the specific area may be weakened.

Here, the operation contents such as "the air conditioning becomes stronger" refer to the following, for example.
・Increase air volume.
・Decrease the set temperature during cooling operation.
・Increase the set temperature during heating operation.

Further, the operation contents such as "the air conditioning becomes weaker" refer to, for example, the following.
・Reduce airflow.
・Increase the set temperature during cooling operation.
・Decrease the set temperature during heating operation.

The control section 120 controls the environment control device 200 according to the determination result of the control device determination section 114 . The control unit 120 transmits a control signal to the environment control device 200 so that it operates according to the operation content determined by the control device determination unit 114 . The environmental control device 200 changes the operation content according to the control signal from the control section 120 . At this time, each environment control device 200 may be controlled using the detection result of the environment information sensor 13 .

The control device determination unit 114 and the control unit 120 configured as described above are control means for controlling the air conditioner 201, which is air conditioning means. In the air-conditioning control system according to this embodiment, the control means performs control for the excluded person. Control for excluded persons is an air conditioner that corresponds to a specific area, which is an area where a person subject to control and a person excluded from control are present at the same time in the same area. This control is such that the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the adjacent area, which is the area adjacent to the specific area, is stronger than the air conditioner 201 .

The control device determination unit 114 and the control unit 120, which are control means, may terminate the exclusion target person control when a preset termination condition is satisfied during the exclusion target person control. As for the termination condition, for example, the termination condition may be satisfied when a preset exclusion target person control termination operation is performed on the remote controller of the air conditioner 201 or the like. Alternatively, the end condition may be satisfied when the control exclusion target person is no longer detected in all areas in the target space 1 . When the end condition is satisfied, the control means ends the exclusion target person control and controls each environment control device 100 including the air conditioner 201 in the normal operation mode. In the normal operation mode, for example, each environmental control device 100 including the air conditioner 201 is controlled so that the room temperature in the target space 1 reaches the set temperature. Conversely, when the normal operation mode is set, the exclusion target person control may be started by performing a preset exclusion target person control start operation on the remote controller or the like of the air conditioner 201. .

Next, with reference to FIG. 1, an example of control for an excluded person in the air conditioning control system according to this embodiment will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 1, as described above, four areas are set in the target space 1, and four air conditioners 201 are installed. In the following description, these areas are called area A, area B, area C, and area D in counterclockwise order from the top left area of the drawing.

In the example shown in the figure, a controlled person 2 and a controlled excluded person 3 exist in area B at the same time. That is, area B corresponds to the specific area described above. In this case, the air-conditioning control system performs exclusion target person control and strengthens the air-conditioning of the air-conditioning device 201 in the adjacent area, which is the area adjacent to the specific area. In this example, the adjacent areas are areas adjacent to area B, so area A, area C, and area D correspond to adjacent areas. When a plurality of areas are adjacent to a specific area in this way, the air conditioning of the air conditioners 201 corresponding to all adjacent areas may be increased, or the air conditioning of the air conditioners 201 corresponding to some adjacent areas may be increased. may

When the air conditioning of the air conditioners 201 corresponding to all adjacent areas is to be strengthened, the control means, in the exclusion target person handling control, selects a plurality of air conditioners corresponding to each of the plurality of adjacent areas rather than the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the specific area. The device 201 is controlled so that the air conditioning is stronger. In this case, in the illustrated example, the air conditioning of the air conditioners 201 corresponding to area A, area C, and area D is increased.

Further, when the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to a part of adjacent areas is to be strengthened, for example, in the exclusion target person control, the control means selects the nearest adjacent area to the control subject 2 in the specific area among the plurality of adjacent areas. The air conditioner 201 corresponding to the area is controlled to be stronger than the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the specific area. In this case, in the illustrated example, the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to area A is increased. In addition, for example, in the exclusion target person control, the control means controls the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the adjacent area farthest from the control exclusion target person 3 in the specific area among the plurality of adjacent areas. The air conditioning may be controlled to be stronger than the air conditioning device 201 corresponding to . In this case, in the illustrated example, the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 corresponding to area C is increased.

Alternatively, if only some of the plurality of air conditioners 201 corresponding to the plurality of adjacent areas are in air conditioning operation, the control means, in the exclusion target person handling control, , the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 during the air conditioning operation may be strengthened. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the amount of energy consumption compared to starting the operation of the air conditioner 201 that has been stopped in the exclusion target person handling control.

Note that in the example shown in FIG. 1, the areas partially overlap each other. In such cases, the same person may exist in multiple areas. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the person to be controlled 2 exists in both area A and area B.

Next, an operation example of the air conditioning control system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S<b>11 , the information acquisition unit 101 acquires information related to detection data of the sensors 10 . In subsequent step S12, the air-conditioning control content determination unit 110 determines whether or not the temperature environment and humidity environment in the target space 1 need to be changed based on the detection data of the environment information sensor 13 acquired in step S11. . If the temperature environment and humidity environment in the target space 1 do not need to be changed, the series of operations ends. On the other hand, if it is necessary to change the temperature environment and humidity environment in the target space 1, the air conditioning control content determination unit 110 next performs the process of step S13.

In step S13, the human detection unit 112 of the air conditioning control content determination unit 110 detects a person in the target space 1, especially based on the detection data of the surface temperature sensor 11 acquired in step S11. Next, the target person determination unit 113 of the air conditioning control content determination unit 110 determines whether each person detected by the human detection unit 112 is a control target person or a control exclusion target person. Then, based on the detection result of the human detection unit 112 and the determination result of the target person determination unit 113, the control device determination unit 114 determines whether or not the controlled person and the excluded control person are in the same area at the same time. do.

If it is determined in step S13 that the controlled person and the excluded control person are not in the same area at the same time, the air-conditioning control content determination unit 110 next performs the process of step S14. In step S14, the control device determination unit 114 determines the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the area where people are present as the control target. On the other hand, in step S13, when the control subject and the control exemption subject are in the same area at the same time, the air conditioning control content determination unit 110 next performs the process of step S15. In step S15, the control device determination unit 114 determines the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the adjacent area to be controlled. After step S14 or step S15, the air-conditioning control content determination unit 110 next performs the process of step S16.

In step S16, the control device determination unit 114 determines the control details of the air conditioner 201 to be controlled determined in step S14 or S15. Then, in subsequent step S17, the control unit 120 outputs a control signal to the environmental control device 200 including the air conditioner 201 so as to operate according to the operation content determined in step S16. The environment control device 200 including the air conditioner 201 changes the operation content according to the control signal from the control device determination unit 114 . When the process of step S17 is completed, the series of operations is completed.

In the air-conditioning control system configured as described above, when a controlled person and a control-excluded person are in the same area at the same time, the excluded-person control is performed. In the exclusion target person control, the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the adjacent area, which is the area adjacent to the specific area, is more suitable than the air conditioner 201 corresponding to the specific area, which is the area where the control target person and the control exclusion target person are present at the same time. is controlled so that the air conditioning is stronger.

According to such an air-conditioning control system, airflow indirectly air-conditioned by the air conditioner 201 in the area adjacent to the area where the control target person is located is supplied to the control target person. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the controlled airflow from the air conditioner 201 in the area where the controlled person and the control excluded person are present from directly hitting the control excluded person, and at the same time, the controlled object person in the area is air-conditioned. It can supply airflow. For this reason, even if people with different adaptability to the environmental temperature are present at the same time, the thermal comfort of the target person can be improved while suppressing the deterioration of the thermal comfort of other people in the room around the target person. can be improved.

As a modification of the air-conditioning control system according to this embodiment, personal identification means for identifying individuals in the target space 1 may be further provided. The personal identification means is provided as a personal identification section in the air conditioning control content determining section 110 of the environmental control device 100, for example. For example, when the target space 1 is a room or the like in which entry/exit management is performed for each individual, it is possible to identify individuals in the target space 1 by using the managed entry/exit history of each individual. Moreover, it is also possible to identify an individual person using the detection result of the biometric information sensor 12 . For example, when photographing a person's eyes with a camera or the like, it is possible to identify an individual person using the person's iris.

In this modified example, the control unit 120 controls the environment control device 200 further according to the individual identified by the individual identification means. In this case, the control device determination unit 114 determines the operation contents of the environment control device 200 according to the identified individual's preference. Then, the control unit 120 controls the environment control device 200 according to the operation contents of the environment control device 200 determined by the control device determination unit 114 according to the individual's preference. For example, it is conceivable that the operation contents of the environment control device 200 according to individual preferences are registered in advance in the storage unit 111 of the environment control device 100 . Specifically, for example, when a person is sensitive to heat (or sensitive to cold) and operates the air conditioner 201, the room temperature is lowered if the person is sensitive to heat, and the room temperature is lowered if the person is sensitive to cold. In some cases, airflow may be applied by blowing air without lowering the room temperature.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the target space 1 is the internal space of one room. However, the target space 1 does not have to be one room. For example, the target space 1 may include multiple rooms that communicate with each other via doors, corridors, and the like. In this case, the above-described area may be set for each room, and the air conditioner 201 may be installed for each room. For example, when a person to be excluded from control and a person to be controlled are in one room such as a living room at the same time, the living room is indirectly air-conditioned by increasing the air conditioning of the air conditioner 201 in the bedroom adjacent to the living room. Airflow can be introduced.

In the above description, the environment control device 100 mainly controls the operation of the air conditioner 201, but the operation of the blower 202 may be mainly controlled. That is, when the controlled person and the controlled excluded person are in the same area at the same time, the control means controls the air blower 202 corresponding to the specific area, which is the area where the controlled person and the controlled excluded person are present at the same time. Alternatively, exclusion target person control may be performed such that the blower 202 corresponding to the adjacent area, which is an area adjacent to the specific area, has a larger air volume.

1 target space 2 controlled person 3 controlled excluded person 10 sensors 11 surface temperature sensor 12 biological information sensor 13 environment information sensor 20 housing 21 bottom panel 22 suction port 23 outlet 24 upper and lower louvers 25 left and right louvers 100 environmental control device 101 Information acquisition unit 110 Air conditioning control content determination unit 111 Storage unit 112 Human detection unit 113 Subject determination unit 114 Control device determination unit 120 Control unit 200 Environment control device 201 Air conditioner 202 Blower 203 Ventilation device 204 Humidity control device

Claims (8)

air conditioning means for air conditioning in the target space;
human detection means for detecting a person in the target space;
a target person determining means for determining whether a person in the target space is a person to be controlled or a person to be excluded from control;
and a control means for controlling the air conditioning means,
A plurality of areas are set in the target space,
A plurality of air conditioning means are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of areas,
The human detection means is capable of detecting in which of the plurality of areas the person in the target space is located,
The control means corresponds to a specific area, which is the area in which the controlled person and the excluded control person are present at the same time when the controlled person and the controlled excluded person are present simultaneously in the same area. an air conditioning control system that performs exclusion target person control so that the air conditioning means corresponding to the adjacent area, which is the area adjacent to the specific area, is stronger than the air conditioning means corresponding to the specific area. The control means performs control so that the plurality of air conditioning means corresponding to each of the plurality of adjacent areas have stronger air conditioning than the air conditioning means corresponding to the specific area in the exclusion target person handling control. The air conditioning control system according to claim 1. In the exempted person correspondence control, the control means selects the adjacent area farthest from the control exempted person in the specified area among the plurality of adjacent areas than the air conditioning means corresponding to the specified area. 2. The air-conditioning control system according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding air-conditioning means is controlled so that the air-conditioning is stronger. The control means corresponds to the adjacent area closest to the controlled person in the specific area among the plurality of adjacent areas than the air conditioning means corresponding to the specific area in the control for the excluded person. 2. The air-conditioning control system according to claim 1, wherein said air-conditioning means is controlled so that air-conditioning is stronger. In the control for the excluded person, the control means controls the air conditioning means that are in air conditioning operation among the air conditioning means corresponding to the plurality of adjacent areas than the air conditioning means corresponding to the specific area. 2. The air-conditioning control system according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed so that . the target space includes a plurality of rooms communicating with each other;
The air conditioning control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the area is set for each of the rooms. 6. The air conditioning control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the area is set according to a distance from an outlet of the air conditioning means corresponding to the area. The air conditioning control according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control means terminates the exclusion target person control when a preset termination condition is satisfied during the exclusion target person control. system.

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