JP2023132170A - air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner capable of easily and promptly estimating an accurate control region of a room where the air conditioner is installed.SOLUTION: An air conditioner includes a casing, a fan, a radar and a control section. The casing includes an inner ventilation passage, a suction port communicating the ventilation passage with outside and a blowout port communicating the ventilation passage with outside. The fan is provided in the ventilation passage and sends wind from the suction port to the blowout port. The radar is provided in the casing, and detects a movement locus of a user present in an indoor region where the casing is installed. The control section estimates an air-conditioning control region from a region defined on the basis of the movement locus detected by the radar.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, air conditioners are known that include an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. Air conditioners tend to be installed with a predetermined extra capacity rather than a heating and cooling capacity corresponding to the size of the room in which they are installed (for example, the number of tatami mats). Therefore, it is desirable to know the size of the room in which the air conditioner is actually used and to perform air conditioning control according to the size of the room. Therefore, a technique has been proposed in which the interior of the room is photographed while the air conditioner is in operation, and the size of the room is determined based on the distribution of users present in the room. Furthermore, a technique has been proposed for estimating the dimensions of a room based on the detection results of users present in the room.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-21091 JP2017-48931A

However, if the shape of the room is complex, it may be difficult to grasp the control area to be controlled for heating and cooling. Also, a room may have furniture installed or a partition installed, so that the user cannot enter it, but it may actually be spatially continuous and need to be considered as a control area, and may simply be a room In some cases, it was not possible to accurately determine the control area based on the presence distribution of users in the area.

An example of the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can easily and quickly estimate an accurate control area for a room in which an indoor unit is installed.

An air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a fan, a radar, and a control section. The housing is provided with an internal ventilation passage, an inlet that communicates the ventilation passage with the outside, and an outlet that allows the ventilation passage to communicate with the outside. A fan is provided in the ventilation path and sends air from the suction port to the blowout port. The radar is provided in the casing and detects a movement trajectory of a user existing in an indoor area where the casing is installed. The control unit estimates an air conditioning control area based on an area defined based on the movement trajectory detected by the radar.

Further, the control unit may output guidance information that prompts the user to move on foot along the area-defining route in the indoor area when the estimation start condition for the control area is satisfied.

Further, the control unit may output the guide information when receiving an operation requesting estimation of the control area.

In addition, when a partial omission exists in the movement trajectory, the control unit performs correction for estimating the control area as area information that closes the movement trajectory by at least one of linear approximation and curve approximation to the section of the partial omission. Processing may be executed.

Further, the control unit may store the estimated control area in a storage unit that cooperates with the control unit.

Furthermore, the control area stored in the storage unit may be modifiable on a terminal device that cooperates with the control unit.

Further, the storage unit may be capable of storing an installation position of the casing in the indoor area in association with the control area.

Further, the storage unit may be capable of storing indoor characteristic information in association with the estimated control area.

Further, the storage unit may be capable of storing a plurality of estimated control areas as history information.

Moreover, the said control part may perform air conditioning control based on the estimated said control area.

According to the above air conditioner, the control area is estimated based on, for example, a movement trajectory intentionally moved by the user. As a result, optimal air conditioning control can be achieved. Furthermore, since the user is tracked by radar, the control area can be quickly estimated by moving around the desired area only once. As a result, optimal air conditioning control can be smoothly achieved.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary and schematic block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment, and is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing the case where the upper and lower wind direction plates are in a closed state. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment, and is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing the case where the upper and lower wind direction plates are in an open state. FIG. 4 is an exemplary and schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment, and is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing the case where the ventilation member is in an open state. FIG. 6 is an exemplary and schematic perspective view showing the ventilation member of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view illustrating that turbulence is generated by the ventilation member of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exemplary and schematic block diagram showing details of the indoor unit control section of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is an exemplary and schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an external terminal device that can cooperate with the indoor unit control section of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram illustrating acquisition of a user's movement trajectory and estimation of a control area by the radar of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a case where a room is divided by a partition in acquiring a user's movement trajectory and estimating a control area using the radar of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a case where an obstacle exists in the tracking area of the radar in acquiring the movement trajectory of the user and estimating the control area using the radar of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. be. FIG. 13 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a case where a blind spot exists in the radar tracking area when the room shape is complex and a blind spot exists in the radar tracking area in acquiring the user's movement trajectory and estimating the control area using the radar of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. It is a typical explanatory diagram. FIG. 14 is an example illustrating a case where the area along the installation wall of the air conditioner becomes a blind spot of the radar tracking area in acquiring the movement trajectory of the user and estimating the control area by the radar of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 15 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a case in which indoor feature information is added when acquiring a user's movement trajectory and estimating a control area using the radar of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 16 is an exemplary and schematic diagram illustrating a case where a plurality of results of acquiring a movement trajectory and estimating a control area are saved in acquiring a user's movement trajectory and estimating a control area using the radar of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. It is an explanatory diagram. FIG. 17 is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing a case where a ventilation member is arranged for each outlet in the air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 18 is an exemplary and schematic front view showing details of the ventilation member used in FIG. 17.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, a component according to an embodiment and a description of the component may be described in a plurality of expressions. The components and their descriptions are examples and are not limited by the language in this specification. Components may also be identified by different names than herein. Also, components may be described using language that differs from that used herein.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary and schematic block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to an embodiment that includes an indoor unit 10 and an outdoor unit 120.

The indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner 1 of this embodiment includes a radar 2 and detects a detection target existing in an indoor area where the indoor unit 10 is installed. In this embodiment, detection targets are particularly user CRs present in the room (users of the air conditioner 1, etc.), furniture (chairs, sofas, beds, etc.), home appliances, and walls that can be used by the user CRs. etc. shall also be included.

In this embodiment, the air conditioner 1 (indoor unit 10) detects the movement trajectory of the user CR using the radar 2, and estimates the control area for air conditioning control based on the movement trajectory. In this case, the air conditioner 1 provides guidance such as "Please walk around the area that has been set as the control area for air conditioning control," and moves the user CR intentionally to avoid the reflection of the reflection from the user CR. Perform wave acquisition. For example, as an initial setting, when installing the air conditioner 1 or at the time when the layout and usage pattern of the room are determined, the radar 2 acquires the reflected waves, so that the control area suitable for the usage pattern of the room can be determined. Settings can be made. For example, it is possible to realize heating and cooling control, ventilation control, etc. with an output suitable for the control range desired by the user CR.

The indoor unit 10 includes an operation terminal 94a. The operating terminal 94a receives an operating instruction from a user CR present in the indoor area, and transmits a command to the indoor unit 10 in accordance with the accepted operating instruction. The operation terminal 94a is, for example, a remote controller. In addition to the operation terminal 94a, the indoor unit 10 can also be connected to an external terminal device 94b (for example, a smartphone, a tablet, etc.) that operates with a dedicated application that can cooperate with the indoor unit control section 80, which will be described later. Details of the external terminal device 94b will be described later.

In addition to the radar 2, the indoor unit 10 includes an indoor unit control section 80, a vertical wind direction plate 25, and a left and right wind direction plate 29. The indoor unit control section 80 performs air conditioning processing according to commands received from the operating terminal 94a and the external terminal device 94b, and also performs control according to the user CR detected using the radar 2. The indoor unit 10 can be controlled in a "radar control mode" which is essentially automatic control based on the detection results by the radar 2, and in a "radar control mode" which is essentially automatic control based on the detection results by the radar 2, and in which the indoor unit 10 is controlled without using the radar 2 when the user operates using the operation terminal 94a. (setting) "normal control mode". Note that, as will be described later, the indoor unit 10 intentionally moves the user CR and uses the radar 2 to track the moved user CR. That is, information (reflected waves) for obtaining the movement trajectory of the user CR is obtained at a predetermined timing. Here, the timing for acquiring the movement trajectory may be, for example, when the user CR (user) requests it, or a timing set in advance in the indoor unit 10, such as at the time of installation or the first operation at the beginning of the month. I can do it. Details of acquiring the movement trajectory and estimating the control region using the movement trajectory will be described later.

In the "radar control mode", the radar 2 continuously or intermittently detects the position of the detection target (user CR) indoors under the control of the indoor unit control unit 80. While tracking the position of the detected user CR, the indoor unit control unit 80 sends wind toward the user CR or conversely to a position avoiding the user CR, depending on the detected position of the user CR. , controls the vertical wind direction plate 25, the left and right wind direction plate 29, the ventilation member 26, etc. The indoor unit control section 80 controls the direction of the wind (conditioned air) blown out from the indoor unit 10 by controlling the operation of the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plates 29.

As a result, the way the conditioned air is blown out from the indoor unit 10 can be dynamically changed according to the movement of the user CR present in the detection area, so the comfort of the user CR present in the indoor area can be changed dynamically. can be improved.

Specifically, the indoor unit 10 performs air conditioning processing on the air sucked in from the indoor area through the suction port, and blows out the conditioned air that has been subjected to the air conditioning process toward the indoor area. The air conditioning process includes, for example, endothermic treatment (cooling), heat treatment (heating), dehumidification treatment, humidification treatment, ventilation treatment, air cleaning treatment, and the like. Endothermic treatment, heating treatment, dehumidification treatment, humidification treatment, ventilation treatment, and air purification treatment are respectively performed in cooling operation mode, heating operation mode, dehumidification operation mode, and humidification as the operation modes (main operation modes) of the air conditioner 1. Compatible with driving mode, ventilation driving mode, and air purifying driving mode.

Note that the main operation mode can be combined with a control mode (radar control mode, normal control mode) as appropriate. In the radar control mode, the air conditioner 1 (indoor unit 10) can take any of the cooling operation mode, heating operation mode, dehumidification operation mode, humidification operation mode, ventilation operation mode, and air purification operation mode. The same applies to the normal control mode.

In the air conditioning process, the humidification process may be omitted. At this time, the humidification operation mode may be omitted as the operation mode of the air conditioner 1.

In the auxiliary operation mode, the indoor unit 10 generates a turbulent flow that spreads over a wide range by mixing two types of wind speeds when blowing out conditioned air, and transforms the emitted wind into a gentle wind flow ( It has a calm mode that creates a so-called calm wind (registered trademark). The auxiliary operation mode can be appropriately combined with a control mode (radar control mode, normal control mode), and can be appropriately combined with the main operation mode.

The indoor unit 10 may have an automatic operation mode as an operation mode. The indoor unit 10 detects the temperature of the indoor area using the room temperature sensor 3 (temperature detection section). In the automatic operation mode, the indoor unit 10 (indoor unit control unit 80) operates in the cooling operation mode if the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, and operates in the heating operation mode if the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature. It's okay.

The air purification process includes, for example, an ion emission method that releases ions into the air, an ultraviolet irradiation method that irradiates the inside of the indoor unit 10 with ultraviolet rays to sterilize bacteria, and a method that removes air from the indoor area when it is sucked into the indoor unit 10. This is carried out using a dust collection method that collects dust. Note that the dust collection method includes, for example, a filter dust collection method and an electric dust collection method. In the filter dust collection method, air is passed through a fine-mesh filter such as a HEPA filter, and dirt substances such as dust are filtered out by the filter to be removed from the air. In the electrostatic precipitator method, dirt substances such as dust contained in the air that is inhaled are charged with a high-pressure discharge, and then captured by being adsorbed to a dust collection unit (for example, a heat exchanger 22 or a filter charged to the opposite polarity). collect. Note that the dirt substances adsorbed on the heat exchanger 22 can be automatically discharged outdoors together with, for example, when dew condensation water that has condensed on the surface of the heat exchanger is discharged.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the air conditioner 1, the indoor unit 10 includes a radar 2, an indoor unit control unit 80, a room temperature sensor 3, a heat exchanger 22, a fan 23, a filter 24 (described later), and a vertical wind direction. It includes a plate 25, a left and right wind direction plate 29, a ventilation member 26, a transmitting/receiving device 94, and the like. The indoor unit 10 also includes a first control circuit 81, a second control circuit 82, a third control circuit 83, a phone motor 84, a vertical wind direction plate motor 85, a left and right wind direction plate motor, which are controlled by the indoor unit control section 80. 86, a switching motor 87, etc. In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, an example is shown in which the air cleaning unit 4 that performs an electrostatic precipitator method is controlled by the indoor unit control section 80 as the air cleaning process.

The outdoor unit 120 also includes a heat exchanger 122, a fan 123, a four-way valve 124, a compressor 125, an outdoor unit control section 180, a fourth drive circuit 181, a fifth drive circuit 182, a sixth drive circuit 183, and a fan motor 184. , a valve switching motor 185, a compressor motor 186, and the like.

In the indoor unit 10, the fan 23 is arranged near the heat exchanger 22. The fan 23 guides the air sucked from the indoor area through the suction port of the indoor unit 10 to the heat exchanger 22, and also guides the conditioned air that has been heat exchanged with the heat exchanger 22 to the outlet of the indoor unit 10. The indoor unit control section 80 drives the phone motor 84 with the first control circuit 81 to rotate the fan 23 around the rotation axis. The indoor unit control section 80 can change the rotation speed of the fan 23.

The heat exchanger 22 includes, for example, a refrigerant pipe (refrigerant circuit) and a plurality of fins. The heat exchanger 22 is in thermal contact with a refrigerant circuit passing nearby. The heat exchanger 22 exchanges heat with the refrigerant for air sucked in from the room.

In the outdoor unit 120, the fan 123 is arranged near the heat exchanger 122. The fan 123 rotates under the control of the outdoor unit control section 180. Thereby, the fan 123 sucks outside air and guides it to the heat exchanger 122, and discharges the outside air that has been heat exchanged with the heat exchanger 122 to the outside of the outdoor unit 120. The outdoor unit control unit 180 drives the fan motor 184 with the fourth drive circuit 181 to rotate the fan 123 around the rotation axis. The indoor unit control section 80 can change the rotation speed of the fan 123 via the outdoor unit control section 180.

The heat exchanger 122 includes, for example, a refrigerant pipe (refrigerant circuit) and a plurality of fins. Heat exchanger 122 is in thermal contact with a refrigerant circuit passing nearby. The heat exchanger 122 exchanges heat between the outside air and the refrigerant.

The four-way valve 124 is arranged within the refrigerant circuit. The four-way valve 124 can switch the refrigerant flow path in the refrigerant circuit between the cooling side and the heating side according to control by the outdoor unit control unit 180. The outdoor unit control unit 180 can drive the valve switching motor 185 using the fifth drive circuit 182 to switch the four-way valve 124 between the cooling side and the heating side. The indoor unit control section 80 can switch the four-way valve 124 between the cooling side and the heating side via the outdoor unit control section 180.

Compressor 125 is arranged within the refrigerant circuit. The compressor 125 compresses the refrigerant and sends it out into the refrigerant circuit by the outdoor unit controller 180 under the control of the indoor unit controller 80 . The outdoor unit control unit 180 drives the compressor motor 186 with the sixth drive circuit 183, and causes the compressor 125 to perform a cycle operation of compressing the refrigerant. The indoor unit control section 80 can change the number of cycles of the compressor 125 (the number of times compression cycles are executed per unit time) via the outdoor unit control section 180.

For example, in the air conditioner 1, the indoor unit control section 80 and the outdoor unit control section 180 switch the four-way valve 124 to the cooling side in the cooling operation mode. Then, the heat exchanger 22 performs heat absorption processing, causes the refrigerant to absorb heat from the air in the indoor area, and blows out the heat-absorbed conditioned air to the indoor area. Then, heat radiation processing is performed in the heat exchanger 122, and the heat absorbed by the refrigerant is released to the outside air.

Alternatively, the air conditioner 1 switches the four-way valve 124 to the heating side in the heating operation mode by the indoor unit control section 80 and the outdoor unit control section 180. Then, the heat exchanger 122 performs heat absorption processing to cause the refrigerant to absorb heat from the outside air. Then, heat treatment is performed in the heat exchanger 22, the air in the indoor area is heated with the heat absorbed by the refrigerant, and the heated conditioned air is blown out into the indoor area.

The vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29 each adjust the wind direction of the conditioned air blown into the indoor area. Wind direction means the direction of the wind. In this specification, the indoor unit control unit 80 directly controls the direction in which the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plates 29 face. The direction of the wind immediately after it is blown out of the mouth (wind direction) is treated as approximately the same as the direction of the wind. That is, the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plates 29 can adjust the wind direction by their orientation, and the indoor unit control unit 80 controls the wind direction by controlling the orientation of the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29. It is possible. Note that the directions of the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plates 29 can be controlled individually. As a result, it is possible to blow out air whose wind direction is aligned in one direction from the entire outlet of the indoor unit 10, or it is possible to blow out air whose wind direction is aligned in one direction from the entire outlet of the indoor unit 10. It is also possible to blow out two or more winds each having a different direction from the above areas.

The vertical wind direction plate 25 can be switched between a closed position and an open position. The vertical wind direction plate 25 closes the air outlet when switched to the closed position. When the vertical wind direction plate 25 is switched to the open position, the air outlet is opened. With the air outlet opened by the operation of the vertical wind direction plate 25, the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plates 29 adjust the direction of the conditioned air blown into the indoor area. The vertical wind direction plate 25 adjusts the wind direction of the conditioned air in the vertical direction. The left and right wind direction plate 29 adjusts the direction of the conditioned air in the left and right directions.

A more specific structure of the indoor unit 10 will be described using FIGS. 2 to 7. FIG. 2 is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the indoor unit 10.

As described above, the indoor unit 10 includes a heat exchanger 22, a fan 23, a filter 24, two vertical wind direction plates 25 (25A, 25B), and a plurality of left and right wind direction plates 29 inside the casing 21. (See FIGS. 1 and 4), and includes a ventilation member 26 and the like. The vertical wind direction plate 25, the left and right wind direction plate 29, and the ventilation member 26 may also be referred to as a louver.

As shown in each drawing after FIG. 2, in this specification, for convenience, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are defined. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are orthogonal to each other. The X-axis is provided along the width of the indoor unit 10. The Y-axis is provided along the depth of the indoor unit 10. The Z axis is provided along the height of the indoor unit 10.

Additionally, the X direction, Y direction and Z direction are defined herein. The X direction is a direction along the X axis, and includes a +X direction indicated by an arrow on the X axis, and a -X direction opposite to the arrow on the X axis. The Y direction is a direction along the Y axis, and includes a +Y direction indicated by an arrow on the Y axis and a -Y direction which is the opposite direction to the arrow on the Y axis. The Z direction is a direction along the Z axis, and includes a +Z direction indicated by an arrow on the Z axis and a -Z direction opposite to the arrow on the Z axis. In this embodiment, the +Z direction is the upward direction, and the -Z direction is the downward direction.

The housing 21 is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the X direction. Note that the housing 21 may be formed in other shapes. The casing 21 is mounted, for example, on a wall of a building (indoor). The housing 21 has an upper surface 21a and a lower surface 21b. The upper surface 21a is provided at or near the upper end of the housing 21, and faces substantially upward. The lower surface 21b is provided at or near the lower end of the housing 21 and faces substantially downward.

The housing 21 is provided with a ventilation passage 31, an inlet 32, and an outlet 33. The ventilation path 31 is provided inside the housing 21 . The suction port 32 opens on the upper surface 21a of the housing 21, for example. The air outlet 33 opens, for example, on the lower surface 21b of the housing 21. The suction port 32 and the blowout port 33 may be opened in other parts of the housing 21.

The indoor unit 10 can pass air through the ventilation path 31. Wind is a flow of gas such as air. The suction port 32 is provided at one end of the ventilation passage 31 and communicates the ventilation passage 31 with the outside of the indoor unit 10 . The air outlet 33 is provided at the other end of the ventilation passage 31 and communicates the ventilation passage 31 with the outside of the indoor unit 10 . In other words, the ventilation passage 31 is provided between the inlet 32 and the outlet 33 inside the housing 21 .

Heat exchanger 22 is provided in ventilation passage 31 . The heat exchanger 22 exchanges heat with surrounding gas in the ventilation passage 31. Thereby, the heat exchanger 22 cools the air flowing through the ventilation path 31 during the cooling operation, and heats the air flowing through the ventilation path 31 during the heating operation.

The fan 23 is provided in the ventilation path 31. The fan 23 sends air from the suction port 32 to the blowout port 33 in the ventilation path 31 by rotating around a rotation axis Axf extending in the X direction. Thereby, the indoor unit 11 sucks indoor air into the ventilation passage 31 from the suction port 32 and blows out the air (wind) in the ventilation passage 31 from the outlet 33. Therefore, in this specification, the side of the ventilation passage 31 that is closer to the suction port 32 is referred to as upstream, and the side that is closer to the outlet 33 is referred to as downstream.

Fan 23 is located downstream of heat exchanger 22. Therefore, when the fan 23 generates wind, the air sucked in from the suction port 32 passes through the fins of the heat exchanger 22. Thereby, the air flowing through the ventilation path 31 exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 22.

The filter 24 is provided at the suction port 32 or near the suction port 32 in the ventilation path 31 . Filter 24 is located upstream of heat exchanger 22 . The filter 24 covers the suction port 32 from inside the housing 21 . For example, the filter 24 filters the air sucked in from the suction port 32 and captures dust in the air. As described above, by configuring the filter 24 with a HEPA filter or the like, higher quality air cleaning processing can be achieved.

The vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29 may be configured as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the vertical wind direction plate 25 is in a closed position Pc1 (sometimes referred to as a first closed position). FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration and operation of the indoor unit 10, and shows a state in which the vertical wind direction plate 25 is at the open position Po1 (sometimes referred to as the first open position). FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration and operation of the indoor unit 10, showing a state in which the vertical wind direction plates 25 are in the open position and the left and right wind direction plates 29 are visible.

The vertical wind direction plate 25 may include a plurality of vertical wind direction plates 25A and 25B. The vertical wind direction plates 25A and 25B are members that adjust the wind direction of conditioned air in the vertical direction, respectively, and are also called vertical louvers. The vertical wind direction plate 25A forms a first flow path C1 for conditioned air, and the vertical wind direction plate 25B forms a second flow path C2 for conditioned air. The upper and lower wind direction plates 25A and 25B each have a shaft portion 41 and a plate portion 42.

The shaft portion 41 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the X direction. The shaft portion 41 is rotatably supported by the housing 21 around a rotation axis Axl extending in the X direction. Note that the upper and lower wind direction plates 25A and 25B each have an individual rotation axis Axl. The plate portion 42 protrudes from the shaft portion 41 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis Axl. The plate portion 42 is formed into a substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the X direction.

The vertical wind direction plate 25A is supported by a rotating shaft Axl, and the vertical wind direction plate motor 85 is controlled by the second control circuit 82, and the vertical wind direction plate 25A is moved between the closed position Pc1 shown in FIG. 2 and the open position Po1 shown in FIG. It is movable. The vertical wind direction plate 25B is supported by the rotation axis Axl, and the vertical wind direction plate motor 85 is controlled by the second control circuit 82, and the vertical wind direction plate 25B is moved between the closed position Pc1 shown in FIG. 2 and the open position Po1 shown in FIG. It is movable.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical wind direction plate 25A, when switched to the closed position Pc1, closes the air outlet 33 that serves as the outlet of the first flow path C1. The vertical wind direction plate 25B, when switched to the closed position Pc1, closes the air outlet 33 that serves as the outlet of the second flow path C2. The first flow path C1 and the second flow path C2 form the air outlet 33 of the indoor unit 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vertical wind direction plate 25A opens the first flow path C1 in a state where it is switched to the open position Po1. The vertical wind direction plate 25B opens the second flow path C2 while being switched to the open position Po1.

The open position Po1 includes various positions where the upper and lower wind direction plates 25A and 25B open a part of the air outlet 33. For example, the opening position Po1 includes a position where the upper and lower wind direction plates 25A and 25B face substantially horizontally, a position where the upper and lower wind direction plates 25A and 25B face downward, and a plurality of positions between these two positions as shown in FIG. including. That is, the vertical wind direction plates 25A and 25B are rotatable between a position facing in a substantially horizontal direction and a position facing downward.

The vertical wind direction plates 25A, 25B located at the open position Po1 adjust the direction of the air emitted from the outlet 33 in the vertical direction (+Z direction, -Z direction) according to the orientation of the vertical wind direction plates 25A, 25B. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit 10 emits wind in a substantially horizontal direction by oriented the upper and lower wind direction plates 25A and 25B in a substantially horizontal direction. On the other hand, since the vertical wind direction plates 25A and 25B face downward, the indoor unit 10 emits wind downward.

As shown in FIG. 4, the left and right wind direction plate 29 is supported by a rotating shaft Ax2 (not shown) extending in the X direction, and the left and right wind direction plate motor 86 is controlled by the second control circuit 82, and -X It is movable between a rotational position toward the side end and a rotational position toward the +X side end.

The left and right wind direction plates 29 may include a plurality of left and right wind direction plates 29-1 to 29-k and 29-(k+1) to 29-2k. The plurality of left and right wind direction plates 29-1 to 29-k, 29-(k+1) to 29-2k are members that adjust the wind direction of conditioned air in the left and right directions (-X direction, +X direction), respectively, and the left and right louvers Also called. Note that the directions of the left and right wind direction plates 29-1 to 29-k on the -X side and the left and right wind direction plates 29-(k+1) to 29-2k on the +X side can be independently controlled by the indoor unit control section 80. It's okay.

The left and right wind direction plates 29-1 to 29-k on the -X side are connected to a common rotation axis Ax2 (not shown), and the second control circuit 82 controls the left and right wind direction plates 29-1 to 29-k, and the opening position of the -X side end and the +X side are controlled by the second control circuit 82. It may be movable all at once between the open end position and the open position. The left and right wind direction plates 29-(k+1) to 29-2k on the +X side are connected to a common rotation axis Ax2 (not shown), and the left and right wind direction plate motor 86 is controlled by the second control circuit 82, and the left and right wind direction plates 29-(k+1) to 29-2k on the -X side end are It may be possible to collectively move between the open position and the +X side end open position.

The ventilation member 26 shown in FIG. 2 can be switched between a closed position Pc2 (sometimes called a second closed position: see FIG. 5) and an open position Po2 (sometimes called a second open position: see FIG. 3). . The ventilation member 26 can be placed in a closed position Pc2 covering at least a portion of the air outlet 33 (first channel C1) opened by the vertical wind direction plate 25A located in the open position Po1. The ventilation member 26 has an inner surface facing the ventilation passage 31 in the closed position Pc2 and an outer surface facing the outside in the closed position Pc2, and is provided with at least one ventilation port 56 that opens on the inner surface and the outer surface. In the closed position Pc2, the ventilation member 26 has a first blowout passage (first passage C1) through which the air sent by the fan 23 is discharged to the outside through the ventilation opening 56, and a ventilation opening 56. A second blowout flow path (second flow path C2) that is discharged to the outside can be formed adjacent to the first blowout flow path (first flow path C1) without passing therethrough. That is, the ventilation member 26 is inserted into a part of the flow path of the conditioned air blown into the room while being switched to the closed position Pc2, and changes the aperture ratio of the part of the flow path.

In the state where the ventilation member 26 is switched to the open position Po2, the insertion into a part of the flow path is canceled (for example, it is evacuated from a part of the flow path), and the opening ratio of the part of the flow path returns to its original value. will be returned to.

In the air conditioner 1, the indoor unit control unit 80 switches the ventilation member 26 to the closed position Pc2 when the air conditioner 1 enters a windless mode as an auxiliary operation mode. The ventilation member 26 is selectively inserted into the first channel C1 while being switched to the closed position Pc2 to change the aperture ratio of the first channel C1. On the other hand, the aperture ratio of the second channel C2, which is opened and closed by the vertical wind direction plate 25B in which the ventilation member 26 is not present, is maintained as it was. When the windless mode as the auxiliary operation mode is canceled, the indoor unit control section 80 switches the ventilation member 26 to the open position Po2. The ventilation member 26 is evacuated from the first channel C1 while being switched to the open position Po2, and the aperture ratio of the first channel C1 is returned to its original value.

For example, the ventilation member 26 can be opened and closed between an open position Po2 shown in FIG. 3 and a closed position Pc2 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the ventilation member 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ventilation member 26 is housed in the recess 21c of the casing 21 provided near the air outlet 33 in a state where the ventilation member 26 is switched to the open position Po2. The depression 21c is recessed from the inner surface 21d of the housing 21, which forms a part of the ventilation passage 31. The ventilation member 26 located at the open position Po2 is accommodated in the recess 21c, thereby being prevented from interfering with the wind flowing through the first flow path C1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ventilation member 26 is inserted into the first channel C1 while being switched to the closed position Pc2, and changes the aperture ratio of the first channel C1. The opening ratio of the first channel C1 is smaller than before the ventilation member 26 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 6, the ventilation member 26 is a member in which a plurality of ventilation holes 56 are arranged in a plate-shaped plate portion 52. The ventilation member 26 is supported by the shaft portion 51, the switching motor 87 is controlled by the third control circuit 83, and the ventilation member 26 is movable between the closed position Pc2 and the open position Po2. Then, when moving to the closed position Pc2, as shown in FIG. 7, the wind moving in the ventilation passage 31 by the fan 23 passes through the ventilation opening 56 and changes to wind W2a.

On the other hand, the ventilation member 26 is not provided at the outlet 33 forming the second flow path C2. The aperture ratio of the second channel C2 is maintained as it was. In other words, the wind discharged from the second flow path C2 becomes wind W1a (laminar flow) that does not pass through the ventilation member 26. As a result, the wind W2a passing through the ventilation member 26 provided in the first channel C1 and the wind W1a passing through the second channel C2 where the ventilation member 26 is not provided are formed adjacent to each other. .

In this case, the flow velocity of the wind W2a increases as the aperture ratio of the first flow path C1 decreases. Therefore, the wind W2a draws in the wind W1a. As a result, the wind W1a hits the wind W2a. In addition, the wind W2a that has transitioned to turbulent flow is diffused and hits the wind W1a that flows adjacent to the wind W2a. In this way, the wind W1a and the wind W2a having different flow speeds and conditions (laminar flow or turbulent flow) flow adjacent to each other and collide with each other. That is, the wind W1a that does not pass through the ventilation member 26 (ventilation port 56) and the wind W2a that passes through the ventilation member 26 (ventilation port 56) interfere with each other.

When the wind W1a and the wind W2a hit each other, for example, a lump of the wind W1a and the wind W2a is broken up, and the turbulent wind W2a is carried by the wind W1a. The wind W1a and the wind W2a cause such various interactions and generate a turbulent flow Ws (mixed wind) that spreads over a wide range. As a result, the turbulent flow Ws discharged from the indoor unit 10 becomes closer to natural wind (so-called windless wind) than the wind immediately after discharged from the outlet 33. In this case, the ventilation member 26 may be formed in either the first flow path C1 or the second flow path C2, thereby suppressing an increase in the number of parts, complicating the configuration of the indoor unit 10, and increasing costs. can contribute to Further, the ventilation member 26 has a simple structure including only the ventilation opening 56, which can contribute to suppressing an increase in cost and a decrease in the strength of the ventilation member 26.

Returning to FIG. 1, the radar 2 is capable of detecting the position, moving speed, angle, and shape (height from the floor, etc.) of a detection target (for example, user CR) indoors. The radar 2 is a Doppler radar such as an ultrasonic radar, a millimeter wave radar, a microwave radar, or a lidar. The radar 2 includes a transmitter 2a, a receiver 2b, and a signal processor 2c. The radar 2 generates radio waves such as millimeter waves and microwaves, sound waves, and light in a signal processing unit 2c, transmits them to an indoor area from a transmitting unit 2a, and reflects them by a detection target (user CR) etc. that may exist in the indoor area. The reflected wave is received by the receiving section 2b and passed to the signal processing section 2c. The radar 2 is provided at any position on the front surface of the casing 21 of the indoor unit 10, and is preferably provided at a position where it can easily detect the position of the detection target (user CR) in the indoor area. The radar 2 may be embedded at a position near the center in the X direction in the +Y side portion of the housing 21, as shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 2 to 5. Note that it is desirable that the transmitter 2a and the receiver 2b be exposed from the surface of the housing 21, as shown in FIG. Details of the detection processing by the radar 2 will be described later.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary and schematic block diagram showing details of the indoor unit control section 80 of the indoor unit 10 (air conditioner 1) configured as described above.

The CPU that constitutes the indoor unit control section 80 reads out a control program installed and stored in a non-volatile storage device such as a ROM, and implements a module that executes various controls and arithmetic processing according to the program. The indoor unit control section 80 includes an operation mode control section 80a, a drive circuit control section 80b, a radar control section 80c, a control area estimation section 80d, a condition processing section 80e, a guidance processing section 80f, a correction section 80g, a storage processing section 80h, and an air It includes modules such as a cleaning processing section 80i, a wind control section 80j, and a temperature monitoring section 80k. Furthermore, the control region estimating section 80d includes detailed modules such as a tracking section 80d1 and a demarcation section 80d2. Note that each of these modules may be configured by hardware. Moreover, each module may be integrated or divided for each function.

The operation mode control unit 80a switches between the "radar control mode" and the "normal control mode" described above as the operation modes of the indoor unit 10, as well as cooling operation mode, heating operation mode, dehumidification operation mode, humidification operation mode, and ventilation. Switches between operation mode, air purification operation mode, etc. These switching operations are performed based on command signals from an operating terminal 94a operated by the user or an external terminal device 94b connected to the indoor unit control unit 80 via the transmitting/receiving device 94, or based on the detection results of the radar 2. automatically based on.

The drive circuit control unit 80b operates based on the operation mode switched by the operation mode control unit 80a and the classification, number, activity level, etc. of user CRs included in the detection targets existing in the indoor area, that is, the usage status of the indoor unit 10. The first control circuit 81, the second control circuit 82, and the third control circuit 83 are controlled, and the operations of the fan 23, the vertical wind direction plate 25, the left and right wind direction plates 29, and the ventilation member 26 are controlled.

The radar control unit 80c controls transmission and reception of the radar 2 (transmission unit 2a, reception unit 2b), and also controls the signal processing unit 2c to obtain analysis results (detection results) of transmitted waves and received waves. Note that the radar 2 may enable the detection process after the indoor unit 10 is activated by operating the operating terminal 94a or the like, or it may always stand by in standby mode regardless of the activation of the indoor unit 10 and perform the initial setting, for example. When the movement (motion) of an object (user CR as a detection target) is detected in an indoor area where the detection target is detected, normal activation may be performed to obtain information such as the presence or absence of a detection target, the number of detection targets, shape information of the detection target, and the like. Further, the radar control unit 80c requests execution of an area detection mode in which the indoor unit 10 recognizes the control area (size, shape, etc.) to be air conditioned by operating the operation terminal 94a, the external terminal device 94b, etc. Even in the case where the user CR moves according to the guidance provided by the guidance processing unit 80f, radar waves are transmitted to the room where the user CR exists, and the reflected waves reflected by the user CR are received.

When the condition processing unit 80e satisfies the conditions for executing the area detection mode, the control area estimating unit 80d tracks the movement mode of the user CR who intentionally moves within the room based on the guidance from the guidance processing unit 80f. , the control area of the indoor unit 10 is estimated based on the movement trajectory.

For example, when the condition processing unit 80e receives a signal indicating that an operation requesting the area detection mode has been performed on the operation terminal 94a or the external terminal device 94b via the transmitting/receiving device 94, the condition processing unit 80e starts the area detection mode. It is determined that the estimation start condition is satisfied, and the result is provided to the control region estimation unit 80d. In another embodiment, the cooling operation or cooling operation is performed for the first time at a timing set in advance for the indoor unit 10, for example, when the indoor unit 10 is installed or every predetermined period of time (for example, one month) after installation. The area detection mode may be automatically executed by determining that the conditions for starting the area detection mode are met (eg, at the beginning of a season). In this case, the user CR may be notified that the area detection mode is to be started.

The guidance processing unit 80f outputs guidance information for moving the user CR who sets the control region along the region definition route when executing the region detection mode. For example, the guidance information may be, ``Determine the control area for the indoor unit. Please start walking from your current position, walk around the area you want as the control area, and then return to the position where you started walking.'' It is. Note that it is easier for the radar control unit 80c to obtain reflected waves if the user CR walks slowly at a constant speed. Therefore, when the user CR is moving, the guidance processing section 80f may monitor the speed of movement and provide guidance information that guides the increase or decrease in speed and keeps the speed substantially constant.

As described above, the control region estimating section 80d includes a tracking section 80d1 and a defining section 80d2. The tracking unit 80d1 considers the detected user CR to be the area designator when the condition for executing the area detection mode is satisfied by the condition processing unit 80e, and starts tracking the user CR. As described above, the guidance processing unit 80f outputs the above-mentioned guidance information (walking guide) at this timing. As mentioned above, for example, "Determine the control area for the indoor unit. Start walking from your current position, walk around the area you want as the control area, and then return to the position where you started walking." etc. is provided by voice or the like, so the tracking unit 80d1 continues tracking the user CR until it can be assumed that the user CR to be tracked has reached the start position (end point position) again from the start position. In other words, when it can be considered that the object has returned to the starting position, tracking for area estimation ends.

The definition unit 80d2 defines a control area using the movement trajectory obtained as a result of the tracking process by the tracking unit 80d1. When user CR moves on foot, his body tends to sway from side to side as he moves. In particular, when the receiving unit 2b receives radar waves (reflected waves), the shaking of the body is detected in detail, so the movement trajectory acquired by the tracking unit 80d1 tends to be a meandering line rather than a straight line. . Therefore, the demarcation unit 80d2 converts the control region imagined by the user CR into a simple and regular shape by applying well-known linear approximation processing to the meandering movement locus. As a result, the drive circuit control unit 80b can easily control the vertical wind direction plates 25 and the left and right wind direction plates 29, and can easily and efficiently realize optimal air conditioning control for the control area. Note that, for example, when the user CR moves along a wall in an indoor area, the user CR moves a little distance from the wall. Moreover, the separation distance is likely to change. Therefore, when defining the control area using the movement locus, the definition unit 80d2 may estimate the control area by taking into account a certain amount of offset with respect to the wall. For example, the control area may be an area in which the movement trajectory is extended 0.3 m outward. Note that the offset amount is a value that can be set in advance through a test or the like, and may be changed by the user CR himself or herself depending on the way the user CR walks. Furthermore, since the control area estimating unit 80d can also detect the position of a wall that constitutes the indoor area, the offset amount may be adjusted depending on the position of the wall.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, an example of estimating the control area RA will be described using an example in which the indoor unit 10 is installed on a part of the wall surface of a substantially rectangular indoor area R.

In the indoor area R, when the user CR who wants to set the control area RA performs an operation to request estimation of the area setting mode (pressing a predetermined switch, etc.) via the operation terminal 94a or the external terminal device 94b, the conditions The processing unit 80e determines that the conditions for executing the area detection mode are satisfied, and starts transmitting and receiving radar waves by the radar 2 under the control of the radar control unit 80c. The indoor unit control section 80 first outputs the above-mentioned guidance information from the guidance processing section 80f, and causes the user CR who wants to set the control area RA to start walking within the indoor area R. In the case of FIG. 10, for example, a starting position S is designated and the user CR walking as indicated by an arrow F is tracked. The start position may be, for example, the position where the user CR performs an estimation request operation in the region setting mode, or the position of the user CR when the region detection mode is started. Alternatively, a position where the user CR can be easily detected by the radar 2 may be specified.

A movement trajectory L shown by a solid line in FIG. 10 is a trajectory walked by the user CR. In this case, the user CR is moving along the wall surface of the indoor region R. In other words, this is an example in which the user CR attempts to use the entire indoor region R as the control region RA.

Upon acquiring the movement trajectory L from the definition unit 80d2, the definition unit 80d2 defines a control area RA surrounded by a broken line E based on the movement trajectory L, which is a closed area, as described above. In this case, as described above, the control area RA may be defined in consideration of the offset amount. That is, the indoor unit 10 uses the control area RA as a control area, and controls the fan 23, the vertical wind direction plate 25, the left and right air direction plates 29, etc. with an output corresponding to the control area RA, and performs optimal air conditioning control.

FIG. 11 is an example in which the indoor area R is divided by partitions P (objects such as screens, bookshelves, furniture, etc.), and the user CR who wants to set the control area RA, removes the non-control area RX. This is an example of walking along an arrow F to form a movement trajectory L. In this case, the definition unit 80d2 defines a control region RA indicated by a broken line E in the indoor region R, excluding the non-control region RX, according to the movement trajectory L. In other words, the user CR can easily set the control area RA in a desired and appropriate area by walking around the area where the air conditioning control was actually performed, and reflect the control area in the air conditioning control.

Note that if the tracking unit 80d1 detects a plurality of users CR in the room at the start of the area detection mode, there is a possibility that a plurality of movement trajectories exist at the same time. In this case, the control region estimation unit 80d may cancel the region detection mode. In another embodiment, the guidance processing unit 80f may issue a message such as "Multiple people have been detected indoors. In order to determine the control area of the indoor unit, when there is only one person in the room, Please perform a region setting operation." etc. may be output to cause the region detection mode to be re-executed when the user CR is alone in the indoor region R.

FIG. 12 shows a case where an obstacle N such as a bookshelf exists within the indoor region R. In this case, when the user CR starts moving from the start position S and moves along the wall in the direction of the arrow F as in FIG. 10, the radar waves emitted from the indoor unit 10 are blocked by the obstacle N. . As a result, the movement trajectory L detected by the indoor unit 10 includes a non-detection area NS (partial missing) from the starting point NSa to the ending point NSb when the user CR passes through the back side of N. In this case, the movement trajectory L becomes discontinuous and cannot surround the control area RA, which may result in inaccurate estimation of the control area RA. Therefore, the correction unit 80g executes a correction process to obtain closed area information by complementing the partial section of the non-detection area NS from the start point NSa to the end point NSb using a well-known linear approximation process. As a result, even when the obstacle N exists within the indoor region R, the demarcation unit 80d2 can appropriately estimate the control region RA, as shown by the broken line E.

Note that if the reflected wave cannot be re-received even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the correction unit 80g may determine that the movement of the user CR has been interrupted, and may cancel the linear approximation. In this case, the guidance processing unit 80f may output a message to the effect that the user has lost sight of the user CR, perform the estimation request operation again, and suggest that the user redo the walk from the starting position S.

The storage processing unit 80h stores the control area RA estimated as described above in a storage unit that cooperates with the indoor unit control unit 80. The storage unit linked to the indoor unit control unit 80 may be, for example, a storage unit provided in the indoor unit 10, or a storage unit built in an operating terminal 94a or an external terminal device 94b connected via the transmitting/receiving device 94. or a server on a network. When operating the indoor unit 10 , the indoor unit control unit 80 reads the control area RA stored in the storage unit and reflects it in the operation control of the indoor unit 10 . As a result, it is possible to always operate the indoor unit 10 using an appropriate control area RA, and provide optimal air conditioning control to users including user CR.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary and schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an external terminal device 94b that can cooperate with the indoor unit control section 80 of the air conditioner 1. The external terminal device 94b includes a communication section 96, a storage section 98, an input control section 100, a terminal control section 102, and the like. The communication section 96, the storage section 98, the input control section 100, the terminal control section 102, and the like can utilize a hardware configuration that is provided in advance in the external terminal device 94b. Further, when the external terminal device 94b is configured with a smartphone, a tablet, etc., the configuration of the input control section 100, the terminal control section 102, etc. may be realized by installing a predetermined application.

The communication unit 96 obtains the control area RA estimated by the control area estimating unit 80d through the storage processing unit 80h through communication with the transmitting/receiving device 94, and stores it in the storage unit 98. Further, the communication unit 96 transmits the control area RA stored in the storage unit 98 to the transmitting/receiving device 94 and provides it to the indoor unit control unit 80 to reflect it in the control of the indoor unit 10 as necessary.

The storage unit 98 may be a storage device (ROM or SSD) provided in the external terminal device 94b, or a storage device that can be attached to the external terminal device 94b.

The input control unit 100 may also be an input device (keyboard, pointer, touch panel, etc.) provided in the external terminal device 94b. The input control unit 100 can be used in the terminal control unit 102, for example, when modifying the control area RA or adding information.

The terminal control section 102 includes an information control section 102a and a history management section 102b. The information control unit 102a can modify the contents of the control area RA stored in the storage unit 98 on the external terminal device 94b. For example, if the result of checking the control area RA stored in the storage unit 98 on the display unit (not shown) of the external terminal device 94b is different from the image that the user CR who requested the estimation of the control area RA had, the information The control unit 102a can modify the control area RA by manual operation via the input control unit 100, for example. Furthermore, the information control unit 102a can perform a process of adding detailed information within the indoor region R that cannot be detected by the detection of the radar 2.

The information control unit 102a includes, for example, an area adjustment unit 102a1 and an indoor information processing unit 102a2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, if a part of the wall surface where the indoor unit 10 is installed is depressed and the indoor unit 10 is installed in the depression, a part of the radar waves of the radar 2 is blocked by the depression, Even if the user CR moves along the wall in the direction of the arrow F, a non-detection area NS (blind spot) may occur. In this case, the correction unit 80g may perform linear approximation processing from the start point NSa to the end point NSb of the non-detection area NS, but the area adjustment unit 102a1 may perform manual correction. In this case, the corrected control area RA indicated by the broken line E displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the external terminal device 94b is corrected via the input control unit 100. For example, an operation is performed to connect the starting point NSa and the ending point NSb so that the unrecognized wall surface HL shown in FIG. 13 becomes part of the control area RA. In this case, after connecting the starting point NSa and the ending point NSb freehand using a touch panel etc., the shape of the control area RA may be corrected to the desired shape using at least one of straight line approximation and curve approximation. By touching a plurality of points on the wall surface HL, the shape of the control area RA may be automatically corrected to a desired shape by at least one of linear approximation and curve approximation. As a result, it is possible to estimate a control area RA close to the actual shape of the indoor area R (room shape).

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, even if the wall surface on which the indoor unit 10 is installed in the indoor region R is flat, that wall surface becomes the unrecognized wall surface HL, and the user CR located near the unrecognized wall surface HL is also detected. It may not be possible. In this case as well, the area adjustment unit 102a1 may be used to correct the control area RA indicated by the broken line E to correct the shape of the control area RA to a desired shape. For example, the control area RA on the side of the unrecognized wall surface HL is estimated from the position of the user CR who has become undetectable on the side of the unrecognized wall surface HL. As a result, it is possible to estimate the control area RA close to the actual shape of the indoor area R (room shape) regardless of the installation position of the indoor unit 10.

The indoor information processing unit 102a2 can perform a process of adding detailed information within the indoor region R that cannot be completely detected by the radar 2. For example, when detecting the radar 2, it may be difficult to recognize the positions of windows and doors existing in the indoor region R, the types of objects installed in the indoor region R, and the like. For example, if there is a window, the location is more likely to be affected by outdoor temperature and sunlight through the window, and temperature changes are more likely to occur at that location than at a location without a window. Similarly, at a location where a door is located, temperature changes are likely to occur due to opening and closing of the door. Further, as an example of the use of the air conditioner 1, the air conditioner 1 may be used when drying laundry indoors. In some cases, the indoor drying position is fixed at a position that is rarely used, such as a corner position of the indoor area R, but air blowing control may be performed toward that area. Therefore, by adding indoor feature information such as windows, doors, indoor drying corners, etc. using the indoor information processing unit 102a2, air conditioning control by the indoor unit 10 can be made more optimal.

The indoor information processing unit 102a2 inputs indoor characteristics prepared in advance to the control area RA displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the external terminal device 94b via the input control unit 100 using a touch panel or the like. Information can be added by placing an item mark that indicates information. For example, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 15, the item mark M1 indicating the position of the door, the item mark M2 indicating the position of the window, the item mark M3 indicating the indoor drying corner, the item mark M4 indicating the position of the circulator, etc. are used for indoor information processing. The portion 102a2 is additionally arranged.

When controlling the indoor unit 10 by referring to the control area RA additionally arranged in the indoor information processing unit 102a2, the indoor unit control unit 80 controls, for example, the vertical wind direction plate 25, the left and right wind direction plate 29, the fan 23, etc. can be changed depending on the positions of the item marks M1 to M4. For example, as described above, the temperature change may be greater at the position where the item mark M1 (door) or the item mark M2 (window) is present than at other positions. For example, during cooling operation, the presence of doors and windows may cause the temperature to rise at those locations. Furthermore, in the case of heating operation, the presence of doors and windows may cause the temperature to drop at those locations. Therefore, actively blow air to the locations of windows and doors. For example, in the case of operation in which the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plates 29 are swung, the swing speed of the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29 is slowed down, so that cooler or warmer air is directed to the window or door position than at other positions. The temperature should be adjusted by feeding it for a long time. Further, in this case, the output of the fan 23 may be temporarily increased. Furthermore, the conditioned air may be blown toward the window or door for a predetermined period of time after the air conditioner 1 (indoor unit 10) is started. Furthermore, when the item mark M4 (circulator) is present, the circulator effectively mixes the air at that position, making it easier to equalize the air temperature. Therefore, with respect to the direction in which the circulator is present, the swing speed of the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29 may be increased to facilitate maintaining a uniform air temperature.

Furthermore, in the case of item mark M3 (indoor drying corner), it may be used even when the control area RA is unmanned. In such a case, in the case of a conventional air conditioner, detailed settings for the indoor drying mode are required, but in the case of the air conditioner 1 of this embodiment, the position of the indoor drying corner is set in advance by the indoor information processing unit 102a2. This makes it possible to omit setting the wind direction, air volume, and operation mode each time the system is used, contributing to improved usability. Furthermore, even if there is a user such as user CR in the control area RA, it is possible for the user to adjust the swing speed and wind force of the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plates 29 suitable for indoor drying at the position of the indoor drying corner. It is possible to supply cold air and warm air that are optimal for CR, etc., and also to perform good air blowing for indoor drying.

Note that the area adjustment unit 102a1 can also register the position of the indoor unit 10 in the indoor area R as indoor characteristic information, and the positional relationship with indoor characteristic information such as other item marks M1 in the indoor area R can be easily grasped. Become. Moreover, the item mark mentioned above is an example, and may be increased or decreased as appropriate. Alternatively, a new item mark associated with the control state of the indoor unit 10 may be created and made available by the user CR or the like.

By the way, multiple rooms may be connected by doors or shoji screens. In that case, depending on the usage status of the room, the size of the indoor area R may be changed by opening and closing the door or shoji. For example, in the case of the floor plan shown in FIG. 16, a control area RA (e.g., a Western-style room) in which the indoor unit 10 is installed is adjacent to a control area RB (e.g., a Japanese-style room) connected via a shoji PS, a door Pd In some cases, a control area RC (for example, a kitchen) connected via a single air conditioner 1 having a large output performs air conditioning control. In this case, it is inefficient to set only the control area RA, control area RA+RB, control area RA+RC, control area RA+RB+RC, etc. each time the area is used.

Therefore, the history management unit 102b stores a plurality of control areas once estimated in the storage unit 98, and allows the control area specified via the input control unit 100 to be reflected in the control of the indoor unit 10 by operating a touch panel or the like. are managed individually.

For example, in FIG. 16, the control area RA is located at the starting position along the wall of the control area RA where the indoor unit 10 is located when the shoji PS and door Pd are closed and the area estimation operation is performed. An example of going around from S in the direction of arrow F is shown. In this case, the tracking unit 80d1 of the control area estimating unit 80d acquires the movement trajectory L1, and the definition unit 80d2 estimates the control area RA according to the movement trajectory L1 indicated by a solid line. The storage processing unit 80h transmits the estimation result to the external terminal device 94b, and the history management unit 102b stores the estimation result in the storage unit 98 as history information together with the estimation conditions (information on the floor of the shoji PS and door Pd, etc.). do.

In the case of control area RA+RB, the area estimation operation is performed with the shoji PS open and the door Pd closed. In this case, the user CR starts walking from the start position S along the wall of the control area RA where the indoor unit 10 exists, moves from the control area RA to the control area RB, moves in the direction of the arrow F1, and moves from the control area RA to the control area RB in the direction of the arrow F1. This is an example of going around the area. In this case, the tracking unit 80d1 of the control area estimating unit 80d acquires the movement trajectory L2 indicated by the two-dot chain line, and the definition unit 80d2 estimates the control area RA+RB according to the movement trajectory L2. The storage processing unit 80h transmits the estimation result to the external terminal device 94b, and the history management unit 102b stores the estimation result in the storage unit 98 together with the estimation conditions. Note that depending on the positional relationship between the position of the radar 2 and the shoji PS, the control area RB may include the non-detection area NS. In this case, the correction of the non-detection area NS may be performed by the correction unit 80g, but if the range of the non-detection area NS is wide, the correction is performed by the area adjustment unit 102a1 after storing it in the storage unit 98 of the external terminal device 94b. You may. In this case, a more accurate RA+RB area can be estimated.

Similarly, in the case of control region RA+RC, the region estimation operation is performed with the shoji PS closed and the door Pd open. In this case, the user CR starts walking from the start position S along the wall of the control area RA where the indoor unit 10 exists, moves from the control area RA to the control area RC in the direction of arrow F2, and moves in the area RA+RC. This is a complete example. In this case, the tracking unit 80d1 of the control area estimating unit 80d acquires the movement trajectory L3 indicated by the dashed line, and the definition unit 80d2 estimates the control area RA+RC according to the movement trajectory L2. The storage processing unit 80h transmits the estimation result to the external terminal device 94b, and the history management unit 102b stores the estimation result in the storage unit 98 together with the estimation conditions. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 16, the door Pd is located in front of the indoor unit 10, so there is little possibility that a non-detection area NS will occur in the control area RC. However, if a non-detection area NS occurs, the correction unit 80g or the area adjustment unit 102a1, it is possible to estimate a more accurate area of RA+RC. The same applies to the control areas RA+RB+RC.

In this way, by the history management unit 102b storing and managing a plurality of control areas, it is possible to use a control area suitable for the usage status of the indoor area R, and the indoor unit 10 can be operated appropriately. Note that the control area may be specified by the operation of the user CR, or the control area may be determined based on detection by the radar 2. For example, if the user CR is detected in the control region RB or the control region RC, these regions may be added to the control region. Further, when the radar 2 detects that the shoji PS or the door Pd is opened, the control area RB or the control area RC may be added to the control area.

Returning to FIG. 8, the air cleaning processing unit 80i controls whether or not to perform the air cleaning process in the indoor area R, the efficiency of air cleaning, etc., depending on the detection status of the user CR in the indoor area R. The air cleaning processing section 80i controls the air cleaning unit 4 and executes, for example, an electrostatic precipitator type air control process. As described above, the air cleaning unit 4 includes a high-pressure discharge section and the like in order to charge dirt substances such as dust contained in the air sucked in through the suction port 32. In this case, the air purification processing unit 80i controls the phone motor 84 via the first control circuit 81 to adjust the strength of the fan 23, thereby adjusting the amount of air sucked from the suction port 32 to improve air purification efficiency. adjustments can be made.

For example, when the detection process is performed in the detection area of the radar 2 in the indoor area R, the air cleaning processing unit 80i executes the air cleaning process in the indoor area R if a living body such as the user CR is not detected. Good too. When the radar 2 of the indoor unit 10 detects only a sofa as a still object, for example, the air purification processing unit 80i generates clean air (of the air purification unit 4) to purify the air in the indoor area R. ``Absence air cleaning control'' is performed in which clean air from which dust and the like have been removed by the function is blown out from the outlet 33 at a larger air volume than when the user CR is detected in the indoor area R. As mentioned above, the efficiency of the air control process is largely determined by the amount of air drawn in and the amount of air blown out. Therefore, when attempting to perform efficient air control processing, the driving noise of the fan 23 tends to become louder. Therefore, by executing the absent air purification control during the period when the user CR is absent, it is possible to perform efficient air purification processing without causing discomfort to users such as the user CR due to the driving noise. . Note that when performing absent air cleaning control, temperature adjustment (heating or cooling) of the blown air is not necessary, so the heat exchange process by the heat exchanger 22 may be omitted. Note that the absent air cleaning control may be executed all the time when the user CR is absent, but in that case, it is always executed at night or when the user is absent, which is not economical. Therefore, the execution period may be set by operating the operating terminal 94a or the like. Note that when the user CR is confirmed to have entered the indoor area R during the execution of the absent air purification control, the air purification processing unit 80i lowers the rotation speed of the fan 23 compared to when the absent air purification control was executed, and the air purification efficiency is reduced. You may return to the normal air purification state, which prioritizes quietness.

The wind control unit 80j controls the direction of the wind (for example, cooling air, heating air, etc.) blown out from the air outlet 33 and the direction of the blown wind, depending on the presence of a detection target (user CR) in the indoor region R that can be detected by the radar 2. control the quality of The wind control unit 80j controls the vertical wind direction plate motor 85 via the second control circuit 82 to control the position of the vertical wind direction plate 25 in the left-right direction. Further, the wind control unit 80j controls the left and right wind direction plate motor 86 via the left and right wind direction plate motor 86 to control the position of the left and right wind direction plate 29 in the left and right direction. The wind control unit 80j can appropriately change the direction (reaching position) of the wind blown out from the air outlet 33 by controlling the direction of the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29 in combination. For example, the wind control unit 80j controls the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29 so that wind always hits the user CR tracked by the tracking unit 80d1 during normal operation, and for example, during cooling control, the wind control unit 80j controls the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29 so that the wind always hits the user CR tracked by the tracking unit 80d1. can be improved. Conversely, the wind control unit 80j finds a position (absent area) where the user CR is not present and controls the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29 so that the wind does not hit the user CR being tracked by the tracking unit 80d1. This can be controlled to reduce the discomfort caused by direct wind. Note that the wind control unit 80j may periodically change the direction of the wind to alternately create a state in which the wind blows and a state in which the wind does not blow.

As described above, the wind control unit 80j controls the switching motor 87 via the third control circuit 83, moves the ventilation member 26 to the closed position Pc2, and directs the turbulent flow (so-called windless wind) to the outlet. It can be blown out from 33. In addition to the ventilation member 26, the wind control unit 80j controls the vertical wind direction plate 25 and the left and right wind direction plate 29, and controls the direction of the wind when there is no wind. You can point in a direction that doesn't exist. For example, by allowing calm wind (i.e., natural wind) to hit the user CR, during cooling control, the discomfort caused by the cold wind is suppressed and the feeling of coolness is further improved, and during heating control, It is possible to make it easier to feel warmer while suppressing the discomfort caused by hot air. Conversely, direct blowing of the wind can be further suppressed by blowing out the calm wind in a direction where the user CR does not exist. Note that even when blowing out a wind that feels like there is no wind, the tracking result of the user CR by the tracking unit 80d1 can be used to blow out the wind that feels like there is no wind toward a position where the user CR who is moving around exists or, conversely, a position where the user CR does not exist. When an infant (particularly a baby) is present in the indoor region R, the calm wind is effective in managing the infant's physical condition.

The temperature monitoring unit 80k controls the operation mode control unit 80a based on the temperature (room temperature) of the indoor region R provided from the room temperature sensor 3 (temperature detection unit), and controls at least the cooling control ( control of heat exchange mode). For example, if the user CR is detected in the indoor area R by the radar 2, and if the indoor temperature deviates from a predetermined temperature by the temperature monitoring unit 80k, for example, if it becomes 32° C. or higher, regardless of the operation of the operating terminal 94a, First, cooling control by the indoor unit 10 is started. For example, if the user CR is a child, infant, pet, etc. and is unable to appropriately judge the room temperature or operate the operating terminal 94a, or even if the user CR is an adult who is unable to appropriately judge the room temperature or operate the operating terminal 94a due to illness etc. , the temperature of the indoor region R (indoor) can be maintained appropriately. In particular, automatically performing air conditioning control is effective in preventing heatstroke and the like (reducing burden on user CR). In addition, when the user CR is detected and the room temperature reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, the temperature monitoring unit 80k cooperates with the wind control unit 80j and blows air toward the detected user CR for a predetermined time from the start of cooling control. , the body temperature may be lowered efficiently, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the wind blowing direction may be changed to a direction where the user CR is not present, or the control may be switched to a calm feeling control. In this case, it is possible to effectively reduce the temperature burden on the user CR, and after the burden on the user CR is deemed to have been reduced, a more comfortable environment in the indoor area R is provided to the user CR. It becomes easier to do.

Note that the temperature monitoring unit 80k may automatically perform heating control (control of heat exchange mode) when the room temperature falls below a predetermined temperature. In this case as well, the room temperature can be automatically maintained at a comfortable level, similar to air conditioning control.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration for generating calm wind. In the case of the indoor unit 10 shown in FIG. 17, a ventilation member 26 (26A, 26B) is arranged for each outlet 33. FIG. 18 is an exemplary and schematic diagram showing the configuration of the ventilation member 26 (26A, 26B), in which the ventilation member 26A is arranged in the first channel C1 and the ventilation member 26A is arranged in the second channel C2. It is a front view showing ventilation member 26B. Note that the configurations of the ventilation member 26A and the ventilation member 26B are substantially the same, and unless it is necessary to explain them separately, they will be described as the ventilation member 26. Further, the configuration of the indoor unit 10 shown in FIG. 17 is substantially the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 5 except that a ventilation member 26 is arranged at each outlet 33, and members having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals. , and the explanation thereof is omitted or simplified.

For example, the ventilation member 26A is located near the upper end of the first flow path C1, similar to the configuration shown in FIG. The ventilation member 26B is located at the upper end of the second flow path C2 in the Z direction. Note that the ventilation member 26A only needs to be able to close the first flow path C1 at the closed position Pc2, and the ventilation member 26B can close the second flow path C2 at the closed position Pc2, and is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 17.

The ventilation member 26A located at the closed position Pc2 covers the first flow path C1 opened by the vertical wind direction plate 25A located at the open position Po1. Further, the ventilation member 26B located at the closed position Pc2 covers the second flow path C2 opened by the vertical wind direction plate 25B located at the open position Po1.

Note that the two ventilation members 26 located at the closed position Pc2 do not need to completely block the air outlet 33. For example, the air outlet 33 may communicate with the room without being covered by the ventilation member 26 in the X direction, or the air outlet 33 may be able to pass through the gap between the ventilation member 26 and the upper and lower wind direction plates 25. good. For example, most of the first flow path C1 and the second flow path C2 need only be covered by the ventilation members 26A and 26B when viewed in the direction in which the wind travels.

The ventilation member 26 located at the open position Po2 opens a part of the air outlet 33 opened by the vertical wind direction plate 25 located at the open position Po1. In the case of FIG. 17, the ventilation member 26A located at the open position Po2 opens the first flow path C1 opened by the vertical air direction plate 25A located at the open position Po1. Further, the ventilation member 26B located at the open position Po2 opens the second flow path C2 opened by the vertical wind direction plate 25B located at the open position Po1.

The ventilation member 26 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, similarly to the ventilation member 26 shown in FIG. Ventilation member 26 may be made of other materials such as metal. The two ventilation members 26 each have a shaft portion 51 and a plate portion 52.

The shaft portion 51 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the X direction. The shaft portion 51 is rotatably supported by the housing 21 around a rotation axis Axc extending in the X direction. Note that each of the plurality of ventilation members 26 has an individual rotation axis Axc. The plate portion 52 protrudes from the shaft portion 51 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis Axc. The plate portion 52 is formed into a substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the X direction. By rotating the shaft portion 51 around the rotation axis Axc, the ventilation member 26 can be moved between the closed position Pc2 and the open position Po2.

The shaft portion 51 of the ventilation member 26 is spaced upward from the plate portion 42 of the vertical wind direction plate 25 located at the open position Po1. The plate portion 52 of the ventilation member 26 located in the closed position Pc2 extends from the shaft portion 51 toward the plate portion 42 of the vertical wind direction plate 25.

The tip 52a of the plate portion 52 of the ventilation member 26 located in the closed position Pc2 is in contact with the plate portion 42 of the vertical wind direction plate 25, or is arranged near the plate portion 42. Thereby, the ventilation member 26 located at the closed position Pc2 covers a part of the air outlet 33 opened by the vertical wind direction plate 25 located at the open position Po1. The tip 52a is an end of the plate portion 52 located on the opposite side of the shaft portion 51.

The length of the plate portion 52 in the X direction is approximately equal to the length of the air outlet 33 in the X direction. Thereby, the ventilation members 26A and 26B located in the closed position Pc2 can cover most of the first flow path C1 and the second flow path C2.

The length of the plate portion 52 in the direction in which the plate portion 52 protrudes from the shaft portion 51 is shorter than the maximum length of each of the first flow path C1 and the second flow path C2 in the Z direction. Thereby, when the ventilation member 26 moves between the closed position Pc2 and the open position Po2, interference with the vertical wind direction plate 25 is suppressed.

The plate portion 52 has an inner surface 52b and an outer surface 52c. The inner surface 52b faces the ventilation path 31 in the closed position Pc2. The outer surface 52c is located on the opposite side of the inner surface 52b. The outer surface 52c faces the outside of the indoor unit 10 in the closed position Pc2.

When the two ventilation members 26 are both located at the open position Po2, the two ventilation members 26 open almost the entire area of the air outlet 33 that is opened by the vertical wind direction plate 25 located at the open position Po1. Note that even if the two ventilation members 26 are located at the open position Po2, if the vertical wind direction plate 25 is located at the closed position Pc1, the first flow path C1 and the second flow path C2 are connected to the corresponding vertical wind direction plate. Covered by 25.

As shown in FIG. 17, the ventilation member 26A located at the open position Po2 is accommodated in the recess 21c of the casing 21 provided near the air outlet 33. The depression 21c is recessed from the inner surface 21d of the housing 21, which forms a part of the ventilation passage 31. The ventilation member 26A located at the open position Po2 is suppressed from interfering with the wind flowing through the ventilation path 31 by being accommodated in the recess 21c.

The ventilation member 26B is provided in the ventilation passage 31 near the outlet 33. The plate portion 52 of the ventilation member 26B located at the open position Po2 extends in the direction along the flow of the wind in the ventilation path 31. Thereby, the ventilation member 26B located at the open position Po2 is restrained from interfering with the wind flowing through the ventilation path 31. Note that the arrangement of the ventilation members 26A and 26B located at the open position Po2 is not limited to the above example.

As shown in FIG. 18, each of the ventilation members 26 is provided with a plurality of first ventilation ports 55 and a plurality of second ventilation ports 56a. Note that each of the ventilation members 26 may be provided with a row of first ventilation ports 55 and a row of second ventilation ports 56a.

As shown in FIG. 18, each of the plurality of first ventilation holes 55 and the plurality of second ventilation holes 56a is a through hole that penetrates the plate portion 52. Therefore, the plurality of first ventilation holes 55 and the plurality of second ventilation holes 56a open to the inner surface 52b and outer surface 52c of the plate section 52, respectively.

The plurality of first ventilation holes 55 and the plurality of second ventilation holes 56a are arranged alternately in the arrangement direction Dp. Therefore, the first ventilation port 55 and the second ventilation port 56a are provided side by side in the arrangement direction Dp. The arrangement direction Dp is an example of a first direction, and is a direction along the outer surface 52c of the plate portion 52.

The arrangement direction Dp is approximately equal to the direction in which the plate portion 52 extends from the shaft portion 51. Further, when the ventilation member 26 is located at the closed position Pc2, the arrangement direction Dp is approximately equal to the Z direction. Note that the arrangement direction Dp is not limited to this example, and may be another direction such as the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 18, the first ventilation port 55 is, for example, a substantially rectangular slit extending in the X direction. The X direction is an example of a second direction, and is a direction along the outer surface 52c of the plate portion 52 and intersecting with the arrangement direction Dp. Note that the first ventilation port 55 may be a hole having a circular, square, triangular, or other shaped cross section. The plurality of first ventilation ports 55 are arranged in the arrangement direction Dp.

The second ventilation port 56a is a hole having a circular cross section, similar to the example shown in FIG. Note that the second ventilation port 56a may be a hole having a cross section of a square, a triangle, or another shape. The cross sections of the first ventilation port 55 and the second ventilation port 56a are cross sections perpendicular to the direction in which the first ventilation port 55 and the second ventilation port 56a penetrate the plate portion 52.

The plurality of second ventilation ports 56a are arranged in the X direction. In other words, the plurality of second ventilation holes 56a are arranged at intervals in the X direction. Therefore, the plurality of second ventilation ports 56a form a row 58 of the plurality of second ventilation ports 56a lined up in the X direction. In the plate portion 52, a plurality of rows 58 are arranged in the arrangement direction Dp. The plurality of second ventilation ports 56a may be arranged in a grid pattern or in a staggered pattern.

A plurality of slit-shaped first ventilation ports 55 and rows 58 of second ventilation ports 56a are arranged alternately in the arrangement direction Dp. Therefore, the plurality of first ventilation ports 55 and the plurality of second ventilation ports 56a form a row 59 of the first ventilation ports 55 and second ventilation ports 56a lined up in the arrangement direction Dp.

The first ventilation ports 55 are arranged at both ends of the row 59 of the first ventilation ports 55 and the second ventilation ports 56a arranged in the arrangement direction Dp. Therefore, in the arrangement direction Dp, the plurality of second ventilation ports 56a are located between two of the plurality of first ventilation ports 55. In addition, in the ventilation member 26 of the modified example, the second ventilation port 56a may be arranged at the end of the row 59 of the first ventilation port 55 and the second ventilation port 56a lined up in the arrangement direction Dp. In this case, in the arrangement direction Dp, the plurality of first ventilation holes 55 are located between two of the plurality of second ventilation holes 56a.

As shown in FIG. 18, the cross section of each of the second ventilation holes 56a is smaller than the cross section of each of the first ventilation holes 55. Further, the total cross section of the plurality of second ventilation ports 56a included in each of the plurality of rows 58 is smaller than the cross section of one of the plurality of first ventilation ports 55. As a result, the flow velocity of the wind (W2a) passing through the second ventilation opening 56a becomes faster than the flow velocity of the wind (W1a) passing through the first ventilation opening 55. As a result, the wind passing through the ventilation member 26A (26B) exhibits the same behavior as the example explained in FIG. In other words, the wind W2a draws in the wind W1a. As a result, the wind W1a hits the wind W2a. In addition, the wind W2a that has transitioned to turbulent flow is diffused and hits the wind W1a that flows adjacent to the wind W2a. In this way, the wind W1a and the wind W2a having different flow speeds and conditions (laminar flow or turbulent flow) flow adjacent to each other and collide with each other. That is, the wind W1a that does not pass through the ventilation member 26 (second ventilation opening 56a) and the wind W2a that passes through the ventilation member 26 (second ventilation opening 56a) interfere with each other.

When the wind W1a and the wind W2a hit each other, for example, a lump of the wind W1a and the wind W2a is broken up, and the turbulent wind W2a is carried by the wind W1a. The wind W1a and the wind W2a cause such various interactions and generate a turbulent flow Ws that spreads over a wide area. As a result, the turbulent flow Ws discharged from the indoor unit 10 can be brought into a state closer to natural wind (so-called windless wind) than the wind immediately after discharged from the outlet 33.

In this way, even if the configuration is such that the ventilation member 26A is provided in the first flow path C1 and the ventilation member 26B is provided in the second flow path C2, the ventilation member 26 is provided only in the first flow path C1 shown in FIG. It is possible to generate wind with a sense of calm in the same way as in the case where the air conditioner is provided, and the same control using the detection result of the radar 2 and the same effect can be obtained.

In addition, although the embodiment mentioned above was explained assuming the air conditioner 1 for a residence, for example, the structure of this embodiment is similarly applicable to the various air conditioners 1. For example, the configuration of this embodiment can also be applied to air conditioners for commercial use (for stores, etc.), and similar effects can be obtained.

In addition, when estimating the control area (indoor shape) of the indoor area R, the control area estimating unit 80d of the air conditioner 1 of this embodiment uses the information of the indoor area R that is manually input via the external terminal device 94b, for example. The height information to the ceiling may also be acquired. Alternatively, the control area estimating unit 80d may obtain the result of measuring the height to the ceiling using the radar 2. In this case, the control region estimation unit 80d can also estimate the volume (capacity) of the control region, and can perform more appropriate air conditioning control (air conditioning operation).

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The embodiments described above can be implemented in various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The above-mentioned embodiments are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

1...Air conditioner, 2...Radar, 3...Room temperature sensor, 4...Air cleaning unit, 10...Indoor unit, 21...Casing, 22...Heat exchanger, 23...Fan, 25, 25A, 25B...Vertical wind direction plate , 26, 26A, 26B... Ventilation member, 29... Left and right wind direction plate, 31... Ventilation path, 32... Suction port, 33... Air outlet, 80... Indoor unit control section, 80a... Operation mode control section, 80b... Drive circuit control Part, 80c...Radar control unit, 80d...Control area estimation unit, 80d1...Tracking unit, 80d2...Definition unit, 80e...Condition processing unit, 80f...Guidance processing unit, 80g...Correction unit, 80h...Storage processing unit, 80i ...Air cleaning processing unit, 80j...Wind control unit, 80k...Temperature monitoring unit, L, L1, L2, L3...Movement trajectory, M1, M2, M3, M4...Item mark, R...Indoor area, RA, RB, RC ...control area.

Claims (10)

a casing provided with an internal ventilation passage, an inlet that communicates the ventilation passage with the outside, and an outlet that communicates the ventilation passage with the outside;
a fan provided in the ventilation passage and sending air from the suction port to the air outlet;
a radar provided in the casing and detecting a movement trajectory of a user existing in an indoor area where the casing is installed;
a control unit that estimates an air conditioning control area based on an area defined based on the movement trajectory detected by the radar;
An air conditioner equipped with The control unit outputs guidance information that prompts the user to move on foot along a region-defining route in the indoor region when an estimation start condition for the control region is satisfied. air conditioner. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the control unit outputs the guidance information when receiving an operation requesting estimation of the control area. When a partial omission exists in the movement locus, the control unit performs a correction process of estimating the control area by using at least one of linear approximation and curve approximation to the section of the partial omission as area information that closes the movement trajectory. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which performs the air conditioning apparatus. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit stores the estimated control area in a storage unit that cooperates with the control unit. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the control area stored in the storage unit can be modified on a terminal device that cooperates with the control unit. The air conditioner according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the storage unit is capable of storing an installation position of the casing in the indoor area in association with the control area. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the storage unit is capable of storing indoor characteristic information in association with the estimated control area. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the storage unit is capable of storing a plurality of the estimated control regions as history information. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control unit executes air conditioning control based on the estimated control area.

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