JP3048825B2 - Equipment control device and indoor equipment control system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device control device which is installed on a ceiling, a wall, or the like, monitors the state of a room in a bird's-eye view, and transmits a control signal to a room device based on the information. The present invention relates to a control system for performing drive control of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, indices indicating indoor environmental conditions include temperature, humidity, air cleanliness, brightness and the like, and air conditioners and the like have been controlled by sensors for detecting these. However, recently, the presence or absence, the number, the position, and the activity amount of a person in a room are also detected to correct the above control contents, thereby improving comfort and energy saving.

Examples of these conventional examples include the 27th Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Alliance Lecture Meeting (Tokyo), Proceedings ('93 -4-).
26, 27) "Comfort control of air conditioner by infrared image sensor". This is a method of directly detecting the state of a person or an environment using an infrared image sensor, calculating the degree of comfort of the person, and optimally controlling the air conditioner.

This infrared image sensor is of a pyroelectric type and detects the temperature of an object in a non-contact manner by detecting a change in surface charge due to the pyroelectric effect as an electric signal. In order to obtain the temperature, infrared rays are intermittently incident using a mechanical chopper to give a thermal change to the pyroelectric thin film. FIG. 23 shows the structure of the infrared image sensor, and FIG. 24 shows a vertical light distribution diagram. In FIG. 23, 101 is a wide-angle infrared lens, 102 is a pyroelectric thin film element, 103 is a chopper, and 104 is a horizontal rotation axis. As shown in FIG. 24, by arranging eight sensor elements one-dimensionally in the vertical direction and rotating and scanning them horizontally while driving the chopper, two-dimensional infrared image data can be detected. ing. The infrared image processing unit performs image processing on the obtained infrared image data to obtain human body information such as the position of the person, the movement of the person, the number of people, and the indoor structure such as the structure of the room, the positions of the floors and walls, and the temperatures of the floors and walls. The information is calculated, and comfort level control is performed by the air conditioner control unit together with the main body information detected from other sensors (temperature, humidity, air volume, etc.) of the air conditioner main body.

In addition to the air conditioner, the control based on the presence or absence of a person in the room is effective for controlling the human feeling of lighting equipment, security detection of a security system, home detection, and the like. In addition, an automatic traveling vacuum cleaner has been proposed as a device that does not need to detect a person in the room but needs to detect an object (obstacle). In this way, there are some devices and systems that are effective to detect people and things in the room and perform some control, but the sensors used for these detections are attached to each device and system, It is not related to another device or system.

[0006]

The above-mentioned sensor is attached to each device or system, and only that device is to be controlled, so that it is possible to perform quite fine control, but a sensor is added. As a result, there is a problem that it is impossible to deny an expensive feeling as a device. Further, the device itself (including a sensor attached to the device) is not always installed in a place where the indoor environment can be efficiently sensed as a whole. In addition, the above-mentioned sensor is insufficient for detecting a detailed state of a person in a room, and cannot detect an immovable object. Therefore, there is a problem that optimal control is not performed for a state of a room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention provides a device control device capable of grasping various information of a person or an object in a room and issuing an optimal command to an indoor device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control system for operating indoor devices based on the above-mentioned command.

[0008]

The object of the present invention is to provide a device control device for executing an optimum command to an indoor device arranged in a room in accordance with the indoor condition. And the image information from the image detecting means.
Select and process data required for indoor equipment from inside
Each indoor device is controlled based on the internal device algorithm.
Control means for generating a control signal suitable for driving ;
Transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the control signal to the indoor device, and a housing integrally containing each means are provided.
Mounting the housing to the indoor wall, or
A power supply unit for supplying power is further provided integrally with the housing, and is attached to a wall surface via the power supply unit.

The image detecting means comprises a camera section and an image sensing section for calculating room information from an image signal of the camera section. A plurality of camera sections are provided so that the entire room can be seen. Is rotated or linearly reciprocated. The transmitting means is composed of a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes, and each light emitting diode is arranged so that the light emitting beam direction is different from each other. The control means has a built-in erasable and writable storage element.

Further, a receiving means for receiving a radio signal from the outside and a situation detecting means for detecting a situation in the room are provided, and the indoor information from the situation detecting means and the indoor information from the image detecting means are analyzed to obtain a plurality of information. Control signal to the indoor device of the second device. In addition, means for determining the on / off state of the indoor device from the indoor information is provided.

A signal is wirelessly transmitted between the device control device and the indoor device, and is transmitted as different information to a plurality of indoor devices based on the room information detected by the device control device. We are building a control system.

[0012]

In the above-mentioned means for solving the above problems, the presence or absence of a person in the room
Cameras installed on ceilings, walls, etc. that indicate various indoor environmental conditions such as the number of people, position, activity status, appearance, size, object position, indoor brightness, crime prevention abnormalities, fire abnormalities, on / off state of indoor equipment, etc. And monitoring by means of temperature and voice detection means. The sensing information or information processed into a control command based on the sensing information is wirelessly transmitted to the indoor device.

At this time, since the camera section can view the whole room, there is no blind spot in the room, and the indoor condition can be accurately grasped. Further, since the signals transmitted from the light emitting diodes are transmitted throughout the room, the indoor devices can receive the signals regardless of where they are located.

[0014] When the indoor equipment receives a signal from the equipment control device, the operation is changed according to the command or the operation is performed based on the received information.
Therefore, the indoor device can obtain a wider variety of information than the indoor information detected by the indoor device, and can perform a fine-grained operation, or add a new function that has not been provided before.

Further, by rewriting the contents of the storage element of the control means, it is possible to enhance the control content for outputting a control command to each indoor device from the detected indoor information, and to perform advanced functions without changing the indoor device. It can be transformed into an indoor device having it.

[0016]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an equipment control apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises an image detecting means 1 for monitoring indoor conditions, and a plurality of indoor equipments by analyzing indoor information from the image detecting means 1. Control means 2 for generating a control signal to the wireless communication device, transmitting means 3 for wirelessly transmitting the control signal to the indoor equipment, and supplying a low DC voltage to each of the image detecting means 1, control means 2 and transmitting means 3. And a power supply unit 4 for performing the operation. And each means is built in the housing 5 integrally, and the housing 5
A support arm 8 is attached to a mount 7 attached to a ceiling 6 in the room.
And is rotatably supported about a vertical axis. Also,
The support arm 8 is rotatable about a horizontal axis, and the angle of the housing 5 in the vertical direction can be changed by a direction variable adjustment knob 9. The housing 5 and the power supply unit 4 are connected by a cord 10, and the power supply unit 4 is inserted into a power outlet 12 on a side wall surface 11.

The image detecting means 1 comprises a camera unit 20;
An image sensing unit 21 for calculating indoor image sensing information from an image signal of the camera unit 20. The camera section 20 is composed of a CCD camera or an image pickup tube. In this embodiment, a CCD camera is used because of its small size and light weight, and is arranged at the lower portion of the housing 5 so as to have a view angle such that the entire room can be seen. The image sensing unit 21 includes a microcomputer chip having a moving object detection unit 22, a luminance detection unit 23, and a color tone detection unit 24. The moving object detection unit 22 calculates the position, size, amount of movement, posture, the state of entering and exiting the room, and the frequency of entering and exiting the room, and the luminance detecting unit 23 calculates information on the brightness of the room. The calculated color tone detection unit 24 recognizes a part different from the surrounding color tone as an installation part of furniture and equipment, and calculates information on the position, size, and shape of the furniture and indoor equipment.

Here, the detection of a moving object using an image, in particular, the detection of a human body is described in 1991 IEEE THPM1.
4.5 “AUTOMATIC VIEWING RA
NGE TRACING METHOD FOR CO
As described in “MMUNIQATIONEQUIPMENT”, a motion area is obtained by calculating an inter-image difference based on continuous frames of an input image, and an object having a large area is set as a human body area. This method is described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. "Mode 0" First, the image signal 30 input by the CCD camera is recorded in the image memory 31.

"Mode 1" An absolute difference between the image signal 30 input by the CCD camera and the image data recorded in the image memory 31 after n frames (n changes according to conditions), that is, the image Moving region in absolute difference part 3
2, and the difference value is calculated by the comparing unit 34 using a certain threshold value determined by the threshold value determining unit 33 according to the input image.
Value. Further, the binarized contents are density-projected on the X-axis by the X-axis density projection unit 35 (the same X-coordinate value is cumulatively calculated), and the maximum X-axis projection coordinate extraction unit 36 generates the density projection data. X coordinate of the largest horizontal length (Xa1, Xa
b1) is determined.

"Mode 2" X coordinates (Xa1, Xb) obtained
The binarized contents in the inclusion section (X coordinate = Xa1 to Xb1) of 1) are density-projected on the Y-axis by the Y-axis density projection unit 37, and the data projected by the maximum Y-axis projection coordinate extraction unit 38 The uppermost part (Ytop) of the Y coordinate of the maximum vertical length is obtained from among. The coordinate area information of the moving object can be obtained from the coordinates Xa1 to Xb1 and Ytop. Where Yto
p is the top coordinate of the human body.

The control means 2 includes an image sensing unit 21
A microcontroller comprising: an information determining unit 40 for processing the image sensing information of the above into control command information optimal for various indoor devices; and a signal generating unit 41 for converting the processed information content into a control signal in a code system. Consists of a computer chip. Further, the transmission means 3 comprises a wireless transmission unit for transmitting a control signal by infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, electromagnetic waves or the like. By the way, indoor equipment requires a wireless receiver,
In the case of an air conditioner, a lighting device, and the like, the operation is originally performed by remote control using infrared transmission, so that if the wireless transmission method is an infrared transmission method, no extra cost is imposed. Therefore, a light emitting diode is used for the wireless transmission unit 3 and is mounted on the outer periphery of the lower part of the housing 5. In addition, examples of the indoor device include an automatic traveling vacuum cleaner, an air conditioner, a floor heating device, a lighting device, a notification device, and a video and audio device such as a television and a video tape recorder.

In the above-mentioned configuration, the situation of the room is monitored from a high place by the camera unit 20 from above, and the image signal obtained thereby is stored in the image memory of the image sensing unit 21 and at the same time, according to a predetermined program. Performs object detection. That is, it is determined whether the object is moving or stationary, and if it is moving, it is determined whether it is a human body or another moving device. And the size of the moving object,
Information such as the position, number, and state of movement can be obtained. Also,
If the object does not move, it is determined as furniture or indoor equipment from the surrounding color tone, and information such as its position, size, and shape can be obtained. At the same time, information on the brightness of the room can be obtained.

Based on the image sensing information calculated by the image sensing unit 21, the information determination unit 40 determines the size, position, state of movement, number of moving objects in the room captured as images, Judging the state, the frequency of entering and exiting, etc., select and process the data necessary for the indoor equipment from these, and generate a control command output signal suitable for driving each equipment for multiple indoor equipments generate. Then, the output signal is wirelessly transmitted to each device by infrared transmission by the wireless transmission unit 3. As a result, a plurality of indoor devices in the same room are operated according to various environmental conditions in the room.

Accordingly, by providing such a device control device, each indoor device does not need to have a sensor for detecting various environmental conditions in the room, thereby eliminating the sense of cost as an indoor device. In addition, since the equipment control device can be installed freely by finding a position that can overlook the whole room such as the ceiling or wall, the room can be monitored from a high place in a bird's-eye view. It is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of not being restricted and not being able to ascertain the indoor situation because correct detection of a person or an object in the room is not performed.

In this embodiment, the power supply unit 4 is separate from the housing 5, but as shown in FIG. 5, the power supply unit 50 is integrated with the housing 51, and the power supply unit 50 is attached to and detached from the ceiling or wall. A key-shaped insertion plug 52 to be mounted by being inserted into a type power outlet and rotated is provided. And since it can be attached to a ceiling or the like by using the insertion plug 52, a member for attachment is not required, and the attaching operation can be easily performed without using a tool, and cost can be reduced. In addition, since everything is integrated, miniaturization can be achieved, and even when mounted on the ceiling, it can be stored neatly without giving a feeling of strangeness in the room.

(Second Embodiment) In the equipment control device of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
A plurality (two) of camera units 20a and 20b are provided.
One of the camera sections 20a is a housing 5 in which each means is incorporated.
The other camera unit 20b is connected to the housing 5 containing the one camera unit 20a by a lead wire, and is attached to the upper wall portions on both sides facing each other in the room. The image sensing unit 21 has two image memories 60 corresponding to the camera units 20a and 20b.
a and 60b and first and second input switching units 61a and 61b, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The image signals from the two camera units 20a and 20b are input to the image sensing unit 21, and the two image signals are input to the respective image memories 60a and 60b and the first input switching unit 61a. Is entered. And
The data is input from the image memories 60a and 60b to the second input switching unit 61b. The two input switching units 61a and 61b are switched at the same timing, so that they are alternately monitored by one camera unit 20a and the other camera unit 20b.
The following operation is the same as in the first embodiment.

By arranging a plurality of camera units in this manner, the wall surface on which one camera unit is arranged can be monitored by the other camera unit, and the blind spot of the camera unit can be eliminated throughout the room. Therefore, the indoor condition can be grasped more reliably, and the indoor equipment can be accurately controlled.

In the above embodiment, one image sensing section is provided for a plurality of camera sections. However, an image sensing section is provided in combination with each camera section, and image sensing information from each image sensing section is provided. May be processed collectively by one control means.

Further, as another method for surely observing the entire room, a moving device is provided so as to rotate or linearly reciprocate one camera unit at a constant period. The moving device may be a combination of a motor and a gear to rotate the housing itself containing the camera unit, or a combination of a motor and a rack and pinion to linearly reciprocate in the vertical or horizontal direction. Alternatively, the camera unit itself may be moved. In the case of rotational movement, the entire room can be covered by attaching the housing to the ceiling at the center of the room. In the case of linear reciprocating movement, there is no need to stick to the mounting location.

Here, FIGS. 8 and 9 show the configuration of the device control device when the camera unit 20 is rotated. When the camera unit 20 is rotated at a constant cycle, one round is divided into n equal parts as shown in FIG. 8, and the image is read n times during one rotation.
The n image memories 62 are sequentially switched by the memory switching unit 64 in accordance with a read timing instruction from the timing generation unit 63. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the comparison unit 34 in the moving object detection unit 22 is configured to compare not with the image of the immediately preceding frame but with the image of the frame one cycle before. Same as the example. It should be noted that the same method is applied to the linear reciprocating motion.

By providing a mechanism for moving the camera unit in this manner, the entire room can be monitored by one camera, and the wiring and mounting work can be reduced without using many expensive cameras or control devices. The entire room can be inexpensively viewed.

(Third Embodiment) In the present embodiment, when an infrared transmission system is used for the wireless transmission unit, control command information to each indoor device installed in various places in the room can be reliably transmitted. A plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged in different directions. Since each indoor device to be controlled often has an infrared type light receiving device, it is effective to use an infrared type, but in the case of an infrared type, a signal may not reach depending on an angle due to directivity. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, seven light emitting diodes 70 are attached to the lower surface of the housing 5 so as to face different directions (the directions of arrows). One of the seven is oriented right below, and the others are arranged radially obliquely downward at equal intervals. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the same control signal is output from each light emitting diode 70.

Thus, the transmission range from the radio transmission unit covers the entire area of the room, and the control signal transmitted from the device control device can be received regardless of where the indoor device is installed in the room. . Therefore, it is possible to install indoor equipment in a place where the control signal from the wireless transmission unit reaches even in a place where the indoor condition is difficult to sense, thereby increasing the degree of freedom of arrangement in the room and providing a spacious space. Can be created. Instead of using a plurality of light emitting diodes, one light emitting diode may be moved in a circular motion or a reciprocating linear motion to cover the entire area of the room.

(Fourth Embodiment) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a receiving means comprising a radio receiving unit 71 for receiving an external command is provided, and the received signal is output to the information determining unit 40 according to the content of the received signal. Alternatively, the wireless transmission unit 3 is configured to directly transmit the data to the indoor device. As the wireless receiving unit 71, a receiving element that receives infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, electromagnetic waves, and the like is used. In particular, when an infrared transmission method is used, a light receiving element such as a photodiode or a phototransistor is used, so that it can be received from anywhere in the room. Is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the housing. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

When a person sends a command using a remote control device, or when a command from another device or a detection signal from an external sensor other than the device control device is transmitted, the wireless receiving unit 71 Receives this signal. The information is sent to the information determination unit 40 according to the received content, information from the outside is processed, and an appropriate control signal is transmitted to the indoor device via the wireless transmission unit 3. Alternatively, the data is directly transmitted from the wireless reception unit 71 to the wireless transmission unit 3 and transmitted to the device. When transmitting to the wireless transmission unit 3, it is possible to issue a transmission timing instruction or a transmission stop request.

[0037] Therefore, since information of human intentions and devices is input to the device control device, it becomes possible to issue an appropriate control command and to communicate with the device that has transmitted. Therefore, when a large number of devices are installed in a room and the so-called system operation in which the operating conditions of the respective devices are related to each other, the device control device works effectively.

Moreover, even if an attempt is made to transmit a signal directly to an indoor device, communication becomes impossible if there is an obstacle. However, when a signal is transmitted to the device control device and then transmitted from the device control device, the signal is transmitted. The communication can be performed without the obstacle being disturbed.

(Fifth Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 12, the equipment control device of the present embodiment includes a temperature detecting section 72 such as a thermistor for detecting room temperature as a state detecting means for detecting the indoor state. The temperature detecting section 72 is integrally built in the housing 5, and the detected temperature sensing information is output to the information determining section 40, and is used for analyzing the indoor information together with the image sensing information from the image sensing section 21. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Since the temperature detecting section 72 is installed at a high place such as a ceiling or a wall, temperature information at a high place in a room can be obtained. For example, if the device to be controlled is an air conditioner, the temperature controller at a higher place, separate from the temperature information from the temperature sensor of the device, uses the device controller to control the air conditioner more comfortably throughout the room. Command. Also, in the event of a fire accident, the control unit is installed at a high place, so the built-in temperature detector 7
2, it is possible to quickly detect and issue a command to notify the detection.

Further, if a radiation sensor is mounted on the housing as the condition detecting means, the radiation temperature of the wall surface or window facing the camera unit can be detected. In particular, it can detect the radiant temperature of the walls and windows where the air conditioner cannot be measured, which can not be measured by the air conditioner, and sends this temperature information to the air conditioner as a control signal. Can be given to the machine.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, when a pressure sensor such as a microphone is provided as the voice detecting unit 73 instead of the temperature detecting unit, a human voice, call, baby cry, telephone sound, television, Radio sound or the like is used as information sensing unit 40 as voice sensing information.
Is output to The indoor condition is determined based on the frequency, volume, and the like of the sound and information from the image, and a control command according to the condition can be sent to the indoor device. In this way, by taking into account the audio information, it is possible to obtain more detailed information than simply detecting the indoor situation by using an image.
In addition to the above, a humidity detector, a gas detector, a smoke detector, and an infrared sensor may be provided.

As described above, the indoor situation can be grasped not only from the image information but also from environmental information such as temperature, humidity, gas, brightness, smoke, and sound. The control signal for the device becomes more optimal, and the indoor environment can be made comfortable. If sensors that detect temperature, humidity, gas, brightness, smoke, sound, etc. are used independently and in combination, it can be used for various types of indoor equipment, and efficiency can be improved by one equipment control device. Control of each device can be performed.

(Sixth Embodiment) In the apparatus control apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a flash memory 74 such as an EPROM or an EEPROM, which is a storage element that can be freely erased and written, is built in the control means. . Further, a temperature detecting section 72 and a voice detecting section 73 are also provided. The flash memory 74 has an algorithm content which describes the processing contents for processing the input contents of each sensing information such as image sensing, temperature sensing, voice sensing, etc. into the optimum instructions and control commands for the target indoor equipment and sending them. Is recorded. However, the flash memory 74 can arbitrarily rewrite the algorithm content that was initially input later, so that the flash memory 74 can be upgraded by changing it to a more optimal one. Therefore, the contents of the control can be advanced at a small cost while keeping the indoor equipment as it is, and a progressive system can be supplied. As a result, there is no need to replace an indoor device having an advanced control function, and the device is economically superior.

(Seventh Embodiment) In the above embodiments, the equipment control apparatus has been described. In the present embodiment, a control system for comprehensively controlling indoor equipment using this equipment control apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, a housing 5 of the device control device is attached to one side of a ceiling 6 in the room, and a camera unit 20 b is attached to the other side of the ceiling separately from the camera unit 20 a of the housing 5. Reference numeral 20b is connected to the housing 5 by a lead wire 80. In the figure,
A is an imaging range of the camera unit 20a on one side, and B is an imaging range of the camera unit 20b on the other side, and blind spots are eliminated in both camera units.

In the room, first, there is an automatic traveling vacuum cleaner 81, a room air conditioner 83 and a notification device 84 are mounted on a wall 82, a floor heating device 86 such as an electric carpet is placed on a floor 85, and a lighting device is placed on a ceiling 6. 87 is attached,
A video / audio device 88 such as a television is placed in one corner of the room. In addition, 89 is a person, 90 is a remote control receiving unit of lighting equipment, and 91 to 96 are receiving devices (light receiving devices) of each equipment.

Although the configuration in the device control device is the same as that described in the second embodiment, the device control device also includes a temperature detection unit 72 and a voice detection unit 73. Based on the temperature sensing information and the voice sensing information, each device generates and transmits information processed into the optimum control command content for each device.

Next, the operation of the device control device for each indoor device will be described. First, in the automatic traveling cleaner 81, a traveling sensor is conventionally provided in the cleaner itself, and traveling is performed while detecting an obstacle and not cleaning the same place. However, according to the device control device, the floor portion is captured as a bird's-eye view from the camera units 20a and 20b at high places, and the detection of a moving object such as the vacuum cleaner 81 is very easy. Is recognized as a moving object that does not change, it can be distinguished from another moving object such as the human body 89. An obstacle that is not a moving object and is a stationary object can be detected because the shape is regular in a portion of the image where the luminance or color tone changes. When monitoring is performed by the plurality of camera units 20a and 20b, the three-dimensional detection of the obstacle can be performed by the combined image at the same place, and the detection accuracy is further increased. As described above, the device control device can perform the same function as the sensor of the conventional automatic traveling vacuum cleaner, so that the sensor of the traveling vacuum cleaner itself can be omitted.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
1 is started, and the cleaner 8 is operated by the moving object detection function of the image sensing unit 21 of the device control device.
A start of 1 is recognized. Camera section 20
The position of the cleaner 81, the position of other moving objects, the position of a stationary object, and the position of a wall are detected from the image signals a and 20b. When the image sensing information is output to the information determination unit 40, according to a traveling algorithm for a vacuum cleaner such as avoidance of an obstacle, principle avoidance of overlapping traveling of the already traveling portion, and basic observance of the past optimal traveling method. The control command is determined, and the respective commands of travel stop, rotation, and speed are signalized, and a signal is transmitted from the wireless transmission unit 3 to the receiving device 91 of the cleaner 81. Then, the cleaner 81 that has received the transmission efficiently cleans the room while avoiding a human body or an obstacle based on the contents of the command. Therefore, the automatic traveling vacuum cleaner 8
1 only needs to have the function of starting and stopping, and the configuration of the vacuum cleaner becomes very simple.

In the case of the air conditioner 83, as shown in FIG. 17, by detecting three types of indoor conditions of an image, a temperature, and a sound, the position, posture, movement, size, and number of persons of the person are obtained as image sensing information. The information about the presence or absence of the room, the brightness of the room, the opening / closing state of the door, the positions of the walls and doors, and the position of the air conditioner can be obtained. As temperature sensing information, information on room temperature at high places can be obtained. Information such as the presence or absence of a person and the activity state can be obtained as the voice sensing information. From these indoor sensing information, wind direction and air volume control according to the position of the person, temperature, air volume, power control according to the activity state, power control according to the number of people in the room, energy saving operation when absent, air volume, wind direction, temperature by opening and closing the door Based on the optimal air-conditioning algorithm, such as each control of the above, wind direction control at high places at room temperature, and energy saving operation when the lights are turned off, the contents of commands such as adjustment of set temperature, increase / decrease of the number of rotation of blower, change of louver angle of blowout part, on / off etc. Is determined and transmitted to the air conditioner 83.

The air conditioner 83 is operated in accordance with the control command so that the room has a comfortable environment for humans.
In addition, when there is no person, the operation is stopped or the minimum operation is performed to enhance the energy saving effect. Therefore, the sensor inherent in the air conditioner cannot detect the temperature and radiant heat directly below the air conditioner or on the same wall or window as the air conditioner, and the sensing range is limited. Blind spots can be eliminated by setting it in a place or setting multiple cameras, so this simple and simple type of air conditioner can be controlled by this equipment control device like a high-performance, multi-functional high-class type. Can be transformed.

In the case of the floor heating device 86, as shown in FIG. 18, by detecting three types of indoor conditions of image, temperature, and sound, the position, posture, Information on movement, size, number of people, presence or absence, and the position of the floor heating device 86 can be obtained. As temperature sensing information, information on room temperature at high places can be obtained. Information such as the presence or absence of a person and the activity state can be obtained as the voice sensing information. From these indoor sensing information,
Partial temperature control by human position, temperature by activity state,
Optimum floor for power control, power control by the number of people on the floor heating device 86, temperature by adult or child identification, power control, energy saving operation when absent, room temperature at high altitude, and power control Based on the heating control algorithm, the contents of instructions such as the designation of the partial heating position, the command of the total heating or the partial heating, the adjustment of the set temperature, the increase / decrease of the power, and the on / off are determined and transmitted to the floor heating device 86.

The floor heating device 86 is operated in accordance with the control command so as to provide a comfortable environment for the person on the floor heating device 86. In the absence of the person or the absence of the person on the floor heating device 86, By stopping operation or performing minimum operation, the energy saving effect is enhanced.
Moreover, based on information that cannot be detected by conventional floor heating equipment, such as a person's location, activity status, and identification of adults or children,
Driving can be performed in accordance with the movement of a person, so that comfort can be further improved.

In the case of the lighting device 87, as shown in FIG. 19, by detecting the state of the room from images and sounds, the position, posture, movement, number of people, presence or absence, and room brightness are detected as image sensing information. Now, each piece of information on the position of the lighting device 87 is obtained. Information such as the presence or absence of a person and the activity state can be obtained as the voice sensing information. From these indoor sensing information, algorithms such as lighting off when absent, lighting on when entering a room (when the room is dark), lighting control and lighting type switching based on the activity state, and partial lighting control by detecting the position of a person or lighting device 87 are obtained. On the basis of this, the contents of commands such as turning on / off the lighting device 87, adjusting the illuminance, switching commands with other lighting devices, and switching commands for a plurality of lighting devices are determined.
Send to

[0055] Then, the illumination device 87 or is turned off in response to entry and exit of people in accordance with the control command, or by intensively illuminating the place where the man is operated such chamber is a comfortable environment for people You. In particular, it is possible to add a so-called mood lighting function, which is not found in conventional lighting equipment, that automatically detects an activity state and switches to an illumination type or illuminance according to the activity state. Also, when there are no people, the lights are turned off to increase the energy saving effect.

In the case of the annunciator 84, as shown in FIG. 20, by detecting three types of indoor conditions of an image, a temperature, and a sound, the position, posture, movement, size, and presence of a person are detected as image sensing information. Information such as absence, room brightness, window position, intrusion of a person through the window, and fire notification can be obtained. As temperature sensing information, information on room temperature at high places can be obtained.
Voice sensing information includes the presence or absence of a person, activity status, suspicious sounds at bedtime, and loud sounds (crying, screaming)
Is obtained. Based on these indoor sensing information, security is activated when absent or at bedtime, information is activated by intrusion from windows, abnormal notification of bedridden elderly people and babies, switching to sleep mode when the room is dark, abnormal temperature rise in high places Based on an algorithm such as a fire alarm, a command to switch to the absent sleep mode, a presence / absence monitor signal, an activity status monitor signal, a command to notify any change in the occupant from these monitor contents, a crime prevention abnormality detection monitor signal, A control command and a monitor content such as a command to notify a crime prevention abnormality, a fire abnormality detection monitor signal and a command to notify a fire abnormality are wirelessly transmitted to the notification device 84.

If there is a suspicious person intruding or a fire occurs, not only is the informing device 84 informing indoors by siren, voice, etc., but also informing other rooms wirelessly or setting in advance through a telephone line. Notify the other party. In addition, by detecting some abnormality of a person who cannot act on his own, such as a bedridden elderly person or a baby, by using an image or the like and reporting the abnormality to a remote place, it is possible to quickly respond to an abnormal situation. And monitor the image,
By including an algorithm that can detect intentions such as “I want to come to the house” made by a bedridden elderly or sick person using gestures, complete nursing even when people are away from home or away from home Can be performed.

In the case of the video / audio equipment 88, as shown in FIG.
By detecting the indoor situation with images and sounds,
As the image sensing information, it is possible to obtain information on whether a person is present or absent, the length of the absence time, and the presence / absence of video motion on the television screen. Whether or not people are present as voice sensing information
Information such as sound from a television or the like and loud sound from a telephone or the like can be obtained. Based on these indoor sensing information, based on algorithms such as a device stop command when the absentee time is long and a sudden loud sound (telephone etc.) sounds, the device contents such as turning off the device and adjusting the volume of the command are determined. It is determined and transmitted to the video / audio device 88.

If it is found that a person who should be in the vicinity of the video / audio device has been absent for a long time, the device is stopped to eliminate waste such as leaving it unattended, or when a loud sound such as a telephone sound suddenly sounds. Lower the volume of the device so that it does not disturb the conversation. In this way, it is possible to prevent forgetting to turn off and to save the trouble of adjusting the sound volume, and it is possible to control the video and audio equipment mainly based on human actions.

(Eighth Embodiment) By the way, the above-mentioned device control device does not determine whether each indoor device is on or off. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the information determining unit 40 of the control unit 2 has a function of determining whether the indoor device is on or off based on the image sensing information and the voice sensing information and turning on or off the indoor device as necessary. .

That is, as shown in FIG. 22, by detecting the state of the room from images and sounds, the on / off state of each of the air conditioner, the lighting device, the automatic traveling vacuum cleaner, and the video / audio device, , The presence or absence of a person, and the length of absence time can be obtained. As the audio sensing information, information such as presence or absence of a person and the on / off state of the video / audio device is obtained. From the indoor sensing information, the device is turned off when the absence time is long and the audiovisual device is turned on, and the setting temperature of the device is changed when the absence time is long and the air conditioner is turned on. Or turn off and return to the original operation when it is occupied, turn off the device when the absence time is long and the lighting device is detected to be on, turn on the lighting device when a person enters the unmanned room Based on an algorithm that turns on the device when it is detected as off, an on / off signal of each indoor device and a driving strength command are wirelessly sent to the target indoor device together with the indoor information.

Here, when the on / off of the air conditioner is detected from the image, it can be realized by detecting the presence or absence of fluctuation of the tape such as a wind sink attached to the outlet through an image. In the case of a video and audio device, it is possible to detect a change in a moving image of a video displayed on the screen as an image, and to detect an on / off state together with a sound detection. In the case of an automatic traveling vacuum cleaner, the judgment is made based on the movement. In the case of floor heating equipment, it can be determined by detecting the surface temperature with an infrared sensor. In this way, by detecting the on / off state of the indoor device and the other state of the room in an image or a sound, unnecessary operation of the device can be eliminated when no one is present, and the device is turned off when leaving the room. Operational complexity can be eliminated. In addition, the on / off state of the indoor equipment is usually detected by a monitor signal from the equipment, and wiring between the indoor equipment and the equipment control device is required. However, in the case of the above system, wiring is unnecessary, and a plurality of Equipment can be easily handled.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above-described embodiment within the scope of the present invention. For example, a sound generator that generates sound based on a control command may be provided in the device control device. The sound generation unit includes a sound synthesis circuit or tape and a speaker. As a result, even if there is no notification device, it is possible to utter a necessary voice instruction or alert sound such as abnormality notification. In addition, when a command is issued from the device control device to the indoor device, the operation status may be notified by voice, so that a person can quickly grasp the state of the indoor device.

[0064]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, various environmental conditions in a room (presence / absence of a person, the number of people, a position, an activity state, a figure, a size, a position of an object, a position of a room, a room brightness). In addition, security abnormalities, fire abnormalities, etc.) are monitored by a camera unit installed on the ceiling or wall, or a combination of a camera unit and a detection unit that detects temperature and sound. Since this is a device control device that sends processed information wirelessly to indoor equipment, this eliminates the need for sensors to detect indoor conditions for indoor equipment, lowering the cost of indoor equipment and eliminating expensive feelings it can. In addition, if an infrared transmission method that is generally used as a means for transmitting a signal to an indoor device is employed, a receiving device is often provided in the indoor device, so that no extra cost is imposed.

Further, since the equipment control device can be easily installed at a position such as a ceiling or a wall where the whole room can be seen, the inconvenience of being unable to correctly detect a person or an object in the room due to the restriction on the installation place existing in the indoor equipment. Can be resolved. Further, by moving the camera unit or using a plurality of camera units, it is possible to eliminate blind spots in the room and completely grasp the indoor condition. In addition, since the equipment control device can transmit data regardless of where the indoor equipment is installed, signals can be transmitted to the indoor equipment using the equipment control device as a relay point, thereby increasing the utility value. it can.

When a control system for indoor equipment is constructed using this equipment control device, information on the detection of indoor conditions is processed into an algorithm suitable for actual living conditions, and wirelessly converted as control command information suitable for each indoor equipment. And the following effects occur.

(1) Since various living information, especially humans, in the room can be detected by the integrated device control device, the detection function of each indoor device itself is reduced, and the cost of the indoor device itself is reduced. Can be realized.

(2) Since the algorithm for analyzing the indoor information is provided in the equipment control device, the indoor equipment itself needs to have only the minimum functions, the control software for the indoor equipment itself is reduced, and the cost is reduced. Become. Also,
Since the algorithm content can be upgraded later by rewriting the contents of the storage element, etc., the control content can be advanced without changing the indoor equipment, and there is no need to replace the equipment with advanced control functions, It is economical.

(3) Since the equipment control device can be installed at any place, there is no problem even if the indoor equipment itself is not suitable for detecting the indoor condition. In addition, since the device control device is installed at a high place, it does not hinder human activities and the operation of other devices.

(4) Unconventional functions can be added to each indoor device, and a more comfortable living environment for a person can be created.

(5) The systemization between the indoor devices is performed in a natural manner by the device control device based on the common room information without wiring between the devices.

(6) Since the indoor devices are operated when necessary according to the indoor conditions, unnecessary operation of the indoor devices can be eliminated, which can contribute to energy saving.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a device control device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device control device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a moving object detection unit in the image sensing unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure of human body detection.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device control device.

FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram of a device control device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a field of view of a camera unit in a room.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a rotating direction of a camera unit.

FIG. 9 is a configuration block diagram of an apparatus control device including a rotating camera unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a transmission direction of a wireless transmission unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a configuration block diagram of a device control device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration block diagram of a device control device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a configuration block diagram of another device control device according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a configuration block diagram of a device control device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an indoor state of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a control flowchart for the automatic traveling vacuum cleaner of the device control device.

FIG. 17 is a control flowchart for the air conditioner of the device control device.

FIG. 18 is a control flowchart for a floor heating device of the device control device.

FIG. 19 is a control flowchart for a lighting device of the device control device.

FIG. 20 is a control flowchart for a notification device of the device control device.

FIG. 21 is a control flowchart for a video / audio device of the device control apparatus.

FIG. 22 is a control flowchart for various indoor devices of the device control device.

FIG. 23 is a structural diagram of a conventional infrared image sensor.

FIG. 24 is a vertical light distribution diagram of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 wireless transmission unit 4 power supply unit 5 housing 20 camera unit 21 image sensing unit 40 information determination unit 41 signal generation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 23/02 G08B 13/196 G08C 19/36 H04B 10/00 H04N 7/18

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] An image detecting means for monitoring an indoor condition, and an image detecting means required for an indoor device from image information from the image detecting means.
Data is sorted and processed into algorithms for multiple indoor devices
A control unit for generating a control signal suitable for driving each indoor device based on the control unit; a transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting the control signal to the indoor device ;
And a housing built in the device , and the housing is attached to a wall surface in the room. 2. An image detecting means for monitoring indoor conditions,
Condition detecting means for detecting a situation in the image, and the image detecting means
Image information from the environment and environmental information from the situation detection means
Data required for indoor equipment from the
Driving each indoor device based on the device algorithm
Control means for generating a control signal suitable for actuation;
A transmitter for transmitting the control signal wirelessly to the indoor device.
Steps and a housing with integrated means
That the housing is mounted on the indoor wall.
Characteristic device control device. 3. The control means controls the operation of the indoor equipment based on the indoor information.
3. The control system for an indoor device according to claim 1, further comprising means for judging an on / off state . 4. Each of image detecting means, control means, and transmitting means.
A power supply for supplying power to the
And the power supply is attached to the power outlet on the wall
3. A plug according to claim 1 , further comprising a plug.
Or the device control device according to 3 . 5. An image detecting means comprising: a camera unit;
Sensing unit that calculates room information from the image signal of the unit
And the camera section so that the entire room can be seen.
Or move the camera unit.
4. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein a device is provided. 6. The transmitting means includes a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes.
Each light emitting diode to cover the entire room
Are arranged in different directions.
The device control device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein 7. Receiving means for receiving an external radio signal.
Provided to the control means depending on the content of the received signal.
Or send it to indoor equipment
The device control device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: 8. An indoor equipment control system, wherein indoor equipment operated based on a control signal transmitted from the equipment control device according to claim 1 or 2 is arranged indoors. 9. The indoor equipment control system according to claim 8, wherein the control means of the equipment control device is provided with means for determining the on / off state of the indoor equipment from the indoor information.