JP4324830B2 - Control method of air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control technology for an air conditioner equipped with a detected object sensor (pyroelectric infrared sensor), and more particularly, detects a detected object (such as a user) in a room and responds to this detection. The present invention relates to a control method for an air conditioner that switches control.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioner transmits a predetermined command corresponding to the operation of the remote controller or the room temperature to the outdoor unit control device 3 by the control unit (microcomputer or the like) 2 of the indoor unit control device 1. The indoor fan is driven, and the control unit 4 of the outdoor unit controller drives the four-way valve and the compressor (compressor) 6 constituting the refrigeration cycle according to the predetermined command, and the outdoor fan 5 to obtain the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant is circulated to the heat exchanger of the indoor unit . If you that, heat exchanged cold air and warm air is blown into the room in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit, the indoor can be maintained in a comfortable environment. The drive units 7 and 8 are for driving the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 6.
[0003]
In addition, the air conditioner includes other necessary devices and exhibits various functions. Recently, a detected object sensor unit (for example, a pyroelectric infrared sensor) 9 for detecting an indoor user or the like is used. Is provided on the indoor unit side, and the presence of a user or the like is determined based on the detection result of the detected object sensor unit 9, and the function of switching to a control different from the current setting (remote control setting) of the air conditioner is determined based on the determination result. Yes.
[0004]
For example, when there is no user or the like in the room, the air conditioner is switched to the save operation or the operation of the air conditioner is stopped. In the save operation, the set temperature of the remote controller is subtracted by a predetermined value (during heating operation) or added by a predetermined value (during cooling operation), and the room temperature is controlled by this changed value.
By this save operation and operation stop, useless power consumption can be reduced, that is, power saving of the air conditioner can be achieved.
[0005]
Furthermore, during a save operation or stop of the air conditioner, indoor users are monitored, and when such users are detected, it is possible to return to the original operation again.
Thus, when the user or the like temporarily vacates the room and returns again, the indoor environment does not deteriorate as much. In addition, it is possible to immediately return to the original driving without making a remote control operation by the user or the like, and to quickly make the indoor environment comfortable.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above air conditioner control method, an inexpensive pyroelectric infrared sensor may be used for the detected object sensor unit 9 in consideration of cost reduction of the air conditioner.
[0007]
Since this pyroelectric infrared sensor detects changes in temperature, the absolute temperature difference between the indoor temperature (the temperature of walls, floors, etc.), which is the monitoring area of the pyroelectric infrared sensor, and the temperature of the user is small. In this case, the temperature difference between the user and the wall is small, and it is difficult to detect the user and the user is often not detected. Further, when the indoor user or the like does not move, since the output of the pyroelectric infrared sensor unit 9 is substantially zero, the user or the like has been no user or the like absence of determination detection will take place.
[0008]
Therefore, if the user or the like is not detected because the room temperature is high even though the user or the like is in the room, the air conditioner is put into a save operation or stopped. Moreover, since the save operation and the operation stop are operations different from the setting (remote control setting) by the user or the like, the indoor environment is deteriorated and the user or the like is uncomfortable.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to detect a detected object even when the temperature difference between the room temperature and the user is small and it is difficult to detect the detected object. To provide a control method for an air conditioner that can increase the probability and reduce the probability of switching to a control different from the setting of the air conditioner so as not to cause discomfort to the user or the like due to erroneous control. It is in.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the present invention, while performing the operation corresponding to the setting of the air conditioner, detects a human body as the body to be detected in the chamber in pyroelectric infrared sensor, wherein the result of the detection If when the detection object is determined not to be detected is a control method of the air conditioner switches to the set and different operating, said detection object by the pyroelectric infrared sensor is not detected within a predetermined time detects room temperature within a temperature range of room temperature preset said detectable (36 ℃ -2 ℃ <RT <36 ℃ + 2 ℃; i.e. 34 ° C. to 38 DEG ° C.) until when in the switches in the set and different operating Is set to a predetermined value, and when the detected room temperature is outside the preset temperature range, the time until switching to an operation different from the setting is set to a value smaller than the predetermined value, and the set time Inside Wherein when the detection object is detected is characterized in that so as to release the control for switching on the set and different operating.
[0011]
The present invention, while performing the operation corresponding to the setting of the air conditioner, the human body as the body to be detected of said chamber detected by pyroelectric infrared sensor, the object to be detected by the detection result can not be detected If it is determined that the air conditioner is switched to the save operation or the operation is stopped, the detected object is not detected within a predetermined time by the pyroelectric infrared sensor. when detects room temperature within a temperature range of room temperature preset said detectable (36 ℃ -2 ℃ <RT <36 ℃ + 2 ℃; i.e. 34 ° C. to 38 DEG ° C.) until when in the switches in the saving driving Or the time until the operation stop is set to a predetermined value, and when the detected object is detected within the set time, switching to the save operation or control of the operation stop is performed. It is characterized in that it has to be released.
[0012]
The present invention, while performing the operation corresponding to the setting of the air conditioner, the human body as the body to be detected of said chamber detected by pyroelectric infrared sensor, the object to be detected in the room by the detection result If it is determined that there is no, the switches the air conditioner to the saving driving, or a control method of an air conditioner stopping the operation, detected within the detection object is a predetermined time by the pyroelectric infrared sensor is when not being detects room temperature within a temperature range of room temperature preset said detectable (36 ℃ -2 ℃ <RT <36 ℃ + 2 ℃; i.e. 34 ° C. to 38 DEG ° C.) when in the switches in the saving driving the time until the time or the stop of the operation of the up and set to a predetermined value, the when the detected room temperature is outside the temperature range set in advance, the time or the operation stops before switching to the saving driving Is set to a value smaller than the predetermined value, and when the detected object is detected within the set time, the switching to the save operation or the control for stopping the operation is canceled. It is characterized by that.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, a control device to which this air conditioner control method is applied includes a room temperature detection unit 10 that detects a temperature in a room that is a monitoring region of a detection target sensor unit (pyroelectric infrared sensor) 9, A timer unit 11 for monitoring a detected object (such as a user) in the room by a detection signal from the detecting body sensor unit 9 and counting a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) when the detected object is not detected; In addition to the function of the control unit 2 shown in FIG. 3 and the counter unit 12 for measuring the time until switching to the save operation or the time until the operation is stopped, the timer unit 11 and the counter unit 12 are controlled. An indoor unit control device 14 having a control unit (microcomputer) 13 is provided.
[0015]
The room temperature detection unit 10 may be one that is already provided in the air conditioner, and the timer unit 11 and the counter unit 12 may use an internal timer or an internal counter of the control unit 13. The control device 14 also has the function of the indoor unit control device 1 shown in FIG.
[0016]
The control unit 13 will be specifically described. In addition to the function of the control unit 2 shown in FIG. 3 , the control unit 13 starts the timer unit 11 when the detected object is not detected. If the detected object is not detected within the timer time, if the detected room temperature is within a preset temperature range (36 ° C.−2 ° C. <room temperature <36 ° C. + 2 ° C.), the air conditioner is switched to the save operation. Or the time until operation stop (for example, 40 minutes) is set in the counter unit 12, and if the room temperature is outside the temperature range, the time until switching to the save operation or the time until operation stop (For example, 20 minutes) is set in the counter unit 12.
[0017]
The operation of the control apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the operation of the air conditioner is turned on by the remote controller, and the indoor unit controller 14 and the outdoor unit controller 3 perform operations corresponding to the settings of the remote controller (cooling, heating, set temperature, etc.). It shall be maintained at the set temperature.
[0018]
At this time, the control unit 13 performs control to detect the detection target (user or the like) based on the detection signal from the detection target sensor unit 9, and whether or not the detection target exists in the room based on the detection result. Determine whether.
When the detected object is detected, the room temperature control is continued according to the setting of the remote controller. However, when the detected object is not detected, the process proceeds from step ST1 to ST2, and the timer unit 11 is started.
[0019]
Subsequently, it is determined whether the timer time (10 minutes) of the timer unit 11 has elapsed (ST3). If 10 minutes have not elapsed, it is determined whether or not the detected object has been detected based on the detection result of the detected object sensor unit 9 (step ST4), and if it is determined that the detected object cannot be detected, step Returning to ST3, the above-described processing is repeated to monitor the detection target. While the 10 minutes have elapsed, unless you to detect the detected member, the process proceeds from step ST4 to ST5, the process returns to step ST1 to reset the timer unit 11 to repeat the above processing.
[0020]
Subsequently, when 10 minutes of the timer unit 11 have passed without detecting the detected object, the room temperature is detected by a detection signal from the room temperature detection unit 10 (step ST6), and the detected room temperature is within the temperature range (A <room temperature). It is determined whether it is in <B) (step ST7).
[0021]
If the room temperature is within the temperature range (34 ° C. <room temperature <38 ° C.), the process proceeds from step ST7 to ST8, the time until the air conditioner is switched to the save operation is set to 40 minutes, or the air conditioner is set. The time until the machine is stopped is set as 40 minutes in the counter unit 12, and the counter unit 12 starts counting.
If the room temperature is outside the temperature range (room temperature ≦ 34 ° C., 38 ° C. ≦ room temperature), the process proceeds from step ST7 to ST9, and the time until the air conditioner is switched to the save operation is set as 20 minutes in the counter unit 12. Alternatively, the time until the operation of the air conditioner is stopped is set as 20 minutes in the counter unit 12, and the counter unit 12 starts counting.
[0022]
Subsequently, a process of determining whether or not the detected object has been detected again is performed based on the detection signal from the detected object sensor unit 9. If the detected object is not detected, the process proceeds from step ST10 to ST11, and the counter unit 12 counts. It is determined whether it is up, that is, whether the time set in the counter unit 12 has elapsed.
If the set time has not elapsed, the process returns to step ST10 and the above-described processing is repeated to monitor the detection target.
[0023]
If the detected object is detected in the repetition of steps ST10 and ST11, the process proceeds from step ST10 to ST5, the counter unit 12 is reset, the control for switching to the save operation is canceled, or the control for stopping the operation is canceled. Then, the process returns to step ST1, and the above-described processing is repeated.
In addition, when the detected object is not detected in the repetition of steps ST10 and ST11 and the counter value of the counter unit 12 reaches the set time (40 minutes or 20 minutes), the save operation which is the control of the air conditioner is performed. Is switched or the operation is stopped (step ST12).
[0024]
If the room temperature is within the temperature range (34 ° C <room temperature <38 ° C), if there is almost no difference between the temperature of the indoor wall that is the background of the detected object and the temperature of the detected object, the air conditioner is put into a save operation The time until switching and the time until operation stop are lengthened, and the detection process is performed again within this time.
Thus, as described in the conventional example, the detection probability of the detected object can be increased even in a situation where it is difficult to detect the detected object with the pyroelectric infrared sensor. The probability of judgment can be lowered.
[0025]
Further, if the room temperature is outside the temperature range (room temperature ≦ 34 ° C., 38 ° C. ≦ room temperature), if there is a difference between the temperature of the indoor wall that is the background of the detected object and the temperature of the detected object, air conditioning Reduce the time to switch the machine to save operation and the time to stop operation. That is, this is because it is considered that there is no object to be detected in the room.
As a result, switching to the save operation and stopping of the operation are accelerated, and wasteful power consumption can be reduced, so that the delay in the power saving control of the air conditioner is small.
[0026]
In this case, the object to be detected may not have moved. However, if the time to switch to the save operation or the time to stop the operation is about 20 minutes, the object to be detected can move during this time. Since the property is also high, the detection target can be detected by the above-described detection process again.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention described above has the following effects.
The present invention monitors the detected object for a predetermined time without switching to the operation different from the setting of the air conditioner or without stopping the operation when the detected object cannot be detected. If the detected object is not detected, the time to switch to the operation different from the setting or the time to stop the operation is set to a predetermined value, while the detected object is detected within this set time, and the detected object When it is detected, the operation is switched to the operation different from the setting, or the control for stopping the operation is canceled, so that the detection probability of the detected object can be increased. Therefore, the probability of misjudgment such as the absence of a detection object can be reduced, and switching between operations different from settings such as save operation and operation stop can be prevented, so that problems such as discomfort to the user can be reduced. Has a useful effect.
[0028]
Further, even when the room temperature is not so high and it is not difficult to detect the detection object, if the detection object is not detected within the predetermined time, the time until switching to the operation different from the above setting or the operation stop Since the time until the time is set to a value smaller than the above predetermined value, switching to the save operation or the stoppage of the operation speeds up, and the delay in the effect of reducing wasteful power consumption (that is, power-saving control of the air conditioner) is also caused. There is an effect that it is small, and there is little adverse effect on the effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a control device to which an air conditioner control method is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart for explaining the operation of the control device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a conventional control device for an air conditioner.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,14 Indoor unit control device 2,13 Control unit (microcomputer)
9 Detected object sensor (pyroelectric infrared sensor)
10 Room temperature detection unit 11 Timer unit 12 Counter unit

Claims (3)

While performing the operation according to the setting of the air conditioner, when detecting a human body as the body to be detected in the chamber in pyroelectric infrared sensor, the object to be detected by the detection result is determined not to be detected , An air conditioner control method for switching to an operation different from the setting,
Wherein when the detection object by the pyroelectric infrared sensor is not detected within a predetermined time period, detects the room temperature within a temperature range of room temperature preset said detectable (36 ℃ -2 ℃ <RT <36 ℃ + 2 ℃ In other words, the time until switching to an operation different from the setting is set to a predetermined value, and when the detected room temperature is outside the preset temperature range, the operation is different from the setting. The time until switching is set to a value smaller than the predetermined value, and when the detected object is detected within the set time, the control for switching to operation different from the setting is canceled. To control the air conditioner. While performing the operation according to the setting of the air conditioner, the human body as the body to be detected of said chamber detected by pyroelectric infrared sensor, and when the detection object by the detection result is determined not to be detected , A control method for an air conditioner that switches the air conditioner to a save operation or stops operation,
Wherein when the detection object by the pyroelectric infrared sensor is not detected within a predetermined time period, detects the room temperature within a temperature range of room temperature preset said detectable (36 ℃ -2 ℃ <RT <36 ℃ + 2 ℃ In other words, the time until switching to the save operation or the time until the operation is stopped is set to a predetermined value, and the detected object is detected within the set time. The control method for the air conditioner is characterized in that when switching to the save operation, or the operation stop control is canceled. While performing the operation according to the setting of the air conditioner, the human body as the body to be detected of said chamber detected by pyroelectric infrared sensor, when it is determined that there is no the indoors detection object by the detection result switches the air conditioner to the saving driving, or a control method of an air conditioner stopping the operation,
Wherein when the detection object by the pyroelectric infrared sensor is not detected within a predetermined time period, detects the room temperature within a temperature range of room temperature preset said detectable (36 ℃ -2 ℃ <RT <36 ℃ + 2 ℃ In other words, the time until switching to the save operation or the time until the operation is stopped is set to a predetermined value, and when the detected room temperature is outside the preset temperature range; The time to switch to the save operation or the time to stop the operation is set to a value smaller than the predetermined value, and when the detected object is detected within the set time, the save operation is started. The control method of an air conditioner characterized by canceling the control of switching or stopping operation.

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