JP5471346B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that controls a blowing direction according to the amount of solar radiation inserted into a room by a solar radiation sensor.

  Some conventional air conditioners have variable cooling capacity according to the amount of solar radiation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is an air conditioner in which the air blowing direction of the indoor unit installed on the indoor ceiling is variably set to at least a horizontal blowing and a downward blowing. When the air conditioner detects that there is no person in a predetermined area including the lower position of the indoor unit by the human body detection sensor, the air conditioner controls the air blowing direction of the indoor unit to the downward blowing. This prevents the person from being directly exposed to wind (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  Further, there is a human body detection sensor that calculates a distance from an indoor unit to a person, selects a shortest distance from a plurality of calculated distances, and controls a vertical blowing direction with respect to the shortest distance ( For example, see Patent Document 3.)

JP 2001-324188 A JP 2004-150731 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-103551

  However, although the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 controls the temperature in the room according to the amount of solar radiation, it controls the manner in which the wind hits the human body that greatly affects the temperature felt by the person (body temperature). There was room for improvement. Moreover, although the air conditioners described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 all control the upper and lower blowing directions in the direction in which people are present, they are the most suitable places as target locations (wind arrival positions from the air conditioners) There is still room for improvement.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems, and to provide an air conditioner that can achieve comfortable air conditioning by controlling the arrival position of the wind based on the amount of solar radiation incident on the air conditioned space. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an air conditioner including a solar radiation sensor that calculates an amount of solar radiation to an air-conditioned space, upper and lower blades provided in an indoor unit, and a control unit that controls each component. Based on the amount of solar radiation calculated by the solar radiation sensor, the control unit controls the upper and lower blades that allow the wind to reach the head of the person in the air-conditioned space and the upper and lower blades that cause the wind to reach the person's body in the air-conditioned space. The first mode is made variable, and the control unit has a predetermined first reference value and a predetermined value that is smaller than the first reference value. more a second reference value, it is determined that the amount of solar radiation over a predetermined amount to the air-conditioned space, and, if it is determined that there is shielding solar radiation, to run the first mode.

  Further, the air conditioner can further set a second mode for controlling the upper and lower blades to make the breeze reach the body of the person in the air-conditioned space regardless of the amount of solar radiation calculated by the solar radiation sensor, The first mode and the second mode are set according to the user's intention.

  The wind is cool air that is blown out during cooling, and the light wind is very cold air during cooling. Alternatively, the wind is a wind blown out during dehumidification, and the breeze is a breeze during the dehumidification.

  Specifically, in the first or second mode, a person in the air-conditioned space is detected by a human sensor provided in the air conditioner.

  According to the present invention, the air conditioner is capable of executing the first mode based on the amount of solar radiation, and in this first mode, the angle control of the upper and lower blades is performed to overlie the person in the conditioned space. A wind is made to reach or a breeze is made to reach the body of a person in the air-conditioned space. This makes it possible to provide an air conditioner that can realize comfortable air conditioning for the person.

Cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention Front view of the air conditioner of FIG. The figure which shows the state which the air conditioner of FIG. 1 is blowing air upwards from a horizontal direction The figure which shows the state which the air conditioner of FIG. 1 is blowing air below from a horizontal direction Schematic diagram showing a human detection area by the human sensor unit of FIG. The 1st flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of air_conditionaing | cooling operation in the air conditioner of FIG. 2nd flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of air_conditionaing | cooling operation in the air conditioner of FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the air conditioner.

  The air conditioner 10 includes a heat exchanger 1, a blower fan 2, a plurality of water trays 3, and a diffuser 4 inside the main body. The heat exchanger 1 is disposed upstream of the blower fan 2 in terms of wind flow. The water receiving tray 3 is disposed immediately below the lower end portion of the heat exchanger 1. The diffuser 4 forms a ventilation path on the downstream side of the blower fan 2.

  A suction port 5 is formed on the front upper surface and the upper surface of the main body of the air conditioner 10, and an air outlet 6 is formed from the lower front surface to the lower surface of the main body.

  The heat exchanger 1 is disposed at a position facing the suction port 5, and an imaginary plane surrounded by the downstream end 6 a of the diffuser 4 constitutes the air outlet 6.

  The air conditioner 10 includes a panel 20 that opens and closes a suction port 5 on the front surface, and upper and lower blades 30 that open and close the air outlet 6 and change the air direction. The cross-sectional shape of the upper and lower blades 30 is an arc, and one surface of the upper and lower blades 30 is a curved concave surface, and the other surface is a curved convex surface.

  The panel drive mechanism 21 is provided on the back side of the panel 20 and opens and closes the panel 20. With this opening and closing, the suction port 5 opens and closes. When the panel 20 is closest to the suction port 5, the suction port 5 is closed. When the panel 20 is separated from the suction port 5, air flows from the outer peripheral portion of the panel 20 into the suction port 5.

  One end of the arm 31 is rotatably held in the main body of the air conditioner 10, and the upper and lower blades 30 are rotatably held on the other end.

As shown in FIG. 1, the arm part 31 is preferably composed of a first arm part 31a and a second arm part 31b. In the illustrated example, one end side of the first arm portion 31 a is rotatably held in the main body of the air conditioner 10. The other end side of the first arm portion 31a is rotatably connected to one end side of the second arm portion 31b. The upper and lower blades 30 are rotatably held on the other end side of the second arm portion 31b. The upper and lower blades 30 are provided with a support portion 32 on the back surface which is the main body side of the air conditioner 10 when closed. The support portion 32 is rotatably supported with respect to the second arm portion 31b. The arm portions 31 are provided on the left and right side portions of the main body of the air conditioner 10, and the respective arm portions 31 are connected to each other (not shown). It is connected by a stick. In addition, an arm motor is disposed on the side of one arm 31. The rotation of the arm motor is transmitted not only to one arm 31 but also to the arm 31 arranged on the other side by a connecting rod. One rotation support portion 32 is provided with a blade motor, which rotates the upper and lower blades 30 with respect to the arm portion 31.

  Although not shown, the air conditioner 10 includes an outdoor unit including a compressor, an expander, an outdoor heat exchanger, and the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a human sensor unit 40 and a solar radiation sensor unit 50 are attached to the panel 20 of the air conditioner 10. The human sensor unit 40 includes, for example, an infrared sensor, and detects the presence or absence of a person in the air-conditioned space (for example, indoors) from the detection result of the infrared sensor. The solar radiation sensor unit 50 includes, for example, an illuminance sensor, and measures the amount of solar radiation in the air-conditioned space from the detection result of the illuminance sensor. As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner 10 controls constituent parts of the air conditioner 10 (for example, the compressor and the blower fan 2) based on the detection results of the human sensor unit 40 and the solar radiation sensor unit 50. The control unit 60 is further provided. This control part 60 is comprised by the microcomputer etc., and controls each structure part of the air conditioner 10 using memory.

  FIG. 3 shows a state where the air conditioner 10 is blowing air in the horizontal direction or obliquely upward. In FIG. 3, the air blown out from the outlet 6 is guided in the horizontal direction by the upper and lower blades 30 and the downstream end of the upper and lower blades 30 is curved upward, and therefore does not flow obliquely downward. The air can be sent effectively far away from the room. Therefore, cold air that tends to accumulate in the lower part of the room is sent in the horizontal or diagonally upward direction of the room, so that it can be effectively cooled without giving the user a feeling of cold air, and the air-conditioned space can be efficiently cooled. Can do. In addition, FIG. 4 has shown the state by which the blowing to diagonally downward is performed from a horizontal direction contrary to the state of FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a human detection area by the human sensor unit 40 shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the entire detection area of the human sensor unit 40 is divided into a plurality of human detection areas. In the illustrated example, all the detection areas are detection areas A and B belonging to the short distance area with respect to the air conditioner 10, detection areas C, D, E, and F belonging to the medium distance area, and detections belonging to the long distance area. It is divided into regions G, H, and I. The human sensor unit 40 detects a detection area where a person is present and passes it to the control unit 60 as a detection result.

  About the air conditioner comprised as mentioned above, the flow of operation | movement at the time of air_conditionaing | cooling operation is demonstrated using FIG. 6, FIG. 6 and 7 show the flow of a series of operations, but for convenience of illustration, the series of operations are shown separately in two drawings.

  In step SP1, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the solar radiation control is set. The control unit 60 proceeds to step SP2 in FIG. 6 when determining Yes, but proceeds to step SP13 in FIG. 7 to shift to the second mode when determining No.

Here, whether or not the solar radiation control is set is set by a user operating a remote controller, for example.

  In addition, when the setting with the solar radiation control is made, after the solar radiation sensor unit 50 shown in FIG. 2 detects the solar radiation to the air-conditioned space, the solar radiation sensor unit 50 determines that the solar radiation into the room is shielded by a curtain or a shutter. If so, the first mode is performed. In this first mode, when the temperature of the air-conditioned space reaches the set temperature, the upper and lower blades 30 are positioned below the outlet 6 as shown in FIG. This setting is Such control of the blowing direction by the upper and lower blades allows the wind to reach the head of the person in the air-conditioned space.

  On the other hand, when the setting without solar radiation control is used, when the temperature of the air-conditioned space reaches the set temperature regardless of the state of solar radiation in the air-conditioned space, as shown in FIG. It is set to be blown obliquely downward from the horizontal direction by swinging the upper and lower blades 30 in the vertical angle range including that position. By controlling the air blowing direction using the upper and lower blades, it is possible to make the breeze reach the human body in the air-conditioned space.

  In step SP2, the control unit 60 determines whether solar radiation to the air-conditioned space has been detected. Specifically, the determination in step SP2 is performed depending on whether or not the detection result of the solar radiation sensor unit 50 is greater than a predetermined first reference value. In step SP2, if the control unit 60 determines Yes, it proceeds to step SP3 in FIG. Conversely, when determining No, the control unit 60 proceeds to step SP13 in FIG. 7 in order to shift to the second mode.

  In step SP3, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the solar radiation detected in step SP2 is shielded. Specifically, the determination in step SP3 is performed based on whether or not the detection result of the solar radiation sensor unit 50 is smaller than a predetermined second reference value. Here, the second reference value is set to a value smaller than the first reference value described above. In step SP3, the control unit 60 proceeds to step SP4 in order to shift to the first mode when determining Yes, and proceeds to step SP13 in order to shift to the second mode when determined No. move on.

  In step SP4, the control unit 60 detects a detection area where a person is present from the detection result of the human body detection sensor unit 40. Thereafter, in step SP5, the left and right blades (not shown) are directed to the detection area specified in step SP4, and the process proceeds to step SP6.

  In step SP6, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the temperature of the air-conditioned space has reached a temperature set by the user (hereinafter referred to as a set temperature). The control unit 60 proceeds to step SP7 when determining Yes, and proceeds to step SP10 when determining No.

  In step SP7, the control unit 60 sets the upper and lower blades 30 to the ceiling airflow direction. Here, the ceiling air flow direction is a wind direction in which the upper and lower blades 30 are positioned at the lower part of the air outlet 6 and the air is blown out horizontally or obliquely upward as shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to allow the wind to reach the head of the person in the air-conditioned space.

  After step SP7, the control unit 60 sets the rotation speed of the blower fan 2 to the minimum rotation speed corresponding to the detection area determined in step SP4 (for example, 1200 rpm when the detection area is only F) in step SP8. To do. The minimum number of revolutions determined here is a minimum number of revolutions that is determined in advance so that the wind reaches the detection area determined in step SP4 when the ceiling airflow direction.

  Next, in SP9, the controller 60 reduces the final rotational speed of the blower fan 2 (specifically, the minimum rotational speed determined in step SP8) from the temperature of the air-conditioned space and the detection result of the heat exchange temperature detector. For example, when the air-conditioning area is F only, the rotation speed is changed to 1250 rpm.

  When the above step SP9 is completed, the control unit 60 proceeds to step SP22.

  In addition, when it is determined No in step SP6, the control unit 60 in step SP10 directs the upper and lower blades 30 to the detection area determined in step SP4 (for example, when the detection area is only F, the detection area F Among them, the wind direction that tries to make the wind reach the position farthest away from the air conditioner 10 is set to 30 ° downward with respect to the horizontal direction. Thereafter, step SP11 is performed.

  Next, in step SP11, the control unit 60 sets the rotational speed of the blower fan 2 to the lowest rotational speed of the blower fan 2 corresponding to the detection area determined in step SP4 (the rotational speed is lower than that in the ceiling airflow direction). For example, when the detection area is only F, the rotation speed is set to 1000 rpm. The minimum rotational speed determined here is the minimum rotational speed required for the wind to reach the detection area specified in step SP4 when the wind direction changing blade 30 is in the downward direction.

  Next, in step SP12, the control unit 60 determines the final rotation speed of the blower fan 2 (the rotation that does not fall below the minimum rotation speed determined in step SP11) from the temperature of the air-conditioned space and the detection result of the heat exchange temperature detector. For example, when the detection area where there is a person is only F, it is changed to 1100 rpm).

  When the above step SP12 is completed, step SP22 is performed.

  If the controller 60 determines No in steps SP1, SP2 and SP3, the controller 60 sequentially performs steps SP13 → SP14 → SP15 in FIG. 7 in order to shift to the second mode. Steps SP13, SP14, and SP15 are the same processing as steps SP4, SP5, and SP6, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  If the controller 60 determines in step SP15 that the temperature of the air-conditioned space has reached the set temperature, it proceeds to step SP16, and if not, it proceeds to step SP19.

  In step SP16, the control unit 60 sets the direction of the upper and lower blades 30 to be the aforementioned swing wind direction.

  Next, in step SP17, the control unit 60 sets the rotational speed of the blower fan 2 to the lowest rotational speed of the blower fan 2 corresponding to the detection area specified in step SP13 (the rotational speed is lower than that in the ceiling airflow direction). For example, it is set to 1000 rpm when the air-conditioning area is F only. The minimum rotational speed determined here is the minimum rotational speed at which the wind reaches the detection area specified in step SP13 when the swing wind direction.

  Next, in step SP18, the control unit 60 determines the final rotation speed of the blower fan 2 (the rotation that does not fall below the minimum rotation speed determined in step SP17) from the temperature of the air-conditioned space and the detection result of the heat exchange temperature detector. For example, when the detection area where there is a person is only F, it is changed to 1050 rpm). That is, according to the rotation speed set here, a fine wind is blown out rather than the wind blown out after step SP9 of the first mode.

  When step SP18 is completed, the process proceeds to step SP23.

  If it is determined No in step SP15, step SP19 is performed. In this step SP19, the controller 60 directs the direction of the upper and lower blades 30 to the detection area specified in step SP13 (for example, when the detection area where there is a person is only F, the air in the detection area F A wind direction that attempts to make the wind reach the position farthest away from the conditioner 10 is set to 30 ° downward with respect to the horizontal direction.

  Next, in step SP20, the minimum rotational speed of the blower fan 2 corresponding to the detection area specified in step SP13 (lower rotational speed than that in the ceiling airflow direction, for example, 1000 rpm when the air-conditioning area is only F) is determined. Is done. The minimum rotational speed determined here is the minimum rotational speed for the wind to reach the detection area where a person is present when the upper and lower blades 30 are directed downward.

  Next, in step SP21, the control unit 60 determines the final number of rotations of the blower fan 2 (the number of rotations that does not fall below the minimum number of rotations determined in SP20) from the temperature of the air-conditioned space and the detection result of the heat exchange temperature detector. For example, when the air-conditioning area is only F, it is changed to 1100 rpm).

  When the above step SP20 is completed, the process proceeds to step SP23.

  Step SP22 is performed after steps SP9 and SP12. In step SP22, if the user operates the remote controller to stop the operation of the air conditioner 10, the control unit 60 ends the operation of the air conditioner 10. On the other hand, when the user is not performing an operation for stopping the operation, step SP24 is performed.

  In step SP24, the controller 60 returns to step SP1 when the solar radiation to the air-conditioned space is detected in the same manner as in step SP2, and the above-described operation is repeated from SP1. On the other hand, when solar radiation is not detected in step SP24, the process proceeds to step SP25.

  In step SP25, as in step SP1, when the control unit 60 determines that the user has set the solar radiation control, the process returns to step SP1 and the above-described operation is repeated from step SP1. On the other hand, if it is determined in step SP25 that the solar radiation control is not set, the process returns to step SP4, and the above-described operation is repeated from step SP4.

  Further, step SP23 is performed after steps SP18 and SP21. In step SP23, the control unit 60 ends the operation of the air conditioner 10 when the user is performing an operation for stopping the operation of the air conditioner 10, as in step SP22. Returns to step SP1 and repeats the above operation.

As described above, in the air conditioner 10, when the solar radiation control is set during the cooling operation, it is determined that there is a solar radiation amount that is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount in the air-conditioned space, and there is solar radiation shielding thereafter. When it is determined (steps SP1 to SP3), the first mode is performed. In the first mode, until the temperature of the air-conditioned space reaches the set temperature (that is, while it is determined No in step SP6), a breeze is blown toward the detection area where the person is present (that is, the human body). (Steps SP10 to SP12). Thereafter, when the temperature of the air-conditioned space reaches the set temperature (that is, when it is determined Yes in step SP6), the direction of the upper and lower blades 30 changes to the direction of the ceiling airflow (step SP7), and as a result, over the human head. The wind is blown out (steps SP8, SP9). Thus, during the cooling operation, in the air conditioner 10, while the temperature of the air-conditioned space is higher than the set temperature, the breeze is blown toward the human body, and when the temperature of the air-conditioned space becomes lower than the set temperature after that, Change to ceiling airflow for the effect of descending from the ceiling. In this manner, the air conditioner 10 realizes air conditioning operation that is comfortable for the user in the first mode.

  In the second mode, during cooling operation, if it is determined that there is no solar radiation control setting, it is determined that the air-conditioned space has an amount of solar radiation greater than a predetermined amount, or that there is no solar radiation shielding (step). SP1 to SP3), the second mode is performed. In this second mode, until the temperature of the air-conditioned space reaches the set temperature (that is, while it is determined No in step SP15), a breeze is blown toward the detection area where the person is present (that is, the human body). (Steps SP19 to SP21). Thereafter, when the temperature of the air-conditioned space reaches the set temperature (that is, when it is determined Yes in step SP15), the upper and lower blades 30 are changed to the swing direction (step SP16), and as a result, the wind direction is swung within the detection area. The As described above, during the cooling operation, in the air conditioner 10, while the temperature of the air-conditioned space is higher than the set temperature, the breeze is blown toward the human body, and after that, the temperature of the air-conditioned space becomes lower than the set temperature. change. In this way, the air conditioner 10 realizes an air conditioning operation that is comfortable for the user even in the second mode.

  In the above embodiment, the operation during the cooling operation has been described, but even if the first mode and the second mode are performed during the dehumidifying operation, comfortable air conditioning is provided to the user as in the cooling operation. It becomes possible to provide.

  The air conditioner according to the present invention can provide comfortable air conditioning for the user, and is suitable for a room air conditioner or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Air conditioner 1 Heat exchanger 2 Blower fan 30 Upper and lower blades 40 Human sensor unit 50 Solar radiation sensor unit 60 Control part

Claims (5)

An air conditioner comprising a solar radiation sensor that calculates an amount of solar radiation to an air-conditioned space, upper and lower blades provided in an indoor unit, and a control unit that controls each component part ,
The control unit controls the upper and lower blades to cause the wind to reach the head of the person in the air-conditioned space based on the amount of solar radiation calculated by the solar radiation sensor, and causes the wind to reach the body of the person in the air-conditioned space. The first mode for making the control of the upper and lower blades variable is made executable ,
The control unit has a predetermined amount of solar radiation in the conditioned space based on a predetermined first reference value and a predetermined second reference value that is smaller than the first reference value. it is determined that there is, and, if it is determined that there is shielding solar radiation, characterized that you run the first mode, the air conditioner. Regardless of the amount of solar radiation calculated by the solar radiation sensor, it is possible to further set a second mode for controlling the upper and lower blades to make a breeze reach the human body in the air-conditioned space,
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the first mode and the second mode are set according to a user's intention. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wind is a cool wind blown out during cooling, and the fine wind is a cool wind during cooling. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wind is a wind blown at the time of dehumidification, and the breeze is a breeze at the time of the dehumidification. 5. The air according to claim 2, wherein in the first mode or the second mode, a person in the air-conditioned space is detected by a human sensor provided in the air conditioner. Harmony machine.