JP5819271B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner including an imaging unit.

There is known an air conditioner that detects a person in a room where an indoor unit is installed and reflects the detection result in air conditioning control.
For example, Patent Literature 1 describes an air conditioner that acquires thermal image data in an air-conditioned room using an infrared sensor and detects a subject based on the thermal image data. In the air conditioner, the wind direction is controlled so as to blow air toward the detected subject.

JP 2010-276324 A

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the occupant (subject) is detected using the infrared sensor, the position of the occupant may not be accurately detected.
In an actual living space, people in the room perform various actions such as cooking in the kitchen or dining in the dining room. However, in the technique described in Patent Literature 1, since the occupant is detected using the latest thermal image data acquired by the infrared sensor, the occupant's action type (for example, in the kitchen) There is a problem that the operation) cannot be identified.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the air conditioner which identifies a resident's operation | movement and reflects in air-conditioning control.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a human body detection means for detecting the positions of a plurality of human body, the movement width of the movement width and the depth direction of the left and right directions of the plurality of human body detected by the human body detecting means For the human body performing the first operation within the first range and the position of the face in the vertical direction is within the first height range, the left and right wind direction plates and the vertical wind direction plate Air conditioning control changing means for making at least one of them stationary toward the human body, or swinging within a predetermined range while focusing at least one of the left and right wind direction plates and the vertical wind direction plate on the human body, It is characterized by providing.
Other aspects of the present invention will be described in the embodiments described later.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air conditioner that identifies the actions of the occupants and reflects them in the air conditioning control.

It is a front view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, an outdoor unit, and a remote control. It is a sectional side view of an indoor unit. It is explanatory drawing of the heat pump cycle with which an air conditioner is provided. It is a block diagram containing the control means of an air conditioner. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which a control means performs. It is explanatory drawing of a coordinate transformation process, (a) is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between an optical axis and a vertical surface, (b) is the relationship between the image imaged on an image surface, and the human body which exists in real space. (C) is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the distance from the focal point of the lens to the center of the face and the angle of view. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation | movement classification estimation process which a control means performs. (A) is explanatory drawing (plan view) which shows the example of the direction of the optical axis of the lens which an imaging means has, (b) is a time chart which shows the change of the value of X coordinate, (c) is Z It is a time chart which shows the change of the value of a coordinate, (d) is a time chart which shows the change of the value of a Y coordinate. (A) is explanatory drawing (plan view) which shows the example of the direction of the optical axis of the lens which an imaging means has, (b) is a time chart which shows the change of the value of X coordinate, (c) is Z It is a time chart which shows the change of the value of a coordinate, (d) is a time chart which shows the change of the value of a Y coordinate. It is explanatory drawing of the wind direction control in case the occupant who is performing kitchen operation exists, (a) is explanatory drawing (plan view) of the mode which continues ventilation to the said occupant, (b) These are explanatory drawings (plan view) of the mode which blows air to all the people in the air-conditioned room. (A) is explanatory drawing (plan view) which shows the ventilation area | region of the left-right direction when the resident who is performing the dining operation exists, (b) shows the ventilation area | region of the up-down direction in heating operation. It is explanatory drawing (side view), (c) is explanatory drawing (side view) which shows the ventilation area | region of the up-down direction in air_conditionaing | cooling operation. (A) is explanatory drawing (plan view) which shows the ventilation area | region in case the occupant who is performing operations other than a kitchen operation | movement and a dining operation exists, (b) does not exist in an air conditioned room. It is explanatory drawing (plan view) which shows the ventilation area | region in case. (A) is explanatory drawing (side view) which shows the ventilation area in the state in which the illuminating device in an air conditioned room is lighting, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the ventilation area in the state in which the illuminating device in an air conditioned room is extinguished ( Side view).

  A mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

<Embodiment>
<Configuration of air conditioner>
FIG. 1 is a front view of an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a remote controller of an air conditioner according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner S includes an indoor unit 100, an outdoor unit 200, and a remote controller Re. The indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200 are connected via a refrigerant pipe (not shown), and air-conditions the room (the air-conditioned space) where the indoor unit 100 is installed by a known refrigerant cycle. The indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200 transmit and receive information to and from each other via a communication cable (not shown).

The remote controller Re is operated by the user, and transmits an infrared signal to the remote control receiver Q of the indoor unit 100 in accordance with the operation. The contents of the signal are commands such as an operation request, a change in set temperature, a timer, an operation mode change, and a stop request. The air conditioner S performs air conditioning operations such as a cooling mode, a heating mode, and a dehumidifying mode based on these signals.
The imaging means 120 is located at the center in the left-right direction of the indoor unit 100 and is exposed to the outside. Details of the imaging unit 120 will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the indoor unit. The housing base 101 accommodates internal structures such as the indoor heat exchanger 102, the blower fan 103, and the filter 108. The front panel 106 is installed so as to cover the front surface of the indoor unit 100.
The indoor heat exchanger 102 has a plurality of heat transfer tubes 102a, and heats or cools the air taken into the indoor unit 100 by the blower fan 103 by heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes 102a. The heat transfer tube 102a communicates with the refrigerant pipe (not shown) and constitutes a part of a known heat pump cycle (not shown).

The blower fan 103 rotates when the blower fan driving unit 103a (see FIG. 4 ) provided on one end side is driven, and blows air while taking indoor air into the indoor unit 100.
The left and right wind direction plates 104 are rotated by a left and right wind direction plate driving unit 104a (see FIG. 4 ) with a rotation shaft (not shown) provided at the lower part as a fulcrum.
The up / down wind direction plate 105 is rotated by an up / down wind direction plate driving unit 105a (see FIG. 4 ) with pivot shafts (not shown) provided at both ends as fulcrums.
The blower fan drive unit 103a, the left / right wind direction plate drive unit 104a, and the up / down wind direction plate drive unit 105a are driven according to a command from the drive control unit 137 (see FIG. 4 ).

The imaging unit 120 images a room in which the indoor unit 100 is installed, and is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera. As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging means 120 is installed in a fixed portion 111 that extends in the left-right direction below the dew tray 110.
The imaging unit 120 is installed such that the optical axis P (see FIG. 6A) of a lens (not shown) faces downward by a depression angle ε (see FIG. 6A) with respect to the horizontal plane. The room in which the machine 100 is installed can be appropriately imaged.

  The viewing angle of the imaging unit 120 is, for example, 60 ° in plan view. The control unit 130 rotates (reciprocates) the imaging unit 120 in the order of left → center → right → center → left →... Every predetermined time (for example, 30 sec). That is, the imaging unit 120 sequentially captures the left region → the central region → the right region (or the reverse order) in the air-conditioning room in accordance with the rotation, thereby obtaining a region at a predetermined angle (for example, 150 °) in plan view. Image.

  When the blower fan 103 shown in FIG. 2 rotates, the room air is taken in through the air suction port 107 and the filter 108, and the air heat-exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 102 is guided to the blowout air passage 109a. Further, the air guided to the blowout air passage 109a is adjusted in air direction by the left and right airflow direction plates 104 and the vertical airflow direction plate 105, and is sent to the outside from the air blowing port 109b to air-condition the room.

Drawing 3 is an explanatory view of the heat pump cycle with which an air harmony machine is provided. The air conditioner S includes a compressor 201, a four-way valve 202, an indoor heat exchanger 102, an expansion valve 203, and an outdoor heat exchanger 204, which are annularly connected by a pipe a. The solid arrows shown in FIG. 3 indicate the direction in which the refrigerant flows during the heating operation. Moreover, the broken line arrow shown in FIG. 3 has shown the direction through which a refrigerant | coolant flows at the time of air_conditionaing | cooling operation.
The air conditioner S switches the direction in which the refrigerant flows according to the operation mode, and air-conditions the room by a known heat pump cycle. Note that description of the heat pump cycle is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram including control means of the air conditioner. The control unit 130 comprehensively controls the operation of the air conditioner S according to image information input from the imaging unit 120, sensor signals input from various sensors (not shown), and the like.
The storage unit 140 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. Then, a program stored in the ROM is read out by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and expanded in the RAM, and various processes are executed.

The blower fan drive unit 103 a is a motor that rotates the blower fan 103 at a predetermined rotation speed in accordance with a command from the control unit 130. The left / right wind direction plate drive unit 104a is a motor that rotates the left / right wind direction plate 104 (see FIG. 2) in the left / right direction in accordance with a command from the control means 130. The vertical wind direction plate drive unit 105a is a motor that rotates the vertical direction plate 105 (see FIG. 2) in the vertical direction in accordance with a command from the control unit 130.
In addition, as an object to be controlled by the control unit 130, an imaging unit driving unit (not shown) that rotates the imaging unit 120 in the left-right direction, a motor (not shown) that drives the compressor 201, and an operation state are displayed. There is a display lamp (not shown).

<Configuration of control means>
As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 130 includes a human body detection unit 131, a coordinate conversion unit 132, a movement distance calculation unit 133, an activity amount calculation unit 134, a movement trajectory estimation unit 135, and an action type estimation unit 136. And a drive control unit 137.
The human body detection unit 131 detects the position of the human body based on the image information input from the imaging unit 120 every predetermined time, and outputs the detection result to the coordinate conversion unit 132. Incidentally, the detection result described above includes the coordinates of the detected face center of each human body (coordinates on the screen) and the size of the face (length in the vertical direction on the screen).

The coordinate conversion unit 132 converts the detection result by the human body detection unit 131 from a coordinate system on the screen specified by the number of pixels of the imaging screen to a coordinate system in the real space, and outputs the result to the movement distance calculation unit 133. Incidentally, the information output from the coordinate conversion unit 132 to the movement distance calculation unit 133 includes values of the X, Y, and Z coordinates (coordinates in the real space) of the human body center.
The movement distance calculation unit 133 calculates the movement speed for all possible combinations of the position of each human body input from the coordinate conversion unit 132 and the position of the human body calculated in the past (for example, 1 sec before), Each is given an identification symbol and output to the activity amount calculation unit 134.

The activity amount calculation unit 134 calculates an activity amount corresponding to each movement distance calculated by the movement distance calculation unit 133. The “activity amount” means the metabolic rate [W / m ² ] per unit surface area of the human body and has a positive correlation with the moving speed of the human body. The activity amount calculation unit 134 associates the calculated activity amount with the above-described identification symbol, and outputs it to the movement trajectory estimation unit 135.

The movement trajectory estimation unit 135 compares the amount of activity corresponding to the assumed combination of the position of the human body detected this time by the human body detection unit 131 and the position of the human body detected in the past, and the comparison result Based on the above, the movement trajectory of the human body is estimated.
Then, the movement trajectory estimation unit 135 reflects the estimated movement trajectory in the activity amount of each human body, associates the activity amount with the current position (lastly detected position) of each human body, and determines the motion type estimation unit 136. Output to.

Based on the movement trajectory estimated by the movement trajectory estimation unit 135, the motion type estimation unit 136 determines the horizontal movement width, the depth movement width, and the face position in the vertical direction for each human body. , Including information is extracted. Then, the motion type estimation unit 136 determines whether or not the information satisfies a predetermined condition with respect to image information acquired by the imaging unit 120 within a predetermined time, and estimates the motion type of the human body according to the determination result. .
Furthermore, the action type estimation unit 136 associates each human body position (the position detected last) with the action type and outputs the result to the drive control unit 137.
Incidentally, there are “kitchen operation” for cooking in the kitchen, “dining operation” for eating in the dining, etc.

The drive control unit 137 changes the parameters of the air conditioning control based on the information (position and operation type of each human body) input from the operation type estimation unit 136 and the sensor signal.
The information corresponding to the various sensor signals described above is, for example, the indoor temperature detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) and the indoor humidity detected by a humidity sensor (not shown).

The “air conditioning control parameters” include the rotation speed of the blower fan 103, the rotation angle of the left and right wind direction plates 104, and the rotation angle of the upper and lower wind direction plates 105. As shown in FIG. 4 , the blower fan drive unit 103a, the left / right wind direction plate drive unit 104a, and the up / down wind direction plate drive unit 105a are driven in response to a command signal input from the drive control unit 137.

<Air conditioning control process using human detection results>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the control means. 5 is started when, for example, a mode for performing human body detection is selected by the user, and a predetermined command signal is input from the remote control Re to the remote control reception unit Q (see FIG. 1) of the indoor unit 100. The

In step S <b> 101, the control unit 130 sets m and n values to 1 (m = 1, n = 1) and stores them in the storage unit 140. Incidentally, m is a value that is sequentially incremented every time image information is input from the imaging means 120 (S 109 ). In addition, n is a value that is sequentially incremented each time the imaging unit 120 is rotated (S114).

  In step S <b> 102, the control unit 130 receives input of image information from the imaging unit 120. The image information input from the imaging unit 120 is, for example, an A / D converted digital signal, and includes the number of pixels (vertical direction / horizontal direction) for specifying a pixel and a pixel value.

In step S <b> 103, the control unit 130 detects the position of the human body existing in the air-conditioned room using the image information input from the imaging unit 120.
When performing human body detection, the control unit 130 extracts the head and shoulder lines of the human body using the image information. The extraction processing can be executed by edge extraction processing and pattern matching, for example.
Further, the control means 130 calculates the position of the face center for each detected human body and calculates the size of the head (length in the vertical direction). And the control means 130 matches the said calculation result with the time information at the time of detection, and predetermined | prescribed identification information, and stores it in the memory | storage means 140 (refer FIG. 4).

Next, in step S104 of FIG. 5 , the control means 130 executes a coordinate conversion process.
FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the optical axis P and the vertical plane F. FIG. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), a Z-axis is a straight line that passes through the focal point 120a of a lens (not shown) included in the imaging unit 120 and is perpendicular to the wall surface W on which the indoor unit 100 is installed (the indoor side is positive). . A distance from the back surface of the indoor unit 100 to the focal point 120a of the lens is represented by Δd. A straight line passing through the origin O located behind the focal point 120a of the lens by a distance Δd and perpendicular to the horizontal plane (the lower side of the indoor unit 100 is positive) is taken as the Y axis. A straight line passing through the origin O and perpendicular to the Y axis and the Z axis (the left side toward the indoor unit 100 is positive) is taken as the X axis.

The imaging means 120 is installed such that the optical axis P of a lens (not shown) is directed downward from the horizontal plane by a depression angle ε (see FIG. 6A). Note that the upper end of the field of view of the imaging means 120 that expands in a fan shape in a side view is substantially coincident with the Z axis. The vertical plane F shown in FIG. 6A is a virtual plane that passes through the center of the human body and is perpendicular to the optical axis P that passes through the center of the human body. The distance L is a distance between the focal point 120a of the lens and the face center of the human body.

FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between an image captured on the image plane and a human body existing in the real space. An image plane R shown in FIG. 6B is a plane that passes through a plurality of light receiving elements (not shown) included in the imaging unit 120. The vertical field angle γ _y corresponding to the vertical length D0 [m] of the imaged face is expressed by the following (Formula 1). Incidentally, the angle β _y [deg / pixel] is an average value of the angle of view (y direction) per pixel, and is a known value.

  Then, the distance L [m] from the focal point 120a of the lens (not shown) to the center of the face is as follows, assuming that the average length of the face in the vertical direction is D1 [m] (known value) ( It is expressed by Formula 2). As described above, the depression angle ε is an angle between the optical axis of the lens and the horizontal plane.

FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the distance L from the focal point of the lens to the center of the face and the view angles δ _x and δ _y .
Assuming that the angles of view in the X direction and Y direction from the center of the image plane R to the center of the face on the image are δ _x and δ _y , respectively, these are expressed by the following (Equation 3) and (Equation 4). Here, x _c and y _c are positions of the human body center in the image (X coordinate, Y coordinate in the image). Further, T _x [pixel] is the horizontal size of the imaging screen, and T _y [pixel] is the vertical size of the imaging screen, each of which is a known value.

  Therefore, the position of the human body center in the real space is expressed by the following (Formula 5) to (Formula 7).

Returning to FIG. 5 again, the description will be continued. In step S105, the control unit 130 calculates the movement distance for all possible combinations of the one or more human bodies detected this time and the one or more human bodies detected in the past.
As described above, the imaging unit 120 images the air-conditioned room a predetermined number of times (for example, 30 times) in the left, center, or right region, and moves to the next region. The imaging unit 120 sequentially executes the imaging every predetermined time (for example, 1 sec).
Therefore, the moving distance calculated every predetermined time can be regarded as the moving speed of the human body. At this time, the correspondence relationship between the human body detected this time and the human body detected in the past is not known.

Next, in step S106 of FIG. 5, the control means 130 calculates an activity amount corresponding to each moving distance (that is, moving speed) calculated in step S105.
Incidentally, the moving speed and the amount of activity have a positive correlation, and the correspondence between them is stored in advance in the storage means 140 (see FIG. 4 ).

  Next, in step S107, the control unit 130 executes a movement trajectory estimation process (tracking) for estimating the actual movement trajectory of the occupant from among a plurality of candidate movement trajectories. That is, the control unit 130 actually selects a combination that minimizes the corresponding amount of activity among the assumed combinations of the position of the human body detected this time and the position of one or more human bodies detected in the past. Is estimated as the movement trajectory. Thereby, the actual movement trajectory of the human body can be appropriately estimated.

Next, in step S108 of FIG. 5, the control means 130 determines whether m = M. Note that M is a preset value (for example, M = 30), and is the number of times the imaging unit 120 images the room in each of the left, center, and right regions.
If m = M (S108 → Yes), the process of the control means 130 proceeds to step S110 . On the other hand, when m = M is not satisfied, that is, when m <M (S108 → No), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S109. In step S109, the control means 130 increments the value of m, and returns to the process of step S102.

Next, in step S110, the control means 130 executes an action type estimation process. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation type estimation process performed by the control means. The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is executed for each occupant detected by the control means 130 (that is, for each human body linked in S107 in FIG. 5 ).

In step S <b> 1101, the control unit 130 determines whether or not 70% or more of the above-described M imagings whose face center Y coordinate value is within the range α <b> 1 exist. Incidentally, the above-described range Y1 of the Y coordinate value is, for example, 0 to 1.0 m.
When Y = 0, the height of the face center is equal to the height of the focal point 120a of a lens (not shown) included in the imaging unit 120 (see FIG. 6A). When Y = 1.0 m, the face center exists 1.0 m below the focal point 120a of the lens.
When the condition of step S1101 is satisfied, the control unit 130 estimates that the occupant is standing.

If 70% or more of the face center Y coordinate values are within the range α1, that is, if the occupant is standing up (S1101 → Yes), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S1102. On the other hand, when the face center Y coordinate value is less than 70% within the range α1, that is, when the occupant is not standing (S1101 → No), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S1104 . .

In step S1102, the control unit 130 determines whether there is, for example, 70% or more of the face center movement (X direction, Z direction) within the range α2. Incidentally, the range α2 is 2.5 m, for example, and is a threshold for determining whether or not the occupant is performing a kitchen operation such as cooking.
Normally, when cooking or the like is performed in the kitchen, the occupant reciprocates in the X direction (left and right direction: see FIG. 6A) or the Z direction (depth direction: see FIG. 6A). That is, step S1102 is processing for determining whether or not the occupant is reciprocating within a predetermined range in the left-right direction or the depth direction.

  For example, when the occupant moves 1.5 m in the X direction and then moves 2 m in the −X direction, the condition of step S1102 is satisfied. Incidentally, whether the occupant's moving direction is the X direction or the Z direction depends on the positional relationship between the kitchen and the indoor unit 100.

70% or more of the movement in the range α2 of the movement in the X direction of the center of the face and 70% or more of the movement in the Z direction in the movement of the Z direction. If it is reciprocating within the range (S1102 → Yes), the process of the control means 130 proceeds to step S1103.
On the other hand, the movement of the face center in the X direction within the range α2 is less than 70%, or the movement of the Z direction in the range α2 is less than 70%. If the person frequently makes round trips exceeding the predetermined range (S1102 → No), the process of the control means 130 proceeds to step S1108.

In step S1103, the control means 130 estimates that the occupant is standing in the kitchen (kitchen operation). The processing in step S1103 is the provisional estimates, the final estimated modes of operation, which is performed in step S 115 in FIG.

In step S <b> 1104, the control unit 130 determines whether 70% or more of the M imagings whose face center Y coordinate value is within the range β <b> 1 exist, for example. Incidentally, the aforementioned range Y1 of the Y coordinate value is, for example, 0.5 to 1.5 m.
For example, when Y = 1.5 m, the face center exists 1.5 m below the focal point 120a of the lens (see FIG. 6A).
In general, when eating in a dining room, the occupant is sitting on a chair (or sitting on the floor). In short, step S1104 is processing for determining whether or not the occupant is sitting.

  If 70% or more of the face center Y coordinate values are within the range β1, that is, if the occupant is sitting (S1104 → Yes), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S1105. On the other hand, if the Y coordinate value of the face center is within the range β1 is less than 70%, that is, if the occupant is not sitting (S1104 → No), the processing of the control means 130 proceeds to step S1108.

In step S1105, the control unit 130 determines whether there is, for example, 70% or more of the movement of the face center in the X direction and Z direction within the range β2. Incidentally, the range β2 is, for example, 0.5 m.
Usually, when dining in a dining room, the amount of movement of the occupants per predetermined time (for example, 1 sec) is small or substantially zero. In short, step S1105 is, in short, whether the moving distance of the occupant for each predetermined time is small in the X direction (left-right direction: see FIG. 6A) or Z direction (depth direction: see FIG. 6A). It is the process which determines.
Whether the occupant's moving direction is the X direction or the Z direction depends on the positional relationship between the kitchen and the indoor unit 100.

70% or more of the movement in the range β2 of the movement in the X direction of the face center and 70% or more of the movement in the Z direction in the movement in the Z direction, that is, a predetermined number of people in the room When the movement distance for each time is small (S1105 → Yes), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S1106.
On the other hand, the movement in the range β2 of the movement in the X direction of the face center is less than 70%, or the movement in the range β2 of the movement in the Z direction is less than 70%. If the user frequently moves beyond the range β2 (S1105 → No), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S1108.

Next, in step S1106, the control means 130 determines whether or not the occupant's activity amount is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The predetermined value is set in advance and stored in the storage unit 140 (see FIG. 4). Further, the activity amount has a positive correlation with the moving speed.
In short, step S1106 is processing for determining whether or not the occupant is moving around.

If the activity amount of the occupant is less than or equal to the predetermined value, that is, if the occupant is not moving around (S1106 → Yes), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S1107. On the other hand, if the activity amount of the occupant is larger than the predetermined value, that is, if the occupant frequently moves around (S1106 → No), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S1108.
In step S <b> 1107, the control unit 130 determines that the occupant is eating in the dining room (dining operation). The processing in step S1107 is the provisional estimates, the final estimated modes of operation, which is performed in step S 115 in FIG.

  In step S1108, the control means 130 determines that the occupant's operation is not a kitchen operation and a dining operation (that is, other operations are performed).

FIG. 8A is a plan view illustrating an example of the direction of the optical axis of a lens included in the imaging unit. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the imaging unit 120 is imaging the left region (see the arrow). As described above, the imaging unit 120 sequentially images the left, center, and right regions.
A time chart (change in the value of the X coordinate: see FIG. 6A) shown in FIG. 8B shows the lateral movement of the specific occupant as viewed from the imaging unit 120. In the example shown in FIG. 8B, the occupant moves in the horizontal direction in the range of X = 0 to 1.0 m, that is, the horizontal movement width is often in the range of 1.0 m. .

A time chart shown in FIG. 8C (change in the value of the Z coordinate: see FIG. 6A) shows the movement in the depth direction as viewed from the imaging unit 120 with respect to the occupant. As shown in FIG.8 (c), it moves to a depth direction in the range of Z = 5.0-7.5m, ie, the movement width | variety of a depth direction is in the range of 2.5m in many cases.
A time chart (change in the value of the Y coordinate: see FIG. 6A) shown in FIG. 8D shows a change in the height of the occupant as viewed from the imaging unit 120. As shown in FIG. 8D, it can be seen that the occupant is moving around a height Y = 0.7 m (about 1.3 m from the floor).

  In the example shown in FIG. 8, the height Y of the occupant is about 0.7 m (S1101 → Yes in FIG. 7), and the movement width in the X direction and the Z direction is within 2.5 m ( The control means 130 estimates that the occupant is performing a kitchen operation (S1103).

Next, another example will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9D. In FIG. 8A described above, the case where the kitchen is installed so as to extend in the depth direction when viewed from the imaging unit 120 is shown. On the other hand, FIG. 9A shows a case where the kitchen is installed so as to extend in the left-right direction when viewed from the imaging unit 120.
As shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the occupant moves in the left-right direction in the range of X = −0.5 to 1.5 m, and the depth direction in the range of Z = 4 to 5 m. Often moved to. Moreover, as shown in FIG.9 (d), the occupant is moving around height Y = 0.6m (about 1.4m from a floor surface).
Also in the case shown in FIG. 9, as in the case described with reference to FIG. 8, the control means 130 determines that the occupant is operating in the kitchen mode.

Returning to FIG. 5 again, the description will be continued. In step S111, the control unit 130 determines whether all of the left, center, and right regions have been imaged N times. Note that the value of N (for example, N = 10) is set in advance and stored in the storage unit 140.
When all of the left, center, and right regions are imaged N times (S111 → Yes), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S113. On the other hand, when there is a region that has not been imaged N times among the left, center, and right regions (S111 → No), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S112.

In step S112, the control unit 130 rotates the imaging unit 120 by a predetermined angle to start imaging of the next area, and returns to the process of step S101. For example, when imaging of the left region is completed, the control unit 130 rotates the imaging unit 120 to the right and starts imaging of the central region.
In step S113, the control means 130 determines whether n = N. If n = N (S113 → Yes), the process of the control means 130 proceeds to step S115. On the other hand, if n = N is not satisfied, that is, if n <N (S113 → No), the process of the control unit 130 proceeds to step S114. In step S114, the control means 130 increments the value of n and returns to the process of step S101.

In step S115, the control means 130 executes the action type estimation process 2. That is, in the above-described step S110 (behavior type estimation process 1), when it is estimated that the kitchen operation is continuously performed a predetermined number of times in the same region (left, center, or right region), the control unit 130 confirms the estimation. To do. Similarly, in step S110, when it is estimated that the dining operation is continuously performed a predetermined number of times in the same region, the control unit 130 finalizes the estimation.
Incidentally, the predetermined number of times described above is a preset value (for example, twice) and is stored in the storage unit 140 (see FIG. 4).

As described above, the control unit 130 associates the position of the occupant detected in the air-conditioned room at predetermined time intervals in time series by the movement trajectory estimation process (S107), and associates the position with the predetermined identification symbol. 140 is sequentially stored.
Moreover, the control means 130 performs the above-described action type estimation process 1 (S110) and action type estimation process 2 (S115) for each detected occupant.

In step S116 in FIG. 5 , the control means 130 executes a wind direction / air volume control process. That is, the control means 130 determines the action type estimated in the action type estimation process 2 and the position of the occupant corresponding to the action (position calculated using the last captured image where m = M). Based on this, the wind direction / air volume control process is executed.

  FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram (plan view) of a mode in which air blowing to a room occupant is continued when there is a room occupant performing a kitchen operation. In this case, the control means 130 adjusts the angles of the left and right airflow direction plates 104 and the upper and lower airflow direction plates 105 so as to continuously blow air toward the occupant who is operating the kitchen.

FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram (plan view) of a mode in which air is sent to all occupants existing in the air-conditioned room when there are occupants operating in the kitchen. In this case, the control means 130 rotates the left and right wind direction plates 104 so as to uniformly blow air to all the people in the room.
For example, the control unit 130 executes the mode shown in FIG. 10A for 4 minutes, executes the mode shown in FIG. 10B for 1 minute, and alternately performs these in terms of time. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain the comfort of all the occupants in the air-conditioned room while intensively blowing air toward the occupants performing the kitchen operation.

Fig.11 (a) is explanatory drawing (plan view) which shows the ventilation area | region of the left-right direction when the occupant who is performing the dining operation exists.
The control means 130 swings the left and right wind direction plates 104 so that all the occupants sitting in the dining are blown when there are occupants performing the dining operation. In addition, it is preferable to make angle (theta) _r which shows a ventilation area | region into the angle which gave the allowance only by the predetermined angle in the left-right direction rather than the area | region where a person exists.
Thereby, while being able to ventilate suitably to each occupant, even if an occupant moves a little, it can continue blowing to the occupant.

FIG.11 (b) is explanatory drawing (side view) which shows the ventilation area | region of the up-down direction in heating operation. When the occupants are performing a dining operation during the heating operation, the control unit 130 determines the occupants closest to the indoor unit 100 among the occupants (three in FIGS. 11A and 11B). The vertical wind direction plate 105 is controlled so as to swing at a predetermined angle θ _{s in} the vertical direction with the foot as the upper end. Incidentally, the position of the occupant's feet is estimated based on the position of the occupant's face center.
In this way, during the heating operation, by blowing air near the feet of the resident who is closest to the indoor unit 100, warm air can be blown to the feet of all persons including the resident.

FIG.11 (c) is explanatory drawing (side view) which shows the ventilation area | region of the up-down direction in air_conditionaing | cooling operation. When the occupant is performing a dining operation during the cooling operation, the control unit 130 determines the occupant farthest from the indoor unit 100 among the occupants (three in FIGS. 11A and 11B). It controls the vertical airflow direction plate 105 to perform a swing of a predetermined angle theta _t in the vertical direction face center as the lower end. In addition, in the example shown in FIG.11 (c), the case where the upper end of the ventilation area | region in an up-down direction exists on a horizontal surface is shown.

In this way, during the cooling operation, by blowing air slightly above the head of the occupant farthest from the indoor unit 100, it is possible to blow air without directly applying cold air to all persons including the occupant. Accordingly, the occupants can spend comfortably without feeling the cold caused by direct cold air.
When there is a resident who is performing a dining operation, the control unit 130 may decrease the rotation speed of the blower fan 103 by a predetermined value. As a result, the occupant can eat in the dining room without being aware of the air blow from the indoor unit 100. The predetermined value is appropriately set based on a sensor signal (see FIG. 4), the number of people in the room performing a dining operation, and the like.

Fig.12 (a) is explanatory drawing (plan view) which shows the ventilation area | region in case the occupant who is performing operations other than a kitchen operation | movement and a dining operation | movement exists. In the example shown in FIG. 12A, the occupant is present in the living room, but is not present in the kitchen or dining room. In this case, the control means 130 restricts at least the range of the human body (three people in FIG. 12A) detected by the human body detection unit 131, and at least of the upper and lower wind direction plates 105 and 104. Swing one.
For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the left and right wind direction plates 104 are controlled so that the central angle of the fan-shaped air blowing area becomes an angle θ _u in plan view, thereby improving the efficiency for three people in the room. Can blow.

FIG.12 (b) is explanatory drawing (plan view) which shows the ventilation area | region in case an occupant does not exist in an air-conditioned room. When the occupant is not detected, the control unit 130 swings at least one of the up / down wind direction plate 105 and the left / right wind direction plate 104 in full width. Thus, the air-conditioned room can be efficiently air-conditioned by sending air to the maximum range (center angle of the air blowing area: angle θ _v ).
Incidentally, when a state where no occupant is detected continues for a predetermined time or longer, the operation may be temporarily stopped and the operation may be resumed according to conditions such as the room temperature. As a result, wasteful power consumption associated with air conditioning operation can be reduced.

<Effect>
In the air conditioner S according to the present embodiment, the motion type of the occupant is estimated based on the movement width in the left-right direction of the occupant in the real space, the movement width in the depth direction, and the height of the head. . Here, the movement width and the height of the head can be easily calculated by the control means 130. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately and accurately estimate the occupant's action type while reducing the processing load on the control unit 130.

In addition, when the detected human body is performing a specific movement for cooking (moving within a range of about 2.5 m in a standing state), the control means 130 performs air conditioning control corresponding to the kitchen operation. Run.
In addition, when the detected human body is performing a specific movement when eating (the human body hardly moves and the amount of activity is small), the control unit 130 performs air conditioning control corresponding to the dining operation.
Thereby, the air conditioner S according to the present embodiment can perform fine air conditioning control according to the type of operation of the occupant.

Further, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to input the kitchen position or the dining position in advance via the remote controller Re (see FIG. 1) , and the control means 130 is based on the change in the position of the human body in the air-conditioned room. To estimate the action type. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to input the position of the kitchen or the like (that is, the floor plan of the room) to the remote controller Re, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, when the occupant who is cooking in the kitchen is detected, warm air or cold air is blown toward the occupant (or with a focus on the occupant). . Thus, the air can be efficiently blown toward the occupant while the room is air-conditioned.

Moreover, in this embodiment, when performing the heating operation, when a occupant who is eating in a dining room is detected, the control unit 130 blows air toward the occupant's feet closest to the indoor unit 100. As a result, all the residents in the dining room can be warmed up from their feet and can spend comfortably.
On the other hand, when performing the cooling operation, the control unit 130 blows air toward the head (slightly above) of the occupant farthest from the indoor unit 100. As a result, air conditioning can be performed efficiently without directing cold air to any occupants in the dining room.

≪Modification≫
As described above, the air conditioner S according to the present invention has been described in the above embodiment. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the movement width in the left-right direction and the depth direction of the occupant is within the range α2 (S1102 → Yes: see FIG. 7), which is a necessary condition corresponding to the kitchen operation. Not limited to this. That is, it is good also as a necessary condition applicable to kitchen operation | movement that at least one is within the range (alpha) 2 among the movement widths of the occupant in the left-right direction and the depth direction. Note that the same applies to S1105 (see FIG. 7) related to the dining operation.

In the embodiment, the activity amount of the occupant is equal to or less than the predetermined value (S1106: refer to FIG. 7), which is a necessary condition for corresponding to the dining operation, but is not limited thereto. That is, the determination process in step S1106 in FIG. 7 may be omitted.
Further, for example, it may be added to steps S1101 and S1102 of FIG. 7 that the amount of activity of the resident is within a predetermined range as a necessary condition for corresponding to the kitchen operation.

Moreover, you may add the thermopile (temperature distribution detection means: not shown) which detects the temperature gradient (temperature distribution) in an air conditioned room to the air conditioner S which concerns on the said embodiment. When performing the cooling operation, if it is estimated by the operation type estimation unit 136 that there is a resident in the kitchen and a high temperature region is detected near the human body by the thermopile, the control unit 130 The rotation speed of 201 is increased.
As a result, the cooling capacity is increased, and cool air having a relatively low temperature is sent toward the occupant who is operating the kitchen. Usually, when the ambient temperature rises due to heat treatment when cooking in the kitchen, the sensible temperature of the occupant also rises. Therefore, the comfort of the occupant can be improved by sending the cool air toward the occupant.

Moreover, you may provide the brightness determination means (not shown) which determines whether the room in which the indoor unit 100 is installed is bright or dark based on the brightness | luminance of the image information input from the imaging means 120. FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, when the lighting device in the air-conditioned room is turned on (see FIG. 13 (a)) and the occupant B1 goes to bed after going out (see FIG. 13 (b)), the above-mentioned It is determined by the brightness determination means that the air-conditioned room is dark. In this case, it is preferable that the drive control unit 137 controls the angle of the up / down airflow direction plate 105 so as to blow air toward the horizontal direction as compared with the case where the air-conditioned room is bright.
This prevents warm air or cold air from being blown directly toward the occupant B1 who is sleeping, and the occupant B1 can sleep comfortably.

Incidentally, when two or more of the three cases of the kitchen operation estimated by the operation type estimation unit 136 , the dining operation, and the case where the brightness determination unit determines that the air-conditioned room is dark are applicable. There is also a possibility.
In this case, it is preferable that the control means 130 changes the air-conditioning control according to the priority order of when the air-conditioned room is dark → kitchen operation → dining operation. As described above, the highest priority is given to “when the room is dark”, so that the comfort of the occupant who is sleeping can be maintained.

Also, the temperature environment around the kitchen is usually more severe (hot or cold) than the dining room. Priority is given to the ventilation to the occupants who are operating the kitchen, maintaining the comfort of the occupants while maintaining the comfort of the occupants performing the dining operation by the temperature change due to the ventilation. be able to.
In addition, although it does not correspond to any of the above-mentioned three operations (kitchen operation, dining operation, and when the room is dark), but the occupant is detected, the control unit 130 can execute the air conditioning control as follows. preferable. That is, the control unit 130 swings at least one of the left and right wind direction plates 104 and the upper and lower wind direction plates 105 so as to restrict the air to one or more detected human bodies. Thus, air conditioning can be efficiently performed while maintaining comfort by blowing air toward the occupants.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the left, center, and right regions are sequentially imaged by rotating the imaging unit 120 (viewing angle 60 °) and the region of 150 ° is imaged in plan view has been described. Not limited to.
When the imaging unit 120 has a sufficient viewing angle, the human body detection process can be performed without rotating the imaging unit 120. The movement trajectory estimation processing method in this case can be performed by the same method as in the above embodiment.

Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the imaging means 120 was installed in the fixing | fixed part 111 of the indoor unit 100, it is not restricted to this. That is, the imaging means 120 may be installed at other locations in the indoor unit 100 as long as the inside of the air-conditioned room can be imaged.
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the rotation speed of the blower fan 103, the angle of the left and right wind direction plates 104, and the angle of the upper and lower wind direction plates 105 are changed according to the result of the movement trajectory estimation process has been described. Not exclusively. That is, at least one of the rotational speed of the blower fan 103, the angle of the left and right wind direction plate 104, and the angle of the upper and lower wind direction plate 105 may be changed.
Further, the set temperature of the air conditioner S may be appropriately changed according to the result of the movement trajectory estimation process, and the rotational speed of a motor (not shown) installed in the compressor 201 may be changed accordingly.

Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the action classification estimation process 1 (S110 of FIG. 5) is performed whenever the imaging means 120 rotates sequentially left, center, and right, it is not restricted to this. That is, the operation type estimation process 1 may be executed every predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes).
Moreover, you may use the time at the time of performing the above-mentioned kitchen operation | movement and dining operation | movement estimation (refer FIG. 7) as said estimation conditions. That is, a time zone in which morning, noon, and dinner are often taken may be stored in the storage unit 140 in advance, and a condition that the time for performing the estimation is included in the time zone may be added. Thereby, the operation type can be estimated more accurately.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the kitchen operation | movement and the dining operation | movement were mentioned as an operation | movement classification of a resident, it cannot be overemphasized that it can apply also about another operation | movement.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS S Air conditioner 100 Indoor unit 103 Blower fan 103a Blower fan drive part 104 Left and right wind direction board 104a Left and right wind direction board drive part 105 Vertical wind direction board 105a Vertical wind direction board drive part 120 Imaging means 130 Control means 131 Human body detection part (human body detection means)
132 Coordinate conversion unit 133 Movement distance calculation unit 134 Activity amount calculation unit 135 Movement trajectory estimation unit (motion type estimation means)
136 Action type estimating part (Action type estimating means)
137 Drive control unit (air conditioning control changing means)
140 Storage means 201 Compressor

Claims (10)

Human body detection means for detecting the positions of a plurality of human bodies;
Of the plurality of human bodies detected by the human body detection means, the lateral movement width and the depth movement width are within the first range, and the face position in the vertical direction is the first height range. For the human body performing the first action, the at least one of the left and right wind direction plates and the up and down wind direction plate is made stationary toward the human body, or the left and right wind direction plates and the up and down wind direction plates An air conditioner comprising: air-conditioning control changing means for swinging within a predetermined range while at least one of them is directed toward the human body. An activity amount calculating unit for calculating the amount of activity of the human body based on the position of the human body detected by the human body detection means;
The air conditioning control changing means is
For the human body that performs the first operation and the activity amount calculated by the activity amount calculation unit is a predetermined value or less, at least one of the left and right wind direction plates and the upper and lower wind direction plates is placed on the human body. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is made to stand still, or is swung within a predetermined range while focusing at least one of the left and right wind direction plates and the upper and lower wind direction plates toward the human body. . Human body detection means for detecting the position of the human body;
The movement width in the left-right direction and the movement width in the depth direction of the human body detected by the human body detection means are within the first range, and the face position in the vertical direction is within the first height range. For the human body performing the first operation, at least one of the left and right wind direction plates and the upper and lower wind direction plates is stationary toward the human body, or at least one of the left and right wind direction plates and the upper and lower wind direction plates Air conditioning control changing means for swinging within a predetermined range while focusing on the human body,
The air-conditioning control changing means is within a second range in which the movement width in the left-right direction and the movement width in the depth direction of the human body detected by the human body detection means are within the second range narrower than the first range, and in the vertical direction. The left and right wind direction plates are swung in a predetermined range including a human body performing a second operation in which the position of the face is within a second height range lower than the first height range. air conditioner shall be the. Human body detection means for detecting the position of the human body;
The movement width in the left-right direction and the movement width in the depth direction of the human body detected by the human body detection means are within the first range, and the face position in the vertical direction is within the first height range. For the human body performing the first operation, at least one of the left and right wind direction plates and the upper and lower wind direction plates is stationary toward the human body, or at least one of the left and right wind direction plates and the upper and lower wind direction plates Air conditioning control changing means for swinging within a predetermined range while focusing on the human body,
A temperature distribution detecting means for detecting the temperature distribution in the room where the indoor unit is installed;
When the air conditioning control changing means performs the cooling operation,
When the human body detecting unit detects the human body performing the first operation and the temperature distribution detecting unit detects a high temperature region near the human body, the rotational speed of the compressor is increased. air conditioner you. The air conditioning control changing means is
When the human body detecting means detects the human body performing the second operation,
During the cooling operation, the vertical wind direction plate is controlled so as to swing at a predetermined angle in the vertical direction with the head of the human body farthest from the indoor unit among the human bodies as the lower end,
4. The vertical wind direction plate is controlled to perform a predetermined angle swing in a vertical direction with a foot of the human body closest to the indoor unit as an upper end during the heating operation. 5. Air conditioner. The air conditioning control changing means is
If the undetected human body by the human body detecting means, the air conditioner according to one of any preceding claims, characterized in that swinging at the full width at least one of the louver and the wind vertically directing plate Machine. The air conditioning control changing means is
The movement width in the left-right direction and the movement width in the depth direction of the human body detected by the human body detection means are within the second range, and the position of the face in the vertical direction is within the second height range. the air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in <br/> thereby swing the vertical louvers in a predetermined range including the human body has a second operation. An activity amount calculating unit for calculating the amount of activity of the human body based on the position of the human body detected by the human body detection means;
The air conditioning control changing means swings the left and right wind direction plates within a predetermined range including the human body that performs the second operation and the activity amount calculated by the activity amount calculation unit is a predetermined value or less. The air conditioner according to claim 3 or 7 . The air conditioning control changing means is
The air conditioner according to claim 3 or 7 , wherein when the human body detecting means detects the human body performing the second operation, the rotational speed of the blower fan is reduced. Imaging means for imaging the room in which the indoor unit is installed;
Brightness determination means for determining whether the room in which the indoor unit is installed is bright or dark based on the luminance of the image information input from the imaging means,
The air conditioning control changing means is
If the chamber by the brightness judging means determines the dark, as compared with the case where the chamber is bright, claims 1 to 9, characterized in that to control the vertical airflow direction plate so as to blow air in the horizontal direction toward The air conditioner according to any one of the above.

Images