JP6570409B2 - Absence detection device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an absence detection device for controlling an environmental adjustment device individually corresponding to a work space of a worker and a control method thereof.

  In addition to the conventional method of uniformly illuminating and air-conditioning the living room, the task lighting, task air conditioning, and ambient lighting are individually divided into the work space for each office worker by separating the room into tasks and ambient. A task ambient method constituted by ambient air conditioning has been performed. A system that individually controls task lighting and task air conditioning will be referred to as an individual environment adjustment system in this specification. For example, in task air conditioning, air outlet devices corresponding to individual office workers are installed on the ceiling, and airflow is sent out from each air outlet device toward each work space. Task air conditioning not only improves the comfort of office workers, but it can save energy compared to uniform air conditioning of the entire room.

  Although each task lighting and each task air conditioning can be turned on / off individually, the effectiveness of energy saving is not improved unless the user turns on / off frequently. However, it is difficult for each person to turn on / off frequently.

  On the other hand, systems that automatically detect a person by a human sensor such as an infrared sensor and automatically control on / off of illumination and air conditioning have been proposed (Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

JP2000-100202 JP 2000-100203 A Patent 3448471

However, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, simply installing an infrared sensor directly above a seat such as a ceiling cannot provide convenience that can withstand actual use.
For example, in an office, people often walk behind seats. It is still a problem if the lights flash every time a person walks.
In addition, human sensors such as infrared sensors detect the heat generated by people. However, when people are still, the heat does not fluctuate and the sensor does not respond even if the office worker is present. May be recognized as “absent”. Then, even though the office worker is present, lighting and air conditioning are repeatedly turned on and off, which is not an appropriate office environment.

In Patent Document 3 (Patent 3448471), a contrivance is made so that a person who passes only is not recognized as a living room state. However, there still remains a problem that it is determined that the person is absent when the sensor does not respond.
As long as there is only one air conditioner in the room as envisaged in Patent Document 3 (Patent 3448471), even if it is turned on and off intermittently, it does not bother you, but during work, the lighting and air conditioning of each person blinks frequently It is not preferable to do so.

  In addition, conventional human detection devices including Patent Document 3 (Patent 3448471) consume a large amount of power, and there is a problem that an external power source is necessary and maintenance such as battery replacement is troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an absence detection device and a control method therefor that enable accurate absence detection determination and save power.

The control method of the absence detection device of the present invention is as follows.
A control method for an absence detection device comprising: an infrared sensor; and a central control unit that detects a sensor output of the infrared sensor and determines a presence state of a worker based on the sensor output,
The central control unit
Sampling the sensor output of the infrared sensor every predetermined first period;
If there is the sensor output, add the length of the first period to the seating time Ts,
When the attendance time Ts reaches a predetermined presence determination threshold, it is determined that the office worker is present,
When the sensor output is not sampled when the sensor output is sampled, the count value k of the absence detection counter is counted up,
Until the count value of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, the length of the first period is added to the presence time Ts even if there is no sensor output,
If there is the sensor output when sampling the sensor output, reset the count value of the absence detection counter,
When the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, and when there is no sensor output for a predetermined waiting time, the central control unit determines that the office worker is absent. ,
When the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence count threshold, and if there is the sensor output during a predetermined standby time, the presence time Ts and the count value k of the absence detection counter Is reset.

In the present invention,
The central control unit
After determining that the office worker is present, the sensor output is sampled every second period longer than the first period,
The central control unit counts up the count value k of the absence detection counter when there is no sensor output when the sensor output is sampled every second period,
When the count value of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, further, the absence is determined in two stages when there is no sensor output during a predetermined standby time,
Preferably, the central control unit determines that no office worker is present.

The computer program of the present invention is a computer-readable computer program that causes a computer to execute the control method of the absence detection device.
The computer program may be stored in a computer-readable non-volatile memory and distributed.

The absence detection device of the present invention,
Absence detection device having an infrared sensor, a central control unit for detecting the sensor output of the infrared sensor and determining the presence state of the office worker based on the sensor output, and a transmission / reception means for wireless communication Because
The central control unit
Sampling the sensor output of the infrared sensor every predetermined first period;
If there is the sensor output, add the length of the first period to the seating time Ts,
When the attendance time Ts reaches a predetermined presence determination threshold, it is determined that the office worker is present,
When the sensor output is not sampled when the sensor output is sampled, the count value k of the absence detection counter is counted up,
Until the count value of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, the length of the first period is added to the presence time Ts even if there is no sensor output,
If there is the sensor output when sampling the sensor output, reset the count value of the absence detection counter,
When the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, and when there is no sensor output for a predetermined waiting time, the central control unit determines that the office worker is absent. ,
If the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence count threshold, and if there is the sensor output during a predetermined standby time, the presence time Ts and the count value of the absence detection counter are calculated. It is characterized by resetting.

In the present invention,
When it is determined that the office worker is present, the central control unit preferably transmits an attendance report to an external computer via the transmission / reception means.

In the present invention,
Furthermore, it is preferable to have a photovoltaic power generation means.

In the present invention,
It is preferable that the photovoltaic power generation means and the transmission / reception means are erected on the rear side of the infrared sensor.

In the present invention,
Furthermore, it is preferable to have a touch panel as the operation means.

The individual environment adjustment system of the present invention is
Individual environmental adjusters for each workspace,
A host computer for centrally controlling the operation of each environmental adjuster;
The absence presence detection device according to any one of claims 4 to 7 disposed in each work space,
The host computer and the absence detection device communicate with each other by wireless communication means,
The host computer controls the operation of each environmental adjuster according to the presence state of the office worker determined by the absence detection device.

It is a figure which shows an example of the individual environment adjustment system which this invention assumes. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a personal remote control. It is a figure which shows the functional block diagram of a personal remote control. It is a flowchart for demonstrating starting processing. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of presence detection mode (ST200). It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of a preparation. It is a timing chart for explaining an example of operation. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of absence confirmation mode (ST300). It is a timing chart for explaining an example of operation. It is a timing chart for explaining an example of operation. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of an absent detection mode. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure in the absence report transmission waiting mode. It is a timing chart which shows an example of operation. It is a flowchart which shows a modification.

An embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated and described with reference to reference numerals attached to elements in the drawing.
(First embodiment)
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an individual environment adjustment system 100 assumed by the present invention.
FIG. 1 represents a room in an office. There is a workspace 110 for each office worker in the office. Each workspace 110 has a desk 111 and a chair 112.
In FIG. 1, two workspaces 110 are illustrated. The left workspace is the first workspace 110A, and the right workspace is the second workspace 110B.

  The first workspace 110A on the left side and the second workspace 110B on the right side are basically the same except for the location. In the following description, when the first workspace 110A and the second workspace 110B are explicitly distinguished, “A” is added to the end of the reference numerals of the elements related to the first workspace 110A, and the second “B” is added to the end of the code of the element related to the workspace 110B. In the case of a common description that does not distinguish between the first work space 110A and the second work space 110B, only the numerals are used.

An environmental adjuster 120 is provided above each work space 110. Here, the environment adjuster 120 includes a task lighting device 121 and a task air conditioning device 123.
A first environment adjuster 120A is installed on the ceiling directly above the first workspace 110A, and provides task lighting and task air conditioning to the workers in the first workspace 110A.
Similarly, the second environment adjuster 120B is installed on the ceiling directly above the second work space 110B. Although not shown in detail, each task lighting device 121 is connected to a power source, and each task air conditioning device 123 is connected to a fan 220 via a duct 210.
The task lighting device 121 and the task air conditioning device 123 are individually provided with a switch 122 or a valve 124 so that on / off, light / dark or strength can be individually controlled.

The operation of each environmental adjuster 120 is controlled by the host computer 200. That is, the host computer 200 and each environmental adjuster 120 are connected by wire or wirelessly, and the switch 122 or the valve 124 is controlled by a control signal from the host computer 200.
In FIG. 1, wiring between the host computer 200 and each environment adjuster 120 is omitted.

Each work space 110 is provided with a personal remote control 300.
Here, the personal remote controller 300 is placed on each desk 111.
An external appearance of the personal remote controller 300 is shown in FIG. 2, and a functional block diagram is shown in FIG.
The first personal remote controller 300A installed on the desk of the first workspace 110A is for controlling the first environmental controller 120A, and the second personal remote controller 300B installed on the desk of the second workspace 110B is This is for controlling the second environmental adjuster 120B.

The personal remote controller 300 includes a transmission / reception unit 310, a solar panel 320, a secondary battery 330, a touch panel 340, an IR sensor 350, a central control unit 360, and a power supply circuit 370.
The personal remote controller 300 can communicate with the host computer 200 wirelessly. That is, the personal remote controller 300 includes a transmission / reception circuit 311 and an antenna 312 as the transmission / reception unit 310.
The host computer 200 is connected to a transceiver 201 installed in the office.

The electric power obtained by the power generation by the solar panel 320 is charged into the secondary battery 330 via the power supply circuit 370 and used for the operation of the personal remote controller 300. As described above, since the personal remote controller 300 has a built-in power generation function, it is maintenance-free that does not require maintenance such as battery replacement.
The touch panel 340 is an operation panel for the task lighting device 121 and the task air conditioning device 123. In other words, the task lighting can be turned on / off, the brightness can be raised / lowered, the task air conditioning can be turned on / off, and the intensity can be controlled. Moreover, you may utilize the touchscreen 340 for operation of apparatuses other than illumination and air conditioning.

  The IR sensor 350 is a so-called pyroelectric infrared sensor, and generates an electrical signal in response to thermal fluctuations. When the office worker sits on the chair 112 in front of the desk 111 and works, the IR sensor 350 generates an electrical signal in response to the heat of the office worker. As a result, the personal remote controller 300 also serves as an absence detection device.

It is preferable that the IR sensor 350 responds only to the state in which the worker to be detected is present and does not react otherwise.
For example, the IR sensor 350 may be configured to change the vertical and horizontal directions in accordance with the direction in which heat generated by the office worker is sensed.
This is because it is desired to change the orientation of the IR sensor 350 depending on whether the personal remote controller 300 is placed on the right side or the left side of the desk.
Further, it is preferable that the width of the left and right detection areas of the IR sensor 350 is limited to about plus or minus 45 degrees so as not to react to the worker at the next seat.
Also, the detection area width in the vertical direction of the IR sensor 350 is preferably limited to about plus or minus 45 degrees so that it does not react to the person working behind the worker to be detected. It is good to keep.
It is advisable to keep the head of the worker behind you from entering the detection area while capturing the area above the chest of the worker to be detected in the detection area.
Moreover, the following effect is acquired by standing up the solar panel 320 and the transmission / reception part 310 behind the IR sensor 350. FIG. That is, the space to install on the desk can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent the absence detection device 300 from being hidden by a document or the like. Moreover, when the solar panel 320 is a dye-sensitized system, there exists an advantage which can generate electric power with the light which enters from the back surface side as well as the front surface. Further, the detection area of the IR sensor 350 can be shielded so as not to react to a person sitting in front of the office worker.

  The central control unit 360 controls the operation of each functional unit of the personal remote controller 300 in an integrated manner. The central control unit 360 is a so-called microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. When the touch panel 340 is operated, the central control unit 360 transmits a control signal corresponding to the operation to the host computer 200 via the transmission / reception unit 310. Furthermore, the central control unit 360 determines whether the office worker is present or absent based on the output signal of the IR sensor 350. When the central control unit 360 detects that the office worker is seated, the central control unit 360 transmits an attendance report to the host computer 200. Further, when the central control unit 360 detects that the office worker is away, the central control unit 360 transmits an absence report to the host computer 200.

  In addition, the main functions of the central control unit are listed in a dashed line in FIG. These functions will be explained as needed.

The feature of this embodiment is that it is very accurately determined whether or not the office worker is present.
Hereinafter, the presence detection method by the central control unit 360 will be described in detail.
4 to 6 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operation procedure of the presence detection method.
7, 9, and 10 are timing charts for explaining an example of the operation.
The presence detection method according to the present embodiment mainly has two operation modes. That is, the presence detection method has an presence detection mode (ST200, FIG. 5) and an absence confirmation mode (ST300, FIG. 8).
Hereinafter, it demonstrates in order.

In the following description, the IR sensor 350 outputting an electrical signal in response to heat is expressed as sensor output, sensor output on, or sensor output high level. Conversely, a state in which no electrical signal is output from the IR sensor 350 will be expressed as no sensor output, sensor output off, or sensor output low level.
Further, the operation state of the central control unit 360 is expressed as a state in which only the clock and the timer operate and power saving is expressed as sleep, and the state of waiting for the sensor output of the IR sensor 350 to be turned on is further reduced. We will express power saving as deep sleep.

First, the activation process will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the presence detection method, and more specifically, a flowchart for explaining the activation process.
When the user turns on the power switch of personal remote controller 300, personal remote controller 300 is activated (ST110).
The power switch may be operated once at the start of use of the personal remote controller 300. When there is no office worker in the work space such as at night, the central control unit 360 of the personal remote controller 300 goes into deep sleep. When the office worker enters the room and the IR sensor 350 of any one of the personal remote controllers 300 detects, the individual environment system 100 is activated.
As the activation process, for example, the central control unit 360 sequentially reads control programs from a ROM (not shown) or the like to bring the system into an activated state. If the activation is successful and there is no error or the like (ST120: NO), then central control unit 360 selects a mode according to the presence or absence of output from IR sensor 350 (ST130).
Thereafter, when there is no sensor output (ST130: NO), the central control unit 360 shifts to deep sleep (ST140) and stops operations other than the interrupt operation by the sensor output.
The absence of sensor output means that there is no heat source in the detection range of the IR sensor 350, that is, there is no person, so there is no task to be performed as the personal remote control 300 as a matter of course. Therefore, until the sensor output as the interrupt signal is input (ST130: YES), the deep sleep (ST140) is maintained and the power consumption is suppressed as much as possible.

When there is a sensor output (ST130: YES), central control unit 360 sets the operation mode to the presence detection mode (ST200). The output from the IR sensor 350 means that the IR sensor 350 has reacted to some heat source.
However, it is not determined immediately that the office worker is present at this point, but in this embodiment, in order to increase the accuracy of presence determination, the presence detection mode (ST200) is used to confirm in detail. . As a result, fluctuations in sensor output and simple passage of people are excluded, and it is accurately determined that the office worker is present.

The operation in the presence detection mode (ST200) will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the presence detection method, and more specifically, is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the presence detection mode (ST200).
FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation. Note that the output signal from the IR sensor 350 is a rectangular wave for convenience of explanation. Alternatively, it may be interpreted that the output signal from the IR sensor 350 is binarized with a predetermined threshold.

FIG. 7 assumes a case where a worker is seated.
When a worker is seated, the IR sensor 350 outputs a signal in response to the heat of the worker, but just because the worker is sitting does not always give a constant high level (H) signal. Absent.
The IR sensor 350 is not necessarily a stable sensor, and repeatedly turns on and off suddenly. In particular, it repeatedly turns on and off until the output stabilizes after detecting heat. Further, even if the office worker is present, if the office worker stops the movement completely, the fluctuation of heat disappears, and in this case, the IR sensor 350 is also turned off.

Now, as illustrated in FIG. 7, for example, it is assumed that the sensor output is turned on at time t0 (ST130: YES). Then, central control unit 360 shifts to the presence detection mode (ST200).
After shifting to the presence detection mode (ST200), the central control unit 360 confirms again whether there is a sensor output (ST201). If there is no sensor output at this time (ST201: NO), it is determined that the previous sensor output is only one-time sudden, and the process immediately shifts to the absence confirmation mode (ST300) described later. The absence confirmation mode (ST300) will be described later.

When there is a sensor output (ST201: YES), the central control unit 360 performs preparations (ST210) for starting the presence detection mode.
The pre-preparation process (ST210) is shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the presence detection method, and more specifically, a flowchart showing a preparatory operation.
As pre-preparation processing (ST210), the counter used in the presence detection mode (ST200) is reset (ST211 and ST212). That is, the time Ts of the presence time counter is reset to 0 (ST211).
The attendance time counter is a counter for accumulating the time that the office worker is considered to be present in the presence detection mode (ST200). When the count value (count time Ts) of the attendance time counter reaches a predetermined threshold (presence determination threshold) (ST272), it is determined that the office worker is present. This point will be described later.

Further, the count value k of the absence detection counter is reset to zero.
The absence detection counter is a counter for counting the number of times when there is no sensor output when sampling the output of the IR sensor 350 at a predetermined sampling timing.
When the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined threshold (absence count threshold) (ST261), it is determined that the office worker is unlikely to be present, and the absence confirmation mode (ST300) is entered. This point will be described later.

After the counter is reset in the preparation (ST210), the central control unit 360 starts a first timer that measures a short period (first period) (ST220). Here, the short cycle T1 is 0.5 seconds. After starting the first timer, the central control unit 360 leaves the clock and the first timer and shifts to sleep.
When the first timer times out (ST230: YES), central control unit 360 returns from sleep and performs sampling of the sensor signal (ST240).

In the timing chart of FIG. 7, it is assumed that the first sampling is performed at time t1, and the sensor output is turned on by the first sampling (ST250: YES).
If the sensor output is on (ST250: YES), the absence detection counter is reset to zero (ST270), and the presence time is added to the presence time counter (ST271).
Here, it is assumed that the office worker is present for 0.5 seconds (first period) by the first timer, and 0.5 seconds is added to the presence time Ts (ST271). Then, it is determined whether the counting time Ts of the presence time counter has reached a predetermined threshold (attention determination threshold) (ST272), and if not yet reached, the process returns to the top of the flow (ST220). Again, the first timer counts 0.5 seconds (ST220), and the sensor signal is sampled (ST240).

Assume that the second sampling timing coincides with the sensor output being turned off (see FIG. 7).
When the sensor output cannot be turned on (ST250: NO), central control unit 360 increments count value k of the absence detection counter by one (ST260).
Then, it is determined whether the count value k of the absence detection counter has reached a predetermined threshold (absence count threshold) (ST261).
Here, the absence frequency threshold is 2.
Now, the count value k of the absence detection counter is 1. That is, the count value (k = 1) of the absence detection counter does not reach the absence count threshold (= 2) (ST261: NO). In this case, it is assumed that the sensor output is off due to a sudden fluctuation of the signal, and it is considered that the office worker is present, and the central control unit 360 adds 0.5 second to the presence time Ts (ST271). ).

Thereafter, as described above, if the presence time Ts does not reach the presence determination threshold value, the process returns to the top of the flow (ST220).
Here, as described above, if the sensor output is ON at the sampling timing, the count value k of the absence detection counter is reset (ST270).
Therefore, unless the sensor output is continuously turned off by the value of the absent number threshold (here, 2) (ST250: NO), the count value k of the absent detection counter does not reach the absent number threshold.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the signal of the IR sensor 350 is suddenly turned off from time to time, but is not turned off twice continuously at the sampling timing. If the office worker is present, the time during which the sensor output is turned on is overwhelmingly longer, and the possibility that the sensor output is turned off twice is low. On the other hand, if the sensor output is turned off twice in succession (ST261: YES), the possibility that the worker is absent will increase.

In the example of FIG. 7, since the sensor output does not turn off twice consecutively, the presence time Ts is added every time sampling is performed (ST271), and sampling is performed while including the case where the sensor output is off. When the tour is performed, the seating time Ts reaches the seating determination threshold (4 seconds) (ST272: YES).
When count value Ts of the attendance time counter reaches the attendance determination threshold (ST272: YES), central control unit 360 transmits an attendance report that informs host computer 200 of the attendance of the worker (ST280). .

For example, when the host computer 200 receives an attendance report from the first personal remote controller 300A, the host computer 200 activates the first environment controller 120A assuming that an office worker is present in the first work space 110A.
That is, when the office worker is seated, the personal remote controller 300 detects the seating of the office worker, and the environment adjuster 120 corresponding to the workspace 110 of the office worker is automatically started. For example, the task lighting (121) is turned on, and the air current of the task air conditioning (123) hits the office worker.

The previous example (Fig. 7) assumed that the office worker was seated.
On the other hand, for example, consider a scene in which a person passes near the workspace 110 where no office worker is present.
In FIG. 1, there is no office worker in the second workspace 110 </ b> B, but it is often the case that a person walks across the second workspace 110 </ b> B.
Even when a person passes, the IR sensor 350 senses the fluctuation of heat and outputs a sensor signal.
FIG. 9 is an example of a timing chart assuming a case where a person passes. In the example of FIG. 9, the flow of FIGS. 4 and 5 is applied.

The sensor output is turned on at time t0. Then, when the sensor output is turned on (ST130: YES), it shifts to the presence detection mode (ST200). Then, the sensor signal is sampled at a sampling interval of 0.5 seconds (ST220, ST230).
Referring to FIG. 9, in the first sampling (ST240), since the sensor output is on (ST250: YES), 0.5 second is added to the presence time Ts (ST271).
In the next second sampling, the sensor output is off. 1 is added to the count value k of the absence detection counter (ST260), and 0.5 second is also added to the presence time Ts (ST271).
Thereafter, when the third sampling and the fourth sampling are executed (ST240), it is assumed that the sensor signal is on by chance (ST250: YES). Then, the count value of the absence detection counter is reset (k = 0) (ST270), and the presence time Ts is added (ST271).
At the end of the fourth sampling, the count value Ts of the presence time counter is 2 seconds, but the presence determination threshold (4 seconds) has not been reached (ST272: NO), and the flow is repeated from the top (ST220). .

Assuming that the person has passed, the sensor output continues to be in the off state thereafter.
Now, in the fifth sampling (ST240), the sensor output is off (ST250: NO), so the count value k of the absence detection counter is counted up to 1 (ST260), and the count value k reaches the absent number threshold. The attendance time Ts is also added (ST271).
Accordingly, since the sensor output is also off at the sixth sampling (ST240), the count value k of the absence detection counter is counted up to 2 (ST260). Then, the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches the absence frequency threshold (here, 2) (ST261: YES).
When count value k of the absence detection counter reaches the absence frequency threshold value (ST261: YES), central control unit 360 shifts the operation mode to absence confirmation mode (ST300), assuming that there is a low possibility that the office worker is seated. .

The operation in the absence confirmation mode (ST300) will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the presence detection method, and more specifically, is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the absence confirmation mode (ST300).
In starting the absence confirmation mode (ST300), the central control unit 360 resets the count value Tab of the absence time counter (ST310).
The absence time counter is a counter for accumulating the time that the office worker is not present in the absence confirmation mode.
When the count value (count time Tab) of the absence time counter reaches a predetermined threshold (first absence determination threshold), it is determined that the absence of the office worker continues. More specifically, it is determined that the person has passed the workspace 110 where the worker is absent, and the worker is absent.

Following reset of the absence time counter (ST310), the central control unit 360 starts a first timer that measures a short period (first period) (ST320). Thereafter, the central control unit 360 shifts to sleep, leaving the clock and the first timer.
However, in the absence confirmation mode (ST300), unlike the previous presence detection mode, if there is a sensor output even in the sleep state (ST330: YES), this is used as an interrupt signal, and the central control unit 360 returns immediately. (B in FIGS. 8 and 5). Then, immediately return to the presence detection mode.

For example, there may be a case as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 10, the office worker is seated, but the output of the IR sensor 350 is not stable at the time of start-up, and the sensor output is accidentally turned off at two consecutive sampling timings.
In the example of FIG. 10, since the sensor output is OFF at the second and third sampling timings, the absence confirmation mode (ST300) is entered after the third sampling.
After that, the sensor output is turned on at time tu (ST330: YES), so the attendance detection mode is resumed and the measurement of the presence time is resumed.
However, if the sensor output is sampled at intervals of 0.5 seconds even in the absence confirmation mode (ST300), it is necessary to wait at least 0.5 seconds to return to the presence detection mode (time t4). .
On the other hand, if the sensor output is an interrupt signal, it is possible to immediately return to the presence detection mode and resume the measurement of the presence time when the sensor output returns to ON (time tu).

Now, after starting the first timer, if there is a timeout (ST340: YES) with no sensor output, 0.5 seconds is added as the absence time to the count value Tab of the absence time counter (ST350). If the absence time Tab reaches a predetermined threshold (first absence determination threshold) with no sensor output (ST360: YES, see FIG. 9), the IR sensor 350 may have only responded to the passage of a person. As a result of the determination, the central control unit 360 returns to deep sleep.
The process returns to the top of FIG. 4 and thereafter waits in deep sleep (ST140) until the sensor output is turned on.

According to 1st Embodiment provided with such a structure, there exists the following effect.
(1) Even if the sensor output is turned on, the worker is not necessarily seated. The sensor output may suddenly turn on, or a person may have just passed. It is inefficient to erroneously detect the presence state and start the individual environmental adjuster 120.
In this regard, in the present embodiment, in the presence detection mode (ST200), the presence of the worker is determined when the presence time Ts reaches the presence determination threshold. Therefore, the possibility of erroneously detecting presence is low, and it can contribute to energy saving.

(2) In integrating the attendance time Ts, in this embodiment, the sensor output is sampled (ST240) at a predetermined period (0.5 seconds), and the sleep mode is entered between samplings. ing. To put it simply, while the sensor output is turned on, it seems that the time measurement may be continued continuously. However, if the sensor output is started and the measurement is continued, the power consumption is large.
In this regard, in this embodiment, it is only necessary to start up once every 0.5 seconds and operate (sampling, counting up, etc.) for several milliseconds. Therefore, even if the same seating time is determined, the power consumption can be suppressed to several tenths to several hundredths.

(3) Sampling in a short period in the presence detection mode (ST200) is effective in reducing power consumption, but on the other hand, the sensor output may be accidentally turned off twice consecutively. If the absence detection counter count value k reaches the absence frequency threshold (here 2), there is a high possibility that the worker is not seated at this point, but at this point in time, it is determined that there is no absence and deep sleep is entered. If you migrate, it will take time to recover.
In this regard, in the present embodiment, before the transition to the deep sleep, the absence confirmation mode waits for a few seconds whether the sensor output is turned on in the sleep state. As a result, it was possible to quickly determine the presence while reducing power consumption to the limit.

(4) There is frequent traffic in the office. If only a large number of times of ON is used as a criterion, such as how many times the sensor output is turned on during a predetermined time (several seconds), it will be judged as “present” if several people pass through continuously. There is a risk that.
In this regard, in the present embodiment, when the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches the absence count threshold (here, twice), it is considered that there is a high possibility that the worker is not seated, and the absence confirmation mode is entered (ST300). .
When the sensor output is turned on, the presence detection mode is repeated again. However, since the presence time counter is reset before that, even if there is a passerby continuously, it is not erroneously detected that the person is present. This is an advantage not found in the prior art of Patent Document 3 (Patent 3448471), for example.

(5) Although the personal remote controller 300 has a built-in power generation function for maintenance-free operation, there is a limit to the power generation capacity when power is generated only with room lighting. In addition, it is difficult to enlarge the solar panel 320 in consideration of the installation on the desks of each worker. On the other hand, since the personal remote controller 300 communicates wirelessly with the host computer 200, energy is easily consumed for transmission / reception of radio waves. Therefore, in this embodiment, the possibility of erroneously detecting presence is reduced, and the frequency of performing wireless communication is reduced.
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a presence detection method capable of suppressing power consumption to the utmost limit, and it is possible to realize the personal remote controller 300 that does not require external power supply or battery replacement.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. As a second embodiment, an absence detection method for detecting that a worker is absent will be described.

In the first embodiment, when the central control unit 360 can confirm the attendance of the office worker (ST272: YES), the attendance report is transmitted to the host computer 200 (ST280 in FIG. 5).
Since the office worker is in an attended state, the central control unit 360 next enters a mode for detecting the absence of the office worker (ST400).
The operation in the absence detection mode will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the absence detection mode, and FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation. In FIG. 13, it is assumed that the office worker is present until time t1, and that the office worker leaves the office at time t1.

When the central control unit 360 shifts to the absence detection mode (ST400), it first resets the absence detection counter (ST410), and then starts a second timer that measures a long period (second period) (ST420).
Here, the long cycle T2 is 5 seconds.
The central control unit 360 starts the second timer (ST420), sleeps until time-out (ST430), and performs time-out (ST430: YES), and performs sampling of the sensor output (ST440). Since the office worker is present, the IR sensor 350 responds to the heat of the office worker and the sensor output is on.

If the sensor output is on (ST450: YES), the process returns to the top of the flow (ST410) and repeats sampling every 5 seconds (ST410-ST450).
The sensor output may be turned off even if a worker is present. For example, if the office worker stops moving for a while, the sensor output may be turned off because there is no thermal fluctuation.
In addition, since many office workers work in the respective workspaces 110 in the office, it is necessary to narrow down the detection range of the IR sensor 350 to some extent so as not to react to the office workers in the vicinity or behind.
Therefore, the office worker may move out of the detection range of the IR sensor 350 by taking a little distance from the desk or moving his head to the left, right or down.

For example, in FIG. 13, it is assumed that the sensor output is OFF in the second sampling (ST450: NO).
In this case, central control unit 360 increments count value k of the absence detection counter by one (ST460). Then, it is determined whether the count value k of the absence detection counter has reached a predetermined threshold (absence count threshold) (ST470). If the threshold has not been reached (ST470: NO), sampling is performed again after 5 seconds (ST430). -ST440).
If the sensor output is turned on as in the third sampling in FIG. 13 (ST450: YES), the central control unit 360 resets the absence detection counter (ST410), and samples at intervals of 5 seconds (ST420 to ST450). repeat.
If the office worker is present, it is unlikely that the sensor output is turned off twice in succession, and the absence detection mode of ST410 to ST470 loops while the office worker is present. In this operation, only sampling of several milliseconds is performed every 5 seconds, and the power consumption is extremely small because most of the time is the sleep mode.

Now, consider the case in FIG. 13 where the office worker leaves the office at time t1.
When the office worker leaves the seat, the output of the IR sensor 350 is turned off. Then, the sensor output is turned off twice in succession (ST450: NO), and the count value of the absence detection counter reaches 2.
When the count value of the absence detection counter reaches the absence frequency threshold (here, 2) (ST470: YES), central control unit 360 does not immediately determine absence, and shifts to the absence report transmission waiting mode (ST500). ).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the absence report transmission waiting mode.
Since the operation in the absence report transmission waiting mode is basically the same as the absence confirmation mode (ST300) described with reference to FIG. 8, the corresponding reference numerals are assigned, and redundant description is omitted.
However, in the absence report transmission waiting mode, the second absence determination threshold is 120 seconds longer than the first absence determination threshold (ST560). That is, it waits for 120 seconds without confirming absence.
When working in the office, it is common to leave the desk only occasionally. It is impractical to turn off lighting and air conditioning after just a few seconds away.
Therefore, the central control unit 360 waits for 120 seconds before confirming the absence, and if the sensor output is not turned on for 120 seconds (ST560: YES), confirms the absence state and transmits the absence report to the host computer 200. (ST540).

  For example, if the host computer 200 receives an absence report from the first personal remote controller 300A, the host computer 200 turns off the first environment adjuster 120A because the worker in the first workspace 110A is absent. That is, when the office worker leaves the office, the personal remote controller 300 detects the absence of the office worker, and automatically stops the operation of the environment adjuster 120 that deals with the workspace 110 of the office worker.

According to 2nd Embodiment provided with such a structure, there exists the following effect.
(6) In this embodiment, the absence of the office worker is not immediately determined because the sensor output is turned off once, and it is confirmed whether the sensor output is turned off twice in succession (ST460, ST470).
It is inefficient to immediately determine the absence of a worker because the sensor output is turned off once, and the conventional technology (for example, Patent Document 3 (patent 3) As shown in FIG. 3448471)), for example, it is inefficient to repeat the fine operation for presence detection as shown in FIG. 5 every time.
In this regard, in this embodiment, if the sensor output is not turned off twice (ST450: NO, ST470: YES), the absence detection mode is continued assuming that the office worker is continuously present.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the electric power from being consumed in response to sudden sensor off.

(7) In the absence detection mode, since the sensor output is only sampled once in a long period (second period), the power consumption can be extremely reduced.

(8) Since the absence report transmission waiting mode is provided, even if the office worker actually leaves, if the employee leaves the office for a short period of time within 2 minutes, the lighting or air conditioning is not interrupted and the apparatus waits as it is. Therefore, the lighting does not turn off or turn on with a slight absence.
If the task lighting or task air conditioning is to be turned off even after leaving for a short time, the user may intentionally turn it off with the personal remote controller 300 or set the second absence determination threshold for a short time (for example, 30 seconds). ) Etc. may be changed.

(Modification 1)
In the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 12, the absence time Tab is integrated by repeating the first timer (0.5 seconds) to wait for a predetermined time (first and second absence determination thresholds).
Here, Modification 1 is shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 12 and showing a variation of the absence report transmission waiting mode.
As shown in FIG. 14, when waiting for a predetermined time, a timer (third timer) that can measure a longer period (third period) may be used.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The numerical values shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and the presence determination threshold value (= 4 seconds), the absence frequency threshold value (= 2 times), the first period (T1 = 0.5 seconds), and the first absence determination threshold value. (= 2 seconds), the second absence determination threshold (= 120 seconds), and the second period (T2 = 5 seconds) may be set as appropriate.
A graphical user interface (GUI) may be provided so that each user can change freely.

In the description of the above embodiment, when the host computer receives the absence report from the personal remote controller, the host computer turns off (stops) the environmental controller.
It is arbitrary whether the environmental adjuster is stopped or how to operate when the worker is absent. For example, the absence mode is set for each environmental adjuster, the lighting is slightly darkened, You may control to weaken an air conditioning a little.
In the above embodiment, the office workspace is used, but it can also be used as a remote controller or a human sensor for operating a lighting in a residential room, an air conditioner, or the like.

In the absence report transmission waiting mode (FIGS. 12 and 14), if there are occasional passersby during a waiting period of 120 seconds or 180 seconds, the presence and absence will not be determined by going back and forth between FIG. 11 and FIG. There may be cases where task lighting does not turn off. In this case, the standby time may be set as short as appropriate. For example, the standby time may be set to about 60 seconds to 100 seconds.
Alternatively, there is a way of filtering out passers-by according to the first embodiment. That is, if “with sensor output” does not continue twice, the absence time may be added, and when the threshold value is reached, the absence may be determined.

100 ... Individual environment adjustment system, 110 ... Work space, 111 ... Desk, 112 ... Chair,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Environmental adjuster, 121 ... Task lighting equipment, 122 ... Switch, 123 ... Task air-conditioning equipment, 124 ... Bulb,
200 ... host computer, 201 ... transceiver
210 ... duct, 220 ... fan,
300 ... Personal remote control,
310: Transmission / reception unit, 311 ... Transmission / reception circuit, 312 ... Antenna,
320 ... solar panels,
330 ... secondary battery,
340 ... touch panel,
350 ... IR sensor,
360 ... Central control unit,
370: Power supply circuit.

Claims (9)

A control method for an absence detection device comprising: an infrared sensor; and a central control unit that detects a sensor output of the infrared sensor and determines a presence state of a worker based on the sensor output,
The central control unit
Sampling the sensor output of the infrared sensor every predetermined first period;
If there is the sensor output, add the length of the first period to the seating time Ts,
When the attendance time Ts reaches a predetermined presence determination threshold, it is determined that the office worker is present,
When the sensor output is not sampled when the sensor output is sampled, the count value k of the absence detection counter is counted up,
Until the count value of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, the length of the first period is added to the presence time Ts even if there is no sensor output,
If there is the sensor output when sampling the sensor output, reset the count value of the absence detection counter,
When the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, and when there is no sensor output for a predetermined waiting time, the central control unit determines that the office worker is absent. ,
When the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence count threshold, and if there is the sensor output during a predetermined standby time, the presence time Ts and the count value k of the absence detection counter A method of controlling the absence detection device characterized by resetting the presence. In the control method of the absence detection apparatus according to claim 1,
The central control unit
After determining that the office worker is present, the sensor output is sampled every second period longer than the first period,
The central control unit counts up the count value k of the absence detection counter when there is no sensor output when the sensor output is sampled every second period,
When the count value of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, further, the absence is determined in two stages when there is no sensor output during a predetermined standby time,
The central control unit determines that there is no office worker.   A computer-readable computer program for causing a computer to execute the control method for the absence detection device according to claim 1. Absence detection device having an infrared sensor, a central control unit for detecting the sensor output of the infrared sensor and determining the presence state of the office worker based on the sensor output, and a transmission / reception means for wireless communication Because
The central control unit
Sampling the sensor output of the infrared sensor every predetermined first period;
If there is the sensor output, add the length of the first period to the seating time Ts,
When the attendance time Ts reaches a predetermined presence determination threshold, it is determined that the office worker is present,
When the sensor output is not sampled when the sensor output is sampled, the count value k of the absence detection counter is counted up,
Until the count value of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, the length of the first period is added to the presence time Ts even if there is no sensor output,
If there is the sensor output when sampling the sensor output, reset the count value of the absence detection counter,
When the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence frequency threshold, and when there is no sensor output for a predetermined waiting time, the central control unit determines that the office worker is absent. ,
If the count value k of the absence detection counter reaches a predetermined absence count threshold, and if there is the sensor output during a predetermined standby time, the presence time Ts and the count value of the absence detection counter are calculated. Absence detection device characterized by resetting. In the absence detection device according to claim 4,
When it is determined that the office worker is present, the central control unit transmits an attendance report to an external computer via the transmission / reception unit. In the absence detection device according to claim 4 or 5,
Furthermore, the absence detection apparatus characterized by having a photovoltaic power generation means. In the absence detection device according to claim 6,
The absent presence detection device, wherein the photovoltaic power generation means and the transmission / reception means are erected on the rear side of the infrared sensor. In the absence detection apparatus in any one of Claims 4-7,
Furthermore, the absence detection apparatus characterized by having a touch panel as an operation means. Individual environmental adjusters for each workspace,
A host computer for centrally controlling the operation of each environmental adjuster;
The absence presence detection device according to any one of claims 4 to 7 disposed in each work space,
The host computer and the absence detection device communicate with each other by wireless communication means,
The individual environment adjustment system, wherein the host computer controls the operation of each environment adjuster according to the presence state of the office worker determined by the absence detection device.

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