JP6853167B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner provided with a motion sensor that detects the presence or absence of a person.

Conventionally, in this type of thing, a human sensor that can detect the presence or absence of a person in the room where the indoor unit is installed is provided, and an on-timer that starts operation in a predetermined operation mode at a set time is a remote control. When set, the judgment time is calculated by learning the elapsed time from the operation start time by the on-timer to the first detection of a person by the human sensor, and within the judgment time from the operation start time by the on-timer. In spite of the fact that the on-timer is set and the air conditioning operation is performed by setting the operation state different from the predetermined operation mode by stopping the operation if the presence of a person cannot be detected by the human sensor. There was one that prevented the indoor unit from continuing to drive unattended and wastefully consuming power. (For example, Patent Document 1)

Japanese Patent No. 3098087

However, in such a conventional one, when the on-timer is set so that the indoor temperature is close to the set temperature when waking up, the indoor unit is installed because the user's wake-up time is slower than usual. If the time to enter the room is later than usual and exceeds the above-mentioned judgment time, the indoor unit does not perform the predetermined operation mode when the user enters the room, and the room temperature becomes the set temperature. There was room for improvement because the divergence and the user may feel uncomfortable.

In order to solve the above problems, in claim 1 of the present invention, an indoor unit installed indoors, a motion sensor for detecting the presence of a person in the room in which the indoor unit is installed, and a motion sensor are used.
A remote controller equipped with an on-timer means that can set an on-timer that starts operation in a predetermined operation mode after a predetermined timer time has elapsed from the time of setting.
It is provided with a control unit that controls according to an instruction signal of the remote controller and changes the operation state in a predetermined operation mode when it is determined that the state in which the presence of a person is not detected by the motion sensor continues for a predetermined time. ,
Wherein,
When the inflow timer is set by the entering-Ri timer means, between the operation starting time of the inflow timer of the predetermined time or more predetermined set time, as well as disable the detection result in the human sensor, the predetermined It was characterized by starting the operation in the operation mode of.

Further, in claim 2, wherein the control unit, or when the predetermined set time has elapsed, if the presence of people in the human sensor until the predetermined set time has elapsed is detected, The feature is that the detection result of the motion sensor is enabled, and when it is determined that the state in which the presence of a person is not detected by the motion sensor continues for a predetermined time, the operating state in the predetermined operation mode is changed.

According to the present invention, when the on-timer is set by the on-timer means, the detection result by the motion sensor is invalidated. Therefore, when the on-timer is set, the motion sensor determines that there is no person and the indoor unit is predetermined. Since the operation mode is not performed, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable because the room temperature deviates from the set temperature when the user enters the room where the indoor unit is installed.

In addition, since the detection by the motion sensor is enabled when a predetermined set time elapses from the operation start time of the on-timer set by the on-timer means, even if there is no person in the room where the indoor unit is installed. It is possible to prevent the operation from being continued unnecessarily and the power consumption from increasing.

In addition, since the detection result of the motion sensor is enabled when the presence of a person is detected by the motion sensor from the operation start time of the input timer to the elapse of a predetermined set time, the operation is started by the motion sensor. When the user wakes up and enters the room where the indoor unit is installed before the predetermined set time elapses, the detection result of the presence of a person by the motion sensor becomes effective, so he wakes up. If the user enters the room once and then leaves the room and does not return to the room for a long time, the motion sensor can start counting the time when the presence of a person cannot be detected before the predetermined set time elapses. It is possible to prevent the situation where large operation continues.

Schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention Control block diagram of the same embodiment Flow chart explaining the operation during normal operation of the same embodiment A flowchart for explaining the operation when the on-timer is set according to the same embodiment.

Next, an embodiment of an air conditioner to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is an indoor unit installed indoors, 2 is an outdoor unit installed outdoors, and the refrigerant flows in a refrigerant circuit 3 connecting the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 with a pipe to perform cooling operation. It constitutes an air conditioner capable of heating operation.

The indoor unit 1 detects the presence or absence of a person in the room, an indoor heat exchanger 4 in which the refrigerant flows through a plurality of pipes, a cross flow fan 5 for supplying indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger 4, and the presence or absence of a person in the room. A human sensor 6 is provided, a high-temperature or low-temperature refrigerant is circulated to the indoor heat exchanger 4, and indoor air is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 4 by driving the cross-flow fan 5, and high-temperature or low-temperature is supplied by heat exchange. By blowing the air into the room, the room temperature is adjusted to be close to the set temperature.

Further, the outdoor unit 2 includes a compressor 7 that compresses the refrigerant to make it high temperature and high pressure, a four-way valve 8 that changes the flow direction of the refrigerant, and an expansion valve 9 that expands the refrigerant to make it low temperature and low pressure. An outdoor heat exchanger 10 in which a refrigerant flows through a plurality of provided pipes and a blower fan 11 as an outdoor fan for supplying outside air toward the outdoor heat exchanger 10 are provided, and a four-way valve 8 is provided. By switching, the high-temperature compressed refrigerant and the low-temperature expanded refrigerant are sent to the indoor unit 1 side, and heating operation and cooling operation can be performed.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a remote control for setting the operation mode and the set temperature by the indoor unit 1. The remote control 12 has an operation switch 13 for instructing the start and stop of the operation and switching of each operation mode such as heating operation and cooling operation. An operation changeover switch 14 to be performed, a temperature setting switch 15 for changing the set temperature in each operation mode, and an on timer for starting the operation in the predetermined operation mode set by the operation changeover switch 14 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of operation. Is provided as an on-timer switch 16 as an on-timer means that can be set, and when the on-timer switch 16 is operated, the elapsed time after operating the on-timer switch 16 is a predetermined time for the next operation start time. It can be set between 2 hours and 8 hours.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an indoor unit side control unit provided in the indoor unit 1 and connected to a drive component in the indoor unit 1 by a signal line, and 18 is provided in the outdoor unit 2 with the indoor unit side control unit 17 and a communication line 19. It is an outdoor unit side control unit that is connected and connected to the drive parts in the outdoor unit 2 by a signal line, and the detection result by the human sensor 6 is transmitted to the indoor unit side control unit 17, and the transmitted result is transmitted. The indoor unit side control unit 17 transmits an instruction signal to each drive component in the indoor unit 1 and information on the indoor unit 1 side is transmitted to the outdoor unit side control unit 18 via the communication line 19 based on the above. The control unit 18 transmits an instruction signal to each drive component in the outdoor unit 2 to perform operation in a predetermined operation mode.

Next, the operation during normal operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the operation switch 13 of the remote controller 12 is turned on and the operation start in the predetermined operation mode is instructed, the indoor unit side control unit 17 determines whether the presence of a person can be detected by the motion sensor 6 (step S101). If the presence of a person can be detected, the operation in a predetermined operation mode is started (step S102), and if the presence of a person cannot be detected, the count of the time during which the presence of a person cannot be detected is started (step S103).
Further, when the process of step S102 is completed, the presence or absence of a person is always determined by returning to the process of step S101.

When the process of step S103 is completed, the indoor unit side control unit 17 determines whether the time counted without detecting the presence of a person has reached the first predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes) (step S104). If the first predetermined time has been reached, the mode shifts to the first save mode in which the current set temperature is corrected to reduce the operating load (step S105), and if the first predetermined time has not been reached, a person It is determined whether the presence of a person can be detected by the motion sensor 6 (step S106), and if the presence of a person can be detected, the process proceeds to the process of step S102, and if the presence of a person cannot be detected, the determination of step S104 is repeated.
Here, the first save mode will be described in detail. For example, when the cooling operation is performed and the set temperature reaches the first predetermined time at 26 ° C., the set temperature is corrected to 28 ° C. and the heating operation is performed. When the set temperature reaches the first predetermined time at 22 ° C., the set temperature is corrected to 20 ° C. to reduce the operating load in each operation mode.

When the process of step S105 is completed, the indoor unit side control unit 17 reaches a second predetermined time (for example, 40 minutes) in which the time counted without detecting the presence of a person is longer than the first predetermined time. (Step S107), and when it is determined that the second predetermined time has been reached, the drive parts in the outdoor unit 2 are stopped to stop the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 3, and the cross flow fan 5 of the indoor unit 1 is stopped. The mode shifts to the second save mode in which only the ventilation by the air is continued (step S108), and if the second predetermined time is not reached, it is determined whether the presence of a person can be detected by the motion sensor 6 (step S109), and the person If the presence of a person can be detected, the process proceeds to the process of step S102, and if the presence of a person cannot be detected, the determination of step S107 is repeated.

When the process of step S108 is completed, the indoor unit side control unit 17 reaches a third predetermined time (for example, 60 minutes) in which the time counted without detecting the presence of a person is longer than the second predetermined time. When it is determined that the third predetermined time has been reached (step S110), the drive of the cross flow fan 5 is stopped to completely stop the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 (step S111), and the third If the predetermined time has not been reached, it is determined whether the presence of a person can be detected by the motion sensor 6 (step S112), and if the presence of a person can be detected, the process proceeds to the process of step S102, and if the presence of a person cannot be detected, the process proceeds. The determination in step S110 is repeated.

As described above, the operating state of each operation mode is changed by changing the set temperature and the operation of the drive parts in the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 according to the length of time during which the presence of a person cannot be detected by the motion sensor 6. By changing to the save mode or the completely stopped state, it is possible to prevent the air-conditioning operation from being continued as usual even though there are no people, and it is possible to reduce the power consumption.

Next, the control at the time of setting the on-timer in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the indoor unit side control unit 17 determines whether the operation switch 13 of the remote control 12 is turned ON and an operation start instruction is issued (step S201), and if it is turned ON and an operation start instruction is issued, FIG. The operation during normal operation described with reference to the above flowchart is performed (step S202), and if the ON operation is not performed, it is determined whether the operation start time of the on timer is set by the on timer switch 16 (step S203). If the operation start time is set, the process proceeds to the next step, and if the operation start time is not set, the process returns to the determination in step S201.

If it is determined in step S203 that the operation start time is set by the on-timer switch 16, does the indoor unit side control unit 17 reach the operation start time after the predetermined time set by the on-timer switch 16 has elapsed? If it is determined (step S204) and the operation start time has been reached, the operation in the set operation mode is started with the human detection result by the human sensor 6 disabled, and the time elapsed from the start of the operation. (Step S205) is executed, and if the operation start time has not been reached, the determination in step S204 is repeated.

When the process of step S205 is completed, the indoor unit side control unit 17 determines whether the elapsed time counted from the start of operation by the on-timer has elapsed one hour, which is a predetermined set time (step S206), and counts. If the elapsed time has elapsed for one hour, the time count is stopped, the result of the detection operation of the motion sensor 6 is enabled, and the detection of the presence or absence of a person in the room is started (step S207), and the counted time is reached. If one hour has not passed, it is determined whether the presence of a person in the room can be detected by the motion sensor 6 (step S208), and if the presence of a person can be detected by the motion sensor 6, the process proceeds to the process of step S207 and the time is counted. Is stopped and the result of the detection operation by the motion sensor 6 is enabled to start the detection of the presence or absence of a person in the room.
If the presence of a person cannot be detected by the motion sensor 6 in step S208, the determination in step S206 is repeated.
Then, when the process of step S207 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S202, and the operation during normal operation is performed.

When the process of step S202 is completed, the indoor unit side control unit 17 determines whether the operation switch 13 of the remote controller 12 has been turned off and has been instructed to stop operation (step S209), and if it is determined that there has been an instruction to stop operation, the operation is stopped. The process shifts to the process, the control is terminated, and if there is no operation stop instruction, the determination in step S209 is repeated.

If the operation switch 13 is turned off after the process of step S205 is completed and before the counted elapsed time elapses for one hour, which is a predetermined set time, the process shifts to the operation stop process and the control is terminated.

As described above, if the presence of a person cannot be detected by the motion sensor 6 for a predetermined set time from the start of operation by the on-timer set by the on-timer switch 16, the detection result of the motion sensor 6 is invalidated. Since the operation is performed in each operation mode, the presence of a person is not detected by the motion sensor 6 until the user enters the room in which the indoor unit 1 is installed, so that the operation in each operation mode is performed. Therefore, when the user enters the room, the temperature in the room where the indoor unit 1 is installed deviates from the set temperature, and the user can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable.

Further, when the time counted from the start of operation by the on-timer exceeds a predetermined set time, the detection by the motion sensor 6 is enabled, so that even if there is no person in the room where the indoor unit 1 is installed. Regardless, it is possible to prevent the operation in each operation mode from being continued and reduce the power consumption.

Further, when the time counted from the start of operation by the on-timer is within a predetermined set time, if the presence of a person in the room can be detected by the human sensor 6, the detection result by the human sensor 6 is valid. If the user wakes up and enters the room where the indoor unit is installed between the start of operation by the on-timer and the elapse of the predetermined set time, the detection result of the human sensor becomes valid, so the user wakes up and uses it. If a person enters the room once and then leaves the room and does not return to the room for a long time, the save mode or the count of the predetermined time for switching to the completely stopped state according to the time when the presence of the person cannot be detected before the predetermined set time elapses. Is started, it is possible to prevent the operation with a large power consumption from being unnecessarily continued even though there is no person in the room.

Regarding the detection of the presence or absence of a person within a predetermined set time from the start of operation by the on-timer in step S208, since it is necessary to detect the state in which the person is surely awake, in the normal operation mode. The sensitivity may be different from that of the presence / absence detection of a person in the above. For example, if the motion sensor 6 detects a movement larger than that in the normal operation mode, it is determined that the person is awake and is operating, and the person is judged to be operating. The control may be such that the presence signal is transmitted to the indoor unit side control unit 17.
In addition to the motion sensor 6, a sound detection sensor, a camera, or the like is installed in the indoor unit 1 as a means for determining whether or not a person is awake, and the voice of a person in the room or the movement of a person photographed by the camera is detected. It may be a method of detecting the wake-up state, and any means may be used as long as it can reliably detect the wake-up state of a person.

Further, in the present embodiment, the predetermined set time for disabling the detection by the motion sensor 6 from the start of the operation by the timer is described as 1 hour, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the motion sensor with the remote control 12 is used. The method of disabling the detection in 6 and the time from the start of operation by the on-timer to the detection of the presence of a person by the motion sensor 6 were learned and learned for a predetermined number of days. A method may be used in which a time obtained by adding a margin to the time is set as a predetermined set time, and there is no limitation on the predetermined set time for disabling the detection by the motion sensor 6.

Further, the other configurations used in the present embodiment are presented as an example, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and can be implemented in various other embodiments. Various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1 Indoor unit 6 Motion sensor 12 Remote control 16 Enter timer switch (ON timer means)
17 Indoor unit side control unit

Claims (2)

An indoor unit installed indoors, a motion sensor that detects the presence of a person in the room where the indoor unit is installed, and a motion sensor.
A remote controller equipped with an on-timer means that can set an on-timer that starts operation in a predetermined operation mode after a predetermined timer time has elapsed from the time of setting.
It is provided with a control unit that controls according to an instruction signal of the remote controller and changes the operation state in a predetermined operation mode when it is determined that the state in which the presence of a person is not detected by the motion sensor continues for a predetermined time. ,
Wherein,
When the inflow timer is set by the entering-Ri timer means, between the operation starting time of the inflow timer of the predetermined time or more predetermined set time, as well as disable the detection result in the human sensor, the predetermined An air conditioner characterized by starting operation in the operation mode of <br />. Wherein, either when the setting time before Kisho constant has elapsed, if the presence of people in the human sensor until the predetermined set time has elapsed is detected, by the human sensor The claim is characterized in that the detection result of the above is enabled, and if it is determined that the state in which the presence of a person is not detected by the motion sensor continues for a predetermined time, the operating state in the predetermined operation mode is changed. 1 The air conditioner according to 1.

Images