JPH01121647A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control an air flow direction of conditioned air corresponding to a position of a human body present in a room by a method wherein a partial area for sensing an amount of infrared rays is scanned by a simple sensor within a sensing area over an entire sensing area and at the same time an air flow direction adjusting mechanism of an air conditioner is cooperatively driven in response to the scanning operation. CONSTITUTION:A shielding member 15 is driven by a driving means 20 in such a way as a partial area A within a sensing area 1 where an infrared rays is concentrated by an infrared-ray concentrating means l is varied in sequence over the entire sensing area 1 and then an amount of infrared rays collected by the amount of infrared-ray sensing means 4 is detected in every time. A presence of a person is detected by a human body sensing means 11 in response to a variation of amount of light and if the human body is present, a human body signal is outputted. In this case, since a louver 16 is driven in cooperation with a driving means 20, if a human body signal is outputted within a specified partial area A, the louver 16 is controlled to be stopped at its specified inclined direction by the controlling means 12 and then an air flow direction is fixed toward the specified partial area A.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is an air conditioner that detects the presence and position of a human body in a specific detection area and performs air conditioning according to each condition. Relating to a harmonizing device.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, "Transistor Technology Special Issue Sensor φ Interfacing No. 2.187-194", an infrared sensor installed in a detection area and an infrared ray emitted from the detection area have been used. It is equipped with a condensing system that uses a reflector or lens to focus the light onto an infrared sensor, and a signal processing circuit that determines the presence or absence of a human body based on the amount of infrared light detected by the infrared sensor, and uses infrared light emitted from the human body. There are known devices that attempt to detect the presence of a human body within a detection area.

On the other hand, as an air conditioner using such an infrared sensor, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-122443, there is an infrared sensor installed in a detection area and an amount of infrared light detected by the infrared sensor. There is a device that is equipped with a signal processing circuit that determines whether a human body is present or not, and a control device that controls the direction of the conditioned air according to the output of the signal processing circuit, and attempts to perform air conditioning that corresponds to the position where the human body is present. .

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By using the conventional infrared sensor described above, it is possible to automatically detect whether or not a human body exists within the detection area, so it can be applied to, for example, crime prevention devices. be able to.

However, on the other hand, it is not possible to detect in which region of the detection area a human body is present. Therefore, a single sensor cannot be used to perform actions on a specific region of the detection area, such as specifying the direction of an air conditioner and performing cooling or heating.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned system that attempts to control the wind direction of an air conditioner according to the position of the human body, there is no direct link between the infrared sensor and the wind direction adjustment mechanism, and the control is simply performed by signal processing. When considering the combination with the conventional infrared sensor described above, there is a problem that a large number of sensors are required, resulting in a complicated configuration.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and its purpose is to scan the entire detection area with a partial area in which the amount of infrared rays is detected by a single sensor within the detection area. By detecting the presence of a human body in a specific location, and by linking the air conditioner's wind direction adjustment mechanism to the scanning, the system can control the direction of the conditioned air according to the position of the human body in the room with a simple configuration. It's about doing.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the solving means of the present invention provides a detection area for detecting the presence of a human body (
1) Targets air conditioning equipment installed in 1).

The infrared ray amount detection means (4) detects the amount of infrared rays.
), an infrared condensing means (R) that condenses infrared rays from the detection area (1) onto the infrared quantity detection means (4), and human body detection means (11') that detects the presence of a human body based on changes and outputs a human body signal; and the infrared light condensing means <n
＞ so that the partial area (A) within the detection area (1) to which light is focused is sequentially changed over the entire detection area (1).
A shielding member (15) movably shielding the front surface of the infrared condensing means (L), a driving means (20) for driving the shielding member (15), and a driving means (20) for movably shielding the front surface of the infrared condensing means (L). When receiving a human body signal from the human body detection means (11), a wind direction adjusting louver (16) driven in conjunction with the human body signal (15) adjusts the wind direction by the louver (16) to the partial area (16) where the human body signal is output. A control means (12) for controlling the drive means (20) so as to be fixed on the A) side is provided.

(Function) With the above configuration, in the present invention, the drive means (20) converts the partial area (A) in the detection area (1) where infrared rays are focused by the infrared light collecting means (l) into the detection area (1).
The shielding member (15) is driven so as to change sequentially over the entire area, and each time the amount of infrared light collected is detected by the infrared light amount detection means (4). The presence of a person is detected by the human body detection means (11) based on the change in the amount of light, and if a human body is present, a human body signal is output.

In that case, since the louver (16) of the air conditioner is driven in conjunction with the drive means (20), the specific partial area (A
), when a human body signal is output, the control means (
12), the driving means (20) is controlled so that the louver (16) stops tilting in a certain direction, and the wind direction is fixed in the direction of the specific partial area (A).

Therefore, with a simple configuration using a single infrared condensing means (4), it is possible to determine the wind direction corresponding to the position of the human body.

can be controlled.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

FIG. 2 shows the installation state of the human body position detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which (1) is a rectangular parallelepiped indoor space as a detection area for detecting the presence of a human body; ) A human body position detecting device (2) is attached to the upper part of one side wall (1a).

The human body position detection device (2) is equipped with a box-shaped frame (5), as shown in enlarged detail in FIG. A dual type pyroelectric sensor (4) is attached to the side surface as an infrared ray amount detection means for detecting the amount of infrared light. Further, a multi-segment Fresnel lens CB> is attached to the side surface opposite to the side surface on which the pyroelectric sensor (4) is attached (the side opposite to the chamber wall (1a)). The Fresnel lens (N) has many partial lenses (# +
), U! 2) It is large enough to collect infrared rays from the entire indoor space (1). The Fresnel lens (1) is located in an indoor space (1).
rectangular small areas (At), (At), etc., which are subdivided in the parallel (horizontal) direction and perpendicular (vertical) direction to the room wall (1a) where the human body position detection device (2) is installed.・The infrared rays from the partial detection area (A) consisting of the pyroelectric sensor (4
) is designed to focus light onto a Fresnel lens (!).
I) is an infrared concentrator that condenses infrared rays from a plurality of partial detection areas (partial areas) (A) in the indoor space (detection area) (1) onto the pyroelectric sensor (infrared ray amount detection means) (4). It is a light means.

Further, (15) is a shielding plate as a shielding member that is provided in contact with the outside of the Fresnel lens (p) and has a substantially quarter-cylindrical shape that follows the outline of the Fresnel lens (Cal'). As shown in FIG. 4, the shielding plate (15) has an outer edge extending horizontally at its lower end, shields the upper front surface of the Fresnel lens (l), and is movable around its cylindrical axis. In other words, the shielding area for the Fresnel lens (R) can be increased or decreased at will.In other words, the shielding plate (15) is moved intermittently around its axis to cover the partial detection area (A).
) while keeping the width constant, that is, the small area (At ) included in the partial detection area (A), (A2
), . The shielding area is changed.

On the other hand, (14) is a stepping motor that is attached to the side wall (1a) of the indoor space (1) and serves as a drive mechanism for rotationally driving the shielding plate (15).

A rotating shaft (14a) of the stepping motor (14) extends horizontally along the side wall (1a).
The shaft of a louver (16) for adjusting the wind direction of the air conditioner is connected to the central part of 14'a), and the cylindrical shaft of the shielding plate (15) is connected to the tip thereof. Further, (17) is a bias spring that biases the louver (16) so that its inclination is directed upward of the indoor space (1), and (18) is a bias spring that biases the louver (16) so that its inclination is directed upward of the indoor space (1). A wind direction switching spring made of a shape memory alloy that biases downward,
Due to the change in force based on the shape memory characteristic of the wind direction switching spring (18), the inclination of the louver (16) with respect to the motor rotation axis (14a) is changed in the direction above the human body (the wind direction shown by the broken line in FIG. 6) during cooling operation. ), and during heating operation, the airflow can be switched to two stages so that the wind direction is directed toward the feet of the human body (the direction of the wind indicated by the solid line in FIG. 6).

Note that the small area (At) is subdivided vertically and horizontally.

There is a Fresnel lens (it) between (A: ) and...
There is a grid-like non-detection area (B) that does not receive infrared light, and if a human body moves across the non-detection area (B) within the partial detection area (A), pyroelectric The presence of a human body can be detected by changing the total amount of infrared light focused on the sensor (4).

The control device that processes the signal from the pyroelectric sensor (4), as shown in FIG.
an amplifier (8) for amplifying the infrared signal from the amplifier (8), a filter (9) for removing noise from the infrared signal amplified by the amplifier (8), and an infrared signal from the filter (9) and a reference power source ( A comparator (11) serves as a human body detection means to detect the presence of a human body by comparing the reference voltage (10) with the reference voltage and outputting a human body signal if it is higher than the reference power supply, and a CPU (11) for controlling the entire device. 12) and the CPU
(12), the stepping motor (1
4) and a drive circuit (13) for driving the device. The driving circuit (13) and the stepping motor (14) constitute a driving means (20) for driving the shielding plate (shielding member) (15).

Further, when a human body exists in a specific partial area (A) of the indoor space (1) and a human body signal is output from the comparator (11), the CPU (12) causes the stepping motor (14) to move at that position. ) rotation is stopped and
The wind direction adjusted by the louvers (16) is fixed in that particular partial area (A). Therefore, the CPU (12) has a comparator (human body detection means) (
When a human body signal is received from the louver (16)
) so that the wind direction is fixed to the partial detection area (partial area) (A) side where the human body signal is output.
0).

Note that even if the entire indoor space (1) is scanned to detect the presence or absence of a human body, if no human body signal is output for a certain period of time,
The operation of the air conditioner is stopped.

In the indoor space (1), a stepping motor (1
4), the partial detection area (A) is intermittently detected in the indoor space (1
), and during that time, if the whole or part of the human body exists within the partial detection area (A), the movement causes the Fresnel lens C11 to move away from the entire partial detection area (A). ) changes the amount of infrared light focused on the pyroelectric sensor (4). Based on the change in the amount of light, the comparator (11) of the control device detects the presence of a human body and outputs a human body signal.
12), the rotation of the stepping motor (14) is stopped at that position, that is, at a predetermined tilted position where the tilt of the louver (16) is directed toward the partial area (A), and as a result, the wind direction of the air conditioner is changed to that position. It will be fixed only to a specific partial area (A).

Next, specific operation control of an air conditioner using the present invention will be explained. FIG. 7 shows the control state of the air conditioner. First, when there is no human body from time TO, the shielding plate (15) is fully opened to monitor the entire indoor space (1). Next, when a person enters the indoor space (1) and a human body signal is output, the air conditioning and button devices start operating (time T1). Then, from the fully closed state of the shielding plate (15), a partial detection area (A) is detected by the stepping motor (14).
(time T2), and when a human body is detected, the shielding plate (15) is stopped and the wind direction is fixed (time T3).
. After that, monitoring by the sensor (4) continues, and for example, if a person moves from that partial detection area (A) (time T4),
If the human body signal is not output even after a certain period of time has passed, the shielding plate (15) is rotated again to detect the partial detection area (
Enlarging A) at time T5), when a human body signal is output, the rotation of the shielding plate (15) is stopped and the wind direction is fixed (at time T5).
a). On the other hand, after the person leaves the room (time T7), the rotation of the shielding plate (15) is started after a certain period of time has passed (time T8), and the partial detection area (A) is expanded (time Ts). If no human body signal is output even after monitoring the presence or absence, the operation of the air conditioner is stopped (time Too).

Therefore, in the above embodiment, the comparator (human body detection means) (11 ), while rotating the shielding plate (15) with the stepping motor (14),
The partial detection area (A) is scanned over the entire indoor space (1), and a louver (16) is connected to the rotating shaft (14a) of the stepping motor (14) to detect the specific partial area (A). When a human body signal is output, the stepping motor (14).

Since the inclination of the louver (16) is fixed by stopping its rotation, it is possible to fix the air conditioner so that the wind direction is directed only to that partial area (A). Further, in that case, only one infrared sensor (4) is required, and a complicated configuration is not required as in the conventional case. Therefore, with a simple configuration, it is possible to perform wind direction control corresponding to the position of the human body.

In particular, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation shaft of the stepping motor (14) is controlled by the wind direction switching spring (18) so that the wind direction is directed toward the head during cooling operation and toward the feet during heating operation. Since the inclination of the louver (16) relative to the air conditioner is switched in two stages for cooling and heating, it has the remarkable effect of providing a comfortable air conditioning effect.

In the above embodiment, a multi-segmented Fresnel lens (!I) was used as the infrared focusing means, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, a segmented parabolic mirror may be used. , spherical mirror, elliptical mirror, etc. can be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the lower side of the shielding plate (15) is made into an open shape so that only the upper part of the Fresnel lens C11) is shielded, and the partial detection area (A) is expanded to cover the entire indoor space (1). , but the shielding plate (15
) may have a structure with a slit of a predetermined width to form a band-shaped partial detection area (A), and the partial detection area (A) may be scanned so as to move throughout the indoor space (1). In that case, finer wind direction control can be performed for a narrower specific partial area (A).

Further, in the above embodiment, the louver (16) is swung up and down, but it goes without saying that it may be swung left and right.

In addition to the above-mentioned embodiments, the means for switching the wind direction in two stages for cooling and heating include electromagnets, manual switching, and the like.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the human body position detection device of the present invention, the presence of a person is detected based on the change in the amount of infrared rays from a partial area of the detection area that is focused on the infrared ray amount detection means. While detecting with the means, the shielding member is driven by the driving means so that the partial area changes sequentially over the entire detection area, and the louver is linked to the driving means, and a human body signal is output in the specific partial area. In some cases, the tilt of the louver is fixed, so the air conditioner can be fixed so that the airflow direction is directed only to that particular area, and with a simple configuration, it is possible to control the wind direction according to the position of the human body. It can be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. 2 to 7 show embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of the indoor space, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire human body position detection device, and FIG. 4 is a stepping motor. Fig. 5 is a signal path diagram showing the control system of the human body position detection device, Fig. 6 is an illustration of changing the wind direction during cooling/heating operation, and Fig. 7 is an air conditioner. 2 is a block diagram showing the operating state of the vehicle. (1) Indoor space (detection area), (A)...Partial detection area (partial area), (4)...Pyroelectric sensor (infrared ray amount detection means), (ff)...Fresnel lens (infrared (light collecting means), (11)... comparator (human body detection means), (12)... CPU (control means), (15)...
)...Shielding plate (shielding member), (16)... Louver, (20)... Drive means. Patent applicant: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
′: Agent Patent Attorney Mae 1) Hiroshi 1
．． 4-1 Figure 4 Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An air conditioner installed in a detection area (1) for detecting the presence of a human body, which includes an infrared amount detection means (4) for detecting the amount of infrared light, and an infrared light from the detection area (1). detecting the presence of a human body based on changes in the amount of infrared light detected by the infrared light collecting means (l) and the infrared light amount detecting means (4); human body detection means (11) that outputs a human body signal;
Detection area (1) condensed by the infrared condensing means (l)
A shielding member (15) movably shielding the front surface of the infrared condensing means (l) so as to sequentially change the partial area (A) within the detection area (1); 15), a wind direction adjusting louver (16) driven by the driving means (20) in conjunction with the shielding member (15), and a human body detecting means (11). When a signal is received, the louver above (1
6) The wind direction is determined by the partial area where the human body signal is output (A
) control means (12) for controlling the drive means (20) so as to be fixed on the side.