JPH0158427B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention measures the number of people from infrared rays emitted by human bodies, determines the degree of crowding, and optimally controls air conditioning in buildings, department stores, etc.

With the aim of accurately detecting the number of people from infrared rays emitted by the human body with a simple and inexpensive configuration, the applicant previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 57-172379 ``Crowding Level Detection Device'' and Japanese Patent Application No. 57-192763. We are proposing a "crowding degree detection device." Although detailed explanations thereof will be omitted, one embodiment of the basic configuration is shown in FIG.

In Fig. 1, 1 houses a condensing lens 2, a plane reflecting mirror (scanning mirror) 3 that rotates at a constant cycle, and an infrared detection element (hereinafter simply referred to as a detection element) 4 that responds to changes in incident infrared rays. 5 is a scanning motor that drives the flat reflecting mirror 3; 7 is a preamplifier; 8 is a bandpass filter for removing noise components; 9 is a main amplifier; 10
1 is a comparator which outputs a pulse signal when the input signal is at a predetermined level or higher; 11 is a multiplexer circuit which outputs an output as a sequence of clock pulses corresponding to the pulse width of the pulse signal; and 14 is a counting circuit. Note that a synchronization circuit that generates a signal for setting the field of view of the detection element in synchronization with the rotation of the plane reflecting mirror is provided, but is not shown here. In the above configuration, the field of view is set by the synchronization circuit based on a signal synchronized with the rotation of the plane reflecting mirror 3. The comparator 10 extracts only those signals whose output is equal to or greater than a predetermined value from the output signals of the detection element 4 within this set field of view. Furthermore, by utilizing the relationship that the width of the waveform of a signal greater than this predetermined value is approximately proportional to the number of people being measured,
That is, the multiplexer circuit 11 converts a signal exceeding a predetermined value into a number of clock pulses corresponding to the width of the waveform, and the counting circuit 14 counts the number of clock pulses to measure the number of people in the field of view or the degree of crowding. . Note that FIG. 1 shows only one channel with one sensing element 4, and the other channels are omitted.

On the other hand, the configuration of air conditioning equipment in buildings, department stores, etc. is generally as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

In FIG. 2, 21 is a room, 22 is an air outlet, 23 is an air supply duct, 24 is an exhaust duct, and 25 is an air outlet.
is a blower, 26 is an air conditioner, 26a is an air heater, 2
6b is an air cooler, 26c is an air filter, 27
is a hot water boiler, 28 is a refrigerator, 29 is an outside air intake duct, 30 is a cooling tower, 31 is a temperature detector, 32 is an air conditioning control device, 33 is an air volume regulator, 34 is a hot water pipe, 35 is a cold water pipe, 36 3 is a cooling water pipe, and 37 is a return air duct. Here, as the temperature detector 31, a bimetal made of amber and brass, a shield bellows, a diaphragm, etc. are generally used, and the expansion, contraction, and expansion due to temperature changes are extracted as physical displacements, and are converted into electric or pneumatic pressure. The air volume is converted into a signal and the air volume is adjusted via the air conditioning control device 32 and the air volume controller 33, and the temperature in the room 21 is automatically adjusted. In addition, recently, in order to obtain fast response, some devices use resistance temperature detectors or thermocouples as temperature detectors, but in any case, all of these devices detect changes in room temperature to control temperature. .

However, for example, if a department store suddenly becomes crowded with people during the summer, there is a time delay before the room temperature rises (usually 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the indoor space), so However, the control of the room temperature is also delayed, and during this time, people experience extreme discomfort. Generally, the total energy radiated from the human body is approximately 10 to 100 W per person, and the radiated energy decreases in inverse proportion to the square of the distance, so if you want to reduce the time delay in temperature adjustment, the above method In this method, a large number of temperature detectors must be placed in the room to control the temperature by detecting temperature changes in the room. Even if a large number of temperature detectors are installed, some delay is unavoidable, and in crowded situations, people come into close contact with each other, and people partially receive large amounts of radiant energy from their surroundings, resulting in temperature fluctuations. It causes discomfort even before the detector controls it. This discourages customers from purchasing at department stores, etc.
This is a big disadvantage. Therefore, in the past, in these cases, the air conditioner had to be operated manually.
It was completely useless as an automatically controlled air conditioner.

In view of the above points, the present invention provides an apparatus that uses the congestion level detection device to perform air conditioning control in real time according to the level of congestion, thereby constantly maintaining an optimal condition.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the congestion level detection device for air conditioning control according to the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 3, 14a is an output signal of the counting circuit 14, which is output when the number of people within the visual field exceeds a predetermined value. Reference numeral 15 denotes a monostable multivibrator, which outputs a pulse 15a for a set time (at least one period of scanning) when a signal 14a is input. 16 is a time detection circuit (described later), and pulse 15
When a continues for a predetermined period of time, a signal 16a is output.
That is, the time detection circuit 16 outputs a signal 16a when a certain congestion continues for a predetermined time within the visual field. This is to avoid detection when the number of people passing through the room temporarily increases. 6 is a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature inside the room (within the field of view), and uses, for example, a thermistor or an IC as a temperature sensor controller. 12 is a level shift amplifier, 12a is its output, and 13 is a temperature change detection circuit (described later) that outputs a signal 13a when the ambient temperature rises and the temperature continues to be higher than a predetermined value for a predetermined time. 17 is an output circuit, which receives the input signal 16a.
Alternatively, the control signal 17a or 17b is output to the air conditioning control device 32 according to the signal 13a. The air conditioning control device 32 controls the air volume of the air conditioner according to the signal 17a or 17b. In addition, in FIG. 3, the output of the counting circuit 14 is represented by one output, but
A plurality of output terminals are provided by setting a predetermined value of the degree of congestion in multiple stages, a monostable multiviberator 15 and a time detection circuit 16 are connected to each, and a signal 17a corresponding to each is input to the air conditioning control device 32. . Therefore, in the case of normal crowding of people, in the air conditioning control device, if the predetermined time of the time detection circuit 16 is appropriately set, real-time control can be performed using the signal 17a according to the degree of crowding.
When using fire or hot air indoors, or when signal 17a
If optimization cannot be achieved and temperature rise is detected, control is performed using signal 17b.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the time detection circuit 16, in which R ₁ to R ₆ are resistors, C ₁ is a capacitor, and 4
1 is a diode, 42 is a FET transistor, 4
3 and 44 are operational amplifiers, 45 is a transistor,
P is a positive power supply, N is a negative power supply, the operational amplifier 43 constitutes an integrator with a resistor _R5 and a capacitor _C1 , and the operational amplifier 44 constitutes a comparator with resistors _R3 and _R4 . Now, when there is no signal 15a, the transistor 45 is OFF, and therefore the FET transistor 42 is ON, and the input and output of the operational amplifier 43 are connected via the resistor R ₂ , so here R ₅ ≫
Assuming R ₂ (R ₂ is a small resistor and should be selected at several tens of Ω), the output voltage V ₀ becomes V ₀ = R ₂ /R ₅ V _s ≒ 0 (V _s = input voltage), and the signal 16a is not output. At this point, when the congestion degree exceeds a predetermined value, signal 1
When 5a is input (however, a negative logic pulse), the transistor 45 is turned on, and therefore the FET transistor 42 is turned on.
is turned off, the operational amplifier 43 becomes an integrator, and V ₀ ≈1/C ₁ R ₅ ∫V _s dt. Since the operational amplifier 44 constitutes a comparator, a signal 16a is output when V ₀ exceeds a threshold level determined by resistors R ₃ and R ₄ . That is, when a certain degree of congestion continues for a predetermined period of time, a signal 16a is output.
This predetermined time can be arbitrarily set by changing the time period of the integrator or the threshold level.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the temperature change detection circuit 13, in which 51 is a comparator, 51a is its output, 52 is a monostable multivibrator, 52a is its output, and 53 is a time detector similar to that in FIG. It is a circuit. If the ambient temperature rises and exceeds a certain level, the comparator 51 will output an output 51a, but if this is instantaneous, the signal 13a will not be output, similar to the congestion level time detection circuit. Further, even if the signal 13a is continuous, the signal 13a is not outputted within the time set by the time detection circuit 53. In general, the temperature of the ceiling is higher than the floor surface even when the room is cooled, and the temperature may temporarily rise due to the flow of air, but according to the present invention, such cases are not detected. This allows you to avoid unnecessary control.

Although the above description has been made regarding the case where the indoor temperature rises (cooling), it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where heating is performed.

As described above, according to the present invention, air conditioning can be controlled in real time according to the degree of indoor congestion, and even if temperature changes occur due to causes other than congestion, control can be performed in the same manner as before. This allows you to keep the room in optimal condition at all times.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a conventional congestion level detection device, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning equipment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a congestion level detection device for air conditioning control according to the present invention. , FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the time detection circuit, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the temperature change detection circuit. 3...Flat reflecting mirror, 4...Detection element, 5...Scanning motor, 6...Temperature sensor, 7...Preamplifier, 9...Main amplifier, 8...Band pass filter,
10... Comparator, 11... Multiplexer circuit, 12... Level shift amplifier, 13... Temperature change detection circuit, 14... Counting circuit, 15... Monostable multivibrator, 16... Time detection circuit, 17... Output circuit, 21... Indoor, 26...
Air conditioner, 31... Temperature detector, 32... Air conditioning control device, 33... Air volume controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Equipped with a scanning mirror that rotates at a constant period, an infrared detection element that outputs a signal according to changes in infrared rays incident through the scanning mirror, and sets a field of view based on a signal synchronized with the rotation of the scanning mirror. Then, from the output signal of the infrared sensing element within the field of view, only the signal whose output is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is extracted, and the number of people or the degree of crowding within the field of view is detected from the width of the waveform of the signal whose output is equal to or higher than the predetermined value. The congestion level detection device includes: a time detection circuit that detects that congestion of a predetermined value or more continues in the field of view for a predetermined time; and a temperature change that detects that a temperature change of a predetermined value or more continues for a predetermined time in the field of view. A congestion level detection device for air conditioning control, comprising: a detection circuit; and an output circuit that generates an output for air conditioning control according to an output of at least one of the time detection circuit and the temperature change detection circuit.