JPH05215376A - Temperature detecting method for controlling warm heat environment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the working efficiency of a worker by a method wherein control to a comfortable range is effected through detection of the skin temperature of a worker by a non-contact system. CONSTITUTION:In automatic control of warm heat environment of a working area, where a seating work or a work in a fixed place similar to the seating work is performed, by means of heat source devices, the temperature of an object present in the working area is detected in a non-contact state by means of an infrared ray radiation thermometer 2 and the presence or the absence of a worker in the working area is detected by means of a human body detector (a skin exposure part detecting device) 3. The human body detector 3 decides that a detected result is a value equivalent to the temperature of the skin, for example, a hand part, of a worker and based on the detected value of the infrared ray radiation thermometer 2, the heat source devices are operated to perform control to a comfortable range of warm heat environment in a working area. This method improves the working efficiency of a worker.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for forming a comfortable environment when a room occupant is in a fixed position such as desk work, and more specifically, it detects the skin temperature of the room occupant in a non-contact manner. To control the thermal environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in offices, factories, and the like, people are often working at fixed positions due to individualization and specialization of work. It is inevitable that the hotel guest room, hospital sick room, passengers in the vehicle, cab of the car, etc. will stay in a fixed position.

In the conventional air conditioning system, the indoor temperature is determined without considering the individual differences such as the behavior of the occupant, the state of clothing, the sex, the age, the work content, etc., and the indoor temperature is the set temperature. Normally, the operating condition of the air conditioner is automatically controlled so that

That is, in the conventional control of a comfortable thermal environment, the comfort range is empirically determined by physical quantities such as temperature, humidity, air flow, and radiation of the atmosphere, and control is performed such that the value of the physical quantity becomes a target value. There is.

[0005]

However, it is unreasonable to fixedly define the thermal conditions to be the comfortable range in the following points.

(1) The human body temperature is diurnal, and the comfortable range may slide depending on the time of day. (2) The mental tension (awakening) level also changes over time,
The preferred comfort range (physical quantity) may differ depending on the level of arousal. (3) Clothing changes every day, and therefore the black value changes. If the black value changes, the comfort range (physical quantity) will differ. (4) Metabolism also changes over time. Therefore, the comfortable range (physical quantity) differs depending on the metabolic rate.

In the conventional air conditioning system, the thermal conditions are fixedly set without taking such changes into consideration, so that there is a possibility that the temperature range may deviate from the actual comfortable range.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new method for appropriately detecting a comfortable condition preferred by a person and controlling the comfortable thermal environment.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an infrared radiation thermometer for automatically controlling the temperature environment of a work area in which seating work or similar fixing work is performed by heat source devices. Infrared radiation thermometer which detects the presence or absence of a worker in the work area by a human body detector using an infrared sensor It is determined that the temperature of the object detected by the operator is equivalent to the skin temperature of the worker, and the heat source equipment is operated based on the detected value of the infrared radiation thermometer to control the thermal environment of the work area to a comfortable range. And

[0010]

Function As is well known, the infrared radiation thermometer can detect the surface temperature of an object in a non-contact manner, but it does not have the ability to identify the object to be measured. Taking desk work as an example, if an infrared radiation thermometer is installed so that the temperature of an object on the desk can be detected, it is possible to detect the temperature of articles such as documents on the desk and the living body temperature of the back of the hand, fingers, palm, etc. , As it is,
It is not possible to distinguish whether the detected temperature is the temperature of the living body or the temperature of the article. This is possible according to the invention.

Like the infrared radiation thermometer, the infrared type human body detector is also composed of a current collecting element which outputs a weak voltage when the ceramic sensor receives the energy emitted from the human body. In this case, a temperature change is given. The current collecting element outputs only when it is turned on. That is, it outputs only when a person comes in and moves within the detection range. Such a human body detector is often used for lighting switches, etc., and various products are modularized and sold on the market. Has been done.

Therefore, when the human body detector detects the presence of a person in the work area, it can be determined that the signal detected by the infrared radiation thermometer corresponds to the skin temperature of the worker. For example, deskwork involves movements of the back of the hand and palm, and it is almost certain that the detection value of the infrared radiation thermometer that is linked to this movement corresponds to the skin temperature of the back of the hand or palm. It can be considered that the temperature of a stationary article on the desk is close to room temperature (environmental temperature), and the temperature of the clothing part is an intermediate temperature between the skin temperature and the temperature of the stationary article.

Since the skin temperature in the peripheral part (hand part) changes depending on the history of metabolism and the amount of work, the black value, and the level of awakening, it is suitable as a clue signal for knowing the thermal sensation (comfort), and By controlling the thermal environment with the skin temperature as an indication value, a truly comfortable thermal environment can be formed.

In general, in order for the human body temperature to be constantly maintained, the heat production in the body and the heat release to the outside must be physiologically balanced. Part of the metabolic energy is used for work, but most of it is heat. Heat exchange with the surrounding environment is carried out by radiation, convection and evaporation,
When the internal heat storage amount S expressed by the following equation (1) is 0, the human body heat storage and the heat dissipation to the environment are balanced and the body temperature is kept constant.

S = M− (± W) −E−R−C (1) However, S: heat storage in the body, M: metabolism, W: work done by work (+) ,: work by work Is added (+), E is the amount of heat released by evaporation, R is the amount of radiant heat exchange, and C is the amount of convective heat exchange.

The working temperature at which the heat storage amount S becomes 0 is ≉25 to 29 ° C. in the clothes state and ≅29 to 31 ° C. in the naked body. In this temperature range, heat exchange is regulated exclusively by changing the skin surface temperature, and the change in the skin surface temperature is caused by the regulation of the blood flow rate between the deep part of the body and the skin surface layer by the expansion and contraction of blood vessels. In the working temperature range where the heat storage amount S is 0, there should be an external condition in which heat dissipation to the environment is balanced with metabolic heat storage, even without such adjustment of the blood flow rate. Call it a point. On the higher temperature side, there is an evaporative heat control area where evaporative heat is released by sweating, and on the lower temperature side, metabolism is increased by muscle tension, tremors, exercise, etc., location is selected, or clothing is laminated to provide heat insulation. Go into the cold zone of behavioral regulation, where you regulate by actions such as strengthening. In these regions of high temperature and low temperature, the physiological response for body temperature regulation is considered to be a kind of strain, so the factor that evokes such an environment can be regarded as environmental stress. The environment where such environmental stress is small is the so-called comfortable range.

From the above, it is known that the thermal environment for giving a neutral point varies depending on the amount of metabolism of a person. We also know that changes in skin temperature are involved in body temperature regulation, which determines the comfort range.

Fanger announced the derivation of the comfort equation in 1967, combining the heat load of the human body and the human thermal sensation, and PMV
(Predicted Mean Voto: Predicted Mean Voto) was proposed. Among them, as a comfortable condition, skin temperature T _s = 35.7-0.032 (H / A) H = M (1-η) M: Metabolism (kcal / h) η: Efficiency of external work A: Body surface area of human body (M ² ) is given. Here, the skin temperature is the average value of each part of the human body. Therefore, if the skin temperature and the amount of metabolism are calculated and the temperature and humidity are adjusted based on them, the environment for maintaining the neutral point can be given to the human body.

On the other hand, the amount of metabolism (M) is M = α (T _S -T _R ) ... (a) T _S : human skin temperature (° C.) T _R : room temperature (° C) α: proportional coefficient It can be estimated by a formula. Although there is some individual difference in α depending on the sex of the person in the room, age, work content, etc., it should be corrected to an appropriate value according to the person in the room before use.

In the present invention, the exposed skin temperature is detected in a non-contact manner and used as a controlled amount for the thermal environment control. However, the skin temperature is liable to change depending on the environment or metabolism, especially in the peripheral region. By adopting the skin temperature of the part,
It is possible to create a truly comfortable thermal environment.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a desk 1 for controlling a comfortable thermal environment of a personal work area of the desk work.
2 shows a state in which the infrared radiation thermometer 2 detects the object temperature, and the stand is installed at a position where the skin temperature of the hand of the operator can be detected. Further, the human body detector 3 (hereinafter referred to as the skin exposed portion detection device 3) is set at a position where the movement of the hand of the operator can be detected. The infrared radiation thermometer 2 and the exposed skin detecting device 3 are installed at almost the same position, and both are set at positions where the operator's hands can be most easily focused.

As the infrared radiation thermometer 2, a known one using a ceramic sensing element can be used. For example, a commercially available current collecting type infrared sensor module is convenient. Similarly, the exposed skin detecting device 3 can also use a current collecting type infrared sensor module commercially available as a human body detector.

FIG. 2 illustrates a control mode according to the present invention when the infrared radiation thermometer 2 and the skin exposed portion detecting device 3 are used.

The infrared radiation thermometer 2 comprises a condenser lens 6, an infrared sensor 7, an amplifier 8, a filter 9, a mixer 10, a chopper 11, a diode 12 and a temperature correction circuit 13, and the condenser lens 6 collects the light. The infrared rays are converted into an electric signal (voltage corresponding to the amount of received light energy) by the sensor 7, and then enter the mixer 10 through the amplifier 8 and the filter 9.

Since the infrared radiation thermometer 2 is a differential type sensor that captures and outputs the temperature difference between the background temperature and the object to be measured, it is also necessary to detect the background temperature. For this purpose, a chopper 11 is attached in front of the sensor 7, and the chopper 11 is intermittently driven to make the chopper 11
The detected temperature when the sensor is blocked by is detected as the background temperature. For this purpose, the diode 12 and the temperature correction circuit 1
3 is set, and the signal that has passed through the temperature correction circuit 13 enters the mixer 10, where it is compared with the signal of the measured object to obtain the temperature difference. As a result, the mixer 10 outputs the temperature signal of the object to be measured. This is input to the comparator 5.

On the other hand, the exposed skin detecting device 3 includes a condenser lens 14, an infrared sensor 15, an amplifier 16 and a filter 1.
7, a comparator 18, and a reference voltage circuit 19, and a timer is built in depending on the case. The infrared light condensed by the condenser lens 14 is converted into an electric signal (voltage corresponding to the amount of received light energy) by the sensor 15 and then the amplifier 1
6 and the filter 17 and then the comparator 18, and only when the signal from the filter 17 changes
The comparator 18 outputs that the human body is detected. This detection signal is input to the comparator 5.

Thus, the comparator 5 receives the temperature signal from the infrared radiation thermometer 2 as well as the detection signal from the skin exposed portion detection device 3 for notifying the presence of a person. When the detection signal is input, the comparator 5 determines that the temperature signal is the skin temperature, and outputs the temperature signal to the control device 21 of the heat source device 20 as a control instruction signal. To do.

FIG. 3 shows a control flow of the infrared radiation thermometer 2 and the exposed skin detecting device 3.

Before outputting the instruction signal detected as the skin temperature to the control device, it is input to a memory meter (not shown) and the value is stored, and the stored data before the last time is stored. For example, the average value and the input value may be compared, and if the difference is within a certain range, an operation of confirming that the instruction signal is the skin temperature may be performed. This allows reconfirmation of skin temperature.

In this way, the skin temperature is input to the control device 21 for controlling the thermal environment of the environment, and the heat source device 20 is operated based on this instruction signal so that it is within the comfortable range of the worker. An air conditioner can be most commonly used as the heat source device 20 for controlling the thermal environment of the work area. The heat source device 20 may be a cool air or hot air supply device or a heater using radiant heat, and may be a personal air conditioner or a cold / hot air supply device that is provided separately from the main air conditioning equipment that provides air conditioning for the entire room. Etc. can also be applied.

Although the above-mentioned embodiment uses the desk work as the work area, the work area in which the position in the factory is specified, the specific area such as the vehicle, the seat of the car, the bed, the guest room, the reception counter, etc. However, the same control can be performed, and a comfortable environment suitable for a person existing in these specific areas can be formed.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the infrared radiation thermometer can detect the skin temperature of a person in a non-contact manner, and the heat control can be performed so as to provide a comfortable environment according to the metabolism of the person. .. The fact that the skin temperature can be detected in a non-contact type does not cause discomfort associated with wearing compared to using a thermometer that is in close contact with the skin, and there is no need to attach or detach the infrared thermometer or the skin exposed portion detection device. Since it is a small device, it does not disturb the work and does not cause discomfort. From this, it can greatly contribute to the development of human comfortable thermal environment control technology and the improvement of work efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the surface temperature of an object on a desk is detected by an infrared radiation thermometer and a human body detector (skin exposed portion detection device).

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a control mode of the present invention for controlling a heat source device by detecting a skin temperature with an infrared radiation thermometer and a human body detector (skin exposed portion detection device).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the control of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Desk 2 Infrared Radiation Thermometer 3 Skin Exposed Area Detection Device 5 Comparator 6 and 14 Condenser Lens 7 and 15 Infrared Sensor 8 and 16 Amplifier 9 and 17 Filter 10 Mixer 11 Chopper 13 Temperature Compensation Circuit 19 Reference Voltage 20 Heat Source Device 21 Control device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An infrared radiation thermometer is used to detect the temperature of an object existing in the work area in a non-contact manner when automatically controlling the thermal environment of the work area where seating work or similar fixing work is performed by heat source devices. In addition, the presence or absence of a worker in the work area is detected by a human body detector using an infrared sensor in a non-contact manner, and the infrared radiation thermometer detects when the human body detector detects the presence of the worker. The temperature of the object is judged to be equivalent to the skin temperature of the operator, and the heat source equipment is operated based on the detected value of the infrared radiation thermometer to control the thermal environment of the work area to a comfortable range. Temperature detection method for controlling thermal environment. 2. The temperature detecting method for controlling a thermal environment according to claim 1, wherein the infrared radiation thermometer is installed at a position on the desk for detecting an object temperature.