JPH0676853B2 - Person tracking device and spot air conditioner equipped with the device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention includes an interpersonal tracking device and a device for locally controlling the blowing direction of cold air or warm air, which is equipped with the device and is synchronized with detected human motion. The present invention relates to a spot air conditioner for cooling and heating.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in local air conditioning by a spot air conditioner, cooling and heating by a fixed air blowing duct, cooling by swinging the cold air blowing duct, and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-9155 are disclosed. As described above, the direction of the opening that blows out the cold air is changed two-dimensionally to perform cooling by intermittent cold air.

However, in the case of a fixed air blowing duct, it is effective in fixed-position work where the worker does not move, but in moving work, the worker himself blows out the blowing duct every time the worker moves around and leaves the air conditioning range. It was troublesome to change the direction. Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-9155, cold air is blown out regardless of the position of a person, so that there is a problem that air conditioning is insufficient in a work place or the like particularly in an environment with severe heat. is there.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the applicant of the present invention previously filed Japanese Patent Application No.
In No. 189667, a pair of ultrasonic sensors for detecting a person in a predetermined detection area is fixedly provided in the spot cooler main body, and the detection areas are set to have areas overlapping each other. Proposes that the cold air outlet is rotated in three directions when a person detects a person and when both sensors detect a person.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the ultrasonic sensor is fixed to the spot cooler main body in the above-mentioned proposed method and the number and directionality of the detection areas are limited, the cold air outlet is set within the detection area. The person cannot be accurately aimed at the person, and a sufficient cooling feeling cannot be obtained depending on the person's position in the detection area.

In order to solve this, it is considered that the number of the ultrasonic sensors is increased to subdivide the detection area and the cool air outlet is accurately aimed at a person, but the increase in the number of sensors makes the structure complicated. There is also a problem that if the number of sensors is large, it takes time to detect the position of the person, and the rotation of the cold air outlet is delayed after the movement of the person.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a simple interpersonal tracking device having a structure capable of changing the detection direction of the interpersonal detection means finely, quickly and accurately according to the movement of a person. In addition, it is equipped with a person-following device to rotate the outlet of the wind without delaying the movement of the person, and always apply cold air or warm air to the person accurately to give a feeling of cooling or heating. It is intended to provide a spot air conditioner that can be improved.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention relating to the interpersonal tracking device, a plurality of detection means each having a different detection direction and having a predetermined detection area and detecting a person in each detection area are provided. And the detection area of each detection means has directionality capable of simultaneously detecting a person, the detection direction changing means for changing the detection direction of the interpersonal detection means, and the detection means of the interpersonal detection means And a direction change control means for controlling the detection direction changing means so that the detection directions of the person detecting means are simultaneously detected by the respective detecting means based on the detection signals from at least two detecting means. .

Further, in the invention of claim 2 of the present application regarding the spot air conditioner,
An outlet for rotatably provided in the spot air conditioner main body for blowing out cool air or warm air, and an outlet outlet rotating means for rotating the outlet, each having a different detection direction and a predetermined detection area. It is provided with an interpersonal detection means comprising a plurality of detection means for respectively detecting a person in each detection area, and the detection area of each detection means has a direction capable of simultaneously detecting a person, and the detection direction of the person detection means Of the detection direction changing means for changing the detection direction, the direction change control means for controlling the detection direction changing means to change the detection direction of the interpersonal detection means in synchronization with the outlet, and the detection means of each of the interpersonal detection means. An outlet rotation control that controls the outlet rotation means based on detection signals from at least two detection means to control the direction of the outlet in the direction in which a person is simultaneously detected by each detection means. And a means.

[Action]

With the above configuration, in the first aspect of the invention, the direction change control means controls the detection direction change means based on the detection signals from at least two detection means of the individual detection means. Then, the detection direction changing means changes the detection direction of the interpersonal detection means to a direction in which a person is simultaneously detected by each detection means.

Further, in the invention of claim 2, the air outlet rotation control means controls the air outlet rotation means based on the detection signals from at least two detection means of the detection means of the person detection means. Then, the air outlet rotating means controls the direction of the air outlet so that a person is simultaneously detected by the respective detecting means.
Further, the direction change control means controls the detection direction change means, and the detection direction change means changes the detection direction of the person detection means in synchronization with the direction change of the blowout port.

〔Example〕

An embodiment embodying a spot cooler as a spot air conditioner of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cool air blowing duct 3 as an air outlet is supported at the center of the front upper part of a box-shaped cooler body 2 of a spot cooler so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction.

First and second ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 as detecting means constituting the human detecting means are fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the tip end of the duct 3 for blowing cold air, and the first ultrasonic sensor C1 is in a horizontal plane. Is directed diagonally forward left (upward in FIG. 4), and the second ultrasonic sensor C2 is directed diagonally forward right (downward in FIG. 4) in the horizontal plane. Each of the ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 is an ultrasonic pulse type sensor, and is composed of an ultrasonic transmitter / receiver that emits ultrasonic waves and receives the reflected waves. Then, as shown in FIGS.
The first ultrasonic sensor C1 can detect a person in the directional first detection area Z1, and the second ultrasonic sensor C2 can detect a person in the directional second detection area Z2. It can be detected. The detection areas Z1 and Z2 by both the sensors C1 and C2 partially overlap, and the overlapped area is referred to as a third detection area Z3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base portion of the duct 3 for blowing cold air is connected to a mounting cylinder 5 which is rotatably supported by a support shaft 4 in the cooler body 2 in the left-right direction. Mounting tube 5
A rotary member 6 is fixedly mounted on the inner surface of the drive motor 7, and the rotary member 6 serves as a blower outlet rotary means and a drive motor 7 as a detection direction changing means for changing the directions of the detection areas of the ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2. It is connected via a link member 10 to a drive arm 9 of a speed reducer 8 that decelerates and outputs rotation.

When the drive motor 7 is driven, the rotational force reduced by the speed reducer 8 is transmitted to the mounting cylinder 5 via the drive arm 9 and the link member 10, and the cold air blowing duct 3 and the ultrasonic sensor C1 ,. C2 is designed to rotate in the left-right direction. That is, the ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 are the ducts 3 for blowing cold air.
Is rotated in synchronism with, and the detection direction is changed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a fan switch 11 and a follow-up switch 12 are arranged on the upper front surface of the cooler body 2. The fan switch 11 starts drive control of a compressor 14 (see FIG. 3) of a refrigeration cycle provided in the spot cooler 1 and drive control of an evaporator fan 15 (see FIG. 3), and the cool air blowout duct 3 It is a switch for blowing cold air. Further, the follow-up switch 12 is a switch for starting the rotation control of the cold air blowing duct 3 based on the detection of a person by the sensors C1 and C2.

Next, the electrical configuration of the person following device for the spot cooler 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

The first and second ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 are provided in the controller 13 as the outlet rotation control means and the direction change control means.
Are connected, and the detection signals of the sensors C1 and C2 are input. Further, the fan switch 11 and the follow-up switch 12 are connected to the controller 13, and each switch 1
Operation signals are input from 1,12. Further, the drive motor 7, the compressor 14 of the refrigeration cycle, and the evaporator fan 15 are connected to the controller 13.

Then, the controller 13 controls the compressor 14 and the evaporator fan 15 based on the operation signal of the fan switch 11.
Is controlled so that the cool air is blown from the cold air blowing duct 3, and the drive motor 7 is driven based on the operation signal of the follow-up switch 12, so that the cold air blowing duct 3 is swung. .

Further, the controller 13 is adapted to judge the presence / absence of a person in each of the detection areas Z1, Z2, Z3 based on the detection signals of the respective sensors C1, C2. Then, for example, when the person M is detected only by the ultrasonic sensor C2 as shown in FIG. 4, the controller 13 determines that the person M is present in the detection area Z2, and the cool air blowing duct 3 is connected to the ultrasonic sensor C2. When the person M is detected by both sensors C1 and C2 as shown in FIG.
Based on the detection signal, the drive motor 7 is stopped, the cold air blowing duct 3 is accurately aimed at the person M, and the cold air can be applied.

Next, the operation of the spot cooler 1 thus constructed will be described with reference to FIG.

When the fan switch 11 is turned on, the controller 13 drives the compressor 14 and the evaporator fan 15,
Cold air is blown from the cold air blowing duct 3. When the follow-up switch 12 is turned on, the controller 13
The following operations are executed based on the signals input from 1 and C2.

First, the controller 13 uses the first ultrasonic sensor C1 and the second ultrasonic sensor C1.
When neither of the ultrasonic sensors C2 detects a person, it is determined that there is no person in any of the detection areas Z1 to Z3, the driving of the drive motor 7 is started, and the duct 3 for blowing cold air is swung. .

When the worker is detected only by the first ultrasonic sensor C1 with the rotation of the duct 3 for blowing cold air, the controller
13 determines that there is a person in the first detection area Z1, and drives the drive motor 7 to rotate the cold air blowing duct 3 toward the sensor C1. Further, when a person is detected only by the second ultrasonic sensor C2, the controller 13 determines that there is a person in the second detection area Z2, and drives the drive motor 7 so that the cool air blowing duct 3 is detected by the sensor C2. Rotate to the side.

When both the sensors C1 and C2 detect a person by the rotation of the cool air blowing duct 3 toward the sensor C1 side or the sensor C2 side, the controller 13 determines that there is a person in the third detection area Z3. Then, the drive motor 7 is stopped to stop the rotation of the cold air blowing duct 3.

As a result, even if the worker moves in the workplace, the cold air blowing duct 3 rotates following the movement.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the two ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 are rotated together with the cold air blowing duct 3 so that both sensors C are rotated.
1 and C2 detect the direction of a person, and when both sensors C1 and C2 detect a person, the cold air blowing duct 3 is stopped at the rotating position to blow cold air. Even when it is necessary to perform moving work, the cold air blowing duct 3 can be made to follow the movement without delay and the cold air can always be accurately applied to the worker, and the cooling feeling can be improved and the working environment can be improved. it can.

In this embodiment, two ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 are fixedly mounted on the cold air blowing duct 3, and the cold air blowing duct 3 and both ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 are integrally rotated by one drive motor 7. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide separate drive motors for each, and the structure can be simplified, and the rotation control of the cold air blowing duct 3 can be easily performed.

Although the spot cooler 1 is used in the above embodiment,
It may be implemented in a spot air conditioner capable of switching between cold air and warm air by a switch operation, a spot air fan that blows out warm air, or the like.

Further, although the ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 are fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the tip end portion of the cold air blowing duct 3 in the above embodiment, they are suspended on the cold air blowing duct 3 via the mounting member 16 as shown in FIG. You may do it.

Further, although the ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 are fixedly mounted on the cold air blowing duct 3 in the above embodiment, they may be rotatably provided on the cold air blowing duct 3 or the cooler body 2. In this case, another drive motor and drive mechanism for rotating both the sensors C1 and C2 in synchronization with the cold air blowing duct 3 may be provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the person detecting means is of ultrasonic pulse type, but an infrared sensor may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the rotation control of the cool air blowing duct 3 in the spot cooler 1 is implemented has been described, but it may be embodied in a radiant heater 17 as shown in FIG. That is, a heater main body 18 having a heating element 19 is rotatably provided on the pedestal 20 via a drive mechanism section 21 as a detection direction changing means that incorporates a motor or the like (not shown). The ultrasonic sensor C is provided on the upper part of the heater body 18.
1 and C2 are fixed, and both sensors C1 and C2 are rotated together with the heater body 18 by the operation of the drive mechanism section 21.

Also in this example, when the worker needs to perform the moving work, the heater main body 18
Can be made to follow accurately and the operator can be always warmed, and the feeling of heating can be improved and the working environment can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, it may be embodied as a security camera 22 mounted on a ceiling (or a wall surface) or the like via a drive mechanism section 23 as a detection direction changing means. In this example, ultrasonic sensors C1 and C2 are fixedly installed on both sides of the body 24, and both sensors C1 and C2 are rotated together with the body 24 by the operation of the drive mechanism unit 23. In this example, the security camera 22 can be made to accurately follow the person without delaying the movement of the person to constantly monitor the person.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the interpersonal tracking device of the present invention, the detection direction of the interpersonal detection means can be finely and swiftly and accurately changed according to the movement of a person with a simple structure.
Then, the spot air conditioner equipped with this interpersonal tracking device rotates the air outlet of the wind without delaying the movement of the person, and constantly applies the cool air or the warm air to the person to improve the cooling feeling or the heating feeling. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the invention is embodied in a spot cooler as a spot air conditioner, FIG. 2 is a view showing a rotating mechanism of a cool air blowing duct, and FIG. 3 is a person of the spot cooler. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the spot cooler, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a working state of the spot cooler, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the interpersonal follower device in the spot cooler. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the mounting method of the ultrasonic sensor, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a radiant heater, and FIG. 9 is the same. It is a perspective view which shows the Example embodied in the security camera. In the figure, 1 is a spot cooler, 2 is a cooler body, 3 is a duct for blowing cold air as an outlet, 7 is a drive motor as an outlet rotating means and detection direction changing means, and 13 is a direction changing control means and an outlet. A controller as a rotation control means,
Reference numeral 17 is a radiant heater, 22 is a security camera, C1 is a first ultrasonic sensor as each detecting means constituting an interpersonal detecting means, and C2 is
Is a second ultrasonic sensor as each detection means constituting the person detection means, M is a person, and Z1, Z2, Z3 are detection areas.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of detection means each having a different detection direction and having a predetermined detection area and detecting a person in each detection area, and the detection area of each detection means simultaneously detects a person. Possible person detection means, a detection direction changing means for changing the detection direction of the person detection means, and the person detection based on a detection signal from at least two detection means of the detection means of the person detection means And a direction change control means for controlling the detection direction changing means so that the detection directions of the means are simultaneously detected by the respective detection means. 2. An air outlet for rotatably provided in the main body of the spot air conditioner for blowing cold air or warm air, and an air outlet rotating means for rotating the air outlet, each having different directivity. An interpersonal detection means having a predetermined detection area and comprising a plurality of detection means for respectively detecting a person in each detection area, and the detection area of each detection means having directionality capable of simultaneously detecting a person; A detection direction changing means for changing the detection direction of the means, a direction change control means for controlling the detection direction changing means to change the detection direction of the interpersonal detection means in synchronization with the outlet, and the interpersonal detection means Based on detection signals from at least two detecting means among the detecting means, the outlet rotating means is controlled to control the direction of the outlets in a direction in which a person is simultaneously detected by the detecting means. Spot air-conditioner having a personal tracking device being characterized in that a blow-out port rotation control means that.