JPH0798141A - Air-conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method for actuating an air-conditioning apparatus that lessens discomfortableness which one feels at the time of entering a room and that, when the occupant leaves the room, makes the operation automatically stop so as to save the power. CONSTITUTION:To automate the actuation and stopping of an air-conditioning apparatus 11 there are provided a means of detecting a person's entry 13, a means of judgment as regards a person's entry, a means of detecting the occupant's exit 16, and a means of judgment as regards the occupant's exit. There is an operating circuit incorporated, by which the air-conditioning apparatus 11 is actuated when a user enters the room and stopped when the user leaves the room.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example relatively close to the present invention relates to operation control of a refrigerating apparatus for a refrigerating container.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3 publication. However, this is intended to improve the operability by the main body operating device installed near the refrigerating device main body and the remote operating device installed in the cabin or the like, and does not solve the problems peculiar to the air conditioner.

[0003]

In the case of an air conditioner, the operating device is usually installed in a room to be temperature-controlled. Therefore, the user needs to enter the room where the air conditioner is not operating and perform the first operation. At this time, the user must temporarily accept the unpleasant environment where the set condition is not reached.

[0004] Further, it is customary to automate the stop operation of the air conditioner by a timer, but in the case of a timer, it is inconvenient if the exit time is unknown because the stop time must be determined in advance. When the timer is not used, it is possible to forget the stop operation at the time of leaving the room and waste power.

It is an object of the present invention to obtain a method for operating an air conditioner that overcomes discomfort and at the same time save power.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The object is to provide an entrance detecting means and an entrance judging means for automatically operating the air conditioner before or immediately after the user enters the room, and automatically stop the air conditioner when leaving the room. This is achieved by an air conditioner equipped with a leaving detection means and a leaving determination means.

[0007]

With the above structure, the air conditioner can be automatically operated before or immediately after the user enters the room. Further, the air conditioner can be automatically stopped when leaving the room.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the construction of an operating method of an air conditioner according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, the entry detection 1 detects the movement of the user, and the entry determination 2 determines whether or not to enter the room. Then, when it is determined to enter the room, the air conditioner is operated.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 11 of this embodiment is connected to a room entrance detecting means 13 such as an optical sensor and a microphone via a communication line 12 near the entrance of the room, and is equipped with a room exit detecting means 16. In this embodiment, the entry detecting means 13 detects the approach of the user, the entry determining means 2 added to the entry detecting means 13 determines whether or not to enter the room, and when entering, the communication line 12 is used. A signal is sent to the air conditioner 11 to operate the air conditioner 11. Alternatively, the room entrance determination means 2 is added to the air conditioner 11, and a signal from the room entrance detection means 13 is sent to the room entrance determination means 2 via the communication line 12, and the air conditioner 11 is operated when it is judged that the room is entered. You can also

As a method for determining whether a person is entering a room, the room entrance detecting means 1 is used.
There are a method of using reflection of infrared rays emitted from No. 3 and a method of detecting an increase in volume of footsteps with a microphone.

In this embodiment, the exit detecting means 16 installed in the air conditioner main body detects the presence or absence of the user in the room. However, the entrance detecting means 13 installed near the entrance of the room Can also be used as exit detection means. That is, a method using infrared reflection,
For example, a method of detecting a decrease in the volume of footsteps with a microphone. In this embodiment, the exit detection means 16 is installed in the main body of the air conditioner, but it may be installed in another place in the room, for example, near the door 14.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the door 14 or the door knob 2
The room entrance detecting means 1 is installed at 1, the room entrance is determined immediately before entering the room, and the air conditioner 11 is operated.

In this case, the criteria for determining whether to enter the room are to insert the key into the key hole of the door 14, open the key of the door 14, contact the door knob 21 outside the room, and the door knob 21.
May be rotated, the door 14 may be opened, and so on.

On the other hand, the criteria for determining whether to leave the room using this configuration are that the door knob 14 in the room is touched, the door 14 is opened from the room, and the like.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a room entrance detecting means (leaving room detecting means) 31 is laid at a position rising inward from the entrance 32, and it may come into contact with or pass through the entrance 32 from the entrance 32 toward the room. Is detected and the air conditioner 11 is operated. Further, when the entrance detecting means 31 is used as the exit detecting means, it is sufficient to detect the passage over the room from the room toward the entrance. A plurality of sensors may be laid along the passage to discriminate between entering and leaving the room.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the transmitter 42 carried by the user 41 wirelessly sends a signal to the receiver 43 to activate the air conditioner 11 before entering the room. Regarding how to send a signal, the user 41 may intentionally operate the transmitting device 42 to transmit an operation command to the receiving device 43, or the transmitting device 42 may approach a certain distance and continue further approaching. The air conditioner 11 may be operated by detecting the reception device 43 and predicting entry into the room. In the latter case, there is a possibility of malfunction, and therefore, a confirmation signal may be sent from the receiving device 43 to the transmitting device 42 to request a reply from the user 41.

On the contrary, when leaving the room, the receiving device 43 may detect that the transmitting device 42 is moving away,
The air conditioner 11 may be intentionally stopped.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the method for stopping the air conditioner of the present invention. The configuration of this figure is similar to that of FIG.
The exit detecting means 51 detects the movement of the user, and the exit determining means 52 determines whether or not to leave the room. The air conditioner is stopped when it is determined to leave the room.

In the above embodiments, the air conditioner is generally described, but the present invention can be applied to an absorption refrigeration system and an adsorption refrigeration system in addition to the compression type air conditioning system.

The entry detecting means and the exit detecting means may each be a combination of a plurality of detecting means, which can significantly reduce malfunctions.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the user does not feel uncomfortable immediately after entering the room, and is relieved of the trouble of operating the air conditioner after entering the room. Further, the stop operation when leaving the room is unnecessary, and the waste of electric power is eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a configuration of an operating method of an air conditioner of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for stopping an air conditioner according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Air conditioner, 12 ... Communication line, 13 ... Entry detection means (exit detection means), 14 ... Door, 15 ... Door knob, 16
… Exit detection means, 17… Wall.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner comprising a room entrance detecting means and a room entrance determining means, the operation of which is automated.