JPH0821649A - Air-condition machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a person in a room to realize a level of mental activity, which is desired by him by effecting the optimum temperature fluctuation control or constant temperature control for the individual in the room at all times. CONSTITUTION:Desired level of mental activity, such as an active level or a quiet level of the condition of mental activity, is inputted by a person in a room into a mental activity level inputting means 1 and a temperature fluctuation setting means 5 sets a temperature setting in the room so as to be constant setting or fluctuating setting based on the output of a mental activity level inputting means 1 while the temperature control in the room is effected automatically by a temperature control means 6 in accordance with the setting in the temperature fluctuation setting means 5. Further, a human body position deciding means 8 decides the position of the human body based on the output of a human body detecting means 7, an air direction setting means 9 sets the direction of airflow, sent out of an indoor machine, based on the outputs of the human body position deciding means 8 and the mental activity level-inputting means 1 while the direction of airflow is controlled automatically by an airflow direction control means 10 in accordance with the setting of the airflow direction setting means 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for optimally controlling the temperature inside a room in order to obtain the mental activity state desired by a person in the room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an air conditioner of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-247440. After the temperature of the room is set to the set temperature, this control device constantly controls the room temperature to fluctuate within a predetermined temperature range around the set temperature.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional air conditioner, since the temperature change is always performed after the room temperature is set to the set temperature, the occupant of the room is mentally affected by the sensory stimulus of the temperature change. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to deal with the situation in which a person in a room, on the contrary, seeks a rest of a mental activity state.

Further, since the amount of temperature fluctuation is always constant, the amount of temperature fluctuation required by the person in the room to activate the mental activity state due to changes in the arousal level and differences in the sensitivity of individual temperature stimuli. When changing, there is a problem that the set temperature fluctuation amount is not always optimum.

The present invention solves the above problem by allowing a person in the room to input a desired mental activity level such as activation of a mental activity state or a desired change in the amount of temperature fluctuation and a change in the temperature fluctuation amount. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that realizes a mental activity level desired by a person in the room by always performing optimum temperature fluctuation control or constant temperature control.

[0006]

The air conditioner according to claim 1 of the present invention is a mental activity level input means for allowing a person in the room to input a desired mental activity level such as activity or rest of a mental activity state. A temperature fluctuation setting means for setting the indoor temperature setting constant or variable based on the output of the mental activity level input means, and a temperature control for automatically controlling the room temperature according to the setting of the temperature fluctuation setting means. Means, a human body detection means for detecting a human body, a human body position determination means for determining the position of the human body based on the output of the human body detection means, and based on the outputs of the human body position determination means and the mental activity level input means It is characterized in that it is provided with wind direction setting means for setting the wind direction of the blown airflow from the indoor unit, and wind direction control means for automatically controlling the wind direction according to the setting of the wind direction setting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioner of the present invention, the temperature variation amount input means for inputting the desired increase or decrease of the temperature variation amount to the person in the room, and the temperature setting in the room are set to a predetermined temperature variation. Temperature fluctuation setting means, and temperature fluctuation amount changing means for changing the temperature fluctuation amount such as fluctuation width and fluctuation cycle of temperature fluctuation setting by the temperature fluctuation setting means based on the output of the temperature fluctuation amount input means, The temperature control means automatically controls the temperature in the room according to the temperature variation setting changed by the temperature variation changing means.

[0008]

In the air conditioner according to claim 1, the occupant is made to enter the desired mental activity level such as the activity or rest of the mental activity state, and the temperature is set according to the input of the mental activity level. By setting a constant setting or a variable setting, and at the same time, setting the wind direction relative to the position of the occupant who has detected the occupant (human body), the temperature can be changed if the occupant desires to activate mental activity. Directing a fluctuating airflow to a room occupant activates the mental activity state by temperature sensory stimulus, and if you want to rest the mental activity state, do not change the temperature directly Do not aim at the temperature to eliminate the temperature stimulus to make the mental activity state rest and realize the mental activity level desired by the occupants.

Further, in the air conditioner of claim 2,
By activating the increase / decrease of the desired temperature fluctuation amount by the occupant and increasing / decreasing the temperature fluctuation amount, the mental activity state is activated with the optimum temperature fluctuation amount for the occupant.

[0010]

EXAMPLE An air conditioner according to an example of the present invention will be described below.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the air conditioner of the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a mental activity level input means for allowing a person in the room to input a desired mental activity level such as activity or rest of a mental activity state, and specifically, a remote control such as that shown in FIG. From the operation unit 2 of the controller, the occupant's desired level of mental activity is selected and keyed in. For example, if the person in the room wants to activate the mental activity state to perform a mental work such as desk work, he or she may select and enter the "Activity" key 3, or the person may enter a mental state for rest after mental work. If you want to rest in the active state, select and enter the "rest" key 4.

The temperature fluctuation setting means 5 responds to the input from the mental activity level input means 1 and, in the case of "active" input, changes the room temperature with a predetermined fluctuation width and fluctuation cycle with respect to the set temperature. In the case of "rest" input, a constant temperature setting is performed to keep the room temperature constant at the set temperature, and the temperature control means 6 automatically controls the temperature according to each temperature setting.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram of the temperature setting for each of the "active" input and the "rest" input. In addition,
As shown in FIG. 4, in order to activate the mental activity state, temperature fluctuation stimulation lower than the set temperature is effective.
While performing such temperature control, at the same time, the human body position determination means 8 determines the human body position based on the infrared image data output from the human body detection means 7 using an infrared sensor or the like provided in the indoor unit, and further, The wind direction setting means 9 sets the wind direction in the human body position direction determined by the human body position determination means 8 when the input from the mental activity level input means 1 is the "active" input, and the human body when the "rest" input is performed. The wind direction is set so as to avoid the position direction, and the wind direction control means 10 automatically controls the wind direction according to each wind direction setting.

As described above, the "active" input directly receives an air flow having a temperature change on the occupant, so that the sensory stimulation of the temperature change can activate the mental activity state, and the "rest" input can change the temperature. Since there is no constant temperature airflow and the airflow is not directed directly to the person in the room, there is no temperature stimulation and the mental activity state can be kept at rest.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the air conditioner of the second embodiment. In FIG. 2, temperature fluctuation amount input means 1
1 causes the occupant to input an increase / decrease change in the temperature fluctuation amount of the current temperature fluctuation setting when the occupant desires to increase / decrease the temperature fluctuation amount during a predetermined temperature fluctuation. Specifically, the increase or decrease of the temperature fluctuation amount desired by the person in the room is selected from the operation unit 2 of the controller such as a remote controller as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 13 is a temperature fluctuation amount increase key, and 14 is a temperature fluctuation amount decrease key.

The temperature fluctuation setting means 5 carries out temperature fluctuation setting in which fluctuations are made with a predetermined fluctuation width and fluctuation cycle. The temperature variation amount changing means 12 receives an input from the temperature variation amount inputting means 11 so that a person present in the room desires to increase the temperature variation amount, and the temperature variation amount increasing key 1
When 3 is input, the fluctuation range dTs of the current temperature fluctuation setting set by the temperature fluctuation setting means 5 (see (b) of FIG. 5).
C. is changed to (dTs + 1) .degree. C. and the fluctuation period T is changed to, for example, T / 2 (see (a) of FIG. 5). On the contrary, when the occupant desires to decrease the temperature fluctuation amount and inputs the temperature fluctuation amount decrease key 14, the fluctuation range dTs ° C. of the current temperature fluctuation setting is changed to (dTs−1) ° C. and the fluctuation period T For example 2T
(See (c) of FIG. 5). The temperature control means 6 automatically controls the temperature according to the changed temperature fluctuation setting. FIG. 5 shows a characteristic diagram of the predetermined temperature fluctuation setting and the temperature fluctuation setting changed by each input of increase and decrease of the temperature fluctuation amount.

From the above, when the awakening level of the occupant is high, or when the occupant of the room is highly sensitive to temperature stimulation,
The amount of thermal stimulus can be reduced to prevent physiological stress and decreased concentration in mental activity due to excessive thermal sensation stimulation. If there is a weak person in the room,
The amount of thermal stimulation can be increased to maintain the activity of the mental activity state, and the activation of the mental activity state can be always performed with the optimal temperature fluctuation amount for the individual in the room.

[0020]

According to the air conditioner of the first aspect of the present invention, the occupant is made to enter the desired mental activity level such as the activity of the mental activity state or rest, and the input of the mental activity level. Depending on the temperature setting, the temperature setting is set to a constant setting or a variable setting, and at the same time, the occupant's mental activity state is set by setting the wind direction relative to the occupant's position determined by detecting the occupant (human body). When activity is desired, the airflow with temperature fluctuation is directed to the occupant to activate the mental activity state by temperature sensory stimulation, and when the mental activity state is desired to rest, the temperature is not changed and the temperature is constant. Since the airflow of is not directly directed to the occupants to eliminate the temperature stimulus and keep the mental activity state at rest, it is possible to always perform optimal temperature control and achieve the mental activity level desired by the occupants. it can.

According to the air conditioner of the second aspect of the present invention, the person in the room is allowed to input the desired increase or decrease of the temperature fluctuation amount, and the temperature fluctuation amount is increased or decreased, thereby individually Can always activate the mental activity state with the optimum temperature fluctuation amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioner of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an operation unit of a controller of the air conditioner.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram of temperature setting by temperature fluctuation setting means in the air conditioner.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram of temperature setting changed by a temperature fluctuation amount changing unit in the air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Mental activity level input means 5 ... Temperature fluctuation setting means 6 ... Temperature control means 7 ... Human body detection means 8 ... Human body position determination means 9 ... Wind direction setting means 10 ... Wind direction control means 11 ... Temperature Variation amount input means 12 ... Temperature variation amount changing means

(72) Inventor Hisashi Kodama 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Shigeyuki Inoue, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mental activity level input means for allowing a person in a room to input a desired mental activity level such as activity or rest of a mental activity state, and a room temperature setting based on an output of the mental activity level input means. Of the human body detection means for detecting the human body, the temperature control means for automatically controlling the temperature in the room according to the setting of the temperature change setting means, the human body detection means, and the human body detection means. A human body position determining means for determining the position of the human body based on the output, a wind direction setting means for setting the wind direction of the airflow from the indoor unit based on the outputs of the human body position determining means and the mental activity level input means, An air conditioner comprising: wind direction control means for automatically controlling the wind direction according to the setting of the wind direction setting means. 2. A temperature fluctuation amount input means for allowing a person in the room to input a desired increase or decrease of the temperature fluctuation amount, a temperature fluctuation setting means for setting a room temperature setting to a predetermined temperature fluctuation, and the temperature fluctuation amount input means. According to the temperature fluctuation setting means for changing the temperature fluctuation amount such as the fluctuation width and fluctuation cycle of the temperature fluctuation setting means by the temperature fluctuation setting means, and the temperature fluctuation setting changed by the temperature fluctuation amount changing means. An air conditioner comprising: a temperature control unit that automatically controls the temperature of the room.