JPS61195232A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep temperature uniform at various positions in a room by detecting intensities of infra-red rays coming from a plurality of areas in a room by means of a number of infra-red ray sensors to obtain the temperatures of those areas and controlling the direction of the air blown out of an air conditioner according to the temperature of the area. CONSTITUTION:An infra-red ray sensor 26 is arranged on the side of the blow- off section 14 of an air conditioner body 11. The infra-red ray sensor 26 has concave faces 29a-29d which face to different directions. At the focal points of those concave faces infra-red ray sensors 31a-31d are provided to detect temperatures of individual areas X1-X4. Those temperatures are processed at the central control unit, and based on this processing the air flow blown off of louver to each area is regulated, namely, if air is blown off to an area where its temperature is high, a control signal is sent to the motor control device so as to slow down the rotational speed of the lourver for that area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to air conditioning II, and more particularly to an air conditioning apparatus that can control the temperature of the entire room to be air conditioned to a substantially uniform temperature.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Comfortable living indoors can be achieved to some extent through the use of air conditioners. Recent air conditioners incorporate not only temperature sensors but also humidity sensors.

Combine these with a microcomputer.

Designed to create a more comfortable indoor environment.

However, even with such conventional air conditioners, the following problems remain. In other words, as a means of controlling the indoor temperature to a desired temperature,9 usually the temperature in the vicinity of the air conditioner body is detected by a temperature sensor, and the temperature detected by this temperature sensor is regarded as the average indoor temperature. I try to control the temperature. As this temperature sensor.

Conventionally, semiconductor thermistors have been used.

A temperature sensor consisting of a simple thermistor is capable of detecting the temperature described above, but has the disadvantage that it cannot detect the temperature distribution in a specific area within the room. in general.

The temperature distribution in a room is not uniform and varies considerably depending on the partition structure of one room, partition members, other conditions, etc. Therefore, even if the indoor temperature is controlled based on the temperature measured in the vicinity of the air conditioner main body, temperature unevenness actually occurs in various parts of the room.

In many cases, the temperature environment is not necessarily comfortable.

Moreover, this is unavoidable from a disadvantage in terms of efficiency. For example, let's take the case where there is only one person in a room and the air conditioner is running.

The temperature around humans should be high, and the temperature elsewhere should be low. Therefore, if an attempt is made to lower the temperature around one person, the temperature in other places will become much lower, which inevitably results in inefficiency.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to substantially uniformize the concentration in each part of the room without hindering the spatial freedom of use of the air-conditioned room. I can do it, have it.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that can contribute to realizing a more comfortable concentration environment and also improve efficiency.

[Summary of the invention]

According to the present invention, the intensity of infrared rays arriving from an air conditioning unit and a plurality of areas set in the room that is provided in the air conditioning unit and air conditioned by the air conditioning unit is measured for each area. a means for detecting the temperature in each of the regions from the outputs of the infrared sensors, and air blown out from the air conditioner main body in accordance with the temperature in each region detected by the means; An air conditioner is provided that includes means for controlling the direction of air flow.

〔Effect of the invention〕

With the above configuration, the blowing direction of the air flow blown from the air conditioner main body toward the room corresponds to the temperature of each area in the room.For example, in the case of cooling operation, the blowing direction is the area with the highest temperature. Cold air may be blown only to areas with the highest concentration, or a larger amount of cold air may be blown to areas with the highest concentration, and no or less cold air may be blown to areas with lower temperatures. will be blown out. Therefore, each part of the room is kept at a substantially uniform temperature, making it possible to realize a more comfortable temperature environment. And in this case,
Since the cool air or warm air obtained from the air conditioner body is effectively distributed to each part of the room to equalize the indoor temperature, efficiency can also be improved. Also,
The temperature of each area in the room is detected by the temperature detection means provided on the air conditioner main body.

There is no need to provide temperature sensors etc. in each area of the room.

Therefore, the degree of freedom of use of space in the room is not obstructed.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Two embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention actually installed indoors.

In this embodiment, the indoor unit and outdoor unit are separated.

The present invention is applied to a so-called separate type air conditioner that serves both cooling and heating.

In other words, 1 in Figure 2 indicates a room that is air conditioned.

2 indicates the door installed at the entrance to room 1.

3 indicates furniture placed in the room 1, such as a sofa. Further, numeral 4 in FIG. 1 indicates an indoor unit of an air conditioner attached to the wall of the room 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 4 is constructed in many parts almost the same as known ones.

That is, the housing 11 has a flat housing 11, and a suction port 13 for sucking indoor air is formed in the upper part of the front wall 12 of the housing 11 as shown by the thick arrow P in the figure, and the air sucked into the lower part is formed. As shown by a thick arrow Q in the figure, an air outlet 14 for blowing air is formed. A filter is attached to the suction port 13, and a louver 1 whose blowing direction can be changed horizontally is installed to the blowout port 14.
5 is installed. Inside the housing 11, there is a fan for sucking in indoor air and blowing it out, a motor for driving the fan, a heat exchanger for cooling or warming the sucked air, and a water droplet condensed on the surface of the heat exchanger. A water receptacle for collecting water, a control device 40 described below, and the like are housed therein.

The heat exchanger is connected to an outdoor unit (not shown). A compressor 9, a heat exchanger, an expansion valve, etc. are housed inside the outdoor unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, the looper 15 is constructed by arranging a plurality of rectifier plates 16 in parallel and horizontally, and each rectifier plate 16 is rotated around a vertical axis by a bin 17. It is supported so that it can be done. The upstream end of each current plate 16 is commonly connected to one wire 18, and the downstream end of each current plate 16 is also commonly connected to one wire 19. And each wire 18.19
One end side is connected to both ends of the lever 23 through elongated holes 21 and 22 provided in one side wall 20, which constitute the air outlet 14, respectively. A central portion of the lever 23 is connected to a rotating shaft of a step motor 24 via a speed reduction mechanism (not shown). Therefore, when the step motor 24 rotates, each rectifying plate 16 rotates around the bin 17 accordingly. The air sucked into the housing 11 by this rotation is blown out in the direction indicated by thick arrows Ql, Q2, or Q3 in FIG.

However. An infrared detector 26 is located on the side of the air outlet 14.
is located. This infrared detector 26 is located in the housing 11
It is accommodated in a recess 27 formed in the lower part of the front wall 12 with the opening facing forward, and is specifically constructed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Namely. A case 28 is disposed in the above-mentioned recess 27 with its opening facing forward, and as shown in FIG. and a concave mirror 3o disposed inside the case 28 so as to face the opening side of the case 28.

Infrared sensors 31a, 31b, 3 are arranged at the focal positions of each concave surface 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, and are composed of a thermistor bolometer or a thermomobile.
1c, 31d, and a thermistor etc. that detects the temperature of the part where these infrared sensors are located.
2, and a window material 33 formed of a member that is provided to close the opening of the case 28 and transmits only infrared rays.

As shown in FIG. 2, an LED 34 for displaying time and data is embedded in the front wall 12 of the housing 11, and a knob 35 of an emissivity setting device 37, which will be described later, is provided below the LED 34. There is.

The infrared sensors 31a, 31b, 31C.

31d, temperature sensor 32. an emissivity setter 37 adjusted by the knob 35; The LED 34 and step motor 24 are connected to an M m device 40 shown in FIG. The control device 40 includes each infrared sensor 31a, 31b,
The output of 31c, 31d is 741a, 4
1b, 341c.

Analog switches 42a and 42b are controlled by a central processing unit @49, which will be described later, via 41d.

42C and 42d, and the output of the temperature sensor 32 is introduced via a DC amplifier 43 to the input end of an analog switch 44 which is also controlled by the central processing unit 49. In addition, the output end of the emissivity setting device 37 is connected to a resistor 45.
is connected to the DC power supply via the central processing unit 49.
is introduced at the input end of an analog switch 46 controlled by

Here, the emissivity setting device 37 will be explained.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, four infrared sensors 31 are used.
A, 31b, 31c, and 31de are provided.

These infrared sensors are located on each concave surface 29a of the concave mirror 30.

It is located at the focal point of 29b, 29c, and 29d.

The concave surfaces 29a, 29b, 29c, and 29d are oriented in different directions. Namely.

(7) In the example, in Figure 1: Xt, X2,
Set up four areas on the floor of one room as shown by X3 and X3.

Infrared rays S arriving from these areas Xs, X2, X3, and X4 are detected by infrared sensors 31a, 31b, and 31c.

31d, detection is performed for each area. The output of an infrared sensor usually changes depending on the emissivity of the object to be measured and the distance to the object. therefore.

It is necessary to correct output changes due to these emissivity and distance. The emissivity setting device 37 is for performing this correction, and is equipped with four variable resistors 47 corresponding to each region, and the resistance values of these resistors 47 can be varied with the knob 35 described above. Emissivity correction can be performed by

Thus, each analog switch 42a, 42b.

The signals passed through 42c, 42d, 44.46 are introduced into a central processing unit 49 via an analog-to-digital converter 48. This central processing unit 49 is.

It has a calculation function and a control function. For example, it is made up of a microcomputer. C central processing unit 4
9 is an infrared sensor 31a when the emissivity setting mode switch 50 is turned on.

The outputs of 31b, 31c, and 31d and the output of the temperature sensor 32 are sequentially read through the analog-to-digital converter 48, and each region X! ,X2 ,X3
,X4 (D emissivity theta trlji output.

This is displayed on the LED 34. At this time, the operator changes the variable resistor of the emissivity setting device 37 for each region to
When the indicated value of 34 is adjusted to zero, the voltage across the resistor at that time is read through the analog-to-digital converter 48, and this data is stored in the memory as correction data. Also.

When the emissivity setting mode switch 50 is in the OFF state, the central processing unit 49 controls the infrared sensors 31a, 31b,
Each area XI is determined from the outputs of 31c and 31d, the output of the temperature sensor 32, and the correction data.

Calculate the temperatures of X2, X3, and X4. Then, a control signal is sent to the motor control device 51 so that the rotation speed of the step motor 24 corresponds to the temperature.

That is, when air is being blown out through the louver 15 to the area with the highest temperature when the cooling operation is set, the rotation speed of the louver 15 is set to a low comb, and the louver 15 is
When air is being blown out to a region with a low temperature through the louver 15, a control signal is given to increase the rotation speed of the louver 15. Further, when the air conditioner is set to the 11 air conditioner operation, a control signal having a reverse relation to that during the cooling operation is given.

Next, a description will be given of the operation when performing cooling operation with the air conditioner configured as described above.

First, prior to operation, the emissivity is corrected.

That is, the inside of the room 1 is shielded from outside light and the temperature of each part of the nine rooms 1 is adjusted to be constant. In this state, the emissivity setting mode switch 50 is turned on. In this case, the temperature of the floor etc. of 1 room 1 and the infrared sensors 31a, 31b, 31c
, the temperature of the part where 31d is located is approximately the same,
The temperature data obtained by detecting the infrared rays arriving from each region x 1°X2, X3, and X4 should be equal to the temperature data obtained from the temperature sensor 32. but.

In reality, the data differs depending on the emissivity, shape, etc. of objects existing in each region. Therefore, while the emissivity setting mode switch 50 is turned on, the resistance value of the resistor 47 corresponding to each region is adjusted so that the indicated value of the LED 34 becomes zero. This adjustment data is stored in the memory as correction data for each area. Note that such an emissivity setting operation only needs to be performed once when the indoor unit 4 is installed if the arrangement within one room remains unchanged.

After setting the emissivity as described above, the emissivity setting mode switch 50 is turned off. This OFF operation switches to temperature control mode.

When switched in this way, the central processing unit 49.

Infrared sensors 31a, 31b, 31c, 31. d, the output of the temperature sensor 32, and the already determined correction data for each region X1, X2, and X3.

Calculate the temperature of x4. Then, the central processing unit 49
When the air flow blown out through the louver 15 is blown out toward the area with the highest temperature, this louver 15
A control signal is given to the motor control device 51 to slow down the rotational speed of the motor.

When the air flow blown out through the louver 15 is blown out toward an area other than the louver 15 with a low temperature, a control signal for increasing the rotational speed of the louver 15 is given to the motor control device 51. When such control is performed,
A large amount of cold air is sent to areas of high concentration, and only a small amount of cold air is sent to areas of low temperature.
In the end, each part of room 0 is cooled to a substantially uniform temperature.

In this way, the so-called air conditioner main body is provided with a temperature detection means that detects the temperature of a plurality of regions in the sublayer 1 using infrared rays, and the temperature of each region detected by this temperature detection means is adjusted. The blowing direction of the airflow blown out from the air conditioner main body is controlled. Therefore, the temperature of each part of the room air-conditioned by the air peace apparatus body can be made substantially uniform, and a more comfortable temperature environment can be created. In this case, the cool air or warm air obtained from the air conditioner main body can be used most effectively to equalize the temperature in the room, thereby improving efficiency. Further, the temperature control described above can be realized without providing sensors or the like in each part of the room. therefore.

In the end, the above-mentioned effects can be achieved without interfering with the spatial freedom of the room. .

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways. Namely.

In the embodiment described above, the rotation speed of the louver is controlled to equalize the temperature. During cooling operation, the louver is directed toward the area with the highest temperature, and during heating operation, the louver is directed toward the area with the lowest temperature. Aim the louver. The temperature may be made uniform by so-called rotation angle control. Moreover, the above-mentioned embodiments.

Although the present invention is applied to an air conditioner that can perform both cooling and heating, it can also be applied to devices exclusively for cooling and devices exclusively for heating. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a system in which the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are integrated, and the outdoor unit is arranged so as to protrude outside the room. Furthermore, the indoor unit is not limited to wall-mounted units. Further, as an infrared detector, each infrared sensor 31a is used as shown in FIG.

31b, 31c, and 31d may be mounted on one chip. Other than that, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention actually installed in a room, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an enlarged indoor unit of the air conditioner. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement relationship between the louver and the infrared detector incorporated in the indoor unit, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the infrared detector, and Fig. 5 is an infrared ray in the infrared detector. FIG. 3 is a top view showing the arrangement of sensors. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the control device, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the infrared detector.・1...room,
3... Sofa as furniture - 24... Indoor unit of air conditioner, 13... Suction port, 14... Blowout 0.15... Louver, 24... Step, motor. 26... Infrared detector, 30... Concave mirror, 31a. 31b, 31c, 31d...infrared sensor, 32...
・Temperature sensor, 40...Control device, 49...Central processing unit, S=...Infrared rays, Xt, X2, X3
, Temperature measurement area set within X4-8Bm. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) The intensity of infrared rays coming from an air conditioner main body and a plurality of predetermined areas in a room provided in the air conditioner main body and air-conditioned by the air conditioner main body as described above. Detected by infrared sensor corresponding to each area,
means for detecting the temperature of each region from the outputs of these infrared sensors; and means for controlling the blowing direction of the air flow blown from the air conditioner main body in accordance with the temperature of each region detected by the means. An air conditioner characterized by comprising: (2) The means for controlling the blowing direction of the air flow includes:
Means for rotating the air blowing section of the air conditioner main body in a horizontal direction in the room, and means for controlling the rotation angle of the blowing section in accordance with the temperature of each region. An air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that: (4) The means for controlling the blowing direction of the air flow includes:
The apparatus includes means for rotating an air blowing section of the main body of the air conditioner in a horizontal direction within the room, and means for controlling the rotational speed of the blowing section in accordance with the temperature of each region. An air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that: