KR20180066537A - control method of an air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method to control an air conditioner capable of communicating with a wearable device which is capable of measuring physical information of a user. According to the present invention, the method to control an air conditioner comprises: a step of making the air conditioner operate in a cooling or heating mode to a set temperature; a step of determining whether a user-centered control function is set to be used or not; a step of recognizing physical information of a user through a wearable device; a step of determining whether the physical information is within a preset reference range or not; and a step of maintaining an operation state of the air conditioner when the physical information is within the reference range and performing compensation operation if not. The physical information includes information about either or both of a body heat and a heart rate.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a control method of an air conditioner,

The present invention relates to a control method of an air conditioner.

The air conditioner is a device for keeping the air in a predetermined space in a most suitable condition according to the purpose of use and purpose. Generally, the air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, and a refrigeration cycle for compressing, condensing, expanding, and evaporating the refrigerant is driven to cool or heat the predetermined space .

The predetermined space may be variously suggested depending on the place where the air conditioner is used. For example, when the air conditioner is installed in a home or an office, the predetermined space may be an indoor space of a house or a building.

When the air conditioner performs the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger provided in the air conditioner functions as an evaporator. On the other hand, when the air conditioner performs the heating operation, the indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser and the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator.

Depending on the installation position, the air conditioner can be classified into an upright type, a wall-mounted type, or a ceiling type.

The air conditioner is generally operated to set the desired temperature and to set the temperature of the indoor space where the air conditioning is performed to the desired temperature.

However, since the operation of the air conditioner takes into consideration the temperature of the indoor space without considering the user, there is a problem that the user can not provide an optimal environment.

The present applicant has filed and published a patent application (hereinafter referred to as "prior art") relating to a control method of an air conditioner. The information of the preceding documents is as follows.

1. Public number (public date): 10-2010-0138097 (June 26, 2012)

2. Title of the invention: Control method of air conditioner

A control method of an air conditioner disclosed in the above prior art document discloses a preferred operation performing method for grasping and operating a user's preferred operation.

In detail, the control method of the air conditioner stores the operating condition of the air conditioner inputted by the user, sets the weight according to the number of times of input, grasps the preferred operation of the user, and performs the preferred operation.

The preferred driving method is a driving operation in which the driving conditions inputted by the user are simply weighted rather than the driving considering the user.

Therefore, the preferred operation performing method also fails to provide an optimum environment for the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control method of an air conditioner that is controlled in consideration of a user's body condition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a control method of an air conditioner that operates based on a change in a user's body condition.

In order to achieve the above object,

In the air conditioner capable of communicating with the wearable terminal, the body information measured at the wearable terminal is recognized, and the air conditioner can be controlled through compensation operation according to the body information.

In addition, the body information may be heart rate or body temperature.

In addition, the heating and cooling operation of the air conditioner can be adjusted by giving the setting range to each of the heart rate and the body temperature.

Further, the setting range of the body temperature can be adjusted according to the setting range of the heart rate.

Also, after the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner is adjusted according to the heart rate and the body temperature, the new body information of the user can be recognized again.

In addition, when the body information is recognized and not controlled, general air conditioner operation can be performed.

According to the control method of the air conditioner having the above-described structure,

By controlling the air conditioner according to the body temperature of the user rather than the temperature of the room air, the most comfortable environment can be provided by the user-oriented operation.

Further, the user's heart rate can be determined according to the setting range and reflected to the body temperature, so that the user's body condition can be accurately reflected.

Further, when the user's heart rate is lower than the set range of the heart rate, it is determined that the user is in the sleep state, and by expanding the upper and lower limits of the set range for determining the body temperature, the effect of preventing interruption of the sleep according to the continuous temperature change by the air conditioner have.

Further, when the heart rate of the user is higher than the set range of the heart rate, it is determined that the user is in the exercise state, and the upper and lower limits of the set range for determining the body temperature are raised to perform the compensation operation for the body temperature which rises during the exercise.

In addition, a loop for re-recognizing the user's information is formed after the compensation operation according to the heart rate and the body temperature, so that the air conditioner is automatically controlled after the first operation of the air conditioner for the first time.

1 is a system diagram schematically illustrating a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wearable device and an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a user-centric control process in a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the spirit of the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and that those skilled in the art, upon reading and understanding the spirit of the invention, may easily suggest other embodiments within the scope of the same concept.

1 is a system diagram schematically illustrating a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an air conditioner 1 for supplying cold air or warm air to a room, and a wearable device 4 ).

The network system further includes a communication interface (3) enabling communication between the air conditioner (1) and the wearable device (4). The communication interface 3 may include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct, ad hoc mode (or ad hoc network), ZigBee, or the like.

The Bluetooth is a short range wireless communication method in which a pairing process is performed between a Bluetooth module built in the wearable device 4 and a Bluetooth module built in the air conditioner 1, It is possible.

The Wi-Fi direct refers to a technology capable of communicating at a high speed using a communication standard such as 802.11a, b, g, n regardless of the installation of a wireless LAN access point (AP). That is, this means that the wearable device 4 and the air conditioner 1 can communicate wirelessly without passing through a wireless LAN access point (wireless router or wireless router described above). This technique is a communication technology that makes it possible to wirelessly connect the air conditioner 1 and the wearable device 4 without using an internet network.

The ad-hoc mode is a network that does not have a fixed wired network but communicates only with a mobile host. Since there is no restriction on the movement of the host and no wired network and a base station are needed, a fast network configuration is possible and the cost is low. That is, even if there is no wireless LAN access point (AP), wireless communication is enabled during the terminal period. Therefore, in the ad-hoc mode, the wearable device 4 and the air conditioner 1 can perform wireless communication even without the wireless LAN connection device.

The Zigbee is a short-range wireless communication method, which is standardized in IEEE 802.15.4. The frequency band is 2.4 GHz, 868/915 MHz is used, the modulation method is DSSS, and the data transmission rate is 20 to 250 Kbps. In addition, it consumes less power than other wireless communication technologies and it is easy to implement low-cost products.

The wearable device 4 is capable of one-to-one communication with the air conditioner 1 via the communication interface 3. Therefore, the air conditioner 1 can receive the information provided from the wearable device 4. [ The information provided through the wearable device 4 may be a body temperature, a heart rate, etc. of the user, and the angle of the indoor fan speed or the air flow control device is set or changed according to the transmitted user information.

The network system may further include a wired / wireless remote controller 2 installed separately so that the user can operate the air conditioner 1.

The air conditioner (1) can receive information provided from the wearable device (4) via the communication interface (3).

Hereinafter, the configurations of the air conditioner and the wearable device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a wearable device and an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the wearable device 4 constituting the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a smart band to be worn on the wrist, a smart watch, and a smart glass to be worn on the eye.

In detail, the wearable device 4 includes a control unit 400 and a key input unit 401 including a key for inputting a specific command or information to the control unit 400 and a voice input unit 403 for inputting voice . The key input unit 401 includes an input button or a touch panel provided in the wearable device 4. [ The voice input unit 403 includes a voice recorder mounted on the wearable device 4.

The wearable device 4 further includes a display unit 402 for displaying the state of the wearable device 4 or the operation state of the air conditioner 1 and a voice output unit 404 for outputting the recorded voice . The display unit 402 includes a liquid crystal panel provided in the wearable device 4. [ The audio output unit 404 includes a speaker mounted on the wearable device 4. [

The wearable device 4 further includes an angular velocity sensor 405 and an acceleration sensor 406 for detecting the movement of the wearable device 4. [

The angular velocity sensor 405 includes a gyro sensor or a gravity sensor for sensing the tilting or rotation angle of the wearable device 4. [ The acceleration sensor 406 senses the speed or acceleration of the wearable device 4 in a specific direction.

The wearable device 4 includes a temperature sensor 409 for measuring the body temperature of the user wearing the wearable device 4 and an optical sensor 410 for measuring the heart rate of the user wearing the wearable device 4 ).

The optical sensor 410 is a sensor for detecting a change in light due to expansion and contraction of a blood vessel of a wearer wearing the wearable device 4.

The wearable device 4 further includes a communication module 407 for wireless communication with the air conditioner 1 and a GPS module 408 for confirming the position of the wearable device 4. [

The communication module 407 is included in the communication interface 3 and is a module for implementing the Bluetooth, the Wi-Fi direct, the Ad hoc, and the ZigBee method. And the GPS module 408 includes a GPS receiver that receives information from GPS satellites.

The wearable device 4 further includes a memory 411 for storing various information and data.

Information collected from the sensors 405, 406, 409 and 410 and the modules 407 and 408 may be stored in the memory 411.

The air conditioner 1 includes a control unit 100, a key input unit 101, a display unit 102, an audio output unit 103, a communication module 104, a memory 105, And a driving unit 106.

The driving unit 106 is a configuration of the air conditioner 1 for controlling the cooling / heating, the wind direction and the wind speed of the air conditioner.

The control unit 100, the key input unit 101, the display unit 102, the audio output unit 103, the communication module 104, and the memory 105 are connected to the configuration of the wearable device 4, The description thereof is omitted.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling the air conditioner 1 using the wearable device 4 will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a user-centered control process in a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the control method of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the air conditioner can be operated (S101). The air conditioner can be operated by a wired / wireless remote controller (2). For example, the cooling / heating operation can be performed at a set temperature and an air flow rate (S101).

In addition, the air conditioner may further include a voice input unit, and may be automatically operated by a voice command, or may further include an infrared sensor or a camera, so that the air conditioner may be operated automatically by sensing a user's approach.

After the air conditioner is operated, it is determined whether the wearable device 4 and the air conditioner 1 to be controlled are set to use the user centered control function of the wearable device 4 (S102).

The user-centered control function refers to a function of controlling the air conditioner 1 based on information provided from the wearable device 4 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Meanwhile, the user-centered control function may be set as one function of the wearable device 4, and may be set to be used in the wearable device 4, or may be set to be used in the air conditioner 1.

If the user-centered control function is not set to be used, the normal operation is performed (S103).

The normal operation means that the user manually controls the cooling, heating, wind speed, etc. of the air conditioner by using the wired / wireless remote controller 2. [

If the user-centered control function is set to be used, the air conditioner 1 can recognize the user's body information through the wearable device 4 (S104).

The body information of the user provided by the wearable device 4 may be, for example, the heart rate of the user wearing the wearable device 4 and the body temperature.

If the body information of the user is recognized in the air conditioner 1, it can be determined whether the user wears the wearable device 4 (S105).

The wearable device 4 may use the heart rate recognized by the wearable device 4 to determine whether the wearable device 4 is worn.

In detail, when the heart rate value recognized by the wearable device 4 is recognized as being lower than the normal range, it can be determined that the wearable device 4 is not worn. For example, if the heart rate is less than 10, it can be determined that the wearable device 4 is not worn.

If it is determined that the wearable device 4 is not worn, the air conditioner 1 can maintain the current operating state (S108).

If it is determined that the wearable device 4 is worn, the wearable device 4 can determine whether the applause counted in the wearable device 4 falls within the first setting range (S106).

The first setting range means a heart rate of a person at ordinary times. For example, the first setting range may be 60 or more and 80 or less on an adult basis.

If the heart rate sensed by the wearable device 4 falls within the first setting range, it can be determined whether the body temperature recognized by the wearable device 4 belongs to the second setting range (S107).

The second setting range usually means a human body temperature. In one example, the second setting range may be 36 degrees Celsius or more and 37 degrees Celsius or less on an adult basis.

When the body temperature is within the second setting range, the air conditioner 1 can maintain the current operating state (S108).

On the other hand, when the body temperature does not fall within the second setting range, the air conditioner 1 can perform body temperature compensation operation (S110).

Specifically, the body temperature compensation operation may be divided into a case where the temperature is equal to or greater than the second setting range, and a case where the body temperature compensation operation is equal to or less than the second setting range. When the temperature is above the second setting range, the cooling operation may be performed to lower the body temperature. When the temperature is below the second setting range, the heating operation may be performed to raise the body temperature.

The heating / cooling operation can be performed in an enhanced operation in proportion to the difference between the second set range and the body temperature value recognized by the wearable device (4).

In detail, when the body temperature value recognized by the wearable device 4 is equal to or greater than the upper limit of the second set range, the cooling operation is started. If the difference between the upper limit value of the second setting range and the body temperature value is increased, the air flow rate of the air conditioner 1 can be increased. Conversely, if the difference between the upper limit of the second setting range and the body temperature is decreased, the air flow rate of the air conditioner 1 may be reduced.

In addition, when the body temperature value recognized by the wearable device 4 is operated at a temperature lower than the lower limit of the second setting range, the air flow rate of the air conditioner 1 can be increased or decreased on the same principle.

However, if the body temperature is in the second setting range or more in the state where the cooling operation is already performed in the step of operating the air conditioner (S101), the cooling operation will be maintained. The amount of air flow corresponding to the difference between the second set range and the body temperature value can be increased or decreased.

When the heating operation is performed in the step of operating the air conditioner (S101)

If the heart rate sensed by the wearable device 4 does not fall within the first setting range, it can be determined whether the body temperature recognized by the wearable device 4 belongs to the third setting range (S109).

The third setting range may be divided into a case where the heart rate is higher than the first setting range and a case where the heart rate is lower than the first setting range.

If the heart rate is higher than the first setting range, the third setting range may be higher than the upper and lower limits of the second setting range.

In detail, when the heart rate is higher than the first setting range, the user wearing the wearable device 4 can be determined to be in motion. Therefore, the third setting range is defined as a range in which the upper limit and the lower limit of the second setting range are raised in consideration of a situation in which the body temperature is higher than usual during exercise.

The lower limit of the third setting range may be lower than the lower limit of the second setting range and the upper limit of the third setting range may be higher than the upper limit of the second setting range if the heart rate is lower than the first setting range.

In detail, when the heart rate is lower than the first setting range, the user wearing the wearable device 4 can be judged to be in the sleep state. Continuous temperature changes by the air conditioner during sleep can interfere with sleep. Therefore, in order to reduce the temperature change during the water surface, the upper and lower limits of the set range can be increased.

If the body temperature falls within the third setting range, the air conditioner 1 can maintain the current operating state (S108).

If the body temperature does not fall within the third setting range, the body temperature compensation operation may be performed (S110).

After step S108 or step S110, it may be determined whether the user-centered control function is set to be used again (S102).

By configuring as described above, the air conditioner 1 can be operated according to the body information of the user continuously changing.

As a result, it is possible to maintain the optimum operating condition according to the user's body.

Claims (15)

1. A control method of an air conditioner capable of communicating with a wearable device capable of measuring body information of a user,
The air conditioner is cooled or heated to a set temperature;
Determining whether the user-centered control function is set to be used;
Recognizing the user's body information through the wearable device;
Determining whether the body information belongs to a preset reference range;
Performing the compensation operation when the operating state of the air conditioner is maintained and the body information is out of the reference range when the body information is within the reference range,
Wherein the body information includes at least one of body temperature and heart rate. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the step of determining whether the body information belongs to the reference range includes:
Determining whether the heart rate is within a first setting range; And
And determining whether the body temperature is within a second setting range if the heart rate is within the first setting range. 3. The method of claim 2,
In the step of determining whether the body temperature falls within the second setting range,
And maintaining the operating state of the air conditioner when the body temperature falls within the second setting range. 3. The method of claim 2,
In the step of determining whether the body temperature falls within the second setting range,
And changing the operating state of the air conditioner if the body temperature does not fall within the second setting range. 5. The method of claim 4,
In the step of changing the operating state of the air conditioner,
Wherein the cooling operation is performed when the body temperature is higher than the second setting range,
And the heating operation is performed when the fraudulent body temperature is lower than the second setting range. 6. The method of claim 5,
The air conditioner is operated at a set air volume,
When the body temperature is higher than the second setting range,
The cooling air flow rate of the air conditioner is increased or decreased in proportion to the difference between the upper limit of the second setting range and the body temperature,
When the body temperature is lower than the second setting range,
A control method of an air conditioner in which a cooling air flow rate of the air conditioner is increased or decreased in proportion to a difference between a lower limit of the second setting range and the body temperature, 3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising the step of: determining whether the body temperature is within a third setting range if the heart rate is not within the first setting range. 8. The method of claim 7,
Determining whether the body temperature falls within a third setting range,
And maintaining the operating state of the air conditioner when the body temperature falls within the third setting range. 8. The method of claim 7,
Determining whether the body temperature falls within a third setting range,
And changing the operating state of the air conditioner if the body temperature does not fall within the third setting range. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the third setting range includes:
Wherein the predetermined range is a corrected setting range from the second setting range according to the heart rate. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the upper limit and the lower limit of the third setting range are higher than the second setting range when the heart rate is higher than the first setting range. 11. The method of claim 10,
When the heart rate is lower than the first setting range, the lower limit of the third setting range is lower than the lower limit of the second setting range and the upper limit of the third setting range is higher than the upper limit of the second setting range Way. 8. The method of claim 7,
When the body temperature is higher than the third setting range,
The cooling air flow rate of the air conditioner is increased or decreased in proportion to the difference between the upper limit of the third setting range and the body temperature,
When the body temperature is lower than the third setting range,
A control method of an air conditioner in which a cooling air flow rate of the air conditioner is increased or decreased in proportion to a difference between a lower limit of the third setting range and the body temperature, 8. The method according to claim 2 or 7,
After the operation state of the air conditioner is maintained or the operation state is changed,
Returning to the step of determining whether the user-centered control function is again set to be used. The method according to claim 1,
Determining whether the user-centered control function is set to be used,
Wherein the user controls the cooling, heating, wind speed, etc. of the air conditioner manually using the wired / wireless remote controller if the user-centered control function is not set to be used.

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