KR20190065995A - Air conditioner and controlling method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises: an image photographing unit; an image processing unit detecting user information through an image generated from the image photographing unit; and a control unit controlling the air conditioner through the user information detected from the image processing unit. The image processing unit comprises: a human body sensing unit sensing a human body from the image generated from the image photographing unit; and a human body tracking unit assigning a user identification number to the human body sensed in the human body sensing unit in order and tracking movement of the human body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner,

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

The air conditioner is an appliance for keeping the indoor air in the most suitable condition according to the purpose and purpose. For example, in the summer, the room is kept cool and the winter is warmed. In addition, the humidity of the room is controlled and the air in the room is controlled in a pleasant and clean state. The air conditioner is driven by a refrigeration cycle, and may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator.

Such an air conditioner is provided with a suction portion for sucking air in the indoor space, a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging with the air sucked through the suction portion, and a discharge portion for discharging the air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger to the indoor space. The air conditioner may be provided with a blowing fan for generating an air flow from the suction unit to the discharge unit.

In addition, the air conditioner may include various devices such as a cleanliness detecting unit for detecting the cleanliness of the room air, a dust collector or a filter for purifying the air. Particularly, in recent years, a technology for detecting and controlling a human body by providing a camera in the air conditioner has been developed.

The prior literature related to this is as follows.

(1) First Prior Art: Registration No. 10-1355974, Object tracking method and apparatus for tracking a plurality of objects

(2) Second Prior Art: Japanese Patent Registration No. 3307354, a person identification method and apparatus, a recording medium recording a person identification program, and a robot apparatus

According to the above prior art documents, only the number of the human body can be detected or only the registered person can be identified through a predetermined registration process.

Accordingly, it is impossible to control through accurate judgment, and control according to individual characteristics and preferences can not be performed. In addition, there is a problem in that a procedure of registration is required and a minutiae point is required, which causes inconvenience to the user.

The present invention provides an air conditioner and a control method thereof that can control each human body by using a technique of detecting a human body and tracing each human body.

The present invention also provides an air conditioner and a control method thereof for detecting and tracking unregistered users, and for outputting conditioned air to registered users.

The air conditioner according to the present invention includes an image capturing unit, an image processing unit for detecting user information through the image generated by the image capturing unit, and a controller for controlling the air conditioner through the user information detected by the image processing unit The image processing unit includes a human body detecting unit for detecting a human body in the image generated by the image capturing unit and a human body tracking unit for giving a user identification number to the human body detected by the human body detecting unit and tracking the movement thereof do.

The image processing unit may further include a timer for outputting a tracking time tracked by the human body tracking unit by the human body to which the user identification number is assigned.

When a plurality of human bodies are detected by the human body sensing unit, the human body tracking unit assigns different user identification numbers in order of time sensed by the human body sensing unit, and the timer can output each tracking time .

A blowing fan for forcedly flowing air and a discharge unit for discharging the conditioned air, and the control unit can control the blowing fan and the discharge unit according to the tracking time.

The controller may control the air conditioner to provide discharged air in different manners to human bodies having different user identification numbers.

The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a case having a discharge portion and a blowing portion; a blowing fan provided in the blowing portion for forcedly flowing air; and a discharge unit provided in the discharge portion for discharging conditioned air, A first blowing fan that is configured to allow air to flow into the first blowing unit and a second blowing fan that blows air to the second blowing unit, 2 blowing fans may be included.

The control unit may arrange the first ejecting unit and the second ejecting unit so as to face the human body having different user identification numbers.

The controller may control the first blowing fan and the second blowing fan to rotate at different intensities so as to provide discharged air having different intensities to the human body having different user identification numbers.

Wherein the control unit controls the blowing fan to rotate at a high speed from a time when the human body is sensed by the human body sensing unit to a predetermined time and controls the blowing fan to rotate at a low speed after the predetermined time has elapsed can do.

Wherein the control unit arranges the discharge unit so that the discharge unit faces the human body detected from a time when the human body is sensed by the human body sensing unit to a predetermined time and after the predetermined time has elapsed, It can be arranged so as to face the vicinity of the human body.

Also, in the control method of the air conditioner according to the present invention, a peripheral image of the air conditioner is photographed, a human body is sensed in a photographed peripheral image, a user identification number is assigned to the sensed human body, When a human body is detected, a new user identification number is assigned to a newly detected human body to track the human body, and the discharge air is provided to the human body given different user identification numbers in different ways.

The human body to which the user identification number is assigned outputs the tracked tracking time to provide the discharged air in different ways according to the tracking time.

The discharge air can be directly supplied to the human body before the tracking time reaches a predetermined time and the discharge air can be indirectly provided to the human body when the tracking time reaches a predetermined time.

A plurality of independently-rotatable ejection units may be arranged to respectively provide ejection air toward the human body to which the respective user identification numbers are assigned.

A plurality of independently operable blowing fans can provide discharged air of different intensities toward the human body to which each user identification number is assigned.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide different discharge air by providing and tracking a user identification number to a detected human body.

In particular, users with different user identification numbers are each tracked to provide suitable discharge air, thereby increasing the convenience of the user.

Further, there is an advantage that the discharge air can be provided in different ways according to the tracking time by utilizing the tracking time of the human body having the user identification number.

In addition, there is an advantage that a human being staying in a room for a long time provides an indirect air, and a person who does not stay in the room for a long time can provide direct air to provide comfort.

In addition, an arbitrary user identification number is given to and tracked by the human body sensed by the human body sensing unit regardless of whether or not the user is registered. It is possible to track all users who are not registered users and provide suitable discharge air.

Further, there is an advantage that a plurality of independently-rotating discharge units are provided, and discharge air can be provided to each human body to which each user identification number is assigned.

Also, there is an advantage that a plurality of independent blowing fans can be provided, and discharged air having different intensities can be provided to a human body to which each user identification number is assigned.

1 is a view illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view illustrating an internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing a control configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a peripheral state of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view showing a control flow of the air conditioner according to the state of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a surrounding state of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view showing a control flow of the air conditioner according to the state of FIG.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that, in adding reference numerals to the constituent elements of the drawings, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference symbols as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the difference that the embodiments of the present invention are not conclusive.

In describing the components of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are intended to distinguish the constituent elements from other constituent elements, and the terms do not limit the nature, order or order of the constituent elements. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, Quot; may be "connected," "coupled," or "connected. &Quot;

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of the air conditioner with a partial configuration omitted.

1 and 2, an air conditioner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a discharge portion 10 through which air flowed from the outside and heat-exchanged is discharged, and a blowing portion 20).

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 is provided with a case 3 having the discharge portion 10 and the airflow portion 20 and forming an external appearance. The discharge part (10) and the discharge part (20) are arranged vertically in the case (3). In addition, a discharge port (not shown) may be provided at the rear lower portion of the case 3, and discharge ports 13 and 14 to be described later may be provided at a front upper portion of the case 3.

2, the discharging unit 10 is provided with a first discharging unit 11 and a second discharging unit 12 for discharging the air introduced from the inflow portion 20. The first discharge unit (11) and the second discharge unit (12) are cylindrically shaped and can be rotated about a rotation center axis parallel to each other.

The first discharge unit (11) and the second discharge unit (12) can independently rotate and adjust the discharge direction of air. That is, the first discharging unit 11 and the second discharging unit 12 can discharge air in different directions.

The upper part of the first discharging unit 11 and the second discharging unit 12 may be shielded and the lower part may be opened. Accordingly, the air blown from the blowing unit 20 can be introduced into the lower portion of the first discharge unit 11 and the second discharge unit 12.

The first discharge unit (11) and the second discharge unit (12) may be provided with discharge ports (13, 14) for discharging air to the outside, respectively. That is, the air introduced from the airflow-supplying portion 20 can be discharged to the outside through the respective discharge ports 13, Specifically, the ejection opening includes a first ejection opening 13 provided in the first ejection unit 11 and a second ejection opening 14 provided in the second ejection unit 12.

The discharging unit 10 may further include a center body 15 provided between the first discharging unit 11 and the second discharging unit 12. The center body 15 can be understood as a structure for shielding a gap between the first discharge unit 11 and the second discharge unit 12. [

The center body 15 is provided with a display unit (not shown) for indicating the operation state of the air conditioner 1 and an input unit (not shown) for inputting an angular motion command of the air conditioner 1 .

The blowing section 20 is provided with blowing fans 24 and 26 (FIG. 3) for forced convection of air. The blowing fan includes a first blowing fan (24) and a second blowing fan (26) which are operated independently of each other. That is, at least one of the first blowing fan 24 and the second blowing fan 26 can be operated if necessary.

The blowing unit 20 includes a first fan housing 21 and a second fan housing 23 in which the first blowing fan 24 and the second blowing fan 26 are respectively received. The first fan housing 21 is provided with a first duct portion 25 communicating with the first discharging unit 11 and the second fan housing 23 is provided with a second duct portion 25 communicating with the second discharging unit 12 The second duct portion 27 is provided.

Therefore, the air blown by the first blowing fan 24 housed in the first fan housing 21 moves to the first discharge unit 11 through the first duct portion 25, And is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 13. The air blown by the second blowing fan 26 housed in the second fan housing 23 is moved to the second discharging unit 12 through the second duct portion 27, (14).

Further, a heat exchanger (not shown) for exchanging air with the refrigerant may be provided between the air flow-in portion 20 and the air inlet. When the airflow 20 is operated, air can be introduced into the casing 3 through the air inlet, cooled by the heat exchanger, and discharged to the outside through the discharge unit 10.

The air conditioner 1 according to the present invention is provided with a video image pickup unit 30 capable of generating a predetermined image. The image capturing unit 30 can be understood as a camera installed to capture a surrounding image of the air conditioner 1. [

Referring to FIG. 1, the image capturing unit 30 may be installed above the case 3. Referring to FIG. 2, the center body 15 is provided with a video image capturing unit 32 on which the image capturing unit 30 is installed.

Hereinafter, the control of the air conditioner by the image generated by the image capturing unit 30 will be described in detail.

3 is a view showing a control configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the air conditioner 1 according to the present invention includes an image processing unit 40 for processing an image generated by the image capturing unit 30, and an air conditioner 1, And a control unit 50 for controlling the respective components of the apparatus.

The image processing unit 40 may be configured to detect user information through an image generated by the image capturing unit 30. FIG. The image processing unit 40 includes a human body sensing unit 42 for sensing a human body in the image generated by the image sensing unit 30 and a human body tracking unit 44 for tracking the human body sensed by the human body sensing unit 42. [ ).

The human body sensing part 42 may be understood as a human body sensing sensor that senses a human body in an image. The function and operation of the human body sensor are general and will not be described.

The human body tracking unit 44 sequentially assigns a user identification number to the human body sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 in the order in which they are sensed. For example, a user identification number 'USER1' is given to a human body detected first by the human body detection unit 42, and a user identification number 'USER2' is given to a newly detected human body after a predetermined time has elapsed .

In addition, the human body tracking unit 44 tracks the movement of the human body to which the user identification number is assigned. In detail, the movement of the human body in the space in which the human body sensing unit 42 is sensed or the time sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 can be tracked.

The image processing unit 40 may further include a timer 46 for outputting a tracking time tracked by the human body tracking unit 44 to a human body to which the user identification number is assigned. The human body tracking unit 44 can measure the time and the like sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 by the timer 46.

In particular, when a plurality of human bodies are sensed by the human body sensing unit 42, the human body tracking unit 44 assigns different user identification numbers in order of time sensed by the human body sensing unit 42. Accordingly, the timer 46 can output each tracking time.

The control unit 50 controls each configuration of the air conditioner 1 based on the user information detected by the image processing unit 40. The first blowing fan 24, the second blowing fan 26, the first discharging unit 11 and the second discharging unit 12 may be included in each configuration of the air conditioner 1 .

In particular, the controller 50 may control the air conditioner 1 to provide discharged air to the human body having different user identification numbers in different manners. For example, the control unit 50 may arrange the first ejecting unit 11 and the second ejecting unit 12 so as to face the human body having different user identification numbers.

The control unit 50 controls the first blowing fan 24 and the second blowing fan 26 to rotate at different intensities to provide discharged air having different intensities to the human body having different user identification numbers, .

The control unit 50 may control the blowing fans 24 and 26 and the discharging units 11 and 12 according to the tracking time measured by the timer 46. [

For example, the control unit 50 controls the blowing fans 24 and 26 to rotate at a high speed from a time when the human body is sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 to a predetermined time, It is possible to control the blowing fans 24 and 26 to rotate at a low speed.

In addition, the control unit 50 may be arranged such that the discharge units 11 and 12 face the detected human body up to a predetermined time from when the human body is sensed by the human body sensing unit 42, The discharging units 11 and 12 can be disposed so as to face the detected human body.

That is, the control unit 50 provides the discharge air directly to the human body before the tracking time reaches a predetermined time, and indirectly provides the discharge air to the human body when the tracking time reaches a predetermined time Can be controlled.

The image processing unit 40 may further include a body storage unit 48 storing predetermined user information. The human body storage unit 48 may correspond to a server in which user information is registered. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the human body sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 is a user stored in the human body storage unit 48.

For example, in the case of a human body not stored in the human body storage unit 48, an arbitrary user identification number USER1, USER2, or the like is assigned, and in the case of a human body stored in the human body storage unit 48, a stored name is given.

In addition, if the user's tendency is stored in the human body storage unit 48, the discharge air can be provided accordingly. For example, in the case of a user who avoids direct wind, the user can be provided indirect indulgence. In addition, when there is a set temperature frequently set by the user, the discharged air can be provided at the set temperature.

Also, when the voice of the user is registered, a command can be directly input by the voice of the user.

However, the air conditioner 1 according to the present invention assigns and tracks a user identification number irrespective of whether or not the air conditioner is stored in the human body storage unit 48. Hereinafter, control for any user not stored in the human body storage unit 48 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a surrounding state of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a control flow of the air conditioner according to the state of FIG. 4 (a), 4 (b) and 4 (c) show images at certain points of time photographed by the image photographing section 30 in order of time.

5, an air conditioner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is operated (100), and a surrounding image of the air conditioner 1 is detected by the image capturing unit 30 (110).

The human body sensing unit 42 senses the human body in the image photographed by the image sensing unit 30 (120). 5 (a), the human body is not sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 and can be operated in the power saving mode 130. [0054] FIG.

5 (b), the human body is sensed by the human body sensing unit 42. In this case, as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the human body tracking unit 44 assigns an arbitrary user identification number 'USER1' (140). At this time, 'USER1' is any name for identification and has no meaning in itself.

The human body tracking unit 44 tracks movement of 'USER1' to which a user identification number is assigned (150). As described above, you can track the actual movement or output the tracking time.

5 (c), the human body is sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 (160). This means that a new human body different from USER1 is detected because the human body tracking unit 44 tracks the existing human body.

The human body tracking unit 44 assigns the user identification number 'USER2' to the newly detected human body (170). At this time, 'USER2' is an arbitrary name given for identification with 'USER1' and has no meaning in itself.

In addition, the human body tracking unit 44 tracks all movement of 'USER1' and 'USER2' to which a user identification number is assigned (180). That is, the actual movement and tracking time of 'USER1' and 'USER2' can be measured, respectively.

In this way, when the human body detecting unit 42 detects a new human body, the human body tracking unit 44 assigns and tracks a new user identification number. In addition, if the human body to which the user identification number is assigned is no longer detected by the human body detection unit 42, the tracking is stopped.

That is, the human body tracking unit 44 tracks only the human body sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 regardless of who the actual user is. In addition, the control unit 50 can provide different discharge air as the movement of each human body sensed by the human body sensing unit 42 is tracked.

Hereinafter, the control method of the air conditioner that provides the discharged air to the human body given different user identification numbers in different manners will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a surrounding state of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a view showing a control flow of the air conditioner according to the state of FIG. 6 is a view showing the surroundings of the air conditioner 1 and the air conditioner 1 together for convenience of explanation.

Referring to FIG. 6, the air conditioner 1 according to the present invention is operated, a surrounding image is captured by the image capturing unit 30, and the human body detecting unit 42 The human body is detected. In addition, the user identification numbers 'USER1' and 'USER2' are assigned to the human body detected by the human body tracking unit 44, respectively. This process can be understood as a step 200 in which 'USER1' and 'USER2' are detected.

As described above, the air conditioner 1 includes the first discharging unit 11 and the second discharging unit 12 that are rotated independently of each other. At this time, the first discharging unit 11 is driven toward 'USER1' (210) and the second discharging unit 12 is driven toward 'USER2' (220).

However, such a matching corresponds to an example, and it is sufficient that a plurality of independently-rotatable ejection units 11, 12 are arranged so as to respectively provide ejection air toward the human body to which each user identification number is assigned Do.

In addition, as described above, the air conditioner 1 includes a first blowing fan 24 and a second blowing fan 26 which are independently driven. At this time, the first blowing fan 24 and the second blowing fan 26 are driven to rotate at a high speed.

Then, the tracking times of 'USER1' and 'USER2' are compared with predetermined times, respectively (240 and 250). At this time, the predetermined time is 30 minutes, which can be understood as a time when the user who has entered the room from the outside feels comfortable. For example, this time can be set longer in the summer when the outside temperature is high.

At this time, when the tracking time of the USER1 has passed 30 minutes, the first blowing fan 24 is rotated at a low speed and the first blowing unit 11 is driven toward the vicinity of the USER1. It can be understood that driving toward the vicinity provides an indirect air to USER1.

Further, when the tracking time of USER2 has elapsed for 30 minutes, the second blowing fan 26 is rotated at low speed and the second blowing unit 12 is driven toward the vicinity of USER2.

This driving is different depending on each tracking time, and is the same if the tracking times of USER1 and USER2 are the same. However, when the USER 1 enters the room firstly and the USER 2 enters the room after a predetermined time, it is driven differently.

For example, it is assumed that FIG. 6 shows the case where USER 1 enters the room first and USER 2 enters the room 30 minutes later. The first blowing fan 24 is operated at a low speed and the first blowing unit 11 faces the vicinity of the USER1 after a lapse of 30 minutes of the tracking time of USER1. That is, USER1, which has been in the room for 30 minutes, is provided with a low-speed indirect air.

On the other hand, since the tracking time of USER2 is now started to be outputted, the second blowing fan 26 is operated at high speed and the second blowing unit 12 is directed to USER2. That is, a high-speed direct wind is provided to the USER2 which has just entered the room.

Thus, the discharged air can be provided to the human body having different user identification numbers in different ways. In particular, by using an arbitrary user identification number without a user registration process, it is possible to more effectively provide the discharge air to each user.

10: discharging unit 11: first discharging unit
12: second discharge unit 24: first blowing fan
26: second blower fan 30: image capturing unit
40: image processing unit 42:
44: human body tracking unit 46: timer
48: human body storage unit 50: control unit

Claims (15)

Image capturing unit;
An image processing unit for detecting user information through the image generated by the image capturing unit; And
And a control unit for controlling the air conditioner through the user information detected by the image processing unit,
In the image processing section,
A human body sensing unit for sensing a human body in the image generated by the image sensing unit; And
A human body tracking unit for sequentially giving a user identification number to the human body sensed by the human body sensing unit and tracking the movement thereof;
Wherein the air conditioner includes an air conditioner. The method according to claim 1,
In the image processing section,
And a timer for outputting the tracking time tracked by the human body tracking unit by the human body to which the user identification number is assigned. 3. The method of claim 2,
When a plurality of human bodies are detected by the human body detecting unit,
Wherein the human body tracking unit assigns different user identification numbers in order of time sensed by the human body sensing unit,
Wherein the timer outputs a respective tracking time. 3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising a blowing fan for forcedly flowing air and a discharge unit for discharging the conditioned air,
Wherein the control unit controls the blowing fan and the discharging unit according to the tracking time. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit controls the air conditioner to provide discharged air in different manners to human bodies having different user identification numbers. The method according to claim 1,
A case having a discharge portion and a blowing portion;
A blowing fan provided in the blowing unit for forcedly flowing air; And
And a discharging unit provided in the discharging unit for discharging conditioned air,
The discharging unit includes a first discharging unit and a second discharging unit which are rotated independently of each other,
Wherein the blowing fan includes a first blowing fan configured to allow air to flow into the first ejecting unit and a second blowing fan configured to allow air to flow into the second ejecting unit. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the controller disposes the first discharging unit and the second discharging unit so as to face the human body having different user identification numbers. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the controller controls the first blowing fan and the second blowing fan to rotate at different intensities so as to provide discharge bodies of different intensities to human bodies having different user identification numbers. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein,
The control unit controls the blowing fan to rotate at a high speed from a time when the human body is sensed by the human body sensing unit to a predetermined time,
And controls the blowing fan to rotate at a low speed after the predetermined time has elapsed. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein,
Wherein the discharging unit is arranged to face the sensed human body from a time when the human body is sensed by the human body sensing unit to a predetermined time,
And after the predetermined time has elapsed, the discharging unit is disposed so as to face the vicinity of the sensed human body. The surrounding image of the air conditioner is photographed,
The human body is detected from the captured peripheral image,
A user identification number is assigned to the detected human body to track him /
When a new human body is detected, a new human body identification number is assigned to the newly detected human body,
And providing the discharge air in different ways to the human body to which each user identification number is assigned. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the human body to which the user identification number is assigned outputs the tracked tracking time and provides the discharged air in different ways according to the tracking time. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the controller controls the supply of air to the human body directly before the tracking time reaches a predetermined time,
Wherein when the tracking time reaches a predetermined time, the air is indirectly provided to the human body. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein a plurality of independently rotatable ejection units are arranged to respectively provide ejected air toward a human body to which a user identification number is assigned, 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the plurality of independent blowing fans provide discharge air of different intensities toward the human body to which each user identification number is assigned,

Images