EP2508812B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents
Air conditioner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2508812B1 EP2508812B1 EP10834380.7A EP10834380A EP2508812B1 EP 2508812 B1 EP2508812 B1 EP 2508812B1 EP 10834380 A EP10834380 A EP 10834380A EP 2508812 B1 EP2508812 B1 EP 2508812B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- human body
- wind direction
- detecting means
- direction changing
- air conditioner
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Not-in-force
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0043—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
- F24F1/0047—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
- F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
- F24F11/79—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling the direction of the supplied air
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2120/00—Control inputs relating to users or occupants
- F24F2120/10—Occupancy
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2120/00—Control inputs relating to users or occupants
- F24F2120/10—Occupancy
- F24F2120/12—Position of occupants
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2120/00—Control inputs relating to users or occupants
- F24F2120/10—Occupancy
- F24F2120/14—Activity of occupants
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an air conditioner provided with a human body detecting means.
- a conventional air conditioner provided with a human body detecting means includes an indoor unit 1, a discharge opening 2 defined in the indoor unit 1 at a lower portion thereof, and wind direction changing blades 3 mounted on the indoor unit 1 at the lower portion thereof.
- a human body detecting means 4 is disposed adjacent to a right-side edge of the discharge opening 2 and right-side edges of the wind direction changing blades 3. Operation of the air conditioner is controlled based on detection information of the human body detecting means 4 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
- Patent Document 1 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-187682
- JP 2001-193985 A discloses an air conditioner including two human sensitive sensors.
- a microcomputer for controlling the air conditioner judges whether or not positions of left and right flaps are directed in any direction of the human sensitive sensors disposed on the left side and right side of the air conditioner, i.e., whether or not the directions of the left and right flaps are substantially coincident to any of directions of the human sensitive sensors. If the directions of the left and right flaps are substantially coincident with any of the directions of the human sensitive sensors, a detection result of the human sensitive sensor which is one that is substantially coincident is not employed, and a detection result of the human sensitive sensor that is substantially not coincident to judge whether or not any person is existent.
- the present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described disadvantage. It is accordingly an objective of the present invention to provide an air conditioner provided with a human body detecting means capable of preventing the erroneous detection of the human body detecting means in changing the wind direction to thereby more correctly determine the situation of a human body such as, for example, the presence or absence, the position or the amount of activity of a person.
- an air conditioner includes a discharge opening for discharging an air current therethrough to air-condition an interior of a room, a wind direction changing blade operable to change a direction in which the air current is discharged, a wind-direction-changing-blade control means operable to drive the wind direction changing blade to change an angle thereof, a human body detecting means disposed adjacent to the discharge opening to detect a human body upon receipt of infrared rays, a human body situation determining means operable to determine a human body situation including at least one of the presence or absence, a position and an amount of activity of a person based on detection information of the human body detecting means, and an operation setting changing means operable to change an operation setting based on a determination result of a human body situation obtained from the human body situation determining means.
- Detection information of the human body detecting means outputted in a time zone including a period of time from when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means starts changing a set angle of the wind direction changing blade to when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means terminates changing the set angle of the wind direction changing blade and a subsequent period of time until a predetermined period of time elapses from the termination of the change is not utilized for the determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means.
- Detection information of the human body detecting means outputted in a stoppage period for changing a set angle of the wind direction changing blade is utilized for a determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means.
- the air conditioner according to the present invention can prevent, when the air conditioner is in operation, the erroneous detection of the human body detecting means and accordingly enables a more accurate determination of the human body situation.
- An air conditioner includes a discharge opening through which an air current is discharged to air-condition an interior of a room; a wind direction changing blade operable to change a direction in which the air current is discharged; a wind-direction-changing-blade control means operable to drive the wind direction changing blade to change an angle thereof; a human body detecting means disposed adjacent to the discharge opening to detect a human body upon receipt of infrared rays; and a human body situation determining means operable to determine a human body situation including at least one of presence or absence, a position and an amount of activity of a person based on detection information of the human body detecting means; wherein an operation setting is changed based on a determination result of a human body situation obtained from the human body situation determining means; and wherein detection information of the human body detecting means outputted in a time zone including a period of time from when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means starts changing a set angle of the wind direction changing blade to when the wind-direction-
- the human body detecting means is located in proximity to the discharge opening, the erroneous detection can be avoided, thus making it possible to further enhance the degree of freedom in arrangement or design of an indoor unit with a human body detecting means. Further, even if the detection field of view of the human body detecting means is widened without any limit, the erroneous detection can be avoided and, hence, a human body can be detected over a wider range in a room.
- An air conditioner according to a second invention is characterized in that the wind direction changing blade comprises a vertical wind direction changing blade operable to vertically change the air current discharged through the discharge opening.
- An air conditioner in the second invention further includes horizontal wind direction changing blades operable to horizontally change the air current discharged through the discharge opening, wherein the human body detecting means comprises a plurality of human body detecting means to be controlled based on a position of a person that is determined by the human body situation determining means based on detection information of the plurality of human body detecting means.
- the human body detecting means comprises a plurality of human body detecting means to be controlled based on a position of a person that is determined by the human body situation determining means based on detection information of the plurality of human body detecting means.
- An air conditioner according to a fourth invention is characterized in that the detection information of only some of the plurality of human body detecting means is not utilized for the determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means, thereby making it possible to maximize the detection information of the human body detecting means to realize comfortable air conditioning.
- An air conditioner according to a fifth invention is characterized in that an operation mode for continuously changing the set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade is provided, and when the air conditioner is operated in the operation mode, the change of the set angle is stopped for every predetermined cycles, and wherein the human body situation is determined based on the detection information of the human body detecting means during a stoppage period of the change of the set angle. Accordingly, even in a swing motion in which the set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade is continuously changed, the human body situation can be determined, while avoiding the erroneous detection.
- Fig. 1 is a front view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (a)
- Fig. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (b)
- Fig. 2(c) is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (c). That is, Figs. 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) depict cross-sections of the air conditioner when different wind directions are set at respective elapsed times during operation of the air conditioner.
- the air conditioner 1 includes a heat exchanger 5, a fan 6 for circulating air throughout a room, a diffuser 7 communicating with a discharge opening 2 defined in the air conditioner 1, a water pan 8, a vertical wind direction changing blade 3a mounted in the discharge opening 2 to vertically change a direction of wind blown out from the discharge opening 2, and a human body detecting means 4 mounted on the air conditioner 1 in proximity to the discharge opening 2 to detect a human body upon receipt of infrared rays.
- the air conditioner 1 also includes a plurality of horizontal wind direction changing blades for horizontally changing the direction of wind blown out from the discharge opening 2, an indoor temperature detector, a heat exchanger temperature detector, a microcomputer, and the like.
- Fig. 3 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- a basic control flow for changing operation settings of the air conditioner 1 based on human body detection information is first explained with reference to Fig. 3 .
- a human body situation determining means 9 determines a human body situation (for example, the presence or absence, position, and amount of activity of a person) based on detection information of one or more human body detecting means 4.
- an operation setting changing means 10 Based on information of the human body situation so determined, an operation setting changing means 10 outputs control signals for change of the operation settings to a wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 operable to change a set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a and that of the horizontal wind direction changing blade 3b using respective rotary drive means such as, for example, stepping motors, to a set temperature control means 12 operable to change a temperature set as a target room temperature, and to an air volume control means 13 operable to control a speed of the fan 6 for change of a set speed of the fan 6.
- a wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 operable to change a set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a and that of the horizontal wind direction changing blade 3b using respective rotary drive means such as, for example, stepping motors
- a set temperature control means 12 operable to change a temperature set as a target room temperature
- an air volume control means 13 operable to control a speed of the fan 6 for change of a set
- the operation setting changing means 10 outputs a control signal to the set temperature control means 12 to shift a target temperature set by, for example, a remote controller in an energy-saving direction by a predetermined temperature width. Also, if the human body situation determining means 9 determines that the amount of activity of a person is large, the operation setting changing means 10 outputs a control signal to the set temperature control means 12 to shift the target temperature in a temperature-reducing direction by a predetermined temperature width.
- the operation setting changing means 10 outputs a control signal to the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 to change the set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a and that of the horizontal wind direction changing blades 3b so that those blades 3a, 3b may face to the position of the person.
- the operation setting changing means 10 also outputs to the control means control signals required to change the operation settings in response to information of a change in operation settings from an operating means such as, for example, a remote controller, that of a change in operation settings based on an automatic control, or the like.
- Fig. 4 depicts an example of a timing chart of a control action of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- Figs. 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) depict set positions of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a with respect to a detection field of view 14 of the human body detecting means 4 at elapsed times (a), (b) and (c) in Fig. 4 , respectively.
- a drive motor for driving the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is changed from an off-state indicating a stopped state to an on-state indicating an operating state to change the angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a in a downward direction at a predetermined speed.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a reaches the target angle b1. In this period of time, the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is positioned above and outside the detection field of view 14 of the human body detecting means 4 at the elapsed time (a), as shown in Fig.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a passes across the detection field of view 14 from when the portion of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a begins to enter the field of view 14 in the course of the movement thereof to the elapsed time (b) at which the movement terminates, and because the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is cooled or heated by air blown out from the discharge opening 2 in this period of time, the human body detecting means 4 receives a change in the amount of infrared rays greater than a predetermined value and accordingly continuously outputs pulse signals. Further, immediately after the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a has been stopped, the pulse signals are also continuously outputted for several seconds until the change in the amount of infrared rays detected by the human body detecting means 4 stabilizes.
- the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 When the operation setting changing means 10 changes the target angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a, the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 outputs to the human body situation determining means 9 a control signal indicating start-stop (on/off) of the drive motor that drives the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a.
- the human body situation determining means 9 does not utilize, upon receipt of the output information from the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11, information outputted from the human body detecting means 4 in a time zone including at least both the aforementioned periods of time in determining the human body situation (the presence or absence, position, amount of activity of a person, and the like).
- this time zone is so set as to be sufficiently longer than an estimated maximum period of time of a sum of both the periods of time from the start of the change in the target angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a, thus making it possible to positively avoid the erroneous detection.
- the human body situation determining means 9 outputs a determination of absence (0) despite the presence of an output from the human body detecting means 4 in the time zone so set. As a result, it is possible to prevent the human body detecting means 4 from erroneously detecting a movement of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a as a human body.
- the operation setting changing means 10 does not change the angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a in a period of time from the elapsed time (b) to the elapsed time (c) and, hence, the drive motor for the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is kept in a stopped state and the angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is accordingly kept constant.
- the human body detecting means 4 outputs a pulse signal and a control signal for the drive motor outputted from the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 indicates a stopped state (off). Under such situation, the human body situation determining means 9 determines this pulse signal as a result of having detected a human body and outputs a determination of presence (1).
- the drive motor for driving the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is changed from the stopped state or off-state to the operating state or on-state to change the angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a upward at a predetermined speed before the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a reaches the target angle c1 at the elapsed time (c).
- a period of time from the elapsed time (b) to (c) as shown in Fig. 2(b) at the start of the movement and as shown in Fig.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a moves upward with a portion thereof positioned inside the detection field of view 14. Accordingly, the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is cooled or heated by air blown out from the discharge opening 2 and passes across the detection field of view 14.
- the human body detecting means 4 receives a change in the amount of infrared rays greater than the predetermined value and accordingly continuously outputs pulse signals from the elapsed time (b) to (c), as shown in Fig. 4 . Further, immediately after the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a has been stopped, the pulse signals are also continuously outputted for several seconds until the change in the amount of infrared rays detected by the human body detecting means 4 stabilizes.
- the human body situation determining means 9 outputs a determination of absence (0) despite the presence of an output from the human body detecting means 4 in this time zone, thus making it possible to prevent the human body detecting means 4 from erroneously detecting the movement of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a as a human body.
- the human body detecting means 4 when the set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is changed, even if a change in the amount of infrared rays causes an erroneous detection of the human body detecting means 4 in the event that a portion of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a moves within the detection field of view 14 where the human body detecting means 4 receives infrared rays, detection information during the movement is not temporarily used for the determination of the human body situation (for example, the presence or absence, position, amount of activity of a person) by the human body situation determining means 9.
- the human body situation for example, the presence or absence, position, amount of activity of a person
- the human body detecting means 4 even if the human body detecting means 4 is located in proximity to the discharge opening 2, the erroneous detection can be avoided, thus making it possible to further enhance the degree of freedom in arrangement or design of the indoor unit with the human body detecting means. Further, even if the detection field of view of the human body detecting means 4 is widened without any limit, the erroneous detection can be avoided and, hence, a human body can be detected over a wider range in a room.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is enlarged or disposed so as to protrude from the discharge opening 2, the erroneous detection can be avoided, thus making it possible to further enhance the degree of freedom in arrangement or design of the vertical wind direction changing blade.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is caused to swing to intermittently change the angle thereof (swing mode) during, for example, cooling
- the situation may be determined using detection information of the human body detecting means 4, thereby enabling effective utilization of the detection information.
- the present invention can provide an air conditioner capable of more accurately determining the human body situation by avoiding an erroneous detection of the human body detecting means.
- Fig. 5 depicts an air conditioner provided with a human body detecting means 4 mounted above a discharge opening 2 defined therein.
- the human body detecting means 4 is positioned at a center of the air conditioner 1, but this arrangement shows the same effect as in the first embodiment.
- Fig. 6 depicts cross-sections of the air conditioner 1 of Fig. 5.
- Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) depict positions of a vertical wind direction changing blade 3a with respect to a detection field of view 14 of the human body detecting means 4 at elapsed times (a) and (b), respectively.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a may interfere with the field of view 14 of the human body detecting means 4.
- detection information from the human body detecting means 4 is not used for the determination by the human body situation determining means 9 in a time zone including a period of time from start to finish of a change in angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a and a subsequent period of time until a predetermined period of time elapses from the termination of the change.
- the output of the human body situation determining means 9 indicates a determination of absence (0).
- the angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is changed, even if a change in the amount of infrared rays causes an erroneous detection of the human body detecting means 4 in the event that a portion of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a moves within the detection field of view 14 where the human body detecting means 4 receives infrared rays, detection information during the movement is not temporarily used for the determination of the human body situation (for example, the presence or absence, position, amount of activity of a person) by the human body situation determining means 9.
- the human body situation for example, the presence or absence, position, amount of activity of a person
- Fig. 8 depicts an air conditioner provided with a plurality of human body detecting means 4 mounted above a discharge opening 2 defined therein.
- each of the plurality of human body detecting means 4 can detect the presence or absence of a person in one of a plurality of areas.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a may interfere with the fields of view 14 of the three human body detecting means 4, as shown in Fig. 6 .
- Fig. 10 is a timing chart of a control action of the air conditioner according to this embodiment.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a may pass across the fields of view 14 of the human body detecting means 4, which may cause an erroneous response. Accordingly, outputs from the human body detecting means 4 are not used for a determination of the presence or absence of a person when the wind direction is being changed by the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a and for a subsequent predetermined period of time after the wind direction has been changed. As shown in Fig. 10 , an output of the human body situation determining means 9 indicates a determination of absence (0) despite the presence of the outputs of the human body detecting means 4.
- the human body detecting means 4 reacts with the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a fixed, horizontal wind direction changing blades (not shown) 3b are caused to face in a direction of an area that has been determined that a person is present there, so that an air current may reach the person.
- the right-side human body detecting means 4 reacts in between the elapsed times (c) and (d), and a determination of presence (1) is outputted as a result of a determination that the person is present in the right-side area.
- the direction of the horizontal wind direction changing blades 3b is changed to the right side to change the wind direction to the right-side area where the person is present (fixed at an angle b2).
- the horizontal wind direction changing blades 3b are directed to an area (left-side area in Fig. 9 ) that has been determined, based on, for example, accumulated data regarding the presence or absence of a person, that a person is frequently present there.
- an air current control has been described as controlling the horizontal wind direction changing blades 3b to face in a direction in which a person is present
- another air current for controlling the horizontal wind direction changing blades 3b to face in a direction in which no person is present is also possible in order to avoid a wind from directly impinging on a person.
- the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a may interfere with the field of view of only some of the plurality of human body detecting means 4 depending on the installation positions of the human body detecting means 4.
- detection information of only the some of the human body detecting means 4, with the field of view of which the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a interferes is not used for a determination of the human body situation when the set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade 3a is being changed, and detection information of only the remaining human body detecting means 4 is used for the determination, thus making it possible to realize comfortable air conditioning.
- the plurality of human body detecting mean 4 may be provided at the center of the indoor unit 1, but they may be provided at one end of the indoor unit 1 as in the first embodiment.
- any other air conditioners such as, for example, floor-installed or ceiling-embedded ones show the same action and effect if a change in the set angle of the wind direction changing blade causes a portion thereof to interfere with the field of view of the human body detecting means.
- the wind direction changing blade is not limited to the vertical wind direction changing blade, and even if the present invention is applied to the horizontal wind direction changing blades, the same action and effect are exerted.
- the air conditioner according to the present invention can more accurately determine the human body situation by reducing erroneous detections of the human body detecting means and realize an air-conditioning environment superior in comfort and energy saving depending on the human body situation. Accordingly, the air conditioner according to the present invention can be used as an air conditioner for general home use and also as an air conditioner for business use as used in, for example, offices.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to an air conditioner provided with a human body detecting means.
- As shown in
Fig. 11 , a conventional air conditioner provided with a human body detecting means includes anindoor unit 1, adischarge opening 2 defined in theindoor unit 1 at a lower portion thereof, and winddirection changing blades 3 mounted on theindoor unit 1 at the lower portion thereof. A human body detecting means 4 is disposed adjacent to a right-side edge of the discharge opening 2 and right-side edges of the winddirection changing blades 3. Operation of the air conditioner is controlled based on detection information of the human body detecting means 4 (see, for example, Patent Document 1). - • Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
5-187682 -
JP 2001-193985 A - In the above-described conventional air conditioner, however, when a set angle of the wind direction changing blades is changed, if a portion of the wind direction changing blades enters and moves within a detection field of view in which the human body detecting means receives infrared rays, the amount of the infrared rays changes, thus posing a problem of erroneous detection of the wind direction changing blades.
- The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described disadvantage. It is accordingly an objective of the present invention to provide an air conditioner provided with a human body detecting means capable of preventing the erroneous detection of the human body detecting means in changing the wind direction to thereby more correctly determine the situation of a human body such as, for example, the presence or absence, the position or the amount of activity of a person.
- In accomplishing the above objective, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a discharge opening for discharging an air current therethrough to air-condition an interior of a room, a wind direction changing blade operable to change a direction in which the air current is discharged, a wind-direction-changing-blade control means operable to drive the wind direction changing blade to change an angle thereof, a human body detecting means disposed adjacent to the discharge opening to detect a human body upon receipt of infrared rays, a human body situation determining means operable to determine a human body situation including at least one of the presence or absence, a position and an amount of activity of a person based on detection information of the human body detecting means, and an operation setting changing means operable to change an operation setting based on a determination result of a human body situation obtained from the human body situation determining means. Detection information of the human body detecting means outputted in a time zone including a period of time from when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means starts changing a set angle of the wind direction changing blade to when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means terminates changing the set angle of the wind direction changing blade and a subsequent period of time until a predetermined period of time elapses from the termination of the change is not utilized for the determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means. Detection information of the human body detecting means outputted in a stoppage period for changing a set angle of the wind direction changing blade is utilized for a determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means.
- By this construction, when the set angle of the wind direction changing blade is changed, even if a portion of the wind direction changing blade moves within a detection field of view of the human body detecting means, in which infrared rays are received, to cause a change in the amount of the infrared rays, which in turn causes erroneous detection of the human body detecting means, detection information obtained during the movement of the wind direction changing blade is not temporarily utilized for the determination of the human body situation (for example, the presence or absence, the position and the amount of activity of a person) by the human body situation determining means, thereby preventing detection information other than a human body, which may be obtained in changing the angle of the wind direction changing blade, from being erroneously determined as a person.
- The air conditioner according to the present invention can prevent, when the air conditioner is in operation, the erroneous detection of the human body detecting means and accordingly enables a more accurate determination of the human body situation.
-
-
Fig. 1 is a front view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 2 depicts cross-sections of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention, (a) being a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (a), (b) being a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (b), and (c) being a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (c). -
Fig. 3 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 4 is a timing chart of a control action of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 5 is a front view of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 6 depicts cross-sections of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present invention, (a) being a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (a) and (b) being a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (b). -
Fig. 7 is a timing chart of a control action of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 8 is a front view of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 9 is a view indicating a detection area of a human body detecting means in the third embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 10 is a timing chart of a control action of the air conditioner according to the third embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 11 is a front view of a conventional air conditioner. - An air conditioner according to a first invention includes a discharge opening through which an air current is discharged to air-condition an interior of a room; a wind direction changing blade operable to change a direction in which the air current is discharged; a wind-direction-changing-blade control means operable to drive the wind direction changing blade to change an angle thereof; a human body detecting means disposed adjacent to the discharge opening to detect a human body upon receipt of infrared rays; and a human body situation determining means operable to determine a human body situation including at least one of presence or absence, a position and an amount of activity of a person based on detection information of the human body detecting means; wherein an operation setting is changed based on a determination result of a human body situation obtained from the human body situation determining means; and wherein detection information of the human body detecting means outputted in a time zone including a period of time from when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means starts changing a set angle of the wind direction changing blade to when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means terminates changing the set angle of the wind direction changing blade and a subsequent period of time until a predetermined period of time elapses from the termination of the change is not utilized for a determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means.
- By this construction, when the set angle of the wind direction changing blade is changed, even if a portion of the wind direction changing blade moves within a detection field of view of the human body detecting means, in which infrared rays are received, to cause a change in the amount of the infrared rays, which in turn causes erroneous detection of the human body detecting means, detection information obtained during the movement of the wind direction changing blade is not temporarily utilized for the determination of the human body situation (for example, the presence or absence, the position and the amount of activity of a person) by the human body situation determining means, thereby preventing detection information other than a human body, which may be obtained in changing the angle of the wind direction changing blade, from being erroneously determined as a person. Accordingly, the human body situation can be more accurately determined using only the detection information of a human body.
- Also, even if the human body detecting means is located in proximity to the discharge opening, the erroneous detection can be avoided, thus making it possible to further enhance the degree of freedom in arrangement or design of an indoor unit with a human body detecting means. Further, even if the detection field of view of the human body detecting means is widened without any limit, the erroneous detection can be avoided and, hence, a human body can be detected over a wider range in a room.
- An air conditioner according to a second invention is characterized in that the wind direction changing blade comprises a vertical wind direction changing blade operable to vertically change the air current discharged through the discharge opening. By this construction, even if the vertical wind direction changing blade is enlarged or disposed so as to protrude from the discharge opening, the erroneous detection can be avoided, thus making it possible to further enhance the degree of freedom in arrangement or design of the vertical wind direction changing blade.
- An air conditioner according to a third invention, in the second invention further includes horizontal wind direction changing blades operable to horizontally change the air current discharged through the discharge opening, wherein the human body detecting means comprises a plurality of human body detecting means to be controlled based on a position of a person that is determined by the human body situation determining means based on detection information of the plurality of human body detecting means. This construction can realize comfortable air conditioning based on the position of a person while avoiding the erroneous detection.
- An air conditioner according to a fourth invention is characterized in that the detection information of only some of the plurality of human body detecting means is not utilized for the determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means, thereby making it possible to maximize the detection information of the human body detecting means to realize comfortable air conditioning.
- An air conditioner according to a fifth invention is characterized in that an operation mode for continuously changing the set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade is provided, and when the air conditioner is operated in the operation mode, the change of the set angle is stopped for every predetermined cycles, and wherein the human body situation is determined based on the detection information of the human body detecting means during a stoppage period of the change of the set angle. Accordingly, even in a swing motion in which the set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade is continuously changed, the human body situation can be determined, while avoiding the erroneous detection.
- Embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited by the embodiments.
-
Fig. 1 is a front view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.Fig. 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (a),Fig. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (b), andFig. 2(c) is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at an elapsed time (c). That is,Figs. 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) depict cross-sections of the air conditioner when different wind directions are set at respective elapsed times during operation of the air conditioner. - As shown in each figure of
Fig. 2 , theair conditioner 1 includes aheat exchanger 5, afan 6 for circulating air throughout a room, adiffuser 7 communicating with adischarge opening 2 defined in theair conditioner 1, awater pan 8, a vertical winddirection changing blade 3a mounted in thedischarge opening 2 to vertically change a direction of wind blown out from thedischarge opening 2, and a human body detecting means 4 mounted on theair conditioner 1 in proximity to the discharge opening 2 to detect a human body upon receipt of infrared rays. Theair conditioner 1 also includes a plurality of horizontal wind direction changing blades for horizontally changing the direction of wind blown out from thedischarge opening 2, an indoor temperature detector, a heat exchanger temperature detector, a microcomputer, and the like. - Operation and function of the
air conditioner 1 of the above-described construction are explained hereinafter.Fig. 3 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A basic control flow for changing operation settings of theair conditioner 1 based on human body detection information is first explained with reference toFig. 3 . A human body situation determining means 9 determines a human body situation (for example, the presence or absence, position, and amount of activity of a person) based on detection information of one or more human body detecting means 4. Based on information of the human body situation so determined, an operation setting changing means 10 outputs control signals for change of the operation settings to a wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 operable to change a set angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a and that of the horizontal winddirection changing blade 3b using respective rotary drive means such as, for example, stepping motors, to a set temperature control means 12 operable to change a temperature set as a target room temperature, and to an air volume control means 13 operable to control a speed of thefan 6 for change of a set speed of thefan 6. - By way of example, if the human body situation determining means 9 determines that no person is present, the operation setting changing means 10 outputs a control signal to the set temperature control means 12 to shift a target temperature set by, for example, a remote controller in an energy-saving direction by a predetermined temperature width. Also, if the human body situation determining means 9 determines that the amount of activity of a person is large, the operation setting changing means 10 outputs a control signal to the set temperature control means 12 to shift the target temperature in a temperature-reducing direction by a predetermined temperature width. Further, if the human body situation determining means 9 determines the position of a person, the operation setting changing means 10 outputs a control signal to the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 to change the set angle of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a and that of the horizontal winddirection changing blades 3b so that thoseblades - It is to be noted here that the operation setting changing means 10 also outputs to the control means control signals required to change the operation settings in response to information of a change in operation settings from an operating means such as, for example, a remote controller, that of a change in operation settings based on an automatic control, or the like.
-
Fig. 4 depicts an example of a timing chart of a control action of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.Figs. 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) depict set positions of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a with respect to a detection field ofview 14 of the human body detecting means 4 at elapsed times (a), (b) and (c) inFig. 4 , respectively. - The control action and function at each timing when the wind direction setting of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a is changed in order of the elapsed time (a) → (b) → (c) inFig. 4 are explained hereinafter. In a period of time until the elapsed time (a), the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is set to an angle a1 close to an upper limit in an upward direction. At the elapsed time (a), when the operation setting changing means 10 changes the angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a from the angle a1 to an angle b1 close to a lower limit, a drive motor for driving the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is changed from an off-state indicating a stopped state to an on-state indicating an operating state to change the angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a in a downward direction at a predetermined speed. At the elapsed time (b), the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a reaches the target angle b1. In this period of time, the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is positioned above and outside the detection field ofview 14 of the human body detecting means 4 at the elapsed time (a), as shown inFig. 2(a) , but the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a moves downward from the elapsed time (a) to the elapsed time (b), and the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is stopped at the elapsed time (b) at a location where a portion of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is positioned inside the detection field ofview 14. - As shown in
Fig. 4 , the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a passes across the detection field ofview 14 from when the portion of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a begins to enter the field ofview 14 in the course of the movement thereof to the elapsed time (b) at which the movement terminates, and because the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is cooled or heated by air blown out from thedischarge opening 2 in this period of time, the human body detecting means 4 receives a change in the amount of infrared rays greater than a predetermined value and accordingly continuously outputs pulse signals. Further, immediately after the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a has been stopped, the pulse signals are also continuously outputted for several seconds until the change in the amount of infrared rays detected by the human body detecting means 4 stabilizes. - The above-described phenomenon in changing the wind direction setting of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a results in an erroneous detection of the humanbody detecting means 4. A control action for avoiding an erroneous determination of the human body situation, which may be caused by information of such erroneous detection, is explained hereinafter with reference to the control block diagram ofFig. 3 . - When the operation setting changing means 10 changes the target angle of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a, the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 outputs to the human body situation determining means 9 a control signal indicating start-stop (on/off) of the drive motor that drives the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a. Because it is likely that the erroneous detection occurs in a period of time for which the drive motor is in operation (on-state) and in a subsequent predetermined period of time (several seconds) from when the drive motor is brought to a stop (switched from an on-state to an off-state), the human body situation determining means 9 does not utilize, upon receipt of the output information from the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11, information outputted from the human body detecting means 4 in a time zone including at least both the aforementioned periods of time in determining the human body situation (the presence or absence, position, amount of activity of a person, and the like). - By way of example, this time zone is so set as to be sufficiently longer than an estimated maximum period of time of a sum of both the periods of time from the start of the change in the target angle of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a, thus making it possible to positively avoid the erroneous detection. As best shown inFig. 4 , the human body situation determining means 9 outputs a determination of absence (0) despite the presence of an output from the human body detecting means 4 in the time zone so set. As a result, it is possible to prevent the human body detecting means 4 from erroneously detecting a movement of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a as a human body. - Also, as shown in
Fig. 4 , the operation setting changingmeans 10 does not change the angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a in a period of time from the elapsed time (b) to the elapsed time (c) and, hence, the drive motor for the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is kept in a stopped state and the angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is accordingly kept constant. In this period of time, the human body detecting means 4 outputs a pulse signal and a control signal for the drive motor outputted from the wind-direction-changing-blade control means 11 indicates a stopped state (off). Under such situation, the human body situation determining means 9 determines this pulse signal as a result of having detected a human body and outputs a determination of presence (1). - At a time close to the elapsed time (c), when the operation setting changing means 10 changes the target angle of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a from b1 to c1, the drive motor for driving the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is changed from the stopped state or off-state to the operating state or on-state to change the angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a upward at a predetermined speed before the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a reaches the target angle c1 at the elapsed time (c). In a period of time from the elapsed time (b) to (c), as shown inFig. 2(b) at the start of the movement and as shown inFig. 2(c) at the end of the movement, the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a moves upward with a portion thereof positioned inside the detection field ofview 14. Accordingly, the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is cooled or heated by air blown out from thedischarge opening 2 and passes across the detection field ofview 14. As such, the human body detecting means 4 receives a change in the amount of infrared rays greater than the predetermined value and accordingly continuously outputs pulse signals from the elapsed time (b) to (c), as shown inFig. 4 . Further, immediately after the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a has been stopped, the pulse signals are also continuously outputted for several seconds until the change in the amount of infrared rays detected by the human body detecting means 4 stabilizes. - As best shown in
Fig. 4 , the human body situation determining means 9 outputs a determination of absence (0) despite the presence of an output from the human body detecting means 4 in this time zone, thus making it possible to prevent the human body detecting means 4 from erroneously detecting the movement of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a as a human body. - According to the above-described embodiment, when the set angle of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a is changed, even if a change in the amount of infrared rays causes an erroneous detection of the human body detecting means 4 in the event that a portion of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a moves within the detection field ofview 14 where the human body detecting means 4 receives infrared rays, detection information during the movement is not temporarily used for the determination of the human body situation (for example, the presence or absence, position, amount of activity of a person) by the human body situation determining means 9. Accordingly, it becomes possible to prevent detection information other than a human body, which may be obtained in changing the angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a, from being erroneously determined as a human body, thus resulting in a more accurate determination of the human body situation with the use of only the detection information of a human body. - Also, even if the human body detecting means 4 is located in proximity to the
discharge opening 2, the erroneous detection can be avoided, thus making it possible to further enhance the degree of freedom in arrangement or design of the indoor unit with the human body detecting means. Further, even if the detection field of view of the human body detecting means 4 is widened without any limit, the erroneous detection can be avoided and, hence, a human body can be detected over a wider range in a room. - In addition, even if the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a is enlarged or disposed so as to protrude from thedischarge opening 2, the erroneous detection can be avoided, thus making it possible to further enhance the degree of freedom in arrangement or design of the vertical wind direction changing blade. - In applications where the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a is caused to swing to intermittently change the angle thereof (swing mode) during, for example, cooling, it is only necessary to determine the human body situation by temporarily stopping the swing motion for every predetermined cycles. By doing so, the human body situation can be properly determined while avoiding the erroneous detection and realizing comfort with the swing motion during air conditioning. - Also, if the angle of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a is changed in a movable range thereof without obscuring the field of view of the human body detecting means 4, the situation may be determined using detection information of the human body detecting means 4, thereby enabling effective utilization of the detection information. - As described above, the present invention can provide an air conditioner capable of more accurately determining the human body situation by avoiding an erroneous detection of the human body detecting means.
-
Fig. 5 depicts an air conditioner provided with a human body detecting means 4 mounted above adischarge opening 2 defined therein. The human body detecting means 4 is positioned at a center of theair conditioner 1, but this arrangement shows the same effect as in the first embodiment. -
Fig. 6 depicts cross-sections of theair conditioner 1 ofFig. 5. Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) depict positions of a vertical winddirection changing blade 3a with respect to a detection field ofview 14 of the human body detecting means 4 at elapsed times (a) and (b), respectively. - Where the human body detecting means 4 is positioned as shown in
Fig. 5 due to constrains on the design or arrangement of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a, the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a may interfere with the field ofview 14 of the humanbody detecting means 4. - In view of this, as in the first embodiment, detection information from the human body detecting means 4 is not used for the determination by the human body situation determining means 9 in a time zone including a period of time from start to finish of a change in angle of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a and a subsequent period of time until a predetermined period of time elapses from the termination of the change. - More specifically, as shown in
Fig. 7 , even if a signal is detected by the human body detecting means 4 in a time zone from (a) to (b) during which the direction of the vertical winddirection changing means 4 is being changed, an output from the human body detecting means 4 is not used for the determination by the human body situation determining means 9. Accordingly, the output of the human body situation determining means 9 indicates a determination of absence (0). - As described above, when the angle of the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a is changed, even if a change in the amount of infrared rays causes an erroneous detection of the human body detecting means 4 in the event that a portion of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a moves within the detection field ofview 14 where the human body detecting means 4 receives infrared rays, detection information during the movement is not temporarily used for the determination of the human body situation (for example, the presence or absence, position, amount of activity of a person) by the human body situation determining means 9. Accordingly, it becomes possible to prevent detection information other than a human body, which may be obtained in changing the angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a, from being erroneously determined as a human body, thus resulting in a more accurate determination of the human body situation with the use of only the detection information of a human body. -
Fig. 8 depicts an air conditioner provided with a plurality of human body detecting means 4 mounted above adischarge opening 2 defined therein. As shown inFig. 9 , each of the plurality of human body detecting means 4 can detect the presence or absence of a person in one of a plurality of areas. In the illustrated embodiment, there are provided three human body detecting means 4 having respective fields of view that are different in a widthwise direction of the air conditioner. Accordingly, the presence or absence of a person in each of three areas, i.e., a left-side area, a central area and a right-side area is determined depending on an output from a corresponding one of the three humanbody detecting means 4. - However, as in the case of one human body detecting means 4, the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a may interfere with the fields ofview 14 of the three human body detecting means 4, as shown inFig. 6 . -
Fig. 10 is a timing chart of a control action of the air conditioner according to this embodiment. - As shown in
Fig. 10 , when the direction of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is changed in between the elapsed times (a) and (b), the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a may pass across the fields ofview 14 of the human body detecting means 4, which may cause an erroneous response. Accordingly, outputs from the human body detecting means 4 are not used for a determination of the presence or absence of a person when the wind direction is being changed by the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a and for a subsequent predetermined period of time after the wind direction has been changed. As shown inFig. 10 , an output of the human body situation determining means 9 indicates a determination of absence (0) despite the presence of the outputs of the humanbody detecting means 4. - On the other hand, if the human body detecting means 4 reacts with the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a fixed, horizontal wind direction changing blades (not shown) 3b are caused to face in a direction of an area that has been determined that a person is present there, so that an air current may reach the person. In the example shown inFig. 10 , the right-side human body detecting means 4 reacts in between the elapsed times (c) and (d), and a determination of presence (1) is outputted as a result of a determination that the person is present in the right-side area. At this moment, the direction of the horizontal winddirection changing blades 3b is changed to the right side to change the wind direction to the right-side area where the person is present (fixed at an angle b2). - If a determination of absence is made with respect to all the areas, the horizontal wind
direction changing blades 3b are directed to an area (left-side area inFig. 9 ) that has been determined, based on, for example, accumulated data regarding the presence or absence of a person, that a person is frequently present there. Although in this embodiment an air current control has been described as controlling the horizontal winddirection changing blades 3b to face in a direction in which a person is present, another air current for controlling the horizontal winddirection changing blades 3b to face in a direction in which no person is present is also possible in order to avoid a wind from directly impinging on a person. - In applications where a plurality of human body detecting means 4 are used, the vertical wind
direction changing blade 3a may interfere with the field of view of only some of the plurality of human body detecting means 4 depending on the installation positions of the humanbody detecting means 4. In this case, detection information of only the some of the human body detecting means 4, with the field of view of which the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a interferes, is not used for a determination of the human body situation when the set angle of the vertical winddirection changing blade 3a is being changed, and detection information of only the remaining human body detecting means 4 is used for the determination, thus making it possible to realize comfortable air conditioning. - As in this embodiment, the plurality of human body detecting mean 4 may be provided at the center of the
indoor unit 1, but they may be provided at one end of theindoor unit 1 as in the first embodiment. - Although a wall-mounted air conditioner has been discussed in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, any other air conditioners such as, for example, floor-installed or ceiling-embedded ones show the same action and effect if a change in the set angle of the wind direction changing blade causes a portion thereof to interfere with the field of view of the human body detecting means. Also, the wind direction changing blade is not limited to the vertical wind direction changing blade, and even if the present invention is applied to the horizontal wind direction changing blades, the same action and effect are exerted.
- The air conditioner according to the present invention can more accurately determine the human body situation by reducing erroneous detections of the human body detecting means and realize an air-conditioning environment superior in comfort and energy saving depending on the human body situation. Accordingly, the air conditioner according to the present invention can be used as an air conditioner for general home use and also as an air conditioner for business use as used in, for example, offices.
-
- 1
- air conditioner
- 2
- discharge opening
- 3
- wind direction changing blade
- 3a
- vertical wind direction changing blade
- 3b
- horizontal wind direction changing blade
- 4
- human body detecting means
- 5
- heat exchanger
- 6
- fan
- 7
- diffuser
- 8
- water pan
- 9
- human body situation determining means
- 10
- operation setting changing means
- 11
- wind-direction-changing-blade control means
- 12
- set temperature control means
- 13
- air volume control means
Claims (5)
- An air conditioner (1) comprising:a discharge opening (2) through which an air current is discharged to air-condition an interior of a room;a wind direction changing blade (3) operable to change a direction in which the air current is discharged;a wind-direction-changing-blade control means (11) operable to drive the wind direction changing blade (3) to change an angle thereof;a human body detecting means (4) disposed adjacent to the discharge opening (2) to detect a human body upon receipt of infrared rays; anda human body situation determining means (9) operable to determine a human body situation including at least one of presence or absence, a position and an amount of activity of a person based on detection information of the human body detecting means (4);wherein an operation setting is changed based on a determination result of a human body situation obtained from the human body situation determining means (9); andwherein detection information of the human body detecting means (4) outputted in a time zone including a period of time from when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means (11) starts changing a set angle of the wind direction changing blade (3) to when the wind-direction-changing-blade control means (11) terminates changing the set angle of the wind direction changing blade (3) and a subsequent period of time until a predetermined period of time elapses from the termination of the change is not utilized for a determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means (9), andwherein detection information of the human body detecting means (4) outputted in a stoppage period for changing a set angle of the wind direction changing blade (3) is utilized for a determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means (9).
- The air conditioner (1) according to claim 1, wherein the wind direction changing blade (3) comprises a vertical wind direction changing blade (3a) operable to vertically change the air current discharged through the discharge opening (2).
- The air conditioner (1) according to claim 2, further comprising horizontal wind direction changing blades (3b) operable to horizontally change the air current discharged through the discharge opening (2), wherein the human body detecting means (4) comprises a plurality of human body detecting means (4) to be controlled based on a position of a person that is determined by the human body situation determining means (9) based on detection information of the plurality of human body detecting means (4).
- The air conditioner (1) according to claim 3, wherein the detection information of only some of the plurality of human body detecting means (4) is not utilized for the determination of the human body situation by the human body situation determining means (9).
- The air conditioner (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein an operation mode for continuously changing the set angle of the vertical wind direction changing blade (3a) is provided, and when the air conditioner (1) is operated in the operation mode, the change of the set angle is stopped for every predetermined cycles, and wherein the human body situation is determined based on the detection information of the human body detecting means (4) during a stoppage period of the change of the set angle.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2009274110 | 2009-12-02 | ||
PCT/JP2010/007006 WO2011067926A1 (en) | 2009-12-02 | 2010-12-01 | Air conditioner |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2508812A1 EP2508812A1 (en) | 2012-10-10 |
EP2508812A4 EP2508812A4 (en) | 2015-03-25 |
EP2508812B1 true EP2508812B1 (en) | 2019-02-06 |
Family
ID=44114788
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP10834380.7A Not-in-force EP2508812B1 (en) | 2009-12-02 | 2010-12-01 | Air conditioner |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2508812B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5696307B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102648378B (en) |
BR (1) | BR112012013422A2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011067926A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5554278B2 (en) * | 2011-04-04 | 2014-07-23 | 株式会社コロナ | Electric stove |
JP5128697B1 (en) * | 2011-09-08 | 2013-01-23 | パナソニック株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP5128698B1 (en) * | 2011-09-08 | 2013-01-23 | パナソニック株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP2013133963A (en) * | 2011-12-26 | 2013-07-08 | Panasonic Corp | Air conditioner |
WO2013035218A1 (en) * | 2011-09-08 | 2013-03-14 | パナソニック株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP2013120052A (en) * | 2011-12-09 | 2013-06-17 | Panasonic Corp | Air conditioner |
CN102889666A (en) * | 2012-05-25 | 2013-01-23 | 海尔集团公司 | Air conditioner control method and air conditioner |
JP5785349B2 (en) * | 2013-05-17 | 2015-09-30 | パナソニック インテレクチュアル プロパティ コーポレーション オブアメリカPanasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America | Sensor-equipped device |
JP6129126B2 (en) * | 2014-08-04 | 2017-05-17 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioner indoor unit |
WO2016157384A1 (en) * | 2015-03-30 | 2016-10-06 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air blowing system |
JP6956353B2 (en) * | 2018-02-22 | 2021-11-02 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Indoor air conditioning system |
KR20210100354A (en) * | 2020-02-06 | 2021-08-17 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Air conditioner and method for controlling for the same |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2921256B2 (en) | 1991-11-14 | 1999-07-19 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioner control device, human body detection sensor, and air conditioner |
KR0175625B1 (en) * | 1996-08-02 | 1999-03-20 | 김광호 | The controlled driving louver and operation method of airconditioner |
KR0182727B1 (en) * | 1996-10-08 | 1999-05-01 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Wind direction control method of airconditioner |
JP3860321B2 (en) * | 1998-02-24 | 2006-12-20 | 富士通株式会社 | Library device |
JP4130047B2 (en) * | 2000-01-11 | 2008-08-06 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP4311849B2 (en) * | 2000-03-13 | 2009-08-12 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP2002245569A (en) * | 2001-02-14 | 2002-08-30 | Noritz Corp | Human body detector |
JP4915111B2 (en) * | 2006-03-10 | 2012-04-11 | パナソニック株式会社 | Dehumidifier |
JP2008014594A (en) * | 2006-07-07 | 2008-01-24 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Human body detector for air conditioner, and air conditioner |
CN100529573C (en) * | 2006-10-18 | 2009-08-19 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | Method for controlling air conditioner by using infrared temperature measurement technology |
JP3990431B1 (en) * | 2006-10-20 | 2007-10-10 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP5056409B2 (en) * | 2007-12-27 | 2012-10-24 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air conditioner |
KR101472020B1 (en) * | 2008-02-11 | 2014-12-12 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | air conditioner |
-
2010
- 2010-12-01 WO PCT/JP2010/007006 patent/WO2011067926A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-12-01 JP JP2011544193A patent/JP5696307B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2010-12-01 BR BR112012013422A patent/BR112012013422A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-12-01 EP EP10834380.7A patent/EP2508812B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2010-12-01 CN CN201080054627.5A patent/CN102648378B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPWO2011067926A1 (en) | 2013-04-18 |
JP5696307B2 (en) | 2015-04-08 |
WO2011067926A1 (en) | 2011-06-09 |
BR112012013422A2 (en) | 2016-03-29 |
EP2508812A4 (en) | 2015-03-25 |
CN102648378B (en) | 2014-12-24 |
EP2508812A1 (en) | 2012-10-10 |
CN102648378A (en) | 2012-08-22 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2508812B1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
CN102171517B (en) | Air conditioner | |
EP3282198B1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
JP3963937B1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
EP2690371B1 (en) | Air-conditioning apparatus | |
JP3963936B1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
JP4001613B1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
JP6091655B2 (en) | Air conditioning system | |
JP3963935B1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
KR101253239B1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
JP2011133167A (en) | Air conditioner | |
JP5725114B2 (en) | Air conditioning system | |
JPWO2018220830A1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
KR19990036733A (en) | Judgment method of human detection and air conditioner | |
KR100728316B1 (en) | Control system in variable air volume type air conditioner | |
JP2014077599A (en) | Air conditioning system | |
CN110594942A (en) | Air supply control method and device for air conditioner and air conditioner | |
EP1319900B1 (en) | Air conditioner and method for controlling the same | |
CN112923535A (en) | Air conditioner and control method and control device thereof | |
JP4959393B2 (en) | Human position estimation method and air conditioner employing the method | |
JP2015021719A (en) | Air conditioner | |
JP5056409B2 (en) | Air conditioner | |
JP3607689B2 (en) | Air conditioner controlled based on amount of infrared rays and operation method thereof | |
JP2000230737A (en) | Air-conditioner | |
CN115704594A (en) | Air conditioner and air conditioner control method |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20120702 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20150223 |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: F24F 11/00 20060101ALI20150217BHEP Ipc: F24F 1/00 20110101ALI20150217BHEP Ipc: F24F 11/02 20060101AFI20150217BHEP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R079 Ref document number: 602010056917 Country of ref document: DE Free format text: PREVIOUS MAIN CLASS: F24F0011020000 Ipc: F24F0001000000 |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: F24F 11/00 20060101ALI20180731BHEP Ipc: F24F 1/00 20110101AFI20180731BHEP |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20180822 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 1095152 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20190215 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602010056917 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: MP Effective date: 20190206 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190606 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190506 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 1095152 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20190206 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190507 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190606 Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190506 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602010056917 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20191107 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R119 Ref document number: 602010056917 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: BE Ref legal event code: MM Effective date: 20191231 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20191201 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20191201 Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20191201 Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20200701 Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20191201 Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20191231 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20191231 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20191231 Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20191231 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: HU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO Effective date: 20101201 Ref country code: MT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190206 |