Air conditioner control device

Abstract

Air conditioner control device. An air conditioner control device (100) is provided with a control module (150), a skin temperature detection module (110), an information acquisition module (120), and a decision module (140). The control module (150) controls an air conditioner (210) that performs air conditioning on a room (200) in which a user is located. The skin temperature detection module (110) detects the skin temperature of the user. The information acquisition module (120) acquires thermal sensation information of the user on the space in which the user is located. The decision module (140) determines a skin temperature comfort zone in which the user feels comfortable, based on the skin temperature of the user at the time when the thermal sensation information occurs. Furthermore, the control module (150) controls the air conditioner (210) based on the skin temperature comfort zone determined by the decision module (140).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an air conditioning control device for controlling an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Air conditioners that regulate indoor air are controlled by a built-in or separately installed control device. If the user determines the set value for the indoor temperature, the control device, consisting of a CPU and memory, controls the various components of the air conditioner based on that set value. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention

[0004] Controlling air conditioners solely based on indoor temperature setpoints can lead to various problems, such as failing to improve user comfort and wasting energy. To address these issues, some systems utilize indoor thermal environment metrics like PMV (Predicted Average Thermal Sensation Vote) and SET (Standard Effective Temperature) for air conditioner control, but these methods still cannot fully meet the personalized needs of diverse users.

[0005] The objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioning control device that can improve user satisfaction.

[0006] Technical means for solving technical problems

[0007] The air conditioning control device of the present invention includes a control module, a skin temperature detection module, an information acquisition module, and a decision module. The control module controls an air conditioner that regulates the air in the user's space. The skin temperature detection module detects the user's skin temperature. The information acquisition module acquires the user's thermal sensation information about the space. The decision module determines a comfortable skin temperature range for the user based on the user's skin temperature at the time of thermal sensation. Furthermore, the control module controls the air conditioner based on the skin temperature comfort range determined by the decision module.

[0008] According to the present invention, thermal sensation information such as "hot" or "cold" is first acquired from the user, and a skin temperature comfort range for which the user feels comfortable is determined based on the user's skin temperature at the time this information is received. Furthermore, the air conditioning control device controls the air conditioner based on this skin temperature comfort range. Therefore, user satisfaction with air conditioning is improved.

[0009] In addition, preferably, the control module controls the air conditioner based not only on the skin temperature comfort range determined by the decision module, but also on the current skin temperature of the user.

[0010] Additionally, preferably, the air conditioning control device also includes a measurement module. The measurement module measures the temperature and / or humidity of the air in the user's space. In this case, preferably, the control module also controls the air conditioner based on the measurements from the measurement module.

[0011] Additionally, preferably, the skin temperature detection module has an infrared thermal imaging device that analyzes infrared radiation emitted from the user.

[0012] Furthermore, preferably, the skin temperature detection module detects the user's skin temperature at least every five minutes. In this case, preferably, the control module predicts the user's current thermal sensation based on the skin temperature comfort range determined by the decision module, the user's current skin temperature, and the rate of change of the user's skin temperature, and controls the air conditioner based on this predicted current thermal sensation. Preferably, the decision module updates the user's comfortable skin temperature range when thermal sensation information is received.

[0013] In addition, preferably, the decision module selects the lower limit of the skin temperature comfort range in the range of 31℃-33℃, and selects the upper limit of the skin temperature comfort range in the range of 33℃-35℃.

[0014] Additionally, preferably, the decision module has an initial value for a skin temperature comfort range that the user feels comfortable with, and the initial value is changed according to seasonal or period changes.

[0015] In addition, preferably, when multiple users are present, the control module performs air conditioner control based on the skin temperature comfort domain of multiple users, so as to increase the sum of the comfort of multiple users, or to improve the comfort of the user with the lowest comfort among multiple users; or the control module performs air conditioner control based on the skin temperature comfort domain of multiple users according to the priority order set for each user. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram showing the structure of an air conditioning control device.

[0017] Figure 2 It is the process of determining and updating the skin temperature comfort zone where users feel comfortable.

[0018] Figure 3 This is the process of air conditioning control.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a table representing the method for determining the room temperature setpoint using fuzzy logic.

[0020] Figure 5 It is an image captured by an infrared thermal imaging device that includes the user's skin temperature.

[0021] Symbol Explanation

[0022] 100 Air conditioning control device

[0023] 110 Skin Temperature Detection Module

[0024] 112 Infrared thermal imaging device

[0025] 120 Information Acquisition Module

[0026] 130 Measurement Module

[0027] 140 Decision Module

[0028] 150 control module

[0029] Room 200

[0030] 210 Air Conditioner

[0031] 220 Computers Detailed Implementation

[0032] (1) Structure of the air conditioning control device

[0033] Figure 1 The air conditioning control device 100 refers to the control device of the air conditioner 210, which performs air conditioning control such as cooling, heating, and ventilation on the room (space) 200 where the user is located. The air conditioning control device 100 includes a control module 150, a skin temperature detection module 110, an information acquisition module 120, a decision module 140, and a measurement module 130.

[0034] The skin temperature detection module 110 includes an infrared thermal imaging device 112 that analyzes infrared radiation emitted from the user. Using the infrared thermal imaging device 112, data such as... Figure 5 The image shown. The skin temperature detection module 110 detects the user's skin temperature from this image.

[0035] The information acquisition module 120 acquires the user's thermal sensation information. The information acquisition module 120 is an input device such as a touchscreen display (human-computer interaction device) or a keyboard, which transmits the user's input thermal sensation information to the computer 220 via wired or wireless means. When a touchscreen display is used as the information acquisition module 120, it is preferable to install an application program (app) to assist the user's input. Furthermore, if the information acquisition module 120 uses multiple machine-style input keys to allow the user to input thermal sensation information such as "hot" or "cold," the cost of input devices can be reduced.

[0036] Here, the information acquisition module 120 uses a display with touch screen functionality, which is also compatible with devices that allow users to input target values ​​for room temperature or humidity.

[0037] The decision module 140 and the control module 150 are functional modules that operate through a program executed by the computer 220. The decision module 140 determines the user's comfortable skin temperature range based on the user's skin temperature at the time thermal sensation information is generated; in this embodiment, it is the user's skin temperature at the time the user inputs thermal sensation information. Furthermore, the control module 150 controls the air conditioner 210 based on the skin temperature comfort range determined by the decision module 140.

[0038] Computer 220 comprises a CPU, memory, storage device for storing programs, etc., and functions as control module 150 by executing programs for air conditioning control; or as decision module 140 by executing programs for determining the skin temperature comfort range for user comfort. The programs executed on computer 220 include program code modules capable of implementing multiple logical functions and executing processing instructions.

[0039] The measurement module 130 measures the air temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the user's room 200. Specifically, the measurement module 130 consists of multiple sensors, including a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.

[0040] The measurements taken by the measurement module 130 are used to control the air conditioner 210 by the control module 150. Details will be described later.

[0041] (2) Determination and updating of the skin temperature comfort zone for user comfort by the decision module

[0042] Figure 2 This refers to the actions of the decision module 140, namely, the process of determining and updating the skin temperature comfort domain that the user feels comfortable with.

[0043] The decision module 140 continuously monitors whether user thermal sensation information, such as "hot" or "cold," is received from the information acquisition module 120, which is an input device (step S31). Then, in step S31, if the decision module 140 determines that no user thermal sensation information has occurred, i.e., no input has been received, the decision module 140 continues to wait. If, in step S31, the decision module 140 determines that user thermal sensation information has occurred, it proceeds to step S32 to detect or acquire the user's skin temperature. This skin temperature can be the skin temperature detected shortly before the occurrence of the user's thermal sensation information (being input), or it can be the skin temperature detected immediately after the occurrence of the thermal sensation information.

[0044] In addition, the skin temperature detection module 110 detects the user's skin temperature at least every five minutes, specifically every minute.

[0045] In step S33, the decision module 140 determines the skin temperature comfort range that the user feels comfortable in, based on the user's thermal sensation and skin temperature, using an online learning algorithm, one of the machine learning algorithms. Additionally, if a skin temperature comfort range already exists, the old data of the previous skin temperature comfort range is replaced (updated) with the determined skin temperature comfort range.

[0046] Specifically, through an online learning algorithm, if the user inputs that they feel hot, the decision module 140 replaces the upper limit of the skin comfort temperature with the user's skin temperature at the time of input. On the other hand, if the user inputs that they feel cold, the decision module 140 replaces the lower limit of the skin comfort temperature with the user's skin temperature at the time of input.

[0047] Furthermore, based on the results of a survey on the thermal sensations of many people, the decision module 140 selects the lower limit of the skin temperature comfort range (lower limit value of skin comfort temperature) within the range of 31℃-33℃. Also, the decision module 140 selects the upper limit of the skin temperature comfort range (upper limit value of skin comfort temperature) within the range of 33℃-35℃.

[0048] (3) Air conditioning control performed by the control module

[0049] As described above, air conditioning control is performed by control module 150. Control module 150 controls the air conditioning based on the skin temperature comfort range determined by decision module 140. Furthermore, in addition to the skin temperature comfort range, control module 150 also predicts the user's current thermal sensation based on the user's current skin temperature and the rate of change of the user's skin temperature, and performs air conditioning control based on the predicted user's current thermal sensation.

[0050] Figure 3 This describes the air conditioning control process performed by the control module 150. First, in step S41, it is determined whether there has been a change in the skin temperature comfort range. If the skin temperature comfort range has changed, the control module 150 reads the skin temperature comfort range (step S42); if the skin temperature comfort range has not changed, it proceeds to step S43. In step S43, the measurement module 130 reads the measured values ​​of the air temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in room 200. Then, in step S44, the control module 150 determines the target values ​​for the room temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration using fuzzy logic, and controls the air conditioner 210 using PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) control. The following is a detailed explanation of the method for determining the target value of the room temperature as an example.

[0051] Figure 4This is a logic table representing the prediction of the user's thermal sensation based on the current user's skin temperature, and the adjustment of the room temperature setpoint (target room temperature) based on this prediction. As described above, the control module 150 calculates various coefficients using the upper and lower limits of the skin comfort temperature determined by the decision module 140, and also calculates the rate of change of the user's skin temperature (dt / dτ) using the current user's skin temperature (tskin). Then, based on this rate of change of skin temperature and the difference between the current user's skin temperature and the skin comfort temperature (the sum of the upper and lower limits of the skin comfort temperature divided by 2), the control module 150 adjusts the room temperature setpoint. Then, the control module 150 performs air conditioning control based on the room temperature setpoint and the current room temperature (room temperature), increasing or decreasing the output of the compressor of the air conditioner 210, etc., to bring the room temperature close to the room temperature setpoint.

[0052] (4) Characteristics of air conditioning control devices

[0053] According to the aforementioned air conditioning control device 100, the information acquisition module 120 acquires the user's thermal sensation information such as "hot" and "cold," and the decision module 140 determines the user's comfortable skin temperature range based on the user's skin temperature at the time the information is obtained. Furthermore, the control module 150 controls the air conditioner 210 based on this comfortable skin temperature range. Therefore, the user's satisfaction with air conditioning is improved.

[0054] (5) Modification of air conditioning control device

[0055] The above describes an example of an air conditioning control device. It should be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.

[0056] For example, the decision module 140 can also change the initial value of the skin temperature comfort range that the user feels comfortable with based on seasonal or period changes. For seasons, the initial value could be set to 31.5℃-33.5℃ in summer and 32.5℃-34.5℃ in winter. For periods, the initial value could be set lower during rainy seasons and higher during dry seasons.

[0057] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the information acquisition module 120 uses a touchscreen display that allows users to manually input information. However, alternatively, a device capable of detecting the user's sweating, heart rate, voice, etc., could be used to acquire the user's thermal sensation information. In this case, the inconvenience of manual input for the user can be reduced.

[0058] In addition, in the above embodiment, the measurement module 130 measures temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, and the air conditioning control device 100 uses air conditioning control to bring each environmental parameter close to the target value. However, it is also possible to measure only temperature and perform air conditioning control that only adjusts the target temperature value.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the skin temperature detection module 110 detects the user's skin temperature once per minute. However, if the infrared thermal imaging device 112 performs real-time detection, more precise air conditioning control can be achieved.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, as follows Figure 2 or Figure 3 The illustrated process is provided as an example. However, in a program executed by computer 220, code modules of logical functions or executable instructions can be executed substantially simultaneously or in reverse order, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the main parts of the air conditioning control device 100 are implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. That is, multiple steps or methods can be implemented using software or firmware stored in a storage device and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. However, instead, for example, logic gates, discrete logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for implementing logical functions on data signals, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc., can also be used.

[0062] Furthermore, while the above embodiment describes the case where only one user is present in the room being cooled or heated, it is also possible to improve the satisfaction of one or more users with the air conditioning when multiple users are present in the room. After determining the skin temperature comfort range for each user, the air conditioning control device can control the air conditioner based on these skin temperature comfort ranges in the following ways: for example, converting user comfort into a score, where a higher score represents a higher level of comfort, so that the sum of the scores of the users in the room is maximized. Alternatively, the air conditioning control device can also control the air conditioner in the following ways: increasing the comfort of the user with the lowest score (indicating the lowest level of comfort) in the room; or increasing the comfort of the user with the highest priority based on a pre-set priority order for each user.

Claims

1. An air conditioning control device (100), characterized in that, have: A control module (150) controls an air conditioner (210) that regulates the air in a space (200) occupied by multiple users. A skin temperature detection module (110) detects the user's skin temperature; Information acquisition module (120) acquires the user's thermal sensation information about the space they are in; Decision module (140) determines the skin temperature comfort range in which each user feels comfortable based on their respective skin temperature at the time the thermal sensation information occurs. The control module (150) adjusts the temperature target value of the spaces where the multiple users are located based on the skin temperature comfort range determined by the decision module, and controls the air conditioner in such a way that the temperature of the spaces where the multiple users are located is close to the temperature target value.

2. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module (150) also controls the air conditioner based on the current skin temperature of the user.

3. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a measurement module (130) that measures the temperature and / or humidity of the air in the space where the user is located. The control module (150) also controls the air conditioner based on the measurement values ​​of the measurement module.

4. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The skin temperature detection module (110) has an infrared thermal imaging device (112) that analyzes infrared radiation emitted from the user.

5. The air conditioning control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The skin temperature detection module (110) detects the user's skin temperature at least every five minutes. The control module (150) predicts the user's current thermal sensation based on the skin temperature comfort range determined by the decision module, the user's current skin temperature, and the rate of change of the user's skin temperature, and controls the air conditioner based on the predicted user's current thermal sensation.

6. The air conditioning control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The skin temperature detection module (110) detects the user's skin temperature at least every five minutes. The decision module (140) updates the skin temperature comfort range when the thermal sensation information occurs.

7. The air conditioning control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The decision module (140) selects the lower limit of the skin temperature comfort range within the range of 31℃-33℃. Select the upper limit of the skin temperature comfort range within the range of 33℃-35℃.

8. The air conditioning control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The decision module (140) has an initial value for the skin temperature comfort range and changes the initial value according to seasonal or period changes.

9. The air conditioning control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The skin temperature detection module detects the skin temperature of multiple users. The information acquisition module acquires the thermal sensation information of multiple users. The decision module determines the skin temperature comfort range for multiple users. In the case where multiple users are using the air conditioner to adjust the air in the space, the control module, The air conditioner is controlled based on the skin temperature comfort ranges of multiple users to increase the sum of comfort levels for all users, or... The air conditioner is controlled based on the skin temperature comfort ranges of multiple users, so as to improve the comfort of the user with the lowest comfort level among the multiple users, or... The air conditioner is controlled based on the skin temperature comfort range of multiple users and the priority order set for each user.

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