Air conditioning system, air conditioning method, and program

Abstract

An air-conditioning system (1) for performing air-conditioning control of a space to be air-conditioned is provided with an air-conditioning unit (80) for air-conditioning the space to be air-conditioned, and a control device (50) for controlling the air-conditioning unit (80). A control unit (53a) in a control device (50) acquires emotion information based on biological information of a user in a space to be air-conditioned, and controls an air conditioning unit (80) on the basis of the acquired emotion information so as to achieve setting of preset target emotion information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and a program. Background Art

[0002] Air conditioners have been developed that adjust the environment of a space where users are located. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner that adjusts the environment of a space based on thermal images of people and the environment in the room.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-180139

[0004] Simply adjusting the spatial environment based on the indoor occupants and ambient temperature may not necessarily result in user comfort. Furthermore, users have different lifestyles that focus or relax depending on the time of day, and these lifestyles vary by season and individual. Therefore, the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, which aims solely at improving comfort, cannot create a spatial environment tailored to the user's preferences or physical condition at each time of day. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an air-conditioning system, an air-conditioning method, and a program that perform air-conditioning control capable of realizing a spatial environment that suits the user's preferences or physique.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the air conditioning system disclosed herein is an air conditioning system for controlling the air conditioning of a space to be conditioned. The air conditioning system comprises an air conditioning unit and a control device. The air conditioning unit performs air conditioning in the space to be conditioned. The control device controls the air conditioning unit. The control device comprises an emotion information acquisition unit that acquires emotion information based on biological information of a user in the space to be conditioned; and a control unit that controls the air conditioning unit based on the acquired emotion information to achieve a preset target emotion information setting.

[0007] The control unit of the control device may control the air conditioning unit with settings determined based on changes in the user's emotional information when the settings of the air conditioning unit are changed.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, in the air conditioning system, the air conditioning unit is controlled according to the setting based on the emotion information of the user of the air-conditioned space, thereby realizing a spatial environment that suits the user's preference or physique. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing the configuration of an air-conditioning system according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the layout of an air-conditioned space in which the indoor units of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 are arranged.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the air-conditioning system according to the first embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4 1 is a diagram showing an example of user emotion information stored in the storage unit of the indoor unit control unit.

[0013] Figure 5 (A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of the hardware configuration of the outdoor unit control section and the indoor unit control section according to the first embodiment.

[0014] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of a custom control process executed by the air-conditioning apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 7 (A) and (B) are schematic diagrams for explaining windward control and windward control.

[0016] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a custom control process executed by the air-conditioning apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[0017] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of a custom control process executed by the air-conditioning apparatus according to the modified example of the second embodiment.

[0018] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing the functional configuration of an air-conditioning system according to the third embodiment.

[0019] Figure 11 1 is a diagram showing an example of a user schedule stored in the storage unit of the indoor unit control unit.

[0020] Figure 12 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the custom control process of a modification example.

[0021] Figure 13 It is a diagram showing the configuration of an air-conditioning system according to a modified example.

[0022] Figure 14 (A) is a diagram showing the configuration of an air-conditioning system according to a modified example, and (B) is a diagram showing a control pattern table for a custom control mode according to the modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The air conditioning system and the air conditioning method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0024] (Implementation 1)

[0025] [Configuration of Air Conditioning System 1]

[0026] Air conditioning system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is a system that performs air conditioning in indoor space 71 based on emotional information of users present in indoor space 71, which is an air-conditioned space. Air conditioning is the process of adjusting the temperature, humidity, cleanliness, airflow, and other aspects of the air in the air-conditioned space. Specifically, air conditioning includes all or part of heating, cooling, dehumidification, humidification, and air cleaning.

[0027] The user's emotional information includes stress, relaxation, concentration, sleepiness, etc. Emotional information is inferred based on biological information, which is based on the physiological and medical information of the organism or information based thereon. Biological information includes pulse or heartbeat. Stress and relaxation represent the tension state of the autonomic nervous system and can be inferred from the fluctuation of the pulse. A state with high stress is a state of high tension, and a state with high relaxation is a state of low tension. In addition, concentration and sleepiness represent the state of brain activity (central nervous system) and can be inferred from the fluctuation of the pulse shape. A state with high concentration is a state of active brain activity, and a state with high sleepiness is a state of slow brain activity. In this embodiment, emotional information is information including stress, relaxation, concentration and sleepiness.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, air conditioning system 1 includes air conditioning device 2 as a facility for air conditioning indoor space 71, and server 90 connected to air conditioning device 2 via network NW. When air conditioning device 2 performs air conditioning operation, air conditioning control based on emotion information of users in indoor space 71 is performed.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, an air conditioner 2 is installed in a house 3. As an example, the house 3 is a so-called ordinary single-family house. The air conditioner 2 is a heat pump air conditioner using CO2 (carbon dioxide) or HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) as a refrigerant.

[0030] The air conditioning system 2 includes an outdoor unit 11 installed outside a house 3, an indoor unit 13 installed inside the house 3, and a remote control (hereinafter referred to as a remote control) 55 operated by a user. The outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 13 are connected via a refrigerant pipe 61 through which refrigerant flows and a communication line 63 for transmitting various signals.

[0031] like Figure 2 As shown, the indoor unit 13 is installed in a location capable of supplying conditioned air to the indoor space 71, such as on an upper portion of a wall. The indoor space 71 is cooled or heated by the cool and warm air blown out from the indoor unit 13. In this embodiment, air conditioning control is performed based on the emotional information of a single user HM present in the indoor space 71. Details will be described later.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the outdoor unit 11 includes: a compressor 21 for compressing the refrigerant and circulating it, a four-way valve 22 for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 23 for exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant piping 61 and the air in the external space, an expansion valve 24 for decompressing the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant piping 61 and expanding it, an outdoor blower 31 for transporting outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and an outdoor unit control unit 51 for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit 11.

[0033] The indoor unit 13 also includes an indoor heat exchanger 25 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 61 and the air in the indoor space 71; an indoor blower 33 that delivers air from the indoor space 71 to the indoor heat exchanger 25; a wind deflector 34 that adjusts the wind direction; and an indoor unit control unit 53 that controls the operation of the indoor unit 13. Hereinafter, wind deflectors, such as the vertical wind deflectors and the horizontal wind deflectors, will be collectively referred to as wind deflectors 34. The air conditioning device 2 includes a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor 21, a four-way valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 23, an expansion valve 24, and an indoor heat exchanger 25 connected via the refrigerant pipe 61. The refrigerant circuit circulates the refrigerant, thereby performing a refrigeration cycle.

[0034] The compressor 21 compresses the refrigerant and circulates it through the refrigerant piping 61. Specifically, the compressor 21 compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant and discharges it as high-pressure, high-temperature refrigerant toward the four-way valve 22. The compressor 21 includes an inverter circuit that can vary its operating capacity based on the drive frequency. Operating capacity is the amount of refrigerant delivered by the compressor 21 per unit time. The compressor 21 changes its operating capacity based on instructions from the outdoor unit control unit 51.

[0035] The four-way valve 22 is provided on the discharge side of the compressor 21. The four-way valve 22 switches the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe 61 depending on whether the air conditioner 2 is operating in cooling, dehumidifying, or heating mode.

[0036] The outdoor heat exchanger 23 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 61 and the air in the outdoor space 72, which is outside the air-conditioned space. The outdoor blower 31 is located adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and delivers air from the outdoor space 72 to the outdoor heat exchanger 23. The outdoor blower 31 draws air from the outdoor space 72. The drawn air is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 23, exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 61, and is then blown into the outdoor space 72.

[0037] The expansion valve 24 is located between the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the indoor heat exchanger 25. It decompresses and expands the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 61. The expansion valve 24 is an electronic expansion valve whose opening can be controlled. The expansion valve 24 adjusts the refrigerant pressure by changing its opening in response to instructions from the outdoor unit control unit 51.

[0038] The indoor heat exchanger 25 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 61 and the air in the indoor space 71. The indoor blower 33 is located next to the indoor heat exchanger 25 and delivers air from the indoor space 71 to the indoor heat exchanger 25. The indoor blower 33 draws air from the indoor space 71. The drawn air is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 25, exchanges heat with the refrigerant pipe 61, and then, after its direction is adjusted by the wind direction plate 34, is blown into the indoor space 71 as conditioned air.

[0039] Furthermore, the indoor heat exchanger 25 has both humidification and dehumidification functions. The humidification method may be vaporization humidification, or steam humidification such as primary steam spray, secondary steam spray, or electric steam generation. Any known method can be used. The dehumidification method may be weak cooling dehumidification, reheat dehumidification, or other known methods. In this manner, the indoor space 71 is air-conditioned.

[0040] Hereinafter, the compressor 21, four-way valve 22, outdoor heat exchanger 23, expansion valve 24, and outdoor fan 31 of the outdoor unit 11, which perform air conditioning in the indoor space 71, will be referred to as the outdoor air conditioning unit 81, and the indoor heat exchanger 25, indoor fan 33, and wind direction plate 34 of the indoor unit 13 will be referred to as the indoor air conditioning unit 82. Furthermore, the outdoor air conditioning unit 81 and the indoor air conditioning unit 82 will be collectively referred to as the air conditioning unit 80, which is the unit that performs air conditioning.

[0041] The indoor unit 13 further includes a temperature sensor 41 for detecting temperature, a humidity sensor 42 for detecting humidity, an infrared sensor 44 for detecting infrared rays emitted from objects such as people and objects, and a biological information detection device 43 for detecting biological information of a user.

[0042] The temperature sensor 41 is a temperature measuring resistor, a thermistor, a thermocouple, or the like, and detects the room temperature, which is the air temperature of the indoor space 71. The humidity sensor 42 is a resistance-type, capacitance-type, or other sensor, and detects the indoor humidity, which is the air humidity of the indoor space 71. The temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42 are located at the intake port of the indoor heat exchanger 25 and detect the temperature and humidity of the air drawn into the indoor heat exchanger 25 by the indoor blower 33. Being located at the intake port of the indoor heat exchanger 25, the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42 can accurately detect the temperature and humidity of the air in the indoor space 71.

[0043] Infrared sensor 44 is a thermoelectric or thermopile type sensor that detects infrared rays emitted from objects such as people and objects. By detecting infrared rays emitted from objects such as people and objects in indoor space 71, infrared sensor 44 can determine the presence and location of such objects. Infrared sensor 44 has a depression angle and rotates left and right about its vertical axis. By sequentially acquiring infrared information while rotating, a thermal image can be created.

[0044] The living body information detection device 43 determines and outputs living body information including pulse or heartbeat. The living body information detection device 43 includes any sensor that detects a living body's pulse or heartbeat, such as a Doppler sensor using millimeter or submillimeter waves or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). These sensors have directional characteristics and can be controlled using a gimbal mechanism or other means. Specifically, by rotating the sensor, which has a narrowed viewing angle, along two axes using a gimbal mechanism or other means, it can freely detect living body information within a room. A Doppler sensor irradiates a sinusoidal radio wave in the millimeter or submillimeter wave band toward a human body detected by the infrared sensor 44, receives the reflected wave from the human body, and detects the human pulse. LiDAR irradiates a laser beam toward a human body detected by the infrared sensor 44, and detects the human pulse based on the reflected light. A pulse is a waveform that indicates changes in the movement of the human body surface caused by heartbeats, breathing, and other factors, and includes waveforms indicating changes in blood vessel movement and changes in the body surface.

[0045] The biological information detection device 43 may also include other sensors. For example, it may include a sensor that measures the pulse based on the brightness change of the body surface using a near-infrared camera, an optical sensor that measures the pulse based on the movement of hemoglobin in the blood, and an electrical heartbeat sensor that measures the cardiac potential. Figure 1As shown, the living body information detection device 43 can be included in the air conditioning device 2, but it can also be configured to be separate from the air conditioning device 2 and transmit living body information to the air conditioning device 2 via an arbitrary communication unit. For example, living body information measured using a wearable terminal can be transmitted to the air conditioning device 2 via short-range wireless or wireless LAN. In addition, when the living body information detection device 43 is separately configured, emotion information calculated based on the living body information can also be transmitted to the air conditioning device 2 via an arbitrary communication unit. In this embodiment, the living body information detection device 43 having a Doppler sensor is included in the air conditioning device 2 and detects living body information including pulse.

[0046] Any known method can be used to derive stress, relaxation, concentration, and sleepiness from the pulse. For example, stress and relaxation caused by the autonomic nervous system can be expressed as an index that quantifies pulse fluctuations. Specifically, based on pulse time series data, time series data of heartbeat fluctuations is obtained and frequency analysis is performed on this data. The high-frequency fluctuation component (HF component) corresponding to respiratory fluctuations and the low-frequency component (LF component) corresponding to blood pressure fluctuations, i.e., the Mayer wave, are extracted. The ratio of these components to the total power (HF + LF) is quantified (= LF / (HF + LF)). This allows stress and relaxation to be expressed using a single index, the "activity index." Specifically, when the activity index is high, the sympathetic nervous system is active, resulting in a state of excitement, stimulation, and stress. On the other hand, when the activity index is low, the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant, resulting in a state of relaxation.

[0047] Furthermore, the concentration and sleepiness levels caused by the central nervous system are expressed using an index that quantifies the fluctuations in pulse shape, which are correlated with brain activity. Specifically, by performing chaos analysis and Lyapunov exponentiation on the pulse shape fluctuations derived from pulse time series data, concentration and sleepiness can be expressed using a single indicator, the "concentration index." A high concentration index indicates active and focused brain activity due to work or study, while a low concentration index indicates increased sleepiness during rest.

[0048] Hereinafter, the temperature sensor 41, humidity sensor 42, infrared sensor 44, and living body information detection device 43 are collectively referred to as the sensor group 40. Their outputs are collectively referred to as the output group of the sensor group 40. The output group of the sensor group 40 is supplied to the indoor unit control unit 53.

[0049] The indoor unit 13 further includes a main display unit 58. The main display unit 58 is a display unit for notifying the user of arbitrary information such as the operating state and setting information of the air conditioner 2. The main display unit 58 displays various information for notification to the user, including the operating mode of the air conditioner 2.

[0050] The user's operating instructions for the air conditioning device 2 are given by operating the remote controller 55, through voice input, or remote operation via various networks. In this embodiment, the case of using the remote controller 55 provided in the indoor space 71 is described. The remote controller 55 sends and receives various signals to and from the indoor unit control unit 53. The remote controller 55 has push buttons, a touch screen, a liquid crystal display, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), etc., and functions as a command receiving unit that receives various instructions from the user, and a display unit that displays various information to the user. The user inputs instructions to the air conditioning device 2 by operating the remote controller 55. Instructions include, for example, switching instructions for operation and stop, operation modes, setting temperature, setting humidity, setting air volume, setting air direction, timer, etc. Operation modes include manual modes such as cooling, heating, and dehumidification, and automatic modes. Automatic modes include customized control modes such as centralized mode and quiet mode. The air conditioning device 2 operates according to the input instructions.

[0051] The server 90 is a server, such as a cloud file server, that stores and analyzes data received from various devices including the air conditioner 2. The server 90 includes a large-capacity storage device, an input / output device, and a communication unit.

[0052] Next, refer to Figure 3 The outdoor unit control unit 51 and the indoor unit control unit 53 that control the air conditioning system 2 will be described in detail. The outdoor unit control unit 51 and the indoor unit control unit 53 cooperate to control the entire air conditioning system 1 and perform air conditioning control.

[0053] The outdoor unit control unit 51 controls the operation of the outdoor unit 11. The outdoor unit control unit 51 includes a control unit 51a that controls the entire outdoor unit 11, a storage unit 51b that stores data required for control, a timer unit 51c that measures time, and a communication unit 51d that serves as a communication interface.

[0054] The control unit 51a receives control instruction signals from the indoor unit control unit 53 via the communication line 63, including power on / off, operating mode, set temperature, set humidity, set air volume, timer information, and detection data from various sensors. In response to the control instruction signals, the control unit 51a controls the outdoor unit 11 as a whole, particularly the outdoor air conditioning unit 81. For example, this involves controlling the operating frequency of the compressor 21, the switching of the four-way valve 22, the rotational speed of the outdoor blower 31, and the opening of the expansion valve 24. The storage unit 51b, comprised of memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory), stores data necessary for control. The timer unit 51c calculates time. The timer unit 51c includes an RTC (Real Time Clock), a timing device that continues to count even when the air conditioner 2 is powered off. The control unit 51a references the time measured by the timer unit 51c to start and stop the air conditioner 2 based on the timer. The communication unit 51 d is an interface for the control unit 51 a to communicate with the indoor unit control unit 53 via the communication line 63 .

[0055] The indoor unit control unit 53 receives instructions from the user of the remote controller 55, supplies control instruction information to the outdoor unit control unit 51 via the communication line 63, and controls the operation of the indoor unit 13. The indoor unit control unit 53 includes a control unit 53a for controlling the indoor unit 13 as a whole, a storage unit 53b for storing data required for control, a timer unit 53c for measuring time, a calendar unit 53d for measuring date, and a communication unit 53e serving as a communication interface.

[0056] The control unit 53a receives control information from the remote controller 55, including power on / off, operating mode, set temperature, set humidity, set air volume, timer information, and detection data from various sensors. Furthermore, the control unit 53a receives the output group from the sensor group 40. Based on the received information, the control unit 53a transmits a control instruction signal to the outdoor unit control unit 51 and controls the air direction plate 34 and indoor fan 33 to perform air conditioning.

[0057] In addition, the control unit 53a displays information such as the operating status, operating mode, and setting information of the air-conditioning device 2 on the main display unit 58 of the indoor unit 13, thereby playing the role of notifying the user. Not only the main display unit 58 of the indoor unit 13, but also the control unit 53a issues instructions to the remote controller 55 to display the operating status of the air-conditioning device 2. As a result, the operating status of the air-conditioning device 2 is displayed on the display unit 55a of the remote controller 55. The above-mentioned display has the effect of making it easy for the user HM to grasp the operating status of the air-conditioning device 2, or can guide the user HM to take more focused actions. In addition, the control unit 53a is equivalent to an example of the "emotion information acquisition unit" and the "control unit" of the present disclosure.

[0058] The storage unit 53b is composed of memory such as RAM and ROM, and stores programs and data required for control. Specifically, the storage unit 53b stores general air conditioning control programs for cooling control, heating control, and dehumidification control, as well as a control program (hereinafter referred to as the control program) 531, which causes the control unit 53a to perform air conditioning control customized for the user HM based on the user HM's emotion information in the indoor space 71. The control program 531 functionally includes: an emotion information acquisition processing unit 531a, which causes the control unit 53a to execute a process for acquiring emotion information; a storage processing unit 531b, which causes the control unit 53a to execute a process for associating the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 with the emotion information acquired by the emotion information acquisition processing unit 531a and storing it as user emotion information 532; and a control processing unit 531c, which causes the control unit 53a to execute air conditioning processing in a customized control mode customized for the user HM.

[0059] The storage unit 53b further stores user emotion information 532 as data used when executing the control program 531. The user emotion information 532 is information that associates the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 with the emotion information of the user HM when the air conditioning unit 80 is operated using the settings.

[0060] Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of user emotion information 532 during cooling operation. Figure 4 As shown, the user emotion information 532 stores the set values for the temperature, humidity, air volume, and wind direction of the air conditioning unit 80 and the actual values of the user HM's emotion information when the air conditioning unit 80 is operated at the set values. The user emotion information 532 may also store pre-input initial values.

[0061] Figure 3The timer unit 53c shown calculates time, and the calendar unit 53d calculates date. The timer unit 53c includes an RTC, a timing device that continues to count time even when the air conditioner 2 is powered off. The calendar unit 53d calculates the date based on the time output from the timer unit 53c. Furthermore, the timer unit 53c and calendar unit 53d may also have the function of periodically acquiring time and date information from an external source via the network NW and correcting them.

[0062] The communication unit 53e communicates with the outdoor unit control unit 51 and also communicates with the server 90 via the external network NW.

[0063] A portion or all of the user emotion information 532 is transmitted from the indoor unit control unit 53 to and stored in the server 90. Furthermore, upon a request from the indoor unit control unit 53, the user emotion information 532 stored in the server 90 or setting information based on the user emotion information 532 is transmitted to the indoor unit control unit 53.

[0064] Next, refer to Figure 5 (A) Figure 5 (B) describes an example of the hardware configuration of the outdoor unit control section 51 and the indoor unit control section 53.

[0065] The outdoor unit control unit 51 is composed of a computer such as a microcontroller, for example. Figure 5 As shown in (A), the outdoor unit control unit 51 includes: a processor 1001 for executing a control program for the outdoor unit 11, a memory 1002 that functions as a main storage area, a secondary storage device 1003 for storing the control program, an I / O (Input / Output) interface 1004 for inputting and outputting signals, and a communication module 1005 for communicating. The above components are interconnected via a bus 1000.

[0066] The processor 1001 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and reads a control program stored in the secondary storage device 1003 into the memory 1002 and executes the control program.

[0067] The memory 1002 is a main storage device, such as a RAM, and functions as a working memory for the processor 1001 , and stores a control program read by the processor 1001 from the secondary storage device 1003 .

[0068] The secondary storage device 1003 is, for example, a ROM, a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc. The secondary storage device 1003 stores control programs executed by the processor 1001 , fixed data, and the like.

[0069] The I / O interface 1004 is, for example, a serial port or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port interface. The I / O interface 1004 sends control signals to the outdoor air conditioning unit 81 in the outdoor unit 11, such as the compressor 21, the four-way valve 22, the expansion valve 24, the outdoor blower 31, and the like, thereby enabling control by the processor 1001.

[0070] The communication module 1005 is a network interface that enables communication between the processor 1001 and the indoor unit control unit 53 .

[0071] For example, the processor 1001 and the I / O interface 1004 function as the control unit 51 a and the timer unit 51 c , the memory 1002 and the secondary storage device 1003 function as the storage unit 51 b , and the communication module 1005 functions as the communication unit 51 d .

[0072] On the other hand, the indoor unit control unit 53 is composed of a computer such as a microcontroller, for example, Figure 5 As shown in (B), the indoor unit control unit 53 includes: a processor 1011 that executes a control program for the indoor unit 13, a memory 1012 that functions as a main storage area, a secondary storage device 1013 that stores the control program, an I / O interface 1014 that inputs and outputs signals, and a communication module 1015 that performs communication. The above components are connected to each other via a bus 1010. The bus 1010, the processor 1011, the memory 1012, the secondary storage device 1013, the I / O interface 1014, and the communication module 1015 are connected to each other. Figure 5 The bus 1000, processor 1001, memory 1002, secondary storage device 1003, I / O interface 1004, and communication module 1005 that constitute the outdoor unit control unit 51 shown in (A) have the same configuration and functions. However, the secondary storage device 1013 also stores the control program 531 and user emotion information 532 used for customized control. The I / O interface 1014 is connected to the sensor group 40, remote control 55, main display unit 58, and the indoor air conditioning unit 82, such as the indoor blower 33 and wind direction vane 34 drive mechanism. Furthermore, the communication module 1015 is connected to the outdoor unit control unit 51 and the network NW.

[0073] For example, the processor 1011 and the I / O interface 1014 function as the control unit 53a, the timekeeping unit 53c, and the calendar unit 53d; the memory 1012 and the secondary storage device 1013 function as the storage unit 53b; and the communication module 1015 functions as the communication unit 53e.

[0074] The configuration of the air conditioning system 1 has been described above. Next, its operation will be described.

[0075] The air conditioner 2 normally operates in a normal mode, but if it switches to a custom control mode, it performs a custom control process based on the user's emotional information. Figure 2 The customized control process executed by the air-conditioning device 2 in the illustrated usage environment will be described.

[0076] When the user selects a customized control mode such as "Concentrated Mode" or "Quiet Mode" using the remote controller 55, the control unit 53a recognizes this selection and starts executing the control program 531. The control unit 53a first detects the presence of the user HM using the infrared sensor 44 and sends an instruction to the biological information detection device 43 to detect the biological information of the user HM.

[0077] In addition, the control unit 53a starts Figure 6 Custom control processing shown.

[0078] First, the control unit 53a obtains emotion information calculated based on the biological information of the user HM detected by the biological information detection device 43 (step S101). The control unit 53a associates the obtained emotion information with the current setting of the air conditioning unit 80 and stores it as user emotion information 532 (step S102).

[0079] Next, the control unit 53a determines the target emotion information corresponding to the mode selected by the remote controller 55 (step S103). For example, in the "Concentration Mode," the target emotion information is determined to have a high activity index (high stress) and a high concentration index (high concentration). In the "Quiet Mode," the target emotion information is determined to have a low activity index (high relaxation) and a low concentration index (high sleepiness).

[0080] Afterwards, the control unit 53a refers to the user emotion information 532 stored in the storage unit 53b, thereby deriving the setting information of the air conditioning unit 80 that realizes the target emotion information (step S104). Specifically, the setting information associated with the value of the target emotion information is extracted from the user emotion information 532. Here, when there are multiple setting information of the air conditioning unit 80 corresponding to the target emotion information, the average value of the multiple setting information can also be obtained. On the other hand, when there is not enough information in the user emotion information 532, the setting is changed regularly with the remote control setting value as the center, thereby obtaining and accumulating the user's emotion information. At this time, the priority of the setting change can also be pre-set, that is, the settings that are more likely to affect the emotion change, such as the wind direction and air volume related to the airflow setting, are given priority.

[0081] Regarding steps S103 and S104, Figure 4 The following describes an example of a case where the user emotion information 532 during cooling operation is stored in the storage unit 53b. When the user HM selects the concentration mode using the remote controller 55, in step S103, the target emotion information is determined to be, for example, both or either of the activity index 80% and the concentration index 80%. Then, in step S104, the control unit 53a refers to Figure 4 The user emotion information 532 is stored in association with the activity index 80% or the concentration index 80%. L 、Humidity H L , Stronger air volume F H , and the wind direction is the setting information of the windward direction. At this time, the actual setting of the air conditioning unit 80 is at a lower temperature T L 、Humidity H L As a basic setting, regarding the air volume and wind direction, a strong air volume F is regularly implemented. H , and facing the wind, or it can also be implemented within a certain period of time after the target emotional information changes.

[0082] On the other hand, when the user HM selects the quiet mode with the remote controller 55, in step S103, the target emotion information is determined to be, for example, both or either of the activity index 30% and the concentration index 30%. Then, in step S104, the control unit 53a refers to Figure 4 The user emotion information 532 is derived, and the standard temperature T stored in association with the activity index 30% or the concentration index 30% is derived. N 、Humidity H N , weaker air volume F L , and setting information that the wind direction is sheltered.

[0083] Here, regarding the wind direction, the position of the user HM is determined by the infrared sensor 44, and the user HM is controlled to avoid the wind or face the wind relative to the position of the user HM. Figure 7 As shown schematically in (A), the wind avoidance control is a method of controlling the wind direction in such a way that the air does not directly blow to the user HM. Figure 7 As schematically shown in (B), the windward control is a method of controlling the wind direction in such a way that the air is blown directly to the user HM.

[0084] The direction of facing the wind or avoiding the wind can be controlled by changing the up and down wind direction plate angles or the left and right wind direction plate angles of the wind direction plate 34. Figure 7 As illustrated in (A) and (B), a control can also be performed to offset the direction toward the user HM by a preset angle θ. During cooling operation, when the user HM prefers to be more relaxed without being blown by the cold wind, when the quiet mode is selected, a wind-avoiding control is performed to make the wind avoid the user, and when the concentrated mode is selected, a wind-facing control is performed to blow cold air to the user regularly or based on the user's emotional information. Here, whether to face the wind or avoid the wind varies from person to person, so the setting can be set to face the wind when the quiet mode is selected, or to avoid the wind when the concentrated mode is selected. In addition, during heating and air supply, the user emotional information 532 is also referred to to set the wind direction suitable for the user.

[0085] Using the setting information thus derived, the control unit 53a operates the air conditioning unit 80 (step S105). The control unit 53a transmits a control instruction signal including information such as heating or cooling, set temperature, and set humidity to the outdoor unit control unit 51 via the communication unit 53e.

[0086] The control unit 51a of the outdoor unit control unit 51 receives the control instruction signal transmitted from the control unit 53a via the communication unit 51d, and controls the outdoor unit air conditioner 81 while referring to the timer by the timer unit 51c so that the temperature and humidity become the set temperature and humidity.

[0087] Similarly, the control unit 53a of the indoor unit control unit 53 controls the indoor unit air conditioning unit 82, that is, the air supply volume of the indoor blower 33, the direction of the wind direction plate 34, etc. while referring to the timing through the timing unit 53c, so that the air volume and wind direction become the set air volume and set wind direction.

[0088] Furthermore, when each control target such as temperature has reached a set value, the control units 51 a and 53 a subsequently perform control so as to maintain the target value.

[0089] Next, the control unit 53a determines whether the customized control mode has been stopped (step S107). If it is determined that the customized control mode has been stopped (step S107: Yes), the control unit 53a ends the customized control process. At this point, the operation of the air conditioning system 1 can be restored to the normal mode or stopped.

[0090] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S107 that the customized control mode has not been stopped (step S107: No), the process of step S101 is executed again after a predetermined time has passed. The customized control mode may be stopped when an instruction to end the "centralized mode" or "quiet mode" is issued from the remote controller 55, or when an instruction to stop the operation of the air conditioner 2 is issued.

[0091] Furthermore, during operation in the customized control mode, the control unit 53a displays information indicating the control method on the main display unit 58 of the indoor unit 13. Specifically, the control unit 53a causes the main display unit 58 of the indoor unit 13 to display information indicating the operating mode, such as centralized mode or silent mode, the control target, and the control content, as information to be notified to the user HM. The control unit 53a may also instruct the remote controller 55 to display information indicating the operating mode, such as centralized mode or silent mode, the control target, and the control content, as information to be notified to the user HM, on the display unit 55a of the remote controller 55. Furthermore, during operation in the customized control mode, the control unit 53a may also provide an audible notification indicating the control method. For example, the control unit 53a may provide the notification via a speaker provided in the indoor unit 13.

[0092] In this manner, by executing the customized control process, the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 are derived based on the user emotion information 532 , and the air conditioning unit 80 is controlled using the settings.

[0093] As described above, the air conditioning system 1 of Embodiment 1 derives settings that achieve target emotion information based on the user emotion information 532 associated with the settings of the air conditioning unit 80, and controls the air conditioning unit 80 with these settings. This enables a spatial environment that suits the user's preferences or physique to be achieved.

[0094] (Variation of Embodiment 1)

[0095] Various modifications can be made to the above-mentioned first embodiment.

[0096] In the first embodiment, the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 and the user's emotional information during the air conditioning operation, which are associated with each other, are stored in advance in the storage unit 53b as user emotional information 532. Based on the user emotional information 532, the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 that achieve the target emotional information are derived, and the air conditioning unit 80 is controlled using these settings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, all or part of the user emotional information 532 may be stored in advance in the server 90 and analyzed. Upon request from the control unit 53a, the server 90 may output the settings of the air conditioning unit 80.

[0097] Furthermore, AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology can also be used to derive the settings for the air conditioner 80. In this case, the indoor unit control unit 53 of the air conditioner 2 or the server 90 includes an AI device. For example, the AI device preliminarily investigates the relationship between the settings for the air conditioner 80 and the corresponding emotion information contained in the user's emotion information 532, thereby creating training data. Next, the AI device learns the training data. Using the learned model, the AI device outputs the settings for the air conditioner 80 when the target emotion information is input.

[0098] (Implementation Method 2)

[0099] Similar to Embodiment 1, the air conditioning system 1 of Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure is a system that performs air conditioning on an indoor space 71 based on emotion information of a user HM present in the indoor space 71, which is an air-conditioned space. The hardware configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of Embodiment 1. However, the content of the customized control processing executed by the control unit 53a of the indoor unit control unit 53 differs from that of Embodiment 1.

[0100] If the target emotional information is not achieved, the air conditioning system 1 of this embodiment changes the setting of the air conditioning unit 80 step by step in the direction of improving the emotional information. Figure 8 The custom control process of this embodiment is described with reference to an example. Figure 8 This is an example of a flow chart showing a custom control process for the "Concentration Mode" selected in the morning to reduce sleepiness and improve concentration. Figure 8 The example of FIG. 1 shows a process of changing the temperature setting of the air conditioning unit 80 based on the sleepiness level in the emotion information.

[0101] If the user selects the "centralized mode" of the customized control mode using the remote controller 55, the control unit 53a recognizes the selection and starts executing the control program 531. The control unit 53a first determines the presence of the user HM through the infrared sensor 44 and sends an instruction to the biological information detection device 43 to detect the biological information of the user HM. Then, the control unit 53a starts Figure 8 Custom control processing shown.

[0102] First, the control unit 53a obtains emotion information based on the biometric information of the user HM detected by the biometric information detection device 43 (step S201). The method for obtaining emotion information is the same as in Embodiment 1. The control unit 53a determines whether the concentration index in the obtained emotion information is low and whether the sleepiness level is above a threshold (step S202). Here, the threshold is a value set based on the target emotion information. If the sleepiness level is below the threshold (step S202: No), it is determined that the environment is sufficient for concentration, and the process proceeds to step S204.

[0103] In step S202, if the sleepiness level is above the threshold (step S202: Yes), the control unit 53a adjusts the set temperature in a direction pre-set by the user. For example, during heating operation, the set temperature is adjusted to increase or decrease the room temperature, and during cooling operation, the set temperature is adjusted to decrease or increase the room temperature (step S203). In other words, the control unit 53a changes the setting in a direction that reduces the user's sleepiness level.

[0104] Next, the control unit 53a determines whether the customized control mode has been stopped (step S204). If it is determined that the customized control mode has been stopped (step S204: Yes), the control unit 53a ends the customized control process. At this point, the operation of the air conditioning system 1 can be restored to the normal mode or stopped.

[0105] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S204 that the customized control mode has not been stopped (step S204: No), the process of step S201 is executed again after a predetermined time has passed. The stopping of the customized control mode includes, for example, when an instruction to end the "centralized mode" is issued by the remote controller 55 or when an instruction to stop the operation of the air conditioner 2 is issued.

[0106] In this way, when the sleepiness level is above the threshold, temperature control is performed to improve the concentration index. Furthermore, while this embodiment describes control based on sleepiness, the same applies to other emotional information. If the user's emotional information does not reach the target emotional information, the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 are changed to a temperature, humidity, air volume, and wind direction that improve the emotional information.

[0107] As described above, when the user's emotional information does not reach the target emotional information, the air conditioning system 1 of Embodiment 2 changes the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 to the temperature, humidity, air volume, and wind direction that can improve the user's emotional information. This allows the air conditioning unit 80 to be controlled to appropriately adjust the user's emotional information.

[0108] (Variation of Embodiment 2)

[0109] Various modifications can be made to the above-mentioned second embodiment.

[0110] In Embodiment 2, if the user's emotional information does not reach the target emotional information, the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 are changed to the temperature, humidity, air volume, and wind direction that can improve the user's emotional information. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, when repeated control is performed, the control may also be performed to reflect the change in the user's emotional information caused by the previous setting change.

[0111] use Figure 9 The custom control processing of this modification example is described with reference to an example. Figure 9 This is a flowchart showing a customized control process for changing the temperature setting to reduce sleepiness and improve concentration according to this modification.

[0112] First, the control unit 53a obtains emotional information based on the biological information of the user HM detected by the biological information detection device 43 (step S211). The control unit 53a determines whether the concentration index in the obtained emotional information is low and whether the sleepiness level is above a threshold (step S212). Here, the threshold is a value set based on the target emotional information. If the sleepiness level is below the threshold (step S212: No), the environment is deemed to be sufficiently concentrating, and the process proceeds to step S219.

[0113] In step S212, if the sleepiness level is above the threshold (step S212: Yes), the sleepiness level is compared with the previous level (step S213). If this is the first time (step S213: First Time), a correction direction is selected to increase or decrease the room temperature during heating operation, and to decrease or increase the room temperature during cooling operation (step S214). The set temperature is then corrected one level in the selected correction direction (step S215). The correction amplitude is a pre-set temperature difference.

[0114] Next, the control unit 53a determines whether the custom control mode has been stopped (step S219). If the custom control mode is determined to be stopped (step S219: Yes), the control unit 53a ends the custom control process. On the other hand, if the custom control mode is determined to be not stopped (step S219: No), the process of step S211 is executed again after a certain period of time.

[0115] If the sleepiness level obtained in step S211 is above the threshold (step S212: Yes), the sleepiness level is compared with the previous level (step S213). In step S213, if the sleepiness level has deteriorated compared to the previous level (step S213: Deteriorated), the temperature is corrected in the opposite direction to the previous correction (step S216). Then, the first set temperature is corrected in the opposite direction (step S217).

[0116] On the other hand, in step S213, if the sleepiness level has improved compared to the previous time (step S213: Improved), the first set temperature is corrected in the same direction as the previous temperature correction (step S218). Here, the corrected temperature in steps S215, S217, and S218 can also be limited to a temperature within a pre-set range.

[0117] Thereafter, the control unit 53a confirms whether the custom control mode has been stopped (step S219), and continues or stops the processing.

[0118] In this way, when the set temperature is changed to bring the sleepiness level above the threshold, the direction of temperature correction is determined based on the change in sleepiness level caused by the previous change. This allows control of air conditioning unit 80 to reflect the user's emotional changes in response to the setting change, thereby achieving an environment more suitable for the user's space.

[0119] Furthermore, in the above-described modified example, the direction of correction of the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 is determined based on the change in emotion information caused by the previous change, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, information indicating changes in the user's emotion information when the settings of the air conditioning unit 80 were previously changed, i.e., user emotion change information, may be pre-recorded in the storage unit 53b, and the direction of correction to improve the emotion information may be determined by referring to the pre-recorded user emotion change information.

[0120] In addition, Figure 8 Step S202, Figure 9 In step S212, when the sleepiness level is above the threshold, the setting is changed, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Figure 8 Step S202, Figure 9 In step S212, when the change in the emotion information when changing the setting is within a certain value, the setting may be changed so that the emotion information becomes greater than the certain value, referring to the user emotion change information stored in the storage unit 53b.

[0121] In addition, in the second embodiment, it is also possible to set energy saving. Figure 8 Step S202 and Figure 9 In step S212, the set temperature is changed according to whether the sleepiness level is above a threshold or whether the change is within a certain value, but a range for energy saving can be further set to select emotional information within the range during energy saving setting and control the setting with lower power consumption.

[0122] In addition, when setting energy saving, you can also set the range of the change in emotional information. Figure 8 Step S201 and Figure 9If the change in the emotion information obtained in step S211 since the last acquisition of the emotion information is within the range, the setting with lower power consumption between the settings before and after the change is selected.

[0123] (Implementation 3)

[0124] As in the first and second embodiments, the air conditioning system 4 of the third embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for performing air conditioning on the indoor space 71 based on the emotion information of the user HM existing in the indoor space 71 as the air conditioning target space. The hardware configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Figure 10 As shown, this embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that a user time table 533 is further stored in the storage unit 53b of the indoor unit control unit 53, and customized control processing based on the user time table 533 is performed.

[0125] The user timetable 533 is a table showing target emotion information of the user HM for each time period in 1 day, each day of a week, or each month. Figure 11 5 is a diagram showing an example of a user schedule 533 in the summer for a user who works at home during the day. Figure 11 As shown, in the user schedule 533 , comfortable emotion information for each time period in a day is set as target emotion information. Figure 11 The column of the air-conditioning setting shows the air-conditioning setting stored in the user emotion information 532 in association with the target emotion information.

[0126] Next, the operation of the air-conditioning system 4 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0127] The air conditioner 2 of the air conditioning system 4 usually performs air conditioning operation in a normal mode. However, when switched to air conditioning operation in a customized control mode, customized control processing based on user emotion information is executed according to the user schedule 533 .

[0128] If the user selects the "automatic mode" as the customized control mode using the remote controller 55, the control unit 53a recognizes the selection and starts executing the control program 531. The control unit 53a first determines the presence of the user HM through the infrared sensor 44 and sends an instruction to the biological information detection device 43 to detect the biological information of the user HM. Then, the control unit 53a starts Figure 6 Custom control processing shown.

[0129] First, the control unit 53a obtains emotion information based on the biological information of the user HM detected by the biological information detection device 43 (step S101). The control unit 53a associates the obtained emotion information with the current setting of the air conditioning unit 80 and stores it as user emotion information 532 (step S102).

[0130] Next, the control unit 53a refers to the user schedule 533, and acquires and determines the target emotion information of the current month (season), day of the week, and time via the timekeeping unit 53c and the calendar unit 53d (step S103).

[0131] Then, the control unit 53a refers to the user emotion information 532 stored in the storage unit 53b and derives the setting information of the air conditioning unit 80 that realizes the target emotion information acquired in step S103 (step S104). The method of deriving the setting information is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0132] use Figure 11 Steps S103 and S104 will be described as follows. In the case where the user HM of the air-conditioning device 2 has a life rhythm of working at home during the day in summer, Figure 11 0:00 to 6:00 is the sleeping time, so it is better to relax and continue to feel sleepy. Therefore, the control unit 53a obtains the activity index 30% and the concentration index 30% from the user schedule 533 as the target emotion information. In addition, the setting information for achieving the target emotion information is derived from the user emotion information 532. That is, the standard temperature T stored in association with the activity index 30% and the concentration index 30% is set. N 、Humidity H N , weaker air volume F L , and the setting information of the wind direction being sheltered from the wind is exported.

[0133] Since 6:00 to 12:00 is working time, it is preferable to activate the brain and concentrate. Therefore, the control unit 53a obtains the activity index 80% and the concentration index 80% from the user schedule 533 as target emotion information. Then, the lower temperature T stored in association with the target emotion information is set. L 、Humidity H L , Stronger air volume F H , and the wind direction is the setting information of the windward direction. At this time, the actual setting of the air conditioning unit 80 is at a lower temperature T L 、Humidity H L As a basic setting, regarding the air volume and wind direction, a strong air volume F is regularly implemented. H , and facing the wind, or it can also be implemented within a certain period of time after the target emotional information changes.

[0134] 12:00 to 14:00 is rest time, so it is better to relax and reduce concentration slightly. Therefore, the control unit 53a obtains the activity index 50% and the concentration index 50% from the user schedule 533 as target emotion information. Then, the standard temperature T stored in association with the target emotion information is set. N 、Humidity H N 、Air volume F N, and the setting information of the wind direction being sheltered from the wind is exported.

[0135] 14:00 to 18:00 is working time, so it is better to activate the brain and concentrate again. Therefore, the control unit 53a obtains the activity index 80% and the concentration index 80% from the user schedule 533 as the target emotion information, and stores the lower temperature T associated with the target emotion information. L 、Humidity H L , Stronger air volume F H Here, the actual setting of the air conditioning unit 80 is also based on a lower temperature T L 、Humidity H L As a basic setting, regarding the air volume and wind direction, a strong air volume F is regularly implemented. H , and facing the wind, or it can also be implemented within a certain period of time after the target emotional information changes.

[0136] To prepare for sleep from 18:00 to 24:00, it is preferred to relax and reduce concentration sufficiently. Therefore, the control unit 53a obtains the activity index 30% and the concentration index 30% from the user schedule 533 as target emotion information, and stores the standard temperature T associated with the target emotion information. N 、Humidity H N , weaker air volume F L , and the setting information of the wind direction being sheltered from the wind is exported.

[0137] The processing after step S105 after exporting the setting information is the same as that in embodiment 1. Figure 11 This is an example of air conditioning settings for a specific user HM. Since each person prefers facing the wind or shielded from the wind, the user can set the air conditioning to facing the wind when quiet mode is selected, or to shielded from the wind when concentrated mode is selected. Furthermore, during heating and air supply, the user's mood information 532 is also referenced to set the wind direction appropriately for the user.

[0138] As described above, air conditioning system 4 according to Embodiment 3 derives setting information for achieving target emotional information for each time period, day of the week, or month obtained from user schedule 533 based on user emotional information 532, and controls air conditioning unit 80 based on this setting information. This allows for the creation of a spatial environment that is suited to the user's lifestyle.

[0139] In addition, as in the modified example of Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, all or part of the user emotion information 532 may be stored in advance in the server 90, and in response to a request from the control unit 53a, the server 90 may output the settings of the air conditioner 80. Alternatively, the indoor unit control unit 53 or the server 90 may utilize AI technology to derive the settings information of the air conditioner 80.

[0140] In addition, in the second embodiment, as in the present embodiment, control may be performed to change the air-conditioning settings using a threshold value determined based on target emotion information acquired from the user schedule 533 .

[0141] (Variation of Embodiment 1-3)

[0142] Various modifications can be made to the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 3.

[0143] In the above embodiment, the control using the user emotion information 532 or the user schedule 533 for one user HM is described, but the user emotion information 532 or the user schedule 533 can also be stored in advance in the storage unit 53b for multiple user HMs, and the user HM located in the air-conditioned object space can be identified, thereby performing control based on the user emotion information 532 or the user schedule 533 of the user HM.

[0144] The method for identifying the user HM may be any existing method. For example, the infrared sensor 44 may be used to identify the user based on height differences. Alternatively, the user HM may be identified based on the pulse shape detected by the biological information detection device 43. Alternatively, the user HM may be identified as being within the air-conditioned space based on the location information of the mobile terminal held by the user HM.

[0145] In addition, if Figure 12 As shown, different controls can also be performed for multiple users HM1 and HM2 located within the air-conditioned space. Specifically, the positions of the multiple users HM1 and HM2 are detected using an infrared sensor 44, functioning as a human body sensor. The pulse of each user HM1 and HM2 is acquired using a Doppler sensor of a biological information detection device 43, which is directional to that position. Furthermore, emotional information of each user HM1 and HM2 is calculated based on their respective pulses, and the air conditioning unit 80 is controlled based on settings derived from the emotional information. In this case, the wind direction is controlled using a wind vane 34, thereby generating multiple airflow paths F1 and F2, allowing control to independently achieve the target emotional information for each user HM1 and HM2.

[0146] In the above embodiment, the customized control process is initiated by the user HM selecting the automatic mode, centralized mode, quiet mode, or the like using the remote controller 55. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may be initiated or terminated in any manner. For example, if the user HM is detected in the indoor space 71 by a detection signal from a human sensor such as the infrared sensor 44 or a CO2 sensor, the power may be turned on and the customized control process may be automatically initiated. If the user HM is no longer detected, the process may be terminated and the power may be turned off.

[0147] Furthermore, cooling operation can be initiated when the temperature of indoor space 71 reaches a high temperature and the emotional information of the user HM present at the time indicates an abnormal value. For example, if stress levels rise and exceed a threshold, the risk of heat stroke increases, so cooling operation based on customized control processing can also be initiated. In this case, by using a CO2 sensor as a human body detection sensor, biometric information can be obtained even for users HM outside the detection range of the infrared sensor 44.

[0148] If a human remains absent, the CO2 sensor output remains at approximately 400 ppm, the same as the outside air, due to the ventilation system and gaps in the house. When a person enters a room, the exhaled air, which has a higher CO2 content than the outside air, is expelled, though this varies depending on the number of people or the room's area. This allows for a rise in CO2 levels above a certain threshold to be detected. Furthermore, the air conditioner 2, which primarily determines the room's area based on its capacity, can set a CO2 rise threshold corresponding to the area, thereby determining the presence of a human being when the rise exceeds the threshold.

[0149] In addition, in the above embodiment, the air conditioning device 2 includes the control device 50 inside, but the control device 50 may be arranged outside the air conditioning device 2. In this case, for example, Figure 13 As shown, the control device 50 may also be connected to the air conditioner 2 via the network NW. In this case, the air conditioner 2 includes, for example, a communication device 56 for communicating with external devices. The communication device 56 enables communication between the outdoor unit control unit 51 of the external control device 50 and the outdoor air conditioner 81, and also enables communication between the indoor unit control unit 53 of the external control device 50 and the sensor group 40, the remote controller 55, and the indoor air conditioner 82.

[0150] In the above embodiment, temperature, humidity, air volume, and air direction are controlled. However, other parameters may be used in place of or in addition to these control parameters. For example, control may be performed to change the temperature control timing from that during normal operation. Here, temperature control timing refers to the timing of turning temperature control on or off. "Thermostat off" means stopping the compressor 21 of the outdoor unit 11, stopping "cooling" or "heating," and "thermostat on" means operating the compressor 21 of the outdoor unit 11, performing "cooling" or "heating." The "thermostat off" timing is set to the moment when the temperature difference ΔTR between the room temperature TR and the set temperature TS reaches ΔToff°C, and the "thermostat on" timing is set to the moment when the temperature difference ΔTR between the room temperature TR and the set temperature TS reaches ΔTon°C. For example, assume that in normal cooling mode, the set temperature is 28°C, the temperature control off timing is set to ΔToff = -2°C, and the temperature control on timing is set to the temperature difference ΔTon = 0°C. In this case, when the room temperature TR drops to the set temperature of 26°C and the temperature difference ΔTR becomes -2°C, the compressor 21 is stopped to stop "cooling". Thereafter, when the room temperature TR rises to 28°C and the temperature difference ΔTR becomes 0°C, the compressor 21 is operated to resume "cooling".

[0151] In addition, in the above embodiment, based on the emotional information of the user HM, only the air conditioning device 2 is controlled, but other devices used by the user HM can also be further controlled. Figure 14 As illustrated in (A) of FIG, external devices connected directly or via the network NW to the outdoor unit 11 or indoor unit 13 can also be controlled based on emotion information. For example, external devices such as lighting equipment 91, fans 92, water heaters, air purifiers, ventilation fans, heating equipment, video output devices, and audio equipment can be controlled. These external devices are located in the house 3 and are installed and used in a manner that can influence the emotions of the user HM in the indoor space 71. Control signals are transmitted from the air conditioner 2 to the external devices via wired communication or wireless communication such as short-range wireless, wireless LAN, and infrared, and the external devices are controlled based on the control signals.

[0152] In this case, the storage unit 53b of the indoor unit control unit 53 stores Figure 14 The table of control methods for the customized control mode illustrated in (B) of FIG. This table records the control objects and control contents of the external devices to be controlled in order to achieve the target emotional information. For example, in the case of increasing the sleepiness, Figure 6In step S105 of the flowchart, the indoor unit control unit 53, based on the settings in the control method table for the customized control mode, sends a command to the lighting device 91, instructing it to reduce the dimming level to 60% and set the fan 92's wind speed to level "2." Furthermore, if, for example, the fan 92 has a rhythmic wind mode function that delivers natural air, the indoor unit control unit 53 switches the operating mode to rhythmic wind mode. Furthermore, if the external device is a water heater, the indoor unit control unit 53 sets the set temperature to a higher level. If the external device is an air purifier, the indoor unit control unit 53 switches to a quieter setting so that the operating sound is imperceptible. Furthermore, if the external device is a ventilation fan, the indoor unit control unit 53 operates the ventilation fan to reduce the indoor carbon dioxide concentration and improve sleepiness. If the external device is a video output device or audio equipment, it outputs relaxing videos or music. By controlling external devices in addition to the air conditioner 2, sleepiness can be further improved.

[0153] In the above embodiment, the indoor unit control unit 53 receives instructions from the user HM of the remote control 55, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The indoor unit control unit 53 may also receive instructions from the user HM of an information device on which an application for the air conditioner 2 is installed. Furthermore, the information device may receive information indicating the control method of the air conditioner 2 from the indoor unit control unit 53 and display the information on the display unit of the information device.

[0154] Alternatively, a program for executing the operations of the control device 50 of the above-described embodiment may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), MO (Magneto Optical Disc), or memory card and distributed, and installed in a computer to thereby construct a computer capable of implementing the various functions. Furthermore, when implementing the various functions by sharing the workload between an OS (Operating System) and application programs, or by collaboration between the OS and application programs, only the components other than the OS may be stored in the recording medium.

[0155] The present disclosure is capable of various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the aforementioned embodiments are intended to illustrate the present disclosure and do not limit its scope. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, not the embodiments. Furthermore, modifications implemented within the scope of the claims and within the scope of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0156] Description of Reference Numerals

[0157] 1, 4…air conditioning system; 2…air conditioning device; 3…house; 11…outdoor unit; 13…indoor unit; 21…compressor; 22…four-way valve; 23…outdoor heat exchanger; 24…expansion valve; 25…indoor heat exchanger; 31…outdoor blower; 33…indoor blower; 34…wind vane; 40…sensor group; 41…temperature sensor; 42…humidity sensor; 43…biological information detection device; 44…infrared sensor; 50…control device; 51…outdoor unit control unit; 51a…control unit; 51b…storage unit; 51c…timer unit; 51d…communication unit; 53…indoor unit control unit; 53a…control unit; 53b…storage unit; 53c…timer unit; 53d…calendar unit; 53e…communication unit; 55…remote controller; 55a…display unit; 56…communication unit Device; 58…main display unit; 61…refrigerant piping; 63…communication line; 71…indoor space; 72…outdoor space; 80…air conditioning unit; 81…outdoor unit air conditioning unit; 82…indoor unit air conditioning unit; 90…server; 91…lighting equipment; 92…fan; 531…customized control program; 531a…emotion information acquisition processing unit; 531b…storage processing unit; 531c…control processing unit; 532…user emotion information; 533…user schedule; 1000, 1010…bus; 1001, 1011…processor; 1002, 1012…memory; 1003, 1013…secondary storage device; 1004, 1014…I / O interface; 1005, 1015…communication module; NW…network; HM, HM1, HM2…user.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for controlling the air conditioning of an air-conditioned space, characterized in that: have: an air conditioning unit that performs air conditioning on the air-conditioned space; and a control device for controlling the air conditioning unit, The control device has: an emotion information acquisition unit that acquires emotion information based on biological information of a user of the air-conditioned space; and A control unit controls the air conditioning unit so as to realize preset target emotion information based on the acquired emotion information.

2. An air conditioning system for performing air conditioning control of an air-conditioned space, characterized in that: have: an air conditioning unit that performs air conditioning on the air-conditioned space; and a control device for controlling the air conditioning unit, The control device has: an emotion information acquisition unit that acquires emotion information based on biological information of a user of the air-conditioned space; and A control unit controls the air conditioning unit with a setting determined based on a change in the user's emotional information when the setting of the air conditioning unit is changed.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: further comprising a biological information detection device that outputs the biological information of a user existing in the air-conditioned space, The biological information includes the user's pulse or heartbeat, The emotion information includes at least one of a stress level, a relaxation level, a concentration level, and a sleepiness level calculated based on the biological information.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, characterized in that The control device further includes a storage unit that stores user emotion information that associates settings of the air conditioning unit with user emotion information when the air conditioning unit is operated using the settings. The control unit controls the air conditioning unit to achieve the setting of the target emotion information of the user of the air-conditioned space based on the user emotion information.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 4, characterized in that The storage unit also stores a user schedule representing the user's target emotion information for each time period of a day, each day of a week, or each month. The control unit controls the air conditioning unit to achieve the setting of the target emotion information for each time period, each day of a week, or each month based on the user schedule.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, characterized in that The control device further includes a storage unit that stores user emotion change information that associates changes in settings of the air conditioning unit with changes in user emotion information during operation using the settings. The control unit controls the air conditioning unit based on a setting to change emotion information of a user of the air-conditioned space, based on the user emotion change information.

7. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The setting of the air conditioning unit includes at least one of temperature, humidity, air volume, and air direction.

8. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: Based on the emotional information of the user in the air-conditioned space, the control unit sends a control signal for realizing the user's target emotional information to at least one of the external lighting equipment, fans, water heaters, air purifiers, ventilation fans, heating equipment, image output devices, and audio equipment.

9. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: It also includes a human body detection sensor for detecting a user in the air-conditioned space. The control unit starts or stops controlling the air conditioning unit based on a detection signal from the human detection sensor.

10. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: It also includes a human body detection sensor that detects the position of one or more users in the air-conditioned space. The control unit performs air-conditioning control having directionality toward each user based on the emotion information of each user.

11. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: During energy saving setting, the control unit selects a setting with low power consumption when the emotion information is within a preset range or when the amount of change in the emotion information since the last acquisition is within a preset range.

12. An air conditioning method, characterized in that: Perform air conditioning control of the air-conditioned space. acquiring emotion information based on biological information of a user of the air-conditioned space, Air conditioning control is performed based on the acquired emotion information so as to achieve preset target emotion information.

13. An air conditioning method, characterized in that: Perform air conditioning control of the air-conditioned space. acquiring emotion information based on biological information of a user of the air-conditioned space, Air conditioning control is performed using settings determined based on changes in user emotion information when the air conditioning control settings are changed.

14. A program, characterized in that Causes the computer to perform the following processing: Performing air conditioning control of the air-conditioned space; a process of acquiring emotion information based on biological information of a user of the air-conditioned space; and Air conditioning control is performed based on the acquired emotion information so as to achieve preset target emotion information.

15. A program, characterized in that Causes the computer to perform the following processing: Performing air conditioning control of the air-conditioned space; a process of acquiring emotion information based on biological information of a user of the air-conditioned space; and The air conditioning control process is performed using the setting determined based on the change in the user's emotional information when the air conditioning control setting is changed.

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