Ventilation control device, ventilation control system, method of control and program

Abstract

To provide a ventilation control device that can improve comfort for a person who uses a desk.SOLUTION: A ventilation control device 40 includes: an acquisition part 44 for acquiring height information indicating a height of a desk used by a person who receives air delivered from a blower device 50; and a controller 45 for controlling the blower device 50 on the basis of the acquired height information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airflow control device, an airflow control system, a control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Various techniques have been proposed for improving people's comfort by blowing air. Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner that can accurately detect whether or not a person has gone to sleep. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-024416 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention provides a ventilation control device and the like that can improve the comfort of a person using a desk. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A blower control device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires height information indicating the height of a desk currently being used by a person receiving air blown by the blower device, and a control unit that controls the blower device based on the acquired height information.

[0006] The airflow control system according to one aspect of the present invention includes the airflow control device, the air blower, and a sensor that detects the height of the desk and outputs the height information as a detection result.

[0007] A control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method for a blower device executed by a computer, and includes an acquisition step of acquiring height information indicating the height of a desk used by a person who receives air blown by the blower device, and a control step of controlling the blower device based on the acquired height information.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing the computer to execute the control method. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The air flow control device according to one aspect of the present invention can improve the comfort of a person using a desk. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement example 1 of a blower device provided in a blower control system according to an embodiment and desks. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the air blowing control system according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation example of the air blowing control system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the air blowing parameter information. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second example of arrangement of the air blowing device and desks included in the air blowing control system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement example 3 of the air blowing device and desks included in the air blowing control system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component arrangement and connection forms, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in the independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0012] In addition, each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily a precise illustration. In addition, in each drawing, the same reference numerals are used for substantially the same configuration, and duplicated explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0013] (Embodiment) [composition] First, the configuration of the airflow control system according to the embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example 1 of an arrangement of an airflow device and desks included in the airflow control system according to the embodiment. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the airflow control system according to the embodiment.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the airflow control system 10 controls the airflow device 50 to blow air to a person (hereinafter also referred to as a user) using a desk 70, thereby improving the comfort of the user. More specifically, the airflow control system 10 controls the airflow device 50 so that the same air-receiving state is maintained for a user using a desk 70 whose tabletop 71 is adjustable in height, even if the height of the tabletop 71 (the user's posture) changes as shown in Fig. 1(a) and (b). The air-receiving state refers to the strength, amount, and range of the air blown by the airflow device 50 hitting the user.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the airflow control system 10 includes a height sensor 20, an environment sensor 30, an airflow control device 40, an air blower 50, and a UI (User Interface) device 60.

[0016] The height sensor 20 is a sensor that detects the height of the top board 71 of the desk 70 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the height of the desk 70) and outputs height information (distance information from the height sensor 20 to the top board 71) as a detection result. The height sensor 20 is, for example, a laser type (optical type) distance measuring sensor, and is installed on a ceiling to detect the distance from the ceiling to the top board, or is installed on a floor surface to detect the distance from the floor surface to the top board. The height sensor 20 may be a radio wave type distance measuring sensor or an ultrasonic type distance measuring sensor. The height sensor 20 may be provided by another device included in the air blowing control system 10, for example, may be provided by the air blowing device 50. In addition, it is not essential that the height sensor 20 is a distance measuring sensor, and the height sensor 20 may be a sensor provided in a lifting mechanism of the top board 71 of the desk 70 to detect the amount of lifting.

[0017] The environmental sensor 30 is a sensor that senses the environment around the desk 70 and outputs environmental information as a sensing result. The environmental sensor 30 is a temperature sensor that measures the temperature around the desk 70, but may also be a humidity sensor that measures the humidity around the desk 70. The airflow control system 10 may also include both a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor as the environmental sensor 30. The environmental sensor 30 may be included in another device included in the airflow control system 10, for example, in the air blower device 50.

[0018] The air blowing control device 40 acquires height information output by the height sensor 20, and controls the air blowing device 50 based on the acquired height information. The air blowing control device 40 can also acquire environmental information output by the environmental sensor 30, and control the air blowing device 50 based on the acquired environmental information. The air blowing control device 40 is a dedicated device for the air blowing control system 10 (air blowing device 50), but may be realized by installing a predetermined application program in a general-purpose mobile terminal such as a personal computer or a tablet terminal. The air blowing control device 40 includes a communication unit 41, an information processing unit 42, and a storage unit 43.

[0019] The communication unit 41 is a communication module (communication circuit) for the air blowing control device to communicate with the height sensor 20, the environment sensor 30, the air blowing device 50, and the UI device 60. The communication performed by the communication unit 41 is, for example, wired communication, but may be wireless communication. There is also no particular limitation on the communication standard used for the communication.

[0020] The information processing unit 42 is realized by a processor or a microcomputer. The information processing unit 42 includes an acquisition unit 44 that acquires the height information and the environmental information received by the communication unit 41, and a control unit 45 that controls the blower device 50 based on at least one of the acquired height information and the environmental information. The functions of the acquisition unit 44 and the control unit 45 are realized by the processor or the microcomputer constituting the information processing unit 42 executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 43.

[0021] The storage unit 43 is a storage device that stores various information used by the information processing unit 42, such as computer programs executed by the information processing unit 42. The storage unit 43 is specifically realized by a semiconductor memory or the like.

[0022] The blower 50 blows air to a user who is using the desk 70 based on control information received from the blower control device 40. The blower 50 is realized by a motor and a blower fan. As described later, the blower 50 is capable of adjusting blowing parameters such as wind speed (air volume), blowing range, and wind direction. The blower 50 may also include a temperature adjustment device. The temperature adjustment device is realized by, for example, a refrigerant and a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, but may also be realized by an electric heater. In this case, the blower 50 is capable of adjusting the temperature of the wind (air) to be blown out.

[0023] The blower 50 is installed, for example, on the ceiling of the indoor space in which the desk 70 is placed and blows air toward the user from above the user, but may also be installed on a wall of the indoor space and blow air toward the user from the side of the user. Moreover, the blower 50 may be a device that stands on the floor of the indoor space and blows air toward the user from the side of the user.

[0024] The UI device 60 receives settings related to the blowing of air by the air blowing device 50 from the user, and outputs setting information of the received settings. The UI device 60 is a dedicated device having a touch panel or a push button, but may also be realized by installing a predetermined application program on a general-purpose mobile terminal such as a personal computer or a tablet terminal. The UI device 60 may be realized as a part (UI unit) of the air blowing control device 40.

[0025] [Example] Next, a description will be given of an example of the operation of the airflow control system 10. FIG.

[0026] The user performs a setting operation on the UI device 60 to operate the air blower device 50 with the user's desired settings. The UI device 60 accepts the setting operation and transmits setting information indicating the accepted settings (settings related to the blowing of air by the air blower device 50) to the air blowing control device 40.

[0027] The communication unit 41 of the air blowing control device 40 receives the setting information, and the acquisition unit 44 acquires the setting information (S11). The acquisition unit 44 acquires height information indicating the current height of the desk 70 from the height sensor 20 using the communication unit 41 (S12). The control unit 45 calculates air blowing parameters when the height of the desk 70 is changed, using the setting accepted in step S11 and the current height of the desk 70 indicated by the height information acquired in step S12 (hereinafter also referred to as the reference height) as reference parameters, and stores the calculated air blowing parameters in the storage unit 43 as air blowing parameter information (S13).

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, it is estimated that the user's posture (standing or sitting, etc.) will change when the height of the desk 70 changes. Therefore, the control unit 45 calculates the air-blowing parameters when the height of the desk 70 is changed so that the wind-receiving state, which indicates how the wind blown by the blower 50 hits the user, approaches the reference state determined by the reference parameters, even if the person's posture changes due to the change in the height of the desk 70. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the air-blowing parameter information.

[0029] When wind is blown toward the user from almost directly above the desk 70 as shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 45 calculates the airflow parameters so that the wind speed (air volume) is smaller than the reference parameter because it is estimated that the distance from the blower 50 to the user is shorter when the height of the desk 70 is higher than the reference height. In addition, the control unit 45 calculates the airflow parameters so that the wind speed (air volume) is larger than the reference parameter because it is estimated that the distance from the blower 50 to the user is longer when the height of the desk 70 is lower than the reference height. As a result, airflow parameter information in which the change in the height of the desk 70 from the reference height is associated with the airflow parameter is stored in the storage unit 43. Note that, as information for calculating the airflow parameters, information indicating the positions (coordinates) of the blower 50 and the desk 70, etc., is stored in advance in the storage unit 43 of the airflow control device 40.

[0030] 4 prescribes three or more types of airflow parameters that are calculated so that the airflow state in a predetermined range above the tabletop 71 is substantially the same even if the height of the tabletop 71 is changed, under the premise that the height of the user's upper body changes depending on the height of the desk 70. Most simply, the airflow parameter information may be generated so that the parameters can be changed in two stages, assuming that the user is in a seated position when the height of the desk 70 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and that the user is in a standing position when the height of the desk 70 exceeds the predetermined value.

[0031] 4 may be stored in advance as a database in the storage unit 43. In this case, the process of step S13 can be omitted.

[0032] Thereafter, the control unit 45 controls the blower device 50 (S14). Specifically, the control unit 45 transmits control information for controlling the blower device 50 according to the reference parameters to the blower device 50 using the communication unit 41. This allows the blower device 50 to operate according to the reference parameters. While the blower device 50 is being controlled (operating), the acquisition unit 44 acquires height information from the height sensor 20 using the communication unit 41 (S15), and the control unit 45 determines whether the height of the desk 70 has changed from the reference height (S16).

[0033] When the control unit 45 determines that the height of the desk 70 has not been changed (No in S16), the control unit 45 continues to control the blower device 50 (S14) and to obtain the height information (S15). No change is made to the blower parameters.

[0034] On the other hand, when the control unit 45 determines that the height of the desk 70 has changed (Yes in S16), it changes the air blowing parameters according to the amount of change in the height of the desk 70 from the reference height based on the air blowing parameter information stored in the storage unit 43 in step S13 (S17), and controls the air blowing device 50 according to the changed air blowing parameters (S14). Specifically, the control unit 45 transmits control information for controlling the air blowing device 50 according to the changed air blowing parameters to the air blowing device 50 using the communication unit 41.

[0035] In this way, the airflow control system 10 can control the airflow device 50 so that the airflow state approaches the reference state even if the posture of the person estimated based on the height information changes. For example, when the user changes his / her posture from a sitting position (FIG. 1(a)) to a standing position (FIG. 1(b)), if the airflow parameters for the sitting position are maintained, the distance between the user and the airflow device 50 becomes shorter in the standing position, and the amount of airflow hitting the user's waist and abdomen increases, which may cause the user to feel cold.

[0036] In contrast, in the airflow control system 10, when the user changes position from a seated position (FIG. 1(a)) to a standing position (FIG. 1(b)), the airflow volume is automatically reduced, thereby maintaining comfort.

[0037] [Other examples of fan and desk layouts] In the first arrangement example of the blower device 50 and the desk 70 shown in Fig. 1, the blower device 50 is arranged almost directly above the desk 70, but the blower device 50 may be arranged diagonally above the desk. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a second arrangement example of the blower device 50 and the desk 70. Fig. 5(a) shows the state in which the blower device 50 receives air when the desk 70 is low and the user is in a seated position, and Fig. 5(b) shows the state in which the blower device 50 receives air when the desk 70 is high and the user is in a standing position.

[0038] In the arrangement example 1 of Fig. 1, the airflow parameter that is changed according to the height of the desk 70 is mainly the wind speed (air volume), but in the arrangement example 2 shown in Fig. 5, in addition to the wind speed (air volume), the wind direction is controlled. The change in the wind direction can be realized, for example, by providing the air blowing device 50 with an electric louver.

[0039] The blower device 50 may also be disposed to the side of the desk 70. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a third arrangement example of the blower device 50 and the desk 70. Fig. 6(a) shows the state in which the air is received when the desk 70 is low and the user is in a seated position, and Fig. 6(b) shows the state in which the air is received when the desk 70 is high and the user is in a standing position.

[0040] In the arrangement example 3 shown in Fig. 6, the air blowing range is mainly controlled. When air is blown out from a part of the air outlet of the air blowing device 50 in the vertical direction, the air blowing range is controlled by changing the position of the part of the air outlet. The change of the air blowing range can be realized, for example, by providing the air blowing device 50 with an electric shutter mechanism at the air outlet.

[0041] 1, 5, and 6, the air blowing control device 40 only needs to control at least one of the wind speed (air volume), wind direction, and air blowing range as necessary. The air blowing parameter information only needs to specify at least one of the wind speed (air volume), wind direction, and air blowing range.

[0042] [Variations] The acquisition unit 44 of the air blowing control device 40 may acquire the environmental information output by the environmental sensor 30, and the control unit 45 may control the air blowing device 50 based on the acquired environmental information. For example, when determining the reference parameters, the control unit 45 may correct the wind speed set by the user through the setting operation based on the environmental information. Specifically, the higher the ambient temperature or humidity indicated by the environmental information, the more the air speed set by the user through the setting operation is corrected to be increased.

[0043] This allows the air blowing control device 40 to control the air blowing device 50 in consideration of the environmental information.

[0044] The control unit 45 may selectively execute a first control mode in which the blower device 50 is controlled according to height information (height of the desk 70) acquired by the acquisition unit 44, and a second control mode in which the blower device 50 is controlled according to environmental information acquired by the acquisition unit 44. In the first control mode, the control unit 45 performs the control described with reference to FIG. 3, and in the second control mode, the control unit 45 performs control to increase the wind speed of the blower device 50 as the ambient temperature or humidity indicated by the environmental information increases. The control mode is switched based on, for example, a user's operation on the UI device 60.

[0045] This allows the air blowing control device 40 to selectively control the air blowing device 50 in consideration of the height information and in consideration of the environmental information.

[0046] [Effects, etc.] Inventions derived from the disclosure of this specification are, for example, the following inventions. Hereinafter, the inventions derived from the disclosure of this specification will be described together with the effects and the like obtained by the inventions.

[0047] Invention 1 is an air blowing control device 40 comprising an acquisition unit 44 that acquires height information indicating the height of a desk 70 being used by a person receiving the air blown by the air blowing device 50, and a control unit 45 that controls the air blowing device 50 based on the acquired height information.

[0048] Such an airflow control device 40 can improve the comfort of the person using the desk 70.

[0049] Invention 2 is the air blowing control device 40 of Invention 1, in which the acquisition unit 44 further acquires setting information regarding the blowing of air by the air blowing device 50, and the control unit 45 controls the air blowing device 50 so that the wind receiving state, which indicates how the air blown out by the air blowing device 50 hits the person, approaches a reference state determined by the acquired setting information, even if the person's posture estimated based on the acquired height information changes.

[0050] Such an air blowing control device 40 can maintain the state in which the person using the desk 70 receives air even if the person changes the height of the desk 70.

[0051] Invention 3 is the air blowing control device 40 of Invention 2, in which the control unit 45 controls the wind speed or air volume of the air blowing device 50 so that the air receiving state approaches a reference state even if the person's posture estimated based on the acquired height information changes.

[0052] Such an air blowing control device 40 can maintain the speed or volume of the air blowing on the person using the desk 70 even if the person changes the height of the desk 70.

[0053] Invention 4 is the air blowing control device 40 of Invention 2, in which the control unit 45 controls the air blowing range of the air blowing device 50 so that the air receiving state approaches a reference state even if the person's posture estimated based on the acquired height information changes.

[0054] Such an air blowing control device 40 can maintain the air blowing range for a person using the desk 70 even if the person changes the height of the desk 70.

[0055] Invention 5 is the air blowing control device 40 of Invention 2, in which the control unit 45 controls the wind direction of the air blowing device 50 so that the air receiving state approaches a reference state even if the person's posture estimated based on the acquired height information changes.

[0056] Such an air blowing control device 40 can maintain the direction of the air blowing on the person even if the person using the desk 70 changes the height of the desk 70.

[0057] Invention 6 is the air blowing control device 40 of any of Inventions 1 to 5, in which the acquisition unit 44 further acquires environmental information around the person, and the control unit 45 controls the air blowing device 50 based on the acquired environmental information.

[0058] Such an air blowing control device 40 can control the air blowing device 50 taking into account environmental information.

[0059] Invention 7 is an airflow control system 10 including an airflow control device 40 according to any one of Inventions 1 to 6, an airflow device 50, and a height sensor 20 that detects the height of a desk 70 and outputs height information as the detection result.

[0060] Such an airflow control system 10 can improve the comfort of the person using the desk 70.

[0061] Invention 8 is a control method for a blower device 50 executed by a computer, the control method including an acquisition step S15 of acquiring height information indicating the height of a desk 70 used by a person who receives the wind blown out by the blower device 50, and a control step S14 of controlling the blower device 50 based on the acquired height information.

[0062] Such a control method can improve the comfort of the person using the desk 70.

[0063] The ninth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the control method of the eighth aspect of the present invention.

[0064] Such a program would enable the computer to improve the comfort of the person using the desk 70.

[0065] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0066] In addition, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized by any of a system, an apparatus, and a method. For example, the present invention may be realized as a control method for a blower device executed by a computer such as a blower control device, or as a control method for a blower control system. The present invention may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute these methods, or as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0067] In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art may think of, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 10. Airflow control system 20 Height Sensor 30 Environmental Sensors 40 Air flow control device 41 Communications Department 42 Information Processing Section 43 Storage section 44 Acquisition Department 45 Control section 50 Blower 60 UI equipment 70 desk 71 Tabletop

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires height information indicating a height of a desk being used by a person receiving airflow from the air blowing device; and a control unit that controls the air blower based on the acquired height information. Air flow control device.

2. The acquisition unit further acquires setting information related to the blowing of air by the air blowing device, The control unit controls the air blowing device so that an air receiving state, which indicates how the air blown by the air blowing device hits the person, approaches a reference state determined by the acquired setting information, even if the posture of the person estimated based on the acquired height information changes. The air blower control device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit controls the wind speed or the air volume of the blower so that the wind receiving state approaches the reference state even if the posture of the person estimated based on the acquired height information changes. The air blower control device according to claim 2.

4. The control unit controls a blowing range of the blowing device so that the wind receiving state approaches the reference state even if the posture of the person estimated based on the acquired height information changes. The air blower control device according to claim 2.

5. The control unit controls a wind direction of the blower so that the wind receiving state approaches the reference state even if the posture of the person estimated based on the acquired height information changes. The air blower control device according to claim 2.

6. The acquisition unit further acquires environmental information around the person, The control unit controls the air blower based on the acquired environmental information. The air blower control device according to claim 1 .

7. The air blowing control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The blower device, a sensor for detecting the height of the desk and outputting the height information as a detection result; Air flow control system.

8. A method for controlling a blower device, the method comprising: acquiring height information indicating a height of a desk used by a person receiving the air blown by the air blowing device; and a control step of controlling the blower device based on the acquired height information. Control methods.

9. A program for causing the computer to execute the control method according to claim 8.

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