Air conditioning system

Abstract

To enable air conditioning control that maintains a comfortable state.SOLUTION: An air conditioning system 100 air-conditions an air-conditioned space 200. The air conditioning system 100 includes: a skin temperature acquisition section 111 that acquires skin temperature information indicating a skin temperature of a target person 201 present in the air-conditioned space 200; a biological information acquisition section 171 that acquires biological information on the target person 201; a reference information setting section 162 that sets the biological information acquired when skin temperature information corresponding to a reference temperature that is a base of the skin temperature with which the target person 201 feels comfortable is acquired as reference biological information; and a set information updating section 163 that updates set information for determining a control state of the air conditioning system 100 on the basis of a difference between the reference biological information and the acquired biological information without using the skin temperature information when the skin temperature indicated by the acquired skin temperature information is the reference temperature or higher.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system that conditions air in a space to be air-conditioned based on at least one of a subject's skin temperature and biological information. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there exists a technology for controlling air conditioning based on the skin temperature of a subject, as described in Patent Document 1. Also, there exists a technology for controlling air conditioning based on biological information of a subject, as described in Patent Document 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-204965 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-086223 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because the reference values ​​for biological information used in air conditioning control based on biological information vary greatly from person to person, different subjects may experience different thermal sensations even when air conditioning is controlled based on the same biological information. Furthermore, air conditioning control based on skin temperature may fail to maintain a comfortable state for the subject.

[0005] The present disclosure is based on the findings of the above inventors, and provides an air conditioning system that can maintain a state in which a subject feels comfortable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An air conditioning system according to the present disclosure is an air conditioning system that conditions the air of a conditioned space, and includes: a skin temperature acquisition unit that acquires skin temperature information indicating the skin temperature of a subject present in the conditioned space; a biometric information acquisition unit that acquires biometric information of the subject; a reference information setting unit that sets the acquired biometric information as reference biometric information when skin temperature information that matches a reference temperature that is the standard for a skin temperature that the subject finds comfortable; and a setting information update unit that, when the skin temperature indicated by the acquired skin temperature information is higher than the reference temperature, updates setting information that determines the control state of the air conditioning system based on the difference between the reference biometric information and the acquired biometric information without using the skin temperature information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, air conditioning control can be performed to maintain a state in which a subject feels comfortable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an installation state of an air conditioning system. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the biometric information acquisition device and the air conditioner. FIG. [Figure 3] 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the thermal sensation felt by a subject, the skin temperature, and biological information. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of an installation state of an air conditioning system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example for explaining the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical formulas, the content of each step in a method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiment are examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, while geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, these expressions do not indicate mathematical precision and include substantially acceptable errors, deviations, etc. Furthermore, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

[0010] The drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, or adjustment of proportions has been appropriately made to explain the present disclosure, and differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in the drawings represent Cartesian coordinates arbitrarily set for the purpose of illustrating the drawings. In other words, the Z-axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X-axis and Y-axis are not necessarily located within a horizontal plane.

[0011] In addition, multiple inventions may be collectively described below as one embodiment, and some of the content described below may be described as optional components related to the present disclosure.

[0012] 1 is a diagram showing one mode of installation of an air conditioning system 100. The air conditioning system 100 is a system that conditions the air of an air-conditioned space 200, and includes a biometric information acquisition device 110 and an air conditioner 160. In the present embodiment, the air conditioning system 100 is attached to a wall surface that surrounds the air-conditioned space 200, and is a system that adjusts the environment within the air-conditioned space 200 to one that a subject 201 feels comfortable in.

[0013] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the biometric information acquisition device 110 and the air conditioner 160. The biometric information acquisition device 110 is a device that acquires biometric information of a subject 201. The biometric information acquisition device 110 includes an acquisition-side processor 101 and an acquisition-side communication interface 115. The acquisition-side processor 101 executes a skin temperature acquisition program to realize a skin temperature acquisition unit 111 and a biometric information acquisition unit 171 as processing units. Note that although skin temperature is one type of biometric information, the present application distinguishes between skin temperature and biometric information.

[0014] The skin temperature acquisition unit 111 is a processing unit that acquires skin temperature information indicating the skin temperature of the subject 201 present in the air-conditioned space 200. The sensor from which the skin temperature acquisition unit 111 acquires the skin temperature information is not limited. For example, the skin temperature acquisition unit 111 may acquire skin temperature information from an infrared sensor, a thermal camera, or the like. In this embodiment, the skin temperature acquisition unit 111 acquires the skin temperature information via communication from a wearable device 112 worn by the subject 201. The type of wearable device 112 is not limited, and examples include a wristwatch-type device as exemplified in this embodiment, a ring-type device worn on a finger, a necklace-type device worn around the neck, and the like. The inventors have found that acquiring skin temperature information from the peripheral parts of the subject 201 enables more accurate estimation of the thermal sensation of the subject 201. In other words, acquiring skin temperature information indicating the skin temperatures of the extremities of the subject's 201's hands and feet allows for accurate estimation of the thermal sensation, including hot, cold, comfortable, etc., felt by the subject 201. Therefore, it can be expected that the accuracy of estimating a thermal sensation will improve in the order of necklace type, wristwatch type, and ring type.

[0015] The biological information acquisition unit 171 is a processing unit that acquires biological information of the subject 201 present in the air-conditioned space 200. Biometric information is information that indicates the physical characteristics and physiological characteristics of a human being, and in this embodiment, physiological characteristics are described as biological information. Physiological characteristics are not limited to, but examples include heart rate, respiratory rate, core body temperature, blood pressure, and brain waves.

[0016] The sensor from which the biometric information acquiring unit 171 acquires the biometric information is not limited. For example, the biometric information acquiring unit 171 may acquire the biometric information from a wearable device 112 worn by the subject 201 via communication. In the present embodiment, the biometric information acquiring device 110 is equipped with a so-called millimeter wave radar device that irradiates electromagnetic waves (millimeter waves), measures the biometric information of the subject 201 based on the waves reflected from the subject 201, and outputs the measured information as a signal. The biometric information acquiring unit 171 acquires biometric information such as heart rate and respiratory rate from the millimeter wave radar device.

[0017] The acquisition-side communication interface 115 transmits the skin temperature information of the subject 201 acquired by the skin temperature acquisition unit 111 and the biological information of the subject 201 acquired by the biological information acquisition unit 171 to the air conditioner 160. The communication may be wired communication or wireless communication. The acquisition-side communication interface 115 can also output signals other than the skin temperature information transmitted from the wearable device 112 to the skin temperature acquisition unit 111.

[0018] The air conditioner 160 is a device that controls the air conditioning of the conditioned space 200 in, for example, a residence or an office building. An example of the air conditioner 160 is a so-called air conditioner that has cooling and heating functions. The air conditioning system 100 may additionally include a dehumidifier, humidifier, air purifier, space sterilization device, etc. as an air conditioner. The air conditioner 160 may be equipped with some or all of the cooling function, heating function, dehumidification function, humidification function, air purifier function, and space sterilization function in combination. In this embodiment, the air conditioner 160 is an air conditioner that includes an indoor unit 106 installed in the conditioned space 200 and an outdoor unit 107 installed outside the conditioned space 200, and includes an air conditioning control device 161.

[0019] The air conditioning control device 161 is a controller that controls the entire air conditioner 160. In this embodiment, the air conditioning control device 161 includes a conditioner-side processor 102, and by having the processor execute an air conditioning program, it realizes a reference information setting unit 162, a setting information updating unit 163, and an operation control unit 166 as processing units.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3 , the reference information setting unit 162 is a processing unit that sets the biological information acquired by the biological information acquiring unit 171 as reference biological information when skin temperature information that matches a reference temperature, which is a standard for the skin temperature that the subject 201 feels comfortable, is acquired. The reference temperature is information that reflects a temperature lower than the core body temperature of a human, such as 34°C. The reference temperature may be a constant value or may vary. In this embodiment, the reference temperature varies depending on, for example, period information indicating which period a year is divided into when a year is divided into multiple periods, such as spring, summer, autumn, and winter, or time zone information indicating which time zone a day is divided into multiple time zones, such as morning, noon, evening, and night. In addition, the reference temperature may vary depending on information about the subject 201, such as state information indicating the state of the subject 201, such as rest, activity, wakefulness, or sleep, activity amount information indicating the amount of activity of the subject 201, and biological information of the subject 201. Furthermore, the reference temperature may vary depending on environmental information relating to the environment, such as outside air temperature information obtained from outside air temperature sensor 172 or humidity information indicating the humidity in conditioned space 200 or outside.

[0021] The reference information setting unit 162 may determine the reference temperature based on comfort information input by the subject 201. For example, when the subject 201 in the air-conditioned space 200 feels comfortable, the subject 201 operates the wearable device 112 he or she is wearing to transmit the comfort information to the biological information acquisition device 110. The reference information setting unit 162 may acquire biological information and skin temperature information obtained when the biological information is acquired via a communication interface, and set the skin temperature indicated by the skin temperature information as the reference temperature. Furthermore, biological information such as the subject 201's heart rate (pulse) and respiratory rate can be acquired from a radar device provided in the biological information acquisition device 110 via the biological information acquisition unit 171 and the communication interface.

[0022] When the skin temperature indicated by the skin temperature information acquired from the skin temperature acquisition unit 111 is equal to or higher than the reference temperature, the setting information update unit 163 updates the setting information that determines the control state of the air conditioning system 100 based on the difference between the reference biological information and the acquired biological information without using the skin temperature information. Furthermore, when the skin temperature indicated by the skin temperature information is lower than the reference temperature, the setting information update unit 163 may update the setting information that determines the control state of the air conditioning system 100 based on the difference between the reference biological information and the acquired biological information without using the skin temperature information. Furthermore, when the skin temperature indicated by the skin temperature information is lower than the reference temperature, the setting information update unit 163 may update the setting information that determines the control state of the air conditioning system 100 based on the difference between the skin temperature indicated by the skin temperature information and the reference temperature.

[0023] The operation control unit 166 controls the operating state of the air conditioner 160 based on the setting information updated by the setting information update unit 163. Specifically, the operation control unit 166 transmits control parameters, parameter values, commands, etc. to at least one of the compressor 169, fan motor 167, louver motor 168, etc. provided in the air conditioner 160, and controls the operating state of the air conditioner 160.

[0024] The harmony device side communication interface 165 may communicate with the wearable device 112, a user terminal (so-called remote control terminal), etc. in addition to the biometric information acquisition device 110. The harmony device side communication interface 165 may also send and receive internet packets and communicate with a server or the like located on the cloud.

[0025] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention may be embodied in another embodiment by arbitrarily combining the components described in this specification or by excluding some of the components. Furthermore, the present invention also includes various modifications that would occur to a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention, i.e., the meaning of the wording of the claims.

[0026] For example, if the skin temperature does not reach the reference temperature at which the subject 201 feels comfortable, the setting information update unit 163 may update the setting information based only on the difference between the acquired skin temperature and the reference temperature.

[0027] Furthermore, implementing a program corresponding to each process executed by the acquisition-side processor 101 and the harmonic processor 102 also constitutes an embodiment of the present disclosure. Of course, implementing a recording medium on which the program is recorded also constitutes an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the biological information acquisition device 110 may be housed inside an air conditioner 160.

[0029] (summary) The air conditioning system 100 of the first embodiment is an air conditioning system 100 that conditions the air of the conditioned space 200, and includes a skin temperature acquisition unit 111 that acquires skin temperature information indicating the skin temperature of a subject 201 present in the conditioned space 200, a biometric information acquisition unit 171 that acquires biometric information of the subject 201, a reference information setting unit 162 that sets the acquired biometric information as reference biometric information when skin temperature information that matches a reference temperature that is the standard for the skin temperature that the subject 201 feels comfortable at is acquired, and a setting information update unit 163 that updates the setting information that determines the control state of the air conditioning system 100 based on the difference between the reference biometric information and the acquired biometric information without using the skin temperature information when the skin temperature indicated by the acquired skin temperature information is higher than the reference temperature.

[0030] According to the first aspect, when the skin temperature of the subject 201 is higher than the reference temperature, the air conditioning system 100 can be controlled based on biological information, and air conditioning control can be implemented that avoids a decrease in the accuracy of estimating thermal sensation based on skin temperature and maintains a state in which the subject feels comfortable.

[0031] The second aspect of the air conditioning system 100 includes the first aspect, and when the skin temperature indicated by the acquired skin temperature information is lower than the reference temperature, the setting information update unit 163 updates the setting information that determines the control state of the air conditioning system 100 based on the difference between the reference biometric information and the acquired biometric information without using the skin temperature information.

[0032] According to the second aspect, by determining the reference biometric information based on the skin temperature of the subject 201, it is possible to eliminate individual differences in the relationship between biometric information and thermal sensation, and by controlling the air conditioning system 100 based on the biometric information, it is possible to maintain a state in which the subject 201 feels comfortable.

[0033] The air conditioning system 100 of the third aspect includes the first aspect or the second aspect, and the reference information setting unit 162 determines the reference temperature based on the comfort information input by the subject 201.

[0034] According to the third aspect, the air conditioning system 100 can be controlled based on the state in which the subject person 201 actually feels comfortable. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] The present disclosure is applicable to air conditioning systems that may perform control based on biological information of a subject. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 100 Air Conditioning System 101 Acquiring Processor 102 Harmonizer side processor 106 Indoor unit 107 Outdoor unit 110 Biometric information acquisition device 111 Skin temperature acquisition section 112 Wearable Devices 115 Acquisition side communication interface 160 Air conditioner 161 Air conditioning control device 162 Standard information setting unit 163 Setting information update section 165 Harmonizer side communication interface 166 Operation control unit 167 Fan motor 168 Louver motor 169 Compressor 171 Biometric information acquisition unit 172 Outside air temperature sensor 200 Conditioned space 201 Target

Claims

1. An air conditioning system that conditions air in a space to be air-conditioned, a skin temperature acquisition unit that acquires skin temperature information indicating the skin temperature of a subject present in the air-conditioned space; a biometric information acquisition unit that acquires biometric information of the subject; a reference information setting unit that sets the acquired biological information as reference biological information when skin temperature information that coincides with a reference temperature that is a standard for a skin temperature that the subject feels comfortable at is acquired; and a setting information update unit that updates setting information that determines a control state of the air conditioning system based on a difference between the reference biological information and the acquired biological information without using the skin temperature information when the skin temperature indicated by the acquired skin temperature information is equal to or higher than a reference temperature; An air conditioning system comprising:

2. The setting information update unit If the skin temperature indicated by the acquired skin temperature information is lower than the reference temperature, the setting information for determining the control state of the air conditioning system is updated based on the difference between the reference biological information and the acquired biological information without using the skin temperature information. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

3. The reference information setting unit determining a reference temperature based on the comfort information input by the subject; 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2.

Images