Air conditioning control system

Abstract

To provide an air conditioning control system capable of reducing use energy at the time of air conditioning, while maintaining comfort by air conditioning.SOLUTION: An air conditioning control system 1 performs air conditioning in a space where a user P is present, and it includes: a wearable device 10 which is mounted on a body of the user P, and which can heat and cool a mounted portion locally; radio communication equipment 11 provided at the wearable device 10, and capable of transmitting information regarding an operation state of the wearable device 10; and an air conditioner 20 provided in a cabin 31 and in a room 41, and capable of communicating with the radio communication equipment 11. The air conditioner 20 reduces air conditioning capacity based on the operation state of the wearable device 10 received from the radio communication equipment 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning control system for conditioning a space. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, air conditioning systems are known that condition the space in which a user is present based on the detected state of the user (body temperature, blood flow, etc.) and pre-stored preferences of the user.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that includes a blood flow sensor that non-invasively detects blood flow in the human body, an air conditioner that can adjust the air temperature, and electronic equipment that communicates with the blood flow sensor and the air conditioner, and in which the electronic equipment transmits a control signal to the air conditioner based on the detection results of the blood flow sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-148361 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, conventional air conditioning systems, including that described in Patent Document 1, are designed solely for comfort and give too much priority to air conditioning that is tailored to the user's condition, preferences, etc., which tends to increase the amount of energy used during air conditioning.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and its purpose is to provide an air conditioning control system that can reduce the energy used during air conditioning while maintaining comfort provided by air conditioning. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the air conditioning control system of the present invention performs air conditioning based on the operating status of a wearable device that can locally heat and cool the user's body.

[0008] Specifically, the present invention is directed to an air conditioning control system that conditions the air in a space where a user is present.

[0009] The air conditioning control system comprises a wearable device that is worn on the user's body and is capable of locally heating and cooling the area where it is worn, a wireless communication device that is provided on the wearable device and is capable of transmitting information regarding the operating status of the wearable device, and an air conditioning control device that is provided in the space and is capable of communicating with the wireless communication device, and is characterized in that the air conditioning control device is configured to reduce the air conditioning capacity based on the operating status of the wearable device received from the wireless communication device.

[0010] With this configuration, for example, when the wearable device is activated and the user's body is locally heated, the human heat dissipation mechanism is activated through thermoregulation, causing the body to cool, and thus the cooling capacity can be reduced. On the other hand, when the wearable device is activated and the user's body is locally cooled, the human heat generation mechanism is activated through thermoregulation, causing the body to warm, and thus the heating capacity can be reduced. In this way, by reducing the air conditioning capacity based on the operating status of the wearable device received from the wireless communication equipment installed in the wearable device, it is possible to perform appropriate air conditioning in accordance with the operation of the human heat dissipation and heat generation mechanisms, and to reduce the energy used during air conditioning. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] As described above, the air conditioning control system according to the present invention can reduce the energy used during air conditioning while maintaining the comfort provided by air conditioning. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overview of an air conditioning control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an air conditioning control system. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control in an air conditioning control system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] -Overall configuration of air conditioning control system- Fig. 1 is a diagram that schematically shows an overview of an air conditioning control system 1 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram that schematically shows the general configuration of the air conditioning control system 1. As shown in Fig. 1, this air conditioning control system 1 conditions the air in a space where a user P is present, such as a passenger compartment 31 of a vehicle 30 or a room 41 of a building 40.

[0015] More specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the air conditioning control system 1 comprises a wearable device 10 worn on the body of a user P, a wireless communication device 11 provided in the wearable device 10, and an air conditioner 20 provided in a space such as the vehicle interior 31 or the interior 41, and is configured to condition the space in which the user P is present based on the operating status of the wearable device 10.

[0016] -Wearable devices- As shown in Fig. 1, wearable device 10 is hooked onto the ear of user P and worn so as to be placed on the back of the head (around the hairline), making it possible to locally heat and cool the back of the head. As shown in Fig. 2, wearable device 10 has wireless communication equipment 11, control unit 13, and temperature adjustment unit 15.

[0017] Temperature adjustment unit 15 is configured to be able to heat and cool the back of the head to which wearable device 10 is attached by supplying power to a built-in Peltier element.

[0018] Control unit 13 is configured to control temperature adjustment unit 15 in accordance with a heating request or a cooling request from user P input to an input unit (not shown). Control unit 13 is also configured to measure and store the heating time during which heating is continued and the cooling time during which cooling is continued. Control unit 13 is also configured to output to wireless communication device 11 information regarding the operating status of wearable device 10, such as whether heating or cooling is active and the heating time or cooling time.

[0019] Wireless communication device 11 is configured to be able to transmit information relating to the operating status of wearable device 10 input from control unit 13 (information such as whether wearable device 10 is operating, whether it is heating or cooling, and the heating or cooling time) to air conditioner 20. Wireless communication device 11 is configured to achieve wireless communication functions using various methods such as Wi-Fi or infrared.

[0020] -Air conditioner- 2, air conditioner (air conditioning control device) 20 has a communication unit 21, a control unit 23, and a room temperature adjustment unit 25, and is configured to be able to communicate with wireless communication device 11 via communication unit 21. Communication unit 21 realizes wireless communication with wireless communication device 11 using various methods such as Wi-Fi or infrared, and is configured to receive control signals transmitted from an in-vehicle switch (not shown) or a remote control (not shown) for operating air conditioner 20.

[0021] The room temperature adjustment unit 25 is configured to increase (or decrease) the heating temperature and decrease (or increase) the cooling temperature in a space where the user P is present, such as the vehicle interior 31, under the control of the control unit 23.

[0022] The control unit 23 includes a CPU, a ROM for storing processing programs, a RAM for temporarily storing data, etc., and is configured to realize each process by cooperating the CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. Thus, the control unit 23 basically determines a target temperature based on the set temperature set by the user P via an in-vehicle switch or remote control, or the preferences of the user P pre-stored in the ROM, for example, and controls the room temperature adjustment unit 25 according to this target temperature (also referred to as the "initial target temperature"), thereby performing air conditioning (heating or cooling) of the vehicle interior 31, etc.

[0023] There is no particular limitation on when air conditioning control starts; for example, it may start when user P operates an in-vehicle switch or remote control, or the control unit 23 may acquire location information of user P and start air conditioning control, or air conditioning control may start when wearable device 10 is detected within a specified range around air conditioner 20.

[0024] However, when heating or cooling is performed by wearable device 10, the human body's heat dissipation and heat generation mechanisms come into play to regulate body temperature, so there may be cases where it is not necessary to maintain the initial target temperature.

[0025] Therefore, in the air conditioning control system 1 according to this embodiment, the control unit 23 is configured to reduce the air conditioning capacity based on the operating status of the wearable device 10 received from the wireless communication device 11.

[0026] Specifically, when air conditioner 20 is cooling vehicle interior 31 where user P is present, if wearable device 10 locally heats the body of user P, the human heat dissipation mechanism will be activated through thermoregulation, causing the body to cool down. Therefore, even if the cooling temperature is increased (even if the target temperature is set high), comfort can be maintained, so control unit 23 is configured to reduce the air conditioning capacity (increase the cooling temperature).

[0027] However, even if heating by wearable device 10 continues, the heat dissipation mechanism does not operate at the same pace; after a certain time has passed, the human body becomes accustomed to the heat, and the function of the heat dissipation mechanism decreases. Therefore, control unit 23 is configured not to reduce the cooling capacity (maintain the initial target temperature) even if user P, who is heating the back of his head with wearable device 10, enters a vehicle interior 31, etc., that is being air-conditioned, if the heating time exceeds a first predetermined time. Furthermore, control unit 23 is configured to return the temperature of vehicle interior 31, etc., to the initial target temperature if the heating time exceeds the first predetermined time, even if the cooling capacity of vehicle interior 31, etc., is reduced due to the presence of user P, who is heating the back of his head with wearable device 10.

[0028] On the other hand, when the air conditioner 20 is heating the vehicle interior 31 where the user P is present, if the wearable device 10 locally cools the body of the user P, the human heat-generating mechanism is activated by thermoregulation, and the body warms up. Therefore, even if the heating temperature is lowered (even if the target temperature is set low), comfort can be maintained, so the control unit 23 is configured to lower the air conditioning capacity (lower the heating temperature).

[0029] However, because the function of the heat-generating mechanism decreases after a certain time has passed, control unit 23 is configured not to reduce the heating capacity if the cooling time exceeds the second predetermined time, even if user P, who is cooling the back of his head with wearable device 10, enters vehicle interior 31, etc., which is being heated. Furthermore, control unit 23 is configured to return the temperature of vehicle interior 31, etc., to the initial target temperature if the cooling time exceeds the second predetermined time, even if the heating capacity of vehicle interior 31, etc., is reduced due to the presence of user P, who is cooling the back of his head with wearable device 10.

[0030] As described above, the air conditioning control system 1 according to this embodiment can reduce the energy used during air conditioning while maintaining the comfort provided by the air conditioning by performing air conditioning in the vehicle interior 31 where the user P is present, etc., based on the operating status of the wearable device 10.

[0031] -Specific control examples- Next, an example of control in the air conditioning control system 1 will be described based on the flowchart shown in Fig. 3. The flowchart shown in Fig. 3 shows an example of control when a user P wearing a wearable device 10 enters a vehicle interior 31 or the like that is being heated or cooled.

[0032] In step S1, control unit 23 determines whether the back of the head of user P is being heated by wearable device 10. If the determination in step S1 is NO, the process proceeds to step S2. In the next step S2, control unit 23 determines whether the back of the head of user P is being cooled by wearable device 10. If the determination in step S2 is NO, the process ends immediately to maintain the initial target temperature determined based on the set temperature set by user P and the user P's pre-stored preferences, etc.

[0033] On the other hand, if the determination in step S1 is YES, the process proceeds to step S3. In the next step S3, the control unit 23 determines whether the heating time is equal to or shorter than a first predetermined time. If the determination in step S3 is NO, it is assumed that the function of the heat dissipation mechanism has decreased, and the process ends to maintain the initial target temperature. On the other hand, if the determination in step S3 is YES, it is assumed that the body is cooled by the function of the heat dissipation mechanism, and the process proceeds to step S5, where the control unit 23 increases the air conditioning temperature and then ends.

[0034] On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is YES, the process proceeds to step S4. In the next step S4, the control unit 23 determines whether the cooling time is equal to or shorter than a second predetermined time. If the determination in step S4 is NO, it is assumed that the function of the heat-generating mechanism has decreased, and the process ends to maintain the initial target temperature. On the other hand, if the determination in step S4 is YES, it is assumed that the body is warmed by the function of the heat-generating mechanism, and the process proceeds to step S6, where the control unit 23 lowers the heating temperature and then ends.

[0035] (Other embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main characteristics thereof.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a wearable device 10 that heats and cools the back of the head of user P, but this is not limited to this, and the present invention may also be applied to a wearable device that heats and cools other parts of user P's body.

[0037] In addition, in the above embodiment, the wireless communication device 11 and the communication unit 21 transmit and receive directly to and from each other, but this is not limiting, and the wireless communication device 11 and the communication unit 21 may transmit and receive data via a server.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a specific control example was shown in which a user P wearing a wearable device 10 enters the vehicle interior 31, etc. However, this is not limited to this. For example, after the air conditioning capacity of the vehicle interior 31, etc. where the user P wearing the wearable device 10 is present is temporarily reduced, if the heating (cooling) time exceeds a first (second) predetermined time, control may be performed to return the temperature of the vehicle interior 31, etc. to the initial target temperature.

[0039] As such, the above-described embodiments are merely examples in all respects and should not be interpreted as limiting. Furthermore, all modifications and changes within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0040] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the energy consumption during air conditioning while maintaining the comfort provided by air conditioning, and therefore it is extremely useful when applied to an air conditioning control system that conditions the air in a space where a user is present. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 Air conditioning control system, 10 Wearable device, 11 Wireless communication device, 20 Air conditioner (air conditioning control device), 31 Vehicle interior (space), 41 Interior (space), P User

Claims

[Claim 1] An air conditioning control system that conditions the air in a space where a user is present, a wearable device that is attached to the user's body and can locally heat and cool the area where it is attached; and a wireless communication device provided in the wearable device and capable of transmitting information relating to the operating status of the wearable device; an air conditioning control device provided in the space and capable of communicating with the wireless communication device; An air conditioning control system characterized in that the air conditioning control device is configured to reduce air conditioning capacity based on the operating status of the wearable device received from the wireless communication device.

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