Air conditioning system

Abstract

To provide an air-conditioning system which can locally manage air-conditioning according to the preference and a position of a user.SOLUTION: An air-conditioning system comprises: an air conditioner for creating air-conditioning air; an air blowing part for blowing the air-conditioning air into an air-conditioning objective space on the basis of a large number of small-sized air conditioners; a detection unit for detecting positional information of a user and air-conditioning environment information related to air-conditioning environment of the air-conditioning objective space; and a control unit for acquiring index data including a condition related to the air-conditioning corresponding to the user, and individually controlling the small-sized air conditioners on the basis of a detection value provided by the detection unit and the index data. The control unit sets a user region including a region around the user on the basis of the positional information, adjusts a send-out quantity of the air-conditioning air by individually controlling the plurality of small-sized air conditioners included in the user region on the basis of the index data, and creates the air-conditioning environment adapted to the condition of the user in the user region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system that can individually reflect the comfort of each user in a large space. [Background technology]

[0002] The air conditioning in rooms in office buildings is controlled by air conditioners. In order to ensure the comfort of users while saving energy, it is desirable for the air conditioning in rooms to be adjusted individually according to the user's location and their comfort with the air conditioning, rather than being controlled uniformly. Patent Document 1 describes an air conditioning system that divides a room space into multiple sections and adjusts the optimal volume of conditioned air for each section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-179294 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, a working style known as ABW (Activity Based Working), which allows employees to freely choose their own time and place, has been gaining attention in office building spaces. In such working styles, it is desirable to have air conditioning management that reflects the user's preferences. However, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, it was difficult to reflect the user's preferences for air conditioning in the air conditioning management.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system that can locally control air conditioning according to a user's air conditioning preferences and location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention is an air conditioning system comprising an air conditioning device that generates conditioned air, a blower unit that blows the conditioned air to a space to be conditioned based on a number of small air conditioning devices, a detection unit that detects user location information and air conditioning environment information related to the air conditioning environment of the space to be conditioned, and a control unit that acquires index data including air conditioning conditions according to the user and individually controls the small air conditioning devices based on the detection value displayed by the detection unit and the index data, wherein the control unit sets a user area including the area around the user based on the location information, individually controls the multiple small air conditioning devices included in the user area based on the index data to adjust the amount of conditioned air blown out, and generates the air conditioning environment in the user area that matches the conditions of the user.

[0007] According to the present invention, air conditioning can be locally controlled according to the user's preferences for air conditioning and their location.

[0008] In addition, the conditions related to air conditioning according to the user of the present invention may include data related to PMW for determining the comfort of the user, and the air conditioning environment information may be configured to include data on the temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, and wind speed of the space to be air-conditioned.

[0009] According to the present invention, conditioned air can be locally generated according to the user's sensation of cold or warmth based on multiple pieces of data contained in air conditioning conditions that differ for each user and multiple pieces of data contained in air conditioning environment information.

[0010] In addition, the index data of the present invention may be divided into stages based on the attributes of the user's temperature sensation, and the control unit may individually control the multiple small air conditioning devices included in the user area based on the air flow pattern corresponding to the attributes.

[0011] According to the present invention, the control of a small-sized air conditioner can be simplified by controlling the small-sized air conditioner based on a predetermined air flow pattern that is set according to the attributes of the user's thermal sensation.

[0012] In addition, in the present invention, when there is an overlapping area between two or more user areas of two or more users, the control unit may apply the air conditioning pattern with a higher priority pre-set for the attribute to the air conditioning environment of the overlapping area, and individually control the multiple small air conditioning devices included in the overlapping area.

[0013] According to the present invention, by controlling air conditioning in accordance with the priority of thermal sensation attributes, it is possible to balance the user's demand for the temperature of conditioned air with the state of the conditioned air that is generated.

[0014] In addition, the air conditioning device of the present invention may introduce the conditioned air into a space below a floor surface provided in the space to be air-conditioned, and the small-sized air conditioning device may send the conditioned air upward through the floor surface.

[0015] According to the present invention, conditioned air is blown out from the floor surface close to the user, making it easier to adjust the temperature of the conditioned air to the user's preference.

[0016] The present invention may also include a terminal device used by the user, wherein the detection unit detects a communication signal received from the terminal device as the location information, and the control unit calculates the location where the user will be staying based on the arrival angle of the communication signal, and sets the user area based on the calculation result.

[0017] According to the present invention, the location where a user is staying can be estimated based on the terminal device used by the user, and a user area to be controlled can be set around the user.

[0018] Furthermore, the control unit of the present invention may set the user area when it is determined based on the calculation result of the stay position that the user has stayed in the same area for a predetermined period of time or more.

[0019] According to the present invention, in an ABW office where seating layouts are frequently changed and individuals have a high degree of choice in where they work, it is possible to generate a local air-conditioning environment that reflects users' air-conditioning preferences. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to locally control air conditioning in accordance with the preferences and location of the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a user area. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an input screen displayed on a terminal device. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the user area for users who are sensitive to heat. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a user area for users who are sensitive to the cold. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the user area of ​​a user with a standard build. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a user area in which users with different attributes are staying adjacent to each other. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a user area in which users with different attributes are staying adjacent to each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0023] 1 and 2, the air conditioning system 1 includes an air conditioner 2 that generates conditioned air, a blower F that blows the conditioned air into an air-conditioned space R based on a number of small air conditioners F1, a detector 5 that detects location information of a user P and air-conditioning environment information related to the air-conditioning environment of the air-conditioned space R, and a controller 10 that controls the blower F based on the detection results of the detector 5. Multiple users P are staying in the air-conditioned space R. The users P carry terminal devices 20 that can communicate with the network NW.

[0024] The air-conditioned space R is an indoor space with a medium to large floor area, such as a room in an office building. A user P stays in the air-conditioned space R using furniture such as chairs and desks arranged on the floor surface E. The floor surface E is formed as a double floor. The floor surface E is attached above and spaced apart from the upper surface of the building's floor slab B using support members (not shown) or the like. Below the floor surface E, a lower space S is formed between the underside of the floor surface E and the upper surface of the floor slab B. Conditioned air generated by the air conditioner 2 circulates in the lower space S.

[0025] The air conditioner 2 generates conditioned air to be used for heating and cooling, for example. The air conditioner 2 switches between cooling and heating depending on the season. The air conditioner 2 includes a first air conditioner 3 configured as a latent heat treatment air conditioner that adjusts the humidity of the conditioned air, and a second air conditioner 4 configured as a sensible heat treatment air conditioner that adjusts the temperature of the conditioned air. The first air conditioner 3 supplies and exhausts outside air, and adjusts the humidity of the conditioned air appropriately according to the room temperature. The second air conditioner 4 adjusts the room temperature to an appropriate temperature based on heat exchange between the outside air and the conditioned air. The second air conditioner 4 introduces humidity-adjusted conditioned air into a lower space S below the floor surface E.

[0026] The floor surface E has a plurality of unit areas E1 defined thereon. The floor surface E is formed, for example, from wooden boards. In addition to wooden boards, the floor surface E may also be formed from plywood, laminated lumber, composite materials, resin materials, concrete boards, metal plates, grating, etc. A blower unit F for blowing conditioned air is provided on the underside of the floor surface E. The blower unit F includes a plurality of small air conditioners F1 provided on the underside of the floor surface E. The blower unit F blows conditioned air into the air-conditioned space R using the multiple small air conditioners F1. At least one small air conditioner F1 is provided for each unit area E1, for example. The small air conditioner F1 sends conditioned air upward through the floor surface E. The small air conditioner F1 sends conditioned air from the lower space S to the upper air-conditioned space R through a through-hole in the floor surface.

[0027] The small-sized air conditioner F1 is, for example, a small fan. In addition to a small fan, the small-sized air conditioner F1 may also be composed of a small fan coil, a packaged air conditioner, a radiant panel, etc. Each small-sized air conditioner F1 is individually controlled by the control device 10. Each small-sized air conditioner F1 blows conditioned air from the lower space S to the air-conditioned space R in the unit area E1 at an adjusted airflow rate.

[0028] A detection unit 5 is provided in the air-conditioned space R to detect position information of a user P and air-conditioning environment information related to the air-conditioning environment of the air-conditioned space R. The air-conditioned space R is divided into multiple regions, and a detection unit 5 is provided in each region. The detection unit 5 includes, for example, a first detection unit 6 that detects air-conditioning environment information, a second detection unit 7 that detects position information of the user P, and a third detection unit 8 that detects humidity within the air-conditioned space R. The first detection unit 6 is, for example, configured with an infrared array sensor. The first detection unit 6 has multiple infrared sensors arranged in a matrix. The first detection unit 6 measures the surface temperature of the floor E within the air-conditioned space R. The first detection unit 6 may be an infrared camera or may capture a thermographic image of the air-conditioned space R. The first detection unit 6 transmits the detection data to the control device 10 via a network NW.

[0029] The second detector 7 is, for example, a wireless communication device such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router. The second detector 7 detects a communication signal received from the terminal device 20 as location information. The second detector 7 communicates with the terminal device 20 and detects the radio wave intensity of the communication signal transmitted to and received from the terminal device 20. Within the air-conditioned space R, for example, a plurality of second detectors 7 are arranged in a matrix. This allows the plurality of second detectors 7 to function as a phased array antenna. The second detectors 7 transmit and receive data and transmit radio wave intensity data to the control device 10 via the network NW. The detector 5 may also be provided with a wearable sensor worn on the body of the user P. The third detector 8 is, for example, composed of a plurality of hygrometers. The third detector 8 is installed, for example, on a wall surface within the air-conditioned space R. The third detector 8 transmits the detection data to the control device 10 via the network NW.

[0030] The terminal device 20 is an information processing terminal capable of communicating via the network NW, such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, mobile phone, or personal computer carried by the user P. The terminal device 20 communicates with the control device 10 via the network NW via the second detection unit 7. The terminal device 20 includes, for example, an input unit 21 for inputting information, a control unit 22 for comprehensively controlling the functions of the terminal device 20, a display unit 23 for displaying information, a storage unit 24 for storing data related to control, and a communication unit 25 for communicating with the network NW.

[0031] The input unit 21 is an information input interface such as a keyboard. If the display unit 23 is a touch panel, the input unit 21 may be configured integrally with the display unit 23. The display unit 23 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The memory unit 24 is a storage medium such as a flash memory or a hard disk drive (HDD). The communication unit 25 is an in-house wireless communication device such as a wireless LAN, or a wireless communication device that can access a public network. As will be described later, the user P inputs data reflecting his or her preferences regarding the temperature of the conditioned air from the input unit 21.

[0032] Data is input based on an input screen displayed on the display unit 23 in accordance with a pre-installed application program. The user P inputs the thermal sensation of the current air-conditioned environment based on the input screen. For example, the user P inputs data that serves as an index such as hot or cold based on the input screen. The input data is transmitted to the control device 10 via the network NW.

[0033] The control device 10 controls the air conditioner 2 and the blower F to generate an air-conditioned environment in a user area (described later) including the area around the user P. The control device 10 is configured, for example, by an information processing terminal such as a personal computer that can communicate with a network NW. The control device 10 includes, for example, a communication unit 12 that communicates with the network NW, a control unit 14 that outputs, at predetermined timing, the calculation processing required for control and the control information required for control, and a storage unit 16 that stores data required for control and calculation. The storage unit 16 is a storage medium such as a flash memory or a hard disk drive (HDD). The communication unit 12 is an in-house wireless communication device such as a wireless LAN, or a wireless communication device that can access a public network.

[0034] The control unit 14 calculates air conditioning environment information related to the air conditioning environment of the air conditioned space R based on the acquired detection values ​​of the detection unit 5. The control unit 14 calculates the air temperature and radiation temperature in the air conditioned space R based on, for example, the detection values ​​of the first detection unit 6. The control unit 14 calculates the wind speed in the air conditioned space R based on, for example, the control signal of the small air conditioner F1.

[0035] The control unit 14 acquires index data including the air conditioning conditions according to the user P and the detection values ​​detected by the detection unit 5, and individually controls the small air conditioners F1 based on the position information and the index data to locally adjust the temperature of the conditioned air. The index data includes temperature conditions that reflect the user P's air conditioning preferences. The air conditioning conditions according to the user P include at least data on the user P's preferred temperature. The preferred temperature data is input by the user P via the terminal device 20. The air conditioning conditions according to the user P may include data on the amount of clothing worn by the user P and the user P's metabolic rate (activity level). The data on the amount of clothing worn by the user P and the user P's metabolic rate may be acquired, for example, by a wearable sensor worn on the user P's body. The data on the amount of clothing worn by the user P and the user P's metabolic rate may be acquired based on data input by the user P to the terminal device 20. The data on the amount of clothing worn by the user P and the user P's metabolic rate may be calculated based on thermographic images captured by a camera.

[0036] Among the index data, the air conditioning conditions for the user P are classified into stages based on the attribute of the user P's thermal sensation. The attribute of the user P's thermal sensation is, for example, the warmth or coldness that the user P feels in relation to the current temperature in the current user area. The attribute of the user P's thermal sensation is classified, for example, as "hot," "neutral," or "cold." The air conditioning conditions for the user P may include data for determining a comfort rating (PMV: Predicted Mean Vote) that evaluates the user P's comfort, such as temperature, humidity, airflow, radiation, activity level, and amount of clothing. Among the index data, the air conditioning environment information includes data on the temperature, radiation temperature, humidity, and wind speed of the air-conditioned space R detected by the first detection unit 6. The air conditioning environment information in the area around the user P includes various data acquired by the first detection unit 6.

[0037] The control unit 14 calculates the position information of the terminal device 20 based on the detection values ​​of the multiple second detection units 7. The control unit 14 calculates the position where the user P is staying based on the arrival angle of the communication signal. The control unit 14 calculates the arrival direction of the communication signal based on reception strength data of the signal from the terminal device 20 detected by the multiple second detection units 7, and calculates coordinates that serve as position information of the terminal device 20 within the air-conditioned space R. The control unit 14 estimates the coordinates of the terminal device 20 as the position where the user P is staying, and performs each calculation process.

[0038] When the control unit 14 determines based on the coordinate calculation results that user P has been staying in the same area for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) or more, it sets the coordinates of the terminal device 20 as the stay position where user P is staying. The control unit 14 sets the surrounding area including the stay position of user P as the user area. For example, the control unit 14 selects a unit area E1 on the floor surface E that corresponds to the coordinates of the stay position as the unit area E1 where user P is staying. The control unit 14 sets an area on the floor surface E that includes the selected unit area E1 and multiple surrounding unit areas E1 as the user area (see FIG. 3).

[0039] The control unit 14 individually controls the multiple small air conditioners F1 included in the user area based on the detected temperature data and index data to adjust the amount of conditioned air sent locally to the user area. When the control unit 14 determines that the user P is not staying in the same area based on the coordinate calculation results due to the user P moving, the control unit 14 individually stops the multiple small air conditioners F1 included in the user area or controls them to a standard state.

[0040] The control unit 14 generates an air-conditioning environment in the user area that matches the conditions of the user P based on the thermal sensation attributes of the user P, such as "hot," "neutral," or "cold," contained in the index data. The control unit 14 individually controls multiple small air-conditioning devices contained in the user area based on the air-blowing pattern according to the attributes. With the above configuration, an air-conditioning environment can be generated in the user area based on the conditions of the user P's thermal sensation with respect to the air conditioning.

[0041] Next, we will explain the operation of the air conditioning system 1. Based on the detection value of the detection unit 5, the control unit 14 controls the air conditioners 2 to generate a predetermined amount of conditioned air and guides the generated conditioned air into the space S below the floor surface E. The control unit 14 controls the multiple small air conditioners F1 based on preset initial values ​​and sends the conditioned air via the floor surface E into the air-conditioned space R above.

[0042] A user P sits on a piece of furniture installed at any position within the air-conditioned space R to secure a workspace. The user P carries or uses a terminal device 20 in the workspace. The terminal device 20 transmits and receives communication signals via a nearby second detection unit 7. Within the air-conditioned space R, multiple second detection units 7 detect the radio wave intensity of the communication signal from the terminal device 20. The multiple second detection units transmit the radio wave intensity of the communication signal from the terminal device 20 to the control device 10 via the network NW.

[0043] The control device 10 acquires multiple pieces of radio wave intensity data detected by multiple second detection units 7 via the network NW. In the control device 10, the control unit 14 calculates the arrival direction of the signal radio wave at each second detection unit 7 based on the multiple pieces of radio wave intensity data. The control unit 14 calculates the coordinates of the terminal device 20 based on the calculated arrival direction. The coordinates are calculated, for example, as a relative position with respect to a preset origin position within the air-conditioned space R. If the control unit 14 determines based on the coordinate calculation results that the user P has been staying in the same area for a predetermined period of time or more, it sets the coordinates of the terminal device 20 to the stay position where the user P is staying.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 14 sets a unit area E1 on the floor surface E that includes the coordinates (stay position) and multiple surrounding unit areas E1 as a user area R1. The control unit 14 individually controls multiple small air conditioners F1 included in the user area R1 based on current index data to adjust the amount of conditioned air sent to the user area R1. The control unit 14 increases the airflow rate of the multiple small air conditioners F1 in the user area R1 compared to the airflow rate in other areas. This allows the air conditioning system 1 to locally supply conditioned air to the user area R1 where the user P is staying.

[0045] 4 shows an input screen M displayed on the terminal device 20. The input screen M is a display for the user P to perform input operations to adjust the air conditioning in the user area R1. The input screen M displays air conditioning environment information MJ, such as the user P's ID, current location in the user area R1, zone location, current temperature, and current humidity. The input screen M displays, for example, an input image M1 for temperature adjustment, a pop-up image M2 of the input image M1, and a schematic diagram M3 of the air-conditioned space R.

[0046] The schematic diagram M3 is, for example, a plan view in which the air-conditioned space R is zoned. The schematic diagram M3 shows the current location of the user P. The input image M1 is an image for performing an operation to adjust the temperature of the zone to which the user P belongs. When the user P clicks on the input image M1, a pop-up image M2 is displayed. The pop-up image M2 is an image for performing an operation to adjust the airflow of the small air conditioner F1 to adjust the temperature. The pop-up image M2 displays operation images such as stop, low, medium, and high. When the user P feels that a temperature adjustment is necessary at their current location, they click (or touch) the input image M1 to display the pop-up image M2. The user P clicks on their preferred operation image from the pop-up image M2 based on their sense of temperature at their current location.

[0047] If user P feels that the conditioned air in user area R1 is too hot, he or she clicks on the operation image displayed as "High" in the pop-up image M2. The input image M1 may be an image of a clickable button, or an image of a slide bar or dial. The data of user P's preferred temperature entered on input screen M is transmitted to the control device 10 via network NW.

[0048] The control unit 14 changes the air conditioning conditions for the user P based on the acquired data on the user P's preferred temperature. The control unit 14 acquires index data including the air conditioning conditions for the user P, and based on the location information and index data, individually controls the small air conditioner F1 in the user area R1 in the zone to which the user P belongs to increase the airflow rate, thereby lowering the current temperature in the user area R1. Based on the history of operation images clicked from the pop-up image M2 during a predetermined period and the temperature at that time, the control unit 14 sets the temperature sensation attribute of the user P to the category of "sensitive to heat" and updates the user information stored in the memory unit 16.

[0049] Based on the user information, the control unit 14 increases the airflow of the small air conditioner F1 in the user area R1 where the user P, who is classified as "sensitive to heat," is staying, thereby lowering the temperature and sensible temperature compared to the average temperature in the air-conditioned space R. This saves the user P the trouble of inputting their preferred temperature into the terminal device 20 each time they use the user area R1.

[0050] Similarly, if user P feels that the conditioned air in user area R1 is cold, he / she clicks on an operation image displayed as "weak" or "stop" in the pop-up image M2. The data of user P's preferred temperature entered on the input screen M is sent to the control device 10 via the network NW. The control unit 14 changes the air conditioning conditions for user P based on the acquired data of user P's preferred temperature. The control unit 14 acquires index data including the air conditioning conditions for user P and information on the air conditioning environment in the area around user P, and individually controls the small air conditioner F1 in user area R1 to reduce the airflow rate based on the position information and index data, thereby raising the current temperature in user area R1 and raising the perceived temperature.

[0051] Based on the history of operation images clicked from within the pop-up image M2 during a predetermined period and the temperature at that time, the control unit 14 sets the temperature sensation attribute of the user P to the category of "sensitive to cold" and updates the user information stored in the memory unit 16. Based on the user information, the control unit 14 reduces or stops the airflow of the small air conditioner F1 in the user area R1 where the user P is staying in the zone to which the user P classified as "sensitive to cold" belongs, thereby raising the temperature and sensible temperature compared to the average temperature in the air-conditioned space R. This saves the user P the trouble of inputting their preferred temperature into the terminal device 20 each time they use the user area R1.

[0052] If user P does not feel that the conditioned air in user area R1 is either cold or hot, he or she does not need to perform any operation on input screen M. The control unit 14 acquires index data including the air conditioning conditions according to user P and air conditioning environment information in the area around user P, and based on the position information and index data, individually controls the airflow of small air conditioners F1 in user area R1 to maintain a standard state, thereby maintaining the current temperature in user area R1.

[0053] Based on the history of operation images clicked from within the pop-up image M2 during a predetermined period and the temperature at that time, the control unit 14 sets the temperature sensation attribute of the user P to the category of "normal constitution" and updates the user information stored in the memory unit 16. Based on the user information, the control unit 14 sets the airflow rate of the small-sized air conditioner F1 to a preset standard value in the user area R1 where the user P is staying in the zone to which the user P classified as "normal constitution" belongs, and maintains the temperature at a temperature close to the average temperature in the air-conditioned space R.

[0054] 5 shows a user area R1 where a user P who is sensitive to heat is staying. The control unit 14 sets an area in the user area R1 that has several unit areas E1, including the unit area E1 where the user P is staying, as an area R2 where people are present. For example, in the user area R1 where the user P who is sensitive to heat is staying, the control unit 14 operates the small air conditioner F1 in the area R2 where people are present.

[0055] The data of the user P's preferred temperature entered on the input screen M is transmitted to the control device 10 via the network NW. The control unit 14 changes the air conditioning conditions according to the user P based on the acquired data of the user P's preferred temperature. The control unit 14 acquires index data including the air conditioning conditions according to the user P and information about the air conditioning environment in the area around the user P, and based on the position information and index data, individually controls the air volume of the small air conditioner F1 in the user area R1 to be increased compared to the standard value, thereby lowering the current temperature in the user area R1 and lowering the sensible temperature.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a user area R1 where a user P who is sensitive to the cold is staying. The control unit 14 sets an area in the user area R1 that has several unit areas E1, including the unit area E1 where the user P is staying, as an area R2 where people are present. For example, in the user area R1 where the user P who is sensitive to the cold is staying, the control unit 14 stops the small air conditioner F1 in the area R2 where people are present. The control unit 14 sets a priority area R3 to an area including the user area R1. In the priority area R3, the control unit 14 does not apply control of the small air conditioner F1 to other people, as described below, and prioritizes the temperature preference of the user P who is staying in the user area R1.

[0057] The data of the user P's preferred temperature entered on the input screen M is transmitted to the control device 10 via the network NW. The control unit 14 changes the air conditioning conditions according to the user P based on the acquired data of the user P's preferred temperature. The control unit 14 acquires index data including the air conditioning conditions according to the user P and information about the air conditioning environment in the area around the user P, and based on the position information and index data, individually controls the air volume of the small air conditioner F1 in the user area R1 to be reduced compared to the standard value, thereby raising the current temperature in the user area R1 and raising the sensible temperature.

[0058] 7 shows a user area R1 where a user P with a normal constitution is staying. The control unit 14 sets an area in the user area R1 that has several unit areas E1, including the unit area E1 where the user P is staying, as an area R2 where people are present. For example, in the user area R1 where a user P who is sensitive to cold is staying, the control unit 14 stops the small air conditioner F1 in the area R2 where people are present.

[0059] The control unit 14 acquires index data including air conditioning conditions according to the user P and air conditioning environment information in the area surrounding the user P, and based on the location information and index data, individually controls the air volume of the small air conditioning device F1 in the user area R1 to maintain a standard value, thereby maintaining the current temperature in the user area R1.

[0060] The attributes of a user P's temperature sensation may be prioritized and managed. For example, the attributes of a user P's temperature sensation may be managed in the following order: "sensitive to cold" > "normal" > "sensitive to heat." When multiple users P are staying in the air-conditioned space R, each user P will have a different temperature sensation for the temperature of the conditioned air. When users P with different temperature sensations are nearby, the air-conditioning system 1 balances the user P's demand for the temperature of the conditioned air with the state of the conditioned air produced by controlling the air conditioning according to the priority of the attributes of their temperature sensation.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 8, there may be an overlapping area between two or more user areas R1 of two or more users P. As shown in the figure, a second user P2 who is sensitive to heat and a first user P1 who is sensitive to cold are staying in two adjacent user areas R1. An overlapping area R4 exists between the two adjacent user areas R1. The control unit 14 applies the air-conditioning environment of the overlapping area R4 to the air-conditioning pattern with the higher priority preset as an attribute. In the air-conditioning environment of the overlapping area R4, the priority of the cold-sensitive attribute of the user P's temperature sensation is higher than the priority of the heat-sensitive attribute, so the control unit 14 applies the air-conditioning pattern set for the cold-sensitive attribute and individually controls the multiple small air conditioners F1 included in the overlapping area.

[0062] In the example of Fig. 8, the overlapping area R4 overlaps within the priority area R3 of the first user P1 who is sensitive to cold. In the priority area R3, the temperature preference of the first user P1 who is staying in the user area R1 is given priority, so the airflow pattern in the overlapping area R4 is the airflow pattern for the first user P1 who is sensitive to cold, without reflecting the preferences of the second user P2. In the air-conditioned environment of the overlapping area R4, the control unit 14 individually controls the multiple small air conditioners F1 included in the overlapping area R4 to apply the airflow pattern set for the first user P1 who is sensitive to cold.

[0063] As shown in Figure 9, a second user P2 who is sensitive to heat and a third user P3 who has a normal constitution may be staying adjacent to each other in an area R2. The area R2 where the second user P2 is staying is adjacent to the area R2 where the third user P3 is staying, and they overlap to form an area R4. In the overlapping area R4, the priority of the third user P3 who has a normal constitution is higher than the priority of the second user P2 who is sensitive to heat, so the temperature preference of the third user P3 is reflected, and the airflow pattern for the normal constitution is applied.

[0064] In the air-conditioned environment of the overlapping area R4, the priority of the standard constitution is higher than the priority of the heat-sensitive constitution, so the control unit 14 individually controls the multiple small air conditioners F1 included in the overlapping area R4 to achieve the air-conditioning pattern set for the standard constitution. Similarly, if there is an overlapping area R4 between two or more user areas R1 of two or more users P out of three or more users, the control unit 14 individually controls the multiple small air conditioners F1 included in the overlapping area R4 to achieve the air-conditioning environment of the overlapping area R4 with the air-conditioning pattern of the attribute with the higher priority.

[0065] As described above, the air conditioning system 1 can generate a local airflow of conditioned air by using the small air conditioner F1 installed individually in the unit area E1 within the air-conditioned space R. The air conditioning system 1 can adjust the air temperature and radiant temperature by using the small air conditioner F1 to blow conditioned air directly to the user area P and also to the user area R1 surrounding the user area P. The air conditioning system 1 can create a variety of thermal and airflow environments that reflect the user P's preferences for the temperature of the conditioned air by controlling the local blowing of conditioned air using the small air conditioner F1.

[0066] The air conditioning system 1 can locally create an appropriate thermal and airflow environment for the user P based on the location information of the user P (terminal device 20) and information about the user P's preference for the temperature of the conditioned air. The air conditioning system 1 can contribute to improving the productivity of the user P by improving the comfort of the user P. The air conditioning system 1 can reduce the consumption of energy required for air conditioning by stopping the small air conditioner F1 in areas within the air-conditioned space R where air conditioning is not required.

[0067] According to the air conditioning system 1, the control unit 14 individually controls the small air conditioners F1 based on data on user P's preference for conditioned air temperature entered into the terminal device 20 used by the user P, thereby improving the comfort of the air-conditioned environment for the user P and improving satisfaction with the office space. The air conditioning system 1 can generate a local air-conditioned environment that reflects the user P's air conditioning preference in an ABW office where seating layouts are frequently changed and individuals have a high degree of choice in where they work. The air conditioning system 1 allows for flexible office operation.

[0068] The control units 14 and 22 are realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these functional units may be realized by hardware such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory included in the storage units 16 and 24, or may be stored in a removable storage medium such as a DVD or CD-ROM and installed in the storage device by inserting the storage medium into a drive device.

[0069] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, a small air conditioner may not only blow conditioned air upward from the floor surface, but also blow conditioned air downward from the ceiling. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1. Air conditioning system 2 Air conditioner 5. Detection unit 14 Control Unit 20 Terminal equipment 22 Control Unit E Floor surface F Air blower F1 small air conditioner P User R Air-conditioned space R1 User area R2 area R4 area S lower space

Claims

1. an air conditioner for generating conditioned air; a blower unit that blows the conditioned air to a space to be air-conditioned using a large number of small air-conditioning devices; a detection unit that detects location information of a user and air conditioning environment information related to the air conditioning environment of the air conditioned space; a control unit that acquires index data including conditions related to air conditioning according to the user, and controls the small-sized air conditioners individually based on the detected values ​​displayed by the detection unit and the index data; The control unit sets a user area including the area around the user based on the location information, and individually controls multiple small air conditioning devices included in the user area based on the index data to adjust the amount of conditioned air sent out, thereby generating an air conditioning environment in the user area that is tailored to the user's conditions.

2. the conditions related to air conditioning according to the user include data related to PMW for determining the comfort of the user, The air conditioning environment information includes data on temperature, radiation temperature, humidity, and wind speed of the air conditioned space. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

3. the index data is classified into stages based on the attributes of the user's thermal sensation; the control unit individually controls the plurality of small air conditioners included in the user area based on an air flow pattern according to the attribute.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. If there is an overlapping area between two or more of the user areas of two or more of the users, the control unit applies the air blowing pattern with a higher priority preset for the attribute to the air-conditioning environment of the overlapping area, and individually controls the plurality of small air conditioners included in the overlapping area.

4. The air conditioning system of claim 3.

5. the air conditioning device introduces the conditioned air into a space below a floor surface provided in the air-conditioned space, The small air conditioner sends the conditioned air upward through the floor surface.

5. The air conditioning system of claim 4.

6. a terminal device used by the user, the detection unit detects a communication signal received from the terminal device as the location information; the control unit calculates a location where the user will stay based on an arrival angle of the communication signal, and sets the user area based on the calculation result.

6. The air conditioning system of claim 5.

7. the control unit sets the user area when it is determined based on the calculation result of the stay position that the user has stayed in the same area for a predetermined period of time or more.

7. The air conditioning system of claim 6.

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