air conditioner

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner that can provide a desired living body with a desired wind.SOLUTION: An air conditioner according to one embodiment comprises an indoor unit, a wind direction plate, a sensor, and a control unit. The indoor unit blows a wind into a room. The wind direction plate is provided in the indoor unit, and guides the wind to be blown by the indoor unit, and its direction can be changed. The sensor is provided in the indoor unit and can detect a living body in the room. The control unit can switch a mode among a plurality of modes and controls the direction of the wind direction plate with respect to the living body detected by the sensor in accordance with the mode selected out of the plurality of modes. The plurality of modes include a first mode and a second mode. The size of the living body that can be detected by the sensor in the first mode is different from the size of the living body that can be detected by the sensor in the second mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] An indoor unit of an air conditioner blows air into a room to condition the air. Conventionally, air conditioners are known that use a sensor to detect the presence of a living organism in the room and operate in accordance with the detection result of the sensor. For example, the direction in which the indoor unit blows air is controlled depending on the position of the detected living organism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 181546 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Depending on the size of the living organism, it may be difficult for the sensor to detect the living organism. If the sensor cannot detect the living organism, there is a risk that the air conditioner will not be able to provide the desired airflow to the desired living organism.

[0005] One example of a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can provide a desired airflow to a desired living organism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an indoor unit, an air deflector, a sensor, and a control unit. The indoor unit blows air into a room. The air deflector is provided in the indoor unit and guides the air blown out by the indoor unit and is capable of changing its direction. The sensor is provided in the indoor unit and is capable of detecting a living organism in the room. The control unit is capable of switching between a plurality of modes and controls the orientation of the air deflector relative to the living organism detected by the sensor according to a mode selected from the plurality of modes. The plurality of modes include a first mode and a second mode. The size of the living organism that can be detected by the sensor in the first mode is different from the size of the living organism that can be detected by the sensor in the second mode.

[0007] In the air conditioner, for example, the sensor includes a radar.

[0008] In the air conditioner, for example, the receiving sensitivity of the radar in the first mode differs from the receiving sensitivity of the radar in the second mode.

[0009] In the air conditioner, for example, the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar in the first mode is different from the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar in the second mode.

[0010] In the air conditioner, for example, in the first mode, the control unit controls the orientation of the airflow direction flap so that the air blown out from the indoor unit avoids the living organism detected by the sensor or so that the indoor unit blows air toward the living organism detected by the sensor. In the second mode, the control unit controls the orientation of the airflow direction flap so that the air blown out from the indoor unit avoids the living organism detected by the sensor. The size of the living organism that can be detected by the sensor in the second mode is smaller than the size of the living organism that can be detected by the sensor in the first mode.

[0011] In the above air conditioner, for example, when the sensor does not detect the living body in the second mode, the control unit reduces the volume of air blown out by the indoor unit, or controls the direction of the wind direction plate so that the indoor unit blows air toward the space above in the room.

[0012] The air conditioner further includes, for example, a ventilation member. The ventilation member is provided in the indoor unit and is movable between a closed position that covers at least a portion of an air outlet of the indoor unit from which air is blown out and an open position that opens at least a portion of the air outlet, and is provided with a ventilation port. When the ventilation member is in the closed position, the indoor unit blows into the room a mixed air stream that is a mixture of a first air stream blown out from the air outlet through the ventilation port and a second air stream blown out from the air outlet through a flow path different from that of the ventilation port. The control unit places the ventilation member in the closed position when the sensor does not detect the living body in the second mode.

[0013] According to the above air conditioner, for example, it is possible to provide a desired airflow to a desired living body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram that schematically shows the configuration of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows the indoor unit of the first embodiment with the airflow direction plate in the closed position. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows the indoor unit of the first embodiment with the airflow direction plate in the open position. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the indoor unit of the first embodiment with the airflow direction plate in the open position. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows the indoor unit of the first embodiment with the ventilation member in the closed position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the ventilation member of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows the wind blown out by the indoor unit in the windless mode of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the functions of the indoor unit control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the indoor unit in the away mode according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an indoor unit and a living body in non-detection control according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] (First embodiment) The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. In this specification, the vertically upward direction is basically defined as the upward direction, and the vertically downward direction is basically defined as the downward direction. In addition, in this specification, components according to the embodiment and their descriptions may be described using multiple expressions. The components and their descriptions are merely examples and are not limited by the expressions in this specification. The components may also be identified by names different from those in this specification. The components may also be described using expressions different from those in this specification.

[0016] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to a first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioner 1 has an indoor unit 10 and an outdoor unit 100. The indoor unit 10 is placed indoors, for example. The outdoor unit 100 is placed outdoors, for example.

[0017] The indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner 1 of this embodiment has a radar 2, a plurality of airflow direction plates 25, 29, a ventilation member 26, and an indoor unit control unit 80. In other words, the radar 2, the airflow direction plates 25, 29, the ventilation member 26, and the indoor unit control unit 80 are provided in the indoor unit 10. The radar 2 is an example of a sensor. The airflow direction plates 25, 29 and the ventilation member 26 may also be referred to as louvers. The indoor unit control unit 80 is an example of a control unit.

[0018] The indoor unit 10 uses the radar 2 to detect detection targets present in the room in which the indoor unit 10 is installed. In this embodiment, the detection targets include living organisms CR, objects such as furniture, and walls. Therefore, the air conditioner 1 can also detect the volume and shape of the room (room) in which the indoor unit 10 is installed using the radar 2. Living organisms CR include adults, children, infants, and animals.

[0019] In this embodiment, the air conditioner 1 acquires information regarding the presence or absence of living organisms CRs among the detection targets detected by the radar 2, the number of living organisms CRs, and shape information (e.g., size) of the living organisms CRs. Based on this information, the air conditioner 1 can determine a control mode so as to provide wind (conditioned air) suitable for the living organisms CRs present in the room.

[0020] For example, the air conditioner 1 can regard (determine) a detection target moving indoors as a living organism CR based on the detection results of the radar 2. When a detection target enters a room, the air conditioner 1 can recognize the detection target as a living organism CR by detecting the entering motion and can reflect this in the control of the indoor unit 10.

[0021] Even if the detection target is not moving, when the detection target moves, the air conditioner 1 can recognize the detection target as a living organism CR and reflect this in the control of the indoor unit 10. On the other hand, the air conditioner 1 considers objects that remain continuously stationary, such as furniture and walls, to be non-living organisms and excludes them from the objects that will be reflected in the control of the indoor unit 10. Note that the determination of whether or not a detection target is a living organism CR is not limited to this example. For example, the air conditioner 1 may consider the detection target to be a living organism CR based on the shape or pulsation of the detection target. Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 may determine whether or not a detection target is a living organism CR by combining the detection results of other sensors, such as an infrared sensor.

[0022] The operation terminal 94a of the air conditioner 1 receives operation instructions from the living body CR present in the room and transmits commands to the indoor unit 10 in accordance with the received operation instructions. The operation terminal 94a is, for example, a remote controller. The operation terminal 94a may also be, for example, a smartphone that runs on an application for controlling the air conditioner 1.

[0023] The indoor unit control unit 80 performs air conditioning processing in response to commands received from the operation terminal 94a, and can also perform control in response to the living body CR detected using the radar 2. The air conditioner 1 has a "radar control mode" in which the indoor unit 10 is essentially automatically controlled based on the detection results from the radar 2, and a "normal control mode" in which the user controls (sets) the indoor unit 10 by operating the operation terminal 94a without using the radar 2.

[0024] In the radar control mode, the radar 2 continuously or intermittently detects the position of a detection target (living organism CR) indoors under the control of the indoor unit control unit 80. The indoor unit control unit 80 tracks the position of the detected living organism CR and controls the air direction plates 25, 29 and the ventilation member 26 to blow air toward the living organism CR or, conversely, to blow air away from the living organism CR.

[0025] The indoor unit control unit 80 controls the direction in which the indoor unit 10 blows out air (conditioned air) by controlling the operation of the air direction plates 25, 29. This allows the air conditioner 1 to dynamically change the direction in which the indoor unit 10 blows out air in accordance with the movement of living organisms CR present in the room, thereby dynamically improving the comfort of living organisms CR present in the room.

[0026] Specifically, the indoor unit 10 performs air conditioning processing on air drawn in from inside the room and blows the conditioned air (wind) that has undergone the air conditioning processing into the room. The air conditioning processing includes, for example, heat absorption processing (cooling), heating processing (heating), dehumidification processing, humidification processing, air blowing processing, and air cleaning processing. The heat absorption processing, heating processing, dehumidification processing, humidification processing, air blowing processing, and air cleaning processing correspond to the cooling operation mode, heating operation mode, dehumidification operation mode, humidification operation mode, air blowing operation mode, and air cleaning operation mode, which are the operation modes (main operation modes) of the air conditioner 1, respectively.

[0027] The main operation mode can be combined with a control mode (radar control mode, normal control mode). In the radar control mode, the air conditioner 1 can select any of the following operation modes: cooling operation mode, heating operation mode, dehumidification operation mode, humidification operation mode, fan operation mode, and air purification operation mode. The same applies to the normal control mode.

[0028] The air conditioner 1 has a windless mode as an auxiliary operation mode. In windless mode, the air conditioner 1 mixes winds of two different flow speeds when the indoor unit 10 blows out air, generating turbulence that diffuses over a wide area, making the air released an overall gentle wind (so-called windless (registered trademark) wind). The auxiliary operation mode can be combined with the control mode and main operation mode.

[0029] The air conditioner 1 may have an automatic operation mode as its main operation mode. The air conditioner 1 detects the room temperature using a room temperature sensor. In the automatic operation mode, the air conditioner 1 may operate in a heating operation mode if the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, and may operate in a heating operation mode if the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature.

[0030] The indoor unit 10 further includes a heat exchanger 22, a fan 23, and a receiving device 94. The indoor unit 10 also includes a plurality of drive circuits 81-83 and a plurality of motors 84-87 controlled by an indoor unit control unit 80.

[0031] The outdoor unit 100 has a heat exchanger 122, a fan 123, a four-way valve 124, a compressor 125, and an outdoor unit control unit 180. The outdoor unit 100 also has a plurality of drive circuits 181-183 and a plurality of motors 184-186 controlled by the outdoor unit control unit 180.

[0032] In the indoor unit 10, the fan 23 is located near the heat exchanger 22. The fan 23 guides air drawn in from the room through the air inlet of the indoor unit 10 to the heat exchanger 22, and also guides the conditioned air that has undergone heat exchange in the heat exchanger 22 to the air outlet of the indoor unit 10. The indoor unit control unit 80 controls a drive circuit 81 to drive a motor 84 that rotates the fan 23. The indoor unit control unit 80 is able to change the rotation speed of the fan 23.

[0033] The heat exchanger 22 includes, for example, a refrigerant pipe and a plurality of fins. The heat exchanger 22 is thermally connected to the refrigerant pipe that passes near the heat exchanger 22. The heat exchanger 22 exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air drawn in from inside the room.

[0034] In the outdoor unit 100, the fan 123 is located near the heat exchanger 122. The fan 123 draws in outside air and guides it to the heat exchanger 122, and also discharges the outside air that has undergone heat exchange in the heat exchanger 122 to the outside of the outdoor unit 100. The outdoor unit control unit 180 controls a drive circuit 181 to drive a motor 184 that rotates the fan 123. The indoor unit control unit 80 is able to change the rotation speed of the fan 123.

[0035] The heat exchanger 122 includes, for example, a refrigerant pipe and a plurality of fins. The heat exchanger 122 is thermally connected to the refrigerant pipe that passes near the heat exchanger 122. The heat exchanger 122 exchanges heat between the outside air and the refrigerant.

[0036] The four-way valve 124 is provided in the refrigerant piping. The four-way valve 124 can switch the refrigerant flow path in the refrigerant piping between the cooling side and the heating side in accordance with control by the outdoor unit control unit 180. The outdoor unit control unit 180 controls a drive circuit 182 to drive a motor 185 that switches the four-way valve 124. The indoor unit control unit 80 can switch the four-way valve 124 between the cooling side and the heating side.

[0037] The compressor 125 is provided in the refrigerant piping, compresses the refrigerant, and sends it to the refrigerant piping. The outdoor unit control unit 180 controls a drive circuit 183 to drive a motor 186 that causes the compressor 125 to perform a compression cycle operation of the refrigerant. The indoor unit control unit 80 can change the number of cycles of the compressor 125 (the number of compression cycles performed per unit time) via the outdoor unit control unit 180.

[0038] When the air conditioner 1 is in cooling operation mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 switches the four-way valve 124 to the cooling side via the outdoor unit control unit 180. The air conditioner 1 performs a heat absorption process in the heat exchanger 22, causing the refrigerant to absorb heat from the indoor air, and blows the conditioned air with the heat absorbed into the room. Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 performs a heat release process in the heat exchanger 122, causing the heat absorbed by the refrigerant to be released into the outside air.

[0039] When the air conditioner 1 is in heating operation mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 switches the four-way valve 124 to the heating side via the outdoor unit control unit 180. The air conditioner 1 performs a heat absorption process in the heat exchanger 122, causing the refrigerant to absorb heat from the outside air. Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 performs a heating process in the heat exchanger 22, heating the indoor air with the heat absorbed by the refrigerant, and blowing the heated conditioned air into the room.

[0040] Each of the airflow direction vanes 25, 29 guides the airflow blown out by the indoor unit 10. The direction of each of the airflow direction vanes 25, 29 can be changed, for example, by rotating. By changing the direction of the airflow direction vanes 25, 29, the direction in which the airflow is blown out by the indoor unit 10 (hereinafter referred to as the airflow direction) is changed.

[0041] In this specification, the indoor unit control unit 80 directly controls the direction in which the airflow direction vanes 25, 29 face, but the description will be given assuming that the direction in which the airflow direction vanes 25, 29 face and the wind direction generally coincide. That is, the indoor unit control unit 80 can adjust the wind direction by adjusting the orientation of the airflow direction vanes 25, 29. The airflow direction vanes 25, 29 can be rotated individually. This allows the indoor unit 10 to blow air in one direction, or to blow air in different directions from two or more areas partitioned by the airflow direction vanes 25, 29.

[0042] The airflow direction vane 25 adjusts the airflow direction in the vertical direction. The airflow direction vane 29 adjusts the airflow direction in the horizontal direction. The airflow direction vane 25 can rotate between a closed position and an open position. When the airflow direction vane 25 is in the closed position, it blocks the air outlet of the indoor unit 10. When the airflow direction vane 25 is in the open position, it opens the air outlet. The airflow direction vanes 25, 29 adjust the airflow direction when the airflow direction vane 25 is in the open position.

[0043] The structure of the indoor unit 10 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 7. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the indoor unit 10 of the first embodiment with the airflow direction flap 25 in the closed position Pc1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the indoor unit 10 of the first embodiment with the airflow direction flap 25 in the open position Po1. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the indoor unit 10 of the first embodiment with the airflow direction flap 25 in the open position Po1.

[0044] As shown in the drawings, for convenience, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are defined in this specification. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are perpendicular to one another. The X-axis is set along the width of the indoor unit 10. The Y-axis is set along the depth of the indoor unit 10. The Z-axis is set along the height of the indoor unit 10.

[0045] Furthermore, in this specification, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are defined. The X direction is a direction along the X axis, and includes the +X direction indicated by the X axis arrow and the -X direction opposite to the X axis arrow. The Y direction is a direction along the Y axis, and includes the +Y direction indicated by the Y axis arrow and the -Y direction opposite to the Y axis arrow. The Z direction is a direction along the Z axis, and includes the +Z direction indicated by the Z axis arrow and the -Z direction opposite to the Z axis arrow. In this embodiment, the +Z direction is the upward direction, and the -Z direction is the downward direction.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 10 has a housing 21. The housing 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the X direction. The housing 21 may be formed in other shapes. The housing 21 is attached to a wall inside the room, for example. The housing 21 has an upper surface 21a and a lower surface 21b. The upper surface 21a is provided at or near the upper end of the housing 21 and faces substantially upward. The lower surface 21b is provided at or near the lower end of the housing 21 and faces substantially downward.

[0047] The housing 21 is provided with an air passage 31, an intake port 32, and an outlet port 33. The air passage 31 is provided inside the housing 21. The intake port 32 opens, for example, to the top surface 21a of the housing 21. The outlet port 33 opens, for example, to the bottom surface 21b of the housing 21. The intake port 32 and the outlet port 33 may also open to other parts of the housing 21.

[0048] The indoor unit 10 can pass air through the ventilation passage 31. The intake port 32 is provided at one end of the ventilation passage 31, and connects the ventilation passage 31 to the outside of the indoor unit 10. The outlet port 33 is provided at the other end of the ventilation passage 31, and connects the ventilation passage 31 to the outside of the indoor unit 10. In other words, the ventilation passage 31 is provided inside the housing 21, between the intake port 32 and the outlet port 33.

[0049] Heat exchanger 22 is provided in ventilation duct 31. Heat exchanger 22 exchanges heat with the surrounding gas in ventilation duct 31. As a result, heat exchanger 22 cools the air flowing through ventilation duct 31 during cooling operation, and heats the air flowing through ventilation duct 31 during heating operation.

[0050] The fan 23 is provided in the ventilation passage 31. The fan 23 rotates around a rotation axis Axf extending in the X direction, thereby sending air from the air inlet 32 ​​to the air outlet 33 in the ventilation passage 31. As a result, the indoor unit 11 draws indoor air into the ventilation passage 31 through the air inlet 32 ​​and blows out air (wind) in the ventilation passage 31 from the air outlet 33. For this reason, in this specification, the side of the ventilation passage 31 closer to the air inlet 32 ​​is referred to as the upstream side, and the side closer to the air outlet 33 is referred to as the downstream side.

[0051] The fan 23 is located downstream of the heat exchanger 22. Therefore, when the fan 23 generates airflow, the air drawn in through the air inlet 32 ​​passes through the fins of the heat exchanger 22. As a result, the air flowing through the ventilation passage 31 exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 22.

[0052] The indoor unit 10 further has a filter 24. The filter 24 is provided at the air inlet 32 ​​or near the air inlet 32 ​​in the air passage 31. The filter 24 is located upstream of the heat exchanger 22.

[0053] The filter 24 covers the air inlet 32 ​​from inside the housing 21. The filter 24, for example, filters the air drawn in through the air inlet 32 ​​and captures dust in the air. The filter 24 may include a HEPA filter.

[0054] The indoor unit 10 of this embodiment has two airflow direction vanes 25 (25A, 25B). Note that the number of airflow direction vanes 25 is not limited to this example. Each of the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B is a member that adjusts the airflow direction in the vertical direction, and may also be referred to as an up-down louver.

[0055] Each of the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B has a shaft portion 41 and a plate portion 42. The shaft portion 41 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the X direction. The shaft portion 41 is supported by the housing 21 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis Axl extending in the X direction. Each of the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B has its own individual rotation axis Axl. The plate portion 42 protrudes from the shaft portion 41 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis Axl. The plate portion 42 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the X direction.

[0056] The indoor unit control unit 80 drives a motor 85 that rotates the airflow direction plates 25A and 25B by controlling a drive circuit 82 shown in Fig. 1. The indoor unit control unit 80 rotates the airflow direction plates 25A and 25B individually between a closed position Pc1 shown in Fig. 2 and an open position Po1 shown in Fig. 3.

[0057] 3, the airflow direction vane 25A positioned at the open position Po1 opens the first flow path C1. The airflow direction vane 25B positioned at the open position Po1 opens the second flow path C2. The first flow path C1 and the second flow path C2 are each a part of the air outlet 33. In other words, the airflow direction vanes 25A and 25B positioned at the open position Po1 open at least a part of the air outlet 33.

[0058] The open position Po1 includes various positions where the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B open a portion of the air outlet 33. For example, the open position Po1 includes a position where the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B face substantially horizontally, a position where the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B face downward, and a plurality of positions between these two positions, as shown in Fig. 3. In other words, the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B can rotate between a position where they face substantially horizontally and a position where they face downward.

[0059] The airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B located in the open position Po1 adjust the airflow direction in the vertical direction depending on the orientation of the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B. That is, when the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B are oriented substantially horizontally as shown in Fig. 3, the indoor unit 10 blows air in a substantially horizontal direction. On the other hand, when the airflow direction vanes 25A, 25B are oriented downward, the indoor unit 10 blows air downward.

[0060] 2, the airflow direction vane 25A located at the closed position Pc1 covers the first flow path C1. The airflow direction vane 25B located at the closed position Pc1 covers the second flow path C2. That is, the airflow direction vanes 25A and 25B located at the closed position Pc1 cover at least a portion of the air outlet 33.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 4, the indoor unit 10 has multiple airflow direction vanes 29. Each of the multiple airflow direction vanes 29 is supported, for example, by a rotation shaft extending substantially in the Z direction. The indoor unit control unit 80 controls a drive circuit 82 shown in Fig. 1 to drive a motor 86 that rotates the multiple airflow direction vanes 29.

[0062] 4, the multiple airflow direction vanes 29 include, for example, multiple airflow direction vanes 29-1 to 29-k and 29-(k+1) to 29-2k. The multiple airflow direction vanes 29-1 to 29-k and 29-(k+1) to 29-2k are members that adjust the airflow direction in the left-right direction (-X direction, +X direction), respectively, and may also be referred to as left-right louvers. Note that the -X side airflow direction vanes 29-1 to 29-k and the +X side airflow direction vanes 29-(k+1) to 29-2k may be rotated individually by the indoor unit control unit 80.

[0063] The louvers 29-1 to 29-k on the -X side are connected to a common rotation shaft. The indoor unit control unit 80 drives the motor 86 via the drive circuit 82 to rotate the louvers 29-1 to 29-k all at once.

[0064] The +X-side airflow direction vanes 29-(k+1) to 29-2k are connected to a common rotation shaft. The indoor unit control unit 80 drives the motor 86 via the drive circuit 82 to rotate the airflow direction vanes 29-(k+1) to 29-2k collectively.

[0065] 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the indoor unit 10 of the first embodiment in which the ventilation member 26 is located in the closed position Pc2. When the airflow direction plate 25A is located in the open position Po1, the ventilation member 26 is movable between the closed position Pc2 shown in FIG. 5 and the open position Po2 shown in FIG.

[0066] 5, the ventilation member 26 in the closed position Pc2 covers at least a portion (first flow path C1) of the outlet 33 opened by the air direction plate 25A in the open position Po1. The ventilation member 26 may also cover the second flow path C2.

[0067] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing ventilation member 26 of the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, ventilation member 26 has a shaft portion 51 and a plate portion 52. Shaft portion 51 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the X direction. Shaft portion 51 is supported by housing 21 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis Axc extending in the X direction. Plate portion 52 protrudes from shaft portion 51 in a direction substantially perpendicular to rotation axis Axc. Plate portion 52 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the X direction.

[0068] The indoor unit control unit 80 controls the drive circuit 83 shown in Fig. 1 to drive a motor 87 that rotates the ventilation member 26. The indoor unit control unit 80 moves (rotates) the ventilation member 26 between the closed position Pc2 and the open position Po2. Note that the ventilation member 26 may also move in parallel between the closed position Pc2 and the open position Po2.

[0069] 5, the plate portion 52 has an inner surface 52a that faces the ventilation passage 31 in the closed position Pc2 and an outer surface 52b that faces the outside in the closed position Pc2. At least one ventilation opening 56 that opens to the inner surface 52a and the outer surface 52b is provided in the plate portion 52. In this embodiment, the plate portion 52 is provided with a plurality of ventilation openings 56.

[0070] When the ventilation member 26 is located in the closed position Pc2, the air flowing through the first flow path C1 passes through the ventilation opening 56 and is blown out from the outlet 33. That is, the ventilation member 26 located in the closed position Pc2 is inserted into the first flow path C1, changing the opening ratio of the first flow path C1.

[0071] 3, the ventilation member 26 located at the open position Po2 opens the first flow path C1. That is, when the ventilation member 26 moves to the open position Po2, the ventilation member 26 is released from the first flow path C1 (for example, is retracted from the first flow path C1), and the opening ratio of the first flow path C1 is restored.

[0072] The ventilation member 26 located in the open position Po2 is accommodated in a recess 21c of the housing 21 provided near the air outlet 33. The recess 21c is recessed from the inner surface 21d of the housing 21 that forms part of the ventilation passage 31. By being accommodated in the recess 21c, the ventilation member 26 located in the open position Po2 is prevented from obstructing the air flowing through the first flow path C1.

[0073] In the windless mode, which is an auxiliary operation mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 places the ventilation member 26 in the closed position Pc2 and changes the opening ratio of the first flow path C1, while maintaining the original opening ratio of the second flow path C2, in which the ventilation member 26 is not present.

[0074] When the windless mode serving as the auxiliary operation mode is cancelled, the indoor unit control unit 80 moves the ventilation member 26 to the open position Po2. This causes the ventilation member 26 to retreat from the first flow path C1, and the opening ratio of the first flow path C1 is restored.

[0075] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the air blown out from the indoor unit 10 in the windless mode of the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 7, when the ventilation member 26 is located in the closed position Pc2, the opening ratio of the first flow path C1 is smaller than when the ventilation member 26 is located in the open position Po2. When the ventilation member 26 is located in the closed position Pc2, the air moving within the ventilation passage 31 by the fan 23 passes through the ventilation opening 56 and changes to air W1a. The air W1a is an example of the first air.

[0076] On the other hand, no ventilation member 26 is provided in the second flow path C2. The aperture ratio of the second flow path C2 is maintained as it is. In other words, the wind discharged from the second flow path C2 becomes wind W2a that does not pass through the ventilation member 26. The wind W2a is an example of a second wind. The wind W2a is, for example, a laminar flow. The wind W1a passing through the ventilation member 26 provided in the first flow path C1 and the wind W2a passing through the second flow path C2 in which no ventilation member 26 is provided are formed adjacent to each other.

[0077] As the opening ratio of the first flow path C1 decreases, the flow speed of the wind W1a increases. Therefore, the wind W1a draws in the wind W2a. As a result, the wind W2a hits the wind W1a. Furthermore, the wind W1a that has transitioned to turbulent flow diffuses and hits the wind W2a flowing adjacent to the wind W1a. In this way, the winds W1a and W2a, which have different flow speeds and states (laminar flow or turbulent flow), flow next to each other and hit each other. In other words, the wind W2a that does not pass through the ventilation member 26 (ventilation opening 56) and the wind W1a that has passed through the ventilation member 26 (ventilation opening 56) interfere with each other.

[0078] When the wind W1a and the wind W2a collide with each other, for example, the masses of the wind W1a and the wind W2a are broken up, and the turbulent wind W1a is carried by the wind W2a. The wind W1a and the wind W2a interact in various ways like this, generating a mixed wind Ws that diffuses over a wide area.

[0079] In other words, when the ventilation member 26 is located in the closed position Pc2, the indoor unit 10 blows into the room a mixed wind Ws that is a mixture of the wind W1a blown out from the outlet 33 through the ventilation opening 56 and the wind W2a blown out from the outlet 33 through a second flow path C2 that is different from the ventilation opening 56. Note that as long as the wind blown out by the indoor unit 10 becomes the mixed wind Ws, the wind immediately after being blown out by the indoor unit 10 does not have to be the mixed wind Ws.

[0080] The mixed air Ws is turbulent. The mixed air Ws blown out from the indoor unit 10 is closer to natural air (so-called calm air) than the air immediately after being released from the air outlet 33. The ventilation member 26 only needs to be provided in either the first flow path C1 or the second flow path C2, which prevents an increase in the number of parts, a complicated configuration of the indoor unit 10, and increased costs. Furthermore, the ventilation member 26 has a simple structure, which prevents an increase in costs and a decrease in the strength of the ventilation member 26.

[0081] In the above example, the indoor unit 10 has two airflow direction vanes 25, one ventilation member 26, and multiple airflow direction vanes 29, but the airflow direction vanes 25, 29, and ventilation member 26 are not limited to this example. For example, the indoor unit 10 may have multiple airflow direction vanes 25 arranged in the X direction, multiple ventilation members 26 arranged in the X direction, and multiple airflow direction vanes 29 arranged in the X direction. In this case, the indoor unit control unit 80 can individually control the orientation of the multiple airflow direction vanes 25, 29 to blow air in different directions from two or more areas partitioned by the airflow direction vanes 25, 29. Furthermore, the indoor unit control unit 80 can individually set the positions of the multiple ventilation members 26 to the closed position Pc2 or the open position Po2 to blow air of different properties (laminar flow or calm air) from two or more areas that are covered or open by the ventilation members 26.

[0082] The radar 2 shown in Fig. 1 is capable of detecting the position, moving speed, angle, and shape of a detection target (e.g., a living organism CR) in a room. The radar 2 is an ultrasonic radar, a millimeter wave radar, a microwave radar, or a Doppler radar such as a Doppler LiDAR. Note that the radar 2 is not limited to these examples. Furthermore, the sensor provided in the air conditioner 1 is not limited to the radar 2, and may be another sensor capable of detecting a living organism CR, such as an optical sensor or an infrared sensor.

[0083] The radar 2 has a transmitter 2a, a receiver 2b, and a signal processor 2c. The radar 2 generates electromagnetic waves such as millimeter waves or microwaves, sound waves, or light such as visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light in the signal processor 2c, and transmits the generated waves from the transmitter 2a into the room. The radar 2 receives reflected waves reflected by a detection target (living body CR) present in the room in the receiver 2b, and outputs a signal corresponding to the reflected waves from the signal processor 2c.

[0084] The radar 2 is provided, for example, at a position on the front surface of the housing 21 of the indoor unit 10, or at another position that makes it easy to detect the position of the detection target (living body CR) in the room. The radar 2 may be embedded in a position near the center in the X direction in the front part of the housing 21, as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 4. The transmitter 2a and receiver 2b are exposed from the surface of the housing 21.

[0085] 8 is a functional block diagram of the indoor unit control unit 80 of the first embodiment. The indoor unit control unit 80 is a computer having a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcontroller, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a storage device such as a flash memory. Note that the indoor unit control unit 80 is not limited to this example.

[0086] For example, the CPU of the indoor unit control unit 80 reads a control program installed and stored in a ROM or storage device, and realizes modules that perform various controls and arithmetic processing in accordance with the program. The indoor unit control unit 80 includes modules such as an operation mode control unit 80a, a drive circuit control unit 80b, a radar control unit 80c, and a living body detection unit 80d. Note that each of these modules may be realized by hardware. Furthermore, each module may be integrated or divided by function.

[0087] The operation mode control unit 80a switches between the above-mentioned control modes (radar control mode and normal control mode), main operation modes (cooling operation mode, heating operation mode, dehumidifying operation mode, humidifying operation mode, fan operation mode, and air cleaning operation mode), and auxiliary operation mode (windless mode) as operation modes of the indoor unit 10. These switching operations are performed based on a command signal from the operation terminal 94a operated by the user, or automatically based on the detection results of the radar 2.

[0088] Based on the main operation mode, control mode, and auxiliary operation mode set in the operation mode control unit 80a, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the operation of the fan 23, the air deflectors 25 and 29, and the ventilation member 26 via the drive circuits 81 to 83. In the normal control mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the operation of the fan 23, the air deflectors 25 and 29, and the ventilation member 26 based on the user's operation.

[0089] The drive circuit control unit 80b controls the motor 85 via the drive circuit 82 to control the left-right position of the airflow direction vane 25. The drive circuit control unit 80b also controls the motor 86 via the drive circuit 82 to control the up-down position of the airflow direction vane 29. By combining the directional control of the airflow direction vane 25 and the directional control of the airflow direction vane 29, the drive circuit control unit 80b can appropriately change the direction (arrival position) of the air blown out from the air outlet 33.

[0090] The drive circuit control unit 80b controls the motor 84 via the drive circuit 81 to change the rotation speed of the fan 23, thereby changing the flow rate of the air blown out by the indoor unit 10. In the windless mode, which is an auxiliary operation mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the motor 87 via the drive circuit 83 to move the ventilation member 26 to the closed position Pc2. This allows the indoor unit 10 to blow out turbulent air (so-called windless air) from the air outlet 33 in the windless mode. In this way, the drive circuit control unit 80b can change the quality of the air blown out by the indoor unit 10.

[0091] The radar control unit 80c controls the transmission and reception of the radar 2 (transmitter 2a, receiver 2b), and acquires the analysis results (detection results) of the transmitted waves and received waves from the signal processing unit 2c. The radar 2 may enable detection processing after the indoor unit 10 is started up by operation of the operation terminal 94a, or may always wait in standby mode regardless of the start-up of the indoor unit 10, and may start up normally to acquire information such as the presence or absence of a detection target, the number of detection targets, and shape information of the detection target, for example, when it detects movement (motion) of an object (detection target) indoors.

[0092] The living body detection unit 80d, for example, identifies a living body CR from among the detection targets based on the detection results of the radar 2 acquired by the radar control unit 80c, assigns an ID (identifier) ​​to each identified living body, and stores the ID in, for example, RAM or a storage device. The living body detection unit 80d considers a detection target to be a living body CR when, for example, the amount of change due to movement is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and assigns an ID to the living body CR when the movement is detected or the amount of change exceeds the predetermined threshold. Furthermore, for example, the living body detection unit 80d considers a detection target that has newly entered a room to be a living body CR, and assigns an ID to the living body CR when it enters the room or immediately thereafter. Thereafter, the living body detection unit 80d maintains and monitors the ID until a predetermined period of time has passed since the living body CR was lost, for example, because the living body CR left the room or entered a blind spot in the room.

[0093] The living organism detection unit 80d tracks valid IDs present in the room. If the detection target (living organism CR, ID) being tracked enters a blind spot and is lost, the living organism detection unit 80d may maintain the ID for a predetermined period (e.g., 30 minutes) and validate the same ID when it reappears from the same blind spot. In this case, the indoor unit control unit 80 may continue the airflow control mode that was in effect immediately before the valid ID was lost. The living organism detection unit 80d may also assign a new ID to a detection target (living organism CR) that appears from a blind spot after the predetermined period has elapsed. Furthermore, if the detection target (living organism CR) to which an ID has been assigned leaves the room through an entrance / exit (room entrance / exit), the living organism detection unit 80d may invalidate the ID.

[0094] In the radar control mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the fan 23, the air deflectors 25, 29, and the ventilation member 26 according to the position of a detection target (living body CR) in the room that can be detected by the radar 2, and controls the direction and quality of the air blown out from the air outlet 33. Note that in the radar control mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b may control the fan 23, the air deflectors 25, 29, and the ventilation member 26 according to other conditions in addition to the position of the living body CR.

[0095] The air conditioner 1 of this embodiment has multiple radar control modes. The operation mode control unit 80a can switch between the multiple radar control modes. The drive circuit control unit 80b controls the orientation of the wind direction vanes 25, 29 relative to the living organism CR detected by the radar 2 according to the radar control mode selected from the multiple radar control modes.

[0096] The multiple radar control modes include, for example, a wind protection mode, a wind avoidance mode, and an outing mode. Note that the radar control modes are not limited to these examples. The wind protection mode or the wind avoidance mode is an example of a first mode. The outing mode is an example of a second mode. Note that the radar control modes may include other modes.

[0097] In the wind blowing mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the indoor unit 10 blows air toward a living organism CR that has been detected by the radar 2 and is being tracked by the living organism detection unit 80d. In other words, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the air always blows toward the living organism CR. In the wind blowing mode, the air conditioner 1 can, for example, improve the feeling of coolness during cooling control.

[0098] In each of the wind avoidance mode and the going out mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the wind blown out from the indoor unit 10 avoids a living organism CR that has been detected by the radar 2 and is being tracked by the living organism detection unit 80d. In other words, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the indoor unit 10 blows out wind toward a position where no living organism CR is present (absence area). Therefore, in the wind avoidance mode, the air conditioner 1 prevents the wind from directly hitting the living organism CR, thereby reducing the discomfort felt by the living organism CR.

[0099] The wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode are used, for example, when an adult living body CR is indoors. On the other hand, the outing mode is used, for example, when an adult living body CR is not indoors and a child, infant, or animal living body CR is indoors. Note that the usage of the wind protection mode, the wind avoidance mode, and the outing mode is not limited to this example.

[0100] Depending on the above-mentioned usage mode, the radar 2 in the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode mainly detects living bodies CR that are adults. On the other hand, in the outing mode, the radar 2 detects living bodies CR that are children, infants, or animals. Generally, living bodies CR that are children, infants, or animals are smaller than living bodies CR that are adults.

[0101] The radar 2 of this embodiment is more likely to detect an adult living being CR in the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode, and more likely to detect a child, infant, or animal living being CR in the outing mode. The size of the living being CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the outing mode is smaller than the size of the living being CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode. In other words, the size of the living being CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode is different from the size of the living being CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the outing mode.

[0102] The size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind protection mode may be different from the size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind avoidance mode. Even in this case, the size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the outing mode is smaller than the size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind protection mode, and is also smaller than the size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind avoidance mode.

[0103] The size of the living body CR that can be detected by the radar 2 indicates the minimum size of the living body CR that can be detected by the radar 2. That is, even in the outing mode, the radar 2 can detect a living body CR that is an adult.

[0104] Specifically, in one example, the reception sensitivity of the radar 2 in the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode is different from the reception sensitivity of the radar 2 in the outing mode. The reception sensitivity of the radar 2 in this embodiment is the degree of ease with which the radar 2 can detect a living organism CR.

[0105] For example, as described above, the radar control unit 80c acquires the detection result from the radar 2, and the living body detection unit 80d identifies a living body CR from the detection target based on the detection result of the radar 2. The conditions for the living body detection unit 80d to consider a detection target as a living body CR differ between the wind protection mode and wind avoidance mode and the outing mode.

[0106] For example, the living body detection unit 80d regards a detection object whose size is smaller than a predetermined threshold among the detection results of the radar 2 as noise and does not identify it as a living body CR. This allows the living body detection unit 80d to prevent, for example, dust or dirt from being mistakenly identified as a living body CR. The threshold in the outing mode is set smaller than the threshold in the wind deflection mode and the wind avoidance mode. That is, in the outing mode, the living body detection unit 80d can identify a smaller detection object as a living body CR.

[0107] The receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 may be changed by other methods. For example, the radar control unit 80c may filter the detection results of the radar 2 and remove information indicating the movement of small detection targets from the detection results as noise. In this case, in the outing mode, the radar control unit 80c relaxes the filtering conditions more than in the wind protection mode and wind avoidance mode, and does not remove information indicating the movement of relatively small detection targets. This allows smaller living organisms CR to be detected in the outing mode.

[0108] The signal processor 2c of the radar 2 may also filter the signal corresponding to the reflected wave received by the receiver 2b. In this case, in the outing mode, the signal processor 2c relaxes the filtering conditions more than in the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode. This allows for detection of smaller living organisms CR in the outing mode.

[0109] In another example, the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the wind blow mode and the wind avoidance mode is different from the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the going out mode. For example, the lower limit wavelength (or the central wavelength or the upper limit wavelength) of the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the going out mode is shorter than the lower limit wavelength (or the central wavelength or the upper limit wavelength) of the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the wind blow mode and the wind avoidance mode.

[0110] The radar 2 of this embodiment is a pulsed or FMCW time of flight (TOF) sensor. The pulsed radar 2 transmits pulsed electromagnetic waves from the antenna of the radar 2. The FMCW radar 2 continuously changes the frequency of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the antenna.

[0111] In the pulse radar 2, the frequency of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the outing mode is set higher than the frequency of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the wind blow mode and wind avoidance mode. In the FMCW radar 2, the upper limit frequency (or center frequency or lower limit frequency) of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the outing mode is set higher than the upper limit frequency (or center frequency or lower limit frequency) of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the wind blow mode and wind avoidance mode.

[0112] The higher the frequency and the shorter the wavelength of the transmitted electromagnetic waves, the smaller the distance resolution and angle resolution of the radar 2. Therefore, in the outing mode, the living body detection unit 80d can identify a smaller detection target as a living body CR.

[0113] The operation control of the wind direction plates 25, 29 in the wind blowing mode, wind protection mode, and outing mode is not limited to the above examples. For example, in the wind blowing mode or wind protection mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b may periodically change the wind direction to alternately create a state in which the living body CR is blown by wind and a state in which the living body CR is not blown by wind.

[0114] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the indoor unit 10 in the away mode of the first embodiment. An example of control of the indoor unit 10 in the away mode will be described below with reference to Fig. 9. Note that the control of the indoor unit 10 in the away mode is not limited to the example described below.

[0115] First, when the operation mode control unit 80a sets the control mode to the outing mode, for example, by a user operation, the living body detection unit 80d sets the receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 to high sensitivity (S101). Specifically, as described above, the living body detection unit 80d sets the threshold value for determining whether or not to regard a detected object as noise to be smaller than the threshold value in the wind deflection mode and the wind avoidance mode. Note that, as described above, the receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 may be changed by other methods.

[0116] Next, the living body detection unit 80d determines whether a living body CR has been detected (S102). As described above, when a detection target that moves in the room is present, the living body detection unit 80d regards the detection target as a living body CR and tracks the living body CR by assigning an ID to the living body CR. On the other hand, the living body detection unit 80d does not regard a detection target that does not continuously move as a living body CR.

[0117] If the living body detection unit 80d detects a living body CR by the radar 2 (S102: Yes), the operation mode control unit 80a determines whether the windless feeling mode is set to ON (S103). If the windless feeling mode as an auxiliary operation mode is set to ON (S103: Yes), the operation mode control unit 80a turns off the windless feeling mode (S104).

[0118] When the operation mode control unit 80a sets the windless mode to OFF, the drive circuit control unit 80b drives the motor 87 via the drive circuit 83 to move the ventilation member 26 from the closed position Pc2 to the open position Po2. This causes the indoor unit 10 to blow out normal wind, not wind that feels like windless, from the air outlet 33.

[0119] If the operation mode control unit 80a turns off the windless feeling mode in S104, or if the windless feeling mode is set to off in S103 (S103: No), the drive circuit control unit 80b performs wind avoidance control (S105). Specifically, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the wind blown out from the indoor unit 10 avoids the living organism CR. Note that S103 and S104 may be omitted. That is, the drive circuit control unit 80b may perform wind avoidance control when the windless feeling mode is on.

[0120] On the other hand, if the living organism detection unit 80d does not detect a living organism CR using radar 2 in S102 (S102: No), the drive circuit control unit 80b performs non-detection control (S106). FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the indoor unit 10 and the living organism CR in non-detection control in the first embodiment. For example, even if the living organism detection unit 80d does not detect a living organism CR using radar 2, a small living organism CR such as a child, infant, or animal may be present indoors if there is no movement due to sleep, etc., or if the living organism CR is in a blind spot of radar 2. In non-detection control, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls at least one of the fan 23, the airflow direction plates 25, 29, and the ventilation member 26 to prevent strong wind from blowing on the small living organism CR.

[0121] For example, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the motor 84 via the drive circuit 81 to reduce the rotation speed of the fan 23. That is, when the radar 2 does not detect a living organism CR in the away mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b performs weak wind operation to reduce the volume of air blown out by the indoor unit 10. Therefore, even if the air blown out by the indoor unit 10 hits the living organism CR, the effect of the air on the living organism CR is reduced.

[0122] Furthermore, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the motor 85 via the drive circuit 82 to control the orientation of the airflow direction flap 25 so that the airflow direction flap 25 faces in a substantially horizontal direction. In other words, the drive circuit control unit 80b orients the airflow direction flap 25 in the uppermost direction within the movable range of the airflow direction flap 25 in the cooling operation, heating operation, and dehumidifying operation.

[0123] By orienting the airflow direction plate 25 in a substantially horizontal direction, the indoor unit 10 blows air toward an upper space Su in the room. The space Su is a portion of the room above a predetermined height. Generally, living organisms CR such as children, infants, or animals are rarely present in the upper space Su in the room. For this reason, the airflow direction plate 25 can prevent the air blown out by the indoor unit 10 from directly hitting the living organisms CR.

[0124] The orientation of the airflow direction flap 25 is not limited to the approximately horizontal direction. For example, when the radar 2 detects an entrance / exit in the room, the drive circuit control unit 80b may control the orientation of the airflow direction flap 25 so that the indoor unit 10 blows air toward a space above the entrance / exit. Furthermore, when the radar 2 detects the wall opposite the wall on which the indoor unit 10 is installed, the drive circuit control unit 80b may control the orientation of the airflow direction flap 25 so that the indoor unit 10 blows air toward a portion of the opposite wall that is above a predetermined height.

[0125] In addition, the operation mode control unit 80a turns on the windless mode as an auxiliary operation mode. As a result, the drive circuit control unit 80b controls the motor 87 via the drive circuit 83 to move the ventilation members 26 to the closed position Pc2. That is, when the radar 2 does not detect a living organism CR in the outing mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b places the ventilation members 26 in the closed position Pc2.

[0126] By setting the windless mode to ON, the indoor unit 10 blows out wind (mixed wind Ws) that feels like windless wind and is close to natural wind. Therefore, even if the wind blown out from the indoor unit 10 hits the living body CR, the influence of the wind on the living body CR is reduced.

[0127] The non-detection control includes at least one of the above-mentioned weak wind operation, changing the direction of the airflow direction flap 25, and turning on the no-wind mode. The drive circuit control unit 80b may also switch between the weak wind operation, changing the direction of the airflow direction flap 25, and turning on the no-wind mode based on other conditions. For example, when the cooling operation mode is selected as the main operation mode, the drive circuit control unit 80b may perform weak wind operation as the non-detection control when the indoor temperature is low, and turn on the no-wind mode as the non-detection control when the indoor temperature is high. The non-detection control may also be switched by operation using the operation terminal 94a.

[0128] 9, when the drive circuit control unit 80b executes the wind avoidance control in S105 or the non-detection time control in S106, the operation mode control unit 80a determines whether or not there is a command to end the going out mode (S107). Specifically, the operation mode control unit 80a determines whether or not there is a command signal to switch the control mode from the going out mode to another mode, for example, from the operation terminal 94a operated by the user.

[0129] If the outing mode does not end but continues (S107: No), the process returns to S102, and S102 to S107 are repeated. If an end command to the outing mode is received in S107 (S107: Yes), the living body detection unit 80d sets the receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 to the normal sensitivity (S108). That is, the living body detection unit 80d sets the threshold for determining whether or not to regard a detected object as noise to a value greater than the threshold in the outing mode. When the receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 is restored, the outing mode ends.

[0130] In the air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the indoor unit control unit 80 can switch between multiple control modes. The indoor unit control unit 80 controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 relative to a living organism CR detected by the radar 2 according to a control mode selected from the multiple control modes. The multiple control modes include a wind-shielding mode (or a wind-directing mode) and an away-home mode. The size of a living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind-shielding mode differs from the size of a living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the away-home mode. This allows the air conditioner 1 to blow air in a desired direction in each control mode. As an example, in the wind-shielding mode and the away-home mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the air blown out from the indoor unit 10 avoids the living organism CR detected by the radar 2. In the wind-shielding mode, when a relatively large living organism CR such as an adult is detected by the radar 2, a relatively small living organism CR such as a child, infant, or small animal may be determined to be noise, and the air conditioner 1 may blow air toward the relatively small living organism CR. However, when a relatively small living organism CR is detected by the radar 2 in the away mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 can control the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the wind blown out from the indoor unit 10 avoids the relatively small living organism CR. In this way, the air conditioner 1 can provide the desired wind to the desired living organism CR by switching the control mode between the wind avoidance mode and the away mode.

[0131] The air conditioner 1 has a radar 2 as a sensor. This allows the air conditioner 1 to improve the tracking accuracy of the living body CR. For example, the radar 2 is less susceptible to the effects of brightness and moisture compared to, for example, an optical sensor or an infrared sensor. Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 can detect the moving speed of the living body CR using the radar 2 by utilizing the Doppler effect.

[0132] The receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 in the wind avoidance mode is different from the receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 in the going out mode. As a result, by having one radar 2, the air conditioner 1 can make the size of a living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind avoidance mode different from the size of a living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the going out mode. Therefore, the air conditioner 1 does not need multiple radars 2, and it is possible to suppress increases in costs.

[0133] The wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the wind avoidance mode is different from the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the outing mode. Generally, if the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 is shorter, the spatial resolution and distance resolution of the radar 2 are smaller, and the radar 2 can detect smaller living organisms CR. As a result, by having one radar 2, the air conditioner 1 can make the size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind avoidance mode different from the size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the outing mode. Therefore, the air conditioner 1 does not need multiple radars 2, and it is possible to suppress increases in costs.

[0134] In the wind avoidance mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the airflow blown out from the indoor unit 10 avoids the living organism CR detected by the radar 2. In the wind deflection mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the airflow blown out from the indoor unit 10 is directed toward the living organism CR detected by the radar 2. In the away mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the airflow blown out from the indoor unit 10 avoids the living organism CR detected by the radar 2. The size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the away mode is smaller than the size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 in the wind avoidance mode (or wind deflection mode). That is, in the away mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 controls the orientation of the airflow direction plates 25, 29 so that the airflow blown out from the indoor unit 10 avoids the living organism CR that is relatively small. This allows the air conditioner 1 to prevent children, infants, or small animals from being directly exposed to the wind. On the other hand, by selecting the wind blowing mode, the air conditioner 1 can provide wind directly to the living organism CR that desires to be cooled or warmed. Therefore, by switching the control mode between the wind avoidance mode, wind blowing mode, and outing mode, the air conditioner 1 can provide the desired wind to the desired living organism CR (wind that directly blows on the living organism CR, or wind that does not blow on the living organism CR but air-conditions the room).

[0135] When the radar 2 does not detect a living organism CR in the away mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 reduces the volume of air blown out by the indoor unit 10 or controls the orientation of the air direction plates 25, 29 so that the indoor unit 10 blows air toward the upper space Su in the room. This allows the air conditioner 1 to prevent a relatively small living organism CR that has not been detected from being directly exposed to strong air.

[0136] The ventilation member 26 is provided in the indoor unit 10 and is provided with a ventilation port 56. The ventilation member 26 is movable between a closed position Pc2 and an open position Po2. In the closed position Pc2, the ventilation member 26 covers at least a portion of the air outlet 33 of the indoor unit 10, from which air is blown out. In the open position Po2, the ventilation member 26 opens at least a portion of the air outlet 33. When the ventilation member 26 is located in the closed position Pc2, the indoor unit 10 blows out mixed air Ws into the room, which is a mixture of air W1a blown out from the air outlet through the ventilation port 56 and air W2a blown out from the air outlet through a different flow path than the ventilation port 56. When the radar 2 does not detect a living organism CR in the away mode, the indoor unit control unit 80 positions the ventilation member 26 in the closed position Pc2. The air W1a is accelerated by passing through the ventilation port 56. For this reason, the wind W1a and the wind W2a differ from each other in at least one of their flow speed and state (turbulent flow or laminar flow). When the winds W1a and W2a are mixed, the chunks of winds W1a and W2a are broken up, and the mixed wind Ws becomes turbulent, similar to natural wind. The mixed wind Ws, which is similar to natural wind, is less likely to make living organisms CR feel cold or hot than laminar wind. This allows the air conditioner 1 to prevent relatively small living organisms CR that have not been detected from being exposed to laminar wind, which makes them more susceptible to cold and heat.

[0137] (Second embodiment) The second embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 11. In the following description of the embodiment, components having the same functions as components already described are given the same reference numerals as the components already described, and further description may be omitted. Furthermore, multiple components given the same reference numerals do not necessarily have all the same functions and properties, and may have different functions and properties according to each embodiment.

[0138] Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit 10 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 11, the indoor unit 10 according to the second embodiment has two radars 2. The two radars 2 differ from each other in reception sensitivity or wavelength of electromagnetic waves used. The two radars 2 may be two sensors of different types.

[0139] The radar control unit 80c can switch between the two radars 2 to be used. By switching between the radars 2 to be used, the radar control unit 80c can change the reception sensitivity of the radars 2 or the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radars 2.

[0140] For example, when the operation mode control unit 80a sets the radar control mode to the wind protection mode or the wind avoidance mode, the radar control unit 80c sets the radar 2 to be used to have low reception sensitivity or to transmit electromagnetic waves with a long wavelength. On the other hand, when the operation mode control unit 80a sets the radar control mode to the outing mode, the radar control unit 80c sets the radar 2 to be used to have high reception sensitivity or to transmit electromagnetic waves with a short wavelength.

[0141] As described above, the air conditioner 1 of the second embodiment can change the receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 in the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode to be different from the receiving sensitivity of the radar 2 in the going out mode by switching the radar 2. Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 of the second embodiment can change the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode to be different from the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar 2 in the going out mode by switching the radar 2. This allows the living body detection unit 80d to identify smaller detection targets as living bodies CR in the going out mode.

[0142] The air conditioner 1 of the second embodiment described above has multiple radars 2. The radar 2 that transmits electromagnetic waves in the wind avoidance mode (or wind blow mode) is different from the radar 2 that transmits electromagnetic waves in the going out mode. This allows the air conditioner 1 to significantly change the size of the living organism CR that can be detected by the radar 2 between the wind avoidance mode and the going out mode, for example.

[0143] In the windless mode of the above embodiment, the wind W1a blown out through the ventilation opening 56 of the ventilation member 26 and the wind W2a blown out from the second flow path C2 are mixed to generate the mixed wind Ws. However, the windless mode is not limited to this example. For example, the ventilation member 26 may be provided with the ventilation opening 56 and a slit. The mixed wind Ws may be generated by mixing the wind W1a blown out through the ventilation opening 56 and the wind blown out through the slit (laminar flow).

[0144] The multiple radar control modes in the above embodiments include a wind protection mode, a wind avoidance mode, and an outing mode. However, one of the wind protection mode and the wind avoidance mode may be omitted. Furthermore, the radar control mode may include another mode in addition to or instead of the outing mode, in which the size of a living organism CR that the radar 2 can detect is smaller than that in the wind protection mode or the wind avoidance mode. In other words, the radar control mode may include two or more modes in which the size of a living organism CR that the radar 2 can detect is different from each other.

[0145] In the above description, suppression is defined as, for example, preventing an event, action, or effect from occurring or reducing the magnitude of an event, action, or effect.

[0146] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0147] 1...air conditioner, 2...radar, 10...indoor unit, 25, 25A, 25B, 29...wind direction vane, 26...ventilation member, 33...air outlet, 56...ventilation port, 80...indoor unit control unit, CR...living body, Pc2...closed position, Po2...open position, W1a, W2a...wind, Ws...mixed wind, Su...upper space.

Claims

1. An indoor unit that blows air into the room, a wind direction plate that is provided in the indoor unit and that guides the air blown out from the indoor unit and is capable of changing the direction; a sensor provided in the indoor unit and capable of detecting a living organism in the room; A control unit that can switch between a plurality of modes and controls the orientation of the wind direction plate with respect to the living body detected by the sensor according to the mode selected from the plurality of modes; Equipped with the plurality of modes include a first mode and a second mode, The size of the living body that can be detected by the sensor in the first mode is different from the size of the living body that can be detected by the sensor in the second mode. Air conditioner.

2. the sensor comprises a radar; The air conditioner of claim 1.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2 , wherein the receiving sensitivity of the radar in the first mode is different from the receiving sensitivity of the radar in the second mode.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 2 , wherein the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar in the first mode is different from the wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the radar in the second mode.

5. In the first mode, the control unit controls the orientation of the wind direction plate so that the wind blown out from the indoor unit avoids the living body detected by the sensor, or so that the indoor unit blows out wind toward the living body detected by the sensor, In the second mode, the control unit controls the direction of the wind direction plate so that the wind blown out from the indoor unit avoids the living body detected by the sensor, a size of the living body that can be detected by the sensor in the second mode is smaller than a size of the living body that can be detected by the sensor in the first mode; 5. An air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The air conditioner of claim 5, wherein when the sensor does not detect the living body in the second mode, the control unit reduces the volume of air blown out by the indoor unit or controls the direction of the wind direction plate so that the indoor unit blows air toward an upper space in the room.

7. a ventilation member provided in the indoor unit, movable between a closed position that covers at least a portion of an air outlet of the indoor unit from which air is blown out and an open position that opens at least a portion of the air outlet, and provided with a ventilation port; Further comprising: When the ventilation member is located at the closed position, the indoor unit blows out into the room a mixed wind that is a mixture of a first wind that is blown out from the air outlet through the ventilation port and a second wind that is blown out from the air outlet through a flow path different from that of the ventilation port, the control unit places the ventilation member at the closed position when the sensor does not detect the living body in the second mode. The air conditioner of claim 5.

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