Airflow formation system and control method

Abstract

To provide an air flow forming system that can form a downflow air flow.SOLUTION: An air flow forming system 10 comprises a plurality of ducts 25 arranged in parallel, an air blower 21 for blowing air into the plurality of ducts 25, and a control unit for controlling the air blower 21 on the basis of information on the presence or absence of a person in a lower space 85, obtained by sensing. A lower surface of each of the plurality of ducts 25 is provided with a long discharge port 26 along the longitudinal direction of the ducts 25, and from which an air flow toward the lower space 85 is discharged by air blowing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airflow forming system.

Background Art

[0002] Various techniques for forming an airflow in a space have been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a ventilation system that ventilates the same indoor space with a plurality of ventilation devices.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides an airflow forming system that can form a downflow airflow, etc.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] An airflow forming system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a control unit that controls a blower for blowing air into a plurality of ducts arranged in parallel. Each lower surface of the plurality of ducts is provided with a long outlet along the longitudinal direction of the duct, and an outlet through which an airflow directed toward a space located below the plurality of ducts is blown out by the blowing. The control unit controls the blower based on information regarding the presence or absence of a person in the space located below the plurality of ducts obtained by sensing.

[0006] A control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method for a blower that blows air into a plurality of ducts arranged in parallel, wherein each of the plurality of ducts is provided on its lower surface with an elongated outlet along the longitudinal direction of the duct, from which an airflow directed toward a space located below the plurality of ducts is blown out by the blowing air, and the control method controls the blower based on information obtained by sensing regarding the presence or absence of people in the space located below the plurality of ducts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] An airflow forming system, etc., according to one aspect of the present invention, can form a downflow airflow. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an external view of an airflow forming system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the airflow formation system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of multiple ducts. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart of operation example 1 of the airflow formation system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart of operation example 2 of the airflow formation system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart of operation example 3 of the airflow formation system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a flowchart of operation example 4 of the airflow formation system according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an external view of an airflow generator according to a modified example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection configurations of components, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, components in the following embodiments that are not described in an independent claim will be described as optional components.

[0010] Please note that each figure is a schematic diagram and not necessarily a strictly accurate representation. Furthermore, in each figure, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0011] (Embodiment) [composition] First, the configuration of the airflow forming system according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is an external view of the airflow forming system according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the airflow forming system according to the embodiment.

[0012] The airflow forming system 10 according to this embodiment is a system that can form a downflow airflow in an indoor space such as a room 80. Specifically, the airflow forming system 10 comprises an airflow generator 20, a sensor group 30, and a control device 40.

[0013] First, the airflow generator 20 will be described. The airflow generator 20 comprises a blower 21 and a plurality of ducts 25. The blower 21 is installed in the internal space of the wall 82 of the room 80 and blows air into the plurality of ducts 25 by drawing in air from an opening provided in the lower part of the wall 82. The blower 21 comprises a plurality of fans 22, a plurality of pipes 23, and a filter unit 24. The plurality of fans 22 include an impeller (not shown) for generating high-pressure air and a motor (not shown) for driving the impeller.

[0014] The pipe 23 guides the air sent out by the fan 22 to the filter unit 24. The pipe 23 is formed of, for example, a resin material, but may be formed of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum.

[0015] The filter unit 24 has, for example, a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter and removes fine particles contained in the air flowing from the pipe 23 into the interior of the duct 25. The housing of the filter unit 24 is formed of, for example, a resin material, but may be formed of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum.

[0016] The plurality of ducts 25 are arranged in parallel along a virtual plane S (shown in FIG. 3) located between the upper space 83 and the lower space 85. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plurality of ducts 25, and more specifically, is a cross-sectional view when the plurality of ducts 25 are cut by a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. For simplicity, in FIG. 3, only two of the plurality of ducts 25 are shown. The upper space 83 is the space between the ceiling 81 and the plurality of ducts 25, and the lower space 85 is the space between the plurality of ducts 25 and the floor 86.

[0017] The duct 25 is hollow and elongated, and is formed of, for example, a resin material. The duct 25 may be formed of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum. A long blowing outlet 26 extending along the longitudinal direction of the duct 25 is provided on the surface (lower surface) of the duct 25 facing the lower space 85. The end portions in the longitudinal direction of the duct 25 are connected to the filter unit 24 of the blower 21. When the blower 21 blows air, the air is sent into the interior of the duct 25 through the opening provided at the end portion. As a result, an air current is blown out from the blowing outlet 26 into the lower space 85 No openings are provided in the duct 25 other than the blowing outlet 26 and the opening provided at the end portion.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, when airflows are blown from the outlets of the plurality of ducts 25 into the lower space 85, the space 84 between the plurality of ducts 25 becomes a negative pressure, and the air in the upper space 83 of the plurality of ducts 25 is attracted into the space 84. As a result, the airflow generator 20 can blow out a downflow airflow (surface airflow) with excellent straightness, which is a combination of the airflow blown from the outlets 26 of the plurality of ducts 25 and the airflow based on the attracted air (corresponding to the white arrows in FIG. 3; hereinafter also referred to as the attracted airflow). According to the downflow airflow, aerosols such as droplets in the lower space 85 are blown down toward the floor 86 side. As a result, an effect of suppressing the spread of infectious diseases can be obtained.

[0019] Next, the sensor group 30 will be described. The sensor group 30 is installed in the lower space 85 and performs sensing in the lower space 85. Specifically, the sensor group 30 senses a person located in the lower space 85 or the air quality of the lower space 85. Note that the sensing by the sensor group 30 does not include the sensing of manual operations intended by the user to control the airflow generator 20. Further, the sensor group 30 transmits information regarding the presence or absence of a person in the lower space 85 obtained as a result of the sensing to the control device 40.

[0020] The sensor group 30 includes a human presence sensor 31, a sound sensor 32, a seating sensor 33, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) camera 34 (a high - performance image sensor), a carbon dioxide concentration sensor 35, a particulate concentration sensor 36, and a person position sensor 37. Note that the sensor group 30 only needs to include at least one of the human presence sensor 31, the sound sensor 32, the seating sensor 33, the AI camera 34, the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 35, the particulate concentration sensor 36, and the person position sensor 37.

[0021] The human presence sensor 31 transmits information indicating the presence or absence of a person in the lower space 85 to the control device 40. The human presence sensor 31 is realized by a pyroelectric sensor that senses infrared rays emitted from a human body, etc. The information indicating the presence or absence of a person is an example of the information regarding the presence or absence of a person.

[0022] The sound sensor 32 is a so-called microphone that acquires sound in the space below 85. The sound acquired by the sound sensor 32 includes the speech of a person located in the space below 85. The sound sensor 32 transmits the sound information of the acquired sound to the control device 40 as information regarding the presence or absence of a person located in the space below 85. The sound information is an example of information regarding the presence or absence of a person.

[0023] The seating sensor 33 senses whether a person is sitting in a seat or the like provided in the space below 85, and transmits information indicating the presence or absence of a person in that seat to the control device 40. The seating sensor 33 is implemented by a pyroelectric sensor or the like that senses infrared rays emitted from a person's body. The information indicating the presence or absence of a person is just one example of information regarding the presence or absence of a person.

[0024] The AI ​​camera 34 senses the number of people located in the space below 85. For example, the AI ​​camera 34 captures images of people in the space below 85 and processes the captured images to transmit information indicating the number of people located in the space below 85 to the control device 40. Information indicating the number of people is an example of information regarding the presence or absence of people.

[0025] The carbon dioxide concentration sensor 35 measures the carbon dioxide concentration in the space below 85 and transmits the measured carbon dioxide concentration to the control device 40. Since the carbon dioxide concentration increases when a person is located in the space below 85, the measured carbon dioxide concentration can be considered an example of information regarding the presence or absence of a person.

[0026] The particulate matter concentration sensor 36 measures the concentration of particulate matter (e.g., pollen or PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5, etc.) in the space below 85 and transmits the measured value of the particulate matter concentration to the control device 40. The particulate matter concentration sensor 36 is an optical sensor that senses the concentration of particulate matter based on the scattering of light emitted by a light source such as an LED. When a person is located in the space below 85, the amount of human-derived particulate matter (aerosols) such as droplets increases, so the measured value of the particulate matter concentration can be said to be one example of information regarding the presence or absence of a person.

[0027] In other words, the human position sensor 37 is a human position sensing system. The human position sensor 37 measures the current position of a person (beacon receiver) based on the signal strength received by a beacon receiver held by the person, from the beacon signals transmitted by each of several beacon transmitters (whose installation locations are known) distributed in the lower space 85. The human position sensor 37 transmits human position information to the control device 40, which indicates the number of people in the lower space 85 and the location information (coordinates) of each person. Human position information is an example of information regarding the presence or absence of people.

[0028] Furthermore, the human position sensor 37 may measure the current location of a person (beacon transmitter) based on the received signal strength at each of several beacon receivers (whose installation locations are known) that are distributed in the space below 85, which transmit a beacon signal from a beacon transmitter carried by the person. In other words, the human position sensor 37 may measure the current location of a person based on a configuration in which the relationship between the transmission and reception of beacon signals is reversed from the above description.

[0029] Next, the control device 40 will be described. The control device 40 is an information terminal operated by the user to control the airflow generator 20. The control device 40 can also automatically control the airflow generator 20 based on information received from the sensor group 30 regarding the presence or absence of a person. The control device 40 is, for example, a remote controller for the airflow generator 20, but it may also be implemented by installing a predetermined application program on a general-purpose device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal. Alternatively, the control device 40 may be an EMS (Energy Management System) controller or the like.

[0030] Specifically, the control device 40 comprises an operation reception unit 41, a control unit 42, and a storage unit 43. Although not shown in the figures, the control device 40 (control unit 42) and the airflow generator 20 and sensor group 30 can communicate via wired or wireless communication. The control device 40 can control the airflow generator 20 by transmitting a control signal to the airflow generator based on information received from the sensor group 30 regarding the presence or absence of a person.

[0031] The operation reception unit 41 receives user input. The operation reception unit 41 is implemented, for example, by a touch panel, but may also include hardware buttons. Although not shown in the figures, the operation reception unit 41 may include a display unit implemented by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel, and the operation reception unit 41 and the display unit may constitute a GUI (Graphical Use Interface).

[0032] The control unit 42 controls the on / off state of the airflow generator 20 based on user operations received by the operation reception unit 41 or information regarding the presence or absence of a person received from the sensor group 30. The control unit 42 also controls the strength of the airflow generated by the airflow generator 20 (for example, the rotational speed of the fan 22 of the blower 21) based on user operations received by the operation reception unit 41 or information regarding the presence or absence of a person received from the sensor group 30. The strength of the airflow can be rephrased as airflow volume or wind speed.

[0033] The control unit 42 may be implemented by a microcomputer, for example, but may also be implemented by a processor. The functions of the control unit 42 are realized, for example, by the microcomputer or other device constituting the control unit 42 executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 43.

[0034] The memory unit 43 is a storage device that stores various information necessary for the control unit 42 to control the airflow generator 20, as well as computer programs and the like. The memory unit 43 can be implemented, for example, by semiconductor memory. The memory unit 43 may also be built into the control unit 42.

[0035] [Operation Example 1: ON Operation] As described above, the control device 40 can automatically turn on the airflow generator 20 based on information received from the sensor group 30 regarding the presence or absence of a person. Figure 4 is a flowchart of the ON operation of the airflow generator 20 (operation example 1). Note that the operation in Figure 4 is implemented, for example, as one of the operating modes (automatic on / off mode) of the airflow formation system 10 that can be selected by the user.

[0036] With the airflow generator 20 turned off (S11), the control unit 42 of the control device 40 receives information from the sensor group 30 regarding the presence or absence of a person in the space below 85 (S12), and determines the presence or absence of a person in the space below 85 based on the acquired information regarding the presence or absence of a person (S13).

[0037] For example, if the information regarding the presence or absence of a person is information indicating the presence or absence of a person in the lower space 85 transmitted by the human presence sensor 31 or the seating sensor 33, the control unit 42 can directly determine the presence or absence of a person in the lower space 85. Similarly, if the information regarding the presence or absence of a person is information indicating the number of people transmitted by the AI ​​camera 34, the control unit 42 can directly determine the presence or absence of a person in the lower space 85. Even if the information regarding the presence or absence of a person is human location information transmitted by the human location sensor 37, the control unit 42 can directly determine the presence or absence of a person in the lower space 85.

[0038] Furthermore, if the information regarding the presence or absence of a person is sound information from the sound sensor 32 transmitted in the lower space 85, the control unit 42 can determine the presence or absence of a person in the lower space 85 by determining whether or not the sound information includes human speech through speech recognition processing or the like.

[0039] If the information regarding the presence or absence of a person is the measured value of carbon dioxide concentration in the lower space 85 transmitted by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 35, the control unit 42 can determine that a person is present in the lower space 85 when the measured value of carbon dioxide concentration exceeds a threshold.

[0040] If the information regarding the presence or absence of a person is the measured value of the particle concentration in the lower space 85 transmitted by the particle concentration sensor 36, the control unit 42 can determine that a person is present in the lower space 85 when the measured value of the particle concentration exceeds a threshold.

[0041] If the control unit 42 determines that there is no person in the space below 85 (No in S13), the operation ends and the airflow generator 20 remains in the off state. On the other hand, if the control unit 42 determines that there is a person in the space below 85 (Yes in S13), it turns on the airflow generator 20 (S14). Specifically, the control unit 42 can turn on the airflow generator 20 by sending a control signal to the airflow generator 20 via wired or wireless communication. In other words, the control unit 42 can turn on the blower 21.

[0042] As explained above, the airflow formation system 10 can automatically turn on the airflow generator 20 when there are people in the space below 85. This prevents the airflow generator 20 from remaining off even when there are people in the space below 85. In other words, it prevents insufficient infection control measures using airflow.

[0043] [Example of operation 2: Off operation] Furthermore, the control device 40 can automatically turn off the airflow generator 20 based on information received from the sensor group 30 regarding the presence or absence of a person. Figure 5 is a flowchart of the off operation of the airflow generator 20 (operation example 2). Note that the operation in Figure 5 is implemented, for example, as one of the operating modes (automatic on / off mode) of the airflow formation system 10 that can be selected by the user.

[0044] With the airflow generator 20 turned ON (S21), the control unit 42 of the control device 40 receives information from the sensor group 30 regarding the presence or absence of a person in the space below 85 (S22), and determines the presence or absence of a person in the space below 85 based on the acquired information regarding the presence or absence of a person (S23). The method for determining the presence or absence of a person in the space below 85 is as described in the ON operation section.

[0045] Furthermore, the first threshold (step) for the carbon dioxide concentration measured in step S13 and the second threshold for the carbon dioxide concentration used in step S23 may be the same, or the first threshold may be greater than the second threshold. In other words, hysteresis may be provided. The same applies to particulate matter concentration.

[0046] If the control unit 42 determines that a person is present in the space below 85 (Yes in S23), the operation ends and the airflow generator 20 remains ON. On the other hand, if the control unit 42 determines that no person is present in the space below 85 (No in S23), it turns off the airflow generator 20 (S24). Specifically, the control unit 42 can turn off the airflow generator 20 by sending a control signal to the airflow generator 20 via wired or wireless communication. In other words, the control unit 42 can turn off the blower 21.

[0047] As explained above, the airflow formation system 10 can automatically turn off the airflow generator 20 when there are no people in the space below 85. This prevents the airflow generator 20 from remaining on even when there are no people in the space below 85. In other words, it prevents the airflow generator 20 from being turned on unnecessarily, resulting in energy savings and other benefits.

[0048] [Example of operation 3: Operation based on congestion level] The control device 40 can also control the strength of the airflow from the airflow generator 20 based on the degree of crowding in the space below 85. Figure 6 is a flowchart of the operation based on the degree of crowding (operation example 3). Note that the operation in Figure 6 is implemented, for example, as one of the operation modes (crowding-linked mode) of the airflow formation system 10 that can be selected by the user.

[0049] The control unit 42 acquires information indicating the degree of human congestion in the lower space 85, which is transmitted from the sensor group 30 to the control device 40 (S31). The control unit 42 can consider, for example, the number of people located in the lower space 85 as the degree of congestion. Therefore, among the information transmitted from the sensor group 30 to the control device 40 (information related to the presence or absence of people), the following information that directly or indirectly indicates the number of people can be used as information indicating the degree of human congestion.

[0050] For example, the information indicating the number of people transmitted by the AI ​​camera 34, and the person location information transmitted by the person location sensor 37, can be said to be information that directly indicates the number of people. The information indicating the presence or absence of people transmitted by the seating sensor 33 allows the control unit 42 to determine the number of people sitting in the seats. Therefore, this information can be said to be information that directly indicates the number of people.

[0051] Furthermore, the sound information transmitted by the sound sensor 32 can be used for speech recognition processing (speaker identification processing) to identify the number of speakers. Therefore, the sound information can be said to be information that indirectly indicates the number of people.

[0052] The carbon dioxide concentration measurement transmitted by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 35 can be interpreted as indicating a larger number of people the higher the measurement value. Therefore, the carbon dioxide concentration measurement can be said to be information that indirectly indicates the number of people. The particulate matter concentration measurement transmitted by the particulate matter concentration sensor 36 can be interpreted as indicating a larger number of people the higher the measurement value. Therefore, the particulate matter concentration measurement can be said to be information that indirectly indicates the number of people.

[0053] The control unit 42 determines the strength of the airflow from the airflow generator 20 based on this congestion information (information that directly or indirectly indicates the number of people) (S32). For example, the control unit 42 determines the strength of the airflow so that the more people (or estimated number) there are in the lower space 85, the stronger the airflow becomes. The correspondence between the number of people and the strength of the airflow is stored in the storage unit 43 in advance as table information, for example. The table information may be determined empirically or experimentally by the designer of the airflow formation system 10 or the like.

[0054] Next, the control unit 42 causes the airflow generator 20 to blow air at a determined strength (S33). The control unit 42 can control the strength of the airflow from the airflow generator 20 by transmitting a control signal to the airflow generator 20 via wired or wireless communication. The control unit 42 may stop the airflow from the airflow generator 20 if there are no people in the space below 85.

[0055] As explained above, the airflow forming system 10 controls the airflow generator 20 (blower 21) based on information indicating the degree of human congestion in the space below 85. The airflow forming system 10 strengthens the airflow from the airflow generator 20 (blower 21) as the degree of human congestion in the space below 85 increases. This allows the airflow forming system 10 to efficiently implement infectious disease control measures.

[0056] The control unit 42 only needs to use at least one piece of information indicating congestion level when determining the strength of the airflow, but it may also combine multiple types of information indicating congestion level.

[0057] [Example of operation 4: Operation based on activity level] The control device 40 can also control the airflow strength of the airflow generator 20 based on the activity level of people in the space below 85. Figure 7 is a flowchart of the activity-based operation (operation example 4). Note that the operation in Figure 7 is implemented, for example, as one of the user-selectable operating modes of the airflow formation system 10 (activity-linked mode).

[0058] The control unit 42 acquires information indicating the activity level of people in the lower space 85, which is transmitted from the sensor group 30 to the control device 40 (S41). Here, activity level is an indicator of whether communication is actively taking place, and high activity level means that the volume of speech in conversation is loud or that conversation is taking place frequently. For example, the control unit 42 can consider the amount of conversation of people located in the lower space 85 as the activity level. Therefore, among the information transmitted from the sensor group 30 to the control device 40 (information related to the presence or absence of people), the sound information transmitted by the sound sensor 32 can be used as information indicating the activity level of people.

[0059] The control unit 42 determines the strength of the airflow from the airflow generator 20 based on information indicating the activity level (sound information) (S42).

[0060] The control unit 42 first determines the activity level. For example, the control unit 42 calculates the average speech volume over a predetermined period and determines the calculated average speech volume as the activity level. Alternatively, the control unit 42 may calculate the length of the cumulative speech period by subtracting the period during which no one is speaking from the predetermined period and determine the calculated length of the cumulative speech period as the activity level. Alternatively, the control unit 42 may consider both the speech volume and the speech period, calculate the integral value obtained by integrating the speech volume and the speech period over the predetermined period, and determine the calculated integral value as the activity level. The predetermined period is, for example, a period of about 10 minutes to 1 hour, but is not particularly limited.

[0061] The control unit 42 determines the airflow strength such that the higher the activity level determined in this way, the stronger the airflow. The relationship between activity level and airflow strength is stored in the storage unit 43 in advance as table information, for example. The table information can be determined empirically or experimentally by the designer of the airflow formation system 10 or the like.

[0062] Next, the control unit 42 causes the airflow generator 20 to blow air at a determined strength (S43). The control unit 42 can control the strength of the airflow from the airflow generator 20 by transmitting a control signal to the airflow generator 20 via wired or wireless communication. The control unit 42 may stop the airflow from the airflow generator 20 if there are no people in the space below 85.

[0063] As explained above, the airflow formation system 10 controls the airflow generator 20 based on information indicating the activity level of people in the space below 85. The airflow formation system 10 strengthens the airflow from the airflow generator 20 (blower 21) as the activity level of people in the space below 85 increases (indicating a large amount of airborne droplets). This allows the airflow formation system 10 to efficiently implement infectious disease control measures.

[0064] [Distinguishing between passersby] Incidentally, if room 80 is an open space rather than a closed space, the accuracy of controlling the airflow generator 20 can be improved by distinguishing between people staying in the lower space 85 and people passing through the lower space 85. Here, "people staying in the lower space 85" means people who are in the lower space 85 for a certain period of time with a purpose, while "people passing through" means people who do not have a purpose to be in the lower space 85 but happen to be in or near the lower space 85 while moving.

[0065] The control unit 42 of the control device 40 can improve the accuracy of control by controlling the airflow generator 20 based on whether or not there are people in the lower space 85, or the number of people in the lower space 85. The control here may be any of the control methods described in Operation Examples 1 to 4 above.

[0066] For example, if the control unit 42 acquires the person location information transmitted by the person location sensor 37 at a sufficiently high frequency, it can determine the continuous stay time of a person located in the lower space 85 based on the acquired person location information. Therefore, among the people located in the lower space 85, those whose continuous stay time is longer than a predetermined time can be distinguished as people staying in the lower space 85 from people passing through the lower space 85 whose continuous stay time is less than the predetermined time.

[0067] Furthermore, the control unit 42 may use two or more sensors from the sensor group 30 in combination to distinguish between people staying in the lower space 85 and people passing through the lower space 85. For example, the AI ​​camera 34 and the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 35 may be used in combination to distinguish between people staying in the lower space 85 and people passing through the lower space 85.

[0068] [Variations of airflow generators] In the above embodiment, the airflow generator 20 is equipped with three or more ducts 25, but it may be equipped with only two ducts 25. For example, the airflow generator 20 may be realized as a device that forms an air curtain by a downflow airflow (surface airflow) with excellent straightness, which is formed by combining the airflow blown out from the outlets 26 of the two ducts 25 with an induced airflow. Figure 8 is an external view of an airflow generator according to such a modified example.

[0069] The airflow generator 20a shown in Figure 8 forms an air curtain with a downflow airflow. This air curtain can suppress droplets emitted by one user from reaching another user. Furthermore, a configuration that forms an air curtain with a downflow airflow, such as the airflow generator 20a, makes it less likely for droplets to be stirred up compared to a configuration that forms an air curtain with an upflow airflow moving from below to above. For this reason, the airflow generator 20a can be said to have a high effect in suppressing the spread of infectious diseases. The operations described in the above embodiment may be performed with the airflow generator 20a as the controlled object instead of the airflow generator 20.

[0070] [Effects, etc.] As described above, the airflow forming system 10 includes a control unit 42 that controls a blower 21 that blows air into a plurality of ducts 25 arranged in parallel. Each of the plurality of ducts 25 has an elongated outlet 26 along the longitudinal direction of the duct 25 on its lower surface, from which an airflow is blown toward the space located below the plurality of ducts 25 (downward space 85). The control unit 42 controls the blower 21 based on information obtained by sensing regarding the presence or absence of people in the downward space 85. In the above embodiment, controlling the blower 21 is also described as controlling the airflow generating device 20.

[0071] Such an airflow forming system 10 can form a downflow airflow based on the presence or absence of people in the space below 85.

[0072] Furthermore, for example, information regarding the presence or absence of people includes information indicating the degree of crowding in the lower space 85. The control unit 42 controls the blower 21 based on the information indicating the degree of crowding in the lower space 85.

[0073] Such an airflow forming system 10 can form a downflow airflow based on the degree of crowding in the space below 85.

[0074] Furthermore, for example, the control unit 42 increases the airflow from the blower 21 as the level of crowding in the space below 85 increases.

[0075] Such an airflow forming system 10 can form a stronger downflow airflow the higher the degree of human congestion in the space below 85.

[0076] Furthermore, for example, information regarding the presence or absence of people includes information indicating the level of human activity in the lower space 85. The control unit 42 controls the blower 21 based on the information indicating the level of human activity in the lower space 85.

[0077] Such an airflow forming system 10 can form a downflow airflow based on the activity level of people in the space below 85.

[0078] Furthermore, for example, the control unit 42 increases the airflow from the blower 21 as the level of human activity in the space below 85 increases.

[0079] Such an airflow forming system 10 can form a stronger downflow airflow the higher the level of human activity in the space below 85.

[0080] Furthermore, for example, the control unit 42 distinguishes between people staying in the lower space 85 and people passing through the lower space 85 based on information regarding the presence or absence of people, and controls the blower 21 based on the presence or absence of people staying in the lower space 85, or the number of people staying in the lower space 85.

[0081] Such an airflow formation system 10 can improve the accuracy of the control of the blower 21.

[0082] Furthermore, the control method for the blower 21 (airflow generator 20) executed by a computer such as the control device 40 (control unit 42) is a control method for the blower 21 that blows air into the interior of a plurality of ducts 25 arranged in parallel. On the lower surface of each of the plurality of ducts 25, there is an elongated outlet 26 that runs along the longitudinal direction of the duct 25, and the outlet 26 blows airflow toward the space located below the plurality of ducts 25 (downward space 85). The control method controls the blower 21 based on information obtained by sensing regarding the presence or absence of people in the space located below the plurality of ducts 25.

[0083] Such a control method can create a downflow airflow based on the presence or absence of people in the space below 85.

[0084] (Other embodiments) Although embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0085] For example, in the above embodiment, the airflow forming system was implemented by multiple devices. In this case, the components of the airflow forming system (especially the functional components) may be distributed among the multiple devices in any way. Alternatively, the airflow forming system may be implemented as a single device. For example, the airflow forming system may be implemented as a single device corresponding to a control device.

[0086] Furthermore, the processing order described in the above embodiment is merely an example. The order of multiple processing steps may be changed, and multiple processing steps may be executed in parallel. In addition, a processing step performed by one processing step may be performed by another processing step.

[0087] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may also be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0088] Furthermore, each component may be implemented by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or they may be separate circuits. Also, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

[0089] Furthermore, general or specific embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. They may also be implemented in any combination of the system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium. For example, the present invention may be implemented as a building (room) to which the airflow formation system of the above embodiment is applied, or as a control device of the above embodiment. Furthermore, the present invention may be implemented as a control method for an airflow formation system (airflow generator, blower) executed by a computer such as the control device (control unit) of the above embodiment, or as a program for causing a computer to execute such a control method. Furthermore, the present invention may be implemented as a computer-readable non-temporary recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0090] Furthermore, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art could conceive, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0091] 10 Airflow Forming System 20, 20a Airflow Generator 21 Blower 22 Fans 23 Piping 24 filter units 25 ducts 26 air outlets 30 Sensor Groups 31 motion sensors 32 sound sensors 33. Seat sensor 34 AI Cameras 35. Carbon Dioxide Concentration Sensor 36. Particulate matter concentration sensor 37 people location sensors 40 Control device 41 Operation reception section 42 Control Unit 43 Storage section 80 rooms 81 Ceiling 82 Wall 83 Upper space 84 Space 85 Downward space 86 beds

Claims

1. It includes a control unit that controls blowers that supply air into multiple ducts arranged in parallel, Each of the plurality of ducts is provided with an elongated outlet on its lower surface, which is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the duct, and from which an airflow directed toward the space below the plurality of ducts is blown out by the airflow. The control unit controls the blower based on information obtained by sensing regarding the presence or absence of people in the space located below the plurality of ducts. The information relating to the presence or absence of the person includes information indicating the degree of human activity in the space, The control unit increases the airflow from the blower as the level of human activity in the space increases. Airflow formation system.

2. The information relating to the presence or absence of the person includes information indicating the degree of human congestion in the space, The control unit controls the blower based on information indicating the degree of human congestion in the space. The airflow forming system according to claim 1.

3. The control unit increases the airflow from the blower as the degree of human congestion in the space increases. The airflow forming system according to claim 2.

4. The control unit, Based on information regarding the presence or absence of the person, a distinction is made between a person staying in the space and a person passing through the space. The blower is controlled based on whether or not there are people in the space, or the number of people in the space. The airflow forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The information indicating the activity level of a person is the volume of speech in a conversation between a person located in the space, or information indicating the frequency of conversation in the space, obtained by sensing. The airflow forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. A method for controlling a blower that blows air into the interior of multiple ducts arranged in parallel, Each of the plurality of ducts is provided with an elongated outlet on its lower surface, which is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the duct, and from which an airflow directed toward the space below the plurality of ducts is blown out by the airflow. The control method includes a control step of controlling the blower based on information obtained by sensing regarding the presence or absence of people in the space located below the plurality of ducts, The information relating to the presence or absence of the person includes information indicating the degree of human activity in the space, In the control step, the higher the level of human activity in the space, the stronger the airflow from the blower. Control method.

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