Air Conditioner Temperature Control Using Circadian Rhythm Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioning systems struggle to automatically control room temperature during sleep hours, particularly at night, as they can only set temperatures on an hourly basis, failing to account for the user's circadian rhythm and varying sleep and wake times, making it cumbersome for users to set comfortable temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A control method for an information terminal device that displays a temperature setting screen allowing users to set temperatures for multiple time periods, including a period from bedtime to wake-up time, calculating and displaying preset temperatures based on initial and wake-up temperatures, and outputting control commands to adjust the air conditioner accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If temperature is set on an hourly basis using traditional air conditioning systems, then the system can maintain basic temperature control, but it cannot automatically adapt to user's circadian rhythm and varying sleep/wake times, requiring cumbersome manual adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to circadian rhythmVSAvoidease of temperature setting

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The air conditioning system automatically determines the user's sleep period based on alarm clock information and autonomously generates temperature profiles without requiring manual hourly adjustments. The system serves itself by using existing user data (alarm times) to create personalized temperature schedules that adapt to circadian rhythms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes temperature parameters dynamically based on time of day and user-specific patterns. It generates different temperature profiles for different time periods (sleep period vs. non-sleep period) and adjusts these parameters automatically according to the user's alarm clock information, enabling adaptability to varying sleep and wake times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If manual hourly temperature adjustments are required, then precise temperature control can be achieved, but user convenience and sleep quality deteriorate due to the cumbersome setting process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidtime for temperature setting

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing temperature profiles based on the user's alarm clock information before the actual temperature control period begins. This allows the system to have temperature adjustment plans ready in advance, eliminating the need for real-time manual adjustments during sleep hours while maintaining precise temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The air conditioning system automatically generates and adjusts temperature profiles without requiring user intervention. It uses the alarm clock information to self-determine the sleep period and self-generate appropriate temperature schedules, thereby eliminating the time users would otherwise spend on manual hourly adjustments while maintaining precise temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the system uses fixed time periods for temperature control, then the control logic is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying go-to-bed and wake-up times, reducing adaptability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidadaptability to varying sleep times

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from fixed time periods to dynamic, user-specific time periods. It determines the sleep period dynamically based on the alarm clock information, allowing the temperature control schedule to adapt to varying go-to-bed and wake-up times. This dynamic approach maintains relatively simple control logic while significantly improving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9732978B2Control method for information terminal device and non-transitory computer readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2017.08.15 SUN PATENT TRUST

AI summary

There is provided a control method for an information terminal device having a display and controlling an air conditioner over a network. The control method makes the information terminal device perform processing including: displaying a temperature setting screen where an air conditioner temperature is settable for each of a plurality of time periods; calculating a first time period preset temperature using a first preset temperature at a boundary time and a second preset temperature at a go-to-bed time; calculating a second time period preset temperature using the first preset temperature and a third preset temperature at a wake-up time; displaying the first time period preset temperature and second time period preset temperature; and outputting to the network a control command corresponding to the first preset temperature and second preset temperature when the first time period preset temperature and second time period preset temperature have been fixed.