Air-conditioning control apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning control systems face challenges in balancing energy conservation and user comfort when the user is away, as they may unnecessarily stop or start the air conditioner, leading to discomfort and excessive energy consumption due to inaccurate distance-based controls.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning control apparatus that includes an away detector, position acquisition unit, distance acquisition unit, time estimation unit, and instrument control unit, which estimates the user's away time and adjusts the air conditioner's settings based on distance and time to minimize energy consumption while ensuring comfort upon return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the air conditioner is controlled based only on distance threshold, then energy consumption is suppressed when user is away, but the air conditioner may stop unnecessarily when user is away for short time causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting user absence and calculating estimated away time before making control decisions. It predicts whether the user will return soon based on their movement speed and distance, and only stops the air conditioner when the away time exceeds a threshold, preventing unnecessary stoppages that would cause discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time calculations of user movement speed, distance from the building, and estimated return time. Instead of using fixed distance thresholds, the system adapts its control strategy based on the user's movement patterns and predicted behavior, optimizing both energy savings and comfort.
2Device complexity
If the air conditioner is controlled based only on distance threshold, then startup control is simplified, but the air conditioner may repeatedly start and stop when user continues to travel causing needless energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the estimated away time in advance by analyzing the user's movement speed and distance from the building. This preliminary calculation allows the system to predict whether the user will be away long enough to justify starting the air conditioner, preventing unnecessary startups and subsequent stoppages that would waste energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the user's position, calculates movement speed, and updates the estimated away time in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the system to make informed control decisions, adjusting the air conditioner operation based on the user's actual movement patterns rather than relying on simple distance thresholds.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning control apparatus includes an away detector, a position acquisition unit, a distance acquisition unit, and an instrument control unit. The away detector detects that a user is away from a building. The position acquisition unit acquires position information of a portable terminal carried by the user. The distance acquisition unit uses the position information acquired by the position acquisition unit to acquire distance information indicating how far the portable terminal is from the building when the away detector has detected that the user is away from the building. The instrument control unit controls an air conditioner installed in the building based on the distance information acquired by the distance acquisition unit, and the away time calculated by the time estimation unit, so that the air conditioner consumes less energy.