Air conditioning control device, air conditioning control method and non-transitory computer readable medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air conditioning control devices often face a tradeoff between energy saving and user comfort, with existing systems either compromising on comfort or failing to achieve significant energy savings, and there is a need for a solution that can automatically determine a suitable control period without user notification.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioning control device with a processor that calculates a control period based on historical data and provides instructions to maintain control until the calculated period elapses, using a control period calculator and instructor to automatically adjust operations without user input, while also evaluating comfort and energy saving efficiency to update control rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If user notification is implemented to judge comfortableness, then comfortableness judgment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases and user dissatisfaction may occur due to bothered notifications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfortableness judgment accuracyVSAvoidnotification function complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air conditioning control device automatically judges comfortableness by analyzing operational data and environmental information without requiring user notification. The system serves itself by using its own operational history and sensor data to determine whether comfortableness criteria are met, eliminating the need for user input notifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes feedback loops where operational data and environmental information are continuously monitored and analyzed to judge comfortableness. The control device uses this feedback to automatically adjust control rules and update operational parameters, creating a closed-loop system that improves comfortableness judgment without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If control period is extended for energy saving, then energy saving efficiency is improved, but user comfortableness may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy saving efficiencyVSAvoiduser comfortableness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control period is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts the control period length based on real-time analysis of operational data and environmental conditions. When energy saving opportunities are identified and comfortableness criteria are still met, the control period is extended; when comfortableness thresholds are approached, the control period is shortened to maintain user comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters including control period duration, temperature setpoints, and fan speeds based on analyzed data. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system optimizes energy saving efficiency while maintaining user comfortableness, allowing extended control periods only when comfortableness criteria remain satisfied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If automatic control period calculation is implemented, then user notification is reduced, but measurement precision of comfortableness may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser notification frequencyVSAvoidcomfortableness measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces environmental information and operational data as intermediary elements between user comfort perception and control decisions. Rather than directly notifying users, the system uses sensors and data analysis to indirectly measure comfortableness through environmental parameters, maintaining measurement precision without user notification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of user notification with an automated data analysis system. Instead of relying on user feedback mechanisms, the system uses computational analysis of operational data and environmental information to judge comfortableness, substituting electronic information processing for human interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10941950B2Air conditioning control device, air conditioning control method and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2021.03.09 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

An air conditioning control device as an aspect of the present invention includes a processor configured to execute a program to provide at least a control period calculator and a control instructor. The control period calculator calculates, based on control history about control over an air conditioning device and operation history about operations of the air conditioning device, a control period during which the control is maintained. The control instructor gives an instruction to the air conditioning device to cause the control to be maintained until the control period elapses after start of the control.