Control method for air-conditioning equipment, program, and mobile information terminal

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air-conditioning control systems fail to accurately consider user body movement during sleep when setting temperatures, making it difficult for users to decide on optimal temperature settings for specific time points, especially when restlessness occurs.

Innovation Solution

A mobile information terminal displays a temperature setting screen that changes views based on user body movement values measured by an acceleration sensor, allowing users to set temperatures for each time slot while accounting for movement, such as reducing temperature during restless periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional temperature setting methods are used, then the control system is simple, but the user cannot accurately consider body movement during sleep when setting temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature setting accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an acceleration sensor to detect user body movement during sleep and feeds this information back to automatically adjust temperature settings. The sensor continuously monitors movement patterns and provides real-time data to the control unit, which then modifies the air conditioner operation accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that improves temperature setting accuracy without requiring complex manual input from the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting user body movement through the acceleration sensor and autonomously adjusting temperature settings without requiring active user participation. The air conditioner monitors sleep patterns and makes temperature adjustments independently, allowing the system to serve itself in optimizing comfort conditions during sleep.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If body movement detection is added to improve temperature setting, then temperature setting accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature setting easeVSAvoidsensor and processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting user body movement through the acceleration sensor and autonomously adjusting temperature settings without requiring active user participation. The air conditioner monitors sleep patterns and makes temperature adjustments independently, allowing the system to serve itself in optimizing comfort conditions during sleep.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical temperature adjustment with electronic sensor-based detection and automated control. Instead of requiring users to physically adjust thermostats or manually input preferences, the acceleration sensor electronically detects body movement patterns, and the control system electronically adjusts temperature settings, substituting mechanical user interaction with automated electronic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If manual temperature setting is used, then the system is simple to operate, but users cannot easily adjust temperatures based on restlessness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature setting reliabilityVSAvoidautomatic adjustment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an acceleration sensor to detect user body movement during sleep and feeds this information back to automatically adjust temperature settings. The sensor continuously monitors movement patterns and provides real-time data to the control unit, which then modifies the air conditioner operation accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that improves temperature setting accuracy without requiring complex manual input from the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to easily and intuitively set temperatures considering their body movement, improving the accuracy and comfort of temperature settings by visualizing movement patterns on the screen.

Implementation Method 1

measure body-movement values of a user for the respective time slots, by using an acceleration sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration sensor measurement: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS9791208B2Control method for air-conditioning equipment, program, and mobile information terminal

Publication Date: 2017.10.17 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

An air-conditioning setting screen has a coordinate space defined by a Y-axis along which temperature items are indicated in increments of one degree and an X-axis along which time-point items are indicated in increments of one hour. Operation points PT corresponding to the time-point items are arranged in the coordinate space. The air-conditioning setting screen displays time-series changes in a previous day's body-movement values such that the density of a background color is higher for times at which the body-movement value is larger and the density of a background color is lower for times at which the body-movement value is smaller.