Air Conditioner Control Using Return-Time and Distance Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning control systems face challenges in balancing energy conservation and user comfort when a user is away, as they may unnecessarily stop or repeatedly start the air conditioner, leading to discomfort and excessive energy consumption due to inaccurate distance and time-based controls.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning control apparatus that uses a portable terminal to detect the user's distance and estimated return time, adjusting the setback value and operating parameters of the air conditioner to minimize energy consumption while maintaining comfort by progressively changing temperature settings based on distance and time away, and learning user behavior patterns to optimize control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the air conditioner is controlled to stop when the user is away, then energy consumption is reduced, but user comfort deteriorates when the user returns shortly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating the estimated return time in advance and using this information to determine whether to stop the air conditioner. When the away time is short, the system maintains operation in advance to prevent discomfort upon return, while allowing stop when away time is long to save energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The control strategy dynamically adjusts based on the calculated away time. The system transitions from a static on/off control to a dynamic control that adapts to different away durations, maintaining comfort for short absences while achieving energy savings for long absences.
2Device complexity
If the air conditioner is controlled based solely on distance threshold, then simple control is achieved, but inaccurate control occurs when user continues traveling close to the building
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediate calculation step by computing the estimated return time based on current position and movement characteristics. This intermediary parameter serves as a more reliable basis for control decisions than simple distance threshold alone, improving accuracy without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes from using a single distance parameter to using a composite parameter (estimated return time) that incorporates both distance and temporal information. This parameter transformation enables more accurate determination of user intent regarding return time.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air-conditioning control apparatus according to the present invention can conserve energy as well as maintain a comfort level. An air-conditioning control apparatus (40) includes an away detector (41), a position acquisition unit (42), a distance acquisition unit (43), a time estimation unit (46), and an instrument control unit (44). The away detector (41) detects that a user (92) is away from a building (90). The position acquisition unit (42) acquires position information of a portable terminal (20) of the user (92). When the user (92) is detected to be away, the distance acquisition unit (43) acquires distance information indicating how far the portable terminal (20) is from the building (90). When the user (92) is detected to be away, the time estimation unit (46) calculates an away time, which is an estimated value of a time beginning at a current timepoint and ending at a timepoint when the user (92) returns. The instrument control unit (44) controls an air conditioner (50) installed in the building (90) on the basis of the distance information acquired by the distance acquisition unit (43), and the away time calculated by the time estimation unit (46), so that the air conditioner (50) consumes less energy.