Airflow Control Using Floor Temperature for Hidden Body Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning devices struggle to detect foot temperature due to obstacles like furniture, leading to inadequate air conditioning and reduced user comfort.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning device with a human body identifying unit, temperature sensor, floor temperature sensor, and estimated temperature calculator that adjusts air blow control based on detected surface temperatures and floor temperatures to ensure conditioned air reaches the user effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a temperature sensor is used to detect human body surface temperature, then the air conditioning control can be improved, but the detection accuracy is reduced when obstacles like furniture are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces floor temperature as an intermediary parameter to indirectly estimate body temperature when direct detection is blocked by obstacles. The floor temperature sensor detects the temperature around the user's feet, and this information is used by the estimator to calculate the body temperature that cannot be directly measured, thus maintaining control accuracy despite detection blockages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct thermal detection mechanism (temperature sensor pointing at body) with an indirect estimation mechanism using floor temperature data. When the body is not directly visible to the sensor, the system substitutes the direct measurement with an estimated value derived from floor temperature and other available data
2Ease of operation
If the air blow mechanism is controlled based on detected temperature, then user comfort is improved, but the system becomes ineffective when obstacles block temperature detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of floor temperature and obstacles before attempting body temperature measurement. When obstacles are detected or body temperature cannot be measured, the system proactively switches to estimation mode using floor temperature data, ensuring control reliability is maintained before the problem affects user comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors detection results and feedback loops. When direct body temperature detection fails or obstacles are present, the feedback mechanism triggers the estimation algorithm using floor temperature data, ensuring the air blow control remains effective and adaptive to changing detection conditions
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are added to detect obstacles and estimate temperature, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the temperature sensor serve multiple functions: it directly detects body temperature when available, detects floor temperature when the body is blocked, and provides data for the estimation algorithm. This multi-functionality reduces the need for entirely separate sensor systems while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter being measured based on detection conditions. Instead of always measuring body temperature directly, the system switches between measuring body temperature, floor temperature, or using estimated temperature values, allowing a single sensor system to adapt to different operational scenarios
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
The device improves user comfort by accurately controlling air blow direction and temperature distribution, even when obstacles are present, ensuring conditioned air reaches the user effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger arranged in the housing, the heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with air sucked from the air intake port to generate conditioned air
Implementation Method 2
an air blow mechanism provided to the housing, the air blow mechanism configured to generate air flow which sucks air from the air intake port and blows out the conditioned air from the air outlet port
Implementation Method 3
a temperature sensor configured to detect surface temperature in a predetermined detection range
Implementation Method 4
a floor temperature sensor configured to detect floor temperature
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An air conditioning device capable of performing air blow control with taken into account the surface temperature of a site of a human body hidden by an obstacle such as furniture and appropriately blowing conditioned air to the human body of a user is provided. To achieve this, the air conditioning device includes: an air blow mechanism capable of changing the direction of conditioned air blown out through an air outlet port; a temperature sensor configured to detect surface temperature in a predetermined detection range; a human body identify part configured to detect a human body based on a result of the detection by the temperature sensor and identify a region in which the detected human body exists; a floor temperature sensor configured to detect floor temperature; an estimated temperature calculator configured to identify a site of the human body in which the temperature of the human body is not detected by the temperature sensor in the region in which the human body exists and calculate an estimated temperature value of the identified site of the human body based on a result of the detection by the temperature sensor and a result of the detection by the floor temperature sensor; and an air blow control unit configured to control the air blow mechanism based on the estimated temperature value of the site of the human body.