Floorplan-Based Air Conditioner Control for Easier Zone Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning control systems require complex user input for specifying the area to be air-conditioned and the position of each air conditioner, making it difficult to maintain comfort and save energy, especially in small rooms with a single air conditioner.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning control device that includes a storage unit for floorplans, an area specifying unit to identify areas based on drawings, and a number specifying unit to count air conditioners within those areas, allowing for automated specification and control of air conditioner operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If user manually inputs area information and air conditioner positions, then control precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically acquires area information and air conditioner positions from building management system databases without requiring manual user input. The control device self-services by retrieving and processing the necessary spatial data, eliminating the complex manual setting process while maintaining accurate position specification.
Solution Approach 2:
The building management system acts as an intermediary that provides area information and air conditioner position data to the control device. This intermediary layer automates the data acquisition process, replacing manual user input with automated system-to-system data exchange.
2Measurement precision
If user manually inputs area information and air conditioner positions, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically retrieves area information and air conditioner positions from the building management system database without requiring user input. This self-service approach maintains precise position specification while dramatically simplifying the operation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The building management system serves as an intermediary that automatically provides spatial data to the control device, eliminating the need for users to manually input area information and air conditioner positions, thus improving ease of operation.
3Reliability
If air conditioners operate simultaneously, then comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines optimal operating times for air conditioners based on spatial relationships and thermal characteristics, scheduling their operation periodically rather than simultaneously. This allows comfort maintenance through coordinated operation while reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system considers the specific thermal characteristics and spatial relationships of different areas when determining air conditioner operation schedules. Each air conditioner's operation is optimized based on its local environmental conditions and the thermal properties of the areas it serves, enabling energy-efficient comfort maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning control device includes; a storage unit configured to store a drawing illustrating a floorplan indicating where one or more air conditioners are installed and separated areas within the floorplan; an area specifying unit configured to specify areas where the one or more air conditioners are installed on the basis of the stored drawing; a number specifying unit configured to specify the number of air conditioners within the respective specified areas; and an air conditioner control unit configured to control operation of each air conditioner within the specified areas on the basis of the specified number of air conditioners. This permits automatically specifying the positions of each air conditioner and the number of air conditioners on the basis of the drawing, thereby facilitating input setting for each air conditioner.