Infrared Room-Shape Recognition for Adaptive Air Conditioner Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners face challenges in accurately calculating room capacity and wall and floor temperatures when the boundary detection from two-dimensional infrared thermal image data is unreliable, especially in unknown rooms, and lack spatial recognition technology to determine room shape based on adaptive conditions during air conditioning operations.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner equipped with an infrared sensor that scans the room to detect temperature differences between the floor and walls, human body positions, and capacity zones, integrating this information to calculate the room shape, floor dimensions, and wall positions using thermal image data, shape limitation values, and human body detection logs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wall and floor boundary is calculated using conventional image processing on two-dimensional thermal image data, then room information can be detected, but the positions of floor and walls cannot be calculated accurately when the boundary cannot be favorably calculated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (contrast agent) that is applied to the boundary between wall and floor to enhance the detectability of the boundary. This contrast agent creates a visible marker on the thermal image data, allowing the image processing unit to accurately detect the boundary position even in cases where the natural thermal contrast is insufficient. This resolves the contradiction by providing a reliable boundary detection method that improves both measurement precision and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional image processing is used to detect room capacity and temperatures, then processing can be performed, but it is difficult to calculate positions for unknown rooms based on calculated line image data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies contrast agent to the wall-fLOOR boundary before performing thermal imaging and processing. This preliminary action ensures that the boundary is clearly marked and detectable, allowing the system to accurately calculate room capacity and temperatures for unknown room configurations. The pre-marked boundary provides reliable reference information that enables accurate spatial recognition and temperature zone calculation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If spatial recognition technology is not integrated, then the air conditioner can operate with basic controls, but it cannot accurately determine room shape based on temperature unevenness and human body detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple detection functions into a single comprehensive system. The image processing unit not only detects wall and floor boundaries but also identifies human bodies, determines room shape, and calculates temperature distributions. The control unit uses this integrated information to simultaneously manage air conditioning operations, fan directions, and temperature controls. This multi-functional integration resolves the contradiction by achieving high measurement precision through a unified system that leverages the interrelationships between different detection parameters.
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
This solution enables accurate and reliable calculation of room capacity, wall and floor temperatures, and room shape, improving the air conditioning process by considering temperature unevenness and human presence, enhancing the air conditioner's control and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared sensor attached to a front of the main body at a prescribed downwardly facing depression angle that detects a temperature of a temperature detection target by scanning a temperature detection target area from right to left
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner provided with a spatial recognition and detection function for deciding the room shape by integrally determining based on a temperature difference information between the floor and the walls occurring during the air conditioning operation, a human body detection position log, and a capacity zone of the air conditioner. The air conditioner provides an infrared sensor and a control unit that controls the air conditioner by detecting a presence of heat generating device and human with the infrared sensor, wherein the control unit acquires a thermal image data of the room by scanning with the infrared sensor, and integrates to calculate a floor dimension inside the air conditioning area, and calculates the wall position within the air conditioning area on the thermal image data.