Metabolic Feedback Climate Control for Accurate Thermal Sensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for controlling heating-cooling combination apparatuses struggle to accurately reflect user thermal sensation without requiring remote controller operation, often resulting in a significant difference between estimated and actual thermal sensation due to constant metabolic rate assumptions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus control device that includes a metabolic amount measurement device, a control content storage unit, an input unit, an operation unit, and a correction unit, which calculates and corrects thermal sensation using real-time metabolic data and historical metabolic amount data, allowing for precise control of heating-cooling combination apparatuses without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the metabolic amount is assumed as a constant value for estimating thermal sensation, then the system complexity is reduced and operation becomes easier, but the accuracy of thermal sensation estimation deteriorates significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically measures and updates the metabolic amount using sensors and user activity data without requiring manual input or remote controller operation. The metabolic amount is self-updated based on detected user activities (walking, sitting, sleeping) and environmental conditions, eliminating the need for constant user intervention while maintaining high estimation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The metabolic amount is transformed from a static constant value to a dynamic variable that automatically adjusts based on user activity level, environmental temperature, and time of day. The system continuously updates the metabolic amount to reflect current physiological states, enabling accurate thermal sensation estimation without requiring manual operation.
2Measurement precision
If the metabolic amount is continuously updated based on user activities and environmental conditions, then the thermal sensation estimation accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus control device integrates multiple functions into a single system: it controls the heating-cooling apparatus, measures metabolic amount, detects user activities, and estimates thermal sensation. By combining these functions, the system avoids the need for separate devices while achieving accurate thermal sensation estimation through continuous metabolic amount updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the measured metabolic amount is continuously used to update the thermal sensation estimation, which in turn adjusts the heating-cooling apparatus control. This closed-loop feedback enables accurate thermal comfort control without requiring complex manual intervention or multiple independent systems.
3Measurement precision
If the thermal sensation is corrected using historical metabolic amount data, then the accuracy of thermal sensation prediction is improved, but the calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores the relationship between metabolic amount changes and thermal sensation corrections. By preparing correction data in advance based on historical patterns, the system reduces real-time calculation complexity while maintaining high prediction accuracy. The correction is applied automatically when metabolic amount changes are detected.
4Ease of operation
If remote controller operation is eliminated for thermal environment control, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to accurately reflect user intent deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical remote controller operation with an automatic sensing and control system. Metabolic amount sensors, activity detectors, and environmental sensors substitute for manual remote controller input, automatically determining user thermal needs based on physiological and environmental data. This eliminates the need for physical operation while accurately reflecting user intent through objective measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The metabolic amount serves as an intermediary parameter that bridges user physiological state and apparatus control. Instead of direct remote controller input, the system uses metabolic amount measurements as an intermediate step to infer user thermal sensation and automatically adjust the heating-cooling apparatus, accurately reflecting user intent without manual operation.
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
An apparatus control system includes a metabolic amount measurement device measuring a metabolic amount, and an apparatus control device controlling a heating-cooling combination apparatus. In the apparatus control device, a control content storage unit stores thermal sensations in association with control contents of the heating-cooling combination apparatus. The metabolic amount measured by the metabolic amount measurement device is inputted to an input unit. A metabolic amount storage unit stores a history of the metabolic amount inputted to the input unit before. A calculation unit calculates the thermal sensation using the metabolic amount inputted to the input unit. A correction unit corrects the thermal sensation calculated by the calculation unit using the history of the metabolic amount stored in the metabolic amount storage unit. An apparatus control unit controls the heating-cooling combination apparatus according to a control content stored in the control content storage unit in association with the thermal sensation corrected by the correction unit.