Air-conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning systems with human detection sensors can lead to energy loss and discomfort when multiple devices detect the same person, causing overlapping air-conditioning zones to overcool or overheat due to simultaneous air conditioning efforts.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system with multiple devices equipped with fans, airflow direction adjusters, human detection sensors, inlet air temperature sensors, and a controller that calculates positional relationships and human detection area overlaps to adjust outlet air volumes and directions, ensuring efficient and comfortable air conditioning without waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple air-conditioning devices independently detect and condition areas with human presence, then human comfort is improved through localized air conditioning, but energy consumption increases due to overlapping detection areas causing simultaneous air conditioning efforts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control logic of multiple air-conditioning devices by enabling them to share human detection information through a network. When one device detects a human in an overlapping area, this information is communicated to adjacent devices, which then adjust their operation accordingly. This combination of detection data allows coordinated control that maintains comfort while avoiding redundant energy consumption from simultaneous air conditioning efforts in the same space.
2Reliability
If multiple air-conditioning devices are deployed in perimeter zones to handle local cooling needs, then air conditioning effectiveness is improved in specific zones, but device complexity increases due to the need for coordinated control among multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where each air-conditioning device monitors its own human detection sensor status and shares this information with adjacent devices through network communication. The control unit receives feedback about detected humans in overlapping areas and automatically adjusts airflow direction and volume accordingly. This feedback loop enables automatic coordination without requiring complex centralized control systems, maintaining reliability while managing device complexity through decentralized intelligent control.
3Ease of operation
If air-conditioning devices automatically adjust airflow direction toward detected humans, then comfort is improved through targeted air conditioning, but harmful effects occur when multiple devices blow air toward the same person causing overcooling
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by having adjacent air-conditioning devices preemptively adjust their airflow direction away from detected humans in overlapping areas. When one device detects a human and directs airflow toward them, neighboring devices receive this information and proactively change their airflow direction to avoid blowing air toward the same person. This preliminary adjustment prevents the harmful effect of overcooling before it occurs, maintaining comfort while avoiding adverse effects.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning system includes two or more air-conditioning devices A, each of which in turn includes a fan adapted to adjust a volume of air blown out into a space to be air-conditioned, an airflow direction adjuster adapted to adjust an airflow direction of outlet air blown out by the fan, a human detection sensor adapted to detect human presence, an inlet air temperature sensor adapted to detect temperature of inlet air sucked in by the fan, a position setting device used to set an installation location of each of the air-conditioning devices, and a controller, in which a positional relationship with an adjacent air-conditioning device is calculated based on data from the position setting device and furthermore a human detection area overlap with the adjacent air-conditioning device is calculated.