Ventilation Control Using Image-Based Metabolic Rate Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilation control systems fail to accurately determine the required ventilation volume, as they rely solely on the presence or absence of a person and carbon dioxide concentration, which can vary by location, leading to excess or deficiency in ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation device control apparatus that uses an image acquisition unit to calculate a metabolic rate equivalent amount based on captured images, adjusting the ventilation volume accordingly, taking into account attributes like age, gender, body type, and actions of individuals, and also considers the distance between the person and the ventilation device to optimize ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ventilation volume is changed based on sensor-detected carbon dioxide concentration, then ventilation control is implemented, but the measured value may not be representative of the entire space leading to excess or deficiency in ventilation volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image capturing device as an intermediary tool to detect person-related information (presence, attributes, actions) as a mediator between direct CO2 sensing and ventilation control. This allows indirect assessment of ventilation needs through visual cues about occupants without relying solely on potentially unrepresentative CO2 sensor readings from single locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ventilation control approach by dividing it into multiple independent detection dimensions: person presence detection, attribute detection (age, gender, body type), and action detection (sitting, standing, working). This segmentation allows comprehensive assessment of ventilation requirements from multiple angles rather than relying on a single CO2 measurement point.
2Ease of operation
If ventilation volume is adjusted based on person presence and carbon dioxide concentration, then ventilation control is achieved, but excess or deficiency in ventilation volume occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for ventilation control from simple binary presence detection and CO2 concentration to a multi-parameter system including person attributes (age, gender, body type) and actions (sitting, standing, working). This parameter expansion enables more nuanced and accurate determination of appropriate ventilation volumes while maintaining ease of automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and analysis of person attributes and actions before determining ventilation requirements. By预先 identifying what people are doing and their characteristics, the system can proactively adjust ventilation volumes to match actual needs rather than reacting to CO2 levels after they have already changed.
3Device complexity
If standard ventilation volume is calculated based on current metabolic rate, then ventilation control is simplified, but it does not account for future changes in metabolic rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting current person actions and attributes, then predicting future metabolic rate changes based on this information. For example, if someone is detected standing or performing active actions, the system anticipates higher future CO2 production and adjusts ventilation accordingly before CO2 levels actually rise, improving timeliness without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by making ventilation control adaptive and time-varying based on detected person states. Rather than using fixed ventilation volumes, the system dynamically adjusts ventilation requirements according to changing person attributes and actions, allowing the ventilation strategy to evolve with occupancy patterns while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided are a ventilation device control apparatus and a ventilation system capable of accurately approximating a ventilation volume of a target space to an appropriate ventilation volume. A ventilation device control apparatus (100) includes an image acquisition unit (110), a metabolic rate calculation unit (120), and a ventilation control unit (140). The image acquisition unit acquires a captured image from an image capturing device (20) that captures an image of a target space (S). The metabolic rate calculation unit calculates a metabolic rate of a person in the target space, on the basis of the captured image acquired by the image acquisition unit. The ventilation control unit adjusts a ventilation volume of the target space by a ventilation device (10) that ventilates the target space, on the basis of the metabolic rate calculated by the metabolic rate calculation unit.