JP5349124B2 - Heat detection device and air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat detecting device correctly detecting heat of a user, and an air conditioner performing air-conditioning by controlling an operation on the basis of the detected heat information to maintain a user's sleep. <P>SOLUTION: This heat detecting device includes a measuring means 2 for measuring biological information relating to the user U at bedtime, a deciding means 3c for deciding that a value of the measured biological information is higher than a predetermined value, a change gradient calculating means 3d for calculating a change gradient of the value of biological information when it is determined that the value of biological information is large, a first gradient determining means 3f for comparing the change gradient with a first threshold value, and a second gradient determining means 3g comparing the change gradient with a second threshold value and determining heat of the user U, when it is decided that the change gradient is larger than the first threshold value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat detection device and an air conditioner that is operation-controlled based on heat information detected by the heat detection device.

  Ideally, the air conditioner is operated at an air conditioning temperature at which the user always feels comfortable. For example, when the user is awake (wakes up), the temperature maintained by the operation of the air conditioner is set by the user, and the set temperature is appropriately determined according to the user's sense of being hot or cold. Is done.

  On the other hand, when the user sleeps, the user himself / herself cannot change the set temperature as appropriate so that the user can spend comfortably, unlike when the user is awake. Therefore, for example, the following air conditioning control method is disclosed in the invention described in Patent Document 1.

  That is, a thermal sensation scale that associates the indoor environment situation with the comfort perceived by the human body is set in advance, air conditioning control parameters are determined according to the thermal sensation scale, and predetermined intervals are set for each predetermined sampling period. The measurement value of human physiological quantity and physical quantity of indoor environment is acquired, the thermal sensation predicted value is calculated based on the acquired measurement value, and the thermal sensation predicted value obtained by the calculation is applied to the thermal sensation scale. Thus, predetermined air conditioning control parameters are acquired and air conditioning control is performed.

JP 2006-194540 A

  However, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the following points are not considered. That is, there may be a case where the measurement of the human physiological quantity and the indoor environmental physical quantity serving as a reference for applying to the thermal sensation scale is incomplete. For example, when the user gets cold during sleep and dives into the futon, the user himself feels cold, but since the inside of the futon is warm, the thermal sensation prediction value may be calculated warmly. If such a thermal sensation prediction value is output, the air conditioner may be further controlled to lower the room temperature and the room may become colder, resulting in a vicious operation control.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to accurately determine the user's heat by reducing false detections by judging the biological information of the user sleeping in the room in two stages. It is providing the air conditioner which performs the air conditioning which continues a user's sleep by performing operation control based on the detected heat information, and the heat detection apparatus detected.

A feature according to an embodiment of the present invention is that, in the heat detection device, measurement means for measuring biological information about the user at bedtime, change gradient calculation means for calculating a change gradient of the value of the biological information, and change gradient calculation means The change gradient calculated by the first gradient determination unit that compares the change gradient with the first threshold, and the change gradient calculation unit calculates the change gradient when the change gradient is determined to be larger than the first threshold. And a second gradient determination means for comparing the change gradient with a second threshold to determine the heat of the user, wherein the first gradient determination means has the change gradient greater than the first threshold. The second gradient determination means further compares the change gradient with the second threshold value, which is smaller than the first threshold value. Predetermined time from threshold of 2 Determines whether large continue to, it that detects Heat of the user is larger.

  According to the present invention, based on the detected heat information, the heat detection device that reduces detection errors and accurately detects the user's heat by determining the biological information of the user sleeping in the room in two stages. It is possible to provide an air conditioner that performs air conditioning such that the user's sleep is continued by performing operation control.

It is a general view which shows the relationship between the heat detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and an air conditioner. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which has arrange | positioned the measuring means which concerns on embodiment of this invention on the mat | matte M. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example in which the mat | matte M was arrange | positioned on the futon and the user lay down where the measurement means which concerns on embodiment of this invention was arrange | positioned. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a response | compatibility taken when a user feels hot at bedtime. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the heat detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow in which the heat detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention detects heat. It is a graph for demonstrating the heat detection which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a graph for demonstrating the heat detection which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the air conditioner which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation control of the air conditioner which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the air conditioner which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation control of the air conditioner which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a relationship between a heat detection device and an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The heat detection device 1 includes a measurement unit 2 that measures various biological information of the user U at bedtime and a detection unit 3 that detects heat based on the measurement result from the measurement unit 2. An operation control command based on the determination result of the heat detected by the heat detection device 1 (hereinafter, this operation control command is also referred to as “hot heat information” as appropriate) is transmitted to the air conditioner 4. Note that “hot” in the following description refers to a situation in which the user U at bedtime wakes up due to the heat if left as it is.

  As the measuring means 2, for example, a temperature / humidity sensor employing a semi-enclosed capsule structure is used. This is because a temperature / humidity sensor is accommodated in the capsule, and the capsule itself has a plurality of holes (therefore, the temperature / humidity sensor is not sealed in the capsule). By adopting such a structure, it is possible to avoid the saturation in the capsule accompanying the increase in humidity even when the user U sweats, so that the biological information of the user U can be accurately measured. it can. Here, the biological information measured by the measuring unit 2 is, for example, body temperature (temperature) or sweating (humidity) when the user U goes to bed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of measuring means 2 are installed on the upper surface of the mat M having excellent clearance and elasticity. The mat M has a width that is substantially the same as the width of the bedding on which the user U to be measured lies, for example. The measuring means 2 is installed all the way in the width direction of the mat M with a predetermined interval. In the heat detection apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, three measuring means 2 (measuring means 2A to 2C) are shown. However, these three numbers are merely examples, and the number suitable for measurement is mat M. Installed. In FIG. 2, seven are installed in the width direction.

  The mat M is then placed on the bedding, and the user U lies on the mat M. FIG. 3 shows this state. By installing the mat M and the measuring means 2 in this way, even when the user U moves on the bedding (mat M) at bedtime, the user U can be kept in contact with any of the measuring means 2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid being impossible to measure.

  Note that the mat M on which the measuring unit 2 is installed may be placed on any place on the bedding, but from the viewpoint of collecting the biological information of the user U, at least the measuring unit 2 is the user U's. It is preferable to be placed at a position that always contacts the back. This is because the biological information of the user U at bedtime can be collected most from the back of the user U.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the end of the measuring unit 2 is connected to the detecting unit 3, and the biological information of the user U measured by the measuring unit 2 is transmitted to the detecting unit 3. In FIG. 1, the measurement unit 2 and the detection unit 3 are shown connected by a solid line, and it looks as if biological information is transmitted by wire, but the biological information from the measurement unit 2 to the detection unit 3 is shown. Transmission is not limited to wired communication but may be performed wirelessly or by other methods.

  As described above, the air conditioner 4 is connected to the heat detection device 1. The air conditioner 4 receives the heat information detected by the heat detection device 1 and sets the temperature at which the room is air conditioned based on the heat information. In FIG. 1, the heat detection device 1 and the air conditioner 4 are shown connected by a solid line, but the transmission of heat information from the heat detection device 1 to the air conditioner 4 is not limited to wired communication but wirelessly. It may be performed by other methods.

  Here, in general, the user U will briefly touch on the behavior until he / she wakes up (wakes up) at bedtime. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of correspondence that is supposed to be taken when the user feels hot at bedtime. Here, it is assumed that the air conditioner 4 is not operated, or that the user U wakes up before the air conditioner 4 is operated because the indoor set temperature is high.

  When the room temperature is appropriate or at an appropriate humidity at bedtime, the user U can sleep comfortably, and once he goes to sleep, he does not wake up (wake up) until, for example, morning. It can be said that this is because the user U always checks his / her state between the bedding and the room even when he is sleeping. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, checking whether the user is sleeping comfortably in this way is represented by “whether or not the user U feels hot” (ST101).

  If the user U does not feel the heat (NO in ST101), it can be said that he / she is sleeping comfortably. On the other hand, if the user U feels hot while sleeping, the user U first copes with the heat himself (ST102). This is likely to be done unconsciously in many cases. For example, it is an act of taking a limb out of a futon that feels hot, peeling off the futon, or extending a limb to a cold place of the futon. When the user U copes with the heat (YES in ST102), the user U determines again whether the heat is reduced by the countermeasure (ST103). If the heat is settled at this time, the user U continues to go to bed and does not wake up (awake) until a predetermined time.

  As described above, if the heat does not decrease even if the heat is unconsciously dealt with while sleeping, a so-called “slow sleep state” continues (ST104). However, even if this hard sleep continues, it does not wake up immediately. By continuing to sleep well, the user U also gradually awakens and eventually wakes up (wakes up) (ST105).

  When it is hot and hard to sleep, it will wake up following such a process. However, in the present invention, the heat detection device 1 that detects the heat of the user U when the hot and hard sleep state continues, and thus By providing the air conditioner 4 that is operated and controlled based on the detected heat information, the user U can continue to sleep without waking up (awake) even if he / she feels heat It is.

  The feature of this heat detection device 1 is that it is aroused on the condition that the user feels the heat from the ecological information during the sleep of the user and that the heat is continued without being canceled. It is in the point of judging that there is a high possibility. This judgment is based on the fact that the value of ecological information (temperature, humidity, etc.) rises greatly during the period when the user starts to feel heat, and that the value of ecological information (temperature, humidity, etc.) does not drop significantly thereafter. Is based on the fact that

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the detection means 3 of the heat detection device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The detection unit 3 includes a reception unit 3a, an information selection unit 3b, an absolute value determination unit 3c, a change gradient calculation unit 3d, a storage unit 3e, a first gradient determination unit 3f, and a second gradient determination unit. 3g and transmission means 3h. Moreover, FIG. 6 is a flowchart which shows the flow in which the heat detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention detects heat. Hereinafter, the flow in which the heat detection device 1 detects the heat of the user U who is sleeping will be described together with the function of each unit shown in the internal configuration of the detection unit 3.

  First, when detection of heat is started, the receiving unit 3a receives the biological information of the user U transmitted from the plurality of measuring units 2 (ST1). The biological information transmitted from the measuring unit 2 is information on the body temperature and humidity (sweat) of the user U at the time of going to bed. The biological information received by the receiving unit 3a is transmitted to the information selecting unit 3b.

  The information selection means 3b calculates data suitable for heat detection, for example, water vapor pressure on the back, from the biological information of the user U (ST2). In the following description, an example will be given in which heat is detected based on the calculated water vapor pressure of the user U. This calculation is performed for each measuring means 2 and for each time. Therefore, when 10 measuring means 2 are installed, 10 values are calculated at each time.

  Furthermore, the information selection means 3b selects the water vapor pressure (biological information) indicating the maximum value at each time from the water vapor pressure calculated for each measurement means 2 (ST3). The reason why the maximum value is selected here is to extract the data of the measuring means 2 located closest to the user U as the most appropriate data as the data of the sleep difficulty (hot heat) that the user U feels.

  A graph showing the transition of the maximum value of the biological information (water vapor pressure) selected by the information selection means 3b along the bedtime of the user U is the graph shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the vertical axis represents the water vapor pressure (Pa) on the back of the user U, and the horizontal axis represents the sleep time (minutes) of the user U.

  Note that the transition of the water vapor pressure shown in this graph represents the water vapor pressure measured in a state where the air conditioner 4 is not operated as described above. Further, for convenience of explanation, in the graph of FIG. 7, the sleep time represents only between 140 minutes and 190 minutes. Further, the graphs shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 including FIG. 8 to be described later are prepared for the convenience of explanation of the invention, and either the information selection means 3b or the detection means 3 is used by the user U. It is not created when detecting. However, it does not prevent creation by any means.

  According to the graph shown in FIG. 7, the value of the water vapor pressure at 140 minutes once decreases toward 145 minutes, then increases gently, then increases further from 170 minutes, and starts decreasing at 177 minutes. After that, it starts to rise and fall again from 182 minutes. Since the vertical axis represents the water vapor pressure (Pa) on the back of the user U as described above, if the value increases, the user U feels hot (the user U feels hot), and if the value decreases, the user U heat This indicates that the feeling is reduced (the heat of the user U is reduced).

  For example, the value of the water vapor pressure decreases from 140 minutes to 145 minutes. At this point, the user U feels hot, but by performing the action of uncovering the futon as described above (unconsciously), the water vapor pressure has decreased as a result of the heat being reduced by coping with the heat. (See step 102 in FIG. 4). In addition, since the water vapor pressure (hot feeling) has gradually increased from 145 minutes, it is considered that the user U has started to feel the heat again, although the heat has settled once by himself. The present invention makes it possible for the user U to sleep comfortably without being awakened by grasping the fluctuation of the heat feeling of the user U based on, for example, the water vapor pressure.

  In the case of the user U shown in the graph of FIG. 7, the user U actually starts to wake up gradually from 178 minutes and wakes up at 181 minutes. When the user U moves in the process of being awakened or fully awakened, for example, air enters between the futon and the user U, so the feeling of heat that the user U feels decreases. This also appears in the graph shown in FIG.

  After the biometric information indicating the maximum value is selected by the information selection means 3b (the information selected in this way is hereinafter referred to as “maximum value information”), a threshold value (absolute value) serving as a reference by the absolute value determination means 3c Is confirmed (ST4). The absolute value is set in order to avoid erroneous detection of heat.

  That is, although the user U is sleeping in a temperature range that is clearly not hot, it is conceivable that the detection means 3 shows a change in water vapor pressure similar to the water vapor pressure when detecting heat. In such a case, if the absolute value is not set, there is a possibility that the user U is not hot but is detected as hot and the air conditioner 4 is operated. Therefore, an absolute value is provided to prevent such so-called false detection. The absolute value can be arbitrarily set and is stored in advance in the storage unit 3e.

  Whether the absolute value determination means 3c is greater than the value of the water vapor pressure selected by the information selection means 3b based on the maximum value information (which is set to 3500 Pa in the graph shown in FIG. 7). It is determined whether or not (ST5). As a result of the determination, when the maximum value is equal to or smaller than the absolute value (NO in ST5), the detection means 3 returns to step 1 again to obtain biological information from the measurement means 2, and performs the above-described steps. .

  On the other hand, when the maximum value is larger than the absolute value, the absolute value determination unit 3c further transmits the maximum value information to the change gradient calculation unit 3d, and the change gradient calculation unit 3d calculates the change gradient (ST6). ). In the graph shown in FIG. 7, the maximum value is shown to be larger than the absolute value at many times, and only around 183 minutes is less than the absolute value.

  The change gradient is obtained from the inclination of the water vapor pressure (Pa) of the user U shown in FIG. 7, and represents the heat of the user U due to the steepness of the inclination (change gradient). Specifically, the graph shown in FIG. 8 represents the water vapor pressure difference (ΔPa / dt) every 3 minutes of the moving average of 2 minutes. That is, the slope is calculated by differentiating the water vapor pressure shown in FIG. Therefore, the vertical axis of FIG. 8 represents the water vapor pressure difference (ΔPa / dt), and the horizontal axis represents the sleep time (minutes) as in FIG. It should be noted that the time (2 minutes or 3 minutes described above) used as a reference when calculating the moving average or the like in calculating the water vapor pressure difference (ΔPa / dt) can be arbitrarily set.

  For example, from 140 minutes to 145 minutes in FIG. 8, since the heat has subsided by the user U's own response (water vapor pressure rapidly decreases) as described in FIG. 7 described above, it hardly appears in FIG. 8. . Thereafter, from 146 minutes to 148 minutes, the user U feels hot (see FIG. 7), and the inclination appears steeply in FIG.

  When the change gradient of the water vapor pressure is calculated in the change gradient calculation means 3d, the information is transmitted to the first gradient determination means 3f and the second gradient determination means 3g. First, in the first gradient determination means 3f, it is determined whether or not the water vapor pressure, that is, the humidity of the user U, tends to increase rapidly from the change gradient of the water vapor pressure. The fact that the humidity tends to increase rapidly indicates that the user U is sweating due to heat.

  When information on the change gradient is transmitted from the change gradient calculating means 3d to the first gradient determining means 3f (ST7), the time measuring means 3f1 provided in the first gradient determining means 3f is reset (ST8). . Then, it is determined whether or not the change gradient of the water vapor pressure by the first gradient determining means 3f is larger than a predetermined threshold (ST9). Here, the threshold value used in the first gradient determination means 3f is represented as “threshold value 1” for convenience. Here, for example, 50 is set. Since this threshold value 1 has a large part depending on the sense of the user U, for example, when the user U is hot, the threshold value 1 is lowered (for example, 30). By increasing 1 (for example, 65), it is possible to detect heat more suitable for each user U.

  For example, the graph of FIG. 8 shows a state in which the threshold value 1 is provided in the portion “50”. According to FIG. 8, this threshold value 1 exceeds 148 minutes. And it displaces in the area | region exceeding the threshold value 1 over about 5 minutes, and becomes less than the threshold value 1 in 153 minutes.

  After the determination of the water vapor pressure change gradient in the first gradient determining means 3f is started, if it is determined that it is greater than the threshold value 1 (YES in ST9), the timer t1 starts the timing operation of the timer t1 or Continue (ST10). The reason for measuring time is to prevent erroneous detection.

  The determination in the first gradient determining means 3f is whether or not the humidity (water vapor pressure) measured in the measuring means 2 is in an increasing tendency, and making a determination in an extremely short time and instant makes the determination incorrect. Be based. Moreover, since the generation | occurrence | production of noise is also considered, it aims at the elimination. Therefore, the time measured here is set in consideration of the above points. In the embodiment of the present invention, “2 minutes” is set. The set time is stored in advance in the storage unit 3e.

  Referring to FIG. 8, as described above, after 148 minutes, the state exceeding 2 minutes and exceeding the threshold value 1 is maintained, so that the user U can be awakened in the first gradient determination unit 3f. It is determined that a characteristic heat is detected (YES in ST11).

  When the water vapor pressure difference (ΔPa / dt) exceeding the threshold value 1 is not detected (NO in ST9), or the state exceeding the threshold value 1 is not continued for a predetermined time (2 minutes) or more, and the state is not detected. If it is determined (NO in ST11 after NO in ST11), it is determined that heat that may cause the user U to become awake is not detected, and the process returns to the first change gradient determination (ST7) again.

  When heat is detected in the first gradient determining means 3f (YES in ST11), the determination result is transmitted from the first gradient determining means 3f to the second gradient determining means 3g, and then the second time. Is started (ST12). When the determination of whether the change gradient of the water vapor pressure by the second gradient determining means 3g is larger than a predetermined threshold is started, the time measuring means 3g1 provided in the second gradient determining means 3g is reset. (ST13).

  Here, the threshold value used in the second gradient determining means 3g is represented as “threshold value 2” for convenience. This threshold value 2 determines whether or not the state determined to be hot in the first gradient determining means 3f so far continues for a predetermined time or more. In other words, it is determined whether or not the water vapor pressure is not greatly decreased. Is the value used for That is, the threshold value 1 is for detecting an abrupt increase, and the threshold value 2 is for discriminating a state in which the threshold value remains high thereafter. For this reason, the threshold value 1 is set larger than the threshold value 2. Therefore, although depending on the length of the predetermined time to be set, if the value of the threshold value 2 is increased for the same time, it is less likely to be detected as heat detection, and conversely, if the value of the threshold value 2 decreases, It is often judged as a detection.

  For example, in the graph of FIG. 8, a threshold value 2 is provided in the portion “−10”, and this threshold value 2 is exceeded immediately before 147 minutes. And it is displaced in the region exceeding the threshold value 2 over approximately 31 minutes until it falls below 178 minutes.

  After the determination of the change gradient of the water vapor pressure in the second gradient determining means 3g is started, if it is determined that it is larger than the threshold 2 (YES in ST14), the time measuring operation is started or continued in the time measuring means 3g1 ( ST15). When moving from ST11 to ST14, since ΔPa / dt ≧ 50, the determination result in ST14 is always YES, the process proceeds to ST15, and the timer t2 performs the time counting operation. In the embodiment of the present invention, the set time of the time t2 timed by the time measuring means 3g1 is set to 10 minutes. This time is stored in the storage means 3e. The determination time of “10 minutes” determined here can be arbitrarily determined.

  However, although it is necessary to secure a certain period of time that can be determined as heat, operation control is performed on the air conditioner 4 after the detection means 3 detects heat and before the user U wakes up (wakes up). Therefore, the judgment time cannot be made too long. Considering these points, a time t2 that the time measuring means 3g1 measures is set.

  Referring to FIG. 8, as described above, it can be seen that the state where the threshold value 2 is exceeded is maintained for 147 minutes and thereafter until 166 minutes. That is, the above-mentioned ST9 becomes YES for 148 minutes, and ST11 becomes YES for 150 minutes after 2 minutes. Further, thereafter, the water vapor pressure difference (gradient of change) ΔPa / dt ≧ −10 is maintained until 160 minutes when 10 minutes elapse. Therefore, it is determined that the second gradient determination means 3g has detected the heat that causes the user U to wake up after 160 minutes (YES in ST16).

  When the water vapor pressure difference (ΔPa / dt) exceeding the threshold value 2 is not detected (NO in ST14), or when it falls below the threshold value 2 before 10 minutes have passed (NO in ST14 after NO in ST16) ), It is determined that the heat of the user U has not been detected, and the process proceeds again to the first gradient determination step (ST7), that is, the determination operation of the second gradient determination means 3g.

  After the determination by the first gradient determination unit 3f, when the second gradient determination unit 3g detects heat (YES in ST16), the user U feels the heat and wakes up (wakes up). It is determined (WAKE determination) (ST17). When this WAKE determination is made, the second gradient determination unit 3g creates an operation command based on the heat determination and issues a command to the air conditioner 4 via the transmission unit 3h (ST18).

  In the case of FIGS. 7 and 6, the user U starts to wake up gradually from 178 minutes and wakes up at 181 minutes. On the other hand, since the detection means 3 performs the WAKE determination at 160 minutes, there is a margin of about 20 minutes before the actual awakening. Therefore, by operating the air conditioner 4 based on the WAKE determination of the detection means 3, the room temperature can be lowered before the user U awakes, and the user U can sleep comfortably. As described above, the detection means 3 can detect the heat that causes the user U to wake up in the air-conditioning state as it is.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the air conditioner 4 according to the first embodiment. In the air conditioner 4, for example, a drive device 5 such as a compressor and a heat exchanger (not shown) and a control unit 6 that issues a control command to the drive device 5 are provided.

  Further, the control means 6 can be operated not only from the heat detection device 1 but also from the input means 7. This input means 7 is provided with, for example, a room temperature setting input means 7a. By using the room temperature setting input means 7a, the air conditioning temperature in the room is set to a temperature desired by the user (user U) of the air conditioner 4. The input means 7 can be set and can issue commands to the control means 6 using various methods regardless of wired or wireless.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the control means 6 of the air conditioner 4 in the first embodiment includes a receiving means 6a, a room temperature setting means 6b, a device control means 6c, and a transmitting means 6d. Hereinafter, the operation control of the air conditioner 4 based on the signal transmitted from the heat detection device 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the user U is awake, a desired temperature is input to the control means 6 using the room temperature setting input means 7a as usual. Information on the set temperature is transmitted to the room temperature setting means 6b and the room temperature is set (ST31). The room temperature setting unit 6b issues a command to the drive device 5 through the device control unit 6c so that the set room temperature is reached, and controls the operation of the air conditioner 4 (ST32). In this way, the air conditioner 4 is operated so that the set room temperature is maintained.

  If the user U goes to bed, he cannot perform an operation for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 4 himself. Therefore, during sleep, the air conditioner 4 is operated at the room temperature set immediately before the user U goes to sleep. As described above, the heat detection device 1 detects the heat of the user U who is sleeping, and transmits the operation command based on the heat determination to the air conditioner 4 when the heat is detected. Therefore, until this operation command is transmitted and received by the air conditioner 4, the operation of the air conditioner 4 is controlled so that the room temperature is already set (NO in ST33).

  When the heat of the user U is detected in the heat detection device 1, the receiving unit 6a receives an operation control command or the like from the heat detection device 1 (YES in ST33). The timing at which the heat detection device 1 transmits the operation command is when the second gradient determination unit 3g determines that the heat is hot (ST18 in FIG. 6). For example, in the determination flow described above, it is determined that the state in which the first gradient determination unit 3f has exceeded the threshold value 1 has continued for 2 minutes, and the state in which the second gradient determination unit 3g has exceeded the threshold value 2 is 10 When it is determined that the minute has continued, the heat detection device 1 determines that the user U's heat has been detected. If it shows with the graph shown in FIG. 8, the heat detection apparatus 1 has detected the heat of the user U at the time of 160 minutes.

  Although the content of the operation control command transmitted from the heat detection device 1 to the air conditioner 4 can be set freely, for example, only the determination result can be transmitted instead of the operation control command. This is because when the determination result is transmitted from the heat detection device 1 to the air conditioner 4, it can be determined that the user U feels hot and does not come away (wakes up). At this time, it does not matter whether the air conditioner 4 is in operation. This is because, for example, information for starting the operation of the air conditioner 4 can be included in the operation control command.

  The operation control command received from the heat detection device 1 via the receiving means 6a is sent to the room temperature setting means 6b. The room temperature setting means 6b changes (lowers) the room temperature setting value set via the room temperature setting input means 7a when the user U is awake (ST34). In the embodiment of the present invention, the temperature to be lowered is set in advance when the operation control command is received, and when the operation control command is received, the room temperature setting means 6b is set from the temperature set at that time. The operation of the air conditioner 4 is controlled at a room temperature lowered by a certain temperature (ST35).

  For example, if the user U is set to 28 ° C. before going to bed and the preset lowering temperature is 1 ° C., the air conditioner 4 that has been controlled to run at 28 ° C. while going to bed is given an operation control command. Upon reception, the room temperature setting means 6b performs control to lower the set temperature by 1 ° C. and operate at 27 ° C. By performing such control, it is possible to prevent the user U from being awakened (awakened) due to heat during sleep, and to continue sleeping comfortably.

  Therefore, as described above, based on the detected heat information and the heat detection device that detects the user's heat accurately by reducing the erroneous detection by judging the biological information of the user sleeping in the room in two stages. Thus, it is possible to provide an air conditioner that performs air conditioning such that the user's sleep is continued by performing operation control.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following embodiments, the same components as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components is omitted because it is duplicated.

  In 2nd Embodiment, the internal structure in the air conditioner 14 differs from the air conditioner 4 in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the air conditioner 14 according to the second embodiment. The difference from the air conditioner 4 in the first embodiment is that a means provided in the control means 16 is added and a means is added in the input means 7.

  First, an individual difference input means 7 b is newly added in the input means 17. The individual difference input means 7b is means for inputting the characteristics of the user U. As described in the first embodiment, the room temperature setting unit 16a subtracts a predetermined temperature from the room temperature set in advance based on the operation control command transmitted from the heat detection device 1 to obtain the changed room temperature. It has a function to set. The room temperature setting means 6b in the first embodiment controls the operation of the air conditioner 4 by uniformly pulling a predetermined temperature, for example, 1 ° C., when receiving the operation control command from the heat detection device 1. Yes.

  The individual difference input means 7b in the second embodiment is provided so that the temperature setting change value when the user U receives the operation control command in accordance with his / her characteristics can be varied. Specifically, it is used for inputting whether or not it is hot. When the operation control of the air conditioner 14 is performed, a finer response can be taken by reflecting the characteristics of the user U who actually uses the air conditioner 14 when setting the temperature. You can continue to sleep comfortably without waking up due to heat. The individual difference input means 7b transmits the information to the room temperature setting means 16a when operated by the user U.

  Specifically, when the user U selects “normal” via the individual difference input means 7b, when the operation control command is input from the heat detection device 1, the room temperature setting means 16a is set at that time point. The temperature is set, for example, 0.5 ° C. lower than the set temperature (Ts). On the other hand, when “hot” is selected, a command is issued so that the temperature is changed to a lower temperature than when “normal” is selected. That is, the room temperature setting unit 16a lowers the set temperature by, for example, 1 ° C. By being used in this manner, a comfortable room temperature that is different for each user U can be set more finely according to the user U.

  Next, the control means 16 will be described. In the control means 16, a room temperature set value change limiting means 16b and a time measuring means 16c are added. Also, the room temperature setting means 16a has a function added as compared with the room temperature setting means 6b in the first embodiment. Each of these functions will be described using a flowchart showing a flow of operation control of the air conditioner 14 shown in FIG.

  First, a room temperature is set for performing operation control of the air conditioner 14 when the user U is awake (ST41). This is performed by operating a room temperature setting input unit 7a which is one of the input units 17. The input room temperature is transmitted to the room temperature setting means 16a. In addition, when the individual difference input means 7b is operated and it is hot as described above, that is, whether or not the changed set temperature is lowered when the set temperature is changed when the heat is detected. It transmits to the room temperature setting means 16a (ST41). Based on this signal, the room temperature setting means 16a sets the corrected room temperature setting value α based on individual differences to 1 ° C. when it is hot, and to 0.5 ° C. when it is normal (ST42).

  Next, it is judged in the room temperature setting means 16a whether or not the operation control command (hot heat information) has been received (ST43). The room temperature setting unit 16a issues a command to the driving device 5 through the device control unit 6c so as to reach the set room temperature, and controls the operation of the air conditioner 14. This is as described in the first embodiment. Therefore, when the operation control command (hot heat information) is not received (NO in ST43), the room temperature setting unit 16a operates the air conditioner 4 at the room temperature Ts set under the conditions set in step 42. (ST51).

  When receiving means 6a receives the operation control command (YES in ST43), it is determined whether or not a timer t3 described later is operating (ST44). If the timer t3 is not in operation (NO in ST44), the temperature α adjusted to the individual difference is subtracted from the temperature set so far, and a new temperature (the temperature Ts after change) is set (ST45).

  On the other hand, when the timer t3 of the time measuring unit 16c is operating, the room temperature setting unit 16a determines whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 30 minutes elapses (ST46), and the predetermined time elapses. While it is not (NO in ST46), even if the operation control command is transmitted from the heat detection device 1, the set temperature is not changed based on the signal (return to ST43). This is to prevent the room temperature setting from being changed even if the receiving means 6a receives a new operation control command until a predetermined period elapses, for example, 30 minutes after the set temperature is changed. is there.

  The reason why such control is performed is that when the room temperature setting means 16a sets a new room temperature every time a new operation control command is transmitted, that is, when the operation control for lowering the set temperature is performed, the user U The room temperature is lowered more than the user feels, and the user U may get a cold due to being chilled. In order to avoid such a situation, the set temperature is not changed based on the operation control command even if a new operation control command is transmitted while the time measuring means 16c is operating.

  On the other hand, when an operation control command is transmitted from the heat detection device 1 after 30 minutes have passed since the previous change in the set temperature, the timer t3 is reset (ST47), the process proceeds to step ST45, and the room temperature setting means 16a However, a new temperature (temperature Ts after the change) is set by subtracting the temperature α according to individual differences from the set temperature so far.

  When the room temperature setting unit 16a sets the changed temperature (changed temperature Ts), the information is output to the room temperature set value change limiting unit 16b. The room temperature set value change limiting means 16b determines whether or not the changed temperature Ts is within the change limit range (ST51). This room temperature set value change limiting means 16b is provided in order to prevent the indoor temperature from being lowered indefinitely.

  The temperature range of the change limit range is set by the user U, but may be set in the device in advance. The user U operates the room temperature setting input unit 7a and inputs the temperature range to the room temperature set value change limiting unit 16b. For example, this 3 ° C. is set as the change limit width so that it can be lowered from the current set temperature (synonymous with the above-mentioned “room temperature before change”) to a maximum of 3 ° C. For example, when the initial set temperature is 28 ° C., the set temperature is lowered to 25 ° C., which is 3 ° C. lower than the maximum, based on the operation control command transmitted from the heat detection device 1. Thus, the air conditioner 14 is operated.

  As a result of comparing the room temperature after the change with the room temperature before the change, the room temperature set value change limiting means 16b determines whether or not the room temperature after the change is within the change limit range of the room temperature before the change (ST48). As a result, when the room temperature after the change is within the change limit range with respect to the room temperature before the change (YES in ST48), the change is permitted, so the operation of the timer t3 that measures the time after the change is performed. Start (ST49). At the same time, the room temperature set value change limiting means 16b issues a command to the drive equipment 5 via the equipment control means 6c and the transmission means 6d so that the changed room temperature is reached, and controls the operation of the air conditioner 14 (ST51). .

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the room temperature after the change exceeds the change limit range with respect to the room temperature before the change (NO in ST48), the set temperature cannot be lowered any further, so the room temperature after the change is adopted. In order to return to the previous set temperature, α is added to the currently set temperature (ST53), and the air conditioner 14 is operated and controlled at this temperature (ST51).

  As described above, based on the detected heat information, the heat detection device that reduces the false detection and accurately detects the user's heat by judging the biological information of the user sleeping in the room in two stages. It is possible to provide an air conditioner that performs air conditioning such that the user's sleep is continued by performing operation control.

  In particular, by configuring the air conditioner as described above, it is possible to prevent the air conditioner from reacting to the heat information (operation control command) and changing the set temperature. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of an unhealthy state such as falling asleep while trying to continue comfortable sleep.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the heat detection is performed based on the water vapor pressure at a position close to the user's body as the ecological information, but the temperature in the bedding used by the user may be used as the information to be used. it can.

  In addition, once the air conditioner operation control is performed based on the heat information (operation control command) from the heat detection device, another threshold value is used for the heat detection of the heat detection device. It is also possible to adopt an operation control method that does not change the operation control of the air conditioner when there is no significant change in the biological information from the user.

  Furthermore, in addition to the measurement means described in each embodiment, it is possible to acquire biometric information at another part of the user and detect heat. For example, the measuring means can be provided on the ventral side instead of the user's back. In addition, when ecological information can be reliably detected, a single sensor may be used instead of a plurality of sensors.

  Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Heat detection apparatus, 2 ... Measurement means, 3 ... Detection means, 3a ... Reception means, 3b ... Information selection means, 3c ... Absolute value judgment means, 3d ... Change gradient calculation means, 3e ... Storage means, 3f ... 1st Slope determining means, 3f1 ... time measuring means, 3g ... second slope determining means, 3g1 ... time measuring means, 3h ... transmitting means, 4 ... air conditioner, 5 ... driving device, 6 ... control means, 6a ... receiving means, 6b ... Room temperature setting means, 6c ... Device control means, 6d ... Transmission means, 7 ... Input means, 7a ... Room temperature setting input means, 7b ... Individual difference input means, 14 ... Air conditioner, 16 ... Control means, 16a ... Room temperature Setting means, 16b ... Room temperature set value change limiting means, 16c ... Timekeeping means, 17 ... Input means, M ... Matt, U ... User

Claims (5)

A measuring means for measuring biological information about the user at bedtime;
Change gradient calculating means for calculating a change gradient of the value of the biological information;
First gradient determination means for comparing the change gradient calculated by the change gradient calculation means with a first threshold;
When it is determined that the change gradient is larger than the first threshold value, the change gradient calculated by the change gradient calculation unit is compared with a second threshold value to determine the heat of the user. Two gradient judging means;
Equipped with a,
The first gradient determination means determines whether or not the change gradient is continuously greater than the first threshold for a predetermined time. If the change gradient is larger, the second gradient determination means further determines that the change gradient is It is compared with the second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value, and it is determined whether or not the second threshold value is continuously larger than the second threshold value for a predetermined time. A heat detection device characterized by that. The heat detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biological information about the user measured by the measuring unit is a temperature and humidity of the user. A plurality of the measuring means are installed on the bedding on which the user lies down,
Furthermore, information selecting means for selecting information indicating a maximum value from the biological information measured by each measuring means,
Absolute value determination means for determining that the maximum value selected by the information selection means is larger than a predetermined value;
The heat detection device according to claim 1, wherein the heat detection device is provided. Receiving means for receiving heat information detected by the heat detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ;
Room temperature setting means for setting the room temperature based on the heat information;
Device control means for creating a command to the drive device so as to be the set room temperature;
An air conditioner comprising: After setting the room temperature by the room temperature setting means , measure the time for prohibiting the change of the set room temperature, time measuring means for issuing a change prohibition command of the set room temperature to the room temperature setting means,
Determine whether the set room temperature by the room temperature setting means does not fall below the lower limit of the preset room temperature, and if the set room temperature is below the lower limit, prohibit the command to the device control means of the set room temperature, Room temperature set value change limiting means for creating a command to operate the driving device at the lower limit room temperature;
The air conditioner according to claim 4 , further comprising:

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