JP7731445B2 - Remote control device and air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a remote control device and an air conditioning system.

In an air conditioning system, a sensor that detects the air condition, such as a temperature sensor, is installed in the room to be air-conditioned. The air conditioner is controlled so that the air conditioner's detected value matches the target value.

In conventional air conditioning systems, sensors that detect the air condition are installed in the air conditioner itself, at a location some distance from the air conditioner, or on a remote control. The data detected by the sensors is sent to the air conditioner's control unit via wired or wireless communication.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a remote control device that is installed on a wall or other location far away from the air conditioning unit in a room, and that allows remote settings of air conditioning conditions such as temperature, air volume, and air direction to be performed via wired communication. Patent Document 1 also describes a remote control device that allows the aforementioned settings to be performed remotely via wireless communication.

International Publication No. 2020/105117

However, in the past, people staying in a room could not carry the sensor alone to any location. As a result, it was common for the location where people were staying in a room to be far away from the location where the sensor was located. This meant that the air condition where people were staying differed from the air condition where the sensor was located, resulting in issues such as inappropriate air conditioning control, which resulted in wasted air conditioning control, and people feeling uncomfortable with the air conditioning control.

The present disclosure aims to solve the above problem and enable appropriate control of air conditioning conditions.

The remote control device disclosed herein transmits information related to the operation of an air conditioner, and includes an operating device capable of transmitting operation information for operating the air conditioner, and a sensor that is detachable from the operating device and detects the air condition used to control the air conditioner. The sensor wirelessly transmits the detected information on the air condition, and the operating device receives the detected information and transmits the received detected information in addition to the operation information.

The air conditioning system of the present disclosure includes a remote control device and a control device that controls the air conditioner. The control device controls the air conditioner in accordance with operation information and detection information.

The remote control device and air conditioning system disclosed herein enable appropriate control of the air conditioning status.

1 is a side view showing a part of an indoor space 110 of a building 11 in which an air conditioning system 100 according to Embodiment 1 is installed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a sensor 7, a remote control 6, and a cradle 5. 6 is a perspective view showing the attachment and detachment state of the rear surface 600 of the operating device 60 and the front surface 500 of the cradle 5. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a sensor 7 is attached to and detached from a sensor attachment portion 63 of an operating device 60. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system 100 according to a first embodiment. 1 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a control device 10 in an air conditioning system 100. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to information communication of the cradle 5. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to wireless power supply to the cradle 5. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to information communication of the operation device 60. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to wireless power supply of the operating device 60. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to information communication of the sensor 7. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to wireless power supply to the sensor 7. 10 is a display screen diagram showing an example of a management screen displayed on an image display unit 81 of the display device 8. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for collecting information from a sensor 7 and an operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 100. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for displaying information from a sensor 7 and an operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 100. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system 101 according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for collecting information from a sensor 7 and an operating device 60 in an air conditioning system 101.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Various techniques will be described below for the embodiments, but it has been planned from the beginning of the application that the various techniques described in the embodiments will be appropriately combined. Note that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated.
Embodiment 1.
[Layout of the air conditioning system 100]
1 is a side view showing a part of an indoor space 110 of a building 11 in which an air conditioning system 100 according to Embodiment 1 is installed. In the indoor space 110, an air conditioner 2 is provided on a ceiling 20. The air conditioner 2 is shown as an indoor unit.

A number of desks 12 are arranged in the interior space 110. Figure 1 shows a person 13 sitting in a chair 14 and working at a desk 12.

The remote control (abbreviation for remote controller) 6, which is a remote operation device, comprises an operation device 60 and a sensor 7. When a person 13 operates the operation device 60 of the remote control 6, various operations can be remotely performed via wireless communication on the air conditioner 2, such as turning the air conditioner on/off, switching the operating mode, setting the target temperature, setting the target air volume, and switching the air direction. Basically, one remote control 6 is provided for each air conditioner 2.

In the remote control 6, as shown in FIG. 2 (described later), the sensor 7 is detachably attached to the operating device 60. The sensor 7 detects the indoor temperature, indoor humidity, and indoor air quality. Air quality refers to the quality of the air, which is indicated, for example, by the carbon dioxide concentration in the air, the carbon monoxide concentration in the air, and the dust concentration in the air. The sensor 7 detects, for example, the carbon dioxide concentration as an air quality indicator.

The sensor 7 is attached to a part of the operating device 60 in a manner that allows it to be attracted and held by the magnetic force of a magnet. The sensor 7 is detachable from the operating device 60 and can be attached and detached by a person 13. In the remote control 6, one sensor 7 is provided for each operating device 60.

In the indoor space 110, cradles 5, which are holding devices for holding remote controls 6, are attached to the wall. One remote control 6 is provided corresponding to one cradle 5. The cradles 5 are provided at multiple locations on the wall at appropriate intervals. The remote control 6 and cradle 5 are held together by the magnetic force of a magnet. The remote control 6 is detachable from the cradle 5, and can be attached and detached by a person 13. Figure 1 shows an example in which multiple pairs of corresponding cradles 5 and remote controls 6 are provided on the wall.

Information can be communicated via short-range wireless communication between the corresponding remote control 6 and the cradle 5. Examples of short-range wireless communication include BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) communication.

The remote control 6 is basically held in the cradle 5. Person 13 can optionally remove the remote control 6 from the cradle 5 and place the remote control 6 in any position, as shown in Figure 1.

In the remote control 6, the sensor 7 is basically attached to the operating device 60. The person 13 can detach the sensor 7 from the operating device 60 at will and place the operating device 60 in any position, as shown in Figure 1. This allows the sensor 7 to be placed in a fixed position in the indoor space 110 when attached to the operating device 60, or in any position when detached from the operating device 60.

Information can be communicated between the corresponding sensor 7 and the operating device 60 via short-range wireless communication. Examples of short-range wireless communication include the aforementioned BLE communication.

A signal indicating the detected data of the indoor temperature, indoor humidity, and indoor air quality detected by the sensor 7 is transmitted wirelessly from the corresponding sensor 7 to the operating device 60 at regular intervals.

In addition to the data transmitted from the sensor 7 to the operation device 60, signals indicating various types of operation data such as the target temperature value set by operating the operation device 60 are transmitted via wireless communication from the corresponding remote control 6 to the cradle 5. The cradle 5 transmits signals indicating the various types of data received from the remote control 6 to the air conditioner 2 via wired communication. The operation data may be transmitted at the same cycle as the cycle at which the detection data by the sensor 7 is transmitted, or may be transmitted separately from the detection data when the operation device 60 is operated.
[Configuration of the sensor 7, remote control 6, and cradle 5]
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the configurations of the sensor 7, remote control 6, and cradle 5. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the attachment and detachment state between the back surface 600 of the operation device 60 and the front surface 500 of the cradle 5. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the attachment and detachment state between the sensor mounting portion 63 of the operation device 60 and the sensor 7. The configurations of the sensor 7, remote control 6, and cradle 5 will be described below with reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the remote control 6 is shaped like a rectangular plate, and the cradle 5 is shaped like a rectangular plate of approximately the same size as the remote control 6. As shown in Figure 2, the remote control 6 is held in a manner that overlaps the surface side of the cradle 5. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the sensor 7 is held in a manner that fits into one of the four corners of the operating device 60 of the remote control 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front side of the remote control 6 is provided with an LCD display 66 and multiple push switches 65. On the front side of the remote control 6, multiple push switches 65 are provided below the LCD display 66. The multiple push switches 65 are button-type switches that can be operated by a person 13. The multiple push switches 65 are an operation unit that can perform various operations on the air conditioner 2, such as on/off operation, switching operation of the operating mode, setting a target value for the air conditioning temperature, setting a target value for the air conditioning airflow, and switching operation of the air conditioning air direction.

As shown in Figure 2, multiple push switches 77 are provided on the surface side of the sensor 7. The multiple push switches 77 are button-type switches that can be operated by a person, and are operating units that can perform various operations such as turning the sensor 7 on/off and adjusting the sensor 7.

The back side of the cradle 5 is attached to the wall of the building 11. As shown in Figure 3, a plurality of magnets 51 are provided on the front surface 500 side of the cradle 5. For example, four magnets 51 are arranged on the front surface of the cradle 5 so as not to be line-symmetrical in the vertical and horizontal directions of the cradle 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of magnets 69 of opposite polarity to the plurality of magnets 51 in the cradle 5 are provided on the back surface 600 of the operating device 60 of the remote control 6 so as to be attracted by magnetic force to the plurality of magnets 51. The plurality of magnets 69 are arranged on the back surface 600 of the operating device 60 in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of magnets 51 arranged on the front surface 500 of the cradle 5 so as to be attracted by magnetic force to the magnets 51. The magnets 51 and 69 are provided to position the operating device 60 in a unique position when attached to the cradle 5. A unique position is, for example, a position where the operating device 60 is positioned so that the LCD display unit 66 is above the push switch 65, as shown in FIG. 2.

As indicated by the dashed arrows in the figure, the operating device 60 is held in the cradle 5 when the person 13 brings it to the surface 500 of the cradle 5 so that the four magnets 69 are magnetically attracted to the four corresponding magnets 51 in a one-to-one correspondence, and the operating device is attached to the cradle 5 in a manner that is magnetically attracted to the cradle 5. This allows the remote control 6 to be held in the cradle 5 in a fixed orientation as shown in Figure 2. In this way, the surface 500 side of the cradle 5 is the attachment portion that magnetically attaches and holds the operating device 60.

At least one pair of the magnet 69 on the operating device 60 and the magnet 51 on the cradle 5 is sufficient, as long as it is possible to position the operating device 60 in a unique position when attached to the cradle 5. To remove the remote control 6 from the cradle 5, the person 13 simply pulls the operating device 60 forward relative to the cradle 5.

As shown in FIG. 4 , one of the four corners of the operating device 60 has a sensor mounting section 63, which is a cutout section of approximately the same size as the sensor 7. A magnet 64 for holding the sensor 7 is provided on the side of the sensor mounting section 63. The sensor 7 has a magnet 72 with the opposite polarity to the magnet 64. The magnet 72 is provided on the side of the sensor 7 so that it is attracted to the magnet 64 by magnetic force. The magnet 72 of the sensor 7 is attracted to the magnet 64 of the sensor mounting section 63, thereby mounting and holding the sensor 7 in the sensor mounting section 63.

As will be described later with reference to Figure 10, the operating device 60 is equipped with a power storage unit 696 that receives and stores power wirelessly from the cradle 5, and operates using the power stored in the power storage unit 696. The operating device 60 receives power wirelessly from the cradle 5 while held in the cradle 5 as shown in Figure 2.

As will be described later with reference to Figure 12, the sensor 7 has a power storage unit 784 that receives and stores power wirelessly from the operating device 60, and operates using the power stored in the power storage unit 784. The sensor 7 receives power wirelessly from the operating device 60 while attached to the sensor attachment unit 63 of the operating device 60 as shown in Figure 4.

As indicated by the dashed arrow in the figure, the sensor 7 is brought to the sensor mounting part 63 by a person so that the magnet 72 is attracted to the magnet 64 of the sensor mounting part 63, and is attached and held in such a manner that it is attracted to the sensor mounting part 63. To remove the sensor 7 from the sensor mounting part 63, the person simply pulls the sensor 7 forward relative to the operating device 60.

Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning system 100 according to embodiment 1. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control device 10 in the air conditioning system 100. The control configuration of the air conditioning system 100 will be explained below using Figures 5 and 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, the air conditioning system 100 includes an air conditioner 2, a display device 8, a cradle 5, a remote control 6, and a control device 10. The remote control 6 has an operating device 60 and a sensor 7. The control device 10 includes a control instruction unit 1, a detection data aggregation unit 3, a management data creation unit 4, a map data creation unit 41, and a floor data storage unit 40.

Air conditioner 2 includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and has the function of conditioning the indoor space 110 in which the indoor unit of air conditioner 2 is installed. Air conditioner 2 also has a ventilation function that ventilates between the indoor and outdoor spaces by drawing in and exhausting air between the indoor and outdoor units.

As shown in Figure 6, the control device 10 is a system controller consisting of a microprocessor including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 connected by a bus 103, memory 102 such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and input/output ports.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, in the control device 10, the floor data storage unit 40 is configured by the memory 102. The control instruction unit 1, the detection data compilation unit 3, the management data creation unit 4, and the map data creation unit 41 are realized by software programs executed by the CPU 101. Note that the control instruction unit 1, the detection data compilation unit 3, the management data creation unit 4, the map data creation unit 41, and the floor data storage unit 40 may be configured in part or in whole by hardware circuits.

Referring to Figure 5, the display device 8 is a touch panel type image display device including an image display unit 81 consisting of a liquid crystal display and an operation unit 82 consisting of a position input device such as a touchpad. In the display device 8, the image display unit 81 has the function of displaying images, and the operation unit 82 has the function of accepting and detecting an operation by a person touching the surface of the image display unit 81. When a person performs a touch operation on an operation device image, which is an image showing an operation device displayed on the image display unit 81, the operation unit 82 detects the operation and sends a detection signal to the control instruction unit 1.

The floor data storage unit 40 stores floor data, which is two-dimensional coordinate data showing the layout based on architectural data, for floors in an air-conditioning target area such as the indoor space 110. The map data creation unit 41 reads the floor data from the floor data storage unit 40 and creates map data for the floor that is the target area. Based on the created map data, the map data creation unit 41 sends image data to the display device 8 for displaying a map image of the floor in the air-conditioning target area.

In the control device 10, based on the image data created by the map data creation unit 41, the display device 8 displays a map image of the floor of the indoor space 110 on the image display unit 81.

The sensor 7 transmits radio waves indicating information about the data detected by the sensor 7. The radio waves transmitted from the sensor 7 are received by the operating device 60.

In addition to the detection data received from the sensor 7, the controller device 60 transmits radio waves indicating operation data resulting from the operation of the controller device 60 and first position identification data used to identify the position of the sensor 7 in accordance with the radio waves received from the sensor 7. The first position identification data includes radio wave intensity data indicating the strength of the radio waves, obtained in accordance with the radio waves received from the sensor 7, and reception angle data indicating the reception angle of the radio waves. The radio wave intensity is the strength of the radio waves received by the controller device 60 from the sensor 7. The radio wave reception angle is indicated by an angle indicating the direction from which the radio waves are received relative to a reference direction at the location where the controller device 60 is located. The radio waves transmitted from the controller device 60 are received by the cradle 5.

In addition to the detection data, operation data, and first position identification data received from the controller device 60, the cradle 5 transmits information indicating second position identification data used to identify the position of the controller device 60 in response to the radio waves received from the controller device 60 to the air conditioner 2 via a wired communication signal. The second position identification data includes radio wave intensity data indicating the strength of the radio waves, and reception angle data indicating the reception angle of the radio waves, obtained in response to the radio waves received from the controller device 60. The radio wave intensity is the strength of the radio waves received by the cradle 5 from the controller device 60. The radio wave reception angle is indicated by an angle indicating the direction from which the radio waves were received relative to a reference direction at the position where the cradle 5 is located.

The information sent from the cradle 5 to the air conditioner 2 is sent from the air conditioner 2 to the control instruction unit 1 and the detection data collection unit 3.

The control instruction unit 1 receives information sent from the air conditioning unit 2, and based on the received information, sends a control signal to the air conditioning unit 2 to control the air conditioning unit 2 so that the air conditions such as temperature, humidity, and air quality detected by the sensor 7 become the target values set by operating the operating device 60.

The detection data aggregation unit 3 receives information sent from the air conditioner 2 and, based on the received information, aggregates various information such as detection data from the sensor 7, operation data from the operating device 60, first position identification data, and second position identification data. The detection data aggregation unit 3 transmits the aggregated information to the management data creation unit 4.

The management data creation unit 4 determines the position of the operating device 60 and the position of the sensor 7 based on the received first position identification data and second position identification data.

The management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the operating device 60 and the position of the sensor 7 as follows. The management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the operating device 60 based on the second position identification data. Specifically, the relative position of the operating device 60 from the cradle 5 can be identified by using the installation position of the cradle 5 as a reference position, identifying the distance from the cradle 5 to the operating device 60 based on the radio wave intensity of the radio waves received from the operating device 60 by the cradle 5, and identifying the direction of the operating device 60 from the cradle 5 based on the reception angle of the radio waves received from the operating device 60 by the cradle 5.

The management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the sensor 7 based on the first position identification data. Specifically, the position of the sensor 7 is determined relative to the operating device 60 by using the position of the operating device 60 identified based on the second position identification data as the reference position, determining the distance from the operating device 60 to the sensor 7 based on the radio wave intensity of the radio waves received by the operating device 60 from the sensor 7, and determining the direction of the sensor 7 from the operating device 60 based on the reception angle of the radio waves received by the operating device 60 from the sensor 7.

Then, the management data creation unit 4 determines the relative position of the sensor 7 with the position of the cradle 5 as the reference position, based on the data on the relative position of the operating device 60, which has been determined using the position of the cradle 5 as the reference position, and the data on the relative position of the sensor 7, which has been determined using the position of the operating device 60 as the reference position. Because the position of the cradle 5 is fixed, the management data creation unit 4 determines the coordinate position of the operating device 60 and the coordinate position of the sensor 7 on the map image, using the coordinate position of the cradle 5 on the map image described above as the reference position. Furthermore, the management data creation unit 4 determines the coordinate position of the detection area of the detection data of the sensor 7, using the coordinate position of the sensor 7 on the map image as the reference position.

The management data creation unit 4 identifies the relative position data of the operating device 60 and the relative position of the sensor 7 as described above based on the information received from the detection data aggregation unit 3, and creates management data for managing the air conditioning control of the air-conditioned area such as the indoor space 110 based on the detection data of the sensor 7, the relative position data of the operating device 60, the relative position data of the sensor 7, the coordinate position of the detection area of the detection data of the sensor 7, and the map data created by the map data creation unit 41.

The management data creation unit 4 displays a map image on the image display unit 81 based on the created management data, and creates image data of the target area image to be used to display within the map image a sensor image showing the position of the sensor 7, an operating device image showing the position of the operating device 60, and an air condition image showing the air condition such as temperature, humidity, and air quality detected by the sensor 7.

The management data creation unit 4 displays the target area image on the image display unit 81 of the display device 8 based on the image data of the created target area image.

On the map image, by operating the operation unit 82, it is possible to specify an area to be air-conditioned and adjust the air condition, such as the temperature, and when such an operation is performed, operation information is sent from the operation unit 82 to the control instruction unit 1. When the control instruction unit 1 receives operation information from the operation unit 82, it is possible to send a control signal to the air conditioner 2 to control the air conditioner 2.
[Configuration of cradle 5]
7 is a block diagram showing the configuration related to information communication of the cradle 5. The cradle 5 includes an antenna unit 51, a wireless communication module 52, a control unit 50, and a transmission communication circuit 53.

The wireless communication module 52 is a device for performing the aforementioned BLE communication, and receives radio waves via BLE communication from the antenna unit 51 and sends data related to the received radio waves to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 has a configuration similar to that of the control device 10 described in Figure 6. Based on the data received from the wireless communication module 52, the control unit 50 executes a process of transmitting information indicating the detection data, operation data, first position identification data, and second position identification data received from the operating device 60 as described above to the air conditioner 2 via a wired communication signal from the transmission communication circuit 53.

Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration related to wireless power supply of the cradle 5. The cradle 5 includes a power supply unit 54, a power supply IC (Integrated Circuit) 55, a wireless power transmission module 56, an antenna unit 57, a wireless communication module 52, a control unit 50, and a transmission communication circuit 53.

The power supply unit 54 supplies power from a wired power source to the power supply IC 55. The wireless power transmission module 56 is a device for wirelessly supplying power to the operating device 60, receiving power from the power supply IC 55 and transmitting radio waves from the antenna unit 57 to wirelessly supply power to the operating device 60. The power supply unit 54 supplies power to each part of the cradle 5, such as the control unit 50 mentioned above.

[Configuration of operation device 60]
9 is a block diagram showing the configuration related to information communication of the operation device 60. The operation device 60 includes an RTC (Real-Time Clock) 63, a push switch 65, a wireless communication module 62, an antenna unit 68, a liquid crystal display unit 66, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) 67, and a control unit 61.

The wireless communication module 62 is a device for performing the aforementioned BLE communication, and transmits and receives radio waves via BLE communication from the antenna unit 68. The wireless communication module 62 sends data regarding the radio waves received from the sensor 7 to the control unit 61.

The control unit 61 has a configuration similar to that of the control device 10 described in Figure 6. The control unit 61 obtains the aforementioned detection data and first position identification data based on data received from the wireless communication module 62, and obtains the aforementioned operation data based on the operation of the push switch 65. The control unit 61 executes a process in which the wireless communication module 62 transmits information indicating such detection data, first position identification data, and operation data from the antenna unit 68 via BLE communication radio waves.

The control unit 61 also performs the following processes. Based on data sent from the RTC 63, the control unit 61 performs processes related to schedule management of air conditioning control, such as the calendar and clock functions on the remote control 6. The control unit 61 stores the set values of temperature, humidity, air quality, etc., set based on the operation of the push switch 65 in the EEPROM 67. The control unit 61 performs image processing to display the set values of temperature, humidity, air quality, etc., set based on the operation of the push switch 65 on the LCD display unit 66, and to display the detected values of temperature, humidity, air quality, etc., detected by the sensor 7.

Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration related to wireless power supply of the operating device 60. The operating device 60 includes a power storage unit 696, a power supply IC 695, a wireless power transmission module 693, a wireless power receiving module 694, antenna units 691 and 692, and an LCD display power supply IC 697.

The wireless power receiving module 694 is a device for receiving wireless power from the cradle 5, receives wireless power radio waves received by the antenna unit 692, and stores the received power in the power storage unit 696 via the power supply IC 695. The power storage unit 696 supplies power to the power supply IC 695. The wireless power transmitting module 693 is a device for wirelessly powering the sensor 7, receives power from the power supply IC 695, and transmits radio waves from the antenna unit 691 to wirelessly power the sensor 7. The power storage unit 696 supplies power to each part of the operating device 60, such as the control unit 61 mentioned above.

[Configuration of sensor 7]
11 is a block diagram showing the configuration related to information communication of the sensor 7. The sensor 7 includes a temperature sensor 74, a humidity sensor 75, an air quality sensor 76, a push switch 77, a wireless communication module 72, and an antenna unit 71.

The wireless communication module 72 is a device for performing the BLE communication mentioned above, and transmits radio waves via BLE communication from the antenna unit 71.

The control unit 70 has a configuration similar to that of the control device 10 described in Figure 6. The control unit 70 receives detection data from the temperature sensor 74, humidity sensor 75, and air quality sensor 76, and executes a process in which information indicating this detection data is transmitted via BLE communication radio waves from the antenna unit 71 via the wireless communication module 72.

Figure 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration related to wireless power supply of the sensor 7. The sensor 7 includes a power storage unit 784, a power supply IC 783, a wireless power receiving module 782, and an antenna unit 781.

The wireless power receiving module 782 is a device for receiving wireless power from the operating device 60. It receives wireless power radio waves received by the antenna unit 781 and stores the received power in the power storage unit 784 via the power supply IC 783. The power storage unit 784 supplies power to each part of the sensor 7, such as the control unit 70 mentioned above.

[Example of management screen displayed on image display unit 81]
Next, a description will be given of an example of a management screen displayed on the image display section 81 of the display device 8. FIG. 13 is a display screen diagram showing an example of a management screen displayed on the image display section 81 of the display device 8.

Referring to Figure 13, a target area image 30 is displayed on the image display unit 81. The target area image 30 is displayed as a map image showing the indoor layout of an actual air conditioning target area, such as the indoor space 110 of Figure 1 in which the air conditioning system 100 shown in Figure 3 is arranged.

The target area image 30 displays a desk image 31, a private room image 32, an indoor unit image 33, an air condition image 37, an operating device image 38, and a sensor image 36.

The desk image 31 is an image showing a desk placed in the target area. The private room image 32 is an image showing a private room separated by a wall or the like in the target area. The indoor unit image 33 is an image showing the indoor unit of the air conditioning device 2.

The air conditioning system 100 is capable of adjusting the control content for each indoor unit. The display device 8, which is equipped with an image display unit 81 and an operation unit 82, is installed on a wall within the target area or in a predetermined location such as a control room.

In the target area image 30, an operating device image 38 indicating the location of the operating device 60 is displayed at the position identified by the second position identification data in the management data creation unit 4. The operating device image 38 is accompanied by an identification number image 380 such as "remote control R1," "remote control R2," ... indicating the identification numbers R1, R2, ... assigned to the multiple operating devices 60. In this way, by displaying the operating device image 38 and the identification number image 380 at the position where the operating device 60 is located in the target area image 30, it is possible to easily recognize where in the room the operating device 60 is located.

In the target area image 30, a sensor image 36 indicating the location of the sensor 7 is displayed at the position identified by the first position identification data in the management data creation unit 4. The sensor image 36 is accompanied by an identification number image 360 such as "Sensor S1," "Sensor S2," etc., which indicates the identification numbers S1, S2, etc. assigned to the multiple sensors 7. In this way, by displaying the sensor image 36 and the identification number image 360 at the position where the sensor 7 is located in the target area image 30, it is possible to easily recognize where the sensor 7 is located in the room.

In the target area image 30, an air condition image 37 is displayed in the surrounding area of the position of the sensor 7 identified by the first position identification data in the management data creation unit 4, showing the air condition such as the detected temperature, humidity, and air quality based on the detection data of the sensor 7.

The air condition image 37 is an image that uses colors to indicate the level of the air condition, such as the temperature. The air condition image 37 is indicated by diagonal lines in the figure. Areas with different types of diagonal lines are examples of areas with different levels of air condition, and areas with different levels of air condition are shown in different colors in the actual image. This display makes it possible to recognize the air condition, such as temperature, humidity, and air quality, in the target area image 30.

In addition, the target area image 30 may display an operation unit image that allows a person to select one of the indoor unit images 33 and adjust the control details, such as temperature control, of the actual indoor unit corresponding to the selected indoor unit image 33. In this case, the operation unit image is not generally displayed in the target area image 30, and when a person touches one of the indoor unit images 33, it appears and is displayed in a display mode that indicates its correspondence with the touched indoor unit image 33. The operation unit image includes button-shaped images that allow adjustment of air condition settings such as temperature, humidity, and air quality.

When a person touches the button-shaped images on such an operation unit image to adjust the set values for air conditions such as temperature, humidity, and air quality, the operation is detected by the operation unit 82 in Figure 3, and operation information is sent from the operation unit 82 to the control instruction unit 1. When the control instruction unit 1 receives operation information from the operation unit 82, it sends a control signal to the air conditioner 2 to control the air conditioner 2.

The target area image 30 may also display an image showing the location of a person detected by a human sensor. For example, a human sensor is installed in the target area. The human sensor is composed of a receiving device that receives radio waves emitted from a radio wave transmitter, such as a beacon terminal, carried by a person present in the target area. The human sensor receives radio waves emitted from the radio wave transmitter carried by a person present in the target area and detects the location of the person holding the radio wave transmitter based on the information contained in the received radio waves. The detection data obtained by the human sensor detection is sent to the management data creation unit 4 via the air conditioner 2 and the detection data aggregation unit 3. The management data creation unit 4 identifies the location of the person within the target area based on the detection data obtained by the human sensor detection, and displays the location of the person at the identified location in the target area image 30 using an image. This makes it easy to recognize the relationship between people and the air quality in the target area.

[Flow of collecting information from the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 100]
Next, a description will be given of the flow of collecting information from the sensors 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 100. Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for collecting information from the sensors 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 100.

In step S1, sensor 7 transmits radio waves indicating information on sensor 7's detected data such as temperature, humidity, and air quality.

In step S2, the operating device 60 transmits radio waves indicating, in addition to the detection data received from the sensor 7, operation data obtained by operating the operating device 60 and first position identification data used to identify the position of the sensor 7 in accordance with the radio waves received from the sensor 7.

In step S3, the cradle 5 transmits to the air conditioner 2 via a wired communication signal the detection data, operation data, and first position identification data received from the operation device 60, as well as information indicating second position identification data used to identify the position of the operation device 60 in accordance with the radio waves received from the operation device 60. In step S3, the cradle 5 transmits the received information as information related to the operation of the air conditioner 2.

In step S4, the air conditioning unit 2 transmits the information received from the cradle 5 to the control instruction unit 1 and the detection data aggregation unit 3.

In step S5, the detection data aggregation unit 3 receives information from the air conditioning device 2, and based on the received information, aggregates various information such as the detection data of the sensor 7, the operation data of the operating device 60, the first position identification data, and the second position identification data, and transmits the aggregated information to the management data creation unit 4.
[Flow of displaying information from the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 100]
Next, a description will be given of the flow of displaying information from the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 100. Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for displaying information from the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 100.

In step S11, the management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the sensor 7 and the position of the operating device 60 based on the received first position identification data and second position identification data.

In step S12, the management data creation unit 4 creates management data that associates the identified position of the operating device 60, the position of the sensor 7, and the position of the detection area of the detection data of the sensor 7 with the map data received from the map data creation unit 41.

In step S13, the management data creation unit 4 creates image data of a target area image 30 that displays an operating device image 38, a sensor image 36, an air condition image 37, etc. on the map image based on the created management data.

In step S14, the management data creation unit 4 displays the target area image 30 on the image display unit 81 of the display device 8 based on the image data of the target area image 30.

By performing the above processing, the target area image 30 and other images as shown in Figure 13 are displayed on the image display unit 81 of the display device 8.

In the above-described first embodiment, the remote control 6 has the sensor 7 detachably attached to the operation device 60, the sensor 7 wirelessly transmits detection information on the air condition, the operation device 60 receives the detection information, and transmits the received detection information in addition to operation information. This allows the sensor 7 to be located at any position, thereby reducing wasteful air conditioning control and preventing people from feeling uncomfortable about the air conditioning control, thereby enabling appropriate control of the air conditioning state. Therefore, the air conditioning system 100 equipped with such a remote control 6 can appropriately control the air conditioning state.
Embodiment 2.
Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, an air conditioning system 101 including a receiving device 9 that receives radio waves transmitted from a sensor 7 and radio waves transmitted from an operating device 60 will be described.

Figure 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system 101 according to embodiment 2. The air conditioning system 101 differs from the air conditioning system 100 of Figure 5 in the following configuration.

The air conditioning system 101 is provided with a receiving device 9 that receives radio waves transmitted from the sensor 7 and radio waves transmitted from the operating device 60. In the air conditioning system 101, the operating device 60 does not transmit the first position identification data to the cradle 5, and the cradle 5 does not transmit the first position identification data and the second position identification data to the air conditioner 2.

In the air conditioning system 101, the receiving device 9 obtains first location identification data according to the strength and reception angle of the radio waves transmitted from the sensor 7. In the air conditioning system 101, the receiving device 9 obtains second location identification data according to the strength and reception angle of the radio waves transmitted from the operating device 60. The receiving device 9 transmits information indicating the first location identification data and the second location identification data to the air conditioning device 2. The air conditioning device 2 transmits information indicating the first location identification data and the second location identification data received from the receiving device 9 to the detection data aggregation unit 3.

The first position identification data in embodiment 2 is position identification data that identifies the position of the sensor 7 with the receiving device 9 as the reference position. The second position identification data in embodiment 2 is position identification data that identifies the position of the operating device 60 with the receiving device 9 as the reference position.

In embodiment 2, the management data creation unit 4 receives the first location identification data and the second location identification data from the detection data aggregation unit 3. The management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the sensor 7 and the position of the operating device 60 based on the received first location identification data and second location identification data.

The management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the operating device 60 and the position of the sensor 7 as follows. The management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the operating device 60 based on the second position identification data. The management data creation unit 4 uses the installation position of the receiving device 9 as a reference position, identifies the distance from the receiving device 9 to the operating device 60 based on the radio wave intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving device 9 from the operating device 60, and identifies the direction of the operating device 60 from the receiving device 9 based on the reception angle of the radio waves received by the receiving device 9 from the operating device 60, thereby being able to identify the relative position of the operating device 60 from the receiving device.

The management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the sensor 7 based on the first position identification data. The management data creation unit 4 uses the installation position of the receiving device 9 as a reference position, identifies the distance from the receiving device 9 to the sensor 7 based on the radio wave intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving device 9 from the sensor 7, and identifies the direction of the sensor 7 from the receiving device 9 based on the reception angle of the radio waves received by the receiving device 9 from the sensor 7, thereby being able to identify the relative position of the sensor 7 from the receiving device.

Since the position of the receiving device 9 is fixed, the management data creation unit 4 determines the coordinate position of the operation device 60 and the coordinate position of the sensor 7 on the map image based on the coordinate position of the receiving device 9 on the map image described above. Furthermore, the management data creation unit 4 determines the coordinate position of the detection area of the detection data of the sensor 7 based on the coordinate position of the sensor 7 on the map image.

Next, we will explain the process for collecting information from the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 101. Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the process for collecting information from the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 101.

In step S21, the sensor 7 transmits radio waves indicating information on detected data such as temperature, humidity, and air quality.

In step S22, the operating device 60 transmits radio waves indicating information on operation data generated by operating the operating device 60 in addition to the detection data received from the sensor 7.

In step S23, the cradle 5 transmits information indicating the detection data and operation data received from the operating device 60 to the air conditioning unit 2 via a wired communication signal.

In step S24, the receiving device 9 transmits, via a wired communication signal, information indicating first position identification data used to identify the position of the sensor 7 in accordance with the radio waves received from the sensor 7 to the air conditioner 2. Furthermore, in step S24, the receiving device 9 transmits, via a wired communication signal, information indicating second position identification data used to identify the position of the operating device 60 in accordance with the radio waves received from the operating device 60 to the air conditioner 2.

In step S25, the air conditioning unit 2 transmits the information received from the cradle 5 and the information received from the receiving device 9 to the control instruction unit 1 and the detection data aggregation unit 3.

In step S26, the detection data aggregation unit 3 receives information from the air conditioning unit 2 and, based on the received information, aggregates various information such as the detection data of the sensor 7, the operation data of the operating device 60, the first position identification data, and the second position identification data, and transmits the aggregated information to the management data creation unit 4.

Next, we will explain the flow of displaying information from the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 101. The flowchart showing the process flow of displaying information from the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 101 of embodiment 2 is almost the same as the flowchart shown in Figure 15, so we will omit the illustration.

The flowchart showing the process flow for displaying information about the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 in the air conditioning system 101 of embodiment 2 differs from the flowchart shown in Figure 15 in that, in step S11 of Figure 15, when the management data creation unit 4 determines the position of the sensor 7 and the position of the operating device 60 based on the first position identification data and the second position identification data, the positions of both the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 are determined using the fixed position of the receiving device 9 as the reference position, as described above.

In the second embodiment described above, the same technical effects as those obtained in the first embodiment can be obtained.
Variant.
(1) In the first and second embodiments described above, part of the configuration of the control device 10 may reside on a cloud server. For example, the management data creation unit 4 may reside on the cloud server.

(2) In the above-described first and second embodiments, the control device 10 may be provided with a control unit that comprehensively controls the control instruction unit 1, the detection data aggregation unit 3, the management data creation unit 4, and the map data creation unit 41.

(3) In the above-described first and second embodiments, transmission between the sensor 7 and the operating device 60 and communication between the operating device 60 and the cradle 5 used, for example, BLE communication, but this is not limited to this, and communication using a communication method other than BLE communication may also be used.

(4) In the above-described first and second embodiments, an example was shown in which the floor data storage unit 40 was included in the control device 10. However, this is not limited to this, and the floor data storage unit 40 may not be included in the control device 10, but may be provided in a storage device provided separately from the control device 10.

(5) In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, an example was shown in which the management data creation unit 4 identifies the position of the sensor 7 and the position of the operating device 60 based on the first position identification data and the second position identification data. However, this is not limited to this, and the detection data aggregation unit 3 may identify the position of the sensor 7 and the position of the operating device 60 based on the first position identification data and the second position identification data.

(6) In the above-described first and second embodiments, an example was shown in which the map data creation unit 41 creates map data in the control device 10. However, this is not limited to this, and the control device 10 may not have a map data creation unit 41, and the management data creation unit 4 may have the function of creating map data.

[Summary of the embodiment]
The above-described embodiment will be described again with reference to the drawings.

This disclosure relates to a remote control 6, which is a remote control device. The remote control 6 includes an operation device 60 capable of transmitting operation information for operating the air conditioner 2, and a sensor 7 that is detachable from the operation device 60 and detects the air condition used to control the air conditioner 2. The sensor 7 wirelessly transmits the detected air condition information, and the operation device 60 receives the detected information and transmits the received detected information in addition to the operation information (steps S1 to S2 in FIG. 14).

In this way, the remote control 6 has the sensor 7 detachably attached to the operating device 60, the sensor 7 wirelessly transmits detected information on the air condition, the operating device 60 receives the detected information, and transmits the received detected information in addition to the operating information. This allows the sensor 7 to be located in any position, reducing wasteful air conditioning control and preventing people from feeling uncomfortable due to the air conditioning control, allowing for appropriate control of the air conditioning state.

Preferably, the sensor 7 includes a power storage unit 784 as a first power storage unit, and operates using the power stored in the power storage unit 784. This allows the sensor 7 to operate even when detached from the operating device 60.

Preferably, the sensor 7 receives wireless power from the operating device 60, thereby storing power in the power storage unit 784, which serves as the first power storage unit. This allows the sensor 7 to easily store power in the power storage unit 784.

Preferably, the operating device 60 includes a sensor mounting section 63 as a first mounting section to which the sensor 7 is mounted. The sensor 7 receives wireless power from the operating device 60 while mounted in the sensor mounting section 63. This allows the sensor 7 to easily store power in the power storage section 784 when mounted on the operating device 60.

Preferably, the system further includes a cradle 5 as a holding device for detachably holding the operating device 60. The operating device 60 wirelessly transmits operation information and detection information (step S2), and the cradle 5 receives the operation information and detection information and transmits the received information as information related to the operation of the air conditioner 2 (step S3).

Preferably, the operating device 60 includes a power storage unit 696 as a second power storage unit, and operates using the power stored in the power storage unit 696. This allows the operating device 60 to operate even when removed from the cradle 5.

Preferably, the operating device 60 receives wireless power from the cradle 5 serving as a holding device, thereby storing power in the power storage unit 696 serving as a second power storage unit. This allows the operating device 60 to easily store power in the power storage unit 696.

Preferably, the cradle 5 serving as the holding device includes a surface 500 serving as a second mounting portion on which the operating device 60 is mounted. The operating device 60 receives wireless power from the cradle 5 while mounted on the surface 500. This allows the power storage unit 696 of the operating device 60 to easily store power when mounted on the cradle 5.

Preferably, both the surface 500 as the second mounting portion and the operating device 60 are provided with at least one magnet 69, 51 that uses magnetic force to position the operating device 60 at a unique mounting position on the surface 500. This allows the operating device 60 to be easily positioned at a unique position in the cradle 5.

This disclosure relates to air conditioning systems 100, 101. The air conditioning systems 100, 101 include a remote control 6 as a remote control device and a control device 10 that controls the air conditioner 2. The control device 10 controls the air conditioner 2 in accordance with operation information and detection information.

As described above, the air conditioning system 100 is equipped with a remote control 6 that can appropriately control the air conditioning state, and controls the air conditioning unit 2, thereby allowing the air conditioning state to be appropriately controlled.

Preferably, the control device 10 identifies the position of the sensor 7 in accordance with the radio waves received by the operating device 60 from the sensor 7 (steps S2, S11). This allows the air conditioning system 100 to identify the position of the sensor 7 in accordance with the radio waves received by the operating device 60 from the sensor 7.

Preferably, the system further includes a receiving device 9 that receives radio waves transmitted from the sensor 7. The control device 10 identifies the position of the sensor 7 in accordance with the radio waves received from the sensor 7 by the receiving device 9 (steps S24, S11). This allows the air conditioning system 101 to identify the position of the sensor 7 in accordance with the radio waves received from the sensor 7 by the receiving device 9.

Preferably, the system further includes a display device 8 as an image display device. The control device 10 displays a sensor image 36, which is an image indicating the position of the sensor 7, on a map image of the area where the sensor 7 is located, based on map information of the area where the sensor 7 is located and position information of the sensor 7 (Figure 13). This allows the air conditioning system 100 to easily recognize the position of the sensor 7 by displaying the sensor image 36.

The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

6 Remote control, 60 Operating device, 2 Air conditioner, 7 Sensor, 784 Power storage unit, 63 Sensor mounting unit, 5 Cradle, 696 Power storage unit, 500 Surface, 69, 51 Magnet, 100, 101 Air conditioning system, 8 Display device, 36 Sensor image.

Claims (11)

A remote control device that transmits information about the operation of an air conditioner,
an operating device capable of transmitting operation information for operating the air conditioner to the air conditioner;
a sensor that is detachable from the operating device and detects the state of air used to control the air conditioner ;
a holding device that is provided at a fixed position and that detachably holds the operating device ;
the sensor wirelessly transmits detection information of the air state to the operating device in both a state where the sensor is attached to the operating device and a state where the sensor is detached from the operating device;
the operation device receives the detection information and wirelessly transmits the received detection information to the holding device in addition to the operation information;
the holding device receives the operation information and the detection information, and transmits the received operation information and the detection information to the air conditioner;
The operating device further wirelessly transmits to the holding device first position identification information that identifies the position of the sensor obtained in response to the radio wave received from the sensor;
The holding device further receives the first position identification information and transmits to the air conditioning device the received first position identification information and second position identification information that identifies the position of the operating device obtained in response to radio waves received from the operating device . The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a first power storage unit and operates using power stored in the first power storage unit. The remote control device described in claim 2, wherein the sensor stores power in the first power storage unit by receiving wireless power from the control device. the operating device includes a first mounting portion to which the sensor is mounted,
The remote control device according to claim 3 , wherein the sensor is wirelessly powered by the control device when attached to the first attachment portion. 5. The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein the control device includes a second power storage unit and operates using power stored in the second power storage unit. The remote control device according to claim 5 , wherein the second power storage unit of the operating device stores power by receiving wireless power from the holding device. the holding device includes a second mounting portion to which the operating device is mounted,
The remote control device according to claim 6 , wherein the operating device is wirelessly powered by the holding device when attached to the second attachment portion. The remote control device according to claim 7 , wherein both the second mounting section and the operating device are provided with at least one magnet that positions the mounting position of the operating device on the second mounting section at a unique position by magnetic force. A remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ;
a control device for controlling the air conditioning device,
The control device controls the air conditioner in accordance with the operation information , the detection information, the first position specifying information, and the second position specifying information . The air conditioning system according to claim 9 , wherein the control device identifies the position of the sensor in accordance with the first position identification information and the second position identification information . further comprising an image display device;
The air conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein the control device displays an image indicating the position of the sensor on a map image of the area in which the sensor is placed, according to map information of the area in which the sensor is placed and position information of the sensor .