JP2003042509A - Air-conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the efficiency of the work, study, etc., performed by a person staying in a room by air-conditioning the room in accordance with the feeling of the person. SOLUTION: This air-conditioning system 8 has a human feeling sensor 9 which can estimate the feeling of the person by detecting the activity of the autonomic nerve of the person by measuring the physiological quantity of the autonomic nervous system of the person, and an air conditioner 10 which inputs the estimated feeling as a control index and performs air conditioning in accordance with the control index. The sensor 9 is installed to business equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioning system in which a person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount is measured to estimate a person's sense, and an air conditioner is operated according to the estimated sense.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an air conditioner detects an indoor temperature by a temperature sensor incorporated in an indoor unit or a remote controller for controlling the operation of the indoor unit, and the indoor temperature is detected by the remote controller or the like. The operation of the compressor of the outdoor unit, the fan of the indoor unit, etc. is controlled so as to match the set temperature set by using the air conditioning in the room.

[0003]

However, in such an air conditioner, the air conditioning in the room does not always reflect the thermal comfort or uncomfortable feeling of the person in the room.

[0004] For example, when a person who is working or studying indoors is irritated because the efficiency does not increase, the activity of the person's autonomic nerves, particularly sympathetic nerves, is activated and the autonomic nervous system physiological amount is increased. The perspiration rate and pulse rate are increased, and blood temperature rises on the head, and the skin temperature is decreased. The air conditioning in the room by the conventional air conditioning apparatus does not necessarily contribute to improving the efficiency of work and study by calming the activity of the sympathetic nerve of such a person.

The object of the present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances and is to perform air conditioning in accordance with the sense of the person in the room to improve the efficiency of the person's work or study. It is to provide an air conditioning system capable of

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a human being capable of estimating a person's sensation by measuring a person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount and detecting the person's autonomic nerve activity. Input the sensory sensor and the above estimated feeling as a control index,
An air conditioning system including an air conditioning apparatus that performs air conditioning according to the control index, wherein the human sensation sensor is installed and configured in office equipment.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the physiological amount of a person's autonomic nervous system is measured to detect the activity of the person's autonomic nerve,
An air conditioning system comprising: a human sensation sensor capable of estimating the sensation of the person; and an air conditioner that inputs the estimated sensation as a control index and performs driving in accordance with the control index. It is characterized in that the sensory sensor is installed on clothing, footwear or accessories.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the physiological quantities of the autonomic nervous system detected by the human sensor are sweating rate, pulse rate and skin temperature. It is what

The invention according to a fourth aspect is the first to the third aspects.
In any one of the inventions, the sensation estimated by the human sensation sensor is a thermal comfort or uncomfortable feeling such as cold and heat.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein the office equipment is a writing instrument, a chair, a telephone or a keyboard for a personal computer, a mouse or a palm rest. It is a feature.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second, third or fourth aspect of the present invention, the clothing or accessory is a hemaki, a hair band, a ring, socks or footwear.

The invention described in claims 1 to 6 has the following actions.

When a person who is indoors is unable to work or study, the activity of the person's autonomic nerves, particularly sympathetic nerves, is activated, and the sweat rate and pulse rate increase, and the skin temperature tends to decrease. Human sensory sensors installed in office equipment, clothing, footwear, and jewelry measure these autonomic nervous system physiological amounts to estimate the person's thermal uncomfortable feeling and to eliminate this uncomfortable feeling. The air conditioner performs air conditioning. As a result, the thermal uncomfortable feeling of the person who is working or studying is improved, the activity of the sympathetic nerve of the person is calmed down, and the efficiency of work or studying can be improved.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the present invention. The air conditioning system 8 shown in FIG. 1 measures a person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount,
A human sensation sensor 9 that estimates the sensation of the person (a feeling of thermal comfort or incompatibility), and an air conditioner 10 that performs air conditioning according to the sensation of the person estimated by the human sensation sensor 9. , And are configured.

The air conditioner 10 is, as shown in FIG.
The outdoor unit 11, the indoor unit 12, and the control device 13 are provided, and the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14 of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor refrigerant pipe 15 of the indoor unit 12 are connected via connecting pipes 24, 25.

The outdoor unit 11 is installed outdoors, and the compressor 16 is arranged in the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. The accumulator 17 is on the suction side of the compressor 16 and the four-way valve 18 is on the discharge side via the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. This four-way valve 1
8, an outdoor heat exchanger 19 is connected via an outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. An outdoor fan 20 that blows air toward the outdoor heat exchanger 19 is arranged adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 19.

On the other hand, the indoor unit 12 is installed indoors, and the indoor heat exchanger 21 is provided in the indoor refrigerant pipe 15, and
An electric expansion valve 22 is arranged near the indoor heat exchanger 21 in the indoor refrigerant pipe 15. An indoor fan 23 that blows air to the indoor heat exchanger 21 is arranged adjacent to the indoor heat exchanger 21.

The control device 13 controls the operation of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 12. This control device 13
Actually, the outdoor control device 13A installed in the outdoor unit 11
And an indoor control device 13B installed in the indoor unit 12. The outdoor control device 13A controls the compressor 16, the four-way valve 18, and the outdoor fan 20 in the outdoor unit 11,
The indoor control device 13B controls the electric expansion valve 22 and the indoor fan 23 in the indoor unit 12, respectively. The outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B are connected by a communication line 26 so that they can communicate with each other.

The air conditioner 10 is set to the cooling operation or the heating operation by switching the four-way valve 18 by the outdoor control device 13A. That is, the outdoor control device 13
When A switches the four-way valve 18 to the cooling side, the refrigerant flows as shown by the solid line arrow, the outdoor heat exchanger 19 functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 21 functions as an evaporator, which results in a cooling operation state.
The indoor heat exchanger 21 of the indoor unit 12 cools the room. Further, when the outdoor control device 13A switches the four-way valve 18 to the heating side, the refrigerant flows as indicated by the broken line arrow, the indoor heat exchanger 21 functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 19 functions as an evaporator. Then, the indoor heat exchanger 21 of the indoor unit 12 heats the room.

Further, the indoor control device 13B includes the indoor unit 12
The electric expansion valve 2 in the indoor unit 12 according to the air conditioning load of the
2, the indoor fan 23 in the indoor unit 12 is controlled.
Control the fan drive system.

Further, the indoor control device 13B has a set temperature change signal from a remote controller (not shown) and a human sensation estimated by the human sensation sensor 9 (FIG. 1) (thermal comfort or uncomfortable feeling). By receiving control indices (described later) based on the above, and transmitting these to the outdoor control device 13A, the outdoor control device 13A varies at least one of the capacity of the compressor 16 and the rotation speed of the outdoor fan 20, and the indoor control device 13B changes the rotation speed of the indoor fan 23, and air conditioning is controlled.

The human sensation sensor 9 measures a person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount to detect the activity of the person's autonomic nerve,
The person's sense is estimated, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a skin temperature sensor 27, a sweat rate sensor 28, a pulse rate sensor 29, a skin temperature detection circuit 30, a sweat rate detection circuit 31, a pulse rate. The detection circuit 32, the control index estimation unit 33, and the wireless module 34 are included.

Reference numeral 35 in FIG. 1 is a human sensor 9
Is an ON / OFF switch, and reference numeral 36 is a pulse rate display window. Reference numeral 37 is a temperature display window for displaying the set temperature of the air conditioner 10 and the skin temperature of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9. These ON / OFF switches 35,
The pulse rate display window 36 and the temperature display window 37 are provided on the front side of the sensor body 38 of the human sensor 9.

The skin temperature sensor 27 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 has a thermistor and is provided on the back surface or the side peripheral portion of the sensor body 38 so as to come into contact with the skin of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9. Measure skin temperature. Skin temperature detection circuit 3
0 detects the skin temperature of the wearer of the human sensor 9 from the measurement value of the skin temperature sensor 27.

The sweat rate sensor 28 has two electrodes,
The sensor body 38 is provided on the back surface or the side peripheral portion of the sensor body 38 and contacts the skin of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 to measure the skin electrical reaction (GSR) thereof. The sweat rate detection circuit 31 detects the human sensor 9 from the measured value (GSR) of the sweat rate sensor 28.
To detect the amount of perspiration of the wearer.

The pulse rate sensor 29 is provided on the back surface of the sensor body 38 and comes into contact with the skin of the wearer.
The pulse rate of the human sensor 9 is detected by the pulse rate detection circuit 32 from the measured value of the pulse rate sensor 29.

Skin temperature detecting circuit 30 and sweating amount detecting circuit 3
1. The skin temperature, the amount of sweat, and the pulse rate detected by the pulse rate detection circuit 32 are the autonomic nervous system physiological quantities that represent the activity of the autonomic nerves. In general, the activity of the autonomic nerve, particularly the sympathetic nerve, is activated when the human sense is in a tense state or in an uncomfortable state, which increases the sweating rate and the pulse rate as shown in FIG. Skin temperature drops due to blood rising. Further, the activity of the sympathetic nerve is calmed down when the human sense is in a relaxed state or in a comfortable state, which reduces the amount of sweat and the pulse rate and raises the skin temperature.

In the control index estimating unit 33 shown in FIG. 3, the skin temperature, the amount of perspiration, and the pulse rate detected by the skin temperature detecting circuit 30, the sweat rate detecting circuit 31, and the pulse rate detecting circuit 32 rise with time. Or, by comprehensively analyzing whether there is a tendency to decrease, it is possible to find out what kind of sensory state the wearer of the human sensor 9 is currently in, particularly a thermal comfortable sensory state based on heat or cold. The sensation of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 whether it is present or uncomfortable is objectively estimated and used as a control index.

The wireless module 34 includes the control index estimating unit 3
Convert the control index estimated in 3 into a weak radio signal,
Indoor control device 1 for indoor unit 12 in air conditioner 10
3B or a remote controller (not shown) capable of transmitting a control signal to the indoor control device 13B. The transmission of the control index by the wireless module 34 is performed in a state where it is confirmed that the human sensor 9 is worn by a person.

The indoor control device 13B, to which the control index is directly input from the wireless module 34 of the human sensor 9 or indirectly via the remote controller, is the outdoor unit 11
In cooperation with the outdoor control device 13A, the four-way valve 18 is switched according to the control index, the set temperature is set, and the compressor 1
6 and the rotation speeds of the outdoor fan 20 and the indoor fan 23 are determined to control the air conditioning by the air conditioner 10 so that the person wearing the human sensor 9 is most comfortably and thermally comfortable. To do.

For example, when the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9 feels hot, the human sensation sensor 9 transmits the sensation as a control index to the indoor control device 13B of the air conditioner 10, etc., and the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B. Control device 13B
Sets the air conditioner 10 to the cooling operation mode, sets the set temperature appropriately, and rotates the compressor 16, the outdoor fan 20, and the indoor fan 23 to cause the air conditioner 10 to perform the cooling operation. When receiving the control index, the air conditioner 10
Is already in the cooling operation state, the outdoor control device 13
The A and the indoor control device 13B set the set temperature low to increase the capacity of the compressor 16 and increase the rotation speeds of the outdoor fan 20 and the indoor fan 23, and the air conditioner 1
A strong cooling operation is performed at 0.

When the person who wears the human sensation sensor 9 feels cold, the human sensation sensor 9 transmits the feeling as a control index to the indoor control device 13B of the air conditioner 10, etc., and the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device. The control device 13B sets the air conditioner 10 in the heating operation mode, sets the set temperature appropriately, and sets the compressor 16, the outdoor fan 20, and the indoor fan 2.
3 is rotated, and the air conditioning apparatus 10 is caused to perform the heating operation. When the air conditioner 10 is already in the heating operation state at the time of receiving the control index, the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B set a high set temperature to increase the capacity of the compressor 16 and the outdoor fan 20. Also, the rotation speed of the indoor fan 23 is increased to cause the air conditioner 10 to perform a strong heating operation.

Furthermore, when the person wearing the human sensor 9 is working or studying and is irritated because of inefficiency, the sympathetic nerve activity of the person is activated, and the sweat rate and pulse rate rise. However, the skin temperature tends to decrease.
The human sensation sensor 9 measures and detects these physiological quantities of the autonomic nervous system, estimates the thermal uncomfortable feeling of the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9, and uses the estimated sensation as a control index of the air conditioner 10. It transmits to the indoor control device 13B. The outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B of the air conditioner 10.
Causes the air conditioner 10 to perform a cooling operation, and if the air conditioner 10 is in a cooling operation, the set temperature is set low, the capacity of the compressor 16 and the rotation of the outdoor fan 20 and the indoor fan 23. Increase the number and air conditioner 1
The air-conditioning apparatus 10 is made to perform a strong cooling operation to 0.
Is in the heating operation, the set temperature is set low, the capacity of the compressor 16 and the rotation speeds of the outdoor fan 20 and the indoor fan 23 are decreased, and the air conditioner 10 is made to perform the weak heating operation. .

As a result, it is possible to cool the head of the person who wears the human sensation sensor 9 to eliminate the irritability and improve the efficiency of work or study.

When the work / study efficiency of the wearer of the human sensor 9 is improved as described above, the human sensor 9 is used.
Since the amount of sweat and pulse rate of the wearer decreases and the skin temperature rises, the human sense sensor 9 measures and detects these tendencies, and the human sense sensor 9 detects the thermal comfort of the wearer. The indoor control device 13B of the air conditioner 10
Etc. as a control index. Thus, the outdoor control device 13A and the indoor control device 13B of the air conditioner 10
Returns the set temperature, the capacity of the compressor 16, and the rotation speeds of the outdoor fan 20 and the indoor fan 23 to the normal cooling operation or heating operation.

By the way, the human sensation sensor 9 shown in FIGS. 5 to 5 is used especially for the purpose of improving the efficiency of work or study.
As shown in FIG. 12, it is installed in office equipment for working or studying, or in clothing, footwear, or accessories worn by people.

When the office equipment is a pencil 40, a mechanical pencil or a ball pencil shown in FIG. 5, the human sensor 9 is installed on a cylindrical attachment 41 made of rubber, for example. The attachment 41 is detachably attached to a portion of the pencil 40 or the like that is in contact with a finger, and the human sense sensor 9 measures the autonomic nervous system physiological amount of the user. When the pencil 40 is discarded, the attachment 41 is attached. And attach it to a new pencil 40.

When the office equipment is the chair 42 shown in FIG. 6, the human sensation sensor 9 includes the armrest portion 43, which is in contact with a peripheral portion such as a user's finger or palm, or an elbow or forearm.
It is installed on the front portion of the seating portion 44 against which the user's thigh or the back of the knee hits, and on the backrest portion 45 against which the user's back hits.

When the office equipment is the personal computer 46 shown in FIG. 7, the human sensation sensor 9 includes the keyboard 47 and the mouse 4 connected to the computer main body 46A.
8 or a palm rest 49 that can be arranged in front of the keyboard 47. In the keyboard 47, the human sensation sensor 9 is installed on a key that the user's finger frequently touches, such as an enter key. Further, in the mouse 48, it is preferable that the human sensation sensor 9 is installed at a place where the palm of the user comes into contact.

In a telephone such as the portable telephone 50 shown in FIG. 8 as the office equipment, the human sensor 9 has a human body sensor 9 on the back surface of the telephone main body 51 on which push buttons are arranged, which is in contact with the palm of the user's palm or a desk phone. It is installed in the handset, etc.

In the office equipment 52 such as the rice field jacket 52 and the hair band shown in FIG. 9, the human sensation sensor 9 is installed inside the front portion 54A against which the user's forehead 53 rests. When the human sensor 9 is divided into a sensor unit and a transmission unit, the sensor unit may be installed on the front face portion 54A of the rice field 52 and the transmission unit may be installed on one end 54B of the rice field 52. .

When the accessory is the ring 55, bracelet, armlet, anklelet, necklace, etc. shown in FIG. 10, the human sensation sensor 9 is installed at a part of these ring shapes which comes into contact with the skin. . When the accessory is a wristwatch, the human sensor 9, especially various sensors 27, 28 and 29, are installed on the back side of the wristwatch which comes into contact with the skin.

In the case of the sock 56 shown in FIG.
The human sensor 9 is installed inside the ankle portion 57 or the toe portion 58, or the like.

When the footwear is the shoes 59 or sandals shown in FIG. 12, the human sensation sensor 9 includes the instep part 60 and the toe part 6.
It is installed inside 1 or inside the string part of the sandals.

With the configuration as described above, the following effects can be obtained according to the present embodiment.

When a person who is indoors is unable to work or study, the activity of the person's autonomic nerves, particularly sympathetic nerves, is activated, and the sweat rate and pulse rate increase, and the skin temperature tends to decrease. In order to eliminate these uncomfortable feelings, the human sensory sensors 9 installed in office equipment, clothing, footwear, and jewelry measure these autonomic nervous system physiological amounts to estimate the person's thermal uncomfortable feeling. The air conditioner 10 performs air conditioning. As a result, the thermal uncomfortable feeling of the person who is working or studying is improved, the activity of the sympathetic nerve of the person is calmed down, and the efficiency of work or studying can be improved.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the air conditioning performed by the air conditioning apparatus 10 is controlled so as to be the most comfortable and thermal to the wearer of the human sensation sensor 9, but work and In order to improve study efficiency, air conditioning of the air conditioning apparatus 10 may be performed so that the wearer of the human sensor 9 feels a little uncomfortable.

[0050]

As described above, according to the air conditioning system of the present invention, the air conditioning can be performed according to the sense of the person in the room, and the efficiency of the person's work or study can be improved. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circuit in the air conditioner of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing the human sensor of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing a relationship between a human sense and an autonomic nervous system physiological amount.

5 is a side view showing a writing instrument in which the human sensor of FIG. 1 is installed.

6 is a perspective view showing a chair on which the human sensor of FIG. 1 is installed.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a device for a personal computer in which the human sensor of FIG. 1 is installed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mobile phone in which the human sensation sensor of FIG. 1 is installed, as viewed from the back side.

9 is a front view and FIG. 9B is a plan view showing a state in which a hachimaki in which the human sensor of FIG. 1 is installed is worn.

10 is a perspective view showing a ring on which the human sensor of FIG. 1 is installed.

11 is a side view showing a sock in which the human sensor of FIG. 1 is installed. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a shoe on which the human sensor of FIG. 1 is installed.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 Air conditioning system 9 Human sensor 10 Air conditioner 13 Control device 13A outdoor control device 13B Indoor control device 27 Skin temperature sensor 28 Perspiration sensor 29 pulse rate sensor 33 Control index estimation unit 40 pencils 41 Attachment 42 chairs 47 keyboard 48 mice 49 Palm Rest 50 mobile phones 52 Hachimaki 55 ring 56 socks 59 shoes

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuo Takahashi             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Hisashi Tokizaki             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Mitsuru Toyota             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Yosuke Ungata             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Hideyuki Takayama             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Haruhiko Kanno             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Keiji Nishida             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Kazuya Cold Water             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiko Hashimoto             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3L060 AA05 CC11 CC19 DD01 DD02                       DD07 EE01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A human sensory sensor capable of estimating a person's autonomic nervous system activity by detecting a person's autonomic nervous system physiological amount, and inputting the estimated sense as a control index. An air conditioning system having an air conditioning device that performs air conditioning according to the control index, wherein the human sensor is installed in office equipment. 2. A human sensory sensor capable of estimating a human autonomic nervous system physiological amount to detect an autonomic nerve activity of the person and estimating the human sense, and inputs the estimated sense as a control index. And an air conditioner that performs an operation according to the control index, wherein the human sensation sensor is installed in clothing, footwear, or clothing. system. 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic nervous system physiological amount detected by the human sensor is a sweat rate, a pulse rate, and a skin temperature. 4. The sense estimated by the human sensor is
The air-conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air-conditioning system has a comfortable feeling or uncomfortable feeling such as cold and heat. 5. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein the office equipment is a writing tool, a chair, a keyboard for a telephone or a personal computer, a mouse or a palm rest. 6. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the clothing or accessory is a hemaki, a hair band, a ring, socks or footwear.