Method for estimating thermal sensation, thermal sensation estimation apparatus, air conditioner, and recording medium

• US 10,486,491 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2017
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoneda, Aki, Kusukame, Koichi, Kubo, Hiroko
• Primary Examiner(s): Landrum, Edward F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comings, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US15/603,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20170341485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00792 Arrangement of detectors B60H1/00742, B60H1/0075, B60H1/00785 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing

Abstract

A method for estimating thermal sensation calculates, on the basis of a thermal image, a first temperature, which is a surface temperature of a first area, and a second temperature, which is a surface temperature of a second area, calculates a first amount of heat lost on the basis of the first temperature and first information, calculating a second amount of heat lost on the basis of the second temperature and second information, obtains an area ratio of the first area to the second area, calculates a total amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from a whole body of a person in a unit area, on the basis of the first amount of heat lost, the second amount of heat lost, and the area ratio, and estimates thermal sensation, which indicates a degree of warmth or coldness of the person, on the basis of the total amount of heat lost.

Claims

1. A method used by a thermal sensation estimation apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining a thermal image of an area including a person captured by a thermal camera;

calculating, on the basis of the thermal image, a first temperature, which is a surface temperature of a first area, which is a part of a human body surface area including skin or clothes of the person, exposed to a first thermal environment, and a second temperature, which is a surface temperature of a second area, which is at least a part of the human body surface area other than the first area, exposed to a second thermal environment different from the first thermal environment;

calculating a first amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from the first area of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the first temperature and first information indicating thermal characteristics of the first thermal environment;

calculating a second amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from the second area of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the second temperature and second information indicating thermal characteristics of the second thermal environment;

obtaining an area ratio of the first area to the second area;

calculating a total amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from a whole body of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the first amount of heat lost, the second amount of heat lost, and the area ratio; and

estimating thermal sensation, which indicates a degree of warmth or coldness of the person, on the basis of the total amount of heat lost.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the first area includes at least a part of the human body surface area not exposed to air from an air conditioner, and

wherein the second area includes at least a part of the human body surface area exposed to the air from the air conditioner.

3. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the total amount of heat lost is calculated by weight-averaging the first amount of heat lost and the second amount of heat lost using the area ratio.

4. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the area ratio is calculated on the basis of an area of the first area and an area of the second area in the thermal image.

5. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the area ratio is calculated on the basis of a temperature histogram of the thermal image.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the area ratio is a preset value.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the thermal camera includes a first thermal camera provided at a certain position and a second thermal camera provided at a position different from that of the first thermal camera,

wherein the thermal image includes a first thermal image captured by the first thermal camera and a second thermal image captured by the second thermal camera,

wherein the first area is identified from the first thermal image, and

wherein the second area is identified from the second thermal image.

8. The method according claim 1,

wherein the person is in contact with a certain member,

wherein an amount of heat transferred between the person and the certain member in a third area, which is a part of the human body surface area in which the person is in contact with the certain member, is calculated on the basis of an amount of heat received by or lost from the certain member,

wherein an area ratio of the first area, the second area, and the third area is obtained, and

wherein the total amount of heat lost is calculated on the basis of the first amount of heat lost, the second amount of heat lost, the amount of heat transferred, and the area ratio.

9. The method according to claim 8,

wherein the certain member is at least either a seat of a vehicle in which the person stays or a steering wheel, and

wherein the amount of heat transferred is an amount of heat transferred on a surface of the person'"'"'s body at which the person is in contact with at least either the seat or the handle.

10. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the amount of heat transferred is measured by a thermometer provided for at least either the seat or the steering wheel.

11. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the amount of heat transferred is measured by a heat flow meter provided for at least either the seat or the steering wheel.

12. The method according to claim 1,

wherein at least either the first information or the second information includes a temperature around the person.

13. The method according to claim 12,

wherein at least either the first amount of heat lost or the second amount of heat lost is calculated by a calculation method in which a difference between the first temperature or the second temperature, whichever corresponds to the amount of heat lost, and the temperature is multiplied by a certain value.

14. The method according to claim 12,

wherein the temperature is calculated on the basis of a thermal image representing temperature distribution in space.

15. The method according to claim 12,

wherein the temperature is measured by a thermometer provided at a certain position around the person.

16. The method according to claim 1,

wherein at least either the first information or the second information includes radiation temperature.

17. The method according to claim 16,

wherein the radiation temperature is calculated on the basis of a thermal image representing temperature distribution in space.

18. The method according to claim 1,

wherein at least either the first information or the second information includes wind speed and air temperature of wind around the person.

19. The method according to claim 18,

wherein a convective heat transfer coefficient between the human body surface area and at least either the first thermal environment or the second thermal environment is set in accordance with the wind speed, and

wherein at least either the first amount of heat lost or the second amount of heat lost is calculated on the basis of the convective heat transfer coefficient, the air temperature, and the first temperature or the second temperature, whichever corresponds to the amount of heat lost.

20. The method according to claim 19,

wherein at least either the first amount of heat lost or the second amount of heat lost is calculated by a calculation method in which a difference between the first temperature or the second temperature, whichever corresponds to the amount of heat lost, and the air temperature is multiplied by the convective heat transfer coefficient.

21. The method according to claim 19,

wherein the wind speed and the air temperature are wind speed and air temperature of air from an air conditioner installed in space where the person stays.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

obtaining setting parameters of the air conditioner; and

calculating at least either the first amount of heat lost or the second amount of heat lost using the wind speed and the air temperature set using the setting parameters.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

measuring in advance the wind speed and the air temperature at each position in the space for each pattern of the setting parameters of the air conditioner;

estimating the wind speed and the air temperature in the human body surface area by identifying a position of the person in the space using the setting parameters of the air conditioner and the thermal image; and

calculating at least either the first amount of heat lost and the second amount of heat lost using the estimated wind speed and air temperature.

24. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the first thermal environment and the second thermal environment include humidity around the person.

25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, to an air conditioner, instruction information for controlling air volume, air temperature, or wind direction of the air conditioner in accordance with the estimated thermal sensation.

26. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the thermal image is captured inside a vehicle body of a vehicle in which the person stays.

27. A thermal sensation estimation apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory,

wherein the processor performs operations including

obtaining a thermal image of an area including a person captured by a thermal camera,

calculating, on the basis of the thermal image, a first temperature, which is a surface temperature of a first area, which is a part of a human body surface area including skin or clothes of the person, exposed to a first thermal environment, and a second temperature, which is a surface temperature of a second area, which is at least a part of the human body surface area other than the first area, exposed to a second thermal environment different from the first thermal environment,

calculating a first amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from the first area of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the first temperature and first information indicating thermal characteristics of the first thermal environment,

calculating a second amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from the second area of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the second temperature and second information indicating thermal characteristics of the second thermal environment,

obtaining an area ratio of the first area to the second area,

calculating a total amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from a whole body of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the first amount of heat lost, the second amount of heat lost, and the area ratio, and

estimating thermal sensation, which indicates a degree of warmth or coldness of the person, on the basis of the total amount of heat lost.

28. An air conditioner comprising:

the thermal sensation estimation apparatus according to claim 27,

wherein air volume, air temperature, or wind direction is controlled on the basis of the thermal sensation estimated by the thermal sensation estimation apparatus.

29. A non-transitory recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as a thermal sensation estimation apparatus, the program causing the computer to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a thermal image of an area including a person captured by a thermal camera;

calculating, on the basis of the thermal image, a first temperature, which is a surface temperature of a first area, which is a part of a human body surface area including skin or clothes of the person, exposed to a first thermal environment, and a second temperature, which is a surface temperature of a second area, which is at least a part of the human body surface area other than the first area, exposed to a second thermal environment different from the first thermal environment;

calculating a first amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from the first area of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the first temperature and first information indicating thermal characteristics of the first thermal environment;

calculating a second amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from the second area of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the second temperature and second information indicating thermal characteristics of the second thermal environment;

obtaining an area ratio of the first area to the second area;

calculating a total amount of heat lost, which is an amount of heat lost from a whole body of the person in a unit area, on the basis of the first amount of heat lost, the second amount of heat lost, and the area ratio; and

estimating thermal sensation, which indicates a degree of warmth or coldness of the person, on the basis of the total amount of heat lost.