Control Unit, Control Method, Control Program, Computer-Readable Record Medium with Control Program, and Control System

• US 20070244602A1
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanai, Etsuko, Funakura, Masami
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy

Abstract

A control unit is provided which is capable of estimating a user'"'"'s environment based on time and temperature before entering an air-conditioned room, and reflecting a result obtained from the estimation in the control of air-conditioning equipment.

An interface section 105 receives user information indicating the state of a user in a first area and temperature data in the first area; a temperature-data recording section 107 records a period of time when the user has stayed in the first area, and by relating the temperature data to the period of time clocked by a timer section 106, records this temperature data as a temporal change in the temperature of the first area; a special-mode reference section 109 stores control information for changing the contents of a setting in air-conditioning equipment 104 provided in a second area; a special-mode time calculation section 110 calculates an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment 104 based on the control information, using the period of time when the user has stayed in the first area, the temporal change in the temperature and a reference temperature which is a predetermined temperature; and an operation-data generation section 111 generates operation data for operating the air-conditioning equipment 104 during the execution time based on the control information.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A control unit, comprising:

a receiving section for receiving user information indicating the state of a user in a first area and temperature data in the first area;

a clocking section for clocking a period of time when the user stays in the first area, based on the user information received by the receiving section;

a temperature-data recording section for recording the period of time when the user stays in the first area which is clocked by the clocking section, and recording the temperature data received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the first area by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section;

a control-information storing section for storing control information for changing the contents of a setting in air-conditioning equipment provided in a second area different from the first area;

an execution-time calculating section for, using the period of time when the user stays in the first area, the temporal change in the temperature and a reference temperature that is a predetermined temperature which are recorded in the temperature-data recording section, calculating an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section; and

an operation-data generating section for generating operation data for operating the air-conditioning equipment during the execution time calculated by the execution-time calculating section based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section.

21. The control unit according to claim 20, wherein the user information includes information for detecting whether or not the user stays in the first area.

22. The control unit according to claim 20, further comprising a desired-temperature data extracting section for outputting a temperature desired by the user to the execution-time calculating section, wherein

as the reference temperature which the execution-time calculating section uses when calculating the execution time, the execution-time calculating section uses the user-desired temperature outputted by the desired-temperature data extracting section.

23. The control unit according to claim 22, wherein the desired-temperature data extracting section acquires a room temperature set in the air-conditioning equipment and outputs this set room temperature as the user-desired temperature to the execution-time calculating section.

24. The control unit according to claim 20, wherein:

the execution-time calculating section prescribes a specific time whose time range is defined in advance; and

if the period of time when the user stays in the first area exceeds the specific time, the execution-time calculating section calculates the execution time based on the continuous time equivalent to the specific time within the period of time when the user stays in the first area.

25. The control unit according to claim 24, wherein if the period of time when the user stays in the first area exceeds the specific time, then the execution-time calculating section calculates the execution time, based on the continuous time from the end point of the period of time when the user stays in the first area to the point which goes back by the specific time.

26. The control unit according to claim 24, wherein if the period of time when the user stays in the first area exceeds the specific time, then the execution-time calculating section detects a point of time when the highest temperature or the lowest temperature is recorded during the temporal change in the temperature stored in the temperature-data recording section, and calculates the execution time based on the continuous time equivalent to the specific time which includes the point of time when the highest temperature or the lowest temperature is recorded.

27. The control unit according to claim 20, wherein:

the receiving section receives user information indicating the state of the user in a third area where the user stays while moving from the first area to the second area, and temperature data in the third area;

the clocking section clocks a period of time when the user stays in the third area, based on the user information received by the receiving section;

the temperature-data recording section records the period of time when the user stays in the third area which is clocked by the clocking section, and records the temperature data received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the third area by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section; and

using the period of time when the user stays in the first area, the temporal change in the temperature of the first area and a reference temperature that is a predetermined temperature as well as the period of time when the user stays in the third area and the temporal change in the temperature of the third area which are recorded in the temperature-data recording section, the execution-time calculating section calculates an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section.

28. The control unit according to claim 27, wherein:

the setting contents include at least one of a set room temperature, a set air volume and a set diffused-air temperature; and

the execution-time calculating section;

calculates a difference in temperature between the first area and the third area, using the temporal changes in the temperature recorded in the temperature-data recording section;

calculates the quantity of a change in at least one of the set room temperature, the set air volume and the set diffused-air temperature in the air-conditioning equipment, based on this difference in temperature; and

changes the control information stored in the control-information storing section to this change quantity.

29. The control unit according to claim 28, wherein if the difference in temperature between the first area and the third area is less than a predetermined value, then the execution-time calculating section considers the first area and the third area to be a single area, and calculates the execution time based on the temporal changes in the temperature during the period of time when the user stays in the first area and the third area.

30. The control unit according to claim 28, wherein if the change quantity exceeds a predetermined range, the execution-time calculating section corrects at least one of the set room temperature, the set air volume and the set diffused-air temperature in the air-conditioning equipment.

31. A control unit, comprising:

a receiving section for receiving user information indicating the state of a user in a bathroom and the state of the user in a bathtub, and temperature data in the bathroom and temperature data in the bathtub;

a clocking section for clocking a period of time when the user stays in the bathroom and a period of time when the user stays in the bathtub, based on the user information received by the receiving section;

a temperature-data recording section for recording the period of time when the user stays in the bathroom and the period of time when the user stays in the bathtub which are clocked by the clocking section, and recording the temperature data in the bathroom received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the bathroom by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section and the temperature data in the bathtub received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the bathtub by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section;

a control-information storing section for storing control information for changing the contents of a setting in air-conditioning equipment provided in a place different from the bathroom;

an execution-time calculating section for, using the period of time when the user stays in the bathroom, the period of time when the user stays in the bathtub, the temporal change in the temperature of the bathroom, the temporal change in the temperature of the bathtub, a predetermined numeric coefficient on the influence of the water inside of the bathtub on the human body and a reference temperature that is a predetermined temperature which are recorded in the temperature-data recording section, calculating an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section; and

an operation-data generating section for generating operation data for operating the air-conditioning equipment during the execution time calculated by the execution-time calculating section based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section.

32. The control unit according to claim 31, wherein the execution-time calculating section calculates an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment, based on a result obtained by comparing the temporal change in the temperature of the bathtub stored in the temperature-data recording section with a predetermined threshold value.

33. A control system, comprising:

a control unit having,

a receiving section for receiving user information indicating the state of a user in a first area and temperature data in the first area,

a clocking section for clocking a period of time when the user stays in the first area, based on the user information received by the receiving section,

a temperature-data recording section for recording the period of time when the user stays in the first area which is clocked by the clocking section, and recording the temperature data received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the first area by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section,

a control-information storing section for storing control information for changing the contents of a setting in air-conditioning equipment provided in a second area different from the first area,

an execution-time calculating section for, using the period of time when the user stays in the first area, the temporal change in the temperature and a reference temperature that is a predetermined temperature which are recorded in the temperature-data recording section, calculating an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section,

an operation-data generating section for generating operation data for operating the air-conditioning equipment during the execution time calculated by the execution-time calculating section based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section, and

an operation-data transmitting section for transmitting the operation data generated by the operation-data generating section to the air-conditioning equipment;

a state detecting section for detecting the state of the user in the first area and transmitting the user information indicating the state of the user to the control unit;

a temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature of the first area and transmitting the temperature data in the first area to the control unit; and

the air-conditioning equipment having an operation-data receiving section for receiving the operation data transmitted by the control unit and an operation executing section for executing an operation according to the operation data received by the operation-data receiving section.

34. The control system according to claim 33, wherein:

the receiving section receives user information indicating the state of the user in a third area where the user stays while moving from the first area to the second area, and temperature data in the third area;

the clocking section clocks a period of time when the user stays in the third area, based on the user information received by the receiving section;

the temperature-data recording section records the period of time when the user stays in the third area which is clocked by the clocking section, and records the temperature data received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the third area by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section;

using the period of time when the user stays in the first area, the temporal change in the temperature of the first area and a reference temperature that is a predetermined temperature as well as the period of time when the user stays in the third area and the temporal change in the temperature of the third area which are recorded in the temperature-data recording section, the execution-time calculating section calculates an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section; and

the control system further comprises,

a state detecting section for detecting the state of the user in the third area and transmitting the user information indicating the state of the user to the control unit, and

a temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature of the third area and transmitting the temperature data in the third area to the control unit.

35. A control system, comprising:

a control unit having,

a receiving section for receiving user information indicating the state of a user in a bathroom and the state of the user in a bathtub, and temperature data in the bathroom and temperature data in the bathtub,

a clocking section for clocking a period of time when the user stays in the bathroom and a period of time when the user stays in the bathtub, based on the user information received by the receiving section,

a temperature-data recording section for recording the period of time when the user stays in the bathroom and the period of time when the user stays in the bathtub which are clocked by the clocking section, and recording the temperature data in the bathroom received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the bathroom by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section and the temperature data in the bathtub received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the bathtub by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section,

a control-information storing section for storing control information for changing the contents of a setting in air-conditioning equipment provided in a place different from the bathroom,

an execution-time calculating section for, using the period of time when the user stays in the bathroom, the period of time when the user stays in the bathtub, the temporal change in the temperature of the bathroom, the temporal change in the temperature of the bathtub, a predetermined numeric coefficient on the influence of the water inside of the bathtub on the human body and a reference temperature that is a predetermined temperature which are recorded in the temperature-data recording section, calculating an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section,

an operation-data generating section for generating operation data for operating the air-conditioning equipment during the execution time calculated by the execution-time calculating section based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section, and

an operation-data transmitting section for transmitting the operation data generated by the operation-data generating section to the air-conditioning equipment;

a bathroom-state detecting section for detecting the state of the user in the bathroom and transmitting the user information indicating the state of the user to the control unit;

a bathtub-state detecting section for detecting the state of the user in the bathtub and transmitting the user information indicating the state of the user to the control unit;

a bathroom-temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature of the bathroom and transmitting the temperature data in the bathroom to the control unit;

a bathtub-temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature of the bathtub and transmitting the temperature data in the bathtub to the control unit; and

the air-conditioning equipment having an operation-data receiving section for receiving the operation data transmitted by the control unit and an operation executing section for executing an operation according to the operation data received by the operation-data receiving section.

36. A control method, including:

a receiving step of receiving user information indicating the state of a user in a first area and temperature data in the first area;

a clocking step of clocking a period of time when the user stays in the first area, based on the user information received in the receiving step;

a temperature-data recording step of recording the period of time when the user stays in the first area which is clocked in the clocking step, and recording the temperature data received in the receiving step as a temporal change in the temperature of the first area by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked in the clocking step;

an execution-time calculating step of, using the period of time when the user stays in the first area, the temporal change in the temperature and a reference temperature that is a predetermined temperature which are recorded in the temperature-data recording step, calculating an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment, based on control information stored in a control-information storing section for storing the control information for changing the contents of a setting in air-conditioning equipment provided in a second area different from the first area; and

an operation-data generating step of, generating operation data for operating the air-conditioning equipment during the execution time calculated in the execution-time calculating step based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section.

37. A computer-readable record medium in which a control program is recorded, allowing a control unit to function as:

a receiving section for receiving user information indicating the state of a user in a first area and temperature data in the first area;

a clocking section for clocking a period of time when the user stays in the first area, based on the user information received by the receiving section;

a temperature-data recording section for recording the period of time when the user stays in the first area which is clocked by the clocking section, and recording the temperature data received by the receiving section as a temporal change in the temperature of the first area by relating this temperature data to the period of time clocked by the clocking section;

a control-information storing section for storing control information for changing the contents of a setting in air-conditioning equipment provided in a second area different from the first area;

an execution-time calculating section for, using the period of time when the user stays in the first area, the temporal change in the temperature and a reference temperature that is a predetermined temperature which are recorded in the temperature-data recording section, calculating an execution time to execute a control operation of the air-conditioning equipment based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section; and

an operation-data generating section for generating operation data for operating the air-conditioning equipment during the execution time calculated by the execution-time calculating section based on the control information stored in the control-information storing section.