Thermal image judging method and air conditioner control method

• US 6,021,956 A
• Filed: 11/13/1997
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zexel Valeo Climate Control Corporation (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Zexel Corporation
• Inventors: Haraguchi, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US08/969,452
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/51, 236/91 E, 236/91 C, 62/129, 62/130, 165/202, 165/203, 165/204, 165/237, 454/229, 454/239, 454/256, 340/565, 340/567, 340/584, 340/585, 340/588, 340/589
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/17 Catathermometers for measuring "cooling value" related either to weather conditions or to comfort of other human environment

Abstract

Whether a thermal image is in a steady state or an unsteady state is judged based on measurement values of temperatures of objects and ambient temperature and previously obtained relational expressions between ambient temperature and the temperatures of the objects and an air conditioner is controlled based on the result of the judgment.

Claims

1. A method of judging whether a thermal image measured by infrared sensors is in a steady state with small variations in the temperatures of objects or an unsteady state in transit to a steady state, wherein

whether the thermal image is in a steady state or an unsteady state is judged based on measurement values of temperatures of objects and ambient temperature and previously obtained relational expressions between ambient temperature and the temperatures of the objects.

2. A method of judging a thermal image according to claim 1, wherein the objects to be measured are each divided into a plurality of regions and whether the thermal image is in a steady state or an unsteady state is judged based on measurement values of temperatures of the divided objects and ambient temperature and previously obtained relational expressions between ambient temperature and the temperatures of the objects.

3. A method of judging a thermal image according to claim 1, wherein an unsteady state is determined when a difference between a measurement temperature of an object and a temperature of the object obtained by inserting an ambient temperature at the time of measurement into a relational expression exceeds a predetermined value.

4. A method of judging a thermal image according to claim 1, wherein an unsteady state is determined when a difference between a ratio of measurement temperatures of objects and a ratio of temperatures of the objects obtained by inserting an ambient temperature at the time of measurement into relational expressions exceeds a predetermined value.

5. A method of judging a thermal image according to claim 1, wherein an unsteady state is determined when a difference between ambient temperatures obtained by inserting measurement temperatures of objects into relational expressions exceeds a predetermined value.

6. A method of controlling an air conditioner characterized in that

objects to be measured of the thermal image measured by infrared sensors are each divided into a plurality of regions, and using measurement values of temperatures of the divided objects and ambient temperature and previously obtained relational expressions between ambient temperature and the temperatures of the objects, it is judged that the thermal image is not in a steady state with small variations in the temperatures of the objects but in an unsteady state in transit to a steady state when a difference between a measurement temperature of an object and a temperature of the object obtained by inserting an ambient temperature at the time of measurement into an relational expression exceeds a predetermined value, or when a difference between a ratio of measurement temperatures of objects and a ratio of temperatures of the objects obtained by inserting an ambient temperature at the time of measurement into relational expressions exceeds a predetermined value, or when a difference between ambient temperatures obtained by inserting measurement temperatures of objects into relational expressions exceeds a predetermined value.