Control device and control method of temperature controller

• US 8,116,912 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Chao, Tzu Yi, Chen, Hsin Chia, Su, Tzung Min, Lu, Chih Hung, Sun, Cheng Kuang, Lin, Cho Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US12/496,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/299, 700/300, 382/106, 340/4.3
• 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/593 from stereo images

Abstract

A control device of a temperature controller, for adjusting the temperature of an environment having at least one active object, includes a first image sensor, a second image sensor, a process unit and a control unit. The first image sensor is for capturing a first image containing the image of the active object. The second image sensor is for capturing a second image containing the image of the active object. The process unit calculates a distance between the active object and the temperature controller according to the first and second images. The control unit controls an operational status of the temperature controller according to the distance calculated by the process unit. The present invention further provides a control method of a temperature controller.

Claims

1. A control method of a temperature controller, the temperature controller being for adjusting the temperature of an environment having at least one active object, the control method comprising the steps of:

capturing a first image containing the image of the active object with a first image sensor;

capturing a second image containing the image of the active object with a second image sensor;

obtaining, using a process unit, a disparity map according to the first and second images;

calculating, using the process unit, a distance between the active object and the temperature controller according to the disparity map; and

adjusting, using a control unit, an operational status of the temperature controller according to the distance.

2. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operational status of the temperature controller is at least one of a wind strength and a wind direction of the temperature controller.

3. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the number of the active object is more than one, the distance is selected from the group consisting of an average distance, a nearest distance and a longest distance between the active objects and the temperature controller.

4. A control device of a temperature controller, the temperature controller being for adjusting the temperature of an environment having at least one active object, the control device comprising:

a first image sensor, capturing a first image containing the image of the active object;

a second image sensor, capturing a second image containing the image of the active object;

a process unit, calculating a distance between the active object and the temperature controller according to a disparity map obtained according to the first and second images; and

a control unit, controlling an operational status of the temperature controller according to the distance calculated by the process unit.

5. The control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the temperature controller is an air conditioner or a fan.

6. The control device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a transmission interface unit for transmitting a control signal generated by the control unit to the temperature controller so as to accordingly control the operational status thereof.

7. The control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second image sensors are a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor.

8. A control method of a temperature controller, the temperature controller being for adjusting the temperature of an environment having at least one active object, the control method comprising the steps of:

capturing a first image containing the image of the active object with a first image sensor;

capturing a second image containing the image of the active object with a second image sensor;

obtaining, using a process unit, a disparity map according to the first and second images;

obtaining, using the process unit, a static parameter and a dynamic parameter according to the disparity map; and

adjusting, using a control unit, an operational status of the temperature controller according to the static parameter and the dynamic parameter.

9. The control method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the static parameter is selected from a group consisting of a distance between the active object and the temperature controller, a position of the active object, the number of the active object and a combination thereof;

the dynamic parameter is at least one of the movement of the active object and the motion range of the active object.

10. The control method as claimed in claim 9, wherein when the number of the active object is more than one, the distance is selected from a group consisting of an average distance, a nearest distance and a longest distance between the active objects and the temperature controller.

11. The control method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the operational status of the temperature controller is at least one of a wind strength and a wind direction of the temperature controller.