CA2023843A1

CA2023843A1 - System for creating comfortable space

Info

Publication number: CA2023843A1
Application number: CA002023843A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Sachio Shirai; Hisato Yano; Tsuyoshi Horiyama; Koshin Kikuchi; Teruo Hatano; Hiroaki Watanabe; Takeshi Sekiguchi; Teruhiko Momoi; Motoyuki Iwahashi
Original assignee: Shimizu Construction Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shimizu Construction Co Ltd
Priority date: 1989-09-14
Filing date: 1990-08-23
Publication date: 1991-03-15
Also published as: GB2238405B; SE9002681D0; IT9021445A0; GB2238405A; IT9021445A1; DE4029274A1; GB9019977D0; SE9002681L; FR2651824A1; IT1244874B

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a system for creating a comfortable space, an environment extracting apparatus is provided for extracting, as input information, at least two environmental factors within a space, which include a factor representing a man's activity. An environment computing apparatus is provided for determining an optimum combination of the environmental factors on the basis of the information obtained by the environment extracting apparatus. An environment control apparatus is provided for outputting a new environmental factor to the space on the basis of control information from the environment computing apparatus.

Description

2~2~8 L13 SYSTEM FOR CREATIN~ COMFORTABLE SPAC~

BAC~GROUND OF THE INVENTI~N
_ The present inven~ion r~lat0~ to a sy~tem for creating a comfortable space in whlch per~on~ ar~ active, suoh as an internal space within a building, a space within a vehicle, a space within a ve~sel or a ship, a space within an airplane, a universal or cosmos spaae, a spacs within a large depth undergr~und, or the liks.
It has conven~ionally been practiced -to craate a comfortable space~ However, the conventional method con~rols various environmental elemen-ts or $actor~ in an independent or single manner, such as ~emperature, humidity, illuminance or a luminous flux density, a sound, smell or aromar and so on. Further, almost all of the control systems have been so arranged as to maintain the environmental ~actors to their respective uniform values.
However, the environment required for the space varies depending upon a use oP the space, an ænvironmental condition or state on tha outside of the space, an a~tive condition of persons within the space, or the like. Various environmental faators act compositely upon persons. It is impossible for the conventional techniqu2 and method, however, to cope with the composite action o* the variou~
factors.
Furthermore, an air conditioning system has conventionally been adopted or introduced into a building, in order to make the environment withln a room e~cellent or satisfactory to obtain a comfortable resident space.
As one of various air conditionlng systems for a space within a room, there is control of temperatura o the space. The aonventional control of the indoor temperature has been arranged such that the indoor tem~erature i~
detected by a temperature sensor mounted to a suitable location such as, for example, a wallr and an air conditloner mounted to a building is controlled on the basls of an output s~gnal from the temperature sensor.

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2 ~ 3 By the way, there are many cases where tha temperature sensor for deteating the indoor temperature is mounted to a location where the temperature sensor is not in tha way. In these case~, the temperature ~ensor detects space temperature in the vicinity o a location where the temparature sensor is mounted. For this reason, temperatura of a looation where persons actually ~Xi8~ wlthin the room ls not direatly dete~ted so that the alr conditloner is not controlled on the basis of th~ temparature of the location whsre the persons actually exist. Thus, the indoor temperature is not necessarily controlled in an optimum manner.
On th~ other hand, temperatures, wh~ch the persons within the room feel, have differPnces among individuals.
Accordingly, conventional uniform control of the room temperature on the basls of the temperature ln the vicinity, where the temperature sensor is mounted, makes it impossible for the persons existlng within the room to obtain comfortable indoor temperature.
In this manner, it cannot necessar~ly be sa~ d that the indoor temperature optlmum for the persons existing within the room is controlled by the aonventional indoor-temperature control.
Moreover, methods have conventlonally been taken as follows. That is, in a factory or the like, background music i5 emltted from a loudspeaker to give comfortableness to mental or spiritual conditions or states o~ respective workers, thereby increasing the working efficiency.
Alternatively, muslc is played to serve as an aid of ~edical treatment or remedy of a mental di~ease.
Any of the above con~entional methods rely upon an audible sound. In recent years, however, it has been found that, even if an ultrasoni~ wave equal to or higher than 20 RHz, which is contained, for example, in a sound of the natural world such as, for example, a sound of the whi~per of the leaves or the like, does not listen to ears, the ultrasonic wave exceedlng 20 KHz may have its effects in , : ::
, ';` `~ ' , . ` ~ .

3 2 ~ 2 ~ 3 medical treatment of modern disaases, such as relaxation of stress, a psychosomatic disease, and so on. It has also been found that an ultrasonia wave reaching 40 KH~ is ef~ective in medical treatmen~ of modern diseases.
On the other hand, it is at the most that a wlde-us~ dlgital-type recording and re~roducingl apparatus records and reproduces a sound within a range of from a ew Hz to 22 KHz, in relation to a sampling fraquen¢y. Accordingly, lt is impossible for the apparatus to record and reproduca an ultrasonic wave in a natural ~ound which ex~sts within the natural world. Further, there exists no apparatuses which record and reproduce only an ultrasonic wave which exists -within the natural world.
Furthermore, in a recen~ large bu~lding, an interior is completely cut of from the relation to an exterior and is completely air-condition~d so that the interior is illuminated uniformly and widely from the viewpoint of a plane.
Accord~ngly, the interior tends to be estranged from variation and condition in the exterior. Particulaxly, there are many cases where a core section of ths buildin~
becomes a monotonous or flat space having its light environment which is constant and which rema~ns unchanged, regardless of night and day, or persons do not take notice of presence of a rainfall at ~he exterior.
For the reason discussed above, the person~ lack a natural rhythm which is required for the persons. Thus, repeated stress, which is particularly unconscious, is applied to the parsons, or the p~rsons do not take notice of a rainfall until they go to the entrance, at going ou-t, so that they becomes inconvenient or uncomfo~table. In thls manner, the persons feel menkal shock so that stress is applied to the persons.
Moreover, ~enerally, a building structure i~ formed with a plurality of windows which communicate with the exterlor. The windows have various functions such as ~
li~hting function, a ventilation unction, a seeing-thro~gh .-" ' ' ' " . " - ': : , , 4 ~3~3 func-tion, and so on. Since the windows have such f~mct.lons, normally or usually the windows are provlded at their respective locations which are capable of commullicating with the extarior.
By the way, the building struature has a closed space, such as an undergroun~, a aore sect:ion of a large buildlng and the like, which cannot direct:ly communicate with the exterior. In this closed 8p ce, it 1s imposslble to directly llgh~en the closed space, and to dlrec~ly take the air into the closed space. Further, since i~ is imposslble for the closed space to see an e~-terior scene or view, the closed space tends ~o become a dry or dull space. In this manner, 1t is ~mpossible for the closed space of the buildlng structur~ to provide windows having all of the above-mentioned unotions. It i9 desirable, however, that, in order to allow the persons existing withill the closed space to pass or spend days in a comfortable manner as far as possible, the functions, which the windows have as described previously, are exhibited as far as:possible also in the closed space of the building structure to br1ny the closed spaGe to a tasteful space. Further, of the above-mentioned functions, thsre is the seeing-through function which the closed space of the building structure has. In view of this, false or suspected windows are con~idered as ones which exhibit the seeing-through unction.
The suspected windows are arranged in the following manner. That is, a recess ls formed in a wall or the like of the building structure. A window glass material is mounted t~ an opening of the recess. ~ppreciation ob~eats are stuck on the wall of th~ recess at the bottom thsreof, or are placed on the lower side wall of the rece~s. Further, a llght is thrown upon the apprecia~ion ob~ects by illumination. By doing so, the appreciation ob~ects aan be appreciated or enJoyed from the interior through the window glass material. Acaording to the suspeated windows, the aforementioned ~losed space o the bullding structure, whlch tends to hecome dry or dull, can also become a tasteful : : : , 2~238~3 space.
In the conventional suspected windows, however, the appreciation ob~ eats are merely stuck on ~;he wall of the recess at the bottom thereo~. Accordingly, ther~ 1~ no sense of distance and no sense of three dim~nsic~n~. Thu~, ik i~
impossible to obtain a sa~ns or speataole like ~he actual windows.
Moreover, in th~ conventional ~uspeated wlndows, tha appreciation ob~ect~ æeen throu~h the glass window are always constant during a predeter~ined pariod of time, do not vary, and do not move. Accordingly, it is impossible to expect "fluctuation'l. Thus~ the suspected ob~ects a~e far from the natural scene which i sean through the actual window, and it is impossible to obtain the seeing-through function whiah the window has originally.
Furthermore, it has conventionally been known well that an opening is not provided in an outer wall of a building, but a suspected window is formed only in an external manner. An example, which is well seen particularly, is such that, in the case where it is imposslble to mount a window formed ther~in with an opening similar to that in a general ou~er wall ~urface, to a part of the building, a window frame at least similar to the ad~acent window is formed to obtain repeated design ability of the wall surface. Further, there is also a uspected window in which a glass material is fit-ted into a window frame of the suspected window so that a~glance shows that the suspected window has no difference in cons~ruction rom the actual or general windows excep~ for functions such as a lightenlng function, ventilation function and s~ on.
On the other hand, development in an air conditioning equipment in a building reduces a degree of opening and closing of a window in the building7 Rather, there increases fixed fitting windows in order to prevent reduation in the efficiency of the opening and clo-qing of the windows~ Further, by develcpment in an illumination equipmQnt and large sizing of a building, light~ng is not '~

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6 2 ~ 3 always limited to one due to the natural light, but various lamp illuminations are many used also for a constant or predetermined luminous intensity.
Under the clrcum~tances described abol~e, so-called no-window buildings are many used as industrial buildings suah as facilities for precision ~nstruments, as ~uildings for broadcasting indus~ry, or the like. ~.ccord~ngly, these buildings do not require window sashe~ to be mounted to the outer wall, and the exter~or of the buildings has it~ design construction which is thorough in unction per se.
Further, in a building kept for business which utilizes underground rooms, establishment or foundation of a dry area is restricted by a building site and the cost of construction. Accordingly, the building kept for business cannot but be brought to a no-window building supplled or covered in equipment, without expectation of lightening and ventilation~
One of tha various problems of the no-window building is as follows. That is, even i an air conditioning equipment and an illumination equipment are perfect or complete, the no-window peripheral wall intercepts or excludes the interior and exterior of the bullding from each other. As the case may be, the no-window building causes a sense o deadlock and a sense of oppression which are peculiar to a olosed space, bringlng upon dPcrease in working efficiency and business effects. Thus, the interior labor environment and the interior residence are deteriorated.
Here, however, ~ven if the conventional suspected window is adopted or used, the suspected window is indeed like a plain plate in the interior in which gaze or eyes sxist nearby, differentiated from solution in the e~terior and design of :~
the building. Thus, it is not absolutely expected to have the efects of the suspected window. After all, th~ interior illuminationr ventilation and so on of the no-window building rely only upon artificial eguipments. It is the existing state that the necessity of the suspected window is not rather recognized.

'~' ~a23~3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an ob~ect of the invention to provide a system ~or creating a comfortable spac.e, which controls various environment actors ln a ~ynthetic or collective manner, not in an indepond~nt manner, to enable the com~ortable spaca to be created.
It is another ob~P.ot of the invention to provide a system for creating a com~ortable space, which can obtain temperature optimum for persons e~ti~ting within a room.
It is still another obJect of the invention to provide a system for creating a comfortabl~ space~ which ..
utllizes, as it is r a digital-type recording and rQproducing apparatus having its charac~erlst~c capable of recording and reproducing without ocourrence of stra~n at an excellent SN
ratio ~signal-to-noise ratio~, in which a natural sound within a range of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz is recorded and is reproduced.
It $s another ob~ect of the inven~ion to provida s system for areating a comfortable space, which is capable of d tecting a light and a color of the e~terior to reproduce ~he light and the color into the lnterior, and which i8 capable of detecting a rainfall condition to practica simulation produc-tion. : :
: It is another obJect of the in~ention to provide a system for creat~ng a comfortable space, which is capable of obtaining a scene similar to a scene through an actual window.
It is still another obJect of the invention to provide a system for creating a comfor~able space, which is capable of producing "fluctuation" ~o obtain an image closer to a natural scene as far as possibl~.
Ik is another ob~ect o~ the lnvention to provide a syst2m for creating a comfortable ~pace, whlch again looks a function of a window in a no-window building from the viswpolnt of its essential condition to provid~ a rational suspected window.
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8 2~38~3 According to the invention, there i~ provided a system or creatin~ a comfortable space, c:omprising.
environment extracting maan~ or extracting, as input information, at leas~ two environmental factors within a space, whlch includ2 a actor repre~ellting a manls activlty;
environment computing means for determining an optimum combination o the environmental iEaotors on the basis of the informat~on obtain2d by the envlronment extracting means; and environment control means for outputting a new environmental factor to the space on the basis of control inormatlon from the environment computing means.
Preferably, the environment extracting means extracts a plurality of environmental factor3 on th~ outside and inside of the space.
- With the above arrangement o~ th~ invention, the input information extracted from the indoor and outdoor environment factors by the envlronment extracting means is sent to the environment computing means where the input information is computed and processed to determine the optimum combination of the env~ronmental faators of the space. The control information is sent to the environment control mean~ from which the new environmental factor is outputted to the space.
That is, various en~ironmental factors acting upon a person in a composite manner such as temperature, humidity, sound, lllumination, aroma and so on are controlled in a synthetic or collective manner, not in an indepPndent manner, so that it is possible to create a space highly comforted.
By doing so, lt is possible to provlde envirv~msnt hlghly comforted, ~n the man's active space such as an internal space within a building, a spaaa wi-thin a vehiale, a spac~
~; within a vessel or a ship, a space within an airplane, a universal or cosmos ~pace, a apace wi~hin a larg~ depth underground, or the like.
Preferably, the env~ronment control means includes .,;
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2~3~,~3 air conditionlng mearls for ad~usting indoor temperature within the space. The environment extracting means lncludes an lndoor temperature sensor mounted at a predetermined location within the space, for deteating the incloor temperature within the space, and a body-sur~ace temperature sensor for detecting temperatur~ o~ a body ~urfaca of a man exi3ting withln the space. The environment control means further includes a control unlt for controlling the air conditioning means on the ba~i~ of the indoor temperatura from the indoor temperature sensor and the temperatura of the body surface from the body-surface temperature sensor such that the lndoor tsmperature ~s bxought to a prede~ermined value.
With the above arrangement of the invention, the air conditioning means is controlled on the basis of the indoor temperature a~d the temperature of the body surface of the man existing within the space. That i~, the indoor temperature is controlled on the basi~ of the indoor temperature and the temperature of the body surfa e of th~
man. Accor~ingly, the indoor temperature is controlled in an optimum manner for the man existlng withln the space.
That is, with the arrangement of the invsntionr the indoor temperature is con~rolled on the basi~ of the t mparature of the body surface and the indoor temperature.
Accordingly, the indoor temperature ls not merely controlled on the basis of only the indoor temp0rature unlike the conventional one, but thP indoor temperature can be controlled so as to be brought to one most optimum for persons exist~ng within the space. Thus, it is possible to efficiently control the indoor temperature.
Preferably, the environment e~tractlnJ means further comprises an outdoor temperature sensor for detectlng outdoor temperature on the outside of the space. Tha oontrol unit controls the air aonditloning mean~ on the basi~ of a ~emp~rature difference between ~he outdoor temperature from $he outdoor temperature sensor and the lndoor temperature from the indoor temperature sensor.

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2~2~g~3 With the above arrangement of the invention, the air conditioning means is controlled also on the basis of the temperature differenca between the outdoor temperatur~ and the indoor temperature. Accordingly, tha indoo:r temperature i~ controlled on the basis of the indoor temperature, the -temperature dl$ference hetween the outdoor temperature and -the indoor temperature and tha tsmp2rature~ of the body surface. ~hus, the indoor temperature i~ controlled further effectively for the man existing within tha room.
Pr~ferably, ~he air conditioninsl mean~ air-conditions only a specif~c area within the space.
With the above arrangement of the inv~ntion, the air conditioning means air-conditions only the specifi~ area within the space. Thus, the indoor temperature ~s controlled effectively.
Preferably, the comfortable-space creating means further comprises stress relaxing means du~ to a high-frequency natural sound. The stress relaxlng means includes a microphone for absorbing the natural sound with~n a r~nge of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz, to issue an output signal, an AD con~erter into which the output signal from the microphone is inputted, a digital-~ype frequency dlvider for reducing frequency of an output signal from th~ AD convert~r ;;
by one octave, a recording medium for recording and reproducing an output s~gnal from the digital-type frequency div~der ln one of an analog manner and a digital manner, a digital-type freguency multiplier for multiplying a readout signal from the recording medlum by one octave, a DA
converter into which an output signal from the digital-type requency multiplier is inputted, and an elsctric sound converter for emitting an output signal from the DA converter as the natural sound havlng lts frequency within the ranye of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz.
With the above arrangement of the invention, the microphone collects the natural sound within the range of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz. The natural sound is converted into the digital slgnal. Subsequently, th~ natural ~ . .. : , .

23~ ~3 sound is reduced by one octave by the digltal~type freguency divider and is recorded onto the recording medium. Ths recorded natural sound is reproduced, and is multiplled by one octave by tha digital-type frequency multlp:Lier. The natural sound is oonverted in-to the analosl signal.
Subsequently, the natural sound is emit~ed from the electrlc sound converker as the natura} sound wlthin the range of from several tens of KHz to ~0 KHz.
Specifically, with the abova arrangemenk of th~
invention, the following sup~rior advanta~es can he obtained.
That is, it is possible ~o reproduce the high-frequency natural sound having its frequency within the range of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz to use the hlgh-frequency natural sound as stress relaxationO Further, since the frequency divider and the frequency mul~lplier are those of digital ~ype, only reduction of the high-frequency natural-sound input signal by one ootave enables the high-frequency natural-sound input signal to be recorded onto the recording medium as an audible sound signal. MoreoYer, only multiplication by one octave enables the hlgh-frequency natural-sound input signal ~o be easily converted to the high-frequency natural sound for stress rælaxation.
Preferably, the environment control means further comprises simulation means for simulating an outdoor natural environment into the space on the basis of the inormation from the environment extraotin~ means.
~- With the above arrangement of the invention, within the interior, environment varies de~ending upon tha outdoor conditions. Thus, the interior is not formed into a space : which is uniform and monotonous, but iQ formed into a r`' fluctuate spaae which varies depending upon time. The fluctuate space comfortably stimulates sense an~ sensitivity of a man so that the man is refreshed and relaxed. Thus, .~ stress can be dissolved. Thls means an ~mprovement in business effects and production efic~ency.
Preferably, the envlronment extracting means detects an outdoor rainfall condition. ~he simulation means ' :

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2~ ~3 s~mulates the outdoor natural environment into the space onths basis o~ an output signal from the env:Lronment extractlng means.
~ ith the above arrangement o the invention, ln addition to the fact that the above-desori]bed advantages are produced by e~tablishment o the envlronmemt ~xtracting means wh~ch detects the outdoor rainfall conditlon, one can know presence of the outdoor rainEall. Accordingly, there i~ al50 produced such an advantasa ~hat ~rouble ~uch a3 aga~n returning to the space from the entrance at g~ing ou~ can be dispensed witho Preferably, the comfortable-space creating mean~
further includes at least one suspected window which comprises a recess provided in a wall of the space, the recess having an opening, a curved-surface screen formed in a bottom wall of the recess in a cur~sd surface manner, an image machine for pro~ecting an image onto the curved-surface screen, and a window glass material mounted to the opening of the recess.
With the above arranyement of the invention, the image projeated by the lmage machine ls pro~ected onto the curved-surface screen having its depth. Accordingly, when the suspected window is seen from any direction, it is possible to obtain the image which has the sense of distance and the sen~e of three dimensions. Thus, it is possible to enJoy scenery whlch is closer to a nature in the suspected window.
Preferably, the comortable-space areatlng means includes a plurality of suspected windows arranged in side by side relation to each other.
With the above ~rran~ement of the invention, 1~ the plurality of suspPc~ed windows are provided ln a continuous manner and ~f the image proJected is brought to a contlnuous image, it is possible to form a large-range or larg -panoramic image in the suspected windows. Accordingly, it is possible for scenery through the suspected windows to approach the actual scenery of the windows. Moreover, the 13 2a23~3 pro~ec-ted image varies dependlng upon the actual outdoor scenic condition, whereby it is possible Eor the ~oenery through the suspected windows to further approac~h the actual window scenery.
Preferably, tha image, which is pro~ected upon the curved-surface screen, is an anlmation.
With the above arrangement o~ the invention, if the image pro~ected on the curved-~urfac~ scre!en is brought to the dynamic ima~e or animation, it 18 posE~ible to produce "fluctuatlon". Accordingly, the scenery through the suspected window can further approach the actual window scenery, so that it is possible to en~oy the natural scenery.
thxough the suspected window.
Preferably, the comfortable-space creating system further includes a suspected window forming a window without provision of an opening in a no-window wall of the spacs, the - suspected window comprislng an auxiliary wall provided on an inner surface of the no-window wall wl~h spaclng defined between the inner surface and an outer surface of the no-window wall, an opening formed in the auxiliary wall, a ~ reflecting mirror unit arranged within the spacin~ and . inclined outwardly such tha~ a ront face of the reflecting mirror unit faces toward the opening, and an illumination equipment arranged within the spacing in acing relation to the front face of the reflecting mirror un~t.
~: With the above arrangement of the invention, that is, by the characteristic o utillzation of the reflec-ting mirror unit, lt is possible to create a horizontal extent equal to or larger than tha depth of tha ~uspected window, it is possible to form existence of the window having -~ veri~lmilltude and, simultaneously, it is possible to unconsciouly obtain an open feeling from a closed space.
:~ Further, labor envlronment within the no-window bullding and ~ resldence are considerably improved, and the comortable-~ space creatin~ system is effective as a suspected wlndow which is required for the no-window building. Moreoverf the au~iliary wall is necessary for the basic constru~tion of the 2~23~'~3 suspected window. }lowever, not only a double wall in ths underground room has its usual or ordinary construatlon, but also the space behind the double wall accommodates the window having its depth, the reflectlng mirror unit and tha illumination equipment so that the space is provid~d as a duot space of an air conditioning e~uipment. Thu~, ther~ is almost no aff~t or influence of the C08t of construction.
Furthermore, slnce the spaae i~ formed by the auxiliary wall, maintenance means ls seaured for a parmane,nt equlpment of the ~ reflecting mirror unit and ~he illumination equlpment. Thus, ; remodeling, replacement and so on are made easy. The degree of freedom such as avoidance of ixing of th~ outdoor scenery and so on is large. There is obtained such an advanta~e that ; a value added is large as a whole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 i~ a aonstitutlonal view showing a fixst embodiment of a comfortable-space creating system according to the invention:
Fig. 2 is a view showing a second embodiment of the comfortable-space creating system accord~ng to the invention;
Flg. 3 is a view showing a modification of the second embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2:
; Fig. 4 ls a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the:invention;
.~ Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a fourth ; embodiment of the invention;
~ Fig. 6 is a view or explanation of a light-,~ ad~usting producing apparatus in the ~omfortable-space creating system illustrated in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a view for explznation of a suspected `~ ~ rainfall apparatus o~ the comfortable-space areating system ~ illustrated in Flgs. 5 and 6;
: Fig. 8 ls a view showing a ~irst modiiaation of the ~ourth embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 through 7;
: Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing a seaond modiication of the fourth embodiment illustrated ln .

., 2~23~3 Figs. 5 through 7;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing an fifth embodiment o~ the invention;
Fig. 11 ls a cross-sectional vie~w taken alony the line XI - XI in Fig. lU;
Fig. 12 is a top plan vlew of the fi~th embodlment illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11;
Fi~. 13 is a schematic constitutional view of an lmage machine in the comfortable-spacH creating system illustrated in Figs. 10 through 12;
Fig. 14 is a schematic constitutional view of a suspected-window reflection ~electing apparatus of the comfortable-space creating system illus~ra~ed in Flgs. 10 through 13;
Fig~ 15 is a top plan vlew of a first mod$fication of the fifth embodiment illu trated in Figs. 10 through 14;
Fig, 16 is a view for explanation of a use example of the com~ortable-space creating system lllustrated in Figs.
10 through 15:
; Fiy. 17 is a view showing a second modification o i the fi~th embodiment illustrated ln Figs. 10 through 14: :
:` Flg. 18 is a vertical cross-sect$onal view of a suspected w~ndow of the comfortabIs-space creating system according to a sixth embodiment of the i~vention, :: Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the inner side ~f the suspected window illustrated in Fig. 18: and Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view for e~planation ~: of function and advantages of the suspected window illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
: Referring first -to Fig. 1, there is shown, ln a - schematic manner, a comfor~able-space creating system accordin~ to a first embodiment of the invent~on.
The comfortable-space creating system comprlses an environment extracting apparatus 2 for extract$ng, as input information, a plurality of environment fac-tors on the instde : ,., . . :, .
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``~ 2~23$~3 and outside of a space or bullding space 1, an environment arithmetic or computing apparatus 3 for determining a combination of the environment ~actor~ optlmum or the space 1 on the basis of the information obtained by the envlronment extracting apparatu3 2, and an environment control apparatus 4 ~or outputting a new ~actor to the spac~ 1 on the basis of the control information rom the envirom~ent computing apparatus 3~
The environment exkracting apparatus 2 aomprlses an outdoor~environmen~ extracting unit 5 or extracting o~tdoor ;~
environment of the space 1, a man's-activity extracting unit 6 or detecting an active condition o~ a man within th~ space 1, a space-factor data base 7 given beforehand in agreement with a use of the spac~ 1, and an indoor-envlronment sensor unit 8 for det2cting environmental conditions within the spac~ 1. The man's-activity extracting unit 6 include~ a plurality of extracting elements 6a and 6b, while the lndoor-environment sensor unit 8 includes a plurality of en~ironment sensors 8a and 8b.
The outdoor-environment extracting unit 5 i provided in view of the fact that the environment cond$tions o~ the space 1, within which the man is active, are required to be determinad closer to the outdoor environment, and natural fluctuation 1s an important factor for comfortableness. The outdoor-environment extracting unit 5 is arranged such that outdoor temperature, humidity, radiation, wind velocity, wind pressure, bri~htness or llluminanaej luminance and so on are measured by the use of the existing sensor technique, or by a sensor which is so improved as to detect $1uctuation, and factors suitable for control of indoor environment are extracted from the measurement results of the sensorO
The man's-activity extracting unit 6 detects the man's actlvity within the epace 1, to ~end the de~ecting data to the environment computing apparatus 3. Method~ of detecting the man's activity include photographing by mean~
of a television camera to practice picture analysis, .~.

~2~ 3 measurement of an amount of radiation in agreement o~ a range with radiatlon from a m~n's skln, provislon of a sensor, radar or the like for de~ecting man'~ aotivity, at ~n interior o a room or tha entranae thereo~ r carrying of a transmitter serving also as an ID card wLth persons who are active within the room to sea movemant o~ the perqons, saleotive detection of nnly a talking vo~ ce 0~ the persons from a sound to measure an amount of conversation, and so on.
The space-factor data bas~ 7 is aonstruct~d as ollows. That is, in view of the faat that, as factvr~
surround~ng environment o~ the space 1, ther~ are factors which vary from hour to hour like the outdoor-snvironment extracting unit 5 and the man's-activity e~tracting unit 6, and factors given beforehand in agreement with a use of the space 1. Regarding these factors or condlt~ons, a data base is prepared, and input information required for contxol of the environment is obtained from the data base. As the information stored within the data base, lt ls possible to cite a use of the space, that i~, schedule of a ~se for a multiple-purpose space, conditions of location, a season, organization of an in~ended group of persons, and so on. The organization of the intended group of persons includes the distinction of sex and age~
~ThP indoor-environment sensor unit B detects the .~environmental conditions within the space 1, which include temperature, humidity, radiation, illuminance, a sound level, aroma and so on. The indoor-environment sensor unit 8 is so improved as to detect fluctuation by reduction of time constan~ on the basis of the exlsting sensor technigue.
Further, it is desirable that a plurality of sensor~ are mounted within the space 1 to measure dtstributlon within the space 1.
On the other hand, the environment computing apparatus 3 determines an optimum combination of th~ various envlronment ~actors, on the basls of the information obtained by the outdoor-environment extracting unit 5, the man' 5~
activity extracting unit 6, the space-factor data base 7 and - . ~..
:, . . . :
:; ,- . , , ~

~023'~3 the indoor-environment sensor unit 8, to esend cont~ol information to various environment control instruments 9 and of the environment conkrol apparatu~ 4. Speciically, thera are:
1) Appraisal or estima~ion o~ a ~egrea of comfortablaness of the space 1 at this polnt of tim~ on the basi~ of various information obtained from the lndoor-envlronment ~ensor unit 8.
2) Similar development o~ the lnformation rom the outdoor-environment extracting unit 5, the man'~activlty extractlng unit 6 and the space-factor data base 7, to appraise the degree o~ comfortableness desired for the space 1.
3~ Obta~ning of an output required for the various environmental factors in order to agree the appraisal value of 1) with the appraisal value of 2).
4) Addition of an amount of fluctuation to the QUtpUt information sent to th~ various environmental factors to output the output information to the environment control apparatus 4~
The environmen~ control apparatus 4 is a ~a~hering or assemblage of the various factor~environment control lnstruments 9 and 9, and is a section which practices output from this system. ~ccordingly, instruments are used in which abilities such as variatlon ln output and realization o~
fluctuation are added to the conventional envlronmental instruments such as air conditioning, illumination and so on.
The operation of the comfortable-space creating system constructed as above will be descrlbed below.
As shown in Fig. 1, the outdoor enqironment is detected by the outdoor-environment extractlng uni~ 5, the lndoor environment is detected by the indoor-envlronment sensor unit 8, and the man's activity is detected by the man's-activity extracting unit 6. The detected rssults are sent to the environment computing apparatus 3. The environmP.nt computlng apparatus 3 computes the optimum environment, and outputs and fluctuation values of the respectlve actor environment sub-systems required for the : .
.

2~23~3 optimum environment, on the basis of the abo~e-mentioned variable da~a and the data of the space-~actor data base 7, to send a si~nal to a pair o f otor-envixo~ment control units 10 and 10. The factor-environment contrGl units 10 and 10 control the various environment contro:L instruments 9 and 9 equipped with variation in the output and occurrence of fluctuation on the basis o the ~ignal s~nt from the environment comput~ng apparatus 3. ~y doing so, various environment factors such as air-condltionlng, illumination, aroma or tha like are outputted respea~ivlaly from the various environment control instruments 9 and 9 into the space 1 at the optimum condit~on. ..
: According to the comfortable-space creating system ; of the flrst embodiment, the environmental factors such as ; temperature, humidity, sound, illumlnation, aroma and the ~ like are controlled in a synthetic manner, not in an independent manner, to automatically create environment highly comfortable. Further, at control of the enYironment described previously, the outdoor natural condition at that time, the condition of the man's act~vlty, funation of the space that is ~he subject, a use and the l~ke, in addition to the environment condition within the space 1, are used as the input data, where~y it is possible to create a space more optimum. Fur~hermore, fluctuation is given to the various environment factors that are the outputs from the system.
Thus, a physiological action and a me~al action o~ the main with respect to the environment variation are considered whereby attention can be made to consider a countermeasure which is closer or warmer and which is in more conformlty wlth the reality.
Referring next to Fig. 2, there is shown a comfortabl~-space creating system according tD a second embodiment of the invention. The comfortable-space creating system is so arranged as to control temperature within a room.
The comfortable-space creatin~ system comprises an air conditioner 101, a control un~t (CPU) 102 or the air .

,. ;, : ~ :

~` ~o 2023~3 condltioner 101, an indoor-temperature sensor 103 for detscting indoor temperature, an infrared temperature ~ensor 104 for detecting temperatur~ o~ a body sur~ace o a person existing within the room, and a vutdoor temperature senso~
105 ~or detecting outdoor temperatura, In Fig. 2, the air conditioner 101 is conneated to a location withln the room through a drawlng duct 106 whos~
one end i9 open to the c~iling. Further, thP alr conditioner 101 is connected to ~ locatlon within the room throu~h a blowing duct 107 whose one ~nd ls open to the ce1ling. The air conditioner 101 is conneoted to an indoor instrument lOg which is mounted on a floor o~ the room through a blowing duct 108. Accord$ngly, the air conditioner 101 i5 SO
arranged that air withln the room is drawn through the drawing duct 106 and is clean2d, temperature of tha air is regulated, and the air is blown from the ceiling and the indoor instrument 109 through the blowing ducts 107 and 108.
The contrvl unit 102 ~s connected to the air conditioner 101. Connected to -the control unlt 102 are the indoor temperature sensor 103 mounted to a suitable location within the room, for instance, to an upper portion of an inner wall in the illustrated embodimant, the infrared temperature sensor 104 mounted to a loca~ion A where persons particularly exist within the room such as a work place, for example, an off~c~-automation corner, a study room, or the l~ke, and the outdoor temperature sensor 105 mounted to a suitable location of the ext~rior, for example, to an upper port~on of an outer wall in the illustrated embodiment.
In the comfortable-space creating ~ystem constructed as described above, the indoor temperature detected by the indoor temperature~sen~or 103, l:;he temperature of th body surface detected by the infrared temperature sensor 104 and the outdoor temperature detected by $h~. outdoor temperature sensor 105 are supplied to the control unit 102. The control unit 102 controls th~ air conditioner 101 such that the indoor tamperature ls brought to set comfortable temperature on the basis of the indoor , , .

2~238~3 temperature, the temperature of the body surface and a temperature differenca between the indoor temperature and tha outdoor temperature.
Fig. 3 show~ a modi$icatlon o~ the second embodiment illustrated in Fig. ~. ~n Fig. 3, com~onent~ and parts like or similar to tho~e illustrated in Fig. 2 are designated by the same or li~e reference numerals, and the description of the l~ke or ~imilar components and parts wlll be omitted to avoid repetition.
As shown in Fig. 3, an indoor instrument lO~a is mounted to the location A~ The indoor ins~rument lO9a alr-conditions only a specific area such as the locat~on A within the room. In this case, the indoor temperature sen~or 103 i5 arranged at the location A In this modlflcation, no outdoor temperature sen~or is provided.
In the comfortable-space creating system constructed as descr~bed above according to the modlflcation of the second embodiment, the control unit 102 controls the air conditioner 101 on the basis of the temperature at the locat~on A from the lndoor temperat~re sensor 103 and the temperature of the body surface from the inrared tsmperature sensor 104. In this case, the indoor instrument lO9a air-conditions only the location A in a spot manner. By dolng so, a location, where air ~onditioning ls no~ so much required, is not air~conditioned so that there is no waste, and it is possible to air-condition the location A ~n an efficient manner.
In connection with the above, the invention should not be limlted to the above-described second embodiment and the modification thereof, but various modiflcations and variations can be made to the invention.
For example, in the second embodiment, the outdoor temperature is al~o considered to control the indoor temperature~ However, the outdoor temperature sensor 105 may be omitted at a location where the indoor temperature is not so much ~ffected or in1uenced by the outdoor temperatureO
Similarly, the abova modification of the second em~odiment ~2 2~23~

has no outdoor tempera~ure sensor. Howevar, the outdoor temperature sensor may be provided ~o that consi.deration is made also to the outdoor temperature to control the indoor temperature.
Referring next to Fig. 4, there i~ shown a comfortable-spac~ creating sy~tem accor~inlg to a third embodiment of the invention. ~l~hough not ~hown, the comfor~able-space creating system illu~trated in Fig. 4 comprises its constitution similar to that ill~strated in Fig. 1, 2 or 3, and further comprises a stre~ relaxin~
apparatus whose circuit diagram is illustrated in Fig. 4.
The stress relaxlng apparatus comprises a microphone 201 and a sound-recording processing device 211.
The sound-recording processing device 211 includeq an AD
converter 202, a digital-digital-conversion-type frequ~n~y divider 203, and an DA converter 204. The m~crophone 201 is capable of collecting a natural sound wlthin a range of from several tens of KHz, for examplet from an audible sound havlng its frequency of 20 KHz or more contained in a sound occurring due to the whisper of the leaves, to 40 KH~
including an ultrasonic wave. The AD converter 202 converts an analog signal ~rom the microphone 201 to a digital signal.
The digital-digital-conversion-type freguency divider 203 redu~es the signal representing ~he natural sound within the range of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz by one octave, that isr divides the natural sound signal to an audible sound qignal within a range of from several tens of KHz to 20 KHz, to add, for example, the digital signal to a fli~-flop thereby being converted to a hal frequency signal, in order to enable the audible sound to be recorded onto a recording and reproducing unit 205 subsequently to be described. The DA converter 204 convarts the half requenay ~ignal to an analog signal. The recording and reproducing unit 205 is connected to the DA converter 204. The recording and reproducing un~t 205 is provided ~ith a magnet~a tape for recording the analog signal outpu~ed from the DA converter 20~.

23 2~238~3 On the o-ther hand, the stre~ relaxing apparatu~
fur-ther comprises a reproducing-signal processing device 212 which include~ an AD converter 206, a digital-digital-conversion-type ~regu2ncy multiplier 207 and a ~A conver-ter 208. The AD converter 206 converts the analog æignal read out from the recording and reproducing uni-t 205, into a digital signal. The digital-digital-conv~:r~ion-t~pe frequency multiplier 207 divides the input digi~al ~ignal into, for example, two, in order to multiply the digital signal by one octave, that i8, to multiply the digltal signal into a natural sound signal within the range of from several tens of KHz to 40 K~z. One of tha divlded two signals is directly inputted to an OR ga~e. The other signal i5 delayed by a delay circuit having such delay time as to obtain multiplied freguency, and is inputted to the OR gate. Thus, the digital-digital-conversion-type frequency multiplier 207 outp~ts a multiplied-frequency signal. The DA converter 208 converts the multiplied-frequency signal to an analog slgnal.
The DA converter 208 has its output slgnal which i~ amplified by an amplifier 209 connected to a loudspea~er 210. The loudspeaker 2IO is capable of emitting a natural sound containing the audible Souhd and the ultrasonic wave wl^thin the range of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz.
The operation of the comfortable-sound creating system according to the thlrd embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 4. The natural-sound signal containing tha audible sound and the ultrasonic wave w~thin the range of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz collected by the microphone 201 1~ convarted to the dlgital signal by the AD converter ~02, and is inputted to the frequency divider 203 where the natural-sound signal i8 reduced by one octave and is converted to the signal withln the range of from several tens of KHz to 20 RHz. The signal from the frequancy divider 203 is inputted to the ~A converter 204 and is converted to the analog s~gnal. The analog signal i~
record~d onto the magnetlc tape of the recordlng and reproducing unlt 205.

2~ 2~3'~3 At reproducing, the analog slgnal wlthin the range o from several tens of KHz to 20 KHz read out from the magnetio kape o the recording and reproducing ~mit 205 is inputted to the AD converter 206. The digltal ~ignal from the AD convert~r 206 1~ multlpli~d by one oatave by the ~requ~ncy multiplier 207. Th~ thus obtained digital ~lgnal within the range of ~rom sever~l tens o~ ~CHz to 40 K~z i~
inputted to the DA converter 208. The col~erted analog signal i8 inputted to the loudspeaker 210 through the amplifier 209, to emit the natural sound including the audibIe sound and the ultrasonic wave within the range of from sev~ral ten~ of KHz to 40 KHz.
In connection with the above, the recording and reproducing unit is not limited to the analog-type recording and reproducing system, bu~ a digital-audio-recording system capable of recording and reproducing in a dlgital manner can be applied to the recording and reproducing unit. Further, it is of course that a recording and reprodu~ing ~ystem using an vptical disc can be applied to the recording and reproducing unit.
Referring next to Fig. 5, there is shown, in a schematia manner, a comfortable-room crea~ing system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. ~lthough not shown, the comfortable-space creating system illustrated in Fig. 5 comprises its constitution similar to that illustrated in Fig~ 1, 2 or 3, and further comprises a indoor-environment producing apparatus which produces ~ndoor environment.
- As shown in Flg. 5, in the indoor-enviro~ment producing apparatus, a building 301 has its rooftop, and various sensor units are mounted on the rooftop of the building 301. The ~ensor units include ~ light and color sensor unlt 302 for detec~ing a light and a color of the natural world, a ralnfall sensor unit 303 for detecting a rainfall cond~tlon, and so on.
Information from the various ~en~or unit 302 and ; 303, representing th~ outdoor condition, i~ transmitted to a 2~23~

control unit 304. A con~rol signal regulated or ad~u~ed by the control unit 304 sui-tably operates or actuates an illumination unlt 305 and/or a dumm~ or su~3peated rain~all apparat~ 306, to reproduce a natural cond:Ltion of an exterior 308, into each o~ a plurality o :Lnteriors 307 of the building 301.
The outline o~ tho ~y ~em includ.Lng the control unlt 304 cen-tering around tha illumination uni~ 30S i9 shown in Fig. 6.
The sensor units 302 and 303 on the rooftop includes an all-daylight sensor 309, a sky-light daylight sensor 310 and a sensor 311 for temperature, humidity and the like. Weather and illumlnance of th exterior are detected by these sensors 309, 310 and 311 and are sent to ~h0 control unit 304.
The control unit 304 comprise~ a CPU 312, a data base 313, a timer 314 and a controller 315. The data base 313 has stored therein in$ormation regarding an optimum illumination su~h as color and illuminance with respect to each of conditions such as weather, season, ~ime and so on.
The data base 313 supplies the information to the CPU 312 in accordance with request therefrom. The timer 314 transmits ~nformat~on regarding time and schedule operatlon to the CPU
~12~ Ths controller 315 ad~ust~ its output signal in ac¢ordance with request from a plurallty of ad~usting plates 331 and 331 arran~ed respectively a~ various locations within the ~nteriors 307 and 307 to supply the output signal to the CPU 31~.
A light ad~usting signal from the CPU 312 is supplied to the illumination unit 305 which i5 suitably arranged within the interior 307 thrvugh a plurallty of distributlon switchboards 332 and 332, to practice various llluminations. An example of the various illumination i~
shown in Fig. 6, and ths illumination unlt 305 includas an indirect illumination device 31~, a ceiling producing illumination device 317, and a wall~urface produclng illumination device 318 for givlng variation to a wall ~, : :, .: -.

~6 2~23~3 surace.
Adjusting of the light and the color of the lllumination unit 305 is considered variou~ly, ~ut is ~et a~
follows, for example:

(1) Saason Spring: Selection of coloring imaging a color of a flower and fresh verdure;
Summer: Selection of illumination which i~ a warm color and whi~h is high in color temperature and illumlnance;
Fall : Selectton of coloring wh~ch ls emphasized ln color of brown c~rcle; and Winter: Selection of illumination which is a cold color and which is low in color temperature and illuminance.
(2~ Time Morning: Selea~ion of coloring wh~ch ~s low in color temperature and which is light in color;
Noon : Raising of color temperature; and Evening: Selection of coloring which is low ln color temperature and which is dark in color.
(3) Weather Clear Weather : Selection of blue or whlte circle; and Cloudy Wea-ther: Selectlon of a color circla which is dark.

The suspected rainfall apparatus 306 will next be described with reference to Fig. 7.
The suspected rainfall apparatus 306 is arranged at a corner within the interior 307. The suspected rainfall apparatus 306 comprises a ra~nfall head 319 arranged on a ceiling of a b~lilding and a water tank 32~ arranged on a flo~r of the building. Drops of water 320 from the rainfall head 319 pour on the water tank 321. Various plants 322 are placed within the water tank 321 and are useful for relaxiny atmosphere within the interior 307. Th~ pouring watar drops 320 wet th~ plants 322 so that the color of the green is made ~urther clear.
The suspected rainfall apparatus 306 includes a .: . : . . :: , : . ::::
,., ~

~7 2~3~13 water l~vel ssnsor 323 for detecting a water level of the water drops 320 pour~ng on the water -tank 321. Ths suspected rain~all apparatus 306 further includes a disaharg~ opening 324 which is arranged at a part of the wat:er tank 321. The water drops 320 are removed or discharged through the discharge opening 324.
The suspected rainfall apparatu~ 306 further inaludes a water supply or intermediate water equipment, a pipe line 325 connected to the water eguipment, and an electromagnetia valve 326 provided in the pipe llne 325.
Water flow is adJusted by ~he ~lectromagnetic valve 326 which is open and closed by thP control unit 304 recelving thP
information from the rainfall sensor unit 303. Thus, the water flow is simulated in accordance with the outdoor cunditions.
A first modification of the fourth embodiment illustrated ~n Figs. 5 through 7 is illustrated in Fig. 8 and comprises a color pro~ector 327 in place o~ the illumination unit 305 shown in Fig. 5. The color proJector 327 doe~ not merely ad~ust a light and a color on the wall surface or on the ceiling, but pro~ects a specific and desirable image onko the wall surface in accordance with a season, a weather and a time. Thus, a natural feeling is further produced.
A second modifioation of the fourth embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 through 7 is illustrated in Fig. 9.
In the second modification, illumination given to plants or the like such as, for example, a rainfall system or the like is ad~usted in light in accordanca with conditions of the exterior to produce freshness o morning and an e~ening relaxed atmosphere in aocordance with tims.
Referring next to Fig. 10, there is shown a comfortable-space creating syste~ according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. Although not shown, the comPortable-space creating system illustrated ln Fig. 10 comprises ~ts constitution similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, 2 or 3, and fur~her comprises a suspected window 401.
The suspected window 401 comprises a recess 403 2~23~43 2~

which is formed in a wall 402 and which ha~ a depth, a window opening 404 formed by cutting-out of a part of the wall 402 aorresponding to th~ recess 403, a window ~lass material 405 fltted in the window opening 404, a curved--surface screen 406 formed on a cyllndrical bottom wall o~ thH recess 403, and a wide-angle image machine 407 ~uch a.~ a pro~ector, a multi-slide or the like for pro~ectin~ an lmage.
As shown in Fig~. ll and 12, a p:roJection lmage is pro~ected onto the curv~d-~urface screen 4a6 from the wide-angle lmage machine 407. In this case, sl:nce the curved-surface screen 406 is formed into a cylindrical surface having a depth, the image proJected onto the curved-~urface screen 406 has its sense of distance and sense o~ three dimensions even if one sees the image ln any directions through tha suspected window 401. Accordingly, i-t $~
possible to obtain an image such as scenery or the like which is closer to the nature, on the olltside of the suspected window 401.
Further, as shown in Fig. 13, arranged within th~
wide-angle image machine 407 are a film 408, an image selecting unit 409 and a control unit 410. Images such as scenery or the like of respective seasons at spring, ~ummer, fall and winter, lmages of scenery or the like of respPctive weathers such as clear weather, cloudy weather, rain, snow and the like, and images of scenery or ths like at various times such as morning, noon, night and so on are recorded onto the film 408. The image selecting unit 409 selects a desired image from the various lmages on the fllm ~08 to set the desired image at a pred~termlned looation of the wide-~ngle image machine 407. The control unit 410 controls the image s~lecting unit 409 such that an image ~ubstantially the same as an actual outdoor scenic condition ls selected on the bas~s of the actual outdoor ~cenic cond~tion, that is, on the basis of the actual season, weather, time and so on.
Information regarding the actual outdoor scenic condition is supplied to the control unit 410 from an information lnput unit 411 which is arranged on the outside of the building.

~ ;

::` 2~238~3 Mora specifically, as ~hown in F:Lg. 14, information regarding weather, temparature, humidlty and th~ }ike ~g i~putted to a central processing unit 415 from a sensor unit 416. Information regarding a hope or requlsst o~ a resident within a ~uilding is inputted to th~ centrial proaessing unlt 4}5 from a controller 417. Information regardlng time is inputted to the aentral processing unit 415 ~rom a timer 418.
The central processing unit 415 proce~se~ the~e information, and dstermines selection of an optimum image software of a data base 419, or utilizatlon o an image o an outdoor television monitor of the sensor unit 416, on the basis of the processing results~ The decided image is sent to an image machine 420. Ths image machine 420 proJects the sent image onto the suspected window. In thQ case where a plurality of suspected windows are arranged oontinuously or in side by side relation, the central processing unit 415 computes an optimum sotware to send the same to the image machine 420.
By doing so, the lmage pro~acted onto the curved-surface screen 406 varies depending upon the outdoor scenic condition. Thus, scenery further closer to the natural scenery is for~ed on the suspected window 401.
Moreover, a static image can be used as an image pro~ected onto the curved-surface screen 406. Alternatively, a dynamic image or animation can be used as the lmage pro~eated onto the curved-surfa~e saree~ 406. In the Gase where the dynamic image is proJected, it is possible to produce "fluctuation". Thus, scenery further closer to the natural scenery can be obtalnedD
Flg. 15 shows a first modiication of the fifth embodiment illustrated in Figs~ 10 through ~4.
A~ shown ln Fig. 15, ln the first modiflcation, the plurality of aforesaid suspe~ted windows 401 and 401 are formed at a relatively long wall such as, for ~.xample, a wall extending along a passage 412. Pro~ected image~ in the suspeated windows 4Ql and 401 arranged ad~aaent eaoh other are for~ed into a continuous image. That is, it is supposed .: : .
: : . : . . -- ::

. ~ : : . .: - : , .:

~3~3 -that a passerby M walks along the passage 412 from the left to the right. Then, setting is made such that the passerby M
ls able to see a portion X of an image pro~ected onto the curved-surface screen 406 through thc window glass materl 1 405 at a loca-tion B
&AA. It is also supposed that a portion lnoluding a part Xl of the portion X and a part Yl contiguous to an end of the portion ~ is formed into a portion Y. Then, when the paæserby M existing at the loaation B
- ~AA see~ the next or adJacent ~uspected window 401, the portion Y is pro~ected onto the curved-surface screen 406 of the ad~acent suspected window 401 such that the portion Y is seen through the ad~acent suspeoted window 401. As th~ passerby M further moves to the right, the image, which the passerby M sees, ~s changed from the image on the portion Y of the ad~acent suspected window 401 ~o an ima~e on a portion ~. Setting is made such that, when the passerby M reaches a point B
passerby M is able to see the portion Z. In this manner, whan the passerby M moves from the left to the right, it is possible for the passerby M to en~oy, through the continuous suspected windows 401 and 401, scenery of an image having the portion ~, the portion Y and the portlon Z which are continùous to each other. Further, when the passerby M moves in the reverse direction, that is, from ths right to the le*t, it ls possible for the passerby M to similarly enJoy saenery of the image having the portion Z, the portlon Y and the portion X which are continuous to each other.
By the formation of the continuous image in the manner described above, it is possible to further approach th~ aatual window scenery.
Other than the passage 412 that is the locat~on where the suspected windows are provided in a continuou3 manner, as shown in Fig. 16, it is pos~ible to provlde the suspected windows 4~1 and 401 on a wall 414 beside an escalator 413. In this cas2, if the series o suspe~ted windows 401 and 401 are provided in an inclined manner ln agreement with the inclination o~ the escalator 413, it is possible to ~n~oy scsnery of the suspected windows 401 and :: , ~ , ::
~ , - ~ . -~. -2~23~43 401 in a continuous manner as the escalator 413 proaeeds.
Fig. 17 shows a seaond modi~iaation of tha 1~th embodiment illustrated in Figs. lO throu~h 14. In Fig. 17, components and parts li~ or ~lmilax to th,ose illustrated in Fig~. 10 through 14 are d~signated by the same or like r~erence numeral~, and the description o~ the like or simil~r components and parts will be omit~ed to avoid repetition.
As shown in Flg. 17, in the ~econd modification, the curved-sur~ace scresn 406 is formed into a spherical surface. By the formation of the curved-~urface screen into the spherical sur~acs, it is possibla to see a~ image even 1 one sees the suspected windows 401 and 401 from a diagonally lower location or from a diagonally upper locat~on.
Referring ne~t to F~gs. 18 and 19, there is shown a com~ortable-space creating system according to a sixth embodiment of the invention. Although not shown, the comfortable-space creating system illustrated in Figs. 18 znd 15 comprises ~ts const$tution similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, 2 or 3, and further comprise~ a æuspected window 510.
Fig. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the suspected window 510, while Fig. 19 is a perspective vlew o the inner side of the suspected window 510.
The suspected window 510 is ormed in a no-window outer wall 502 made of reinforced concreta or the like, of a no-window building 501. A trim wall 503 is built on the lnside of the outer wall 502 correspondingly to a post, and is finished in agreeme~t with an intexior 504. An exterior is designated by ~he referenae numeral 505, while an indoor floor is designatad by the referencs numeral 506. A space 507 is formed between the outer wall 502 and the trim wall 5~3.
In the suspe~t~d window 510 of the comfortable-space creatlng system according to the ~ixth embodiment o the invention, an auxiliary wall 511 is provided on Sh~
inside of the outer wall 502 with the ~pace 507 having a predetermined interval or spacin~ definsd ~tween the outer , , :- :, ,~ "
: ,., . - , ~ , ,. : ~

~2~3 wall 502 and the auxiliary wall 511. The auxiliary wall 511 serves also as the trim wall 503. The aua:illar~ wall 511 is arranged also in a direction ~arti~ioning the ~paca 507, and serves as a partition wall 512 o the spaoe 507.
As shown also in Flg~. 18 and 1~1, the auxiliary wall 511 is ~ormed therein w~th an openinq 520 which has its width a and its height b. A window frame 521 i~ mountsd to the opening 520. The wi~dow frame S21 i~ a double-leaf door, for example, in which a side fram~ 522 is hinged t~rough a hinge 523, and a glass material 524 ls fitted in the s:Lde frame 522 and is o~enable with respect to the opening 520.
A reflecting mirror 530 incllned outwardly is arranged between ~he outer wall 502 and ~he auxiliary wall 511 in vertically diagonally facing r~lation to the opening 520. The reflecting mirror 530 has its width a and its height b which correspond to the opening 520 at the front face. An upper edge 533 is supported by the auxiliary wall 511 in such a manner that a front ~ide or faae 531 faces downwardly and a rear side or face 532 ~aaes upwardly. A
lower edge 534 is supported by the outar wall 502, and the reflecting mirror 530 is mounted obliquely at about 45B k accordance with the standards at the time a spac~ng d is equal to the helght b. It i~ preferabls that the reflecting mirror 530 i5 mounted detachably~ The reflecting mirror 530 is available as a commercial mirror.
An illumination equipment 540 is arranged below the reflecting mirror 530 at a location within the space 507.
The illum~nation eguipment 540 comprises a lumlnaire 541 which serves as direat illumination. Further, as shown in Figs. 18 and lg, the luminaire 541 is embedded in th~ outer wall 502 or ~he au~iliary wall 511 a~d serves as indirect illum~nation. It is of course that the illuminatlon equipmen~ 540 form~ a part of an illumina~ion equl~ment for the building 501. The illuminatlon equipment 540 ha~ it~
ablllty suficient to illuminate the ~ntsrior 504. It ls preferable that a plurality of daylight lamps are used as the lumlnaire 541.

.,: , : '.

:; : i.

20~3~

With the arrangement described a~bove, it 1 possible to i}luminate the interior 504 th.rough the refleatin~ mirror 530. Simultaneou31y, th~ interior 504 ls illuminated ~ust like the natural lighting ~rom the exterior 505.
A molding article 550 i~ arranged within the space 507 as a component of the illuminatlon ~uipment 540. As the molding articl~ 550, a flowering pla~t put in a planter for a close-range view, a suspected tree 551 in which a plantation is formed by natural or suspected trees, a suspected building 552, a cloud, mountain, skyline or the like 553 for a distant vi~w are formed ln a suitable reduced scale. Articles are supported such that natural postures of the respective article, which are vertical, are supported horizontally. It is of course that a scene with respect to the re1ecting mirror 530 is considered also to the construction of the planes of the partition wall 512 and the floor 506.
Further, it is needless to say that the baQic or fundamental reflecting mirror 530 is changed in inside and ~ -outside, and a second illumination equ~pment 542 and the molding artiale 550 are arranged abova the reflectlng mirror 530.
Furthermore, as the~r~flecting mirror 530 arranged within the space 507, it is possible to use a mirror k~own as "magia mirror". The magic mirror iq a normal or ordinal mirror at its front face 531, but is tran parent in llght at its rear face 532. If the magic mirror i8 used, the illumination equipment 540 and the molding article 550 are arranged above and below or on both sides of the reflecting mirror 530, by arrangement of a reflecting mlrror 535 on the plane of the floor 506 withln the space 507.
Moreover, as shown in Flg~ 19, a general air conditioniny equipment 560 o~ the huilding 501 has l~s blowing port or suction port which is arranged withtn the ~pace 507. A louver 561 ls arranged, for e~ample, below the partitlon wall 512r and ls connected to a duat ~pac~ 562.
It i~ of cour e that th~ suspected windGw 510 o~

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2023~l~3 3~

the comfortable space creating system according to the si$th embodiment 1~ not limitad to the above-de~crl~ed speci~ic example. The inventlon i8 not limited ~o ~he building which is formed with no window ln view of it~ ~unction. ~he invention is applicable to a ~ortion o~ the building wh~re a living room havlng no window i8 formed by tha partitton wall within the room, or is applicable to the origlnally underground room.
The suspected window 510 of the comfortable-space creating system is substantially the same in basia construction as -the ordinary or usual window. Thus, the invention will be understood chiefly by ths descrlption of the function of the reflec~ing mirror 530 and the descrip~ion of the use thereof.
The suspected window 510 of the comfortable-space creating system according to the sixth embodiment of the invention is constructed by the utillzation of the space 507 between the outer wall 502 and the auxiliary wall 511.
Accordingly, an establishment floor area having the spacing d is n cessary. However, the spac~ng d ls used to give verisimilitude as the depth d + x to the suspected window 510. ~y the reflectlng mirror 530 and the illumlnation equipment 540 which are arranged with~n the space 507, a lighting source ls formed ln which the opening 520 ls similar to the usual or normal window. By existence of the light, a feeling of liberation is unconsciously given from a closed space. Particularly, if the ordinary or usual window frame 521 mounted to the opening 520 is open, the supply air from the air conditioning equipment 560 is fed into the interior 504 similarly to the outdoor air without change ln a general window sash, so that ~reshness similar to the outdoor wind i3 felt. Thus, sxistena2 o~ the window is f~lt which is not considered as being the suspected window.
Nex~, although being simple and clear from a viewpoint of principle, illumination due to the illumination equlpmPnt 540 and formation of the outdoor scenery will be described.

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, :: , ... .

:, :,:, , "`` 2a23~3 ~ s shown in Fig. 20, a plurality of suspected woods 551, a suspected building 552 and so on a~ the molding artiale 550 are formed in a suitably reduced ~cale ln accordance with a close-range view, a distant view and so on, and is arranged horizontally with an inner surface side of tha outer wall 502 being a proxlmal end~ When the molding article 55U is illuminat~d by the illumination equipment 542, the illuminating light i~ re1ected ~rom the surface 531 at the lower surface of the refleGting mirror 530, so that an image S under the vertical condition is seen from the ~id~ of the interior 504. The height x of tlle space 507, within which the various molding articles are arranged, is suah that an upper part is seen as be~.ng a close-ranya view in ~:
accordance with far and near. Thus, lt is considered that the suspeoted woods 551 like a planter is the actual scenery near the outside of the window.
Further, under the action of the air conditivning equipment 560, the shaking ls given to the suspe~ted woods 551 due to wind. Thus, reality is furth~r added.
Hera, if the magic ~irror is used as the reflecting mirror 530, the refleating mirror 530 acts doubls. For instance, the distant view 553, which is brought to a background like cloud, mountain or skyline, is optionally illuminated by a color on the cover 543 of the second illumination equipment 542. An image of the distant view 553 is transm~tted through the r~flecting mirror 530 only by a distance z downwardly from the rear surace 532. The image i5 reflected from the usual horizontal reflecting mirror 535 which is mounted to the ~loor 506. ~he image similarly reaches the surface 531 of the reflscting mirxor 530, whlle the image is composed including the image of the suspected woods 551 and the like~ As will be clear rom Fig. 20, the passin~ distance o the image S is brought to x ~ z and 1~
pro~ected onto the interior~ Simultaneously, a fee].ing of llberation is provided 2S an advanta~ o~ the windo~. During this, the images of the suspected article~ 551 ancl 552 are superimposed upon each other. Thus, a small number of 2~238~3 molding ar tlc::les 550 may be used .

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Claims

1. A system for creating a comfortable space, comprising:
environment extracting means for extracting, as input information, at least two environmental factors within a space, which include a factor representing a man's activity;
environment computing means for determining an optimum combination of said environmental factors on the basis of said information obtained by said environment extracting means; and environment control means for outputting a new environmental factor to said space on the basis of control information from said environment computing means.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said environment extracting means extracts a plurality of environmental factors on the outside and inside of said space.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said environment extracting means includes outdoor-environment extracting means for extracting at least one outdoor environmental factor, man's-activity extracting means for detecting a condition of the man's activity within said space, data-base means for storing therein space factors given beforehand in agreement with a use of said space, and at least one indoor sensor for detecting an indoor environmental condition.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said outdoor-environment extracting means extracts a plurality of factors including outdoor temperature, humidity, radiation, wind velocity, wind pressure, brightness and luminance, and wherein said environment control means controls an indoor environment within said space on the basis of an output signal from said outdoor-environment extracting means.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein information stored in said data-base means includes a use of said space, conditions of location, a season, and organization of an intended group of persons.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said organization of the intended group of persons includes the distinction of sex and age.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein said indoor sensor detects environmental conditions within said space, which include temperature, humidity, radiation, luminous intensity, a sound level and aroma.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein said environment control means includes a plurality of environment control instruments.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said environment computing means compute optimum environment within said space on the basis of variable data and data of said data-base means, said variable data including outdoor environment, indoor environment and man's motion, and wherein a signal is sent from said environment computing means to said environment control means.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said environment control means control said environment control instruments having their variable outputs, on the basis of said signal from said environment computing means.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said environment control means includes air conditioning means for adjusting indoor temperature within said space, wherein said environment extracting means includes an indoor temperature sensor mounted at a predetermined location within said space, for detecting the indoor temperature within said space, and a body-surface temperature sensor for detecting temperature of a body surface of a man existing within said space, and wherein said environment control means further includes a control unit for controlling said air conditioning means on the basis of said indoor temperature from said indoor temperature sensor and said temperature of said body surface from said body-surface temperature sensor such that said indoor temperature is brought to a predetermined value.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said environment extracting means further comprises an outdoor temperature sensor for detecting outdoor temperature on the outside of said space, and wherein said control unit controls said air conditioning means on the basis of a temperature difference between said outdoor temperature from said outdoor temperature sensor and said indoor temperature from said indoor temperature sensor.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said air conditioning means air-conditions only a specific area within said space.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising stress relaxing means due to a high-frequency natural sound, said stress relaxing means including a microphone for absorbing the natural sound within a range of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz, to issue an output signal, an AD
converter into which said output signal from said microphone is inputted, a digital-type frequency divider for reducing frequency of an output signal from said AD converter by one octave, a recording medium for recording and reproducing an output signal from said digital-type frequency divider in one of an analog manner and a digital manner, a digital-type frequency multiplier for multiplying a readout signal from said recording medium by one octave, a DA converter into which an output signal from said digital-type frequency multiplier is inputted, and an electric sound converter for emitting an output signal from said DA converter as the natural sound having its frequency within the range of from several tens of KHz to 40 KHz.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said stress relaxing means further includes a second DA converter interposed between said digital-type frequency divider and said recording medium for converting said output signal from said digital-type frequency divider into an analog signal.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said recording medium is a magnetic tape for recording thereon said analog signal from said second DA converter.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said stress relaxing means further includes a second AD converter interposed between said recording medium and said digital-type frequency multiplier for converting the analog signal read out from said recording medium into a digital signal.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said stress relaxing means further includes an amplifier interposed between the first-mentioned DA converter and said electric sound converter for amplifying the output signal from the first-mentioned DA converter.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said environment control means further comprises simulation means for simulating an outdoor natural environment into said space on the basis of the information from said environment extracting means.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said environment extracting means includes at least one outdoor sensor for detecting the outdoor natural environment.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said environment extracting means detects an outdoor light and an outdoor color, and wherein said simulation means simulates the outdoor natural environment into said space on the basis of an output signal from said environment extracting means.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein said environment extracting means detects an outdoor rainfall condition, and wherein said simulation means simulates the outdoor natural environment into said space on the basis of an output signal from said environment extracting means.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein said environment extracting means includes a light and color sensor for detecting a light and a color of a natural world, and a rainfall sensor for detecting an outdoor rainfall condition, and wherein said simulation means simulates the outdoor natural environment into said space on the basis of an output signal from said light and color sensor and an output signal from said rainfall sensor.

24. The system according to claim 19, wherein said simulation means includes at least one of an illumination apparatus and a suspected rainfall apparatus.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said environment computing means includes control means which comprises a central processing unit, a data base connected to said central processing unit, said data base having stored therein optimum information regarding optimum illumination with respect to various conditions including a weather, a season and a time, said data base supplying the optimum information to said central processing unit in accordance with a request from said central processing unit, a plurality of regulators arranged respectively as a plurality of locations within said space, and a controller for adjusting outputs from the respective regulators to issue an output signal which is supplied to said central processing unit.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said illumination apparatus includes an indirect illumination unit, an illumination unit for producing a ceiling of said space, and an illumination unit for producing a wall surface of said space.

27. The system according to claim 19, wherein said environment control means includes a suspected rainfall apparatus arranged within said space, said suspected rainfall apparatus comprising a rainfall head arranged on a ceiling of said space and a water tank arranged on a floor of said space, and wherein drops of water from said rainfall head pour on said water tank.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said environment control means further includes a water level sensor for detecting a water level of the water drop pouring on said water tank, and a discharge opening arranged in a part of said water tank, said drops of water being discharged through said discharge opening.

29. The system according to claim 23, wherein said environment control means further includes a water instrument, a pipe line connected to said water instrument, and an electromagnetic valve which is open and closed in response to said output signal from said rainfall sensor.

30. The system according to claim 19, wherein said environment control means includes a color projector for projecting a specific and desirable image onto a wall surface of said space in accordance with a season, a weather and a time.

31. The system according to claim 19, wherein said environment control means gives illumination to a plant, said illumination given to said plant being adjusted in light in accordance with conditions on the outside of said space to produce freshness of morning and an evening relaxed atmosphere.

32. The system according to claim 1, further including at least one suspected window which comprises a recess provided in a wall of said space, said recess having an opening, a curved-surface screen formed in a bottom wall of said recess in a curved surface manner, an image machine for projecting an image onto said curved-surface screen, and a window glass material mounted to said opening of said recess.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein said curved-surface screen is in the form of a cylindrical surface.

34. The system according to claim 32, wherein said curved-surface screen is in the form of a spherical surface.

35. The system according to claim 32, including a plurality of suspected windows arranged in side by side relation to each other.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein said image machine is set such that a continuous image is projected onto the curved-surface screens of the respective suspected windows which are arranged in a continuous manner.

37. The system according to claim 32, wherein the image, which is projected onto said curved-surface screen, varies depending upon an actual outdoor scenic condition.

38. The system according to claim 32, wherein the image, which is projected upon said curved-surface screen, is an animation.

39. The system according to claim 1, further including a suspected window forming a window without provision of an opening in a no-window wall of said space, said suspected window comprising an auxiliary wall provided on an inner surface of said no-window wall with spacing defined between said inner surface and an outer surface of said no-window wall, an opening formed in said auxiliary wall, a reflecting mirror unit arranged within said spacing and inclined outwardly such that a front face of said reflecting mirror unit faces toward said opening, and an illumination equipment arranged within said spacing in facing relation to said front face of said reflecting mirror unit.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said illumination equipment includes scale-reduced elements which include suspected woods, suspected buildings and cloud, as a plurality of molding articles copying an outdoor scene.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein said reflecting mirror unit has its rear face which is translucent in light, wherein said illumination equipment includes a pair of illumination units, and wherein said pair of illumination units and said molding articles are arranged on both sides of said reflecting mirror unit.

42. The system according to claim 39, wherein said opening of said auxiliary window is provided with an ordinary window sash.