JP7496515B2 - Airflow control system and airflow control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an airflow control system and an airflow control method.

Conventionally, there is known a method for controlling an air conditioner that estimates a person's thermal sensation and controls the air volume based on the estimated thermal sensation (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the control method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the thermal sensation is estimated by using the difference value between the human body temperature and the temperature around the person as an index of the amount of heat dissipation.

JP 2019-32154 A

When airflow control is based on thermal sensation estimated using the amount of heat dissipation, the same airflow control is achieved if the amount of heat dissipation is the same. However, people differ in how comfortable or uncomfortable they feel when it comes to heat and cold (thermal comfort). For this reason, airflow control based on thermal sensation estimated using the amount of heat dissipation can make some people feel uncomfortable. Extra power is consumed to eliminate the discomfort, resulting in poor airflow control efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an airflow control system and an airflow control method that can efficiently achieve user comfort.

The airflow control system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a biometric information acquisition unit that acquires biometric information of a user, a sensitivity information acquisition unit that acquires sensitivity information related to the user's sensitivity to wind, an environmental information acquisition unit that acquires environmental information related to the user's surrounding environment, a target value acquisition unit that acquires a target value for airflow control, a pattern generation unit that generates a plurality of airflow control patterns using the biometric information, the sensitivity information, the environmental information, and the target value, a presentation unit that presents the plurality of airflow control patterns to the user, a reception unit that receives a selection of one of the plurality of airflow control patterns from the user, and a control unit that performs airflow control with the selected airflow control pattern, and the plurality of airflow control patterns include a comfort control pattern that causes a biometric value determined based on the biometric information and the environmental information to reach the target value while maintaining a state in which a predetermined control parameter does not exceed a threshold determined based on the sensitivity information.

The airflow control method according to one aspect of the present invention includes the steps of acquiring biometric information of a user, acquiring sensitivity information regarding the user's sensitivity to wind, acquiring environmental information regarding the user's surrounding environment, acquiring a target value for airflow control, generating a plurality of airflow control patterns using the biometric information, the sensitivity information, the environmental information, and the target value, presenting the plurality of airflow control patterns to the user, accepting a selection of one of the plurality of airflow control patterns from the user, and performing airflow control with the selected airflow control pattern, and the plurality of airflow control patterns include a comfort control pattern that causes a biometric value determined based on the biometric information and the environmental information to reach the target value while maintaining a state in which a predetermined control parameter does not exceed a threshold determined based on the sensitivity information.

Another aspect of the present invention can be realized as a program that causes a computer to execute the above-mentioned airflow control method. Alternatively, it can be realized as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that stores the program.

The present invention makes it possible to efficiently provide comfort to users.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an air blowing control system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the comfort felt by two users who have different sensitivity to wind when the same wind is applied to the two users. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the action and effect of the airflow control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method for measuring the cold sensation threshold using a sensor. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between self-reporting and wind sensitivity. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between body weight and wind sensitivity. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air blowing control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen for the airflow control pattern.

The following describes in detail the airflow control system and airflow control method according to the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a specific example of the present invention. Therefore, the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component arrangement and connection form, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in the independent claims are described as optional components.

In addition, each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily an exact illustration. Therefore, for example, the scales of each figure do not necessarily match. In addition, in each figure, substantially the same configuration is given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted or simplified.

(Embodiment)
[overview]
First, an overview of an airflow control system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the airflow control system 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining the comfort felt by two users who have different sensitivity to wind when the same wind is blown on them. Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining the action and effect of the airflow control system 1 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow control system 1 includes an airflow control device 2 and a blower 3.

The air blowing control device 2 controls the air blowing of the blower 3. The air blowing control device 2 is a control terminal that communicates with the blower 3 via wired or wireless communication. The air blowing control device 2 may be an operation terminal provided on a wall surface or the like, or may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a user. Alternatively, the air blowing control device 2 may be provided integrally with the blower 3. In other words, the air blowing control system 1 may be a stand-alone device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the blower 3 is a device that blows out wind 4. The blower 3 is capable of adjusting the volume, speed, direction, temperature, and blowing time of the wind 4. The blower 3 can, for example, not only blow wind with a constant volume and speed, but also blow fluctuating wind whose volume and speed change over time. The blower 3 can also blow air intermittently, as well as continuously. The blower 3 blows out wind 4 according to a blowing control pattern determined by the blowing control device 2.

Figure 2 shows two users, 5 and 6. User 5 is sensitive to heat, i.e., insensitive to wind 4. User 6 is sensitive to cold, i.e., sensitive to wind 4.

When the blower 3 blows the same airflow 4 on each of the users 5 and 6, the hot-sensitive user 5 will feel comfortable, but the cold-sensitive user 6 may feel uncomfortable due to excessive heat dissipation or wind. Conversely, the cold-sensitive user 5 may feel comfortable, but the hot-sensitive user 5 may feel uncomfortable due to insufficient heat dissipation or wind.

This is because users 5 and 6 have different sensitivities to wind 4. Therefore, in order to provide comfortable airflow to each of users 5 and 6, airflow control based on the user's individual sensitivity to wind 4 is required. If user 5 or 6 is made uncomfortable, airflow control to restore comfort, or adjustment of room temperature or humidity using an air conditioner or the like, will be required, which will consume unnecessary electricity and reduce efficiency.

In response to this, the airflow control system 1 has a comfort control mode as an airflow control mode in which airflow control is performed based on the sensitivity of each of the users 5 and 6 to wind. In the comfort control mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the airflow blower 3 blows different airflow onto each of the users 5 and 6 who have different sensitivity to wind. For example, the airflow blower 3 blows weaker airflow 7 onto the user 6 who is sensitive to cold than the airflow 4 onto the user 5 who is sensitive to heat. This allows comfortable airflow to be blown onto the users 5 and 6 so that neither of them feels uncomfortable. Therefore, the comfort of the users 5 and 6 can be efficiently achieved.

[Configuration of the air blower control device]
Next, a specific configuration of the air blower control device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The air blowing control device 2 includes a sensitive information acquisition unit 10, a biometric information acquisition unit 20, an environmental information acquisition unit 30, a target value acquisition unit 40, a pattern generation unit 50, a presentation unit 60, a reception unit 70, and a control unit 80.

The sensitive information acquisition unit 10 acquires sensitive information related to the user's sensitivity to wind. When multiple users are targeted, the sensitive information acquisition unit 10 acquires sensitive information for each user. As shown in FIG. 1, the sensitive information acquisition unit 10 includes a cold sensation threshold acquisition unit 11, a declaration acceptance unit 12, and a physical information acquisition unit 13. Note that it is sufficient for the sensitive information acquisition unit 10 to include at least one of the cold sensation threshold acquisition unit 11, the declaration acceptance unit 12, and the physical information acquisition unit 13.

The cold sensation threshold acquisition unit 11 acquires the cold sensation threshold of the user. The cold sensation threshold is an example of sensitivity information, and is a value based on the skin temperature when the user feels discomfort from coldness applied to the skin. The cold sensation threshold varies from person to person, and is a value that may differ depending on the user. The cold sensation threshold acquisition unit 11 is realized by a sensor that measures the user's cold sensation. A specific method for acquiring the cold sensation threshold will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

The declaration receiving unit 12 acquires the user's self-declaration regarding sensitivity. The self-declaration is an example of sensitive information, and is the user's self-evaluation of whether they are sensitive to heat, cold, or neither. The declaration receiving unit 12 is realized by an input device such as a touch panel display or a microphone.

The physical information acquisition unit 13 acquires the user's physical information. The physical information is an example of sensitive information, and includes at least one of weight, estimated bone mass, visceral fat mass, basal metabolic rate, body age, and body water percentage. The physical information acquisition unit 13 is realized by a measuring device that measures the user's physical information.

The biometric information acquisition unit 20 acquires biometric information of the user. The biometric information is information used to determine the biometric value of the user. The biometric value is, for example, at least one of the amount of heat dissipation, the skin temperature, and the amount of sweating. The biometric information acquisition unit 20 is realized, for example, by a thermo camera or a thermal image sensor that acquires a thermal image of the user as biometric information. The biometric information acquisition unit 20 may also be realized by a thermometer that measures the skin temperature of the user.

The environmental information acquisition unit 30 acquires environmental information related to the user's surrounding environment. The environmental information is, for example, information including the temperature or humidity of the space in which the user is present. The environmental information acquisition unit 30 is realized, for example, by a thermal image sensor or a thermometer. Note that the environmental information acquisition unit 30 and the biometric information acquisition unit 20 may be realized by a single thermal camera. By having a single thermal camera acquire a thermal image including the user and his or her surroundings (for example, the wall of the room in which the user is present), it is possible to simultaneously acquire biometric information and environmental information.

The target value acquisition unit 40 acquires a target value for airflow control. The target value is the user's biometric value that should be achieved by airflow control. For example, the biometric value is the cumulative value of the amount of heat dissipation by airflow control, and the target value is the amount of heat dissipation by the user that should be achieved by airflow control. The target value acquisition unit 40 acquires the target value based on input from the user. The target value acquisition unit 40 is realized by an input device such as a touch panel display or a microphone. Alternatively, the target value may be set in advance. In this case, the target value acquisition unit 40 may acquire the target value by reading it from a storage device (not shown) such as a memory.

The pattern generation unit 50 generates a plurality of airflow control patterns using biological information, sensitivity information, environmental information, and target values. As shown in FIG. 1, the pattern generation unit 50 includes a sensitivity determination unit 51, a database 52, and a pattern calculation unit 53.

The sensitivity determination unit 51 determines the user's sensitivity to wind based on the cold threshold. The sensitivity determination unit 51 also determines the user's sensitivity to wind based on self-report or physical information. For example, when the cold threshold acquired by the cold threshold acquisition unit 11 cannot be used, the sensitivity determination unit 51 determines the sensitivity to wind by referring to the database 52 based on the self-report or physical information. Sensitivity to wind is expressed in multiple stages, such as "sensitive," "normal," and "insensitive." The relationship between the cold threshold and sensitivity will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

Database 52 is a database that associates sensitivity information with wind sensitivity. Specifically, database 52 includes correspondence information that associates cold sensation threshold with wind sensitivity. Database 52 also includes correlations between each of the self-reported and physical information and the cold sensation threshold. Details of the correlations will be described later with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

In addition, when there are multiple users who are the targets of airflow control, the database 52 may store sensitivity information for each user. Specifically, the database 52 may include correspondence information that associates cold sensation threshold, self-reported information, or physical information for each user.

The pattern calculation unit 53 generates a plurality of airflow control patterns. The plurality of airflow control patterns are all control patterns that cause a biometric value determined based on biometric information and environmental information to reach a target value. The plurality of airflow control patterns include a comfort control pattern and a time-saving control pattern. The comfort control pattern is a control pattern that causes a biometric value to reach a target value while maintaining a state in which a predetermined control parameter does not exceed a threshold determined based on sensitivity information. The time-saving control pattern is a control pattern in which the time required for the biometric value to reach the target value is shorter than that of the comfort control pattern.

For example, the pattern calculation unit 53 generates a comfort control pattern based on the sensitivity determined by the sensitivity determination unit 51. Specifically, the pattern calculation unit 53 determines a threshold value used for comparison with the control parameter based on the sensitivity determined by the sensitivity determination unit 51. The control parameter is, for example, an instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipated from the user. The more sensitive the user is to wind, the smaller the threshold value used for comparison with the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipated is, and the more insensitive the user is to wind, the larger the threshold value is. In the comfort control pattern, the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipated is controlled so as not to exceed the threshold value. For this reason, for example, the threshold value is small for a user 6 who is sensitive to wind (a user who is sensitive to cold), so that the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipated can be prevented from becoming too large. In other words, it is possible to prevent too much heat from being taken away from the user 6 who is sensitive to cold, so that the comfort of the user 6 can be maintained. For a user 5 who is insensitive to wind (a user who is sensitive to heat), the threshold value is large, so that the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipated can be increased, and the time until the target value is reached can be shortened.

The control parameters may be at least one of air volume, air speed, air temperature, and air blowing time.

For example, the threshold value used for comparison with the air volume, wind speed, and air blowing time is smaller the more sensitive the user is to wind, and larger the more insensitive the user is to wind. In the comfort control pattern, at least one of the air volume, wind speed, and air blowing time is controlled so as not to exceed the corresponding threshold value. For this reason, for example, the threshold value is small for a user 6 who is sensitive to wind, so that the air volume or wind speed does not become too large, or the air blowing time does not become too long. This makes it possible to prevent a user 6 who is sensitive to cold from being exposed to too strong wind, or to prevent the user 6 from being exposed to wind for a long period of time, thereby maintaining the comfort of the user 6. For a user 5 who is insensitive to wind (a user who is sensitive to heat), the threshold value is large, so that the time until the target value is reached can be shortened, as in the case of the amount of heat dissipation. Taking the case where the control parameter is wind speed as an example, for example, the threshold value for a case where the user is sensitive to wind can be 1.5 m/s, and the threshold value for a case where the user is insensitive to wind can be 2.0 m/s.

The threshold value used for comparison with the air temperature is larger the more sensitive the user is to wind, and smaller the more insensitive the user is to wind. In the comfort control pattern, the air temperature is controlled so that it does not fall below the threshold value. As a result, the threshold value is larger for a user 6 who is sensitive to wind, so it is possible to prevent the air temperature from dropping too low. This makes it possible to prevent a user 6 who is sensitive to the cold from being exposed to wind that is too cold, so the comfort of the user 6 can be maintained. The threshold value is smaller for a user 5 who is insensitive to wind, so the time until the target value is reached can be shortened, as in the case of heat dissipation.

The pattern calculation unit 53 also generates a time-saving control pattern based on the user's biometric information, environmental information, and target value. For example, the pattern calculation unit 53 generates, as the time-saving control pattern, an airflow control pattern that allows the user's biometric value to reach the target value in the shortest time.

The sensitivity determination unit 51 and the pattern calculation unit 53 are realized by an LSI (Large Scale Integration), which is one or more integrated circuits (ICs). The functions performed by the sensitivity determination unit 51 and the pattern calculation unit 53 may be realized by software or hardware. The database 52 is stored in a non-volatile storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive).

The presentation unit 60 presents a plurality of airflow control patterns to the user. The presentation unit 60 is realized, for example, by a display. The presentation unit 60 generates and displays a selection screen including the plurality of airflow control patterns as options. A specific example of the selection screen will be described later with reference to FIG. 8. The presentation unit 60 may be realized by a speaker, and present the plurality of airflow control patterns to the user by voice.

The reception unit 70 receives a selection of one of a plurality of airflow control patterns from a user. The reception unit 70 is realized by an input device such as a touch panel display or a microphone. The reception unit 70, the presentation unit 60, and the target value acquisition unit 40 may be realized by a single touch panel display.

The control unit 80 controls the blower 3. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 has multiple operating modes including a selection mode and an automatic mode. In the selection mode, the control unit 80 presents multiple airflow control modes to the user and controls the blower 3 in the airflow control mode selected by the user. In the selection mode, the control unit 80 performs airflow control with the airflow control pattern selected by the reception unit 70. In the automatic mode, the control unit 80 controls the blower 3 based on the comparison result between a predetermined parameter, such as an instantaneous value of the heat dissipation amount, and a threshold value.

The control unit 80 is realized, for example, by an LSI, which is an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is not limited to an LSI, and may be a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. For example, the control unit 80 may be a microcontroller. The processor or microcontroller includes, for example, a non-volatile memory in which a program is stored, a volatile memory that is a temporary storage area for executing the program, an input/output port, and a processor that executes the program. The control unit 80 may also be a programmable FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a reconfigurable processor in which the connections and settings of the circuit cells in the LSI can be reconfigured. The functions executed by the control unit 80 may be realized by software or hardware.

The cold threshold acquisition unit 11, the declaration acceptance unit 12, the physical information acquisition unit 13, the biometric information acquisition unit 20, the environmental information acquisition unit 30, and the target value acquisition unit 40 may all be realized by a communication interface that acquires each piece of information by performing wired or wireless communication with an external sensor, input device, measurement device, etc. Also, the cold threshold acquisition unit 11, the physical information acquisition unit 13, the biometric information acquisition unit 20, the environmental information acquisition unit 30, and the target value acquisition unit 40 may be an input device that accepts input of each piece of information.

[Cold sensation threshold]
Next, a description will be given of the cold threshold acquired by the cold threshold acquisition unit 11. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of measuring the cold threshold using a sensor.

The sensor has a probe that is brought into contact with the skin of the user, such as the forehead or cheek. The contact area of the probe is in thermal equilibrium with the skin it is in contact with, and then the temperature gradually drops. As shown in FIG. 4, initially the user does not feel cold and is comfortable. When the temperature drops to T1, the user feels cold at the contact area, but is still comfortable at this point. As the temperature drops further, the contact area becomes even colder, and the user feels uncomfortable. The temperature T2 at which this discomfort is felt can be used as the cold sensation threshold.

In this way, the cold sensation threshold acquisition unit 11 can acquire the cold sensation threshold as sensitivity information by measuring the cold sensation threshold of the user. As described above, if the cold sensation threshold cannot be measured, at least one of the user's self-report and physical information can be used. This is because there is a correlation between the cold sensation threshold and each of the self-report and physical information. This correlation will be explained below with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

[Correlation between self-report and cold sensation threshold]
The inventors of the present application measured the cold threshold using a sensor and received self-reports of wind sensitivity for multiple subjects. The cold threshold was measured by contacting a probe to the cheek of the subject as described with reference to FIG. 4. The self-reports were received by presenting multiple options representing the degree of sensitivity to cold (an example of wind sensitivity) to the multiple subjects and having each subject select the option that best describes their own characteristics. A scatter diagram correlating the cold threshold measurement results with the self-reports is shown in FIG. 5.

Figure 5 shows the relationship between self-reporting and wind sensitivity. In Figure 5, the horizontal axis represents self-reporting wind sensitivity. The further left, the stronger the self-reported sensitivity to cold (i.e., more sensitive to cold), and the further right, the weaker the sensitivity to cold (not sensitive to cold). The vertical axis represents the temperature of the probe at which discomfort was felt (corresponding to the cold sensation threshold). The higher the axis, the more uncomfortable the subject felt when the temperature was high, i.e., more sensitive to cold, and the lower the axis, the more uncomfortable the subject felt when the temperature was low, i.e., less sensitive to cold.

The diagonal dotted lines in Figure 5 represent the linear approximation equation for each plot. As can be seen from the linear approximation equation, it was found that there is a correlation between self-reporting and cold sensation threshold. Therefore, even if the cold sensation threshold cannot be obtained, it is possible to accurately estimate the cold sensation threshold based on the self-reporting of the degree of sensitivity to cold. Although not shown in the figure, it has also been confirmed that there is a correlation between the self-reporting of the degree of sensitivity to heat (sensitive to heat - not sensitive to heat) and the cold sensation threshold.

[Correlation between physical information and cold sensation threshold]
The inventors of the present application also measured the cold sensation threshold using a sensor and acquired physical information for multiple subjects. The cold sensation threshold was measured by contacting a probe with the subject's forehead as described with reference to FIG. 4. The physical information was acquired by acquiring the subject's weight. A scatter diagram correlating the cold sensation threshold measurement results with the weight is shown in FIG. 6.

Figure 6 shows the relationship between body weight and wind sensitivity. In Figure 6, the horizontal axis represents body weight. The left side represents lighter body weight, and the right side represents heavier body weight. The vertical axis represents the probe temperature at which discomfort was felt, and is the same as the vertical axis in Figure 5.

The diagonal dotted lines in Figure 6 represent the linear approximation equations for each plot. As can be seen from the linear approximation equations, it was found that there is a correlation between body weight and cold threshold. Therefore, even if the cold threshold cannot be obtained, it is possible to accurately estimate the cold threshold based on body weight. Although not shown in the figure, it has also been confirmed that there is a correlation between the estimated bone mass, visceral fat mass, basal metabolic rate, body age, and total body water percentage and the cold threshold.

[motion]
Next, the operation of the airflow control system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the airflow control system 1 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, the biometric information acquisition unit 20 and the environmental information acquisition unit 30 acquire a thermal image (S10). The thermal image includes the temperature of the user's skin and the temperature of the walls around the user.

Next, the pattern calculation unit 53 estimates the amount of heat dissipation of the user based on the acquired thermal image (S12). The method for estimating the amount of heat dissipation is not particularly limited, and any conventionally known method can be used.

Next, the target value acquisition unit 40 acquires the target value (S14). For example, the target value acquisition unit 40 acquires a preset target value.

Next, the control unit 80 determines the operation mode (S16). If the operation mode is the selection mode ("selection mode" in S16), the sensitivity determination unit 51 determines the user's sensitivity (S18).

Specifically, first, the sensitivity information acquisition unit 10 acquires sensitivity information. For example, the cold threshold acquisition unit 11 measures the cold threshold of the user. Alternatively, the declaration acceptance unit 12 may acquire the user's self-declaration. Furthermore, the physical information acquisition unit 13 may acquire the user's physical information. The sensitivity determination unit 51 determines the user's sensitivity by referring to the database 52 based on the acquired cold threshold, self-declaration, or physical information.

Next, the pattern calculation unit 53 generates a plurality of airflow control patterns (S20). Specifically, the pattern calculation unit 53 generates a plurality of airflow control patterns including a comfort control pattern according to the user's sensitivity and a time-saving control pattern.

Next, the presentation unit 60 displays a plurality of airflow control patterns (S22). For example, the presentation unit 60 generates and displays the selection screen shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the selection screen for airflow control patterns. In the display screen shown in FIG. 8, three airflow control patterns including two comfort control patterns and one time-saving control pattern are displayed as options 61. In addition, the required time required to reach the target value is also displayed for each of the three airflow control patterns. The required time is different between the two comfort control patterns. For example, the comfort control pattern A is slightly less comfortable than the comfort control pattern B, but the target value can be reached in a shorter period of time. After the user selects one of the three options 61, he or she presses the decision button 62. As a result, the reception unit 70 receives the selection of the airflow control pattern (S24).

Next, the control unit 80 controls the blower 3 with the selected airflow control pattern (S26).

Then, the above-mentioned process is repeated from step S10. Note that in step S18 of determining the user's sensitivity, the measurement of the user's cold sensation threshold, the acquisition of self-reporting, or the acquisition of physical information may have been performed in advance, and the cold sensation threshold, self-reporting, and physical information may be stored in database 52.

In addition, in step S16, if the operating mode is the automatic mode ("automatic mode" in S16), the control unit 80 determines the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipation of the user (S28). The instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipation is calculated based on the thermal image acquired in step S10.

If the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipation is equal to or greater than the threshold value ("Above threshold value" in S28), the control unit 80 maintains the airflow control pattern (S30). The threshold value here is a threshold value for determining whether heat dissipation from the user is occurring appropriately. If the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipation from the user is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the user is not retaining heat because air is being blown onto him/her, and heat is being dissipated appropriately. For this reason, airflow control is continued by maintaining the current airflow control pattern.

If the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipation is less than the threshold value ("less than threshold value" in S28), the control unit 80 transitions to the selection mode. If the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipation of the user is less than the threshold value, the heat dissipation from the user is not being performed properly, so the airflow control pattern needs to be changed. Therefore, by performing the processing of steps S18 to S26 in the selection mode, airflow control is performed with a new airflow control pattern.

[Effects, etc.]
As described above, the airflow control system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a biometric information acquisition unit 20 for acquiring biometric information of a user, a sensitive information acquisition unit 10 for acquiring sensitive information on the user's sensitivity to wind, an environmental information acquisition unit 30 for acquiring environmental information on the user's surrounding environment, a target value acquisition unit 40 for acquiring a target value for airflow control, a pattern generation unit 50 for generating a plurality of airflow control patterns using the biometric information, the sensitive information, the environmental information, and the target value, a presentation unit 60 for presenting the plurality of airflow control patterns to a user, a reception unit 70 for receiving a selection of one of the plurality of airflow control patterns from the user, and a control unit 80 for performing airflow control with the selected airflow control pattern. The plurality of airflow control patterns include a comfort control pattern that causes a biometric value determined based on the biometric information and the environmental information to reach a target value while maintaining a state in which a predetermined control parameter does not exceed a threshold determined based on the sensitive information.

In this way, the multiple selectable airflow control modes include a comfort control mode that controls airflow based on the user's sensitivity to wind. This allows air to be blown comfortably to the user without making the user uncomfortable. Therefore, user comfort can be achieved efficiently.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the temperature T1 at which coldness is felt may differ from the temperature T2 at which discomfort is felt. For this reason, a comfortable state may not be achieved simply by controlling airflow based on thermal sensation. For example, assume a state in which a certain amount of air is blown on the user, causing the user to feel cold but comfortable (the drop in temperature corresponds to between T1 and T2). In this case, weakening the airflow may reduce the user's comfort. In contrast, in this embodiment, airflow control is performed based on sensitivity to wind, so that comfortable airflow control can be performed for the user.

For example, the multiple airflow control patterns include a time-saving control pattern in which the time required for the vital signs value to reach the target value is shorter than that in the comfort control pattern.

This allows the user to select the time-saving control mode when reducing the time it takes to reach the target value is more important than comfort, allowing airflow control to be tailored to the user's preferences.

For example, the biometric value is the amount of heat dissipated from the user, and the specified control parameter is the instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipated from the user.

This makes it possible to easily obtain the amount of heat dissipation required for airflow control using a thermal camera or thermal image sensor.

For example, sensitive information could be the user's cold sensation threshold.

In this way, by obtaining the cold sensation threshold, the threshold of the comfort control pattern can be determined with high accuracy. This makes it possible to generate an airflow control pattern that is more comfortable for the user.

Also, for example, sensitive information may be a user's self-report of sensitivity or the user's physical information.

This allows self-reporting or physical information that is correlated with the cold sensation threshold to be used instead of the cold sensation threshold. Since there is no need for a sensor to measure the cold sensation threshold, the configuration of the airflow control system 1 can be simplified.

For example, the airflow control system 1 further includes a database 52 that associates self-reported or physical information with the cold sensation threshold. The pattern generation unit 50 determines the cold sensation threshold of the user by referring to the database 52.

This allows the correlation between the cold sensation threshold and self-reported or physical information to be stored in advance in database 52, making it possible to quickly generate an airflow control pattern.

For example, the airflow control method according to this embodiment includes the steps of acquiring biometric information of a user (S10), acquiring sensitivity information related to the user's sensitivity to wind (S18), acquiring environmental information related to the user's surrounding environment (S10), acquiring a target value for airflow control (S14), generating a plurality of airflow control patterns using the biometric information, sensitivity information, environmental information, and the target value (S20), presenting the plurality of airflow control patterns to the user (S22), accepting a selection of one of the plurality of airflow control patterns from the user (S24), and performing airflow control with the selected airflow control pattern (S26). The program according to this embodiment is a program that causes a computer to execute the above airflow control method.

This allows the user to be made comfortable efficiently, just as with the airflow control system 1.

(others)
Although the airflow control system according to the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, the declaration receiving unit 12 may acquire a self-declaration other than the degree of sensitivity to heat or cold. For example, the declaration receiving unit 12 may acquire a self-declaration of the degree of sensitivity to cold. It has been confirmed that there is a correlation between the measurement results of the cold sensation threshold and the self-declaration of sensitivity to cold.

Also, for example, the control unit 80 may not have an automatic mode as an operating mode. The control unit 80 may have only a selection mode.

Also, for example, when the cold thresholds of multiple users are stored in the database 52, the sensitivity determination unit 51 identifies the user who is the target of the airflow control, and obtains the cold threshold of the identified user by reading it from the database 52. The user is identified, for example, by input from the user. Alternatively, when acquiring a thermal image, the user may be photographed with a visible light camera or the like, and the identification may be performed based on an image of the user extracted from the photographed image. By previously associating the user's facial image with the cold threshold, the target user can be identified from the photographed image, and the cold threshold of the user can be determined.

Also, for example, the determination of the user's sensitivity (S18) may be performed before the determination of the mode (S16). The determined sensitivity may be stored in a storage unit or the like.

The communication method between the devices described in the above embodiment is not particularly limited. When wireless communication is performed between the devices, the wireless communication method (communication standard) is, for example, short-range wireless communication such as ZigBee (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). Alternatively, the wireless communication method (communication standard) may be communication via a wide area communication network such as the Internet. Furthermore, wired communication may be performed between the devices instead of wireless communication. Specifically, the wired communication is communication using power line communication (PLC) or a wired LAN.

In the above embodiment, the process executed by a specific processing unit may be executed by another processing unit. The order of multiple processes may be changed, or multiple processes may be executed in parallel. The allocation of components of the air flow control system to multiple devices is one example. For example, components included in one device may be included in another device.

For example, the processing described in the above embodiment may be realized by centralized processing using a single device (system), or may be realized by distributed processing using multiple devices. Also, the processor that executes the above program may be single or multiple. In other words, centralized processing or distributed processing may be performed.

In the above embodiment, all or part of the components such as the control unit may be configured with dedicated hardware, or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a HDD or semiconductor memory.

In addition, components such as the control unit may be composed of one or more electronic circuits. Each of the one or more electronic circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

The one or more electronic circuits may include, for example, a semiconductor device, an IC, or an LSI. The IC or LSI may be integrated on one chip or on multiple chips. Here, we refer to it as an IC or an LSI, but depending on the degree of integration, it may be called a system LSI, a VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or an ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Also, an FPGA that is programmed after the LSI is manufactured can be used for the same purpose.

The general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized as a system, device, method, integrated circuit, or computer program. Alternatively, the present invention may be realized as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium such as an optical disk, HDD, or semiconductor memory on which the computer program is stored. The present invention may also be realized as any combination of a system, device, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art may conceive, and forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Airflow control system 4, 7 Wind 5, 6 User 10 Sensitive information acquisition unit 20 Biometric information acquisition unit 30 Environmental information acquisition unit 40 Target value acquisition unit 50 Pattern generation unit 52 Database 60 Presentation unit 70 Reception unit 80 Control unit

Claims (8)

A biometric information acquisition unit that acquires biometric information of a user;
A sensitivity information acquisition unit that acquires sensitivity information regarding the user's sensitivity to wind;
An environmental information acquisition unit that acquires environmental information related to a surrounding environment of the user;
a target value acquisition unit that acquires a target value for airflow control;
a pattern generation unit that generates a plurality of airflow control patterns using the biological information, the sensitivity information, the environmental information, and the target value;
a presentation unit that presents the plurality of airflow control patterns to the user;
a reception unit that receives a selection of one of the plurality of airflow control patterns from the user;
a control unit that performs airflow control according to the selected airflow control pattern;
Equipped with
the plurality of airflow control patterns include a comfort control pattern for causing a vital sign value determined based on the vital sign information and the environmental information to reach the target value while maintaining a state in which a predetermined control parameter does not exceed a threshold value determined based on the sensitivity information,
The vital sign is the amount of heat dissipated from the user,
The predetermined control parameter is an instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipated from the user.
Air flow control system. A biometric information acquisition unit that acquires biometric information of a user;
A sensitivity information acquisition unit that acquires sensitivity information regarding the user's sensitivity to wind;
An environmental information acquisition unit that acquires environmental information related to a surrounding environment of the user;
a target value acquisition unit that acquires a target value for airflow control;
a pattern generation unit that generates a plurality of airflow control patterns using the biological information, the sensitivity information, the environmental information, and the target value;
a presentation unit that presents the plurality of airflow control patterns to the user;
a reception unit that receives a selection of one of the plurality of airflow control patterns from the user;
a control unit that performs airflow control according to the selected airflow control pattern;
Equipped with
the plurality of airflow control patterns include a comfort control pattern for causing a vital sign value determined based on the vital sign information and the environmental information to reach the target value while maintaining a state in which a predetermined control parameter does not exceed a threshold value determined based on the sensitivity information,
The sensitive information is the cold sensation threshold of the user.
Air flow control system. The plurality of airflow control patterns include a time-saving control pattern in which the time required for the vital sign value to reach the target value is shorter than that of the comfort control pattern.
The airflow control system according to claim 1 or 2 . The sensitive information is a self-report on the sensitivity from the user or physical information of the user.
The airflow control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . Further, a database in which the self-reported or physical information is associated with a cold sensation threshold is provided,
The pattern generation unit determines the cold sensation threshold of the user by referring to the database.
The airflow control system according to claim 4 . acquiring biometric information of a user;
obtaining wind sensitivity information relating to the user's wind sensitivity;
acquiring environmental information regarding a surrounding environment of the user;
Obtaining a target value for airflow control;
generating a plurality of airflow control patterns using the biological information, the sensitivity information, the environmental information, and the target value;
presenting the plurality of airflow control patterns to the user;
receiving a selection of one of the plurality of airflow control patterns from the user;
performing airflow control according to the selected airflow control pattern;
Including,
the plurality of airflow control patterns include a comfort control pattern for causing a vital sign value determined based on the vital sign information and the environmental information to reach the target value while maintaining a state in which a predetermined control parameter does not exceed a threshold value determined based on the sensitivity information,
The vital sign is the amount of heat dissipated from the user,
The predetermined control parameter is an instantaneous value of the amount of heat dissipated from the user.
Air flow control method. acquiring biometric information of a user;
obtaining wind sensitivity information relating to the user's wind sensitivity;
acquiring environmental information regarding a surrounding environment of the user;
Obtaining a target value for airflow control;
generating a plurality of airflow control patterns using the biological information, the sensitivity information, the environmental information, and the target value;
presenting the plurality of airflow control patterns to the user;
receiving a selection of one of the plurality of airflow control patterns from the user;
performing airflow control according to the selected airflow control pattern;
Including,
the plurality of airflow control patterns include a comfort control pattern for causing a vital sign value determined based on the vital sign information and the environmental information to reach the target value while maintaining a state in which a predetermined control parameter does not exceed a threshold value determined based on the sensitivity information,
The sensitive information is the cold sensation threshold of the user.
Air flow control method. A program for causing a computer to execute the airflow control method according to claim 6 or 7.

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