Air conditioning control device to control air conditioner based on comfortable skin temperature range

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248820-B2
Application number	US-201816756071-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2018
Priority date	Oct 18, 2017
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

An air conditioning control device includes a control unit, a skin temperature measurement unit, an information acquisition unit, and a determination unit. The control unit controls an air conditioner that performs air conditioning of a room where a user is present. The skin temperature measurement unit measures a skin temperature of the user. The information acquisition unit acquires thermal sensation information of the user regarding the space where the user is present. The determination unit determines a comfortable skin temperature range in which the user feels comfortable, based on a skin temperature of the user obtained at the time of acquiring of the thermal sensation information. The control unit controls the air conditioner based on the comfortable skin temperature range determined by the determination unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioning control device comprising:
a computer configured to control an air conditioner that performs air conditioning of a space where a user is present;
an information acquisition unit configured to acquire thermal sensation information of the user regarding the space where the user is present; and
a skin temperature measurement unit configured to measure a skin temperature of the user within a prescribed amount of time from when the information acquisition unit acquires the thermal sensation information,
the computer being configured to determine a comfortable skin temperature range in which the user feels comfortable, based on the skin temperature, and
control the air conditioner based on the comfortable skin temperature range determined.

2. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the computer is further configured to control the air conditioner based on a current skin temperature of the user.

3. The air conditioning control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes,
the computer is further configured to
estimate a current thermal sensation of the user based on the comfortable skin temperature range, the current skin temperature of the user, and a rate of change of the skin temperature of the user, and
control the air conditioner based on the current thermal sensation of the user.

4. The air conditioning control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes, and
the computer is further configured to update the comfortable skin temperature range when acquiring the thermal sensation information.

5. The air conditioning control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the computer is further configured to
select a lower limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 31° C. to 33° C., and
select an upper limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 33° C. to 35° C.

6. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a measurement unit configured to measure either or both of a temperature and a humidity of air in the space where the user is present and output a measurement value indicative thereof,
the computer being further configured to control the air conditioner based on the measurement value.

7. The air conditioning control device according to claim 6 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes,
the computer is further configured to
estimate a current thermal sensation of the user based on the comfortable skin temperature range, the current skin temperature of the user, and a rate of change of the skin temperature of the user, and
control the air conditioner based on the current thermal sensation of the user.

8. The air conditioning control device according to claim 6 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes, and
the computer is further configured to update the comfortable skin temperature range when acquiring the thermal sensation information.

9. The air conditioning control device according to claim 6 , wherein
the computer is further configured to
select a lower limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 31° C. to 33° C., and
select an upper limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 33° C. to 35° C.

10. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit has an infrared thermography configured to analyze an infrared ray emitted from the user.

11. The air conditioning control device according to claim 10 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes,
the computer is further configured to
estimate a current thermal sensation of the user based on the comfortable skin temperature range, the current skin temperature of the user, and a rate of change of the skin temperature of the user, and
control the air conditioner based on the current thermal sensation of the user.

12. The air conditioning control device according to claim 10 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes, and
the computer is further configured to update the comfortable skin temperature range when acquiring the thermal sensation information.

13. The air conditioning control device according to claim 10 , wherein
the computer is further configured to
select a lower limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 31° C. to 33° C., and
select an upper limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 33° C. to 35° C.

14. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes,
the computer is further configured to
estimate a current thermal sensation of the user based on the comfortable skin temperature range, the current skin temperature of the user, and a rate of change of the skin temperature of the user, and
control the air conditioner based on the current thermal sensation of the user.

15. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes, and
the computer is further configured to update the comfortable skin temperature range when acquiring the thermal sensation information.

16. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the computer is further configured to
select a lower limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 31° C. to 33° C., and
select an upper limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 33° C. to 35° C.

17. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the computer has an initial value of the comfortable skin temperature range, and
the computer is further configured to change the initial value in accordance with a season or a time period.

18. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured to measure skin temperatures of a plurality of users including the user,
the information acquisition unit is further configured to acquire the thermal sensation information of the plurality of users,
the computer is further configured to determine comfortable skin temperature ranges of the plurality of users, and
in a case where the plurality of users are present in the space in which the air conditioner performs air conditioning, the computer is further configured to
control the air conditioner such that a total degree of comfort of the plurality of users is increased based on the comfortable skin temperature ranges of the plurality of users, or
control the air conditioner such that a degree of comfort of the user having a lowest degree of comfort among the plurality of users is increased based on the comfortable skin temperature ranges of the plurali

Assignees

• Univ Tsinghua
• Daikin Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Wang Fulin
• Maeda Toshiyuki

Classifications

• F24F11/63 Primary

  Electronic processing · CPC title

• F24F2120/10

  Occupancy · CPC title

• F24F11/64

  using pre-stored data · CPC title

• F24F11/80 Primary

  for controlling the temperature of the supplied air · CPC title

• F24F2110/20

  Humidity · CPC title