U.S. patent application number 10/466268 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-18 for air conditioner.
Invention is credited to Akiyama, Ryuuji, Kasai, Masaya, Shigemori, Kazuhisa, Shiochi, Sumio, Yabu, Tomohiro.
Application Number | 20040050077 10/466268 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19189402 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040050077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kasai, Masaya ; et
al. |
March 18, 2004 |
Air conditioner
Abstract
An indoor unit (Z.sub.1) has a casing (1) which is embedded or
suspended in/from a ceiling (50), and an indoor panel (2) which is
provided on a lower side of the casing (1) and installed in an
indoor exposed state. The indoor panel (2) is provided with an air
inlet (3), a plurality of air outlets (4) which surround the air
inlet (3) in a rectangular shape and have a rectangular shape. An
infrared sensor (15) is provided on an exposed portion of the
indoor panel (2). The indoor unit (Z.sub.1) further has an airflow
changing unit (52) for changing characteristics of airflow blown
out from each of the air outlets (4), and a control unit (53) for
controlling the airflow changing unit (52) based on output
information of the infrared sensor (15).
Inventors: |
Kasai, Masaya; (Osaka,
JP) ; Shiochi, Sumio; (Osaka, JP) ; Yabu,
Tomohiro; (Osaka, JP) ; Akiyama, Ryuuji;
(Shiga, JP) ; Shigemori, Kazuhisa; (Kusatsu-shi
Shiga, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
19189402 |
Appl. No.: |
10/466268 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
November 2, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP02/11707 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/186 ; 454/292;
454/304; 62/408; 62/DIG.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/0011 20130101;
F24F 11/30 20180101; F24F 13/06 20130101; F24F 2120/10 20180101;
F24F 1/0047 20190201 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/186 ;
062/408; 062/DIG.016; 454/292; 454/304 |
International
Class: |
F25D 017/04; F24F
007/00; F24F 013/06; F24F 013/08; F24F 013/072; F24F 013/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2001 |
JP |
2001398902 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner comprising: a casing (1) embedded or
suspended in/from a ceiling (50); an indoor panel (2) provided on a
lower side of said casing (1), said indoor panel (2) being provided
with an air inlet (3) and a plurality of air outlets (4), said air
outlets (4) surrounding a rectangular periphery of said air inlet
(3) and each having a rectangular shape, said indoor panel (2)
being installed in an indoor exposed state; an infrared sensor (15)
provided on an exposed portion of said indoor panel (2); an airflow
changing unit (52) for changing characteristics of an airflow blown
out from each or said air outlet (4); and a control unit (53) for
controlling said airflow changing unit (52) based on output
information from said infrared sensor (15).
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said infrared
sensor (15) is provided between said air outlets (4, 4).
3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said infrared
sensor (15) is provided on a peripheral edge of said air outlet
(4).
4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a
scanning mechanism (20) for scanning said infrared sensor (15).
5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: a plurality
of said infrared sensors (15) are provided correspondingly to said
air outlets (4, 4, . . . ), said infrared sensors (15) are
non-scanning type infrared sensors for detecting their respective
constant ranges as an object to be detected.
6. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of
temperature sensors or temperature/humidity sensors (16) are
provided in vicinities of said air outlets (4) in an inside portion
of said air inlet (3) on the indoor panel (12) or in an inside
portion of said air inlet (3) in said casing (1).
7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, further comprising: a
scanning mechanism (20) for scanning said infrared sensor (15); a
judging unit (18) for calculating a heat load based on output
information from said temperature sensors or temperature/humidity
sensors (16) and judging whether the heat load is not less than a
predetermined load for each of said temperature sensors or
temperature/humidity sensors (16); and a stopping unit (18) for,
when the judgment is made that the heat load is not less than the
predetermined load in a not less than predetermined proportion of
said temperature sensors or temperature/humidity sensors (16),
stopping an operation of said scanning mechanism (20).
8. The air conditioner according to claim 6, further comprising a
correcting unit (18) for anticipating an object temperature in a
blowout direction of an airflow from said air outlets (4) based on
the output information from said temperature sensors or
temperature/humidity sensors (16) and correcting a detected
temperature of said infrared sensor (15) based on the anticipated
object temperature.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein said infrared
sensor (15) detects a position of a person in a room and said
temperature sensors or temperature/humidity sensors (16) detect a
temperature of a sucked air from the room.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said airflow
changing units (52) includes: an air capacity distributing
mechanism (10) for changing a distributing ratio of a blowout air
capacity between said air outlets (4, 4, . . . ); first flaps (12)
for changing a blowout direction of an airflow in a direction of a
long side of each of said outlets (4); a second flap (13) for
changing a blowout direction of an airflow in a direction of a
short side of said each air outlet (4); and driving mechanisms (29,
30, 31) for driving said air capacity distributing mechanism (10),
said first flaps (12) and said second flap (13) independently at
said each air outlet (4).
11. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said airflow
changing unit (52) includes: an air capacity distributing mechanism
(10) for changing a distributing ratio of a blowout air capacity
between said air outlets (4, 4, . . . ); first flaps (12) for
changing a blowout direction of an airflow in a direction of a long
side of said each air outlet (4); a second flap (13) for changing a
blowout direction of an airflow in a direction of a short side of
said each air outlet (4); driving mechanisms (29, 30) for driving
said air capacity distributing mechanism (10) and said first flaps
(12) independently at said each air outlet (4); and a driving
mechanism (31) for driving said second flaps (13, 13, . . . ) of
said air outlets (4, 4, . . . ) in an interlocking manner.
12. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: a plurality
of blowout passages (14) each continued to said each air outlet (4)
are provided in said casing (1), said airflow changing unit (52)
includes: an air capacity distributing mechanism (10) provided on
said each blowout passage (14) for changing a distributing ratio of
a blowout air capacity between said air outlets (4, 4, . . . );
first flaps (12) provided on said each blowout passage (14) for
changing a blowout direction of an airflow in a direction of a long
side of said each air outlet (4); a driving mechanism (29) provided
on one end of the direction of the long side of said each air
outlet (4) in said each blowout passage (14), said driving
mechanism (29) for driving said each air capacity distributing
mechanism (10); and a driving mechanism (30) provided on the other
end of the direction of the long side of said each air outlet (4)
in said blowout passage (14), said driving mechanism (30) for
driving said each first flap (12).
13. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: a plurality
of blowout passages (14) each continued to said each air outlet (4)
are provided in said casing (1), said airflow changing unit (52) is
provided in said each blowout passage (14), and has an air capacity
distributing mechanism (10) for increasing/decreasing an opening
area of said each blowout passage (14) so as to change a
distributing ratio of a blowout air capacity between said air
outlets (4, 4, . . . ), said air capacity distributing mechanism
(10) includes: a pair of shutters (11, 11) provided on both sides
of a direction of a short side of said each air outlet (4) in said
each blowout passage (14), said shutters (11, 11) being freely
tilted simultaneously with a movement to an upper stream side of an
airflow direction of said blowout passage (14); and a driving
mechanism (29) for moving said shutters (11, 11) to both ends of
said blowout passage (14) at the time of an operation for enlarging
the opening area of said blowout passage (14), and moving said
shutters (11, 11) to the upper stream side of said blowout passage
(14) at the time of an operation for reducing the opening area of
said blowout passage (14).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner
installed in a state that it is embedded in a ceiling or it is
suspended from the ceiling.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, in the case where air is conditioned in a
building having a comparatively wide air conditioning space such as
a store, a restaurant or an office, a ceiling-embedded type or a
ceiling suspended type indoor unit is generally installed on a
ceiling side of the air conditioning space.
[0003] However, in the case where air is conditioned in the wide
air conditioning space by the ceiling-embedded type or
ceiling-suspended type indoor unit, there arises the following
problem. Namely, an airflow is conventionally blown uniformly from
air outlets of the indoor unit without considering air conditioning
conditions such as a heat load distribution or a people
distribution. For this reason, an indoor temperature has
irregularity and an area with inferior comfortability where people
feel a sense of draft occasionally exists. Moreover, since air is
conditioned similarly in an area where people exist and in an area
where people do not exist, energy saving characteristics are
occasionally deteriorated. Further, even though the heat load
distribution changes with time due to conditions such as seasons,
time and a number of people in the room, there are many cases that
an operation is always performed under a single condition. As a
result, the energy-saving characteristics are deteriorated by
useless air conditioning.
[0004] In order to improve such conventional problems, there
suggests a technique for detecting, for example, the indoor heat
load distribution, people distribution and the like and adjusting
characteristics of a blowout airflow from air outlets of an indoor
unit based on the detected information. For example, there suggests
a technique for suitably controlling a blowout air capacity, a
blowout temperature, a blowout speed, a blowout direction and the
like so as to always condition air comfortably and with energy
saving characteristics (for example, see Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-203244 (1993) and 5-306829 (1993)).
Moreover, as detecting means of a heat load distribution or the
like, a technique using an infrared sensor (for example, Japanese
Patent Application Publication No. 5-20659 (1993) or the like is
suggested.
[0005] However, the above conventional techniques are considered to
fulfill a required function academically and produce a
predetermined effect, but their technical contents are not concrete
nor realistic, and thus actually they have not been yet put into a
practical use. For this reason, these techniques are strongly
demanded to be established and actualized early.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, in order to reconcile comfortability with energy
saving characteristics, an object of the present invention is to
suggest an air conditioner having a detecting unit of a heat load
or the like, an airflow changing unit for changing characteristics
of blowout airflow and a control unit of the airflow changing unit
in a concrete and realistic form and facilitate its practical
use.
[0007] A first air conditioner includes: a casing embedded or
suspended in/from a ceiling; an indoor panel provided on a lower
side of the casing, the indoor panel being provided with an air
inlet and a plurality of air outlets, the air outlets surrounding a
rectangular periphery of the air inlet and each having a
rectangular shape, the indoor panel being installed in a state of
being exposed to a room; an infrared sensor provided on an exposed
portion of the indoor panel; an airflow changing unit for changing
characteristics of an airflow blown out from each of the air
outlets; and a control unit for controlling the airflow changing
unit based on output information from infrared sensor.
[0008] In a second air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner, the infrared sensor is provided between the air
outlets.
[0009] In a third air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner, the infrared sensor is provided on a periphery edge of
the air outlet.
[0010] A fourth air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner includes a scanning mechanism for scanning the infrared
sensor.
[0011] In a fifth air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner, a plurality of the infrared sensors are provided
correspondingly to the air outlets, the infrared sensors are
non-scanning type infrared sensors for detecting their respective
constant ranges as an object to be detected.
[0012] In a sixth air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner, a plurality of temperature sensors or
temperature/humidity sensors are provided in vicinities of the air
outlets on the indoor panel or in an inside portion of the air
inlet in the casing.
[0013] A seventh air conditioner according to the sixth air
conditioner includes: a scanning mechanism for scanning the
infrared sensor; a judging unit for calculating a heat load based
on output information from the temperature sensors or
temperature/humidity sensors and judging whether the heat load is
not less than a predetermined load for each of the temperature
sensors or temperature/humidity sensors; and a stopping unit for,
when the judgment is made that the heat load is not less than the
predetermined load in a not less than predetermined proportion of
the temperature sensors or temperature/humidity sensors, stopping
an operation of the scanning mechanism.
[0014] An eighth air conditioner according to the sixth air
conditioner includes a correcting unit for anticipating a
temperature of an object in a blowout direction of an airflow from
the air outlets based on the output information from the
temperature sensors or temperature/humidity sensors and correcting
a detected temperature of the infrared sensor based on the
anticipated object temperature.
[0015] In a ninth air conditioner according to the sixth air
conditioner, the infrared sensor detects a position of a person in
a room and the temperature sensors or temperature/humidity sensors
detect a temperature of a sucked air from the room.
[0016] In a tenth air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner, the airflow changing unit includes: an air capacity
distributing mechanism for changing a distributing ratio of a
blowout air capacity between the air outlets; first flaps for
changing a blowout direction of an airflow in a direction of a long
side of each air outlet; a second flap for changing a blowout
direction of an airflow in a direction of a short side of each air
outlet; and driving mechanisms for driving said air capacity
distributing mechanism, the first flaps and the second flap
independently at each air outlet.
[0017] In an eleventh air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner, the airflow changing unit includes: an air capacity
distributing mechanism for changing a distributing ratio of a
blowout air capacity between the air outlets; first flaps for
changing a blowout direction of an airflow in a direction of a long
side of each air outlet; a second flap for changing a blowout
direction of an airflow in a direction of a short side of each air
outlet; driving mechanisms for driving the air capacity
distributing mechanism and the first flaps independently at each
air outlet; and a driving mechanism for driving the second flaps of
the air outlets in an interlocking manner.
[0018] In a twelfth air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner, a plurality of blowout passages continued to each air
outlet are provided in the casing, the airflow changing unit
includes: an air capacity distributing mechanism provided on each
blowout passage for changing a distributing ratio of a blowout air
capacity between the air outlets; first flaps provided on each
blowout passage for changing a blowout direction of an airflow in a
direction of a long side of each air outlet; a driving mechanism
provided on one end of the direction of the long side of each air
outlet in each blowout passage, the driving mechanism for driving
each air capacity distributing mechanism; and a driving mechanism
for driving each first flap, which is provided on the other end of
the direction of the long side of each air outlet in the blowout
passage.
[0019] In a thirteenth air conditioner according to the first air
conditioner, a plurality of blowout passages continued to each air
outlet are provided in the casing, the airflow changing unit is
provided in each blowout passage, and has an air capacity
distributing mechanism for increasing/decreasing an opening area of
each blowout passage so as to change a distributing ratio of a
blowout air capacity between the air outlets, and the air capacity
distributing mechanism includes: a pair of shutters provided on
both sides of a direction of a short side of each air outlet in
each blowout passage, the shutters being freely tilted
simultaneously with a movement to an upper stream side of an
airflow direction of the blowout passage; and a driving mechanism
for moving the shutters to both ends of the blowout passage at the
time of an operation for enlarging the opening area of the blowout
passage, and moving the shutters to the upper stream side of the
blowout passage at the time of an operation for reducing the
opening area of the blowout passage.
[0020] Therefore, according to the first air conditioner, since the
infrared sensor is arranged on the portion of the indoor panel
exposed to the room, a visual field of the infrared sensor is
secured sufficiently and the object temperature can be detected
with high accuracy. As a result, the accuracy in the control of the
airflow changing unit based on the detected information is
improved, and thus comfortability and energy-saving characteristics
of air conditioning are improved. Moreover, in a maintenance work
of the infrared sensor, attachment/detachment of a suction grill is
not required unlike the case for example, the infrared sensor is
arranged inside a suction grill (namely, a portion which is not
exposed to the room). Therefore, a check and the
attachment/detachment of the infrared sensor can be carried out
easily, thereby realizing high maintenance characteristics.
[0021] According to the second air conditioner, the following
effect can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner,
since the infrared sensor is arranged between the air outlets on
the indoor panel, the infrared sensor is not exposed directly to a
suction airflow from the air inlet or a blowout airflow from the
air outlets. As a result, problems, such as a problem which arises
when the infrared sensor is arranged at the air inlet side, namely,
a problem that dirt or the like in the suction airflow adheres to
the infrared sensor and a detecting ability of the infrared sensor
is inhibited, a problem which arises when the infrared sensor is
arranged at the air outlet, namely, a problem that the infrared
sensor is exposed to a cool blown airflow at the time of a cooling
operation so that moisture is generated on its surface and thus the
detecting ability is inhibited, are avoided. Therefore, the
high-level detecting ability is maintained for a long time.
[0022] According to the third air conditioner, the following effect
can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner, since the
infrared sensor is arranged on the peripheral edge of the air
outlet on the indoor panel, it can detect a temperature of an
object existing in a blowout direction of the airflow with high
accuracy. When, for example, the infrared sensor is arranged, the
infrared sensor is arranged at each air outlet, and the detecting
object directions of the infrared sensors may correspond to the
blowout direction of the air outlets at which the infrared sensors
are provided. As a result, a corresponding relationship between the
detected information of the infrared sensors and indoor detecting
object area becomes clear, thereby facilitating control of the
airflow changing unit based on the detected information of the
infrared sensors.
[0023] According to the fourth air conditioner, the following
effect can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner,
since the scanning mechanism for scanning the infrared sensor is
provided, for example, a scanning range of the scanning sensor can
be enlarged by driving control of the scanning mechanism. For this
reason, when the scanning object range is enlarged, a number of the
infrared sensors to be installed can be reduced, and a number of
the infrared sensors can be one. As a result, a number of the
infrared sensors to be installed are reduced, thereby accelerating
low cost of the air conditioner, and a process on the detected
information of the infrared sensor becomes easy and also its
control can be simplified.
[0024] In addition, indoor temperature distribution and people
distribution can be detected accurately by controlling the infrared
sensor using the scanning mechanism, so that further improvement in
the comfortability and energy-saving characteristics of air
conditioning can be anticipated.
[0025] According to the fifth air conditioner, the following effect
can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner, a
plurality of infrared sensors are provided correspondingly to the
air outlets. Therefore, the temperature distribution and people
distribution in the entire area of the room can be always detected
simultaneously by using the plural infrared sensors. As a result,
the airflow changing unit can be controlled with higher accuracy
based on the detected information, so that the improvement in the
comfortability and energy-saving characteristics of air
conditioning can be anticipated.
[0026] According to the sixth air conditioner, the following effect
can be further obtained.
[0027] Namely, in this air conditioner, since the temperature
sensor or temperature/humidity sensor is arranged at the air inlet
correspondingly to each air outlet, a suction airflow temperature
by means of the temperature sensor or the temperature/humidity
sensor, namely, an indoor heat load is detected directly, and the
indoor heat load as well as the detected information of the
infrared sensor can be reflected to the control of the airflow
hanging unit. In comparison with the case where the airflow
changing unit is controlled based only on the detected information
of the infrared sensor, the airflow changing unit can be controlled
with higher accuracy.
[0028] According to the seventh air conditioner, the following
effect can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner,
when a judgment is made that the heat load is large in a not less
than predetermined proportion of detecting directions of the
temperature sensors or temperature/humidity sensors, namely, when
the judgment is made that the heat load is high in nearly entire
area of the room and necessity of detecting the temperature
distribution or the like by means of the infrared sensor is less,
the operation of the scanning mechanism is stopped. For this
reason, during the operation of the air conditioner, wear of a
driving section of the scanning mechanism is further suppressed due
to a reduction in the operating time in comparison with the case
where the scanning mechanism is operated continuously, thereby
improving its durability. Therefore, this can contribute to
lowering of operating cost of the air conditioner.
[0029] According to the eighth air conditioner, the following
effect can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner, an
average object temperature in the detecting direction of the
temperature sensors or temperature/humidity sensors is anticipated
from the detected information of the temperature sensors or
temperature/humidity sensors, and the detected temperature of the
infrared sensor is corrected based on the object temperature. For
example, in the case where the object temperature detected by the
infrared sensor has a transnormal value with respect to the average
object temperature anticipated from the detected information of the
temperature sensors or the temperature/humidity sensors (for
example, not a radiation heat from an indoor wall surface, a floor
surface or a human body as an originally determined detecting
object but a radiation heat from a metal surface as a low radiation
portion or a heater, a window glass surface or the like as a high
radiation portion is detected), this detected temperature is
corrected by the average object temperature, so that a detecting
error due to a difference of the detecting object in the infrared
sensor from an originally determined object is solved as much as
possible, and the accuracy in the control of the airflow changing
unit can be secured. As a result, the comfortability and
energy-saving characteristics of air conditioning are further
improved.
[0030] According to the ninth air conditioner, the following effect
can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner, since the
infrared sensor detects a position of a person in the room and the
temperature sensor or the temperature/humidity sensor detects a
suction air temperature from the room, the infrared sensor may
detect only the position of a person. The process on the detected
information of the infrared sensor becomes easier in comparison
with the case, for example, where the infrared sensor detects both
the positions of a person and the indoor temperature distribution.
For this reason, a control system is simplified. Moreover, as for
the detection of the indoor temperature distribution, required
accuracy can be secured by the temperature sensor or
temperature/humidity sensor which is more inexpensive than the
infrared sensor. As a multiplier effect, the securing of the
accuracy in the detected information is reconciled with the
lowering of the cost.
[0031] According to the tenth air conditioner, the following effect
can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner,
characteristics of the blowout airflow can be finely controlled at
each air outlet, and the comfortability and the energy saving
characteristics of air conditioning can be further improved.
[0032] According to the eleventh air conditioner, the following
effect can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner,
since the characteristics of the blowout airflow can be finely
controlled at each air outlet by the air capacity distributing
mechanism and the first flaps, the comfortability and the energy
saving characteristics of air conditioning can be improved in
comparison with a structure that, for example, the air capacity
distributing mechanism and the first flaps are operated in an
interlocking manner between the air outlets. Moreover, since the
second flaps provided at the air outlets, respectively, can be
driven by a single driving source, the cost can be lowered and the
structure can be simplified due to a reduction in a number of the
driving sources to be installed in comparison with a case where,
for example, the second flaps are driven by individual driving
sources. Therefore, the improvement in the comfortability and the
energy saving characteristics of air conditioning is reconciled
with the acceleration of low cost.
[0033] According to the twelfth air conditioner, the following
effect can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner,
the air capacity distributing mechanism, the first flaps and their
driving mechanisms can be arranged compactly on the blowout passage
where a space is restricted. As a result, the indoor panel can be
thinned and miniaturized.
[0034] According to the thirteenth air conditioner, the following
effect can be further obtained. Namely, in this air conditioner, at
the time of the operation for enlarging the opening area of the
blowout passage, namely, at the time of increasing the blowout air
capacity, the shutters are positioned on portions of the blowout
passage where a flow rate is slow, thereby reducing a ventilating
resistance due to the shutters and surely securing the air
capacity. Moreover, a blast sound is reduced. Meanwhile, at the
time of the operation for reducing the opening area of the blowout
passage, namely, at the time of reducing the blowout air capacity,
the shutters are positioned on the upper stream side of the blowout
passage, thereby suppressing disorder of the airflow at the air
outlet portion positioned on a lower stream end of the blowout
passage as much as possible. Therefore, moisture in a vicinity of
the air outlet can be prevented, and dirt on the ceiling surface
due to bump of disordered blowout airflow is prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit from an
indoor side according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a main section enlarged sectional view of the
indoor unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing a first structure
example of an air capacity distributing mechanism provided to a air
outlet of the indoor unit.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a perspective view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
3.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing a second structure
example of the air capacity distributing mechanism provided to the
air outlet of the indoor unit.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a third structure
example of the air capacity distributing mechanism provided to the
air outlet of the indoor unit.
[0041] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a first driving system
of a second flap provided to the air outlet of the indoor unit.
[0042] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a second driving system
of the second flap provided to the air outlet of the indoor
unit.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the indoor unit from the
indoor side according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0044] FIG. 10 is a main section enlarged sectional view of the
indoor unit shown in FIG. 9.
[0045] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the indoor unit from the
indoor side according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0046] FIG. 12 is a main section enlarged sectional view of the
indoor unit shown in FIG. 11.
[0047] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a correcting method of a radiation
temperature.
[0048] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the indoor unit from the
indoor side according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0049] FIG. 15 is a main section enlarged sectional view of the
indoor unit shown in FIG. 14.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0050] There will be explained below embodiments of the present
invention with reference to the drawings.
[0051] Embodiment 1
[0052] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an indoor unit Z.sub.1 of a separate type
air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present
invention. The indoor unit Z.sub.1 is a ceiling embedding type
indoor unit which is embedded into a ceiling 50 in a room. The
indoor unit Z.sub.1 is provided with a rectangular box shaped
casing 1 embedded into an upper side of the ceiling 50, and a
rectangular flat plate type indoor panel 2 mounted from an indoor
side to a lower end opening of the casing 1. A rectangular opening
type air inlet 3 is provided on a center portion of the indoor
panel 2, four air outlets 4, 4, . . . are provided outside the air
inlet 3 so as to surround the air inlet 3 in a rectangular shape.
The air outlets 4 are rectangular openings and extend approximately
parallel with a peripheral edge of the indoor panel 2.
[0053] In addition, a centrifugal fan 6 is arranged concentrically
with a center line of the air inlet 3 in the casing 1, and a heat
exchanger 5 is arranged on an outer periphery of the fan 6 so as to
surround the fan 6. Further, a bellmouth 7 is arranged on an air
inlet side of the fan 6, and a filter 9 and a suction grill 8 are
mounted to the air inlet 3.
[0054] Meanwhile, a blowout passage 14 having a rectangular section
which extends upward continuously with the air outlet 4 is provided
on an upper stream side of the air outlet 4 in an airflow
direction. An air capacity distributing mechanism 10, first flaps
12 and a second flap 13, mentioned later, are arranged in the
blowout passage 14. Here, the air capacity distributing mechanism
10, the first flaps 12 and the second flap 13 compose "an airflow
changing unit 52" of the present invention.
[0055] Further, an infrared sensor 15 as a temperature detecting
unit 51 is arranged at one comer portion of a surface of the indoor
panel 2 (namely, indoor exposed portion). Moreover, a control
section 18 (corresponding to "a control unit 53" of the present
invention), which controls the air capacity distributing mechanism
10, the first flaps 12, the second flap 13 and the like upon
reception of the detected information from the infrared sensor 15,
is arranged in a vicinity of the blowout passage 14 in the casing
1.
[0056] Hereinafter, structures and the like of the respective
components are explained concretely.
[0057] The air capacity distributing mechanism 10 adjusts an air
capacity distributing ratio between the air outlets 4, 4, . . . by
increasing or decreasing an air capacity from each of the air
outlet 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the air capacity
distributing mechanism 10 is provide with a pair of distributing
shutters 11, 11 arranged on both sides of a long side of the
blowout passage 14 close to walls, respectively. A concrete
structure of the distributing shutters 11, 11 are as shown in FIG.
3. Namely, when one ends of the distributing shutters 11, 11 are
engaged with guide grooves 25 which extend in an up-down direction
along side walls of the blowout passage 14, respectively, the
shutters 11, 11 freely move in the up-down direction along the
guide grooves 25. Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the other
ends of the distributing shutters 11, 11 are coupled with ends of a
pair of racks 27, 27, respectively. The racks 27, 27 are geared to
a gear 28 which is driven to be rotated by a motor 29
(corresponding to "a driving mechanism" of the present invention")
from both sides of its radial direction.
[0058] Therefore, when the gear 28 is selectively rotated in both
regular and reverse directions by the motor 29, the paired racks
27, 27 geared to the gear 28 move in opposite directions to each
other. According to the movement of the racks 27, 27 the
distributing shutters 11, 11 move in the up-down direction while
their tilting angles are being changed. When an extending amount of
the distributing shutter 11 to a center of the blowout passage 14
increases or decreases, an opening area of the blowout passage 14
increases or decreases.
[0059] Namely, in the air capacity distributing mechanism 10, in a
state that the opening area of the blowout passage 14 is enlarged
(at the time of setting a large air capacity), the distributing
shutters 11, 11 are housed in the blowout passage 14 closer to the
side walls so as to be in a nearly upstanding posture, and thus the
extending amount to the center of the blowout passage 14 becomes
small. Meanwhile, in a state that the opening area of the blowout
passage 14 is reduced (at the time of setting a small air
capacity), the distributing shutters 11,11 are in a nearly
horizontal posture, and thus the extending amount to the center of
the blowout passage 14 becomes large. As a result, entirely the
distributing shutters 11, 11 are positioned to be closer to the
upper stream of the blowout passage 14.
[0060] Here, the air capacity distributing mechanism 10 is provided
correspondingly to the air outlets 4, 4, . . . and the air capacity
distributing mechanisms 10, 10, . . . are controlled individually
and independently. Moreover, the air capacity distributing
mechanism 10 is controlled by the control section 18 arranged in
the vicinity of the blowout passage 14 based on the detected
information from the infrared sensor 15.
[0061] As explained above, the air capacity distributing mechanism
10 has the following structural and functional characteristics. The
air capacity distributing mechanism 10 is provided with the
distributing shutters 11, 11 which move in a passage direction of
the blowout passage 14 and simultaneously tilt about one ends
positioned on the blowout passage 14 close to the side wall, and
when the opening area is enlarged, the distributing shutters 11, 11
are positioned on the blowout passage 14 close to the side walls so
as to largely open a center of the passage with high flow rate (in
other words, the distributing shutters 11, 11 are retreated towards
the side wall of the blowout passage 14). Meanwhile, when the
opening area is reduced, the distributing shutters 11, 11 are
positioned on the upper stream side of the blowout passage 14. As a
result, a peculiar function is produced as mentioned later. Namely,
the air capacity distributing mechanism 10 does not need to be
limited to the above structure of the embodiment as long as it has
the above structural and functional characteristics. Therefore,
beside the above embodiment, for example, a structure shown in FIG.
5, a structure shown in FIG. 6 or the like can be suitably adopted.
These structures will be explained simply below.
[0062] The air capacity distributing mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 5
is structured so that the paired distributing shutters 11, 11
freely advance or retreat in a direction of their short sides in
the upper stream portion of the blowout passage 14. Also in this
air capacity distributing mechanism 10, the structure that the
distributing shutters 11, 11 are driven by the motor 29 via the
racks 27 and the gear 28 geared to the racks 27 is similar to the
structure of the air capacity distributing mechanism 10 shown in
FIG. 3. Also in the air capacity distributing mechanism 10 shown in
FIG. 5, when the opening area is enlarged, the distributing
shutters 11, 11 are positioned in the blowout passage 14 closer to
the side walls so as to largely open the center of the passage with
high flow rate, whereas when the opening area is reduced, the
distributing shutters 11, 11 are positioned on the upper stream
side of the blowout passage 14.
[0063] The air capacity distributing mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 6
has one distributing shutter 11, and one end of the distributing
shutter 11 is pivotally supported to the upper stream portion of
the blowout passage 14 closer to the one side wall in a freely
tilting manner, and the distributing shutter 11 is driven to be
rotated by a motor 35 via gears 33 and 34 which are geared to each
other. The air capacity distributing mechanism 10 can selectively
adopt an opening area enlarged posture shown by a solid line in
FIG. 6 and an opening area reduced posture shown by a chain line.
Also in the air capacity distributing mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 6,
when the opening area is enlarged, the distributing shutter 11 is
positioned in the blowout passage 14 closer to the side wall so as
to largely open the center of the passage with high flow rate,
whereas when the opening area is reduced, the distributing shutter
11 is positioned on the upper stream side of the blowout passage
14.
[0064] The first flap 12 changes to adjust a blowout direction of
an airflow blown out from the air outlet 4 via the blowout passage
14 into a room in a lateral direction (in other words, a direction
of a long side of the air outlet 4). As shown in FIG. 2, the first
flap 12 is composed of a plate body having an outer shape along a
passage section shape from the blowout passage 14 to the air outlet
4, and is supported to the side wall of the long side of the
blowout passage 14 by a supporting shaft 23 in a freely oscillating
manner. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of the first flaps 12 are
arranged in the blowout passage 14 in the direction of its long
side with predetermined gaps. The first flaps 12 are connected with
a motor 30 (corresponding to "the driving mechanism" of the present
invention) via a link bar 24 for coupling the first flaps 12, and
are driven by the motor 30 in the oscillating direction so that
their tilt angles are changed. The blowout direction of the blowout
airflow from the air outlet 4 in the lateral direction is changed
to be adjusted by changing the tilt angles. Moreover, the first
flaps 12, 12, . . . are arranged at the air outlets 4, but their
control is made individually and independently by the control
section 18.
[0065] Here, the first flaps 12, 12, . . . are arranged in the
blowout passage 14, but the motor 30 is arranged on an end of the
short side of the blowout passage 14 so that the area of the
blowout passage 14 is not narrowed by the arrangement of the motor
30.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 2, the second flap 13 is composed of a band
plate material having a curved section shape. The second flap 13 is
arranged on a portion adjacent to the air outlet 4 on an lower
stream side of the blowout passage 14. When the second flap 13
tilts about its upper edge side, the blowout direction of the
blowout airflow in a lengthwise direction (in other words, the
direction of the short side of the air outlet 4) is changed to be
adjusted.
[0067] The second flap 13 is arranged at each of the air outlets 4,
4, . . . but an interlocking system and an individual system are
considered as a driving system of the second flaps 13, 13, . . . .
As shown in FIG. 7, the interlocking system is such that the second
flaps 13, 13, . . . provided correspondingly to the air outlets 4,
4, . . . are connected with each other by interlocking members 32,
32, . . . so as to be driven by a single motor 31.
[0068] On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 8, the individual system
is such that the second flaps 13, 13, . . . provided
correspondingly to the air outlets 4, 4, . . . are driven
individually by special motors 31, respectively. In the former
interlocking system of these systems, since the second flaps 13,
13, . . . can be driven by the single motor 31, this system has an
advantage that a structure of a driving section is simple and cost
can be lowered. On the contrary, the latter individual system has
an advantage that the blowout directions of the blowout airflow in
the longitudinal direction can be adjusted individually and finely
at the air outlets 4, 4, . . . .
[0069] The infrared sensor 15 detects a temperature of a detecting
object (object temperature) based on a radiated heat from the
object such as a wall surface, a floor surface or a human body in a
room in a state that the indoor unit Z.sub.1 is installed on the
ceiling 50, and outputs the detected temperature as detected
information relating to a current indoor temperature to the control
section 18. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the infrared sensor 15 is
arranged on one of four comers on the outer periphery of the indoor
panel 2, namely, one of four inter-opening portions between the air
outlets 4, 4. In the present embodiment, the infrared sensor 15 is
mounted thereto via a scanning mechanism 20, and this single
infrared sensor 15 detects the temperatures of objects in the
entire area of a room. Here, the scanning mechanism 20 oscillates
the infrared sensor 15 in a reciprocating manner using a first
motor 21 having a horizontal shaft and revolves it using a second
motor 22 having a vertical shaft. The infrared sensor 15 is
supported to the casing 1 in a state that it is inserted into a
sensor mounting hole 19 provide on the indoor panel 2.
[0070] Here, preferable examples of the infrared sensor 15 are a
single element type sensor for integrally detecting an entire area
of a detecting object range, a one-dimensional array element type
sensor for dividing the detecting object range in one direction so
as to detect the respective divided areas, and a two-dimensional
array element type sensor for dividing the detecting object range
in two directions intersecting perpendicularly to each other so as
to detect the respective divided areas.
[0071] The detected information relating to the object temperature
detected by the infrared sensor 15 is input into the control
section 18 and is used as a control factor of the airflow changing
unit 52 by mean of the control section 18.
[0072] As mentioned above, the control section 18 exercises control
of the air capacity distributing mechanism 10, the first flaps 12
and the second flap 13 correlatively based on the detected
information detected by the infrared sensor 15. Moreover, the
control section 18 simultaneously exercises this control and
control of an air conditioning ability and a temperature so as to
optimize air conditioning, thereby improving comfortability or
energy saving characteristics of the air conditioning. For example,
the characteristics of the blowout airflow blown out from the air
outlets 4, 4, . . . of the indoor unit Z.sub.1 are not always set
equally between the air outlets 4 but are adjusted according to
indoor temperature distribution (heat load distribution) and people
distribution. For example, at cooling time, the air capacity is
controlled so that the blowout air capacity is increased in an area
with high temperature or in an area with a lot of people, whereas
the blowout air capacity is decreased in an area with low
temperature or in an area with no people. Moreover, the direction
of the blowout airflow is controlled in the area with people so as
to avoid direct blowing of the blowout airflow to the people,
thereby controlling a wind direction or the like so as to reduce a
sense of drafting.
[0073] Here, the operation and the function of the indoor unit
Z.sub.1 will be explained below. It is an object of the indoor unit
Z.sub.1 of the present embodiment to realize the optimization of
air condition as explained above and heighten its comfortability or
energy saving characteristics, and in order to achieve this object,
it is important to secure sufficient accuracy in control of the
airflow changing unit 52 or the like by means of the control
section 18. Accordingly, it is important to heighten detecting
accuracy of the infrared sensor 15 which is a base for controlling
the control section 18 and secure reliability of the detected
information. A device obtained by concretizing a technical concept
based on this viewpoint for each component of the indoor unit is
the indoor unit Z.sub.1 of this embodiment. Therefore, in the
indoor unit Z.sub.1 of this embodiment, the respective components
fulfill their predetermined functions based on their peculiar
structures, so that the improvement in the comfortability or energy
saving characteristics which is an ultimate problem can be realized
by optimizing the air conditioning. This will be explained below
concretely.
[0074] In the indoor unit Z.sub.1 of this embodiment,
air-conditioning air which has passed through the heat exchanger 5
so as to be heat-exchanged is blown out from the air outlets 4 into
a room. At this time, when the blowout airflow flows through the
blowout passage 14, its air capacity is adjusted by the air
capacity distributing mechanism 10 at each of the air outlets 4, 4,
. . . . Namely, the blowout air capacity is distributed between the
air outlets 4, 4, . . . . In addition, the blowout direction
adjusting function in the lateral direction by means of the first
flap 12 and the blowout direction adjusting function in the
longitudinal direction by means of the second flap 13 are carried
out simultaneously. Moreover, another control such as the air
conditioning ability control and the temperature control is
exercised at the same time. The optimization of the air
conditioning is realized as their multiplier effect.
[0075] Here, as explained above, the optimization of the air
conditioning is realized by inputting the accurate detected
information from the infrared sensor 15 into the control section
18. In the indoor unit Z.sub.1 of this embodiment, the infrared
sensor 15 adopts the following structure so that the accurate
detected information can be obtained.
[0076] Firstly, in this embodiment, the infrared sensor 15 is
arranged on the inter-opening portion of the air outlets 4, 4, . .
. on the indoor panel 2, namely, an indoor exposed portion. With
this structure, a visual field of the infrared sensor 15 is
sufficiently secured, and as a result, the object temperature can
be detected with high accuracy by the infrared sensor 15.
[0077] Secondly, since the infrared sensor 15 is arranged on the
inter-opening portion of the air outlets 4, 4, . . . on the indoor
panel 2, the infrared sensor 15 is not exposed directly to a
suction airflow from the air inlet 3 and the blowout airflow from
the air outlet 4. As a result, for example, unlike a case where the
infrared sensor 15 is arranged on a side of the air inlet 3, there
does not arise a problem that dust or the like in the suction
airflow adheres to the infrared sensor 15 and its detecting ability
is inhibited. Moreover, unlike a case where the infrared sensor 15
is arranged at the air outlet 4, a problem such that the infrared
sensor 15 is exposed to a cool blowout airflow and moisture adheres
to its surface so that the detecting ability is inhibited is
prevented securely from arising. For this reason, the high level
detecting ability is maintained for a long time.
[0078] Thirdly, the infrared sensor 15 is structured so as to be
capable of scanning detection using the scanning mechanism 20. When
the scanning mechanism 20 is controlled, the indoor temperature
distribution and people distribution can be detected accurately by
the infrared sensor 15. Moreover, since the one infrared sensor 15
detects the object temperature, the detected information is easily
processed and its reliability is improved.
[0079] As their multiplier effect, the detected information with
high accuracy and reliability by the infrared sensor 15 is captured
into the control section 18, so that the comfortability and energy
saving characteristics of the air conditioning by means of the
indoor unit Z.sub.1 can be further improved.
[0080] On the other hand, the comfortability and the energy saving
characteristics of the air conditioning are improved also by the
characteristic structure on the airflow changing unit 52.
[0081] Namely, firstly in this embodiment, since the air capacity
distributing mechanism 10, the first flaps 12 and the second flap
13 can be operated individually and independently between the air
outlets 4, 4, . . . , the characteristics of the blowout airflow at
each of the air outlets 4, 4, . . . can be controlled more finely
according to the indoor temperature distribution and people
distribution.
[0082] On the contrary, the structure may be such that the air
capacity distributing 20 mechanisms 10 and the first flaps 12 can
be operated independently and individually at the air outlets 4, 4,
. . . , whereas the second flaps 13 are operated in an interlocking
manner at the air outlets 4, 4, . . . . In this case, the air
capacity distributing mechanism 10 and the first flaps 12 can
finely control the characteristics of the blowout airflow at each
of the air outlets 4, 4, . . . .
[0083] Secondary, in this embodiment, the air capacity distributing
mechanism 10 is composed of the paired distributing shutters 11,
11, and when the opening area of the blowout passage 14 is
enlarged, the distributing shutters 11 are positioned on the long
sides of the blowout passage 14, and the opening area is reduced,
they are positioned on the upper stream side of the blowout passage
14. At the time of the operation for enlarging the opening area of
the blowout passage 14, namely, when the blowout airflow increases,
since the distributing shutters 11, 11 are positioned on the
portions of the blowout passage 14 with slow flow rate, ventilating
resistance due to the distributing shutters 11, 11 is reduced,
thereby ensuring the securing of the blowout airflow and reducing a
blast sound.
[0084] As their multiplier effect, the blowout airflow
characteristics are improved, and the comfortability and energy
saving characteristics of the air conditioning are improved by the
indoor unit Z.sub.1.
[0085] Further, there are following circumstantial effects.
[0086] Firstly in this embodiment, the air capacity distributing
mechanism 10 and the first flap 12 are arranged on the upper stream
portion of the blowout passage 14 which is continued with the air
outlet 4, and a driving mechanism 29 of the air capacity
distributing mechanism 10 and a driving mechanism 30 of the first
flap 12 are arranged on both ends in the direction of the long
sides of the blowout passage 14, respectively. With such a
structure, the air capacity distributing mechanism 10 and the first
flaps 12 and their driving mechanisms 29 and 30 can be arranged
compactly at the blowout passage 14 with spacial restriction, and
as a result, the indoor panel 2 can be thinned and
miniaturized.
[0087] Secondly in this embodiment, the paired distributing
shutters 11, 11 are structured so as to be positioned on the upper
stream side of the blowout passage 14 when the opening area of the
blowout passage 14 is reduced (namely, the blowout airflow is
reduced). With such a structure, disorder of airflow can be
suppressed as much as possible at the air outlet 4 positioned on a
lower stream end of the blowout passage 14, so that moisture in the
vicinity of air outlet 4 is prevented and dirt of the ceiling
surface due to bump of disordered blowout airflow is prevented.
[0088] Thirdly in this embodiment, since the infrared sensor 15 is
arranged on the indoor exposed portion of the indoor panel 2, at
the time of a maintenance work of the infrared sensor 15,
attachment/detachment of a suction grill is not necessary unlike,
for example, the case where the infrared sensor 15 is arranged
inside the suction grill (namely, a portion which is not exposed to
the room). For this reason, a check or the attachment/detachment
work of the infrared sensor 15 can be carried out easily, and thus
high maintenance characteristics are realized.
[0089] Fourthly in this embodiment, since the second flaps 13 are
operated in the interlocking manner at the air outlets 4, 4, . . .
, the second flaps 13, 13, . . . can be driven by a single driving
source. A number of the driving sources to be installed is reduced
in comparison with the case where the second flaps 13, 13, . . .
are driven by individual driving sources, thereby lowering the cost
and simplifying the structure.
[0090] Embodiment 2
[0091] FIGS. 9 and 10 show an indoor unit Z.sub.2 of the separate
type air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the
present invention. The indoor unit Z.sub.2 has the same basic
structure as that of the indoor unit Z.sub.1 according to the first
embodiment. A different point is only the structure of the infrared
sensor 15. Therefore, there will be detailed below only the
structure of the infrared sensor 15 and its functions which are
peculiar to this embodiment, and explanation of the other
structures and functions will be omitted. In FIGS. 9 and 10, the
components corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are
designated by like numbers.
[0092] In the indoor unit Z.sub.2 of this embodiment, when the
infrared sensor 15 is installed onto the indoor panel 2, the three
infrared sensors 15 are arranged on the peripheral edge portion of
each air outlet 4 closer to the air inlet 3 and the direction of
the long side of each air outlet 4 with predetermined gaps.
Moreover, the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . are fixed directly to
the peripheral edge portion. Detecting object ranges of the
infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . provided correspondingly to the air
outlets 4, 4, . . . are limited to constant ranges in the blowout
directions of the air outlet 4, 4, . . . . Moreover, the detecting
object range of the three infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . arranged
along the long side of the air outlet 4 is also limited to a
constant range. Therefore, in this embodiment, the infrared sensors
15 are non-scanning type infrared sensors which detect the
respective constant ranges.
[0093] Namely, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the indoor
space, namely, the detecting object range is divided virtually into
four large areas A1 through A4 corresponding to the air outlets 4
with the indoor unit Z.sub.2 being centered in a plan view.
[0094] Further, each of the large areas A1 through A4 is divided
virtually into three small areas SA, SB and SC for each three
infrared sensors 15 in which the large areas are the detecting
object range. The detecting object rage of each infrared sensor 15
is one of the small areas SA, SB and SC. With this setting, when
the detected information of the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . is
input into the control section 18, a specification can be easily
made as to which small area in which large area the detected
information is about.
[0095] In this embodiment, since the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . .
are arranged on the surface of the indoor panel 2, namely, the
indoor exposed portion, the visual fields of the infrared sensors
15 are secured sufficiently, so that the object temperature is
detected with high accuracy. As a result, the control accuracy for
the airflow changing unit 52 by means of the control section 18
based on the detected information is improved, and thus the
comfortability and energy saving characteristics of the air
conditioning is improved.
[0096] Moreover, at the time of the maintenance work of the
infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . , the attachment/detachment of the
suction grill is not necessary unlike the case where, for example,
the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . are arranged inside the suction
grill (namely, the portion which is not exposed to the room),
thereby easily carrying out the check or the attachment/detachment
work of the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . and realizing the high
maintenance characteristics.
[0097] In addition, the three infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . are
arranged at each of the air outlets 4, 4, . . . , and the detecting
object ranges of the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . are specified
individually, thereby obtaining the following effect.
[0098] Namely, a corresponding relationship between the detected
information of the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . and the indoor
detecting object area is clarified, and the operational control of
the airflow changing unit 52 of the air capacity distributing
mechanism 10 based on the detected information of the infrared
sensors 15, 15, . . . becomes easy.
[0099] In addition, in this embodiment, since the plural infrared
sensors 15 are provided correspondingly to the air outlets 4, 4, .
. . and their detecting object ranges are set fixedly, the
temperature distribution and the people distribution in the entire
indoor area can be always detected by the infrared sensors 15, 15,
. . . simultaneously. As a result, the operational control of the
air capacity distributing mechanism 10 or the like based on the
detected information becomes more accurate, and thus the
comfortability and the energy saving characteristics can be
anticipated to be improved.
[0100] Embodiment 3
[0101] FIGS. 11 and 12 show an indoor unit Z.sub.3 of the separate
type air conditioner according to the third embodiment of the
present invention. The indoor unit Z.sub.3 is based on the
structure of the indoor unit Z.sub.2 according to the second
embodiment, and a temperature/humidity sensor 16, mentioned later,
is additionally provided. Therefore, there will be detailed below
only a structure peculiar to this embodiment, namely, a structure
of the temperature/humidity sensor 16 and a correlation between the
temperature/humidity sensor 16 and the infrared sensor 15, and
explanation of the other structures and functions will be omitted.
In FIGS. 11 and 12, components corresponding to those shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment and those shown in FIGS. 9
and 10 of the second embodiment are designated by like numbers.
[0102] In the indoor unit Z.sub.3 of this embodiment, the infrared
sensor 15 is arranged corresponding to each o the air outlets 4,4,
. . . on the peripheral edge portions of each of the air outlets 4,
4, . . . closer to the air inlet 3 on the indoor panel 2 in the
direction of the long sides of the air outlets 4 with predetermined
gaps. Additionally, the temperature/humidity sensor 16 (in another
embodiment, a temperature sensor may be provided instead of the
temperature/humidity sensor 16) is arranged on the outer peripheral
portion of the air inlet 3 corresponding to each of the air outlets
4, 4, . . . in the direction of the long sides of each of the air
outlets 4 with predetermined gaps (concretely, with the gaps
corresponding to the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . ). Therefore,
the infrared sensors 15, 15, . . . and the temperature/humidity
sensors 16, 16, . . . corresponding to them have the same detecting
object ranges (namely, the small areas SA through SC in the large
areas A1 through A4).
[0103] The temperature/humidity sensor 16 detects temperature and
humidity of the suction airflow sucked from the area corresponding
to this temperature/humidity sensor 16 to the air inlet 3, and
outputs the detected temperature and humidity as the detected
information to the control section 18. Thereafter, the detected
information from the temperature/humidity sensor 16 is compared
with the detected information of the infrared sensor 15 (namely,
information about the indoor object temperature) in the control
section 18, so as to be utilized as a correcting standard of the
detected information of the infrared sensor 15.
[0104] Namely, the infrared sensor 15 originally detects a
radiation temperature of an object such as a wall surface, a floor
surface or people in the room as the object temperature, and the
detected information of the infrared sensor 15 is utilized as a
standard for control of the air capacity distributing mechanism 10
or the like of the airflow changing unit 52 in the control section
18. However, in the room, for example, a window glass portion or a
heater portion is a higher radiation portion than the other
portions, and a metal surface or the like is a low radiation
portion. For this reason, when the object temperature is simply
detected by the infrared sensor 15, if the detecting object range
has the high radiation portion or the low radiation portion, a
temperature having a transnormal value which is deviated from the
actual indoor heat load distribution or the like is detected.
Therefore, when this is used as the control standard in the control
section 18, for example, over-airflow is blown onto a particular
portion in the room and this portion becomes "too cool" or "too
warm", and thus there is a possibility that the comfortability is
inhibited extremely.
[0105] Meanwhile, it is experientially known that a suction
temperature of indoor air and a radiation temperature of a suction
source area normally have a close value. For example, when the
suction temperature is 25.degree. C., the radiation temperature
becomes about 23 to 27.degree. C. Therefore, the radiation
temperature of the object can be anticipated based on the air
suction temperature.
[0106] Therefore, in the case where the object temperature
(radiation temperature) detected by the infrared sensor 15 shows a
transnormal value which is greatly deviated from the radiation
temperature anticipated from the suction temperature, the detected
temperature of the infrared sensor 15 is corrected based on the
anticipated radiation temperature.
[0107] The detected temperature can be corrected by using various
methods. For example, in a simple method, an area average radiation
temperature (detected temperature after correction) T.sub.S can be
obtained by adding a predetermined temperature offset T.sub.OFS to
an anticipated radiation temperature T.sub.P (this anticipated
radiation temperature T.sub.P is normally equal with the suction
temperature. Here, anticipated radiation temperature
T.sub.P=suction temperature). Namely, the detected temperature can
be corrected according to the following formula:
T.sub.S=T.sub.P+T.sub.OFS
[0108] In addition, another correcting method is such that a
threshold temperature T.sub.th, mentioned later, is used so as to
correct the radiation temperature. This correcting method is
particularly effective to the case or the like where the detected
temperature of the infrared sensor 15 is greatly deviated from the
suction temperature. For example as shown in FIG. 13, at steps S1,
S2 and S3, after the radiation temperature is detected by the
infrared sensor 15, the average radiation temperature per area is
calculated and the suction temperature per area is measured, a
judgment is made at step S4 whether an absolute value of a
temperature difference between the average radiation temperature
and the suction temperature is larger than a predetermined value
.DELTA.T.sub.1. When the absolute value is larger than the
predetermined value .DELTA.T.sub.1, the following correction is
carried out.
[0109] Incidentally, a window or the like is a surface portion with
much outflux and influx of a heat to/from outside. In the case
where the visual field of the infrared sensor 15 includes such a
surface portion, or in the case where the detected temperature of
the infrared sensor 15 is deviated from the suction temperature to
a higher temperature side, it is considered that an air temperature
in the vicinity of the surface portion is a temperature between the
suction temperature and the detected temperature. Therefore, after
a predetermined threshold value is initially set at step S5, when
the absolute value of the difference between the suction
temperature and the detected temperature is larger than the
threshold value T.sub.th, a temperature difference, which is
obtained by multiplying the difference between the threshold value
and the detected temperature and a coefficient .eta.(.eta.=about
0.3 to 0.7 and it is obtained experientially or experimentally) in
which an average temperature distribution and radiation temperature
are taken into consideration, is given as an offset (see step S6).
Namely:
T.sub.OFS=.eta.(T.sub.th-T.sub.s)
[0110] The average radiation temperature is again calculated from a
corrected radiation temperature Ts' obtained in such a manner (see
step S7). Next, a judgment is made whether an absolute value of a
difference between the average radiation temperature and the
suction temperature is smaller than a predetermined value .epsilon.
(see step S8). When the absolute value is smaller than the
predetermined value .epsilon., the correction is completed, and
when not smaller, the threshold value is updated at step S9, so
that steps S6 through S8 are repeated.
[0111] Here, the initial value of the threshold value at step S5
may be given suitably. As for steps S6 through S9, while the
threshold value is being updated by dichotomy, the repeated process
may be executed until the difference between the average radiation
temperature and the suction temperature becomes sufficiently
small.
[0112] The radiation temperature of a low radiant surface such as
metal has less intraday fluctuation and deviation of such a kind of
radiation temperature is a steady-state deviation to a low
temperature side. Such a radiation temperature is considered to
actually show an average temperature. For this reason, in such a
case, a temperature of the radiation temperature area not more than
the threshold value T.sub.th is replaced by the suction
temperature, and the threshold value is converged repeatedly from
the initial value similarly to the above, so that a properly
corrected radiation temperature can be obtained.
[0113] In addition, in an optical measuring method, as the sensor
is used for a longer time, drift (deviation of a detected value)
due to dirt or the like of the sensor occurs. However, from the
viewpoint of making stable control for a long time, it is desirable
that the long-time drift due to dirt or the like is compensated.
Therefore, in a situation that a difference between respective
radiation temperatures is small and a judgment is made that an
influence of a transnormal radiation area is less, a slight
difference between the suction temperature and the average
radiation temperature is used as drift so that the detected value
of the infrared sensor may be corrected. For example, in the case
where the absolute value of the difference between the average
radiation temperature and the suction temperature is smaller than a
predetermined value .DELTA.T.sub.2 (see step S10) and the absolute
value of the difference between the average radiation temperature
and each radiation temperature is smaller than a predetermined
value .DELTA.T.sub.3 (see step S11), T.sub.OFS=suction
temperature-average radiation temperature (step S12).
[0114] In such a manner, an error of the detected temperature due
to a transnormal radiation section is corrected and the corrected
temperature is used as the control standard of the airflow changing
unit 52 in the control section 18.
[0115] Here, the anticipation of the radiation temperature of an
object and the correction of the detected temperature are carried
out by the control section 18. Therefore, "the correcting unit" of
the present invention is composed of the control section 18.
[0116] As mentioned above, in the indoor unit Z.sub.3 of this
embodiment, in the case where the detected information of the
infrared sensor 15 is transnormal, the detected information is
corrected by the anticipated radiation temperature based on the
suction temperature detected by the temperature/humidity sensor 16,
so that an error from an actual value is corrected. As a result,
the airflow changing unit 52 is controlled to be suitably operated
according to the actual indoor heat load distribution or the like,
and thereby improving the comfortability or the energy saving
characteristics of the air conditioning by means of the indoor unit
Z.sub.3.
[0117] In the indoor unit Z.sub.3 of this embodiment, the infrared
sensor 15 is of a fixed type without a scanning function, and a
plurality of the infrared sensors 15 are provided correspondingly
to the air outlets 4, 4, . . . , respectively. However, in another
embodiment, for example, the single or plural infrared sensor(s) 15
is(are) arranged and can be structured so as to have the scanning
function by means of the scanning mechanism 20.
[0118] In the case where the infrared sensors 15 particularly
having such an arrangement are combined with the
temperature/humidity sensors 16, 16, . . . , a useless operation of
the scanning mechanism 20 is prevented based on the detected
information of the temperature/humidity sensors 16, 16, . . . , so
that durability of the scanning mechanism 20 can be improved and
thus the energy saving characteristics of the indoor unit Z.sub.3
can be also improved. Namely, as for the temperature/humidity
sensors 16, 16, . . . , since specified areas are the detecting
object ranges as mentioned above, for example, in the case where
all or most of the temperature/humidity sensors 16 (for example, a
not less than predetermined proportion of the temperature/humidity
sensors) detect that the radiation temperature of the object is
high, namely, a detection is made that the heat load is not less
than a predetermined load in the entire or most indoor area, there
is less necessity anymore to scan the infrared sensor 15 so as to
detect the indoor object temperature. Therefore, in this case, the
operation of the scanning mechanism 20 is stopped. When the
operation of the scanning mechanism 20 is stopped in such a manner,
for example, in comparison with the case where the scanning
mechanism 20 is operated continuously during the operation of the
air conditioner, operating time of the scanning mechanism 20 is
reduced further, thereby suppressing wear of a driving section.
Therefore, the durability of the scanning mechanism 20 is improved,
thereby contributing to reduction in operating cost of the air
conditioner.
[0119] Here, the judgment as to whether the heat load is not less
than the predetermined load in the entire or most indoor area is
made by the control section 18. The stopping control of the
scanning mechanism 20 is also executed by the control section 18.
Therefore, "a judging unit" and "a stopping unit" of the present
invention are structured by the control section 18.
[0120] In addition, in this embodiment, the temperature/humidity
sensor 16 is mounted to the suction grill 8 on the upper stream
side above the filter on the outer periphery portion of the air
inlet 3, but in another embodiment, as designated by 16' in FIG.
12, the temperature/humidity sensor can be mounted to the bellmouth
7 section.
[0121] Embodiment 4
[0122] FIGS. 14 and 15 show an indoor unit Z.sub.4 of the separate
type air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the
present invention. This indoor unit Z.sub.4 is based on the
structure of the indoor unit Z.sub.1 of the first embodiment, and
the arrangement structure of the temperature/humidity sensor 16 in
the third embodiment is applied thereto. Therefore, there will be
detailed below only a peculiar structure of this embodiment,
namely, the structure of the temperature/humidity sensor 16 and a
correlation between the temperature/humidity sensor 16 and the
infrared sensor 15, but explanation of the other structures and
functions will be omitted. In FIGS. 14 and 15, the components
corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the first
embodiment and shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the third embodiment are
designated by like numbers.
[0123] In the indoor unit Z.sub.4 of this embodiment, the infrared
sensor 15 is arranged on the inter-opening portion of the two
adjacent air outlets 4, 4 at the comer of the indoor panel 2 via
the scanning mechanism 20. Meanwhile, the three
temperature/humidity sensors 16 are arranged on the air inlet 3
side on the indoor panel 2 correspondingly to each of the outlets
4, 4, . . . in the direction of each long side of the air outlets 4
with predetermined gaps.
[0124] The indoor unit Z.sub.4 of this embodiment is different from
the first and third embodiments in that an object to be detected by
the infrared sensor 15 and an object to be detected by the
temperature/humidity sensor 16 are independent. Namely, in the
first embodiment, both a position of a person in the room and
indoor temperature distribution are detected by the infrared sensor
15. In the third embodiment, the temperature/humidity sensor 16 is
utilized to correct the detected value of the infrared sensor 15.
On the contrary, in the fourth embodiment, the infrared sensor 15
is used only for detecting the position of a person in the room,
and the temperature/humidity sensor 16 is used for detecting the
indoor temperature distribution. In this embodiment, a control
relationship between the infrared sensor 15 and the
temperature/humidity sensor 16 is cut.
[0125] With such a structure, since the infrared sensor 15 may
detect only a position of a person, in comparison with, for
example, the case where both the position of a person and the
indoor temperature distribution are detected, a process on the
detected information by means of the infrared sensor 15 becomes
easy, thereby simplifying a control system. At the same time, as to
the detection of the indoor temperature distribution, required
accuracy can be obtained by the temperature/humidity sensor 16
which is more inexpensive than the infrared sensor 15, and as their
multiplier effect, the securing of the accuracy in the detected
information is compossible with lowering of the cost.
[0126] Industrial Applicability
[0127] As mentioned above, the present invention is useful to the
indoor unit of a room air conditioner, a package air conditioner,
and the like.
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