JP2015057581A - Blower and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give a feeling of exposing natural wind to a user in blowing from a blower.SOLUTION: A control unit 118 of an air conditioner controls a fan motor 116 of the air conditioner so that the wind speed of a fan 102 of the air conditioner is changed with time into a composite pattern composed of a plurality of patterns including a waveform pattern with a sinusoidal wave shape and a mountain-shaped fluctuation pattern having a width less than the 1/4 period of the waveform pattern in each period of the waveform pattern and a height larger than the amplitude of the waveform pattern.

Description

  The present invention relates to a blower and a control method. In particular, the present invention relates to an air conditioner that gives a user a sense of hitting the natural wind.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an air conditioner that swings an up-and-down wind direction plate to give fluctuation to the wind when blowing out the wind (see, for example, Patent Document 1). There is an air conditioner that controls the swing angle, swing speed, and swing range of an up / down wind direction plate to 1 / f fluctuation (see, for example, Patent Document 2). There is an air conditioner that oscillates the upper and lower wind direction plates so that the upper and lower wind direction plates are divided into three in the horizontal direction, and the phase of the angle between the central upper and lower wind direction plates and the left and right upper and lower wind direction plates is different (for example, Patent Document 3). reference). There is an air conditioner in which an up / down wind direction plate is divided into two in the horizontal direction and the left and right up / down wind direction plates are independently swung (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

  Moreover, there exists an air conditioner which controls the air flow rate of a blower to 1 / f fluctuation (for example, refer patent documents 5 and 6).

  Moreover, there exists a blower which controls the rotation speed of a fan based on a fuzzy reasoning (for example, refer patent document 7).

JP-A-6-265168 JP-A-10-110997 JP 2001-108280 A JP 2007-132608 A JP-A-9-101807 JP 10-1111004 A JP-A-7-151096 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-176656 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-13136 JP-A-57-30610 JP-A-6-42792 JP-A-7-180895 JP 2012-37172 A

  In the method of swinging the vertical wind direction plate as described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, no wind is repeatedly generated at the user position. Also, the wind speed is difficult to change. Therefore, it is impossible to reproduce a natural wind as will be described later.

  As described in Patent Documents 5 and 6, in the method of controlling the air flow rate of the blower to 1 / f fluctuation, the control is too fine and the fan motor may not follow the control. There is also a possibility that the wind that reaches the user may actually have no change in the wind speed.

  Even a method of controlling the number of rotations of a fan based on fuzzy inference as described in Patent Document 7 cannot reproduce a natural wind as described later.

  An object of the present invention is to give a user a sense of hitting a natural wind when blowing air from a blower, for example.

The blower according to one aspect of the present invention is
A fan that blows air,
A fan motor for driving the fan;
The fan wind speed is a sinusoidal waveform pattern, and a mountain-shaped fluctuation pattern having a width less than a quarter period of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern and a height equal to or greater than the amplitude of the waveform pattern. And a control unit that controls the fan motor so as to change with time in a combined pattern obtained by combining a plurality of patterns including.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the wind speed of the fan of the blower has a sinusoidal waveform pattern and a width less than ¼ period of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern, and is equal to or greater than the amplitude of the waveform pattern. The control unit of the blower controls the fan motor of the blower so that it changes over time in a composite pattern that includes a plurality of patterns including a mountain-shaped fluctuation pattern having a height of centimeter. Can be given to the user.

The perspective view of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 and 2. FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 and 2. FIG. The figure which shows the drive mechanism of the up-and-down wind direction board of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 and 2, and a left-right wind direction board. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the fan of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 and 2, an up-down wind direction board, and a left-right wind direction board. The graph which shows the sine wave used as the reference | standard of the rotation speed waveform of the fan of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is a graph showing a rotation speed waveform of a fan of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1. The graph which shows the rotation speed waveform of the fan of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. The graph which expanded a part of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of each embodiment, the directions such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, “front”, “back” are However, it is not intended to limit the arrangement or orientation of devices, instruments, parts, or the like.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the air conditioner 100.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit main body 101, a fan 102, a prefilter 103, a front panel 104, a first heat exchanger 105a, a second heat exchanger 105b, and a third heat. An exchanger 105c, a fourth heat exchanger 105d, a drain pan 106, an up / down wind direction plate 107, a left / right wind direction plate 108, and a sensor 109 are provided.

  The main body 101 is formed in a horizontally long substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Inside the main body 101, a fan 102, a pre-filter 103, a first heat exchanger 105a, a second heat exchanger 105b, a third heat exchanger 105c, and a fourth heat exchanger 105d are housed. A suction port 110 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 101. A blow-out port 111 is provided in the lower front portion of the main body 101. An up / down wind direction plate 107 and a left / right wind direction plate 108 are attached to the outlet 111. A sensor 109 is mounted on the front surface of the main body 101 and slightly above the outlet 111. A front panel 104 is attached to the front surface of the main body 101 so as to be freely opened and closed. An opening is formed in a portion of the front panel 104 corresponding to the sensor 109 so that the sensor 109 is not covered even when the front panel 104 is closed. A drain pan 106 is provided below the first heat exchanger 105a, the second heat exchanger 105b, the third heat exchanger 105c, and the fourth heat exchanger 105d.

  The fan 102 sucks indoor air into the main body 101 through the suction port 110. The prefilter 103 removes dust and the like contained in the sucked air. The first heat exchanger 105a, the second heat exchanger 105b, the third heat exchanger 105c, and the fourth heat exchanger 105d perform heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant that passes through the inside. The fan 102 blows out air that has undergone heat exchange from the air outlet 111 to the outside of the main body 101 (that is, indoors). That is, the fan 102 blows air into the room. The wind direction of the air blown out from the blowout port 111 is adjusted by the vertical wind direction plate 107 and the left and right wind direction plate 108.

  The up-and-down wind direction plate 107 has a substantially arc-shaped cross section and is provided so as to be swingable. The vertical wind direction plate 107 adjusts the vertical direction of the air (that is, the wind from the fan 102) blown out from the air outlet 111. The up / down wind direction plate 107 is divided into a left up / down wind direction plate 107a and a right up / down wind direction plate 107b at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body 101 (that is, the left / right direction of the air outlet 111). The left up / down wind direction plate 107a and the right up / down wind direction plate 107b are disposed at the outlet 111 with a slight gap therebetween.

  The left and right wind direction plates 108 are substantially flat and are provided so as to be swingable. The right and left wind direction plate 108 adjusts the direction of the left and right direction of the air blown out from the outlet 111 (that is, the wind from the fan 102). The left and right wind direction plate 108 is composed of a left and right wind direction plate 108a on the left side of a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body 101 (that is, the left and right direction of the air outlet 111) and a right and left wind direction plate 108b. The left and right wind direction plates 108 a and the right and left wind direction plates 108 b are each divided into a plurality of pieces and arranged at the outlet 111.

  The sensor 109 detects a position where a human body exists in the room. The sensor 109 is, for example, an infrared sensor in which a plurality of thermopiles are arranged in the vertical direction. An indoor thermal image can be acquired by scanning a room by moving a plurality of thermopiles laterally. In the thermal image, the position in the horizontal direction and the depth direction where the human body exists can be detected from the temperature difference from the background. The greater the number of pixels in the thermal image, the more accurately the position of the human body can be detected. It is desirable that the number of pixels is 700 pixels or more that can detect the position of the human body sufficiently accurately. The sensor 109 is not limited to an infrared sensor, and may be a camera, a pyroelectric sensor using a Fresnel lens, or the like. The sensor 109 may be attached to the left end or the right end of the main body 101 instead of the front surface of the main body 101.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a driving mechanism for the up / down wind direction plate 107 and the left / right wind direction plate 108.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the up / down wind direction plate 107 is composed of a single left / right up / down wind direction plate 107a and a single right up / down wind direction plate 107b. The left vertical wind direction plate 107a is connected to the stepping motor 113a by a link rod 112a. The stepping motor 113a changes the angle of the left vertical airflow direction plate 107a by rotating the link rod 112a. Similarly, the right vertical wind direction plate 107b is connected to the stepping motor 113b by a link rod 112b. The stepping motor 113b changes the angle of the right vertical wind direction plate 107b by rotating the link rod 112b.

  The left and right wind direction plates 108 include eight left and right wind direction plates 108a and eight right and left wind direction plates 108b. The left and right wind direction plates 108a on the left side are arranged at substantially equal intervals. The left and right wind direction plates 108a are all connected to the stepping motor 115a by the link rod 114a. The stepping motor 115a collectively changes the angle of the left and right wind direction plates 108a by rotating the link rod 114a. Similarly, the right and left wind direction plates 108b are arranged at substantially equal intervals. The right and left wind direction plates 108b on the right side are all connected to the stepping motor 115b by the link rod 114b. The stepping motor 115b collectively changes the angle of the right and left wind direction plates 108b by rotating the link rod 114b.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the fan 102, the up / down wind direction plate 107, and the left / right wind direction plate 108. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the air conditioner 100 further includes a fan motor 116, a communication unit 117, and a control unit 118.

  The fan motor 116 is housed inside the main body 101 and drives the fan 102.

  The communication unit 117 is provided, for example, in the lower part of the front surface of the main body 101 and receives a signal from the external remote controller 120.

  The control unit 118 is housed inside the main body 101 and is implemented by, for example, a microcomputer. The control unit 118 is connected to the sensor 109, stepping motors 113a, 113b, 115a, and 115b, the fan motor 116, the communication unit 117, and other various units via signal lines. The control unit 118 receives various types of information via the signal line, and controls the operation of the air conditioner 100 based on the received information.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that a wind similar to the natural wind is blown out from the air outlet 111 by the fan 102.

Observations of natural winds revealed that natural winds have the following characteristics.
(Characteristic 1) Natural wind is not intermittent wind that is blown out by an air conditioner that swings a conventional vertical wind direction plate. Even in a so-called no wind condition, the natural wind speed moves back and forth around 0.2 m / s (meters per second) at which a person can feel the wind. In other words, there is no complete windless state. (Characteristic 2) The moving average of natural wind speed is a sine wave having a certain periodicity. Specifically, it is a sine wave with a period of about 100 to 200 seconds.
(Characteristic 3) In a natural wind speed waveform, a wide and high wave is once or several times in about 10 to 60 seconds. This wave may be a little lower in height. That is, a slightly higher wave and a higher wave are mixed.
(Characteristic 4) In a natural wind speed waveform, there are frequent waves with a narrow width and a low height. This wave has the same height every time.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 118 causes the fan 102 to send at least the air having the characteristics of (Feature 1) to (Feature 3) from the fan 102 during the cooling operation or the air blowing operation of the air conditioner 100. The rotation speed of is continuously changed.

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing a sine wave 131 serving as a reference for the rotation speed waveform of the fan 102.

  As described above, the moving average of natural wind speed is a sine wave having a period of about 100 to 200 seconds. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that a gentle sine wave 131 having a period of 120 seconds becomes a reference for the rotational speed waveform of the fan 102.

  As described above, even in a so-called no wind condition, the natural wind speed moves back and forth around 0.2 m / s. When the rotation speed of the fan 102 is 800 rpm (rotation per minute), the wind speed measured at a position 3 m (meters) ahead of the air conditioner 100 is about 0.2 m / s. This position is considered a standard user position. In the present embodiment, the control unit 118 uses a sine wave 131 as a reference in which the average rotation speed of the fan 102 in one cycle is 800 rpm and the fluctuation range of the rotation speed of the fan 102 in one cycle is smaller than the average rotation speed. The fan motor 116 is controlled so that The maximum rotation speed of the fan 102 in one cycle is 900 rpm, the minimum rotation speed is 700 rpm, and the fluctuation range that is the difference between the maximum rotation speed and the minimum rotation speed is 200 rpm.

  In the present embodiment, the fluctuation range of the rotation speed of the fan 102 in one cycle of the sine wave 131 is small. Therefore, as will be described later, when a wave component having a wide width and a high height is combined with the sine wave 131, the user can clearly feel the wind corresponding to the wave component.

  Note that the period of the sine wave 131 is not necessarily 120 seconds. The period may be about 100 to 200 seconds.

  It is not essential that the average rotational speed of the fan 102 is 800 rpm. The average rotation speed of the fan 102 is not fixed and may be variable.

  It is not essential that the fluctuation range of the rotation speed of the fan 102 is 200 rpm. The fluctuation range may be smaller than the average rotation speed of the fan 102.

  FIG. 6 is a graph showing a rotation speed waveform of the fan 102.

  As described above, in a natural wind speed waveform, there is a wave having a wide width and a high height once or several times in about 10 to 60 seconds. This wave may be a little lower in height. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 118 includes a first peak wave 141 having a width of about 5 to 10 seconds and a height (that is, a peak value) of about 200 rpm, and a width of about 10 to 20 seconds (the height ( That is, the fan motor 116 is controlled so that the second peak wave 142 having a peak value of about 100 rpm is combined with the sine wave 131. The first peak wave 141 is synthesized at about 30 seconds, about 70 seconds, and about 110 seconds in one cycle of the sine wave 131. The second peak wave 142 is synthesized at about 60 seconds and about 90 seconds in one cycle of the sine wave 131.

  If the height of the first peak wave 141 and the second peak wave 142 is lower than the amplitude of the sine wave 131, the change in the wind speed becomes poor, and it is difficult for the user to obtain a feeling of hitting the natural wind. In the present embodiment, the heights of the first peak wave 141 and the second peak wave 142 are about 200 rpm and about 100 rpm, respectively, and the amplitude of the sine wave 131 (that is, the fluctuation width of the rotation speed of the fan 102/2). Is 100 rpm. That is, the heights of the first peak wave 141 and the second peak wave 142 are greater than or equal to the amplitude of the sine wave 131. Therefore, the instantaneous wind speed change that can be clearly felt by the user is given to the wind from the fan 102, and comfort is improved.

  The control unit 118 stores in advance a table for designating the target rotational speed of the fan 102 in a built-in memory. Based on the table, the control unit 118 gives a command voltage to the fan motor 116 to continuously change the rotational speed of the fan 102.

  The table stores data specifying the target rotation speed of the fan 102 for each unit time. Data for one cycle of the sine wave 131 is stored in the entire table. Since one cycle is 120 seconds, if the target rotation number is specified every 0.25 seconds, the number of data is 480. Or if the target number of rotations is designated every 0.5 second, the number of data will be 240 pieces. If the unit time is too short, the fan motor 116 cannot follow the control, and the intended wind cannot be sent to the user. In addition, the amount of data to be stored increases, and the capacity of the memory is pressed or the cost increases. For this reason, the unit time is desirably set to 0.1 seconds or longer, which is considered that the fan motor 116 can reliably follow the control.

  In the present embodiment, the sine wave 131 serves as a reference for the rotational speed waveform of the fan 102, and the first peak wave 141 having a wide width and a high height and the second peak wave 142 having a wide width and a slight height are sine. Synthesized into a wave 131. In order to set the moving average of the wind speed of the fan 102 to the sine wave 131 similarly to the natural wind speed or to approach the sine wave 131, the first peak wave 141 and the first peak It is desirable to make the width of the two peak waves 142 as short as possible. Since the peak wave that is either the first peak wave 141 or the second peak wave 142 is at least once in about 10 to 60 seconds, the width of the peak wave is less than ¼ period of the sine wave 131, more Preferably, it is less than 1/8 cycle.

  If the user continues to be exposed to a strong wind, the user may feel disgusted or the drying of the user's skin may be promoted. However, since the wind corresponding to the peak wave is blown only momentarily, the user does not continue to take a strong wind. Therefore, comfort is improved. In addition, the user can feel the natural wind.

  However, if the time for which the peak wave maintains the peak value is too short, it becomes difficult for the user to feel the wind corresponding to the peak wave. For this reason, it is desirable that the time for which the peak wave maintains the peak value be two or more unit times during which the user can clearly feel the wind corresponding to the peak wave.

  Assuming that the time during which the peak wave maintains the peak value is only one unit time, in the table stored in the memory, data for specifying the target rotational speed before the peak and the target rotational speed after the peak are specified. Between the data, only one piece of data specifying the target rotation speed of the peak is stored. When the control unit 118 reads the data specifying the target rotational speed before the peak, the control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that the target rotational speed before the peak matches the rotational speed of the fan 102. Next, the control unit 118 reads data specifying the peak target rotational speed, and controls the fan motor 116 so that the peak target rotational speed and the rotational speed of the fan 102 coincide. However, if the difference between the target rotational speed before the peak and the target rotational speed at the peak is large, the fan motor 116 cannot follow the control, and the rotational speed of the fan 102 may not reach the peak target rotational speed. Even if the rotation speed of the fan 102 does not reach the peak target rotation speed, the control unit 118 next reads data specifying the target rotation speed after the peak, and the target rotation speed after the peak and the rotation speed of the fan 102 are read. The fan motor 116 is controlled so as to match. As a result, the rotation speed of the fan 102 changes from the target rotation speed before the peak to the target rotation speed after the peak as it is, and the peak air volume may not be obtained. When the peak air volume cannot be obtained, the wind reaching the user is only the relatively low-speed wind before and after the peak.

  On the other hand, assuming that the time for which the peak wave maintains the peak value is more than two unit times, in the table stored in the memory, specify the target rotational speed before the peak and the target rotational speed after the peak Two or more data designating the same target rotational speed of the peak are stored between the data to be stored. When the control unit 118 reads the data specifying the target rotational speed before the peak, the control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that the target rotational speed before the peak matches the rotational speed of the fan 102. Next, the control unit 118 reads the first data designating the peak target rotational speed, and controls the fan motor 116 so that the peak target rotational speed and the rotational speed of the fan 102 coincide. Even if the rotation speed of the fan 102 does not reach the peak target rotation speed, the control unit 118 next reads the second and subsequent data specifying the peak target rotation speed, and the peak target rotation speed and the fan 102 The fan motor 116 is continuously controlled so that the rotational speed matches. As a result, the rotational speed of the fan 102 reaches the peak target rotational speed, and the peak air volume is reliably obtained.

  It should be noted that the time for which the peak wave maintains the peak value may be 0.5 seconds or more instead of two unit times or more. If the time for which the peak wave maintains the peak value is less than 0.5 seconds, the fan motor 116 cannot follow the control, and the peak air volume may not be obtained. On the other hand, if the time for which the peak wave maintains the peak value is 0.5 seconds or more, the control unit 118 sets the fan motor 116 to 0. 0 so that the peak target rotational speed matches the rotational speed of the fan 102. Continue to control for more than 5 seconds. As a result, even if the fan motor 116 cannot initially follow the control, the rotational speed of the fan 102 eventually reaches the peak target rotational speed, and the peak air volume is reliably obtained. If the time for which the peak wave maintains the peak value is 1.0 seconds or more, the peak air volume can be obtained more reliably.

  If the time for which the peak wave maintains the peak value is set to two unit times or more and 0.5 seconds or more, the peak air volume can be obtained more reliably.

  If there is only one type of peak wave, the user may get used to the wind from the fan 102 and the comfort may be lost. However, if there are two or more types of peak waves, the user will not get used to the strong wind that occasionally comes and comfort will be sustained. According to the present embodiment, by introducing two types of peak waves with a difference in width and height, it is possible to eliminate monotony and realize comfort like natural wind. Note that two types of peak waves with a difference only in width or height may be combined with the sine wave 131. Further, three or more types of peak waves may be combined with the sine wave 131.

  In the present embodiment, the first peak wave 141 that has a short time to reach the peak rotational speed and has a high peak rotational speed, and the second peak that has a long time to reach the peak rotational speed and has a low peak rotational speed. Wave 142 is mixed. As a result, it was confirmed by experiments and questionnaire evaluation that comfort was improved and that the user could feel the natural wind.

  The sine wave 131 is added with a first peak wave 141 that increases the rotational speed of the fan 102 by about 200 rpm with a width of about 5 to 10 seconds as a large peak wave that appears several times in one cycle. Further, as a medium peak wave that appears several times in one cycle, a second peak wave 142 that increases the rotational speed of the fan 102 by about 100 rpm with a width of about 10 to 20 seconds is added. When there is a peak wave, the wind speed at the user position instantaneously increases by about 0.4 to 0.8 m / s. The large wave reaches the peak value over about 2 seconds, and maintains the peak value or a value close to the peak value for about 1 second. The medium wave reaches the peak over about 5 seconds, and the peak value or a value close to the peak value is maintained for about 5 seconds. Therefore, the user can clearly feel a strong wind corresponding to a large wave and a medium wind corresponding to a medium wave.

  In the present embodiment, the air conditioner 100 may have a function of selecting a wind speed change pattern in the natural mode from a plurality of options by the remote controller 120. In this case, the sine wave 131 serving as a reference for the rotation speed waveform of the fan 102 may be different between the patterns, the peak wave synthesized with the sine wave 131 may be different, or the sine wave 131 may be different from the peak. Both the wave and the wave may be different. Alternatively, at which point of the sine wave 131 the peak wave is synthesized may be different. The control unit 118 receives information indicating the pattern selected by the remote controller 120 from the communication unit 117. The control unit 118 adjusts the rotation speed of the fan 102 based on the received information.

  The air conditioner 100 may have a function of determining the user position using the sensor 109 and automatically adjusting the air volume according to the distance to the user. In this case, the control unit 118 receives information indicating the position of the human body from the sensor 109. The control unit 118 estimates the distance from the air conditioner 100 to the user based on the received information. The control unit 118 adjusts the rotation speed of the fan 102 according to the estimated distance. Specifically, the control unit 118 reads data from a table stored in the memory every unit time. The control unit 118 multiplies the target rotational speed designated by the read data by a coefficient corresponding to the estimated distance. This coefficient is proportional to the distance, for example. The control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that the multiplication result matches the rotational speed of the fan 102. Note that the control unit 118 may determine which region of the plurality of regions in the room is the user instead of estimating the distance. For example, it is assumed that the room is divided into a plurality (for example, 3 to 5) in the depth direction. When the user is in the back area, the control unit 118 corrects the rotational speed of the fan 102 upward. When the user is in the front area, the control unit 118 corrects the rotational speed of the fan 102 downward.

  The air conditioner 100 may have a function of setting the air volume stepwise by the remote controller 120. In this case, the average rotation speed of the fan 102 is not fixed but variable. The control unit 118 receives information indicating the air volume set by the remote controller 120 from the communication unit 117. The control unit 118 adjusts the rotation speed of the fan 102 based on the received information. Specifically, the control unit 118 reads data from a table stored in the memory every unit time. The control unit 118 multiplies the target rotational speed designated by the read data by a coefficient corresponding to the set air volume level. The control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that the multiplication result matches the rotational speed of the fan 102. As a result, the wind speed measured at a position 3 m ahead of the air conditioner 100 changes. Further, the position where the wind speed is about 0.2 m / s changes. In addition, although the strength of a wind changes, the point which can give a user the feeling which hits a natural wind does not change.

  The air conditioner 100 may have a function of setting on / off of a natural mode in which a remote controller 120 sends a wind similar to the natural wind from the fan 102. In this case, the control unit 118 receives information indicating ON / OFF of the natural mode from the communication unit 117. The control unit 118 adjusts the rotation speed of the fan 102 based on the received information. If the difference in operation sound of the air conditioner 100 between the natural mode and the normal mode is large, the user feels uncomfortable. Therefore, the fluctuation range of the rotation speed of the fan 102 in one cycle of the sine wave 131 is equal to or less than the difference between the rotation speed when the air volume is set to the maximum and when the air volume is set to the second largest in the normal mode. It is desirable.

  The air conditioner 100 may have a function of setting on / off of a swing mode in which the remote controller 120 automatically swings the vertical wind direction plate 107. In this case, the control unit 118 receives information indicating on / off of the swing mode from the communication unit 117. The control unit 118 starts or stops the swinging of the vertical wind direction plate 107 based on the received information. Specifically, when the swing mode is on and the natural mode is off, the control unit 118 swings the vertical wind direction plate 107. That is, the control unit 118 continuously changes the angle of the up / down wind direction plate 107. On the other hand, when the rocking mode is on and the natural mode is on, or when the rocking mode is off, the control unit 118 does not rock the vertical wind direction plate 107. That is, the control unit 118 fixes the angle of the up / down wind direction plate 107. If the vertical wind direction plate 107 swings while the control unit 118 continuously changes the air volume of the fan 102, the change in the wind speed at the user position is different from the intended one. Therefore, when the natural mode is on, the control unit 118 fixes the angle of the vertical wind direction plate 107 regardless of whether the rocking mode is on or off.

  When the natural mode is on, the control unit 118 may fix the angle of the left vertical wind direction plate 107a and the right vertical wind direction plate 107b at different angles. By shifting the angle between the left vertical wind direction plate 107a and the right vertical wind direction plate 107b, two types of winds having different phases of wind speed change can be delivered to the user. When the two types of wind are mixed, the monotonousness of the wind is increasingly lost and the naturalness of the wind increases. Further, by shifting the angle between the left and right up and down wind direction plates 107a and 107b, the range in which the wind reaches the indoor wall surface and floor surface is expanded. When the wind reaches a wide range, the wind that bounces on the wall surface and the floor surface increases, and more wind reaches the user. Therefore, comfort is improved.

  When the natural mode is on, the control unit 118 controls the angle of the vertical wind direction plate 107 and the angle of the left and right wind direction plate 108 so that the wind from the fan 102 is directed to the position of the human body detected by the sensor 109. May be. In this case, the control unit 118 receives information indicating the position of the human body from the sensor 109. Based on the received information, control unit 118 determines which region of the plurality of regions in the room is the user. For example, it is assumed that the room is divided into a plurality (for example, (3 × 3) to (5 × 5)) in the horizontal direction and the depth direction. The control unit 118 adjusts the angle of the up / down wind direction plate 107 and the angle of the left / right wind direction plate 108 toward the determined area.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that the wind speed of the fan 102 changes with time in a composite pattern obtained by combining a plurality of patterns. The plurality of patterns include a sinusoidal waveform pattern (for example, sine wave 131 in FIG. 5) and a width (for example, less than ¼ period of the waveform pattern for each period (for example, 120 seconds) of the waveform pattern. , About 5 to 20 seconds) and having a height (for example, about 100 rpm or about 200 rpm) higher than the amplitude (for example, 100 rpm) of the waveform pattern (for example, the first peak wave 141 in FIG. 6 and Second peak wave 142). Therefore, it is possible to send the wind having at least the features (Characteristic 1) to (Characteristic 3) described above from the fan 102, and to give the user a sense of hitting the natural wind.

  The fluctuation patterns include two kinds of fluctuation patterns (for example, the first peak wave 141 and the second peak wave 142 in FIG. 6) whose height and generation time in one cycle of the waveform pattern are different from each other. Therefore, the user does not get used to the strong wind that occasionally comes and comfort is maintained.

  Of the two types of variation patterns, the variation pattern with the higher height (for example, the first peak wave 141 in FIG. 6) is the variation pattern with the lower height (for example, the second peak wave 142 in FIG. 6). It is a pattern that reaches the maximum value in a shorter time. Therefore, it is possible to realize comfort like natural wind.

  The variation pattern is a pattern in which the maximum value is maintained for a certain period (for example, about 1 second or 5 seconds). Therefore, the user can clearly feel the strong wind that occasionally comes, and it is easy to give the user a sense of being in the natural wind.

  The control unit 118 stores, in a memory, control pattern information (for example, a table) that defines a target rotation speed of the fan 102 for each predetermined unit time (for example, 0.5 seconds) according to the composite pattern. Based on the control pattern information, the fan motor 116 is controlled for each unit time.

  The variation pattern is a pattern in which the maximum value is maintained for two or more unit times (for example, 1.0 second). Therefore, even if the fan motor 116 cannot initially follow the control, the rotational speed of the fan 102 eventually reaches the peak target rotational speed, and the peak air volume can be obtained reliably.

  The waveform pattern is a pattern in which the difference (for example, 200 rpm) between the maximum value and the minimum value in one cycle is smaller than the average value (for example, 800 rpm) in one cycle.

  When the control unit 118 starts an operation (for example, the above-described natural mode) to control the fan motor 116 so that the wind speed of the fan 102 changes with time in the above-described combined pattern, the vertical wind direction plate 107 is oscillated. In this case, the swinging of the vertical wind direction plate 107 may be stopped.

  The present embodiment is applicable not only to the air conditioner 100 but also to other blowers such as a fan.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  The configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 118 uses the fan 102 to send the wind having all the above-described features (feature 1) to (feature 4) from the fan 102 during the cooling operation or the air blowing operation of the air conditioner 100. The rotational speed of 102 is continuously changed.

  Also in the present embodiment, the control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that the sine wave 131 shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the fluctuation range of the rotational speed of the fan 102 in one cycle of the sine wave 131 is small. Therefore, as will be described later, a wave component having a narrow width and a low height can be synthesized at a number of time points in one cycle of the sine wave 131.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing a rotation speed waveform of the fan 102.

  As shown in FIG. 7, as in the first embodiment, the control unit 118 has a first peak wave 141 having a width of about 5 to 10 seconds and a height (that is, a peak value) of about 200 rpm, and a width of 10 The fan motor 116 is controlled so that the second peak wave 142 having a height (that is, peak value) of about 100 rpm is combined with the sine wave 131 in about ˜20 seconds. The first peak wave 141 is synthesized at about 30 seconds, about 70 seconds, and about 110 seconds in one cycle of the sine wave 131. The second peak wave 142 is synthesized at about 60 seconds and about 90 seconds in one cycle of the sine wave 131.

  As described above, natural wind speed waveforms frequently have a narrow width and a low height. This wave has the same height every time. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 118 includes a first random wave 151 having a height of about 20 to 30 rpm and convex on the positive side, and a second random wave 152 having a height of about 20 to 30 rpm and convex on the negative side. And the fan motor 116 are controlled so as to be combined with the sine wave 131. A large number of first random waves 151 are combined with the sine wave 131 so that the total width is 10% or more and less than 50% of one cycle of the sine wave 131. A large number of second random waves 152 are also synthesized with the sine wave 131 such that the total width is 10% or more and less than 50% of one cycle of the sine wave 131. It is desirable that the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 appear at a timing when there is no peak wave so as not to impair the effect of the peak wave. Further, it is desirable that the same number of first random waves 151 and second random waves 152 appear in one cycle of the sine wave 131.

  If the heights of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 are equal to or greater than the amplitude of the sine wave 131, the wind speed changes drastically, making it difficult for the user to feel the natural wind. In the present embodiment, the height of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 is about 20 to 30 rpm, and the amplitude of the sine wave 131 (that is, the fluctuation width / 2 of the rotation speed of the fan 102) is 100 rpm. is there. That is, the heights of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 are less than the amplitude of the sine wave 131. Therefore, a fine and subtle wind speed change like natural wind is given to the wind from the fan 102, and comfort is improved.

  When the heights of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 exceed 40 rpm, the user may frequently feel a strong change in the wind speed. Therefore, the height of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 is preferably 40 rpm or less. However, if the heights of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 are too low, the effects of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 are lost. Therefore, the height of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 is desirably 20 rpm or more.

  As in the first embodiment, the control unit 118 stores in advance a table for designating the target rotational speed of the fan 102 in the built-in memory. Based on the table, the control unit 118 gives a command voltage to the fan motor 116 to continuously change the rotational speed of the fan 102.

  As described above, the table stores data specifying the target rotation speed of the fan 102 for each unit time. It is desirable that the unit time is 1.0 second or less that can shorten the width of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152. For example, if the width of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 is one unit time, the width of the first random wave 151 and the second random wave 152 becomes 1.0 second or less, and the fan 102 It can give fine wind speed changes to the wind.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to give the wind from the fan 102 a minute change in wind speed that the user feels or does not feel. As a result, the wind can be prevented from becoming monotonous. In addition, frequent changes in wind speed can reduce noise when the fan 102 is accelerated or decelerated.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged graph of a part of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first peak wave 141 reaches the maximum value (that is, the peak value) from the reference sine wave 131 through two or more steps.

  If the peak wave reaches a maximum value after increasing only in one stage, the acceleration sound of the fan 102 becomes loud and comfort is impaired. For example, when the number of rotations of the fan 102 is increased at 130 rpm or more in one second, a harsh sound is generated. In addition, if the wind speed rises at once and then falls immediately, the user is less likely to feel a change in the wind speed, and the peak wave effect may not be obtained.

  On the other hand, when the peak wave reaches the maximum value after increasing in two or more levels, the acceleration of the fan 102 is reduced, and the generation of harsh sounds can be suppressed. Moreover, since the user can easily feel the change in the wind speed, the effect of the peak wave can be obtained with certainty.

  The wind speed may drop momentarily or not change between the first stage rise and the second stage rise. The same applies to the rise after the second stage. The time taken for the increase in each stage may be short, and is 10 seconds or less, more preferably 5 seconds or less. In addition, if the time taken to rise at each stage is set to two unit times or more, or 0.5 seconds or more, it is considered that the user can clearly feel the change in the wind speed at each stage.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the control unit 118 controls the fan motor 116 so that the wind speed of the fan 102 changes with time in a composite pattern obtained by combining a plurality of patterns. Control. In addition to the sinusoidal waveform pattern (for example, the sine wave 131 in FIG. 5) and the mountain-shaped fluctuation pattern (for example, the first peak wave 141 and the second peak wave 142 in FIG. 7), Each waveform pattern period (for example, 120 seconds) has a height (for example, 20-30 rpm) that is less than the amplitude (for example, 100 rpm) of the waveform pattern, and the generation time in one period of the waveform pattern is the variation pattern. Different mountain-shaped first additional patterns (for example, the first random wave 151 in FIG. 7) are included. In addition, a valley-shaped second additional pattern (for example, having a height less than the amplitude of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern and having a generation time in one period of the waveform pattern different from the fluctuation pattern and the first additional pattern (for example, , The second random wave 152) of FIG. Therefore, it is possible to send the wind having the above-mentioned features (feature 1) to (feature 4) from the fan 102, and to give the user a sense of hitting the natural wind.

  The variation pattern is a pattern that reaches a maximum value after increasing values in two or more stages. Therefore, the acceleration sound of the fan 102 can be reduced. In addition, since the user can easily feel the change in the wind speed, the effect of the variation pattern can be obtained with certainty.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, you may implement in combination of 2 or more among these embodiment. Alternatively, one of these embodiments may be partially implemented. Alternatively, two or more of these embodiments may be partially combined. In addition, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various change is possible as needed.

As described above, the blower according to the embodiment of the present invention is
A fan that blows air,
A fan motor for driving the fan;
The fan wind speed is a sinusoidal waveform pattern, and a mountain-shaped fluctuation pattern having a width less than a quarter period of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern and a height equal to or greater than the amplitude of the waveform pattern. And a control unit that controls the fan motor so as to change with time in a combined pattern obtained by combining a plurality of patterns including.

  The plurality of patterns include two types of variation patterns having different heights and generation times in one cycle of the waveform pattern as the variation patterns.

  Of the two types of variation patterns, the variation pattern with the higher height reaches the maximum value in a shorter time than the variation pattern with the lower height.

  The variation pattern is a pattern that reaches a maximum value after increasing values in two or more stages.

  The variation pattern is a pattern in which the maximum value is maintained for a certain period.

  The plurality of patterns further include a mountain-shaped first additional pattern having a height less than the amplitude of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern and having a generation time in one period of the waveform pattern different from the variation pattern. And a second additional pattern having a valley shape that has a height less than the amplitude of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern, and the generation time of the waveform pattern in one period is different from the variation pattern and the first additional pattern. It is.

  The plurality of patterns include the same number of the first additional patterns and the second additional patterns.

  The control unit stores, in a memory, control pattern information that defines a target rotation speed of the fan for each predetermined unit time in accordance with the composite pattern, and the control unit stores the control pattern information for each unit time based on the control pattern information. Control the fan motor.

  The variation pattern is a pattern in which the maximum value is maintained for two unit times or more.

  The unit time is not less than 0.1 seconds and not more than 1.0 seconds.

  The waveform pattern is a pattern in which the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value in one cycle is smaller than the average value in one cycle.

The blower is
It is provided with a vertical wind direction plate that is swingably provided and adjusts the vertical direction of the wind from the fan,
The control unit, when starting the operation of controlling the fan motor so that the wind speed of the fan changes with time in the combined pattern, when the vertical wind direction plate is swinging, swings the vertical wind direction plate. Stop moving.

The up and down wind direction plate is divided into a left up and down wind direction plate and a right up and down wind direction plate,
When performing the operation, the control unit fixes the angle of the left vertical wind direction plate and the angle of the right vertical wind direction plate at different angles.

The blower is
Left and right wind direction plates for adjusting the left and right direction of the wind from the fan;
A sensor for detecting the position where the human body exists,
When performing the operation, the control unit controls the angle of the upper and lower wind direction plates and the angle of the left and right wind direction plates so that the wind from the fan is directed to the position detected by the sensor.

Further, the control method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes:
The fan wind speed is a sinusoidal waveform pattern, and a mountain-shaped fluctuation pattern having a width less than ¼ period of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern and having a height equal to or greater than the amplitude of the waveform pattern. The fan motor that drives the fan is controlled so as to change with time in a combined pattern including a plurality of patterns including the pattern.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Air conditioner, 101 Main body, 102 Fan, 103 Pre filter, 104 Front panel, 105a 1st heat exchanger, 105b 2nd heat exchanger, 105c 3rd heat exchanger, 105d 4th heat exchanger, 106 Drain pan, 107, 107a, 107b Vertical wind direction plate, 108, 108a, 108b Left and right wind direction plate, 109 Sensor, 110 Suction port, 111 Outlet port, 112a, 112b, 114a, 114b Link rod, 113a, 113b, 115a, 115b Stepping motor, 116 Fan motor, 117 communication unit, 118 control unit, 120 remote controller, 131 sine wave, 141 first peak wave, 142 second peak wave, 151 first random wave, 152 second random wave.

Claims (10)

A fan that blows air,
A fan motor for driving the fan;
The fan wind speed is a sinusoidal waveform pattern, and a mountain-shaped fluctuation pattern having a width less than a quarter period of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern and a height equal to or greater than the amplitude of the waveform pattern. And a control unit that controls the fan motor so as to change with time in a combined pattern obtained by combining a plurality of patterns including the blower.   2. The blower according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of patterns include two types of variation patterns having different heights and generation times in one cycle of the waveform pattern as the variation patterns.   The blower according to claim 2, wherein a fluctuation pattern having a higher height among the two kinds of fluctuation patterns is a pattern that reaches a maximum value in a shorter time than a fluctuation pattern having a lower height.   The blower according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluctuation pattern is a pattern that reaches a maximum value through an increase in value of two or more stages.   The blower according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fluctuation pattern is a pattern in which a maximum value is maintained for a certain period.   The control unit stores, in a memory, control pattern information that defines a target rotation speed of the fan for each predetermined unit time in accordance with the composite pattern, and the control unit stores the control pattern information for each unit time based on the control pattern information. The fan according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fan motor is controlled.   The blower according to claim 6, wherein the fluctuation pattern is a pattern that maintains a maximum value for two or more unit times.   The blower according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the unit time is 0.1 second or more and 1.0 second or less.   The blower according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the waveform pattern is a pattern in which a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value in one cycle is smaller than an average value in one cycle.   The fan wind speed is a sinusoidal waveform pattern, and a mountain-shaped fluctuation pattern having a width less than ¼ period of the waveform pattern for each period of the waveform pattern and having a height equal to or greater than the amplitude of the waveform pattern. A control method, comprising: controlling a fan motor that drives the fan so as to change with time in a combined pattern including a plurality of patterns including the pattern.

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