JP7418185B2 - Control device, control system, and control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a control device, a control system, and a control method.

Technologies for detecting people are known. For example, an air conditioner that detects people has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The air conditioner of Patent Document 1 has a person detection means. The person detection means detects the temperature of an area determined to be a heat source equivalent to a human body for a predetermined period of time, and determines that the area is a person if there is a temperature change.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-240488

By the way, for example, an air conditioner is installed in a room such as a server room. When no one is present in the room, an air conditioner blows air toward a heating element such as a server. If there is a person in the room, the target of ventilation is changed from the heating element to the person. Then, the air conditioner blows air to the person concerned. When an air conditioner blows air onto a person, the temperature of the heating element rises.

An object of the present invention is to prevent the temperature of the heating element from rising.

A control device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided. The control device controls an air conditioner that blows air into the target space. The control device includes an acquisition unit that sequentially acquires thermal images of the target space within a preset time, and a temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit and at least one image before the thermal image. Calculate the difference between the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit, and if the difference is less than or equal to a preset first threshold, Among the temperatures indicated by a first thermal image, which is one of the images, a location having a temperature equal to or higher than a preset temperature is identified, and the air is blown to the identified location. It has a control unit that controls the harmonizer.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the heating element from rising.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control system. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of hardware included in the controller. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a controller. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of comparing thermal images. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of comparison of thermal images. It is a flow chart which shows an example of control processing of an air conditioner. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the process which blows air around a high temperature object. It is a figure which shows the example in the case of using the space temperature detection marker.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a control system. Room 1 is a server room. A plurality of servers are installed in room 1. FIG. 1 shows that a worker is working on a server. You can also consider Room 1 to be a frozen warehouse by turning the server into a freezer.
In the room 1, a controller 100, a camera 200, and an air conditioner 300 are installed. The control system includes a controller 100, a camera 200, and an air conditioner 300.

The controller 100 is also referred to as a control device or an air conditioner controller. Controller 100 controls air conditioner 300. The controller 100 also executes a control method.
Camera 200 is also referred to as a thermographic camera or a thermal image generating device. The camera 200 generates a thermal image of the target space, which is the space inside the room 1 . Air conditioner 300 is an indoor unit. The air conditioner 300 blows air into a target space, which is a space inside the room 1 .

Next, the hardware included in the controller 100 will be explained.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the controller. The controller 100 includes a processor 101, a volatile storage device 102, and a nonvolatile storage device 103.

Processor 101 controls controller 100 as a whole. For example, the processor 101 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like. Processor 101 may be a multiprocessor. Controller 100 may be implemented by processing circuitry, or may be implemented by software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Note that the processing circuit may be a single circuit or a composite circuit.

Volatile storage device 102 is the main storage device of controller 100. For example, the volatile storage device 102 is a RAM (Random Access Memory). The nonvolatile storage device 103 is an auxiliary storage device of the controller 100. For example, the nonvolatile storage device 103 is an SSD (Solid State Drive).

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the controller. The controller 100 includes a storage section 110, an acquisition section 120, and a control section 130.
The storage unit 110 may be realized as a storage area secured in the volatile storage device 102 or the nonvolatile storage device 103.
Part or all of the acquisition unit 120 and the control unit 130 may be realized by the processor 101. Part or all of the acquisition unit 120 and the control unit 130 may be realized as a module of a program executed by the processor 101.

The information stored in the storage unit 110 will be explained later.
The acquisition unit 120 sequentially acquires thermal images of the target space within a preset time. For example, the acquisition unit 120 sequentially acquires thermal images from the camera 200 within a preset time. The acquisition unit 120 may acquire the thermal image generated by the camera 200 via an external device. Hereinafter, the preset time will be expressed as a fixed time.

The control unit 130 compares the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit 120 with the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit 120 at least one time before the thermal image, and calculates the difference. calculate. Specifically, each time a thermal image is acquired, the control unit 130 controls the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit 120 and the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit 120 at least one time before the thermal image. Calculate the difference between the temperature at each location indicated by

Hereinafter, the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit 120 at least one time ago is assumed to be the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit 120 one time ago. Therefore, the control unit 130 compares the thermal image that the acquisition unit 120 acquired this time and the thermal image that the acquisition unit 120 acquired last time, and calculates the difference.

Next, a method of comparing the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit 120 this time with the thermal image acquired last time by the acquisition unit 120 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of comparing thermal images. FIG. 4 shows a graph representing the current thermal image and a graph representing the previous thermal image. The horizontal axis of the graph indicates a two-dimensional space. The vertical axis of the graph indicates temperature.

The control unit 130 compares the current thermal image and the previous thermal image. FIG. 4 shows a graphical representation of the differences in thermal images. The control unit 130 excludes the portion 11 indicating a negative value from the difference target. This is because portion 11 is an area where a high temperature spot existed last time, and is currently an area where no high temperature spot exists. Therefore, the control unit 130 specifies the difference in the portion 12 where the difference is positive. That is, the difference is a positive value.

The control unit 130 determines whether the identified difference is less than or equal to a first preset threshold. If the difference is less than or equal to the first threshold, the control unit 130 sets the current thermal image as the "current still thermal image." Furthermore, for example, the case where the difference is less than the threshold value includes the case where a person who moves his or her body slightly continues to stay in the room 1. The control unit 130 stores the “current still thermal image” in the storage unit 110.

If the difference is larger than the first threshold, the control unit 130 determines that the high-temperature object is moving. Then, the control unit 130 discards the current thermal image. Note that the high-temperature object is a heat-generating body such as a person, an animal, or a machine. For example, the machine is a server.

Next, comparison of thermal images will be explained using a specific example.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of comparison of thermal images. FIG. 5 shows the thermal image 21 acquired last time by the acquisition unit 120. The acquisition unit 120 acquires the thermal image 22. The control unit 130 compares the thermal image 21 and the thermal image 22. It is assumed that the difference is less than or equal to the first threshold. The control unit 130 sets the thermal image 22 as a "current still thermal image." The control unit 130 stores the thermal image 22 in the storage unit 110.

The acquisition unit 120 acquires the thermal image 23. The control unit 130 compares the thermal image 22 and the thermal image 23. It is assumed that the difference is less than or equal to a threshold value. The control unit 130 sets the thermal image 23 as a "current still thermal image." The control unit 130 stores the thermal image 23 in the storage unit 110.
The control unit 130 selects one thermal image from among the “current still thermal images” stored in the storage unit 110 when the difference is continuously equal to or less than the first threshold within a certain period of time. In other words, one of the plurality of thermal images acquired by the acquisition unit 120 within a certain period of time is selected. The selected thermal image is referred to as a cumulative thermal image or a first thermal image. For example, the control unit 130 selects the thermal image 23 as the accumulated thermal image.

Further, the control unit 130 may update the “current still thermal image”. For example, the control unit 130 sets the thermal image 22 as a "current still thermal image." Next, the control unit 130 compares the thermal image 22 and the thermal image 23. The difference based on the result of the comparison is less than or equal to the threshold. The control unit 130 discards the thermal image 22. The control unit 130 sets the thermal image 23 as a "current still thermal image." Then, after a certain period of time has elapsed, the control unit 130 sets the "current still thermal image" as the accumulated thermal image.

Furthermore, the control unit 130 may use a thermal image based on the average value of the thermal image subject to comparison processing immediately before a certain period of time has elapsed and the "current still thermal image" as the accumulated thermal image. For example, the control unit 130 sets the thermal image based on the average value of the thermal image 23 that is the subject of comparison processing immediately before a certain period of time has passed and the thermal image 22 that is the "current still thermal image" as the accumulated thermal image. do. Further, the control unit 130 calculates a weighted average using the thermal image that is the subject of comparison processing immediately before a certain period of time has elapsed and the "current still thermal image," and accumulates a thermal image based on the calculated result. It may also be a thermal image.

Here, if the difference exceeds the first threshold before a certain period of time has elapsed, the control unit 130 discards the “current still thermal image” stored in the storage unit 110. Then, the control unit 130 repeats the comparison again within a certain period of time until successive results in which the difference is equal to or less than the first threshold are obtained.

The control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 using the accumulated thermal image. Specifically, the control unit 130 specifies a location having a temperature equal to or higher than a preset temperature among the temperatures indicated by the accumulated thermal image. For example, the identified location may be a server, a person who is not operating much, etc. That is, the identified location is where the heating element is present. Hereinafter, the identified location may be referred to as a high temperature location.

The control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 to blow air to the specified location. Thereby, the controller 100 can cool the heating element using the air conditioner 300. That is, the controller 100 can prevent the temperature of the heating element from rising.

Here, the controller 100 does not have to cause the air conditioner 300 to directly apply wind to the heating element. The controller 100 may prevent the temperature of the heating element from rising by causing the air conditioner 300 to blow air to a location where heat is accumulated. For example, if there is a heating element near a place where heat is stagnant, even if you blow wind directly at the heating element, the temperature of the place where heat is stagnant will be transferred to the heating element. temperature may rise. Therefore, the controller 100 controls the air conditioner 300 to blow air to the location where heat is accumulated. When the air conditioner 300 blows air to a location where heat is accumulated, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the heating element from increasing.

Next, detection of a location where heat is retained will be explained.
If the area where heat is accumulated is near a wall, the temperature of the area where heat is accumulated is reflected in the temperature of the wall. Therefore, when the temperature of the wall indicated by the accumulated thermal image is equal to or higher than the first threshold value, the control unit 130 determines that heat is retained in the wall. The control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 so as to blow air to areas on the wall where heat is accumulated.

Here, there is a possibility that a high temperature location in the accumulated thermal image is a location where heat is retained. Alternatively, a hot spot in the accumulated thermal image may be a spot where a hot object is present. Therefore, a method for determining whether it is a place where heat is stagnant or a high-temperature object will be explained.
The difference between the temperature at the center of a hot object and the temperature around the hot object is large. On the other hand, the difference between the temperature at the center of the location where heat is retained and the temperature around the location where heat is retained is small. Therefore, if the difference between the temperature at the center of the high-temperature spot and the temperature around the high-temperature spot is less than or equal to a preset threshold, the control unit 130 determines the high-temperature spot to be a location where heat is retained. In other words, if the difference between the temperature at the center of the high-temperature area and the temperature at a preset distance from the center is equal to or less than a preset threshold, the control unit 130 determines that heat remains in the high-temperature area. It is determined that the location is present. In this way, locations where heat is retained are detected.

When detecting a location where heat is retained, the control unit 130 may perform edge extraction using a differential filter. The locations where heat is retained are locations where the value is relatively small. Further, when detecting a location where heat is retained, the control unit 130 may use an algorithm other than a differential filter to detect the location where heat is retained.

The above content will be illustrated using a flowchart.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of air conditioner control processing. In FIG. 6, the accumulated thermal image has already been determined.
(Step S11) The control unit 130 identifies a high temperature location from the accumulated thermal image.
(Step S12) The control unit 130 determines whether the high temperature location is a wall. When the high temperature location is a wall, the control unit 130 determines that the high temperature location is a location where heat is retained. Then, the control unit 130 advances the process to step S14. If the high temperature location is not a wall, the control unit 130 advances the process to step S13.

(Step S13) The control unit 130 determines whether the difference between the temperature at the center of the high temperature location and the temperature around the high temperature location is equal to or less than a threshold value. If the difference is less than or equal to the threshold, the control unit 130 determines that the high temperature location is a location where heat is retained. Then, the control unit 130 advances the process to step S14. If the difference exceeds the threshold, the control unit 130 advances the process to step S15.
(Step S14) The control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 to blow air to locations where heat is accumulated.
(Step S15) The control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 to blow air to the high temperature location identified in step S11.

Here, the control unit 130 may control the air conditioner 300 to blow air around the high temperature object. Therefore, a case will be described in which air is blown around a high temperature object.
When a high-temperature object exists in the center of the room 1, the heat generated by the high-temperature object moves to the ceiling due to the rising air current. Areas of the ceiling where the temperature is higher than the surrounding area can be said to be areas where heat is retained. However, lighting equipment is installed on the ceiling. There is a possibility that lighting equipment is installed at a location where the temperature is higher than a preset threshold. The control unit 130 detects locations where heat is retained as follows. Further, it is assumed that the control unit 130 has specified a plurality of high temperature locations from among the temperatures indicated by the accumulated thermal image. The control unit 130 detects that one of the plurality of high temperature locations, which is a first location, is a ceiling portion. The control unit 130 detects that the temperature at the first location is equal to or lower than a preset second threshold. Thereby, the control unit 130 detects that the lighting equipment is not installed at the first location. The control unit 130 detects that the difference between the temperature at the center of the first location and the temperature around the first location is equal to or lower than a preset third threshold. In other words, the control unit 130 detects that the difference between the temperature at the center of the first location and the temperature at a location at a preset distance from the center is equal to or less than the third threshold. Then, the control unit 130 detects that the location where heat is retained is the first location. That is, the control unit 130 determines that there is a location on the ceiling where heat is retained.

When there is a place on the ceiling where heat is retained, the control unit 130 blows air between the second place, which is the place directly below the first place among the plurality of high-temperature places, and the first place. The air conditioner 300 is controlled to do so. Here, the second location is a location where a high temperature object exists. Therefore, the control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 to blow air between the high temperature object and the location where heat is accumulated. Furthermore, after the air conditioner 300 is controlled, if the temperature of a place where heat is accumulated decreases, the control unit 130 may control the air conditioner 300 to blow air above a high-temperature object. good.

Also, if the temperature of the hot object is not very high, no heat will accumulate in the ceiling. When no heat is accumulated on the ceiling, the control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 to blow air above the high-temperature object. In other words, if the difference between the temperature of the ceiling and the environmental temperature of the target space indicated by the accumulated thermal image is less than or equal to a preset threshold, the control unit 130 blows air from the high temperature location to a location at a predetermined height. The air conditioner 300 is controlled to do so. Further, the control unit 130 may control the air conditioner 300 so as to blow air to a location above the high-temperature object where the temperature is highest.

The above content will be illustrated using a flowchart.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for blowing air around a high-temperature object. In FIG. 7, the accumulated thermal image has already been determined.
(Step S21) The control unit 130 identifies a high temperature location from the accumulated thermal image.
(Step S22) The control unit 130 determines whether there is a place on the ceiling where heat is retained. If there is a location on the ceiling where heat is retained, the control unit 130 advances the process to step S23. If there is no place on the ceiling where heat is retained, the control unit 130 advances the process to step S24.

(Step S23) The control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 to blow air between the high temperature object and the location where heat is accumulated.
(Step S24) The control unit 130 controls the air conditioner 300 to blow air above the high-temperature object.

Next, a case will be described in which a space temperature detection marker may be used to detect a location where heat is accumulated.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of using a space temperature detection marker. FIG. 8 shows a space temperature detection marker. For example, FIG. 8 shows a marker 31 for detecting space temperature. In the thermal image obtained by photographing the space temperature detection marker with the camera 200, the location of the space temperature detection marker is represented as the temperature detected by the space temperature detection marker. The control unit 130 can detect a location where heat is retained from the location of the spatial temperature detection marker in the thermal image.

In the above, the case where the controller 100 executes the process has been described. However, the air conditioner 300 may also execute the process. That is, the air conditioner 300 may include the storage section 110, the acquisition section 120, and the control section 130.

1 room, 11 part, 12 part, 21 thermal image, 22 thermal image, 23 thermal image, 31 spatial temperature detection marker, 100 controller, 101 processor, 102 volatile storage device, 103 nonvolatile storage device, 110 storage section, 120 acquisition unit, 130 control unit, 200 camera, 300 air conditioner.

Claims (8)

A control device that controls an air conditioner that blows air into a target space,
an acquisition unit that sequentially acquires thermal images of the target space within a preset time;
Calculate the difference between the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit and the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit at least one time before the thermal image, and the difference is set in advance. If the temperature is less than or equal to the first threshold value set in advance, the temperature indicated by the first thermal image, which is one of the plurality of thermal images acquired by the acquisition unit within the time period, is set in advance. a control unit that controls the air conditioner to specify a location where the temperature is higher than the specified temperature, and to blow air to the identified location;
A control device having: Each time a thermal image is acquired, the control unit controls the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit and the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit at least one time before the thermal image. calculating the difference between the temperature of
The control device according to claim 1. If the difference, which is a positive value, is less than or equal to the first threshold, the control unit identifies the location having a temperature equal to or higher than a preset temperature among the temperatures indicated by the first thermal image. ,
The control device according to claim 1 or 2. When the difference between the temperature at the center of the identified location and the temperature at a location at a preset distance from the center is equal to or less than a preset threshold, the control unit controls the identified location to be heated. determining that the heat is stagnant, and controlling the air conditioner so as to blow air to the location where heat is stagnant;
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The control unit identifies a plurality of locations having a temperature equal to or higher than a preset temperature among the temperatures indicated by the first thermal image, and selects a first location that is any one of the plurality of locations. The location is a ceiling portion of the target space, the temperature of the first location is equal to or lower than a preset second threshold, and the temperature at the center of the first location is a preset distance from the center. If the difference between the temperature at the location is less than or equal to a preset third threshold, the difference between the temperature at the second location directly below the first location among the plurality of locations and the first location. controlling the air conditioner to blow air between
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. If the difference between the temperature of the ceiling portion of the target space and the environmental temperature of the target space indicated by the first thermal image is less than or equal to a preset threshold, the control unit may be configured to controlling the air conditioner so as to blow air to a location at a height of
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An air conditioner that blows air into the target space,
a thermal image generation device that generates a thermal image of the target space;
a control device that controls the air conditioner;
including;
The control device includes:
an acquisition unit that sequentially acquires thermal images of the target space within a preset time;
Calculate the difference between the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit and the temperature of each location indicated by the thermal image acquired by the acquisition unit at least one time before the thermal image, and the difference is set in advance. If the temperature is less than or equal to the first threshold value set in advance, the temperature indicated by the first thermal image, which is one of the plurality of thermal images acquired by the acquisition unit within the time period, is set in advance. a control unit that controls the air conditioner to specify a location where the temperature is higher than the specified temperature, and to blow air to the identified location;
has,
control system. The control device that controls the air conditioner that blows air into the target space is
Sequentially acquiring thermal images of the target space within a preset time,
Calculating the difference between the temperature of each location indicated by the acquired thermal image and the temperature of each location indicated by a thermal image acquired at least one time before the thermal image,
If the difference is less than or equal to a preset first threshold, the temperature indicated by the first thermal image, which is one of the plurality of thermal images acquired within the time period, is Identify the location where the temperature is higher than the set temperature,
controlling the air conditioner to blow air to the specified location;
Control method.

Images