Dust collecting system

An indoor dust collecting system includes an air conditioner having an indoor unit that generates an air current, a dust collector, and a controller for controlling the air current from the indoor unit. A moving body detector is provided to detect a moving body such as, for example, a person, a pet, a cleaning robot, and the like. The air current from the indoor unit is controlled by the controller based on the position of the indoor unit, the position of a spot of occurrence of dust detected by the moving body detector, and the position of the dust collector such that the air current from the indoor unit reaches the dust collector via the spot of occurrence of dust in order for the dust collector to effectively suck the dust.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dust collecting system for cleaning an interior of a room and, in particular, to a technique for controlling an air current to efficiently collect dust by conveying an air current from an air conditioner toward a dust collector.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional dust collecting system has been proposed having a temperature control apparatus as typified by an air conditioner and a dust collector such as an air cleaner, both of which are disposed inside a room to cooperate with each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the dust collecting system as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a signal from a dirt sensor mounted on the temperature control apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “air conditioner”) is sent to the air cleaner (hereinafter referred to as “dust collector”) via a communicative means so that the dust collector may be brought into operation based on the signal from the dirt sensor for cooperation with the air conditioner.

Because the dust collector is provided with its own dirt sensor positioned adjacent a floor face, the dust collector can obtain information on dirt at a high level where the air conditioner is normally installed, in addition to information on dirt at a low level close to the floor face. Accordingly, the dust collector can be operated upon detection of the degree of dirt at different levels.Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-267795

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Although the above-described conventional construction can control the operation timing of the dust collector upon detection of the degree of dirt in a wide range of height using information from the two dirt sensors, it is not possible to control the direction of air discharged from the air conditioner so that the dust collector can efficiently collect dust, which would be generated by people's movements, opening and closing of a door, or movements of a moving body such as a cleaning robot.

A wind direction control for blindly conveying air toward a spot of occurrence of dust where dust is raised by, for example, people's movements may lower the dust collecting efficiency, because such dust is moved leeward by the air conditioner, and if air discharged from the air conditioner impinges on a wall, the air turns into a descending air current to promote falling of dust.

That is, unless the wind direction is controlled in consideration of the position of the air conditioner, the spot of occurrence of dust where a moving body such as a person is present, and the position of the dust collector, the dust collecting efficiency is lowered.

The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described disadvantages.

It is accordingly an objective of the present invention to provide an indoor dust collecting system that enables a dust collector to efficiently collect dust generated by, for example, people's movements by controlling the wind direction in consideration of the position of an air conditioner that generates an air current, the spot of occurrence of dust such as the position of a person detected by a moving body detector, and the position of a dust collector.

Means to Solve the Problems

In accomplishing the above objective, a dust collecting system according to the present invention includes an air conditioner having an indoor unit that includes an air blowing means operable to generate an air current and a wind direction control means operable to control a direction of air blown out by the air blowing means, and a dust collector having a dust collecting means operable to collect dust, which moves with an indoor air current, by suction and discharge air into a room to thereby generate another air current. The air conditioner also has a moving body detecting means operable to detect a moving body that generates dust with movements thereof, the moving body detecting means transmitting a signal to the indoor unit upon detection of a moving body. The wind direction control means controls a wind direction to convey air from the indoor unit toward the dust collector via a spot where a moving body has been detected by the moving body detecting means.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, dust generated by, for example, people's movements is efficiently collected and removed by causing the air current from the air conditioner to convey the dust to a place in the vicinity of the dust collector. Accordingly, the dust collecting system can positively and effectively remove dust in an entire room, thus making it possible to further enhance comfort in the room.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an indoor dust collecting system including an air conditioner having an indoor unit and a dust collector. The indoor unit includes an air blowing means operable to generate an air current and a wind direction control means operable to control a direction of air blown out by the air blowing means, while the dust collector has a dust collecting means operable to collect dust, which moves with an indoor air current, by suction and discharge air into a room to thereby generate another air current. The air conditioner also has a moving body detecting means operable to detect a moving body that generates dust with movements thereof, the moving body detecting means transmitting a signal to the indoor unit upon detection of a moving body. The wind direction control means controls a wind direction to convey air from the indoor unit toward the dust collector via a spot where a moving body has been detected by the moving body detecting means.

This construction can realize the dust collecting system capable of positively and effectively collecting and removing dust generated by, for example, people's movements by causing the air current from the air conditioner to convey the dust to a place in the vicinity of the dust collector.

The indoor unit also includes an obstacle detecting means operable to detect an obstacle in the room. When the obstacle detecting means detects an obstacle in a path from the indoor unit to the dust collector via the spot detected by the moving body detecting means, air from the indoor unit is conveyed to the dust collector along a wall or furniture while avoiding the obstacle. This construction allows the dust collecting system to collect dust more efficiently without being affected by a layout of, for example, furniture in the room.

The moving body detecting means includes a human body detecting sensor operable to detect infrared rays emitted from a human body, and the spot where a moving body has been detected by the human body detecting sensor is regarded as a spot of occurrence of dust. This construction also allows the dust collecting system to more efficiently collect dust from cloths of a person that are recognized as a major cause of generation of dust or dust generated by movements of the person.

Alternatively, the moving body detecting means includes an ultrasonic sensor operable to emit an ultrasonic wave and detect a reflected wave thereof, and the spot where a moving body has been detected by the ultrasonic sensor is regarded as a spot of occurrence of dust. This construction also allows the dust collecting system to more efficiently collect dust because a moving body such as a cleaning robot, a door or the like that generates dust can be detected, in addition to a moving body such as a human body, a pet or the like that emits infrared rays.

The obstacle detecting means can change a direction of emission of the ultrasonic wave and detects an obstacle by measuring a time period from when the ultrasonic wave has been emitted till when a reflected wave thereof is received in each direction. Because the obstacle detecting means can correctly detect the obstacle, the dust collecting system can determine a path of conveyance of air effective for dust removal.

Advantageously, when a determination is made that the wind direction control means cannot control the air current generated by the air blowing means to reach the duct collector via the spot where a moving body has been detected by the moving body detecting means, no air is blown out by the air blowing means. By so doing, if there is no appropriate direction of conveyance of air, the dust collecting system does not unavailingly blow air so as not to lower the dust collecting efficiency.

A duration during which air is blown is determined based on a length of a path from the indoor unit to the dust collector via the spot detected by the moving body detecting means. This feature makes the dust collecting system most effective in terms of the dust collecting efficiency and the power consumption.

Preferably, the dust collector further includes a dust sensor operable to detect an amount of dust, and the duration during which air is blown is determined based on a time change of a detection value of the dust sensor. This feature also makes the dust collecting system most effective in terms of the dust collecting efficiency and the power consumption.

In another aspect of the present invention, a dust collector is operable to cooperate with an indoor unit of an air conditioner, wherein the indoor unit includes an air blowing means operable to generate an air current and a wind direction control means operable to control a direction of air blown out by the air blowing means, and the air conditioner has a moving body detecting means operable to detect a moving body that generates dust with movements thereof, the moving body detecting means transmitting a signal to the indoor unit upon detection of a moving body. The dust collector includes a communicative means operable to transmit to and receive from the indoor unit a telegraphic message of a form identical to that of a remote controller that is used to remotely control the indoor unit, a dust collecting means operable to collect dust, which moves with an indoor air current, by suction and discharge air into a room to thereby generate another air current, and a control means operable to control the wind direction control means via the communicative means to convey air from the indoor unit toward the dust collector via a spot where a moving body has been detected by the moving body detecting means.

The dust collector of this construction can realize a dust collecting system capable of efficiently collecting and removing dust because the air current from the air conditioner conveys dust generated by people's movements to a place in the vicinity of the dust collector.

The present invention is also directed to a program given to a computer that controls the indoor dust collecting system or the dust collector of the above-described type.

FIG. 1depicts a room as viewed from above in which an indoor dust collecting system according to the present invention has been installed.

As shown inFIG. 1, the indoor dust collecting system includes a dust collector1disposed adjacent a wall13and an indoor unit2of an air conditioner mounted on a wall that confronts the wall13. The room accommodates furniture such as a rack4, a chest of drawers or wardrobe5, and a table6. In this embodiment, a person3is present, as a moving body that generates dust, in the room. That is, movements of the person3raise dust adhering to his or her cloths, dust from fibers of the cloths, and dust accumulated on a floor or furniture. In order to detect the movements of the person3, the indoor unit2includes a moving body detecting means or dust generation spot detecting means having a human body detector7that detects infrared rays emitted from a human body to detect the person3. The dust generation spot detecting means may be integrated into the indoor unit2, as shown inFIG. 1, or placed separately. Alternatively, the dust collecting system can obtain information from human body detecting sensors mounted to a lighting fixture because it is predicted that network household appliances having a communicative means for exchange of information with other network household appliances will spread.

In addition to the human body, an animal such as a pet, a door, or a moving equipment such as a cleaning robot is also a moving body that generates dust. Accordingly, a moving body detecting means including a distance sensor such as, for example, an ultrasonic sensor or a laser capable of measuring a distance to an object can effectively detect a moving body that cannot be detected by the human body detecting sensors detecting thermal infrared rays from a human body or a pet.

The human body detector7shown inFIG. 1is made up of a plurality of (for example, three) human body detecting sensors, each of which covers an oval-shaped detectable region8,9or10indicated by a broken line. When a person enters one of the detectable regions8,9,10, a corresponding one of the human body detecting sensors outputs a signal.

If a person is present in an area where two or more of the detectable regions8,9,10overlap, two or more human body detecting sensors output respective signals. By way of example, if the person3is standing in an area adjacent the table6on a side of the indoor unit2where all the detectable regions8,9,10overlap, the three human body detecting sensors output respective signals, by which a determination is made that the person3is present by the table6on the side of the indoor unit2.

InFIG. 1, an air current12from the indoor unit2is indicated by thick arrows. In the illustrated example, the person3is present in the detectable region10and, hence, only one of the human body detecting sensors that is positioned on the right (upper side inFIG. 1) as viewed toward the indoor unit2outputs a signal, by which a determination is made that the person3is present in the vicinity of the rack4.

A control of the air current12according to the present invention is explained hereinafter, compared with a generally known example as shown inFIG. 2.

According to the present invention, the air current12is controlled to be directed toward the dust collector1via a spot adjacent the table6where the person3has been detected by the human body detector7, while in the example ofFIG. 2, an air current from the indoor unit2, indicated by an arrow14, is controlled to be directed toward a spot detected by the human body detector7.

In the practice of the present invention, the air current12generated by the indoor unit2is conveyed toward the dust collector1via the person3, and dust raised by movements of the person3is accordingly conveyed toward the dust collector1by the air current12. Also, as is known in the art, a direction of the air current12as shown inFIG. 1, which flows along walls11,13, is changed by the walls11,13without a reduction in wind speed. Accordingly, the dust collecting system according to the present invention can effectively convey dust raised by the movements of the person3toward the dust collector1, which in turn collects the dust by suction.

On the other hand, in the example as shown inFIG. 2in which the air current14from the indoor unit2is directly conveyed toward the spot detected by the human body detector7, dust raised by the movements of the person3is conveyed toward a portion of the wall13positioned behind the person3by the air current14, and upon impingement on the wall13, a considerable amount of dust drops to the floor together with a descending air current without reaching the dust collector1. In this case, the dust collecting efficiency is lowered, compared with a case where no air is discharged from the indoor unit2, and this result is in agreement with results of experiments conducted by the inventors of this invention.

Accordingly, it is important to control the indoor unit2to direct air toward the dust collector1via the spot detected by the human body detector7, as shown inFIG. 1, thereby making it possible to positively collect dust raised by people's movements with the dust collector1.

Operation of the dust collecting system according to the present invention is discussed hereinafter with reference to a block diagram ofFIG. 3and a flowchart ofFIG. 4. The block diagram ofFIG. 3includes a block diagram of the indoor unit2of the air conditioner and that of the dust collector1.

As shown inFIG. 3, the indoor unit2includes a control means21for controlling the entire indoor unit2, an air blowing means23such as a fan for generating an air current, a wind direction control means20for driving horizontal wind direction changing blades and a vertical wind direction changing blade, both mounted in a discharge opening formed downstream of the air blowing means23, to control a wind direction, the human body detector7referred to above for detecting a region where a person is present in a room and outputting a signal into the control means21, and a communicative means19for conducting radio communication with the dust collector1. A communication system of the communicative means19may be an infrared communication system, with which air conditioners are generally provided, a communication system with use of radio waves, which may become popular in the field of air conditioners, or any other suitable communication system.

On the other hand, the dust collector1includes a control means17for controlling the entire dust collector1, a dust collecting means18controlled by the control means17to collect dust, which moves with an indoor air current, by suction and discharge air into the room to thereby generate another air current, and a communicative means16for conducting radio communication with the indoor unit2. Each of the control means17,21includes a microcomputer and peripheral circuits.

As shown in the flowchart ofFIG. 4depicting operation of the dust collector1and that of the indoor unit2, operation of the control means21of the indoor unit2starts at step S24upon energization thereof, and operation of the control means17of the dust collector1starts at step S30upon energization thereof. In the indoor unit2, the program advances to step S25, at which detection of a person by the human body detector7is repeatedly conducted.

If a person is detected by the human body detector7at step S25, the program advances to step S26, at which the communicative means19transmits to the dust collector1a telegraphic message including detected area information that is obtained upon determination of an area in a room where a person is present.

On the other hand, in the dust collector1, when the control means17is brought into operation at step S30, the control means17is on standby until the telegraphic message including the detected area information reaches. When the communicative means16of the dust collector1receives the telegraphic message transmitted from the indoor unit2at step S26, i.e., when a determination at step S31is YES, the dust collecting means18such as, for example, a fan for sucking dust and discharging air is brought into operation at step S32, followed by step S33, at which a wind direction from the indoor unit2and a duration during which air is blown are determined based on the detected area information indicating a place where a person is present. The wind direction is determined with reference to table information stored in, for example, the control means17and indicating an optimum wind direction that has been determined in advance based on a position of the dust collector1, that of the indoor unit2, and the detected area information. The table information is later explained in detail.

At step S34, the communicative means16transmits to the indoor unit2a telegraphic message including wind direction information so determined.

The indoor unit2waits for transmission of the wind direction message from the dust collector1at step S27. If no wind direction message is transmitted from the dust collector1, a process of step S27continues, while if the wind direction message from the dust collector1is transmitted to the indoor unit2(YES at step S27), the program advances to step S28, at which the control means21controls the wind direction control means20and the air blowing means23to blow air toward a direction conforming to the wind direction message.

When the wind direction message is transmitted from the dust collector1at step S34, a determination is made at step S35as to whether the duration for blowing determined at step S33has elapsed. If a determination is made that the duration has elapsed (YES at step S35), the program advances to step S36, at which the communicative means16transmits to the indoor unit2a telegraphic message indicating a stop of blowing, followed by step S37, at which operation of the duct collecting means18is stopped. Thereafter, the program returns to step S31, at which the control means17is on standby until newly detected area information is received.

When the indoor unit2starts an air blowing operation at step S28, a determination is made at step S29as to whether or not the telegraphic message indicating a stop of blowing is received. If such a message is received (YES at step S29), the program advances to step S38, at which an air blowing operation by the air blowing means23is stopped. Thereafter, the program returns to step S25, at which a determination is made as to the presence or absence of a new signal from the human body detector7.

Although a time-out control is not indicated in the flowchart ofFIG. 4, it is effective to provide a timer for measuring a predetermined time period at each determination step (for example, step S27or S29). In this case, if no telegraphic message reaches after a lapse of the time-out period, the program returns to an initial state (for example, step S25) by stopping operation of each means.

An example of the table information for determining the wind direction is explained hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.FIG. 5is an example of a room in which the dust collector1and the indoor unit2have been installed with furniture and the like removed.

InFIG. 5, for the sake of convenience, the room is regarded as having a plurality of sections by segmentalizing it into four sections I, II, III and IV in a lengthwise direction and into three sections A, B and C in a widthwise direction. The indoor unit2is placed in a section A-I and oriented in a direction of I→IV, while the dust collector1is placed in a section C-IV and oriented in a direction of IV→I.

FIG. 6is an example of table information for determining the wind direction, in which the human body detector7is made up of three sensors, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. In the table ofFIG. 6, the first four columns indicate the position and direction of the dust collector1and those of the indoor unit2, and the columns of the sensors indicate an on/off state of each human body detecting sensor, “ON” indicating a case where the human body detecting sensor detects a person, “OFF” indicating a case where the human body detecting sensor detects no person. The last column indicates the wind direction, i.e., the direction of air to be discharged from the indoor unit2. Description of the fourth row and subsequent rows is omitted.

The third row of the table ofFIG. 6corresponds to the case ofFIG. 1, in which the person3is present in front of the rack4and within the detectable region10and, hence, only the third human body detecting sensor outputs an ON signal, while the first and second human body detecting sensors each output an OFF signal, In this case, as shown in the third row of the “wind direction” column, the wind direction from the indoor unit2is controlled leftward, i.e., in a direction shown by the arrows12.

Although in the example ofFIG. 5the room is segmentalized into 12 (4×3) sections, the number of segmentalization is not limited to this, and the number of the human body detecting sensors should be changed depending on the number of segmentalization of the room. The wind direction determination table ofFIG. 6is a typical example to determine the wind direction and is stored in the control means17of the dust collector1, but the positional information of the dust collector1and the indoor unit2may be inputted using DIP switches without storing such information in the control means17. Alternatively, upon determination of the position of the dust collector1and that of the indoor unit2, only a portion of the table ofFIG. 6that is required for determination of the wind direction may be stored in the control means17via the communicative means16or any other suitable external storage media.

The present invention is further discussed hereinafter, taking a case where an obstacle such as furniture is positioned on a shortest path connecting the indoor unit2, the spot detected by the human body detector7, and the dust collector1. In this case, air-conditioned air from the indoor unit2cannot be conveyed to the dust collector1via the spot detected by the human body detector7.

FIG. 7depicts a room in which an indoor unit2and a dust collector1are accommodated, as in the case ofFIG. 1or2. The room ofFIG. 7differs from that ofFIG. 1or2in the position of the dust collector1and in that the former is provided with an ultrasonic sensor40mounted on the indoor unit2and a chest of drawers24positioned between the indoor unit2and the dust collector1. In the example ofFIG. 7, the ultrasonic sensor40is employed as an obstacle detecting means for detecting an obstacle in the room. The ultrasonic sensor40acts to emit an ultrasonic wave and detect a reflected wave thereof, and may have a scan mechanism for changing a direction of emission of an ultrasonic wave, or an array of ultrasonic elements from which ultrasonic waves are emitted in different directions by changing input timing of a pulse signal.

If a person3is detected in front of the indoor unit2, as shown inFIG. 7, it appears that air from the indoor unit2can be conveyed to the dust collector1via the spot where the person3has been detected by performing a wind direction control to blow the air from the indoor unit2forward (direction indicated by an arrow26). It is, however, conceivable that a sufficient amount of air cannot reach the dust collector1because a chest of drawers24is detected by the ultrasonic sensor (obstacle detecting means)40in a direction of flow of the air.

In the practice of the present invention, the air is blown out obliquely rightward (obliquely downward inFIG. 7) from the indoor unit2in a direction indicated by an arrow27so that the air from the indoor unit2may be conveyed via the spot of presence of the person3to the dust collector1along walls25,13while avoiding the obstacles.

That is, if an obstacle or obstacles exist in a path of conveyance of air, use of a detour path to convey air along a wall or furniture is effective, and experiments conducted by the inventors of this invention reveal this fact.

The experiments also reveal that prolonged blowing may lower the dust collecting efficiency. The reason for this is that the prolonged blowing results in a loss of power consumption of the indoor unit2and causes dust conveyed from the spot of presence of the person3to flow past the dust collector1.

An effective duration for blowing is a duration terminating when air discharged from the indoor unit2reaches the dust collector1or its vicinity. Accordingly, the duration for blowing is determined based on a length of the path from the indoor unit2to the dust collector1via the spot detected by the human body detector7, and a wind velocity (velocity of a wind generated by the air blowing means23).

Alternatively, if the dust collector1is provided with a dirt sensor or dust sensor, it is also effective that a telegraphic message indicating a stop of blowing is transmitted from the communicative means16of the dust collector1to the indoor unit2based on a time change of a detection value of the dust sensor. For example, the telegraphic message indicating a stop of blowing is transmitted when a time change in the amount of dust detected by the dust sensor has fallen below a predetermined threshold value, or when the amount of dust detected by the dust sensor has fallen below a predetermined threshold value.

Again alternatively, if a path of blowing cannot be determined due to shielding by furniture or the like, it is also effective to perform a control in which no air blowing operation is carried out. This can be realized by incorporating “stop of blowing” in the last column of the wind direction determination table ofFIG. 6.

Although in the above-described embodiment an air conditioner is employed as an air blowing apparatus, the present invention is also applicable to an air blower having no temperature control function. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the human body detector7and the ultrasonic sensor40are employed as a moving body detecting means and an obstacle detecting means, respectively, but an ultrasonic sensor can be used both as a moving body detecting means and an obstacle detecting means.

Various steps as shown in the flowchart ofFIG. 4may be realized by a computer program or a recording medium for storing the same therein.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any possible changes and modifications should be construed as being included in the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described hereinabove, the dust collecting system according to the present invention allows a plurality of apparatuses such as an air conditioner, a dust collector and the like to be used in combination and, hence, the present invention is applicable to various appliances that interact with each other in a room.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS