JP3237136B2 - Vehicle air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle which performs temperature fluctuation control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-212615 discloses that when the temperature in a vehicle compartment is within a set range, the temperature of air blown out of a face air outlet is changed in a preset pattern.
This document describes a technique for preventing a feeling of stagnation caused by a comfortable feeling.

[0003]

However, according to the above-mentioned technology, if the occupant has a heat history due to the environment and exercise before the boarding, the above-mentioned pattern does not match, and on the contrary, it gives a discomfort. is there. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioner capable of performing comfortable temperature fluctuation control according to a thermal environment of an occupant.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems,
The present invention provides a casing having an outlet to a vehicle interior, a blower for generating an airflow toward the outlet in the casing, an air conditioner main body for controlling a temperature of air in the casing, and setting a vehicle interior temperature. Temperature setting means for detecting the temperature of the passenger compartment, a room temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the passenger compartment, means for grasping the thermal sensation of the occupant, and whether or not the temperature of the passenger compartment is steady based on the detected temperature of the passenger compartment and the set temperature. A steady-state determining means for determining whether the predetermined temperature increase relative to the set temperature and the predetermined temperature decrease relative to the set temperature, the higher the set temperature, the smaller the temperature increase, and the lower the temperature decrease. Determining means for determining the temperature so that the temperature increases, and a temperature obtained by adding the temperature increase to the set temperature as an upper limit, and a value obtained by subtracting the temperature decrease from the set temperature as a lower limit. age Temperature fluctuation control means for operating the air conditioner body so that the detected vehicle compartment temperature fluctuates between the upper limit value and the lower limit value when the steady state determination means determines that the vehicle is in a steady state; When the determining means determines that the temperature is steady, the determining means sets the upper limit value to be lower as the warm feeling grasped by the warm feeling grasping means is on the warmer side, or the upper limit value and the lower limit value A configuration is adopted in which the determining means sets such that the values are both low or the determining means sets such that the lower limit value is low.

[0005]

The blower generates an airflow in the casing toward the outlet. The room temperature sensor detects a vehicle interior temperature. The warm feeling grasping means grasps the warm feeling of the occupant. The steady state determination means determines whether the vehicle room temperature is steady based on the detected vehicle room temperature and the set temperature. The determining means determines a predetermined temperature increase with respect to the set temperature and a predetermined temperature decrease with respect to the set temperature such that the higher the set temperature, the smaller the temperature increase and the larger the temperature decrease. When the temperature fluctuation control means sets the temperature obtained by adding the temperature increase to the set temperature as the upper limit value, and sets the value obtained by subtracting the temperature decrease amount from the set temperature as the lower limit value, and the steady state determination means determines that the temperature is steady. Then, the air conditioner main body is operated so that the detected compartment temperature fluctuates between the upper limit value and the lower limit value. When the steady state determination unit determines that the temperature is steady, the determining unit sets the upper limit to be lower as the warm feeling grasped by the warm feeling grasping unit is on the warmer side, or both the upper limit and the lower limit are lower. The setting means sets the lower limit value or the setting means sets the lower limit value lower.

[0006]

The air conditioner for a vehicle has a temperature fluctuation space when the air conditioner is in a steady state, and causes a constant temperature change to give a temperature change to the occupant, so that the accustomed to the air conditioner in a steady state is lost. A comfortable feeling can always be given to the occupant.
In addition, the vehicle air conditioner, the warmer the warmer the side,
Either the determining means is set so that the upper limit value is low, or the determining means is set so that both the upper limit value and the lower limit value are lower, or a configuration in which the determining means is set so that the lower limit value is lower is adopted. The upper and lower values of the appropriate temperature fluctuation width are changed according to the occupant's feeling of heat. For example, when the thermal sensation grasping means determines that the thermal sensation is warm, it is equivalent to a state where the ambient temperature in a steady state is high, that is, a state where the set temperature is high. Therefore, the temperature fluctuation in a warm state does not give the occupant a feeling of "hot" and makes the occupant uncomfortable.
This gives the occupant a feeling of comfort.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioner A for a vehicle includes an air conditioner casing 1 disposed in a front part of an automobile 100, a blower 2 for generating an airflow in the casing 1, and an air conditioner for controlling the temperature of the air in the casing 1. Main body 3 and infrared sensor 4
A vehicle room temperature sensor 5 for detecting a vehicle interior temperature, a control device 6 for controlling the temperature fluctuation of the air conditioner main body 3, and a temperature setting lever 7.

The air-conditioning casing 1 has an outside air inlet 11 and an inside air inlet 12 at the front, and has a differential outlet 13, a face outlet 14, a foot outlet 15 and the like communicating with the interior of the vehicle compartment 120 at the rear. Have. Note that 13
Reference numeral 1 denotes a differential blowing damper. The blower 2 is arranged at the front of the air-conditioning casing 1 and has a rear outlet 13,
An airflow toward 14 and 15 is generated in the air-conditioning casing 1. The air conditioner main body 3 includes an evaporator 31, a heater core 32, an air mix damper 33, an outlet switching damper 34, and the like, and controls the temperature of the taken air. The infrared sensor 4 measures the skin temperature of the face of the driver M, and a skin temperature signal 4 corresponding to the measured skin temperature.
1 is provided at a predetermined position on the instrument panel. The sense of warmth S 'of the driver M is corrected based on the skin temperature-warmness correction straight line shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the driver M is in a hot place immediately after he or she gets warm, exercises or works, or before boarding, and has a sense of warmth S of +. The vehicle room temperature sensor 5 is arranged substantially above the head of the driver M and sends out a vehicle room temperature signal 51 corresponding to the detected vehicle room temperature.

The control device 6 includes an A / D converter 61 for A / D conversion of the skin temperature signal 41 and the vehicle interior temperature signal 51 and the like, an operation switch 62 for selecting normal temperature control, temperature fluctuation control, and the like.
The air conditioner includes a blower motor drive circuit 63 for driving the blower 2, an air mix damper drive circuit 64 for driving the air mix damper motor 641, a mode switching damper drive circuit 65 for driving the mode switching damper 651, and a microcomputer 66. In addition, analog signals of the solar radiation sensor 611, the outlet temperature sensor 612, and the air volume sensor 613 are also input to the AD converter 61.

The microcomputer 66 determines whether or not the vehicle interior temperature is steady based on the detected vehicle interior temperature and the set temperature (step 704). The microcomputer 66 calculates the driver's warmth S 'from the skin temperature Ts. A step (step 706) of grasping the desired thermal sensation, and a predetermined temperature increase with respect to the set temperature and a predetermined temperature decrease with respect to the set temperature, are set such that the higher the set temperature, the smaller the temperature increase and the smaller the temperature decrease. (Step 708), each of which determines a larger value of the set temperature, and sets a temperature obtained by adding a temperature increase to the set temperature as an upper limit value and a value obtained by subtracting the temperature decrease amount from the set temperature as a lower limit. The air conditioner main body 3 is controlled by the temperature fluctuation control means 66 so that the detected vehicle compartment temperature fluctuates between the upper limit value and the lower limit value when the steady state determination means determines that the vehicle is stationary.
3 operates. If the steady state determination means determines that the temperature is steady, the upper limit value is set to be lower as the driver's sense of warmness S ′ grasped in step 706 is on the warmer side, or the upper limit value and the lower limit value are reduced. Both are set to be low or the lower limit is set to be low (see FIG. 5).

The temperature setting lever 7 is a knob for setting a set temperature Ta, and a variable resistor is attached to the temperature setting lever 7. The temperature setting signal sent from the variable resistor is input to the microcomputer 66.

Next, the operation of the vehicle air conditioner A under the control of the microcomputer 66 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The microcomputer 66 (hereinafter abbreviated to the following) operates the operation switch 62 in step 701.
It is determined whether is on the normal temperature control side. In the case of Yes, it is determined that it is on the temperature fluctuation control side, and step 702 is performed.
Proceed to. The normal temperature control in the case of No is the solar radiation sensor 611,
The approximate position of the air mix damper 33 and the air volume of the blower 2 are determined based on the amount of solar radiation, the air temperature, and the air volume detected by the air temperature sensor 612 and the air volume sensor 613. This is performed by finely adjusting the position of the air mix damper 33 (hot side-cool side). In step 702, it is determined whether or not the operation switch 62 is on the temperature fluctuation control side.
In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to Step 703, and in the case of No, the process returns to Step 701 to continue the normal temperature control. Step 7
At 03, a digital value (vehicle temperature) obtained by AD conversion of the vehicle temperature signal 51 is read, and the routine proceeds to step 704. This reading is repeated N times at a fixed sampling period, and N pieces of room temperature data are stored in the memory. At step 704, a steady state (detected vehicle room temperature / set temperature) is determined. When the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value in the room temperature data is within a predetermined range (for example, ± 0.5 ° C.), it is determined that the temperature is steady and the process proceeds to step 705. If it exceeds the predetermined range, the process returns to step 703, and reading is performed again (substantially, normal temperature control is continued during this loop). At step 705, a digital value (detected skin temperature) obtained by AD conversion of the skin temperature signal 41 is read, and the routine proceeds to step 706. In step 706, the skin temperature Ts is converted into the warm feeling S ′ by the conversion line m of the skin temperature → heat feeling S conversion graph shown in FIG.
And proceeds to step 707. In step 707, an equivalent set temperature Ta 'corresponding to the warm feeling S' is obtained from the conversion line n of the warm feeling S '→ equivalent set temperature conversion graph shown in FIG.
Proceed to step 708. At step 708, the set temperature T
The corresponding position P1 of the temperature change width ΔT corresponding to a is changed to the corrected position P2 corresponding to the equivalent set temperature Ta ′, and the temperature change width ΔT ′ is obtained (see FIG. 5). The comfortable range in FIG. 5 that does not cause familiarity is experimentally obtained. In step 709, the air mix damper drive circuit 64 is controlled so that the detected room temperature fluctuates within the temperature change width ΔT 'based on the set temperature Ta. At the same time, the mode switching damper drive circuit 65 is controlled so that the outlet switching damper 34 closes the foot outlet 15 and the air volume from the face outlet 14 increases. During the execution of the temperature fluctuation control, the solar radiation sensor 611 and the outlet temperature sensor 61
2 and the detection data of the air volume sensor 613 are not used, and the air volume of the blower 2 is set to a predetermined value (constant). Step 71
At 0, it is determined whether or not the operation switch 62 is set to the normal temperature control side. If Yes, the temperature fluctuation control ends. If No, the process returns to step 709 to continue the temperature fluctuation control.

Next, the effect of the vehicle air conditioner A will be described. (A) The air mixing is performed such that the equivalent position P1 of the temperature change width ΔT corresponding to the set temperature Ta is corrected by the thermal sensation S ′, and the detected room temperature fluctuates within the corrected temperature change width ΔT ′ of the position P2. The damper 33 is controlled. For this reason, temperature fluctuation control according to the driver's M sense of temperature S 'is performed, and the driver M
Can keep comfort. (B) Foot outlet 1 with outlet switching damper 34
5, the temperature fluctuation control is performed such that the air volume from the face outlet 14 is increased, so that the temperature fluctuation effect of preventing the feeling of stagnation due to the comfortable feeling familiarity is further enhanced. (C) The configuration is such that the temperature fluctuation control can be performed only when the detected vehicle room temperature is equal to the set temperature. For this reason, the reference does not shift and reliable temperature fluctuation control can be performed.

The present invention includes the following embodiments in addition to the above embodiment. a. When a significantly large or small sense of warmth S 'is detected, the temperature fluctuation control may be stopped and only cool air or only warm air may be blown out. b. The temperature sensation S ′ may be grasped by using a temperature sensation sensor that detects the blood flow rate, the amount of perspiration, and the like, or the temperature sensation S ′ may be manually selected by selecting with a panel key or the like or by voice. You may understand. c. The detection of the skin temperature, the blood flow rate, the amount of perspiration, and the like may be performed by a method of directly contacting the sensor with the occupant's body, detecting the sensor, and transmitting it to the control device 6 (wireless). d. Temperature fluctuation control may be performed based on the sense of warmth of a passenger other than the driver. e. As long as the temperature change width ΔT ′ at the corrected position P2 is within the range, the fluctuation pattern of the temperature fluctuation control is free, and the fluctuation width may be arbitrary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a microcomputer of the air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a graph of skin temperature → thermal feeling conversion.

FIG. 4 is a graph for converting a sense of warmth into an equivalent set temperature.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a comfortable range in which the user does not get used to.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air-conditioning casing 2 Blower 3 Air-conditioner main body 5 Vehicle room temperature sensor (room temperature sensor) 7 Temperature setting lever (vehicle room temperature setting means) 14 Face outlet (blow-out port) 663 Temperature fluctuation control means 120 Vehicle room A Vehicle air conditioner S '' Warmth Ta set temperature

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60H 1/00 101

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A casing having an outlet to a vehicle interior; a blower for generating an airflow toward the outlet in the casing; an air conditioner main body for controlling a temperature of air in the casing ; A cabin temperature setting means to be set; a room temperature sensor for detecting the cabin temperature; a warm feeling grasping means for grasping the sensation of the occupant; and a cabin temperature steady based on the detected cabin temperature and the set temperature.
Steady-state determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined temperature increase with respect to the set temperature and the set temperature
The predetermined temperature decrease with respect to
When the temperature increase becomes smaller and the temperature decrease becomes smaller,
Determining means for respectively determining so as to increase the temperature, and increasing the temperature obtained by adding the temperature increase to the set temperature.
Limit value, and the temperature decrease amount with respect to the set temperature.
The reduced value is defined as the lower limit, and the steady state determination means determines that the state is steady.
When the detected vehicle compartment temperature is the upper limit and the lower limit
The temperature at which the air conditioner body operates to vary between
Temperature fluctuation control means, and when the steady state determination means determines that the
The upper limit is set so that the warmth grasped by the grasping means is on the warm side.
The setting means sets the value to be low.
Vehicle air conditioner. 2. A casing having an outlet into a vehicle compartment.
And an airflow toward the outlet is generated in the casing.
Blower , an air conditioner body for controlling the temperature of the air in the casing, a cabin temperature setting means for setting the cabin temperature, a room temperature sensor for detecting the cabin temperature, and a thermal sensation for grasping the sensation of the occupant. The cabin temperature is steady based on the grasping means and the detected cabin temperature and the set temperature.
Steady-state determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined temperature increase with respect to the set temperature and the set temperature
The predetermined temperature decrease with respect to
Etc. The temperature increase is small, and the temperature decrement
Determining means for respectively determining so as to increase the temperature, and increasing the temperature obtained by adding the temperature increase to the set temperature.
Limit value, and the temperature decrease amount with respect to the set temperature.
The reduced value is defined as the lower limit, and the steady state determination means determines that the state is steady.
When the detected vehicle compartment temperature is the upper limit and the lower limit
The temperature at which the air conditioner body operates to vary between
Temperature fluctuation control means, and when the steady state determination means determines that the
The upper limit is set so that the warmth grasped by the grasping means is on the warm side.
Value and the lower limit value are both lower.
The vehicle air conditioner is set by the following. 3. A casing having an outlet into a vehicle compartment.
And an airflow toward the outlet is generated in the casing.
Blower , an air conditioner body for controlling the temperature of the air in the casing, a cabin temperature setting means for setting the cabin temperature, a room temperature sensor for detecting the cabin temperature, and a thermal sensation for grasping the sensation of the occupant. The cabin temperature is steady based on the grasping means and the detected cabin temperature and the set temperature.
Steady-state determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined temperature increase with respect to the set temperature and the set temperature
The predetermined temperature decrease with respect to
When the temperature increase becomes smaller and the temperature decrease becomes smaller,
Determining means for respectively determining so as to increase the temperature, and increasing the temperature obtained by adding the temperature increase to the set temperature.
Limit value, and the temperature decrease amount with respect to the set temperature.
The reduced value is defined as the lower limit, and the steady state determination means determines that the state is steady.
When the detected vehicle compartment temperature is the upper limit and the lower limit
The temperature at which the air conditioner body operates to vary between
Temperature fluctuation control means, and when the steady state determination means determines that the
The lower the warmth sensed by the grasping means is on the warm side, the lower limit
The setting means sets the value to be low.
Vehicle air conditioner.