JP7613341B2 - Vehicle air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a vehicle air conditioner.

Patent document 1 discloses a technology that controls the air conditioning output to be lowered (by increasing the output ratio of the seat heater to the main air conditioning) when the vehicle's occupants have high body temperatures, and also controls the air conditioning output to be lowered the fewer the number of occupants.

JP 2010-083204 A

For example, in an emergency situation such as a vehicle being stranded in winter, there was a demand for technology that would allow the heating device to operate for a long period of time while maintaining its heating performance.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a vehicle air conditioner that can operate a heating device for a long period of time while maintaining the heating performance of the heating device in an emergency situation.

The vehicle air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes a processor that determines whether an emergency state occurs, which indicates that the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time or more and the body temperature of the vehicle's user is below a predetermined temperature, and if it determines that an emergency state exists, controls a heating device that warms the interior of the vehicle to operate in an intermittent manner.

According to the present disclosure, in an emergency situation, the heating device can be operated for a long period of time while maintaining the heating performance of the heating device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle air conditioning system including a vehicle air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of a first example of a heating control method executed by the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a switching map used during heating control in a first example of a heating control method executed by the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of the intermittent operation indicated by A in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of a second embodiment of a heating control method executed by the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a switching map used during heating control in a second example of a heating control method executed by the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment.

A vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical.

(Vehicle air conditioning system)
A vehicle air conditioning system including a vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle air conditioning system includes a vehicle air conditioner 1, a road information server 2, and a disaster information server 3. The vehicle air conditioner 1, the road information server 2, and the disaster information server 3 each have a communication function and are configured to be able to communicate with each other through a network N. This network N is configured, for example, from an Internet network, a mobile phone network, or the like.

(Vehicle air conditioning system)
The vehicle air conditioner 1 is for controlling heating of a vehicle. The vehicle air conditioner 1 is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle. Examples of the vehicle include an engine vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), and an electric vehicle (BEV). The vehicle on which the vehicle air conditioner 1 is mounted may be a manually driven vehicle or an automatically driven vehicle.

In addition to being mounted on a moving object such as a vehicle, the vehicle air conditioner 1 may also be operated by mounting some of its functions (e.g., functions of the control unit 10, etc.) on a server device or the like that can communicate with the vehicle. In this case, for example, the vehicle air conditioner 1 can control the heating of the vehicle based on information acquired via the network N from a sensor group 50 and an emergency state switch (emergency state switch) 60, etc., provided on the vehicle. In this way, by mounting some of the functions of the vehicle air conditioner 1 on a server device or the like, the computational load on the vehicle side can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle air conditioner 1 includes a control unit 10, a communication unit 20, a memory unit 30, a heating device 40, a sensor group 50, and an emergency state SW 60.

Specifically, the control unit 10 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc., and a memory (main storage unit) such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc.

The control unit 10 executes various programs to comprehensively control the operation of various components mounted on the vehicle air conditioner 1. Specifically, the control unit 10 performs heating control of the heating device 40 based on information acquired from the sensor group 50, the emergency state SW (switch) 60, etc.

Specifically, there are two types of heating control of the heating device 40 performed by the control unit 10: one that is performed in response to a request from the vehicle user (e.g., vehicle occupants including the driver) (e.g., by the user operating a heating switch), and one that is automatically performed by the control unit 10 in response to conditions inside and outside the vehicle. In this embodiment, the latter type of heating control that is automatically performed by the control unit 10 in response to conditions inside and outside the vehicle will be mainly described. This heating control includes the following two aspects.

For example, the control unit 10 determines whether or not an emergency state is occurring, which indicates that the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time or more and the outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature. If the control unit 10 determines that an emergency state is occurring, it implements heating control, which includes intermittent operation of the heating device 40 that warms the interior of the vehicle. Note that "the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time or more" is intended to refer to a situation in which the vehicle is stranded due to a road closure caused by snowfall in winter, for example. In addition, whether or not an emergency state is occurring may be determined based on whether or not the user has pressed the emergency state SW 60.

The control unit 10 also determines whether or not an emergency state is occurring, which indicates, for example, that the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time or more and the body temperature of the vehicle's user is below a predetermined temperature. If the control unit 10 determines that an emergency state is occurring, it implements heating control, which operates the heating device 40, which warms the interior of the vehicle, including intermittent operation. Note that whether or not an emergency state is occurring may also be determined based on whether or not the user has pressed the emergency state SW 60.

The communication unit 20 is composed of, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module) and communicates with the road information server 2 and the disaster information server 3 by wireless communication via the network NW.

The storage unit 30 is composed of recording media such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and removable media. Examples of removable media include disk recording media such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc (BD). The storage unit 30 can store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like.

The memory unit 30 stores, as necessary, for example, a switching map (see Figures 3 and 6) used during heating control of the heating device 40, various sensor data detected by the sensor group 50, road information obtained from the road information server 2, disaster information obtained from the disaster information server 3, etc.

The heating device 40 is an air conditioning device that is installed in a vehicle and heats the inside of the vehicle. Examples of the heating device 40 include a seat heater, a heat pump, and an electric heater. When controlling the heating device 40, the control unit 10 performs continuous operation, intermittent operation, and operation switching between the seat heater, heat pump, and electric heater based on a switching map prepared in advance (see Figures 3 and 6). Details of the heating control performed by the control unit 10 will be described later (see Figures 2 to 6).

The sensor group 50 is for detecting various data inside and outside the vehicle. Examples of the sensor group 50 include an outside air temperature sensor that detects the air temperature outside the vehicle, an interior temperature sensor that detects the temperature inside the vehicle, an occupant detection sensor (or weight sensor) that detects the number of vehicle users (passengers), a thermal camera that detects the surface temperature (body temperature) of the body of the vehicle user, a camera that photographs the interior of the vehicle, and the like. The thermal camera may be a camera such as a drive recorder installed in the vehicle, or a camera on a smartphone owned by the user. The sensor group 50 transmits the detected sensor data to the control unit 10 and the memory unit 30 as necessary.

The emergency state SW60 is a switch that notifies the vehicle air conditioner 1 that the user of the vehicle is in an emergency state. There are no particular limitations on the method of implementing the emergency state SW60. For example, the emergency state SW60 may be implemented by a physical switch (button) provided near the driver's seat of the vehicle, or the emergency state SW60 may be implemented by displaying a switch on the screen of a car navigation system provided in the vehicle. When the emergency state SW60 is pressed by the user, emergency state SW information is input to the control unit 10.

(Road information server)
The road information server 2 is configured, for example, by a server device, and collects and stores road congestion information. In response to a request from the automotive air-conditioning device 1, the road information server 2 transmits road information of the road on which the vehicle is traveling to the automotive air-conditioning device 1.

(Disaster Information Server)
The disaster information server 3 is configured, for example, by a server device, and collects and stores various disaster information. In response to a request from the vehicle air conditioner 1, the disaster information server 3 transmits disaster information about the vicinity of the road on which the vehicle is traveling to the vehicle air conditioner 1.

(Heating control method: first embodiment)
An example of a processing procedure of a first embodiment of a heating control method executed by the vehicle air conditioner 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Note that in this embodiment, the processing of step S1 in Figure 2 is not essential, and only the processing of step S2 and subsequent steps may be executed. Also, for example, even if heating control has already been executed in response to a user request (for example, by the user operating a heating switch) in the vehicle, the heating control described below is executed with priority.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 10 acquires road information and disaster information from the road information server 2 and the disaster information server 3, respectively (step S1). Next, the control unit 10 acquires the outside air temperature based on the detection value of the outside air temperature sensor of the sensor group 50 (step S2).

Then, the control unit 10 determines whether the vehicle has been parked for a predetermined time or more (step S3). If it is determined that the vehicle has been parked for a predetermined time or more (Yes in step S3), the control unit 10 determines whether the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than a preset temperature T°C (step S4).

If it is determined that the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than T°C (Yes in step S4), the control unit 10 acquires the interior temperature based on the detection value of the interior temperature sensor in the sensor group 50 (step S6). Next, the control unit 10 acquires the number of occupants in the vehicle based on the detection value of the occupant detection sensor in the sensor group 50 (step S7). Next, the control unit 10 performs heating control of the heating device 40 (step S8) and completes this process.

If it is determined in step S3 that the vehicle has not been parked for a predetermined time or longer (No in step S3), or if it is determined in step S4 that the outside air temperature is not below T°C (No in step S4), the control unit 10 determines whether or not it has acquired emergency state SW information of the user (step S5). This determination in step S5 can be made based on whether or not the user has pressed the emergency state SW 60.

If it is determined in step S5 that the user's emergency SW information has been acquired (Yes in step S5), the control unit 10 performs the processing from step S6 onwards. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the user's emergency SW information has not been acquired (No in step S5), the control unit 10 completes this processing.

Here, in step S8 of FIG. 2, heating control is performed based on a switching map such as that shown in FIG. 3. For example, when the interior temperature is between T1 (or below) and T2 (above), the seat heater is operated intermittently and the heat pump and electric heater are turned OFF. Also, when the interior temperature is between T2 (or below) and T3 (above), the seat heater is operated continuously and the heat pump and electric heater are turned OFF. Also, when the interior temperature is between T3 (or below) and T4 (above), the heat pump is operated intermittently and the seat heater and electric heater are turned OFF.

When the interior temperature is between T4 (or below) and T5 (above), the seat heater is operated intermittently, the heat pump is operated continuously, and the electric heater is turned OFF. When the interior temperature is between T5 (or below) and T6 (above), the seat heater and heat pump are operated continuously, and the electric heater is turned OFF. When the interior temperature is between T6 (or below) and T7 (above), the seat heater and heat pump are turned OFF, and the electric heater is operated intermittently. When the interior temperature is T7 (or below) or above, the seat heater and heat pump are turned OFF, and the electric heater is operated continuously.

In the intermittent operation shown in A (section T1 to T2) in FIG. 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the seat heater is turned ON in section t1, and the seat heater is turned OFF in section t2, and this control is repeated. This type of control is also performed in the intermittent operation from T3 onward in FIG. 3.

Thus, in a first example of the heating control method according to the embodiment, when the vehicle is parked for a predetermined time or longer and the outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature, heating control including intermittent operation is performed by switching the heating device 40 (seat heater, heat pump, electric heater) ON/OFF depending on the outside air temperature.

The power consumption of the heating device 40 increases in the following order: seat heater < heat pump < electric heater. If the temperature inside the vehicle is not extremely low, for example as shown in "T1 to T3" in FIG. 3, the seat heater can provide localized heating to ensure sufficient heating capacity, and if there are only a few passengers, there is no need to heat the entire vehicle interior. On the other hand, if the temperature inside the vehicle becomes extremely low, for example as shown in "T3~" in the same figure, it is desirable to use a heat pump or electric heater that warms the entire body. Also, for example, if the temperature inside the vehicle falls below -10°C to -15°C, the heat pump does not have the heating capacity, so it is necessary to rely on an electric heater that consumes a lot of power, for example as shown in "T6~" in the same figure.

Therefore, in a first example of the heating control method according to the embodiment, the heating device 40 is operated for as long as possible while maintaining heating performance based on the outside air temperature, the temperature inside the vehicle, the number of occupants, the user request (emergency state SW information), etc. This makes it possible to buy time until rescue and restoration in cases where a vehicle becomes stranded due to a road closure caused by snowfall in winter, for example.

(Heating control method: second embodiment)
An example of a processing procedure of a second embodiment of the heating control method executed by the vehicle air conditioner 1 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the processing of step S11 in Figure 5 is not essential, and only the processing of step S12 and subsequent steps may be executed. Also, for example, even if heating control has already been executed in response to a user request (for example, by the user operating a heating switch) in the vehicle, the heating control described below is executed with priority.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 10 acquires road information and disaster information from the road information server 2 and the disaster information server 3, respectively (step S11). Next, the control unit 10 acquires the outside air temperature based on the detection value of the outside air temperature sensor of the sensor group 50 (step S12). Next, the control unit 10 calculates the surface temperature of the user's body from the thermographic image captured by the thermal camera of the sensor group 50 (step S13). In this step S13, the surface temperature of the user's body can be calculated from the thermographic image using known image analysis techniques, etc.

Next, the control unit 10 determines whether the vehicle has been parked for a predetermined time or longer (step S14). If it is determined that the vehicle has been parked for a predetermined time or longer (Yes in step S14), the control unit 10 determines whether the surface temperature of the user's body is equal to or lower than a preset temperature T'°C (step S15).

If it is determined that the surface temperature of the user's body is equal to or lower than T'°C (Yes in step S15), the control unit 10 performs heating control of the heating device 40 (step S16) and completes this process.

If it is determined in step S14 that the vehicle has not been stopped for a predetermined time or longer (No in step S14), or if it is determined in step S15 that the surface temperature of the user's body is not equal to or lower than T'°C (No in step S15), the control unit 10 determines whether or not it has acquired emergency state SW information of the user (step S17). This determination in step S17 can be made based on whether or not the user has pressed the emergency state SW 60.

If it is determined in step S17 that the user's emergency SW information has been acquired (Yes in step S17), the control unit 10 performs the processing from step S16 onwards. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S17 that the user's emergency SW information has not been acquired (No in step S17), the control unit 10 completes this processing.

Here, in step S16 of FIG. 5, heating control is performed based on a switching map such as that shown in FIG. 6. For example, in the section where the user's body surface temperature is T'1 (or below) to T'2 (above), the seat heater is operated intermittently and the heat pump and electric heater are turned OFF. In addition, in the section where the user's body surface temperature is T'2 (or below) to T'3 (above), the seat heater is operated continuously and the heat pump and electric heater are turned OFF. In addition, in the section where the user's body surface temperature is T'3 (or below) to T'4 (above), the heat pump is operated intermittently and the seat heater and electric heater are turned OFF.

When the user's body surface temperature is between T'4 (or below) and T'5 (above), the seat heater is operated intermittently, the heat pump is operated continuously, and the electric heater is turned OFF. When the user's body surface temperature is between T'5 (or below) and T'6 (above), the seat heater and heat pump are operated continuously, and the electric heater is turned OFF. When the user's body surface temperature is between T'6 (or below) and T'7 (above), the seat heater and heat pump are turned OFF, and the electric heater is operated intermittently. When the user's body surface temperature is T'7 (or below) or above, the seat heater and heat pump are turned OFF, and the electric heater is operated continuously.

Thus, in a second example of the heating control method according to the embodiment, when the vehicle is stopped for a predetermined time or longer and the surface temperature of the user's body is below a predetermined value, heating control including intermittent operation is performed by switching the heating device 40 (seat heater, heat pump, electric heater) ON/OFF depending on the surface temperature of the user's body.

In other words, in a second example of the heating control method according to the embodiment, the heating device 40 is operated for as long as possible while maintaining heating performance based on the outside air temperature, the surface temperature of the user's body, the user's request (emergency state SW information), etc. This makes it possible to buy time until rescue and restoration in cases where a vehicle is stranded due to a road closure caused by snowfall in winter, for example.

Here, conventional technologies have not anticipated emergency situations, such as a vehicle being stranded in winter, and there is a possibility that the vehicle's battery may quickly run out of power due to use of the heating device. On the other hand, with the vehicle air conditioning system according to the embodiment, in an emergency situation, heating control including intermittent operation is performed, so that the heating device 40 can be operated for a long period of time while maintaining the heating performance of the heating device 40.

In addition, with the vehicle air conditioning device according to the embodiment, in an emergency situation such as when a vehicle is stranded due to a road closure caused by snowfall in winter and the user is trapped inside the vehicle, heating control can be performed so that the user can continue to use the heater until road access is restored or rescue arrives.

Further advantages and modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

For example, a thermal camera in the sensor group 50 may be used to diagnose the user's health condition from their daily body temperature, and heating control may be implemented accordingly. In this case, for example, a thermal camera may be used to measure the user's daily body temperature to obtain their normal body temperature, and an emergency situation may be determined by determining whether the user's body temperature is below normal and road information. In addition, at that time, heating control such as that shown in FIG. 6 may be implemented depending on the degree to which the user's body temperature has dropped below normal.

In addition, in the heating control, the thermographic images acquired by the thermal camera of the sensor group 50 may be analyzed, and the heating device 40 may be controlled to focus on warming the cold parts of the user's body. In this case, for example, if the body temperature of the part of the body that is in contact with the vehicle seat is low, the seat heater may be turned on; if the user's face is cold, an electric heater may be turned on for the face; if the user's feet are cold, an electric heater may be turned on for the feet; etc.

Furthermore, through precise heating control, it may be possible to estimate how many hours remaining heating can be continued and notify the user. A camera installed inside the vehicle may be used to determine whether the user is asleep, and since the body is more susceptible to getting cold when asleep, the temperature threshold used for determination and control may be set higher than when the user is awake. A camera installed inside the vehicle may also be used to detect the user's clothing, and the temperature threshold used for determination and control may be different for a person wearing light clothing versus a person wearing heavy clothing, for example.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 : Vehicle air conditioner 10 : Control unit 20 : Communication unit 30 : Memory unit 40 : Heating device 50 : Sensor group 60 : Emergency state SW
N Network 2 Road information server 3 Disaster information server

Claims (1)

A processor is provided.
The processor,
determining whether an emergency state is occurring, which indicates that the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time or more and the body temperature of the user of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature;
When it is determined that the vehicle is in an emergency state, a heating device for heating the interior of the vehicle is controlled to be operated in an intermittent manner,
the heating device includes a seat heater, a heat pump consuming more power than the seat heater, and an electric heater consuming more power than the heat pump,
When the processor determines that the emergency state exists,
When the body temperature of the user is within a first temperature range, the seat heater is operated intermittently, and the heat pump and the electric heater are turned off;
When the body temperature of the user is in a second temperature range that is lower than the first temperature range, the seat heater is operated continuously, and the heat pump and the electric heater are turned off;
When the body temperature of the user is in a third temperature range that is lower than the second temperature range, the heat pump is operated intermittently and the seat heater and the electric heater are turned off;
When the body temperature of the user is in a fourth temperature range that is lower than the third temperature range, the seat heater is operated intermittently, the heat pump is operated continuously, and the electric heater is turned off;
When the body temperature of the user is in a fifth temperature range that is lower than the fourth temperature range, the seat heater and the heat pump are operated continuously, and the electric heater is turned off;
When the body temperature of the user is within a sixth temperature range that is lower than the fifth temperature range, the seat heater and the heat pump are turned off, and the electric heater is operated intermittently;
when the body temperature of the user is in a seventh temperature range that is lower than the sixth temperature range, turning off the seat heater and the heat pump and continuously operating the electric heater;
Vehicle air conditioning system.

Images