FR2523904A1 - AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILE INTERIOR WITH LIGHT DISPLAY DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a monitoring and control device for air-conditioning the passenger compartment of motor vehicles with a series of actuation devices in order to vary in each case one of a variety of control parameters for the air-conditioning between two limit values. Each actuation device is assigned a display device which has a series of light sources. These light sources are successively made to light up by control means when the associated actuation device brings about a change in the corresponding control parameter in the direction of one or other of the two limit values.

Description

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  The present invention relates to an air conditioning control system for an automobile interior of the type comprising a series of control devices for varying between two extreme conditions each of the different control parameters of c J imatisationtw, including the temperature of the air at the entrance to Ilhabitacle,

  the amount of air entering the passenger compartment and the

  air intake through the various air inlets of which

provided the passenger compartment.

  The object of the present invention is to

  llser a control system of the type specified above provided with a simple light visualization device

and efficient.

  The main feature of the con-

  trole according to the invention resides in the fact that at each

  control device is associated with a vi device

  sualisation comprising a series of light sources and that the system comprises control means for

  cause successive ignition of such light sources

  its when the respective control device causes

  a variation of the corresponding parameter by a condition

  extreme opposite to that.

  Preferably, the above light sources

  consist of light emitting diodes.

  According to another characteristic, the so-called mo-

  control yen comprise a series of movable members intended to cause a variation of said control parameters, a series of activatable electric motors

  by said control devices and suitable for controlling

  der of said movable members, means for detecting

  position of such moving parts and a control circuit

  the light emitting diodes related to said detectors

  tectors. Another favorite feature is

  the fact that the detectors are made up of potentio-

  meters actuated by said movable members. According to another characteristic, said control means are capable of making all the light sources associated with a given control device flash simultaneously, when the actuation of the latter

  causes one of the two extreme conditions to be met

my correspondents.

  Other features and benefits of the

  present invention result from the following description

  with reference to the accompanying drawings provided by way of nonlimiting example in which:

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a par-

  particularity of the control system according to the invention, and

  FIG. 2 is a diagram of the con-

trole according to the invention.

  In Figure 1, the reference number 1 relates to a feature of the dashboard of a

  automobile on which the control buttons are arranged

  requires 2, 3, 4 of three electrical switches

  the control keys are of the tilting type In FIG. 1, the reference numbers 5, 6 and 7 respectively indicate the axes of oscillation of the three keys 2, 3, 4 Each control key has a position

  central neutral, towards which an elastic recall takes place

  tick, and two active end positions, causing the electrical switch to activate in one direction

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  or in the other of a corresponding electric motor,

  8, 9 and 10 respectively (see Figure 2).

  The electric motor 8 is intended to control

  der the movement of the usual shutter (indicated schematic-

  ment at 11 in f igure 2) to adjust the quantity

  of air entering the passenger compartment of the automobile.

  The electric motor 9 is intended to cause

  the movement of the mobile temperature control member

  the air entering the passenger compartment of the automobile.

  -J 10 Such a movable member, which is indicated schematically in

  12 in FIG. 2, generally consists of a robi-

  air conditioning system radiator control net

automobile.

  In the example illustrated, the electric motor 10

  is intended to control a movement of the usual shutter (in-

  schematically shown at 13 in Figure 2) which controls

  the amount of air supplied over the internal surface area of the windshield of the automobile. In a possible variant, the motor 10 controls the air distribution flaps at the various air inlets which are provided with the passenger compartment. automobile. Near each control button 2, 3, 4 is provided a light display device 14, 15, 16 consisting of a series of aligned diodes 17 emitting light by the fact that they are arranged one at a time.

next to each other.

  Referring to Figure 2, the emitting diodes

  these light 17 are connected to a control circuit 18

  which is connected to potentiometers 19 which are action-

  born by the moving parts 11, 12, 13 controlled by the

  electric motors 8, 9 10 or directly by these motors.

  The control keys 2, 3, 4 constitute as much

  control devices that control the three different

  rents parameters of the passenger compartment air conditioning: the amount of air entering the passenger compartment, the temperature of the air entering the passenger compartment and the air distribution

in the passenger compartment.

  Each of these parameters can vary between two con-

  extreme ditions The displacement towards one or the other of such-

  the extreme conditions depends on whether the com button

  corresponding request is pressed towards one or other of its

  two active end positions.

  The control circuit 18 of the light-emitting diodes 17 is capable of causing the successive ignition or extinction of the latter by action of the hand, the key.

  control command varying the respective parameter

  tif by an extreme condition which is opposed to it.

  In the case of the example of the control key 3, by pressing the part of the key which is to the left (with reference to FIG. 1) of the axis of oscillation 6, a reduction in the inlet air temperature

  in the passenger compartment, while pressing on the part of the

  switch 3 which is located to the right of axis 6, we cause

  an increase in air temperature If the temperature

  ture is at its minimum value, in the device 15, only the light emitting diode 17 will be illuminated, being disposed

  to the left of the series of light emitting diodes.

  To cause an increase in the temperature of the air entering the passenger compartment, it is necessary, as

  it is specified above, to press on the part of the

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  Che 3 which is to the right of the axis of oscillation 6 This pro-

  about starting the engine, electric 9 and moving it

  cement of the air conditioning radiator control valve (or of another body having equivalent functions, including a component propwe to limit the d 4 bli-t dei 17 air passing through the rax diator), in the direction corresponding to an increase in the air temperature The displacement of said valve upwards takes place via the potentiometer 19 of the control circuit 18 which causes the other light-emitting diodes 17 of the device 15 to gradually rise from left to right If we continue to press the right part of the button 3 Until the corresponding extreme condition is achieved, we obtain the illumination of all the light emitting diodes 17 which constitute

the display device 15.

  In such conditions, the control circuit 18 causes an intermittent and simultaneous flashing of all

  the light emitting diodes of the device 15 The opera-

  this is so that the maximum temperature is

reached.

  Analogous functioning is also verified when

  on Acts on control keys 2 and 4.

  If electric motors of the stepping type are used, the use of potentiometers could be

'avoided.

  Naturally, the effects of the present invention also extend to other models of the same utility using

the same concept.

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Claims (5)

CLAIMS.   1 Air conditioning control system for   automobile tackle, comprising a series of   command (2, 3, 4> to vary between two conditions -   extremes each of the different parameters of   cockpit interior, characterized in that each control device (2, 3, 4) is associated with a display device (14, 15, 16) comprising a series of sources   luminous (17), and the system comprises means of connection   hole (8 to 13, 18, 19) to cause successive lighting of such light sources when the respective control device (2, 3, 4) causes a variation of the corresponding control parameter towards one or other of the say extreme conditions.   2 control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means mentioned above comprise a series of movable members (11 to 13) capable of causing a variation of said control parameters, a series of electric motors (8 to 10) implemented by   said control devices (2 to 4) and suitable for controlling   der the mobile organs mentioned above (11 to 13),   sensors (19) for detecting such mobile parts (11 to 13) -   and a control circuit (18) for the display devices sation (14 to 16).   3 control system according to claim 1,   characterized in that said light sources are cons-   with light-emitting diodes.   4 control system according to claim 2, characterized in that said control devices are   made up of electrical switches.   Control system according to claim 2, characterized in that said detectors consist of potentiometers (19) actuated directly by said members mobile (11 to 13).   6 Control system according to resale 1 I ,. characterized in that said control means are capable of causing intermittent and simultaneous ignition of all   the light sources (17) associated with a lighting device   determined command, when actuation of the latter causes   the achievement of one of the two extreme conditions dantes.