DE102013001878A1 - Method for controlling air-conditioning and/or ventilation device of vehicle, invovels determining controlling/regulating parameters of air conditioning and/or ventilation device based on determined climate parameter information - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves generating image by using image capture device (5) for showing portion of vehicle interior (2). Climate parameter information is determined from generated image. Controlling or regulating parameters of air conditioning and/or ventilation device (8) of vehicle (1) is determined based on determined climate parameter information. An independent claim is included for a device for controlling air-conditioning and/or ventilation device of vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling or regulating an air conditioning and / or ventilation device of a vehicle.

In vehicles, especially in motor vehicles, there is a need for highly effective and energy-efficient air conditioning and / or ventilation methods. This is in particular also for electric vehicles, in which an efficient use of electrical energy leads to an increase in range, since efficient use of electrical energy for air conditioning and / or ventilation purposes more energy is available to drive the vehicle.

The DE 196 48 038 A1 describes a method for controlling a heating and / or air conditioning, preferably of vehicles, wherein a physiological parameter of an individual determined by means of a sensor and the system is controlled according to this parameter and in accordance with a corresponding program. In this case, the sensor system optically determines the parameter (s).

The technical problem arises of providing a method and a device for controlling or regulating an air-conditioning and / or ventilation device of a vehicle, wherein an improved and / or alternative determination of a climatic information parameter is made possible, which in turn provides improved control of the Air conditioning and / or ventilation device allows.

The solution to the technical problem results from the objects with the features of claims 1 and 10. Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

It is a basic idea of the invention that image-based a climatic information parameter is determined, in dependence of which at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device is determined.

A method is proposed for controlling or regulating an air-conditioning and / or ventilation device of a vehicle. The vehicle may in particular be an electric vehicle. By means of an image capture device, an image of at least a part of a vehicle interior is generated. The vehicle interior may be, for example, a passenger compartment of the vehicle. For this purpose, the image capture device can be arranged in the vehicle such that a desired subarea of the vehicle interior can be imaged by means of the image capture device.

According to the invention, at least one climatic or climatic information parameter is determined image-based.

The climatic information parameter here denotes a parameter which represents a climatic state or several climatic states in the vehicle interior. For example, the climatic information parameter may represent a temperature and / or a temperature change in the vehicle interior. Alternatively or cumulatively, the climatic information parameter may represent a subjective temperature sensation of a vehicle occupant. For example, the climatic information parameter may represent whether a vehicle occupant senses a temperature in the vehicle interior as subjectively warm or subjectively cold and / or perceives a temperature change as too strong or too weak. The climatic information parameter can also represent whether a ventilation state of the vehicle interior is perceived as pleasant or unpleasant. For example, the climatic information parameter may represent whether a magnitude of an airflow directed from the ventilation device into the vehicle interior is felt to be strong or weak.

In summary, therefore, allows the climatic information parameter, a current air conditioning and / or ventilation state of the vehicle interior or a subjective sensation of this air conditioning and / or ventilation state by z. B. to determine a vehicle occupant.

Furthermore, at least one control parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device is determined as a function of the at least one climatic information parameter.

A control parameter of the air conditioning device may be, for example, a target power or a target temperature of a heating or cooling element of the air conditioning device. A control or regulation parameter of the ventilation device may be, for example, a desired flow velocity or a desired volume flow of a fluid flow for ventilating the vehicle interior. Also, a control or regulation parameter of the ventilation device may be a desired discharge angle of the fluid flow, which characterizes a discharge direction of the fluid flow into the vehicle interior. By adjusting the Ausblaswinkels targeted areas in the vehicle interior can be flown. A control parameter denotes z. B. a setpoint for the air conditioning and / or ventilation device, the air conditioning and / or ventilation device depending on this setpoint, but without feedback of a measured value is operated (control). A control parameter called z. B. a setpoint for the air conditioning and / or ventilation device, wherein the air conditioning and / or ventilation device in response to this setpoint, but also in response to a feedback of a measured value, for. B. in dependence of a difference between the setpoint and measured value, is operated (control).

Of course, the control or regulation of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device also in addition depending on other climate-relevant parameters, eg. As a current temperature of the vehicle interior and / or an outside temperature, are performed, these measures are detected for example by suitable sensors.

The image-based determination of the climatic information parameter advantageously allows a simple and reliable determination of a parameter for controlling or regulating the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device. The image capture device may be, for example, a webcam or a camera, the light in the visible range with z. B. wavelengths in the range of 380 nm to 780 nm or in the range of 380 nm to 1000 nm can map. In particular, however, the image capture device is not an infrared camera for surface temperature measurement.

In a further embodiment, at least one light-irradiated area of the part of the vehicle interior is determined, wherein, depending on a size and / or a position of the at least one light-irradiated area and / or a light irradiation intensity, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device is determined becomes. Such a light-irradiated area can be, for example, a sun-irradiated area or area irradiated by an infrared radiator arranged in the vehicle interior. Light-irradiated areas can be determined, for example, as a function of intensity values of pixels of the image generated by the image capture device. For example, areas whose pixels have an intensity value which is greater than a predetermined threshold value can be determined as light-irradiated areas. For example, light-irradiated areas can only be determined in predetermined partial areas of the vehicle interior, for example in the area of a dashboard of the vehicle. However, it is also possible for an image of at least one vehicle occupant or a subarea of the vehicle occupant to be generated by means of the image capturing device, exclusively light-irradiated areas on a body or on clothing of the vehicle occupant.

A light intensity can also be determined as a function of intensity values of the pixels. In this case, for example, it is assumed that the light irradiation intensity corresponds to the height of the intensity value. It is also possible that the local light intensity, the z. B. from the camera, in particular the webcam, is detected, corresponds to the intensity of a locally incident heat radiation.

If, for example, a size of the at least one light-irradiated area and / or a light irradiation intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold value, then, for example, B. increases a target power of a cooling element of the air conditioning device or a target temperature can be lowered, since it can be assumed that the vehicle interior is heated. If the light-irradiated area lies, for example, in the facial area of a vehicle occupant, a setpoint power of the cooling element can likewise be increased since it can be assumed that the vehicle occupant subjectively experiences a warming of his body.

Depending on the size and / or position and / or the light intensity in different areas, area-dependent air conditioning and / or ventilation can also be set. If the vehicle comprises, for example, several climate zones which can be independently climate-controlled and / or ventilation zones to be ventilated independently, the control or regulating parameters of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device (s) for the respective climatic zones and / or ventilation zones can be set as a function of the aforementioned parameters become. As a result, for example, a targeted cooling or heating or ventilation of z. B. light-irradiated areas or non-light irradiated areas.

For example, it can also be determined which body parts of a vehicle occupant are irradiated with light. Depending on these specific areas, a local air conditioning can take place. For example, electrically adjustable air vents may be adjusted such that the areas irradiated by light and / or areas occupied by occupants are flowed with a fluid stream. As a result, a sun sensor in the vehicle can be omitted in an advantageous manner.

Depending on a resulting size of the at least one light-irradiated area and / or the resulting light intensity of all light-irradiated areas, an air-conditioning requirement for the entire vehicle interior may also be required be determined. If the resulting size and / or resulting light intensity, for example, greater than a predetermined threshold, so a target power for a cooling element can be increased. If the resulting size and / or the resulting light intensity is smaller than a further predetermined threshold value, a setpoint power for a heating element can be increased.

This advantageously makes it possible to easily determine an air conditioning and / or ventilation requirement, thereby enabling a more efficient and comfortable air conditioning and / or ventilation.

In a further embodiment, an image of at least one subarea of a vehicle occupant is generated, wherein an occupant-related climatic information parameter is determined as a climatic information parameter. In particular, the partial area can be a head area, a face area and / or a shoulder area of the vehicle occupant or can comprise this area / areas.

It is Z. B. possible that by means of the image capture device both a part of the vehicle interior and one or more vehicle occupants are displayed. In this case, image-based, for example via suitable segmentation methods, image areas in which the vehicle occupant or the vehicle occupants are / can be determined can then be determined. Subareas in which a head or face and / or shoulder region of the vehicle occupant is depicted can again be determined in these image areas.

The generation of an image of a vehicle occupant, as explained in more detail below, advantageously enables the determination of an occupant-related climatic information parameter which enables a subjective perception of the air conditioning and / or ventilation state of the vehicle occupant.

In a further embodiment, a degree of clothing of the vehicle occupant is determined. For this purpose, for example, in a first step, an image area can be determined in which the vehicle occupant is depicted. Furthermore, at least one image area can be determined, in which the skin area, in particular the visible skin area, of the vehicle occupant is depicted. Accordingly, at least one image area can be determined, in which a clothing of the vehicle occupant is shown. It is possible for the at least one image area in which clothing is depicted to be determined as the image area of the image area in which the vehicle occupant is depicted, which is depicted alongside the image area in the skin area of the vehicle occupant. The skin area can be determined, for example, depending on a skin color. The depicted skin color may in this case be in a predetermined spectral range, for example, so that a wavelength-dependent image-based determination of skin areas is possible. In this case, therefore, the areas of the image can be determined in which signals of this predetermined spectral range z. B. with an intensity that is greater than a predetermined threshold, are shown.

It is also possible that a facial recognition is performed, wherein a skin color of the occupant is determined depending on the color / colors in the imaged and detected facial area. A face recognition can be carried out here with known methods of image processing. For example, it can be detected that the facial area is imaged with a predetermined spectral range in the image. Thus, further image areas, which also image light with wavelengths from this spectral range, can be detected as skin area. Thus, for example, free arm areas or free chest areas or a free neck area can be detected. A degree of clothing may then be determined, for example, as a ratio of the imaged skin area to the total area of the imaged occupant. Also, the degree of clothing may be determined as a ratio of the imaged skin area to the imaged exposed area.

If the degree of clothing is, for example, higher than a predetermined threshold value, then it can be assumed that the vehicle occupant is heavily clothed, that is to say has little free skin area. In this case, for example, a target power of the cooling element of the air conditioning device can be increased. If the degree of clothing is, for example, less than a predetermined threshold, it can be assumed that the vehicle occupant is relatively unclothed. In this case, for example, the target power of a heating element of the air conditioning device can be increased.

As previously explained, the control or regulation of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device can also be carried out additionally as a function of a current temperature of the vehicle interior and / or an outside temperature. Is z. B. the degree of clothing is less than the predetermined threshold and the temperature of the vehicle interior is below a predetermined temperature, the desired power of the heating element or a desired temperature can be increased. If the degree of clothing is below the predetermined threshold value, but the temperature of the vehicle interior is above the predetermined temperature, then the nominal power of the heating element can remain unchanged or even be reduced.

Alternatively or cumulatively, a degree of isolation of a clothing of the vehicle occupant can be determined. For this purpose, as explained above, at least one image area can be determined, in which a body part of the vehicle occupant covered with clothing is depicted. For example, a degree of isolation of the garment may be determined depending on a dimension of imaged clothed body parts, such as an imaged arm, an imaged neck, or an imaged upper body. For example, a width of an imaged arm, an imaged neck, or an imaged upper body may be determined. For example, the wider these regions or the higher a difference in width from a reference width, the higher may be an isolation level.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that an occupant detection is performed, wherein z. B. occupant-specific images of the vehicle occupant with different degrees of clothing are stored. An insulating degree can then be determined, for example, as a function of a comparison of at least one of the previously explained dimensions of a clothed body part with a corresponding dimension of the body part in a light or unclad state of the vehicle occupant. A lightly dressed state of the vehicle occupant may be given, for example, in a figure in which a clothing degree is less than a predetermined threshold. The higher the dimension in the current figure compared to the slightly covered figure, the higher the degree of insulation of the clothing. If, for example, the vehicle occupant wears a jacket, a pullover, a scarf, a hat or other items of clothing, the corresponding body parts, e.g. As an arm or a neck, a greater width than the width in the slightly dressed state in which the vehicle occupant, for example, only wearing a T-shirt have.

If a degree of isolation is, for example, higher than a predetermined degree of isolation, a desired power of the cooling element can be increased or a desired temperature can be lowered. For example, if the degree of isolation is less than a predetermined degree of isolation, a desired power of the heater or a target temperature may be increased. This adjustment of the target power can, as previously explained in connection with the degree of clothing, also be carried out as a function of a temperature of the vehicle interior and / or an outside temperature.

Thus, depending on the degree of clothing and / or the degree of insulation, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device can thus be determined.

The control or regulation as a function of the degree of clothing and / or the degree of insulation advantageously makes it possible to control or regulate the air conditioning and / or ventilation device as well as possible adapted to a subjective feeling of the vehicle occupant.

In a further embodiment, at least one skin area of the vehicle occupant is determined. Here, the occupant-related climatic information parameter in dependence of the imaged skin area, z. B. depending on a size of the skin area determined.

The imaged skin area may in particular be a facial area of the vehicle occupant. The determination of the area of the skin may, as previously explained, be effected in dependence on an imaged skin color which lies within a predetermined spectrum. Image areas that image light with wavelengths from this predetermined spectrum, in addition z. For example, intensities greater than a predetermined threshold may be determined as depicted skin areas.

The determination of at least one imaged skin area advantageously enables a further improved determination of a subjective sensation of the vehicle occupant with regard to an air conditioning and / or ventilation state and / or with respect to a warming local irradiation, for example. As in infrared radiation, since the visible skin areas are thermally and / or fluidly coupled directly to the vehicle interior.

In another embodiment, a liquid coverage level of the skin area is determined. In this case, areas in the previously determined skin area can again be determined, in which z. B. welding or welding beads are shown. Such regions can be detected, for example, based on intensity value. It is assumed that moisture-covered areas of the skin area reflect more strongly than the surrounding areas. Therefore, image areas in which liquid-covered skin areas are imaged can have higher intensity values than the surrounding image areas of the skin area.

It is also possible to carry out an occupant or face recognition and actually imaged skin areas with skin areas imaged and stored at an earlier point in time of the same occupant in a dry state. A comparison can be carried out, for example, by subtraction of intensity values of a skin area imaged at different times.

Then, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device can be determined as a function of the liquid coverage.

The degree of liquid coverage may be determined, for example, as the ratio of a size of liquid-covered imaged skin areas to the entire imaged skin area. If, for example, the degree of liquid coverage exceeds a predetermined threshold, then a desired power of a cooling element can be increased. It is also possible, depending on a position of the liquid-covered areas to perform a targeted, localized air conditioning and / or ventilation. Of course, as already explained above, such a determination of the control or regulating parameter may additionally be effected as a function of a temperature of the vehicle interior and / or an outside temperature.

Alternatively or cumulatively, in a preferred embodiment, an intensity distribution of a predetermined wavelength in the skin area of the vehicle occupant may be determined. Thus, a spatial distribution of a light or radiation intensity with a predetermined wavelength is determined. In this case, the intensity of light of a predetermined wavelength or of a predetermined wavelength range is determined in different partial regions of the imaged skin region. An intensity distribution of light having a predetermined wavelength or from a predetermined wavelength range is, in particular in the facial area, specific to the occupant and thus subjectively different. Thus, this intensity distribution can be associated with a thermal, subjective sense of comfort.

For example, an intensity distribution relative to a left and right half of the face can be determined. Of course, it is also conceivable to determine an intensity distribution with respect to further, in particular smaller, skin areas.

Furthermore, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device is then determined as a function of the intensity distribution.

For example, the target power of the cooling element can be increased if a light or irradiation intensity in one, several or all spatial areas for which the light or irradiation intensity was determined is higher than a predetermined threshold value. Accordingly, the target power of the heating element can be increased if the irradiation intensity in one, several or all spatial areas is smaller than a further predetermined threshold value.

Also, a targeted, local air conditioning and / or ventilation can be carried out depending on the spatial intensity distribution. For example, a left face region may be cooled and / or streamed in a targeted manner if all of the intensity values or a mean intensity value in the image region which images the left face region is / is higher than a predetermined threshold value.

Preferably, however, the determination of the at least one control or regulating parameter can take place in the form of a self-learning system. For this purpose, as already explained above, an occupant recognition, for example via a face recognition, be performed. Furthermore, current settings of the at least one control or regulating parameter as well as the intensity distribution also present at this time are stored. Is the control or regulation parameters independent of the proposed method by a vehicle occupant directly or indirectly, z. B. depending on further, z. B. manually, adjustable sizes, adjustable, so so the settings selected by the vehicle occupants can be stored with respect to the intensity distribution. Then, as explained above, the intensity distribution can be determined at a later point in time, the control or regulating parameter currently to be set being determined as a function of the stored distributions and the control or regulation parameters corresponding to these distributions. Thus, the self-learning system may determine adjustments to the control parameter with respect to the predetermined intensity distributions.

The determination of the at least one control or regulating parameter as a function of the intensity distribution of a predetermined wavelength is advantageously independent of a skin color of the vehicle occupant. This was shown by experiments in the document Poh et al., "Non-contect, automated cardiac pulse measurements using video imaging and blind source separation", Optics Express, Vol. 10, 2010 are documented.

In a further embodiment, a parameter describing a facial expressions and / or an eyelid impact and / or a respiration and / or a heartbeat of the vehicle occupant is determined. For example, a frequency of eyelid impact and / or a frequency of respiration and / or or a frequency of the heartbeat of the vehicle occupant can be determined image-based. A frequency of the respiration can be effected, for example, by a determination of an image area in which a thorax of the vehicle occupant is depicted, wherein in addition a movement of the imaged thorax is determined image-based. A frequency of the movement corresponds to z. B. the frequency of breathing. The image-based determination of a frequency of the heartbeat of the vehicle occupant is in the previously described document Poh et al., "Non-contect, automated cardiac pulse measurements using video imaging and blind source separation", Optics Express, Vol. 10, 2010 described. Thus, reference is made to the content of this document for such a provision. To determine a frequency of the eyelid beat, a determination can be made of an image area in which an eyelid is imaged. In addition, then a movement of the eyelid can be detected, wherein a frequency of the movement corresponds to the frequency of the eyelid impact.

To determine a facial expression, for example, visible movements in the facial area or movements in several partial areas of the face of the vehicle occupant can be determined image-based. These movements, such as muscle movements, may then be associated with a predetermined facial expression, such as a laugh. It is also conceivable that certain facial movements can also be associated with a thermal sensation, for example a cold or sweating.

Furthermore, depending on this parameter / parameter, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device is determined. For example, the setpoint power of the cooling element can be increased if the parameter describing the facial expressions changes frequently, since it can be assumed that frequent changes, e.g. B. may be caused by persistent talk, corresponding to a large activity of the vehicle occupant, which also leads to a subjectively perceived warming in the vehicle occupants. A common change can be z. B. be determined if the first derivative of the time course is at least temporarily greater than a predetermined threshold. Accordingly, the target power of the heating element can be increased if the parameter describing the facial expressions seldom changes. A rare change can be z. B. then be found if the first derivative of the time course is at least temporarily smaller than a predetermined threshold.

A determination of the at least one control or regulating parameter can in turn be determined as a function of a self-learning system. For example, a setting or the value of the at least one control parameter and the parameter (s) present at the same time describing the facial expressions and / or the eye and / or the respiration and / or the heartbeat may be stored become. If a parameter present at this later time is then determined at a later time, then the at least one control parameter can be determined as a function of the stored values. In the case of the determination of the eyelid beat and / or the frequency of the eyelid beat, a correlation to a climatic sense of comfort can be established, for example, such that at a frequency of the eyelid beat which is greater than a predetermined frequency, a flow volume of an air stream directed at the vehicle occupant is reduced because z. B. can be assumed that too much draft is generated at increased frequency of eyelid beat.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one climatic information parameter and an occupant-specific, corresponding control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device present at the same time are determined and stored, for example in a memory device of the vehicle. For this purpose, an occupant recognition, for example via a face recognition, be performed.

At a later time, an occupant-specific control and regulation parameter which is currently to be determined is additionally determined as a function of the stored parameters, that is to say the stored climatic information parameter and the at least one occupant-specific control or regulation parameter corresponding thereto. In this case, an occupant recognition, for example via a face recognition, is also carried out in order to call the corresponding occupant-specific stored parameters in an occupant-specific manner.

This advantageously enables an implementation of the above-described self-learning system, which stores control or regulation parameters of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device set by a vehicle occupant with respect to at least one of the previously described climatic information parameters and thus at a later point in time an occupant-specific automatic adjustment of the air conditioning Control or control parameters allowed.

In another embodiment, climatic information parameters for various Subareas of the image determined, wherein the different sub-areas correspond to different air conditioning and / or ventilation zones of the vehicle interior or this map. Depending on the climatic information parameters for the various subregions, at least one control and regulating parameter of the air conditioning and / or aeration device is determined in each case for the various air conditioning and / or ventilation zones. For example, partial areas may be determined in the image, which depict a left front area of the vehicle interior, a right front area of the vehicle interior, a left rear area of the vehicle interior and a right rear area of the vehicle interior. Here, these individual areas can be independently conditioned and / or ventilated. Accordingly, control and regulation parameters of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device can be determined in each case according to the method explained above for the various areas. Of course, it is conceivable that various air conditioning and / or ventilation devices are present in the vehicle, with the corresponding control and regulation parameters being determined for the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device that controls and / or ventilates the corresponding area.

It is also conceivable that a plurality of vehicle occupants are detected, for example, a driver and a passenger. Furthermore, at least one occupancy-specific climatic information parameter can then be determined. Are z. For example, if two vehicle occupants are detected, then at least one occupant-specific climatic information parameter can be determined for each of the vehicle occupants. Accordingly, depending on the particular occupant-specific climatic information parameter, at least one control and regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device for air-conditioning and / or ventilation of the area in which the corresponding vehicle occupant is placed can then be determined. As a result, a targeted energy-efficient zone air conditioning and / or ventilation can be made possible in an advantageous manner.

Further proposed is a device for controlling or regulating an air-conditioning and / or ventilation device of a vehicle, wherein the device comprises at least one image capture device and at least one evaluation device. By means of the image capture device, for example a webcam or a camera with a predetermined spectral range, for example the previously explained spectral range, an image of at least one part of a vehicle interior can be generated.

According to the invention, at least one climatic information parameter can be determined image-based by means of the evaluation device, wherein at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device can be determined as a function of the at least one climatic information parameter.

The proposed device advantageously allows the execution of one of the previously explained methods.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. The single figure shows a schematic cross section through a vehicle.

In 1 is a schematic cross section through a vehicle 1 with a vehicle interior 2 shown. Here is a first person 3 and another person 4 in the vehicle interior 2 arranged. In the vehicle 1 is a camera 5 arranged, the one represented by dashed lines detection area 6 having. Here it is shown that a head and shoulder area of the first vehicle occupant 3 as well as the entire further vehicle occupant 4 in the coverage area 6 are arranged. By means of the camera 5 Thus, a picture of at least part of the vehicle interior 2 generated. The camera 5 is data technology with an evaluation device 7 connected. The evaluation device 7 Can this from the camera 5 evaluated image and, for example, a determination of an imaged facial area of the first vehicle occupant 3 and further vehicle occupants 4 carry out. Next, the evaluation 7 in this pictured facial area z. For example, determine a liquid coverage, an intensity distribution of light of a predetermined wavelength, and parameters that include a facial expression, an eyelid impact, a respiration, and a heartbeat of the first vehicle occupant 3 and further vehicle occupants 4 describe. Next, the evaluation 7 pictured clothing areas of the first vehicle occupant 3 and further vehicle occupants 4 determine and, depending on the size of the clothing areas, a degree of clothing and a degree of insulation of a clothing of the first vehicle occupant 3 , the other vehicle occupants 4 and also determine a passenger, not shown.

It is also possible that the evaluation light irradiated, z. B. sun-irradiated, imaged areas of the vehicle interior 2 certainly.

Depending on all these specific parameters, the evaluation determines 7 z. B. a desired temperature, a desired power of a heating element and / or a desired power of a Cooling element of an air conditioning and / or ventilation device 8th , Also, the evaluation device 7 a desired volume flow of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device 8th determine. This can be done by means of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device 8th an air conditioning, such as heating or cooling, the vehicle interior 2 and ventilation of the vehicle interior 2 to be controlled.

The described device for controlling or regulating an air conditioning and / or ventilation device 8th used to determine a climatic comfort state inexpensive, conventional camera systems, eg. B. Webcams. Thus, it is not necessary to use infrared measurement systems. Furthermore, as previously explained, the evaluation device 7 be designed as a self-learning system. Here are z. B. the first vehicle occupant 3 made adjustments or setting changes of at least one control or regulating parameter of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device 8th and the currently determined climatic information parameters stored. Prerequisite for this is an individual or face recognition z. B. the first vehicle occupant 3 , Thus, an occupant-related climate profile of a particular vehicle occupant can be created, which can be transferred to other vehicles.

Furthermore, a set of climatic information parameters can then be determined at a current point in time, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or aeration device then being determined as a function of the climate profile.

The use of conventional camera systems results in advantageous cost savings. Next, the proposed device can be in a simple manner with other assistance systems in the vehicle 1 get in touch. For example, the camera 5 used for fatigue detection, seat occupancy detection and interior monitoring and for other tasks. Of course, the proposed device can also be used in combination with high or low resolution infrared measurement systems to further improve the determination of the climatic information parameter.

The optical detection of the vehicle interior 2 by means of the camera 5 allows in a further advantageous manner, the detection of whether vehicle occupants 3 . 4 are strapped. As a result, an image-based seat belt detection can be performed, which allows replacement of the seat belt sensor. Furthermore, it can be recognized whether a head restraint (not shown) on one for the corresponding vehicle occupants 3 . 4 appropriate position is set. Next, a fatigue detection z. B. be performed in response to eye movements. Also, by means of the camera 5 z. B. during a telephone conversation an image of the calling vehicle occupant 3 . 4 be transmitted, which advantageously allows video telephony.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle

2

Vehicle interior

3

first vehicle occupant

4

another vehicle occupant

5

camera

6

detection range

7

evaluation

8th

Air conditioning and / or ventilation device

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19648038 A1 [0003]

Cited non-patent literature

• Poh et al., "Non-contect, automated cardiac pulse measurements using video imaging and blind source separation", Optics Express, Vol. 10, 2010 [0047]
• Poh et al., "Non-contect, automated cardiac pulse measurements using video imaging and blind source separation", Optics Express, Vol. 10, 2010 [0048]

Claims (10)

Method for controlling or regulating an air-conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) of a vehicle ( 1 ), wherein an image of at least one part of a vehicle interior ( 2 ) Is generated, characterized in that at least one image-based information climatic parameter is determined, at least one control or regulating parameters of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) is determined as a function of the at least one climatic information parameter. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one light-irradiated region of the part of the vehicle interior ( 2 ), wherein, depending on a size and / or a position of the at least one light-irradiated area and / or a light irradiation intensity, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) is determined. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that an image of at least a portion of a vehicle occupant ( 3 . 4 ) is generated, wherein as a climatic information parameter an occupant-related climatic information parameter is determined. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that a degree of clothing of the vehicle occupant ( 3 . 4 ) and / or a degree of isolation of a clothing of the vehicle occupant ( 3 . 4 ), wherein, depending on the degree of clothing and / or the degree of insulation, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) is determined. Method according to one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that at least one skin area of the vehicle occupant ( 3 . 4 ), wherein the occupant-related climatic information parameter is determined as a function of the imaged skin area. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that a liquid coverage of the skin area and / or an intensity distribution of a predetermined wavelength in the skin area of the vehicle occupant ( 3 . 4 ), wherein, depending on the degree of liquid coverage and / or the intensity distribution, the at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) is determined. Method according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that a mimic and / or an eyelid impact and / or respiration and / or a heartbeat of the vehicle occupant ( 3 . 4 ) descriptive parameter is determined, depending on this parameter, the at least one control or control parameters of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) is determined. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one climatic information parameter and an occupant-specific, corresponding control or regulating parameters of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) are stored, wherein a current-to-be determined occupant-specific control and regulation parameters is additionally determined in dependence of the stored parameters. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that climatic information parameters for different subregions of the image are determined, wherein the different subregions to different air conditioning and / or ventilation zones of the vehicle interior ( 2 Depending on the climatic information parameter for the various air conditioning and / or ventilation zones, at least one control and regulating parameter of the air conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ). Device for controlling or regulating an air-conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) of a vehicle ( 1 ), wherein the device comprises at least one image capture device and at least one evaluation device ( 7 ), wherein by means of the image capture device, an image of at least part of a vehicle interior ( 2 ) can be generated, characterized in that by means of the evaluation device ( 7 ) image-based at least one climatic information parameter can be determined, wherein at least one control or regulating parameter of the air-conditioning and / or ventilation device ( 8th ) can be determined as a function of the at least one climatic information parameter.

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