FR3040802A1 - DEVICE FOR DEMONSTRATING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a demonstration device (1) comprising: ○ a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device (100), ○ at least one infrared lamp (2) directed towards the user (3), and ○ a system control system for the heating, ventilating and / or air-conditioning device (100), said control system comprising: ▪ a first camera (4) sensitive to wavelengths located in the average infrared spectrum; ▪ a second camera (5) responsive to wavelengths in the visible spectrum and / or in the near-infrared spectrum, and ▪ an electronic image processing and analysis device (6) capable of: ○ locating remarkable points (401,402,403,404,405,406) on the images of the second camera (5), ○ carry over said remarkable points (401,402,403,404,405,406) on the images of the first camera (4), ○ make temperature measurements on the images of the first camera (4) at the same time at the remarkable points (401,402,403,404,405,406), and ○ calculate from these measurements at least one thermal comfort coefficient of the user (3), the thermal comfort coefficient being used for the adjustment of the thermal comfort of the user (3). ).

Description

The invention relates to a control system demonstration device for an air-conditioning installation of a motor vehicle and more particularly to a system of a motor vehicle. having at least one temperature sensor.

Indeed, it is known to measure the interior temperature of the passenger compartment and the body temperature of the occupant or occupants at different levels, in particular on various particular points of the face such as the nose, the cheeks and the forehead, in order to calculate a coefficient thermal comfort of the latter. This coefficient of thermal comfort is calculated according to a mathematical formula based on the thermal sensation of a representative panel of the population at which the body temperature was measured under different conditions. The calculated thermal comfort coefficient is then used for the adjustment of the air temperature, the air flow rate and the air distribution within the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device.

In order to measure these different temperatures, the control system generally comprises an infrared camera that acts as a temperature sensor. Nevertheless, in order to be able to discriminate the various particular points of the face, the infrared camera must have a definition or important resolution, which implies the use of an expensive infrared camera. Generally such a system is integrated within the motor vehicle, nevertheless for a presentation at exhibitions and / or exhibitions of the control system, a whole motor vehicle may not be suitable.

An object of the present invention is therefore to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a control system demonstration device for an air conditioning installation of a motor vehicle.

The present invention therefore relates to a demonstration device comprising: ° a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device, ° at least one infrared lamp directed towards the user, and ° a control system for the heating, ventilation and / or heating device. or air conditioning, said control system comprising: a first wavelength-sensitive camera located in the medium-infrared spectrum, a second wavelength-sensitive camera located in the visible spectrum and / or in the near-infrared spectrum, and a an electronic image processing and analysis device capable of: 0 locating remarkable points for the thermal comfort of the user on the images of the second camera, 0 reporting said remarkable points on the images of the first camera, 0 performing temperature measurements on the images of the first camera at the remarkable points, and 0 calculate from these measurements to the ego ns a coefficient of thermal comfort of the user, the coefficient of thermal comfort being used for the adjustment of the air temperature, the air flow and the distribution of air within the heating, ventilation and / or or air conditioning.

The demonstration device allows good visualization and practical experience of the operation of the control system because it is possible to simulate heating the user by means of the infrared lamp (s).

According to one aspect of the invention, the demonstration device further comprises a seat arranged so that the user faces the first and second cameras.

According to another aspect of the invention, the demonstration device comprises an air conditioning installation comprising a compressor, a condenser, a motor-fan unit, an expansion device, an evaporator.

According to another aspect of the invention, the compressor, the condenser and the motor-fan unit are arranged in a first compartment disposed under the seat.

According to another aspect of the invention, the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device is disposed in a second compartment disposed in front of the seat and that the evaporator is installed within the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device.

According to another aspect of the invention, the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device comprises an air blower through the evaporator, said air being redirected to the user via the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device. .

According to another aspect of the invention, the demonstration device comprises a condensate collecting tank from the evaporator.

According to another aspect of the invention, the electronic image processing and analysis device is disposed in the second compartment.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first and second cameras are fixed on a height-adjustable element.

According to another aspect of the invention, at least one infrared lamp is attached to the top of a mast so as to be positioned above the user and illuminate his face.

According to another aspect of the invention, the demonstration device further comprises a device for displaying the thermal data. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings in which: FIGS. 1 to 3 show schematic representations of perspective of the demonstration device, - Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a control system and a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, - Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the captured images. by the cameras of the control system.

The identical elements in the different figures bear the same references.

The following achievements are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

In the present description, it is possible to index certain elements or parameters, for example first element or second element as well as first parameter and second parameter, or first criterion and second criterion, and so on. In this case, it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name elements or parameters or criteria close but not identical. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element, parameter or criterion with respect to another, and it is easy to interchange such denominations without departing from the scope of the present description. This indexing does not imply either an order in time for example to appreciate such or such criteria.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show, in different views, a demonstration device 1 comprising: a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 100, an air conditioning installation, at least one infrared lamp 2 directed towards the user 3, and ° a control system for the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 100.

More particularly, the demonstration device comprises a seat 7, a first compartment A disposed under the seat 7, and a second compartment B disposed in front of the seat 7. Inside these first A or second B compartments, are arranged different elements constituting in particular the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning device 100, the air-conditioning installation, and the control system for the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning device 100. The air-conditioning system notably comprises a compressor 110, a condenser 111, a motor-fan unit 112, an expansion device (not shown) and an evaporator 113, so as to define, in combination with the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning device 100, a flow circuit and heat exchange for a refrigerant.

According to the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the compressor 110, the condenser 111 and the motor-fan unit 112 may be arranged in the first compartment A.

The heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning device 100 can for its part be placed in the second compartment B. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning device 100 can notably comprise, within it, the evaporator. 113 of the air conditioning, and an air blower 114 through said evaporator 113. The heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 100 may also comprise ventilation ducts 102 which allow a redirection of the air propelled by the air blower 114 to the user 3. These air ducts 102 may include shutter flaps 103 and venting tips 101 orientable and placed in front of the user 3. The amount of air passing through the evaporator 113 may be controlled via for example a flap 106. The heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 100 may also comprise other elements not shown such as a itif electric heating.

The demonstration device 1 may further comprise a condensate collection tank 115 from the evaporator 113 disposed below the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 100, an electrical panel 11 arranged for example in the second compartment B , as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. The demonstration device 1 may also include wheels 10 to facilitate transport.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, at least one infrared lamp 2, in the examples shown there are two, can be fixed to the top of a mast C so as to be positioned above the user 3 and illuminate his face. The infrared lamp or lamps 2 can also be surmounted by a protection 8 to avoid any risk of burns and glare.

The control system comprises: a first camera 4 sensitive to wavelengths located in the mean infrared spectrum, a second camera 5 responsive to wavelengths located in the visible spectrum and / or in the near infrared spectrum, and An electronic device 6 for processing and analyzing images.

The seat 7 and the first 4 and second 5 cameras are positioned so that when the user 3 is sitting, he faces the first 4 and second 5 cameras. The first 4 and second 5 cameras can also be fixed on a height-adjustable element 12, for example on the mast C.

The electronic processing and analysis device 6 is able to locate remarkable points 401, 402, 404, 404, 405, 406 (visible in FIG. 5) for the thermal comfort of the user 3, on the images 300 of the second camera 5, as well as to be recorded. said remarkable points 401, 402, 404, 404, 405, 406 on the images 200 of the first camera 4. The electronic device 6 for processing and analysis thus establishes a concordance between the faces of the images 300 of the second camera 5 and the images 200 of the first camera 4. On the images 200 of the first camera 4, the electronic device 6 for processing and analysis is able to measure the temperature of the user 3. These user temperature measurements 3 are performed on the remarkable points 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406 defined on the 300 images of the second camera 5 and reported on the images 200 of the first camera 4. These images are in particular visible in FIG. a good measure of the temperature, the first camera 4 is preferably sensitive to wavelengths between 8 and 12pm which correspond to the wavelengths emitted by living organisms.

The definition of the first camera 4 is less than the definition of the second camera 5. The ratio between the definition of the first camera 4 and the definition of the second camera 5 is preferably between 9/4000 and 9/25000. More particularly, the definition of the first camera 4 is between 60x60 and 150x150 pixels, preferably between 70x70 and 120x120 pixels, and the definition of the second camera 5 is between 1 and 10 megapixels. For example, in the context of the invention, the definition of the first camera 4 may be of the order of 80 × 80 pixels and the definition of the second camera may be of the order of 3 megapixels. These definition values of the first 4 and second 5 cameras are a good compromise between their definition necessary to achieve their functions and their costs.

The fact of using the images 300 of the second camera 5 to locate the remarkable points 401, 402, 404, 404, 405, 406 and then to transfer them to the images 200 of the first camera 4, allows the use of a first camera 4 having a reduced definition and therefore less expensive. Indeed, so that on the images 200 of a first infrared camera 4, it is possible to discriminate the remarkable points, the latter must be of an important definition.

The fact that the second camera 5 is sensitive to wavelengths located in the near-infrared spectrum makes it possible, in particular, to capture an image permitting the marking of the remarkable points 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406 even in low light or at night.

The measurements made at the remarkable points 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406 are used for the adjustment of the air temperature, the air flow rate and the air distribution within the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 100. This can be performed by the electronic processing and analysis device 6 which calculates from these measurements a coefficient of thermal comfort. This coefficient of thermal comfort is calculated according to a mathematical formula based on the temperature measurements made and on the thermal sensation of a representative panel of the population, at which the body temperature was measured under different conditions. According to the value of this coefficient of thermal comfort, an electronic device 6 of treatment and analysis influences elements of the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 100 in order to regulate the air temperature, the air flow rate and the distribution of air within said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 100.

The electronic device 6 for processing and analysis can thus play on the orientation, the opening or closing of the aeration tips 101 placed in front of the user 3. The electronic processing and analysis device 6 can also affect the opening or closing of the shutters 103 of the ventilation ducts 102, the stopping or the ignition of the air thruster 114, the start of the air conditioning, on the quantity air through the evaporator 113 via for example the flap 106. The electronic device 6 for processing and analysis can also control other elements not shown such as the electric heater.

The remarkable points preferably comprise at least the front 401, the nose 402 and the cheeks 403, 404. These points are considered remarkable because they are easily recognizable by the electronic device 6 for image processing and analysis. 300 of the second camera 3 and that they also correspond to important points for the measurement of the body temperature of the user 3. Indeed, the nose 402 is a point where the temperature of the face is low while the cheeks 403 , 404 as well as the forehead are wide areas where the body temperature is relaxed and therefore easily measurable. The first 2 and second 3 cameras both have the face 40 of the user 3 in their respective field 20, 30. In addition, the remarkable points may also include the bottom 406 of the image and also a portion of the garments 405 of said user 3.

The report of the remarkable points 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406 from the image 300 of the second camera 5 on the image 200 of the first camera 4 is done by mathematical calculation knowing the position of the first 4 and second 5 cameras with respect to the other as well as their orientations. In order to limit the distortions between the images coming from the two cameras 4, 5 as well as to limit the complexity of the calculations made by the electronic processing and analysis device 6, the first 4 and second 5 cameras are preferably positioned side by side or one above the other. For the same reasons, the first 4 and second 5 cameras preferably have a near or even identical focal length.

Thus, it is possible to simulate a heating of the user 3 by means of the infrared lamp or lamps 2 in order to demonstrate the interest of the control system. Said control system thus performs the following steps: taking images 200 in the average infrared spectrum by the first camera 4 and taking images 300 in the visible spectrum and / or in the near-infrared spectrum by the second camera 5, analysis 300 images of the second camera 5 by the electronic device 6 for processing and analysis and identification of remarkable points 401,402,403,404,405,406 for the thermal comfort of the user 3, reported by the electronic device 6 for processing and analysis of remarkable points 401,402,403,404,405,406 on the images 200 of the first camera 4 and measurement of the temperature at these remarkable points 401,402,403,404,405,406, calculation of a coefficient of thermal comfort by the electronic device 6 processing and analysis from the temperature measurements, and adjustment the air temperature, air flow and air distribution within the heating, ventilation and / or u air conditioning 100 according to the value of the coefficient of thermal comfort.

For a thermal comfort coefficient indicating that the user is cold, the control system will for example turn on the heating of the air intended to go to said user 3 until the thermal comfort coefficient indicates a neutral state. On the contrary, if the thermal comfort coefficient indicates that the user 3 is hot, the control system will for example turn on the air conditioning and thus the cooling of the air intended to go towards said user 3 until the coefficient of thermal comfort indicates a neutral state.

The control system may also find that the coefficient of thermal comfort is different according to the right or left side of the user 3, for example due to exposure via one of the infrared lamps 2 on one of the sides of said user. In this case, the control system can adjust the air temperature and its orientation to obtain an identical thermal comfort coefficient value on each side and indicating neutral state.

This thermal information as well as for example the images from the first 4 and second 5 cameras can for example be retransmitted to the user 3 via a display device 9 thermal data.

Thus, it is clear that the demonstration device 1 allows good visualization and practical experience of the operation of the control system for an application especially in the automotive field.

Claims (11)

Demonstration device (1) comprising: a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device (100), at least one user-directed infrared lamp (2), and a control system for the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning device (100), said control system comprising: a first camera (4) sensitive to wavelengths located in the medium-infrared spectrum, a second camera (5) sensitive to the lengths of waves located in the visible spectrum and / or in the near-infrared spectrum, and an electronic device (6) for processing and analyzing images able to: ° identify remarkable points (401,402,403,404,405,406) for the thermal comfort of the user (3) on the images of the second camera (5), ° to postpone said remarkable points (401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406) to the images of the first camera (4), ° to make temperature measurements on the images of the first camera (4) at level of s remarkable points (401,402,403,404,405,406), and ° calculate from these measurements at least one coefficient of thermal comfort of the user (3), the coefficient of thermal comfort being used for the adjustment of the air temperature, the flow rate of air and air distribution within the heater, ventilation and / or air conditioning (100). 2. Demonstration device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a seat (7) arranged so that the user (3) faces the first (4) and second (5) cameras. 3. Demonstration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an air conditioning installation comprising a compressor (110), a condenser (111), a motor-fan unit (112), a expansion device, an evaporator (113). 4. Demonstration device (1) according to claims 2 and 3 taken in combination, characterized in that the compressor (110), the condenser (111) and the motor-fan unit (112) are arranged in a first compartment (A ) arranged under the seat (7). 5. Demonstration device (1) according to the preceding claim or according to claims 2 and 3 taken in combination, characterized in that the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device (100) is disposed in a second compartment (B) disposed in front of the seat (7) and that the evaporator (113) is installed in the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning (100). 6. Demonstration device (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, or according to claims 2 and 3 taken in combination, characterized in that the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning (100) comprises a blower d air (114) through the evaporator (113), said air being redirected to the user (3) via the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device (100). 7. Demonstration device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6 characterized in that it comprises a recovery tank (115) of condensation water from the evaporator (113). 8. Demonstration device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the electronic device (6) for processing and analyzing images is arranged in the second compartment (B). 9. Demonstration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first (4) and second (5) cameras are fixed on a height-adjustable element (8). 10. Demonstration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one infrared lamp (2) is fixed to the top of a mast (C) so as to be positioned above the user (3) and light up his face. 11. Demonstration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a display device (9) thermal data.