GB1593482A - Air conditioning assemblies for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR CONDITIONING ASSEMBLIES FOR VEHICLES (71) We, MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, a Japanese body corporate, of 33-8, Shiba 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to an air conditioning assembly for a motor vehicle.

In a conventional display system for displaying the operation of an air conditioner for a vehicle or the like, pilot lamps or abbreviated letters such as "VENT" and "DEF" have merely been provided on or adjacent to the actuator panel to display the operating state of the air conditioner. However, with such manner of display, the occupant manipulating the air conditioner actuator has been unable visually to confirm the presence or absence of air flow from a specific duct outlet and the temperature of air discharged from such an outlet. Further, the prior art of air conditioning display using merely the pilot lamps and abbreviated letters such as "VENT" and "DEF" has been quite inconvenient for the user since he cannot readily identify the location of the duct outlet from which air is flowing.For the convenience of the user, the air conditioner instruction manual has described how to use the air conditioner in detail over many pages.

According to the present invention there is provided an air conditioning assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: an air conditioner including a plurality of air intake ducts, a plurality of air discharge ducts, a plurality of dampers disposed in said ducts for closing and opening said ducts, and a fan unit; actuating means for actuating the dampers and the fan unit so as to regulate the flow and the temperature of air discharged from the discharge ducts; and a display device to be mounted in the vehicle and including a display panel carrying a representation of at least the vehicle body portions around the front seat thereof, the display device further including light emitting means and means for enabling the light emitting means to be selectively energised and de-energised in response to the manipulation of the actuating means to provide a luminant display on the display panel corresponding to the flows of air at the air conditioner, the light emitted by the light emitting means being either of a cold color or of a warm color corresponding to the relative temperature of the air flowing or to flow, along the ducts of the air conditioner.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an air conditioning assembly according to the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates part of an air conditioner shown in Fig.I;; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of an air conditioner actuator shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a display panel shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of a control section of the first embodiment; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the air conditioner actuator shown in Fig. I Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram of a vehicle speed detector for turning on and off a vehicle speed detector switch in the control section shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of a flickering circuit in the control section shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a graph showing the variation of voltage at a terminal X of the flickering circuit relative to time; Fig. 10 is a graph showing the variation of brightness of lamps connected with the flickering circuit; Fig.II is a circuit diagram of a light intensity attenuating circuit; Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram of a control section in a second embodiment of an air conditioning assembly according to the present invention Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of an air conditioning assembly according to the present invention Fig. 14 illustrates part of an air conditioner shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is an enlarged front elevational view of an air conditioner actuator and a display section shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail view of the display section shown in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a circuit diagram of a control section in the third embodiment of the air conditioning assembly;; Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a modified arrangement of the air conditioner actuator and display section; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of another modified arrangement of the air conditioner actuator and display section; Fig. 21 is a schematic view of a different form of a switch section shown in Fig.

18; Fig. 22 is a schematic view of another different form of the switch section' Fig. 23 is a schematic view of still another different form of the switch section; Fig. 24 is a schematic perspective view of part of a fourth embodiment of an air conditioning assembly according to the present invention; Fig. 25 illustrates part of an air conditioner associated with a fifth embodiment of an air conditioning assembly according to the present invention; Fig. 26 is a circuit diagram of a control section in the fifth embodiment; Fig. 27 is a front elevational view of a display section in the fifth embodiment; Fig. 28 is a circuit diagram of a control section in a sixth embodiment of an air conditioninng assembly according to the present invention Fig. 29 is a circuit diagram of a light intensity attenuating circuit in the control section shown in Fig. 28;; Fig. 30 is a circuit diagram of a logic circuit in the control section shown in Fig.

28; Fig. 31 is a circuit diagram of each of a pair of switch circuits in the control section shown in Fig. 28; Fig. 32 is a circuit diagram of a first sequential circuit in the control section shown in Fig. 28; Fig. 33 is a graph showing the waveforms of output signals in the sequential circuit shown in Fig. 32; Fig. 34 is a graph showing the sequential on-off switching of lamps connected with the sequential circuit shown in Fig. 32; Fig. 35 is a circuit diagram of a third sequential circuit in the control section shown in Fig. 28; Fig. 36 is a circuit diagram of a modified form of the sequential circuit shown in Fig. 32; Fig. 37 is a circuit diagram of a modified form of the sequential circuit shown in Fig. 35; Fig. 38 illustrates part of an air conditioner associated with a seventh embodiment of an air conditioning assembly according to the present invention; ; Fig. 39 is a circuit diagram of a control section in the seventh embodiment; Fig. 40 illustrates part of an air conditioner associated with an eigth embodiment of an air conditioning assembly according to the presennt invention Fig. 41 is a circuit diagram of a control section in the eigth embodiment; and Fig. 42 is a front elevational view of a preferred form of air conditioner actuator used in the arrangement shown in Fig. 20.

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 10.

Referring to Figs. I to 10, a vehicle's air conditioner I includes an air duct 2, a fan unit 3 and a heater core 4. One end of the air duct 2 is branched into an external air intake duct 21 having an inlet 21' and a compartment air intake duct 22 having an inlet 22'. The other end of the air duct 2 is also branched into a defrosting air discharge duct 23 having an outlet 23' and a pair of air discharge ducts 24 and 25 having outlets 24' and 25' directing air toward the fdot portions of occupants on the front and rear seats respectively. A ventilating air discharge duct 26 having an outlet 26' is branched from an intermediate portion of the air duct 2 for directing air toward the upper half of the body of an occupant sitting on the front seat. A first damper 27 is disposed between the external air intake duct 21 and the compartment air intake duct 22.A second damper 28 is disposed between the defrosting air discharge duct 23 and the front and rear seat foot air discharge ducts 24 and 25. A third damper 29 is disposed between the ventilating air discharge duct 26 and the air duct 2. The fan unit 3 is disposed in the air duct 2 between the first damper 27 and the third damper 29, while the heater core 4 is disposed in the air duct 2 between the third damper 29 and the second damper 28 to be supplied with engine cooling water. A valve 40 regulates the amount of engine cooling water supplied to the heater core 4.

A conventional air conditioner actuator 5 is mounted adjacent to the instrument panel of the vehicle and includes an actuator panel 50, a change-over lever 51, a heater lever 52 and a fan switch 53. The change-over lever 51 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the actuator panel 50 and is operatively connected with the first to third dampers 27 to 29 by a link mechanism 511 (Fig. 6) and cables 54 and 55. When the change-over lever 51 is moved to a position A labeled "RECIRC" on the panel 50, the first damper 27 closes the external air intake duct 21 and opens the compartment air intake duct 22, and the third damper 29 closes the air duct 2 and opens the ventilating air discharge duct 26.When the changeover lever 51 is moved to another position B labeled "VENT" on the panel 50, the first damper 27 opens the external air intake duct 21 and closes the compartment air intake duct 22, while the third damper 29 remains in the position corresponding to the "RECIRC" position of the lever 51 to discharge external air from the outlet 26' of ventilating air discharge duct 26. No warm air is discharged from this outlet 26'. When the change-over lever 51 is moved to another position D labeled "HEAT" on the panel 50, the first damper 27 opens the external air intake duct 21 as in the "VENT" position of the lever 51, while the third damper 29 closes the ventilating air discharge duct 26, and the second damper 28 closes the defrosting air discharge duct 23 and opens the front and rear seat foot air discharge ducts 24 and 25.When the change-over lever 51 is moved to another position C intermediate the "VENT" position and the "HEAT" position on the panel 50, the third damper 29 is placed in its neutral position as shown in Fig. 2, and air flows out from the ducts 26, 24 and 25. When the change-over lever 51 is moved to another position F labeled "DEF" on the panel 50, the third damper 29 closes the ventilating air discharge duct 26, and the second damper 28 opens the defrosting air discharge duct 23 and closes the front and rear foot air discharge ducts 24 and 25. When the change-over lever 51 is moved to another position E intermediate the "HEAT" position and the "DEF" position on the panel 50, the second damper 28 is placed in its neutral position as shown in Fig. 2, and the ducts 23, 24 and 25 are opened partly to permit flow of air thereinto.

The heater lever 52 is operatively connected by a cable 56 with the valve 40, and this valve 40 is fully closed when the heater lever 52 is moved to the "OFF" position at the left-hand end of its stroke in Fig. 3. As the heater lever 52 is moved toward the right in Fig. 3 from the "OFF" position, the opening of the valve 40 is gradually increased until finally the valve 40 is fully open when the heater lever 52 reaches the "HOT" position at the right-hand end of its stroke in Fig. 3. The fan switch 53, which actuates the fan unit 3, is selectively placed in one of the "OFF", "Lo", "M" and "H" positions.

An air conditioning display device 6 comprises a display section 61 and a control section 62. The display section 61 is disposed adjacent to the vehicle's instrument panel and has a display panel 611 on its front face. Referring to Fig. 4, the profiles of the vehicle body, instrument panel, seats and driver are depicted on this display panel 611, together with the arrows indicating the directions of air flow into and out of the air conditioner 1 and the corresponding abbreviations or displays "FRESH", "REC", "DEF", "HEAT", "HEAT/R", "VENT" and "REAR VENT".The display "FRESH" displays that fresh air flows into the air conditioner I from the inlet 21' of external air intake duct 21, and the display "REC" displays that compartment air flows into the conditioner 1 from the inlet 22' of compartment air intake duct 22. The display "DEF" displays that defrosting air flows out from the outlet 23' of defrosting air discharge duct 23, and the displays "HEAT" and "HEAT/R" display that air flows out from the outlets 24' and 25' of front seat and rear seat foot air discharge ducts 24 and 25 respectively. The display "REAR VENT" displays that compartment air flows out from a communication duct communicating between the rear part of compartment and the exterior. The display "VENT" displays that ventilating air flows out from the outlet 26' of ventilating air discharge duct 26.

Referring to Fig. 5, the control section 62 comprises a switch array 63 disposed in the air conditioner actuator 5 and comprises also a lamp array 64 and a flickering circuit 65 disposed on the back side of the display panel 611. The switch array 63 includes first to fourth conductive brushes 631 to 634, first and second electrode plates 635, 636, a vehicle speed detector switch 637, the fan switch 53 of double switch structure, and a heater switch 639 turned on and off by the heater lever 52.

The first to fourth conductive brushes 631 to 634 are arcuate in shape and are mounted in circumferentially parallel relation on the lower surface of the changeover lever 51 pivoted to a suitable portion of the air conditioner actuator 5 for making a swinging movement on the panel 50 of air conditioner actuator 5 as best shown in Fig. 6. The first and second electrode plates 635 and 636 are also arcuate in shape so as to be electrically engaged by the brushes 631 to 634 as shown in Fig.

6. More precisely, the first electrode plate 635 is engaged by the first brush 631 when the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position A labeled "RECIRC" in Fig. 3. The second electrode plate 636 has a circumferentially outwardly stepped configuration as shown in Fig. 6 and is engaged by the second brush 632 when the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position B labeled "VENT" in Fig. 3. This second electrode plate 636 is engaged by both the second and third brushes 632 and 633 when the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position C in Fig. 3, and by the third brush 633 only in the position of the lever 51 when moved to the position D labeled "HEAT".Further, this second electrode plate 636 is engaged by both the third and fourth brushes 633 and 634 when the lever 51 is moved to the position E in Fig. 3, and by the fourth brush 634 only in the position of the lever 51 when moved to the position F labeled "DEF" in Fig. 3. In Fig. 5 showing the structure of the control section 62, the first to fourth brushes 631 to 634 and the first and second electrode plates 635 and 636 are merely schematically illustrated for convenience of explanation.

The vehicle speed detector switch 637 is in the form of a relay and is turned on and off by a conventional vehicle speed detector 637' as shown in Fig. 7. Referring to Fig. 7, this known vehicle speed detector 637' is composed of a light-emitting diode D, a photo transistor F, diodes Dt to D3, transistors Tr Tr2, resistors R1 to R3, and a rotary disc P. When the vehicle is not running or it is running at a very low speed of, for example, less than 10 km/hr, the rotary disc P arranged for interlocking operation with the pointer of vehicle's speed meter does not intercept the optical path between the light-emitting diode D and the photo transistor F.In this case, the infrared light emitted from the light-emitting diode D is received by the photo transistor F, and the internal resistance of transistor F becomes very low compared with the resistance value of resistor R2, with the result that an extremely low voltage is applied to the diode D1 to inhibit the transistors Tr, and Tr2 from turning on. Therefore, the exciting coil of vehicle speed detector switch 637 is not energized to maintain the switch 637 in its off state. When the vehicle speed increases to more than 10 km/hr, the rotary disc P arranged for interlocking operation with the pointer of the speed meter now intercepts the optical path between the light-emitting diode D and the photo transistor F, and the infrared light emitted from this diode D is not received by the photo transistor F. In this case, the resistance of photo transistor F is approximately equal to the resistance value of resistor R2, and a sufficiently high voltage is applied to the diode D to turn on the transistors Tr, and Tr2. Consequently, the exciting coil of vehicle speed detector switch 637 is energized to turn on this switch 637. This switch 637 is connected at one of its stationary contacts with a battery (not shown) and at the other stationary contact thereof with the second electrode plate 636. Referring to Fig. 5, the fan switch 53 of double switch structure, which is selectively placed in one of the "OFF", "Lo", "M" and "H" positions as described hereinbefore, consists of a first switch 53' and a second switch 53".The first switch 53' is connected at its "Lo" terminal with the fan unit 3 through a first resistor, at its "M" terminal with the fan unit 3 through a second resistor having a smaller resistance value than the first resistor, and at its "H" terminal directly with the fan unit 3 without any resistor interposed therebetween. The "Lo", "M" and "H" terminals of the second switch 53" are interconnected to be connected directly with the first electrode plate 635 and with the second electrode plate 636 through a diode 638.

Referring to Fig. 5, the lamp array 64 includes first to tenth lamps 640 to 649 disposed on the back side of the display panel 611. The first lamp 640 emitting blue light is disposed on the back side of the display "REAR VENT" and its air flow pattern display "y " " on the display panel 611 to illuminate these displays with blue light when energized. This lamp 640 is connected at one terminal thereof with first to third diodes D4 to De and at the other terminal thereof with a terminal X of the flickering circuit 65 described later. The second lamp 641 which emits blue light also is disposed on the back side of the display "FRESH" and its air flow pattern display on the display panel 611 to illuminate these displays with blue light when energized. This lamp 641 is connected in parallel with the first lamp 640.The third lamp 642 emitting blue light also is disposed on the back side of the display "VENT" and its air flow pattern display to illuminate these displays with blue light when energized. This lamp 642 is connected at one terminal thereof with fourth and fifth diodes D7 and D8 and at the other terminal thereof with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65. The first, second and third diodes D4, D5 and Do are connected with the second, third and fourth brushes 632, 633 and 634 respectively.

The fourth and fifth diodes D7 and D8 are connected with the first and second brushes 631 and 632 respectively. The fourth lamp 643 emitting blue light also is disposed on the back side of the display "REC" and its air flow pattern display on the display panel 611 to illuminate these displays with blue light when energized.

This lamp 643 is connected at one terminal thereof with the first brush 631 and at the other terminal thereof with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65. The fifth lamp 644 emitting red light is disposed on the back side of the display "HEAT" and its air flow pattern display on the display panel 611 to illuminate these displays with red light when energized. This lamp 644 is connected at one terminal thereof with the third brush 633 and at the other terminal thereof with a relay 630 described later. The sixth lamp 645 emitting blue light is disposed in close proximity to the fifth lamp 644 to illuminate the display "HEAT" and its air flow pattern display with blue light when energized.

This lamp 645 is connected at one terminal thereof with the third brush 633 and at the other terminal thereof with the relay 630. The seventh lamp 646 emitting red light is disposed on the back side of the display "HEAT/R" and its air flow pattern display on the display panel 611 to illuminate these displays with red light when energized. This lamp 646 is connected in parallel with the fifth lamp 644. The eighth lamp 647 emitting blue light is disposed in close proximity to the seventh lamp 646 to illuminate the display "HEAT/R" and its air flow pattern display with blue light when energized. This lamp 647 is connected in parallel with the sixthh lamp 645. The ninth lamp 648 emitting red light is disposed on the back side of the display "DEF" and its air flow pattern display on the display panel 611 to illuminate these displays with red light when energized.This lamp 648 is connected at one terminal thereof with the fourth brush 634 and at the other terminal thereof with the relay 630. The tenth lamp 649 emitting blue light is disposed adjacent to the ninth lamp 648 to illuminate the display "DEF" and its air flow pattern display with blue light when energized. This lamp 649 is connected at one terminal thereof with the fourth brush 634 and at the other terminal thereof with the relay 630. In Fig. 5, the symbols L and R designate the blue-emitting and red-emitting lamps respectively.

The heater switch 639 in the switch array 63 is in the form of a microswitch and is disposed in the air conditioner actuator 5 to be connected at one of its stationary contacts with the exciting coil 630' of relay 630. In this relay 630, its movable contact or arm 630" is brought into contact with a stationary contact b when the heater lever 52 is placed in the "OFF" position in Fig. 3, and this movable arm 630" is brought into contact with another stationary contact a when the heater lever 52 is moved to any other position than the "OFF" position, that is, when the valve 40 is opened to permit supply of engine cooling water to the heater core 4. The contact a of relay 630 is connected with the fifth, seventh and ninth lamps 644, 646 and 648, while the contact b is connected with the sixth, eighth and tenth lamps 645, 647 and 649.The movable arm 630" of relay 630 is connected with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65.

The flickering circuit 65 is composed of a programmable unijunction transistor PUT, resistors Ra to R11, transistors Tor3, Tr4, a capacitor C and a Zener diode ZD, as shown in Fig. 8. The oscillation circuit consisting of the programmable unijunction transistor PUT, resistors R5 to R8 and capacitor C generates an output voltage having a waveform as shown in Fig. 9. This output voltage is inverted by the transistor Tr3 and amplified by the amplifier consisting of the transistor Tr4 and resistors R9, R10, Rill, and the electric potential is varied. Thus, the brightness of light emitted from the first to tenth lamps 640 to 649 connected with this terminal X varies in a manner as shown in Fig. 10.The resistor R4 and Zener diode ZD act to apply a DC bias to the output voltage of the oscillation circuit so that the brightness variation or flickering occurs in the light emitted from these lamps in the manner shown in Fig. 10 without these lamps making a flashing operation.

In operation, the change-over lever 51 of the air conditioner actuator 5 is moved to the position A labeled "RECIRC" to bring the first brush 631 into electrical contact with the first electrode plate 635. In the "OFF" position of the fan switch 53, no current is supplied from the battery to the first electrode plate 631, and none of the first to tenth lamps 640 to 649 is energized.

Then, when the fan switch 53 is placed in any one of the "Lo", "M" and "H" positions in the above state, air sucked into the compartment air intake duct 22 from its inlet 22' is discharged from the outlet 26' of ventilating air discharge duct 26. Due to the turning-on of the fan switch 53, current from the battery is supplied through the first electrode plate 635 and first brush 631 to the third and fourth lamps 642 and 643 to energize the same. Consequently, the displays "REC" and "VENT" and their air flow pattern displays on the display panel 611 are illuminated with blue light. In this case, the brightness of light emitted from the third and fourth lamps 642 and 643 is repeatedly varied by the action of the flickering circuit 65 thereby illuminating these displays with flickering blue light.

When the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position B labeled "VENT", the second brush 632 only is brought into electrical contact with the second electrode plate 636. Suppose that the fan switch 53 is not turned on, and the vehicle is not running or it is running at a speed lower than 10 km/hr in this case. Then, no current is supplied to the second electrode plate 636 since the vehicle speed detector switch 637 is in its off state, and none of the first to tenth lamps 640 to 649 is energized. Suppose, then, that the fan switch 53 is not turned on, and the vehicle is running at a speed higher than 10 km/hr, in this case.Then, the vehicle speed detector switch 637 is turned on, and current from the battery is supplied through the second electrode plate 636 and second brush 632 to the first, second and third lamps 640, 641 and 642 to energize the same so that the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH" and "VENT" and their air flow pattern displays are illuminated with blue light emitted from these lamps 640, 641 and 642. In this case too, the light emitted from these lamps 640, 641 and 642 flickers due to the action of the flickering circuit 65. Suppose, further, that the fan switch 53 is placed in one of the "Lo", "M" and "H" positions when the vehicle is not running or it is running at a speed lower than 10 km/hr. Then, the first to third lamps 640 to 642 are energized to illuminate the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH" and "VENT" and their air flow pattern displays with blue light as in the above case.

When the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position C intermediate the "VENT" and "HEAT" positions, the second and third brushes 632 and 633 are brought into electrical contact with the second electrode plate 636. Suppose that the vehicle is not running or it is running at a speed lower than 10 km/hr, and the fan switch 53 is not turned on in such a case, then none of the first to tenth lamps 640 to 649 is energized. Suppose, then, that the fan switch 53 is not turned on, and the vehicle is running at a speed higher than 10 km/hr in this case. Then, the vehicle speed detector switch 637 is turned on, and current from the battery is supplied through the second electrode plate 636 to the second and third brushes 632 and 633. When the heater lever 52 is located in its "OFF" position in such a case, the heater switch 639 is not turned on, and the relay 630 is energized to bring its movable arm 630" into contact with the stationary contact b. Consequently, the current supplied from the battery to the second and third brushes 632 and 633 is now supplied to the first, second, third, sixth and eighth lamps 640, 641, 642, 645 and 647 to illuminate the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH", "VENT", "HEAT" and "HEAT/R" and their air flow pattern displays with blue light emitted from these lamps 640, 641, 642, 645 and 647. In this case, the light emitted from these lamps flickers by the action of the flickering circuit 65.In the position of the heater lever 52 except the "OFF" position, the heater switch 639 is turned on to bring the movable arm 630" of relay 630 into contact with the stationary contact a. Consequently, current supplied from the battery to the second and third brushes 632 and 633 is now supplied to the first, second, third, fifth and seventh lamps 640, 641, 642, 644 and 646 to illuminate the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH" and "VENT" and their air flow pattern displays with blue light emitted from the lamps 640, 641 and 642 and to illuminate the displays "HEAT" and "HEAT/R" and their air flow pattern displays with red light emitted from the lamps 644 and 646. In this case too, the light emitted from these lamps flickers due to the action of the flickering circuit 65.The same applies to the case in which the fan switch 53 is placed in one of the "Lo", "M" and "H" positions when the vehicle is running at a speed lower than 10 km/hr.

When the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position D labeled "HEAT", the third brush 633 only is brought into electrical contact with the second electrode plate 636. Suppose that the fan switch 53 is placed in one of the "Lo", "M" and "H" positions, or the vehicle is running at a speed higher than 10 km/hr, and the heater lever 52 is kept in its "OFF" position in this case. Then, current from the battery is supplied to the first, second, sixth and eighth lamps 640,641,645 and 647 to illuminate the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH", "HEAT", and "HEAT/R" and their air flow pattern displays with flickering blue light emitted from these lamps.In the position of the heater lever 52 except in the "OFF" position, the fifth and seventh lamps 644 and 646 are energized in lieu of the sixth and eighth lamps 645 and 647 to illuminate the displays "HEAT" and "HEAT/R" and their air flow pattern displays with flickering red light emitted from these lamps.

When the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position E intermediate the "HEAT" and "DEF" positions, the third and fourth brushes 633 and 634 are brought into electrical contact with the second electrode plate 636. Suppose that the fan switch 53 is placed in one of the "Lo', "M" and "H" positions, or the vehicle is running at a speed higher than 10 km/hr, and the heater lever 52 is kept in its "OFF" position in this case. Since, the movable arm 630" of relay 630 is now in contact with the stationary contact b, current supplied from the battery to the third and fourth brushes 633 and 645 is supplied to the first, second, sixth, eighth and tenth lamps 640, 641, 645, 647 and 649 to illuminate the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH", "HEAT/R" and "DEF" and their air flow pattern displays with flickering blue light emitted from these lamps.In the position of the heater lever 52 except the "OFF" position, the movable arm 630" of relay 630 is in contact with the stationary contact a.

Consequently, the fifth, seventh and ninth lamps 644, 646 and 648 are energized in lieu of the sixth, eighth and tenth lamps 645, 647 and 649 to illuminate the displays "HEAT", "HEAT/R" and "DEF" and their air flow pattern displays with flickering red light emitted from these lamps.

When the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position F labeled "DEF", the fourth brush 634 only is brought into electrical contact with the second electrode plate 636. Suppose that the fan switch 53 is placed in one of the "Lo", "M" and "H" positions, or the vehicle is running at a speed higher than 10 km/hr, and the heater lever 52, hence, the heater switch 639 is kept in its "OFF" position in this case. Then, the first, second and tenth lamps 640, 641 and 649 are energized to illuminate the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH" and "DEF" and their air flow pattern displays with flickering blue light emitted from these lamps. In the position of the heater lever 52 except the "OFF" position, the ninth lamp 648 is energized in lieu of the tenth lamp 649 to illuminate the display "DEF" and its air flow pattern display with flickering red light emitted from the lamp 648.

Table 1 shows the on-off display modes of the lamps 640 to 649 illuminating the displays.

TABLE 1

Change-over Lever Between VENT Between HEAT Position RECIRC VENT and HEAT HEAT and DEF DEF A B C D E F Fan Switch Display Heater EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT Position Lamp Lever OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF Position DEF - - - - - - - - L R L R VENT - - L L L L - - - - - OFF (During HEAT - - - - L R L R L R - Running) HEAT/R - - - - L R L R L R - DEF - - - - - - - - L R L R EXCEPT VENT L L L L L L - - - - - OFF HEAT - - - - L R L R L R - HEAT'R - - - - L R L R L R - REMARKS: 1. Symbol "-" Indicates that corresponding Lamp is not energized.

Symbols "L" and "R" Designate Blue-emitting and Red-emitting Lamps respectively.

2. Sybol "*" Indicates that none of Lamps is energized when Fan is OFF and Vehicle is not running.

It will be understood from the above description that the specific displays displaying the suction and discharge of air into and out of the specific ducts in the vehicle's air conditioner I become luminant on the display panel 611, and the displays corresponding to the discharge modes are illuminated with red light and blue light depending on the air temperature at the duct outlets, that is, when the heater is in use and not in use respectively, so that the driver and other occupants of the vehicle compartment can readily visually confirm the operating state of the air conditioner I.Further, an occupant who has not sufficient knowledge as to the manipulation of the air conditioner will be able to make the necessary manipulation for discharging warm or cold air from the duct outlets merely by actuating the change-over lever 51 and heater lever 52 while observing the displays on the display panel 611. The air conditioning display device is combined with the vehicle speed detector switch 637 and fan switch 53 so that the lamps displaying the outflow of air from the duct outlets can be energized only when such air actually flows out.

In the first embodiment described hereinbefore, the red-emitting and blueemitting lamps have been used for the air conditioning display. However, any other suitable combination of colors capable of distinguishing between warm air and cold air may be employed. For example, orange-emitting and green-emitting lamps may be used in lieu of the red-emitting and blue-emitting lamps. Further, in lieu of these lamps, self-emitting elements, light-emitting diodes, or any other suitable elements may be used.

A light intensity attenuating circuit 69 as shown in Fig. 11 may be employed in place of the flickering circuit 65 incorporated in the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 11, this light intensity attenuating circuit 69 is composed of a variable resistor VR, resistors R,2, R13, transistors Trs, Tor", a relay R and a lighting switch L.S. When the lighting switch L.S is turned off, the movable arm of relay R is brought into contact with a stationary contact A to short the terminal X to ground, with the result that the lamps 640 to 649 emit light of high intensity.On the other hand, when the lighting switch L.S is turned on, the movable arm of relay R is brought into contact with another stationary contact B to connect the terminal X to ground through the transistors Tr5, Tr6 and variable resistor VR, with the result that the intensity of light emitted from the lamps 640 to 649 is attenuated to a level lower than when the movable arm of relay R is in contact with the contact A.

In the first embodiment, a blue-emitting lamp has been used as the fourth lamp 643 which illuminates the display "RECIRC". However, this fourth lamp 643 may be a red-emitting lamp. Further, although the vehicle speed detector switch 637 has been arranged to be turned on at a vehicle speed higher than 10 km/hr, this switch 637 may be such that it is kept in its off position when the vehicle is not running, but it is immediately turned on when the vehicle starts to run. Further, although the vehicle speed detector switch 637 used in the first embodiment has been set to be turned on at the vehicle speed higher than 10 km/hr, the speed setting is in no way limited to the above value and may be suitably selected as desired.

In the first embodiment, the heater switch 639 has been arranged to be turned on when the heater lever 52 is moved from its "OFF" position. However, this heater switch 639 may be arranged to be turned on at the position at which warm air is actually discharged from the ducts as the heater lever 52 is moved from its "OFF" position toward its "HOT" position.

Fig. 12 shows part of a second embodiment, or a partial modification of the first embodiment, of the present invention, in which the vehicle speed detector switch 637 and the second switch 53" of the fan switch 53 in the control section 62 are eliminated, and in lieu thereof, the first and second electrode plates 635 and 636 are connected directly with the terminal IG of vehicle's ignition key switch K.S.

Table 2 shows the on-off display modes of the lamps 640--649 illuminating the displays in response to the manipulation of the change-over lever 51, ignition key switch K.S and heater lever 52.

TABLE 2

Change-over Lever Between VENT Between HEAT Position RECIRC VENT and HEAT HEAT and DEF DEF A B C D E F Heater EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT Display Lever K.S Lamp OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF Position IG REAR VENT - - L L L L L L L L L L FRESH - - L L L L L L L L L L L L VENT L L L L L L - - - - - RECIRC L L - - - - - - - - - HEAT - - - - L R L R L R - HEAT/R - - - - L R L R L R - DEF - - - - - - - - L R L R OFF ACC NONE OF LAMPS ARE ENERGIZED REMARKS:- 1. Symbol "-" Indicates that corresponding Lamp is not energized.

2. Symbol "L" Designates Blue-emitting Lamp.

3. Symbol "R" Designates Red-emitting Lamp.

According to this second embodiment, therefore, the display panel 611 displays as to which duct outlets are now ready to discharge air and also as to whether external air can now be admitted into the external air intake duct, although actual flow of air into and out of these ducts still does not take place at that time. Thus, the air conditioner can be very easily previously placed in the desired operating conditions before the vehicle starts to run.

Figs. 13 to 18 show a third embodiment of the present invention, and like reference numerals are used therein to designate like parts appearing in Figs. I to 10.

Referring to Figs. 13 to 18, an air conditioner 1 inclues an air duct 2 similar to that in the first embodiment. This air duct 2 includes an external air intake duct 21 having an inlet 21', a compartment air intake duct 22 having an inlet 22', a defrosting air discharge duct 23 having an outlet 23', a front seat foot air discharge duct 23 having an outlet 24', a rear seat foot air discharge duct 25 having an outlet 25', a ventilating air discharge duct 26 having an outlet 26', a first damper 27, a second damper 28 and a third damper 29. A fan unit 3 is disposed in the air duct 2 between the first and third dampers 27 and 29, and a heater core 4 is disposed in the air duct 2 between the second and third dampers 28 and 29. A valve 40 regulates the amount of engine cooling water supplied to the heater core 4.An evaporator 7 of a cooler is disposed in the compartment air intake duct 22.

An air conditioner actuator 5 is mounted adjacent to the instrument panel of the vehicle and includes an actuator panel 50, a change-over lever 51, a heater lever 52, a fan switch 53, an internal-external air lever 57 and a cooler switch 58. The change-over lever 51 is operatively connected with the second and third dampers 28 and 29 by a cable 54. When the change-over lever 51 is moved to a position A labeled "DEF" on the panel 50, the second damper 28 closes the foot air discharge duct 24 having an outlet 24', a rear seat foot air discharge duct 25 having an outlet damper 29 closes the ventilating air discharge duct 26.When the change-over lever 51 is moved to a position B intermediate the position A labeled "DEF" and a position C labeled "HEAT", the third damper 29 remains in the position corresponding to the "DEF" position of the change-over lever 51, and the second damper 28 takes its neutral position as shown in Fig. 14 to partly open the defrosting air discharge duct 23 and foot air discharge ducts 24, 25. When the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position C labeled "HEAT", the second damper 28 closes the defrosting air discharge duct 23 and opens the foot air discharge ducts 24, 25 while the third damper 29 still remains in the position closing the ventilating air discharge duct 26.When the change-over lever 51 is moved to a position D intermediate the "HEAT" position and a position E labeled "VENT", the third damper 29 takes its neutral position as shown in Fig. 14 to permit flow of air through the ventilating air discharge duct 26 and foot air discharge ducts 24, 25, while the second damper 28 remains in the same position as it takes in the "HEAT" position of the change-over lever 51. When the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position E labeled "VENT", the third damper 29 closes the air duct 2 and opens the ventilating air discharge duct 26. The heater lever 52 is operatively connected with the valve 40 by a cable 56, and this valve 40 is fully closed when the heater lever 52 is kept in its "OFF" position at the left-hand end of its stroke in Fig. 15.As the heater lever 52 is moved toward the right in Fig. 15 from the "OFF" position, the opening of the valve 40 is gradually increased until finally the valve 40 is fully open when the heater lever 52 reaches the "HOT" position at the right-hand end of its stroke in Fig. 15. The fan switch 53 is selectively placed in one of the "OFF", "Lo", "M" and "H" positions. The internal-external air lever 57 is operatively connected with the first damper 27 by a cable 55, so that, when this lever 57 is moved to a position labeled "RECIRC", the first damper 27 closes the external air intake duct 21 and opens the compartment air intake duct 22, while when the lever 57 is moved to a position labeled "FRESH", the first damper 27 opens the external air intake duct 21 and closes the compartment air intake duct 22. In the "OFF" position of the cooler switch 58, the refrigerant is not supplied to the cooler evaporator 7. As this switch 58 is turned clockwise in Fig. 15 from its "OFF" position, the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 7, and the amount of the refrigerant supplied is controlled by the angular position of the switch 58.

An air conditioning display device 6 comprises a display section 61 and a control section 62. The display section 61 is disposed adjacent to the air conditioner actuator 5 and includes a display panel 611, a smoked panel 612, a shielding plate 613, partition plates 614 and a casing 615. The display panel 611 is in the form ot a transparent plate of glass or acrylic resin fixed at its peripheral edges to the casing 615, and the profiles 611' of the vehicle's front windscreen, bonnet, instrument panel and driver are depicted on the back face of the transparent plate with a paint of color such as white which is easily visible to the eye. An illuminating lamp 650 is disposed along the lower edge of the display panel 611.The smoked panel 612, which is a plate of glass or acrylic resin, is disposed on the back side of the display panel 611 in slightly spaced apart relation therefrom, and the shielding plate 613 is bonded to the back face of the smoked panel 612. A "FRESH" display pattern 616 is provided by cutting out a portion of the shielding plate 613 in the form of a substantially straight elongate slot having an arrow-shaped end so as to display pictorially the flow pattern of air into the air conditioner 1 from the outlet 21' of external air intake duct 21.A "RECIRC" display pattern 617 is provided by cutting out another portion of the shielding plate 6 15 in the form of an elongate curved slot having an arrow-shaped end so as to display pictorially the flow pattern of air into the air conditioner 1 from the inlet 22' of compartment air intake duct 22. a "DEF" display pattern 618 is provided by cutting out another portion of the shielding plate 613 in the form of a substantially straight elongate slot having its width increasing gradually toward the direction of discharge or air so as to display pictorially the flow pattern of air out of the outlet 23' of defrosting air discharge duct 23.A "HEAT" display pattern 619 and a "HEAT/R" display pattern 620 are provided by cutting out portions of the shielding plate 613 in the form of substantially straight elongate slots having their width increasing toward the direction of discharge of air so as to display pictorially the flow patterns of air out of the outlets 24' and 25' of front and rear seat foot air discharge ducts 24 and 25 respectively. A "VENT" display pattern 621 is provided by cutting out another portion of the shielding plate 613 in a manner similar to the "HEAT" display pattern 619 so as to display pictorially the flow pattern of air out of the outlet 26' of ventilating air discharge duct 26.

The partition plates 614 extend on the back side, or right-hand side in Fig. 17, of the shielding plate 613 so as to define independent spaces for the illumination of the individual display patterns 616 to 621 as shown in Fig. 17. Referring to Fig. 16, a blue-emitting second lamp 641 is disposed in the space behind the "FRESH" display Pattern 616, and a blue-emitting fourth lamp 643 is disposed in the space behind the "RECIRC" display pattern 617. A red-emitting ninth lamp 648 and a blue-emitting tenth lamp 649 are disposed in the space behind the "DEF" display pattern 618, and a red-emitting fifth lamp 644 and a blue-emitting sixth lamp 645 are disposed in the space behind the "HEAT" display pattern 619.A red-emitting seventh lamp 646 and a blue emitting eigth lamp 647 are disposed in the space behind the "HEAT/R" display pattern 620, and a blue-emitting third lamp 642 is disposed in the space behind the "VENT" display pattern 621. The red-emitting lamps are provided by covering incandescent lamps with a red cap, and the blueemitting lamps are provided by covering incandescent lamps with a blue cap.

The control section 62 comprises a switch array 63 disposed in the air conditioner actuator 5, a lamp array 64 disposed on the back side of the display panel 611, and a flickering circuit 65. The switch array 63 includes second, third and fourth brushes 632, 633, 634, a second electrode plate 636, the fan switch 53, a heater switch 630, an internal-external air switch 570 and the cooler switch 58. The structure and operation of the second to fourth brushes 632 to 634 and second electrode plate 636 are entirely similar to those described with reference to the first embodiment. The heater switch 630 is connected with a terminal X of flickering circuit 65, and its movable arm is in contact with a stationary contact b when the heater lever 52 is placed in its "OFF" position.In any other position of the heater lever 52, its movable arm is brought into contact with another stationary contact a.

The internal-external air switch 570 is switched over from one position to the other with the movement of the internal-external air lever 57. That is, its movable arm is brought into contact with a stationary contact a when the lever 57 is moved to the "RECIRC" position, while its movable arm is brought into contact with another stationary contact b when the lever 57 is moved to the "FRESH" position. The fan switch 53 controls the amount of air discharged from the fun unit 3 depending on its "Lo", "M" or "H" position, and this switch 53 is so connected that current from the battery can be supplied to the second electrode plate 636 and to the internalexternal air switch 570 in any one of its "Lo", "M" and "H" positions.

The lamp array 64 includes the aforementioned second to tenth lamps 641 to 649, the aforementioned illuminating lamp 650 and a cooler relay 580. The second lamp 641 is connected at one terminal thereof with the contact b of internalexternal air switch 570 and at the other terminal thereof with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65. The third lamp 642 is connected at one terminal thereof with the fourth brush 634 and at the other terminal thereof with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65. The fourth lamp 643 is connected at one terminal thereof with the contact a of internal-external air switch 570 and at the other terminal thereof with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65.The fifth lamp 644 is connected at one terminal thereof with the third brush 633 and at the other terminal thereof with one stationary of cooler relay 580 by way of a diode D9. The sixth lamp 645 is connected at one terminal thereof with the third brush 633 and at the other terminal thereof with the contact b of heater switch 630 by way of a diode D,o. The seventh lamp 646 and eighth lamp 647 are connected in parallel with the fifth lamp 644 and sixth lamp 645 respectively.The ninth lamp 648 is connected at one terminal thereof with the second brush 632 and at the other terminal thereof with the contact of cooler relay 580 by way of a diode D,t. The tenth lamp 649 is connected at one terminal thereof with the second brush 632 and at the other terminal thereof with the contact b of heater switch 630 by way of a diode D,2. The other stationary contact of cooler relay 580 is connected with the contact a of heater switch 630, and the coil 581 of cooler relay 580 is connected at one end thereof with the cooler switch 58 and is grounded at the other end thereof The illuminating lamp 650 is connected at one terminal thereof with the lighting switch L.S used for the on-off switching of the vehicle's head lamps, clearance lamps, etc. and is grounded at the other terminal thereof.The cooler switch 58 is so constructed that it is not turned on unless the internal-external air lever 57 is placed in the "RECIRC" position. The structure of the flickering circuit 65 is entirely the same as that described with reference to the first embodiment.

In operation, no display is provided in the "OFF" position of the fan switch 53 since no current is supplied from the battery to the second to tenth lamps 641 to 649. However, the illuminating lamp 650 is only energised when the lighting switch l.S is turned on.

Suppose that the fan switch 53 is placed in one of the "Lo", "M" and "H" positions, the change-over lever 51 is kept in the "DEF" position, the heater lever 52 is kept in the "OFF" position, the internal-external air lever 57 is kept in the "RECIRC" position, and the cooler switch 58 is not turned on. In such a case, the second brush 632 is in electrical contact with the second electrode plate 636, and the movable arm of heater switch 630 is in contact with contact b. Consequently, current supplied from the battery flows through the fan switch 53, second electrode plate 636, second brush 632, tenth lamp 649 and diode D12 to be supplied to the contact b of heater switch 630, thence, to the flickering circuit 65.The tenth lamp 649 emits flickering blue light which passes through the "DEF" display pattern 618 in the shielding plate 613 and then through the smoked panel 612 to reach the display panel 611. Thus, the "DEF" display pattern 618 is displayed on the display panel 611 with flickering blue lignt which is readily sensed by the eyes of the occupant. Further, due to the fact that the internal-external air switch 570 is connected at its contact a with the fan switch 53, the fourth lamp 643 is also energized to emit flickering blue light which passes through the "RECIRC" display pattern 617 and then through the smoked panel 612 to reach the display panel 611.

Thus, this "RECIRC" display pattern 617 is displayed on the display panel 611 with flickering blue light which is readily visible to the eyes of the occupant. The operation is similar to that above described when the cooler switch 58 is turned on.

Then, when the internal-external air lever 57 is moved to the "FRESH" position from the "RECIRC" position, the movable arm of internal-external air switch 570 is brought into contact with the contact b to deenergize the fourth lamp 643 and energize the second lamp 641 in turn, with the result that the "FRESH" display pattern 616 is displayed on the display panel 611 with flickering blue light.

When the heater lever 52 is then moved from the "OFF" position toward the "HOT" position in the state in which the internal-external air lever 57 is placed in the "RECIRC" or "FRESH" position, the movable arm of heater switch 630 is brought into contact with the contact a to deenergize the tenth lamp 649. Since the cooler switch 58 is in its "OFF" position and the relay 580 is in its energized state, the ninth lamp 648 is energized to emit flickering red light which passes through the "DEF" display pattern 618 and then through the smoked panel 612 to reach the display panel 611. Thus, the "DEF" display pattern 618 is displayed on the display panel 611 with flickering red light. In this case, the "RECIRC" or "FRESH" display pattern 617 or 616 is also displayed on the display panel 611 with flickering blue light.

When the cooler switch 58 is turned on with the internal-external air lever 57 kept in the "RECIRC" position and the heater lever 52 kept in the position moved from the "OFF" position, the cooler relay 580 is deenergized to deenergize the ninth lamp 648.

Table 3 shows the luminant display modes of the display patterns when the later lever 52 and cooler switch 58 are manipulated in the positions A,B,C,D and E of the change-over lever 51.

TABLE 3

Change-over Lever Between DEF Between HEAT Position DEF and HEAT HEAT and VENT VENT F an Switch A B C D E & Cooler Switch Display Heater Pattern Lever EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF Position Position DEF L - L - - - - - - Fan Switch HEAT - - L - L - L - - EXCEPT HEAT/R Cooler Switch ON VENT - - - - - - L L L L DEF L R L R - - - - - Fan Switch EXCEPT HEAT OFF, HEAT/R - - L R L R L R - Cooler Switch OFF VENT - - - - - - L L L L REMARKS: 1. Symbol "-" Indicates that patterns are not displayed. Symbols "L" and "R" represent Blue and Red displays respectively.

2. None of Display patterns is displayed in OFF position of Fan Switch.

The "RECIRC" display patterns 616 and 617 are displayed on the display panel 611 only when the internal-external air lever 57 is placed in its "FRESH" and "RECIRC" position.

It will be understood from the foregoing description of the third embodiment that the occupant can easily visually confirm the flow of air into and out of the air conditioner 1 and also the discharge of warm air or cold air merely by looking at the display panel 611. The display patterns appearing on the display panel 611 clearly display the flow directions of air in the strip form so that the flow direction of air can be readily visually confirmed. The disposition of the display patterns 616 to 621 on the back side of the smoked panel 612 improves the visibility of the display patterns since such patterns are visible to the eyes of the occupant only when the associated lamps are energized. Further, the occupant can easily see the display panel 611 when he manipulates the air conditioner actuator 5 since the display panel 611 is disposed adjacent to this actuator 5.

The second electrode plate 636 and internal-external air switch 570 in Fig. 18 may be connected with the terminal IG of the vehicle's ignition key switch instead of being connected with the fan switch 53, so that the second to tenth lamps 641 to 649 can be energized when the ignition key switch is in its IG position. The luminant display modes of the display patterns 616 to 621 in such a modification are similar to those shown in Table 3.

The fourth lamp 643 in the third embodiment may be a red-emitting lamp. The use of such a lamp is preferable since the "RECIRC" display pattern 617 is displayed on the display panel 611 with flickering red light whenever the cooler is in operation, and this manner of display matches well with the actual opoerating mode of the air conditioner.

In the third embodiment, the profiles 611' of the front windscreen, bonnet, instrument panel and driver have been depicted on the back face of the display panel 611 with a readily visible color such as white. However, V-shaped grooves defining the profiles 611' may be formed on the back face of the display panel 611, and the illuminating lamp 650 may be connected with the terminal IG of the vehicle's ignition key switch, fan switch 53 and vehicle sped detector switch 637 so that it may be energized whenever the display device 6 is in operation.

Further, although the display section 61 of the display device 6 has been disposed adjacent to the air conditioner actuator 5 in the third embodiment, this display section 61 may be disposed adjacent to the meter cluster MC as shown in Fig. 19, or it may be disposed at the front end portion of the center console box C.B, and the air conditioner actuator 5 may be disposed at the rear end portion of the center console box CB as shown in Fig. 20. In such a case, the air conditioner actuator 5 may be of a type shown in Fig. 42 so that it may be operated conveniently.

In the third embodiment, the second electrode plate 636 and brushes 632, 633, 634 have been provided for detecting the position of the change-over lever 51.

However, this position detecting means may include a different arrangement as shown in Fig. 21. Referring to Fig. 21, the position detecting means is composed of a cam 510 and microswitches 511, 512 and 513. The cam 510 is formed at the end of the change-over lever 51 remote from the manipulated .end of the lever 51, and the first microswitch 511 is fixed to the air conditioner actuator 5 to be connected at one terminal thereof with the third lamp 642 illuminating the "VENT" display pattern and at the other terminal thereof with the "Lo", "M" and "H" terminals of fan switch 53. The second microswitch 512 is also fixed to the air conditioner actuator 5 to be connected at one terminal thereof with the fifth to eighth lamps 644 to 647 and at the other terminal thereof with the "Lo", "M" and "H" terminals of fan switch 53.The third microswitch 513 is also fixed to the air conditioner actuator 5 to be connected at one terminal thereof with the ninth and tenth lamps 648 and 649 and at the other terminal thereof with the "Lo", "M" and "H" terminals of fan switch 53. The change-over lever 51 is pivoted to the air conditioner actuator 5 by a pivot 514.

The third microswitch 513 is turned on when the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position A labeled "DEF", and the second and third microswitches 512 and 513 are simultaneously turned on when the lever 51 is moved to the position B intermediate the "DEF" and "HEAT" positions. The second microswitch 512 is turned on when the lever 51 is moved to the position C labeled "HEAT", and the first and second microswitches 511 and 512 are simultaneously turned on when the lever 51 is moved to the position D intermediate the "HEAT' and "VENT" positions. The first micriswitch 511 is turned on when the lever 51 is moved to the position E labeled "VENT".

The use of such microswitches 511 to 513 is therefore advantageous in that these microswitches 511 to 513 can be turned on and off as this arrangement eliminates the tendency of accumulation of dust leading to mal-conduction of current which may be encountered in the case of the third embodiment in which the electrical contacts or the electrode plate and beushes are exposed.

In lieu of the slide switch structure consisting of the second electrode plate 636 and brushes 632, 633 and 634 in the third embodiment, a sealed slide switch 515 as shown in Fig. 22 may be employed. Referring to Fig. 22, this sealed slide switch 515 is mounted on the air conditioner actuator 5 and is composed of a slider 516 of electrical conductor and first to fourth electrodes 517, 518, 519 and 520 sealed within a casing. The slider 516 is connected with the change-over lever 51 by an inner cable 521, and this inner cable 521 extends through a hollow outer cable 522 which is fixed at one end thereof to the air conditioner actuator 5 and at the other end thereof to the slide switch 515. The slider 516 is slidable on the first to fourth electrodes 517 to 520.The first electrode 517 is connected with the ninth and tenth lamps 648 and 649, and the second electrode 518 is connected with the "Lo", "M" and "H" terminals of fan switch 53. The third electrode 519 is connected with the fifth to eighth lamps 644, to 647, and the fourth electrode 520 is connected with the third lamp 642. The slider 516 makes sliding contact with the first and second electrodes 517 and 518 when the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position A labeled "DEF", and the slider 516 makes sliding contact with the first, second and third electrodes 517, 518 and 519 when the lever 51 is moved to the position B intermediate the "DEF" and "HEAT" positions.The slider 516 makes sliding contact with the second and third electrodes 518 and 519 as shown in Fig. 22 when the lever 51 is moved to the position Clabeled "HEAT", and the slider 516 makes sliding contact with the second, third and fourth electrodes 518, 519 and 520 when the lever 51 is moved to the position D intermediate the "HEAT" and "VENT" positions. The slider 516 makes sliding contact with the second and fourth electrodes 518 and 520 when the lever 51 is moved to the position E labeled "VENT", and the lamps connected with the first, third and fourth electrodes 517, 519 and 520 are energized.

Fig. 23 shows a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 22. In this modification, the slider 516 in the sealed slide switch 515 in Fig. 22 is adapted to be directly urged by the change-over lever 51.

Further, the flickering circuit 65 used in the third embodiment may be replaced by the light intensity attenuating circuit 69 shown in Fig. 11. A Fresnel lens may be mounted on the shielding plate 613 to cover each of the display patterns 612 to 621 used in the third embodiment.

Fig. 24 shows a fourth embodiment, or a modification of the third embodiment, of the present invention, in which the flickering circuit 65 is eliminated, and a flickering cathode glow lamp is employed in place of the second lamp 641 illuminating the "FRESH" display pattern 616 to display this "FRESH" display pattern 616 on the display panel 611.

Referring to Fig. 24, an exciting coil 661 of a relay 66 is connected at the position of the second lamp 641 in Fig. 18, and an on-off contact 622 of relay 66 is connected between the battery and a DC-AC converter 67 which is connected with a flickering cathode glow lamp 68 disposed in the space behind the "FRESH" display pattern 616. When the internal-external air lever 57 is shifted to the "FRESH" position, and the movable arm of internal-external air switch 57 is brought into contact with the stationary contact b, the exciting coil 661 is energized to close the on-off contact 662, and direct current supplied from the battery and convcrted into alternating current by the DC-AC converter 67 is supplied to the flickering cathode glow lamp 68. Consequently, the glow point of the lamp 68 is shifted to shift the luminant spot on the "FRESH" display pattern 616.

Such an arrangement may also be applied to the other display patterns 617 to 621 to eliminate the flickering circuit 65. In this case, the luminant spot shifts on the display patterns 616 to 621 so that these display patterns 616 to 621 can visibly display the flow directions of air.

Figs. 25 to 27 show a fifth embodiment, or a modification of the third embodiment, of the present invention, in which the cooler evaporator 7 is disposed in the air duct 2 between the first damper 27 and the fan unit 3, and the "FRESH" and "RFClRC" display patterns 616 and 617 are displayed on the display panel 611 with blue light and red light.

In this fifth embodiment, the second lamp 641 and an eleventh lamp 641' are disposed in the space behind the 'FRESH" display pattern 616, and the fourth lamp 643 and a twelfth lamp 643' are disposed in the space behind the "RECIRC" display pattern 617. The second lamp 641 is connected at one terminal thereof with the stationary contact a of internal-external air switch 570 and at the other terminal thereof with a stationary contact a of a third switch 580"' of cooler relay 580 by way of a diode. The eleventh lamp 641' is connected at one terminal thereof with the contact a of internal-external air switch 570 and at the other terminal thereof with another contact b of third switch 580"' by way of another diode.The fourth lamp 643 is connected at one terminal thereof with the contact b of internal-external air switch 570 and at the other terminal thereof with the contact a of third switch 580"' by way of another diode. The twelfth lamp 643' is connected at one terminal thereof with the contact b of internal-external air switch 570 and at the other terminal thereof with the contact b of third switch 580"' by way of another diode.

The second and fourth lamps 641 and 643 emit blue light, and eleventh and twelfth lamps 641' and 643' emit red light. The cooler relay 580 includes first to third switches 580" and 580"' in each of which its movable arm is brought into contact with stationary contacts b and a when an exciting coil 581 of relay 580 is energized and deenergized respectively. The first switch 580' is connected at its contact a with the contact a of heater switch 630. The second switch 580" is connected at its movable arm with the sixth and tenth lamps 645 and 649. The contact a of second switch 580" is connected with the contact b of heater switch 630, and the contact is connected with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65. The third switch 580"' is connected at its movable arm with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65.

When the internal-external air lever 57 is placed in the "FRESH" position, and the heater lever 52 is placed in the "OFF" position, while the cooler switch 58 is kept in the "OFF" position, the movable arm of internal-external air switch 570 is brought into contact with the contact a, and the movable arm of heater switch 630 is brought into contact with the contact b, while the movable arm of third switch 580"' of cooler relay 580 is brough into contact with the contact a.

Consequently, the second lamp 641 is energized to display the "FRESH" display pattern 616 on the display panel 611 with flickering blue light.

The movable arm of internal-external air switch 570 is brought into contact with the contact b when the internal-external air lever 57 is shifted to the "RECIRC" position. The fourth lamp 643 is energized to provide a flickering blue light display of the "RECIRC" display pattern 617 on the display panel 611.

When the cooler switch 58 is then turned on in the above state, the cooler relay 580 is energized to bring the movable arm of third switch 580"' into contact with the contact b. Consequently, the fourth lamp 643 is deenergized, and the twelfth lamp 643' is energized in turn to provide a flickering red light display of the "RECIRC" display pattern 617 on the display panel 611.

Then, when the internal-external air lever 57 is restored to the "FRESH" position, the movable arm of internal-external air switch 570 is brought into contact with the contact a. Consequently, the twelfth lamp 643' is deenergized, and the eleventh lamp 641' is energized in turn to provide a flickering red light display of the "FRESH" display pattern 616 on the display pannel 611.

Therefore, the "FRESH" and "RECIRC" display patterns 616 and 617 displaying the flow patterns of air into the air conditioner 1 are displayed on the display panel 611 with flickering red light when the cooler is in operation, and although not described, the "HEAT", "DEF" and "VENT" display patterns 619, 618 and 621 displaying the flow patterns of cold air from the air conditioner 1 are displayed on the panel 611 with flickering blue light. Such manner of display matches well with the actual operating state of the air conditioner.

Figs. 78 to 35 show a sixth embodiment, or a modification of the fifth embodiment, of the present invention, in which the flickering circuit 65 is eliminated, and each of the second to twelfth lamps 641,642,643,644 to 649, 641' and 643' is replaced by an array of four lamps. The four lamps in these arrays are sequentially turned on and off by first, second and third sequential circuits 701,702 and 71 so as to provide luminant displays of air flow by the display patterns 616 to 621, as described hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 28 to 35, the tenth and sixth lamps 649 and 645, each consisting of an array of four lamps, are connected with transistors Tr, to Tr,n in the first sequential circuit 701 shown in Fig. 32, and the ninth and fifth lamps 648 and 644 each consisting an array of four lamps are connected with transistors Tr7 to Tr,n in the second sequential circuit 702 which is identical to the first sequential circuit 1.

The third lamp 642, consisting of an array of four lamps, is connected with transistors Tr" to Trl4 in the third sequential circuit 71. The second, eleventh, fourth and twelfth lamps 641,641', 643 and 643' each consisting of an array of four lamps are connected with the transistors Trt, to Tr14 in the third sequential circuit 71 through switch circuits 72 as shown in Fig. 28.

Each of the first and second sequential circuits 701 and 702 is composed of an oscillation circuit 703, a binary counter 704, four AND gates A, to A4, four resistors R,4 to Rl,, and four transistors Tr, to Tor,0. The oscillation circuit 703 is composed of a pair of NAND gates, capacitors, diodes and resistors. When the vehicle's ignition key switch not shown) is placed in its IG position, a Q output signal Q, and a Q output signal 1 are alternately by this oscillation circuit 703.The Q output signal Q, of the oscillation circuit 703 has a waveform as shown in Fig. 33a and is supplied to the binary counter 704 and to the AND gates A, and A3. The Q output signal Q1 has a waveform as shown in Fig. 33b and is supplied to the AND gates A2 and A4. In response to the application of the pulses of Q output signal Q1 of the oscillation circuit 703 to the binary 704, a Q output signal Q2 and a Q output signal Q2 having waveforms as shown in Figs. 33e and 33d respectively appear simultaneously from the binary counter 704. The Qoutput signal Q2 is supplied to the AND gates A, and A 2, and the Q output signal Q2 is supplied to the AND gates A 3 and A4. A terminal bearing the symbol * is connected with an output terminal * 1 or * 2 in Fig. 30.

When an input of high level is applied to the terminal * in Fig. 32, and the Q output signals Q, and Q2 having the waveforms shown in Figs. 33a and 33c and the Q output signals Q, and Q2 having the waveforms shown in Figs. 33b and 33d are applied to the AND gates A, to A4, high level outputs as shown in Figs. 33e to 33h appear from the respective AND gates A, to A4 to turn on the transistors Tr, to Tor,,. Consequently. a first lamp L, only is energized at first as shown in Fig. 34a.

Then, the first lamp L, is deenergized, and a second lamp L2 is energized in turn.

Then, a third lamp L3 only is energized, and subsequently, a fourth lamp L4 only is energized. Thus, the four lamps L, to L4 are repeatedly sequentially turned on and off in the above order. The array of these four lamps L, to L4 corresponds to each of the second to twelfth lamps 641, 642, 643, 644, to 649 641' and 643' in Fig. 28.

When the array of these four lamps L, to L4 is used as the second lamp 641, these lamps L, to L4 are disposed in vertically aligned relation with the lamp L; located uppermost in the space behind the "FRESH" display pattern 616 in Fig. 27.

When the array of these four lamps L, to L4 is used as the third lamp 642, these lamps L, to L4 are disposed in horizontally aligned relation with the lamp L, located leftmost in the space behind the "VENT" display pattern 621 in Fig 27. In the case of the remaining fourth to twelfth lamps 644 to 643' too, these lamps L, to L4 are disposed in aligned relation to indicate the directions of air flow.

The structure of the sequential circuit 701, 702 may be suitably modified so as to turn on and off the lamps L1 to L4 in overlapping relation as shown in Fig. 34b.

Referring to Fig. 35 showing the structure of the third sequential circuit 71, this circuit 71 is generally the same in structure as the sequential circuit 701, 702 shown in Fig. 32 except that the terminal * is eliminated. Thus, in response to the turning-on of the vehicle's ignition key switch, the transistors Tr" and Tr,4 are sequentially turned on and off to sequentially energize and deenergize the lamps L, to L4 as shown in Fig. 34a, as in the cases of the first and second sequential circuits 701 and 702 shown in Fig. 32.

Referring to Fig. 31, each switch circuit 71 includes a first relay R, and a second relay R2. The first relay R, includes four switches and an exciting coil.

These four switches are connected at one terminal thereof with the second or fourth lamp 641 or 643 and at the other terminal thereof with the transistors Tr" to Tr,4 in the third sequential circuit 71. The exciting coil of first relay R, is connected by way of an inverter with a third terminal *3 of a logic circuit 73 described latter.

Similarly, the second relay R2 includes four switches and an exciting coil. These four switches are connected at one terminal thereof with the eleventh or twelfth lamp 641' or 643' and at the other terminal thereof with the transistors Tr" or T,4 in the third sequential circuit 71. The exciting coil is connected with the third output terminal * 3 of logic circuit 73.

Referring to Fig. 30, the logic circuit 73 includes an OR gate 731, AND gates 732 and 734 and an inverter 733. When the movable arm of heater switch 630 is in contact with the contact a or when the cooler switch 58 is turned on, a high level ouput appears at the first output terminal * I of logic circuit 73. When the movable arm of heater switch 630 is in contact with the contact b or when the cooler switch 58 is turned off, a high level output appears at the second output terminal * 2 of logic circuit 73. In response to the turning-on of the cooler switch 58 in the above state, a high level output appears at the third output terminal *3 of logic circuit 73.

Referring to Fig. 29, a light intensity attenuating circuit 69' is composed of a relay R, a lighting switch L.S, a variable resistor VK, resistors R", R,8 and transistors Tr,s and Tor,6. A terminal a is connected with the "Lo", "M" and "H" terminals of fan switch 53, and another terminal p is connected with the second electrode 636 and internal-external air switch 570.

The relay R is in the deenergized state in the off position of the lighting switch L.S, and current from the battery flows through the terminal a and a contact A of relay R to the terminal ,B. In response to the turning-on of the lighting switch L.S, the relay R is energized to bring its movable arm into contact with another contact B. Consequently, the voltage E, divided by the variable resistor VR and amplified by the transistors Tr,5 and Tor,6, controls the voltage at the emitter of transistor Tr,6, and this controlled voltage is applied to the contact B of relay R.

Suppose that the fan switch 53 is placed in one of the positions except the "OFF" position, the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position A labeled "DEF", the internal-external air lever 57 is set at the "FRESH" position. the heater lever 52 is kept in its "OFF" position, and the cooler switch 58 is turned off.

Then, the second electrode plate 636 is engaged by the second brush 632, The movable arm of internal-external air switch 570 is brought into contact with the contact b, and the movable arm of heater switch 630 is brought into contact with the contact a. Consequently, a high level output appears at the first output terminal * I of logic circuit 73, and a low level output appears at the third output terminal * 3 of logic circuit 73. The first sequential circuit 701 is actuated to turn on and off sequentially the four lamps L, to L4 providing the tenth lamp 649 in the order shown in Fig. 34a. Therefore, the "DEF" display pattern 618 is displayed on the display panel 611 with blue light, and the luminant spot shifts sequentially upwards in Fig. 27 in the order of lamp L, to lamp L4.In response to the application of the low level output from the third output terminal * 3 of logic circuit 73 to the switch circuit 72, the first relay R1 is energized to turn on its four switches thereby connecting the second lamp 641 with the third sequential circuit 71. The four lamps L, to L4 providing the second lamp 641 are sequentially turned on and off in the order shown in Fig. 34a so that the blue luminant spot shifts sequentially downward on the "FRESH" display pattern 616 displayed on the display panel 611.

Then, when the cooler switch 58 is turned on, a high level output appears at the third output terminal * 3 of logic circuit 73 to deenergize the first relay R, and energize the second relay R2 in the switch circuit 72. Consequently, the four lamps L, to L4 providing the eleventh lamp 641' are sequentially turned on and off so that now the red luminant spot shifts on the "FRESH" display pattern 616 displayed on the display panel 611.

Then, when the cooler switch 58 is turned off, and the heater lever 52 is moved from the "OFF" position toward the "HOT" position, a high level output appears at the second output terminal * 2 of logic circuit 73, and a low level output appears at the third output terminal * 3 of logic circuit 73. The second sequential circuit 702 is actuated to turn on and off sequentially the lamps L1 to L4 providing the ninth lamp 648 so that the red luminant spot shifts sequentially upward on the "DEF" display pattern 618 displayed on the display panel 611. The operation is similar to that above described in the other positions of the change-over lever 51 and internal-external air lever 57.

It will therefore be seen that the four lamps L, to L4 are sequentially turned on and off to shift the luminant spot on each of the display patterns 616, 617, 618, 619, 620 and 621 displayed on the display panel 611 so that this shifting movement of the luminant spot on the display panel 611 indicates the direction of actual air flow in a form which is readily sensed by the eyes of the occupant.

A modified sequential circuit 701' as shown in Fig. 36 and a modified third sequential circuit 71' as shown in Fig. 37 may be employed in lieu of the first and second sequential circuits 701 and 702 shown in Fig. 32 and the third sequential circuit 71 shown in Fig. 35, respectively. In such a case, all the lamps L, to L4 are normally kept in the energized state and are subsequentially turned off in response to the operation of these sequential circuits 701' and 71'.

The vehicle's ignition key switch may be used in place of the fan switch 53 in the sixth embodiment.

Figs. 38 and 39 show a seventh embodiment, or a modication of the first embodiment, of the present invention. Thus, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same parts appearing in Figs. I to 10. In this seventh embodiment, a red-emitting thirteenth lamp 642' is disposed on the back side of the display "VENT" in addition to the blue-emitting third lamp 642 in the first embodiment, and the blue-emitting lamps and red-emitting lamps disposed on the bck side of the displays "VENT", "HEAT/R" and "DEF" are simultaneously energized when the heater and the cooler are simultaneously operated so as to illuminate these displays with purple light.

Referring to Figs. 38 and 39, the cooler evaporator 7 is disposed in the air duct 2 between the fan unit 3 and the heater core 4, and the ventilating air discharge duct 26 is arranged to open into the air duct 2 between the heater core 4 and the second damper 28. The third damper 29 is disposed in the position in which it selectively opens and closes the ventilating air discharge duct 26 and air duct 2. The relay 630 includes a first switch 630" and a second switch 630"' actuated in response to the energization and deenergization of the relay's exciting coil 630'. The blue-emitting third lamp 642 disposed on the back side of the display "VENT" is connected at one terminal thereof with diodes D7 and D8 and at the other terminal thereof with the stationary contact b of second switch 630"' by way of a diode.The red-emitting thirteenth lamp 642' disposed also on the back side of the display "VENT" is connected at one terminal thereof with the diodes D7 and D8 and at the other terminal thereof with the stationary contact a of second switch 630"' by way of a diode. The fifth and seventh lamps 644 and 646 disposed on the back side of the displays "HEAT" and "HEAT/R" respectively are connected with the stationary contact a of second switch 630"' by way of a diode, and the sixth and eighth lamps, 645 and 647 disposed also on the back side of the displays "HEAT" and HEAT/R" respectively are connected with the stationary contact b of second switch 630"' by way of a diode. The movable arms of first and second switches 630" and 630"' are connected with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65.The contacts b of these switches 630" and 630"' are connected with the cooler switch 58 by way of diodes respectively, and the cooler switch 58 is connected with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65. In this embodiment, the fourth lamp 643 emits red light When the change-over lever 51 is moved to the position B labeled "VENT" in the "OFF" position of the heater lever 52 and in the "OFF" position of the cooler switch 58, the second brush 632 engages with the second electrode plate 636, and since the heater switch 639 is turned off, the moveable arm of second switch 630"' in the relay 630 is brought into contact with the contact b to supply current from the battery to the third lamp 642 and connect this lamp 642 with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65. Consequently, the third lamp 642 is energized to illuminate the display "VENT" with flickering blue light.

Then, when the heater lever 52 is moved from the "OFF" position toward the "HOT" position, the exciting coil 630' of relay 630 is energized to actuate the first and second switches 630" ot relay 630 is energized to actuate the first and second switches 630" and 630"' thereby bringing the movable arm of second switch 630"' into contact with the contact a.

The third lamp 642 is deenergized, and the thirteenth lamp 642' is energized in turn to illuminate the display "VENT" with flickering red light.

Then, when the cooler switch 58 is turned on, the third lamp 642 is energized as it is connected with the cooler switch 58 by way of the diodes. At this time, the thirteenth lamp 642' is still kept in the energized state. As a result, the display "VENT" is illuminated with purple light which is a mixture of red light and blue light.

Table 4 shows the color display modes of the displays "DEF", "VENT", "HEAT", "HEAT/R", "REAR VENT", "FRESH" and "REC" depending on the positions of the change-over lever 51, heater lever 52, fan switch 53 and cooler switch 58 and also depending on the speed of the vehicle.

TABLE 4

Change-over Lever Between VENT Between HEAT Position RECIRC VENT and HEAT HEAT and DEF DEF A B C D E F Heater EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT Operating Display Lever Conditions Lamp OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF Position DEF - - - - - - - - L R L R Fan Switch VENT - - L R L R - - - - - OFF, Vehicle HEAT - - - - L R L R L R - Speed Higher than HEAT/R - - - - L R L R L R - 10km/hr REAR VENT - - L L L L L L L L L L FRESH - - L L L L L L L L L L RECIRC - - - - - - - - - - - DEF - - - - - - - - L R L R Fan Switch VENT L R L R L R - - - - - EXCEPT HEAT - - - - L R L R L R - OFF, Cooier HEAT/R - - - - L R L R L R - Switch REAR VENT - - L L L L L L L L L L OFF FRESH - - L L L L L L L L L L RECIRC R R - - - - - - - - - DEF - - - - - - - - L L.R L L.R VENT L L.R L L.R L L.R - - - - - - Cooler Switch HEAT - - - - L L.R L L.R L L.R - ON, Fan HEAT/R - - - - L L.R L L.R L L.R - Switch EXCEPT REAR/VENT - - L L L L L L L L L L OFF FRESH - - L L L L L L L L L L RECIRC R R - - - - - - - - - REMARKS: 1. Symbol "-" Idicates that Lamps are not Energized. Symbols "L", "R" and "L.R" Represent Blue Display, Red Display, and Purple Display respectively.

2. None of Lamps except Illuminating Lamp is energized when vehicle speed is lower than 10km/hr and Fan Switch is OFF.

It will therefore be seen that, when the heater and the cooler are simultaneously operated, the blue-emitting lamps and red-emitting lamps are simultaneously energized to illuminate the displays "VENT", "HEAT", "HEAT/R" and "DEF" with purple light, so that the occupant can readily visually confirm that a mixture of warm air from the heater and cold air from the cooler is being discharged. In this seventh embodiment, the fourth lamp 643 emits red light instead of blue light. Thus, when the cooler is operated in the "RECIRC" position of the change-over lever 51, the display "RECIRC" is illuminated with red light, and the display "VENT" is illuminated with blue light. This manner of color display matches well with the actual operating mode of the air conditioner.

In the seventh embodiment, the fourth lamp 643 may emit blue light instead of red light.

The structure of the display section 61 in the seventh embodiment is similar to that shown in Fig. 17 illustrating the third embodiment, and the display patterns 616 to 621 used in the third embodiment and illustrated in Fig. 16 may be used in the seventh embodiment so that such patterns may be displayed on the display panel 611.

Figs 40 and 41 show an eighth embodiment, or a modification of the seventh embodiment, of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are used to denote the same parts appearing in Figs. 38 and 39. In this eighth embodiment, four colors are used for display.

Referring to Figs. 40 and 41, the cooler evaporator 7 is disposed in the air duct 2 between the first damper 27 and the fan unit 3. The first lamp 640 illuminating the display "VENT" emits green light and is connected with the terminal X of flickering circuit 65 by way of a diode. the second lamp 641 and eleventh lamp 641' disposed on the back side of the display "FRESH" emit green light and orange light respectively. The second lamp 641 is connected with the contact a of cooler switch 58 by way of a diode, and the eleventh lamp 641' is connected with the contact b of cooler switch 58 by way of a diode. The third lamp 642 and thirteenth lamp 642' disposed on the back side of the display "VENT" emit green light and blue light respectively.The third lamp 642 is connected with the contact a of cooler switch 58 through a diode, and the thirteenth lamp 642' is connected with the contact b of cooler switch 58 by way of a diode. The fourth lamp 643 and twelfth lamp 643' disposed on the badk side of the display "REC" emit green light and orange light respectively. The fourth lamp 643 is connected with the contact a of cooler switch 58 by way of a diode, and the twelfth lamp 643' is connected with the contact b of cooler switch 58 by way of a diode. The fifth lamp 644, sixth lamp 645 and fourteenth lamp 644' disposed on the back side of the display "HEAT" emit red light, blue light and green light respectively.The fifth lamp 644 is connected with the contacts a of first and second switches 630" and 630"' in the relay 630 by way of a diode, and the sixth lamp 645 is connected with the contact b of cooler switch 58 by way of a diode. The fourteenth lamp 644' is connected with the contact b of second switch 630"' in the relay 630 by way of a diode. The seventh lamp 646, eighth lamp 647 and fifteenth lamp 646' disposed on the back side of the display "HEAT/R" emit red light, blue light and green light respectively. The seventh lamp 646 is connected in parallel with the fifth lamp 644, and the eighth lamp 647 is connected in parallel with the sixth lamp 645. The fifteenth lamp 646' is connected in parallel with the fourteenth lam 644'.The ninth lamp 648, tenth lamp 649 and sixteenth lamp 648' disposed on the back side of the display "DEF" emit red light, blue light and green light respectively. The ninth lamp 648 is connected with the contacts a of first and second switches 630" and 630"' in the relay 630 by way of a diode, and the tenth lamp 649 is connected with the contact b of cooler switch 58 by way of a diode. The sixteenth lamp 648' is connected with the contact b of second switch 630"' by way of a diode. The first switch 630" of relay 630 is connected with the contact b of cooler switch 58, and the second switch 630"' of relay 630 is connected with the contact a of cooler switch 58. The movable arm of cooler switch 58 is brought into contact with the contact a when turned off and with the contact h when turned on.

Suppose that the vehicle is running at a speed higher than 10 Km/hr with the change-over lever 51 placed in the position C intermediate the "VENT" and "HEAT" positions, the heater lever 52 kept in the "OFF" position and the cooler switch 58 turned off. Then, the second electrode plate 636 is engaged by the second and third brushes 632 and 633. Since the vehicle speed detector switch 637 is turned on and the heater switch 639 is turned off, the movable arms of first and second switches 630" and 630"' in the relay 630 are brought into contact with the contacts b, and the movable arm of cooler switch 58 is in contact with the contact a.

Consequently, the first, second, third, fourteenth and fifteenth lamps 640, 641, 642, 644' and 646' are energized to illuminate the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH", "VENT", "HEAT" and "HEAT/R", with green light. All these lamps are deenergized when the vehicle speed is reduced to less than 10 km/hr. When the fan switch 53 is placed in one of the "Lo", "M" and "H" positions at a vehicle speed lower than 10 km/hr, the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH", "VENT", "HEAT" and "HEAT/R" are illuminated with green light as in the above case.

When the fan switch 53 is placed in the "ON" position, or when the heater lever 52 is moved from the "OFF" position toward the "HOT" position at a vehicle speed higher than 10 km/hr, external air is discharged from the outlet 26' of ventilating air discharge duct 26, and warm air is discharged from the outlets 24' and 25' of foot air discharge ducts 24 and 25. Since the heater switch 639 is turned on, the movable arms of first and second switches 630" and 630"' in the relay 630 are now in contact with the contacts a. Consequently, the first, second, third, fifth and seventh lamps 640, 641, 642, 644 and 646 are energized to illuminate the displays "REAR VENT", "FRESH" and "VENT" with green light and the displays 'HEAT" and "HEAT/R" with red light.

Then, when the cooler switch 58 is turned on, the movable arm or cooler switch 58 is brought into contact with the contact b. Consequently, the second and third lamps 641 and 642 are deenergized, and the eleventh and thirteenth lamps 641' and 642' are energized in turn, while the first lamp 640 remains in the energized state. Also, the fifth, sixth, seventh and eigth lamps 644, 645, 646 and 647 are energized. Consequently, the display "REAR VENT" is illuminated with green light, the display "FRESH" is illuminated with orange light, the display "VENT" is illuminated with blue light, and the displays "HEAT" and "HEAT/R" are illuminated with purple which is a mixture of red light and blue light.

When the heater lever 52 is then restored to the "OFF" position, the heater switch 639 is turned off to bring the movable arms of first and second switches 639 is turned off to bring the movable arms of first and second switches 630" and 630"' in the relay 630 into contact with the contacts b. Consequently, the fifth and seventh lamps 644 and 646 are deenergized, while the sixth and eighth lamps 645 and 647 remain in the energized state. In this case, the displays "HEAT" and "HEAT/R" are illuminated with blue light.

Table 5 shows the color display modes of the displays "DEF", "VENT", "HEAT", "HEAT/R", "FRESH", "REAR VENT" and "REC" depending on the positions of the change-over lever 51, heater lever 52, fan switch 53, cooler switch 58 and vehicle speed detector switch 670.

TABLE 5

Change-over Lever Between VENT Between HEAT Position RECIRC VENT and HEAT HEAT and DEF DEF A B C D E F Heater Operating Diaplay Lever EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT Conditions Lamp Position OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF DEF - - - - - - - - G R G R Running VENT - - G G G G - - - - - with Fan HEAT - - - - G R G R G R - Switch OFF HEAT/R - - - - G R G R G R - Cooler FRESH.REAR VENT - - G G G G G G G G G G Switch OFF RECIRC - - - - - - - - - - - Fan DEF - - - - - - - - G R G R Switch VENT G G G G G G - - - - - EXCEPT OFF, HEAT - - - - G R G R G R - Cooler HEAT/R - - - - G R G R G R - Switch OFF FRESH.REAR VENT - - G G G G G G G G G G RECIRC G G - - - - - - - - - DEF - - - - - - - - L L.R L L.R Cooler VENT L L L L L L - - - - - Switch ON, HEAT - - - - L L.R L L.R L L.R - Fan Switch HEAT/R - - - - L L.R L L.R L L.R - EXCEPT OFF FRESH - - O O O O O O O O O O RECIRC O O - - - - - - - - - REAR VENT - - G G G G G G G G G G REMARKS: 1. Symbol "#" Indicates that Lamps are not energized. Synbols "G", "R", "L", "O" and "L.R" represent Green Display, Red Display, Blue Display, Orange Display and Purple Display respectively.

2. None of Lamps except Illuminating Lamp is energized when vehicle speed is lower than 10 km/hr and Fan Switch is OFF.

It will therefore be seen that the display "FRESH" is illuminated with orange light when the cooler or both the cooler and the heater are in operation and with green light when the cooler is not in operation. This manner of color display matches well with the actual operating mode of the air conditioner. Also, the displays "VENT", "HEAT", "HEAT/R" and "DEF" are illuminated with blue light when the cooler only is in operation. Further, the displays 'HEAT", "HEAT/R" and "DEF" are illuminated with red light when the heater only is in operation, and with purple light which is a mixture of blue light and red light when both the cooler and the heater are in operation. Thus, the occupant can readily visually confirm thc tcmperature of air being discharged into the compartment, that is, warm air, cold air or a mixture of warm and cold air.

It is apparent that the display section 61 in this eighth embodiment may be replaced by the display section 61 used in the third embodiment to attain the display function similar to that described with reference to the third embodiment.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An air conditioning assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: an air conditioner including a plurality of air intake ducts, a plurality of air discharge ducts, a plurality of dampers disposed in said ducts for closing and opening said ducts, and a fan unit; actuating means for actuating the dampers and the fan unit so as to regulate the flow and the temperature of air discharged from the discharge ducts; and a display device to be mounted in the vehicle and including a display panel carrying a representation of at least the vehicle body portions around the front seat thereof, the display device further including light emitting means and means for enabling the light emitting means to be selectively energised and de-energised in response to the manipulation of the actuating means to provide a luminant display on the display panel corresponding to the flow of air at the air conditioner, the light emitted by the light emitting means being either of a cold color or of a warm color corresponding to the relative temperature of the air flowing, or to flow, along the ducts of the air conditioner.

2. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim I, wherein said display device displays the flow patterns of air out of said air conditioner on the portions of said display panel corresponding to the vehicle body portions at which air flows out of said air conditioner in response to the manipulation of said actuating means.

3. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said display device displays the flow patterns of air into said air conditioner on the portions of said display panel corresponding to the vehicle body portions at which air flows into said air conditioner in response to the manipulation of said actuating means.

4. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air at said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters.

5. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said letters represent the functions of air flow at said air conditioner.

6. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air at said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by said letters representing the functions of air flow at said air conditioner and by arrows indicating the flow directions of air.

7. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters.

8. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters representing the functions of air flow out of said air conditioner and by arrows indicating the flow directions of air.

9. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air into and out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters.

10. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air into and out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters representing the functions of air flow into and out of said air conditioner and by arrows indicating the flow directions of air.

11. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said letters are disposed adjacent to the heads of said arrows on said display panel, and the combination of said letters and said arrows includes the letters "REAR VENT" and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (74)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. It will therefore be seen that the display "FRESH" is illuminated with orange light when the cooler or both the cooler and the heater are in operation and with green light when the cooler is not in operation. This manner of color display matches well with the actual operating mode of the air conditioner. Also, the displays "VENT", "HEAT", "HEAT/R" and "DEF" are illuminated with blue light when the cooler only is in operation. Further, the displays 'HEAT", "HEAT/R" and "DEF" are illuminated with red light when the heater only is in operation, and with purple light which is a mixture of blue light and red light when both the cooler and the heater are in operation. Thus, the occupant can readily visually confirm thc tcmperature of air being discharged into the compartment, that is, warm air, cold air or a mixture of warm and cold air. It is apparent that the display section 61 in this eighth embodiment may be replaced by the display section 61 used in the third embodiment to attain the display function similar to that described with reference to the third embodiment. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An air conditioning assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: an air conditioner including a plurality of air intake ducts, a plurality of air discharge ducts, a plurality of dampers disposed in said ducts for closing and opening said ducts, and a fan unit; actuating means for actuating the dampers and the fan unit so as to regulate the flow and the temperature of air discharged from the discharge ducts; and a display device to be mounted in the vehicle and including a display panel carrying a representation of at least the vehicle body portions around the front seat thereof, the display device further including light emitting means and means for enabling the light emitting means to be selectively energised and de-energised in response to the manipulation of the actuating means to provide a luminant display on the display panel corresponding to the flow of air at the air conditioner, the light emitted by the light emitting means being either of a cold color or of a warm color corresponding to the relative temperature of the air flowing, or to flow, along the ducts of the air conditioner.

2. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim I, wherein said display device displays the flow patterns of air out of said air conditioner on the portions of said display panel corresponding to the vehicle body portions at which air flows out of said air conditioner in response to the manipulation of said actuating means.

3. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said display device displays the flow patterns of air into said air conditioner on the portions of said display panel corresponding to the vehicle body portions at which air flows into said air conditioner in response to the manipulation of said actuating means.

4. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air at said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters.

5. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said letters represent the functions of air flow at said air conditioner.

6. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air at said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by said letters representing the functions of air flow at said air conditioner and by arrows indicating the flow directions of air.

7. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters.

8. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters representing the functions of air flow out of said air conditioner and by arrows indicating the flow directions of air.

9. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air into and out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters.

10. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air into and out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by letters representing the functions of air flow into and out of said air conditioner and by arrows indicating the flow directions of air.

11. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said letters are disposed adjacent to the heads of said arrows on said display panel, and the combination of said letters and said arrows includes the letters "REAR VENT" and

the associated arrow indicating the direction of air flow out of the vehicle's compartment to the exterior of the vehicle body when said actuating means is manipulated in use to introduce external air into the vehicle's compartment.

12. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim I, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air at said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by strip-like display patterns extending substantially in the flow directions of air.

13. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by strip-like display patterns extending substantially in the flow directions of air.

14. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display of said flow patterns of air into and out of said air conditioner on said display panel is provided by strip-like display patterns extending substantially in the flow directions of air.

15. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said strip-like display patterns include a display pattern displaying the direction of air flow out of the vehicle's compartment to the exterior of the vehicle body when said actuating means is manipulated in use to introduce external air into the vehicle's compartment.

16. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said representation of the vehicle body portions includes at least longitudinal profiles of the front windscreen, bonnet and instrument panel depicted on said display panel.

17. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said representation of the vehicle body portions at least around the front seat is depicted on said display panel, and said display device includes a smoked panel disposed on the back side of said display panel, a shielding plate disposed on the back face of said smoked panel, a plurality of display patterns formed by cutting out a plurality of portions of said shielding plate, and partition members partitioning the back space of said shielding plate into a plurality of independent spaces behind said display patterns so as to prevent interference of light between said spaces, said light emitting means being disposed in said independent spaces to be selectively energized, whereby the tlow of air at said air conditioner is readily visibly displayed by said display patterns on said display panel.

18. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said representation of said vehicle body portions at least around the front seat are provided by V-shaped grooves formed on said display panel, and a luminant element is disposed on one side of said display panel to illuminate said representation with light emitted from said element.

19. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said light emitting means are covered with caps of desired colors.

20. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said display patterns are covered with a Fresnel lens.

21. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said display patterns are in the form of letters representing the functions of air flow at said air conditioner.

22. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said display patterns are composed of strip-like display patterns displaying the directions of air flow out of said air conditioner and extending substantially in said flow direction of air, and arrows displaying the directions of air flow into said air conditioner.

23. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said representation of the vehicle body portions includes at least longitudinal profiles of the front windscreen, bonnet and instrument panel depicted on said display panel.

24. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim I, wherein said means for enabling the light emitting means to be selectively energised and deenergised includes a plurality of conductive brushes carried by lever means provided in said actuating means for selectively closing and opening said dampers in said air conditioner, and at least one electrode plate selectively engaged by said brushes depending on the position of said lever means, said light emitting means being connected with said brushes.

25. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein said representation of the vehicle body portions at least around the front seat is depicted on said display panel, and said display device includes a smoked panel disposed on the back side of said display panel, a shielding plate disposed on the back face of said smoked panel, a plurality of display patterns formed by cutting out a plurality of portions of said shielding plate, and partition members partitioning the back space of said shielding plate into a plurality of independent spaces behind said display patterns so as to prevent interference of light between said spaces, said light emitting means beind disposed in said independent spaces and connected with said brushes to be selectively energized, whereby said light emitting means are selectively energized depending on the position of said lever means to display the corresponding ones of said display patterns on said display panel so as to readily visibly display the flow of air at said air conditioner.

26. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 25, wherein said display patterns are in the form of letters representing the functions of air flow at said air conditioner.

27. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 25, wherein said display patterns are composed of strip-like display patterns extending substantially in the flow directions of air at said air conditioner.

28. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display panel is disposed adjacent to said actuating means.

29. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 25, wherein said display panel is disposed adjacent to said actuating means.

30. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display panel is disposed in use in the vehicle's meter cluster.

31. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 25, wherein said display panel is disposed in use in the vehicle's meter cluster.

32. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display panel is disposed in use on the console box extending between the front seats in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

33. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein said display panel is disposed on the front end portion of said console box, and said actuating means is disposed on the rear end portion of said console box.

34. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 25, wherein said display panel is disposed on the front end portion of the console box extending between the front seats in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and said actuating means is disposed on the rear end portion of said console box.

35. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes a change-over lever selectively closing and opening said dampers in said air conditioner, and a heater lever shifted between the positions opening and closing the path of warm water toward a heater core in said air conditioner, and said display device includes first light emitting means connected with a first switch turned on in the ventilating air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of ventilating air toward the upper half of the body of an occupant, second light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected to one terminal thereof with a second switch turned on in the foot air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air toward the foot portion of an occupant, third light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said second switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air, fourth light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a third switch turned on in the defrosting air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, fifth light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said third switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, and a heater switch having a movable arm, a first contact connected with the other terminals of said second and fourth light emitting means, and a second contact connected with the other terminals of said third and fifth light emitting means, said movable arm of said heater switch being brought into contact with said first contact when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is substantially supplied to said heater core, and being brought into contact with said second contact when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is not substantially supplied to said heater core.

36. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes a change-over lever selectively closing and opening said dampers in said air conditioner, and a heater lever shifted between the positions opening and closing the path of warm water toward a heater core in said air conditioner, and said display device including first light emitting means connected with a first switch turned on in the ventilating air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of ventilating air toward the upper half of the body of an occupant, second light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a second switch turned on in the foot air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air toward the foot portion of an occupant, third light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said second switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air, fourth light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a third switch turned on in the defrosting air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, fifth light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said third switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, sixth light emitting means connected with a fourth switch turned on in the external air introducing position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the introduction of external air into said air conditioner, seventh light emitting means connected with a fifth switch turned on in the compartment air recirculating position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the recirculation of air within the vehicle's compartment, and a heater switch having a movable arm, a first contact connected with the other terminals of said second and fourth light emitting means, and a second contact connected with the other terminals of said third and fifth light emitting means, said movable arm of said heater switch being brought into contact with said first contact when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is substantially supplied to said heater core, and being brought into contact with said second contact when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is not substantially supplied to said heater core.

37. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein a vehicle speed detector switch is connected between a power source and said first, second and third switches to be turned on at a vehicle speed higher than a predetermined setting, and a fan switch is connected between said power source and said first, second and third switches.

38. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein said first light emitting means and said heater switch are connected with ground through a flickering circuit including means for providing an output voltage varying cyclically with time.

39. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein said first light emitting means and said heater switch are connected with ground through a light intensity attenuating circuit including means for providing a large resistance value in the on position of the vehicle's lighting switch used for turning on and off the vehicle's head lamps and a resistance value smaller than the above value in the off position of the lighting switch.

40. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein said first switch is composed of a first conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and an electrode plate disposed in said actuating means, said second switch is composed of a second conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and said electrode plate, and said third switch is composed of a third conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and said electrode plate.

41. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first switch is composed of a combination of a first conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and a first electrode plate disposed in said actuating means and a combination of a fourth conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and a second electrode plate disposed in said actuating means, said second switch is composed of a second conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and said first electrode plate, said third switch is composed of a third conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and on said first electrode plate, said fourth switch is composed of said first, second and third conductive brushes and said first electrode plate. and said fifth switch is composed of said fourth conductive brush and said second electrode plate.

42. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 40, wherein said electrode plate is connected with a power source by way of a fan switch and a vehicle speed detector switch which is turned on at a vehicle speed higher than a predetermined setting.

43. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 40, wherein said electrode plate is connected with the vehicle's ignition key switch.

44. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 41, wherein said first electrode plate is connected with a power source by way of a fan switch and a vehicle speed detector switch which is turned on at a vehicle speed higher than a predetermined setting, and said second electrode plate is connected with said fan switch.

45. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes an internal-external air lever for operating the damper for selectively closing and opening the external air intake duct and the compartment air intake duct of said air conditioner, a change-over lever for operating the dampers for selectively closing and opening the ventilating air discharge duct for discharging the ventilating air toward the upper half of the body of an occupant, the defrosting air discharge duct and the foot air discharge duct in said air conditioner, a heater lever shifted between the positions opening and closing the path of warm water toward a heater core in said air conditioner, and a cooler switch provided for the on-off switching of a cooler to be disposed in the vehicle to supply a refrigerant to a cooler evaporator disposed in said air conditioner, and said display device includes first light emitting means connected with a first switch turned on in the ventilating air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of ventilating air, second light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a second switch turned on in the foot air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air toward the foot portion of an occupant, third light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal therof with said second switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air, fourth light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a third switch turned on in the defrosting air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, fifth light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said third switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, sixth light emitting means connected with one of contacts of an internal-external air switch changed over in response to the operation of said internal-external air lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the introduction of external air into said air conditioner in the external air introducing position of said internal-external air lever, seventh light emitting means connected with the other contact of said internal-external air switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the recirculation of air within the vehicle's compartment in the compartment air recirculating position of said internal-external air lever, and a heater switch having a movable arm, a first contact connected with the other terminals of said second and fourth light emitting means, and a second contact connected with the other terminals of said third and fifth light emitting means, said movable arm of said heater switch being brought into contact with said first contact when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is substantially supplied to said heater core, and being brought into contact with said second contact when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is not substantially supplied to said heater core, said second and fourth light emitting means being connected with the first contact of said heater switch through a relay responsive to the on-off switching of said cooler switch, whereby said second and fourth light emitting means for illuminating said display patterns displaying the discharge of foot air and defrosting air respectively are deenergized when both the heater and the cooler are simultaneously operated.

46. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 45, wherein said first switch is composed of a first conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and an electrode plate disposed in said actuating means, said second switch is composed of a second conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and said electrode plate, and said third switch is composed of a third conductive brush mounted on said change-over lever and said electrode plate.

47. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 46, wherein said electrode plate and said internal-external air switch are connected with a fan switch.

48. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 45, wherein said heater switch and said first, sixth and seventh light emitting means are connected with ground through a flickering circuit including means for providing an output voltage varying cyclically with time.

49. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 45, wherein said heater switch and said first, sixth and seventh light emitting means are connected with ground through a light intensity attenuating circuit including means for providing a large resistance value in the on position of the vehicle's lighting switch used for turning on and off the vehicle's head lamps and a resistance value smaller than the above value in the off position of the lighting switch.

50. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 46, wherein said electrode plate and said internal-external air switch are connected with a fan switch through a light intensity attenuating circuit including means for providing a large resistance value in the on position of the vehicle's lighting switch used for turning on and off the vehicle's head lamps and a resistance value smaller than the above value in the off position of the lighting switch.

51. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 45, wherein said first, second and third switches and said internal-external air switch are connected with a fan switch.

52. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 45, wherein said first, second and third switches and said internal-external air switch are connected with the vehicle's ignition key switch.

53. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 45, wherein said first, sixth and seventh light emitting means emit light of cold color.

54. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes an internal-external air lever for operating the damper for selectively closing and opening the external air intake duct and the compartment air intake duct of said air conditioner, a change-over lever for operating the dampers for selectively closing and opening the ventilating air discharge duct for discharging and ventilating air toward the upper half of the body of an occupant, the defrosting air discharge duct and the foot air discharge duct in said air conditioner, a heater lever shifted between the positions opening and closing the path of warm water toward a heater core in said air conditioner, and a cooler switch provided for the on-off switching of a cooler to be disposed in the vehicle to supply a refrigerant to a cooler evaporator disposed in said air conditioner, and said display device includes first light emitting means connected with a first switch turned on in the ventilating air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of ventilating air, second light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a second switch turned on in the foot air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air toward the foot portion of an occupant, third light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said second switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air, fourth light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a third switch turned on in the defrosting air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, fifth light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said third switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, sixth light emitting means connected with one of contacts of an internal-external air switch changed over in response to the operation of said internal-external air lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the introduction of external air into said air conditioner in the external air introducing position of said internal-external air lever, seventh light emitting means connected with the other contact of said internal-external air switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the recirculation of air within the vehicle's compartment in the compartment air recirculating position of said internal-external air lever, a heater switch having a movable arm, a first contact connected with the other terminals of said second and fourth light emitting means, and a second contact connected with the other terminals of said third and fifth light emitting means, said movable arm of said heater switch being brought into contact with said first contact when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is substantially supplied to said heater core, and being brought into contact with said second contact when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is not substantially supplied to said heater core, and a relay energizing said third and fifth light emitting means when said movable arm of the heater switch is brought into contact with said second contact and said cooler switch is turned on, energizing said second and fourth light emitting means when said movable arm of the heater switch is brought into contact with said first contact and said cooler switch is turned off, and energizing said third and fifth light emitting means when said movable arm of the heater switch is brought into contact with said first contact and said cooler switch is turned on.

55. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 54, wherein said relay includes a first switch and a second switch each having a movable arm brought into contact with a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact when said cooler switch is turned off and on respectively, said first switch of said relay being connected at its movable arm with said second and fourth light emitting means and at its first stationary contact with said first contact of said heater switch, said second switch of said relay being connected at its movable arm with said third and fifth light emitting means, at its first stationary contact with said second contact of said heater switch, and at its second stationary contact with ground, whereby said third and fifth light emitting means are energized when both the heater and the cooler are in operation.

56. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 54, wherein said relay includes a first switch, a second switch and a third switch each having a movable arm brought into contact with a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact when said cooler switch is turned off and on respectively, said first switch of said relay being connected at its movable arm with said second and fourth light emitting means and at its first stationary contact with said first contact of said heater switch, said second switch of said relay being connected at its movable arm with said third and fifth light emitting means, at its first stationary contact with said second contact of said heater switch, and at its second stationary contact with ground, said third switch of said relay being connected at its movable arm with ground, at its first stationary contact with said sixth and seventh light emitting means emitting light of cold color, and at its second stationary contact with one terminal of eighth light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at its other terminal with said one contact of said internal-external air switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the introduction of external air, and with one terminal of ninth light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at its other terminal with said other contact of said internal-external air switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the recirculation of air within the vehicle's compartment.

57. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes a change-over lever selectively closing and opening said dampers in said air conditioner, a heater lever shifted between the positions opening and closing the path of warm water toward a heater core in said air conditioner, and a cooler switch provided for the on-off switching of a cooler to be disposed in the vehicle to supply a refrigerant to a cooler evaporator disposed in said air conditioner, and said display device includes first light emitting means connected with a first switch turned on in the ventilating air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of ventilating air toward the upper half of the body of an occupant, second light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a second switch turned on in the foot air discharging position of said changeover lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air toward the foot portion of an occupant, third light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said second switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air, fourth light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected to one terminal thereof with a third switch turned on in the defrosting air discharging. position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, fifth light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said third switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, sixth light emitting means connected with a fourth switch turned on in the external air introducing position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the introduction of external air into said air conditioner, seventh light emitting means connected with a fifth switch turned on in the compartment air recirculating position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the recirculation of air within the vehicle's compartment, a heater switch turned on when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is substantially supplied to said heater core, and turned off when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is not substantially supplied to said heater core, and a relay energizing said third and fifth light emitting means when said heater switch is turned off and said cooler switch is turned on, energizing said second and fourth light emitting means when said heater switch is turned on and said cooler switch is turned off, and energizing said second, third, fourth and fifth light emitting means when both said heater switch and said cooler switch are turned on.

58. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 57, wherein said relay includes a movable arm brought into contact with a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact when said heater switch is turned on and off respectively, said first stationary contact of said relay being connected with said second and fourth light emitting means, and said second stationary contact of said relay being connected with said third and fifth light emitting means and said cooler switch.

59. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 57, wherein said seventh light emitting means emits light of warm color.

60. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 58, wherein said first light emitting means emitting light of cold color is connected at one terminal thereof with the said secondary contact of said relay, and a tenth light emitting means emitting light of warm color for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of ventilating air is connected at one terminal thereof with said first switch and at the other terminal thereof with the first stationary contact of said relay.

61. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 57, further comprising eleventh light emitting means emitting light of color between cold color and warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with said second switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air, twelfth light emitting means emitting light of color between cold color and warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with said third switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, and a relay energizing said eleventh and twelfth light emitting means when both said heater switch and said cooler switch are turned off, energizing said third and fifth light emitting means when said heater switch is turned off and said cooler switch is turned on, energizing said second and fourth light emitting means when said heater switch is turned on and said cooler switch is turned off, and energizing said second, third, fourth and fifth light emitting means when both said heater switch and said cooler switch are turned on.

62. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim I, wherein said actuating means includes a change-over lever selectively closing and opening said dampers in said air conditioner, a heater lever shifted between the positions opening and closing the path of warm water toward a heater core in said air conditioner, and a cooler switch provided for the on-off switching of a cooler to be disposed in the vehicle to supply a refrigerant to a cooler evaporator disposed in said air conditioner, and having a movable arm brought into contact with a first contact and a second contact when said cooler is turned off and on respectively, and said display device includes first light emitting means connected with a first switch turned on in the ventilating air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of ventilating air toward the upper half of the body of an occupant, second light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a second switch turned on in the foot air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air toward the foot portion of an occupant, third light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with'said second switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air, fourth light emitting means emitting light of warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with a third switch turned on in the defrosting air discharging position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, fifth light emitting means emitting light of cold color and connected at one terminal thereof with said third switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, sixth light emitting means connected with a fourth switch turned on in the external air introducing position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the introduction of external air into said air conditioner, seventh light emitting means connected with a fifth switch turned on in the compartment air recirculating position of said change-over lever for illuminating the display pattern displaying the recirculating of air within the vehicle's compartment, eleventh light emitting means emitting light of color between cold color and warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with said second switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of foot air, twelfth light emitting means emitting light of color between cold color and warm color and connected at one terminal thereof with said third switch for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of defrosting air, a heater switch turned on when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is substantially supplied to said heater core, and turned off when said heater lever is moved to the position at which warm water is not substantially supplied to said heater core, and a relay including a first switch and a second switch each having a movable arm brought into contact with a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact when said heater switch is turned on and off respectively, said first and second switches of said relay being connected at their first stationary contacts with said second and fourth light emitting means, said second switch of said relay being connected at its second stationary contact with said eleventh and twelfth light emitting means, the movable arm of said first switch of said relay and said third and fifth light emitting means being connected with the second contact of said cooler switch, and the movable arm of said second switch of said relay being connected with the first contact of said cooler switch.

63. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 62, wherein said sixth light emitting means emits light of relatively cold color and is connected with the first contact of said cooler switch, eighth light emitting means emits light of relatively warm color for illuminating the display pattern displaying the introduction of external air and is connected at one terminal thereof with said fourth switch and at the other terminal thereof with the second contact of said cooler switch, said seventh light emitting means emits light of relatively cold color and is connected with the first contact of said cooler switch, ninth light emitting means emits light of relatively warm color for illuminating the display pattern displaying the recirculation of air within the vehicle's compartment and is connected at one terminal thereof with said fifth switch and at the other terminal thereof with the second contact of said cooler switch, said first light emitting means emits light of relatively cold color and is connected with the first contact of said cooler switch, and tenth light emitting means emits light of cold color for illuminating the display pattern displaying the discharge of ventilating air and is connected at one terminal thereof with said first switch and at the other terminal thereof with the second contact of said cooler switch.

64. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 63, wherein said first, sixth, seventh, eleventh and twelfth light emitting means emit green light, said second and fourth light emitting means emit red light, said third, fifth and tenth light emitting means emit blue light, and said eighth and ninth light emitting means emit orange light.

65. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim I, wherein each said light emitting means is a flickering cathode glow lamp.

66. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said light emitting means is composed of an array of a plurality of luminant elements, and a sequential circuit is provided to energize and deenergize said luminant elements sequentially.

67. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 66, wherein said sequential circuit acts to energize said luminant elements sequentially in such a manner that only one of said elements is energized at a time.

68. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 66, wherein said sequential circuit acts to energize said luminant elements sequentially in such a manner that the end of energization of one of a pair of the adjacent luminant elements is overlapped with the initiation of the other element of said pair.

69. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 66, wherein said sequential circuit acts to deenergize said luminant elements sequentially in such a manner that only one of said elements is deenergized at a time.

70. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for enabling the light emitting means to be selectively energised and deenergised includes a cam formed on lever means provided in said actuating means for selectively closing and opening said dampers in said air conditioner, and a plurality of microswitches provided in said actuating means to be selectively turned on and off by being engaged by said cam, said microswitches being connected with said light emitting means.

71. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for enabling the light emitting means to be selectively energised and deenergised includes at least one electrode pair carried by lever means provided in said actuating means for selectively closing and opening said dampers in said air conditioner, and a plurality of brushes provided in said actuating means to be selectively engaged by said electrode plate depending on the position of said lever means, said brushes being connected with said light emitting means.

72. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for enabling the light emitting means to be selectively energised and deenergised includes a slide switch consisting of a slider moved by lever means provided in said actuating means for selectively closing and opening said dampers in said air conditioner, a first electrode in continuous contact with said slider and connected with a power source, and a plurality of second electrodes connected with said light emitting means.

73. An air conditioning assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

74. A vehicle including an air conditioning assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.