JP2002211226A - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner for a vehicle capable of preventing the generation of rotational noise from a blower fan without impairment of its heating and cooling capabilities which give comfortableness to passengers. SOLUTION: This air conditioner is provided with an air capacity restriction point computing means (G) and an air capacity re-computing member (H). The air capacity restriction point computing means (G) determines a capacity restriction point CRP of a blowing capacity capable of being delivered without making objectionable noise, corresponding to the oscillating position of an air inlet mode selector damper 3 or mode dampers 8a, 8b, and 8c, and the air capacity re-computing member (H) regulates the blowing capacity based on the capacity restriction point CRP. Thus, this air conditioner regulates the blowing capacity of a motor 12 which drives a blower fan 4 corresponding to the oscillating position of the air inlet mode selector damper 3 or the mode dampers 8a, 8b, and 8c. The blowing capacity is regulated in consideration of noise generating environments, which change with the oscillating position of air inlet mode selector damper 3 or the mode dampers 8a, 8b, and 8c. It is thus possible to positively solve such a problem as to interfere with a cooling and heating effect due to the blowing capacity restricted more than necessary under a condition where various types of dampers are at positions where noise is difficult to generate and such a problem as to generate objectionable noise due to the insufficient restriction of the blowing capacity under a condition where various types of dampers are at positions where noise is difficult to generate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an air conditioner for a vehicle, and more particularly to an improvement in preventing unpleasant noise generated during air conditioning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic air conditioner for an automatic vehicle in which an optimum air condition is maintained by automatically controlling a swing position of an air mix damper and a mode damper and a rotation speed of a motor for driving a blower fan. Are already known.

In this type of automotive air conditioner, the rotation speed of a motor for driving a blower fan is set between the current value of the room temperature detected by the environmental condition detecting means and the room temperature set as a target value. Based on the deviation, if the deviation is large, the air volume of the air sent from the air conditioner body into the room is increased, and if the deviation is small, the air volume is decreased. To be adjusted.

However, depending on environmental conditions such as the outside air temperature and the amount of solar radiation, even when the air conditioner for a vehicle is driven for a long time, the room temperature does not reach the vicinity of the target value and the temperature deviation remains large. During this time, the motor for driving the blower fan continues to be driven at the maximum speed, and there is a problem that noise such as wind noise and vibration of the blower fan becomes annoying.

[0005]

As a technique for preventing noise generated during air conditioning, a blower fan is driven in accordance with a decrease in the deviation between the present value of the room temperature and the room temperature set as a target value. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-7 / 57 discloses an air conditioner for a vehicle in which the rotation speed of a rotating motor is gradually reduced.
No. 7218 has already been proposed,
Designed on the premise that the room temperature reaches the target value, as described above, under conditions where the room temperature does not reach the vicinity of the target value no matter how long, conventional air conditioning for automobiles As in the case of the apparatus, there remains a problem that the motor for driving the blower fan continues to be driven at the maximum speed for a long time and generates noise.

Further, an air conditioner control method has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 56, in which the fluctuation of noise is suppressed by continuously changing the air flow each time the current value of the room temperature approaches the target value.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-124 proposes a car air conditioner control device proposed to reduce the noise of a blower fan by regulating the rotation speed of a motor for driving the blower fan after a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of air conditioning. −64
No. 609.

However, none of them considers the swing position of various dampers that affect actual noise. For this reason, the rotation speed of the motor that drives the blower fan is restricted more than necessary and the cooling / heating effect is reduced even though the damper is located at a position where noise is relatively unlikely to occur. However, there is a possibility that a problem such as an increase in noise due to the relative limitation of the rotational speed of the motor being relatively insufficient.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art, without impairing a comfortable cooling and heating effect.
An object of the present invention is to provide an automotive air conditioner that can prevent generation of noise due to rotation of a blower fan.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an inside / outside air switching damper control means for driving an inside / outside air switching damper to take in air used for air conditioning between inside and outside of a vehicle, and transferring the taken air to an evaporator and a heater core. An air mix damper for adjusting the temperature of air to be distributed and sent indoors; an environmental condition detecting means for detecting environmental conditions related to air conditioning control; and a target for setting the indoor temperature serving as a target value of air conditioning control Temperature setting means, and required air temperature calculation for calculating an air blowing temperature of air to be sent from the air conditioner body into the room based on the environmental conditions detected by the environmental condition detecting means and the indoor temperature set by the target temperature setting means. Means and an air mix damper for adjusting a swing position of the air mix damper based on the blow-out temperature obtained by the required blow-out temperature calculating means. And 置切 exchange control means, and the air amount calculation means for obtaining the amount of air to be delivered from the air conditioner main body on the basis of the deviation between the indoor temperature and the current indoor temperature as a target value,
A motor drive control means for controlling the drive of a blower fan motor based on the air flow rate calculated by the air flow rate calculation means. Air volume limit value calculating means for obtaining a limit value of the air volume that can be sent from the air conditioner body without noise in accordance with the moving position; air volume obtained by the air volume calculating device; and a limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating device. If the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation means does not exceed the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculation means, the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation means is directly input to the motor drive control means as a target value. On the other hand, if the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation means exceeds the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculation means, the air volume is calculated in place of the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation means. Has a configuration which is characterized in that a wind quantity recalculation means for inputting a motor drive control means limits determined by the limited value calculating means as a target value.

According to such a configuration, the maximum value of the air flow input to the motor drive control means, that is, the value of the limit value is changed by the interaction between the air flow limit value calculation means and the air flow recalculation means. It is automatically adjusted according to the swing position of the switching damper. Therefore, even when the position of the inside / outside air switching damper changes, the rotation speed of the motor that drives the blower fan is unnecessarily limited, which hinders the cooling and heating effect, or the rotation speed is not sufficiently limited. Thus, the generation of noise due to the rotation of the blower fan can be reliably prevented while maintaining a comfortable cooling and heating effect without generating harsh noise. Here, the air volume limit value calculating means includes a limit value storage means storing different limit values corresponding to each of the swing positions of the inside / outside air switching damper, and a different limit value stored in the limit value storage means. And limit value selecting means for selecting a limit value corresponding to the current swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper from the above. Further, a function designed to obtain a limit value corresponding to the swing position using the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper as a variable, and an arithmetic means for executing the function, constitute air volume limit value calculating means. Is also possible.

The mode damper is driven based on the magnitude relationship between the blow-out temperature obtained by the required blow-out temperature calculating means and the judgment value serving as a switching reference, and the foot-mode air outlet and the bi-level mode air outlet. In the case of an air conditioner for a vehicle equipped with a mode damper position switching control means for switching the air blowing destination between the air outlet in the vent mode and the air outlet in the vent mode, the air conditioning is performed without noise corresponding to the swing position of the mode damper. The air volume limit value calculating means for obtaining the limit value of the air volume that can be transmitted from the apparatus body, and comparing the magnitude relationship between the air volume obtained by the air volume calculating means and the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating means, If the obtained air volume does not exceed the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating means, the air flow obtained by the air volume calculating means is directly inputted to the motor drive control means as a target value. On the other hand, if the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation means exceeds the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculation device, the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculation device instead of the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation device And the air flow recalculating means for inputting the target value to the motor drive control means as the target value.

According to such a configuration, the maximum value of the airflow input to the motor drive control means, that is, the limit value, is changed by the interaction between the airflow limit value calculation means and the airflow recalculation means by the mode damper. Automatically adjusted according to the swing position of Therefore, regardless of the position of the mode damper, the rotation speed of the motor that drives the blower fan is unnecessarily limited, which may affect the cooling and heating effect, or the rotation speed may not be sufficiently limited. The generation of noise due to the rotation of the blower fan can be reliably prevented while maintaining a comfortable cooling and heating effect without generating harsh noise. Similarly to the above, the airflow limit value calculating means includes limit value storage means storing different limit values corresponding to each of the swing positions of the mode damper, and different limit value storage means storing the different limit values stored in the limit value storage means. Limit value selecting means for selecting a limit value corresponding to the current swing position of the mode damper from among them.
Further, a function designed to obtain a limit value corresponding to the swing position using the swing position of the mode damper as a variable,
It is also possible to configure the airflow limit value calculating means by the calculating means for executing this function.

Further, the inside / outside air switching damper control means for driving the inside / outside air switching damper to take in the air used for air conditioning between inside and outside of the vehicle, and the blowout temperature and the switching reference obtained by the necessary blowout temperature calculating means. Mode damper position switching that drives the mode damper based on the magnitude relationship with the judgment value and switches the air outlet between the air outlet in the foot mode, the air outlet in the bilevel mode, and the air outlet in the vent mode. In the case of an air conditioner for a vehicle provided with a control means, a limit value of an air volume that can be sent from the air conditioner body without noise is obtained in accordance with the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper and the swing position of the mode damper. The air volume limit calculating means compares the magnitude of the air volume calculated by the air volume calculating means with the limit value calculated by the air volume limiting value calculating means. If the obtained air volume does not exceed the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating device, the air volume obtained by the air volume calculating device is directly input to the motor drive control device as a target value, while the air volume obtained by the air volume calculating device is If the value exceeds the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating means, the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating means is input to the motor drive control means as a target value in place of the air volume obtained by the air volume calculating means. By providing the air volume recalculating means, the same object as described above has been achieved.

According to such a configuration, the maximum value of the air flow input to the motor drive control means, that is, the value of the limit value, is controlled by the interaction between the air flow limit value calculation means and the air flow recalculation means. It is automatically adjusted according to the swing position of the switching damper and the swing position of the mode damper. Therefore,
Regardless of the position of the inside / outside air switching damper and the mode damper, the rotation speed of the motor that drives the blower fan is limited more than necessary, which may affect the cooling and heating effect, or the rotation speed is not sufficiently limited. Thus, the generation of noise due to the rotation of the blower fan can be reliably prevented while maintaining a comfortable cooling and heating effect without generating harsh noise. In the same manner as described above, the airflow limit value calculating means includes limit value storage means storing different limit values corresponding to the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper and the swing position of the mode damper, respectively. And limit value selecting means for selecting a limit value corresponding to the current swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper and the swing position of the mode damper from among the different limit values stored in the memory. Furthermore, a function designed to obtain a limit value corresponding to the swing position by using the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper and the swing position of the mode damper as variables, and an arithmetic means for executing the function, to control the air volume. It is also possible to configure a value calculation means.

The above-mentioned air volume limit value calculating means includes:
A limit value optimizing function for gradually reducing the limit value as time elapses after the start of air conditioning may be provided.

According to such a configuration, cooling and heating of a large air volume are performed in the initial stage of the start of air conditioning in which a more powerful cooling and heating effect is desired than quietness. The rotation speed of the blower fan can be reduced as soon as the air blows, and unpleasant noise can be prevented.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a simplified functional block diagram showing a main part of an automotive air conditioner according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

The mechanism of the vehicle air conditioner 1 generally includes a duct 2 serving as an air passage, an inside / outside air switching damper 3, a blower fan 4, an evaporator 5, a heater core 6, and an inside / outside air switching damper 3 provided therein. It is composed of an air mix damper 7 and mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c.

The evaporator 5 is a part of a refrigerant circulation system including a compressor 19, a condenser 20, a liquid tank 21, and an expansion valve 22, and is driven by the power of the engine 24 when the electromagnetic clutch 23 is energized. The gaseous refrigerant sent from 19 is cooled by a cooling liquefaction effect and an expansion effect.

In the upstream part of the duct 2 serving as an air passage, an outside air intake 9 for taking in air from outside of the vehicle and an inside air intake 10 for taking in circulating air in the vehicle are provided. 11 according to the rotation angle of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 oscillated by
The outside air, the inside air, or a mixture thereof is taken into the duct 2.

The air introduced into the duct 2 in this manner is sent to the downstream side of the duct 2 by air blowing means composed of the motor 12 and the blower fan 4,
Through the position where the evaporator 5 which becomes a cooler is arranged,
Air mix damper 7 oscillated by actuator 13
The flow is divided into the heater core 6 side and the bypass side to adjust the heat quantity, and finally, the mode dampers 8a, 8
b, 8c, the destination of the air is regulated, and the defroster outlet 14, the vent outlet 15, or the heat outlet 16
From the car.

The mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c are driven by an actuator 18 via a link mechanism 17 for coordinating the switching operations of the mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c.

The mode dampers 8a, 8 at the air outlets
The swing positions of b and 8c are determined by the target temperature set by the temperature setting switch serving as the target temperature setting means and the detection values of the inside air temperature sensor 25 and the outside air temperature sensor 26 constituting a part of the environmental condition detecting means. The mode is automatically adjusted by the mode damper position switching control means (F) based on the magnitude relationship between the value of the blowing temperature calculated by the required blowing temperature calculation means (B) based on the determination value and the reference value for mode switching. It has become so.

For example, when the blowing temperature is high, the position of the differential / foot mode in which the air is distributed to the heat outlet 16 provided at the feet of the occupant and the defroster outlet 14 provided near the windshield, or A bi-level for distributing air to the heat outlet 16 in a foot mode position for distributing air to the heat outlet 16 and, when the outlet temperature is medium, to the heat outlet 16 and a vent outlet 15 located in front of the console substantially uniformly. The mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b, 8b are set to the mode positions when the blowing temperature is low.
8c is moved. Further, it is also possible to select a differential mode in which air is distributed to the defroster outlet 14 by manual operation from the control panel 31.

That is, instead of providing a dedicated air outlet for each mode, the function of the air outlet in the foot mode is based on the heat outlet 16 provided at the foot of the passenger and the windshield of the windshield. The defroster outlets 14 provided in the vicinity and the swinging positions of the mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c for distributing air to these air outlets are realized as required. This can be realized as required by the swing position of the air outlet 16, the vent outlet 15 on the front of the console, and the mode dampers 8 a, 8 b, 8 c for distributing air to these air outlets.

In general, the vent mode and bi-level mode air outlet functions are used for intake, ventilation, or cooling of the outside air, and the foot mode air outlet functions exclusively for heating. It will be used in such cases.

Since the acoustic characteristics of the duct 2 are changed by the switching of the vent mode, even if the wind noise of the blower fan 4 and the vibration of the motor 12 are exactly the same, the actual condition is not changed. Therefore, a difference occurs in the noise level recognized by the passengers in the room.

In this embodiment, the most worrisome noise due to the wind noise of the blower fan 4 or the vibration of the motor 12 is the foot mode, then the differential / foot mode, the bi-level mode, the differential mode, and the vent mode. Become.

When the noise level is compared with the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 as a reference, the inside / outside air switching damper 3 has the inside air outside when the inside / outside air switching damper 3 blocks the outside air intake 9. The noise level is felt higher than in the case of introducing outside air that blocks the intake 10.

The control unit 27 for controlling the vehicle air conditioner 1 comprises a CPU, a ROM and a non-volatile memory, etc., the motor 12 for driving the blower fan 4 to rotate, the actuator 11 for swinging the inside / outside air switching damper 3, An actuator 13 for swinging the air mix damper 7 and a mode damper 8a,
Each of the actuators 18 for swinging the actuators 8b and 8c is driven and controlled by the CPU of the control unit 27.

An actuator 13 for oscillating the air mix damper 7 and an actuator 1 for oscillating the mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c at the air outlets.
8, the rotational position of each actuator, that is, the rotational position of the air mix damper 7 and the mode damper damper 8
An air mix damper position detection sensor 28 and a mode damper position detection sensor 29 for detecting the rotational positions of the a, 8b, and 8c are provided, and the swing positions of the air mix damper 7 and the mode damper dampers 8a, 8b, and 8c are determined by the CPU. Is to be detected.

An evaporator temperature sensor 30 composed of a thyristor or the like is provided downstream of the evaporator 5, and the current temperature of the evaporator 5 is detected by the CPU.

Further, a signal from a control panel 31 provided with a temperature setting switch constituting a target temperature setting means and an internal air temperature sensor 2 serving as an environmental condition detecting means are provided.
5. Signals from the outside air temperature sensor 26, the solar radiation sensor 32, and the engine water temperature sensor 33 are also input to the CPU.

The CPU of the control unit 27 controls the display state of the control panel 31 so that the target temperature set by the temperature setting switch, the current value of the inside air temperature and the current value of the engine cooling water, and furthermore, The selected blowing mode, for example, the selected state of the bi-level mode, foot mode, vent mode, etc., is displayed using a symbolic symbol.

The control unit 27 is further adapted to receive a start signal from an ignition switch 34.

FIG. 2 shows the CPU of the control unit 27.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of a function realizing means constituted by a sensor and various sensors. The functions of the CPU as C), the air volume calculation means (D), the motor drive control means (E), and the mode damper position switching control means (F) are already known.

The required outlet temperature calculating means (B) is, for example,
The value of the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 26 as the environmental condition detecting means is Ta, the value of the target value of the room temperature set by the temperature setting switch of the control panel 31 constituting the target temperature setting means is Tset, Tao = Kset, Tset-Ka, Ta-Kr, where Tr is the current value of the room temperature detected by the inside air temperature sensor 25, which is a part of the condition detecting means, and Tsun is the value of the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor 32. -The value of the blow-out temperature Tao is obtained by the formula of Tr-Ksun-Tsun + C. Note that Ks
et, Ka, Kr, and Ksun are proportional coefficients for temperature control.
Is a constant.

The air mix damper position switching control means (C), based on the value of the blowing temperature Tao obtained by the necessary blowing temperature calculating means (B), determines whether the heater core 6 is high when the value of the blowing temperature Tao is high. The actuator 13 is driven and controlled so that the amount of air distributed to the heater core 6 is increased and the amount of air distributed to the heater core 6 is reduced when the value of the blowing temperature Tao is low. The air mix damper 7 is swung.

In the same manner as in the prior art, the processing of selecting the blowing mode in the mode damper position switching control means (F) is performed by the value of the blowing temperature Tao obtained by the necessary blowing temperature calculating means (B) and the determination value serving as the mode switching reference. This is done by comparing the magnitude relationship with That is, the foot mode is selected when the value of the blowing temperature Tao is relatively high, the bi-level mode is selected when the value of the blowing temperature Tao is medium, and the vent mode is selected when the value of the blowing temperature Tao is relatively low. The actuator 18 of the air outlet is controlled as described above.

The inside / outside air switching damper control means (A) drives the actuator 11 in accordance with the conditions set in the control panel 31 to determine the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3, and determines whether the outside air or inside air or the outside air or inside air or not. The mixture is taken into the duct 2.

The air volume calculating means (D) includes a target temperature Tset which is a target value set by the control panel 31 and a current value Tr of the indoor temperature detected by the internal air temperature sensor 25 which is a part of the environmental condition detecting means. Then, the amount of air to be sent into the room through the duct 2 is obtained based on the deviation from the above.

Further, the motor drive control means (E) controls the motor 1 to achieve the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation means (D).
The blower fan 4 is rotated by controlling the rotation speed of the blower 2.
In general, when the temperature deviation between Tset and Tr is large, a large air flow, that is, a high rotation speed is required, and when this temperature deviation is small, a relatively small air flow, that is, a low rotation speed is required. However, in the present embodiment, the target value of the airflow input to the motor drive control means (E) is limited by the interaction between the airflow limit value calculation means (G) and the airflow recalculation means (H). The rotation speed of the motor 12 is not necessarily controlled according to the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means (D).

Next, the functions of the air volume limit value calculating means (G) and the air volume recalculating means (H), which are components specific to this embodiment, will be described.

As already described in the section of the means for solving the problem, the air flow limit value calculating means (G) is provided with the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 and the mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8b.
Limit value storage means (non-volatile memory) storing different limit values corresponding to each of the swing positions of 8c, and inside / outside air switching damper 3 from among the different limit values stored in the limit value storage means. And a limit value selection means (CPU) for selecting a limit value corresponding to the current swing position of the mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c, and the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 And a function (stored in a non-volatile memory) designed to obtain a limit value corresponding to the oscillating position using the oscillating positions of the mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c as a variable, and an arithmetic unit for executing the function ( CPU).

Here, as an example, a configuration in the case where the CPU of the control unit 27 performs arithmetic processing based on a function stored in the nonvolatile memory of the control unit 27 to obtain a limit value will be described.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram visualizing and showing functions stored in the nonvolatile memory of the control unit 27.

In the nonvolatile memory of the control unit 27, as shown in FIG.
F ₁ , f ₂ (solid lines in the figure) used for obtaining the air flow limit value in a state of outside air introduction closing the inside air intake 10, and inside air introduction closing the outside air intake 9 by the inside / outside air switching damper 3. In this state, functions g ₁ and g ₂ (broken lines in the figure) used to obtain the airflow limit value are stored in advance.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mode dampers 8a,
8b, irrespective of the mode selection state of the air outlet according to 8c, the value of the function g _1, g _2, which is used in a state of the inside air introduction and the value of the function f _1, f _2, which is used in a state of outside air introducing It is relatively small in comparison. This is because the noise level under the same conditions is felt relatively higher in the case of introducing the inside air than in the case of introducing the outside air, so that it is necessary to regulate the rotation speed of the motor 12 using a smaller limit value. Because there is.

Regarding the same function, each of the functions f ₁ , f ₂ , g ₁ , and g ₂ has the smallest value of the limit value of the foot mode, and includes the differential / foot mode, the bilevel mode, the differential mode, and the vent mode. It is designed such that the limit value gradually increases in the order of the modes. The reason is,
As described above, since the noise level under the same conditions increases in the order of the vent mode, the differential mode, the bi-level mode, the differential / foot mode, and the foot mode, the maximum rotation of the motor 12 is made corresponding to the noise level. This is to regulate the speed.

Further, in this embodiment, the airflow limit value calculating means (G) is provided with a function (limit value optimizing function) of gradually reducing the limit value as time elapses after the start of air conditioning. .

The functions f ₁ and g ₁ shown in FIG. 3 are functions for calculating a relatively large limit value used only for a predetermined time after a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of air conditioning, ie, air conditioning. This function is used in situations where the time elapsed after the start is not always sufficient, the passengers are not satisfied with the satisfaction of the air conditioning control, and the noise associated with air conditioning is starting to worry to some extent. is there. Also, the functions f ₂ and g ₂ are
A function for calculating a relatively small limit value that is constantly used in the subsequent time period, that is, the passenger is in a state where the psychological satisfaction by the air conditioning control is sufficiently obtained, and This function is used in situations where the noise associated with air conditioning is beginning to become quite annoying. However, for a certain period of time after the start of air conditioning, the noise associated with air conditioning may be loud, and there is a strong desire to obtain a strong cooling and heating effect. Therefore, no special regulation on the rotational speed of the motor 12 is performed.

The air flow limit value calculating means (G) is shown in FIG.
As set in the inside / outside air switching damper control means (A).
The swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 is obtained based on the conditions
First, according to the swing position, the air conditioner is used in a state where external air is introduced.
Power function f₁, F₂Or used with shy air introduced
Function g to be performed₁, G₂One of the functions
Select. Then, the airflow limit value calculating means (G)
Startup command from the switch 34
The measurement time of the timer T that is started, that is, after the start of air conditioning
As time passes, the function f₁, F₂
One of the functions from
Is the function g₁, G₂Select one of the functions from
You. The function selected in this way is ultimately
f₁, F₂, G ₁, G₂Is the only function in.

The air volume limit value calculating means (G) further includes
At this time, the mode is selected by the mode damper position switching control means (F).
Swing position of the selected mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c
Position, more specifically, the swing angle of the actuator 18
The value of (d) is read, and the relation selected as described above is read.
Number f₁, F₂, G₁, G₂Mode damper position
Is substituted for the value of the variable (d) representing
Swing position, elapsed time T after starting air conditioning, and mode
Limit values f corresponding to the swinging positions of the gears 8a, 8b, 8c
₁(D), f₂(D), g₁(D) or g₂(D)
Will be required.

Then, C as the air volume recalculating means (H)
The PU compares the magnitude of the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means (D) with the magnitude of the limit value calculated by the air volume limit value calculation means (G). If it does not exceed the limit value obtained by the air flow limit value calculating means (G), the air flow obtained by the air flow calculating means (D) is directly input to the motor drive control means (E) as a target air flow value; If the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means (D) exceeds the limit value calculated by the air volume limit value calculation means (G), the air volume limit value calculation is performed instead of the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means (D). The limit value obtained by the means (G) is input to the motor drive control means (E) as a target value of the air flow.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the control unit 2.
7 is a flowchart showing an outline of an air conditioning control process repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals by a CPU 7; Hereinafter, the overall operation of the automotive air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5.

The CP that has started the air-conditioning control process for each predetermined cycle
U first determines whether or not the ignition switch 34 is ON (step s1). Since the air conditioning control is not performed while the ignition switch 34 remains OFF, step U1 is performed. If the determination result is false, step s2 to step s2
2 is not automatically executed, and the CPU executes only the initialization processing of steps s23 to s25 required for starting the substantial air conditioning control processing. become.

When the ignition switch 34 is OFF, the CPU first sets the elapsed time measurement flag F
Is set or not (step s2).
3) If the elapsed time measurement flag F remains set, the elapsed time measurement timer T and the elapsed time measurement flag F are reset and initialized (step s2).
4, step s25), and ends the air-conditioning control process of the cycle. If the elapsed time measurement flag F has already been initialized, there is no need to perform the initialization process again, so the CPU ends the air-conditioning control process in the cycle as it is.

Therefore, when the ignition switch 34 is
Until N, only the determination process of steps s1 and s23 is repeatedly executed in the air conditioning control process for each predetermined cycle, during which the elapsed time measurement flag F and the elapsed time measurement timer T remain reset. Is held.

If the ignition switch 34 is operated and the air conditioning control is started while such processing is repeatedly executed, the CPU detects this operation in the discrimination processing of step s1, and the elapsed time measurement flag F Is determined to be in a reset state, that is, whether the processing cycle of the air conditioning control processing corresponds to the first processing cycle after the start of the air conditioning control (step s2).

If the determination result of step s2 is true, that is, if it is determined that the elapsed time measurement flag F is in the reset state, this processing cycle is the first processing cycle after the start of the air conditioning control. , So C
The PU sets the elapsed time measurement flag F to store the start of the air conditioning control (step s3), and simultaneously starts the elapsed time measurement timer T to start measuring the elapsed time after the start of the air conditioning control. (Step s4).

If the determination result of step s2 is false, that is, if it is determined that the elapsed time measurement flag F is in the set state, the processing cycle is set to the second or later time after the start of the air conditioning control. The elapsed time measurement timer T has already been started, and the elapsed time measurement flag F
Is also set, so that step s3
Step s4 is automatically skipped.

Next, the CPU serving as the air volume limit value calculating means (G) includes a swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 set in the inside / outside air switching damper control means (A) and a mode damper position switching control means (F). Is read (step s5), and it is determined whether the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 is on the inside air introduction side or on the outside air introduction side. (Step s
6).

When it is determined that the swinging position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 is on the outside air introduction side by the determination process of step s6, the CPU as the air volume limit value calculating means (G)
Further whether the value of the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control start being measured by the elapsed time measuring timer T exceeds the set value t _2, or between the set value t ₂ and the set value t ₁ or located in, or to determine whether less than the set value _{t 1} (step s7, step s10). The magnitude relationship between the set values t ₁ and t ₂ to be compared is t ₂ > t ₁ >
0.

[0064] Here, if the result of determination at step s7 cases Yes, that is, if the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control start is determined to exceed the set value t ₂ is after conditioning control start It can be determined that the elapsed time is considerably long, the occupant is in a state where the psychological satisfaction is sufficiently obtained by the air-conditioning control, and that the noise caused by the air-conditioning is starting to become quite annoying.

Then, the CPU as the air volume limit value calculation means (G) determines the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 specified in the determination processing in step s6, that is, the swing position on the outside air introduction side, and the set value t _2. Based on the elapsed time T after the start of the air-conditioning control, which has exceeded the limit, a plurality of functions f ₁ ,
from among f _{2, g 1,} g _2, the outside air introduced is selected and select the function f ₂ should be used for calculating the limit value in situations where a long time after the air-conditioning control start has elapsed, step assigns the value of the swing angle of the read actuator 18 in the process of s5 (d) to the function _{f 2} to limit _f 2 (d)
(Step s8), and temporarily stores the limit value f ₂ (d) in the limit value storage register CRP (step s9).

[0066] Further, the determination result is false in step s7 and if the judgment result of step s10 is Yes, that is, during the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control starts and the set value t ₂ and the set value t ₁ If it is determined that the air conditioning control has started, the elapsed time since the start of the air conditioning control has passed to a certain extent, but the passengers are still unsatisfied with the satisfaction of the air conditioning control. It may be determined that the accompanying noise has begun to be worried to some extent.

Then, the CPU as the air volume limit value calculating means (G) determines the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 specified in the determination processing of step s6, that is, the swing position on the outside air introduction side, and the set value t _2. from on the basis of the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control start lying between the set value t _1, the plurality of functions _{f 1, f 2, g 1} , g 2 as shown in FIG. 3 and the outside air introduced Is selected, and a function f to be used for calculating the limit value under a condition where a certain time has elapsed after the start of the air conditioning control.
₁ is selected and the limit value f ₁ (d) is obtained by substituting the value of the swing angle (d) of the actuator 18 read in the processing of step s5 into the function f ₁ (step s11), and this limit value f ₁ (D) is temporarily stored in the limit value storage register CRP (step s12).

Steps s7 and s10
If the determination result is both false, that is, if the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control start is determined to be less than the set value t ₁ is, in the stage immediately after the air-conditioning control start, due to the air-conditioning Since the noise may be loud, it can be determined that the situation is such that a strong cooling / heating effect is desired.

In this case, the CPU
The settable maximum value Max. Is temporarily stored in the CRP, and the restriction on the rotation speed of the motor 12 for driving the blower fan 4 is released (step s13).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the swinging position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 is on the inside air introduction side by the above-described determination processing in step s6, the air flow limit value calculating means (G)
CPU as further whether the value of the elapsed time measuring timer elapsed time after the air conditioning control start being measured by T T exceeds the set value t _2, or a set value t ₂ and the set value t ₁ whether the between, or to determine whether less than the set value _{t 1} (step s14, step s17).

[0071] Here, the question of the step s14 may Yes, that is, if the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control start is determined to exceed the set value t ₂ is after conditioning control start The elapsed time is considerably long, and the passengers have sufficiently obtained psychological satisfaction by controlling the air conditioning,
It can be determined that the noise associated with the air conditioning has begun to become considerably harsh.

Then, the CPU as the air volume limit value calculating means (G) determines the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 specified in the determination processing in step s6, that is, the swing position on the inside air introduction side, and the set value t _2. Based on the elapsed time T after the start of the air-conditioning control, which has exceeded the limit, a plurality of functions f ₁ ,
from among f _{2, g 1,} g _2, inside air introduced is selected and select the function g ₂ to be used for calculating the limit value in situations where a long time after the air-conditioning control start has elapsed, step swing angle of the read actuator 18 in the processing of s5 by substituting the values of (d) to the function _{g 2} limit value _g 2 (d)
Is obtained (step s15), and the limit value g ₂ (d) is temporarily stored in the limit value storage register CRP (step s1).
6).

[0073] Further, the determination result is false in step s14 and, if the judgment result of step s17 is Yes, that is, during the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control starts and the set value t ₂ and the set value t ₁ If it is determined that the air conditioning control has started, the elapsed time since the start of the air conditioning control has passed to a certain extent, but the passengers are still unsatisfied with the satisfaction of the air conditioning control. It may be determined that the accompanying noise has begun to be worried to some extent.

Therefore, the CPU as the air volume limit value calculating means (G) determines the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 specified in the determination processing in step s6, that is, the swing position on the inside air introduction side, and the set value t _2. on the basis of the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control start lying between the set value t ₁ and, from a plurality of functions f _1, f 2, of the _{g 1,} g ₂ as shown in FIG. 3, the inside air introduction Is selected, and a function g to be used for calculating the limit value in a situation where a certain time has elapsed after the start of the air conditioning control
₁ is selected, the limit value g ₁ (d) is obtained by substituting the value of the swing angle (d) of the actuator 18 read in the processing of step s5 into the function g ₁ (step s18), and this limit value g ₁ (D) is temporarily stored in the limit value storage register CRP (step s19).

Step s14 and step s1
If 7 determination result is both false, that is, if the elapsed time T after the air-conditioning control start is determined to be less than the set value t ₁ is, in the stage immediately after the air-conditioning control start, the air conditioner Since the accompanying noise may be loud, it can be determined that a strong cooling and heating effect is desired.

In this case, the CPU sets the limit value storage register
The settable maximum value Max. Is temporarily stored in the CRP, and the restriction on the rotation speed of the motor 12 for driving the blower fan 4 is released (step s20).

Next, C as the air volume recalculation means (H)
PU is the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means (D) and the limit value CR obtained by the air volume limit value calculation means (G).
The magnitude is compared with P (step s21). If the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means (D) does not exceed the limit value CRP, the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means (D) is set to the target air volume. The value is directly input to the motor drive control means (E).

If the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means (D) exceeds the limit value CRP, the air volume recalculation means (H)
The CPU sets the value of the limit value CRP as a new target value of the air volume in place of the air volume calculated by the air volume calculating means (D) (step s22), and uses this value as the target value of the air volume. Input to means (E).

Accordingly, the rotational speed of the motor 12 for driving the blower fan 4, that is, the maximum value of the air blowing amount is always the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3, the elapsed time after the start of the air conditioning control, and the mode dampers 8a, 8b, Reflecting the three parameters of the swing position 8c, the occupant is automatically limited to a range within which the passenger does not feel discomfort.

In particular, the value of the limit value CRP is automatically calculated in accordance with the selected state of the outlet mode, which varies depending on the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 and the mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c. When the vent mode, bi-level mode, etc. where noise is less likely to be selected, the conventional technology that the air flow rate is unnecessarily restricted and cooling / heating is disturbed, or the foot mode where noise is more likely to be selected. Under such circumstances, it is possible to reliably solve the problem of the related art in which the rotation speed of the motor 12 is insufficiently limited to generate annoying noise.

The characteristics required for the functions f ₁ , f ₂ , g ₁ , and g ₂ are the duct 2 and the various dampers 3, 8 a, 8.
Since there are various differences depending on the shapes and structures of b and 8c, the indoor shape, etc., an appropriate function is designed in advance in consideration of the structure of the air conditioner or the automobile, and registered in the nonvolatile memory of the control unit 27 in advance. To do.

In the case of an air conditioner for an automobile having a structure in which the noise generation state changes depending on the swing position of the air mix damper 7, the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper 3 and the start of the air conditioning control are described above. In addition to the elapsed time and the swing position of the mode dampers 8a, 8b, 8c, the limit value may be obtained by using the swing position of the air mix damper 7 as the fourth parameter.

[0083]

The air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention has an air flow limit value which determines a limit value of an air volume that can be sent from the air conditioner body without noise in accordance with a swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper and a swing position of the mode damper. By providing a calculating means and an air flow recalculating means for controlling the air flow based on the limit value, the air blowing amount of the motor driving the blower fan is controlled in accordance with the swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper and the mode damper. Even if the oscillating position of the inside / outside air switching damper or the mode damper changes and the noise generation environment changes, noise generated by rotation of the blower fan is maintained without impairing the comfortable cooling and heating effect. Can be prevented. In addition, when the inside / outside air switching damper and mode damper are in a position where noise is unlikely to occur, the rotation speed of the motor that drives the blower fan is unnecessarily limited, which may affect the cooling and heating effect, or the inside / outside air switching In a situation where the damper or the mode damper is in a position where noise is likely to be generated, it is possible to surely prevent the problem that the rotation speed of the motor for driving the blower fan is insufficiently limited to generate annoying noise.

Furthermore, the airflow limit value calculating means is provided with a limit value optimizing function for gradually reducing the limit value as time elapses after the start of air conditioning, so that a cooling / heating effect stronger than quietness can be obtained. At the initial stage of the desired air conditioning, cooling and heating of a large air volume are performed, and then, as the need for cooling and heating is satisfied and quietness begins to be emphasized, the rotational speed of the blower fan is reduced to prevent unpleasant noise can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified functional block diagram showing a main part of an automotive air conditioner according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of a function realizing means constituted by a CPU of a control unit and various sensors.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram visualizing and showing a function stored in a nonvolatile memory of a control unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an air conditioning control process performed by a CPU of a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a continuation of the flowchart showing the outline of the air conditioning control process performed by the CPU of the control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automotive air conditioner 2 Duct 3 Inside / outside air switching damper 4 Blower fan 5 Evaporator 6 Heater core 7 Air mix damper 8a, 8b, 8c Mode damper 9 Outside air intake 10 Internal air intake 11 Actuator 12 Motor 13 Actuator 14 Defroster outlet (foot) Mode, part of the air outlet in the differential / foot mode) 15 Vent outlet (part of the air outlet in the vent mode, part of the air outlet in the bilevel mode) 16 Heat outlet (the air outlet in the foot mode, Part of air outlet in level mode) 17 Link mechanism 18 Actuator 19 Compressor 20 Condenser 21 Liquid tank 22 Expansion valve 23 Electromagnetic clutch 24 Engine 25 Internal temperature sensor (part of environmental condition detecting means) 26 External temperature sensor (Part of environmental condition detecting means) 27 control unit 28 air mix damper position detecting sensor 29 mode damper position detecting sensor 30 evaporator temperature sensor 31 control panel (target temperature setting means) 32 solar radiation sensor (part of environmental condition detecting means) 33 Engine water temperature sensor 34 Ignition switch (A) Inside / outside air switching damper control means (B) Required blowing temperature calculation means (C) Air mix damper position switching control means (D) Air volume calculation means (E) Motor drive control means (F) Mode damper position switching control means (G) Air volume limit value calculation means (H) Air volume recalculation means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An inside / outside air switching damper control means for driving an inside / outside air switching damper to take in air used for air conditioning between inside and outside of a vehicle, and distributing the taken-in air to an evaporator and a heater core to send out the air to the room. An air mix damper for adjusting the temperature, environmental condition detecting means for detecting environmental conditions related to air conditioning control, target temperature setting means for setting an indoor temperature serving as a target value of air conditioning control, and the environmental conditions Required air temperature calculating means for obtaining the air temperature of air to be sent from the air conditioner body into the room based on the environmental conditions detected by the detecting means and the indoor temperature set by the target temperature setting means; and the required air temperature Air mix damper position switching control means for adjusting the swing position of the air mix damper based on the blowing temperature determined by the calculation means, Air volume calculation means for calculating an air volume of air to be sent from the air conditioner main body based on a difference between the room temperature serving as the target value and the current room temperature; and a blower fan based on the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation device. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: a motor drive control unit that drives and controls a motor, wherein the air flow limiter obtains a limit value of an air flow that can be sent from the air conditioner main body without noise in accordance with a swing position of the inside / outside air switching damper. Value calculation means, and a magnitude relationship between the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means and the limit value calculated by the air volume limit value calculation means, and the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means calculates the air volume limit value calculation. If it does not exceed the limit value obtained by the means, the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation means is directly input to the motor drive control means as a target value, while the air volume calculation is performed. If the air volume obtained by the means exceeds the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating means, the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating means is set to the target value instead of the air volume obtained by the air volume calculating means. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: an air volume re-calculating unit that inputs a value to the motor drive control unit as a value. 2. An air mix damper for adjusting the temperature of air to be delivered indoors by distributing the taken air to an evaporator and a heater core, environmental condition detecting means for detecting environmental conditions related to air conditioning control, and air conditioning control. Target temperature setting means for setting an indoor temperature that is a target value of
A required blow-out temperature calculating means for calculating a blow-out temperature of air to be sent from the air conditioner main body into the room based on the environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detecting means and the room temperature set by the target temperature setting means; Air mix damper position switching control means for adjusting the swing position of the air mix damper based on the blow-out temperature calculated by the required blow-out temperature calculating means; and An air flow rate calculating means for calculating an air flow rate of air to be sent from the air conditioner body, a motor drive control means for driving and controlling a blower fan motor based on the air flow rate calculated by the air flow rate calculating means, The mode damper is driven based on the magnitude relationship between the outlet temperature obtained by the means and the determination value serving as the switching reference, and the foot mode air outlet is provided. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: a mode damper position switching control unit that switches an air blowing destination between an air outlet in a bilevel mode and an air outlet in a vent mode. Air volume limit value calculating means for obtaining a limit value of the air volume that can be sent from the air conditioner body without noise, and a magnitude relationship between the air volume obtained by the air volume calculating device and the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculating device. If the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation means does not exceed the limit value obtained by the air volume limit value calculation means, the air volume obtained by the air volume calculation means is used as a target value as it is for the motor drive control means. While typing
If the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation unit exceeds the limit value calculated by the air volume limit value calculation unit, the limit calculated by the air volume limit value calculation unit is used instead of the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation unit. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: an air volume re-calculating means for inputting a value as a target value to the motor drive control means. 3. An inside / outside air switching damper control means for driving an inside / outside air switching damper to take in air to be used for air conditioning between inside and outside of the vehicle, and distributing the taken-in air to an evaporator and a heater core to send out the air to the room. An air mix damper for adjusting the temperature, environmental condition detecting means for detecting environmental conditions related to air conditioning control, target temperature setting means for setting an indoor temperature serving as a target value of air conditioning control, and the environmental conditions Required air temperature calculating means for obtaining the air temperature of air to be sent from the air conditioner body into the room based on the environmental conditions detected by the detecting means and the indoor temperature set by the target temperature setting means; and the required air temperature Air mix damper position switching control means for adjusting the swing position of the air mix damper based on the blowing temperature determined by the calculation means, Air volume calculation means for calculating an air volume of air to be sent from the air conditioner main body based on a difference between the room temperature serving as the target value and the current room temperature; and a blower fan based on the air volume calculated by the air volume calculation device. Motor drive control means for controlling the driving of the motor, and driving the mode damper based on the magnitude relationship between the blow-out temperature obtained by the required blow-out temperature calculating means and the determination value serving as the switching reference, and the foot-mode air blow-out port. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: a mode damper position switching control unit that switches an air blowing destination between an air outlet in a bilevel mode and an air outlet in a vent mode. Airflow limit value calculating means for obtaining a limit value of an airflow that can be sent from the air conditioner body without noise in accordance with the position and the swing position of the mode damper; Comparing the magnitude relationship between the air volume calculated by the arithmetic unit and the limit value calculated by the air volume limit value calculating unit, the air volume calculated by the air volume calculating unit is determined by the limit value calculated by the air volume limit value calculating unit. If it does not exceed, the air flow obtained by the air flow calculation means is directly input to the motor drive control means as a target value, while the air flow obtained by the air flow calculation means is the limit value obtained by the air flow limit value calculation means. Air flow rate recalculating means for inputting to the motor drive control means the limit value obtained by the air flow limit value calculating means as a target value in place of the air flow rate obtained by the air flow rate calculating means if the value exceeds An air conditioner for a vehicle, characterized in that: 4. The air volume limit value calculating means is provided with a limit value optimizing function for reducing a limit value as time elapses after the start of air conditioning. Item 4. An automotive air conditioner according to any one of items 3.