JP2006240372A - Air-conditioner for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly perform temperature control of a rear seat without accompanying unpleasant feeling to an occupant by using an intake air temperature sensor of a front seat air conditioner or a cabin temperature sensor of a rear seat air conditioner in place of an intake air temperature sensor of the rear seat air conditioner, in a vehicle provided with independent air conditioners for a front seat and a rear seat. <P>SOLUTION: This air-conditioner is provided with the front seat air conditioner 1 for controlling the temperature of air in the vicinity of the front seat in the cabin and the rear seat air conditioner 6 for controlling the temperature of air in the vicinity of the rear seat in the cabin. The rear seat air conditioner 6 performs the temperature control based on a front seat intake air temperature sensor 4 provided in the front seat air conditioner 1 and a rear seat cabin temperature sensor 8 provided in the rear seat air conditioner 6 while a compressor is in operation, and performs the temperature control based on the rear seat cabin temperature sensor 8 while the compressor is stopped. When the operation of the compressor is switched, the temperature control requiring longer time up to a set temperature as compared with the temperature control at a normal time is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automobile air conditioner.

  In general, vehicles equipped with an air conditioner for automobiles having a front seat air conditioner and a rear seat air conditioner that independently control the air temperature in the vehicle interior of the front seat and the rear seat of the vehicle have become widespread. In a vehicle equipped with such an air conditioner for automobiles, the temperature setting and the air volume can be adjusted separately for the front seat and the rear seat, respectively, and the air temperature in the passenger compartment can be adjusted to the passenger's preference. It has become.

Here, the front-seat air conditioner and the rear-seat air-conditioner have an operation unit for the passenger to set the temperature and air volume, an air conditioner unit that takes in air from the outside of the vehicle and the interior of the vehicle, and adjusts the temperature of the taken-in air. Intake air temperature sensor for detecting the temperature, vehicle room temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the air in the vehicle interior, the air conditioner based on the temperature and air volume set by the operation unit, and the temperature detected by the intake air temperature sensor and the vehicle room temperature sensor Each is provided with an air conditioner control device for controlling the unit (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-175159

  In such an automobile air conditioner, since the front seat and the rear seat have independent air conditioners, it is necessary to set an intake air temperature sensor and a vehicle room temperature sensor for each. Since there are multiple settings for each purpose, there is a problem in that it leads to cost increase. For this reason, a method of eliminating the intake air temperature sensor of the rear seat air conditioner and using the intake air temperature sensor of the front seat air conditioner instead has been studied.

  However, while the front-seat air conditioner has a mechanism for taking in air from the outside of the vehicle and the interior of the vehicle, the rear-seat air-conditioner generally has a mechanism for taking in only the air in the passenger compartment. If the intake air temperature sensor of the seat air conditioner is used as the intake air temperature sensor of the rear seat air conditioner, for example, when the temperature difference between the outside and inside the vehicle is large, the front seat air conditioner introduces the outside air and controls the temperature. When performing the above, there is a possibility that the temperature control of the rear seat in the vehicle interior by the rear seat air conditioner is not performed properly.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an intake air temperature sensor for a front seat air conditioner or a vehicle room temperature sensor for a rear seat air conditioner in place of an intake air temperature sensor for a rear seat air conditioner in a vehicle having independent air conditioners for the front seat and the rear seat. Is to provide an automotive air conditioner that appropriately controls the temperature of the rear seat without causing discomfort to the occupant.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an intake air temperature sensor that detects a temperature of air taken in from at least one of the vicinity of the front seat of the vehicle interior or the outside of the vehicle, and the temperature of the air near the front seat of the vehicle interior. A front-seat vehicle room temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the intake air sensor and the front-seat vehicle room temperature sensor, and adjusts the temperature of the air that has been taken in to the vehicle interior. A front-seat air conditioner that controls the temperature of the air in the vicinity, and a rear-seat vehicle room temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle interior. A rear seat that controls the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle by adjusting the temperature of the air taken in from the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle and supplying it to the vehicle interior based on at least the detection value of the room temperature sensor in the rear seat An air conditioner, and the rear seat air conditioner When the compressor included in the rear seat air conditioner is in operation, the device performs normal control for performing the adjustment based on detection values of the intake air temperature sensor and the rear seat vehicle room temperature sensor during normal times. When the operation is switched from stop to operation, an estimated value of the temperature of the air taken in by the rear seat air conditioner is calculated based on the temperature detected by the intake air temperature sensor and the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor, and the estimated When the difference between the value and the detected value of the intake air temperature sensor is outside the predetermined range, the first temperature control is performed, which takes a long time to reach the set temperature compared to the normal air conditioner control, and the rear seat air conditioner When the provided compressor is stopped, the normal control for performing the adjustment based on the detected value of the rear-seat vehicle room temperature sensor is performed normally, and the operation of the compressor is switched from the operation to the stop. In this case, an estimated value of the temperature of the air taken in by the rear seat air conditioner is calculated based on the temperature detected by the rear seat room temperature sensor, and the difference between the estimated value and the detected value of the rear seat room temperature sensor is calculated. Is outside the predetermined range, the second temperature control is performed in which the time required to reach the set temperature is longer than the first temperature control as compared with the normal air conditioner control.

  According to the above configuration, even when the rear seat air conditioner is not operating, the rear seat air conditioner detects the temperature of the air taken in from the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle. By using the value of the front seat intake air temperature sensor as a substitute value of the intake air temperature sensor, and using the value of the rear seat air temperature sensor as a substitute value of the rear seat intake air temperature sensor when the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner is stopped, The temperature control in the vicinity of the rear seat in the passenger compartment can be performed appropriately.

  In addition, when switching the substitute value of the rear seat intake air temperature sensor that accompanies the operation and stoppage of the compressor, the temperature control of the rear seat air conditioning system requires a longer time to reach the set temperature than the normal temperature control. Thus, rapid temperature control near the rear seat in the vehicle interior can be avoided, and temperature control near the rear seat in the vehicle interior can be appropriately performed without causing discomfort to the passenger.

  According to the present invention, in a vehicle equipped with independent air conditioners for the front seat and the rear seat, the intake air temperature sensor for the front seat air conditioner or the vehicle room temperature sensor for the rear seat air conditioner instead of the intake air temperature sensor for the rear seat air conditioner. By using this, it is possible to realize an automotive air conditioner that appropriately controls the temperature of the rear seat without causing discomfort to the passenger.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

  The front seat air conditioner 1 includes a front seat air conditioner control device 1A and a front seat air conditioner unit 1B.

  The front seat air conditioner control device 1A includes an operation unit (not shown) for setting an air conditioner operation such as temperature and air volume in the vicinity of the front seat of the vehicle interior by an occupant, and is electrically connected to the front seat air conditioner unit 1B.

  The front seat air conditioner unit 1B includes an opening 2A and an opening 2B communicating with the outside and the vehicle interior, respectively, and intake doors 3A and 3B whose opening and closing are controlled by the front seat air conditioner control device 1A are provided in the openings. It has been. When the intake door 3A is open and the intake door 3B is closed, only the air outside the vehicle (described as outside air in FIG. 1 and described as outside air in the following description) is taken into the front seat air conditioner unit 1B. When the intake door 3A is closed and the intake door 3B is open, only the air in the vehicle (described as internal air in FIG. 1 and also described as internal air in the following description) is taken into the front seat air conditioner unit 1B. When the intake doors 3A and 3B are both open, both outside air and inside air are taken into the front seat air conditioner unit 1B.

The front seat air conditioner unit 1B includes an evaporator and a compressor (both not shown). When the refrigerant flowing inside the evaporator is vaporized, cold is generated by taking heat from the air. The vaporized refrigerant is compressed into a liquid by the compressor, and heat is generated at this time. This heat is dissipated by the radiator 9 provided in the engine room. Further, this heat is taken into the front seat air conditioner unit 1B, and is used together with cold air to adjust the temperature of the air taken into the front seat air conditioner unit 1B through the intake doors 3A and 3B.
A front seat intake air temperature sensor 4 that detects the temperature of air taken in through the intake doors 3A and 3B is provided downstream of the intake doors 3A and 3B. The instrument panel (not shown) is provided with a front seat vehicle room temperature sensor 5 for detecting the temperature of air in the vicinity of the front seat of the vehicle interior. The front seat intake air temperature sensor 4 and the front seat vehicle temperature sensor 5 are electrically connected to the front seat air conditioner control device 1A, respectively. The front seat air conditioner control device 1A detects the temperature detected by these sensors and the front seat air conditioner control device. Based on the temperature set by the operation unit 1A, the temperature of the air supplied to the vicinity of the front seat of the vehicle interior is adjusted and supplied to the vicinity of the front seat of the vehicle interior.

  The rear seat air conditioner device 6 is composed of a rear seat air conditioner control device 6A and a rear seat air conditioner unit 6B.

  The rear seat air conditioner control device 6A includes an operation unit (not shown) for setting an air conditioner operation such as temperature and air flow in the vicinity of the rear seat in the passenger compartment, and is electrically connected to the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B.

  The rear seat air conditioner unit 6B includes an evaporator and a compressor (both not shown) as in the front seat air conditioner unit 1B. When the refrigerant flowing inside the evaporator is vaporized, heat is taken from the air to generate cold air. The vaporized refrigerant is compressed into a liquid by the compressor, and heat is generated at this time. This heat is dissipated by the radiator 9 provided in the engine room. Further, this heat is taken into the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B, and is used together with cold air to adjust the temperature of the air taken into the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B through the opening 7 communicating with the passenger compartment.

  The rear seat room temperature sensor 8 for detecting the air temperature in the passenger compartment of the rear seat is provided in the vicinity of the side panel of the rear seat. The rear seat room temperature sensor 8 is electrically connected to the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A. Further, the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A is electrically connected to the front seat air conditioner control device 1A, and takes in the temperature detected by the front seat air intake temperature sensor 4 from the front seat air conditioner control device 1A.

  Here, the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A does not include the rear seat intake air temperature sensor, and uses the detected value of the front seat intake air temperature sensor 4 or the detected value of the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor 8 as a substitute value for the rear seat intake air temperature sensor. The rear seat air conditioner control device 6A supplies the air to be supplied to the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle interior based on the substitute value, the temperature detected by the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor 8, and the temperature set by the operation unit of the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A. The temperature is adjusted and supplied to the vicinity of the rear seats in the passenger compartment.

  Next, the basic operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S101 of FIG. 2, it is determined whether the compressor (described as COMP in FIG. 2) of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B is operating or stopped. If the compressor is operating, the flow moves to step S102. On the other hand, if the compressor is stopped, the flow moves to step S108.

  In step S102, the value of the front seat intake air temperature sensor 4 (in FIG. 2, as RRINT in FIG. 2, described as the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute in the following specification) , FRINT, described below as front seat intake air temperature sensor value).

  When both the front-seat air conditioner and the rear-seat air-conditioner are operating by operating the compressor, the front-seat air-conditioner and the rear-seat air-conditioner operate in the same way, so that the temperature control in the passenger compartment is more effective. Can be done automatically.

  For this reason, the front seat intake air temperature sensor value is used as the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value during the compressor operation of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B. After this, the flow moves to step S103.

  In step S103, it is determined whether or not the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B has been switched from stop to operation. When the compressor is switched from the stop state to the operation state, the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value is changed from the value of the rear seat vehicle room temperature sensor 8 (hereinafter referred to as the rear seat vehicle room temperature sensor value) to the front seat intake air temperature sensor value. Can be switched. In this case, if the outside air is introduced by the front seat air conditioner 1, the change in the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value becomes large, the temperature of the air supplied to the passenger compartment changes greatly, and the passengers feel uncomfortable. There is a possibility of giving. For this reason, when the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B is switched from the stop to the operation, the flow shifts to the flow after step S105, and the air conditioner control is a normal control (referred to as normal control in FIG. First temperature control (described later) different from normal control) is performed in the book. On the other hand, if the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B is not switched from the stop to the operation, the flow proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, the temperature control of the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A is performed by normal control. After this, the flow returns to step S101.

  In step S105, the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value (= front seat intake air temperature sensor value) and the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A are calculated from the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value and the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor value. A difference dt between sensor estimation values (described as RR estimation values in FIG. 2) is calculated. After this, the flow moves to step S106.

  In step S106, it is determined whether dt calculated in step S105 is within a predetermined range. That is, when the condition of −T ≦ dt ≦ + T is satisfied with respect to the predetermined value T, when the temperature control in the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle interior is appropriately performed, the flow proceeds to step S104, The temperature control of the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A is performed by normal control. If this condition is not satisfied, the flow moves to step S107.

  In step S107, the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A performs the temperature control of the rear seat in the vehicle interior by the first temperature control that gradually performs the temperature control to the set temperature TS set by the operation unit as compared with the normal control. When the compressor operation is switched from stop to operation, the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value changes from the rear seat vehicle room temperature sensor value to the front seat intake air temperature sensor value, and the amount of change in the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value increases. Thus, rapid temperature control may be required. However, since rapid temperature control may cause discomfort to the occupant, as shown in FIG. 3, the first temperature control is performed that takes t1 minutes later than the normal control to reach the set temperature TS. Avoid rapid temperature control.

  If the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B is stopped in step S101, the flow proceeds to step S108.

  In step S108, a rear-seat vehicle room temperature sensor value (indicated as RRINC in FIG. 2) is set as a rear-seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value.

  As described above, the intake air of the rear seat air conditioner 6 becomes air near the rear seat in the vehicle interior. When the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B is stopped and the heater is operated, the front seat intake air temperature sensor value is used as the substitute value for the rear seat intake air temperature sensor as in the case of the compressor operation of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B. When the air conditioner unit 1B is introducing the outside air, the actual intake air temperature (= the air temperature near the rear seat in the vehicle interior) and the substitute value (= the outside air temperature, or the outside air and the air near the front seat in the vehicle interior are mixed. There is a possibility that the temperature control in the vicinity of the rear seat in the passenger compartment will not be properly performed. Accordingly, when the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B is stopped, the rear seat vehicle room temperature having a temperature close to the rear seat intake air temperature, that is, the rear seat vehicle room temperature sensor value is used as the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value. . After this, the flow moves to step S109.

  In step S109, it is determined whether or not the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B has been switched from operation to stop. When the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B is switched from the operation to the stop, the rear seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value is also switched from the front seat intake air temperature sensor value to the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor value. In this case, if the outside air is introduced in the front seat air conditioner unit 1B, the change in the substitute value for the rear seat intake air temperature sensor becomes large, and the temperature of the air sent into the passenger compartment changes greatly, giving the passenger an uncomfortable feeling. There is a possibility that. For this reason, when the compressor is switched from the operation to the stop, the flow shifts to the flow after step S110, and the air conditioner control is performed by second temperature control (described later) different from the normal control. On the other hand, if the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner unit 6B is not switched from the operation to the stop, the flow proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, the temperature control of the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A is performed by normal control. After this, the flow returns to step S101.

  In step S110, the rear-seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value (= rear-seat car room temperature sensor value) and the rear-seat air-conditioner control device 6A are calculated from the rear-seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value and the rear-seat car room temperature sensor value. A difference dt between sensor estimation values (described as RR estimation values in FIG. 2) is calculated. After this, the flow moves to step S111.

  In step S111, it is determined whether dt calculated in step S110 is within a predetermined range. That is, when the condition of −T ≦ dt ≦ + T is satisfied with respect to the predetermined value T, when the temperature control in the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle interior is appropriately performed, the flow proceeds to step S104, The temperature control of the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A is performed by normal control. If this condition is not satisfied, the flow moves to step S112.

  In step S112, the rear seat air conditioner control device 6A performs the temperature control of the rear seat in the passenger compartment by the second temperature control in which the temperature control to the set temperature TS set by the operation unit is gradually performed as compared with the normal control. When the compressor operation is switched from operation to stop, the rear-seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value changes from the front-seat intake air temperature sensor value to the rear-seat car room temperature sensor value, and the amount of change in the rear-seat intake air temperature sensor substitute value increases. Thus, there are cases where rapid temperature control is required. However, since rapid temperature control may cause discomfort to the occupant, the second temperature control that is slower by t2 minutes than the normal control is performed for the rapid temperature control. To avoid.

  As described above, in a vehicle equipped with independent air conditioners for the front seat and the rear seat, the rear seat air conditioner does not include a rear seat intake air temperature sensor that detects the temperature of air taken from the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle interior. Even if the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner is in operation, the value of the front seat intake air temperature sensor is used as a substitute value for the rear seat intake air temperature sensor. By using the value of the rear seat vehicle room temperature sensor as a substitute value for the sensor, temperature control in the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle interior can be appropriately performed.

  In addition, when switching the substitute value of the rear seat intake air temperature sensor that accompanies the operation and stoppage of the compressor, the temperature control of the rear seat air conditioning system requires a longer time to reach the set temperature than the normal temperature control. Thus, rapid temperature control near the rear seat in the vehicle interior can be avoided, and temperature control near the rear seat in the vehicle interior can be appropriately performed without causing discomfort to the passenger.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail with drawing, an Example is only an illustration of this invention and this invention is not limited only to the structure of an Example. Accordingly, it is a matter of course that the present invention includes any design change within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, the second temperature control t2 may be larger than the first temperature control t1. When the compressor is stopped, temperature control becomes more difficult than when the compressor is operating. Therefore, t2 of the second temperature control performed when the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner device 6 is stopped from the operation is larger than t1 of the first temperature control performed when the compressor is operated from the stop. By performing temperature control as a value with a sufficient time until reaching the set temperature TS, it is possible to execute vehicle interior temperature control that further reduces discomfort to the occupant.

It is a block diagram of the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of the Example of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front seat air conditioner 1A Front seat air conditioner control apparatus 1B Front seat air conditioner unit 2A Opening 2B Opening 3A Intake door 3B Intake door 4 Front seat intake air temperature sensor 5 Front seat car room temperature sensor 6 Rear seat air conditioner 6A Rear seat air conditioner control Device 6B Rear seat air conditioner unit 7 Opening 8 Rear seat vehicle temperature sensor 9 Radiator 10 Car body

Claims (1)

An intake air temperature sensor that detects the temperature of air taken from at least one of the vicinity of the front seat of the vehicle interior or the outside of the vehicle, and a front seat vehicle temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the air near the front seat of the vehicle interior, the intake air temperature sensor and A front-seat air conditioner that adjusts the temperature of the air that has been taken in based on the detection value of the front-seat vehicle room temperature sensor, supplies the air to the vehicle interior, and controls the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the front seat of the vehicle interior;
A rear-seat vehicle room temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in the vicinity of the rear seat in the vehicle interior, and based on at least a detection value of the rear-seat vehicle room temperature sensor among a detection value of the intake air temperature sensor and a detection value of the rear-seat vehicle room temperature sensor A rear seat air conditioner that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from the vicinity of the rear seat of the vehicle interior and supplies the air to the vehicle interior, and controls the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the rear seat of the vehicle interior;
The rear seat air conditioner normally controls the adjustment based on detection values of the intake air temperature sensor and the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor when the compressor included in the rear seat air conditioner is operating. When the operation of the compressor is switched from the stop to the operation, the estimated value of the temperature of the air taken in by the rear seat air conditioner is calculated based on the temperature detected by the intake air temperature sensor and the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor. Then, when the difference between the estimated value and the detected value of the intake air temperature sensor is outside a predetermined range, the first temperature control is performed that takes a long time to reach the set temperature compared to the normal air conditioner control, When the compressor of the rear seat air conditioner is stopped, normal control is performed to perform the adjustment based on the detection value of the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor, and the operation of the compressor is stopped from the operation. When switching, the estimated value of the temperature of the air taken in the rear seat air conditioner is calculated based on the temperature detected by the rear seat vehicle room temperature sensor, the estimated value and the detected value of the rear seat vehicle temperature sensor When the difference between the two is outside the predetermined range, the time required to reach the set temperature as compared with the normal air conditioner control is subjected to the second temperature control that is longer than the first temperature control. .

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