JP2006282123A - Vehicle whose air-conditioning output is controlled with solar cell output - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To regulate the output of an air-conditioner for a vehicle automatically during the vehicle being in operation in accordance with the intensity of the sun beam, apart from the temperature setting by the driver/passenger or setting of the wind quantity, as improvement of the conventional arrangement in which the air-conditioning effect differs largely between the driver/passenger facing an air blowout hole and others who are not, and in particular, the air-conditioning output at cooling when the sun beam is intense is considered favorable to be made higher than when it is weak in compliance with the climate conditions, apart from the set temperature or wind quantity. <P>SOLUTION: The invention includes an electronic control device which increases the output of the air-conditioner in compliance with the increase of the output of the solar cell when an ignition switch is closed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle such as an automobile provided with a solar cell and an air conditioner, and more particularly to control of the air conditioner.

Regarding the relationship between the solar cell and the air conditioner in the vehicle, when the vehicle interior temperature exceeds a predetermined value in a vehicle equipped with a solar cell consisting of two solar cell elements and an electric blower for ventilation, Two solar cell element groups are connected in parallel, and the electric blower for ventilation is driven by the output of the solar cell. When the vehicle interior temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the two solar cell element groups are connected in series. Patent Document 1 below describes that a battery is charged by output. In this patent document, although not limited as a requirement of the invention, as described above, the connection of the two solar cell element groups is switched between the parallel type and the series type according to the vehicle interior temperature and the solar cell. Switching the output destination between the ventilation electric blower and the battery is performed while the ignition switch is opened, that is, while the vehicle is parked.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-47521

  Control of the operation of the vehicle air conditioner during operation of the vehicle is conventionally performed as target temperature feedback control that brings the temperature of the passenger compartment to the set temperature based solely on the temperature setting by the occupant. On the other hand, an air conditioner for a vehicle is usually capable of adjusting the air volume, and the output of the air conditioner conventionally follows the air volume control of the air conditioner.

  However, in a vehicle air conditioner, especially when the vehicle is running, the cabin temperature hardly reaches the set temperature and the output of the air conditioner rarely becomes zero, and the air conditioner faces the air outlet. The air conditioning effect of wind is significantly different between seated and unoccupied passengers, so the output of the air conditioner, especially during cooling air conditioning, is different from the air volume when the solar radiation is strong depending on the climatic conditions. It is considered preferable to be higher than when it is weak, and conversely when solar radiation is weak, it should be lower than when it is strong.

  In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to automatically adjust the output of an air conditioner for a vehicle according to the intensity of solar radiation, independently of temperature setting and air volume setting by an occupant during traveling of the vehicle. It is said.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a vehicle including a vehicle operation switch, a solar battery, an air conditioner, and an electronic control device, and the electronic switch is closed when the ignition switch is closed. The type control device proposes a vehicle characterized in that the output of the air conditioner is increased in accordance with the increase of the output of the solar cell. The vehicle operation switch is a switch that is closed when the operation of the vehicle is started, and is an ignition switch when an internal combustion engine is included as a vehicle drive source.

  In this case, the vehicle includes an indoor temperature sensor and an air conditioning temperature setting device, and the electronic control device determines a difference between the vehicle interior temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor and the target air conditioning temperature set by the air conditioning temperature setting device. The output of the air conditioner may be increased according to the increase.

  In addition, the vehicle includes an outside air temperature sensor, and the electronic control device outputs the output of the air conditioner according to an increase in the difference between the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor and the vehicle interior temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor. It may be designed to increase.

  Further, the electronic control device may be configured such that when the vehicle operation switch is opened, at least one of the vehicle room temperature detected by the vehicle room temperature sensor and the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is determined according to the predetermined value. And at least one of the sunroof and the window may be opened when the output of the solar cell is equal to or greater than a predetermined limit value.

  In a vehicle having a vehicle operation switch, a solar cell, an air conditioner, and an electronic control device, when the vehicle operation switch is closed, the electronic control device increases the output of the solar cell. Accordingly, if the output of the air conditioner is increased, the output of the air conditioner can be adjusted according to the intensity of solar radiation separately from the set temperature and the set air volume during operation of the vehicle. In this case, the intensity of solar radiation is determined by the output of the solar cell, so that the entire vehicle body receives solar radiation compared to a case where a part of the vehicle is detected by providing a separate solar radiation amount detecting means such as a solar radiation sensor. Thus, it is not necessary to provide any other means for detecting the amount of solar radiation in addition to the solar cell.

  The vehicle includes an indoor temperature sensor and an air conditioning temperature setting device, and the electronic control device increases the difference between the vehicle interior temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor and the target air conditioning temperature set by the air conditioning temperature setting device. If the output of the air conditioner is increased according to the vehicle, the output of the air conditioner is set by the occupant to adjust the output of the air conditioner according to the intensity of solar radiation during operation of the vehicle. Not only the amount of air flow but also the amount of heat can be adjusted according to the difference between the passenger compartment temperature and the target air conditioning temperature set by the air conditioning temperature setting device.

  Further, the vehicle includes an outside air temperature sensor, and the electronic control unit outputs the air conditioner according to an increase in the difference between the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor and the vehicle interior temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor. When the vehicle is in operation, the output of the air conditioner can be adjusted according to the difference between the outside air temperature and the vehicle interior temperature in accordance with the intensity of solar radiation during operation of the vehicle.

  Further, when the vehicle operation switch is opened, the electronic control device has a vehicle room temperature detected by the vehicle room temperature sensor equal to or higher than a predetermined limit value or an outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is If the sunroof and / or the window are opened when the output of the solar cell is equal to or greater than a predetermined limit value and the output of the solar cell is equal to or greater than the predetermined limit value, the solar cell is shut off by strong solar radiation while the vehicle is parked. This prevents the passenger compartment temperature from rising to an undesirably high temperature.

  FIG. 1 attached herewith is a schematic diagram schematically showing a configuration of a vehicle according to the present invention which is related to the present invention. The main components involved in the present invention are an electronic control unit (ECU), a vehicle operation switch (here, an ignition switch-IG switch-) solar cell, and an air conditioner. A temperature sensor, an outside air temperature sensor, an air conditioning switch, an air conditioning temperature setting device, a sunroof, and a window are added. The electronic control unit (ECU) is a control unit provided with a microcomputer, and may be in a form known in various forms in the field of computer control of a vehicle. The electronic control unit includes an ignition switch, solar cell, indoor temperature sensor, outside air temperature sensor, air conditioning switch, and air conditioning temperature setter. The ignition switch open / close state, solar cell output, vehicle interior temperature, outside air temperature, air conditioning Information on the open / close state of the switch and the set temperature of the air conditioner is supplied. Based on this information, the electronic control unit performs a predetermined control calculation according to the calculation program loaded therein to control the output of the air conditioner. The sunroof is opened and closed, and the window is opened and closed.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of such control performed by an electronic controller. However, this flowchart comprehensively shows the control possible by the present invention, and the basic problem of the present invention is that the output of the vehicle air conditioner is the set temperature and set air volume during the operation of the vehicle. In addition, it does not indicate that all steps are necessary to solve the problem of adjusting according to the intensity of solar radiation. The control according to the flowchart is repeatedly performed at a cycle of several tens to several hundreds of milliseconds by a microcomputer of the electronic control device.

  When the control is started, various data are read in step 10, and in particular, with respect to the present invention, the open / close state of the ignition switch, the output Ps of the solar cell, the vehicle interior temperature Tr, the outside air temperature Ta, and the air conditioning switch. The air conditioning set temperature Tset by the air conditioning temperature setting device is read. Control then proceeds to step 20.

  In step 20, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch is closed. If the answer is yes, control proceeds to step 30 where it is determined whether the air conditioning switch is closed. If the answer is yes, control proceeds to step 40.

  In step 40, it is determined whether or not the vehicle interior temperature Tr detected above is equal to or higher than a predetermined lower limit value Tro. This lower limit value Tro is a relatively low temperature that is not necessary to perform the output control of the air conditioner according to the output of the solar cell according to the present invention when the vehicle interior temperature is lower than this. If the answer is yes, control proceeds to step 50.

  In step 50, the target output Qat of the air conditioner is calculated based on the detected solar cell output Ps, the room temperature Tr, the outside air temperature Ta, and the air conditioning set temperature Tset. This calculation may be performed according to any desired procedure. In this flowchart, for example, an amount proportional to the solar cell output Ps, an amount proportional to the difference between the vehicle interior temperature Tr and the air conditioning set temperature Tset, and an amount proportional to the difference between the outside air temperature Ta and the vehicle interior temperature Tr are shown. It should be added at an appropriate ratio. k1, k2, and k3 are proportional constants.

  In step 60, the air conditioner is operated at the output Qat.

  If the answer to step 30 or 40 is no, or if no in the middle of the control, the control proceeds to step 70 and the air conditioner is stopped.

  If the answer to step 20 is no or no, control proceeds to step 80 where the air conditioner is stopped or maintained in a stopped state.

  At this time, the control proceeds to step 90, and it is determined whether or not the vehicle interior temperature Tr is equal to or higher than a considerably high limit value Trh. This limit value Trh is a temperature at which it is desired to open the sunroof or the window when the passenger compartment temperature is higher. When the answer to step 90 is no, the control proceeds to step 100, and it is determined whether or not the outside air temperature Ta is equal to or higher than a considerably high limit value Tah. This limit value Tah is a temperature at which it is desired to open the sunroof or the window when the outside air temperature is higher than that.

  If neither the answer of step 90 nor the answer of step 100 is no, control proceeds to step 110 and the sunroof or window is closed or maintained in a closed state, but at least one of step 90 or step 100 is left. If the answer is yes, control proceeds to step 120.

  In step 120, it is determined whether or not the solar cell output Ps is greater than or equal to a predetermined limit value Psh. This limit value Psh is also a value set relatively high. Sunroofs and windows should not be opened automatically for security purposes. However, if the vehicle interior temperature is equal to or higher than the limit value Trh, or the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the limit value Tah and the solar cell output exceeds the limit value Psh, stop. The limit value Psh is set so that it is determined that it is better to open the sunroof or the window. If the answer to step 120 is yes, control proceeds to step 130 where one or both of the sunroof and the window are opened. The above limit value Psh is set as a common value when the vehicle interior temperature is equal to or higher than the limit value Trh and when the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the limit value Tah. However, the limit value Psh is used to open the sunroof or the window. The limit value of the solar cell output may be set as an individual different value for the case where the vehicle interior temperature is equal to or higher than the limit value Trh and the case where the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the limit value Tah.

  In the above, one general embodiment in which several aspects of the present invention have been implemented at the same time has been described in detail, but various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Schematic which shows in figure the structure which concerns on this invention of the vehicle by this invention. The flowchart which shows the control performed in the vehicle of this invention about one comprehensive embodiment.

Claims (5)

  When the vehicle operation switch is closed in a vehicle including a vehicle operation switch, a solar cell, an air conditioner, and an electronic control device, the electronic control device increases the output of the solar cell. Accordingly, the vehicle is configured to increase the output of the air conditioner.   The vehicle includes an indoor temperature sensor and an air conditioning temperature setting device, and the electronic control unit increases the difference between the vehicle interior temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor and the target air conditioning temperature set by the air conditioning temperature setting device. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the output of the air conditioner is increased according to the condition.   The vehicle includes an indoor temperature sensor and an outside air temperature sensor, and the electronic control unit is configured to increase the difference between the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor and the vehicle interior temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output of the air conditioner is increased.   The vehicle includes an indoor temperature sensor, and the electronic control device is configured such that when the vehicle operation switch is opened, the vehicle room temperature detected by the vehicle room temperature sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined limit value and the solar cell The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the sunroof and the window is opened when the output of is more than a predetermined limit value. The vehicle includes an outside air temperature sensor, and the electronic control unit is configured such that when the vehicle operation switch is opened, the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined limit value and the solar cell The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the sunroof and the window is opened when the output of is more than a predetermined limit value.

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