JP2008285106A - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner for a vehicle capable of preventing blower noise from diverting the attention of a driver from driving of a vehicle during the backing of the vehicle which particularly requires the attention of the driver. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner for the vehicle has an air conditioning ECU 46 (air quantity control means, temperature control means). The air conditioning ECU 46 calculates target blowout temperature TAO in accordance with operation of an operation panel 51 (operation switch), controls blower voltage (air quantity) of a blower motor 16 (blower) in accordance with the calculated target blowout temperature TAO, and controls an air mix damper 24 and a motor 26 for the air mix damper 24 (temperature adjustment actuator) in accordance with the calculated target blowout temperature TAO. On the condition that a shift position switch 55 detects that a shift lever is positioned in a reverse mode and the blower voltage of the blower motor 16 exceeds predetermined quantity, the air conditioning ECU 46 lowers the blower voltage of the blower motor 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner, and more particularly to a vehicle air conditioner capable of reducing noise caused by blower operation.

As this type of vehicle air conditioner, for example, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, a target outlet temperature calculating means for calculating a target outlet temperature according to operation of an operation switch, and a target outlet temperature calculating means An air volume control means for controlling the air volume of the blower according to the calculated target blow temperature, and a temperature control means for controlling the temperature adjustment actuator according to the target blow temperature calculated by the target blow temperature calculation means Are known. In this vehicle air conditioner, the noise of the blower is reduced by automatically reducing the air volume of the blower when the telephone is used in the passenger compartment.
JP 2004-314719 A No. 7-33925

  However, in the vehicle air conditioners described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, there are cases in which the blower air volume is set to be large depending on the temperature conditions in the passenger compartment when the vehicle moves backward, which requires special attention from the driver. is there. In this case, there was a problem that the driver's attention was distracted by the noise of the blower.

  The subject of this invention is providing the vehicle air conditioner which can prevent a driver | operator's attention being distracted by the noise of a blower at the time of the reverse of the vehicle which requires a driver | operator's attention especially.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a target blowing temperature calculating means for calculating a target blowing temperature in accordance with operation of an operation switch, and a blower according to the target blowing temperature calculated by the target blowing temperature calculating means. A position of a shift lever is detected in a vehicle air conditioner comprising: an air volume control means for controlling an air volume; and a temperature control means for controlling a temperature adjustment actuator in accordance with a target blow temperature calculated by the target blow temperature calculation means. The air volume control means detects that the shift lever is positioned in the reverse mode by the shift position switch, and that the air volume of the blower is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. The air volume of the blower is reduced.

  In this vehicle air conditioner, the air volume control means lowers the air volume of the blower on the condition that the shift lever detects that the shift lever is in the reverse mode and the air volume of the blower is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. It is done. As a result, noise caused by the operation of the blower is reduced when the vehicle moves backward, so that the driver's attention can be prevented from being distracted by the noise of the blower.

  In carrying out the present invention, the temperature control means includes a blowout temperature correction means for correcting the target blowout temperature, and controls the temperature adjustment actuator in consideration of the blowout temperature corrected by the blowout temperature correction means. Is possible. According to this, the temperature is controlled in consideration of the blowing temperature corrected by the blowing temperature correcting means. For this reason, even when the air volume of the blower is lowered, the interior of the vehicle can be kept at a constant temperature, and a comfortable feeling depending on the temperature of the interior of the vehicle can be favorably maintained.

  In the implementation of the present invention, the air volume control means may include a prohibiting means for prohibiting the air volume of the blower from being lowered on condition that the air outlet mode is set to the defroster. . According to this, when the blower outlet mode is set to the defroster, the prohibiting unit prohibits the air volume of the blower from being lowered. For this reason, since it is prevented that fogging generate | occur | produces in a window, a driver | operator's visual field can be ensured favorable.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention, and this vehicle air conditioner includes an air conditioning unit AU. In the upstream portion of the air conditioning casing 11 that forms the air flow path of the air conditioning unit AU, an inside air inlet 12 for inhaling the passenger compartment air and an outside air inlet 13 for inhaling outside air are formed, An inside / outside air switching damper 14 that selectively opens and closes each of the suction ports 12 and 13 is provided. The inside / outside air switching damper 14 is opened and closed by an inside / outside air switching damper motor 15.

  A filter (not shown) for removing dust in the air and a blower motor 16 are disposed on the downstream side of the inside / outside air switching damper 14. The blower motor 16 (blower) sucks air from the suction ports 12 and 13 and blows air toward the outlets 28, 29, and 31 described later.

  An evaporator 17 is provided on the downstream side of the blower motor 16 in the air conditioning casing 11. The evaporator 17 includes a compressor 18 that pressurizes the vaporized refrigerant gas so that it is easily liquefied before returning it to a liquid, and a condenser (condenser) that cools the refrigerant gas that has become a high-temperature gas by compression and returns it to a liquid. 19, a receiver 21 that stores liquid refrigerant, and an expansion valve 22 that is blown out in the form of a mist so that the refrigerant is easily vaporized when the liquid refrigerant passes are connected. Thereby, the air blown by the blower motor 16 is cooled by passing through the evaporator 17. The evaporator 17 is provided with a post-evaporator sensor 23 that detects the temperature of the air immediately after passing through the evaporator 17 (intake temperature to the cooler unit).

  An air mix damper 24 and a heater core 25 are provided on the downstream side of the evaporator 17 in the air conditioning casing 11. The air mix damper 24 is opened and closed by an air mix damper motor 26. The heater core 25 heats air using the cooling water of the engine EG as a heat source. A bypass passage 27 for introducing air to the downstream side of the heater core 25 without passing through the heater core 25 is formed in the air conditioning casing 11. Thereby, the temperature of the air blown out into the vehicle is adjusted by opening and closing the air mix damper 24 and changing the mixing ratio of the warm air passing through the heater core 25 and the cool air passing through the bypass passage 27. In this embodiment, the air mix damper 24 and the air mix damper motor 26 function as a temperature control actuator.

  A defroster outlet 28 for blowing out air toward the inner surface of the windshield FG, a face outlet 29 for blowing air toward the upper body of the occupant, A foot outlet 31 for blowing air toward the feet is formed. Mode switching dampers 32, 33, and 34 are disposed at upstream portions of the air outlets 28, 29, and 31, respectively. Each mode switching damper 32, 33, 34 is opened and closed by a mode switching damper motor 35.

  The inside / outside air switching damper motor 15, blower motor 16, air mix damper motor 26, mode switching damper motor 35 and compressor 18 are connected to the air conditioner ECU 46 via drive circuits 41 to 45, respectively.

  The air conditioner ECU 46 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an interface and the like as main components, and repeatedly executes the air conditioning control program of FIG. Then, a control signal corresponding to the execution is output to each of the drive circuits 41 to 45. Each of the drive circuits 41 to 45 sends drive currents to the inside / outside air switching damper motor 15, blower motor 16, air mix damper motor 26, mode switching damper motor 35, and compressor 18 in accordance with a control command from the air conditioner ECU 46. In addition to the above-described post-evaporator sensor 23, the air conditioner ECU 46 is connected to an operation panel 51, an inside air temperature sensor 52, an outside air temperature sensor 53, a solar radiation sensor 54, and a shift position switch 55.

  The operation panel 51 (operation switch) includes an inside / outside air switching switch for operating the inside / outside air switching damper 14, an air outlet switching switch for operating the mode switching dampers 32 to 34, and an auto mode for setting a full auto control state. A switch, a blower control switch for changing the air volume of the blower motor 16, a temperature control switch for setting the temperature, and a magnet clutch (opening / closing operation of the refrigerant passage to the evaporator 17) attached to the compressor 18 are turned on / off. Various switches such as an A / C switch are provided. The operation panel 51 includes a display unit (for example, an LCD) for displaying each mode switched by the various switches and a set temperature.

  The inside air temperature sensor 52 detects the inside air temperature in the passenger compartment and outputs it to the air conditioner ECU 46. The outside air temperature sensor 53 detects the outside air temperature and outputs it to the air conditioner ECU 46. The solar radiation sensor 54 detects the amount of solar radiation and outputs it to the air conditioner ECU 46. The shift position switch 55 detects the position of a shift lever (not shown) and outputs it to the air conditioner ECU 46.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The air conditioner ECU 46 repeatedly executes the air conditioning control program of FIG. 2 stored in the ROM or the like every predetermined short time when the operation panel 51 is turned on.

  The air conditioning control program is executed in step S10. In step S11, various memories such as ROM and RAM in the air conditioner ECU 46 and output ports are initialized, and various signals are output in step S12. Input, that is, a switch instruction of the operation panel 51 and detection signals of the sensors 23 and 52 to 55 are input.

Next, in step S13, the target temperature (target blowing temperature TAO) of the air blown into the vehicle interior is calculated by the following equation (1) using the various input signals.
TAO = Kset × Tset−Kr × Tr−Kam × Tam−Ks × Ts + C (1)
Here, Kset, Kr, Kam, and Ks are coefficients (control gain), and C is a constant. Tset represents a set temperature, Tr represents an inside air temperature, Tam represents an outside air temperature, and Ts represents an amount of solar radiation.

  In the process of step S14, the air volume control routine of FIG. 3 is executed. This air volume control routine is started in step S20, and in step S21, it is determined whether or not the shift lever is detected by the shift position switch 55 in the reverse mode. First, the case where the vehicle is not in the reverse state will be described. In this case, “No” is determined in step S21, and the blower voltage corresponding to the switch instruction on the operation panel 51 is calculated in step S25. Specifically, the air conditioner ECU 46 refers to an air volume control characteristic table provided in the ROM and calculates a blower voltage V corresponding to the target blowing temperature TAO.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the air flow control characteristic table is set to a predetermined large blower voltage V1 until the target blowing temperature TAO reaches a predetermined low temperature A, and decreases almost proportionally as the temperature A increases to the temperature B. The temperature from B to C is set to a predetermined small blower voltage V3, increases almost proportionally as the temperature increases from C to D, and is set to a predetermined large blower voltage V2 above temperature D. The blower voltage is stored. In step S24, the blower motor 16 is driven and controlled based on the blower voltage V calculated in step S25. Specifically, the drive circuit 42 varies the output voltage to the blower motor 16 between 0V and 12V according to the duty ratio of the PWM signal output from the air conditioner ECU 46. After step S24, the process proceeds to step S15 in FIG.

  In the process of step S15, the temperature control routine of FIG. 4 is executed. This temperature control routine is started in step S30, and “No” is determined in step S31, that is, it is determined that the shift lever is not detected by the shift position switch 55 in the reverse mode, and step S35 is performed. The subsequent processing is executed.

  In step S35, the blowing temperature correction amount ΔTAO is set to zero. In step S33, the opening degree of the air mix damper 24 is calculated based on the current target blowing temperature TAO (ΔTAO = 0). In this case, the air conditioner ECU 46 refers to an air mix damper (A / M) control characteristic table provided in the ROM and calculates the opening degree D of the air mix damper 24 corresponding to the target blowing temperature TAO.

  In the air mix damper control characteristic table, as shown in FIG. 6, the opening degree is set to zero (K0 state in FIG. 1) until the target blowing temperature TAO reaches a predetermined low temperature E, and the temperature increases from the temperature E to the temperature F. The opening degree increases almost proportionally, and the air mix damper opening degree at which the opening degree is set to 100% (the K100 state in FIG. 1) at the temperature F or higher is stored. In step S34, the air mix damper motor 26 is driven and controlled based on the opening of the air mix damper 24 calculated in step S33. After the processing in step S34, the process proceeds to step S16 in FIG.

  In step S16, the mixing ratio of the inside / outside air is calculated, and the opening degree of the inside / outside air switching damper 14 for obtaining the calculated mixing ratio of the inside / outside air is calculated. Based on the calculated opening degree of the inside / outside air switching damper 14, the inside / outside air switching damper motor 15 is driven and controlled.

  In step S17, the air outlet mode is set in accordance with the switch instruction on the operation panel 51, and the mode switching damper motor 35 is driven and controlled based on the set air outlet mode. In step S18, the compressor 18 is driven and controlled in accordance with a switch instruction (A / C switch) on the operation panel 51. After the process of step S18, the process returns to step S12, and the processes of steps S12 to S18 are repeatedly executed.

  Next, a case where the vehicle is in the reverse state will be described. In this case, when executing step S14 in FIG. 2, it is determined that “Yes” in step S21 in FIG. 3, that is, the shift position switch 55 detects that the shift lever is in the reverse mode, and in step S22. It is determined whether or not the current blower voltage V is equal to or higher than a predetermined blower voltage V0. The blower voltage V0 is set to a magnitude that distracts the driver's attention due to the wind noise of the blower motor 16. If the current blower voltage V is less than the blower voltage V0, the driver's attention is less likely to be distracted by the wind noise of the blower motor 16, so it is determined "No" in step S22. In step S25, the blower voltage corresponding to the switch instruction on the operation panel 51 is calculated.

  On the other hand, if the current blower voltage V is equal to or higher than the blower voltage V0, “Yes” is determined in step S22, and the process of step S23 is executed. In step S23, the target blower voltage is set to the blower voltage V3. Here, the blower voltage V3 is set to a magnitude that does not distract the driver's attention due to wind noise of the blower motor 16, and in this embodiment, the blower voltage V3 is set to a voltage that minimizes the rotational speed of the blower motor 16. (See FIG. 5). In step S24, the blower motor 16 is driven and controlled based on the blower voltage V3 set in step S23. As a result, in the reverse state of the vehicle, the noise generated by the operation of the blower motor 16 is reduced by the processing of steps S23 and S24, so that the driver's attention can be prevented from being distracted by the noise generated by the blower motor 16. it can.

2 is determined as “Yes” in step S31 of FIG. 4, and in step S32, the blowout temperature correction amount ΔTAO1 with respect to the current target blowout temperature TAO1 is determined by the following equation (2). calculate.
ΔTAO1 = (TAO1-Tr) × (V0−V3) / V3 (2)
Here, Tr represents the inside air temperature, and the blower voltage V0 represents the blower voltage corresponding to the target blowing temperature TAO1 in the air volume control characteristic table of FIG.

  Then, in step S33, the air mix damper opening K2 is calculated based on the air volume (= TAO1 + ΔTAO1) obtained by adding the blowing temperature correction amount ΔTAO1 to the current target blowing temperature TAO1 (air mix damper opening K1) ( (See FIG. 6). In step S34, the air mix damper motor 26 is driven and controlled based on the opening of the air mix damper 24 calculated in step S33.

  Specifically, the air mix damper 24 is rotated so that the air mix damper opening becomes small at the time of cooling in summer, for example, so that the temperature in the passenger compartment does not change greatly due to the reduction to the blower voltage V3. Then, the mixing ratio of the cold air is increased, and the air mixing damper 24 is rotated so as to increase the opening degree of the air mixing damper at the time of heating in winter to increase the mixing ratio of the warm air. As a result, even when the air volume of the blower motor 16 is lowered, the processing in steps S32 to S34 makes it possible to keep the interior of the vehicle at a constant temperature, and to maintain a comfortable feeling depending on the temperature of the interior of the vehicle. be able to.

(Modified embodiment)
In the above embodiment, when it is detected by the shift position switch 55 that the shift lever is in the reverse mode, and the blower voltage of the blower motor 16 is equal to or higher than the predetermined large blower voltage V0, the air volume of the blower motor 16 is reduced. Although configured as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the process of step S <b> 21 </ b> A may be added to the air volume control routine of FIG. 3. Since other configurations are the same as those in the above embodiment, the same step processes are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  Even if the step S21A is under the situation where both “Yes” are determined in the steps S21 and S22, when the air outlet mode is set to the defroster air outlet 28 (“Yes” in the step S21A). The air volume of the blower motor 16 is prohibited from being lowered. In other words, the outlet mode is not set to the defroster outlet 28 (“No” in step S21A), and the shift position switch 55 detects that the shift lever is in the reverse mode (step S21). If the blower voltage of the blower motor 16 is equal to or higher than a predetermined large blower voltage V0 (“Yes” in step S22), the air volume of the blower motor 16 is reduced. According to this modified embodiment, if “Yes” is determined in step S21A, the process of step S25 is executed, so that the window is prevented from being fogged and the driver's field of view is improved. Can be secured.

  In the above-described embodiment, etc., when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the current blower voltage is reduced to the blower voltage V3 corresponding to the minimum rotational speed of the blower motor 16, but when the blower voltage V3 is set. Not limited to this, the blower voltage may be set to an appropriate magnitude so that the driver's attention is not distracted by the wind noise of the blower motor 16.

The block diagram which shows typically one Embodiment of the vehicle air conditioner by this invention. The flowchart which shows the air-conditioning control program performed by the air-conditioner ECU of FIG. The flowchart which shows the air volume control routine performed by the process of step S14 in the air-conditioning control program of FIG. The flowchart which shows the temperature control routine performed by the process of step S15 in the air-conditioning control program of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an air volume control characteristic table used in the process of step S25 in the air volume control routine of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an air mix control characteristic table used in the process of step S33 in the temperature control routine of FIG. The flowchart which shows the air volume control routine performed by the process of step S14 in the air-conditioning control program of FIG. 2 concerning the deformation | transformation embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

AU Air-conditioning unit 11 Air-conditioning casing 12 Inside air inlet 13 Outside air inlet 14 Inside / outside air switching damper 15 Inside / outside air switching damper motor 16 Blower motor (blower)
17 Evaporator 18 Compressor 19 Condenser 21 Receiver 22 Expansion Valve 23 Evaporator Post-Sensor 24 Air Mix Damper (Temperature Control Actuator)
25 Heater Core EG Engine 26 Air Mix Damper Motor (Temperature Control Actuator)
27 bypass passage FG windshield 28 defroster outlet 29 face outlet 31 foot outlets 32, 33, 34 mode switching damper 35 mode switching damper motors 41-45 driving circuit 46 air conditioner ECU (air volume control means, temperature control means)
51 Operation panel (operation switch)
52 Inside temperature sensor 53 Outside temperature sensor 54 Solar radiation sensor 55 Shift position switch

Claims (3)

Target blowing temperature calculating means for calculating a target blowing temperature according to operation of the operation switch, air volume control means for controlling the blower air volume according to the target blowing temperature calculated by the target blowing temperature calculating means, and the target blowing In a vehicle air conditioner comprising temperature control means for controlling a temperature adjustment actuator according to a target blowing temperature calculated by a temperature calculation means,
It has a shift position switch that detects the position of the shift lever,
The air volume control means lowers the air volume of the blower on the condition that the shift lever detects that the shift lever is in the reverse mode and the air volume of the blower is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. A vehicle air conditioner characterized by the above.   2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control unit includes a blowing temperature correcting unit that corrects the target blowing temperature, and controls the temperature adjusting actuator in consideration of the blowing temperature corrected by the blowing temperature correcting unit. Air conditioner.   3. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air volume control unit includes a prohibiting unit that prohibits a decrease in the air volume of the blower on the condition that the air outlet mode is set to the defroster.

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