JP2009234476A - Air conditioner of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a comfortable interior space by preventing lowering of an occupant's feeling temperature by cold radiation from a wind shield even at an extremely low temperature. <P>SOLUTION: When an outside air temperature T1 is lower than an extremely low temperature determination temperature To1 set based on the cooling radiation from the wind shield 15 by making the front shield 15 into an electric heating glass, a transparent conductive film 16 of the wind shield 15 is generated (S18) and the cold radiation from the wind shield is suppressed by raising the temperature with heating the front shield 15 through the heat generation of the transparent conductive film 18. Simultaneously, a defroster blowout port 9a is fully closed (S11) by a defroster damper 12 and all most of wind amount from an HVAC unit 10 is blown out to an inside of a vehicle interior. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle that employs an electrothermal glass as a window glass of a vehicle and improves comfort in the vehicle interior by controlling heating of the window glass and air conditioning in the vehicle interior.

  Conventionally, what uses an electrothermal glass for the purpose of anti-fogging etc. for the window glass for vehicles is known. Such an electrothermal glass often employs a structure in which a transparent conductive film is disposed almost entirely on the laminated surface of the laminated glass, and is arranged along both the upper and lower sides or the left and right sides of the transparent conductive film. By energizing the transparent conductive film from a pair of provided strip-shaped electrodes, the transparent conductive film is heated, and the window glass is heated and heated by the generated heat to defrost (defrost).

  For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-144163) discloses a technique for preventing dew condensation adhering to a window glass by a defroster mode of an air conditioner and heat generation of a transparent conductive film disposed on the window glass. Has been.

That is, in this publication, when the condensation on the window glass is detected by the condensation sensor, if the room temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 20 [° C.]), the defroster mode of the air conditioner is set, and the warm air blown from the defroster is used. On the other hand, when the room temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the defroster mode is stopped and the transparent conductive film is energized to heat the window glass itself to prevent the fogging.
JP-A-6-144163

  By the way, in the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned document, when condensation is detected by the condensation sensor and the room temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 20 [° C.]), the air conditioner is in the defroster mode, and the transparent conductive film The power is set to be cut off.

  However, when the room temperature is extremely low, such as 0 [° C.] or less, the air conditioner is in a heat mode in order to increase the room temperature, so that the amount of warm air blown from the defroster is reduced. As a result, the sensible temperature of the portion facing the window, such as the passenger's face, is lowered by the cold radiation from the window glass, and there is an inconvenience that an uncomfortable feeling is felt.

  On the other hand, when a part of hot air is blown out from the defroster to prevent condensation at an extremely low temperature, the amount of hot air blown relatively to the floor is reduced, which prevents the indoor temperature from rising. There is a problem that the comfort in the passenger compartment is impaired.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention can efficiently increase the indoor temperature by the air conditioner even at a very low temperature, and prevent a decrease in the sensible temperature of the passenger due to cold radiation from the window glass, An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioner capable of obtaining a comfortable indoor space.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an electric glass provided on a window glass, an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting an outside air temperature, and an air volume blown to the window glass from a defroster outlet provided in an air conditioning unit. In a vehicle air conditioner comprising: a driving unit that operates a differential damper to be adjusted; and a control unit that controls at least energization of the electric heating glass and driving of the driving unit, the control unit includes an external air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting unit When the air temperature is lower than a judgment temperature set based on the cold radiation from the window glass, the defroster outlet is fully closed by the differential damper through the drive means while energizing the electrothermal glass. .

  According to the present invention, when the outside air temperature is lower than the determination temperature set based on the cold radiation from the window glass, the electric heating glass is heated by heating the electric heating glass. A comfortable indoor space can be obtained without lowering the sensible temperature of the passenger due to the influence of the above. At the same time, since the defroster outlet is fully closed by the differential damper via the drive means, almost all of the air volume from the air conditioning unit can be blown out to the vehicle interior side, so that the room temperature can be increased efficiently. Can do.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioner. In the present embodiment, an air conditioner mounted on an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle is shown.

  As shown in the figure, the air conditioner 1 includes an HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning System) unit 10 as an air conditioning unit, and control means for controlling energization heating for the HVAC unit 10 and a transparent conductive film 16 described later. As an air conditioning control unit 20.

  The HVAC unit 10 is accommodated between an instrument panel of the vehicle and an engine room (both not shown), and an outside air inlet 2 for taking in air (outside air) in the vehicle upstream of the duct body 10a and the interior of the vehicle interior. An inside air inlet 3 for taking in air (inside air) is communicated. Both the inlets 2 and 3 are selectively opened and closed by an inside / outside air switching damper 4. In addition, in the figure, the state which closed the internal air inlet 3 is shown.

  A blower 5 driven by a blower motor (not shown) is disposed in the duct body 10a, and an evaporator 6 for cooling air flowing in the duct body 10a is disposed downstream of the blower 5. Yes. Further, a heater core 7 for heating the air passing therethrough is disposed on the downstream side of the evaporator 6. Further, an air mix damper 8 is provided on the upstream side of the heater core 7 to adjust the heating temperature by adjusting the amount of air passing through the heater core 7 and the amount of air bypassing the heater core 7 according to the opening degree.

  The evaporator 6 and the heater core 7 are incorporated in a heat pump cycle (not shown), and during cooling, the refrigerant cooled by an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) provided at the front of the vehicle body is supplied to the evaporator 6. During heating, the refrigerant heated by an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) is supplied to the heater core 7. In addition, the refrigerant flow path is different between the heating operation and the cooling operation, and this refrigerant flow path is switched by a four-way valve.

  Further, at the downstream end of the duct main body 10a, a defroster outlet 9a for blowing air to the windshield 15 which is a typical example of the window glass, and a vent outlet for blowing air from the instrument panel (not shown) side toward the front seat. A lower outlet 9c for blowing air to the passenger's feet is connected to the opening 9b, and a differential damper 12, a vent damper 13, and a lower damper 14 are provided at the inlets of the outlets 9 to 11, respectively.

  The front glass 15 is an electrothermal glass, and a transparent conductive film 16 is disposed almost entirely on the laminated surface of the laminated glass, and strip-like electrodes 16a and 16b are formed along the left and right sides of the transparent conductive film 16. It is connected. One electrode 16a is connected to the in-vehicle battery 22 via the relay contact 23a of the relay switch 23, and the other electrode 16b is grounded.

  Further, the relay coil 23 b of the relay switch 23 is connected to the output side of the air conditioning control unit 20. The air conditioning control unit 20 is composed of a well-known microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and EEPROM, and the ROM stores programs relating to air conditioning control executed by the CPU, fixed data, and the like. Has been.

  Further, a temperature sensor 17 serving as a surface temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature (glass surface temperature) T2 of the windshield 15 and a humidity for detecting the humidity (indoor humidity) rh in the vehicle compartment are provided at the center upper portion of the windshield 15 on the indoor side. A humidity sensor 18 as a detecting means is provided. Both sensors 17 and 18 are disposed at a position that does not obstruct the field of view, such as in front of the rearview mirror. Reference numeral 19 denotes an outside air temperature sensor serving as an outside air temperature detecting means that is disposed in the front part of the vehicle body and detects the outside air temperature T1.

  The sensors 17 to 19 are connected to the input side of the air conditioning control unit 20. Further, an air conditioner switch 21 and a defogger switch 24 provided on an operation panel (not shown) are connected to the input side of the air conditioning control unit 20.

  When the air conditioner switch 21 is turned on, the air conditioning control unit 20 first performs energization control (hereinafter referred to as “glass energization control”) on the transparent conductive film 16 of the windshield 15, and then sets a target set by the driver. HVAC control for controlling the HVAC unit 10 is performed so as to maintain the passenger compartment at the temperature. This HVAC control is well known, and in addition to temperature control by a heat pump cycle having an evaporator 6 and a heater core 7, a differential mode, a differential / foot mode, a bi-level mode executed by opening and closing each damper 12-14, The inside air mode or the outside air mode executed by the face mode and the switching operation of the inside / outside air switching damper 4 is controlled.

  On the other hand, when the defogger switch 24 is turned ON, only glass energization control is executed. Glass energization control is performed by heating the windshield 15 to prevent cold radiation from the windshield 15 (a phenomenon in which the temperature of the window glass is lowered and the passenger's thermal energy is taken away by radiation) and the windshield 15 is fogged. With anti-fogging function. During the glass energization control, the diff damper 12 is in the DEF zero mode in which the diff bleed amount is zero by fully closing the defroster outlet 9a (the opening degree of the diff damper 12 is 0%).

  The differential mode in HVAC control also has an anti-fogging function. The differential actuator 12 a serving as a drive means for opening the differential damper 12 in the differential mode is opened and closed by a drive signal from the air conditioning control unit 20. In the following, the glass energization control for heating the windshield 15 by the heat generation of the transparent conductive film 16 and the above-described HVAC control are collectively referred to as air conditioning control.

  The air conditioning control executed by the air conditioning control unit 20 is specifically performed according to the air conditioning control routine shown in FIG.

  This routine is executed every set calculation cycle. First, in step S1, it is checked whether the air conditioner switch 21 is ON. When it is OFF, the process proceeds to step S2, and when it is ON, the process jumps to step S3. In step S2, it is checked whether or not the defogger switch 24 is ON. If it is OFF, the routine is directly exited. If the defogger switch 24 is ON, the process proceeds to step S3.

  When the process proceeds from step S1 or step S2 to step S3, glass energization control is executed. This glass energization control is executed according to the glass energization control subroutine shown in FIGS.

  In this subroutine, first, in step S11, a signal (DEF zero signal) for setting the opening degree of the differential damper 12 in the HVAC control to DEF zero is output. Then, in the HVAC control, in accordance with this DEF zero signal, a fully closed signal is output to the differential actuator 12a that operates the differential damper 12 that adjusts the amount of differential bleed from the defroster outlet 9a. As a result, the differential actuator 12a operates in the so-called DEF zero mode in which the differential damper 12 is operated to close the defroster outlet 9a. In normal HVAC control, the diff damper 12 is not in the DEF zero mode, and is always opened at a certain opening (for example, about 15 [%]). Therefore, when the air conditioner switch 21 is ON. A differential bleed has occurred.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S12, where the outside air temperature T1 detected by the outside air temperature sensor 19 is read, and in the following step S13, the outside air temperature T1 is compared with a preset cryogenic temperature determination temperature To1. This cryogenic temperature determination temperature To1 is a temperature at which the face of the passenger seated in the front seat feels cold due to the cold radiation from the windshield 15, that is, the temperature at which the sensible temperature is lowered. It is set by asking for. In this embodiment, To1 = 0 [° C.] is set.

  When T1 ≧ To1, it is determined that the influence of the cold radiation from the windshield 15 on the passenger is small, and the process proceeds to step S14. Further, when T1 <To1, it is determined that the sensible temperature of the occupant is lowered by the cold radiation from the windshield 15, and the process jumps to step S17.

  In step S14, the glass surface temperature T2 detected by the temperature sensor 17 is read, and the vehicle interior humidity rh detected by the humidity sensor 18 is read in step S15. Thereafter, based on the glass surface temperature T2 and the room humidity rh in step S16, the dew point temperature dp is calculated by a calculation formula or a map search stored in advance, and the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S17, the glass surface temperature T2 is compared with the dew point temperature dp. If the glass surface temperature T2 is equal to or lower than the dew point temperature dp (T2 ≦ dp), there is a possibility that dew condensation may occur on the windshield 15, and therefore the process proceeds to step S18, where the energization (glass A signal (ON signal) for turning on (energization) is output. On the other hand, if the glass surface temperature T2 is higher than the dew point temperature dp (T2> dp), it is determined that no condensation occurs, and the process proceeds to step S19 to turn off the energization (glass energization) to the transparent conductive film 16 of the windshield 15. A signal (OFF signal) is output.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when an OFF signal is output from the air-conditioning control unit 20 to the relay coil 23 b of the relay switch 23, the relay contact 23 a is opened and the energization to the transparent conductive film 16 is interrupted. On the other hand, when the ON signal is output from the air conditioning control unit 20 to the relay coil 23 b of the relay switch 23, the relay contact 23 a is closed, and the electric power from the battery 22 is supplied to the transparent conductive film 16. Generates a predetermined amount of heat, and the windshield 15 is heated and heated.

  When the glass energization is turned off in step S19, the process proceeds to step S20, where the timer count value Tim of the delay timer is cleared (Tim ← 0), the process proceeds to step S21, and the DEF zero mode for the opening degree of the differential damper 12 is canceled. (DEF zero ← OFF), the routine is exited, and the process proceeds to step S4 in FIG. As a result, in the HVAC control which will be described later, the differential damper 12 is controlled to open and close by normal control.

  On the other hand, if it progresses to step S18 from step S13 or step S17, it will be investigated whether the difference (T2-T1) of glass surface temperature T2 and external temperature T1 is larger than preset temperature To2. When the difference (T2−T1) is determined to be equal to or higher than the set temperature To2 (T2−T1 ≧ To2), it is determined that the transparent conductive film 16 is normally generating heat, the routine is exited, and the step of FIG. 2 is performed. Proceed to S4.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the difference (T2-T1) is less than the set temperature To2 (T2-T1 <To2), there is a possibility that power is not normally supplied to the transparent conductive film 16 due to disconnection or the like. The process proceeds to step S23, the timer count value Tim of the delay timer is incremented (Tim ← Tim + 1), and the process proceeds to step S24. The timer count value Tim is initialized (Tim ← 0) when the air conditioner switch 21 or the defogger switch 24 is turned on.

  In step S24, the timer count value Tim is compared with the delay time Tmo. The delay time Tmo is a time (for example, 2 [sec]) required until the surface temperature T2 of the windshield 15 becomes equal to or higher than the set temperature To2 with respect to the outside air temperature T1, and is set in advance by experiments.

  When Tim <Tmo, the routine returns to step S22, and this routine is repeatedly executed until the delay time Tmo is reached. Further, when Tim ≧ Tmo, that is, when the surface temperature T2 of the windshield 15 does not rise even when the delay time Tmo is reached, the process proceeds to step S25, and energization (glass energization) to the transparent conductive film 16 of the windshield 15 is performed. Next, in step S26, the DEF zero mode for the opening degree of the differential damper 12 is canceled, and the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S27, a warning display signal is output, the routine is exited, and the process proceeds to step S4 in FIG. The air conditioning controller 20 lights or blinks a warning lamp (not shown) arranged on the meter panel or the like based on the warning display signal, and displays a warning to indicate to the driver an abnormality in energization of the transparent conductive film 16. Inform.

  Thereafter, when the process proceeds to step S4 in FIG. 2, it is checked whether or not the defogger switch 24 is in the ON state. If it is in the ON state, the routine is directly exited. On the other hand, when the defogger switch 24 is OFF, the process proceeds to step S5, where the HVAC control is executed and the routine is exited.

  In the HVAC control, for example, in an automatic air conditioner, a temperature set by the driver is set as a target temperature, and temperature control is performed by the evaporator 6 and the heater core 7 so that the temperature in the passenger compartment is maintained at the target temperature. The opening and closing of 4, 8, 12-14 is controlled to control the air conditioning in the passenger compartment. In this case, in the above-described glass energization control, when the DEF zero signal is output, the def zero mode in which the defroster outlet 9a is forcibly blocked by the diff damper 12 is set.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, when the outside air temperature T1 is a temperature that the passenger feels cold due to cold radiation from the windshield 15 (extremely low temperature determination temperature To1), the transparent conductive film 16 of the windshield 15 is obtained. Since the windshield 15 is heated and heated by causing the transparent conductive film 16 to generate heat, the passenger does not decrease the sensible temperature due to the cold radiation from the windshield 15 and is comfortable. Can be improved. Further, since the windshield 15 is directly heated by the transparent conductive film 16, the windshield 15 can be immediately heated, and the discomfort felt by the passenger can be immediately wiped off, and defrost (exclusion) can be eliminated. Since frost) can be started immediately, the window clearing time is shortened and the comfort is further improved.

  On the other hand, when the outside air temperature T1 is higher than the temperature at which the passenger feels cold due to cold radiation from the windshield 15 (T1 ≧ To1), when there is no possibility of condensation on the windshield 15 at low humidity. Since the energization to the transparent conductive film 16 is cut off, the power consumption due to the energization of the transparent conductive film 16 can be minimized.

  Further, in the HVAC control, while the transparent conductive film 16 is energized (glass energization ← ON), the defroster outlet 9a is forcibly fully closed by the DEF zero mode. Almost all of the air volume that is generated can be blown out toward the passenger compartment. As a result, the temperature in the passenger compartment can be increased efficiently, and comfort can be further improved.

  If the surface temperature T2 of the windshield 15 does not increase even after the set delay time Tmo has elapsed after energizing the transparent conductive film 16, it is determined that there is a failure and the energization of the transparent conductive film 16 is stopped. At the same time, since the DEF zero mode is canceled, even when an energization abnormality to the transparent conductive film 16 is detected, anti-fogging of the windshield 15 is ensured by the air blown from the defroster outlet 9a. The Therefore, the visibility during driving can be sufficiently secured.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the electrothermal glass is not limited to the windshield 15 and may be a side glass. Alternatively, all of the windshield 15, the side glass, and the rear glass may be electrothermal glass.

Schematic configuration diagram of vehicle air conditioner Flow chart showing air conditioning control routine Flow chart showing glass energization control subroutine (part 1) Flow chart showing glass energization control subroutine (part 2)

Explanation of symbols

1 ... air conditioner,
9a ... Defroster outlet,
10 ... HVAC unit,
12 ... Def damper,
12a ... differential actuator,
15 ... windshield,
16 ... transparent conductive film,
17 ... temperature sensor,
18 ... Humidity sensor,
19 ... Outside air temperature sensor,
20 ... air conditioning control unit,
21 ... Air conditioner switch,
24 ... Defogger switch,
T1 ... outside temperature,
T2: Glass surface temperature,
Tim ... Timer count value
Tmo ... delay time,
To1 ... Cryogenic temperature,
To2 ... set temperature,
dp ... dew point temperature,
rh ... indoor humidity

Claims (3)

Electrothermal glass provided on the window glass, outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature, driving means for operating a differential damper for adjusting the amount of air blown from the defroster outlet provided in the air conditioning unit to the window glass, and In a vehicle air conditioner comprising at least energization of the electrothermal glass and control means for controlling driving of the drive means,
When the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting means is lower than a judgment temperature set based on the cold radiation from the window glass, the control means energizes the electrothermal glass and the differential damper via the driving means. The air conditioner for a vehicle is characterized by fully closing the defroster outlet. Surface temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature of the window glass and humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity in the passenger compartment;
The control means is a case where the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting means is higher than the determination temperature, and based on the surface temperature detected by the surface temperature detecting means and the humidity detected by the humidity detecting means. When the surface temperature of the window glass detected by the surface temperature detecting means is lower than the dew point temperature, the dew point temperature at which condensation occurs on the window glass is calculated. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the defroster outlet is fully closed by the differential damper. The control means compares the surface temperature detected by the surface temperature detecting means with the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting means after energizing the electrothermal glass, and the surface temperature is detected even after a preset time has elapsed. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature does not become higher than the outside air temperature, the energization of the electric heating glass is interrupted, and the differential damper is opened by a set opening degree through the driving means. Air conditioner.

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