JP2010089685A - Aroma control device for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable occupants to obtain a comfortable sensation through aroma all the time, and further to give the occupants no sense of incongruity even if air including aroma is supplied. <P>SOLUTION: An aroma control device 20 for a vehicle includes: a distribution device 26 that distributes air from an air conditioner to respective blast passageways 16, 17, 24, 25 guiding the air to a driver's seat, passenger seat next thereto, and a rear seat; an aroma filling device 27 that fills the air with aroma; an aroma supply switching unit 28 that performs switching between the aroma filling device 27 and the respective blast passageways 16, 17, 24, 25 so that the air filled with aroma is supplied in sequence to the respective blast passageways 16, 17, 24, 25; an opening and closing valve 29 that adjusts the amount of air flow from an air conditioner into the aroma filling device 27; and a control circuit 30 that controls the operation of the aroma supply switching unit 28 and the opening and closing valve 29. The control circuit 30 controls the opening and closing valve 29 so that the amount of air coming from the air conditioner flowing into the aroma filling device 27 is adjusted, so as to supply aroma intermittently into the driver's seat, the passenger seat next thereto, or the rear seat. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fragrance control device for a vehicle that can make a passenger feel comfortable by adding fragrance to air from an air conditioner and supplying the air to the passenger.

Conventionally, as a fragrance control device for a vehicle, a fragrance supply device is provided on each of the front ceiling portion of the driver's seat, the front ceiling portion of the front passenger seat, and the front ceiling portion on the left and right of the rear seat. A configuration has been proposed in which an air cannon containing fragrance is discharged toward a passenger (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-282084 A

  However, in the above conventional technique, when an air cannon containing fragrance is continuously released and the occupant continuously bathes the air cannon, the occupant adapts (paralysis) to the fragrance, and the fragrance There is a problem that the feeling of comfort cannot be obtained.

  Further, in the above conventional technique, each fragrance supply device is provided with an air compression means, and the air compression means discharges an air cannon containing fragrance toward the occupant. Apart from the air from, there is also the problem of feeling uncomfortable, feeling the wind pressure from the air cannon.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent the occupant from adapting to the fragrance, so that the occupant can always obtain a comfortable feeling due to the fragrance, and the occupant feels uncomfortable even when air containing the fragrance is supplied. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular fragrance control device that never happens.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized in that fragrance is added to air from an air conditioner and the air is intermittently supplied to each occupant. That is, the present invention is connected to an air conditioner via a duct and distributes air from the air conditioner to each air passage that guides air from the air conditioner to a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a rear seat, and air from the air conditioner. At the same time, the fragrance addition unit that adds fragrance to the air, and the connection between the fragrance addition unit and the air passages are switched, and the air to which the fragrance is added in the fragrance addition unit is sequentially supplied to the air passages. A vehicle fragrance control device comprising: a switching means for controlling the air flow rate, an air flow rate adjusting means for adjusting a flow rate of air from the air conditioner flowing into the fragrance adding unit, and a control means for controlling the switching means and the air flow rate adjusting means. The control means controls the air flow rate adjusting means to adjust the flow rate of air from the air conditioner flowing into the fragrance addition unit, thereby allowing the driver's seat, passenger seat, or rear portion to be adjusted. It is characterized in that to supply the fragrance to the seat intermittently.

  According to the present invention, since the supply of fragrance to the driver's seat, front passenger seat, or rear seat is intermittently performed by adjusting the flow rate of air from the air conditioner flowing into the fragrance addition section, the occupant adapts to the fragrance. It is possible to suppress this, and the passenger can always obtain a comfortable feeling due to the fragrance.

  Moreover, since the fragrance is added to the air from the air conditioner, the wind pressure is not felt other than the air from the air conditioner, and the passenger does not feel uncomfortable.

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

  FIG. 1 shows a vehicle equipped with a vehicle fragrance control device according to the present invention. The vehicle 10 is provided with a driver seat 11 on the right side in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle, and a rear seat 12 behind the driver seat 11. A driver 13 is seated in the driver seat 11 and an occupant 14 is seated in the rear seat 12. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a passenger seat is provided laterally (left side in the vehicle width direction) of the driver seat 11, and the rear seat 12 extends to the left side in the vehicle width direction.

  Further, in FIG. 1, an air passage 16 that guides air from the air conditioner 15 to the driver's seat 11 and an air passage 17 that guides air from the air conditioner 15 to the right side portion of the rear seat 12 are provided. Although not shown in FIG. 1, there are also provided an air passage that guides air from the air conditioner 15 to the passenger seat and an air passage that guides air from the air conditioner 15 to the left side portion of the rear seat 12. .

  An air blowing nozzle 18 is provided at the front end of the air blowing path 16, and the air blowing nozzle 18 is arranged so that the air blowing port (not shown) faces the driver's 13 head. Further, an air blowing nozzle 19 is provided at the tip of the air blowing path 17, and the air blowing nozzle 19 is arranged so that the air blowing port (not shown) faces the head of the occupant 14. Similarly, the air blowing nozzle having an air outlet is also at the tip of the air passage that guides air from the air conditioner 15 to the passenger seat and the air passage that guides air from the air conditioner 15 to the left side portion of the rear seat 12. Are provided respectively.

  FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the vehicle fragrance control device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the fragrance control device 20 for a vehicle is connected to a blower device 21 and a temperature control device 22 in an air conditioner 15 (see FIG. 1) via a duct 23. A distribution device (distribution unit) 26 that distributes the air to the air flow paths 16, 17, 24, and 25 that leads to the driver seat, the passenger seat, the rear right seat, and the rear left seat, and the air from the blower device 21, and the air The fragrance addition device 27 for adding fragrance to the air through the fragrance 27A (fragrance addition unit) 27 and the connection between the fragrance addition device 27 and each of the air passages 16, 17, 24, 25 are switched. A fragrance supply switching section (switching means) 28 for sequentially supplying air to which the air is added to each of the air passages 16, 17, 24, 25, and an on-off valve for adjusting the flow rate of air from the air conditioner 15 flowing into the fragrance adding device 27 ( Air flow rate A node unit) 29, and a control circuit (control means) 30 for controlling the fragrance supply switching unit 28 and the on-off valve 29.

  FIG. 3 shows specific examples of the aroma addition device 27, the aroma supply switching unit 28, and the like. In this specific example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a cylindrical fragrance tank 31 is provided, and an air pipe 32 is connected to an outer peripheral wall 31 </ b> A of the fragrance tank 31. A tip of the air pipe 32 is connected to the blower 21 (see FIG. 2), and an opening / closing valve 29 is provided in the middle thereof. The fragrance tank 31 stores a fragrance 27A (see FIG. 2).

  The fragrance tank 31 has a circular top wall 31B on the top surface and a circular bottom wall (not shown) on the bottom surface. Four through holes (not shown) are provided in the upper surface wall 31B, and cylindrical connection pipes 33, 34, 35, and 36 are respectively attached to the upper surface wall 31B so as to match the respective through holes. . These connecting pipes 33, 34, 35, and 36 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the upper surface wall 31B. The connection pipe 33 is connected to the air supply path 16, the connection pipe 34 is connected to the air supply path 17, the connection pipe 35 is connected to the air supply path 24, and the connection pipe 36 is connected to the air supply path 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, a circular rotary valve 37 (corresponding to the fragrance supply switching unit 28 in FIG. 2) is provided below the upper surface wall 31B. The center of the rotary valve 37 is arranged to coincide with the center of the upper surface wall 31B, and is rotatable in the directions of arrows A1 and A2 below the upper surface wall 31B. A circular through hole 37A is formed in the rotary valve 37, and this through hole 37A is one of the connecting pipes 33, 34, 35, 36 on the upper surface wall 31B when the rotary valve 37 rotates in the directions of arrows A1 and A2. Are also configured to match sequentially.

  An actuator 38 is mounted on the upper surface wall 31B at the center, and this actuator 38 drives the rotary valve 37 to rotate in the directions of arrows A1 and A2. In FIG. 3B, the air pipe 32 and the on-off valve 29 are omitted.

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

  When the on-off valve 29 is opened under the control of the control circuit 30, air flows into the fragrance tank 31 from the blower device 21 through the air pipe 32. Aroma is added to the air flowing into the fragrance tank 31 when passing through the fragrance 27A. Moreover, when controlled by the control circuit 30 and the on-off valve 29 is closed, the inflow of air from the blower 21 into the fragrance tank 31 is stopped. At this time, as shown in the timing chart at the top of FIG. 4A, the control circuit 30 shortens the time when the on-off valve 29 is open (valve open) and lengthens the time when the on-off valve 29 is closed (valve closed). The on-off valve 29 is controlled to open intermittently.

  On the other hand, when the rotary valve 37 is driven by the actuator 38 and rotates at a constant angular velocity in the direction of the arrow A1, for example, the through hole 37A of the rotary valve 37 is connected to the connecting pipe 33 → the connecting pipe 34 → the connecting pipe 35 → It matches in order of connecting pipe 36 → connecting pipe 33 →. That is, as shown in the timing chart at the bottom of FIG. 4 (a), the rotary valve position is as follows: connecting pipe 33 (front right) → connecting pipe 34 (front left) → connecting pipe 35 (rear left) → connecting pipe 36 (rear) Displace in the order of right) → connecting pipe 33 (front right) →. As a result, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the fragrance is supplied in the order of driver seat → passenger seat → rear left seat → rear right seat → driver seat → It is done like drawing a circle.

  As described above, the on-off valve 29 is controlled to open intermittently, and the air from the blower 21 flows into the fragrance tank 31 intermittently. And when the air from the air blower 21 flows in, the air to which the fragrance is added in the fragrance tank 31 is changed from the connecting pipe 33 (front right) → the connecting pipe 34 (front left) → the connecting pipe 35 (rear left). ) → Connecting pipe 36 (rear right) → Connecting pipe 33 (front right) →... As a result, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the fragrance intensity is as follows: air passage 16 (front right) → air passage 25 (front left) → air passage 24 (rear left) → air passage 17 (Rear right) → Blower passage 16 (front right) →...

  The control circuit 30 controls the opening time of the on-off valve 29 (that is, the valve opening time) according to the temperature condition in the passenger compartment. In general, the human sense of smell changes according to the ambient temperature. As described above, if the opening / closing time of the on-off valve 29 is controlled according to the temperature condition in the passenger compartment, the scent of the same intensity is supplied sensuously. This makes it possible to suppress the discomfort and discomfort experienced by passengers.

  According to this embodiment, since air containing fragrance is not continuously supplied to the driver's seat, passenger seat, rear left seat and rear right seat, as shown in FIG. There is a time during which the contained air is not supplied (that is, a downtime during which the fragrance intensity is zero). Therefore, it can suppress that a passenger | crew adapts to a fragrance (paralysis), and a passenger | crew can always obtain the comfortable feeling by a fragrance.

  Moreover, since the fragrance is added to the air from the blower 21, the wind pressure is not felt other than the air from the blower 21, and the passenger does not feel uncomfortable.

  7 and 8 show the second embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the supply of fragrance is performed in the order of driver seat → passenger seat → rear right seat → rear left seat → driver seat →.

  The airflow of the air conditioning in the passenger compartment greatly flows from the front to the rear of the vehicle, and if the fragrance is supplied to the driver's seat (front right), the fragrance also affects the rear right seat (rear right). Similarly, if fragrance is supplied to the passenger seat (front left), the fragrance also affects the rear left seat (rear left). On the other hand, between the driver seat and the passenger seat and between the rear right seat and the rear left seat, supplying fragrance to one does not affect the other.

  If the fragrance is supplied in the order as shown in FIG. 7, the scent is not continuously supplied to the seats in the front-rear direction on the left and right sides, and the fragrance can be supplied uniformly to each seat.

  In order to increase the perceived intensity at the time of fragrance supply, it is effective to lower the fragrance concentration immediately before the supply, so in this embodiment, the fragrance intensity is set as shown in FIG.

  Also in the present embodiment, a resting time in which the fragrance intensity is almost zero occurs for each seat, and the occupant can be prevented from adapting to the fragrance, so that the occupant can always obtain a feeling of comfort due to the fragrance.

  FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the supply / stop of fragrance is controlled in accordance with the seated state of the occupant. In other words, in this embodiment, the control circuit 30 controls the on-off valve 29 to stop the supply of fragrance for the passenger seat, the rear left seat, and the rear right seat where no person is seated. ing.

  For example, when no occupant is seated in the rear left seat and the rear right seat, as shown in FIG. 9A, the position of the rotary valve is the rear left seat (rear left) and the rear right seat (rear right). When it is in the corresponding place, the on-off valve 29 is closed. When such control is performed, as shown in FIG. 9B, the fragrance intensity is always zero at the rear left seat (rear left) and the rear right seat (rear right), and therefore the fragrance 27A (FIG. 2). The amount of use of the fragrance control device 20 for a vehicle can be extended as a result.

  Although not shown, the passenger seat, the rear left seat, and the rear right seat are provided with seating sensors as seating detection means, respectively, and the control circuit 30 takes in signals from the seating sensors to each seat. To determine if a person is seated.

  FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment. In the present embodiment, the control circuit 30 controls the intensity of the fragrance by adjusting the opening angle of the valve body of the on-off valve 29 in accordance with the temperature condition in the passenger compartment. Further, as in the case of the third embodiment, the control circuit 30 controls the on-off valve 29 so as to stop the supply of fragrance for seats where no occupant is seated.

  In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), for the rear left seat (rear left), the opening angle of the valve body of the on-off valve 29 is fully opened to maximize the fragrance strength, and the driver seat (front For the right), the opening angle is set to (2/3) to slightly reduce the fragrance intensity, and for the passenger seat (front left), the opening angle is set to (1/3) to further reduce the fragrance intensity. For the rear right seat (rear right) where no occupant is seated, the on-off valve 29 is fully closed so that no fragrance is supplied.

  In general, the olfactory sensation of the occupant varies from person to person. Therefore, if the control is performed to adjust the opening angle of the valve body of the on-off valve 29 as described above, it is possible to supply a suitable fragrance to each occupant. . Moreover, since the human sense of smell changes according to the ambient temperature, the control circuit 30 adjusts the opening angle of the valve body of the on-off valve 29 for each seat according to the temperature condition in the passenger compartment. In this case, it is preferable that an operation switch is provided on the air conditioning panel or the like, and that the fragrance intensity can be set to a desired strength by the passenger operating the operation switch.

  FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment. Generally, the initial value of the fragrance intensity of the occupant is set by the manufacturer through panel evaluation. Then, the occupant can adjust the fragrance intensity according to preference by operating the operation unit with respect to the set fragrance intensity. For example, since the olfactory sensation decreases as the temperature rises with respect to normal temperature, the occupant operates the operation unit, and the emitted fragrance intensity is changed according to the blowing temperature of the auto air conditioner. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the opening degree is determined using the temperature control information of the automatic air conditioner in the control logic of the valve opening degree control of the on-off valve 29.

  In FIG. 11, first, it is determined whether or not there is previous data regarding the fragrance intensity of each occupant (step S1). If there is data, the data is input as the occupant corrected fragrance intensity Sf (step S2). If there is no data, an initial fragrance intensity Sf0, which is data obtained by panel evaluation at the manufacturer, is input (step S3).

  After step S1 or S2, it is determined whether or not the occupant has operated the operation unit to determine how much the fragrance intensity correction SW operation has been performed (step S4). If the operation amount is zero (no operation), the process proceeds to step S7 as it is. When the operation amount is in the minus direction and there is an operation to decrease the fragrance intensity (operation is −), Sf = Sf−β is executed (step S5), and then the process proceeds to step S7. When the operation amount is positive and there is an operation for increasing the fragrance intensity (operation +), Sf = Sf + β is executed (step S6), and then the process proceeds to step S7.

  Next, the detected room temperature (vehicle compartment temperature) Troom by the auto air conditioner is input (step S7).

  The control circuit 30 stores in advance the correlation data between the detected room temperature Troom and the room temperature corresponding fragrance intensity coefficient α, and determines the room temperature corresponding fragrance intensity coefficient α corresponding to the detected room temperature Troom input in step S7. (Step S8).

  Then, the temperature-corrected fragrance intensity Sft is calculated by multiplying the set fragrance intensity Sf calculated in step S5 or S6 by the room temperature-corresponding fragrance intensity coefficient α determined in step S8 (step S9).

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to detect the temperature environment that the occupant always feels from the passenger compartment temperature and automatically calculate the fragrance intensity corresponding thereto.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, each of the above embodiments is only an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited only to the configuration of each of the above embodiments. . Needless to say, changes in design and the like within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention.

  For example, FIG. 5 shows a case where the fragrance is supplied in a circle in a counterclockwise direction in a top view in the order of driver seat → passenger seat → rear left seat → rear right seat. The fragrance may be supplied so as to draw a circle in a clockwise direction in a top view in the order of rear right seat → rear left seat → passenger seat.

  In addition, the rear seat has been described only for the rear right seat and the rear left seat. However, in the case where air containing fragrance is introduced to the rear central seat in addition to the rear right seat and the rear left seat, The invention is applicable.

It is a figure which shows the vehicle carrying the fragrance control apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this invention. It is a whole block diagram of the fragrance control apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this invention. Specific examples of the fragrance addition device and the fragrance supply switching unit are shown, in which (a) is an external perspective view thereof, and (b) is an exploded perspective view thereof. The operation | movement of the fragrance control apparatus for vehicles by Example 1 is shown, (a) is a figure which shows operation | movement of an on-off valve and a rotary valve, (b) is a figure which shows the change of fragrance intensity | strength in each seat. In Example 1, it is a figure which shows the order which supplies a fragrance to a vehicle interior. In FIG. 5, it is a figure explaining that the idle time when a fragrance is not supplied is formed. In Example 2, it is a figure which shows the other order which supplies fragrance to a vehicle interior. In FIG. 7, it is a figure explaining that the idle time when a fragrance is not supplied is formed. The operation | movement of the fragrance control apparatus for vehicles by Example 3 is shown, (a) is a figure which shows operation | movement of an on-off valve and a rotary valve, (b) is a figure which shows the change of fragrance intensity | strength in each seat. The operation | movement of the fragrance control apparatus for vehicles by Example 4 is shown, (a) is a figure which shows operation | movement of an on-off valve and a rotary valve, (b) is a figure which shows the change of fragrance intensity | strength in each seat. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the fragrance control apparatus for vehicles by Example 5.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Air conditioner 16, 17, 24, 25 Air supply path 20 Aroma control apparatus for vehicles 21 Air blower 23 Duct 26 Distribution apparatus (distribution part)
27 Fragrance addition device (fragrance addition part)
27A Fragrance 28 Fragrance supply switching part (switching means)
29 On-off valve (air flow control means)
30 Control circuit (control means)
31 Air Freshener Tank 32 Air Piping 37 Rotary Valve 38 Actuator

Claims (6)

A distribution unit that is connected to the air conditioner via a duct and distributes air from the air conditioner to each air passage that guides air from the air conditioner to the driver seat, the passenger seat, and the rear seat;
While taking in air from the air conditioner, and adding a fragrance to the air,
Switching means for switching the connection between the fragrance adding unit and each air passage, and sequentially supplying the air to which the fragrance has been added in the fragrance adding portion to each air passage,
An air flow rate adjusting means for adjusting a flow rate of air from the air conditioner flowing into the fragrance addition unit;
A vehicle fragrance control device comprising control means for controlling the switching means and the air flow rate adjusting means,
The control means controls the air flow rate adjusting means to adjust the flow rate of air from the air conditioner flowing into the fragrance addition unit, thereby intermittently supplying the fragrance to the driver seat, the passenger seat, or the rear seat. A fragrance control device for a vehicle, characterized in that The air flow rate adjusting means is an on-off valve,
2. The fragrance control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls an opening time of the on-off valve in accordance with a temperature condition in a vehicle compartment. The air flow rate adjusting means is an on-off valve,
2. The fragrance control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the intensity of the fragrance by adjusting an opening angle of the valve body of the on-off valve in accordance with a temperature condition in the passenger compartment. .   The fragrance control for a vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control means performs the control of the opening time and the adjustment of the opening angle for each of a plurality of locations of a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a rear seat. apparatus.   The said control means controls the said switching means, and supplies fragrance so that a circle may be drawn by top view with respect to several places of a driver's seat, a passenger seat, and a rear seat. The fragrance control apparatus for vehicles as described in any one of -4. Having seating detecting means for detecting the seating of the occupant;
The control means controls the air flow rate adjusting means according to the seating state of the occupant detected by the seating detection means, and stops the supply of fragrance for seats where no occupant is seated. The fragrance control device for vehicles according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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