JP2012116330A - Switch device of car air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch device of a car air conditioner, which urges a user to accurately understand functions thereof.SOLUTION: The switch device of the car air conditioner includes a switch 20 which is operated to designate a control mode to an ECU 8 that controls air conditioning of a vehicle interior. The switch device of the car air conditioner is provided with a liquid crystal screen 11 that can be switched to a display mode showing a specified function exhibited in accordance with the control mode of the ECU 8 instructed through the operation of the switch 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device for a car air conditioner.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automobile is provided with an air conditioner that adjusts the air in the passenger compartment in order to make the environment during riding comfortable. A car air conditioner air-conditions the interior of a vehicle in an environment arbitrarily set by operating a switch device as shown in Non-Patent Document 1, for example.

Published by Toyota Motor Corporation, "ALLION Instruction Manual", April 26, 2010, first edition, page 191

  By the way, the switch device of the car air conditioner disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 is provided with an A / C switch labeled “A / C”. This A / C switch is operated when switching the presence or absence of the operation of a compressor provided to liquefy the vaporized refrigerant. In other words, it is necessary to turn on the A / C switch in order for the air conditioner to perform the cooling or dehumidifying function. However, it is assumed that few users correctly understand the relationship between the switch and the function of the air conditioner.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device for a car air conditioner that facilitates accurate understanding of functions.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a switch device of a car air conditioner having a switch operated to instruct a control mode to a control means for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle compartment. The gist of the invention is to provide a display device that can be switched to a display mode that indicates a specific function that is exhibited according to the control mode of the control means that is instructed through an operation.

  The switch device of a car air conditioner is provided on a dashboard, for example, but its mounting space is limited. For this reason, the entire switch device is compactly compiled by using illustrations, marks, and abbreviations for displaying the functions that are exhibited by the operation of each switch. However, there are many of them that are not able to convey the function of the switch to the user. In this regard, according to the same configuration, a function that is exhibited according to the operation of the switch is displayed on the display device. Thereby, the vehicle user can be made to recognize easily the function exhibited by operation of the switch visually.

The invention according to claim 2 is summarized in that, in the switch device for a car air conditioner according to claim 1, the display device is provided in an operation portion of the switch.
In many cases, the user operates while visually confirming the operation portion of the switch. Therefore, according to the configuration, the user visually recognizes the display device whose display mode is changed according to the operation. For this reason, the user can easily recognize whether or not the switch is correctly operated without moving the line of sight.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the car air conditioner switch device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the switch is an A / C switch for switching on and off a cooling function and a dehumidifying function as the specific function, When the A / C switch is in an ON state, the control means sets both the dehumidifying function and the cooling function, or only the dehumidifying function, according to the setting environment and the indoor environment at that time, and displays the display. The gist of the aspect is to indicate the first state or the second state.

  The A / C switch is a switch for switching the presence or absence of the operation of the compressor required for the air conditioner to exhibit the cooling function and the dehumidifying function. When the compressor is in operation, the control means is in the state where both the dehumidification function and the cooling function are activated in the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner and only the dehumidification function is activated according to the set environment and the indoor environment. Switch to. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to understand which function is operating. In this regard, according to the same configuration, it is possible to notify the user which function is operating.

  The present invention can provide a switch device for a car air conditioner that facilitates accurate understanding of functions.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the car air conditioner of this embodiment. The front view which shows the switch apparatus of this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the air-conditioning control in ECU shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the air-conditioning control in the control unit shown in FIG. (A) is when the A / C switch is off, (b) is when the A / C switch is on, and the air conditioner is in an operating state in which both the cooling function and the dehumidifying function are functioning. ) Is a front view showing a display mode of the liquid crystal screen when the A / C switch is on and the air conditioner is in an operating state in which only the dehumidifying function is functioning. (A) In another embodiment, when the A / C switch is off, (b) is an operation in which the air conditioner functions both the cooling function and the dehumidifying function while the A / C switch is on. (C) is a front view which shows the display mode of the display in a navigation system when an A / C switch is in an ON state and the air conditioner is in an operating state in which only the dehumidifying function is functioning. (A) In another embodiment, when the A / C switch is on and the air conditioner is in an operating state in which both the cooling function and the dehumidifying function are functioning, (b) The front view which shows the display mode of the display in a navigation system at the time of the operation state in which only the dehumidification function is functioning in the ON state. (A) In another embodiment, when the A / C switch is off, (b) is an operation in which the air conditioner functions both the cooling function and the dehumidifying function while the A / C switch is on. (C) is a front view which shows the lighting aspect of the indicator when the A / C switch is on and the air conditioner is in an operating state in which only the dehumidifying function is functioning.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a switch device for a car air conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the car air conditioner 1 receives information from a temperature setting switch 2, an inside air sensor 3, an outside air sensor 4, a solar radiation sensor 5, an AUTO switch 6, and an A / C switch 7 mounted on a vehicle (not shown). The ECU 8 is controlled based on the control means. The AUTO switch 6 is a switch for switching whether or not the automatic function is activated in the ECU 8. That is, when the AUTO switch 6 is turned on, the ECU 8 selects the air outlet provided in the vehicle and blows air into the room from the air outlet according to the set temperature set through the operation of the temperature setting switch 2. Automatically controls the temperature and air volume of the conditioned air. The temperature setting switch 2 is operated by a user and inputs user's desired temperature information to the ECU 8. The inside air sensor 3 acquires temperature information and humidity information in the vehicle compartment and inputs the information to the ECU 8. The outside air sensor 4 acquires temperature information and humidity information outside the vehicle compartment and inputs the information to the ECU 8. The solar radiation sensor 5 acquires information on the amount of solar radiation poured into the vehicle compartment, and inputs the information to the ECU 8. The ECU 8 calculates an optimal control state (air volume or the like) for air conditioning to a set temperature based on information input through each sensor or the like, and performs air conditioning control based on this. Further, the ECU 8 outputs control information indicating the control state to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 performs display control of the liquid crystal screen 11 through control of the display control device 10 based on control information from the ECU 8. The liquid crystal screen 11 displays characters and the like based on a command from the display control device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a circular switch device 20 including an AUTO switch 6 and an A / C switch 7 is provided on the dashboard of the vehicle. The switch device 20 is divided into upper and lower parts at the center, and the upper side is an AUTO switch 6 and the lower side is an A / C switch 7. The A / C switch 7 is a switch for switching the operation of a compressor (not shown) provided for liquefying the evaporated refrigerant. Each time the AUTO switch 6 and the A / C switch 7 are pushed, the ECU 8 switches on / off of each function, that is, on and off. On the surface of the AUTO switch 6, “AUTO” is printed. In the memory 9a of the control unit 9, various control programs and display setting data are stored. As shown in FIG. 1, the display setting data associates the air conditioning operation with the content to be displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11. The display setting data stored in the memory 9a includes “cooling / dehumidification” when the A / C function is on and the air conditioning operation is cooling, and “dehumidification” when the A / C function is on and the air conditioning operation is heating. ”And“ A / C ”are stored when the A / C function is off. The control unit 9 recognizes the current air-conditioning control state based on the control information from the ECU 8, and determines the content to be displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11 with reference to the display setting data stored in the memory 9a. Then, the control unit 9 generates a display command indicating that the determined display content is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11. The display control device 10 performs display control of the liquid crystal screen 11 based on the display command generated by the control unit 9.

  Next, a control mode of the car air conditioner 1 will be described. The ECU 8 executes air-conditioning control when detecting that the AUTO switch 6 is turned on or that an arbitrary air volume is set by an air volume switch (not shown) (including a case where the set air volume is changed).

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the AUTO switch 6 is turned on, the ECU 8 acquires set temperature data from the temperature setting switch 2 (step S1). Next, the ECU 8 acquires temperature and humidity data in the passenger compartment from the inside air sensor 3 (step S2), and acquires outside air temperature and humidity data from the outside air sensor 4 (step S3). Furthermore, the ECU 8 acquires data on the amount of solar radiation from the solar radiation sensor 5 (step S4). Then, the ECU 8 determines whether or not the A / C switch 7 is turned on (step S5). If YES in step S5, that is, if the A / C switch 7 is on, the ECU 8 operates the compressor based on various data acquired through steps S1 to S4 so as to approach the air conditioning state at the set temperature. The air conditioner (not shown) is controlled (step S6). If NO in step S5, that is, if the A / C function is OFF, the ECU 8 controls an air conditioner (not shown) so as to approach the air conditioning state at the set temperature without operating the compressor (step S7). And ECU8 outputs the signal which shows the control state of an air conditioner to the control unit 9 (step S8), and complete | finishes a series of processes. The series of processes in the ECU 8 is repeatedly executed while the AUTO switch 6 is turned on.

  Next, the display mode of the liquid crystal screen 11 will be described. Here, the processing procedure in the control unit 9 will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart is executed according to the control program stored in the memory 9a. The flowchart is executed when the vehicle drive source, for example, the engine is started, or when the vehicle is turned on. As shown in FIG. 5A, the control unit 9 normally displays “A / C” on the liquid crystal screen 11.

  When the vehicle is powered on, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 9 first acquires air conditioning control information (step S11). Then, it is determined whether or not the A / C switch 7 is turned on (step S12). If YES in step S12, that is, if the A / C switch 7 is turned on, it is determined whether or not the set temperature is lower than the temperature of the inside air (step S13). If YES in step S13, that is, if the set temperature is lower than the temperature of the inside air, the display setting when the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner is cooling is read with reference to the display setting data stored in the memory 9a (step S14). Then, the read display setting is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11 through the display control device 10 (step S15). Here, as shown in FIG. 5B, the characters “cooling” and “dehumidification” are displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11. Then, the process ends.

  If NO in step S12, that is, if the A / C switch 7 is off, the display setting when the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner is off is read from the memory 9a (step S16). Then, the process proceeds to step S15. Here, as shown in FIG. 5A, the characters “A / C” are displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11.

  If NO in step S13, that is, if the set temperature is higher than the temperature of the inside air, the display setting when the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner is heating is read from the memory 9a (step S17). Then, the process proceeds to step S15. Here, as shown in FIG. 5C, the characters “dehumidification” are displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11.

  In this way, the user can easily recognize the function performed by the A / C switch 7 by switching the display on the liquid crystal screen 11 from “A / C” to easy-to-understand words “dehumidification” and “cooling”. Can do. For example, by displaying “dehumidification” during heating, it is possible to prompt the user to turn on the A / C switch when the windshield needs to be defrosted. In addition, by accurately understanding the function of the air conditioner that is activated by the user turning on the A / C switch 7, when the function of the corresponding air conditioner, that is, the cooling function and the dehumidifying function are not required, A There is also an effect of prompting the / C switch 7 to be turned off. That is, it can be urged to eliminate waste that always turns on the A / C switch 7. The power consumption of the compressor is large. Therefore, when the operation of the compressor is not necessary, that is, when the dehumidifying function is not necessary, the power consumption can be suppressed by turning off the A / C switch 7. In particular, an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle can be expected to have a low fuel consumption effect.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A liquid crystal screen 11 is provided on the A / C switch 7. Thereby, in the state in which the A / C switch 7 is turned on, the operating state of the air conditioner switched according to the setting environment is notified to the user. For this reason, the user can easily recognize that the function exhibited by the air conditioner by the operation of the A / C switch 7 displayed as A / C is the cooling function and the dehumidifying function.

  (2) By providing the liquid crystal screen 11 on the A / C switch 7 on which the user operates, the user visually recognizes the liquid crystal screen 11 when operating the A / C switch 7. Since the display mode of the liquid crystal screen 11 changes when the A / C switch 7 is operated, it is possible to easily recognize whether or not the A / C switch 7 is operated.

  (3) By switching the display of “A / C” on the liquid crystal screen 11 to easy-to-understand words “dehumidification” and “cooling”, the user can easily recognize the function performed by the A / C switch 7.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the A / C switch 7 may be provided in a portion other than the dashboard in the vehicle interior. For example, the A / C switch 7 may be provided on the steering wheel to be a steering switch.

  In the above embodiment, the A / C switch 7 is provided on the dashboard of the vehicle, but the A / C switch 7 may be incorporated in the navigation system. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, an A / C switch 32 is provided on the touch display 31. When the A / C switch 32 is touched and the compressor is turned on, “cooling / dehumidification” indicating both the cooling and dehumidifying functions shown in FIG. The display is switched between “dehumidification” and “dehumidification” indicating the dehumidification function shown in FIG. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the said embodiment can be acquired. In this case, the mechanical A / C switch 7 disclosed in the above embodiment is omitted. Accordingly, the liquid crystal screen 11 provided in the A / C switch 7 is also omitted.

  In the above example, when the A / C switch 32 is operated, the display mode of the A / C switch 32 itself displayed on the display 31 is switched, but the function is located near the A / C switch 32. May be displayed. For example, when the A / C switch 32 shown in FIG. 6A is touch-operated and the compressor is turned on, the ECU 8 switches to FIGS. 7A and 7B according to the control state of the air conditioner. As shown, the function may be displayed on the right side of the A / C switch 32. Further, by connecting the A / C switch 32 and the icon 33 indicating the function thereof with a connecting line 34 such as a straight line, the relevance between the A / C switch 32 and the icon 33 can be visually grasped. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the said embodiment can be acquired.

  -In the said embodiment, although the display mode of the liquid crystal screen 11 provided in the A / C switch 7 changed, the function which an air conditioner exhibits according to operation of the A / C switch 7 was notified. You may make it alert | report the function which an air-conditioner exhibits by using an indicator.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8A, for example, two LEDs 41 and 42 are provided at a position where the user can easily recognize such as a dashboard. The LEDs 41 and 42 are arranged side by side, and “cooling” is described immediately below the LED 41, and “dehumidification” is described immediately below the LED 42. The control unit 9 switches between turning on and off the LEDs 41 and 42 according to the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner in the ECU 8.

  When the A / C switch 7 is turned on, when the set temperature is lower than the room temperature, that is, when the operation state of the air conditioner is cooling, the control unit 9 is as shown in FIG. The LEDs 41 and 42 are turned on. The user can recognize that the air conditioner is operating the cooling function and the dehumidifying function by turning on the A / C switch 7 through the lighting of the LEDs 41 and 42. Further, when the set temperature is higher than the room temperature, that is, when the operation state of the air conditioner is heating, the control unit 9 turns off the LED 41 and turns on the LED 42 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the user can recognize that the air conditioner is operating the dehumidifying function by turning on the A / C switch 7 through turning off the LED 41 and turning on the LED 42.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal screen 11 is provided to display the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner accompanying the ON operation of the A / C switch 7, but may be provided to a switch that displays other functions. For example, you may provide in the switch etc. which switch a pollen removal function. By doing in this way, the function corresponding to the switch can be reported to the user in an easy-to-understand manner.

  In the above embodiment, characters such as “A / C”, “dehumidification”, and “cooling” are displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11, but illustrations and marks may be used. The characters may be other languages such as German and Chinese as well as English and Japanese.

In the above embodiment, the AUTO switch 6 is provided side by side with the A / C switch 7, but it is not always necessary to provide it side by side. Further, the AUTO switch 6 itself may not be provided.
In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal screen 11 is used as a display device for an air conditioner function that accompanies the ON operation of the A / C switch 7. However, any indicator or display that can be displayed by changing characters, marks, illustrations, etc. . Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the said embodiment can be acquired.

  In the above embodiment, the determination whether the cooling function is performed by the ECU 8 and the determination criterion for the heating function are the temperature difference between the set temperature and the room temperature, but other temperature differences are the determination criteria. It is good. For example, the temperature difference between the necessary blown air temperature calculated by the ECU 8 and the room temperature to be air-conditioned to the set temperature desired by the user, or the temperature difference between the measured blown air temperature actually discharged by the car air conditioner 1 and the room temperature is determined. It is good also as a standard. Moreover, it is good also considering the temperature difference with setting temperature instead of room temperature as a criterion of the presence or absence of the action | operation of a cooling function and a heating function. That is, the temperature difference between the required blown air temperature and the set temperature, or the temperature difference between the actually measured blown air temperature and the set temperature may be used as the determination criterion. Note that when making a determination using the measured blown air temperature, it is necessary to provide a wind thermometer for measuring the temperature of the conditioned air at the outlet of the conditioned air.

Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and other examples will be described below.
(A) In the switch device for a car air conditioner according to claim 1, the display device is a touch panel, and the switch includes an electric button provided on the touch panel, and a touch operation of the button is performed. Accordingly, the switch device of the car air conditioner can switch the display of the button area to the specific function mode.

According to this configuration, it can be applied to a vehicle equipped with a touch pad such as a navigation system.
(B) The switch device for a car air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the display device is an indicator that can be turned on or off by operating the switch.

  According to this configuration, the user can recognize a specific function exhibited by the air conditioner through whether or not the indicator is lit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Car air conditioner, 2 ... Temperature setting switch, 3 ... Inside air sensor, 4 ... Outside air sensor, 5 ... Solar radiation sensor, 6 ... AUTO switch, 7, 32 ... A / C switch, 8 ... ECU, 9 ... Control unit, 9a ... Memory, 10 ... Display device, 11 ... Liquid crystal screen, 20 ... Switch device, 31 ... Display, 33 ... Icon, 34 ... Connection line, 41, 42 ... LED.

Claims (3)

In a car air conditioner switch device having a switch operated to instruct a control mode to control means for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle compartment,
A switch device for a car air conditioner comprising a display device that is switched to a display mode that indicates a specific function that is exhibited according to a control mode of the control means that is instructed through the operation of the switch. The switch device for a car air conditioner according to claim 1,
The display device is a switch device for a car air conditioner provided in an operation portion of the switch. In the switch apparatus of the car air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2,
The switch is an A / C switch for switching on and off a cooling function and a dehumidifying function as the specific function,
When the A / C switch is in an ON state, the control means sets both the dehumidifying function and the cooling function, or only the dehumidifying function, according to the setting environment and the indoor environment at that time, and displays the display. A mode is a switch device for a car air conditioner that indicates the first state or the second state.

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