JP3026583B2 - Air conditioning control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an air-conditioning control device that controls indoor air-conditioning in accordance with the feeling of warmth of a room occupant.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, various ideas of air conditioning control have been proposed to improve the comfort of the occupants, and among them, there is known one that attempts to reflect the sensation (temperature sensation) of the occupants in the air conditioning control. Have been. However, the temperature sensation (heat sensation) such as hot or cold, which is an important factor in evaluating comfort,
In addition to the temperature, it changes due to the effects of airflow, humidity, and radiation, and is also affected by human factors such as the amount of exercise and the amount of clothing.

On the other hand, it has been conventionally known that a strong correlation is observed between the sense of warmth of a person and the skin temperature, and there has been known a method of controlling the room temperature so that the skin temperature becomes a comfortable temperature. .

For example, JP-A-55-95054, JP-A-57-37642, JP-A-60-92919 and JP-A-62-125243 disclose an air conditioner for controlling a room temperature according to the skin temperature. .

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-2229713, there is known an apparatus that estimates a warm feeling based on a skin temperature and controls a blowing amount so that the warm feeling becomes a target warm feeling.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-2229713 discloses focusing on a strong correlation between an occupant's skin temperature and a sense of warmth, and setting a target sense of warmth in accordance with a comparison between the detected skin temperature and a standard skin temperature. Have been.

However, if a person is exposed to an extremely high or low temperature environment or is affected by the environment of sunshine, it is not always possible to give the occupant a comfortable feeling simply by setting the skin temperature to the standard skin temperature. Turned out not to be.

Therefore, the present invention sets the target temperature sensation, which is the target value of the air conditioning control, according to the environmental conditions before the air conditioning is provided to the target person to be air-conditioned and the environmental conditions after the air conditioning is provided to the target person. To provide an air-conditioning control device that can set the target air-conditioning user to feel comfortable and appropriately set the target thermal sensation to perform air-conditioning control and supply the air-conditioned user with a comfortable air-conditioning environment according to the season, outdoor environment, etc. It is intended for.

[Means for solving the problem]

In an air conditioning control device equipped with control means for controlling an air conditioner so that the temperature of the person to be air-conditioned approaches and maintains a target temperature sensation, the person to be air-conditioned was exposed before the person to be air-conditioned was air-conditioned. First detecting means for detecting an environmental condition; and second detecting means for detecting at least one of a solar radiation amount and an outside air temperature when air conditioning is being performed on a person to be air-conditioned.
Detecting means for setting a target thermal sensation in accordance with the environmental state detected by the first detecting means, and at least one of the solar radiation amount and the outside air temperature detected by the second detecting means increases. And setting means for correcting and setting the target thermal sensation in a direction to make the target thermal sensation cooler as the detection value decreases.

[Action]

According to the configuration of the present invention described above, the target thermal sensation that is the target of the air-conditioning control is based on the environmental conditions before the subject is air-conditioned and the amount of solar radiation and the outside air temperature when the subject is air-conditioned. It is set according to at least one of them.

The environmental condition before the subject is air-conditioned is
The environment the subject was exposed to before entering the room, or
Refers to the indoor environment to which the subject was exposed before the air conditioning of the room was started, and therefore the subject, such as when the subject was in a hot or cold environment, When the environmental condition to which the subject is exposed before the air conditioning is performed is different, a different target thermal sensation is set according to the environmental condition.

Further, according to at least one of the amount of solar radiation and the outside air temperature, the correction setting is performed such that the target temperature sensation becomes cooler as the detected value increases.

Therefore, when the occupant prefers a cooler feeling, such as during the daytime when solar radiation is large or in summer when the outside air temperature is high, a cool target temperature sensation is set. On the other hand, in winter when the outside air temperature is low, a target feeling of warming is set.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, examples to which the present invention is applied will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a vehicle air conditioner showing a configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a vehicle 1 includes an air conditioning unit 2.
The air conditioning unit 2 has a generally known configuration,
Inside / outside air switching device 21, blower 22, evaporator 23, heater core 24, air mix damper 25, and vent outlet 26
Etc.

The control device 31 for controlling the air conditioning unit 2 has a microcomputer. Then, signals from the outside air temperature sensor 32, the solar radiation sensor 33, the switch panel 34, the inside air temperature sensor 35, and the infrared skin temperature sensor 36 are input. Control device 31
Performs arithmetic processing on signals input from the above sensors, and controls the blower 22 and the air mix damper 25.

The infrared skin temperature sensor 36 is an infrared detection type sensor that detects the skin temperature from the occupant's face in a non-contact manner.

In the configuration described above, in this embodiment, the control device 31 calculates the air flow rate and the target vehicle room temperature in accordance with the skin temperature.

Regarding the determination of the blowing amount, it is determined as follows.
The correlation between the warm feeling and the skin temperature can be substantially expressed by a linear expression such as the following expression (1).

Warming _{(S) = K 1 × T} S + K 2 + S + C ... (1) That is, the sense of warmth of a person changes with the change of the skin temperature.

In this embodiment, the temperature difference ΔT _S represented by the following equation (2)
Is calculated according to the air flow.

ΔT _S = T _S −T _S ′ (2) Here, T _S ′ is expressed by the following equation (1):
And _S = 0 (at steady state), which can be obtained by the following equation (3).

T _S ′ = (S′−C) / K ₁ (3) Here, the air volume calculated according to ΔT _S is a patterned numerical value obtained in advance by an experiment by the inventors of the present invention. is there.

In this experiment, ΔT _S was changed in various ways, and the amount of air that the occupant felt comfortable at each ΔT _S was recorded.

The results of this experiment are almost as shown in FIG. 3, and it has been proved that the occupants prefer lower airflow rates as ΔT _S decreases.

In this embodiment, based on the experimental results, an air volume pattern as shown in FIG. 4 is set and stored in the control device, and the air volume is calculated from the air volume pattern and ΔT _S.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. This embodiment shows a cooling operation.

The control device 31 receives power supply from a battery (not shown) of the vehicle, and responds to an ON operation of a key switch (not shown) in response to the fifth operation.
The flowchart shown in the figure is executed to control the vehicle interior temperature and the air flow rate.

First, in step 110, a detection signal is input from each sensor, and in particular, the skin temperature of the occupant is input from the skin temperature sensor.

Next, in step 120, based on the above equation (3),
The target skin temperature T _S 'is calculated.

Here, the target thermal sensation S 'is obtained by associating temperature sensations such as "warm" and "cold" with numerical values.
An initial target thermal sensation S1 'is calculated by the equation (1), and the corrected target thermal sensation S' is calculated by the following equations (4-2) and (4-3) to have characteristics as shown in FIG. It is calculated so that

_{S1 '= K 1 * Trint ...} (4-1) ΔS' = K 2 * Tam + K 3 * S T + C ... (4-2) S '= S1' + ΔS '... (4-3) In this embodiment, the vehicle compartment temperature at the time when the key switch is turned on is stored in Trit.

The initial target thermal sensation S1 'is set based on the thermal load to which the occupant was exposed before starting the air conditioning by using the equation (4-1), and the thermal load into the vehicle compartment is calculated by the equation (4-2). The correction amount ΔS ′ of the target thermal sensation is set based on the state. Then, the corrected target thermal sensation S 'is set based on the equation (4-3).

In addition, this target thermal sensation is determined by the switch panel 34
Is corrected with a direction such as "hot" or "cold".

Then, a difference ΔT _S between the skin temperature T _S input in step 110 and the target skin temperature T _S ′ is obtained.

In step 130, the air volume V is determined based on ΔT _S obtained in step 120 and the air volume pattern shown in FIG.

Next, at step 140, the target skin temperature change _S 'is calculated from the following equation (5) obtained by modifying the above equation (1).

This equation (5) indicates that the target temperature sensation S 'can be achieved by giving a skin temperature change of _S ' from the current skin temperature T _S.

In step 150, the target vehicle compartment temperature Ta for causing the target skin temperature change _S 'under the air flow rate V determined in step 130 is calculated.

In this embodiment, the human body in the vehicle interior is modeled in advance, and the relationship between the vehicle interior temperature Ta and the skin temperature change _S under the vehicle interior environment that changes depending on the amount of solar radiation, the amount of air blow, etc., is simulated. Based on the result, the target vehicle compartment temperature Ta for generating the target skin temperature change _S 'is calculated.

Then, the target air temperature Ta ₀ for realizing the target vehicle compartment temperature Ta at step 160 is calculated.

In step 170, a control signal of the blower 22 is output so that the air volume V determined in step 130 is realized, and in step 180, the target outlet temperature Ta for achieving the target vehicle interior temperature Ta set in step 150. A control signal for controlling the opening degree of the air mix damper 25 so that ₀ is realized is output.

Then, this series of control is repeated by updating the sensor signal every sampling time.

According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to supply the vehicle interior temperature that can achieve the target warmth under the air flow according to the occupant's skin temperature. A desired sensation of warmth can be given to the occupant under the air flow rate according to the sensation of the occupant.

Although the infrared skin temperature sensor 36 is used in the above embodiment, a sensor for detecting the skin temperature may be directly attached to the human body in the cabin.

Further, a simulated skin temperature sensor may be used. Here, the simulated skin temperature sensor is generally known in many structures, and outputs an estimated value of the skin temperature under the environment of the vehicle interior temperature, airflow, radiation, and temperature. This is a sensor having a simulated structure.

Further, the air blowing amount pattern is not limited to the stepwise pattern as shown in FIG. 4, and a continuous pattern may be set according to the experimental result of FIG.

In the above embodiment, the air flow rate is determined based on ΔT _S by equation (2). However, the air flow rate may be any value that changes according to the change in the thermal sensation of the human body.

For example, the air flow rate V may be calculated from the following equation (6) using the skin temperature change rate _S as an index of another type of air flow control.

V = K * _S (6) K: constant Here, _S is calculated as _S = _S ′ by performing the calculation in step 140 in step 120. As shown in FIG. 7, the reference of the air flow amount pattern in this index is 0, and the air flow amount is reduced as the reference is approached.

Further, using the current skin temperature and the skin temperature T _S ^* to be produced by the next sampling time, the air volume V may be determined by the following equation (7).

_{V = K * (T S -T} S *) = K * (- S * ΔT) ... (7) Equation (7) indicates that (Ts−T _S ^* ) is ( _−S ′ * ΔT)
It takes the same value as.

In the control based on this index, in step 120, _S is calculated by performing the calculation in step 140. Next, ( _−S × Δ
T) is calculated, and the calculated value is used as an index as the value of (T _S −T _s ^* ). As shown in FIG. 8, the characteristic of this index is such that the airflow is reduced as the criterion becomes zero and approaches the criterion.

Further, using the detected skin temperature T _S as it is, the following (8)
The blowing amount V may be determined from the equation.

V = K * T _S (8) In this index, T _S ′ is obtained in step 120 in the same manner as in FIG. 5, and the air volume is determined based on the skin temperature T _S until T _S becomes T _S ′. Is determined. FIG. 9 shows the characteristic diagram.

In the above embodiment, only the case of cooling is described,
Also at the time of heating, the amount of air blown is calculated according to the skin temperature index, and comfortable air conditioning according to the sense of warmth can be performed.
In this case, the above (2), (6),
In equation (7), each index is calculated as an absolute value,
With respect to T _S in the equation (8), the calculation is performed symmetrically with respect to the vertical axis (≒ T _S ′) in FIG. 9 to set the air flow pattern during heating.

As for the target thermal sensation S ', an initial target thermal sensation S1' is calculated by the following equation (9-1).
The corrected target thermal sensation S ′ may be calculated by the equation (9-3) so as to have the characteristic as shown in FIG.

_{S1 '= K 1 * Trint ...} (4-1) ΔS' = K 2 * Tam + K 3 * S T + C ... (4-2) S '= S1' + ΔS '... (4-3) In this equation (9-1), the initial skin temperature Tsint is used instead of the initial temperature Trint in the above equation (4-1). However, the heat load, the amount of exercise, and The initial target temperature sensation S1 'can be set in consideration of the heat load on the room.

Further, in addition to the above equations (4-1) and (9-1),
In setting the initial target thermal sensation S1 ', Trit, Tsint,
Tam, may be set using all of S _T.

For example, based on the heat load to which the occupant was exposed before riding, the momentum of the occupant, the vehicle interior environment immediately after riding, and the skin temperature at the start of air conditioning determined as a result of the state of the thermal load on the vehicle interior, this is based on the initial temperature. Trint, the outside air temperature Tam, and may set the target warmth S 'so as to apply a correction based on the amount of solar radiation S _T.

Further, the target thermal sensation S 'does not need to keep a constant value all the time even after the indoor temperature and the skin temperature are stabilized, and is changed periodically or at random to generate fluctuations in the thermal sensation and improve comfort. You may do so.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a vehicle air conditioner. However, the present invention can be applied to a home air conditioner.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the target thermal sensation, which is the control target of air conditioning, is at least one of the environmental state in which the subject was exposed before air conditioning and the amount of solar radiation and the outside air temperature when air conditioning is being performed. The target temperature can be set in accordance with the target temperature, and the target temperature that the subject feels comfortable can be set.

For example, it is possible to set a different target temperature sensation when the subject is exposed to a hot environmental condition before air conditioning and a case where the subject is exposed to a cold environmental condition, and to provide the subject with a comfortable feeling. When the amount is large or the outside air temperature is high, the correction setting is made cooler.When the amount of solar radiation is small or the outside air temperature is low, the correction setting is made warmer. In consideration of this, it is possible to set a target thermal sensation and give the occupant a sense of comfort.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 7, 8, and 9 are graphs for explaining the operation of the embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment, and FIG. 10 describes another embodiment to which the present invention is applied. It is a graph for. 1 ... vehicle, 2 ... air-conditioning unit, 31 ... control device, 36 ...
Infrared skin temperature sensor.

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yosuke Taniguchi 41-Cho, Yokomichi, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Central R & D Laboratories Co., Ltd. (1) Inside Toyota Central Research Laboratory Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-1-229713 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60H 1/00 101

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An air-conditioning control device provided with control means for controlling an air conditioner so that the temperature of the person to be air-conditioned approaches and maintains a target temperature sensation. First detecting means for detecting an environmental state to which the air conditioner has been exposed; second detecting means for detecting at least one of the amount of solar radiation and the outside air temperature when air conditioning is being performed on the person to be air-conditioned; The target thermal sensation is set in accordance with the environmental state detected by the detecting means, and the target thermal sensation is increased as at least one of the solar radiation amount and the outside air temperature detected by the second detecting means increases. Setting means for making correction settings in a direction to make the temperature cooler, and making correction settings in a direction to make the target temperature sensation warmer as the detection value decreases.