JP3938138B2 - Air conditioner for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner that performs air-conditioning control that matches the sensation of a vehicle occupant.

Conventionally, there is a vehicle air conditioner that performs air-conditioning control according to the surface temperature of a vehicle occupant as described in JP-A-4-260812. This vehicle air conditioner sets the occupant's target surface temperature, and when the difference from the actual surface temperature is large, the air-conditioning air blow is set to the ventilation mode (VENT), and the side vent or Air conditioning air is blown out from the center vent so as to concentrate on the occupant's body, and when the difference from the actual surface temperature is small, the air conditioning air blowing is set to the bi-level mode (B / L) so that the air conditioning air does not concentrate on the body. Air conditioned air is diffused and blown from the side vents, center vents, and foot outlets at the feet of passengers, or air conditioned air is blown out from the foot outlets with foot mode (FOOT). Thus, the temperature in the air-conditioned space is controlled to become the target temperature.
JP-A-4-260812

  However, in such a conventional vehicle air conditioner, when the vehicle air conditioner is in a steady state and the surface temperature of the occupant is slightly higher than the target surface temperature, the foot outlet is used as an outlet for blowing out cool air. Was selected. For this reason, there is a problem that cold air-conditioning air is concentrated on the feet and the cool air accumulates downward, and the feet are cooled too much.

  Then, in view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioner that can perform air-conditioning control that matches a passenger's sense of temperature.

The present invention includes a foot outlet that blows the blowing air toward the foot direction, an upper air outlet that blows the blowing air upward from the foot direction, and a foot outlet that blows the blowing air. A thermal image data acquisition unit that captures an image of a vehicle interior and acquires thermal image data in a vehicle air conditioner including an outlet position determining unit that selects at least one of the upper outlets, and the thermal image data An occupant temperature detection means for detecting the surface temperature of the occupant from the thermal image data acquired by the acquisition unit, and an ambient temperature detection for detecting the ambient temperature of a part heated by sunlight and affecting the occupant's thermal feeling by the radiant heat The vehicle temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the vehicle compartment, the output of the occupant temperature detection means, the output of the ambient temperature detection means, and the output of the room temperature detection means. A surface temperature difference calculating means for calculating a target surface temperature of the surface temperature and calculating a difference between the target surface temperature and an occupant surface temperature detected by the occupant temperature detecting means, and the outlet position determining means comprises a surface temperature difference When the output of the calculating means is small and the occupant surface temperature detected by the occupant temperature detecting means is higher than the target surface temperature, the upper outlet is selected as the outlet position, and the surface temperature difference calculating means When the output is small and the occupant surface temperature detected by the occupant temperature detection means is below the target surface temperature, the foot outlet is selected as the outlet position, and the output of the surface temperature difference calculation means is large In this case, the upper outlet is selected as the outlet position .

  According to the present invention, when the output of the surface temperature difference calculating means is small and the occupant surface temperature is higher than the target surface temperature, the outlet position determining means selects the upper outlet as the outlet position. Even when the surface temperature of the occupant becomes stable and becomes a steady state, it is possible to suppress the blowing of cold air to the feet, and the feet are not cooled too much by the cold air.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples.
FIG. 1 shows an air conditioner for a vehicle in this embodiment.
The vehicle air conditioner 50 includes an IR camera (infrared camera) 1 for photographing a vehicle interior, a solar radiation sensor 3, an outside air temperature sensor 4, an inside air temperature sensor 5, a target room temperature setting unit 6, and a microcomputer 2 that performs various processes. And an outlet position controller 7 that controls the outlet position, an outlet air temperature controller 8 that controls the outlet air temperature, and an outlet air volume controller 9 that controls the outlet air volume.

The IR camera 1 is attached to the center of the center console 12 in the vehicle width direction as shown in FIG. 2, and is further attached so as to include the driver 30 and the passenger seat 40 as shown in FIG.
The microcomputer 2 processes the thermal image acquired by the IR camera 1 to identify the seat where the passenger is present (in this embodiment, the driver 30 and the passenger seat 40 are on the vehicle 11). The microcomputer 2 detects the representative temperatures of the surfaces of the faces 31 and 41 of the identified driver 30 and passenger seat 40 from the temperature distribution of the thermal image.

Further, the microcomputer 2 is set by the solar radiation amount detected by the solar radiation sensor 3, the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 4, the temperature in the vehicle room detected by the inside air temperature sensor 5, and the target room temperature setting unit 6. Each data of the target room temperature in the vehicle compartment is taken in, and the outlet position, the outlet air temperature and the outlet air amount for the comfort of the passenger are determined and output.
In the target room temperature setting unit 6, a target room temperature is set by an input operation of a vehicle occupant.

The blown air volume control unit 9 controls a blower motor (not shown) that generates blown air in accordance with an output signal from the microcomputer 2.
The blowout air temperature is controlled by mixing the air cooled by the condenser and the air heated by passing the air cooled by the condenser through the heater, and the amount of air passing through the heater is set before the heater. It is adjusted by opening and closing the air mix door.
The blown air temperature control unit 8 controls the air mix damper for controlling the opening and closing of the air mix door according to the output signal from the microcomputer 2 to control the blown air temperature.

A mode door is provided in an air flow path that guides air-conditioned air that has passed through the air mix door to a plurality of air outlets.
The outlet position control unit 7 controls the opening and closing of the mode door according to the output signal from the microcomputer 2 and selects the outlet position where the conditioned air is blown out.

Next, the operation of the microcomputer 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the microcomputer 2 starts the air conditioning control, in step 100, each value used in the present process is initialized.
In step 101, the microcomputer 2 uses the IR camera 1 to acquire thermal image data in the photographing range shown in FIG. The thermal image data acquired at this time becomes an image having a higher density value as the surface temperature is higher.

In step 102, the driver's face temperature is detected from the thermal image data acquired in step 101. In this process, the presence position of the driver as the detection target is specified based on the attachment position of the IR camera 1 to the vehicle, and it is determined whether there is a driver as the detection target from the temperature distribution in the specified region. . When there is a driver, the average temperature or the maximum temperature in the area is detected as the representative temperature of the area. As a representative temperature measured at this time, T (F-msr) which is the temperature of the face 31 of the driver 30 shown in FIG. 3 is set.
Since the process on the passenger seat side is the same as the process on the driver seat side, only the process on the driver seat side will be described below.

Next, in step 103, the solar radiation sensor 3 measures the amount of solar radiation and the outside air temperature sensor 4 measures the outside air temperature, and the ambient temperature T (A) that affects the occupant's temperature sensation is calculated based on the result. The ambient temperature that affects the occupant's thermal sensation includes the temperature of the seat surface and window glass that is heated by sunlight and affects the occupant's thermal sensation by the radiant heat. In this embodiment, the seat surface temperature is the ambient temperature T (A) that affects the occupant's thermal sensation.
In calculating the seat surface temperature, the seat surface temperature corresponding to each value of the solar radiation amount and the outside air temperature is stored in advance as a map, and the seat surface temperature is calculated from the detected solar radiation amount and the outside air temperature.

Next, in step 104, the current room temperature T (R-msr) in the vehicle compartment, which is the output of the inside air temperature sensor 5, is captured. The inside air temperature sensor 5 is attached below the center console 12 as shown in FIG.
In step 105, the target room temperature T (R-tgt) set in the target room temperature setting unit 6 is fetched.

  In step 106, the surface temperature T (F-msr) of the face 31 of the driver 30 detected in step 102, the occupant ambient temperature T (A) calculated in step 103, and the current room temperature T captured in step 104. Based on (R-msr), the target surface temperature T (F-tgt) of the driver 30 is calculated. For this calculation, for example, the surface temperature that the occupant feels comfortable based on the surface temperature T (F-msr), the occupant ambient temperature T (A), and the current room temperature T (R-msr) is stored in advance as a map. The detected surface temperature, the passenger's ambient temperature, and the surface temperature that the passenger feels comfortable calculated according to the current room temperature are determined as the passenger's target surface temperature T (F-tgt).

In step 107, from the surface temperature T (F-msr) of the face 31 of the driver 30 detected in step 102 and the target surface temperature T (F-tgt) of the driver 30 calculated in step 106, the following equation is obtained. To calculate the surface temperature difference ΔT (F).
ΔT (F) = T (F−tgt) −T (F−msr) (1)

Next, in step 108, the room temperature difference ΔT (R) is calculated from the current room temperature T (R-msr) captured in step 104 and the target room temperature T (R-tgt) calculated in step 105 using the following equation. .
ΔT (R) = T (R−tgt) −T (R−msr) (2)

  In step 109, it is determined whether or not the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) calculated in step 107 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value Th. If it is determined that the absolute value of ΔT (F) is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value Th, that is, the difference between the target surface temperature of the passenger and the current surface temperature is small, the microcomputer 2 stabilizes the surface temperature of the passenger near the target surface temperature. Then, it is determined that the air conditioning is in a steady state, and the process proceeds to step 110. On the other hand, if the absolute value of ΔT (F) is not equal to or smaller than the predetermined value Th, the air conditioning is not in a steady state and the process proceeds to step 113.

In step 110, if the sign of the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) calculated in step 107 is negative (if the current surface temperature of the driver 30 is higher than the target surface temperature), the process proceeds to step 111, and if not negative Then, go to step 114.
In step 111, the outlet position is selected. Here, it is determined in step 109 that the air conditioning is in a steady state, and in step 110, it is determined that the current surface temperature of the driver 30 is higher than the target surface temperature (region A shown in FIG. 5). Select bi-level mode or ventilation mode as the mouth position.

As for the mode selection of the outlet position, the bi-level mode (B / L) is selected when the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the negative direction as shown in FIG. In addition, the ventilation mode (VENT) is selected until the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the positive direction and the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes from the predetermined value −Th to the predetermined value T2. The bi-level mode is selected until the predetermined value T2 reaches zero.
By selecting the outlet position, the wind does not blow out from the feet when the outlet air temperature is low.

In step 112, the blowing air temperature, the blowing air amount, and the like are calculated based on the selected blowing outlet position signal, the calculated room temperature difference ΔT (R), and the like, and the calculation result is used as an output signal for each control unit 7. , 8 and 9 are output. After outputting the output signal, the process returns to step 101 and the above processing is repeated.
As a method for calculating an output signal to each control unit, a known method can be used. For example, each mode door position, air mix damper opening, and blower motor are controlled using the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-260812. It is also possible to calculate an output signal for this purpose.

In step 113, it is determined in step 109 that the absolute value of ΔT (F) is larger than the predetermined value Th, that is, the difference between the target surface temperature of the driver 30 and the current surface temperature is large (shown in FIG. 5). Regions B and C), selection of outlet position when air conditioning is not in steady state. In this case, since it is necessary to heat and cool the entire body of the driver 30, the bi-level mode or the ventilation mode is selected as the outlet position, and the process proceeds to step 112.
As for the mode selection of the outlet position, when the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the region B shown in FIG. 5, the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the negative direction. The bi-level mode is selected until the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes from the predetermined value −Th to the predetermined value T1, and the ventilation mode is selected when the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) is equal to or lower than the predetermined value −Th.
When the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the positive direction, the ventilation mode is selected.

Further, in the case where the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the region C shown in FIG. 5, the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the positive direction, and the surface temperature difference ΔT ( The bi-level mode is selected until F) reaches the predetermined value T6 from the predetermined value Th, and the ventilation mode is selected when the value is equal to or higher than the predetermined value T6.
This is a case where the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the negative direction, and the ventilation mode is selected until the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) decreases to the predetermined value T5, and the predetermined value T5 is set to the predetermined value. The bi-level mode is selected until the value Th is reached.

  In step 114, the outlet position is selected when the current surface temperature of the driver 30 is lower than the target surface temperature. Here, since it is determined in step 109 that the air conditioning is in a steady state, and in step 110, it is determined that the current surface temperature of the driver 30 is lower than the target surface temperature (region D shown in FIG. 5). Select foot mode or bi-level mode as the outlet position and proceed to the next.

The mode selection of the outlet position is when the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) is changing in the positive direction as shown in FIG. 5, and the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) is changed from 0 to a predetermined value T4. The foot mode (FOOT) is selected until the predetermined value is reached, and the bi-level mode is selected until the predetermined value T4 reaches the predetermined value Th.
The bi-level mode is selected until the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes in the negative direction and the surface temperature difference ΔT (F) changes from the predetermined value Th to the predetermined value T3. The foot mode is selected from 0 to 0.
By selecting the outlet position, the wind blows out from the foot when the outlet air temperature is high.

  In order to avoid frequent switching of the outlet position due to slight fluctuations in the surface temperature difference ΔT (F), the predetermined values T1 and T2, the predetermined values T3 and T4, and the predetermined value T5, which are mode switching points of the outlet position. And T6 are provided with hysteresis.

  In this embodiment, the IR camera 1 constitutes a thermal image data acquisition unit in the present invention. Step 102 constitutes occupant temperature detection means in the present invention, and step 103 constitutes ambient temperature detection means in the present invention. Further, the inside air temperature sensor 5 constitutes a room temperature detecting means in the present invention, Step 107 is a surface temperature difference calculating means in the present invention, Steps 109 to 111, Step 113 and Step 114 are air outlet position determining means in the present invention. Constitute. Step 108 constitutes a room temperature difference calculating means in the present invention.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above, and when the difference between the actual surface temperature of the occupant and the target surface temperature is small and the occupant surface temperature is higher than the target surface temperature, Since the outlet position is selected so that it does not go to the feet, for example, when the surface temperature of the occupant becomes stable and steady during the cooling in summer, the blowing of cold air to the feet can be suppressed, Will not be overcooled by cold air.

In addition, when the difference between the actual surface temperature of the occupant and the target surface temperature is small and the surface temperature of the occupant is lower than the target surface temperature, the hot air is blown out from the feet where cold air easily collects. Since the air outlet position is selected, for example, during heating in winter, warm air can be blown out from the feet where cold air tends to accumulate, and the vehicle interior can be efficiently heated.
In this way, it is possible to select the position of the outlet, such as cold air on the occupant's face and warm air on the feet, so a vehicle air conditioner that can adjust the air conditioning suitable for the occupant's temperature regardless of the season. Can be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the seat surface temperature is detected as the ambient temperature of the occupant from the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor 3 and the external air temperature sensor 4 in step 103 and the external air temperature. As shown in FIG. 3, the surface temperature of the sheet 37 and the temperature of the window glass 36 can be directly acquired as the ambient temperature from the thermal image data thus obtained.

In the above embodiment, the room temperature T (R-msr) is detected by the inside air temperature sensor 5 in step 104. For example, the thermal image data shown in FIG. The temperature T (ROOF) of the ceiling 35 can be used instead of the room temperature T (R-msr) in the vehicle compartment detected by the inside air temperature sensor 5.
Since the ambient temperature of the occupant and the temperature in the vehicle interior can be acquired using the thermal image data acquired by the IR camera 1 in this way, the solar radiation sensor 3, the outside air temperature sensor 4, the inside air temperature sensor 5, and the like are provided. There is no need.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the driver 30 and the passenger seat 40 are photographed using one IR camera 1, but each of the IR cameras is provided with a plurality of IR cameras each having a photographing range. You can also take a picture of the crew.

When the mode of the outlet position is selected in step 111, the room temperature difference ΔT (R) calculated in step 108 is used. When ΔT (R) <0, the ventilation mode (VENT) is set to ΔT (R). When (R) ≧ 0, the bi-level mode (B / L) can also be selected.
Further, when the mode of the outlet position is selected in step 113, the ventilation mode is selected when ΔT (R) <0 using the room temperature difference ΔT (R), and when ΔT (R) ≧ 0. Can also select bi-level mode.
When the mode of the outlet position is selected in step 114, the room temperature difference ΔT (R) is used to select the bi-level mode when ΔT (R) <0, and when ΔT (R) ≧ 0. A foot mode (FOOT) can also be selected.

It is a figure which shows the air conditioning apparatus for vehicles in a present Example. It is a figure which shows the attachment position of IR camera. It is a figure which shows the thermal image data acquired by IR camera. It is a figure which shows the flow of a process in a microcomputer. It is a figure which shows the example of a blower outlet position selection.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IR camera 2 Microcomputer 3 Solar radiation sensor 4 Outside air temperature sensor 5 Inside air temperature sensor 6 Target room temperature setting part 7 Air outlet position control part 8 Air outlet air temperature control part 9 Air outlet air volume control part 11 Vehicle 12 Center console 30 Driver 31,41 Face 35 Ceiling 36 Window glass 37 Sheet 40 Passenger seat 50 Vehicle air conditioner

Claims (3)

A foot outlet that blows out the blowing wind toward the feet,
An upper outlet that blows out the blowing air upward from the foot direction;
In the vehicle air conditioner, comprising a blowing port position determining means for selecting at least one of the foot blowing port and the upper blowing port as the blowing port for blowing the blowing air.
A thermal image data acquisition unit that images the vehicle interior and acquires thermal image data;
Occupant temperature detection means for detecting the surface temperature of the occupant from the thermal image data acquired by the thermal image data acquisition unit;
Ambient temperature detection means for detecting the ambient temperature of a part heated by sunlight and affecting the occupant's temperature sensation by the radiant heat ;
Room temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the vehicle compartment;
A target surface temperature of the occupant surface temperature is calculated based on the output of the occupant temperature detection means, the output of the ambient temperature detection means, and the output of the room temperature detection means, and the target surface temperature and the occupant temperature detection means A surface temperature difference calculating means for calculating a difference in the detected passenger surface temperature,
The outlet position determining means is
When the output of the surface temperature difference calculating means is small and the occupant surface temperature detected by the occupant temperature detecting means is higher than the target surface temperature, the upper outlet is selected as the outlet position. ,
When the output of the surface temperature difference calculating means is small and the occupant surface temperature detected by the occupant temperature detecting means is equal to or lower than the target surface temperature, the foot outlet is selected as the outlet position,
When the output of the surface temperature difference calculation means is large, the upper air outlet is selected as the air outlet position . A target room temperature setting unit for setting an air conditioning target temperature in the vehicle interior;
Room temperature difference calculating means for calculating a difference between the temperature in the vehicle room detected by the room temperature detecting means and the air conditioning target temperature set by the target room temperature setting unit,
2. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising an air-conditioning state determining unit that determines a blown air temperature and a blown air amount based on outputs of the room temperature difference calculating unit and the outlet position determining unit. The ambient temperature detecting means or the room temperature detecting means is
The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ambient temperature and the temperature in the vehicle compartment are detected from thermal image data that is an output from the thermal image data acquisition unit.

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