JP4062124B2 - Air conditioner for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner that performs air conditioning control based on temperature information detected by an infrared sensor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional vehicle air conditioner, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In this vehicle air conditioner, the angular attitude of the infrared sensor is controlled based on the position information of the driver seat peripheral member obtained from the driver seat position adjustment, the mirror angle adjustment, and the like.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-106952
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, the conventional vehicle air conditioner controls the angle and orientation of the infrared sensor based on the position information of the driver's seat peripheral member, and since there is no feedback, the sensor is accurately directed in the passenger direction. It is unclear whether or not it is possible to absorb variations in personal physical characteristics such as the size of the physique, and there is a possibility that control as intended cannot be realized.
[0005]
Moreover, since only the position of the driver can be specified from the position information of the driver seat peripheral member such as the mirror angle adjustment information, it is impossible to perform air conditioning that is comfortable for the passenger on the passenger seat.
[0006]
This invention solves the problem mentioned above, and it aims at providing the vehicle air conditioner which can orient | assign an infrared sensor to a passenger | crew direction reliably.
[0007]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle air conditioner that can realize a comfortable air conditioning equivalent to that of a driver's seat side passenger.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention, an infrared sensor is disposed on a swing louver provided at an outlet for blowing air into the passenger compartment so that the direction of the infrared sensor changes as the swing louver swings. And calculating the approximate position of the occupant based on the temperature data detected by the infrared sensor, and causing the swing louver to swing locally in the range toward the vicinity of the occupant based on the approximate position of the occupant. Accordingly, the surface temperature of the occupant is calculated based on the temperature data acquired by the infrared sensor, and a local temperature rise of the occupant is detected while the swing louver is locally swung in the range toward the occupant to perform central cooling. The swing range of the swing louver is further limited so that the wind is directed to the portion where the temperature rise is detected, If a local temperature rise of the occupant is detected during the central heating by locally swinging the swing louver in the vicinity of the occupant, the swing louver is avoided so as to avoid a portion where the temperature rise is detected. The swing range is further limited .
[0009]
According to this, even if an infrared sensor having a narrow detection range is used, the detection range can be expanded by changing the direction of the sensor, and the sensor can be reliably directed toward the occupant.
[0012]
In addition, an entire region swing that swings the swing louver in the entire swingable range according to a predetermined condition, and a local swing that swings the swing louver in a part of the swingable range. It is preferable to perform switching.
[0013]
According to this, by switching between the whole area swing and the local swing, for example, when the surface temperature of the occupant is not appropriate, the local swing concentrates on the vicinity of the occupant by the local swing and quickly performs the cooling and heating of the occupant. When the surface temperature is in an appropriate state and the surface temperature of the occupant becomes appropriate, it is possible to perform fine control such as blowing air into the entire vehicle interior by an all-region swing. Further, in the case of a local swing, the swing cycle is shortened, so that a change within a short time can be quickly followed.
[0014]
In addition, it is preferable that the infrared sensor is disposed in each of the swing louver provided in the air outlet on the driver's seat side and the swing louver provided in the air outlet on the passenger seat side.
[0015]
According to this, the air conditioning equivalent to that of the passenger in the driver's seat can be performed on the passenger in the passenger seat.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the front part of the vehicle interior and an enlarged view of the center outlet 4 excluding the infrared sensor 21. A driver's seat 1 and a passenger seat 2 are juxtaposed in the front part of the vehicle interior, and an instrument panel 3 is provided in front of the driver's seat 1 and the passenger seat 2. On the surface of the instrument panel 3 facing the occupants D and P, a center outlet 4 is provided in the center, a driver side side face outlet 5 is provided in the driver side, and an assistant is provided in the passenger side. A seat side side face outlet 6 is provided. In FIG. 1, 7 is a steering wheel.
[0017]
The center outlet 4 is provided with a driver seat side center outlet 11 and a passenger seat side center outlet 12 as outlets for blowing air into the passenger compartment. The driver seat side center outlet 11 is provided with a vertical louver 15 made of a plurality of plate members extending in the vertical direction and a horizontal louver 16 made of a plurality of plate members extending in the horizontal direction. The passenger seat side center outlet 12 is provided with a vertical louver 17 made of a plurality of plate members extending in the vertical direction and a horizontal louver 18 made of a plurality of plate members extending in the horizontal direction.
[0018]
The vertical louver 15 is connected to a motor (not shown) as an actuator and a louver drive circuit 25 (see FIG. 4) via a bar (not shown), and the direction (angle) is changed by the actuator in the left-right direction. This is a so-called swing louver configured to change the wind direction. The horizontal louver 16 is also connected to a motor (not shown) as an actuator and a louver drive circuit 25 (see FIG. 4) via a bar (not shown), and the direction (angle) is changed by the actuator to move up and down. This is a so-called swing louver configured to change the wind direction in the direction. The vertical louver 17 and the horizontal louver 18 are similar swing louvers.
[0019]
Between the driver side center outlet 11 and the passenger side center outlet 12, a louver operation switch 19 which is an operation switch of the vertical louver 15 and the horizontal louver 16, and an operation switch of the vertical louver 17 and the horizontal louver 18 are provided. A certain louver operation switch 20 is provided.
[0020]
An infrared sensor 21 is attached to the vertical louver 15 at the position shown in FIG. The attachment position of the infrared sensor 21 may be the position shown in FIG. 2 (b), and may be attached to an appropriate position. The infrared sensor 21 is installed so as to face the same direction as the vertical louver 15. That is, the direction of the infrared sensor 21 is changed with the swing of the vertical louver 15. The infrared sensor 21 obtains temperature data about the surface temperature of a human body or an object by detecting infrared rays emitted from the human body or the object.
[0021]
Here, the viewing angle of the infrared sensor 21 will be described. Output ratio of the infrared sensor 21 with respect to the incident angle of infrared rays (angle formed with respect to the center line L of the infrared sensor 21 shown in FIG. 3A) (output when the output when the incident angle is 0 ° is 100%) As shown in FIG. 3B, when the absolute value of the incident angle increases, the output ratio decreases, and when the absolute value of the incident angle exceeds 40 °, the output becomes very small. I understand. That is, the viewing angle of the infrared sensor 21 is about ± 40 °, and the infrared sensor 21 has a strong directivity, so that it is understood that the sensor direction needs to be surely aligned with the object.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the vehicle air conditioner of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the infrared sensor 21 is connected to an AD converter 23 provided in the air conditioning control ECU 22. The AD converter 23 is connected to a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 24 in the air conditioning control ECU 22, A / D converts the sensor signal input from the infrared sensor 21, and outputs it to the microcomputer 24. The microcomputer 24 detects the position of the occupant based on the input sensor signal, that is, temperature data. The microcomputer 24 is connected to the louver drive circuit 25 and outputs a control signal to the louver drive circuit 25. The louver driving circuit 25 is connected to each motor for driving each louver, drives each motor based on a control signal input from the microcomputer 24, and drives each louver. A louver direction detecting means 26 is connected to the motor of each louver to detect how many steps each motor has rotated in which direction. The louver direction detection means 26 is connected to the microcomputer 24 and outputs a signal indicating the direction of each louver to the microcomputer 24.
[0023]
On the other hand, a drive circuit 32 is connected to the microcomputer 24. The drive circuit 32 drives a motor 33 for driving an air mix door (A / M door), a motor 34 for driving a mode switching door such as a foot mode and a face mode, and an inside / outside air switching door. A motor 35 and other motors 36 are connected to each other, and the drive circuit 32 opens and closes various doors by driving each motor based on a control signal input from the microcomputer 24.
[0024]
In addition to the various doors described above, the vehicle air conditioner is provided with a blower fan, an evaporator, a heater core, and the like. The temperature of the evaporator and, if necessary, the temperature adjusted via the heater core, is supplied to the driver side center blower. Ducts leading to the respective outlets such as the outlet 11 and the passenger side center outlet 12 are provided. Since these are well known, detailed description is omitted.
[0025]
The vehicle air conditioner includes an inside air sensor 27 that detects the temperature of the passenger compartment air, an outside air sensor 28 that detects the temperature of the passenger compartment outdoor air, a solar radiation sensor 29 that detects the amount of solar radiation in the passenger compartment, and the air behind the evaporator. A post-evaporation sensor 30 for detecting the temperature (temperature of the blown air) and a water temperature sensor 31 for detecting the temperature of the cooling water are provided. These sensors are connected to an A / D converter 23 and output temperature and solar radiation signals to the A / D converter 23. The A / D converter 23 A / D-converts the input signal and inputs it to the microcomputer 24. The microcomputer 24 calculates the optimal air conditioning conditions based on the input signal, and outputs a control signal to the drive circuit 32 to open and close various doors, thereby adjusting the air blowing temperature and the air volume.
[0026]
Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle air conditioner will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. When the power of the vehicle air conditioner is turned on and the louver operation switch 19 is turned on, the vehicle air conditioner resets the CPU of the microcomputer 24 and performs the initial setting of the direction of the vertical louver 15. That is, the vertical louver 15 is moved so as to face the direction of (1) in FIG. 6 (step S100 in FIG. 5). The infrared sensor 21 along with the vertical louver 15 also faces in the direction of (1).
[0027]
Next, the vehicle air conditioner changes the direction of the vertical louver 15 at a constant speed in the direction of (6) in FIG. That is, the infrared sensor 21 first samples the temperature data T1 in a predetermined range centered on the direction (1), and then changes the direction according to the change in the direction of the vertical louver 15, and (2), (3) A predetermined range of temperature data T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 centered in the directions of ▼, (4), (5), and (6) is sequentially sampled (step S101 in FIG. 5). A range from (1) to (6) is a swingable range of the vertical louver 15, and a predetermined region including this range is a detectable region of the infrared sensor 21. In FIG. 6, sampling is performed at six locations (1) to (6), but this is for the sake of simplification, and in practice it is possible to set sampling locations as finely as possible. is there.
[0028]
When the infrared sensor 21 scans the entire detectable region, the vehicle air conditioner calculates the approximate position of the occupant D based on the temperature data T1 to T6 (step S102 in FIG. 5). Since it is assumed that the occupant D is in the vehicle, the vehicle air conditioner does not determine the presence or absence of the occupant D on the driver's seat side.
[0029]
Next, the vehicle air conditioner returns the vertical louver 15 to face the approximate position of the occupant D calculated in step S102, and locally swings the vertical louver 15 so that air is blown out only in the vicinity of the occupant D. Here, the local swing means swinging the louver within a part of the swingable range. Here, the vehicle air conditioner has a range (for example, a range from (2) to (5) in FIG. 6) toward the vicinity of the occupant D in a swingable range (a range from (1) to (6) in FIG. 6). ) To swing the vertical louver 15. The infrared sensor 21 performs sampling at the positions {circle around (2)} to {circle around (5)} with the local swing of the vertical louver 15 to obtain temperature data T2 to T5. The vehicle air conditioner calculates the surface temperature Tdr of the occupant D based on the temperature data T2 to T5 (step S103 in FIG. 5).
[0030]
The vehicle air conditioner calculates the optimum control temperature Topt, the cooling determination threshold Tcool, and the heating determination threshold Twarm based on data such as the temperature and the amount of solar radiation input from the inside air sensor 27, the outside air sensor 28, the solar radiation sensor 29, and the like. (Step S104 in FIG. 5). The cooling determination threshold is a threshold for performing central cooling when the temperature is higher than the temperature, and the heating determination threshold is a threshold for performing central heating when the temperature is lower than the temperature.
[0031]
The vehicle air conditioner compares Tdr with Tcool, Twarm, and branches control depending on what conditions Tdr satisfies (step S105 in FIG. 5). That is, when Tdr> Tcool is satisfied, the vehicle air conditioner performs concentrated cooling with the vertical louver 15 and the horizontal louver 16 directed toward the occupant D (step S106 in FIG. 5). During this central cooling, the vehicle air conditioner locally swings the vertical louver 15 and the horizontal louver 16 in the range toward the occupant D (step S107 in FIG. 5), samples the temperature data by the infrared sensor 21, and performs Tdr. Is calculated (step S108 in FIG. 5). Then, control is returned to step S104, and Topt, Tcool, and Twarm are recalculated, and compared with Tdr, if there is a change in the condition, the branch destination is changed.
[0032]
In addition, if the shift | offset | difference of the approximate position of the passenger | crew D is detected during concentration cooling, the vehicle air conditioner will adjust the direction of the vertical louver 15 and the horizontal louver 16. Further, when a local temperature rise of the occupant D is detected by local solar radiation or the like, a local swing (for example, in FIG. 6) is further limited so that the wind is directed to a portion where such a temperature rise is detected. The local heat of the occupant D is removed by performing a local swing (limited to the range of (2) to (3)).
[0033]
When Tdr <Twarm is satisfied, the vehicle air conditioner performs centralized heating with the vertical louvers 15 and the horizontal louvers 16 directed toward the occupant D (step S109 in FIG. 5). During this central heating, the vehicle air conditioner causes the vertical louver 15 and the horizontal louver 16 to swing locally within the range toward the vicinity of the occupant D (step S110 in FIG. 5), performs temperature data sampling by the infrared sensor 21, and Tdr Is calculated (step S111 in FIG. 5). Then, control is returned to step S104, and Topt, Tcool, and Twarm are recalculated, and compared with Tdr, if there is a change in the condition, the branch destination is changed.
[0034]
In addition, if a shift in the approximate position of the occupant D or a local temperature rise of the occupant D due to local solar radiation or the like is detected during the central heating, the vehicle air conditioner detects the vertical louvers 15 and the horizontal louvers 16. Control according to changes in the situation is performed, such as adjusting the direction and performing a local swing that further restricts the swing range so as to avoid a temperature rise portion.
[0035]
Further, when Twarm ≦ Tdr ≦ Tcool is satisfied, the vehicle air conditioner does not perform centralized control. For example, the vertical louver 15 and the horizontal louver 16 can be swung within the entire swingable range (that is, (1) to (6) in FIG. Optimal control according to the situation at that time, such as performing an all-region swing that is swung in the range of ▼, is performed (step S112 in FIG. 5). Even during this optimal control, the vehicle air conditioner samples temperature data by the infrared sensor 21 and calculates Tdr (step S113 in FIG. 5). Then, control is returned to step S104, and Topt, Tcool, and Twarm are recalculated, and compared with Tdr, if there is a change in the condition, the branch destination is changed.
[0036]
According to the vehicle air conditioner of this embodiment, even if the infrared sensor 21 having a relatively narrow detection range is used, the direction of the infrared sensor 21 changes with the swing of the vertical louver 15, so The surface temperature of the occupant can be detected. And since the position of the passenger | crew D can be detected from several angles, the position of the passenger | crew D can be pinpointed correctly. Further, since the detection range is expanded, the range occupied by the occupant D can be grasped even if there are variations in physical characteristics such as the size of the physique. Therefore, it is possible to perform control as intended, such as blowing out air whose temperature has been adjusted according to the surface temperature of the occupant D toward the range occupied by the occupant D.
[0037]
Further, the vehicle air conditioner according to the present embodiment performs switching between the entire region swing and the local swing, and performs concentrated cooling / heating by the local swing when the surface temperature of the occupant D is not appropriate. Therefore, the surface temperature of the occupant D can be quickly brought into an appropriate state.
[0038]
Further, when the skin temperature of a specific part of the occupant D is rising due to local solar radiation (for example, when the temperature of only the right half of the face is rising), the air is concentrated toward the specific part. Fine control can be performed, for example, the swing range is further limited so as to blow out and the local swing is performed, so that the comfort of the occupant D can be improved.
[0039]
In the case of a local swing, the swing cycle is shortened, so that a change in a short time such as a sudden temperature rise due to local solar radiation can be detected quickly. Therefore, if a local swing is performed, it is possible to quickly follow changes within a short time.
[0040]
Furthermore, since the vehicle air conditioner of the present embodiment is configured so that the infrared sensor 21 is attached to the vertical louver 15 and the direction of the infrared sensor 21 is changed as the vertical louver 15 swings. A dedicated attitude control unit is not required and can be manufactured at low cost.
[0041]
In this embodiment, the infrared sensor 21 is attached to the vertical louver 15 to perform horizontal scanning. However, the infrared sensor 21 may be attached to the horizontal louver 16 to perform vertical scanning. The detection accuracy can be improved by attaching the infrared sensor 21 to each of the vertical louver 15 and the horizontal louver 16 and performing scanning in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
[0042]
Further, if a mechanism similar to that on the driver's seat side is provided on the passenger seat side, comfortable air conditioning equivalent to that of the passenger D on the driver seat side can be realized for the passenger P on the passenger seat side. That is, the infrared sensor 21 is attached to the vertical louver 17 and the horizontal louver 18 of the passenger seat side center outlet 12, the vicinity of the passenger seat is scanned, and the position and surface temperature of the passenger P on the passenger seat side are detected. If the temperature-adjusted air is blown toward the passenger P, comfortable air conditioning equivalent to that of the passenger D on the driver seat side can be realized on the passenger P passenger side. On the passenger seat side, the vehicle air conditioner determines the presence or absence of the occupant P before calculating the approximate position of the occupant P (see step S102 in FIG. 5).
[0043]
Further, the infrared sensor 21 is disposed in a swing louver provided in the driver's seat side side face blowing part 5 or a swing louver provided in the passenger's seat side side face blowing part 6 so that the vicinity of the driver's seat or the passenger's seat is provided. May be scanned.
That is, the present invention can adopt various configurations without departing from the scope of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a front part of a vehicle cabin according to a vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an enlarged view of a center outlet part excluding an infrared sensor. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a center outlet part. 3A is a diagram showing the viewing angle of the infrared sensor, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the output ratio of the infrared sensor with respect to the incident angle of infrared rays. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the vehicle air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing sampling points of the infrared sensor.
4 Center outlet 11 Driver's seat side center outlet 12 Passenger side center outlet 15 Vertical louver 16 Horizontal louver 17 Vertical louver 18 Horizontal louver 21 Infrared sensor

Claims (3)

An infrared sensor is disposed on a swing louver provided at an outlet for blowing air into the passenger compartment, and the direction of the infrared sensor is changed with the swing of the swing louver.
Calculate the approximate position of the occupant based on the temperature data detected by the infrared sensor ,
Based on the approximate position of the occupant, the swing louver is locally swung in a range toward the occupant, and the surface temperature of the occupant is calculated from the temperature data acquired by the infrared sensor along with the local swing.
When a local temperature rise of the occupant is detected while the swing louver is locally swung in the range toward the occupant and is subjected to concentrated cooling, the wind is directed to the portion where the temperature rise is detected. Further limiting the swing range of the swing louver,
When a local temperature rise of the occupant is detected during the central heating by locally swinging the swing louver in the vicinity of the occupant, the swing louver is avoided so as to avoid a portion where the temperature rise is detected. A vehicular air conditioner characterized by further limiting the swing range of the louver . Switching between an all-region swing that swings the swing louver in the entire swingable range and a local swing that swings the swing louver in a part of the swingable range according to a predetermined condition. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle air conditioner is performed. And the swing louver provided in the air outlet of the driver's seat, the said swing louver provided in the air outlet of the passenger side, according to claim 1 or, characterized in that respectively disposing the infrared sensor The vehicle air conditioner according to 2 .

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