JP4123687B2 - 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 a temperature in a passenger compartment detected by a non-contact temperature sensor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the conventional apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-197348, an infrared sensor (non-contact temperature sensor) in which a large number of temperature detection elements are arranged in a matrix form detects the surface temperature of an occupant and its background, and the temperature signal The ambient temperature and the amount of solar radiation in the vicinity of the occupant are estimated based on the air conditioning, and the air conditioning control is performed based on the estimated values.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if a disturbance object (a high temperature object such as cigarette or a cold object such as can juice) that deviates from the temperature range of the occupant or the background enters the temperature detection area, the temperature detection error occurs due to the influence of the disturbance object. As a result, there is a problem that the air conditioning control becomes unstable.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points. In a vehicle air conditioner that performs air conditioning control based on a temperature signal of a non-contact temperature sensor, the influence of a disturbance object is eliminated, and the air conditioning control is unstable due to the disturbance. It aims at preventing becoming.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a non-contact temperature sensor (70) for individually detecting the temperatures of a large number of detection regions (160) in the passenger compartment (10a) in a non-contact manner. In the vehicle air conditioner that performs air-conditioning control based on the temperature signal of the non-contact temperature sensor (70), the specific area detecting means for detecting the specific area where the temperature is outside the predetermined temperature range among the many detection areas (160) (S132) and disturbance determination means (S133, S134) that determine that there is a disturbance when the specific area moves within a large number of detection areas (160) as time elapses.
[0006]
According to this, it is possible to determine whether the specific area is caused by, for example, solar radiation or a disturbance object such as a cigarette depending on whether or not the specific area has moved within the detection area as time passes.
[0007]
The invention according to claim 2 includes a non-contact temperature sensor (70) that individually detects the temperature of a large number of detection regions (160) in the passenger compartment (10a) in a non-contact manner, and the non-contact temperature sensor (70). In the vehicle air conditioner that performs air-conditioning control based on the temperature signal of), the specific area detecting means (S132) for detecting a specific area where the temperature is outside the predetermined temperature range among the many detection areas (160), and the specific area Disturbance determining means (S133a, S134) for determining that there is a disturbance when the number is less than or equal to a predetermined number.
[0008]
According to this, when the number of specific areas is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (that is, when the wide range is hot or cold), it is estimated as normal due to the influence of outside air or solar radiation, while the number of specific areas Is less than a predetermined number (ie, when the narrow area is hot or cold), it is estimated that the object is a disturbance object such as cigarettes or juice. can do.
[0009]
In claim 1 or 2, when it is determined that there is a disturbance, the air conditioning control is performed based on the temperature signal before the determination that there is a disturbance as in the invention described in claim 3, or the claim 4 The air conditioning control is performed based on the target temperature of the blown air before it is determined that there is a disturbance as in the invention of the above, thereby eliminating the influence of the disturbance object and preventing the air conditioning control from becoming unstable due to the disturbance. Can do.
[0010]
As in the fifth aspect of the invention, a range from a temperature that is higher than the average temperature by a predetermined value to a temperature that is lower than the average temperature by using the average temperature of a large number of detection regions (160) as a reference. It is good also as a range.
[0011]
Further, as in the sixth aspect of the present invention, a range of two set temperatures set to a constant value may be set as the predetermined temperature range.
[0012]
In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention, and this air conditioner is provided with an air duct 10 that forms an air passage. The air duct 10 has a passenger compartment at a face outlet 11 and a foot outlet 12. 10a is opened. Then, cool air is mainly blown out from the face air outlet 11 toward the upper body of the occupant, and hot air is mainly blown out from the foot air outlet 12 toward the feet of the occupant. Inside the air duct 10, the inside / outside air switching door 80, blower 20, evaporator (cooling heat exchanger) 30, air mix damper 40, heater core (heating heat exchange) from the air inlet side to the outlets 11 and 12. ) 50 and the outlet switching damper 60 are arranged in order.
[0014]
The inside / outside air switching door 80 determines whether to introduce outside air or inside air into the air duct 10. The blower 20 introduces an air flow from the inlet into the air duct 10 in accordance with the drive of the blower motor 20a, and the face outlet 11 or the foot via the evaporator 30, the air mix damper 40, the heater core 50, and the outlet switching damper 60. Air is blown out from the air outlet 12 into the passenger compartment 10a. The evaporator 30 receives the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle under the operation of the compressor 30a and cools the air flow from the blower 20. The compressor 30a is driven by the engine of the vehicle under selective engagement of an electromagnetic clutch 30b attached thereto.
[0015]
The air mix damper 40 constitutes temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the air, and the amount of cooling air flow that should flow from the evaporator 30 to the heater 50 according to the actual opening θ (see FIG. 1), And the amount of the cooling air flow that should bypass the heater 50 from the evaporator 30 and flow into the subsequent flow is adjusted. In such a case, when the air mix damper 40 is at the position of the broken line (or solid line) shown in FIG. 1, the actual opening θ is the minimum opening θmin (or the maximum opening θmax). The heater core 50 receives engine cooling water and reheats the incoming cooling air flow.
[0016]
The blower outlet switching damper 60 has a mixed air flow of a heating air flow from the heater core 50 and a cooling air flow bypassing the heater core 50 at a switching position (hereinafter referred to as a first switching position) indicated by a solid line in FIG. It blows out from the blower outlet 12. Further, the air outlet switching damper 60 is switched to a position (hereinafter referred to as a second switching position) where the foot air outlet 12 is closed, and the mixed air flow is blown out from the face air outlet 11. Further, the outlet switching damper 60 is switched to a position where both the outlets 11 and 12 are opened (hereinafter referred to as a third switching position), and the mixed air flow is blown out from both the outlets 11 and 12.
[0017]
The air conditioner includes a non-contact temperature sensor 70, an inside air temperature sensor 71, opening degree sensors 72 to 74, and various sensors (not shown). The non-contact temperature sensor 70 does not contact the surface temperature of a predetermined region in the passenger compartment 10a. Is detected to generate a surface temperature signal, the internal air temperature sensor 71 detects the air temperature in the passenger compartment 10a and generates an internal air temperature signal, and the opening sensors 72 to 74 are the air mix damper 40, the air outlet. The actual opening of the switching damper 60 and the inside / outside air switching door 80 is detected to generate an opening signal.
[0018]
The operation panel 150 generates various setting signals (setting temperature signal, mode selection signal, auto / manual selection signal, etc.) that are inputs from the passengers to the air conditioner. Here, the operation panel 150 includes temperature setting means for setting the room temperature desired by the passenger.
[0019]
The ECU 90 executes the program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and during this execution, the drive circuits 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 connected to the blower motor 20a, the electromagnetic clutch 30b, and the three motors 120a, 130a, 140a, respectively. Performs the necessary arithmetic processing for control. In such a case, the ECU 90 is powered by the battery B by the ignition switch IG of the vehicle and enters an operating state, and starts executing the program. The above-mentioned program is stored in advance in the ROM of the ECU 90.
[0020]
The drive circuit 100 is controlled by the ECU 90 to control the rotational speed of the blower motor 20a. The drive circuit 110 is controlled by the ECU 90 to selectively engage the electromagnetic clutch 30b. The motor 120a is driven to rotate by the drive circuit 120 under the control of the ECU 90. This means that the motor 120a adjusts the actual opening of the air mix damper 40 via a speed reduction mechanism (not shown).
[0021]
The motor 130a is driven to rotate by the drive circuit 130 under the control of the ECU 90. This means that the motor 130a selectively switches the outlet switching damper 60 to the first to third switching positions via a speed reduction mechanism (not shown). The motor 140a is driven to rotate by the drive circuit 140 in accordance with the ECU 90. This means that the motor 140a adjusts the actual opening of the inside / outside air switching door 80 via a speed reduction mechanism (not shown).
[0022]
Further, the electromagnetic clutch 30b is driven and engaged by the drive circuit 110 in response to the output signal from the ECU 90, and the compressor 30a is driven by the engine along with this to supply the compressed refrigerant to the evaporator 30. Thus, the air flow introduced by the blower 20 is cooled by the evaporator 30 and flows into the heater core 50 by an amount corresponding to the actual opening θ of the air mix damper 40 and heated, and the remaining air flow is It flows directly behind the heater core 50 and is mixed with the heated air flow.
[0023]
Next, the non-contact temperature sensor 70 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the non-contact temperature sensor 70 is installed in front of the driver (occupant) M on the ceiling near the rear-view mirror, and detects the surface temperature of the driver M's body and the surrounding rear.
[0024]
FIG. 3 shows a surface temperature detection area 160 by the non-contact temperature sensor 70. The detection area 160 includes an upper body (clothing part) M1, a head M2, a face M3, an arm M4, The lower body M5, a part of the inner wall surface of the ceiling 170, a part of the inner wall surface of the side glass 171a of the front seat door 171, and a part of the inner wall surface of the rear glass 172 are included. Note that the surface temperature detection target by the non-contact temperature sensor 70 may include a front seat 173, a rear seat 174, a console 175, a floor 176, and a side wall 171b.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4, the non-contact temperature sensor 70 includes a large number (16 in this example) of temperature detection elements A to P arranged in a matrix of 4 rows and 4 columns on one base. Yes. Then, the 16 temperature detecting elements A to P independently detect the surface temperature for each of the 16 divided regions (pixels) of the temperature detecting region 160 shown in FIG. The non-contact temperature sensor 70 is an infrared sensor that generates an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of infrared radiation emitted from the test temperature body. More specifically, the non-contact temperature sensor 70 is proportional to the amount of infrared radiation emitted from the test temperature body. It is an infrared sensor using a thermopile detection element that generates an electromotive force.
[0026]
In the above configuration, the engine of the vehicle is started by closing the ignition switch IG and the ECU 90 is put into an operating state.
[0027]
Next, when an operation signal is generated from the operation panel 150, the ECU 90 starts execution of the program in the ECU 90 according to the flowchart of FIG. 2, and first, in step S100, counters and flags used for execution of the subsequent processes. After executing the initialization process for initializing the process, the process proceeds to step S110. In steps S110 and S120, the switch signal and various sensor signals including the non-contact temperature sensor 70 (inner air temperature, engine cooling water temperature, evaporator outlet temperature, vehicle speed, humidity, etc.) are read.
[0028]
Of these sensor signals, the signal of the non-contact temperature sensor 70 is input to step S130. As for the signal of the non-contact temperature sensor 70, data for several cycles is stored in a RAM (not shown) in the ECU 90.
[0029]
In step S130, it is determined whether or not a disturbance object (a high temperature object such as cigarette or a cold object such as ice or can juice) having a temperature greatly deviating from the occupant M or the background temperature range has entered the temperature detection region 160. To do.
[0030]
Next, in step S140, based on the surface temperature, the set temperature, and the internal air temperature read in step S120, the control target temperature of the air blown into the vehicle interior, that is, the target blown air temperature TAO is calculated.
[0031]
Next, in step S150, an applied voltage (blower voltage) to the blower motor 20a corresponding to the target air volume is calculated based on the target blown air temperature TAO.
[0032]
Next, in step S160, based on the target blown air temperature TAO, the engine coolant temperature TW, and the evaporator outlet temperature TE, the target opening degree SW of the air mix damper 40 is set to SW = {(TAO-TE) / (TW-TE )} × 100%.
[0033]
Next, in step S170, based on the target blown air temperature TAO, it is determined whether to introduce internal air or external air. Next, in step S180, based on the target blown air temperature TAO, it is determined whether the blowout port mode is set to the face mode, the bi-level mode, or the foot mode.
[0034]
In step S190, the blower voltage control signal, the air mix damper opening control signal, the inside / outside air introduction mode control signal, and the drive circuits 100, 120, 130, 140 are sent to the drive circuits 100, 120, 130, 140 according to the calculation results in steps S150 to S180. Each outlet mode control signal is output. And it progresses to step S200, it is determined whether cycle time t second (for example, 0.5-1 second) passed, when it is NO, it waits at step S200, and when YES, it returns to step S110.
[0035]
Next, the disturbance determination in step S130 will be described based on FIG. 5 showing details of step S130.
[0036]
First, in step S131, based on the surface temperature data of the detection area 160 detected by the non-contact temperature sensor 70, the position of the face M3 in the detection area 160 is determined. That is, since the approximate position of the face portion M3 is known, a region (pixel) having a temperature (for example, 32 to 38 ° C.) close to the face temperature in the vicinity of the position is determined as the position of the face portion M3.
[0037]
Next, in step S132 (specific area detecting means), based on the temperature data of the detection area 160 detected by the non-contact temperature sensor 70, the specific area where the temperature is outside the predetermined temperature range in the area other than the face M3, that is, The presence / absence of a specific region having an extremely high temperature or a specific region having an extremely low temperature is determined.
[0038]
Specifically, with reference to the average temperature Ta of the detection area 160 other than the face M3 (at around 25 ° C. when the air conditioning is stable), the first predetermined value α1 (for example, 15 ° C.) than the average temperature Ta. The higher region is determined as the high temperature side specific region, and the lower region than the average temperature Ta by the second predetermined value α2 (for example, 10 ° C.) is determined as the low temperature side specific region. If there is no specific area, it is determined in step S135 that there is no disturbance object, and the process proceeds to step S140. If there is a specific area, the process proceeds to step S133.
[0039]
Next, in step S133, it is determined whether or not the specific area has moved to another area over time.
[0040]
The determination in step S133 will be described with reference to an example in which the cigarette moves in the order of points a, b, and c in FIG. Here, the temperature of the region of the point a is detected by the temperature detection element P of the 16 temperature detection elements A to P (see FIG. 4), and the temperature of the region of the point b is the temperature detection of the symbol K. The temperature of the region at the point c is detected by the temperature detection element indicated by symbol G.
[0041]
FIG. 6 shows changes in the temperature at the respective points a, b, and c detected by these temperature detection elements P, K, and G. At time t1, the temperature at the point a where the cigarette is located is A high-temperature side specific region of Ta + α1 or higher is obtained. At time t2, a point b region becomes a high-temperature side specific region, and at time t3, a point c region becomes a high-temperature side specific region. As described above, when the high temperature side specific area sequentially moves in the detection area 160 with the passage of time, step S133 is YES and the process proceeds to step S134. to decide.
[0042]
When a cold / warm object (for example, ice or can juice) moves in the detection area 160, the area where the cold / warm object is located is a low temperature side specific area of Ta-α2 or less, and step S133 is YES.
[0043]
On the other hand, if the specific area does not move within the detection area 160, the specific area is considered to be an influence of outside air or solar radiation, and step S133 is NO, and it is determined in step S135 that there is no disturbance object, and the process proceeds to step S140.
[0044]
Note that step S133 and step S134 constitute a disturbance determination unit that determines the presence or absence of a disturbance based on whether or not the specific area has moved.
[0045]
Here, since the average temperature Ta of the region excluding the face M3 that is the exposed skin portion is substantially equal to the room temperature in the room temperature stable state, the predetermined temperature range generally changes according to the room temperature. Therefore, for example, a moving object at 50 ° C. is determined as a disturbing object when the room temperature is around 25 ° C., for example, and is not determined as a disturbing object when the room temperature is high, such as during cool-down. That is, even a moving object having the same temperature is determined as a disturbance object only when the temperature difference from room temperature is large and the influence on the air conditioning control is large.
[0046]
Next, a calculation method of the target blown air temperature TAO in step S140 based on the disturbance determination result in step S130 described above will be described.
[0047]
As described above, in step S140, the target blown air temperature TAO is calculated based on the surface temperature, the set temperature, and the internal air temperature read in step S120.
[0048]
If it is determined in step S135 that there is no disturbance object, the target blown air temperature TAO is calculated using the latest surface temperature data read in step S120.
[0049]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S134 that there is a disturbing object that adversely affects the air conditioning control, the old surface temperature data before the disturbing object enters the temperature detection area 160 is read from the RAM in the ECU 90, and the old surface temperature data is read. Is used to calculate the target blown air temperature TAO. In this way, when a disturbance object enters the temperature detection region 160, the target blown air temperature TAO is calculated using the old surface temperature data to eliminate the influence of the disturbance object, and the air conditioning control is disabled due to the disturbance. It can prevent becoming stable.
[0050]
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 will be described. In this embodiment, the disturbance determination method in step S130 (see FIG. 2) is different from that in the first embodiment. More specifically, step S133 (FIG. 5) in the first embodiment is changed to step S133a in this embodiment. The other points are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0051]
Hereinafter, the disturbance determination method of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S131, the position of the face M3 in the detection area 160 is determined. Next, in step S132, it is determined whether or not there is a specific region where the temperature is outside the predetermined temperature range in a region other than the face M3. If there is no specific area, it is determined in step S135 that there is no disturbance object, and the process proceeds to step S140. If there is a specific area, the process proceeds to step S133a.
[0052]
Next, in step S133a, the number of areas (pixels) determined to be the specific area is counted. If the number exceeds a predetermined number (three or more in this example), step S133a is NO and step S135 is performed. It is determined that there is no disturbing object, and the process proceeds to step S140. Here, when the number of specific regions is 3 or more, that is, when the wide range is at a high temperature or a low temperature, it is estimated that the normal state is due to the influence of outside air or solar radiation, and therefore it is determined that there is no disturbance object.
[0053]
On the other hand, if the number of areas (pixels) determined to be a specific area is equal to or less than a predetermined number (2 or less in this example), step S133a is YES and the process proceeds to step S134. In step S134, the air conditioning control is adversely affected. Judge that there is a disturbance object. Here, when the number of specific areas is 1 or 2, that is, when the narrow area is hot or cold, it is estimated that it is not the normal state due to outside air or solar radiation but the influence of disturbance objects such as tobacco and juice. Therefore, it is determined that there is a disturbance object.
[0054]
Step S133a and step S134 constitute a disturbance determination unit that determines the presence or absence of a disturbance based on the number of specific areas.
[0055]
Hereinafter, based on the disturbance determination result of step S130 described above, the processing after step S140 (see FIG. 2) is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the influence of the disturbance object is eliminated, and the air conditioning is performed by the disturbance. It is possible to prevent the control from becoming unstable.
[0056]
(Other embodiments)
In each of the above embodiments, when it is determined that there is a disturbance, the target blown air temperature TAO is calculated using the old surface temperature data before the disturbance object enters the temperature detection area 160. However, the disturbance object is in the temperature detection area 160. You may make it perform the calculation after step S150 using the old target blowing air temperature before entering.
[0057]
In each of the above embodiments, the predetermined temperature range is set based on the average temperature Ta of the region other than the face M3. However, the predetermined temperature range is set based on the average temperature of the entire detection region 160 including the face M3. May be. Further, a predetermined temperature range may be set between a constant high temperature side set temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) and a constant low temperature side set temperature (for example, 15 ° C.).
[0058]
In the second embodiment, it is determined that there is a disturbance object when the number of specific areas is equal to or less than a predetermined number. However, the predetermined number may be changed according to the number of divided areas (pixels) of the temperature detection area 160.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an air conditioning control process executed by the ECU of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view in the passenger compartment showing a temperature detection range of the non-contact temperature sensor of FIG. 1;
4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the non-contact temperature sensor of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process in step 130 of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control process of main parts in the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10a ... Vehicle compartment, 70 ... Non-contact temperature sensor, 160 ... Temperature detection region,
S132: Specific area detecting means, S133, S134: Disturbance determining means.

Claims (6)

A non-contact temperature sensor (70) for individually detecting the temperature of a large number of detection regions (160) in the passenger compartment (10a) in a non-contact manner is provided, and air conditioning is performed based on the temperature signal of the non-contact temperature sensor (70). In a vehicle air conditioner that performs control,
A specific area detecting means (S132) for detecting a specific area in which the temperature is outside the predetermined temperature range among the multiple detection areas (160);
A vehicle air conditioner comprising disturbance determination means (S133, S134) for determining that there is a disturbance when the specific area moves within the large number of detection areas (160) over time. A non-contact temperature sensor (70) for individually detecting the temperature of a large number of detection regions (160) in the passenger compartment (10a) in a non-contact manner is provided, and air conditioning is performed based on the temperature signal of the non-contact temperature sensor (70). In a vehicle air conditioner that performs control,
A specific area detecting means (S132) for detecting a specific area in which the temperature is outside the predetermined temperature range among the multiple detection areas (160);
A vehicle air conditioner comprising disturbance determination means (S133a, S134) for determining that there is a disturbance when the number of the specific areas is equal to or less than a predetermined number. 3. The air conditioning control according to claim 1, wherein when the disturbance determination unit (S133, S133a, S134) determines that there is a disturbance, air conditioning control is performed based on the temperature signal before determining that there is a disturbance. Vehicle air conditioner. A vehicle air conditioner that performs air conditioning control by calculating a target temperature (TAO) of air blown into the passenger compartment (10a) based on the temperature signal,
The air conditioning control is performed based on the target temperature (TAO) before determining that there is a disturbance when the disturbance determining means (S133, S133a, S134) determines that there is a disturbance. The vehicle air conditioner described in 1. The predetermined temperature range is a range from a temperature higher by a predetermined value than the average temperature to a temperature lower by a predetermined value than the average temperature, based on an average temperature of the multiple detection regions (160). The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined temperature range is a range of two set temperatures determined to be a constant value.

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