JP4501643B2 - Vehicle air conditioner and vehicle air conditioning control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning technology for a vehicle that can blow air so that a passenger feels comfortable.

  2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle air conditioner that blows conditioned air toward an occupant is known in order to reduce the warmth immediately after boarding. In this vehicle air conditioner, the air conditioning that blows air toward the driver's seat and passenger's seat until a predetermined time elapses after the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on or until the vehicle interior temperature is lowered by a predetermined temperature. Air is blown out toward the passengers on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-44646 A

  However, in this vehicle air conditioner, when an occupant gets into a vehicle on which the engine is already running, it is not controlled to blow conditioned air toward the occupant who has boarded the vehicle. It is not possible to reduce the warmth of the occupant.

(1) A vehicle air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present invention detects an occupant in a vehicle interior in the vehicle air conditioner that cools and / or heats air inside or outside the vehicle interior and blows it as conditioned air into the vehicle interior. When the occupant detection means and the occupant detection means detect that the occupant has boarded, select the air volume priority mode with increased air flow, select the air volume priority mode, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the temperature of the conditioned air A control means for selecting an air temperature priority mode that preferentially controls the air volume, and controlling at least one of the air volume, the wind direction, and the temperature of the conditioned air blown into the vehicle interior ;
The occupant surface temperature measuring means for measuring the surface temperature of the occupant, the temperature setting means for setting the target interior temperature, the set temperature in the passenger compartment set by the temperature setting means, and the occupant surface temperature measuring means A target temperature calculation means for calculating a target value of the occupant surface temperature based on the surface temperature of the occupant, a target value of the occupant surface temperature calculated by the target temperature calculation means, and an occupant surface temperature measurement means Occupant state determination means for determining whether or not the occupant feels thermally comfortable based on the measured surface temperature of the occupant, and the control means measures the occupant surface temperature. At least one of the amount, direction and temperature of the conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment so that the surface temperature of the occupant measured by the means coincides with the target value of the occupant surface temperature calculated by the target temperature calculation means Control and be If the occupant state determining means determines that the occupant is in a thermal steady state, the air temperature priority mode is selected even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the air volume priority mode is selected. It controls at least one of the air volume, the air direction, and the temperature of the conditioned air blown to the air .
(2) When the air conditioning control method for a vehicle according to the invention of claim 6 detects that an occupant has boarded when cooling and / or heating air inside the vehicle interior or outside the vehicle interior and blowing it as conditioned air into the vehicle interior. Select the air volume priority mode with increased air flow, select the air volume priority mode, select the air temperature priority mode that gives priority to control the temperature of the conditioned air after a predetermined time has passed, Control at least one of air volume, wind direction and temperature, measure the occupant's surface temperature, and determine the occupant's surface temperature target based on the set target temperature in the passenger compartment and the measured occupant's surface temperature A value is calculated, and based on the calculated target surface temperature of the occupant and the measured surface temperature of the occupant, it is determined whether the occupant is in a thermal steady state that feels thermally comfortable, Crew is in thermal steady state After the air volume priority mode is selected, the air temperature priority mode is selected even after a predetermined time has elapsed, and at least one of the air volume, wind direction, and temperature of the conditioned air blown into the vehicle interior It is characterized by controlling one of them.

According to the present invention, when air conditioned air is blown into the vehicle interior, if it is detected that the occupant has boarded, the air volume priority mode with increased air flow is selected, and after the air volume priority mode is selected, a predetermined time has elapsed. After that, an air temperature priority mode that preferentially controls the temperature of the conditioned air is selected to control at least one of the air volume, the wind direction, and the temperature of the conditioned air. Further, the surface temperature of the occupant is measured, the target value of the occupant surface temperature is calculated based on the set target temperature in the passenger compartment and the measured surface temperature of the occupant, and the calculated target surface temperature of the occupant Based on the measured surface temperature of the occupant, it is determined whether the occupant is in a thermal steady state that feels thermally comfortable, and if it is determined that the occupant is in a thermal steady state, After the priority mode is selected, the air temperature priority mode is selected even before a predetermined time elapses, and at least one of the air volume, wind direction, and temperature of the conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment is controlled. Configured. Thereby, regardless of the start time of the engine, it is possible to reduce the thermal sensation of the occupant who rides and to give the occupant a comfortable feeling. Further, if the occupant does not feel the thermal sensation, the blowing of the conditioned air toward the occupant can be stopped, so that the occupant is not uncomfortable.

--- First embodiment ---
With reference to FIGS. 1-7, 1st Embodiment of the vehicle air conditioner by this invention is described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a right-hand drive vehicle equipped with the vehicle air conditioner of the present embodiment as viewed obliquely from the rear of the vehicle, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the air conditioning unit 100. The vehicle air conditioner AC includes an air conditioning unit 100 provided inside the instrument panel 200 of the vehicle V. The instrument panel 200 includes an air-conditioning operation unit 1 for an occupant to perform operations such as ON / OFF of the vehicle air conditioner AC and setting of the passenger compartment temperature, an IR camera 31 necessary for air-conditioning control, which will be described later, and solar radiation. A sensor 32 and room temperature sensors 34a and 34b are provided. In the vehicle air conditioner AC, the temperature setting unit 35 of the air conditioning operation unit 1 can set different temperatures for the driver seat and the passenger seat. The room temperature sensor 34a measures the passenger compartment temperature on the driver's seat side, and the room temperature sensor 34b measures the passenger compartment temperature on the passenger seat side.

  The instrument panel 200 includes a driver's seat side side vent port 110 that is a driver port side blowout port that can directly blow air to the front seat occupant, and a driver seat side center vent that is a driver port side center outlet. There are provided a mouth 120, a passenger seat side center vent port 130 which is a blowout port in the center of the passenger seat side, and a passenger seat side side vent port 140 which is a blowout port on the passenger seat window side. A differential opening 20 for blowing air along the windshield is provided on the top surface of the instrument panel 200. At the lower part of the instrument panel 200, a driver seat side foot opening 23a and a passenger seat side foot opening 23b for blowing conditioned air near the passenger's feet are provided. For convenience of explanation, the present embodiment defines the vehicle left-right direction, the vehicle front-rear direction, and the vehicle up-down direction as shown in FIG.

  The air conditioning unit 100 includes a blower motor 12 that drives the fan 11 and an evaporator 13 that dehumidifies and cools the air blown by the fan 11 inside a case 10 that serves as a flow path of conditioned air. The case 10 is divided into a flow path 14a for blowing conditioned air to the driver's seat side and a flow path 14b for blowing conditioned air to the passenger seat side on the downstream side of the evaporator 13 by the partition plate 9. Yes. As will be described later, in order to enable different air conditioning control between the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side, each of the flow paths 14a and 14b has a heater core 15a for reheating the blown air dehumidified and cooled by the evaporator 13, respectively. , 15b and air mix doors 16a, 16b for adjusting the air distribution ratio to the heater cores 15a, 15b.

  The intake portion 5 of the case 10 is provided with an inside / outside air switching door 6. The inside / outside air switching door 6 switches between intake air from the inside air introduction port 7 or intake air from the outside air introduction port 8. The blown air pressurized and blown by the fan 11 driven by the blower motor 12 controlled by the voltage passes through the evaporator 13 and is dehumidified and cooled. The air that has passed through the evaporator 13 is distributed into air that passes through the heater cores 15a and 15b and air that does not pass through the heater cores 15a and 15b at an air distribution ratio determined by the air mix doors 16a and 16b. The air that has been distributed by the air mix doors 16a and 16b and passed through the heater cores 15a and 15b and the air that has not passed through the heater cores 15a and 15b merge again in the downstream of the heater cores 15a and 15b, and are supplied to the vehicle interior. .

  The air conditioning unit 100 includes vent ducts 19a and 19b connected to the vent ports 110 to 140, vent doors 18a and 18b for opening and closing the vent ducts 19a and 19b, and a foot port for distributing the conditioned air into the vehicle interior. Foot ducts 25a and 25b connected to 23a and 23b, and foot doors 24a and 24b for opening and closing the foot ducts 25a and 25b are provided. Each flow path 14a, 14b merges again downstream. In this junction, a differential duct 22 connected to the differential port 20 and a differential door 21 for opening and closing the differential duct 22 are provided.

  Each vent port 110-140 is provided with louvers 111, 121, 131, 141 for adjusting the blowing direction of the conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment. Although not shown, each louver 111, 121, 131, 141 includes a louver mechanism that adjusts the blowing direction in the vertical direction and a louver mechanism that adjusts the blowing direction in the horizontal direction, and the vent ports 110 to 140. The flow of the conditioned air blown out from the head is deflected in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  As shown in FIG. 3, this vehicle air conditioner AC includes an auto air conditioner amplifier 30, and includes a solar radiation sensor 32, an outside air temperature sensor 33, and room temperature sensors 34a and 34b for detecting the heat load of the vehicle air conditioner AC. The detection signal from is input to the auto air conditioner amplifier 30. Further, the auto air conditioner amplifier 30 receives data of a thermal image taken by the IR camera 31, a signal from the temperature setter 35, and detection signals from door switches 36a and 36b that detect opening and closing of the door of the vehicle V. Entered. The room temperature sensor 34a detects the temperature on the driver's seat side in the passenger compartment, and the room temperature sensor 34b detects the temperature on the passenger seat side in the passenger compartment. The door switch 36a detects opening / closing of the right door of the driver's seat, and the door switch 36b detects opening / closing of the left door of the passenger seat. The signal from the temperature setter 35 includes two temperature setting signals on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side. The auto air conditioner amplifier 30 is based on information from the sensors 32 to 33, 34a, and 34b so that the passenger compartment and passenger side passenger compartment temperatures become the set temperatures set by the temperature setter 35 of the air conditioning operation unit 1. The air conditioning operation conditions are calculated. Further, as will be described later, the auto air conditioner amplifier 30 measures the surface temperature of the newly occupant on the basis of the data of the thermal image captured by the IR camera 31 so that the occupant can feel comfortable. The air conditioning operation conditions are calculated.

  Based on the calculated air-conditioning operation conditions, the auto air conditioner amplifier 30 controls the voltage VF of the blower motor 12 so as to obtain a predetermined air volume, and the opening degrees XMa and XMb of the air mix doors 16a and 16b and the doors 18a and 18b. , 21, 24a, 24b and the driving positions of the louvers 111, 121, 131, 141 are separately controlled on the driver seat side and the passenger seat side, respectively. In addition to the control by the calculation of the automatic air conditioner amplifier 30, the doors 18 a, 18 b, 21, 24 a, 24 b are opened and closed, the outlet mode setting, the louvers 111, Drive control of 121, 131, 141 is also possible.

The opening XMa, XMb of the air mix doors 16a, 16b and the voltage VF of the blower motor 12 are expressed by the following equations.
XMa = f1 (Tw, Tam, Tain, Ts, Tapc, Q, αa) (1)
XMb = f1 (Tw, Tam, Tbin, Ts, Tbptc, Q, αb) (2)
VF = f2 (XM, β) (3)
Here, Tw is the engine outlet water temperature, Tam is the outside air temperature, Tain and Tbin are the cabin temperature on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side, Ts is the fan intake air temperature, and Taptc and Tbptc are the driver seat side and the passenger seat side, respectively. The in-vehicle set temperature, Q is the amount of solar radiation, and these are parameters relating to the heat load of the vehicle air conditioner AC. αa, αb, and β are coefficients for calculating the air-conditioning operation conditions so that a newly occupant can feel comfortable, and the values change depending on the conditions described later.

  The vehicle air conditioner AC having the above configuration is configured such that the voltage (rotation speed) of the blower motor 12, the opening degree of the air mix doors 16a and 16b, and the opening degree of each door 18a, 18b, 21, 24a and 24b by the auto air conditioner amplifier 30. And the driving position of each louver 111,121,131,141 is controlled, and the air-conditioning air which adjusted air volume, temperature, and the wind direction so that a vehicle interior may become preset temperature is ventilated into a vehicle interior. In addition, the vehicle air conditioner AC blows conditioned air whose air volume, temperature, and wind direction are adjusted into the vehicle interior so that a newly occupant can feel comfortable. Details will be described below.

--- About air conditioning control ---
The vehicle air conditioner AC detects the presence or absence of a newly occupant on the basis of data of a thermal image captured by the IR camera 31, and measures the surface temperature of the occupant so that the occupant is thermally comfortable. The control content of the air conditioning control is determined by determining whether or not the thermal steady state is felt. The IR camera 31 is a camera that can capture infrared rays from an object to be imaged. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the vehicle V is placed at the upper part of the center of the instrument panel 200 in the left-right direction so as to image the vehicle interior. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is possible to take a thermal image of the interior of the passenger compartment including the driver's side passenger 40 and the passenger's upper passenger's upper body.

  In the auto air conditioner amplifier 30, based on the thermal image data as shown in FIG. 5A taken by the IR camera 31, the driver seat side area and the passenger seat side area as shown in FIG. By performing image processing, the presence or absence of a passenger in each seat is detected. Since the air conditioning control on the passenger seat side is the same as the air conditioning control on the driver seat side, in the following description, the air conditioning control on the driver seat side will be described, and the description on the air conditioning control on the passenger seat side will be omitted. When the ignition switch is turned on and the power supply of the vehicle air conditioner AC is turned on, the auto air conditioner amplifier 30 detects the occupant in the captured thermal image from the installation position of the IR camera 31 and the imaging range of the IR camera 31. And the presence / absence of a driver's seat passenger is detected from the temperature distribution of the seating position.

  When the seating posture of the driver seat or the passenger seat changes, the temperature distribution of the driver seat seating position in the thermal image data changes, so that the presence or absence of the driver seat passenger is detected as being changed. Therefore, by taking into account whether the door opening / closing signal from the door switch 36a has been input and whether the presence / absence of the occupant has been continuously detected for a predetermined time or longer, the change in the detection result of the presence / absence of the occupant can be changed. It is determined whether the passenger is seated in the driver's seat by determining whether it is temporary due to a change in the seating posture or due to the passenger getting on and off.

  That is, if the door opening / closing signal is input from the door switch 36a when the detection result of the presence / absence of the occupant based on the thermal image data is changed, the driver's seat occupant 40 gets on and off, and the presence / absence of the driver's seat occupant 40 exists. Judge that there was a change in Further, when the detection result of the presence or absence of an occupant based on the thermal image data changes, the same detection result is continued for a predetermined time t1 (for example, 10 seconds) even if the door open / close signal is not input from the door switch 36a. If it is detected, it is determined that the presence or absence of a passenger has changed. When the detection result of the presence or absence of an occupant based on the thermal image data is changed, the door open / close signal from the door switch 36a is not input, and the same detection result is obtained before the elapse of the predetermined time t1. If it cannot be detected for a predetermined time t1 or longer, it is determined that there is no change in the presence or absence of the passenger. That is, the predetermined time t1 is a time for holding the determination (hereinafter referred to as a holding time) provided so as not to make a mistake in the determination of the presence or absence of the passenger due to the erroneous detection of the presence or absence of the passenger.

  When the ignition switch is turned on and the vehicle air conditioner AC is turned on, it is assumed that an occupant is already seated in the driver's seat, so the presence or absence of an occupant is detected from the temperature distribution of the thermal image. When the occupant in the driver's seat is detected from the beginning in the image processing to be performed, that is, when the occupant in the driver's seat is detected in the first image processing of the determination process of the presence / absence of the occupant, the passenger is seated in the driver's seat to decide.

  When it is determined that an occupant is seated in the driver's seat, the occupant's face temperature is detected from the thermal image data captured by the IR camera 31. In other words, the auto air conditioner amplifier 30 determines the position of the head 41 of the driver's seat occupant 40 in the captured thermal image as shown in FIG. 5B from the installation position of the IR camera 31 and the imaging range of the IR camera 31. The existence position is specified, and the average temperature or the maximum temperature in the area is detected as the representative temperature (face temperature) TF-msr in the area, for example, from the temperature distribution in the area.

  The detected face temperature TF-msr is compared with the occupant's target surface temperature TF-tgt. The target surface temperature TF-tgt of the occupant is calculated based on the temperature setting value (target room temperature) TR-tgt in the vehicle interior set by the temperature setting unit 35 of the air conditioning operation unit 1. For example, the face temperature when the occupant feels comfortable according to the passenger compartment temperature is stored in advance as a map, and the occupant's target surface temperature TF according to the target room temperature TR-tgt set by the temperature setting unit 35. -Tgt may be determined.

  If the absolute value of the difference (surface temperature difference) ΔTF between the face temperature TF-msr and the occupant's target surface temperature TF-tgt is equal to or less than the predetermined value Th, the driver's seat occupant 40 does not feel a thermal sensation, That is, it is a thermal steady state that does not feel hot and does not feel cold. If the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF exceeds the predetermined value Th, the driver's seat occupant 40 feels hot and cold, that is, feels hot or cold. The predetermined value Th is a predetermined value.

  In the vehicle air conditioner AC of the present embodiment, if the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF exceeds a predetermined value Th for the driver seat occupant 40 who has boarded, the thermal sensation felt by the driver seat occupant 40 is felt. Driving with increased air flow so that the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF becomes small (so that the face temperature TF-msr and the occupant's target surface temperature TF-tgt match) so that they can be resolved quickly. Air is blown toward the seat occupant 40. The control mode of the vehicle air conditioner AC at this time is called an air volume priority mode. In the air volume priority mode, the blowing air volume is increased and the air is blown toward the driver's seat occupant 40. Therefore, if the air volume priority mode continues for a long time, the passenger is uncomfortable. Therefore, in the vehicle air conditioner AC of the present embodiment, after the air is continuously blown for the predetermined time t2 in the air volume priority mode, the blown air volume is lowered and the temperature of the air-conditioned air is accurately controlled to blow. The control mode of the vehicle air conditioner AC at this time is called an air temperature priority mode.

  If the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF is within a predetermined value Th for the driver's seat occupant 40 who has boarded, the air is given from the beginning in the air temperature priority mode. Further, when the air flow is started in the air volume priority mode, if the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF is within the predetermined value Th, the air volume priority mode is switched to the air temperature priority mode even if the predetermined time t2 has not elapsed. . When it is determined that no occupant is seated, conditioned air is blown into the passenger compartment by the well-known air conditioning control for a vehicle that has been conventionally performed. The control mode of the vehicle air conditioner AC at this time is referred to as a normal mode.

  In the air volume priority mode, the coefficients αa and β included in the above-described equations (1) and (3) are changed so that the blown air volume increases, and the louver 111 is blown toward the driver's seat occupant 40. , 121 are driven. In the air temperature priority mode, the above-described coefficients αa and β are changed so that the control of the opening degree XMa of the air mix door 16a is prioritized and the temperature control accuracy of the conditioned air is improved.

--- Flow chart ---
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioning operation program executed by the vehicle air conditioner AC. The program whose operation is shown in FIG. 6 is executed by the auto air conditioner amplifier 30. When the ignition switch is turned on and the air conditioner switch of the air conditioning operation unit 1 is turned on while power is supplied to the auto air conditioner amplifier 30 of the vehicle air conditioner AC, the program of FIG. 6 starts its operation. In step S1, timers, counters, flags, etc. used in the processing after step S2 are initialized. Note that 0 is set to the flag Flg_A indicating whether or not this is the first processing in the program and the flag Flg_B indicating whether or not the above-described holding time has elapsed. In step S2, the thermal image data captured by the IR camera 31 is read, and the process proceeds to step S3. In the subroutine of step S3, the presence / absence of a passenger in the driver's seat is determined and the process proceeds to step S4. The subroutine of step S3 will be described later.

  In step S4, it is determined whether it is determined in the subroutine of step S3 that an occupant is present in the driver's seat. If an affirmative determination is made in step S4, the process proceeds to step S11, the face temperature TF-msr of the driver seat occupant 40 is detected from the thermal image data read in step S2, and the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the occupant's target surface temperature TF-tgt is calculated based on the target room temperature TR-tgt that is the temperature setting value in the passenger compartment set by the temperature setting unit 35 of the air conditioning operation unit 1, and the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, a surface temperature difference ΔTF that is a difference between the face temperature TF-msr detected in step S11 and the occupant target surface temperature TF-tgt calculated in step S13 is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S17, it is determined whether or not the absolute value | ΔTF | of the surface temperature difference ΔTF calculated in step S15 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value Th. If an affirmative determination is made in step S17, the process proceeds to step S21, the coefficients αa and β included in the above-described equations (1) and (3) are changed so as to be controlled in the air temperature priority mode, and the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, the voltage VF of the blower motor 12, the opening XMa of the air mix door 16a, the opening of each door 18a, 21, 24a, and each louver 111, based on the equations (1) and (3) described above. The driving position 121 is calculated, the result is output, and the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, it is determined whether or not the air conditioning switch of the air conditioning operation unit 1 is turned off. If a negative determination is made in step S35, the process returns to step S2. If a positive determination is made in step S35, the program is terminated.

  If a negative determination is made in step S17, the process proceeds to step S19, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time t2 has elapsed since step S23 to be described later is executed and air conditioning control in the air volume priority mode is started. If a positive determination is made in step S19, the process proceeds to step S21. If a negative determination is made in step S19, the process proceeds to step S23, the coefficients αa and β included in the above-described equations (1) and (3) are changed so as to be controlled in the air volume priority mode, and the process proceeds to step S25.

  If a negative determination is made in step S4, the process proceeds to step S27, the coefficients αa and β included in the above-described equations (1) and (3) are changed so as to be controlled in the normal mode, and the process proceeds to step S25.

--- Subroutine of step S3 ---
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the program executed in the subroutine of step S3. In step S301, based on the thermal image data read in step S2, the driver's seating position of the occupant in the captured thermal image is specified, and the presence / absence of the driver's occupant is detected from the temperature distribution of the seating position. Proceed to step S303. In step S303, it is determined from the flag Flg_A whether or not it is the first process after the vehicle air conditioner AC is powered on.

  If it is the first process after the vehicle air conditioner AC is turned on (Flg_A = 0), the process proceeds to step S323, the flag Flg_A is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S325. In step S325, it is determined whether or not the detection result of the presence or absence of an occupant in the driver seat detected in step S301 indicates that there is an occupant. If an affirmative determination is made in step S325, the process proceeds to step S315, and it is determined that an occupant is present in the driver's seat, and the process proceeds to step S4. If a negative determination is made in step S325, the process proceeds to step S317, and it is determined that no occupant is present in the driver's seat, and the process proceeds to step S4.

  If it is not the first process after the vehicle air conditioner AC is turned on (Flg_A ≠ 0), the process proceeds to step S305, and the detection result of the presence or absence of a passenger in the driver's seat detected in step S301 is based on the previous detection result. Determine whether it has changed. If an affirmative determination is made in step S305, the process proceeds to step S307, the timer Tx for measuring the holding time is reset, and then the process proceeds to step S308. In step S308, a flag indicating that the timer Tx started in step S307 is operating, that is, a flag Flg_B indicating whether or not the holding time has elapsed is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S309. In step S309, it is determined whether a door open / close signal is input from the door switch 36a.

  If a negative determination is made in step S309, the process proceeds to step S311 to determine whether or not the measurement time by the timer Tx is equal to or longer than the predetermined time t1. If a negative determination is made in step S311, the process proceeds to step S313, and it is determined whether or not it is determined that the occupant is seated (existing) when the subroutine of step S3 was executed last time. If an affirmative determination is made in step S313, the process proceeds to step S315, where it is determined that an occupant is present in the driver's seat, and the process proceeds to step S4. If a negative determination is made in step S313, the process proceeds to step S317, and it is determined that no occupant is present in the driver's seat, and the process proceeds to step S4.

  If a negative determination is made in step S305, the process proceeds to step S319, in which it is determined whether or not 0 is set in a flag Flg_B indicating whether or not waiting time has elapsed. If a positive determination is made in step S319, the process proceeds to step S325. If a negative determination is made in step S319, the process proceeds to step S309.

  If an affirmative decision is made in step S309 or step S311, the process proceeds to step S321, the timer Tx is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S322. In step S322, 0 is set in a flag Flg_B indicating whether or not waiting time has elapsed, and the process proceeds to step S325.

  The operation of the vehicle air conditioner AC configured as described above is summarized as follows. When the ignition switch is turned on and the air conditioning control is started, the thermal image data captured by the IR camera 31 is read (step S2), and the presence or absence of a driver's seat occupant is determined (step S3). If it is determined that an occupant is seated in the driver's seat (step S4 affirmative determination), the facial temperature TF-msr of the driver occupant 40 is detected from the data of the thermal image captured by the IR camera 31 (step S11). A surface temperature difference ΔTF, which is a difference from the occupant's target surface temperature TF−tgt, is calculated (steps S13 and S15).

  When the absolute value | ΔTF | of the surface temperature difference ΔTF is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value Th (Yes in Step S17), it is determined that the driver's seat passenger 40 does not feel a sense of heat and air conditioning. It sets so that it may control in an air temperature priority mode (step S21), and ventilates conditioned air into a vehicle interior (step S25).

  When the absolute value | ΔTF | of the surface temperature difference ΔTF exceeds a predetermined value Th (determined negative in step S17), it is determined that the driver's seat occupant 40 feels a thermal sensation and air conditioning control is performed. Is controlled to be controlled in the air volume priority mode (step S23), and the conditioned air is blown into the vehicle interior (step S25). However, even if the absolute value | ΔTF | of the surface temperature difference ΔTF exceeds a predetermined value Th (determination determination in step S17), if air is blown toward the face of the driver seat occupant 40 for a long time, Since the driver's seat occupant 40 feels bothersome, after the predetermined time t2 has elapsed (Yes in step S19), the air conditioning control is set to be controlled in the air temperature priority mode (step S21).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that no occupant is seated in the driver's seat (No in step S4), the conditioned air is blown into the vehicle interior by the well-known conventional air conditioning control for vehicles (step S27, S25).

  The presence / absence of a driver's seat occupant is determined as follows. Based on the data of the thermal image captured by the IR camera 31, the driver's seating position of the occupant in the captured thermal image is specified, and the presence / absence of the passenger in the driver's seat is detected from the temperature distribution of the seating position (step S301). . At this time, if it is the first process after the power supply of the vehicle air conditioner AC is turned on (Yes determination in step S303), it is assumed that an occupant is already seated in the driver's seat. When an occupant in the driver's seat is detected by the image processing for detecting the presence / absence of the occupant from the distribution (affirmative determination in step S325), the occupant is seated in the driver's seat, not a temporary false detection due to a change in the occupant's posture. Judgment is made (step S315).

  When the result of the presence / absence of the passenger detected this time has changed from the previous detection result instead of the first processing after the power supply of the vehicle air conditioner AC is turned on (No determination at Step S303) (Yes determination at Step S305) If the door is opened or closed (Yes in step S309), it is considered that the passenger has got on and off instead of a temporary erroneous detection due to a change in the posture of the passenger. Is determined (steps S325, S315, S317).

  When the result of the presence / absence of the passenger detected this time has changed from the previous detection result instead of the first processing after the power supply of the vehicle air conditioner AC is turned on (No determination at Step S303) (Yes determination at Step S305) Even if the door is not opened or closed (No in step S309), there is a possibility of temporary erroneous detection due to a change in the posture of the passenger. Therefore, until the predetermined time t1 elapses after the change in the presence / absence of the occupant is detected (No at step S311), the previous determination result on the presence / absence of the occupant is held as it is (steps S313, S315, S317).

  Even if the predetermined time t1 elapses after detecting a change in the presence or absence of an occupant, the same detection result can be obtained without returning to the original detection result again (No determination in Step S305) (No determination in Step S319) Step S309 negative determination, step S311 affirmative determination), because it can be determined that it is not a temporary erroneous detection due to a change in the posture of the occupant, the presence or absence of the occupant is determined according to the current detection result of the presence of the occupant (steps S325, S315). S317).

The vehicle air conditioner AC according to the first embodiment described above has the following operational effects.
(1) When it is detected that an occupant gets on the basis of the thermal image data of the IR camera 31, air conditioning control is performed in an air volume priority mode in which the amount of air flow is increased toward the occupant and after a predetermined time t2 has elapsed. The air-conditioning control is performed in the air temperature priority mode for accurately controlling the temperature of the air-conditioned air. Thereby, regardless of the start time of the engine, it is possible to reduce the thermal sensation of the occupant who has been on board and to give the occupant a comfortable feeling. Moreover, since it is preventing blowing for a long time toward the passenger | crew who boarded, it can prevent that a passenger | crew feels conditioned air blown toward himself / herself, and comfort improves.

(2) The passenger's face temperature TF-msr is detected, and the passenger's target surface temperature TF-tgt is determined from the vehicle interior temperature setting value (target room temperature) TR-tgt set by the temperature setting unit 35 of the air conditioning operation unit 1. And the air conditioning control is performed so that the occupant's face temperature TF-msr and the occupant's target surface temperature TF-tgt coincide with each other, that is, the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF becomes small. As a result, appropriate air conditioning control can be performed according to the thermal sensation felt by the occupant, so that a comfortable vehicle interior environment can be provided.

(3) Since the air-conditioning control is performed based on the thermal image data of the IR camera 31, it is possible to detect a wide range of temperatures, and to detect the presence or absence of the occupant and the occupant's face temperature TF-msr at a time. . As a result, the presence or absence of an occupant and the occupant's face temperature TF-msr can be easily detected, and the detection accuracy is high, so the accuracy of air conditioning control can be improved. Further, since the presence / absence of the occupant and the occupant's face temperature TF-msr can be detected in a non-contact manner, the occupant is not given any sense of incongruity during the detection.

(4) Based on the occupant's face temperature TF-msr and the occupant's target surface temperature TF-tgt, it is determined whether or not the occupant feels thermal sensation. When judged, the air-conditioning control is performed by switching from the air volume priority mode to the air temperature priority mode even if the predetermined time t2 has not elapsed. As a result, if the occupant does not feel the thermal sensation, the blowing of the conditioned air toward the occupant can be stopped, so that the occupant is not uncomfortable.

(5) If the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF, which is the difference between the occupant's face temperature TF-msr and the occupant's target surface temperature TF-tgt, is less than or equal to the predetermined value Th, the occupant does not feel the thermal sensation It was configured to be judged to be in a state. Thereby, since the mode of air-conditioning control can be switched at a timing that matches the occupant's thermal sensation, appropriate conditioned air can be blown according to the occupant's thermal sensation, and the comfort can be improved.

(6) When the detection result of the presence / absence of an occupant based on the thermal image data is changed, if the door open / close signal is not input from the door switches 36a, 36b, the presence / absence of the occupant is determined before the elapse of the predetermined time t1. It was configured to perform air conditioning control assuming that there was no change. Thereby, since the temporary change in the detection result due to the change in the sitting posture can be eliminated, the presence or absence of the passenger can be accurately determined. Thereby, since switching to the wrong air-conditioning control mode can be prevented, the passenger is not uncomfortable.

(7) Air conditioning control can be performed independently on the driver's seat and passenger's seat side, including air conditioning control mode switching. Thereby, not only the driver's occupant but also the thermal sensation felt by the occupants of other seats can be reduced, so that a comfortable vehicle interior environment can be provided for occupants of other seats. In addition, even if the air conditioning control mode of one seat is switched, the air conditioning control of the other seat is not affected. The other occupant who does not feel the thermal sensation can be reduced, and the direction of the conditioned air is not changed by the ride of one occupant. There is nothing.

--- Second Embodiment ---
With reference to FIGS. 8-10, 2nd Embodiment of the vehicle air conditioner by this invention is described. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different points will be mainly described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the vehicle air conditioner AC. In the vehicle air conditioner AC of the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the solar radiation sensor 32, the outside air temperature sensor 33, the inside air temperature sensors 34a and 34b, and the door switches 36a and 36b are not provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a thermal image captured by the IR camera 31, and FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an area on the driver's seat side of the image of FIG. 9A. From the thermal image data captured by the IR camera 31, not only the temperature of the driver's seat occupant 40 but also the temperature of each part (regions 42 to 45) captured as a thermal image can be detected.

  A region 42 shown in FIG. 9B is a portion corresponding to the door on the driver's seat side. In this region 42, the temperature detected by opening / closing the door on the driver's seat side changes in a short time. Therefore, by detecting that the temperature of the region 42 has changed in a short time, the opening / closing of the door on the driver's seat side can be detected. Thereby, even if it does not use the door switch 36a described in 1st Embodiment, it can detect opening / closing of a door if it detects that the temperature of the area | region 42 changed for a short time.

  A region 45 shown in FIG. 9B is a portion corresponding to the ceiling of the vehicle V, and the temperature of the region 45 is the temperature Troof of the ceiling of the vehicle V. By detecting the temperature of the region 45, the ceiling temperature Troof is used in place of the vehicle interior temperature Tain and Tbin when calculating the opening degrees XMa and XMb of the air mix doors 16a and 16b and the voltage VF of the blower motor 12. it can. That is, by detecting the temperature of the region 45 from the data of the thermal image captured by the IR camera 31, the arrangement of the inside air temperature sensors 34a and 34b described in the first embodiment can be omitted. Similarly, by performing image processing on the thermal image captured by the IR camera 31, it is possible to obtain parameter values necessary for air conditioning control. Therefore, the solar radiation sensor 32 and the outside air temperature sensor 33 described in the first embodiment are used. The arrangement can also be omitted.

--- Flow chart ---
The operation of the air conditioning operation program executed by the vehicle air conditioner AC is the same as the operation of the air conditioning operation program executed by the vehicle air conditioner AC of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Since there is, description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the program executed in the subroutine of step S3. Steps S301 to S308 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  When step S308 is executed, the process proceeds to step S409, where it is determined whether or not the detected temperature of the region 42 shown in FIG. 9B has changed in a short time based on the thermal image data read in step S2. If a negative determination is made in step S409, the process proceeds to step S311. If a positive determination is made in step S409, the process proceeds to step S321. Since the operations after step S311 and step S321 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  In the vehicle air conditioner AC configured as described above, based on the data of the thermal image captured by the IR camera 31, the values of parameters necessary for air conditioning control such as opening / closing of the door and the temperature Troof of the ceiling are detected. As with the vehicle air conditioner AC of the first embodiment, air conditioning control can be performed.

The vehicle air conditioner AC according to the second embodiment described above has the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.
(1) Based on the thermal image data captured by the IR camera 31, it is configured to detect values of parameters necessary for air conditioning control such as door opening / closing and ceiling temperature Troof. Thereby, since the door sensor which detects opening and closing of a door, the solar radiation sensor required for air-conditioning control, an external temperature sensor, and an internal temperature sensor can be abbreviate | omitted, the manufacturing cost of vehicle air conditioner AC can be reduced.

---- Modified example ---
(1) In the above description, the predetermined time t2 that is the duration of the air volume priority mode is unchanged, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the predetermined time t2 may be variable. For example, the auto air conditioner amplifier 30 may change the value so that the predetermined time t2 becomes longer as the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF is larger.

(2) In the above description, after the air flow is started in the air volume priority mode, the air temperature priority mode is switched to the air temperature priority mode if the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF is equal to or less than the predetermined value Th. It is not limited. For example, after the start of air blowing in the air volume priority mode, if the rate of change of the surface temperature difference ΔTF is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the air temperature priority mode may be switched.

(3) In the above description, after the start of air blowing in the air volume priority mode, it is configured to switch to the air temperature priority mode when a predetermined time t2 elapses (Yes determination in step S19 in FIG. 6), but the present invention is limited to this. Not. For example, if the absolute value of the surface temperature difference ΔTF exceeds a predetermined value Th, the air may be blown in the air volume priority mode regardless of the elapsed time.

(4) In the above description, the air conditioning control for blowing air to the passenger seated in the driver seat and the passenger seat has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a rear vent opening for the rear seat is provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat, and the presence / absence of the passenger in the rear seat and the face temperature TF-msr are detected based on the thermal image data captured by the IR camera 31. Thus, air-conditioning control similar to that described above can be performed on the conditioned air blown from the rear vent port to the passenger in the rear seat.

(5) In the above description, one IR camera 31 is arranged at the upper part of the center of the instrument panel 200 in the left-right direction so as to be able to image the passengers on the driver side and passenger side. The invention is not limited to this. A thermal image including an occupant on the driver's seat side may be captured by an IR camera disposed on the driver's seat side, and a thermal image including an occupant on the passenger's seat side may be captured by an IR camera disposed on the passenger's seat side. . Further, a thermal image including the passenger on the passenger seat side is captured by an IR camera disposed on the driver seat side, and a thermal image including the passenger on the driver seat side is captured by the IR camera disposed on the passenger seat side. Also good. In the latter case in particular, the IR camera is disposed obliquely rearward in the vehicle interior, so that detection of opening / closing of the doors beside the driver side passenger and passenger side passengers to be imaged, This is advantageous in detecting the presence / absence of an occupant seated in a driver seat or a seat behind the passenger seat and the face temperature TF-msr from the space between the passenger seat and the passenger seat. In addition, an IR camera may be provided on the backs of the seat backs of the driver seat and the passenger seat to detect the presence or absence of a passenger in the rear seat and the face temperature TF-msr.

(6) In the above description, the presence or absence of an occupant is detected based on the thermal image data of the IR camera 31, but the present invention is not limited to this. Since it is only necessary to be able to detect whether the occupant is seated, for example, by detecting the distance between the ceiling and a part of the occupant's body with a non-contact type distance meter provided on the ceiling in the passenger compartment, It can also be detected. As the non-contact type distance meter, a device that detects a distance using ultrasonic waves, a device that optically detects a distance, and the like can be used. Further, since the presence or absence of an occupant may be detected by a contact-type sensor, a sensor that directly detects seating, such as a pressure sensor provided on a seat, can also be used.

(7) In the above description, the surface temperature of the occupant is detected based on the thermal image data of the IR camera 31, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a contact-type sensor can be used if the temperature of a part of the occupant's body that reflects the occupant's thermal sensation can be measured. For example, you may make it provide a contact-type temperature sensor in the part which a passenger | crew's body part contacts directly or over clothing, such as a seat, a steering, and a handle part of a door.

(8) Although not mentioned in the above description, when the air conditioning control mode is different between the driver seat side and the passenger seat side, increase the air flow rate on either the driver seat side or the passenger seat side, or If it is to be reduced, it is desirable to control as follows. That is, the voltage VF of the blower motor 12 is calculated in accordance with the control content of one seat side that requires a large amount of air flow, and the opening degree of each door (door 18a, 24a or door 18b, 24b) on the other seat side is calculated. It is desirable to control in a closed manner. By controlling in this way, it is possible to obtain an appropriate air flow rate in accordance with the air conditioning control modes on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side.
(9) You may combine each embodiment and modification which were mentioned above, respectively.

In the above embodiments and modifications, for example, the control means and the target temperature calculation means correspond to the auto air conditioner amplifier 30, the temperature setting means corresponds to the temperature setter 35, and the thermal image imaging means corresponds to the IR camera 31, respectively. The occupant detection means, the occupant surface temperature measurement means, and the occupant state determination means are realized by the IR camera 31 and the auto air conditioner amplifier 30. The door opening / closing detection means is realized by the door switches 36a and 36b or the IR camera 31 and the auto air conditioner amplifier 30. Furthermore, as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired, the present invention is not limited to the device configuration in the above-described embodiment.

It is the perspective view which looked at the right-hand drive vehicle carrying the vehicle air conditioner of this Embodiment from the vehicle diagonally back. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the air conditioning unit. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of vehicle air conditioner AC. It is the figure which looked at the state where the crew member sat down in the driver's seat from the vehicle left side. It is a figure which shows the thermal image which the IR camera 31 imaged, (a) shows the whole captured thermal image, (b) is a figure which shows the area | region by the side of a driver's seat among the thermal images of (a). It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the air-conditioning driving | running program performed with vehicle air conditioner AC. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the program performed by the subroutine of step S3. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of vehicle air conditioner AC of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the thermal image which the IR camera 31 imaged, (a) shows the whole captured thermal image, (b) is a figure which shows the area | region by the side of a driver's seat among the thermal images of (a). It is a flowchart which shows the process of the program performed by the subroutine of step S3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Case 11 Fan 12 Blower motor 16a, 16b Air mix door 18a, 18b Vent door 21 Differential door 24a, 24b Foot door 30 Auto air conditioner amplifier 31 IR camera 32 Solar radiation sensor 33 Outside temperature sensor 34a, 34b Room temperature sensor 35 Temperature setting device 36a, 36b Door switch 40 Driver's seat occupant 41 Head 42-45 area 100 Air conditioning unit 110 Driver's seat side vent vent 111, 121, 131, 141 Louver 120 Driver's seat center vent 130 130 Passenger seat center vent 140 140 Passenger seat side vent

Claims (7)

In a vehicle air conditioner that cools and / or heats air inside or outside the vehicle interior and blows air as conditioned air into the vehicle interior,
Occupant detection means for detecting occupants in the passenger compartment;
When the occupant detection means detects that the occupant has boarded, the air volume priority mode with increased air flow is selected, and after the air volume priority mode is selected, the temperature of the conditioned air is given priority after a predetermined time has elapsed. A control means for selecting an air temperature priority mode to be controlled and controlling at least one of the air volume, the air direction, and the temperature of the conditioned air blown into the vehicle interior ;
An occupant surface temperature measuring means for measuring the occupant surface temperature;
A temperature setting means for setting a target interior temperature;
Target temperature calculating means for calculating a target value of the passenger's surface temperature based on the set temperature in the passenger compartment set by the temperature setting means and the passenger's surface temperature measured by the passenger's surface temperature measuring means;
Thermal steady state that the occupant feels thermally comfortable based on the target value of the occupant surface temperature calculated by the target temperature calculation means and the occupant surface temperature measured by the occupant surface temperature measurement means Occupant state determination means for determining whether or not the vehicle is in a state,
The control means makes the occupant surface temperature measured by the occupant surface temperature measuring means coincide with a target value of the occupant surface temperature calculated by the target temperature calculating means, and further, the occupant state determining means Is determined to be in the thermal steady state, after the air volume priority mode is selected, the air temperature priority mode is selected even before the predetermined time has elapsed, and the air is blown into the vehicle interior. A vehicle air conditioner that controls at least one of an air volume, a wind direction, and a temperature of conditioned air. In the vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1,
A thermal image capturing means for capturing a thermal image in the passenger compartment;
The occupant detection means detects the presence or absence of an occupant in the passenger compartment based on the thermal image captured by the thermal image capturing means,
The vehicle air conditioner characterized in that the occupant surface temperature measuring means measures the occupant surface temperature detected by the occupant detecting means based on the thermal image captured by the thermal image capturing means. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2,
The occupant state determination means, when the difference between the target value of the occupant surface temperature calculated by the target temperature calculation means and the occupant surface temperature measured by the occupant surface temperature measurement means is a predetermined value or less, or The vehicle air conditioner determines that the occupant is in the thermal steady state when the change rate of the occupant surface temperature measured by the occupant surface temperature measuring means is equal to or less than a predetermined value. In the vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of a passenger's boarding / exiting door;
Even if there is a change in the presence or absence of an occupant in the passenger compartment detected by the occupant detection means, the control means may detect an occupant in the passenger compartment for a certain period of time if the door opening / closing is not detected by the door opening / closing detection means. A vehicle air conditioner that controls at least one of an air volume, a wind direction, and a temperature of conditioned air that is blown into the passenger compartment on the assumption that there is no change in the presence or absence of the air conditioner. In the vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control means selects the air volume priority mode and the air temperature priority mode independently for the conditioned air to be blown to at least the passenger seated in the driver's seat and the passenger seated in the passenger seat. A vehicle air conditioner that controls at least one of air volume, wind direction, and temperature. When it is detected that an occupant has boarded when cooling and / or heating the air inside or outside the passenger compartment and blowing it as conditioned air into the passenger compartment, the air volume priority mode with increased air flow is selected,
  After a predetermined time has elapsed after selecting the air volume priority mode, select an air temperature priority mode that gives priority to controlling the temperature of the conditioned air, and at least one of the air volume, wind direction, or temperature of the conditioned air is selected. Control
Furthermore, the surface temperature of the passenger is measured,
Based on the set target temperature in the passenger compartment and the measured surface temperature of the passenger, the target value of the passenger surface temperature is calculated,
Based on the calculated target surface temperature of the occupant and the measured surface temperature of the occupant, determine whether the occupant is in a thermal steady state that feels thermally comfortable,
If it is determined that the occupant is in the thermal steady state, the air temperature priority mode is selected even after the predetermined time has elapsed after the air volume priority mode is selected, and the air is blown into the vehicle interior. An air conditioning control method for a vehicle, comprising controlling at least one of an air volume, a wind direction, and a temperature of the conditioned air. The vehicle air conditioning control method according to claim 6,
Detects opening / closing of passengers
Even if a change in the presence or absence of an occupant in the passenger compartment is detected, if the opening or closing of the door is not detected, it is assumed that there is no change in the presence or absence of an occupant in the passenger compartment for a certain period of time. A vehicle air-conditioning control method that controls at least one of air volume, wind direction, and temperature.

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