JP5146819B2 - Vehicle seat air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle seat air conditioner.

Japanese Patent No. 3301109 JP 2002-233431 A JP 2004-291868 A

  The interior space of an automobile has a smaller space volume than ordinary houses, etc., and becomes a sealed space when the window is closed, for example, the temperature inside the parked car rises abnormally in summer due to heat rays that leak through the glass. To do. However, a general automobile air conditioner is a centralized type and is designed to lower the air temperature of the entire space in the passenger compartment, so there is a problem that it takes time to adjust the temperature.

  Therefore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a method in which a Peltier module is incorporated in a seat back or a seat, and the vicinity of an occupant seated on the seat is locally cooled or locally heated. Further, in Patent Document 3, the driver's fatigue level is detected by a pulse wave sensor installed in the seat seat, and the blowout set temperature of the vehicle air conditioner disposed in the instrument panel in front of the vehicle is determined according to the fatigue level. A method of changing the above is disclosed.

  However, in the configuration of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the air temperature is not changed by the Peltier module due to the body temperature of the passenger sitting on the seat. When the set temperature is further increased, the heat may further increase the body temperature or heat may be accumulated, which may increase the so-called head hot feeling and decrease the concentration. For example, if the driver is placed in such a state, the driving ability may be reduced, or the medical condition may worsen. Moreover, in the structure of the said patent document 3, since the air-conditioning temperature of the whole vehicle will be changed with the physical condition of the specific passenger | crew who sits on a sheet | seat, the air-conditioning temperature after a change will feel uncomfortable for the passenger | crew with favorable physical condition. There is a fear. In addition, when fatigue is detected, the air conditioning temperature is uniformly increased without distinction between heating / cooling to promote blood circulation, and there are cases where changes in the air conditioning temperature do not always work depending on the situation. Since this may occur, the same problem as in Patent Documents 1 and 2 may occur.

  The subject of this invention is providing the vehicle seat air conditioner which can perform appropriate air-conditioning control on the conditions specialized for the passenger | crew who seats based on a passenger | crew's body temperature.

Means and actions / effects for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle seat air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention includes:
An air conditioner provided on a vehicle seat;
Body temperature detecting means for detecting the body temperature of the passenger seated on the seat ;
Exothermic determination means for determining whether the detected body temperature belongs to a predetermined normal heat area or a heat generation area whose central temperature is higher than the normal heat area;
When the air-conditioning apparatus performs a heating operation, the control temperature range of the air-conditioning apparatus is set to a predetermined appropriate range during heating normal heating when the body temperature belongs to the normal heat range, and the control temperature range when the body temperature belongs to the heat generation area. Is set to a predetermined heating appropriate range during heating heat generation, the center temperature is lower than the heating normal heating appropriate range,
When the air conditioner is in a cooling operation, the control temperature range is set to a predetermined appropriate range during cooling normal heating when the body temperature belongs to a normal heating range, and the control temperature range is set to the cooling when the body temperature belongs to a heat generation range. Control temperature range change setting means for setting a predetermined appropriate range during cooling heat generation having a center temperature higher than the appropriate range during normal heating ;
Control temperature value setting input means for setting a control temperature value belonging to the control temperature range set by the control temperature range change setting means based on the operation of the occupant;
And air conditioning control means for controlling the operation of the air conditioner at the set control temperature value .

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the air conditioner is provided on the vehicle seat, and the local air conditioning is performed for the passenger seated on the seat. And the body temperature information of the passenger | crew who seats on this seat is acquired, and the control temperature range of the air conditioner is set to be changeable according to the body temperature. Further, by changing the control temperature range of the seat air conditioning according to the body temperature, the control temperature (set temperature) itself does not change rapidly according to the detected body temperature, and the air conditioning control can be stabilized. it can.

  The air conditioner provided in the seat may be such that the Peltier module and the blower are embedded in the seat together with the air guide passage portion. By adopting the Peltier module, it is not necessary to draw refrigerant piping or the like into the sheet, and the configuration can be greatly simplified. Furthermore, by providing a Peltier module independently for each seat, it is easy to control air conditioning under different conditions for each occupant. Since the Peltier element is configured as a metal conductor having a large current cross-sectional area (cross-sectional area perpendicular to the current conduction direction), if the input current is controlled by switching with PWM or the like, a large eddy current is generated when the current is interrupted at the waveform edge. It is not preferable because a large amount of Joule heat is generated and a voltage in the direction opposite to the target polarity is supplied to reduce the cooling efficiency. Therefore, it is desirable that the air-conditioning control means be configured to control the level of the drive current of the Peltier module so that the blow-out temperature of the air-conditioning apparatus approaches the control temperature value set and input.

  Next, the body temperature information acquisition means includes a body temperature detecting means for detecting the body temperature of the occupant, and the detected body temperature is determined to be a center temperature (in this specification, a certain temperature range ( The “central temperature” in the temperature range) means the average value of the temperature range or the lower limit temperature and the upper limit temperature of the temperature range. It can comprise as what has a determination means. In this case, the control temperature range change setting means sets the temperature control range to a predetermined normal temperature range when the body temperature belongs to the normal temperature range, and sets the temperature control range to the normal temperature range when the body temperature belongs to the heat generation range. It can be configured to be set to an appropriate range during heat generation different from the range. When the body is in a bad condition, it is often reflected in an increase in body temperature, so determining whether the detected body temperature is normal or higher than normal is extremely effective in identifying poor health. It is. Then, if it is determined that either the normal temperature appropriate range or the exothermic appropriate range is adopted as the abnormal temperature control range, the temperature control range will be one of the above two depending on whether normal temperature or higher. Alternatively, it is possible to more effectively prevent the problem that the control temperature (set temperature) changes rapidly according to the body temperature, and it is possible to further stabilize the air conditioning system.

  For example, during normal times, the control temperature range is set to an appropriate range during normal heating, and an occupant (in a normal state that does not generate heat) sets a desired temperature within the appropriate range. However, if the occupant generates heat due to a malfunction, the occupant can switch to an appropriate range during heat generation and can automatically shift to an air conditioning temperature suitable for heat generation. Thereby, the discomfort caused by the fever of the occupant is relieved, and the symptoms of fever are reduced. And if the body temperature returns to the normal heat range by performing the air conditioning control in the heat generation appropriate range for a while, this is detected, and by returning the control temperature range of the air conditioner to the normal temperature appropriate range, the occupant can Deviation from the set temperature at which it feels comfortable during normal times can be prevented.

When the air conditioner is configured to be capable of heating operation, it is desirable to set the center temperature of the appropriate range during heating heat generation to be lower than the center temperature of the appropriate range during heating normal temperature. As a result, the heating temperature further rises in a state where the body temperature is high, and it is possible to avoid a vicious circle in which the heat further raises the body temperature. Inconveniences such as lowering are less likely to occur. In this case, the concrete, the maximum temperature and minimum temperature of the heating heating proper range, may want to set lower respectively than the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature during the heating normal temperature appropriate range.

On the other hand, the air conditioner can be configured to be capable of cooling operation. In this case, even if it is the same cooling set temperature in summer, it may feel cold if it pulls out a case and generates heat. Therefore, if the center temperature of the suitable range of cooling heat generation is set to be higher than the central temperature of the suitable range of cooling normal heating, the cooling heat will take away the heat of the body and promote deterioration of the physical condition. Can be effectively suppressed . In concrete terms, the maximum temperature and minimum temperature of cooling heating at appropriate range, may want to set higher respectively than the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature of cooling normal temperature at proper range.

  In the present invention, the sensor body temperature detecting means is preferably an infrared temperature detecting device for detecting the skin temperature of the occupant seated on the seat. By measuring the skin temperature (of the human body exposed part) with an infrared temperature detection device, it is possible to accurately and non-contactly detect the body temperature that reflects the physical condition as compared with the pulsation detection through clothing. This makes it possible to perform more appropriate seat air conditioning control. Further, since it is a non-contact type, there is no waiting time for temperature equilibrium, and body temperature can be detected quickly, so that it can be quickly reflected in air conditioning control. In this case, the infrared temperature detecting device can be a thermographic imaging device that performs thermographic imaging of the skin exposed portion of the upper body of the occupant. According to this structure, a user's body temperature can be known more correctly by measuring the temperature of the exposed skin part. In addition, the thermographic imaging device can identify the temperature for each area of the skin surface. For example, the reproducibility can be achieved by measuring the temperature at a specific part of the exposed area of the skin (for example, the neck area where the body temperature is not affected by the outside air temperature). The body temperature can be measured well. In addition, if the field of view is defined as the subject's upper body, the body temperature distribution information of the entire exposed skin part is converted into average body temperature information, or the body temperature information of the hottest region (for example, the above-mentioned neck region) is used. It is also possible to take various methods for reducing measurement variations, such as representing them.

  By the way, when the vehicle is used, it often happens that an occupant seated on the seat leaves the seat when the vehicle stops, returns again and resumes staying in the vehicle, or removes the seat belt and changes the clothes. For example, a case where the user feels the heat as the body temperature rises, leaves the seat, cools outside, or takes off his jacket and returns to the seat can be given as a specific example. Thus, when discontinuity is confirmed in the seated state on the seat, there is a high possibility that the body temperature state of the occupant is also changed before and after that. Therefore, in order to cope with this, there is provided a seating detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a seated occupant on the seat, and further, the seating detecting means shifts from the seating detection state to the seating non-detection state, and then enters the seating detection state. When returning, the control temperature range set before the transition to the seating non-detection state may be updated based on the body temperature information acquired after returning to the seating detection state. In this way, the setting state of the control temperature range is updated corresponding to the detected body temperature change before and after the sitting break, so that more appropriate air conditioning control is realized.

  The seating detection means can be incorporated into, for example, a buckle of a seat belt provided on the seat, and can be a buckle fastening detection switch that detects the presence or absence of a passenger seating in conjunction with fastening and release of the buckle. . In recent years, the use of seat belts, including the rear seats, has been obliged to be worn and encouraged to wear them, so if the buckle fastening detection switch is used as a seating detection means, the buckling fastening detection switch can be surely disconnected due to the biased state of the buckle fastening detection switch. Can be detected. Note that a state in which the seat belt is simply removed while the occupant is seated on the seat (that is, a state where the buckle fastening detection switch is not energized) is considered to belong to the “non-sitting state” in a broad sense. As a result, for example, even when the user removes the seat belt while seated and changes clothes or removes the outerwear, the body temperature is detected when the seat belt is re-attached, and the control temperature range depends on the detection result. Can be reliably set.

  When an infrared temperature detection device that detects the skin temperature of an occupant seated on a seat is used as the body temperature detection means, a certain amount of power is consumed in the detection operation of the infrared temperature detection device. On the other hand, it is physiologically rare that the temperature of the seated occupant suddenly fluctuates in a short period of time, and in view of the fact that it often changes slowly over a period of time, the frequency of temperature detection is excessively high. Increasing the number leads to an unnecessary and frequent operation of the infrared temperature detecting device, and there is a problem that waste of power consumption (particularly, an in-vehicle battery) is caused. Therefore, an infrared temperature detection device operation control means is provided that detects the infrared temperature detection device on the condition that the seating detection means detects the seating, and stops the detection operation of the infrared temperature detection device when the seating detection is not performed. In this case, when it is clear from the seating detection that there is no occupant in the tote, the detection operation of the infrared temperature detecting device is stopped, so that waste of power consumption can be saved.

  In the above method, once the body temperature is detected immediately after sitting, it is considered that subsequent body temperature fluctuations do not occur so rapidly. Therefore, the infrared temperature detecting device operation control means does not sit in the seating non-detection state. When the transition to the detection state occurs, the detection of the skin temperature by the infrared temperature detection device is started using this as a trigger, while the maximum duration of the detection operation is determined, and the expiration of the maximum duration and the seating detection state The detection operation of the infrared temperature detection device can be stopped when any of the transition to the non-sitting state is established. The maximum duration of the detection operation may be determined in consideration of a period necessary and sufficient for one body temperature specification, for example, and after the body temperature specification is completed, the operation of the infrared temperature detection device is cut off to save power. be able to. On the other hand, when the seating detection state is shifted to the seating non-detection state before the maximum duration time expires, power saving can be similarly achieved by immediately shutting off the operation of the infrared temperature detection device. In this case, the control temperature range change setting means is configured to set and update the control temperature range of the air conditioner based on the detected skin temperature each time the detection operation by the infrared temperature detection device is resumed from the stopped state. By doing so, it is possible to reliably perform the body temperature detection and the update setting of the control temperature range after the sitting break (and the first time).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing an example of a vehicle seat air conditioner according to the present invention. The vehicle seat air conditioner 50 is incorporated in a seat 1 of an automobile. The seat 1 includes a seat portion 101 on which an occupant's buttocks are placed, a backrest portion 102 against which the back is applied, and a headrest 2 attached to the top of the backrest portion 102. A spout 104 is formed in each skin 106 of the seat portion 101 and the backrest portion 102.

  An air duct 105 is formed inside each of the seat portion 101 and the backrest portion 102. The air duct 105 has one end opened in the vehicle interior and the other end opened to the jet port 104. A Peltier module 3 is interposed in the middle of each air duct 105. The Peltier module 3 has a well-known Peltier element that is DC-driven in the thickness direction so that one surface is an endothermic surface and the other surface is a heat-dissipating surface. A fin for promoting heat exchange on the back surface of the heat sink, which has a metal heat block arranged in close contact with the surface serving as the side and a metal heat sink disposed in close contact with the surface serving as the air conditioning heat exchange side. Have a well-known configuration (see, for example, JP-A-2005-280710).

  On the upstream side of the Peltier module 3 in the middle of the air duct 105, a blower 4 that pressure-feeds the air in the vehicle compartment to the radiating fins of the Peltier module 3 is provided. The blower 4 generates temperature-adjusted air by blowing ambient air onto the radiating fin, and the temperature-adjusted air is blown out from the outlet 104 through the air duct 105. In this way, the air conditioner 10A having the air duct 105, the Peltier module 3 and the blower 4 is individually incorporated in the backrest 102, and the air conditioner 10B having the same configuration is individually incorporated in the seat 101. ing. A vehicle seat air conditioner having a set of air conditioners 10A and 10B having the above-described structure (hereinafter referred to as air conditioner 10 when collectively referred to as both) is shown in FIG. Incorporated independently in each seat (specifically, driver's seat 1 (A), passenger seat 1 (B), right rear seat 1 (C), left rear seat 1 (D)) and occupant detection in each seat A sensor 114 (in this embodiment, a buckle fastening detection switch as described later) is provided.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the vehicle seat air conditioner 50. The main part is a control circuit 100 mainly composed of an ECU 106 (air conditioning control means) configured as a microprocessor. The thermography camera 111 includes a driver circuit 111D and an occupant detection sensor 114 and an inside air temperature sensor 115, respectively. A hand operation switch (temperature adjustment setting switch) 112 and a hand power supply switch 113 serving as temperature input setting means are connected to the ECU 106 via the amplifiers 124 and 125 via the temperature adjustment input interface 122, respectively.

  Next, the thermographic camera 111 functions as an infrared temperature detecting device that detects the skin temperature of the occupant seated on the seat 1 and constitutes a body temperature detecting means. The structure is known, and the infrared sensor provided in the exposure unit measures the wavelength distribution of far infrared rays emitted from the object two-dimensionally, and generates temperature mapping data (thermography) based on the measurement result. Is. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5B, a thermography TG of the exposed portion of the skin above the neck of the user HK sitting on the seat 1 is taken, and in particular, a region HT in which the neck portion is hotter than the surroundings. As it appears, the region HT can be identified along with the temperature on the thermographic image. For example, the body temperature measurement value can be determined as the average temperature of the neck region HT.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the buckle fastening detection switch 114 incorporated in the buckle 51 of the seat belt constitutes a seating detection means. As is well known, the buckle 51 has a belt metal fitting 51M and a metal fitting socket 51S. By inserting the belt metal fitting 51M into the metal fitting socket 51S, a spring biased socket 51h is inserted into the engagement hole 51h of the belt metal fitting 51M. The fastening claws 51e are fitted into a fastening state. Then, when a fastening release button (not shown) on the side of the metal socket 51S is pressed, the fastening claw 51e is retracted out of the engagement hole 51h to be in a fastening release state, and the belt metal 51M can be pulled out from the metal socket 51S. The buckle fastening detection switch 114 is provided in the metal fitting socket 51S. When the belt metal fitting 51M is inserted into the metal fitting socket 51S, the buckle fastening detection switch 114 is activated. In the present embodiment, the ECU 106 determines that the occupant is seated on the seat 1 if the buckle fastening detection switch 114 is in an energized state according to the processing flow of FIG. Is set to "1". Similarly, if the buckle fastening detection switch 114 is in the non-energized state, it is determined that the buckle fastening detection switch 114 is in the non-sitting state, and the seating flag is set to “0”.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the air conditioners 10 </ b> A (backrest side) and 10 </ b> B (seat side) each composed of a set of the Peltier module 3, the blower 4, and the drive unit 121 that governs drive control thereof are connected to the ECU 106. . The drive unit 121 drives the Peltier module 3 to be energized with different polarities when using cooling and when using heating. Then, the ECU 106 outputs the operation of the air conditioners 10A and 10B based on the presence / absence of the detection of the occupant in the normal mode which is the operation mode when detecting the occupant and the operation mode when the occupant is not detected. It is possible to perform control while switching between the restricted modes in which is restricted. For example, the operation of the air conditioner 10 can be stopped in the restriction mode.

  In this embodiment, the detection operation of the thermography camera (infrared temperature detection device) 111 is also stopped in the restriction mode. Specifically, when the buckle fastening detection switch 114 (sitting detection means) shifts from the seating non-detection state to the seating detection state, the ECU 106 starts the detection operation of the skin temperature by the thermography camera 111 using this as a trigger. On the other hand, when the maximum duration of the detection operation is determined and either of the expiration of the maximum duration and the transition from the seating detection state to the seating non-detection state (that is, buckle engagement release) is established Then, the detection operation of the thermographic camera 111 is stopped. The maximum duration of the detection operation is appropriately determined in consideration of a period necessary and sufficient for one body temperature specification, for example, and the operation of the thermographic camera 111 is shut off after the body temperature specification is completed. Note that an operation cutoff signal of the thermographic camera 111 may be output upon completion of the body temperature specifying process. If the buckle fastening detection switch 114 shifts from the seating detection state to the seating non-detection state before the maximum duration time expires, the operation of the thermography camera 111 is immediately shut off.

  The ECU 106 independently controls the operation of the air conditioner 10 for each seat 1 based on the occupant detection content of the occupant detection sensor 114 for each seat. In addition, although independent individual ECUs 106 are provided for the air conditioners 10A and 10B of the respective sheets, the single ECU 106 is shared between the respective sheets, and the air conditioners 10A and 10B of the respective sheets are collectively connected thereto. Thus, control may be performed.

  Next, as the power supply line connected to the vehicle battery + B, the power supply voltage is always supplied regardless of the state of the ignition switch and the first power supply line PL1 in which the supply / cutoff of the power supply voltage is switched in conjunction with the ignition switch 120 of the vehicle. The second power supply line PL2 is provided. The ignition switch 120 includes an off position (OFF) where the power supply voltage is not supplied to either the accessory system load or the engine electrical system load, and an accessory on position (ACC-ON) which is also supplied only to the accessory system load. Switching between the ignition ON position (IG-ON) supplied to both the accessory system load and the engine electrical system load is performed. The ECU 106 of the vehicle seat air conditioner 50 and the air conditioner 10 are connected to the second power supply line PL2.

  Returning to FIG. 1, each seat 1 is provided with a hand operation switch 112 for an air conditioner to be operated by a passenger. The ECU 106 stops the operation of the air conditioner 10 regardless of the occupant detection content by the occupant detection means 114 when the hand power switch 113 is in the OFF state. Further, when the hand power switch 113 is in the ON state, the operation of the air conditioners 10A and 10B is controlled while switching between the normal mode and the restriction mode based on the occupant detection contents by the occupant detection sensor 114.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hand operation switch 112 is a rotary switch with a push function and retracts when pressed once to turn the hand power switch 113 (FIG. 3) off. On the other hand, when it is further pressed, it pops out and the power switch 113 is turned on, and a rotation operation for changing the set temperature is possible. That is, the hand operation switch 112 is configured as an analog operation unit that forms a control temperature value setting input unit.

  The hand operation switch 112 incorporates, for example, a rotary volume or a potentiometer as a rotation detector. And if it rotates in a 1st direction (right side in FIG. 1) regarding neutral position NTL, it will become temperature setting in heating mode, while setting temperature will become high, so that it leaves | separates from neutral position NTL, and to limit position (alpha) x 'of the said 1st direction. When it is rotated, the maximum temperature (maximum output) for heating is set. Further, when the neutral position NTL is rotated in the second direction (left side in FIG. 1), the temperature is set in the cooling mode, and the set temperature is lowered as the distance from the neutral position NTL is decreased, and the temperature is rotated to the limit position αx in the second direction. If it does, it will be in the setting state of the minimum temperature (maximum output) in air_conditioning | cooling. In addition, the inside of the fixed angle range on both sides with respect to the neutral position NTL is a dead zone, and when the operation position is within this dead zone, the operation is stopped for both cooling and heating. When the operating position reaches the starting position α1 ′ that forms the end of the dead zone on the heating side, the minimum temperature (minimum output) for heating is set. When the operating position reaches the starting position α1 that forms the end of the dead zone on the cooling side, the maximum temperature (minimum output) in the cooling state is set.

  FIG. 7 shows a circuit configuration example of the drive unit 121. The drive power supply is configured as an insulation type in consideration of prevention of overvoltage application to the Peltier element. Specifically, it has an input-side DC power supply 150 that receives an in-vehicle battery voltage + B as an input voltage, and the DC output voltage is driven by a boost switching transistor 152 (power in this embodiment) driven by a boost oscillation circuit 153. It is configured by an FET, and is input to the primary side of the boosting transformer 151 while being switched at a boosting switching frequency of 10 to 30 kHz (for example, 15 kHz). The secondary side boosted output voltage of the transformer 151 is 8 to 15V (for example, 12V). Note that the boosting oscillation circuit 153 is configured as a self-excited oscillation circuit that uses part of the primary inductance of the transformer 151.

  The secondary-side boosted output voltage of the transformer 151 is half-wave rectified by the diode 154D, smoothed by the capacitor 154C, and then input to the PWM switching transistor 155. The PWM switching transistor 155 is composed of a power FET and is PWM-switched at a duty ratio determined by the ECU 106 (for example, 50 to 100%). The PWM switching transistor 155 is switched by the photocoupler 165 via the gate driving transistor 156.

  Since the Peltier element is configured as a metal conductor with a large conduction cross section, when a PWM switching voltage waveform is directly input to the Peltier element, an eddy current is generated when the current is interrupted at the waveform edge, and the voltage in the direction opposite to the target polarity Is not preferable because a large amount of Joule heat is generated to reduce the cooling efficiency. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the drive smoothing circuit 201 having the coil 158 and the capacitor 159 converts the PWM switching voltage waveform into a DC drive voltage corresponding to the duty ratio (the output voltage range is, for example, 6 to 12 V: output current). The range is smoothed as, for example, 3 to 6A) and supplied to the Peltier module 3 via the polarity changeover switch 160. That is, the output of the Peltier module 3 is implemented by controlling the drive current level. The PWM switching frequency is, for example, 1 to 5 kHz, and is set smaller than the boost switching frequency.

  In this embodiment, the polarity changeover switch 160 is configured as a relay switch and is controlled in operation by the photocoupler 163 via the relay drive transistor 162 (here, when the relay drive transistor 162 is OFF, the terminal 160A is connected to the power input / The terminal 160B is grounded (forward polarity), and when it is on, the switch 160 is switched so that the terminal 160A is grounded / the terminal 160B is the power input (reverse polarity). Further, the motor drive output to the blower 4 is taken out in a non-switching state from the front side of the PWM switching transistor 155 on the secondary side of the transformer 151 via the voltage stabilization regulator IC 164.

  In this embodiment, a booster circuit is incorporated in order to compensate for fluctuations in the in-vehicle battery voltage + B. However, when the operation of the Peltier element can be ensured, for example, the drive output voltage range to the Peltier element is the in-vehicle battery voltage + B. If it can be ensured that it is always smaller than the fluctuation range, this step-up circuit can be omitted. In this case, a voltage monitoring unit may be added to the output stage to the Peltier element, and a regulator unit that stabilizes the voltage by feeding it back to the duty ratio control of PWM switching may be added. Even when the drive output voltage to the Peltier element slightly exceeds the fluctuation range of the in-vehicle battery voltage + B, if the regulator unit is configured as a well-known step-up type step-up circuit, the step-up circuit can be similarly omitted.

  The on / off state of the power switch 113 and the operation position information of the hand operation switch 112 are input to the ECU 106 via the temperature adjustment input interface 122. When the power switch 113 is in the off state, the ECU 106 turns off the power switch 150s provided on the battery power receiving path to the input side DC power supply 150, and stops both the Peltier module 3 and the blower 4. On the other hand, when the power switch 113 is on, the power switch 150s is turned on in the normal mode. If the hand operation switch 112 is rotated to the cooling side, the relay drive transistor 162 is turned off, and the energization polarity is set to the forward direction. Moreover, if it is rotating to the heating side, the relay drive transistor 162 is turned on, and the energization polarity is reversed.

  On either the cooling side or the heating side, the operation angle of the hand operation switch 112 is input to the temperature adjustment input interface 122 and read as the output of the rotation detection unit described above. As described above, the operating angle is the operating angle section (operating stroke range) from the starting position α1 to the limit position αx on the cooling side, and the operating angle section (operating stroke) from the starting position α1 ′ to the limit position αx ′ on the heating side. Each range can be arbitrarily set, and as shown in FIG. 8, the relationship between each operation angle (operation position) on the heating side and the set temperature is stored as a control temperature range table in the memory in the ECU 106. Yes. As shown in FIG. 9, the relationship between each operation angle (operation position) on the cooling side and the set temperature is also stored as a control temperature range table in the memory in the ECU 106 in FIG.

  8 and 9, two control temperature range tables are prepared for normal heating and for heat generation, with different set temperature ranges (control temperature ranges) corresponding to the operation angle ranges. This is detected from the skin temperature of the occupant seated on the seat 1 by the thermographic camera 111 (infrared temperature detecting device) in FIG. 3, and is detected as shown in FIGS. 10 (heating) and 11 (cooling). If the body temperature belongs to the normal heat range (35 ° C. or more and less than 37 ° C. in this embodiment), the temperature control range is set to the normal temperature range A and the body temperature is the fever range (37 ° C. or more and less than 40 ° C. in this embodiment). This is because the temperature control range is set to a heat generation suitability range B different from the normal heat suitability range A.

As shown in FIG. 10, during heating, the upper limit temperature θ _bx ′ and the lower limit temperature θ _b1 ′ of the heat generation suitability range B are set higher than the upper limit temperature θ _ax ′ and the lower limit temperature θ _a1 ′ of the normal heat suitability range A, respectively. Has been. Specifically, the vertical axis represents the set temperature (the temperature of the warm air blown from the jet port 104 of the seat 1), and the horizontal axis represents the occupant's body temperature (body temperature). During the so-called normal heating in which the detected body temperature of the occupant is 35 ° C. or more and less than 37 ° C., the heating blowout temperature is set within the normal heating range aptitude range A of 44 ° C. (θ _a1 ′) or more and 52 ° C. (θ _ax ) or less. When the body temperature is 37 ° C. or more and less than 40 ° C., the heating blowout temperature can be set in the exothermic range B of 40 ° C. (θ _b1 ′) to 44 ° C. (θ _bx ′). The operation angle range of the hand operation switch 112 in the heating mode is not changed by [α1 ′, αx ′], and as shown in FIG. 8, in the normal temperature suitable range A, the lower limit temperature θ _a1 ′ (here, α1 ′) 44.degree. C.), a control temperature range table showing set temperatures at individual operation angles is prepared in such a manner that a lower limit temperature _.theta.ax '(here, 52.degree. C.) is assigned to .alpha.x'. The relationship between the operation angle and the set temperature can be set linearly or can be set non-linearly.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, during cooling, the upper limit temperature θ _bx and the lower limit temperature θ _b1 of the heat generation suitability range B are set lower than the upper limit temperature θ _ax and the lower limit temperature θ _{a1 of} the normal heating suitability range A, respectively. Yes. Specifically, the vertical axis represents the set temperature (the temperature of cool air blown from the jet port 104 of the seat 1), and the horizontal axis represents the occupant's body temperature (body temperature). During the so-called normal heating in which the detected body temperature of the occupant is 35 ° C. or higher and lower than 37 ° C., the cooling blowout temperature can be set within the normal heating range aptitude range A of 34 ° C. (θ _a1 ) or higher and 36 ° C. (θ _ax ) or lower. When the body temperature is 37 ° C. or higher and lower than 40 ° C., the cooling blowout temperature can be set in the heat generation appropriate range B of 37 ° C. (θ _b1 ) or higher and 39 ° C. (θ _bx ) or lower. The operation angle range in the cooling mode of the hand operation switch 112 is invariant with [α1, αx], and as shown in FIG. 9, the lower limit temperature θ _a1 (here 34 ° C.) is set to α1 in the normal temperature suitability range A. , Αx is assigned a lower limit temperature θ _ax (36 ° C. in this case), and a control temperature range table showing set temperatures at individual operation angles is prepared. The relationship between the operation angle and the set temperature can be set linearly or can be set non-linearly.

  Now, in the vehicle seat air conditioner 50 described above, the air conditioning set temperature (control temperature) is set and input by the control temperature setting input unit, specifically, the hand operation switch 112. Then, when the control temperature range is changed in a state where the input operation to the control temperature value setting input unit is not performed, the relative input position of the control temperature value on the control temperature range full scale remains unchanged. The set absolute value of the control temperature is updated from a value corresponding to the relative input position in the control temperature range before the change to a value corresponding to the relative input position in the control temperature range after the change. As a result, without changing the control temperature range, the control temperature value is automatically changed to the value corresponding to the control temperature range after changing the relative input position without changing the temperature setting change input. It can be omitted.

More specifically, the control temperature setting input section has a full scale from the lowest settable temperature to the highest temperature, and the occupant inputs the temperature setting within the full scale range and The relative input position on the scale can be determined. For example, taking heating as an example, in the normal temperature control temperature range, the minimum temperature θ _a1 ′ = 44 ° C., the maximum temperature θ _ax ′ = 52 ° C., and the full scale range is 52-44 = 8 (° C.). If the set input temperature is 48 ° C., the relative input position is a position of 4 ° C., that is, a position of 50% when viewed from the lowest temperature θ _a1 ′ side. In this state, when the control temperature is switched to the exothermic control temperature range, the minimum temperature θ _b1 ′ = 40 ° C., the maximum temperature θ _bx ′ = 44 ° C., and the full scale range is 44-40 = 4 ° C. Since the relative input position is fixed at a position of 50% when viewed from the lowest temperature side, 4 ° C. × 0.5 = 2 ° C., and the set temperature after the change is automatically changed to 40 + 2 = 42 ° C. That is, by switching from the normal temperature control temperature range to the heat generation control temperature range, the set temperature is automatically reduced from 48 ° C. to 42 ° C., which is 6 ° C., even though the operation position of the hand operation switch 112 is not changed. It means switching.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, in both the heating mode and the cooling mode, the control temperature range during heat and the control temperature range during heat generation do not have an overlapping range. It is inherently impossible to hold the set temperature for switching between the control temperature range and the control temperature range during heat generation. However, it is possible to have an overlap between the normal temperature control temperature range and the heat generation control temperature range. In this case, if the control temperature is set in the overlap section, holding the set temperature is the principle. Is impossible.

  However, when the control temperature value setting input unit is an analog operation unit having a fixed machine operation stroke range (that is, an operation angle range) like the hand operation switch 112 of the present embodiment, the set temperature is an analog operation. It is only mechanically stored as the operation position of the part. Therefore, in order to hold this, a mechanism for driving the analog operation unit from the operation position corresponding to the control temperature range before the change to the operation position corresponding to the control temperature range after the change must be considered. Needless to say, the control temperature value setting input unit is expensive and the mechanism is complicated. In the case of an analog operation unit, it is easy in terms of configuration to hold the operation position and automatically change the set temperature in accordance with the switching between the normal temperature control temperature range and the heat generation control temperature range, and to change the body temperature At the same time, it can be said that the air conditioning output shifts appropriately.

  The control temperature value setting input unit can also be configured as a digital temperature setting unit that digitally inputs a set temperature. In the case of the digital temperature setting unit, it is possible to hold the relative input position on the operation full scale in the same way as described above for the change of the control temperature range. On the other hand, the set temperature can also be held. It is relatively easy to store the temperature memory value as it is.

  As described above, the ECU 106 in FIG. 3 receives the operation position of the hand operation switch 112 from the temperature adjustment input interface 122, and further appropriately refers to the control temperature range table according to the body temperature detected by the thermography camera 111. The acquired operation position is converted into the cooling set temperature θ or the heating set temperature θ ′. Then, the temperature detection value T of the inside air temperature sensor 115 is acquired, and an appropriate duty ratio η is obtained by referring to the duty ratio (current value) table of FIG. 12 during heating and the duty ratio table of FIG. 13 during cooling. And the PWM switching transistor 155 is switched and driven with the duty ratio η to adjust the output of the Peltier element (as described above, the control input signal from the ECU 106 to the drive unit 121 is a PWM pulse signal. The drive output to the Peltier module output from the unit 121 is a current level signal). The duty ratio (current value) η is set higher as the θ-T increases during heating, and the duty ratio (current value) η is set higher as the T-θ increases during cooling. The ranges of the set temperatures θ and θ ′ in the duty ratio tables of FIGS. 12 and 13 are determined as a sum set range of the set temperature range during normal heating and the set temperature range during heat generation shown in FIGS. 8 and 10.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle seat air conditioner 50 will be described using a flowchart. The contents of control are the same for the four sheets in FIG. 2, and independent drive control is performed. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the body temperature detection control process by the ECU 106 (this process is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals). First, the contents of the seating flag are read in S1 (the seating flag is initialized when the IG is turned on). In S2, the state of the buckle fastening detection switch 114 (occupant detection unit) is read, and in S3, it is confirmed based on the read result whether the current passenger is seated.

  If it is determined that the passenger is present in S3, the process proceeds to S4. If the seating flag is “0”, it means that a passenger is newly seated on the seat. In this case, the process proceeds to S5 to start the timer, and further proceeds to S6 to start the body temperature detection process by the thermographic camera 111 and change the seating flag to “1” in S7. On the other hand, if the seating flag is “1” in S4, it means that the occupant has already been seated on the seat and the seating is continued. In this case, the process proceeds to S8, the timer value is read, and if the time is not up, the process proceeds to S10 and the body temperature detection process is continued. If the time is up, the body temperature detection process is stopped, and the thermographic camera 111 is turned off.

  Next, when the seating of the passenger is not detected in S3, the process proceeds to S12. If the seating flag is “1”, it means that the state where the occupant is seated on the seat has changed to the non-sitting state. In this case, the process proceeds to S13, the body temperature detection process is stopped, the thermographic camera 111 is turned off, the timer is reset in S14, and the seating flag is changed to “0” in S15. On the other hand, if the seating flag is “0” in S4, it means that the non-sitting state of the seat is continued, and in this case, nothing is done and the process returns.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the set temperature range switching process. In S51, it is confirmed whether the body temperature is being detected. If the body temperature is being detected, the process proceeds to S52, where it is determined whether the body temperature is a normal heat range or a heat generation area, and in S54 and S55, the corresponding control temperature range tables of FIGS. 8 to 9 are selected according to the determination results. . In the following, the set temperature (and the air conditioning mode) is read from the operation position of the hand operation switch 112, and as described above, the set duty ratio (current value) η is read with reference to the tables of FIGS. This is the process of driving the Peltier module 3 by the ratio.

  In the embodiment described above, the body temperature is detected by the thermography camera, but the body temperature can also be detected by contact with, for example, a temperature sensor (for example, a thermocouple or thermistor) provided on the handle surface. In addition, a method of indirectly detecting the body temperature by, for example, detecting sweating with a skin resistance sensor or increasing the heart rate by detecting heartbeat with a fingertip can be employed. Further, instead of the thermographic imaging apparatus, other non-contact temperature measuring means such as an IR sensor or a radiation thermometer may be employed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the seating detection means may be a camera 110 that captures a seated occupant. As shown in FIG. 5A, the camera 110 can photograph the seat 1 from the front, and defines a photographing field of view 110F so that the upper body (at least the upper part from the neck) of the user HK is included. The presence or absence of the user HK can be specified. Note that a pressure-sensitive sensor may be incorporated in the seating surface of the seat 1 as seating detection means, or this may be used in combination with the camera 110 to detect seating. For example, when a load is detected by the pressure sensor and a face image of the user HK is detected in the imaging field 110F of the camera 110, a seating detection or a disturbance is applied to the seat. It is possible to prevent erroneous detection due to light or the like. In addition, the combined use of the pressure-sensitive sensor can ensure the accuracy of seating detection even if the facial image identification accuracy is somewhat lowered, contributing to the weight reduction of the algorithm. In the case of using the camera 110, by specifying the neck region N in FIG. 4 with higher accuracy by referring to the image of the camera 110 by matching the shooting field of view with the shooting field of view of the thermography camera 111. Can be done.

Side surface sectional drawing which shows an example of the seat for motor vehicles incorporating the vehicle seat air conditioner of this invention. The plane schematic diagram which shows the installation example of the seat layout in a vehicle, and the vehicle seat air conditioner. The whole block diagram which shows an example of the electrical constitution of the vehicle seat air conditioner of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the example of attachment of the thermography camera as an infrared temperature detection apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the example which performs seating detection with a camera. The schematic diagram of the picked-up image of a passenger | crew's upper body by a thermography camera. Explanatory drawing which shows the example which comprises a passenger | crew detection sensor as a buckle fastening detection switch. The circuit diagram which shows an example of the electrical constitution of the drive unit of a Peltier module. The conceptual diagram of the control temperature range table used at the time of heating. The conceptual diagram of the control temperature range table used at the time of air_conditioning | cooling. The figure which shows the example of a setting of the normal temperature control temperature range at the time of heating, and the heat generation control temperature range. The figure which shows the example of a setting of the normal temperature control temperature range at the time of cooling, and the heat generation control temperature range. The schematic diagram of the duty ratio table used at the time of heating. The schematic diagram of the duty ratio table used at the time of air_conditioning | cooling. The flowchart which shows the flow of a body temperature detection control process. The flowchart which shows the flow of a control temperature range switching process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet | seat 3 Peltier module 4 Blower 10A, 10B Air conditioner 106 ECU (Control temperature range change setting means, air-conditioning control means, infrared temperature detection device operation control means)
111 Thermography camera (body temperature information acquisition means, body temperature detection means, infrared temperature detection device)
112 Hand control switch (control temperature value setting input section)
113 Hand power switch 114 Buckle fastening detection switch (seat detection means, occupant detection means)

Claims (10)

An air conditioner provided on a vehicle seat;
Body temperature detecting means for detecting the body temperature of an occupant seated on the seat ;
Exothermic determination means for determining whether the detected body temperature belongs to a predetermined normal heat area or a heat generation area whose central temperature is higher than the normal heat area;
When the air-conditioning apparatus performs a heating operation, the control temperature range of the air-conditioning apparatus is set to a predetermined appropriate range during heating normal heating when the body temperature belongs to the normal heat range, and the control temperature range when the body temperature belongs to the heat generation area. Is set to a predetermined heating appropriate range during heating heat generation, the center temperature is lower than the heating normal heating appropriate range,
When the air conditioner is in a cooling operation, the control temperature range is set to a predetermined appropriate range during cooling normal heating when the body temperature belongs to a normal heating range, and the control temperature range is set to the cooling when the body temperature belongs to a heat generation range. Control temperature range change setting means for setting a predetermined appropriate range during cooling heat generation having a center temperature higher than the appropriate range during normal heating ;
Control temperature value setting input means for setting a control temperature value belonging to the control temperature range set by the control temperature range change setting means based on the operation of the occupant;
Air conditioning control means for controlling the operation of the air conditioner at the set control temperature value ;
A vehicle seat air-conditioning apparatus comprising: The air conditioning system has been embedded in the seat integrally with the wind machine and Gashirube air passage feeding the Peltier module,
2. The vehicle seat air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning control means controls the drive current of the Peltier module so that the blowout temperature of the air conditioner approaches the set control temperature value. The vehicle seat air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein an upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature of the heating heating proper range are set lower than an upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature of the heating normal heating proper range, respectively . The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature of the appropriate range during cooling heat generation are set higher than an upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature of the appropriate range during cooling normal heating, respectively. Seat air conditioner. The vehicular seat air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the body temperature detecting means is an infrared temperature detecting device that detects a skin temperature of the occupant seated on the seat. 6. The vehicle seat air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the infrared temperature detecting device is a thermographic imaging device that performs thermographic imaging of a skin exposed portion of the upper body of the occupant . Comprising seating detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the occupant sitting on the seat;
The control temperature range change setting unit is set before the transition to the seating non-detection state when the seating detection unit transitions from the seating detection state to the seating non-detection state and then returns to the seating detection state. The vehicle seat air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a control temperature range is updated based on the body temperature detected after returning to the seating detection state . The seating detection means is a buckle fastening detection switch that is incorporated in a buckle of a seat belt provided on the seat and detects whether or not the passenger is seated in conjunction with fastening and release of the buckle. Vehicle seat air conditioner. The body temperature detection means is an infrared temperature detection device that detects a skin temperature of the occupant seated on the seat,
Infrared temperature detection device operation control means for detecting operation of the infrared temperature detection device on the condition that the seating detection means detects seating, and stopping the detection operation of the infrared temperature detection device when seating detection is not performed. The vehicle seat air conditioner according to claim 7 or 8 . The infrared temperature detection device operation control means starts the detection operation of the skin temperature by the infrared temperature detection device when the seating detection means shifts from the non-sitting detection state to the seating detection state. When the maximum duration of the detection operation is determined and either the expiration of the maximum duration or the transition from the seating detection state to the seating non-detection state is established, the detection of the infrared temperature detection device It is supposed to stop the operation,
The control temperature range change setting means sets and updates the control temperature range of the air conditioner based on the detected skin temperature every time the detection operation by the infrared temperature detection device is resumed from a stopped state. The vehicle seat air conditioner according to claim 9 .

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