JP5910285B2 - Air conditioner for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner, and more particularly to a vehicle air conditioner capable of air conditioning a passenger compartment before a user gets on the vehicle.

  When a vehicle air conditioner is started, there is an increasing interest in the problem that unpleasant odors staying in the air conditioner or in the ventilation path (also referred to as a duct) are blown out, causing discomfort to the user.

  Therefore, between the blower for sending the wind in the ventilation path and the fluid blowing hole for blowing the heat-exchanged air into the vehicle interior, the fluid discharge hole and the ventilation for discharging the blown air out of the ventilation path A vehicular air conditioner provided with a fluid suction hole for sucking air outside the path into the path has been devised (see Patent Document 1).

  Also, the inside air is introduced into the first ventilation path so that the introduced inside air is blown out from the defroster outlet or the register outlet, and the outside air is introduced into the second ventilation path so that the introduced outside air A vehicle air conditioner that is blown out from a foot outlet has been devised (see Patent Document 2).

  Also, in a vehicle air conditioning system, when the user receives a signal indicating that he or she is about to get into the vehicle in an environment where the temperature in the passenger compartment is very high such as in summer, the air conditioning is performed in advance. Has been devised (see Patent Document 3).

JP 05-0069741 A JP 2010-264826 A JP 2004-026139 A

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to newly provide a fluid discharge hole and a fluid suction hole, and there is a problem that it cannot be applied to an existing vehicle air conditioner.

  In the configuration of Patent Document 2, the odor is blown out from the foot outlet, but in any case, the odor is agitated with the air in the vehicle compartment blown out from the defroster outlet or the register outlet through the inside air circulation. At this time, the user may feel unpleasant because the odor may gradually become stronger even though the user hardly got odor when getting on the vehicle. Although the countermeasure against the odor is control in consideration of suppressing the deterioration of the air conditioning performance, it cannot be said that the countermeasure against the user's desire for the air conditioning.

  Moreover, in the structure of patent document 3, only pre-air-conditioning is implemented and removal or reduction of the odor stagnating in a duct or an air conditioner is not performed actively.

  Against the background of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioner capable of reducing the odor blown into the passenger compartment during air conditioning and ensuring the comfort in the passenger compartment. .

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

An air conditioner for a vehicle for solving the above problems includes an air conditioning unit that performs air conditioning in a vehicle interior, an air conditioning control unit that performs operation control of the air conditioning unit, and a portable device possessed by a user outside the vehicle. A receiving unit that receives a pre-air conditioning instruction for causing the unit to perform pre-air conditioning that is a predetermined air conditioning operation, and the air conditioning control unit is configured to receive an air conditioning unit when the receiving unit receives the pre-air conditioning instruction. Before executing the pre-air conditioning, it is assumed that the deodorizing air conditioning, which is an air conditioning operation different from the pre-air conditioning, is executed.

  The present invention does not execute exhaust odor air conditioning after the user gets on as in the prior art, but executes and completes exhaust odor air conditioning in accordance with pre-air conditioning executed before the user gets on the vehicle. The odor in the room can be further reduced, and the air-conditioning state can also be set to a level that reduces the user's discomfort. Therefore, when the user gets on, air conditioning control according to the user's preference can be performed from the beginning.

The figure which shows the structural example of the vehicle air conditioner. The figure which shows the structural example of an air-conditioner part. The flowchart explaining an air-conditioning control process.

  Hereinafter, the vehicle air conditioner of this invention is demonstrated using drawing. In FIG. 1, the structural example of the vehicle air conditioner 1 is shown. The vehicle air conditioner 1 includes an air conditioner ECU 2, a DCM (Data Communication Module) 3 that is a device for performing wireless communication with a communication device outside the vehicle, an air conditioner unit 4, and a portable device 5 possessed by a user. The air conditioner ECU 2 and the DCM 3 are connected by a communication bus (hereinafter abbreviated as “bus”) 6 such as a LAN and can exchange various information.

  The air conditioner ECU 2 (corresponding to the air conditioning control unit of the present invention) includes a CPU 200 for information processing such as various calculations, a RAM 201 as a work area of the CPU 200, a non-volatile memory 202 for storing an air conditioning control program and various information. The air conditioner ECU 2 is connected to the bus 6 via a communication interface unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “I / F”) 203 (corresponding to the detection unit of the present invention). In the air conditioner ECU 2, a CPU 200, a RAM 201, a nonvolatile memory 202, an I / F 203, and an input / output unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “I / O”) 204 are connected by a data bus 210 so that information can be transferred.

  The air conditioner ECU 2 is connected to the air conditioning operation unit 205 and the air conditioning sensor group 206 via the I / O 204.

  The air-conditioning operation unit 205 is provided, for example, on an air-conditioner panel provided in the center of the instrument panel that can be operated by a driver and a passenger on the front passenger seat, and is provided with an ON / OFF switch, an air volume switching switch, a temperature setting switch, and an outlet. It includes switches such as a changeover switch (MODE switch), an inside / outside air changeover switch, a defroster switch, and an A / C switch. Each of these switches is configured as a well-known pressing operation unit or dial operation unit.

  The air-conditioning sensor group 206 includes, for example, an inside air temperature sensor that detects the inside temperature of the vehicle, an outside air temperature sensor that detects the outside temperature of the vehicle, a post-evaporator sensor that detects the temperature of the air immediately after passing through the evaporator, and a solar radiation sensor that detects the amount of solar radiation. And a known sensor such as a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity inside the vehicle.

  The air conditioner ECU 2 is connected to an air outlet switching damper 400, an inside / outside air switching damper 401, and an air mix damper 402 provided in the duct 406 of the air conditioner unit 4 shown in detail in FIG. And commands them to drive. The air outlet switching damper 400 switches the open / close state of an air conditioner air outlet (for example, face (FACE), foot (FOOT), defroster (DEF)) that is opened or connected to the duct 406.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner unit 4 (corresponding to the air conditioner unit of the present invention) includes an air conditioner unit (only part of which is shown) that is a well-known HVAC (Heating Ventilating and Air-Conditioning) unit, and a cooling output of the air conditioner unit. And a well-known refrigeration cycle (not shown), and a blower fan 403, an evaporator 404, and a heater core 405 are provided in the duct 406.

  The inside / outside air switching damper 401 switches between an inside air inlet for circulating air inside the vehicle and an outside air inlet for taking air outside the vehicle.

  As the blower fan 403 rotates, air (inside air or outside air) is taken into the duct 406 to form an air flow. Refrigerant gas compressed and liquefied by a compressor (not shown) driven by a vehicle engine or motor is flowed into the evaporator 404 and vaporized, thereby removing ambient heat. In this way, the evaporator 404 cools the air flow generated by the rotation of the blower fan 403.

  When the vehicle is equipped with an engine, the heater core 405 raises the air flow using the heat of the cooling water that has been heated by cooling the engine. An electric heater may be used.

  As described above, the evaporator 404 has a cooling function, and the heater core 405 has a heating function. Then, by adjusting the mixing ratio between the cool air cooled by the evaporator 404 and the warm air heated by the heater core 405 according to the opening degree of the air mix damper 402, the temperature is adjusted, and air is discharged from each outlet into the vehicle interior. Blow out.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the DCM 3 (corresponding to the receiving unit of the present invention) stores a CPU 300 for information processing (for example, signal level determination, signal error determination), a RAM 301 as a work area of the CPU 300, programs, and various information. ROM 302 is provided. The DCM 3 is connected to the bus 6 via a communication interface unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “I / F”) 303. The wireless communication unit 304 includes a communication circuit capable of wireless communication with the portable device 5 or other vehicle devices. In the DCM 3, the CPU 300, the RAM 301, the ROM 302, the I / F 303, and the wireless communication unit 304 are connected by the data bus 310 so that information can be transferred.

  When the DCM 3 correctly receives various signals (for example, a pressing signal for the pre-air conditioning button 506 of the portable device 5), the DCM 3 outputs the information to the bus 6 via the I / F 303. The vehicle apparatus such as the air conditioner ECU 2 acquires necessary information from the information exchanged by the bus 6.

  The portable device 5 includes a CPU 500, a RAM 501, a ROM 502, a wireless communication unit 503, and a pre air conditioning button 506. The CPU 500 executes various types of information processing. The RAM 501 is used as a work area for the CPU 500. The ROM 502 is used for storing programs and various types of information. In the portable device 5, the CPU 500, the RAM 501, the ROM 502, the wireless communication unit 503, and the pre-air conditioning button 506 are connected by the data bus 510 so that information can be transferred.

  The wireless communication unit 503 is used for wireless communication with the DCM 3. The pre-air conditioning button 506 is a button that is pressed (ON operation) when the user of the vehicle commands pre-air conditioning from outside the vehicle.

  The portable device 5 may transmit a signal (that is, a pre-air-conditioning command) directly to the DCM 3 as described above, or may be closest to the current position of the vehicle via a public communication line such as a cellular phone or a smartphone. It may be a portable communication terminal that transmits a signal to the DCM 3 via the base station.

  With the configuration as described above, the air conditioner ECU 2 drives and controls the air conditioner unit 4 based on the operation states of the various air conditioning operation units 205 and the detection results of the various air conditioning sensor groups 206, thereby controlling the blowing temperature control, the air volume control, Well-known air conditioning control such as inside air / outside air intake switching control and air outlet switching control is executed (corresponding to “normal air conditioning” described later). These air conditioning controls are executed by the CPU 200 executing an air conditioning control program stored in the nonvolatile memory 202.

  Further, a known ignition switch 10 and a boarding detection unit 11 are connected to the bus 6. These may be connected to the I / O 204. The ignition switch 10 also includes an I / F (not shown) for outputting an on / off state to the bus 6.

The boarding detection unit 11 detects whether or not the user has boarded the vehicle, and includes at least one of the following. The detected information is output to the bus 6 via an I / F (not shown) included in the boarding detection unit 11.
-Door lock switch that detects the door lock status (unlocked / locked).
-Door switch that detects the opening and closing of the door.
A seating sensor composed of a switch provided in a seating portion of a vehicle seat.
A camera installed inside the vehicle so as to be capable of photographing (including an image processing unit that analyzes the photographed image).

  The air conditioning control process included in the air conditioning control program stored in the nonvolatile memory 202 of the air conditioner ECU 2 and repeatedly executed by the CPU 200 at a predetermined timing will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether or not a pre-air conditioning instruction signal (that is, a pre-air conditioning button 506 pressing signal) from the portable device 5 has been received.

  For example, when a pre-air conditioning instruction signal is not received even after a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed (S11: No), the process proceeds to step S18 (details will be described later). On the other hand, when the pre-air-conditioning instruction signal is received (S11: Yes), the air-conditioner unit 4 is caused to execute deodorizing air-conditioning (S12).

In the deodorizing air conditioning, for example, each damper is switched as follows.
Switching the inside / outside air switching damper 401 to the outside air inlet side (outside air introduction).
-Switch the air mix damper 402 to the cold air side. Or it is set as the angle corresponding to the setting temperature at the time of deodorizing air conditioning.
-The air outlet switching damper 401 is switched so that air can be blown from all air outlets. Or it switches so that ventilation can be performed from a FACE blower outlet and a FOOT blower outlet (so-called bi-level). It is desirable that the number of outlets that can be blown out at the same time is the largest.
-Maximize the rotational speed of the blower fan 403. The rotational speed may be changed according to the battery voltage.
Further, the compressor (not shown) may not be driven.

  Next, the time since the start of the deodorizing air conditioning is measured, and it is determined whether or not the deodorizing air conditioning has passed a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds). When the predetermined time has elapsed (S13: Yes), the air conditioner unit 4 is caused to execute pre-air conditioning based on the settings of the blowing temperature, wind, intake air (for example, outside air introduction), and air outlet corresponding to the pre-air conditioning ( S14). At this time, the compressor is driven by a motor (in the case of a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle) and an engine (in the case of an engine vehicle).

Next, it is determined whether or not any of the following pre-air conditioning stop conditions is satisfied.
When the pre-air-conditioning stop instruction signal is received from the portable device 5, for example, when the pre-air-conditioning button 506 is pressed during the pre-air-conditioning operation, it is determined that the pre-air-conditioning stop condition is satisfied.
-It determines with pre air-conditioning stop conditions having been satisfied, when the execution time of pre air conditioning passes predetermined value (for example, 5 minutes).
When the battery voltage falls below a predetermined voltage threshold, it is determined that the pre-air conditioning stop condition is satisfied.
The state of the battery is acquired from another vehicle device via the bus 6, for example.

Moreover, when the boarding detection part 11 detects that the user boarded the vehicle as follows, for example, you may determine with pre-air-conditioning stop conditions having been satisfied.
It is assumed that the user gets on when the door lock switch detects a change from locking to unlocking.
Suppose that the user gets on when the door switch detects a change from door close to door open.
It is assumed that the user gets on when the seating sensor detects the seating of the user.
It is assumed that the user gets on when the camera photographs the presence of the user in the car.

  The above-described configuration includes a boarding detection unit that detects whether or not the user has boarded, and determines that the pre-air-conditioning stop condition is satisfied when the boarding detection unit detects that the user has boarded the vehicle.

  When the pre-air-conditioning stop condition is satisfied (S15: Yes), the air-conditioner unit 4 is stopped from performing the pre-air-conditioning (S16). And the count of the air-conditioning interval timer which measures the time after the execution of pre-air-conditioning is completed until the ignition switch is turned on is started (S17).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 10 is turned on, for example, whether or not electric power is supplied to the engine or the driving motor (that is, whether or not the IG is on).

  When it is not in the IG ON state (S18: No), the process returns to step S11 to enter the pre-air-conditioning instruction reception determination state.

  On the other hand, when the IG ON state is reached (S18: Yes), it is determined whether or not the value of the air conditioning interval timer exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, a value corresponding to 60 seconds). When the timer value exceeds the threshold value (S19: Yes), the air conditioner unit 4 is caused to execute the deodorizing air conditioning as in step S12 described above (S20). At this time, it is desirable to select an air outlet other than the FACE air outlet in consideration of the user getting on. This is a configuration in which the air-conditioning control unit does not blow air from the air outlet opened toward the occupant seated in the seat when the air-conditioning unit performs the deodorizing air-conditioning prior to the normal air-conditioning.

  When the operation in the odor removal mode has passed a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) (S21: Yes), the air conditioning unit 4 is caused to execute the above-described normal air conditioning (S22).

  On the other hand, when the value of the air conditioning interval timer falls below the threshold value (S19: No), the air conditioning unit 4 is caused to execute normal air conditioning (S22).

  As described above, the odor staying in the duct 406 including the dry odor of the evaporator 404 is blown out into the passenger compartment by performing the deodorizing air conditioning. However, since the odor in the duct 406 is all exhausted and sufficiently agitated with the air in the passenger compartment before the user gets on, the strength of the odor is reduced. That is, the odor staying in the duct 406 is not directly blown to the user. Although some odor may remain in the passenger compartment, the odor does not become stronger than before, so that the user's discomfort is alleviated.

  Further, the passenger compartment is not completely sealed, and for example, a C pillar at the rear of the vehicle or a partition between the rear seat and the trunk room is formed with a slit so that air can flow. In this configuration, the agitated odor in the passenger compartment gradually flows out of the passenger compartment (for example, the trunk room), so there is no need to newly provide a fluid discharge hole and a fluid suction hole as in the prior art.

  In the configuration in which the pre-air conditioning is performed after the above-described exhaust odor air conditioning, since the air newly taken into the duct 406 blows out into the vehicle interior, the odor reduced by being stirred in the vehicle interior can be further reduced.

  By performing pre-air conditioning after exhaust air conditioning, when the user causes the air conditioning unit 4 to perform normal air conditioning when boarding, since odor does not stay in the duct 406, it is assumed that cold air is blown out toward the user. Even so, the user does not feel uncomfortable.

  In addition, it takes time from the execution of pre-air conditioning until the user gets on (that is, until the IG is turned on), and even if odor is accumulated in the duct 406, the deodorizing air-conditioning is performed before the normal air-conditioning. Since it performs, a user's discomfort can be reduced.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible.

1 Vehicle Air Conditioner 2 Air Conditioner ECU (Air Conditioning Control Unit)
3 DCM (receiver)
4 Air conditioning unit (air conditioning unit)
5 Mobile device 203 Communication interface part (I / F, detection part)
204 Input / output unit (I / O)

Claims (3)

An air conditioning unit for air conditioning the interior of the vehicle;
An air conditioning control unit for controlling the operation of the air conditioning unit;
A receiving unit that receives a pre-air conditioning instruction for causing the air-conditioning unit to perform pre-air conditioning that is a predetermined air-conditioning operation from a portable device possessed by a user outside the vehicle;
A start detection unit for detecting a state of an ignition switch of the vehicle;
With
When the receiving unit receives the pre-air-conditioning instruction, the air-conditioning control unit executes deodorized air-conditioning that is an air-conditioning operation different from the pre-air-conditioning before causing the air-conditioning unit to perform the pre-air-conditioning. then,
When it is detected that the ignition switch has been turned on after a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of the pre-air-conditioning, the air-conditioning unit is caused to execute normal air-conditioning, which is a normal air-conditioning operation. The vehicle air conditioner is characterized in that the deodorizing air conditioning is executed for a predetermined time prior to the operation .   The air conditioning control unit introduces outside air into the duct of the air conditioning unit during the execution of the deodorizing air conditioning, and is connected to the duct to blow out the air in the duct into the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air staying in the duct is blown out into the vehicle room in a state where there is the largest number of items that can be simultaneously blown out.   The vehicle air-conditioning control unit according to claim 1, wherein the air-conditioning control unit causes the air-conditioning unit to execute the deodorizing air-conditioning for a predetermined time when the receiving unit receives the pre-air-conditioning instruction. Air conditioner.

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