JP6938899B2 - Seat air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

The present application relates to a seat air conditioning system used for a vehicle seat.

For example, in the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, the cooling / heating means is controlled so that the temperature difference between the seated person's skin temperature and the seat surface temperature is within a predetermined temperature difference range.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-239797

The present application provides an air conditioning system for a vehicle seat that allows a person seated in the vehicle seat to feel comfortable.

The present application is an invention based on the finding that "there is a correlation between the ambient temperature of a person seated in a vehicle seat and the surface temperature of the seat that the seated person feels comfortable with" discovered by the inventor.

That is, an atmospheric temperature detection device (S3) for detecting the ambient temperature of a person seated on the vehicle seat, and a temperature for adjusting the temperature of the surface by cooling, heating, or ventilating the surface of the vehicle seat. The control threshold (Ts), which is the operating target value of the temperature control device (7, 9), is determined by using the detection temperature detected by the control device (7, 9) and the atmosphere temperature detection device (S3). A control device (20) capable of executing an automatic control process for controlling the operation of the temperature control devices (7, 9) so as to have a determined control threshold value (Ts) is provided.

Thereby, it is possible to provide an air conditioning system for a vehicle seat so that a person seated in the vehicle seat can feel comfortable.
The present application may be configured as follows.

A surface temperature detecting device (S1, S2) for detecting the surface temperature of the vehicle seat is provided, the control threshold value (Ts) is the target surface temperature of the vehicle seat, and the control device (20) further. In the automatic control process, even if the operation of the temperature control device (7, 9) is controlled so that the difference between the surface temperature detected by the surface temperature detection devices (S1, S2) and the control threshold value (Ts) becomes small. good.

The temperature controller is configured to have at least a blower (7, 9). The blower (7, 9) may be of either a suction method or a discharge method.
Incidentally, the reference numerals in the parentheses are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations and the like described in the embodiments described later, and the present invention is limited to the specific configurations and the like shown in the symbols in the parentheses. It's not something.

It is an external view of the vehicle seat 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a control block diagram of the seat air-conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. A is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the control threshold value Ts and the atmospheric temperature T1. Reference numeral B is a graph showing the relationship between the control threshold value Ts and the detected temperatures of the surface temperature sensors S1 and S2. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control of the seat air-conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

The "embodiment of the invention" described below is an example of an embodiment belonging to the technical scope of the present invention. That is, the matters specifying the invention described in the claims are not limited to the specific configuration, structure, etc. shown in the following embodiments.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The arrows and the like indicating the directions attached to each figure are described in order to make it easier to understand the relationship between each figure. The present invention is not limited to the directions attached to each figure.

At least one member or part described with a reference numeral is provided unless otherwise specified such as "one". That is, if there is no notice such as "one", two or more of the members may be provided.

(First Embodiment)
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a seat air-conditioning system applied to a vehicle seat for a front seat of a vehicle. In addition, the direction in the following description means the direction in the state where the vehicle seat according to this embodiment is assembled to the vehicle.

1. 1. Outline of Vehicle Seat As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 1 has at least a seat cushion 3 and a seat back 5. The seat cushion 3 is a portion for supporting the buttocks and the like of the seated person. The seat back 5 is a portion for supporting the back of the seated person.

Each of the seat cushion 3 and the seat back 5 is configured to have a skin portion, a slab, a seat pad, a frame, and the like. The frame is a member that constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion 3 or the seat back 5.

The seat pad is a cushion portion made of an elastic body such as molded urethane. The slab is a plate-shaped urethane or the like arranged between the skin portion and the seat pad. The epidermis is a part that covers the seat pad and the slab and is in direct contact with the seated person.

Blowers 7 and 9, which are examples of temperature control devices, are provided on the seat cushion 3 and the seat back 5, respectively. The temperature control device is a device for controlling the temperature of the surface of the vehicle sheet 1 by cooling, heating, or ventilating the surface.

The temperature control device according to the present embodiment, that is, the blowers 7 and 9, adjusts the temperature of the surface of the vehicle seat 1 by ventilating the surface. Specifically, the blowers 7 and 9 ventilate the surface of the vehicle seat 1 by sucking the air around the epidermis from the front surface side of the epidermis and discharging the air from the back surface side of the seat pad.

The vehicle seat 1 is provided with surface temperature sensors S1 and S2. The surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 are examples of a surface temperature detecting device for detecting the surface temperature of the sheet. The surface temperature sensor S1 is a sensor for detecting the surface temperature of the seat cushion 3.

The surface temperature sensor S2 is a sensor for detecting the surface temperature of the seat back 5. The surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 are arranged in the vicinity of the corresponding blowers 7 and 9 between the slab and the seat pad.

2. Control of seat air conditioning system 2.1 Configuration of seat air conditioning system Each of the blowers 7 and 9 is controlled by the control device 20 as shown in FIG. The control device 20 according to the present embodiment is a microcomputer configured to include a non-volatile storage unit such as a CPU, RAM, and ROM. Then, the control device 20 controls the operation of each of the blowers 7 and 9 according to a program (software) stored in advance in a non-volatile storage unit such as a ROM.

The detection signals of the surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 and the detection signals of the atmospheric temperature sensor S3 are input to the control device 20. The atmospheric temperature sensor S3 is an example of an atmospheric temperature detecting device for detecting the ambient temperature of a person seated on the vehicle seat 1.

In the present embodiment, the inside air temperature sensor of the vehicle air conditioner is used as the atmosphere temperature sensor S3. The control device 20 may be installed at any position on the vehicle including the vehicle seat 1.

2.2 Overview of control operation The control device 20 uses the detection temperature (hereinafter referred to as the atmosphere temperature T1) detected by the atmosphere temperature sensor S3 to set the control threshold value Ts, which is the operation target value of each of the blowers 7 and 9. decide. Next, the control device 20 controls the operation of the blowers 7 and 9 so that the surface temperature becomes the determined control threshold value Ts. Hereinafter, the control is also referred to as "automatic control processing".

That is, a functional expression or a map (see FIG. 3A) showing the relationship between the atmospheric temperature and the control threshold value Ts is stored in advance in the non-volatile storage unit such as the ROM. The control device 20 determines the control threshold value Ts with respect to the current atmospheric temperature T1 by utilizing the relationship shown in FIG. 3A.

The control threshold value Ts for controlling the blower 7 and the control threshold value Ts for controlling the blower 9 may be the same value or different values. Hereinafter, in the description, all the control threshold values Ts have the same value.

Next, the control device 20 controls the rotation speed of each of the blowers 7 and 9, that is, the amount of air blown so that the difference between the detected temperatures of the surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 and the control threshold value Ts becomes small. The control device 20 according to the present embodiment can independently control each of the blowers 7 and 9.

That is, the control device 20 independently controls each of the blowers 7 and 9 so that the difference between the detected temperatures of the surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 and the control threshold value Ts is within a predetermined temperature difference (FIG. FIG. See 3B).

2.3 Details of control operation (Fig. 4)
FIG. 4 shows, for example, the control operation of the blower 7. When a start switch (not shown) for operating the seat air conditioning system is turned on, a program for executing the control flow shown in FIG. 4 is read into the CPU from a non-volatile storage unit such as a ROM, and the CPU (not shown). The control device 20) executes the program.

The start switch according to the present embodiment also serves as a switch such as an ignition switch. The switch is a switch that enables electric power to be supplied to electrical components necessary for traveling a vehicle.

When the start switch is turned on, the control device 20 determines whether the switch SW (not shown) for the seat ventilation (air conditioning) system (SVS) is turned on (on) or shut off (off). Judge (S1).

When the control device 20 determines that it is in the cutoff state (off) (S1: off), the control device 20 puts the blower 7 in the stopped state (S3). When the control device 20 determines that it is in the on state (on) (S1: on), the operation mode of the blower 7 of the control device 20 is set to automatic (AUTO), high (Hi), medium (MID), and low. It is determined which mode of (Lo) is (S5).

The control device 20 determines which operation mode is selected from the state of the switch SW for the seat ventilation system. That is, when the switch is not in the cutoff state (off), one of automatic (AUTO), high (Hi), medium (MID), and low (Lo) is selected.

Then, when the control device 20 determines that any of high (Hi), medium (MID), and low (Lo) is selected (S5: Hi, MID, Lo), the control device 20 is in each mode. The rotation speed of the blower 7 is controlled so as to have a predetermined air volume corresponding to (S17).

When the control device 20 determines that automatic (AUTO) is selected (S5: AUTO), the control device 20 executes the automatic control process (S7 to S15). That is, after reading the atmospheric temperature T1 (S7), the control device 20 determines the control threshold value Ts corresponding to the atmospheric temperature T1 (S9).

Next, the control device 20 calculates the temperature difference between the detected temperature of the surface temperature sensor S1 and the control threshold value Ts (S11), and then outputs the blower 7 so that the temperature difference is within a predetermined temperature difference. That is, the amount of air blown by the blower 7 is determined (S13).

Then, the control device 20 applies a voltage that generates the determined air blower amount to the electric motor (not shown) of the blower 7 (S15). After that, the control device 20 executes S1 again. As a result, the blower 7 is controlled so that the difference between the detection temperature of the surface temperature sensor S1 and the control threshold value Ts becomes small.

3. 3. Features of the seat air conditioning system according to the present embodiment The functional expression or map (see FIG. 3A) showing the relationship between the atmospheric temperature and the control threshold value Ts is determined by trial and error by a test or the like. That is, the control threshold value Ts is the seat surface temperature at which the seated person feels comfortable with respect to the atmospheric temperature.

Then, the control device 20 according to the present embodiment, that is, the program incorporated in the control device 20, determines the control threshold value Ts using the atmospheric temperature T1, and the sheet surface temperature becomes the determined control threshold value Ts. Since the operation of each of the blowers 7 and 9 is controlled in this manner, it is possible to provide an air conditioning system for a vehicle seat that the seated person can feel comfortable with.

Further, since the blowers 7 and 8 are controlled so that the difference between the detection temperature of the surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 and the control threshold value Ts becomes small, an air conditioning system for a vehicle seat that the seated person can feel comfortable with can be provided. Can be reliably provided.

(Other embodiments)
The atmosphere temperature sensor S3 according to the above-described embodiment uses the inside air temperature sensor of the vehicle air conditioner. However, the invention disclosed in the present specification is not limited to this. That is, for example, a configuration in which a dedicated atmosphere temperature sensor S3 is provided, or a non-contact temperature detection device using an infrared camera or the like may be used as the atmosphere temperature detection device.

In the above-described embodiment, the seat air-conditioning system program is incorporated in the control device 20 for the seat air-conditioning system. However, the invention disclosed in the present specification is not limited to this.

That is, for example, the control device of the vehicle air-conditioning device may have a configuration in which the seat air-conditioning system program is incorporated. That is, the control device of the vehicle air conditioner may also serve as the control device for the seat air conditioner system.

The control device 20 according to the above-described embodiment compares the surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 with the detected temperature and the control threshold value Ts, and controls the blowers 7 and 9 so that the temperature difference becomes small. However, the invention disclosed in the present specification is not limited to this. That is, for example, the surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 may be abolished and the blowers 7 and 9 may be controlled without feeding back the temperature difference.

In the above-described embodiment, the surface temperature sensors S1 and S2 and the blowers 7 and 9 are provided on the vehicle seat 1. However, the invention disclosed in the present specification is not limited to this. That is, for example, even if the surface temperature detection device is configured by a non-contact temperature detection device using an infrared camera or the like, and the seat surface temperature is adjusted by a temperature control device provided in a portion other than the vehicle seat 1. good.

In the above-described embodiment, the temperature control device is configured by the blowers 7 and 9. However, the invention disclosed in the present specification is not limited to this. That is, for example, the sheet surface temperature may be adjusted by heating or cooling with an electric heater, a Perche element, or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been applied to the front seats of ordinary passenger cars. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other seats for automobiles or seats used for vehicles such as railroad vehicles, ships and aircraft.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it conforms to the gist of the invention described in the claims. Therefore, at least two of the plurality of embodiments described above may be combined.

1 ... Vehicle seat 3 ... Seat cushion 5 ... Seat back 7, 9 ... Blower 20 ... Control device S1 ... Surface temperature sensor S2 ... Surface temperature sensor S3 ... Atmospheric temperature sensor

Claims (3)

In the seat air conditioning system used for vehicle seats
An atmospheric temperature detector for detecting the ambient temperature of a person seated in a vehicle seat, and
A temperature control device that has at least a blower and regulates the temperature of the surface of the vehicle seat by ventilating the surface.
The control threshold value, which is the operation target value of the temperature control device, is determined by using the detected temperature detected by the atmosphere temperature detection device, and the operation of the temperature control device is controlled so as to be the determined control threshold value. Equipped with a control device capable of executing automatic control processing
The control device is a seat air-conditioning system that determines the control threshold value so that the control threshold value linearly increases as the detection temperature increases. Equipped with a surface temperature detection device for detecting the surface temperature of the vehicle seat,
The control threshold value is the surface temperature of the target vehicle seat.
Further, the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the control device controls the operation of the temperature control device so that the difference between the surface temperature detected by the surface temperature detection device and the control threshold value becomes small in the automatic control process. Seat air conditioning system. An atmospheric temperature detection device for detecting the ambient temperature of a person seated on a vehicle seat, and a temperature control device having at least a blower and ventilating the surface of the vehicle seat to adjust the temperature of the surface. It is a program for the seat air-conditioning system applied to the seat air-conditioning system equipped with.
In the seat air conditioning system program incorporated in the control device that controls the operation of the temperature control device,
The control threshold value, which is the operation target value of the temperature control device, is determined by using the detected temperature detected by the atmosphere temperature detection device, and the operation of the temperature control device is controlled so as to be the determined control threshold value. Execute automatic control processing,
The automatic control process is a program for a seat air conditioning system that determines the control threshold value so that the control threshold value linearly increases as the detection temperature increases.

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