JPH05147427A - Air conditioner controller for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly carry out the temperature control in a cabin without depending on the detected opening degree, even if the correct detected opening degree can not be obtained from the opening degree sensor of an air mixing damper because of the trouble of the opening degree sensor, etc. CONSTITUTION:When the detected opening degree by an opening degree sensor 160 is abnormal, a blower 30 stops operation for a prescribed time. In this state, an air mixing damper 50 is drive-controlled to an aimed opening degree independently of the detected opening degree according to the lapse of a prescribed stop time. Accordingly, the air mixing damper 50 can realize the aimed opening degree correctly without being influenced by the variation of the blowing air pressure of the blower 30. Since the blower 30 restarts operation after the lapse of a prescribed stop time, the temperature conditioning in a cabin can be carried out properly, without depending on the result of the detection, even if the opening degree sensor 160 fails.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioning control device suitable for use in vehicles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of vehicle air conditioning control device, as shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 2-86804, the actual opening of the air mix damper is detected by an opening sensor. However, there is one that controls the opening of the air mix damper so as to reduce the difference between the detected opening and the target opening of the air mix damper to maintain the actual temperature inside the vehicle compartment at the target temperature.

[0003]

However, in such a structure, when the opening sensor fails and the detected opening cannot be obtained correctly, the control is limited to full heat or full cool. Therefore, there is a problem in that the temperature control in the vehicle interior is far from being properly performed, and as a result, the function as the automatic air conditioning control is significantly impaired when the opening sensor malfunctions. Such a thing is substantially the same even when the opening sensor of the inside / outside air switching damper or the outlet switching damper is out of order.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a vehicle air-conditioning control apparatus in which the correct opening degree can be obtained from the opening degree detecting means of various dampers due to a failure of the opening degree detecting means. Even if it does not exist, it is intended to properly control the air conditioning in the vehicle compartment.

[0005]

In solving the above problems, the structural features of the present invention are, as shown in FIG. 1, a blower disposed in an air duct and an upstream side or a downstream side of the blower. At the air duct, a drive means 1 for driving the blower, an opening degree detecting means 2 for detecting an opening degree of the damper, and an opening degree detecting means 2
In the air conditioning control device for a vehicle, which is provided with an opening control means 3 for controlling the damper to drive to the target opening based on the detected opening, the determination is made when the detected opening becomes abnormal. The abnormality control means 4 for controlling the opening degree is provided, and the stop control means 5 for controlling the drive of the blower by the drive means 1 so as to stop the drive of the blower for a predetermined stop time based on the determination of the abnormality of the abnormality judgment means 4. The means 3 drives and controls the damper to the target opening degree according to the lapse of the predetermined stop time, and the drive means 1 restarts the drive of the blower when the predetermined stop time has elapsed. is there.

[0006]

With the above configuration of the present invention, when the abnormality judging means 4 judges an abnormality in the detected opening, the stop control means 5 stops driving the blower for the predetermined stop time. The driving means 1 is stopped so as to cause it.
Therefore, the blower temporarily suspends its blowing operation for the predetermined stop time, so that there is no change in the wind pressure on the upstream side or the wake side of the blower due to the blowing operation of the blower.
Further, in such a state, the opening control means 3 controls the drive of the damper to the target opening regardless of the detection result according to the passage of the predetermined stop time.
The damper is not affected by the change in wind pressure,
The target opening can be reached correctly. After that, since the drive means 1 restarts the drive of the blower when the predetermined stop time has elapsed, the air conditioning in the passenger compartment is appropriate without depending on the detection result even when the opening degree detection means 2 fails. Can be done.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows the overall construction of a vehicle air conditioning control device according to the present invention. This air conditioning controller
The vehicle has an air duct 10 equipped therein, and inside the air duct 10, from the upstream side to the downstream side thereof, an inside / outside air switching damper 20, a blower 30, and an evaporator 4 are provided.
0, an air mix damper 50, a heater core 60, and blowout port switching dampers 70, 80, 90 are provided. The inside / outside air switching damper 20 is switched to an outside air introduction position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) by a servo motor (not shown) to introduce outside air into the air duct 10 from the outside air introduction port 11, , The inside air introduction position (the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 2) is switched to introduce the air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle into the air duct 10 through the inside air introduction port 12.

The blower 30 is driven by a blower motor M to introduce the outside air from the outside air introduction port 11 or the inside air from the inside air introduction port 12 as an air flow through the inside / outside air switching damper 20 according to the rotation speed of the blower motor M. Blow to. The evaporator 40 cools the air flow from the blower 30 according to the operation of the refrigeration cycle of the air conditioning control device. The air mix damper 50 is a servo motor 50a.
The cooling air flow from the evaporator 40 is caused to flow into the heater core 60 in accordance with the actual opening degree, and the remaining cooling air flow is caused to directly flow toward the outlet switching dampers 70, 80, 90. The servo motor 50a is composed of a rotary electric motor.

The heater core 60 heats the inflowing cooling air flow in accordance with the temperature of the cooling water from the engine cooling system of the vehicle to change the blowout port switching dampers 70, 80, 9 respectively.
Flow toward 0. Each outlet switching damper 7
0 and 80 are switched to the open position only in the ventilating mode under the drive of each servo motor (not shown), and the air flow from the blowout ports 13 and 14 of the air duct 10 toward the center of the vehicle compartment. Blow out. Further, the blowout port switching damper 90 is switched to an open position only in the heat mode under the drive of a servomotor (not shown), and blows out an air flow from the blowout port 15 of the air duct 10 to the lower portion of the vehicle compartment. Let Also, the blower outlet switching dampers 70, 80, 9
Under the drive of each of the servo motors, 0 is switched to the open position only in the bi-level mode, and blows the air flow from the outlets 13 to 15 toward the center of the vehicle interior and downward.

Next, the electric circuit configuration for the air conditioning control device will be described. The operation switch SW is operated when the air conditioning control device is operated to generate an operation signal. The temperature setting device 100 is operated to set the actual temperature inside the vehicle compartment to a desired temperature, and generates the desired temperature as a set temperature signal. The inside air temperature sensor 110 detects the actual temperature inside the vehicle compartment and generates it as an inside air temperature detection signal. The outside air temperature sensor 120 detects the actual temperature of the outside air of the vehicle and generates it as an outside air temperature detection signal. The solar radiation sensor 130 detects the actual amount of solar radiation incident on the vehicle interior and generates it as a solar radiation detection signal. The outlet temperature sensor 140 detects the actual temperature of the cooling air flow at the outlet of the evaporator 40 and generates it as an outlet temperature detection signal. The water temperature sensor 150 detects the actual temperature of the cooling water of the engine cooling system of the vehicle and generates it as a water temperature detection signal.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the opening sensor 160 is composed of a variable resistor 161 and resistors 162 and 163 connected in series on both sides of the variable resistor 161, and one end of the resistor 162. Is supplied with a DC voltage of 5 (V) from a DC power source, while the resistance 16
One end of 3 is grounded. The slider 161a of the variable resistor 161 is connected to the air mix damper 50 so as to change the resistance value Rx of the variable resistor 161 in association with the change in the opening degree. Then, this opening sensor 1
60 is the actual opening of the air mix damper 50 (hereinafter,
The damper opening degree Θx) is detected and an opening degree detection voltage Vx proportional to the detected opening degree is generated by the slider 161a.

However, the opening detection voltage Vx and the damper opening Θx
Are specified by the linear relationship shown in FIG. In such a case, the damper opening Θx = Θmax corresponds to maximum heating, while the damper opening Θx = 0 corresponds to maximum cooling. Further, the opening sensor 16 is in the range of Vmin ≦ Vx ≦ Vmax.
0 indicates that the detection result is normal. Therefore, Vx>
Vmax or Vx <Vmin indicates that the opening sensor 160 itself has a failure, or the lead wire of the opening sensor 160 has a short circuit or a disconnection failure. The level conversion circuit 170 includes a set temperature signal from the temperature setter 100, an inside temperature detection signal from the inside temperature sensor 110, and an outside temperature sensor 1.
Each level of the outside air temperature detection signal from 20, the solar radiation detection signal from the solar radiation sensor 130, the outlet temperature detection signal from the outlet temperature sensor 140, the water temperature detection signal from the water temperature sensor 150, and the opening detection voltage from the opening sensor 160. Are converted into respective voltages proportional to them, and the microcomputer 19
Assign to 0.

The microcomputer 190 executes the computer program according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4 in cooperation with the level conversion circuit 170, and during this execution, the blower motor drive circuit 30a connected to the blower motor M and the servomotor 50a. Connected to the servo motor drive circuit 50b, other inside / outside air switching damper 20 and each outlet switching damper 70, 80, 9
The arithmetic processing required to drive and control each servo motor for 0 is performed. However, the computer program described above is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 190. Further, the microcomputer 190 is the power supply circuit 18
In response to the constant voltage from 0, the operation state is established, and in response to the operation signal from the operation switch SW, the execution of the computer program is started. The power supply circuit 180 is supplied with power from the battery B of the vehicle via the ignition switch IG to generate a constant voltage.

In this embodiment thus constructed, the engine of the vehicle is started on the basis of the closing of the ignition switch IG to drive the vehicle.
Further, the microcomputer 190 is activated by receiving a constant voltage from the power supply circuit 180. Then, when an operation signal is generated from the operation switch SW, the microcomputer 190 starts executing the computer program in step 200 according to the flowchart of FIG. 4, and in step 210, the level conversion circuit 170.
Each level conversion output from is read and digitally converted to set temperature Tset, inside temperature Tr, outside temperature Tam, insolation S
T, outlet temperature Te, cooling water temperature Tw, and opening voltage Vx (corresponding to damper opening Θx) are set.

After that, the microcomputer 190
In step 220, the required outlet temperature Tao into the vehicle compartment is set based on the following equation 1 to set temperature Tset, inside temperature Tr, and outside temperature T.
Calculated according to am and solar radiation amount ST.

[0016]

## EQU1 ## Tao = Kset.Tset-Kr.Tr-Kam.Tam-Ks.ST + C However, in Formula 1, Kset, Kr, Kam and Ks each represent a positive coefficient, and C is a constant. Represent Further, the microcomputer 190 causes the step 220 to be executed.
Then, the target opening degree Θo of the air mix damper 50 is calculated according to the required outlet air temperature Tao, the outlet temperatures Te and Tw based on the following equation 2.

[0017]

Mathematical Expression 2 Θo = (Tao−Te) / (Tw−Te) Mathematical Expressions 1 and 2 are R of the microcomputer 190.
Pre-stored in the OM.

After that, the microcomputer 190
At the same step 220, the flow rate Q of air blown into the vehicle interior
And the required outlet temperature Tao Q-Tao data representing the relationship between the required outlet temperature Tao and the outlet air flow rate Q is calculated, and the inside / outside air switching damper 20 is switched to perform the inside air introduction mode. Alternatively, one of the outside air introduction modes is determined, and the same blowing mode is determined by performing the arithmetic processing necessary for determining the blowing mode of each of the blowing port switching dampers 70 to 90. In addition, Q
The Tao data is stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 190 in advance.

At the present stage, the opening voltage Vx is Vmin ≦ V
If x ≦ Vmax is satisfied, the microcomputer 19
0 determines "YES" in step 230 and advances the computer program to step 240. Then, the microcomputer 190, in the same step 240,
Under normal control processing, an opening output signal necessary for reducing the opening difference between the target opening Θo of the air mix damper 50 in step 220 and the damper opening Θx in step 210 is generated, and in step 250 , Step 22
The blown air flow rate Q at 0 is generated as an air flow output signal, and the determined inside air introduction mode (or determined outside air mode) and the determined blowout mode at step 220 are generated as an introduction mode output signal and a blowout mode output signal, respectively. Note that Vmin ≦ Vx ≦ Vmax is
It is stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 190 in advance.

Then, the inside / outside air switching damper 20 is driven by the servo motor in response to the introduction mode output signal from the microcomputer 190 and is switched to the inside air introducing position or the outside air introducing position. Further, the blower motor M is driven by the blower motor drive circuit 30a in response to the air volume output signal from the microcomputer 190 to rotate the blower 30 at a rotation speed corresponding to the blown air flow rate Q. Therefore, the blower 30 introduces the air flow into the air duct 10 by the blowout air flow Q through the inside / outside air switching damper 20. The servo motor 50a is driven by the servo motor drive circuit 50b in response to the opening output signal from the microcomputer 190 to drive the air mix damper 50 toward the target opening Θo. Further, the blowout port switching dampers 70, 80, 90 are driven by the servomotors in response to the blowout mode output signal from the microcomputer 190 and are switched so as to correspond to the determined blowout mode.

However, when the air flow introduced by the blower 30 is cooled by the evaporator 40 as described above, a part of this cooling air flow is partially mixed with the air mix damper 5.
In accordance with the target opening degree Θo of 0, the heater core 60 flows into the heater core 60, is heated by the heater core 60, and flows toward the outlet switching dampers 70, 80, 90, while the remaining cooling air flow causes the air mix damper 50 to flow. It directly flows through the outlet switching dampers 70, 80, 90 through the above and mixes with the above-mentioned heated air flow. Then, this mixed air flow is used as a blown air flow and the blower switching dampers 7 are provided.
At least one of the outlets 13, 14, 15 is blown into the vehicle at a required outlet temperature Tao through at least one of 0, 80, 90. As a result, the air conditioning temperature in the vehicle compartment is properly controlled toward the set temperature Tset.

After that, the opening voltage Vx is Vmin≤Vx≤Vmax
If the above condition is not satisfied, the computer program proceeds to step 230 based on the judgment that the opening sensor 160 itself has a failure or the lead wire of the opening sensor 160 has a disconnection failure or a short-circuit failure. At this time, the microcomputer 190 determines “NO” and advances the computer program to step 260. Then, the microcomputer 190 stops the output of the air flow rate output signal to the blower motor drive circuit 30a for a predetermined stop time Toff (second) in the same step 260, and the step 27
At 0, a zero opening output signal required to set the damper opening of the air mix damper 50 to zero is generated for a predetermined time Tc (seconds), and then the target opening Θo in step 220.
The return opening output signal required to drive the air mix damper 50 is generated only for the time required to change from Θx = 0 to Θx = Θo.

However, the above stop time Toff and the predetermined time Tc are defined as follows. Even when the opening degree of the air mix damper 50 cannot be detected due to a failure of the opening degree sensor 160 or the like, in order to appropriately perform the air conditioning control of the vehicle interior without depending on the detection output of the opening degree sensor 160, the blower 30 The relationship between the blowing air and the opening degree of the air mix damper 50 was investigated. That is, if the blower 30 is rotating, the air pressure from the blower 30 is applied to the air mix damper 50. Therefore, the microcomputer 190
Even if the opening output signal from the
The control opening degree of the air mix damper 50 due to changes due to the wind pressure. Therefore, the damper opening Θx of the air mix damper 50 is not uniquely determined with respect to the drive time of the servomotor 50a.

However, when the blower 30 is stopped and the influence of the wind pressure on the air mix damper 50 is released, the damper opening Θx of the air mix damper 50 drives the servomotor 50a as shown in FIG. 5 (A). It was found that the time (hereinafter referred to as drive time TA) is uniquely determined. This means that if the influence of the wind pressure on the air mix damper 50 is cancelled, the damper opening Θx and the drive time TA are uniquely specified by a linear relationship. Therefore, we decided to make effective use of this phenomenon. In utilizing this, the air mix damper 50 has damper opening Θx =
Driving time TA required to drive from 0 to Θx = Θmax
Is defined as Tmax, Tc longer than this Tmax is defined, and Toff
Was set to be larger than the sum of Tc and Tmax (Fig. 5).
(See (B)). As a result, even if the air mix damper 50 has a failure of the opening sensor 160 when Θx = Θmax, the air mix damper 50 can be driven to Θx = Θmax again after returning to the original position until Θx = 0. ..

However, when the air volume output signal is stopped for the stop time Toff as described above, the blower 30 is stopped and the blowing of air to the air mix damper 50 is stopped for the stop time Toff. Further, when the zero opening output signal is generated as described above in the air blow stopped state, the servo motor 50a is driven by the servo motor drive circuit 50b, and the air mix damper 5 is driven.
Drive 0 to Θx = 0. After that, the air mix damper 50 is driven to the target opening Θo by the servomotor 50a by the generation of the return opening output signal as described above.
In this case, Toff is larger than the sum of Tc and Tmax, and the air blow to the air mix damper 50 is stopped during Toff. Therefore, the air mix damper does not depend on the detection output of the opening sensor 160. The opening of 50 can surely be the target opening Θo.

When Toff elapses, the microcomputer 190 determines in step 280 that the predetermined period TIN
For the remaining time after Toff is removed from T (see FIG. 5B), the same calculation processing as in step 250 is performed while the target opening Θo of the air mix damper 50 remains fixed. As a result, the air conditioning temperature control in the vehicle compartment is performed in substantially the same manner as described above based on the target opening degree Θo in step 270. Hereinafter, while the determination in step 230 is repeated “NO”, the execution of the computer program through steps 230 to 280 is repeated in the cycle TINT. As a result, the opening sensor 160
Even if the detection output cannot be relied upon due to a failure or the like, the air-conditioning temperature control in the vehicle interior can be properly performed under the appropriate opening control of the air mix damper 50. Incidentally, TINT is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 190 together with Toff.

In carrying out the present invention, the inside / outside air switching damper 20 and each outlet switching damper 70 are not limited to the failure of the opening sensor of the air mix damper 50.
Even if the present invention is applied and carried out when the means for detecting the switching opening degrees of 90 to 90 fails, it is possible to achieve substantially the same operational effects as the above-mentioned embodiment. In this case, the inside / outside air switching damper 20 is located on the upstream side of the blower 30,
The inside / outside air switching damper 20 is affected by the change in wind pressure on the upstream side of the blower 30 due to the blowing operation of the blower 30.

Further, in the above embodiment, the opening voltage V
When x does not satisfy Vmin ≦ Vx ≦ Vmax, the opening sensor 1
Although the example in which 60 is determined to be a failure has been described, actually, even if Vmin ≦ Vx ≦ Vmax is satisfied, the opening sensor 160 may have a failure. Therefore, the opening voltage Vx is not equal to Vmin or Vmax, and the servo motor 50a
Even if the servo motor drive circuit 50b is driven for a predetermined time and the opening voltage Vx does not change, it may be determined as "NO" in step 230.

In the above embodiment, the air mix damper 50 is driven to Θx = 0 and then to the target opening Θo. However, the invention is not limited to this. The air mix damper 50 is driven to Θx = Θmax. After that, the driving may be performed up to the target opening Θo. Further, without driving the air mix damper 50 to Θx = 0 or Θx = Θmax, the air mix damper 50 is set to the heating side or the cooling side according to the deviation between the actual opening and the target opening of the air mixing damper 50. You may implement it by driving on time. Thereby, the drive time of the servomotor 50a can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to the description of the claims.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a detailed circuit diagram of the opening sensor in FIG. 2 and a graph showing the relationship between the detected voltage and the opening of the air mix damper.

4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer of FIG.

5 is a graph showing the relationship between the opening degree of the air mix damper and the drive time of the servo motor in FIG. 2 when the blower is stopped, and a time chart for explaining the temporarily stopped state of the blower.

[Explanation of symbols]

M ... Blower motor, 20 ... Inside / outside air switching damper, 30
... Blower, 30a ... Blower motor drive circuit, 50 ... Air mix damper, 50a ... Servo motor, 50b ... Servo motor drive circuit, 70, 80, 90 ... Blowout port switching damper, 160 ... Opening degree sensor, 190 ... Microcomputer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A blower arranged in an air duct, a damper arranged in the air duct on an upstream side or a downstream side of the blower, and a drive means for driving the blower.
Vehicle air provided with an opening degree detecting means for detecting the opening degree of the damper, and an opening degree controlling means for controlling the damper to drive to the target opening degree based on the detected opening degree of the opening degree detecting means. In the harmony control device, an abnormality determining unit that determines when the detected opening becomes abnormal, and the drive of the blower by the drive unit is stopped for a predetermined stop time based on the determination of the abnormality of the abnormality determining unit. Stop control means for controlling so that the opening control means drives and controls the damper to the target opening according to the passage of the predetermined stop time, and the drive means controls the predetermined stop time. The vehicle air conditioning control device is characterized in that the drive of the blower is restarted when the above condition elapses.