JPH0840065A - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To restrain sleepiness or stress of an occupant, and contribute to safety travel of a vehicle by blowing off and diffusing a wakening perfume or a calming perfume to the interior. CONSTITUTION:Plural kinds of perfume cartridges 41A, 42A and 43A preprepared according to a physiological phenomenon of a human being are connected to a duct 21. Either of opening-closing valves 41B, 42B and 43B is opened by output from a controller 46, and either of perfumes 41, 42 and 43 selected according to the physiological phenomenon is diffused in and supplied to the duct 21 through a conduit 44.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A schematic configuration of a conventional vehicle air conditioner is shown in FIG. Casing 12 of air conditioner 10
Inside air suction port 14 and outside air suction port 13 are formed on the upstream side of
A face outlet 20, a foot outlet 22, and a defrost outlet 23 are formed on the downstream side.

The inside air intake port 14 and the outside air intake port 13 are opened and closed by an inside air / outside air switching damper 15. The face outlet 20 is opened and closed by an outlet mode switching damper 24, and the foot outlet 22 is opened.
Is opened and closed by the blowout mode switching damper 25, and the defrost outlet 23 is opened and closed by the blowout mode switching damper 26.

A blower 16, an evaporator 17, an air mix damper 18, and a heater 19 are arranged in the casing 12. The evaporator 17 is a compressor 2 via a refrigerant pipe.
The refrigerant circulation circuit is configured by being connected to 8, the condenser 29, the receiver 30, the expansion valve 31, and the like.

The compressor 28 is driven by a traveling engine 35 via a pulley 33 and a magnet clutch 34. The cooling water of the running engine 35 circulates in the heater 19,
The air volume passing through the heater 19 is changed by the opening degree of the air mix damper 18.

When the blower 16 is driven, the inside / outside air switching damper
The inside air or the outside air is supplied from the inside air intake port 14 or the outside air intake port 13 selected by switching 15 to the casing 12
It is sucked into the inside, is energized by the blower 16, and then is cooled by passing through the evaporator 17.

This air is split by the air mix damper 18, a part of which is heated by passing through the heater 19 and then mixed with the remaining air bypassing the heater 19 to become conditioned air. This conditioned air is blown into the vehicle compartment from the face outlet 20, the foot outlet 22, and the defrost outlet 23 selected by opening and closing the blowout mode switching dampers 24, 25, 26.

[0008]

When the vehicle is driven at midnight or early morning, or when it is driven for a long time, there is a risk of drowsy driving, and there is a risk of rough driving when hungry or tired. In addition, smoking may cause discomfort and may disturb driving due to excitement.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems by utilizing an air conditioner mounted on a vehicle, and is characterized in that it is adapted to human physiological phenomena. A plurality of types of fragrance cartridges prepared in advance are connected to the duct, and a supply mechanism for diffusing and supplying the fragrance selected from these cartridges according to the physiological phenomenon into the duct is provided.

It is possible to provide a manual operation means for operating the supply mechanism in accordance with the occupant's preference.

It is possible to provide a controller that controls the above-mentioned supply mechanism in conjunction with a timepiece and automatically supplies a specific fragrance according to the time of day.

Another feature of the present invention is to connect a smoke-free fragrance cartridge for suppressing excitatory effects during smoking to a duct and to provide a sensor for detecting smoking. When the sensor detects smoking, the above cartridge is provided. There is a supply mechanism for diffusing the fragrance into the duct.

[0013]

In the first aspect of the invention, the perfume selected according to the physiological phenomenon of human beings is diffused and supplied from the plural kinds of perfume cartridges prepared in advance by the supply mechanism,
Along with the conditioned air, it is blown into the passenger compartment from the air outlet.

By operating the manual operation means, it is possible to blow out any fragrance into the passenger compartment at any time according to the occupant's preference.

By controlling the supply mechanism in conjunction with the timepiece by the controller, it is possible to automatically blow out a specific fragrance into the vehicle compartment in accordance with the time zone.

In the second aspect of the invention, when the sensor detects smoking, the smoke-repellent fragrance is diffused and supplied from the cartridge into the duct by the supply mechanism, and is blown into the passenger compartment along with the conditioned air.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. Plural kinds of fragrances prepared in advance according to human physiological phenomenon, for example, awakening fragrance 41 such as lemon odor is contained in the cartridge 41A, and soothing fragrance 42 such as peach odor is contained in the cartridge 42.
In A, the fragrance 43 for awakening such as apple smell is stored in the cartridge 43A.

Each cartridge 41A, 42A, 43A is a conduit 44
It is connected to a diffuser 45 arranged in a duct 21 communicating with the face outlet 20 via. Each cartridge 41A
, 42A, 43A on-off valves 41B, 42B, 4
Each 3B is opened / closed by a command from the controller 46.

A clock 47 is linked to the controller 46, and a command is input from a manual operating means 48 such as a push button switch.

However, when it becomes a night-time or early-morning time when human drowsiness occurs, the controller 46 automatically outputs to the open / close valve 41B to open it. Then, the awakening fragrance 41 stored in the cartridge 41A is opened and closed by the on-off valve 41B,
It is diffused and supplied into the duct 21 through the conduit 44 and the diffuser 45, and accompanied by the conditioned air passing through the duct 21, the face outlet 20
Is blown into the passenger compartment from the vehicle, and the awakening effect of the awakening fragrance 41 prevents the drowsiness of the occupant. The time period output by the controller 46 to the on-off valve 41B is set and stored in advance.

Since the on-off valves 41B, 42B and 43B can be opened by operating the manual operation means 48, the desired smell of the fragrance can be filled in the vehicle interior at any time. Therefore, if drowsiness comes from running for a long time, awaken the occupant with the smell of lemon,
When hungry or tired, the odor of peach or apple can alleviate the stress of the occupant and contribute to safe driving.

The odor concentration, that is, the on-off valves 41B and 42
The openings of B and 43B can be preset and stored in the controller 46, and the odor concentration is the lowest concentration at which the odor is sensed, that is, the cognitive range concentration that can distinguish the type of odor from the detection range concentration. Fluctuations can also be provided by varying it regularly or irregularly.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. The cartridge 50A for storing the smoke-free aroma 50 is the conduit 44.
Connected to the diffuser 45 installed in the duct 21 via
The on-off valve 50B installed in the conduit 44 is opened and closed by a command from the controller 51. Signals from a smoke sensor 52 and a smoking sensor 53 such as a cigarette lighter installed in the vehicle compartment are input to the controller 51.

When the smoke sensor 52 or the smoking sensor 53 detects smoking, the controller 51 outputs the open / close valve 50B to open it. Then, the smoke-free fragrance 50 stored in the cartridge 50A is transferred to the open / close valve 50B, the conduit 44, and the diffuser.
It is supplied to the duct 21 via 45, and is diffused here, and is blown into the vehicle interior from the face outlet along with the conditioned air passing through the duct 21.

Thus, the discomfort caused by the odor of the cigarette can be alleviated and the excitatory effect can be calmed down, which contributes to safe driving.

[0026]

According to the invention of claim 1, since the fragrance selected in accordance with the physiological phenomenon of human beings is diffused in the passenger compartment, it is possible to suppress drowsiness and stress of the occupant.
Therefore, it can contribute to safe driving of the vehicle.

If the manual operation means is provided, the fragrance according to the occupant's taste can be blown into the vehicle compartment at any time by operating the manual operation means.

If the controller controls the supply mechanism in conjunction with the timepiece, the specific fragrance can be blown out into the passenger compartment according to the time of day.

In the invention according to claim 4, when smoking is detected, the smoky aroma is automatically blown out into the passenger compartment, so that the discomfort caused by the odor of cigarettes can be alleviated and the excitatory effect can be calmed down. It can contribute to safe driving.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional vehicle air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Air conditioner for vehicle 21 Duct 20 Air outlet 41A, 42A, 43A Cartridge 44 Conduit 45 Diffuser 41B, 42B, 43B Open / close valve 46 Controller 47 Clock 48 Manual operation means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner for a vehicle, in which conditioned air is blown from a blowout port into a vehicle compartment through a duct, and a plurality of kinds of fragrance cartridges prepared in advance according to a human physiological phenomenon are connected to the duct. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising a supply mechanism for diffusing and supplying a fragrance selected from a cartridge according to a physiological phenomenon into the duct. 2. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a manual operation means for operating the supply mechanism according to an occupant's preference. 3. The supply mechanism is controlled in conjunction with a clock,
The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a controller that automatically supplies a specific fragrance according to a time zone. 4. A sensor for detecting smoking in an air conditioner for a vehicle, in which conditioned air is blown into an interior of a vehicle through a duct, and a smoke-free fragrance cartridge for suppressing excitement during smoking is connected to the duct. And a supply mechanism for diffusing the perfume from the cartridge into the duct when the sensor detects smoking.