KR20040007805A - Method for controlling air conditioner for vehicles to enhance initial warming performance - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for controlling an air-conditioning system for an automobile for improving initial heating performance is provided to determine voltage of a coolant temperature gauge installed on an instrument panel or signal of a water pump sensor without using a separate temperature sensor, keep vent mode for fixed time on initial stage of heating mode to discharge hot air to passengers, and automatically control wind direction and volume of hot air discharged into a car room. CONSTITUTION: A method includes the steps of: a step(S300,S310,S320,S330,S390) in which a control unit detects actual voltage(Va) of a coolant temperature gauge on initial stage of automatic air-conditioning mode, and comparing with minimum coolant temperature voltage(Vm) and normal coolant temperature voltage(Vn); and a step(S340,S342,S350,S352,S360,S362,S370,S372,S380,S382) in which a control unit automatically control to keep vent discharging hot air to passengers for different duration depending on range of temperature inputted by an outdoor temperature sensor to a control unit, and switch to automatic air-conditioning mode when the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage.

Description

TECHNICAL FOR CONTROLLING AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLES TO ENHANCE INITIAL WARMING PERFORMANCE}

The present invention relates to a control method of an air conditioner for a vehicle that can increase initial heating performance, and in particular, by selecting the voltage of the coolant temperature gauge of the instrument panel indicating the engine coolant temperature when the automatic air conditioning mode is selected. The present invention relates to a control method of an air conditioner for a vehicle that can increase initial heating performance, which can enhance not only heating performance at the start of the start but also defrosting performance by automatically adjusting the discharge wind direction.

In general, the air conditioner of a vehicle calculates various indoor / outdoor information detected by various sensors and inputs it by a control unit for operation when selecting an automatic air conditioning mode, an internal / external air switching door of a blower, a blower motor, a temperature control door, and the like. By controlling the driving voltage of the doors of the vents, the air conditioning mode is automatically controlled for inflow / outflow, air volume, temperature, and wind direction.

The control unit includes, for example, analog signals such as indoor temperature information detected by the in-vehicle temperature sensor, off-vehicle temperature information detected by the in-vehicle temperature sensor, insolation information detected by the insolation sensor, and in-vehicle humidity information detected by the humidity sensor. The A / D converter converts the digital signal into a digital signal and inputs the same, while driving voltages of various doors such as temperature control doors and blower motors are also input.

The control unit feedback-controls the air volume control voltage, the internal / external air position voltage, the temperature control position voltage, and the wind direction position voltage according to the input signals so that the doors of the blower motor, the switching door, the temperature control door, and the vents operate properly. By controlling the voltages outputted to these drive units, the air conditioning mode is automatically performed in accordance with the vehicle indoor / outdoor environment.

On the other hand, the heating system constituting the air conditioner for the vehicle heats up the air blown by the blower constituting the air conditioner in the process of passing the engine coolant through the heater core is introduced into the interior of the car in a warm state to the interior of the car It is a device for heating.

However, when the driver starts and starts the heating system while the vehicle is stopped for a long time in winter, the temperature of the coolant is low at the initial stage of the start-up so that the outside air or bet is discharged to the vehicle interior with little heat exchange.

Even if a thermostat is provided, the temperature installed on the rear surface of the heater core (downstream of the blower air) by driving the blower motor to the lowest stage or by switching the air discharge mode from the heating foot mode to the heating defrost mode. It controls the cold wind not to be discharged toward the driver or passenger until the coolant temperature of the heater core input from the sensor rises above a certain temperature, and heats the air discharge mode when the coolant temperature of the heater core input from the temperature sensor becomes higher than the set temperature. Switching from defrost mode to heating foot mot. Representative forms of such devices include those disclosed in Korean Patent Publication Nos. 97-34432 and 97-10180.

However, in the above-described prior arts, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the coolant flowing inside the heater core is separately installed on the rear surface of the heater core, thereby lowering the assembly productivity of the air conditioner and increasing the cost of the separate temperature sensor. Is added.

On the other hand, in recent years, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the coolant flowing inside the heater core does not need to be installed separately, and the air conditioner that switches from the heating defrost mode to the heating foot mode on the basis of a predetermined time in advance by predicting the state of the vehicle at the initial stage of starting. Is also proposed. However, in this case, since the driving environment of the vehicle is not uniform, diverse and uncertain on the vehicle and the driving road, it is problematic to uniformly set the time and switch the air discharge mode. For example, during cold weather, the time to switch to the heating foot mode is too late, so the initial heating of the car interior is not performed properly.

In addition, in the conventional technologies as described above, since none of the warmth is discharged toward the occupant at the beginning of the heating mode, the occupant feels cold. That is, the occupant may not feel the heating effect at the beginning of the heating mode.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described conventional problems, and determines the voltage of the coolant temperature gauge or the signal of the water pump sensor installed in the instrument panel without using a separate temperature sensor to determine the vent mode for a predetermined time in the initial heating mode. It is intended to be able to automatically adjust the discharge wind direction and the air volume of the warmth for the interior of the vehicle after maintaining the discharge to the passengers toward the occupant.

1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle air conditioner for performing the control method of the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an operation unit installed in the instrument panel to perform the control method according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing another example of a vehicle air conditioner for performing the control method of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: control unit, 420: outside temperature sensor,

470: coolant temperature gauge, 480: water pump sensor,

Va: Actual voltage of cooling water temperature gauge,

Vm: Minimum coolant temperature voltage, Vn: Normal coolant temperature voltage

In order to achieve the above object, the control method of the vehicle air conditioner for increasing the initial heating performance according to the present invention, the control unit detects the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge at the initial stage of automatic air conditioning mode selection, the minimum coolant temperature Comparing the voltage with the normal coolant temperature voltage; When the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage, the vent mode for discharging warmth toward the occupant for different times is maintained according to the range of the temperature input to the control unit by the vehicle temperature sensor, and then the automatic air conditioning mode. It characterized in that the control unit comprises the step of automatic control to switch to.

According to the present invention, in the control step when the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage, when the outside temperature is -15 ° C or less, the vent mode is maintained for 1 minute and 30 seconds and then switched to the automatic air conditioning mode. It is preferable. In addition, when the outside temperature is in the range of −15 ° C. to −10 ° C., the vent mode may be maintained for 1 minute, and then the air conditioning mode may be switched. In addition, when the outside temperature is in the range of -10 ° C to 0 ° C, the vent mode is maintained for 30 seconds, and then it is preferable to switch to the automatic air conditioning mode. In addition, when the outside temperature is in the range of 0 ° C to 5 ° C, the vent mode is maintained for 10 seconds, and then it is preferable to switch to the automatic air conditioning mode. In addition, when the outside temperature is more than 5 ℃ automatic air conditioning mode is performed immediately. In all the control steps when the actual voltage reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage, the air volume discharged in the vent mode is preferably about 1/2 of the air volume discharged in the automatic air conditioning mode.

On the other hand, when the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge is lower than the minimum coolant temperature voltage, it is preferable that the discharge direction is in the defrost mode and the control unit automatically controls the amount of air to the minimum.

In addition, if the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge is between the minimum coolant temperature voltage and the normal coolant temperature voltage, it is recommended that the control unit automatically controls the discharge direction to vent mode and the air volume to 1/2 of the air volume in the automatic air conditioning mode. desirable.

In addition, the normal coolant temperature voltage and the minimum coolant temperature voltage may be set by appropriately mapping the actual coolant temperature and the coolant temperature gauge voltage value according to the heating state of each engine of the vehicle.

In addition, the control method of the automotive air conditioner to increase the initial heating performance according to the present invention, the actual driving voltage of the water pump detected by the water pump sensor at the initial stage of the automatic air conditioning mode selection and input to the control unit, the minimum Comparing, by the control unit, the coolant temperature voltage and the normal coolant temperature voltage; When the actual driving voltage of the water pump reaches the normal cooling water temperature voltage, the vent mode for discharging warmth to the occupant for different time periods is maintained according to the range of temperature input to the control unit by the vehicle temperature sensor, and then the automatic air conditioning mode. The control unit may be configured to automatically control to switch to.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in the present specification and claims are defined in the technical spirit of the present invention on the basis of the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term in order to explain his invention in the best way. It must be interpreted to mean meanings and concepts.

1 is an air conditioner for performing a control method of an air conditioner for an automobile capable of increasing initial heating performance according to the present invention.

The air conditioner is configured to automatically perform the air conditioning mode of the air conditioner by inputting and processing various internal / external air information from the various sensors inside / outside the vehicle to the control unit 100. The air conditioning mode is also performed by operating various buttons of the operation unit 200 installed in the instrument panel of the vehicle interior.

The air conditioner includes an air conditioner case 500 having a defrost vent 510, a face vent 520, and a foot vent 530 each of which has an opening degree controlled by the doors 510d, 520d, and 530d at the exit. ; It is connected to the inlet 550 of the air conditioning case 500 and the air inlet 610 and the air inlet 620 for opening degree controlled by the switching door 630 is installed on the top and rotated by the blower motor 650. A blower 600 for blowing the inside or outside air into the air conditioning case 500 by the blowing fan 640; An evaporator 700 installed at an upstream side of an internal flow path of the air conditioning case 500; In addition, a heater core 710 is provided at a downstream side of the internal flow path of the air conditioning case 500 and the opening degree of air is controlled by a temperature control door 540 installed at the front side.

The evaporator 700 is connected to the compressor 720 in a pipeline, the compressor 720 is connected to the condenser 730, the condenser 730 is connected to the receiver dryer 740, the receiver dryer 740 is an evaporator The cooling cycle is configured by being connected to the expansion valve 750 is connected to (700). In addition, the heater core 710 is connected to the engine 800 is configured a heating cycle.

Therefore, in the cooling mode, the inside air or the outside air blown by the blower 600 passes through the evaporator 700, and is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator 700 to be discharged into the interior of the vehicle through the open vent changed to cold. As a result, the cooling of the vehicle interior is performed, and the blower air is exchanged with the coolant flowing in the heater core 710 while passing through the evaporator 700 and the heater core 710 to be heated to the car interior through the open vents. By discharging, heating of the vehicle interior may be performed.

The control unit 100 directly outputs an output voltage for driving the switching door 630, the blower motor 650, the temperature control door 540, and the doors 510d, 520d, and 530d of the vents 510, 520, and 530. By controlling the air conditioning mode pattern for the internal and external air inflow, air volume, temperature and wind direction, the compressor 720 is intermittently controlled by intermittently controlling the driving of the electromagnetic clutch 722 of the compressor 720.

On the other hand, the operation unit 200 is installed in the instrument panel air conditioning operation button 210, wind direction selection button 220, outside temperature display button 230, automatic temperature control button 240, automatic temperature control stop button 250 , Air volume control button 260, front windshield removal button 270, rear windshield heating button 280, temperature setting button 290, interior / exterior air selection button 300, harmful gas blocking button 310 and The display panel 320 is provided.

The air conditioner operation button 210 functions to operate the air conditioner during the on operation and to stop the air conditioner operation during the off operation. The wind direction selection button 220 is selected by selecting various cooling and heating modes, such as a defrost mode in which air is discharged toward the windshield, a foot moat in which air is discharged toward the car floor, and a vent mode in which air is discharged toward the upper half of the vehicle interior. The opening degree of each of the vents 510, 520, and 530 is adjusted to correspond to the cooling and heating mode. The outside temperature display button 230 functions to display the temperature of the outside air on the display panel 320. The thermostat button 240 functions to automatically perform the air conditioning mode by the control unit (100). The automatic temperature control stop button 250 serves to stop the automatic control of the air conditioning mode. The air volume control button 260 controls the air volume by adjusting the rotation speed of the blower motor 650. The windshield window removal button 270 operates the defrost door 510d to open the defrost vent 510 to remove frost caught on the windshield by indoor discharge air. Rear window window heating button 280 functions to remove the frost on the rear window by heating the heating wire installed in the rear window. The temperature setting button 290 controls the temperature of the indoor discharge air by operating the temperature control door 540 to adjust the opening degree of the ventilation passage toward the heater core 710. The inside / outdoor air selection button 300 operates the switching door 630 to open the inside air inlet 610 or the outside air inlet 620 so as to blow air in the inside air circulation mode or the outside air mode. Hazardous gas shut-off button 310 is switched doors to automatically bet circulation mode is made when the external harmful air is introduced through the harmful gas detection sensor 460 (see Fig. 1) installed in the front of the vehicle 630 to operate. The display panel 320 displays a current air conditioning mode pattern state.

According to the present invention, the actual voltage Va of the coolant temperature gauge 470 installed in the instrument panel is set to the minimum coolant temperature voltage Vm and the normal coolant temperature voltage so that the driver can determine whether the air conditioner is overheated. (Vn) and the control unit 100 are compared and automatically controlled.

Next, a control method of an air conditioner for a vehicle capable of increasing initial heating performance according to the present invention performed by the air conditioner as described above will be described.

First, when the vehicle is started and the air conditioner operation button 210 is pressed (S100), the operating state of the air conditioner and the control unit 100 are initialized (S110). In this initialization state, the control unit 100 determines an error of the sensors 410 to 460 (S120). Next, the operation mode of the air conditioner is selected in the state where there is no error of the sensors (S130). Pressing the automatic temperature control button 240 selects whether to perform the automatic air conditioning mode (S200), pressing the various buttons of the operation unit 200 to select whether to perform the manual air conditioning mode (S400).

When the automatic air conditioning mode is performed by pressing the automatic temperature control button 240 (S200), various internal / external air information is input to the control unit 100 from various sensors 410 to 460 (S210). Since the input signal is an analog signal, it is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter and input to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 calculates an output value (output voltage) with respect to this input value, thereby calculating the temperature control door 540, the blower motor 650, and the doors 510d, 520d, and the doors of the vents 510, 520, and 530. 530d) and an air conditioning mode corresponding to the input value by automatically controlling the output of the temperature control position voltage, the air volume control voltage, the wind direction position voltage, and the internal / external position voltage to the drive unit that drives the switching door 630. The drive will automatically control feedback until the target value is reached. That is, the air conditioning mode is automatically performed according to the vehicle's internal / external conditions, and the auto air conditioning mode is maintained when the driving unit reaches the target value.

On the other hand, if the manual operation is selectively performed to perform the desired air conditioning mode of the various buttons of the operation unit 200 (S410), the signal is input to the control unit 100 (S410), and the air conditioning mode pattern as described above is feedback control When the driving unit reaches the target value, the manual air conditioning mode is maintained (S420). That is, the air conditioning mode is manually performed by the driver's button operation.

As described above, when the automatic air conditioning mode is selected at the initial start of the engine, in the present invention, the actual voltage Va of the coolant temperature gauge 470 installed in the instrument panel is input to the control unit 100 ( S300), the control unit 100 first compares the actual voltage Va with the minimum coolant temperature voltage Vm and the normal coolant temperature voltage Vn.

When the actual voltage Va is lower than the minimum coolant temperature voltage Vm (S310), the control unit 100 has the discharge direction in the defrost mode and the temperature control position voltage, the air volume control voltage, and the wind direction to be the minimum. The air conditioner is automatically controlled by output voltage control such as position voltage and internal / external position voltage (S312).

In addition, when the actual voltage Va is a value between the minimum coolant temperature voltage Vm and the normal coolant temperature voltage Vn (S320), the control unit 100 discharges the air volume in the vent mode, and the air volume is automatically. In the air conditioning mode, the air conditioner is automatically controlled to be 1/2 of the air volume (S322).

In addition, when the actual voltage Va reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage Vn (S330), the control unit 100 has a different time depending on the range of the outside temperature To input from the outside temperature sensor 420. The air conditioner is automatically controlled so that the vent mode is maintained and then the automatic air conditioning mode is switched.

Specifically, in the control step when the actual voltage Va reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage Vn, when the outside temperature To is -15 ° C or less (S340), the control unit 100 is 1 minute 30 minutes. While maintaining the vent mode for a second, the air conditioner is automatically controlled to switch to the automatic air conditioning mode (S342). In addition, when the outside temperature (To) is in the range of -15 ° C to -10 ° C (S350), the control unit 100 automatically controls the air conditioner so that the vent mode is maintained for 1 minute and then switched to the automatic air conditioning mode (S352). ). In addition, when the outside temperature To is in the range of -10 ° C to 0 ° C (S360), the control unit 100 automatically controls the air conditioner so that the vent mode is maintained for 30 seconds and then switched to the automatic air conditioning mode (S362). . In addition, when the outside temperature To is in the range of 0 ° C to 5 ° C (S370), the control unit 100 automatically controls the air conditioner so that the vent mode is maintained for 10 seconds and then switched to the automatic air conditioning mode (S372). In addition, when the outside temperature (To) is 5 ° C or more (S380), the control unit automatically controls the air conditioner so that the automatic air conditioning mode is immediately performed (S382).

When the actual voltage Va reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage Vn (S330), in all the control steps, the air volume discharged in the vent mode is about 1/2 of the air volume discharged in the automatic air conditioning mode. desirable.

In addition, when the actual voltage Va is greater than the normal coolant temperature voltage Vn (S390), the control unit 100 automatically controls the air conditioner so that the automatic air conditioning mode is immediately performed (S392).

In the control method of the air conditioner of the present invention, the normal coolant temperature voltage (Vn) and the minimum coolant temperature voltage (Vm) is appropriate to the actual coolant temperature and the coolant temperature gauge 470 voltage values according to the heating state of each engine of the vehicle. Can be set by mapping.

Meanwhile, according to the present invention, the control unit 100 detects the actual voltage Va of the coolant temperature gauge 470 and compares the minimum coolant temperature voltage Vm and the normal coolant temperature voltage Vn to initialize the initial heating mode. In addition to controlling, other methods may be employed.

That is, at the initial stage of the automatic air conditioning mode selection, as shown in FIG. 4, the actual driving voltage of the water pump detected by the water pump sensor 480 and input to the control unit 100 (as in the case of convenience upper actual voltage Va). Comparing the minimum coolant temperature voltage (Vm) and the normal coolant temperature voltage (Vn) with the driving voltage Va by the control unit 100, and the actual driving voltage Va of the water pump. When the normal coolant temperature voltage (Vn) is reached, the vent mode for discharging warmth to the occupant for different times is maintained according to the range of the temperature input to the control unit 100 by the vehicle temperature sensor 420, and then the automatic air conditioning is performed. A method may be employed including the step of automatically controlling by the control unit 100 to switch to the mode.

In this method, the control logic can be made of the control logic similar to that shown in Fig. 3, and thus its detailed description is omitted here.

According to the control method of the vehicle air conditioner for improving the initial heating performance according to the present invention configured as described above, the actual voltage (Va) of the coolant temperature gauge 470 installed on the instrument panel (or water pump sensor ( 480) detects the actual driving voltage of the water pump and compares it with the preset minimum coolant temperature voltage (Vm) and the normal coolant temperature voltage (Vn), and the control unit 100 automatically controls the wind direction and air volume. In this way, it is possible to exclude the use of the temperature sensor used for heating control at the beginning of the engine start in accordance with the cooling water temperature of the heater core 710 by separately installed on the back of the heater core 710 as in the prior art.

In addition, in the present invention, in addition to the actual voltage Va of the coolant temperature gauge 470 at the beginning of engine start, the outside temperature input from the outside temperature sensor when the actual voltage Va reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage Vn. Precise heating control of initial engine start is possible by automatically controlling wind direction and air volume under different conditions depending on the range of (To).

In the control method of the vehicle air conditioner for improving the initial heating performance according to the present invention configured as described above, the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge installed on the instrument panel (or the water pump detected by the water pump sensor) The actual driving voltage) can be detected by the control unit and compared with the preset minimum coolant temperature voltage and the normal coolant temperature voltage to automatically control the wind direction and air volume, so that the heater core can be separately installed on the back of the heater core as in the prior art. Depending on the coolant temperature, the use of the temperature sensor used for heating control at the start of the engine can be eliminated. Therefore, the production cost of the air conditioner can be reduced, and assembling work of the temperature sensor with respect to the air conditioner can be eliminated, thereby increasing the assembly productivity of the air conditioner.

In addition, since the warmth is discharged to the occupant for a predetermined time in a predetermined condition at the beginning of the heating mode and automatically controlled by another air conditioning mode, the initial heating performance can be improved because the occupant can not feel the cold at the initial heating mode.

In addition, in the present invention, in addition to controlling the wind direction and the air volume in consideration of the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge (or the actual driving voltage of the water pump detected by the water pump sensor) at the beginning of the engine start, the outside temperature input from the outside temperature sensor Depending on the range of the automatic control of the wind direction and air volume under different conditions, precise heating control of the initial start of the engine is possible, so that the heating performance of the initial start of the engine can be further improved.

Claims (5)

Detecting, by the control unit, the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge at an initial stage of automatic air conditioning mode selection and comparing it with a minimum coolant temperature voltage and a normal coolant temperature voltage; When the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage, the vent mode for discharging warmth toward the occupant for different times is maintained according to the range of the temperature input to the control unit by the vehicle temperature sensor, and then the automatic air conditioning mode. The control method of the air conditioner for automobiles to increase the initial heating performance, characterized in that the control unit comprises a step of automatic control to switch to. The method of claim 1, In the control step when the actual voltage reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage, If the outside temperature is below -15 ° C, the vent mode is maintained for 1 minute and 30 seconds and then controlled to switch to the automatic air conditioning mode; When the outside temperature ranges from -15 ° C to -10 ° C, the vent mode is maintained for 1 minute and then controlled to switch to the automatic air conditioning mode; When the outside temperature ranges from -10 ° C to 0 ° C, the vent mode is maintained for 30 seconds and then controlled to switch to the automatic air conditioning mode; If the outside temperature is in the range of 0 ° C to 5 ° C, the vent mode is maintained for 10 seconds and then controlled to switch to the automatic air conditioning mode; When the outside temperature is 5 ℃ or more, the automatic air conditioning mode is controlled so as to perform the initial heating performance, characterized in that the control method of the automotive air conditioner. The method of claim 2, In all control steps when the actual voltage reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage, the air volume discharged in the vent mode is controlled to be about 1/2 of the air volume discharged in the automatic air conditioning mode. Control method of a vehicle air conditioner. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A control unit automatically controlling the discharge wind direction to the defrost mode and the air flow rate to the minimum when the actual voltage of the coolant temperature gauge is lower than the minimum coolant temperature voltage; If the actual voltage is a value between the minimum coolant temperature voltage and the normal coolant temperature voltage, the discharge direction is in the vent mode, the air volume is 1/2 of the air volume in the automatic air conditioning mode, the control unit further comprises the step of automatic control The control method of the automotive air conditioner to increase the initial heating performance. Comparing, by the control unit, the actual driving voltage of the water pump detected by the water pump sensor and input to the control unit at the initial stage of the automatic air conditioning mode selection, and the predetermined minimum coolant temperature voltage and the normal coolant temperature voltage; When the actual driving voltage reaches the normal coolant temperature voltage, the vent mode for discharging warmth toward the occupant for different time periods is maintained according to the range of the temperature input to the control unit by the vehicle temperature sensor, and then switched to the automatic air conditioning mode. Control unit of the air conditioner for automobiles to increase the initial heating performance, characterized in that the control unit comprises the step of automatic control.