WO2017138514A1

WO2017138514A1 - Anti-fog device

Info

Publication number: WO2017138514A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/004359
Authority: WO
Inventors: 浩司太田; 池上　真; 雅志渡邉
Original assignee: 株式会社デンソー
Priority date: 2016-02-12
Filing date: 2017-02-07
Publication date: 2017-08-17
Also published as: JP2017140974A

Abstract

An anti-fog device 2: performs suppression control for suppressing a behavior of a compressor 103 according to the position of an air-mix door 107; and applies electric current when application of electric current to a heater unit 21 provided to a front window 20 is determined to be needed during the suppression control.

Description

Anti-fog device

Cross-reference of related applications

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-024556 filed on February 12, 2016 and claims the benefit of its priority. Which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to an antifogging device that suppresses fogging of a front window of a vehicle.

The vehicle is provided with an air conditioner, and this air conditioner suppresses fogging of the front window of the vehicle. As an air conditioner, one using a refrigeration cycle is known. Air dehumidified by the evaporator constituting the refrigeration cycle is supplied into the passenger compartment, and fogging of the front window is suppressed.

In addition to the anti-fogging device using such an air conditioner, an anti-fogging device described in Patent Document 1 below has also been proposed. The anti-fogging device described in Patent Document 1 below forms a heater, which is a metal pattern thin enough to secure a field of view, on the front window of a vehicle. Suppressed.

JP 2014-218103 A

Since it is only considered to energize the heater, it is necessary to continue energizing the heater while trying to remove the fogging of the front window. In addition, since there is no mention of defogging in conjunction with the air conditioner, neither consideration is given to reducing the power supplied to the heater or the drive power of the air conditioner, and the viewpoint of efficient use of energy. There was room for improvement.

This disclosure is intended to provide an anti-fogging device that realizes power reduction on the air-conditioning device side by integrating the anti-fogging by an air-conditioning device using a refrigeration cycle and the anti-fogging control using a heater.

The present disclosure is an anti-fogging device that suppresses fogging of a front window (20) of a vehicle, the evaporator (102) provided in the air-conditioning air passage (101) and constituting a part of a refrigeration cycle, and the air flowing out of the evaporator A compressor (103) for compressing the refrigerant, a heater core (106) provided on the downstream side of the evaporator in the air conditioning air passage, and an air mix door (107) for adjusting the inflow of the air that has passed through the evaporator into the heater core A control unit (30) for controlling the behavior of the air mix door and the compressor, and a heater unit (21) for heating the front window without obstructing the field of view of the front window is provided on the vehicle interior side of the front window. Yes. The control unit also controls energization to the heater unit, and executes suppression control that suppresses the behavior of the compressor according to the position of the air mix door, and energization to the heater unit is necessary during execution of the suppression control. If it is determined that the heater portion is energized.

According to the present disclosure, since the control unit executes the suppression control according to the position of the air mix door, for example, it is grasped when it is not essential to drive the compressor according to the position of the air mix door, and the behavior of the compressor is suppressed. can do. If the behavior of the compressor is suppressed, the dehumidifying effect of the air that has passed through the evaporator is reduced. Therefore, the control unit can reduce the fogging of the front window while suppressing the behavior of the compressor by energizing the heater unit when the heater unit needs to be energized during the suppression control.

The reference numerals in parentheses described in the “Summary of the Invention” and the “Claims” indicate the correspondence with the “Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” described later, and the “Summary of the Invention” Further, the present invention does not indicate that the invention described in “Claims” is limited to “Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” described later.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of an antifogging apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a mutual relationship between functional components of the anti-fogging device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the antifogging apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the antifogging apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the antifogging apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the antifogging apparatus according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate the understanding of the description, the same constituent elements in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and redundant description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the antifogging device 2 according to the embodiment includes an air conditioner 10 and a film heater 21. The anti-fogging device 2 further includes a humidity sensor 22, an operation panel 23, an outside air temperature sensor 24, and a solar radiation amount sensor 25.

The air conditioner 10 is an apparatus that performs indoor air conditioning of a vehicle in which the antifogging device 2 is provided. The air conditioner 10 includes an air conditioning air passage 101, an evaporator 102, a compressor 103, a condenser 104, an expansion valve 105, a heater core 106, an air mix door 107, an air conditioning fan 108, and an evaporation drying sensor 109. I have.

The evaporator 102, the compressor 103, the condenser 104, and the expansion valve 105 constitute a refrigeration cycle. The compressor 103 is driven by the driving force of an engine mounted on the vehicle. The compressor 103 sucks the refrigerant from the evaporator 102 by being driven, compresses it, and sends it out to the condenser 104.

The capacitor 104 is a heat exchanger that cools the high-temperature refrigerant. The refrigerant cooled by the condenser 104 is sent to the expansion valve 105. The refrigerant sent to the expansion valve 105 is expanded and depressurized and sent to the evaporator 102.

The evaporator 102 evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve 105. The evaporator 102 is disposed in the air conditioning air passage 101. The air that has passed through the evaporator 102 is cooled and dehumidified, and is sent out to the vehicle interior side. An evaporator drying sensor 109 is disposed in the vicinity of the evaporator 102. The evaporation drying sensor 109 is a sensor for detecting the humidity of the evaporator 102 or the vicinity of the evaporator 102.

In the air conditioning air passage 101, a heater core 106 is disposed on the downstream side of the evaporator 102. The heater core 106 is a heat exchanger in which the cooling water of the engine that drives the vehicle circulates, and warms the air that passes therethrough.

In the air conditioning air passage 101, an air mix door 107 is provided between the evaporator 102 and the heater core 106. The air mix door 107 adjusts the flow of air that has passed through the evaporator 102 into the heater core 106. When the air mix door 107 is positioned at the maximum cool position 107a indicated by the broken line in the drawing, the air that has passed through the evaporator 102 is completely or substantially completely blocked from flowing into the heater core 106.

The film heater 21 is provided on the vehicle interior side of the front window 20. The film heater 21 is formed so as not to block the field of view through the front window 20. The film heater 21 is a layer including a transparent thin film-like or linear heater portion containing any of carbon nanotubes (also called CNT), metal particles, carbon particles, and metal oxide particles, and is configured as a metal vapor deposition film. It may be. For example, it may be configured as a thin film in which any of carbon nanotubes, metal particles, carbon particles, and metal oxide particles is dispersed in a resin serving as a binder. Moreover, you may be comprised by the several line-shaped heating wire using the wire formed using the carbon nanotube. It is also a preferable aspect that the film heater 21 is provided with a protective film or a heat insulating film. The film heater 21 and the components associated therewith correspond to the heater unit of the present disclosure.

The humidity sensor 22 is a sensor for detecting the humidity in the passenger compartment, particularly in the vicinity of the front window 20. The humidity sensor 22 corresponds to the fog detection sensor of the present disclosure because it can be determined whether or not the front window 20 is clouded depending on the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 22.

The operation panel 23 is an input means that can set the air conditioning state. By operating the operation panel 23, the air conditioner 10 can be driven as an automatic air conditioner, or can be driven as a manual air conditioner in which parameters such as temperature and air volume can be freely adjusted.

The outside air temperature sensor 24 is a sensor for detecting the temperature outside the passenger compartment. The solar radiation amount sensor 25 is a sensor for detecting the solar radiation amount.

As shown in FIG. 2, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 30 corresponding to the control unit of the present disclosure includes a humidity sensor 22, an operation panel 23, an outside air temperature sensor 24, a solar radiation amount sensor 25, and an evaporation drying sensor 109. An output detection signal or operation signal is input. The ECU 30 performs calculations based on these detection signals and operation signals, and outputs drive signals for driving them to the compressor 103, the air mix door 107, and the film heater 21.

Subsequently, the operation of the anti-fogging device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Unless otherwise specified, the ECU 30 is the subject of determination and operation. In step S101, it is determined whether or not the air mix door 107 is at the max school position 107a. If the air mix door 107 is at the max school position 107a, the process proceeds to step S102. If the air mix door 107 is not at the max school position 107a, the process proceeds to step S103.

In step S102, the air conditioner 10 is driven in a normal mode in which the compressor 103 is operated. The temperature setting and the air volume setting are appropriately performed based on information input from the operation panel 23. When the process of step S102 is completed, the process returns.

In step S103, the air conditioner 10 and the film heater 21 are driven in a heater use mode in which the compressor 103 is not operated. The heater use mode corresponds to the suppression control of the present disclosure. The compressor 103 is stopped, and air that is not cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 102 is supplied.

In step S104 following step S103, it is determined whether or not the front window 20 is cloudy. The ECU 30 determines whether or not fogging has occurred based on the humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 22. If it is determined that the front window 20 is not fogged, the process returns. If it is determined that the front window 20 is fogged, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the film heater 21 is energized. When the process of step S105 is completed, the process returns to step S104.

According to the present embodiment, the ECU 30 that is the control unit executes the suppression control according to the position of the air mix door 107, and it is not essential to drive the compressor 103 by the position of the air mix door 107. And the behavior of the compressor 103 is suppressed. If the behavior of the compressor 103 is suppressed, the dehumidifying effect of the air that has passed through the evaporator 102 is reduced. Therefore, the ECU 30 reduces the fogging of the front window 20 while suppressing the behavior of the compressor 103 by energizing the film heater 21 when the film heater 21 needs to be energized during execution of the suppression control.

The ECU 30 executes suppression control when the position of the air mix door 107 is not the max cool position 107a where the air that has passed through the evaporator 102 does not mainly pass through the heater core 106. When the air mix door 107 is in the max cool position 107 a, the air that has passed through the evaporator 102 is blown out into the vehicle interior without passing through the heater core 106. If the driving of the compressor 103 is stopped in this state, there is a high probability that the temperature in the passenger compartment will not reach the set temperature, so the compressor 103 is driven without executing the suppression control.

Further, in the present embodiment, the humidity sensor 22 that is a fogging detection sensor that detects the fogging state of the front window 20 is provided. The ECU 30 energizes the film heater 21 when the humidity sensor 22 detects fogging of the front window 20 during execution of the suppression control. When the suppression control is executed, the compressor 103 stops, so that the air passing through the evaporator 102 is introduced into the vehicle interior without being dehumidified, and the possibility that the front window 20 becomes cloudy increases. Therefore, the presence or absence of fogging of the front window 20 is determined based on the detection result of the humidity sensor 22, and the film heater 21 is energized based on the determination result. Haze can be removed without driving.

Subsequently, another operation of the anti-fogging device 2 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In step S201, it is determined whether the thermal load on the vehicle on which the antifogging device 2 is mounted is equal to or greater than a predetermined load. The heat load is a load caused by outside air or solar radiation. When the heat load is high, it is necessary to operate the air conditioner 10 so as to lower the temperature in the passenger compartment. If the heat load is grasped from the outside air temperature, whether or not the heat load is equal to or higher than a predetermined load is determined based on whether or not the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature. If the heat load is grasped by the amount of solar radiation, whether or not the heat load is equal to or greater than a predetermined load is determined based on whether or not the amount of solar radiation is equal to or greater than a threshold amount. If the thermal load on the vehicle on which the antifogging device 2 is mounted is greater than or equal to the predetermined load, the process proceeds to step S202, and if the thermal load on the vehicle on which the antifogging device 2 is mounted is not greater than the predetermined load, step The process proceeds to S203.

In step S203, it is determined whether or not the air mix door 107 is at the max cool position 107a. If the air mix door 107 is in the max school position 107a, the process proceeds to step S202. If the air mix door 107 is not in the max school position 107a, the process proceeds to step S204.

In step S202, the air conditioner 10 is driven in a normal mode in which the compressor 103 is operated. The temperature setting and the air volume setting are appropriately performed based on information input from the operation panel 23. When the process of step S202 ends, the process returns.

In step S204, the air conditioner 10 and the film heater 21 are driven in a heater use mode in which the compressor 103 is not operated. The heater use mode corresponds to the suppression control of the present disclosure. The compressor 103 is stopped, and air that is not cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 102 is supplied.

In step S205 following step S204, it is determined whether or not the front window 20 is cloudy. The ECU 30 determines whether or not fogging has occurred based on the humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 22. If it is determined that the front window 20 is not fogged, the process returns. If it is determined that the front window 20 is fogged, the process proceeds to step S206.

In step S206, the film heater 21 is energized. When the process of step S206 is completed, the process returns to step S207.

According to the example described with reference to FIG. 4, the ECU 30 executes the suppression control when it is determined that the thermal load on the vehicle is equal to or lower than the predetermined load. If the heat load on the vehicle is higher than the predetermined load, it is necessary to lower the temperature in the passenger compartment, and it may be necessary to cool the air by driving the compressor 103 regardless of whether the front window 20 is fogged or not. High nature. Then, even if the heater utilization mode for stopping the compressor 103 is entered, the compressor 103 is driven immediately, and the compressor 103 may be frequently driven and stopped. This leads to frequent and frequent condensation and evaporation of moisture in the evaporator 102, and the odor derived from the condensed moisture flows into the room. Therefore, when it is assumed that there is a high possibility that the compressor 103 will be driven to cool the air, the generation of odor is suppressed by not entering the heater use mode. Can do.

Subsequently, another operation of the anti-fogging device 2 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In step S201A, it is determined whether or not the evaporator 102 is dry. Whether or not the evaporator 102 is dry can be detected by the evaporation drying sensor 109. If the evaporator 102 is not dry, the process proceeds to step S202. If the evaporator 102 is dry, the process proceeds to step S203. Since the processing after step S202 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 4, the description thereof is omitted.

According to the example described with reference to FIG. 5, the ECU 30 executes the suppression control when it is determined that the evaporator 102 is dry. As described above, if the heater utilization mode is entered while moisture remains in the evaporator 102, the possibility of odor increases. Therefore, by detecting the humidity of the evaporator 102 by the evaporator drying sensor 109 and accurately detecting the water remaining in the evaporator 102, the compressor 103 can be driven in the normal mode when an odor is likely to occur. Since the execution of the heater use mode can be suppressed when moisture remains in the evaporator 102, the generation of odor can be suppressed more reliably.

Subsequently, another operation of the anti-fogging device 2 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In step S201B, it is determined whether the humidity in the passenger compartment is equal to or lower than a predetermined humidity. If the humidity in the passenger compartment is not lower than the predetermined humidity, the process proceeds to step S202. If the humidity in the passenger compartment is lower than the predetermined humidity, the process proceeds to step S203. Since the processing after step S202 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 4, the description thereof is omitted.

According to the example described with reference to FIG. 6, the ECU 30 executes the suppression control when it is determined that the humidity in the vehicle compartment is equal to or lower than the predetermined humidity. If the humidity in the passenger compartment exceeds the predetermined humidity, there is a high possibility that moisture remains in the evaporator 102. Therefore, when the heater usage mode is executed when the humidity in the vehicle compartment exceeds the predetermined humidity, there is a concern about the generation of odor as described above. Therefore, in this example, since the execution of the heater use mode can be suppressed when the humidity in the vehicle compartment exceeds the predetermined humidity, the generation of odor can be suppressed more reliably.

The embodiment has been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific examples. Those in which those skilled in the art appropriately modify the design of these specific examples are also included in the scope of the present disclosure as long as they have the features of the present disclosure. Each element included in each of the specific examples described above and their arrangement, conditions, shape, and the like are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate. Each element included in each of the specific examples described above can be appropriately combined as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

Claims

An anti-fogging device that suppresses fogging of a front window (20) of a vehicle,
An evaporator (102) provided in the air-conditioning air passage (101) and constituting a part of the refrigeration cycle;
A compressor (103) for compressing the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator;
A heater core (106) provided downstream of the evaporator in the air-conditioning air passage;
An air mix door (107) for adjusting the flow of air that has passed through the evaporator into the heater core;
A control unit (30) for controlling the behavior of the air mix door and the compressor,
A heater (21) for heating the front window without obstructing the field of view of the front window is provided on the vehicle interior side of the front window,
The control unit also controls energization to the heater unit,
The control unit executes suppression control that suppresses the behavior of the compressor according to the position of the air mix door, and when it is determined that energization to the heater unit is necessary during the execution of the suppression control, An anti-fogging device that energizes the heater.
2. The anti-fogging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the suppression control when the position of the air mix door is not a Max Cool position where air that has passed through the evaporator does not mainly pass through the heater core. .
Furthermore, a fogging detection sensor (22) for detecting the fogging state of the front window is provided,
The anti-fogging device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit energizes the heater unit when the fogging of the front window is detected by the fogging detection sensor during execution of the suppression control.
The anti-fogging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the suppression control when it is determined that a heat load on the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined load.
The anti-fogging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the suppression control when it is determined that the evaporator is dry.
The anti-fogging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the suppression control when it is determined that the humidity in the passenger compartment is equal to or lower than a predetermined humidity.