WO2019163469A1

WO2019163469A1 - Electric heater for vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2019163469A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/003433
Authority: WO
Inventors: 将吾近藤; 野口　康仁; 山田　篤志
Original assignee: 株式会社デンソー
Priority date: 2018-02-21
Filing date: 2019-01-31
Publication date: 2019-08-29
Also published as: JP2019142374A

Abstract

This electric heater for vehicles, which is applied to an air conditioning device for vehicles, is provided with: a first heat generator group (122) supported by a first support member and having three heat generators (122a, 122b, 122c) which generate heat when supplied with electricity; a second heat generator group (122) supported by a second support member which is a separate body from the first support member, and having three heat generators (122a, 122b, 122c) which generate heat when supplied with electricity; a control unit (18) which individually controls the amount of electricity to be supplied to each of the three heat generators of the first heat generator group, and also individually controls the amount of electricity to be supplied to each of the three heat generators of the second heat generator group; a first connection member which individually electrically connects each of the three heat generators of the first heat generator group to the control unit; and a second connection member which individually electrically connects each of the three heat generators of the second heat generator group to the control unit.

Description

Electric heater for vehicles

Cross-reference to related applications

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-29047 filed on Feb. 21, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle electric heater applied to a vehicle air conditioner.

Patent Document 1 discloses an electric heater for a vehicle. This electric heater includes a plurality of heater plates and a plurality of fins. Each of the plurality of heater plates and each of the plurality of fins are alternately arranged. Each of the plurality of heater plates has two heating elements. The two heating elements are supported by a support member. The two heating elements are arranged in the extending direction of the heater plate. Each of the two heating elements is individually electrically connected to the control unit. For this reason, the control unit can individually control the energization amounts of the two heating elements.

In some cases, the electric heater is mounted on the vehicle with the extending direction of each of the plurality of heater plates as a lateral direction. Even in this case, according to this electric heater, the temperature of the heating element can be controlled separately in one side region and the other side region in the air heating region of the electric heater. For this reason, the temperature of the heated air can be varied between the one side region and the other side region in the lateral direction. That is, the temperature of the blown-out air blown into the passenger compartment can be made different between the driver seat side and the passenger seat side.
As another electric heater, there is a structure in which each of a plurality of heater plates has three or more heating elements sandwiched between two electrode plates. The plurality of heating elements are supported by a support member. The plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line in the extending direction of the heater plate. In this electric heater, a plurality of heating elements in one heater plate are electrically connected to the control unit via a common electrode plate.

Special table 2015-520067 gazette

In the above two conventional electric heaters, the energization amount of each heating element can be controlled for each heater plate. Furthermore, in the electric heater of Patent Document 1, it is possible to separately control one energization amount and the other energization amount of the two heating elements in one heater plate.

However, in order to reduce power consumption, improve comfort, etc., all the heating elements provided in the electric heater are divided into smaller areas than the two conventional electric heaters described above, and each heat generation is performed for each desired area. It is desirable to be able to control the energization amount of the body.

This disclosure aims to provide an electric heater for a vehicle that can control the energization amount of each heating element for each region finer than a conventional electric heater.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present disclosure,
The electric heater for vehicles applied to the vehicle air conditioner is
A first heating element group having three heating elements supported by the first support member and generating heat when energized;
A second heating element group having three heating elements that are supported by a second supporting member separate from the first supporting member and generate heat when energized;
A control unit for individually controlling the energization amounts of the three heating elements of the first heating element group and the energization amounts of the three heating elements of the second heating element group;
A first connection member for electrically connecting each of the three heating elements of the first heating element group to the control unit individually;
And a second connecting member that electrically connects each of the three heating elements of the second heating element group to the control unit individually.

According to this, the energization amounts of the three heating elements of the first heating element group can be individually controlled, and the energization amounts of the three heating elements of the second heating element group are individually controlled. be able to. Therefore, the energization amount of each heating element can be controlled for each region finer than that of the conventional electric heater.

Note that reference numerals with parentheses attached to each component and the like indicate an example of a correspondence relationship between the component and the like and specific components described in the embodiments described later.

It is sectional drawing of the vehicle air conditioner of 1st Embodiment. It is a front view of the electric heater of a 1st embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view of the heater plate as viewed from an arrow III in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heater plate taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the heater plate taken along the line VV in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heater plate taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heater plate taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a front view of a plurality of heating elements and a resin frame in the heater plate of FIG. 3. It is a figure explaining the action | operation of the electric heater of 1st Embodiment. It is a front view of the heater plate of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the heater plate taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts that are the same or equivalent to each other will be described with the same reference numerals.

(First embodiment)
The electric heater for vehicles of this embodiment is applied to the vehicle air conditioner mounted in EHV (namely, electric vehicle) and PHEV (namely, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). Hereinafter, the vehicle electric heater is simply referred to as an electric heater. The electric heater of this embodiment is used as a main heat source for heating. The heat dissipation amount of the electric heater of this embodiment is 3 kW or more and 12 kW or less. Incidentally, an electric heater mounted on an automobile traveling with an engine is used as an auxiliary heat source for heating in a vehicle air conditioner. The heat radiation amount of the electric heater used as an auxiliary heat source for heating is 2 kW or less.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle air conditioner 1 includes an air conditioning case 2, an evaporator 3, and an electric heater 10. The air conditioning case 2 forms an air passage through which air traveling toward the passenger compartment passes. The evaporator 3 is disposed inside the air conditioning case 2. The evaporator 3 is a cooler that cools air by heat exchange between the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle and air. The electric heater 10 is disposed on the air flow downstream side of the evaporator 3 in the air conditioning case 2. The electric heater 10 is arranged so that all of the air that has passed through the evaporator 3 passes. The electric heater 10 is a heater that heats the air that has passed through the evaporator 3.

2, the electric heater 10 includes a plurality of heater plates 12, a plurality of fins 14, and a heater frame portion 16.

Each of the plurality of heater plates 12 is configured as a separate body. Each of the plurality of heater plates 12 has a heating element group 122. Each heating element group 122 includes a plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d. The heater frame 16 constitutes the outer shape of the electric heater 10.

Each of the plurality of heater plates 12 is arranged in a row in the horizontal direction with the longitudinal direction of the heater plate 12 being the vertical direction. Each of the plurality of heater plates 12 is arranged with a space from the adjacent heater plate 12. Each of the plurality of fins 14 is disposed between adjacent heater plates 12 among the plurality of heater plates 12. The plurality of heater plates 12 heats air passing between adjacent heater plates 12 via the plurality of fins 14. Therefore, the area | region where the several heater plate 12 and the several fin 14 are arrange | positioned among the electric heaters 10 is an air heating area | region which heats air. The heater frame 16 is disposed around the plurality of heater plates 12 and the plurality of fins 14. The heater frame portion 16 includes a partition portion 16a that partitions the air heating region into a driver seat side region and a passenger seat side region.

The electric heater 10 includes a control unit 18. The control unit 18 individually controls the energization amounts of the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d of each heater plate 12. Controlling the energization amount includes setting the energization amount to zero. That is, controlling the energization amount includes switching between an energized state and a non-energized state. The control unit 18 includes a control circuit board (not shown) and a switching element (not shown). The control circuit board selects one of the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d of each heater plate 12 by the switching element, and controls the energization amount of the selected heating element.

2, a part of the electric heater 10 is exposed from the air conditioning case 2. Note that the entire electric heater 10 may be disposed inside the air conditioning case 2.

Next, each of the plurality of heater plates 12 will be described. Below, although the structure of one heater plate 12 is demonstrated among the some heater plates 12, the structure of the other heater plate 12 is also the same.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, the heater plate 12 includes a multilayer substrate 124 and a negative electrode plate 126 in addition to the heating element group 122. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the heating element group 122 includes four

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d as a plurality of heating elements.

As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of

heating elements

122 a, 122 b, 122 c, 122 d are supported by the resin frame 123. The resin frame 123 is a support member that supports the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d. The resin frame 123 is a resin molded product integrated with a plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d. The resin frames 123 of the plurality of heater plates 12 are configured separately from each other. Each of the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d is arranged in a line with a space between adjacent heating elements. The arrangement direction of the plurality of

heating elements

122 a, 122 b, 122 c, 122 d coincides with the longitudinal direction of the heater plate 12.

Each

heating element

122a, 122b, 122c, 122d is a resistance material that generates heat when energized. In the present embodiment, PTC elements are used as the

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d. PTC is an abbreviation for Positive Temperature Coefficient. The PTC element is a positive temperature coefficient thermistor whose temperature rises due to heat generation and whose electrical resistance rapidly increases as the temperature rises above a certain temperature. Each

heating element

122a, 122b, 122c, 122d may be a conductor obtained by solidifying a resistance foil or a conductive paste.

The multilayer substrate 124 is a connecting member that electrically connects the positive electrode sides of the

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d to the control unit 18 individually. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, in the multilayer substrate 124, each of the plurality of conductor layers 21 and 22 is laminated via an insulating layer 23. In the present embodiment, the plurality of conductor layers 21 and 22 are two conductor layers of the first conductor layer 21 and the second conductor layer 22. In the multilayer substrate 124, the first conductor layer 21, the first insulating layer 23, the second conductor layer 22, and the second insulating layer 24 are laminated in this order.

The first conductor layer 21 includes a plurality of

electrode patterns

125a, 125b, 125c, and 125d that are in contact with the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d, respectively. In FIG. 3, each of the plurality of

electrode patterns

125a, 125b, 125c, and 125d is shown overlapping with each of the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d. The second conductor layer 22 includes a plurality of

wiring patterns

127a, 127b, 127c, and 127d that electrically connect each of the plurality of

electrode patterns

125a, 125b, 125c, and 125d to the control unit 18 individually. The first insulating layer 23 is located between the first conductor layer 21 and the second conductor layer 22. In the first insulating layer 23, a plurality of

interlayer connection portions

25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d are formed. Each of the plurality of

interlayer connection portions

25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d electrically connects each of the plurality of

electrode patterns

125a, 125b, 125c, and 125d and each of the plurality of

wiring patterns

127a, 127b, 127c, and 127d. . The second insulating layer 24 covers the plurality of

wiring patterns

127a, 127b, 127c, 127d.

In the present embodiment, the multilayer substrate 124 has four

electrode patterns

125a, 125b, 125c, and 125d as a plurality of electrode patterns. The multilayer substrate 124 has four

wiring patterns

127a, 127b, 127c, and 127d as a plurality of wiring patterns. The multilayer substrate 124 has four

interlayer connection portions

25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d as a plurality of interlayer connection portions.

As shown in FIG. 4, one heating element 122a is in contact with one electrode pattern 125a. The electrode pattern 125a is electrically connected to one wiring pattern 127a through one interlayer connection portion 25a.

As shown in FIG. 5, another one heating element 122b is in contact with another one electrode pattern 125b. This electrode pattern 125b is electrically connected to another wiring pattern 127b via another interlayer connection portion 25b.

As shown in FIG. 6, another other heating element 122c is in contact with another other electrode pattern 125c. The electrode pattern 125c is electrically connected to another wiring pattern 127c via another other interlayer connection portion 25c.

As shown in FIG. 7, another another heating element 122d is in contact with another other electrode pattern 125d. The electrode pattern 125d is electrically connected to another wiring pattern 127d via another other interlayer connection portion 25d.

The respective conductor layers 21 and 22 constituting the multilayer substrate 124 are made of a metal material. Each of the conductor layers 21 and 22 may be made of another conductive material. Each insulating

layer

23, 24 is made of ceramics. Each insulating

layer

23, 24 may be made of other insulating materials such as resin.

The negative electrode plate 126 is in contact with the negative electrode side of each of the

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, 122d. The negative electrode plate 126 is composed of a single plate made of a conductive material such as a metal material. The negative electrode plate 126 is electrically connected to the control unit 18.

In the present embodiment, the heating element group 122 included in one heater plate 12 among the plurality of heater plates 12 corresponds to a first heating element group. The resin frame 123 included in the heater plate 12 corresponds to a first support member. The multilayer substrate 124 included in the heater plate 12 corresponds to a first connection member.

Further, the heating element group 122 included in the other heater plate 12 among the plurality of heater plates 12 corresponds to a second heating element group. The resin frame 123 included in the heater plate 12 corresponds to a second support member that is separate from the first support member. The multilayer substrate 124 included in the heater plate 12 corresponds to a second connection member.

Next, the operation of the electric heater 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the electric heater 10 of the present embodiment, the control unit 18 can individually control the energization amounts of the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d of each heater plate 12. For this reason, as described below, the control unit 18 can cause only a part of the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d of each heater plate 12 to generate heat. Moreover, the control part 18 can make the one part temperature of several

heat generating body

122a, 122b, 122c, 122d of each heater plate 12 differ from other one part temperature. As a matter of course, the control unit 18 can also set all of the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, 122d to a uniform temperature.

When the air conditioning mode is the window clearing mode, the control unit 18 selects a plurality of heating elements 122a located in the upper first region A1 from all the heating elements. The control unit 18 sets the energization amount of each heating element 122a located in the first region A1 to a predetermined energization amount greater than zero. Each heating element 122 a located in the first region A <b> 1 is located on the top in each heater plate 12.

In the window clearing mode, air passes through the upper part of the air heating area of the electric heater 10. At this time, the passing air is heated by each heating element 122a located in the first region A1. The heated air is blown out to the windshield from a defroster outlet provided in the vehicle interior.

When the air conditioning mode is the driver seat heating mode, the control unit 18 selects the

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d located in the second area A2 on the driver seat side from all the heating elements. The control unit 18 sets the energization amount of the

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d located in the second region A2 to a predetermined energization amount greater than zero. The

heating elements

122 a, 122 b, 122 c, 122 d located in the second area A <b> 2 are located in the heater plate 12 located in the driver seat side area of the air heating area of the electric heater 10.

The driver's seat heating mode is a heating mode in which warm air is blown out only to the driver's seat among the driver's seat and the passenger seat. In the driver seat heating mode, air passes through a region on the driver seat side in the air heating region. At this time, the passing air is heated by the

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d located in the second region A2. The heated air is blown out from a foot outlet provided in the passenger compartment to the driver's seat.

In the case where the air conditioning mode is the passenger seat and foot heating mode, the control unit 18 selects the heating element 122a located in the third area A3 and the heating element 122c located in the fourth area A4 from all the heating elements. , 122d. The third region A3 is a region on the passenger seat side and on the upper side of the air heating region. The heating element 122a located in the third region A3 is located at the top of the heater plate 12 located in the passenger seat side region in the air heating region. The fourth area A4 is an area on the passenger seat side and the lower half of the air heating area. The

heating elements

122c and 122d located in the fourth area A4 are located first and second from the bottom in the heater plate 12 located in the passenger seat side area in the air heating area.

The control unit 18 sets the energization amounts of the heating elements 122a located in the third region A3 and the

heating elements

122c and 122d located in the fourth region A4 to be a predetermined energization amount greater than zero. Furthermore, the control unit 18 makes the energization amount of the

heating elements

122c and 122d located in the fourth area A4 larger than the energization amount of the heating element 122a located in the third area A3.

The front passenger's seat and strong foot heating mode is a heating mode in which warm air is blown toward the passenger seat only, and the warm air blown to the feet is higher than the warm air blowing to the upper body. . In the passenger seat and foot warming mode, air passes through the portion of the air heating area of the electric heater 10 on the passenger seat side. At this time, the air toward the upper body of the passenger in the passenger seat is heated by the heating element 122a located in the third region A3. The air toward the feet of the passenger in the passenger seat is heated by the

heating elements

122c and 122d located in the fourth region A4. As a result, warm air is blown out to the upper body of the passenger in the passenger seat. Hot air that is hotter than the hot air blown out to the upper body is blown out to the passenger's feet.

Next, the effect of the electric heater 10 of this embodiment will be described.

The number of vehicles such as EV and PHEV is expected to increase due to the recent electrification. Since conventional automobiles have an engine as the main power, engine cooling water is brought into the passenger compartment and used for heating. However, when the heat source becomes insufficient as the engine efficiency increases, an electric heater is added to secure the heat source. This electric heater is mainly used for early introduction of warm air into the vehicle interior at the beginning of startup. As described above, the purpose of this electric heater is to “get out warm air”.

However, since there is no engine as a main heat source in the case of EV or PHEV, there are cases where the entire heating is performed only with an electric heater or in combination with an electric heater and a heat pump. In this case, not only “outflow of hot air” but also “control of temperature distribution for each occupant” and “adjustment of hot air output” occur.

In order to realize this, it is desirable that all the heating elements included in the electric heater are divided into smaller areas than the above two conventional electric heaters, and the energization amount of each heating element can be controlled for each desired area. It is.

Incidentally, in the above-described two conventional electric heaters, the energization amounts of three or more heating elements cannot be individually controlled in the extending direction of the heater plate.

That is, in the electric heater in which each of the plurality of heater plates has a configuration in which three or more heating elements are sandwiched between two electrode plates, the energization amount of the heating elements can be controlled for each heater plate. However, the energization amounts of a plurality of heating elements in one heater plate cannot be controlled individually.

Moreover, in the electric heater of Patent Document 1, the energization amount of the heating element can be controlled for each heater plate. Furthermore, it is possible to separately control one energization amount and the other energization amount of the two heating elements in one heater plate. However, only two heating elements are provided on one heater plate. For this reason, the energization amount of the heating element cannot be controlled by dividing it into three or more regions in the extending direction of one heater plate.

It is known that the preference for warmth varies depending on the region or national character. For this reason, it is considered that finer temperature control will be required for the temperature of the air that has passed through the electric heater.

In contrast, in the electric heater 10 of the present embodiment, each of the plurality of

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d provided on each of the plurality of heater plates 12 is individually controlled via the multilayer substrate 124. It is electrically connected to the part 18. For this reason, each energization amount of all the

heat generating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d included in the electric heater 10 can be individually controlled.

Therefore, according to the electric heater 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in selecting a heating element for which temperature control is desired from among all the

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, 122d provided in the electric heater 10. In other words, the energization amount of each heating element can be controlled for each region that is finer than the conventional electric heater.

For example, as in the window clearing mode, driver seat heating mode, passenger seat and foot warming heating mode, it is possible to energize only the heating elements in the air heating area necessary for heating. For this reason, compared with the case where all the some heat generating bodies are energized, reduction of power consumption is possible.

Also, for example, the energization amount of some of the heating elements may be different from the energization amount of the other heating elements of all the heating elements, as in the passenger seat and foot warming mode. Can be made. For this reason, a temperature difference can be given to two or more blowing winds blown into the vehicle interior. Thereby, compared with the case where each energization amount of all the heat generating bodies is controlled uniformly, comfort can be improved.

By the way, the mounting orientation of the electric heater, that is, whether the extending direction of the heater plate is the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, differs depending on the type of vehicle on which the air conditioner is mounted.

In the above-described two conventional electric heaters, when the extending direction of the heater plate is the vertical direction, the plurality of heater plates are arranged in the horizontal direction. For this reason, it is possible to divide an air heating area | region into a fine area | region in the horizontal direction, and to control the energization amount of each heating element for every desired area | region. However, it is impossible to divide the air heating area into fine areas in the vertical direction and control the energization amount of each heating element for each desired area.

Similarly, when the extending direction of the heater plate is the horizontal direction, each of the plurality of heater plates is arranged in the vertical direction. For this reason, it is possible to divide the air heating area into fine areas in the vertical direction and control the energization amount of each heating element for each desired area. However, it is impossible to divide the air heating area into small areas in the lateral direction and control the energization amount of each heating element for each desired area.

On the other hand, according to the electric heater 10 of the present embodiment, regardless of the mounting posture of the electric heater 10, the air heating area is divided into fine areas in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and each heating element is provided for each desired area. It is possible to control the energization amount of 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d.

Further, in the above two conventional electric heaters, PWM control is used as energization control of a plurality of heating elements included in each heater plate in order to finely control the amount of heat of each heater plate. However, according to the electric heater 10 of the present embodiment, the energization amounts of all the

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, 122d of the electric heater 10 can be individually controlled. For this reason, the output of the electric heater 10 can be finely adjusted without using PWM control.

(Second Embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in this embodiment, the multilayer substrate 124 of the first embodiment is changed to a single-layer substrate 30. Other configurations of the electric heater 10 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The single-layer substrate 30 has only one conductor layer 32 disposed on the surface of the insulating layer 31 as a conductor layer. The conductor layer 32 includes four

electrode patterns

125a, 125b, 125c, and 125d and four

wiring patterns

127a, 127b, 127c, and 127d. The conductor layer 32 is made of a metal material. The conductor layer 32 may be made of another conductive material. The insulating layer 31 is made of ceramics. The single layer substrate 30 may have an insulating layer other than the insulating layer 31.

Also in the electric heater 10 of the present embodiment, each of the four

heating elements

122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d provided on each of the plurality of heater plates 12 is individually supplied to the control unit 18 via the single-layer substrate 30. Electrically connected. For this reason, the effect similar to 1st Embodiment is acquired.

In the present embodiment, the single-layer substrate 30 included in one heater plate 12 among the plurality of heater plates 12 corresponds to the first connection member. The single-layer substrate 30 included in the other heater plate 12 among the plurality of heater plates 12 corresponds to the second connection member.

(Other embodiments)

(1) In the first and second embodiments, the number of heating elements included in one heating element group 122 is four. However, the number of heating elements included in one heating element group 122 may be other numbers as long as it is three or more. Each of at least three

heating elements

122a, 122b, and 122c included in one heating element group 122 may be electrically connected to the control unit 18 individually. In this case, the control unit 18 can individually control the energization amounts of the at least three

heating elements

122a, 122b, and 122c. Also by this, the energization amount of each heating element can be controlled for each area finer than the conventional electric heater.

In this case, the multilayer substrate 124 and the single-layer substrate 30 have at least three

electrode patterns

125a, 125b, and 125c and at least three

wiring patterns

127a, 127b, and 127c. Note that the

reference numerals

122a, 122b, and 122c of the three heating elements only exemplify the three heating elements. Similarly, the

reference numerals

125a, 125b, 125c of the three electrode patterns merely illustrate the three electrode patterns. Similarly, the

reference numerals

127a, 127b, and 127c of the three wiring patterns merely illustrate the three wiring patterns.

(2) In the first embodiment, the multilayer substrate 124 has the two conductor layers 21 and 22 as a plurality of conductor layers. However, the multilayer substrate 124 may have three or more conductor layers as a plurality of conductor layers. In this case, one of the plurality of conductor layers includes a plurality of electrode patterns. One or more other conductor layers among the plurality of conductor layers include a plurality of wiring patterns. For example, each of the conductor layers at different positions in the stacking direction of the plurality of conductor layers may constitute each of the plurality of

wiring patterns

127a, 127b, 127c, and 127d.

(3) In the first embodiment, each insulating layer of the multilayer substrate 124 may be an insulating film. The insulating film is made of a resin material such as polyimide. The insulating film has flexibility. Further, each conductor layer of the multilayer substrate 124 may be formed by printing and solidifying a conductive paste.

Similarly, in the second embodiment, the insulating layer 31 of the single-layer substrate 30 may be an insulating film. Moreover, the conductor layer 32 of the single layer substrate 30 may be formed by printing and solidifying a conductive paste.

(4) In the second embodiment, each

wiring pattern

127a, 127b, 127c, 127d included in the conductor layer 32 is connected to each

electrode pattern

125a, 125b, 125c, 125d. However, instead of the

wiring patterns

127a, 127b, 127c, and 127d, wires such as copper wires may be connected to the

electrode patterns

125a, 125b, 125c, and 125d.

(5) In each of the embodiments described above, the air conditioning case 2 did not have a cold air bypass passage through which the air after passing through the evaporator 3 flows by bypassing the electric heater 10. However, the air conditioning case 2 may have a cold air bypass passage. In this case, a door is provided inside the air conditioning case 2 to switch the air flow after passing through the evaporator 3 to an air flow passing through the cold air bypass passage and an air flow passing through the electric heater 10.

(6) The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed within the scope described in the claims, and includes various modifications and modifications within the equivalent scope. Further, the above embodiments are not irrelevant to each other, and can be combined as appropriate unless the combination is clearly impossible. In each of the above-described embodiments, it is needless to say that elements constituting the embodiment are not necessarily essential unless explicitly stated as essential and clearly considered essential in principle. Yes. Further, in each of the above embodiments, when numerical values such as the number, numerical value, quantity, range, etc. of the constituent elements of the embodiment are mentioned, it is clearly limited to a specific number when clearly indicated as essential and in principle. The number is not limited to the specific number except for the case. In each of the above embodiments, when referring to the material, shape, positional relationship, etc. of the constituent elements, etc., unless otherwise specified, or in principle limited to a specific material, shape, positional relationship, etc. The material, shape, positional relationship, etc. are not limited.

(Summary)
According to the first aspect shown in part or all of the above embodiments, the vehicle electric heater applied to the vehicle air conditioner includes a first heat generating member, a second heat generating member, and a control unit. And a first connecting member and a second connecting member. The control unit individually controls the energization amounts of the three heating elements of the first heating element group and the energization amounts of the three heating elements of the second heating element group, respectively. The first connecting member electrically connects each of the three heating elements of the first heating element group individually to the control unit. The second connecting member electrically connects each of the three heating elements of the second heating element group to the control unit individually.

Further, according to the second aspect, the first connecting member is a multilayer substrate in which each of the plurality of conductor layers is laminated via an insulating layer. The second connection member is a multilayer substrate in which each of a plurality of conductor layers is laminated via an insulating layer.

As the first connection member and the second connection member according to the first aspect, the multilayer substrate according to the second aspect can be used.

Also, according to the third aspect, one conductor layer of the plurality of conductor layers of the first connection member includes three electrode patterns in contact with each of the three heating elements of the first heating element group. One or more other conductor layers of the plurality of conductor layers of the first connection member include three wiring patterns that individually electrically connect each of the three electrode patterns of the first connection member to the control unit. One conductor layer of the plurality of conductor layers of the second connection member includes three electrode patterns in contact with each of the three heating elements of the second heating element group. One or more other conductor layers of the plurality of conductor layers of the second connection member include three wiring patterns that individually electrically connect each of the three electrode patterns of the second connection member to the control unit.

The multilayer substrate according to the third aspect can be used as the multilayer substrate according to the second aspect.

Further, according to the fourth aspect, the first connection member is a single-layer substrate in which only one conductor layer is disposed as a conductor layer on the surface of the insulating layer. The second connection member is a single-layer substrate in which only one conductor layer is disposed as a conductor layer on the surface of the insulating layer.

As the first connection member and the second connection member according to the first aspect, the single-layer substrate according to the fourth aspect can be used.

According to the fifth aspect, the conductor layer of the first connecting member includes three electrode patterns in contact with each of the three heating elements of the first heating element group, and each of the three electrode patterns of the first connecting member. Including three wiring patterns electrically connected to the control unit individually. The conductor layer of the second connection member electrically connects the three electrode patterns in contact with each of the three heating elements of the second heating element group and the three electrode patterns of the second connection member individually to the control unit. Including three wiring patterns.

As the single-layer substrate according to the fourth aspect, the single-layer substrate according to the fifth aspect can be used.

Claims

An electric heater for a vehicle applied to a vehicle air conditioner,
A first heating element group (122) having three heating elements (122a, 122b, 122c) that are supported by the first support member (123) and generate heat when energized;
A second heating element group (122) having three heating elements (122a, 122b, 122c) supported by a second supporting member (123) separate from the first supporting member and generating heat when energized;
A control unit (18) for individually controlling the energization amounts of the three heating elements of the first heating element group and the energization amounts of the three heating elements of the second heating element group;
A first connecting member (124, 30) for electrically connecting each of the three heating elements of the first heating element group individually to the control unit;
A vehicle electric heater comprising: a second connection member (124, 30) for electrically connecting each of the three heating elements of the second heating element group to the control unit individually.
The first connection member is a multilayer substrate (124) in which each of the plurality of conductor layers (21, 22) is laminated via an insulating layer (23),
The electric heater for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second connection member is a multilayer substrate (124) in which each of the plurality of conductor layers (21, 22) is laminated via an insulating layer (23).
One conductor layer (21) of the plurality of conductor layers of the first connection member includes three electrode patterns (125a, 125b, 125c) in contact with the three heating elements of the first heating element group. ,
One or more other conductor layers (22) of the plurality of conductor layers of the first connection member electrically connect each of the three electrode patterns of the first connection member to the control unit individually. Including three wiring patterns (127a, 127b, 127c)
One conductor layer (21) of the plurality of conductor layers of the second connection member includes three electrode patterns (125a, 125b, 125c) in contact with the three heating elements of the second heating element group. ,
One or more other conductor layers (22) of the plurality of conductor layers of the second connection member electrically connect each of the three electrode patterns of the second connection member to the control unit individually. The vehicle electric heater according to claim 2, comprising three wiring patterns (127a, 127b, 127c).
The first connection member is a single-layer substrate (30) in which only one conductor layer (32) is disposed as a conductor layer on the surface of the insulating layer (31),
The vehicle-use vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second connection member is a single-layer substrate (30) in which only one conductor layer (32) is disposed as a conductor layer on the surface of the insulating layer (31). Electric heater.
The conductor layer of the first connecting member includes three electrode patterns (125a, 125b, 125c) that are in contact with the three heating elements of the first heating element group, and the three electrode patterns of the first connecting member. Including three wiring patterns (127a, 127b, 127c) for electrically connecting each of the control unit and the control unit individually.
The conductor layer of the second connection member includes three electrode patterns (125a, 125b, 125c) that are in contact with the three heating elements of the second heating element group, and the three electrode patterns of the second connection member. 5. The vehicle electric heater according to claim 4, comprising three wiring patterns (127 a, 127 b, 127 c) that electrically connect each of the two to each of the control units individually.