Convertible air conditioning

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for temperature control of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an opening roof section, wherein, when the roof section is closed, the sensor signals of a temperature sensor arranged in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner and the sensor signals of at least one temperature sensor arranged in or below an instrument panel area are used to determine a respective actual temperature (S1), and wherein, when the roof section is open, the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in or below an instrument panel area are weighted more heavily (S2A) than the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner, or only the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in or below an instrument panel area are used (S2B).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for temperature control of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an opening roof section, and to a system for temperature control of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an opening roof section.

[0002] Passenger cars in special configurations are sometimes designed as convertibles, in which a large part or the entire roof can be reversibly opened, giving the occupants an unobstructed view of the sky. While in a convertible passenger car essentially the entire roof can be opened, there are also versions where only small parts of the roof can be opened, for example, a sunroof. What convertibles and sunroof versions have in common is that they are passenger cars with a roof section that can be opened.

[0003] Climate control in a vehicle interior with the roof open is challenging. In standard production vehicles, climate control is typically largely inactive when driving with the roof open, not least because a conventional interior temperature sensor no longer provides a meaningful reading when the roof is down. However, a climate control system is known that incorporates a temperature sensor located in the headroom and another located in the instrument panel area, and these sensors are taken into account during the control process.

[0004] DE 41 30 226 C1 relates to a method for air conditioning the interior of a vehicle, comprising at least one part that can be opened by means of a drive motor, an interior temperature setpoint transmitter, at least one interior temperature sensor, at least one exterior temperature sensor, a logic module with inputs and outputs, and a computer module. Existing components (sensors, logic modules) from various systems are used and interconnected in such a way that the driver is largely relieved of operating tasks.

[0005] DE 196 31 829 C1 further relates to a vehicle interior air conditioning device with a first interior temperature sensor arranged in the vehicle roof area, a second interior temperature sensor arranged in the dashboard, several supply air ducts with associated air flaps for variable interior supply air distribution and an air conditioning control unit for controlling or regulating the air conditioning depending on an air conditioning-relevant interior temperature value obtained by evaluating the temperature values ​​supplied by the two temperature sensors, wherein the air conditioning control unit performs the evaluation of the temperature values ​​measured by the two temperature sensors to obtain the air conditioning-relevant interior temperature value depending on the position of the air flaps.

[0006] DE 33 23 568 A1 also relates to a heating and / or air conditioning system for motor vehicles, with a temperature sensor in the head area and a temperature sensor in the foot area as components of an interior temperature control device, wherein the temperature sensors are connected to the control device depending on the temperature of the outside area in such a way that at low or high outside temperatures the influence of the foot area temperature sensor or the head area temperature sensor dominates on the control device.

[0007] The object of the invention is to improve the air conditioning of a vehicle with an opening roof section.

[0008] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments and embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for temperature control of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an opening roof section, wherein, for temperature control when the roof section is closed, the sensor signals of a temperature sensor arranged in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner and the sensor signals of at least one temperature sensor arranged in or below an instrument panel area are used to determine a respective actual temperature, and when the roof section is open, the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in or below an instrument panel area are weighted more heavily in the temperature control than the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in the headroom or headliner area, or only the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area are used.

[0010] The vehicle with an opening roof section can be a convertible or a vehicle whose roof can only be partially opened, such as a passenger car with a sunroof. In contrast to conventional methods, at least one additional temperature sensor is used, located in or below an instrument panel area. Its signal is given greater weight, or used exclusively, as the actual value for controlling the vehicle's interior climate control as soon as the roof section is opened. When the roof section is closed, the usual climate control system with the conventional interior sensor, typically housed in a roof control unit, is used.

[0011] An advantageous effect of the invention is that it results in better thermal comfort when driving with the roof section open, and it achieves an extension of the temperature control's usability to lower and very high ambient temperatures.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the temperature sensor located in or below the instrument panel area is arranged on a gearshift lever or steering column lever.

[0013] This has the particular advantage for a convertible climate control system that this arrangement allows for especially accurate and rapid temperature readings when the roof is open, as the temperature sensor located there is particularly well exposed to airflow. This enables the climate control system to react quickly and effectively to uncomfortable temperature changes. The steering column lever is primarily a turn signal lever. The gearshift lever is primarily a lever for shifting gears, i.e., a gear lever.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the temperature sensor located in or below the instrument panel area is arranged facing an air outlet nozzle, and the air outlet nozzle is automatically directed towards the upper body and / or head of an occupant when the roof part is opened, the air outlet nozzle comprising a central nozzle and / or a side nozzle.

[0015] If the center and / or side vents are actuator-adjustable, and their air outlet direction can be adjusted, particularly by means of stepper motors, the air outlet direction can be automatically adjusted towards the upper body or head of an occupant when the convertible top is opened, thereby also optimally supplying the temperature sensors with conditioned air; if the center and / or side vents can only be adjusted manually, a voice message can advantageously be played when the roof section is opened, prompting the occupant to adjust the center and / or side vents towards the upper body or head.

[0016] When driving with the roof open, the ambient air flowing into the vehicle interior from the rear due to the negative pressure inside counteracts the momentum of the conditioned air exiting the center and side vents, so that, especially at higher speeds, this air no longer reaches the occupants. Therefore, at least one additional temperature sensor is mounted on a surface facing and near a center vent and / or a side vent located in the instrument panel; the back of a gearshift lever or a turn signal lever is advantageously suited for this purpose. The reason for choosing this position for the at least one additional temperature sensor is that comfort when driving with the roof open is primarily determined by the comfort of the occupants' upper body and head, and the center and side vents play a crucial role in this.

[0017] Furthermore, it can be provided that the nozzles are manually directed towards the upper body and head by the occupant when the roof section is opened via voice message.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the temperature control setpoint is adjusted depending on the outside temperature and / or the vehicle's speed. Advantageously, the setpoint temperature is increased as the vehicle's speed increases.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment, the temperature control setpoint is adjusted depending on the amount of solar radiation.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the sensor signals are compared with a predetermined setpoint of a heating or air conditioning system of the vehicle, and to achieve the setpoint, the air distribution is cascaded by blowing air out of center and side nozzles, increasing the blower power and extending a wind deflector.

[0021] A control mode with the convertible top open is preferably carried out as follows: A target temperature set by the occupant is compared with the measured actual value at the at least one temperature sensor; to achieve the target value, the following cascaded measures are initiated: First, a change in the air distribution to the position in which the center and side vents are supplied with conditioned air, second, an increase in the blower power, third, an extension of a wind deflector.

[0022] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system for temperature control of a passenger compartment of a passenger car with an opening roof section, wherein the system is designed to use, when the roof section is closed, the sensor signals of a temperature sensor arranged in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner and the sensor signals of at least one temperature sensor arranged in or below an instrument panel area to determine a respective actual temperature, and to weight, when the roof section is open, the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area more heavily than the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in the headroom or headliner area, or to use only the sensor signals of the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area.wherein the temperature sensor, located in or below the instrument panel area, is arranged on a gearshift lever or steering column lever. The steering column lever is, in particular, the turn signal lever.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the temperature sensor, located in or below the instrument panel area, is positioned outside the contact area of ​​the gearshift lever or the steering column lever. This makes it easier to avoid measurement errors caused by body heat.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area is located on the side of the gearshift lever or steering column lever facing the instrument panel.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the temperature sensor, located in or below the instrument panel area, is positioned on the side of the gearshift lever or steering column lever facing the floor. By positioning the temperature sensor on the side of the steering column lever or gearshift lever facing the floor of the vehicle's interior, measurement errors caused by sunlight can be reduced or completely avoided.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the temperature sensor, located in or below the instrument panel area, is positioned between the side of the gearshift lever or steering column lever facing the instrument panel and the side of the gearshift lever or steering column lever facing the ground. In this configuration, measurement errors caused by the temperature sensor due to sunlight can be reduced or completely avoided.

[0027] Advantages and preferred further developments of the proposed system result from an analogous and substantive transfer of the above statements made in connection with the proposed procedure.

[0028] Further advantages, features and details will become apparent from the following description, in which - possibly with reference to the drawing - at least one embodiment is described in detail.

[0029] They show: Fig. 1: A method for climate control according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2: An interior of a convertible with a climate control system according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3: A flowchart for the implementation of a climate control system according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0030] The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

[0031] Fig. Figure 1 shows a method for operating a climate control system in a convertible passenger car with an openable and retractable roof, which uses an additional temperature sensor on a turn signal lever 2 and / or gearshift lever 1 to determine the actual temperature when driving with the roof open. A cascaded control process takes place when the measured actual value deviates from the setpoint, which is described in Fig. 3 is described. With the roof section closed, the sensor signals of a temperature sensor located in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner and the sensor signals of at least one temperature sensor located in or below an instrument panel area are used to determine a respective actual temperature S1.

[0032] With the roof section open, however, considerable wind flows into the interior of the vehicle when driving forward; therefore, the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located on the indicator lever 2 and / or gearshift lever 1, and thus in the instrument panel area, are weighted more heavily (S2A) than the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in the headroom or headliner area, or in an alternative version, only the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located on the indicator lever 2 and / or gearshift lever 1 are used (S2B).

[0033] Fig. Figure 2 shows a system for temperature control of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an opening roof section, wherein the system is designed to use, when the roof section is closed, the sensor signals of a temperature sensor located in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner and the sensor signals of at least one temperature sensor located in or below an instrument panel area to determine a respective actual temperature, and to weight, when the roof section is open, the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in or below an instrument panel area more heavily than the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner, or to use only the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located on or below an instrument panel area, wherein the temperature sensor located in or below the instrument panel area is arranged on a gearshift lever 1 or steering column lever 2.The vehicle also has a central nozzle 3 and a side nozzle 4, which operate according to a procedure as described in . Fig. 3 can be controlled as described.

[0034] Fig. Figure 3 shows a method for controlling an air conditioning system in the interior of a vehicle as described below. Fig.Figure 2 shows the first query step, H1, which checks whether a roof section is already open. In the subsequent diagram, as in the corresponding first query step H1, a result of each query step is labeled 'n' (no) and 'y' (yes). If the roof section is not open, a conventional climate control mode of the vehicle is applied in process step K. If, however, the roof section is open, query step H2 is applied, which checks whether a target temperature has already been reached. If so, the process continues along path y to the end E of the flowchart. If not, process step P1 is executed, in which an air distribution to center vent 3 and side vent 4 is determined, and these are then controlled accordingly. In process step H3, it is checked again whether the target temperature has been reached. If so, the process continues along path y to the end E.If this is not the case, the process continues via path n to process step P2. In process step P2, the fan speed of the center nozzle 3 and / or the side nozzle 4 is increased. In query step H4, it is checked again whether the target temperature has been reached. If so, the flowchart ends at step E. If not, query step H5 is executed, in which it is checked whether a fan speed is already at its maximum. If not, the process returns to process step P2, in which the fan speed is increased. If the fan speed is already at its maximum, query step H7 checks whether a wind deflector has already been extended. If so, the flowchart ends at step E. If not, the process proceeds to process step P3, in which the wind deflector is extended, and then the process returns to query step H2.

[0035] Although the invention has been further illustrated and explained in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived from them by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the embodiments mentioned as examples are truly only examples and are not to be understood in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications, or the configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without leaving the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

Claims

[1] Method for temperature control of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an opening roof section, wherein, for temperature control when the roof section is closed, the sensor signals of a temperature sensor located in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner and the sensor signals of at least one temperature sensor located in or below an instrument panel area are used to determine a respective actual temperature (S1), and wherein, when the roof section is open, the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in or below the instrument panel area are weighted more heavily (S2A) than the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in the area of ​​the headroom or headliner, or only the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in or below the instrument panel area are used (S2B). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area is arranged on a gearshift lever (1) or steering column lever (2). [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area is arranged facing an air outlet nozzle, and wherein the air outlet nozzle is automatically directed towards the upper body and / or head of an occupant when the roof part is opened, wherein the air outlet nozzle comprises a central nozzle (3) and / or a side nozzle (4). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a setpoint adjustment of the temperature control is carried out depending on an outside temperature and / or a driving speed of the vehicle. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a setpoint adjustment of the temperature control is carried out depending on solar radiation. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor signals are compared with a predetermined setpoint of a heating and / or air conditioning system of the vehicle and, to achieve the setpoint, the air distribution is cascaded by blowing air out of a central nozzle (3) and / or a side nozzle (4), and by increasing the blower power and extending a wind deflector. [7] System for temperature control of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an opening roof section, wherein the system is designed to use, when the roof section is closed, the sensor signals of a temperature sensor located in the area of ​​a headroom or headliner and the sensor signals of at least one temperature sensor located in or below an instrument panel area to determine a respective actual temperature, and to weight, when the roof section is open, the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in or below an instrument panel area more heavily than the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in the area of ​​the headroom or headliner, or, when the roof section is open, to use only the sensor signals of the temperature sensor located in or below the instrument panel area, wherein the temperature sensor located in or below the instrument panel area is arranged on a gearshift lever (1) or steering column lever (2). [8] System according to claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area is arranged outside a contact area of ​​the gearshift lever (1) or the steering column lever (2). [9] System according to one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area is arranged on a side of the gearshift lever (1) or steering column lever (2) facing the instrument panel. [10] System according to one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the temperature sensor arranged in or below the instrument panel area is arranged on a side of the gearshift lever (1) or steering column lever (2) facing the ground.

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