Temperature detection device and vehicle air conditioner using the same

Abstract

In a vehicle air conditioner, a non-contact temperature sensor is used as a temperature detecting device. The non-contact temperature sensor has a plurality of temperature detection elements for detecting surface temperatures of a plurality of temperature detection ranges in a vicinity of at least one of seats of a passenger compartment in non-contact. The non-contact temperature sensor is provided in a ceiling portion of the passenger compartment in an arrangement area of the ceiling portion between a front end and a rear end of the one seat in a vehicle front-rear direction. Accordingly, even when the size and seated height of the passenger are changed, the temperature detection ranges can contain the passenger, and a passenger's temperature can be stably detected by using the non-contact temperature sensor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2003-379551 filed on Nov. 10, 2003, and No. 2004-120337 filed on Apr. 15, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a temperature detection device and a vehicle air conditioner having a non-contact temperature sensor which detects a surface temperature of a passenger of a passenger compartment in non-contact. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner which controls an air conditioning state in the passenger compartment in accordance with the surface temperature detected by the non-contact temperature sensor. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In a conventional air conditioning system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,686, a matrix IR sensor is arranged in a passenger compartment to detect a temperature distribution on the face portion of a driver or a pass...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] In view of the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a temperature detection device and a vehicle air conditioner having a non-contact temperature sensor (IR sensor), which can prevent a target object to be temperature-detected from being shifted from a temperature detection range of the non-contact temperature sensor.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a temperature detection device and a vehicle air conditioner having a non-contact temperature sensor which can stably detect a surface temperature of a passenger regardless a seat position or a passenger's seating position.

[0007] According to the present invention, a temperature detection device for a vehicle air conditioner includes a non-contact temperature sensor having a plurality of temperature detection elements for detecting surface temperatures of a plurality of temperature detection ranges in a vicinity of at least one of seats of a passenger compartment in non-contact. Generally, the non-contact temperature sensor is disposed to detect a surface temperature of a passenger seated on the one seat and to send a detected temperature signal to the air conditioner. In the temperature detection device, the non-contact temperature sensor is provided in a ceiling portion of the passenger compartment in an arrangement area of the ceiling portion between a front end and a rear end of the one seat in a vehicle front-rear direction. That is, the arrangement area of the non-contact temperature sensor on the ceiling portion is a vertically projecting area of the one seat between the front end and the rear end in the vehicle front-rear direction. Accordingly, the temperature detection elements of the non-contact temperature sensor detect the surface temperature downwardly from a direct upper side of the passenger. Thus, a position change of the shoulder portion and the thigh port of the passenger on the temperature detection range of the non-contact temperature sensor can be made smaller. As a result, each position of the passenger can be stably detected by using the non-contact temperature sensor.

[0014] More preferably, the control unit calculates a passenger's temperature on the one seat by a weighting calculation of the surface temperature of the passenger on the seat, a surface temperature of a side window adjacent to the passenger, and a surface temperature of a trim panel between the passenger and the side window, which are detected by the non-contact temperature sensor. Further, the control unit calculates the target temperature based on the passenger's temperature obtained by the weighting calculation. Therefore, the target temperature, in which the solar radiation reflected to the passenger from the side window is also considered, can be calculated, and comfortable air-conditioning can be provided.

Problems solved by technology

However, in this case, the rear IR sensor may not stably detect the surface temperature of the passenger on the rear seat in accordance with a front seat position or the passenger's seating position on the rear seat.

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