A method, system and vehicle for controlling temperature in the passenger compartment

Abstract

This invention provides a method, system, and vehicle for cabin temperature control. The method specifically includes: (1) receiving a temperature distribution thermal map and images of drivers and passengers sent by an infrared imaging device and a camera; (2) acquiring the actual body surface temperature of all drivers and passengers in the cabin; and (3) controlling the air volume and / or air temperature of the air outlets in the temperature control zone so that the actual body surface temperature of the drivers and passengers in the temperature control zone reaches the set target body surface temperature. This invention controls the air volume and air temperature of the air outlets in the temperature control zone based on the actual body surface temperature of the drivers and passengers and their set target body surface temperature, thereby achieving zoned temperature control in the cabin and better meeting the personalized needs of users.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of temperature control technology, and provides a method, system and vehicle for controlling the temperature of the passenger compartment. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the automotive industry and the increasing demands of consumers for automotive comfort, vehicles are gradually evolving into intelligent private spaces that integrate entertainment. As an important device for regulating the in-vehicle environment, automotive air conditioning is experiencing a growing demand for intelligence and personalization.

[0003] Traditional automotive air conditioning temperature control systems mainly rely on temperature sensors to detect the interior temperature and control the airflow and temperature based on a preset target temperature to ensure the interior temperature reaches the set temperature.

[0004] The above temperature control methods ignore the individual temperature sensitivity differences of drivers and passengers, as well as the temperature differences in different locations within the passenger compartment, resulting in unsatisfactory temperature control effects and an inability to meet the personalized needs of passengers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, this application provides a method for temperature control in the passenger cabin, which aims to improve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] Specifically, the following technical solutions are included:

[0007] On the one hand, this application provides a method for controlling the temperature of the passenger cabin, the method being as follows:

[0008] (1) Receive temperature distribution heat maps and images of drivers and passengers sent by infrared imaging devices and cameras;

[0009] (2) Obtain the actual body surface temperature of all passengers and crew members in the passenger compartment;

[0010] (3) Control the air volume and / or air temperature of the air outlet in the temperature control zone so that the actual body surface temperature of the driver and passengers in the temperature control zone reaches the set target body surface temperature.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, after receiving the temperature distribution thermal image collected by the infrared imaging device, the temperature distribution in the thermal image is transformed to the driver and passenger image, the target area of ​​each driver and passenger's face is extracted in the driver and passenger image, and the average temperature of the target area is taken as the actual body surface temperature of the corresponding driver and passenger.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method for reading the target body surface temperature is as follows:

[0013] After receiving the driver and passenger images, the system extracts the facial images of each driver and passenger from the images, compares the facial images with the stored facial images to determine the identity of the driver or passenger corresponding to the facial image, and reads the target body surface temperature set by the corresponding driver or passenger.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method for setting the target body surface temperature is as follows:

[0015] The movement status of each driver and passenger in the passenger compartment is detected. For drivers and passengers who are asleep, their current target body surface temperature is set as the second target body surface temperature for the sleep state. For drivers and passengers who are active, their current target body surface temperature is set as the first target body surface temperature. The second target body surface temperature of the same driver and passenger is generally higher than the first target body surface temperature.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method for determining the motion state of each driver and passenger is as follows:

[0017] If the position of the driver or passenger in the image does not change in several consecutive frames of driver or passenger images, and their eyes are closed, then the corresponding driver or passenger is considered to be asleep; otherwise, the driver or passenger is considered to be in motion.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sleep state detection process for drivers and passengers is as follows:

[0019] (21) Compare the currently acquired driver and passenger images with the previous driver and passenger images to detect whether the positions of each passenger in the images have changed;

[0020] (22) For drivers and passengers whose positions have not changed, proceed to step (23); for drivers and passengers whose positions have not changed, set their count frame to zero and proceed to step (21);

[0021] (23) Detect whether the corresponding driver or passenger is in a closed-eye state. If the detection result is yes, increment its count frame by 1 and then execute step (21). If the detection result is no, set its count frame to zero and execute step (21).

[0022] (24) If the count frame of a driver or passenger reaches the set count threshold, the driver or passenger is considered to be in a sleep state.

[0023] In some embodiments of the present invention, the distance between the driver's face and the air outlet in the temperature control zone is detected based on the driver's image, and the air volume and air temperature of the air outlet in the temperature control zone are adjusted based on the distance.

[0024] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method for determining the distance between the face of the driver / passenger and the air outlet within their temperature-controlled zone is as follows:

[0025] The location of the center of the air outlet in all temperature control areas is determined in the image of the driver and passenger. The center of the target area of ​​each driver and passenger's face is extracted from the currently acquired image of the driver and passenger. The distance from the center of the target area to the center of the air outlet in the temperature control area is calculated and identified as the distance between the driver / passenger and the air outlet.

[0026] On the other hand, embodiments of this application provide a passenger cabin temperature control system, the system comprising:

[0027] An air outlet is located in each temperature-controlled zone, with one seat corresponding to one temperature-controlled zone;

[0028] Infrared imaging device and camera installed at the front of the vehicle;

[0029] Vehicle air conditioning controller that communicates with infrared imaging devices and cameras;

[0030] The vehicle air conditioning controller controls the air volume and temperature of the corresponding air outlets based on the above-mentioned passenger compartment temperature control method, so that the actual body surface temperature of the driver and passengers in the temperature control area reaches the set target body surface temperature.

[0031] On the other hand, this application provides a vehicle that integrates the above-mentioned passenger compartment temperature control system.

[0032] This invention controls the air volume and temperature of the air outlet in the temperature control zone based on the actual body surface temperature of the driver and passengers and their set target body surface temperature, thereby achieving zoned control of the temperature inside the passenger cabin and better meeting the personalized needs of users. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the passenger compartment temperature control system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the passenger cabin temperature control method provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 3 A flowchart of the temperature control method for the passenger cabin provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the passenger cabin temperature control method provided in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[0038] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used in the embodiments of this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the passenger cabin temperature control system provided in an embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, only the parts related to the embodiment of the present invention are shown. The system includes:

[0042] The passenger cabin is divided into several temperature-controlled zones, with one seat corresponding to one temperature-controlled zone, and an air vent is installed in each temperature-controlled zone;

[0043] Infrared imaging devices and cameras are installed at the front of the vehicle, such as above the central rearview mirror, to ensure that the entire interior space can be covered and thermal images of the temperature distribution of the occupants and images of the driver and passengers can be obtained.

[0044] Vehicle air conditioning controller that communicates with infrared imaging devices and cameras;

[0045] The vehicle air conditioning controller controls the air volume and temperature of the corresponding air outlet based on the following temperature control method, so that the actual body surface temperature of the driver and passengers in the temperature control area reaches the set target body surface temperature.

[0046] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a passenger cabin temperature control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The method specifically includes the following steps:

[0047] (1) Start the infrared imaging device and camera. The infrared imaging device and camera will simultaneously send the temperature distribution thermal images of all passengers in the passenger compartment and the images of passengers to the vehicle air conditioning controller.

[0048] (2) The vehicle air conditioning controller obtains the body surface temperature of all passengers in the passenger compartment;

[0049] (3) Control the air volume and / or air temperature of the air outlet in the temperature control zone so that the body surface temperature of the driver and passengers in the temperature control zone reaches the set target body surface temperature.

[0050] In this embodiment of the invention, a pose transformation T is pre-completed between the temperature distribution thermal image acquired by the infrared imaging device and the image of the driver and passengers acquired by the camera. After receiving the temperature distribution thermal image acquired by the infrared imaging device, the vehicle air conditioning controller transforms the temperature distribution in the thermal image to the driver and passenger image based on the pose transformation T. Target areas on the faces of each driver and passenger are extracted from the driver and passenger image, and the average temperature of the target area is taken as the body surface temperature of the corresponding driver and passenger. In this embodiment of the invention, a rectangular area is established centered on the breathing point (nose) on the face of each driver and passenger. This rectangular area is the target area, with a length of 300mm and a width of 200mm.

[0051] In this embodiment of the invention, after receiving the driver and passenger image, the vehicle air conditioning controller extracts the facial images of each driver and passenger in the driver and passenger image, compares the facial images with the stored facial images, determines the identity of the driver and passenger corresponding to the facial image, and reads the target parameters set by the corresponding driver and passenger, including the target body surface temperature.

[0052] The vehicle air conditioning controller stores a personalized parameter table, which records the identity of the driver and passenger, the link address of the facial image corresponding to the identity, and the personalized parameters set by the driver and passenger corresponding to the identity, including the target body surface temperature. The facial image of the driver and passenger is stored in a storage unit, which can be integrated into the vehicle air conditioning controller or set up independently of the vehicle air conditioning controller.

[0053] In this embodiment of the invention, when the infrared imaging device and camera collect thermal images of the temperature distribution and images of the occupants in the passenger compartment, if the faces of the occupants are in a deflected state, it is impossible to extract complete facial images or only partial facial images from the occupant images. This means that it may be impossible to obtain the complete target area or to identify the occupants. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the actual body surface temperature and target body surface temperature of the occupants. Since the sampling frequency of the infrared imaging device and camera is high and the time difference between the current moment and the previous moment is very small, the actual body surface temperature and target body surface temperature of the occupants at the previous moment are used as the actual body surface temperature and target body surface temperature of the occupants at the current moment.

[0054] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a temperature control method for the passenger compartment provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The method specifically includes the following steps:

[0055] In this embodiment of the invention, the state of the driver and passengers is divided into a sleeping state and an active state. Based on this, the target body surface temperature is divided into a first target body surface temperature in the active state and a second target body surface temperature in the sleeping state. The second target body surface temperature of the same driver and passenger is generally higher than the first target body surface temperature. The vehicle air conditioning controller detects the activity state of each driver and passenger in the passenger compartment. For drivers and passengers in the sleeping state, their current target body surface temperature is set as the second target body surface temperature in the sleeping state. For drivers and passengers in the active state, their current target body surface temperature is set as the first target body surface temperature. The first target body surface temperature and the second target body surface temperature are both personalized parameters set by the user, or the second target body surface temperature is formed by increasing the first target body surface temperature by a specified temperature degree.

[0056] In this embodiment of the invention, the vehicle air conditioning controller detects the motion state of the driver and passenger based on images captured by a camera. The detection method is as follows: if the driver and passenger's pose in the image does not change in several consecutive frames of driver and passenger images, and their eyes are closed, then the corresponding driver and passenger is considered to be asleep; otherwise, the driver and passenger is considered to be in motion. The detection process is as follows:

[0057] (21) Compare the currently acquired driver and passenger images with the previous driver and passenger images to detect whether the positions of each passenger in the images have changed;

[0058] (22) For drivers and passengers whose positions have not changed, proceed to step (23); for drivers and passengers whose positions have not changed, set their count frame to zero and proceed to step (21);

[0059] (23) Detect whether the corresponding driver or passenger is in a closed-eye state. If the detection result is yes, increment its count frame by 1 and then execute step (21). If the detection result is no, set its count frame to zero and execute step (21).

[0060] (24) If the count frame of a driver or passenger reaches the set count threshold N, the driver or passenger is considered to be in a sleep state.

[0061] The vehicle air conditioning controller periodically detects the movement status of the occupants in the passenger compartment. After the current detection time of the occupant's movement status, if the position of the occupant remains basically unchanged in N+1 consecutive occupant image frames during the subsequent detection period, the corresponding occupant is considered to be in a sleep state.

[0062] The system determines the target body surface temperature of each driver and passenger based on their movement status. The target body surface temperature will adapt to changes in the movement status of the driver and passengers. For example, if a child in the back seat falls asleep after playing for a while, the air volume and temperature of the air outlet in the temperature control area will adapt to change so that the child's actual body surface temperature is at the target body surface temperature corresponding to the two movement statuses, which greatly improves the user's comfort.

[0063] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the passenger cabin temperature control method provided in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Embodiment 3, based on the technical solutions described in Embodiments 1 and 2, further includes the following steps:

[0064] Based on images of drivers and passengers captured by cameras, the distance between the driver's or passenger's face and the air outlet in their temperature-controlled zone is detected, and the air volume and temperature of the air outlet in their temperature-controlled zone are adjusted based on this distance.

[0065] In this embodiment of the invention, the vehicle air conditioning controller stores a mapping table of air volume and air temperature under different temperature differences and distances. This mapping table is obtained through actual vehicle calibration. Different temperature differences and distances are grouped into a series of calibration points. Under the operating conditions corresponding to each calibration point, the air temperature under different air volumes is calibrated, thereby forming the above mapping table. When the distance between the driver and passengers and the air outlet is close, in order to improve the user's driving experience, it is best to reduce the air volume of the air outlet to avoid a large amount of cold or hot air blowing directly on the user's face, causing discomfort. In addition, the above temperature difference is the difference between the actual body surface temperature of the driver and passengers and the current target body surface temperature.

[0066] In this embodiment of the invention, the center of the air outlet in all temperature control areas is calibrated as the position in the driver and passenger image. The center of the target area of ​​each driver and passenger's face is extracted from the currently acquired driver and passenger image. The distance between the center of the target area and the center of the air outlet in the temperature control area is calculated. This distance is identified as the distance between the driver / passenger and the air outlet. Based on this distance, the air volume and air temperature of the corresponding air outlet are adjusted.

[0067] This invention also provides a vehicle that integrates the aforementioned passenger compartment temperature control system. The passenger compartment temperature control system controls the air volume and air temperature of the air outlets in each temperature control zone of the passenger compartment in real time based on the personalized parameters set by the driver and passengers, so that the actual body surface temperature of the driver and passengers in the temperature control zone reaches the target body surface temperature under the current condition.

[0068] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only.

[0069] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the temperature of a passenger cabin, characterized in that, The method is as follows: (1) Receive thermal images of temperature distribution and images of drivers and passengers sent by infrared imaging devices and cameras; (2) Obtain the actual body surface temperature of all passengers and crew members in the passenger cabin; (3) Control the air volume and / or air temperature of the air outlet in the temperature control zone so that the actual body surface temperature of the driver and passengers in the temperature control zone reaches the set target body surface temperature. After receiving the temperature distribution thermal image collected by the infrared imaging device, the temperature distribution in the thermal image is transformed into the image of the driver and passenger. The target area of ​​each driver and passenger's face is extracted from the image of the driver and passenger, and the average temperature of the target area is taken as the actual body surface temperature of the corresponding driver and passenger. Based on the image detection of the driver and passenger, the distance between the driver and passenger's face and the air outlet in their temperature control zone is determined, and the air volume and temperature of the air outlet in their temperature control zone are adjusted accordingly. The specific method for determining the distance between the face of a driver or passenger and the air vent in their temperature-controlled zone is as follows: Determine the position of the center of the air outlet in the driver and passenger image of all temperature control areas. Extract the center of the target area of ​​each driver and passenger's face from the currently acquired driver and passenger image. Calculate the distance from the center of the target area to the center of the air outlet of the temperature control area where it is located. Take this distance as the distance between the driver / passenger and the air outlet.

2. The passenger cabin temperature control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The specific method for reading the target body surface temperature is as follows: After receiving the driver and passenger images, the system extracts the facial images of each driver and passenger from the images, compares the facial images with the stored facial images to determine the identity of the driver or passenger corresponding to the facial image, and reads the target body surface temperature set by the corresponding driver or passenger.

3. The passenger cabin temperature control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The specific method for setting the target body surface temperature is as follows: The movement status of each driver and passenger in the passenger compartment is detected. For drivers and passengers who are asleep, their current target body surface temperature is set as the second target body surface temperature for the sleep state. For drivers and passengers who are moving, their current target body surface temperature is set as the first target body surface temperature. The second target body surface temperature of the same driver and passenger is higher than the first target body surface temperature.

4. The passenger cabin temperature control method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The specific methods for determining the motion status of each driver and passenger are as follows: If the position of the driver or passenger in the image does not change in several consecutive frames of driver or passenger images, and their eyes are closed, then the corresponding driver or passenger is considered to be asleep; otherwise, the driver or passenger is considered to be in motion.

5. A passenger cabin temperature control system, characterized in that, The system includes: An air outlet is located in each temperature-controlled zone, with one seat corresponding to one temperature-controlled zone; Infrared imaging device and camera installed at the front of the vehicle; Vehicle air conditioning controller that communicates with infrared imaging devices and cameras; The vehicle air conditioning controller controls the air volume and temperature of the corresponding air outlet based on the passenger compartment temperature control method described in any one of claims 1 to 4, so that the actual body surface temperature of the driver and passengers in the temperature control area reaches the set target body surface temperature.

6. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle is equipped with the passenger compartment temperature control system as described in claim 5.

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