Vehicle air conditioning device and control method therefor

Abstract

Provided are a vehicle air conditioner and a control method thereof. The invention discloses a vehicle air conditioner and a control method thereof. When a mode of closing a specific door is changed, a problem of noise generation caused by a door gap and a blower pressure of a blower device can be solved. An air conditioning device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: an air conditioning case having an air flow path formed therein and provided with a plurality of air discharge ports; a cooling heat exchanger and a heating heat exchanger provided in the air flow path of the air-conditioning case; a blower device provided with a blower for blowing air into the air conditioner case; a plurality of mode doors for adjusting the opening degree of the air outlet; and a control unit that controls the driving of the mode doors, and when the air-conditioning mode is changed so as to close at least one mode door, the control unit changes the air-conditioning mode after reducing the air volume of the blower.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to an air conditioning device for a vehicle and a control method thereof that can reduce the closing noise of a defrost door that adjusts the opening degree of a defrost vent. Background Art

[0002] Generally, an air conditioning device for a vehicle is a device that heats or cools the interior by introducing external air into the interior or circulating the interior air. The air conditioning device for a vehicle includes an air conditioning case, an evaporator that functions as a cooler provided inside the air conditioning case, a heater core that functions as a heater, and the like. The air cooled or heated by the evaporator or the heater core is selectively blown to various parts of the vehicle interior.

[0003] Refer to Figure 1 , a conventional air conditioning device 1 for a vehicle includes an air conditioning case 10, a blowing device, an evaporator 2, a heater core 3, a temperature door 15, and a plurality of mode doors. The mode doors include a defrost door 16, a vent door 17, a floor door 18, and a console door 19.

[0004] An air flow inlet is formed on the inlet side of the air conditioning case 10, and a plurality of air outlets are formed on the outlet side. The air outlets include a defrost vent 11 whose opening degree is adjusted by the defrost door 16, a face vent 12 whose opening degree is adjusted by the vent door 17, a floor vent 13 whose opening degree is adjusted by the floor door 18, and a console vent 14 whose opening degree is adjusted by the console door 19.

[0005] The blowing device includes a blower and is connected to the air flow inlet of the air conditioning case 10 to perform a function of blowing internal air or external air into the internal air flow path of the air conditioning case 10. Further, the evaporator 2 and the heater core 3 are sequentially provided in the internal air flow path of the air conditioning case 10 in the air flow direction. The temperature door 15 is provided between the evaporator 2 and the heater core 3 and adjusts the opening degrees of a cold air flow path bypassing the heater core 3 and a warm air flow path passing through the heater core 3 to adjust the air temperature.

[0006] In the case of the cooling mode, the temperature door 15 opens the cold air flow path while closing the warm air flow path. Thus, the air blown by the blowing device exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing inside the evaporator 2 during the process of passing through the evaporator 2 and is cooled, and then flows toward the mixing chamber side through the cold air flow path. Thereafter, the air is selectively discharged into the vehicle interior through the air outlet opened according to a predetermined air conditioning mode to perform cooling.

[0007] In the case of the heating mode, the temperature door 15 closes the cold air flow path while opening the warm air flow path. As a result, the air blown by the air supply device passes through the evaporator 2 and then through the warm air flow path, and exchanges heat with the cooling water flowing inside the heater core 3 during the process of passing through the heater core 3, and is heated and then flows toward the mixing chamber side. After that, the air is selectively discharged into the vehicle interior through the air discharge port opened according to the specified air conditioning mode to perform heating.

[0008] The vehicle air conditioner 1 realizes various air conditioning modes according to the operation angle of the mode door. That is, the air conditioning modes include a ventilation mode in which air is discharged only from the face vent 12, a two-stage mode in which a part of the air discharged from the face vent 12 and another part of the air are discharged from the floor vent 13, a floor mode in which air is discharged only from the floor vent 13, a mixed mode in which a part of the air discharged from the defrost vent 11 and another part of the air are discharged from the floor vent 13, a defrost mode in which air is discharged only from the defrost vent 11, and so on.

[0009] As Figure 1 shown, in the mixed mode, the ventilation door 17 and the console door 19 are closed and the floor door 18 and the defrost door 16 are opened. Control is performed so that the air blown from the air supply device passes through the evaporator 2 and the heater core 3 and then is discharged from the floor vent 13 and the defrost vent 11. At the same time, referring to Figure 2 , in the ventilation mode, the defrost door 16, the floor door 18, and the console door 19 are closed, and only the ventilation door 17 is opened.

[0010] The conventional vehicle air conditioner 1 has a problem of generating noise through the door gap and the blower pressure of the air supply device when the defrost door 16 is closed. The defrost door 16 is connected through a power transmission unit such as the ventilation door 17 and a cam. When closing such a defrost door 16, it is easy to perceive noise when the blower gear of the air supply device is relatively low. That is, the conventional vehicle air conditioner 1 generates noise under the condition that the blower gear is in the low gear when changing the air conditioning mode with the defrost door 16 closed. Summary of the Invention

[0011] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0012] In order to solve such a conventional problem, the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner and a control method thereof having the following control logic: when changing the mode with a specific door closed, the problem of generating noise through the door gap and the blower pressure of the air supply device can be solved.

[0013] Means for Solving the Problems

[0014] The vehicle air conditioning device of the present invention includes: an air conditioning housing that forms an air flow path inside and has a plurality of air outlets; a refrigeration heat exchanger and a heating heat exchanger that are provided in the air flow path of the air conditioning housing; a blowing device that includes a blower for blowing air into the interior of the air conditioning housing; a plurality of mode doors that adjust the opening degrees of the air outlets; and a control unit that controls the driving of the mode doors. When changing the air conditioning mode by closing at least one mode door, the control unit changes the air conditioning mode after reducing the air volume of the blower.

[0015] After completing the change of the air conditioning mode, the control unit restores the air volume of the blower to the original state.

[0016] The air outlets include: a defrost vent for blowing air toward the window side; a face vent for blowing air toward the face side; and a floor vent for blowing air toward the foot side. The mode doors include a defrost door for adjusting the opening degree of the defrost vent, and the one mode door is the defrost door.

[0017] When the blower gear is below the reference gear and the defrost door moves in the closing direction, the control unit reduces the air volume of the blower.

[0018] The control unit reduces the blower drive voltage at a rate of a unit specified voltage per second.

[0019] When restoring the air volume of the blower to the original state after completing the change of the air conditioning mode, the control unit increases the blower drive voltage at a rate of a unit specified voltage per second.

[0020] When reducing the blower drive voltage, the control unit keeps the current state without changing the display voltage of the blower displayed to the outside.

[0021] When the air conditioning mode changes from the floor mode to the dual-stage mode or from the mixed mode to the ventilation mode or from the mixed mode to the dual-stage mode or from the defrost mode to the ventilation mode or from the defrost mode to the dual-stage mode, the control unit changes the air conditioning mode after reducing the air volume of the blower.

[0022] It includes the following steps: determining whether the defrost door moves in the closing direction; determining whether the blower gear of the blowing device is below the reference gear; when the blower gear is below the reference gear and the defrost door moves in the closing direction, the control unit reduces the air volume of the blower; and the control unit changes the air conditioning mode after reducing the air volume of the blower.

[0023] After completing the change of the air conditioning mode, the control unit restores the air volume of the blower to the original state.

[0024] The above control unit decreases the blower drive voltage at a rate of a unit voltage per second.

[0025] When the air volume of the above blower is restored to the original state after the change of the air conditioning mode is completed, the above control unit increases the blower drive voltage at a rate of a unit voltage per second.

[0026] When decreasing the blower drive voltage, the above control unit keeps the current state without changing the display voltage of the blower displayed to the outside.

[0027] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0028] The vehicle air conditioning apparatus and its control method according to the present invention intentionally lower the blower speed of the air supply device immediately before the defrost door is closed, thereby being able to prevent the noise generated at the moment of closing the defrost door due to the pressure of the air strongly blown by the blower.

[0029] In addition, the control unit controls to decrease the blower speed when the blower speed is below the reference speed, so as to control to decrease the blower speed only in an environment where the noise can be heard by the occupant when the defrost door is closed. As a result, it is controlled not to execute the control of unnecessarily decreasing the blower speed, but to decrease the blower speed only in an environment where the noise can be heard by the occupant, thereby being able to implement an effective noise reduction logic.

[0030] At the same time, when the blower speed is substantially decreased resulting in a decrease in the air volume or the blower speed is increased resulting in an increase in the air volume, the air volume on the display does not change, so that the occupant is prevented from being confused and only the noise generated by the defrost door is effectively prevented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a mixing mode of a conventional vehicle air conditioning apparatus.

[0032] Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a ventilation mode of a conventional vehicle air conditioning apparatus.

[0033] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a vehicle air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 shows a floor mode of a vehicle air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 5 shows a two-stage mode of a vehicle air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 6 shows a mixing mode of a vehicle air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 7 Shows the ventilation mode of the vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 8 Shows the defrosting mode of the vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 9 Is a flowchart showing a control method of a vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Explanation of reference numerals

[0041] 100: Vehicle air conditioner 102: Evaporator

[0042] 103: Heater core 110: Air conditioner housing

[0043] 111: Defrost vent 112: Face vent

[0044] 113: Floor vent 114: Console vent

[0045] 115: Temperature door 116: Defrost door

[0046] 117: Ventilation door 118: Floor door

[0047] 119: Console door 200: Blower

[0048] 210: Display 300: Control unit Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

[0049] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical configuration of the vehicle air conditioner and its control method will be described in detail.

[0050] As Figures 3 to 9 Shown, a vehicle air conditioner 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an air conditioner housing 110, a blower, a refrigeration heat exchanger, a heating heat exchanger, a temperature door 115, a plurality of mode doors, a power source, and a control unit 300.

[0051] An air inlet for flowing air and a plurality of air outlets for discharging air into the vehicle interior are formed in the air conditioner housing 110. An air flow path connecting the air inlet and the air outlets is formed inside the air conditioner housing 110. A blower is connected to the air inlet side of the air conditioner housing 110 to selectively flow internal air or external air into the air flow path inside the air conditioner housing 110.

[0052] The air supply device includes a blower 200 that rotates at high speed by a motor. The air supply device is connected to the air inlet of the air conditioner housing 110, and blows internal air or external air into the internal air flow path of the air conditioner housing 110 according to the rotation of the blower 200. The blower 200 is controlled for gears by the control unit 300 described later, and the blower 200 is controlled from a low gear to a high gear to determine the air volume. The gear control of the blower 200 is achieved by adjusting the drive voltage sent from the control unit 300 to the blower 200.

[0053] In addition, the air outlets of the air conditioner housing 110 include a defrost vent 111, a face vent 112, a floor vent 113, and a console vent 114. In this case, the defrost vent 111 is an outlet for blowing air toward the window side, the face vent 112 is an outlet for blowing air toward the face side of the occupant, the floor vent 113 is an outlet for blowing air toward the foot side of the occupant, and the console vent 114 is an outlet for blowing air toward the rear seat of the vehicle.

[0054] The refrigeration heat exchanger is provided in the internal air flow path of the air conditioner housing 110 to play a cooling role, and is composed of an evaporator 102. The refrigerant flowing inside the evaporator 102 exchanges heat with the air passing through the evaporator 102 to cool the air. In addition, the heating heat exchanger is provided in the internal air flow path of the air conditioner housing 110 to play a heating role, and is composed of a heater core 103.

[0055] The cooling water flowing inside the heater core 103 exchanges heat with the air passing through the heater core 103 to heat the air. The heater core 103 is arranged on the downstream side of the evaporator 102 in the air flow direction, that is, in the warm air flow path. An electric heater such as a PTC heater is also provided in the warm air flow path. On the other hand, the heating heat exchanger can also be composed of a heat exchanger in the form of a condenser that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the air to heat the room.

[0056] The temperature door 115 is provided between the evaporator 102 and the heater core 103, and adjusts the amount of cold air passing through the evaporator 102 and bypassing the heater core 103 and the amount of warm air passing through the heater core 103 after passing through the evaporator 102 to adjust the temperature of the air discharged into the vehicle interior.

[0057] The mode door adjusts the opening degrees of multiple air outlets and is formed in multiple. The mode door includes a defrost door 116, a ventilation door 117, a floor door 118, and a console door 119. In this case, the defrost door 116 adjusts the opening degree of the defrost vent 111, and the ventilation door 117 adjusts the opening degree of the face vent 112. In addition, the floor door 118 adjusts the opening degree of the floor vent 113, and the console door 119 adjusts the opening degree of the console vent 114.

[0058] The power source drives the door, and is directly connected to the defrost door 116 to rotate the defrost door 116 or is connected to a power transmission unit such as a cam to rotate the defrost door 116 and the ventilation door 117 in conjunction. In this embodiment, the power source is composed of an actuator directly connected to the defrost door 116.

[0059] The control unit 300 controls the driving of the mode door. When the air conditioning mode is changed by closing at least one mode door, the air volume of the blower 200 of the air supply device is reduced and then the air conditioning mode is changed. In addition, the control unit 300 controls to restore the gear position of the blower 200 to the original state after the change of the air conditioning mode is completed. In this case, in this embodiment, one mode door is the defrost door 116, and it can also be other mode doors.

[0060] That is, when the gear position of the blower 200 is lower than the reference gear position and the defrost door 116 moves in the direction of being closed, the control unit 300 controls to reduce the air volume of the blower 200. In this case, the control unit 300 reduces the driving voltage of the blower 200 at a rate of a predetermined voltage per second. In addition, when the gear position of the blower 200 is restored to the original state after the change of the air-conditioning mode is completed, the control unit 300 increases the driving voltage of the blower 200 at a rate of a predetermined voltage per second.

[0061] When the defrost door 116 rotates and moves in the closing direction from the open state, a "whooshing" noise is inevitably generated due to the wind pressure. The control unit 300 of the present invention intentionally reduces the gear of the blower 200 of the air supply device at the moment when the defrost door 116 is about to be closed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the noise generated at the moment when the defrost door 116 is closed due to the pressure of the air blown out by the blower 200.

[0062] In addition, the control unit 300 controls to reduce the gear of the blower 200 when the gear of the blower 200 is below the reference gear, and thus controls to reduce the gear of the blower 200 only in an environment where the noise is heard by the occupants when the defrost door 116 is closed. As a result, the control to reduce the gear of the blower 200 unnecessarily is not performed, and the gear of the blower 200 is reduced only in an environment where the noise is heard by the occupants, thereby realizing effective noise reduction logic.

[0063] In addition, the control unit 300 does not change the voltage of the display 210 of the blower displayed to the outside and maintains the current state when reducing the driving voltage of the blower 200. That is, when the gear position of the blower 200 is below the reference gear position and the defrost door 116 moves in the direction of being closed, the control unit 300 only reduces the driving voltage of the blower 200 without changing the voltage of the display 210 that displays the air volume to the outside, and then increases the driving voltage of the blower 200 to the original state after changing the air conditioning mode.

[0064] With such a structure, when the blower speed of the blower 200 substantially decreases resulting in a decrease in the air volume or the blower speed of the blower 200 increases resulting in an increase in the air volume, the air volume on the display 210 does not change. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the confusion of the occupants and only effectively prevent the noise generated by the defrost door 116.

[0065] On the other hand, the air-conditioning modes achieved by the vehicle air-conditioning device 100 include a ventilation (Vnet) mode, a bi-level (BI) mode, a floor (Floor) mode, a mix (Mix) mode, a defrost (Def) mode, etc. As Figure 7 shown, the ventilation mode is a mode in which air is discharged only from the face vents 112. As Figure 5 shown, the bi-level mode is a mode in which air is discharged from the face vents 112 and the floor vents 113.

[0066] In addition, as Figure 4 shown, the floor mode is a mode in which the floor vents 113 are opened and the defrost vents 111 are opened very slightly. At the same time, as Figure 6 shown, the mix mode is a mode in which air is discharged from the defrost vents 111 and the floor vents 113. As Figure 8 shown, the defrost mode is a mode in which air is discharged only from the defrost vents 111. In the floor mode and the mix mode, both the defrost vents 111 and the floor vents 113 are opened, but compared with the mix mode, the opening degree of the defrost vents 111 is smaller in the floor mode.

[0067] On the other hand, the case where the defrost door 116 moves from the open state in the closing direction is when the air-conditioning mode changes from the floor mode to the bi-level mode, or from the mix mode to the ventilation mode, or from the mix mode to the bi-level mode, or from the defrost mode to the ventilation mode or from the defrost mode to the bi-level mode. That is, when the air-conditioning mode changes from the floor mode to the bi-level mode, or from the mix mode to the ventilation mode, or from the mix mode to the bi-level mode, or from the defrost mode to the ventilation mode or from the defrost mode to the bi-level mode, the control unit 300 reduces the blower speed of the blower 200 and then changes the air-conditioning mode.

[0068] On the other hand, the control method of the vehicle air-conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps: determining whether the defrost door 116 moves in the closing direction; determining whether the blower speed of the blower 200 of the air supply device is below the reference speed; when the blower speed of the blower 200 is below the reference speed and the defrost door 116 moves in the closing direction, the control unit 300 reduces the blower speed of the blower 200; the control unit 300 changes the air-conditioning mode after reducing the blower speed of the blower 200; the control unit 300 restores the blower speed of the blower 200 to the original state after completing the change of the air-conditioning mode.

[0069] As Figure 9 shown, when an air-conditioning mode change signal is input automatically or manually (such as by the occupant pressing a button), the control unit 300 determines whether the air-conditioning mode change is such that the defrost door 116 moves in the closing direction. That is, when the air-conditioning mode changes from the floor mode to the bi-level mode, or from the blend mode to the vent mode, or from the blend mode to the bi-level mode, or from the defrost mode to the vent mode or from the defrost mode to the bi-level mode, the control unit 300 determines that it is an air-conditioning mode change in which the defrost door 116 moves in the closing direction.

[0070] If it is an air-conditioning mode change in which the defrost door 116 moves in the closing direction, the control unit 300 determines whether the current blower 200 is in a gear below 3 (the reference gear). If the current blower 200 is in a gear higher than 3, the control unit 300 directly performs the air-conditioning mode change without performing other operations.

[0071] If the current blower 200 is in a gear below 3, the control unit 300 reduces the drive voltage of the blower 200 to the minimum value (as an example, 3V). In this case, the control unit 300 reduces the drive voltage of the blower 200 by 2V per second to a certain voltage. After that, the control unit 300 performs the air-conditioning mode change. If the air-conditioning mode is changed from the blend mode to the vent mode, the control unit 300 controls to close the defrost door 116 and open the vent door 117.

[0072] After that, the control unit 300 increases the drive voltage of the blower 200 to the original state (the voltage state before the air-conditioning mode change). In this case, the control unit 300 increases the drive voltage of the blower 200 by 2V per second to a certain voltage.

[0073] As described above, the vehicle air-conditioning device and its control method according to the present invention have been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but this is only an example, and those skilled in the art can understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments can be made therefrom. Therefore, the true scope of technical protection should be defined according to the technical idea of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle air conditioning device, characterized in that: It includes: An air conditioner housing having an air flow path formed therein and a plurality of air outlets; A cooling heat exchanger and a heating heat exchanger, which are arranged in the air flow path of the air conditioner housing; an air supply device including a blower for blowing air into the interior of the air conditioning casing; a plurality of mode doors that adjust the opening of the air outlet; and a control unit, which controls the driving of the above-mentioned mode door, When the air conditioning mode is changed by closing at least one mode door, the control unit changes the air conditioning mode after reducing the air volume of the blower.

2. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit restores the air volume of the blower to an original state after completing the change of the air-conditioning mode.

3. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air outlet has: a defrost vent for blowing air toward the window side; a face vent for blowing air toward the face side; and a floor vent for blowing air toward the foot side. The mode door has a defrost door for adjusting the opening of the defrost vent. The one mode door is the defrost door.

4. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control unit reduces the air volume of the blower when the speed position of the blower is equal to or lower than a reference speed position and the defroster door moves in a closing direction.

5. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control unit reduces the blower drive voltage at a rate of a predetermined voltage per second.

6. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the air volume of the blower is restored to an original state after the change of the air-conditioning mode is completed, the control unit increases the blower driving voltage at a rate of a predetermined voltage per second.

7. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the blower driving voltage is reduced, the control unit does not change the display voltage of the blower displayed to the outside but maintains the current state.

8. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the air conditioning mode is changed from floor mode to two-stage mode, or from mixed mode to ventilation mode, or from mixed mode to two-stage mode, or from defrost mode to ventilation mode, or from defrost mode to two-stage mode, the control unit changes the air conditioning mode after reducing the air volume of the blower.

9. A method for controlling a vehicle air conditioning device, characterized in that: The steps include: Determine whether the defrost door moves in the direction of being closed; Determine whether the blower gear position of the air supply device is below the reference gear position; When the gear position of the blower is lower than the reference gear position and the defrost door moves in a direction to be closed, the control unit reduces the air volume of the blower; and The control unit reduces the air volume of the blower and then changes the air conditioning mode.

10. The control method of the vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The control unit restores the air volume of the blower to an original state after completing the change of the air-conditioning mode.

11. The control method of a vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The control unit reduces the blower drive voltage at a rate of a predetermined voltage per second.

12. The control method of a vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 11, characterized in that: When the air volume of the blower is restored to an original state after the change of the air-conditioning mode is completed, the control unit increases the blower driving voltage at a rate of a predetermined voltage per second.

13. The control method of a vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 9, characterized in that: When the blower driving voltage is reduced, the control unit does not change the display voltage of the blower displayed to the outside but maintains the current state.

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