Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system with multiple adjustable climate styles

Abstract

Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system with an automatic heating and air conditioning system with at least two adjustable climate styles, wherein, according to one or more user-preset target interior temperatures, the actual interior temperature is regulated by automatic control of one or more fans and air distribution flaps depending on the user-preset climate style, characterized in that, depending on the user-preset climate style, at least one further parameter influencing the actual interior temperature is additionally influenced, wherein, depending on the user-preset climate style, the one or more preset target interior temperatures are reached.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system with an automatic heating and air conditioning system with at least two adjustable climate styles according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Many vehicles currently equipped with an automatic heating and / or air conditioning system are already known to have this feature, where pressing an automatic button activates the automatic climate control. In this operating mode, all climate control actuators, such as the blower and air distribution flaps, are automatically controlled. The actuators are controlled to set a user-defined target interior temperature based on a pre-programmed automatic program or climate control style.

[0003] German patent DE 102 54 112 A1 already discloses a so-called "four-zone automatic climate control system" for upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right passenger compartment areas. Each of these four areas is assigned a control element that allows the user to select the desired target heat output for that area without exiting automatic mode. Additionally, a further control element allows the user to preselect the total air volume to be supplied to the vehicle interior. Depending on the selected total air volume and heat output, the automatic climate control system regulates the air outlet temperature and air volume distribution for each area separately by controlling the air flaps at the individual air outlets. For the sake of simplicity, the additional control element for selecting the desired total air volume may have only a few operating positions (low - medium - high).Each position of the control element activates a climate style corresponding to the desired total air volume.

[0004] Current BMW X5 models feature automatic climate control with two- or four-zone settings. Users can select between "gentle," "medium," and "strong" automatic programs or climate styles using a dedicated control. Depending on the selected climate style and the preset target temperature, the actual interior temperature is adjusted by controlling the air distribution and airflow. Furthermore, within the framework of the selected program or climate style, the automatic climate control system adapts the set interior temperature to seasonal influences.

[0005] Finally, DE 103 24 571 B3 also discloses a vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system with automatic heating and air conditioning, in which the actual interior temperature is regulated according to a preset target interior temperature by automatically controlling a fan and the air distribution flaps. This control is based on predefined automatic characteristic curves, one of which can be selected by operating a designated control element. The different automatic characteristic curves are adapted to the user's individual perception of airflow.

[0006] DE 100 37 066 A1 discloses a vehicle air conditioning system with at least one control element that provides a preset value to the air conditioning control unit, wherein a flow state is defined by an air velocity and a degree of turbulence of the air, which can be influenced by the fan speed, air distribution to the outlet nozzles, the outlet direction at the outlet nozzles, and other actuators that affect the flow state, and a thermal state is defined by the temperature distribution and radiation exposure in the vehicle interior. The at least one control panel is used to preset a flow state and a thermal state desired by the occupant.

[0007] DE 103 24 571 B3 discloses a vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system and a method for controlling heating and / or air conditioning in vehicles, which allows a user to adjust the fan speed and air distribution flaps according to their individual airflow preference in a fully automatic operating mode, without exiting the automatic operating mode. For this purpose, the vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system has an adjustment device on which the user can make settings. The setting value of this device is transmitted to an automatic heating and / or air conditioning system, which selects corresponding, adapted automatic characteristic curves and controls the fan and air distribution flaps according to these adapted automatic characteristic curves.

[0008] All these vehicle heating and / or air conditioning systems have in common that the user can select a climate style from several options, choosing one that is preferred at least with regard to their perception of drafts. After selecting a climate style, the airflow and air distribution flaps are controlled according to the climate style within the framework of the actual interior temperature control to achieve the desired setpoint interior temperature. This means that within the control of the actual interior temperature (which is essentially the same for all automatic programs or climate styles), the airflow and air distribution are controlled differently, each adapted to the user's needs regarding their perception of drafts.

[0009] The object of the invention is to further improve a vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system described above with an automatic heating and air conditioning system in such a way that the individual perception of airflow can be taken into account even better.

[0010] This problem is solved by a vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system with an automatic heating and air conditioning control according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments result from the dependent claims.

[0011] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to adapt the automatic control of the actual interior temperature to the desired target interior temperature even more individually, taking into account the automatic program or climate style selected by the driver. Thus, the selection of the climate style chosen by the user should not only influence the control of the air volume and the air distribution flaps, but also at least one additional parameter or a control and / or regulation subordinate to the actual interior temperature control. Through the different climate styles, the driver can select the climate style that corresponds at least to their perception of drafts. For the sake of simplicity, for example, a choice can be made between three climate styles: weak, medium, and strong, whereby when selecting the "weak" climate style—which suggests a greater perception of drafts—the interior temperature control is adjusted accordingly.A very high blower output is not required. The enhanced, more individualized control of the interior temperature within the selected climate mode leads to a significant improvement in comfort for the vehicle occupants.

[0012] Advantageously, the user can adjust the climate style as finely as it corresponds to their individual climate perception in terms of air volume, draft perception and temperature perception; i.e., the selected climate style should take into account not only the user's perception of draft, but also their perception of air volume and temperature perception.

[0013] To achieve even better individual climate control of the vehicle interior, further measures can be taken. For example, instead of the familiar three climate styles, several climate styles can be stored to meet different requirements. Furthermore, the vehicle's heating and / or air conditioning system with automatic climate control can be designed so that different automatic programs or climate styles can be selected for different areas of the vehicle. For example, an input unit can be provided for the driver, front passenger, and rear passengers to individually select a predefined climate style for their respective area. By activating this unit, the user can choose a climate style that corresponds to their needs (airflow, draft, and temperature).The heating / air conditioning system then regulates the vehicle interior temperature to the temperature selected by the user, taking into account the selectable fan speed, if possible.

[0014] Various embodiments of the invention result from the following advantageous configurations, which can be used individually or in combination. For example, the parameter that can be influenced depending on the climate style preset by the user can advantageously be an evaporator temperature setpoint. If the user indicates through the selection of the climate style that they have a heightened sensitivity to drafts and therefore desire gentle indoor temperature control, this information can be taken into account when influencing the setting of the evaporator temperature setpoint(s) such that a higher evaporator temperature setpoint is set for a selected gentle climate style, which suggests a heightened sensitivity to drafts, than for a selected stronger climate style, which suggests a lower or reduced and / or more robust sensitivity to drafts.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, a solar-dependent compensation factor can be influenced by individually selecting one of the predefined climate styles. This factor, in turn, affects the target interior temperature and / or the amount of air flowing into the vehicle interior and / or the temperature of the air exiting the vehicle. The solar-dependent compensation factor essentially ensures that the current amount of sunlight is taken into account when regulating the interior temperature. Depending on the measured amount of sunlight, a correction factor is determined that influences the target interior temperature and / or the amount of air exiting the vehicle interior as part of the interior temperature control system and / or the temperature of the air exiting the vehicle interior.Advantageously, the solar-dependent compensation parameter for influencing the target indoor temperature is adjusted in such a way that, with a selected mild climate style, which suggests an increased perception of drafts, the target indoor temperature is less affected by the measured solar radiation than with a selected stronger climate style, which suggests a lower or reduced and / or more robust perception of drafts; i.e., the solar-dependent compensation factor leads to less compensation for the incidence of light.Additionally or alternatively, the solar-dependent compensation parameter for influencing the air volume can be adjusted so that, in the case of a selected mild climate style, which suggests an increased perception of drafts, the air volume is less affected depending on the determined solar radiation than in the case of a selected stronger climate style, which suggests a lower or reduced and / or more robust perception of drafts.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the target indoor temperature offset value, which influences the desired indoor temperature, can also be influenced by the choice of climate style. For example, if the user selects a gentle climate style, which suggests a greater perception of drafts, the target indoor temperature offset value can be smaller than with a stronger climate style, which suggests a less pronounced and / or more robust perception of drafts.

[0017] If the automatic climate control system is designed to allow separate temperature control for the footwell as part of the automatic interior temperature control, the type of footwell outlet temperature control, in particular the regulation of the air volume and / or the air temperature exiting the footwell, can also be influenced depending on the user's selected climate style, and thus be configured differently. Similarly, the characteristic relevant for the actual interior temperature control can be influenced depending on the selected climate style. For example, the limits within which so-called overshoots in temperature control are permitted can be set more narrowly or broadly – ​​depending on whether the driver selects a gentler or more aggressive climate style.

[0018] By influencing the various parameters and / or regulations to achieve the desired target indoor temperature depending on the selected climate style, the user's needs can be even better met. This significantly increases the comfort of such heating and air conditioning systems with automatic climate control.

Claims

[1] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system with automatic heating and air conditioning with at least two adjustable climate styles, wherein the actual interior temperature is regulated by automatic control of one or more fans and air distribution flaps depending on the climate style preset by the user, according to one or more target interior temperatures preset by the user, characterized by , that depending on the climate style preset by the user, at least one additional parameter influencing the actual indoor temperature is affected, whereby, depending on the climate style preset by the user, one or more preset target indoor temperatures are reached. [2] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the user can adjust such a climate style as corresponds to their individual climate preferences regarding air volume, draft, and temperature. [3] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that different climate styles can be preset by the user for at least two areas of the vehicle interior. [4] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the parameter influenced depending on the climate style preset by the user is an evaporator temperature setpoint. [5] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to claim 4, characterized by, that the evaporator temperature setpoint is influenced depending on the climate style preset by the user in such a way that a higher evaporator temperature setpoint is specified for a gentle climate style preset by the user, which suggests an increased feeling of drafts, than for a stronger climate style preset by the user, which suggests a reduced and / or more robust feeling of drafts. [6] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the parameter influenced depending on the climate style preset by the user is a solar-dependent compensation parameter to influence the target interior temperature and / or the amount of air exiting the vehicle interior and / or the exiting air temperature. [7] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to claim 6, characterized by, that the solar-dependent compensation parameter for influencing the target indoor temperature is influenced in such a way that, with a gentle climate style preset by the user, which suggests an increased feeling of drafts, the target indoor temperature is less affected by the determined solar radiation than with a stronger climate style preset by the user, which suggests a reduced and / or more robust feeling of drafts. [8] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by, that the solar-dependent compensation parameter for influencing the amount of air flowing into the vehicle interior is influenced in such a way that, with a gentle climate style preset by the user, which suggests an increased feeling of airflow, the amount of air is less affected depending on the determined solar radiation than with a stronger climate style preset by the user, which suggests a reduced and / or more robust feeling of airflow. [9] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the parameter influenced depending on the climate style preset by the user is a target indoor temperature offset value. [10] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that depending on the climate style preset by the user, the foot outlet temperature control, in particular the air volume and / or the temperature for the footwell, is affected. [11] Vehicle heating and / or air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the characteristic relevant for the actual indoor temperature control is influenced depending on the climate style preset by the user.