ventilation system

Abstract

Ventilation device (1) of a vehicle, comprising: an air outlet (10, 30, 70, 80, 90) which is mounted in a passenger compartment of the vehicle and which has an air outlet (11, 31) for releasing an airflow into the passenger compartment, an adjustment device (20, 40) which is arranged in a flow path of the airflow upstream of the air outlet (11, 31) and which is configured so that the strength and / or direction of the airflow to be discharged from the air outlet (11, 31) can be configured with the adjustment device (20, 40), a sensor device (50) which is mounted in the passenger compartment and arranged and configured to detect the presence of an object in a predetermined area in the passenger compartment, and a control device (60) which is connected to the adjustment device (20, 40) and the sensor device (50) and which is configured to determine a position of the object in relation to the air outlet (11, 31) based on a detection signal issued by the sensor device (50) and a predetermined arrangement position of the sensor device (50) and to control the adjustment device (20, 40) to configure the airflow based on the position of the object, and the control device (60) is configured to determine, based on the object's position, whether the object is located within a possible flow range of the airflow within the configurability of the airflow direction, and to actuate the adjustment device (20, 40) to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow if the object is located within the possible flow range, the adjustment device (20, 40) is configured to determine a current strength of the airflow for output from the air outlet (11, 31), characterized in that the control device (60) is configured, when the object is located within the possible flow range of the airflow, to determine a current airflow probability of the object being exposed to the air outlet (11, 31) based on the object's position relative to the air outlet (11, 31) and the current strength of the airflow, and to actuate the adjustment device (20, 40).40) to reduce the strength of the airflow in such a way that the strength of the airflow is reduced more the greater the current probability of air flowing towards the object.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a ventilation device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A ventilation device of the type mentioned above is known from DE 10 2007 035 507 A1. This vehicle ventilation device allows gesture-controlled configuration of the strength and / or direction of an airflow for output from an air outlet of the ventilation device.

[0003] DE 10 2011 003 435 A1 discloses a ventilation system for vehicle interiors. This system comprises an air outlet, an adjustment device, and a control device by means of which the strength and airflow from an air outlet can be adjusted depending on the known position of an object.

[0004] DE 60 2004 011 368 T2 discloses an air distribution system with contactless activation of the air outlet openings. This includes a proximity sensor that is positioned adjacent to an outlet for the flow of air into the passenger compartment and is capable of emitting an electrical signal to activate the outlet as a result of detecting the presence of a body at a short distance from the outlet.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of further developing a ventilation device of a vehicle designed according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that it provides increased ventilation comfort.

[0006] This is achieved by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. Further developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, a vehicle ventilation device comprises: an air outlet mounted in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, which has an air outlet for discharging an airflow into the passenger compartment; an adjustment device arranged in a flow path of the airflow upstream of the air outlet, and configured so that the strength and / or direction of the airflow for discharge from the air outlet can be configured with the adjustment device; a sensor device mounted in the passenger compartment, arranged and configured so that it can detect the presence of an object in a predetermined area in the passenger compartment;and a control device connected to the adjustment device and the sensor device, configured to determine the position of the object relative to the air outlet based on a detection signal output by the sensor device and a predetermined arrangement position of the sensor device, and to control the adjustment device to configure the airflow based on the object's position, and the control device is configured to determine, based on the object's position, whether the object is located within a possible flow range of the airflow if the object is located within the possible flow range, and to control the adjustment device to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow if the object is located within the possible flow range, and the adjustment device is configured to determine an actual strength of the airflow for output from the air outlet.

[0008] According to the invention, the control device is configured, when the object is located in the possible flow area of ​​the airflow, to determine a current airflow probability of the object being exposed to the airflow based on the position of the object in relation to the air outlet and the current strength of the airflow, and to control the adjustment device to reduce the strength of the airflow in such a way that the strength of the airflow is reduced more the greater the current airflow probability of the object being exposed to the airflow.

[0009] In this way, the extent of the adjustment device's reaction to an object located in the possible flow area is determined depending on the probability that the object will actually be exposed to the airflow.

[0010] This reduces or avoids unwanted airflow to the object and any associated negative effects, thereby increasing the ventilation comfort provided by the ventilation system.

[0011] According to the invention, the strength of the airflow to be discharged from the air outlet can be defined by the size of its air mass flow rate, the size of its volume flow rate and / or the size of its airflow velocity.

[0012] According to the invention, the adjusting device can include drive elements, such as rotary motors and linear motors, and actuating elements coupled to the drive elements, such as valves, flaps, and air guides, for configuring the strength and / or direction of the airflow to be discharged from the air outlet. Such drive elements and actuating elements are described, for example, in DE 10 2007 035 507 A1 and in DE 10 2011 003 435 A1.

[0013] According to the invention, the sensor device can comprise one or more sensors, which may include mechanical, fluidic, optical, electrical, electromagnetic, electronic, and / or software or firmware components. Accordingly, the detection signal of the sensor device can contain a mechanical, fluidic, optical, electrical, electromagnetic, and / or electronic signal and / or a software or firmware instruction.

[0014] According to the invention, the sensor device can comprise at least one pressure sensor, a biometric sensor, a control element, a distance meter, a proximity sensor and a camera.

[0015] According to embodiments of the invention, the sensor device can, for example, use pressure sensors or sensors for recording biometric data such as pulse rate or skin temperature on the steering wheel to detect contact points of a driver's hands (as objects) on the steering wheel; for example, a distance sensor (e.g., capacitive, infrared-based, or ultrasound-based) in the air outlet, which is oriented in the direction of airflow, can be used to determine the position of a hand or other object in the direction of airflow; for example, a proximity sensor (e.g., capacitive, infrared-based, or ultrasound-based) on the air outlet can detect the approach of an object such as a hand to the air outlet; for example, an interior camera, which can be used, for example, for passenger compartment monitoring or gesture recognition, can determine body parts of a person in the passenger compartment as well as their position in the passenger compartment; and / or, for example,When using a steering wheel control, conclusions can be drawn about the corresponding positions of the hands and forearms of a person in the passenger compartment based on its geometric position on the steering wheel.

[0016] According to the invention, the control device can be designed as a single central unit or can have several decentrally arranged components. The control device can have mechanical, fluidic, optical, electrical, electromagnetic, electronic and / or software or firmware components and can be connected or coupled accordingly to the adjustment device and the sensor device.

[0017] In particular, the control device can be equipped with hardware, software and / or firmware to realize its functions according to the invention.

[0018] The possible flow range of the airflow, within the framework of the configurability of the airflow direction, can be stored in a memory of the control device in the form of predetermined geometric data.

[0019] According to the invention, the control device can be configured to determine the probability of airflow affecting the object more precisely the closer it is to the air outlet. This is based on the understanding that at shorter distances from the air outlet, deviations in the object's position from the direction of the airflow become less significant, and thus, as the distance decreases, the probability of airflow affecting the object and any potentially negative effects of the airflow on the object increase considerably. As a result, this configuration can further improve control accuracy and efficiency, and consequently, ventilation comfort.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, when a distance sensor is used in the sensor device, the airflow can thus be adjusted depending on the distance of a hand of a person in the passenger compartment or of another object to the air outlet or air vent, so that, for example, a complete shutdown of the airflow is not necessary, but the airflow is set lower the closer the hand or object comes to the air vent.

[0021] According to the invention, the adjusting device can be configured to determine a current direction of the airflow for output from the air outlet, wherein the control device can be configured to determine, based on the position of the object and the current direction of the airflow, whether the object is in the possible flow area of ​​the airflow and is in direct contact with the airflow, and to control the adjusting device to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow only when the object is in direct contact with the airflow.

[0022] According to embodiments of the invention, for example, the air outlet may be equipped with an electronic adjustment of the airflow direction, which clearly defines the currently set direction of the airflow in the form of, for example, absolute coordinates, or with suitable sensors for determining the currently set direction of the airflow.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the invention, for example, a geometric model of persons located in the passenger compartment and of the passenger compartment itself, and information about the current direction of the airflow to the output from the air outlet, with a known position of the object, such as a hand of one of the persons, can be used to conclude that the object or body part is directly or immediately exposed to the airflow.

[0024] With electrified or motor-driven positioning of the air outlet, the direction of the airflow can be (temporarily) adjusted to avoid direct or immediate airflow onto the object or body part.

[0025] Because the control device only activates the adjustment mechanism to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow when the object is directly in the airflow's path, the ventilation system can more accurately reflect the actual airflow situation and thus better avoid malfunctions. As a result, ventilation comfort is further improved.

[0026] According to the invention, the air outlet can form a first air outlet with an air outlet for delivering a first airflow, and the adjusting device can form a first adjusting device; the ventilation device can have a second air outlet mounted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, which has an air outlet for delivering a second airflow into the passenger compartment, and a second adjusting device arranged in a flow path of the second airflow upstream of the air outlet of the second air outlet, and configured such that the strength and / or direction of the second airflow for delivery from the air outlet of the second air outlet can be configured with the second adjusting device, and is configured to determine an actual direction of the second airflow for delivery from the second air outlet;The second air outlet can be arranged so that it can interact with the flow range possible within the configurability of the direction of the first airflow, using a flow range possible within the configurability of the direction of the second airflow; and the control device can be connected to the second adjustment device and configured, when the object is located within the possible flow range of the first airflow, to determine an approach target of the first airflow based on the current direction of the first airflow, to actuate the first adjustment device to reduce, in particular to stop, the first airflow, and to actuate the second adjustment device to configure the direction of the second airflow, so that the second airflow is directed towards the approach target of the first airflow as its approach target.

[0027] According to this embodiment of the invention, for example, if the airflow from the first air outlet is covered by an object such as a hand, another, unobstructed air outlet, namely the second air outlet, can be directed towards the original target of the covered first air outlet, so that the desired ventilation effect for the passenger is maintained. If, for example, a left central air outlet is obscured by the hand of a passenger such as the driver, its function can be temporarily taken over by a right central air outlet (cross-use).

[0028] This embodiment of the invention not only reduces or eliminates potentially negative effects of airflow, such as uncomfortable skin cooling or drafts, but also reduces or eliminates potentially negative effects when airflow fails to reach the target area, such as condensation on a window, etc. This further improves ventilation comfort.

[0029] According to the invention, the control device can store respective priorities for the respective desired airflow targets of the first and the second airflow, wherein the control device can be configured to actuate the second adjustment device, so that the second airflow is directed towards the airflow target of the first airflow as its airflow target, only if the priority of the desired airflow target of the first airflow is greater than the priority of the desired airflow target of the second airflow.

[0030] With this embodiment of the invention, in which, for example, a vehicle driver can set the priorities or input them via a suitable interface, incorrect reactions of the ventilation system are advantageously avoided. In other words, it can be ensured that a redirection of the uncovered second air outlet to the original target of the covered first air outlet only occurs if this does not cause potentially stronger negative effects due to the absence of the second airflow at its original target.

[0031] According to the invention, the sensor device can include a clothing detection sensor that can detect whether the object, when positioned within the potential flow path of the airflow and designed as a body part of a person, is covered with clothing. The control device can be configured, based on a detection signal (body part is clothed) from the clothing detection sensor, to delay and / or weaken the activation of the adjustment device for reducing the intensity and / or changing the direction of the airflow. According to one embodiment of the invention, the delay can also be indefinite; in other words, the activation of the adjustment device for reducing the intensity and / or changing the direction of the airflow can be completely omitted if the body part is clothed.

[0032] This embodiment of the invention is based on the understanding that if a body part unintentionally exposed to airflow is clothed, a certain degree of convection is not perceived by the person in question or is not perceived as bothersome and can therefore be considered "imperceptible". Thus, an even more precise representation of the actual airflow situation is possible, which further helps to avoid incorrect reactions and thus improves ventilation comfort even more.

[0033] According to the invention, the adjusting device can be configured to reduce the strength of the airflow, its air mass flow or air volume flow, so that noticeable convection at the body part in question is avoided.

[0034] According to the invention, the adjustment device can alternatively or additionally be set up to reduce the strength of the airflow by changing its outflow characteristic from spot-like to diffuse, so that noticeable convection at the relevant body part as an object is avoided.

[0035] In conclusion, the invention is based on the understanding that in many vehicles, the air outlets of a ventilation system, particularly an air conditioning system, can be positioned in such a way that an unwanted flow of, for example, cold air, particularly towards the hands of a person in the passenger compartment, is possible. Furthermore, if an object is struck by the airflow, it can be deflected in such a way that the actual target of the airflow cannot be reached.

[0036] Examples of such airflow patterns include, for instance, airflow directed at the hands when the steering wheel is unfavorably positioned behind the steering wheel, such that the airflow can be obstructed, especially in the upper area, when gripping the steering wheel. Another example is airflow when operating, for instance, the infotainment system, if the airflow vents are positioned in close proximity to the infotainment system, causing the hands to be exposed to the airflow. The invention thus provides a system for the automatic detection of an object or body part in the path of an airflow and the corresponding deflection and / or reduction of the airflow.

[0037] The ventilation device according to the invention can be used particularly advantageously in all vehicles with electrically controlled air conditioning (automatic climate control), preferably with individual air flaps provided for each air outlet.

[0038] According to all possible embodiments and configurations of the invention described above, after the removal of an object, such as a hand or other body part of a person, from the critical area or the configurable airflow direction, the previous outflow characteristics, i.e., direction and / or strength of the airflow, can be automatically restored. Furthermore, the inventive function of controlling the adjustment device to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow when an object is located within the configurable airflow direction can be implemented as a selectable function, allowing a user to activate or deactivate the automatic adjustment of the airflow as desired.

[0039] The invention expressly extends to embodiments which are not given by combinations of features from explicit cross-references of the claims, whereby the disclosed features of the invention can be combined arbitrarily with one another - insofar as this is technically sensible.

[0040] The invention will now be described with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures. Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective schematic partial view of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective schematic view of an air outlet according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 3 shows a perspective schematic view of an air outlet according to a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective schematic view of an air outlet according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

[0041] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective schematic partial view of a ventilation device 1 of a vehicle (not fully shown and not separately labelled) according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0042] The ventilation device 1 has a first air outlet 10, a first adjustment device 20, a second air outlet 30, a second adjustment device 40, a sensor device 50 and a control device 60.

[0043] The first air outlet 10 is mounted in a passenger compartment of the vehicle as the left central man air outlet in a center console of the vehicle below a touch-sensitive display (touchscreen) 2 of an infotainment system (not fully shown) and has an air outlet 11 for releasing a first airflow into the passenger compartment.

[0044] The first adjustment device 20 is arranged in a flow path of the first airflow upstream of the air outlet 11 and is configured such that the strength and direction of the first airflow exiting the air outlet 11 can be configured using the first adjustment device 20. The first adjustment device 20 is also configured to determine the current direction and strength of the first airflow exiting the first air outlet 11.

[0045] The second air outlet 30 is mounted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle as the right-hand central air outlet in the center console of the vehicle below the display 2, directly next to the first air outlet 10, and has an air outlet 31 for discharging a second airflow into the passenger compartment. The second air outlet 30 is arranged such that its flow range, within the configurability of the direction of the second airflow, can interact with the flow range possible within the configurability of the direction of the first airflow.

[0046] The second adjustment device 40 is arranged in a flow path of the second airflow upstream of the air outlet 31 and is configured such that the intensity and direction of the second airflow for discharge from the air outlet 31 can be configured using the second adjustment device 40. The second adjustment device 40 is also configured to determine the current direction and intensity of the second airflow for discharge from the second air outlet 31.

[0047] As from Fig. As shown schematically in Figure 1, the respective air outlets 11, 31 of the first and second air outlets 10, 30 each have air guide vanes 21 and 41 respectively as part of their respective adjustment devices 20, 40, whereby the outflow direction of the first and second airflow can be controlled in a targeted manner both horizontally and vertically.

[0048] The strength of the respective airflows discharged from the first air outlet 11 and the second air outlet 31 is defined by their respective air mass flow rate, volume flow rate, and / or airflow velocity. To regulate the strength of the respective airflows discharged from the first air outlet 11 and the second air outlet 31, their respective adjusting devices 20 and 40, respectively, have actuating elements (not shown) such as valves and / or air flaps.

[0049] Preferably, the actuating elements of the first and second adjusting devices 20,40 are each arranged such that the air mass flow of which can be reduced and / or the outflow characteristic of which can be changed from spot-like to diffuse.

[0050] The first and second adjustment devices 20, 40 also include drive elements (not shown), such as electric rotary motors and electric linear motors, which are coupled to the actuating elements and the air guide vanes 21 and 41, respectively. Possible embodiments of the drive elements, the actuating elements, and the air guide vanes can be found, for example, in DE 10 2007 035 507 A1 and DE 10 2011 003 435 A1. The ventilation device 1 is preferably a component of an electrically controlled air conditioning system (automatic climate control), wherein individual control devices or adjustment mechanisms for the strength and direction of the airflow are provided for each air outlet 10, 30.

[0051] To determine the current direction of the first and second airflows, the first and second adjustment devices 20, 40 each have an electronic unit (not shown) coupled to the air guide vanes 21, 41, by means of which the currently set direction of the respective airflow can be determined in the form of absolute coordinates. To determine the current intensity of the first and second airflows, the first and second adjustment devices 20, 40 each have a flow rate sensor (not shown) arranged in the flow path of the respective airflow downstream of the adjustment devices and upstream of the respective air outlet 11, 31.

[0052] The sensor device 50 is mounted in the passenger compartment and arranged and configured to detect the presence of an object in a predetermined area within the passenger compartment. For this purpose, the sensor device 50, according to the embodiment of Fig. 1. A first sensor 51 and a second sensor 52 are provided, each configured as a light barrier or proximity sensor or as a distance measuring sensor, e.g., based on infrared or ultrasound. The first sensor 51 is assigned to the first air outlet 10, and the second sensor 52 is assigned to the second air outlet 30.

[0053] The control device 60 is connected to the two adjustment devices 20, 40, in particular to their drive means, electronic units and flow rate sensors, and to the sensor device 50, in particular to its two sensors 51, 52, via electrical lines, as shown in Fig. 1 shown schematically by connecting lines.

[0054] The control device 60 is configured to determine the position of an object in relation to the respective air outlets 11, 31 based on detection signals output by the sensors 51, 52 of the sensor device 50 and the respective predetermined arrangement positions of the sensors 51, 52 of the sensor device 50 stored in a memory (not shown) of the control device 60, and to control the adjustment devices 20, 40 for configuring the first and second air flows based on the position of the object.

[0055] More precisely, as soon as, for example, the driver's hand moves towards display 2 to operate the infotainment system and enters the detection range of one of the two sensors 51, 52, the respective sensor 51, 52 sends a detection signal to the control device 60. Since the control device 60 knows the positions of the respective sensors 51, 52 in relation to the respective air outlets 11, 31, and the detection range of the respective sensors 51, 52 is adapted to a flow range possible within the configurability of the airflow direction of the associated air outlet 10, 30, the control device 60 can conclude, if an object, such as the driver's hand, is located in the detection range of one of the sensors 51, 52, that this object must be located in a position within the flow range of the airflow of the respective air outlet 10, 30.

[0056] If the control device 60 determines that the object is located in the possible flow area of ​​one of the air outlets 10, 30, the control device 60 controls the adjustment device 20, 40 of the air outlet 10, 30 in question to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow of the air outlet 10, 30 in question.

[0057] If the sensors 51, 52 are configured as distance sensors, the control device 60 can, when the object is located within the possible flow area of ​​the airflow of the air outlet 10, 30 associated with the object-detecting sensor 51, 52, determine a current airflow probability of the object being approached based on the object's position relative to the associated air outlet 11, 31 and the current strength of the airflow in question. The control device 60 can then control the associated adjustment device 20, 40 to reduce the airflow strength such that the airflow strength is reduced more as the current airflow probability of the object being approached increases. Preferably, the control device 60 determines the airflow probability to be higher the smaller the distance of the object from the relevant air outlet 11, 31.

[0058] Furthermore, the control device 60 can determine, based on the object's position and the current direction of the airflow from the air outlet 10, 30 associated with the object-detecting sensor 51, 52, whether the object is located within the possible flow area of ​​the airflow and is directly approached by the airflow. The control device 60 is configured such that it only activates the associated adjustment device 20, 40 to reduce the intensity and / or change the direction of the airflow when the object is directly approached by the airflow.

[0059] Additionally, if the object is located within the possible flow area of ​​the airflow from one of the two air outlets 10, 30, the control device 60 can determine an approach target of this airflow based on the current direction of the airflow of the respective air outlet 10, 30, then actuate the associated adjustment device 20, 40 to reduce this airflow, and finally actuate the adjustment device 20, 40 of the other air outlet 10, 30 to configure the direction of its airflow so that the airflow of the other air outlet 10, 30 is aligned with the approach target of the airflow of the at least partially covered one air outlet 10, 30 as its approach target.

[0060] Preferably, the control device 60 allows for the storage of respective priorities for the desired airflow targets of the first and second air outlets 10, 30, so that the control of the adjustment device 20, 40 of the uncovered other air outlet 10, 30, so that its airflow is directed towards the airflow target of the at least partially covered air outlet 10, 30 as its airflow target, only takes place if the priority of the desired airflow target of the airflow of the at least partially covered air outlet 10, 30 is greater than the priority of the desired airflow target of the airflow of the uncovered other air outlet 10, 30.

[0061] Although in Fig. Not shown in Figure 1, the sensor device 50 can have a clothing detection sensor for each of the two sensors 51, 52, which detects whether the object, when positioned within the potential flow area of ​​the airflow and designed as a body part of a person, is covered with clothing. Such a clothing detection sensor can, for example, be an infrared-based temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the object and then transmits this to the control device 60 for evaluation. The control device 60 is configured, based on a detection signal from the clothing detection sensor, to delay and / or weaken the control of the adjustment device 20, 40 of the at least partially covered air outlet 10, 30 to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of its airflow, since a certain degree of convection is not perceived by the person in question when the body part is clothed.is not perceived as disturbing and can therefore be considered "not noticeable".

[0062] The following will now refer to the Fig. 2 to 4 variations of the one relating to Fig. The air outlets 10, 30 and sensor device 50 described in section 1 are described.

[0063] Fig. Figure 2 shows an air outlet 70, which can be either one or both of the air outlets with reference to Fig. The described air outlet 10, 30 in the ventilation device 1 may be replaced or added to it.

[0064] The air outlet 70 according to Fig. 2 differs from those relating to Fig. The air outlets described in 10, 30 are only modified by the fact that a sensor 53 is directly installed in them as a replacement for or supplement to the one described in Fig. 1 separately arranged sensor 51 or 52 is integrated above it.

[0065] Similarly, it shows Fig. 3 another air outlet 80, which can be used for both or one of the outlets with reference to Fig. 1 described air outlet 10, 30 and / or the one with reference to Fig. The air outlets 70 described in the ventilation device 1 can be replaced or added to them.

[0066] The air outlet 80 according to Fig. 3 differs from those relating to Fig. The air outlets described in 10, 30 are only modified by the fact that a sensor 54 is directly installed in them as a replacement for or supplement to the one described in Fig. 1 separately arranged sensor 51 or 52 is integrated above it. More precisely, sensor 54 is integrated into a lever 82 for manually adjusting the air guide vanes 81.

[0067] Finally, it shows Fig. 4 another air outlet 90, which can be either one or both of those with reference to Fig. 1 described air outlet 10, 30 and / or the one with reference to Fig. 2 described air outlets 70 and / or those relating to Fig. The air outlet 80 described in section 3 can be replaced or added to the ventilation device 1.

[0068] The air outlet 90 according to Fig. 4 differs from those relating to Fig. The air outlets described in 10, 30 are only modified by the fact that a sensor 55 is directly installed in them as a replacement for or supplement to the one described in Fig.A separate sensor 51 or 52 is integrated above the air outlet 90. More precisely, the sensor 55 is designed in the form of an electrical conductor 56, which is embedded around the air outlet 90 and connected to the control device 60, so that the conductor 56 can be supplied with electrical current by the control device. By energizing the conductor 56, it can generate a capacitive or electric field 100 around the air outlet 90, which changes when an object such as a hand approaches. This change in the field 100 can then be received by the control device 60 and evaluated to determine the object's position.

[0069] As a result of the above explanations, the invention, in all its modifications, provides a vehicle ventilation system which offers increased ventilation comfort. Reference symbol list 1 ventilation system 2 ads 10 air vents 11 Air outlet 20 Adjustment device 21 air guide vanes 30 air vents 31 Air outlet 40 Adjustment device 41 air guide vanes 50 Sensor device 51 Sensor 52 Sensor 53 Sensor 54 Sensor 55 Sensor 56 electrical conductors 60 Control device 70 air vents 80 air vents 81 air guide vanes 82 levers 90 air vents 100 electric field

Claims

[1] Ventilation device (1) of a vehicle, comprising: an air outlet (10, 30, 70, 80, 90) which is mounted in a passenger compartment of the vehicle and which has an air outlet (11, 31) for releasing an airflow into the passenger compartment, an adjustment device (20, 40) which is arranged in a flow path of the airflow upstream of the air outlet (11, 31) and which is configured so that the strength and / or direction of the airflow to be discharged from the air outlet (11, 31) can be configured with the adjustment device (20, 40), a sensor device (50) which is mounted in the passenger compartment and arranged and configured to detect the presence of an object in a predetermined area in the passenger compartment, and a control device (60) which is connected to the adjustment device (20, 40) and the sensor device (50) and which is configured to determine a position of the object in relation to the air outlet (11, 31) based on a detection signal issued by the sensor device (50) and a predetermined arrangement position of the sensor device (50) and to control the adjustment device (20, 40) to configure the airflow based on the position of the object, and the control device (60) is configured to determine, based on the position of the object, whether the object is located in a possible flow range of the airflow within the configurability of the direction of the airflow, and to actuate the adjustment device (20, 40) to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow if the object is located in the possible flow range, the adjustment device (20, 40) is configured to determine a current strength of the airflow for output from the air outlet (11, 31), characterized by, that the control device (60) is set up when the object is in the possible flow area of ​​the airflow, to determine an current airflow probability of the object based on the position of the object in relation to the air outlet (11, 31) and the current strength of the airflow, and to implement a control of the adjustment device (20, 40) to reduce the strength of the airflow such that the strength of the airflow is reduced more the greater the current airflow probability of the object. [2] Ventilation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control device (60) is configured to determine the probability of airflow being higher the smaller the distance of the object from the air outlet (11, 31). [3] Ventilation device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting device (20, 40) is configured to determine a current direction of the airflow for discharge from the air outlet (11, 31), and wherein the control device (60) is configured to determine, based on the position of the object and the current direction of the airflow, whether the object is in the possible flow area of ​​the airflow and is in direct contact with the airflow, and to actuate the adjusting device (20, 40) to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow only when the object is in direct contact with the airflow. [4] Ventilation device (1) according to claim 3, wherein: the air outlet forms a first air outlet (10) with an air outlet (11) for the output of a first airflow and the adjusting device forms a first adjusting device (20), The ventilation device (1) comprises a second air outlet (30) mounted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, which has an air outlet (31) for discharging a second airflow into the passenger compartment, and a second adjusting device (40) arranged in a flow path of the second airflow upstream of the air outlet (31) of the second air outlet (30), and configured so that the strength and / or direction of the second airflow for discharge from the air outlet (31) of the second air outlet (30) can be configured with the second adjusting device (40), and is configured to determine an actual direction of the second airflow for discharge from the second air outlet (31). the second air outlet (30) is arranged such that it can interact with the flow range possible within the configurability of the direction of the first air stream with a flow range possible within the configurability of the direction of the second air stream, and the control device (60) is connected to the second adjustment device (40) and is configured, when the object is in the possible flow area of ​​the first airflow, to determine an approach target of the first airflow based on the current direction of the first airflow, to actuate the first adjustment device (20) to reduce the first airflow and to actuate the second adjustment device (40) to configure the direction of the second airflow so that the second airflow is directed towards the approach target of the first airflow as its approach target. [5] Ventilation device (1) according to claim 4, wherein in the control device (60) respective priorities for respective desired airflow targets of the first and the second airflow can be stored, and wherein the control device (60) is configured to actuate the second adjustment device (40), so that the second airflow is directed towards the airflow target of the first airflow as its airflow target, only if the priority of the desired airflow target of the first airflow is greater than the priority of the desired airflow target of the second airflow. [6] Ventilation device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensor device (50) has a clothing detection sensor with which it can be detected whether the object, when arranged in the possible flow area of ​​the airflow and designed as a body part of a person, is covered with clothing, and wherein the control device (60) is configured to delay and / or weaken the control of the adjustment device (20, 40) to reduce the strength and / or change the direction of the airflow on the basis of a detection signal from the clothing detection sensor. [7] Ventilation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the adjusting device (20, 40) is configured to reduce the strength of the airflow. [8] Ventilation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adjustment device (20, 40) is configured to reduce the strength of the airflow and to change its outflow characteristic from spot to diffuse. [9] Ventilation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sensor device (50) comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a biometric sensor, a control element, a distance meter, a proximity sensor and a camera.

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