Method for heating a vehicle interior

Abstract

Method for heating a vehicle interior (3) with at least one seat heater (12) and at least one heating unit (11), wherein the at least one heating unit (11) and the at least one seat heater (12) are controlled as a function of at least one heating-relevant parameter, wherein a seat occupancy is determined and, as a function of the at least one heating-relevant parameter and the seat occupancy, at least one seat heater (12) of an unoccupied seat (2.1) is controlled, wherein at least one outside temperature and / or an interior temperature and / or a current drive load are determined as the at least one heating-relevant parameter, which is compared with a corresponding threshold value.

Description

The invention relates to a method for heating a vehicle interior.Heating devices for vehicles and corresponding methods for heating a vehicle interior are known in numerous variations. Heating devices comprise, for example, at least one seat heater, at least one heating unit, an evaluation and control unit and at least one first sensor unit. The at least one first sensor unit detects at least one heat-relevant parameter and outputs corresponding first sensor signals to the evaluation and control unit. The evaluation and control unit controls the at least one heating unit and at least one seat heater as a function of the at least one heat-relevant parameter.DE 198 30 274 A1 discloses a heating device for vehicles, in which a seat heating device is switched, controlled or regulated by an evaluation and control unit together with a heating unit, ventilation unit and / or air conditioning unit in an automatic operating mode. The evaluation and control unit is connected to sensors, wherein the sensors determine the external temperature and / or the internal temperature of the vehicle. As a result, the seat heating device can be controlled in such a way that, for example, the comfort of the occupants is increased by heating the seat.DE 10 2004 030 126 A1 discloses a vehicle having a seat heater and an electronic vehicle key for establishing the access authorization to the vehicle. Upon actuation of the electronic vehicle key, door locks of the vehicle are unlocked and the at least one seat heating is automatically activated as a function of a parameter. The parameter may correspond to a battery charge level and an internal temperature.DE 10 2009 008 414 A1 discloses a method for controlling a multi-zone air conditioning system of a vehicle, which comprises a vehicle interior having at least two seats, at least one occupancy sensor for at least one of the seats, the multi-zone air conditioning system, an operating device for the air conditioning system for setting a setpoint temperature for individual air conditioning zones in the vehicle interior, separately and independently controllable air ducts to at least two of the air conditioning zones in the vehicle interior, and a controller for the air conditioning system and the air distribution to the individual air ducts. In this case, in cooling operation, with a high required cooling capacity, the maximum cooling capacity and / or the maximum air mass flow and / or a direct injection of the temperature-controlled air is provided exclusively for climate zones determined unoccupiedly by the occupancy sensors. Alternatively, in heating operation, with a high required heating power, the maximum heating power and / or the maximum air mass flow and / or a direct injection of the temperature-controlled air can be provided exclusively for climate zones determined unoccupiedly by the occupancy sensors.US 2013 / 0 092 364 A1 discloses a comfort system for a motor vehicle in which a seat occupancy sensor determines whether a zone of the third row is occupied. At least one flow controller is provided in a floor channel in order to control a conditioned air flow for at least one air outlet of the third row. When the third row zone is occupied, at least one second row air outlet and the at least one third row air outlet are turned on to provide conditioned airflow to a front seat zone, a second row zone, and the third row zone. If the third row zone is unoccupied, then the at least one third row air outlet is closed. If the zone of the second row is unoccupied, then the air outlets of the second and third rows are closed. When the zone of the second row is occupied, the at least one air outlet of the second row is switched on until a desired comfort is achieved in the zone of the second row.DE 10 2013 214 555 A1 discloses a method for heating the interior of a vehicle, in particular of a hybrid or electric vehicle. The vehicle has a central heating system and a plurality of decentral heating surfaces designed as infrared emitters, wherein the vehicle interior can be temperature-controlled by the central heating system and / or the decentral heating surfaces in accordance with a heating requirement of at least one vehicle occupant. In this case, first decentral heating surfaces serve for tempering the driver seat region and second decentral heating surfaces serve for tempering the passenger seat region. In this case, the heating power of at least one decentral heating surface is predefined or influenced as a function of the relative position of the vehicle occupant or of a body part of the vehicle occupant with respect to the respective decentral heating surface or with respect to a defined group of a plurality of decentral heating surfaces. For this purpose, the position of the vehicle occupant in the driver seat is determined in order to preset the heating power of the first decentral heating surfaces. In order to preset the heating power of the second decentral heating surfaces, the position of the vehicle occupant in the passenger seat is determined. Depending on the determined position of the corresponding vehicle occupant, the decentral heating surfaces are controlled in such a way that the most homogeneous or identical heat sensation occurs for the corresponding vehicle occupant and a pleasant heat sensation is generated on all irradiated body parts and burns are avoided.The invention is based on the object of providing a method for heating a vehicle interior in which the vehicle interior is rapidly heated.According to the invention, the object is achieved by a method for heating a vehicle interior having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.In order to provide a heating device for a vehicle having a first sensor unit which detects a heating-relevant parameter and an evaluation and control unit which heats a vehicle interior rapidly, at least one second sensor unit outputs second sensor signals relevant to seat occupancy to the evaluation and control unit, wherein the evaluation and control unit actuates at least one seat heater of an unoccupied seat as a function of the at least one heating-relevant parameter and the seat occupancy.In order to provide a method for heating a vehicle interior which is operated with such a heating device and in which the vehicle interior is rapidly heated, a seat occupancy is determined and at least one seat heater of an unoccupied seat is activated as a function of at least one heating-relevant parameter and the seat occupancy. At least one heat-relevant parameter corresponding to an external temperature and / or an internal temperature and / or a current drive load is determined and compared with a threshold value. In this case, energy can be advantageously saved if the at least one seat heating of the at least one unoccupied seat is only activated if heating of the interior space is required on account of a low internal temperature or external temperature. In addition, energy can be advantageously saved if the at least one seat heater is only activated when the current drive load is not sufficient to quickly heat up the vehicle interior.The heating device can have at least one heating unit which can be designed as part of a ventilation unit and / or as part of a heating system and / or as part of an air conditioning system.A drive of the vehicle can produce thermal energy in the form of waste heat as a function of a current drive load. The waste heat may be discharged to a coolant such as cooling water, thereby heating the coolant. The heated coolant can transmit or emit the thermal energy to the heating unit, so that the vehicle interior can be heated or heated, inter alia, by the waste heat of the drive.The actuation of the at least one seat heater of the at least one unoccupied seat is understood below to mean in particular the activation or the operation of the seat heater at the highest heating level generating the most heat. Since an activated seat heating system consumes energy which can be made available by the drive, a drive power can advantageously be increased and the coolant can be heated more quickly, as a result of which the vehicle interior can be heated more quickly even with economy-saving drives. In addition, the unoccupied seats are advantageously heated by the seat heater, so that the unoccupied seats can advantageously not draw any thermal energy from a cold surface of the environment. Furthermore, the seat heaters of the unoccupied seats can advantageously emit heat to the environment and thus contribute to the heating of the vehicle interior. The heating device according to the invention and the method according to the invention for heating the vehicle interior function in an advantageous manner with components already present in the vehicle, so that no further components need to be installed. The unoccupied seats usually correspond to the rear seats and the passenger seat. The seat heaters of the occupied seats can advantageously be set further by the occupants or likewise automatically as a function of the at least one heating-relevant parameter.In an advantageous embodiment of the heating device, the at least one second sensor unit can be designed as a pressure sensor. Advantageously, a pressure sensor can easily and reliably detect occupancy of the seat by the weight of a person. In addition, pressure sensors in large quantities are inexpensive to provide. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one second sensor unit can be designed as a belt sensor. In this case, seating of the seat can be detected reliably in an advantageous manner by closing the belt buckle. In addition, a belt sensor and a pressure sensor are usually provided in a vehicle to implement a seat belt warning in the vehicle.In a further advantageous embodiment of the heating device, the at least one second sensor unit can be embodied as an interior camera. In this case, the interior camera can be designed, for example, as a CCD camera. The evaluation and control unit can advantageously determine the at least one unoccupied seat by an evaluation program and actuate the corresponding seat heating.In a further advantageous embodiment of the heating device, the at least one first sensor unit can record a heat-relevant parameter which can correspond to an external temperature and / or an interior temperature and / or a current drive load. The at least one first sensor unit can advantageously output corresponding first sensor signals to the evaluation and control unit. In this case, the evaluation and control unit can activate the at least one seat heating of the at least one unoccupied seat if the external temperature and / or the internal temperature fall below predefined threshold values, which each represent a minimum temperature. In this case, energy can be advantageously saved if the at least one seat heating of the at least one unoccupied seat is only activated if heating of the interior space is required on account of a low internal temperature or external temperature. If the drive load is also determined, the evaluation and control unit can activate the at least one seat heater of the at least one unoccupied seat if the external temperature and / or the internal temperature falls below the respective threshold value and a minimum drive load is fallen below. In this case, energy can be advantageously saved if the at least one seat heater is only activated by the evaluation and control unit if the current drive load is not sufficient to quickly heat up the vehicle interior.In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the seat occupancy can be determined via at least one pressure sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the seat occupancy can be determined via a belt sensor. Belt sensors and pressure sensors are usually present in the vehicle in order to be able to implement a seat belt safety warning. Costs can thereby be saved. Moreover, embodiments of the invention advantageously do not lead to an increased installation space requirement and also to an increase in the total weight.In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the seat occupancy can be determined via at least one interior camera. Advantageously, an evaluation program can determine the at least one unoccupied seat from the images of the interior camera and control the corresponding seat heating accordingly.An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in more detail in the description below. In the drawing, like reference numerals denote components that perform like functions. FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a heating device for a vehicle, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for heating a vehicle interior.As can be seen from FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 has a heating device 10 with at least one seat heater 12, at least one heating unit 11, at least one first sensor unit 14 and an evaluation and control unit 18. The at least one first sensor unit 14 detects at least one heating-relevant parameter and outputs corresponding first sensor signals S 1 to the evaluation and control unit 18, wherein the evaluation and control unit 18 actuates the at least one heating unit 11 and the at least one seat heater 12 as a function of the at least one heating-relevant parameter.In this case, a second sensor unit 16, 16.1, 16.2 outputs second sensor signals S2, S3 relevant to seat occupancy to the evaluation and control unit 18, wherein the evaluation and control unit 18 actuates at least the seat heater 12 of an unoccupied seat 2.1 as a function of the at least one heat-relevant parameter and the seat occupancy.As can be further seen from FIG. 1, two seats each having a seat heater 12 are arranged in the vehicle interior 3 illustrated, an occupied driver seat 2 and an unoccupied passenger seat 2.1. The seat heater 12 of the unoccupied seat 2.1 is adjusted and operated by the evaluation and control unit 18 by an activation signal A at the highest level generating most heat. However, it is also possible to adapt the heat emission of the seat heater 12 of the unoccupied seat 2.1 to the at least one heat-relevant parameter detected by the first sensor unit 14 and to operate the seat heater 12 in a lower stage. In this case, the heat-relevant parameter can correspond in particular to the interior temperature or a difference between the interior temperature and the exterior temperature. The occupant on the occupied seat 2 can adjust the heat output of the corresponding seat heater 12 via a device not shown. Alternatively, the seat heater 12 of the occupied seat 2 can likewise be controlled and operated automatically as a function of the at least one heating-relevant parameter. There is the possibility that more seats with and without seat heating 12 are arranged in the vehicle 1. Functions of the illustrated evaluation and control unit 18 can be carried out in part in one of the illustrated sensor units 14, 16, 16.1, 16.2 or in another vehicle component. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the evaluation and control unit 18 evaluates the first sensor signals S 1 and second sensor signals S 2, S 3 and outputs the activation signal A to the at least one seat heater 12 of the at least one unoccupied seat 2.1 as a function of the evaluation result. For this purpose, the illustrated evaluation and control unit 18 has at least one interface, not illustrated, in order to receive the sensor signals S 1, S 2, S 3 of the sensor units 14, 16, 16.1, 16.2 and in order to output actuation signals A or control signals to the at least one seat heater 12 of the unoccupied seat 2.1. Alternatively, a plurality of evaluation and control units 18 can receive and evaluate the sensor signals S 1, S 2, S 3 and / or output the activation signals A. In addition, the evaluation and control unit 18 can also output control signals to the seat heaters 12 of the occupied seats 2 if an occupant adjusts the heat emission of the corresponding seat heater 12 via the device, not shown.As can be further seen from FIG. 1, the heating unit 11 in the exemplary embodiment shown is coupled to a drive 4 via a pipe and / or hose system 11.1 carrying coolant. The coolant is heated by waste heat from the drive 4 and emits this thermal energy via the heating unit 11 to the vehicle interior 3. The heating unit 11 can be implemented as part of a ventilation unit or a heating system or an air conditioning system or as part of a combination of ventilation unit and heating system and air conditioning system. Since the activated seat heater 12 consumes thermal energy which is made available by the drive 4, the drive power and therefore the waste heat of the drive 4 is increased and the coolant is heated more quickly and as a result more thermal energy is emitted via the heating unit 11 to the vehicle interior 3. As a result, the vehicle interior 3 can also be heated more quickly with sparse drives 4. Furthermore, the seat heaters 12 of the unoccupied seats 2.1 can advantageously emit thermal energy to the environment and thus contribute to the heating of the vehicle interior 3. In addition, the unoccupied seats 2.1 do not draw any thermal energy from the environment through a cold surface, since the seat surface is already heated by the seat heater 12.As can be further seen from FIG. 1, the seats each have a second sensor unit 16, 16.1, which is designed as a pressure sensor 16.1. Alternatively or additionally, the second sensor unit 16 can be designed as a belt sensor. The pressure sensor 16.1 can react to the weight of a person and output corresponding second sensor signals S2 to the evaluation and control unit 18, which determines occupancy of the seat from the second sensor signals S2 via an evaluation algorithm. The belt sensor can output the second sensor signals S 2 to the evaluation and control unit 18 by closing the belt buckle. The pressure sensors 16.1 and belt sensors are preferably elements of a seat belt warning system, not shown, present in the vehicle 1.As can be further seen from FIG. 1, a further second sensor unit 16, 16.2 is arranged in the vehicle interior 3, which is designed as an interior camera 16.2 and outputs second sensor signals S3 to the evaluation and control unit 18. The interior camera 16.2 can be designed here, for example, as a CCD camera. The evaluation and control unit 18 evaluates the sensor signals S 3 and outputs activation signals A to the seat heater 12 of the unoccupied seat 2.1 as a function of the evaluation. The heating device 10 according to the invention can comprise either the pressure sensor 16.1 or the belt sensor or the interior camera 16.2 or a combination of the sensors.The at least one heat-relevant parameter can correspond, for example, to an external temperature or an interior temperature or a current drive load or a combination of the aforementioned parameters. Energy can be saved in this case if the at least one seat heater 12 of the at least one unoccupied seat 2.1 is only activated by the evaluation and control unit 18 if heating of the interior 3 is required due to a low internal temperature or external temperature. In addition, energy can be saved if the seat heater 12 of the unoccupied seat 2.1 is activated by the evaluation and control unit 18 only if the current drive load is not sufficient to quickly heat up the vehicle interior 3. For this purpose, corresponding threshold values can be stored in the evaluation and control unit 18. In this case, a first threshold value can correspond to a minimum internal temperature, a second threshold value can correspond to a minimum external temperature, a third threshold value can correspond to a minimum difference between internal temperature and external temperature, and a fourth threshold value can correspond to a minimum drive load, wherein, if the threshold values are undershot, the seat heating 12 of the unoccupied seat 2.1 is activated by the evaluation and control unit 18.As can be seen from FIG. 2, a method for heating a vehicle interior 3 with at least one seat heater 12 and at least one heating unit 11 determines at least one heat-relevant parameter in a method step S 100. In a method step S 200, it is checked whether heating energy is required for heating the vehicle interior 3. If heating energy is required, in a method step S 300 the at least one heating unit 11 is controlled as a function of the at least one heating-relevant parameter. If no heating energy is required, the method step S 100 is repeated.In this case, a seat occupancy is determined in a method step S 400. Here, each seat is checked as to whether it is occupied or not. In method step S 500, at least the seat heater 12 of an unoccupied seat 2.1 is activated as a function of the at least one heat-relevant parameter and the seat occupancy.The seat occupancy can be determined in method step S 400 before or after or during the determination of the heat-relevant parameter in method step S 100.The seat occupancy can be determined by at least one pressure sensor 16.1. Alternatively or additionally, the seat occupancy can be determined via at least one belt sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the seat occupancy can be determined via at least one interior camera 16.2.The heat-relevant parameter determined in method step S 100 can correspond to an external temperature and / or an interior temperature and / or a current drive load and can be compared with a threshold value.LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS1 Vehicle 2 occupied seat 2.1 unoccupied seat 3 vehicle interior 4 drive 10 heating device 11 heating unit 11.1 pipe and / or hose system 12 seat heater 14 first sensor unit 16 second sensor unit 16.1 pressure sensor 16.2 interior camera 18 evaluation and control unit S 1 first sensor signals S 2, S 3 second sensor signals A activation signal S 100 to S 500 method steps

Claims

Method for heating a vehicle interior (3) having at least one seat heater (12) and at least one heating unit (11), wherein the at least one heating unit (11) and the at least one seat heater (12) are controlled as a function of at least one heating-relevant parameter, wherein a seat occupancy is determined and at least one seat heater (12) of an unoccupied seat (2.1) is controlled as a function of the at least one heating-relevant parameter and the seat occupancy, wherein at least one external temperature and / or an interior temperature and / or a current drive load are determined as the at least one heating-relevant parameter, which is compared with a corresponding threshold value.Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the seat occupancy is determined via at least one pressure sensor (16.1).Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seat occupancy is determined via at least one belt sensor.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the seat occupancy is determined via at least one interior camera (16.2).

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