Climate system for a vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a climate control system (1, 1a) for a vehicle (12), comprising a multi-zone climate control system (3, 3a) which has a first air outlet element (4) for releasing pre-set tempered air into a first zone (5) and at least a second air outlet element (4a) for releasing pre-set tempered air into a second zone (5a), wherein a sensor system (2, 2a) is provided at least for detecting a driver as driver data and an existing passenger as passenger data, and wherein an evaluation unit (7, 7a) is provided for evaluating the driver data as driver state and driver face position and existing passenger data as passenger state and passenger face position, wherein the multi-zone climate control system (3,3a) designed to generate and adjust a first temperature of the exhaust air into the first zone (5) based on the driver's condition and to generate and adjust a first blower direction of the exhaust air by means of the first air guide elements based on the driver's face position, and to separately generate and adjust a second temperature of the exhaust air into the second zone (5a) based on the passenger's condition and to generate and adjust a second blower direction of the exhaust air by means of the second air guide elements based on the passenger's face position.

Description

The invention relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising a multi-zone air conditioning system, wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system has a first air outlet element for discharging temperature-controlled air set in advance into a first zone and at least one second air outlet element for discharging temperature-controlled air set in advance into a second zone, wherein the first air outlet element has an adjustable first air guiding element for discharging air into the first zone and the at least second air outlet element has an adjustable second air guiding element for discharging air into the second zone, wherein the respective blower direction of the discharged air can be changed by adjusting the first air guiding element and the second air guiding element.There are now many technologies in modern vehicles that increase driving comfort, e.g., noise insulation, unevenness insulation, air conditioning. Air conditioning (cooling in summer and heating in winter) is now series equipment in all more modern vehicles.Nowadays, multi-zone air conditioners are common in which the air condition can be adjusted separately at least for the driver and the passenger. In higher-class vehicles, a three-zone air conditioning system is even provided which additionally allows separate setting of the climate for the rear occupant on the driver side and the passenger side.Regulations for the automated setting of an air conditioning system on the basis of sensors are known.WO 2006 / 103 122 A1 discloses an air conditioning system which measures the temperature by means of a camera, in particular an infrared camera, and controls the air conditioning system in a vehicle accordingly.U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,825 A describes a method for controlling an automatic air conditioning system, wherein an infrared sensor is moved in order to detect the movement of a human and to adjust the direction of air nozzles in accordance with the movement.EP 1486362 A2 discloses a multizone air conditioning system having a plurality of individual climate zones, in particular for motor vehicles, having a control device for controlling climate parameters, such as room temperature, mixed air composition, air distribution and / or blower speed, which determine the interior climate, according to predefined control characteristic lines as a function of environmental parameters, such as solar radiation, which are detected by means of sensors, wherein an individual climate-zone-specific air nozzle arrangement consisting of at least one air nozzle is provided for each individual climate zone.DE 4119042 A1 discloses a control device of an air conditioner for vehicles, wherein target temperatures are set and the temperatures of the air blown into the vehicle compartment are adjusted and maintained according to the target temperatures, comprising an adjusting device for adjusting the air temperatures of the air blown into the vehicle compartment according to the target temperatures.DE 102018100184 A1 discloses a vehicle comprising: sensors to determine a speed of the vehicle, an interior temperature, and a fuel economy value; control units each coupled to control corresponding windows; an HVAC controller; and a processor having a climate control adapter and memory coupled to the sensors, the control units, and the HVAC controller, wherein the climate control adapter performs adaptive cooling based on the speed of the vehicle, the fuel economy value, and the interior temperature.It is therefore an object of the invention to specify an improved air conditioning system for a vehicle and also a vehicle.The object is achieved by a climate system having the features of claim 1 as well as a vehicle having the features of claim 14.Advantageous embodiments are evident from the dependent patent claims, the description and from the figures.The object is achieved by an air conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising a multi-zone air conditioning system, wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system has a first air outlet element for discharging temperature-controlled air set in advance into a first zone and at least one second air outlet element for discharging temperature-controlled air set in advance into a second zone, wherein the first air outlet element has an adjustable first air guiding element for discharging air into the first zone and the at least second air outlet element has an adjustable second air guiding element for discharging air into the second zone, wherein the respective blower direction of the discharged air can be changed by adjusting the first air guiding element and the second air guiding element, and wherein a sensor system for detecting a driver as driver data and an existing passenger as passenger data is provided, and wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system is designed to separately actuate, as a first zone, at least one driver-side driver zone on the basis of the first air outlet element and the adjustable first air guiding element and, at least as a second zone, a passenger-side passenger zone on the basis of the second air outlet element and the adjustable second air guiding element, and wherein an evaluation unit is provided for evaluating the driver data as a driver state and as a driver face position and existing passenger data as a passenger state and as a passenger face position, and wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system is designed to generate and set a first temperature of the discharged air into the first zone on the basis of the driver state and to generate and set a first blower direction of the discharged air by means of the first air guiding elements on the basis of the driver face position, and configured to separately generate and set a second temperature of the discharged air to the second zone based on the passenger's state and to generate and set a second blower direction of the discharged air by means of the second air guiding elements based on the passenger's face position.For this purpose, the sensor system can comprise sensors which are networked together, in particular in the vehicle.In this context, driver's face position / passenger's face position is to be understood as meaning primarily the height of the driver's face / passenger's face. This can be estimated roughly in areas, for example high, medium, low or baby. Other graduations are also possible. Likewise, driver face position / passenger face position can be understood to mean an approximate height of the driver face / passenger face, for example directly, so that direct inflow of the face is prevented.According to the invention, it has been recognized that air conditioning is adjustable using various intelligent and networked sensors present in modern vehicles. In the vehicle, there are sensors, for example, which observe the states of the occupants, e.g., a camera.According to the invention, the driver state and the passenger state are first detected. For example, the driver state may indicate that the driver is too warm, while the passenger has detected a well-being temperature.For this purpose, the driver state is analyzed on the basis of recorded driver data. These can comprise, for example, the face of the driver, as well as, for example, settings that the driver has set, for example, the seat heater, etc.On the basis of the driver data and passenger data, an evaluation unit can now identify at least the respective face height and the state of the driver and passenger. This can be easily detected, for example, from the driver data / passenger data. In this case, a state is, for example, a fatigue state / sweating state, which can be detected, for example, on the basis of the face color. Furthermore, the position of the face of the driver / passenger can be detected by the climate system according to the invention so that, when the temperature is set too low, if the climate system is set directly to the face of the driver / passenger, the blower direction can be adjusted or else the blower intensity of the climate system can be reduced, so that the air which is too cold does not blow directly to the face. Thus, for example, the risk for a cold can be reduced.Also, such a multi-zone air conditioner is advantageous for children in the child seat. Such forward facing child seats may be mounted on the passenger seat in most cases.The climate system according to the invention can be used to achieve an automated setting of the temperature / blower direction, which is advantageous especially for children in the child seat on the passenger seats, which cannot perform independent regulation or which, at least not during travel, can be regulated by the driver.Such a multi-zone air conditioning system can have, for example, a control unit for setting the corresponding temperatures and the blower directions.The evaluation unit can comprise, for example, a trained artificial intelligence which enables an evaluation of such data. Such training data can be easy to generate / simulate, for example.In a further embodiment, the multi-zone air conditioning system is designed to separately set a first blower intensity in the at least one first zone and a second blower intensity in the at least one second zone, and wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system is designed to set the first blower intensity on the basis of the driver data and the driver's face position in the first zone and the second blower intensity on the basis of existing passenger data and the passenger's face position in the second zone. In this case, if fatigue occurs in the detected driver data, not only the direction and the temperature, but also the intensity can be adjusted in order to counteract the fatigue of the driver.In a further embodiment, the sensor system comprises sensors linked to one another for detecting different driver data and different passenger data present, wherein the evaluation unit is configured for linking the different driver data as linked driver data and for evaluating the linked driver data as driver state and for linking different passenger data present as linked passenger data and for evaluating the linked passenger data as passenger state. In particular, such networked sensors can provide for a detection of biometric features of the driver / passenger.For example, a set seat heating for the driver / passenger can indicate that the driver / passenger is too cold. Thus, the driver / passenger state can be better detected.In particular, the evaluation unit is designed to detect a fatigue state of the driver in the networked driver data and to use it as a driver state. In this case, for example, in addition to camera data, frequent changes in steering angle can be used as indicators or changing seat positions, which can be detected by seat sensors. As a result, a fatigue state of the driver can be estimated very well. On the basis of this, for example, the temperature can be set to very cold in order to keep the driver awake.In particular, the evaluation unit can likewise be designed to take account of a travel duration at least when generating the driver state. For example, a long travel time can be used as a concentration reduction, and the temperature for the driver can be set to cold / very cold in order to increase the concentration again.In another embodiment, if there is no passenger data, the multi-zone air conditioning system is configured to generate the second temperature of the discharged air in the second zone based on the driver state. This essentially means that the first temperature is equal to the second temperature. For example, the interior of a vehicle can be cooled more quickly, since no different temperatures are produced in the front region.In a further development, in the case of non-present passenger data, the multi-zone air conditioning system is designed to generate an adjustment of a second blower direction of the discharged air by means of the second air guiding elements on the basis of the driver's face position. As a result, cool / warm air can be blown into the first zone, for example, as a result of which a more rapid cooling / heating in the first zone results.In a further embodiment, the sensor system comprises at least one interior temperature sensor for measuring the interior temperature in the vehicle, wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system is configured at least for generating and setting at least one first temperature of the discharged air into the first zone on the basis of the driver state and the interior temperature. As a result, for example, a first cold temperature, for example at the start of the trip, can be set quickly, for example in the case of strong heat in the vehicle. The external temperature can likewise be taken into account in this case.In a further embodiment, the sensor system has at least one camera for recording at least the driver's face and the driver's face height as driver data and at least one existing passenger's face and a passenger's face height as passenger data. Such a camera can be fastened to the interior mirror, for example. The image data of the camera can be easily evaluated, for example, using an artificial neural network (convolutional network).In a further embodiment, the multizone air conditioning system is designed for coupling to a mobile terminal for transmitting personal data, wherein the evaluation unit is designed to include the personal data at least during the evaluation of the driver state. Such a terminal can be, for example, a mobile telephone on which personal data such as journeys / working duration etc. are stored. Thus, for example, during home driving after the work, it can be used that the driver is unconcentrated / tired, as a result of which the temperature of the first zone can be set colder, for example. A connection to a plurality of terminals may likewise be possible, which has to be assigned to the passenger / driver etc.In a further embodiment, the multi-zone air conditioning system can be designed as a 3-zone air conditioning system for additionally generating a rear air conditioning zone using a rear air outlet element and rear guide elements, wherein the sensor system is designed for detecting the rear occupants as occupant data, wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system is designed to separately actuate the rear air conditioning zone, and wherein an evaluation unit is provided for evaluating the occupant data as an occupant state and as an occupant face position, wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system is designed for setting a temperature of the discharged air in the rear air conditioning zone using the occupant state and setting a rear blower direction of the discharged air using the rear air guide elements using the occupant face position.A 4-zone air conditioning system of analogous design can likewise be present.Likewise, the blower intensity may be adjusted separately for each occupant.In a further embodiment, the evaluation unit is configured to identify animals as animal data at least in the occupant data, wherein at least dogs are included as animals, and wherein the evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the animal data, wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system is configured to set a temperature of the discharged air in the at least one rear climate zone on the basis of the animal data and to set a rear blower direction of the discharged air by means of the rear air guiding elements on the basis of the animal data. As a result, it is possible, for example, to avoid a direct air flow and also an excessively cold air in the direction of the animals.Further, the multi-zone air conditioning system may include a trained artificial intelligence system configured to couple an individually set first temperature as well as a first blower direction in the first zone to a detected driver state as well as a detected driver face, and couple an individually set second temperature as well as a second blower direction in the second zone to a detected passenger state and a detected passenger face. As a result, preferences in the climate setting can be linked to a person, for example, which substantially increases comfort.The object is also achieved by a vehicle having an air conditioning system as described above. The vehicle may be an autonomously or semi-autonomously operated / manually operated vehicle.Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the attached figures. The following are shown schematically in the drawing: FIG. 1 : a vehicle with an air conditioning system in a first embodiment, FIG. 2 : shows a vehicle with an air conditioning system in a second embodiment.FIG. 1 shows an air conditioning system 1 for a vehicle 12.This comprises, as a multi-zone air conditioner 3, a two-zone air conditioner.Here, the multi-zone air conditioner 3 includes a first air outlet member 4 for discharging air having a first temperature into a first zone 5 and a second air outlet member 4 afor discharging air having a second temperature into a second zone 5 a. Furthermore, the first air outlet element 4 has adjustable first air guiding elements for discharging air into the first zone 5 as a first blower direction and the second air outlet element 4 ahas adjustable second air guiding elements for discharging air into the second zone 5 aas a second blower direction.In this case, the multizone air conditioning system 3 is designed to separately activate, as a first zone 5, at least one driver-side driver zone on the basis of the first air outlet element 4 and the adjustable first air guiding elements and, at least as a second zone 5 a, a passenger-side passenger zone on the basis of the second air outlet element 4 aand the adjustable second air guiding elements.Thereby, each of the first temperature in the first zone 5, the first blower direction, and a first blower intensity (discharged air intensity) can be set separately from the second temperature in the second zone 5 a, the second blower direction, and a second blower intensity by the multi-zone air conditioner 3.Furthermore, a sensor system 2 is provided. This has at least one camera 6 for capturing the driver as driver data and an existing passenger as passenger data.The camera 6 is arranged at least for capturing the faces; thus points into the vehicle interior.In addition, an evaluation unit 7 is provided for evaluating the driver data as a driver state and as a driver's face position. In this context, driver's face position is to be understood as meaning primarily the height of the driver's face.The evaluation unit 7 is configured to identify a driver state, for example tired, awake, based on the driver data, in particular the face of the driver. For this purpose, the evaluation unit 7 can have an artificial neural network, with which the recorded camera data (image data) can be analyzed well.Furthermore, the evaluation unit 7 evaluates the recorded passenger data as a passenger state and as a passenger face position.On the basis of the driver state and the driver's face position (height of the driver's face), the multi-zone air conditioning system 3 generates a first temperature, a first blower intensity and a first blower direction by means of the first air guiding element of the first air outlet element 4 and flows the correspondingly temperature-controlled air into the first zone 5, i.e. the driver zone.On the basis of the passenger state and the passenger's face position, the multi-zone air conditioning system 3 generates a second temperature, a second blower intensity and a second blower direction by means of the second air guiding element of the second air outlet element 4 aand flows the correspondingly temperature-controlled air into the second zone 5 a, i.e. the passenger zone.In this case, the evaluation unit 7 can take into account the travel duration when generating the driver state. For this purpose, for example, the temperature can be set automatically lower during a longer travel duration than would otherwise be the case for the same driver state in order to keep the driver awake.Further, the sensor system 2 may include at least one interior temperature sensor 8 for measuring the interior temperature in the vehicle 12, wherein the multi-zone air conditioner 3 generates at least the first temperature of the discharged air into the first zone 5 based on the driver state and the interior temperature.As a result, for example, a first cold temperature can be set quickly, for example in the case of strong heat in the vehicle 12 at the beginning of the trip. The external temperature can likewise be taken into account in this case. This is important primarily for the driver on account of the driving ability.FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a climate system 1 a.This includes, as a multi-zone air conditioner 3a, the two-zone air conditioner.In this case, the multizone air conditioning system 3 aincludes the first air outlet element 4 with adjustable first air guiding elements and the second air outlet element 4 awith adjustable second air guiding elements.Here, the multi-zone air conditioner 3 ais configured to set the first temperature in the first zone 5, the first blower direction, and the first blower intensity (intensity of the discharged air) separately from the second temperature in the second zone 5 a, the second blower direction, and the second blower intensity.Furthermore, the sensor system 2a has sensors which are linked to one another for detecting different driver data and different passenger data which are present.For example, a set seat heater 9 at the driver / passenger can indicate that the driver / passenger is too cold. Thus, the driver / passenger state can be better detected. Furthermore, frequent steering angle changes can be used to infer a tiredness state of the driver. Such can be detected by a steering wheel 10 or its actuators.A seat position that is not smooth can also be detected by means of a seat sensor 11, which also indicates tiredness of the driver. In particular, such networked sensors can provide for a detection of biometric features of the driver / passenger.Likewise, the camera 6 can be used to identify tiredness of the driver and the respective faces. Such different driver data can be included as networked driver data for identifying the driver state by an evaluation unit 7 a.The evaluation unit 7 ais in particular configured to detect a fatigue state of the driver in the networked driver data and to use it as a driver state.Such networked driver data allow the driver's fatigue state to be evaluated very well. On the basis of this, for example, the temperature can be set to very cold in order to keep the driver awake.For this purpose, the evaluation unit 7 acan have an artificial trained neural network which is designed for the purposes of networking and evaluating the sensor data.The multi-zone air conditioning system 3 acan also have a trained artificial intelligence system which is designed to couple an individually modified first temperature and a first blower direction in the first zone 5 and an individually modified first blower intensity to a detected driver state and a detected driver's face.The same applies to the passenger. As a result, preferences in the climate setting can be linked to a person, for example, which substantially increases comfort.List of reference characters1.1a Climate system 2.2a Sensor system 3.3a Multizone climate control system 4, first air outlet element 4a Second air outlet element 5, first zone 5a Second zone 6 Camera 7.7a Evaluation unit 8 Interior temperature sensor 9 Seat heater 10 Steering wheel 11 Seat sensor 12 VehicleReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedU.S. Pat. No. 5,331,825 A

[0006] EP 1486362 A2

[0007] DE 4119042 A1

[0008] DE 102018100184 A1

[0009]

Claims

Air conditioning system (1, 1a) for a vehicle (12), comprising a multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a), wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) has a first air outlet element (4) for discharging preset temperature-controlled air into a first zone (5) and at least one second air outlet element (4a), for discharging preset temperature-controlled air into a second zone (5a), wherein the first air outlet element (4) has an adjustable first air guiding element for discharging air into the first zone (5) and the at least second air outlet element (4a) has an adjustable second air guiding element for discharging air into the second zone (5a), wherein the respective blower direction of the discharged air can be changed by adjusting the first air guiding element and the second air guiding element, characterized in that, a sensor system (2, 2a) being provided at least for detecting a driver as driver data and an existing passenger as passenger data, and wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed to separately activate, as a first zone (5), at least one driver-side driver zone on the basis of the first air outlet element (4) and the adjustable first air guiding element and, at least as a second zone (5a), a passenger-side passenger zone on the basis of the second air outlet element (4a) and the adjustable second air guiding element, and wherein an evaluation unit (7, 7a) is provided for evaluating the driver data as a driver state and as a driver face position and existing passenger data as a passenger state and as a passenger face position, and wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed to generate and set a first temperature of the discharged air into the first zone (5) on the basis of the driver state and to generate and set a first blower direction of the discharged air by means of the first air guiding elements on the basis of the driver face position, and to separately generate and set a second temperature of the discharged air into the second zone (5a) on the basis of the passenger state and to generate and set a second blower direction of the discharged air by means of the second air guiding elements on the basis of the passenger face position.Air conditioning system (1, 1a) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed to set a first blower intensity in the at least one first zone (5) and a second blower intensity in the at least one second zone (5a) separately, and wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed to set the first blower intensity on the basis of the driver data and the driver's face position in the first zone (5) and the second blower intensity on the basis of existing passenger data and the passenger's face position in the second zone (5a).Climate system (1, 1a) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor system (2, 2a) comprises sensors linked to one another for detecting different driver data and different passenger data present, and wherein the evaluation unit (7, 7a) is configured for linking the different driver data as linked driver data and for evaluating the linked driver data as driver state and for linking different passenger data present as linked passenger data and for evaluating the linked passenger data as passenger state.Climate system (1, 1a) according to claim 3, characterised in that the evaluation unit (7, 7a) is designed to detect a fatigue state of the driver in the networked driver data and to use it as a driver state.Climate system (1, 1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit (7, 7a) is designed to take into account a travel duration at least when generating the driver state.Air conditioning system (1, 1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case of non-present passenger data, the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed to generate the second temperature of the discharged air in the second zone (5a) on the basis of the driver state.Air conditioning system (1, 1a) according to Claim 6, characterized in that, in the case of non-present passenger data, the multizone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed to generate a setting of a second blower direction of the discharged air by means of the second air guiding elements on the basis of the driver's face position.Climate system (1, 1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor system (2, 2a) comprises at least one interior temperature sensor (8) for measuring the interior temperature in the vehicle (12), and wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed for generating and setting at least one first temperature of the discharged air into the first zone (5) on the basis of the driver state and the interior temperature.Climate system (1, 1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor system (2, 2a) has at least one camera (6) for recording at least the driver's face and the driver's face height as driver data and at least one existing passenger's face and a passenger's face height as passenger data.Air conditioning system (1, 1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multizone air conditioning system is designed for coupling to a mobile terminal, for transmitting personal data, wherein the evaluation unit (7, 7a) is designed to include the personal data at least during the evaluation of the driver state.Air conditioning system (1, 1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multizone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed as a 3-zone air conditioning system, for additionally generating a rear air conditioning zone on the basis of a rear air outlet element and rear guide elements, wherein the sensor system (2, 2a) is designed to record the rear occupants as occupant data, wherein the multizone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed to separately actuate the rear air conditioning zone, and wherein an evaluation unit (7, 7a) is provided for evaluating the occupant data as occupant state and as occupant face position, wherein the multi-zone air conditioner (3,3a) is configured to set a temperature of the discharged air in the rear air conditioning zone based on the occupant condition and set a rear blower direction of the discharged air by the rear air guide members based on the occupant face position.Climate system (1, 1a) according to claim 11, characterised in that the evaluation unit (7, 7a) is designed to identify animals as animal data at least in the occupant data, wherein at least dogs are included as animals, and wherein the evaluation unit (7, 7a) is designed to evaluate the animal data, wherein the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) is designed to set a temperature of the discharged air in the at least one rear climate zone on the basis of the animal data and to set a rear blower direction of the discharged air by means of the rear air guide elements on the basis of the animal data.Air conditioning system (1, 1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multi-zone air conditioning system (3, 3a) has a trained artificial intelligence system which is designed to couple an individually set first temperature and a first blower direction in the first zone (5) to a detected driver state and a detected driver's face, and to couple an individually set second temperature and a second blower direction in the second zone (5a) to a detected passenger state and a detected passenger's face.Vehicle (12) having an air conditioning system (1, 1a) according to one of the preceding claims.

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