AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

An air conditioning control device (11) comprises a memory (112) and a processor (111). The memory (112) stores a recommended temperature setting previously preset as a function of an outside air temperature (Tam) outside a vehicle (100). The processor (111) stores a shutdown outside air temperature and a shutdown temperature setting at the time the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off in the memory (112).The processor (111) controls a vehicle air conditioner (10) upon turning on the ignition switch based on the cut-off temperature setting when the difference between a current outside air temperature and the cut-off outside air temperature is less than a predetermined value, and controls the vehicle air conditioner (10) upon turning on the ignition switch based on the recommended temperature setting (Tset_ref) corresponding to the current outside air temperature when the difference between the current outside air temperature and the cut-off outside air temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to an air conditioning control device for a vehicle for installation in a vehicle for air conditioning a vehicle interior. State of the art

[0002] In typical vehicle air conditioning systems, the vehicle interior temperature is adjusted based on a temperature (temperature setpoint) that is automatically set or specified by an occupant. For example, adjusting the vehicle interior temperature involves setting the temperature and air volume to be supplied to a vehicle interior with reference to data indicating the ambient conditions inside and outside the vehicle, such as the outside air temperature and the vehicle interior temperature. In other words, air conditioning control is performed.

[0003] For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication JP2017-30376A discloses a vehicle air conditioning control device. The vehicle air conditioning control device selects an outside air temperature to be referenced in the air conditioning control according to a time elapsed since the last engine stop or the last ignition switch turn off. For example, at the time of starting the engine or turning on the ignition switch, the vehicle air conditioning control device performs the vehicle air conditioning control based on an outside air temperature stored at the last engine stop if the time elapsed since the last engine stop is shorter than a predetermined value, or using an outside air temperature measured at that time if the elapsed time is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. Brief description

[0004] One aspect of the invention provides an air conditioning control device for a vehicle. The air conditioning control device includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store a recommended temperature setting previously set depending on an outside air temperature outside the vehicle. The processor is configured to control an air conditioner mounted in the vehicle to supply air to the interior of the vehicle. The air has a temperature that has been set based on a temperature setting. The processor is configured to store a cutoff outside air temperature and a cutoff temperature setting at the time of turning off an ignition switch of the vehicle in the memory.

[0005] The processor is configured to control the vehicle air conditioning system at the time the ignition switch is turned on based on the cut-off temperature setting when the difference between the current outside air temperature and the cut-off outside air temperature is less than a predetermined value. The processor is configured to control the vehicle air conditioning system at the time the ignition switch is turned on based on the recommended temperature setting corresponding to the current outside air temperature when the difference between the current outside air temperature and the cut-off outside air temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. Short description of the drawings

[0006] The accompanying drawings are provided to provide a better understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0007] The drawings show in: Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle control system including an air conditioning control device for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is an example of a diagram showing an ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to an outside air temperature Tam for the respective occupants. Fig. 3 an example of a table showing a relationship between a recommended temperature setting Tset_ref and both the outside air temperature Tam and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref. Fig. 4 a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a current vehicle interior temperature Tr, the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref, a deviation ΔTr, the recommended temperature setting Tset_ref and a correction value Ct. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the actual body surface temperature S of an occupant and an ideal body surface temperature Sref. Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by the air conditioning control device for the vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention for determining whether to use a temperature setting Tset_OFF at the end of a previous operation or the recommended temperature setting Tset_ref in determining the temperature setting. Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a process of step S114 in Fig. 6. Detailed description

[0008] For example, in some vehicle air conditioning systems, when a vehicle's ignition switch is turned on, an operation, or air conditioning control, is started based on a temperature setting stored when the ignition switch was last turned off.

[0009] However, if, for example, a long period of time has passed since the ignition switch was previously turned off, and the ambient conditions inside and outside the vehicle have changed by the time the vehicle's ignition switch is turned on, air conditioning control based on a target temperature at the time the ignition switch was previously turned off is inappropriate and may potentially impair the comfort of an occupant. Furthermore, since a perceived temperature and an ideal vehicle interior temperature vary depending on the occupant, air conditioning control based on the target temperature at the time the ignition switch was previously turned off may not necessarily be suitable for every occupant. Therefore, it is desirable to optimize the target temperature and perform appropriate air conditioning control depending on the ambient conditions inside and outside the vehicle.

[0010] It is desirable to provide an air conditioning control device for a vehicle which enables a temperature setting to be optimized, appropriate air conditioning control to be performed depending on the ambient conditions inside and outside a vehicle, and the comfort of the occupants to be improved accordingly.

[0011] Some exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following description is directed to illustrative examples of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Factors including, without limitation, numerical values, shapes, materials, components, positions of the components, and the manner of connecting the components to one another are merely illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

[0012] Furthermore, in the following exemplary embodiments, elements not listed in a broadest independent claim of the invention are optional and may be present as needed. The drawings are schematically drawn and not intended to be drawn to scale. Throughout this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant descriptions thereof. Furthermore, elements not directly related to any embodiment of the invention are not shown in the drawings.

[0013] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, an air conditioning control device for a vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as a "vehicle air conditioning control device") according to an exemplary embodiment may serve as part of a vehicle control system 1. The vehicle control system 1 may be mounted in a vehicle 100. The vehicle air conditioning control device may include an air conditioning control ECU 11.

[0014] The vehicle control system 1 may include sensors, various devices, and electronic control units (ECUs) that control the sensors and devices. The sensors may collect various types of data indicating a driving state of the vehicle 100 as well as the environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle 100. The devices may be used for driving the vehicle 100. In one embodiment, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may serve as a "vehicle air conditioning control device."

[0015] Of the several ECUs, Fig. 1 shows the air conditioning control ECU 11, an ECU 21, and an ECU 31. The air conditioning control ECU 11 can serve as an air conditioning control device. The illustration of other ECUs is omitted. In addition to the various sensors and devices, Fig. 1 depicts an outside air temperature sensor 41, a vehicle interior temperature sensor 42, and a vehicle interior camera 43. The outside air temperature sensor 41 can detect the temperature of the air outside the vehicle 100. The vehicle interior temperature sensor 42 can detect the temperature inside the vehicle 100. The vehicle interior camera 43 can capture an image of the interior of the vehicle 100. The depiction of other sensors and devices is omitted.

[0016] In the exemplary embodiment, a detailed description and illustration of ECUs, sensors, and electronic devices that are not involved in an operation of the vehicle air conditioning control device are omitted, although these components are also included in the vehicle control system 1.

[0017] The sensors, devices, and ECUs can be communicatively linked to one another via an in-vehicle network 3, such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) or a Local Interconnect Network (LIN), and a central gateway (CGW) 4. The central gateway (CGW) 4 can serve as a forwarding device.

[0018] In the vehicle control system 1, data acquired by each of the sensors can be output to the in-vehicle network 3, and data indicating an operating state of a device to be controlled can be output from each of the ECUs to the in-vehicle network 3. Hereinafter, the device to be controlled may be referred to as a target control device. Furthermore, each of the ECUs can control the operation of the corresponding target control device based on data acquired by the in-vehicle network 3 from the sensors and other ECUs.

[0019] Each of the ECUs may include, for example, a processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor unit (MPU), and an electrical circuit. Hereinafter, the processor and the electrical circuit may be referred to as "processor and other components." Each of the ECUs may execute various processes through the processor and other components. Each of the ECUs may include a volatile memory element, such as random access memory (RAM), and a non-volatile memory element, such as read-only memory (ROM).

[0020] The RAM can temporarily process data to be used by the processor and other components. For example, the ROM can store programs to be executed by the processor and other components. In some embodiments, all or part of the operations to be performed by one or more of the ECUs can be implemented by hardware, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a graphics processing unit (GPU).

[0021] As in Fig. 1, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may be coupled to a vehicle air conditioning system 10 and perform air conditioning control based on a temperature setting in the vehicle air conditioning system 10. For example, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may control the vehicle air conditioning system 10 to maintain the temperature inside the vehicle 100 at the temperature setting. When controlling the vehicle air conditioning system 10, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may, for example, adjust the temperature of the air taken into the vehicle air conditioning system 10 and adjust the supply rate, or blow-in amount, of the air at the set temperature into the interior of the vehicle 100.

[0022] The air conditioning control ECU 11 may acquire, for example, an outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 41, a vehicle interior temperature Tr detected by the vehicle interior temperature sensor 42, and image capture data of the interior of the vehicle 100 captured by the vehicle interior camera 43 via the in-vehicle network 3. The air conditioning control ECU 11 may perform air conditioning control with reference to these data.

[0023] The air conditioning control ECU 11 may include a CPU 111, a ROM 112, and a RAM 113. The CPU 111 may execute various processes based on programs stored in the ROM 112.

[0024] The ROM 112, embodied as a non-volatile memory element, can store programs that control the vehicle air conditioning system 10 and various data used to execute the programs. In one embodiment, the ROM 112 can serve as a "storage device." In one embodiment, the CPU 111 can serve as a "processor."

[0025] As the various data, the ROM 112 can store data to be referenced when automatically setting a temperature target Tset for use in air conditioning control. The data may include, for example, an ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam for each occupant and a recommended temperature target Tset_ref preset depending on the outside air temperature Tam. Data stored in the ROM 112

[0026] The data previously stored in the ROM 112 will be described below. The data previously stored in the ROM 112 may include data used by the air conditioning control ECU 11 in automatically determining the temperature setting Tset of the vehicle air conditioning system 10. In the exemplary embodiment, the ROM 112 may store at least (1) Data of the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam for the respective occupants and (2) Store data indicating the recommended temperature setting Tset_ref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref. (1) Data of the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam for the respective occupants

[0027] In the air conditioning control ECU 11, the ROM 112 may previously store data indicating the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam for each occupant who may enter the vehicle 100. The ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref may indicate an ideal temperature inside the vehicle 100. The ideal temperature may be a temperature at which the comfort of each occupant is assumed to be able to be maintained.

[0028] Even if the outside air temperature Tam is the same, the thermal sensation and perceived temperature may vary depending on the occupants, and accordingly, the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref may also vary depending on the occupants. Thus, the optimal temperature setting Tset for each occupant can be determined using the data for each occupant, in which the outside air temperature Tam and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref are correlated.

[0029] Fig. Figure 2 is an example of a diagram showing the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam for each occupant. The example in Fig. 2 shows the relationship between the outside air temperature Tam and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref for each of the three occupants D1, D2 and D3. In Fig. 2, the data of the ideal vehicle interior temperature for the occupant D1 are indicated by circles, the data of the ideal vehicle interior temperature for the occupant D2 are indicated by squares, and the data of the ideal vehicle interior temperature for the occupant D3 are indicated by diamonds.

[0030] According to Fig. 2, if the outside air temperature Tam is, for example, -30 °C, the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref for the occupant D1 may be 26 °C, the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref for the occupant D2 may be 28 °C, and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref for the occupant D3 may be 30 °C. As described above, with reference to the diagram in Fig. 2 the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam is recorded for the respective occupants.

[0031] Data indicating the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam for the respective occupants may be acquired, for example, by performing a calculation based on one or more factors including, but not limited to, the temperature setting Tset set when each of the occupants D1, D2, and D3 uses the vehicle air conditioner 10 in the vehicle 100, and a temperature setting operation manually performed by each of the occupants D1, D2, and D3. (2) Data indicating the recommended temperature setting Tset ref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref

[0032] The air conditioning control ECU 11 can perform air conditioning control of the vehicle air conditioner 10 with the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref for an occupant set as the target temperature Tset without changing it. However, by increasing the target temperature Tset as the outside air temperature Tam decreases and decreasing the target temperature Tset as the outside air temperature Tam increases, the temperature inside the vehicle 100 can reach the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref at an earlier stage, and occupant comfort can be improved. Under these circumstances, in the air conditioning control ECU 11, data indicating the recommended target temperature Tset_ref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref may be stored in advance in the ROM 112.

[0033] Fig. Figure 3 is an example of a table showing a relationship between the recommended temperature setting Tset_ref and both the outside air temperature Tam and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref. The example according to Fig. 3 shows that in some embodiments, at a time when the outside air temperature Tam is 5°C, the recommended temperature target Tset_ref may have the value 25.5°C when the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref is 25°C, and the recommended temperature target Tset_ref may have the value 28.5°C when the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref is 28°C.

[0034] In some embodiments, the recommended temperature target Tset_ref corresponding to the outside air temperature Tam and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref may be determined as described above, for example, according to the specifications and performance of the vehicle air conditioner 10, the volume of the interior of the vehicle 100, and the window area of ​​the vehicle 100, and may be calculated in advance and stored in the ROM 112.

[0035] The RAM 113, which is configured as a volatile memory element, can be used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes various types of processes. For example, the outside air temperature Tam, the vehicle interior temperature Tr, and the image data of the interior of the vehicle 100 acquired by the in-vehicle network 3 can be temporarily stored in the RAM 113 as needed.

[0036] The CPU 111 can control the vehicle air conditioner 10 by reading a program stored in the ROM 112 into the memory such as the RAM 113 and executing the program. For example, the CPU 111 controls the vehicle air conditioner 10 as follows.

[0037] At the end of the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 10, including a case where the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 10 is ended simultaneously with the ignition switch of the vehicle 100 being turned off, the CPU 111 causes an outside air temperature Tam_OFF and an operation-end target value for the vehicle air conditioner 10 to be temporarily stored in the ROM 112 or the RAM 113.

[0038] The setpoint value for the vehicle air conditioner 10 at the end of operation may include, for example, a setpoint temperature Tset_OFF, a temperature of the air blown into a vehicle interior (a target blow-in temperature TAO), and a blow-in amount. Which of these values ​​is to be stored as a setpoint value can be determined as needed. The CPU 111 may store at least the setpoint temperature Tset_OFF as the setpoint value for the vehicle air conditioner 10. In one embodiment, the outside air temperature Tam_OFF may serve as the "shutdown outside air temperature." In one embodiment, the setpoint temperature Tset_OFF may serve as the "shutdown temperature."

[0039] When an instruction to start the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 10 is received, including a case where the instruction to start the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 10 is received simultaneously with the ignition switch of the vehicle 100 being turned on, the CPU 111 can determine the temperature setpoint Tset to be used when the operation is started.

[0040] For example, when the instruction to start the operation is input to the vehicle air conditioner 10, the CPU 111 may acquire at least temperature data indicating the environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle 100 from the environmental data, and determine the temperature setpoint Tset to be used when starting the operation based on the temperature data.

[0041] For example, the CPU 111 may acquire the outside air temperature Tam_OFF stored at the end of a previous operation of the vehicle air conditioner 10 as temperature data from the ambient data described above. The CPU 111 may also acquire the current outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 41 via the in-vehicle network 3.

[0042] When the outside air temperature Tam_OFF and the outside air temperature Tam are considered to be equal, or when, for example, a difference ΔTam between the outside air temperature Tam_OFF and the outside air temperature Tam is smaller than a predetermined value Tdif, the vehicle air conditioner 10 is controlled based on the temperature setpoint Tset_OFF stored at the end of the previous operation.

[0043] On the other hand, when the outside air temperature Tam_OFF at the end of the previous operation and the outside air temperature Tam are not considered to be the same, or when the difference ΔTam between the outside air temperature Tam_OFF and the outside air temperature Tam is, for example, greater than or equal to the predetermined value Tdif, the vehicle air conditioner 10 is controlled based on the recommended temperature setting Tset_ref corresponding to the current outside air temperature Tam.

[0044] In some embodiments, in determining whether to use the stored temperature Tset_OFF as the temperature target Tset at the start of operation, in addition to the current outside air temperature Tam and the stored outside air temperature Tam_OFF, the vehicle interior temperature Tr and an occupant state may also be referred to as temperature data.

[0045] In some embodiments, the CPU 111 may acquire at least occupant data indicating the occupant state and vehicle interior temperature data from the environmental data indicating the environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle 100. If the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref needs to be corrected, the CPU 111 may correct the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref based on the environmental data.

[0046] In some embodiments, the environmental data may include, for example, the image data of the interior of the vehicle 100 captured by the vehicle interior camera 43 and the vehicle interior temperature Tr detected by the vehicle interior temperature sensor 42. The CPU 111 may calculate a corrected recommended temperature target Tset_co.

[0047] To calculate the corrected recommended temperature target Tset_co, the recommended temperature target Tset_ref may be corrected based on the occupant's body surface temperature detected from the image acquisition data and the vehicle interior temperature Tr. The CPU 111 may control the vehicle air conditioning system 10 based on the corrected recommended temperature target Tset_co. In one embodiment, the corrected recommended temperature target Tset_co may serve as the "corrected temperature target."

[0048] Whether the recommended temperature Tset_ref needs to be corrected can be determined based, for example, on the degree of deviation ΔTr between the current vehicle interior temperature Tr and the recommended temperature Tset_ref, or between the current vehicle interior temperature Tr and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref. The larger the deviation ΔTr, the longer it takes for the vehicle interior temperature to reach the recommended temperature Tset_ref, which may potentially impair occupant comfort. Accordingly, the CPU 111 improves comfort by correcting the recommended temperature Tset_ref based on the deviation ΔTr.

[0049] Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the current vehicle interior temperature Tr, the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref, the deviation ΔTr, the recommended temperature setting Tset_ref, and a correction value Ct. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the larger the deviation ΔTr, the larger the correction value Ct. When the deviation ΔTr is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the CPU 111 can calculate the corrected recommended temperature setpoint Tset_co by correcting the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref according to the correction value Ct obtainable based on the deviation ΔTr. When the deviation ΔTr is smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref is not to be corrected based on the deviation ΔTr.

[0050] In addition to the deviation ΔTr, it can also be determined whether the recommended temperature setting Tset_ref needs to be corrected based on an occupant's body surface temperature S. For example, whether the recommended temperature setting Tset_ref needs to be corrected is determined based on the degree of deviation ΔS between the occupant's current body surface temperature S and an ideal body surface temperature Sref.

[0051] Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a relationship between the current body surface temperature S of an occupant and the ideal body surface temperature Sref. When the deviation ΔS is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the CPU 111 may calculate the corrected recommended temperature setpoint Tset_co by correcting the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref according to a correction value Cs obtainable based on the deviation ΔS. When the deviation ΔS is smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref is not to be corrected based on the deviation ΔS.

[0052] Furthermore, it can also be determined whether the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref needs to be corrected using both the deviation ΔTr and the deviation ΔS. In this case, the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref is corrected using the correction value Ct and the correction value Cs. If the correction value Ct and the correction value Cs cancel each other out, it is determined that the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref does not need to be corrected.

[0053] The process performed by the air conditioning control ECU 11 configured as described above will be explained with reference to the flowcharts in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 described. Fig. 6 shows a process flow for determining whether to use the temperature setpoint Tset_OFF at the end of the previous operation or the recommended temperature setpoint Tset_ref when determining the temperature setpoint. Fig. 7 shows a step S114 of the flowchart in Fig. 6 and represents a process for calculating the temperature target Tset based on the recommended temperature target Tset_ref.

[0054] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, when the ignition switch of the vehicle 100 is turned on and the instruction to start operation of the vehicle air conditioner 10 is received, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may be activated and acquire the temperature data (step S111). At this time, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may acquire the current outside air temperature Tam as temperature data via the in-vehicle network 3 and read the outside air temperature Tam_OFF stored at the end of the previous operation.

[0055] The air conditioning control ECU 11 may calculate the difference ΔTam between the outside air temperature Tam_OFF and the outside air temperature Tam (step S112) and determine whether the difference ΔTam is greater than or equal to the predetermined value Tdif (step S113). In the determination, if the difference ΔTam between the outside air temperature Tam_OFF and the outside air temperature Tam is greater than or equal to the predetermined value Tdif (YES in step S113), the air conditioning control ECU 11 may perform a process of calculating the target temperature Tset based on the recommended target temperature Tset_ref corresponding to the current outside air temperature Tam (step S114).

[0056] Note that the air conditioning control ECU 11 may discard the temperature setpoint Tset_OFF stored at the end of the previous operation, or mark it as unused data, or delete it from a memory when causing the process to proceed to step S114.

[0057] On the other hand, if the difference ΔTam is smaller than the predetermined value Tdif (NO in step S113), the set temperature Tset_OFF stored at the end of the previous operation may be determined as the set temperature Tset (step S116). If the set temperature Tset is determined in step S114 or step S116, the air conditioning control for the vehicle air conditioner 10 may be started with the determined set temperature Tset (step S115).

[0058] Next, with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 7 of the step S114 of the flowchart in Fig. 6 is described. The process may include calculating the target temperature Tset based on the recommended target temperature Tset_ref corresponding to the current outside air temperature Tam.

[0059] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may acquire the occupant data indicating an occupant state and the vehicle interior temperature data from the environmental data indicating the environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle 100 (step S211). When the occupant of the vehicle 100 is identified by the occupant data acquired in step S211, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may perform the Fig. 6, the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref corresponding to the occupant's current outside air temperature Tam (step S212). The air conditioning control ECU 11 can then read the recommended temperature Tset_ref determined using the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref and the current outside air temperature Tam (step S213).

[0060] Thereafter, the air conditioning control ECU 11 may determine whether to correct the readout recommended temperature Tset_ref (step S214). Note that, for example, based on one or both of the degree of deviation ΔTr between the current vehicle interior temperature Tr and the recommended temperature Tset_ref, or between the current vehicle interior temperature Tr and the ideal vehicle interior temperature Tref, and the degree of deviation ΔS between the current body surface temperature S of the occupant and the ideal body surface temperature Sref, as described above, it may be determined whether to correct the readout recommended temperature Tset_ref.

[0061] If it is determined that the readout recommended temperature Tset_ref is not to be corrected (NO in step S214), the recommended temperature Tset_ref may be set as the temperature Tset as it is (step S218). If it is determined that the recommended temperature Tset_ref is to be corrected (YES in step S214), one or both of the correction value Ct and the correction value Cs may be calculated (step S215), and the recommended temperature Tset_ref may be corrected using one or both of the calculated correction value Ct or the calculated correction value Cs (step S216).

[0062] When the corrected recommended temperature Tset_co is obtained by correcting the recommended temperature Tset_ref, the corrected recommended temperature Tset_co can be determined as the temperature Tset (step S217).

[0063] In the air conditioning control ECU 11 or the vehicle air conditioning control device according to the exemplary embodiment described above, when the ambient conditions inside and outside the vehicle 100 have not changed since the end of the previous operation of the vehicle air conditioner 10, the temperature setting Tset_OFF stored at the end of the previous operation is used.

[0064] On the other hand, if the ambient conditions inside and outside the vehicle 100 have changed, the temperature target Tset is determined depending on the change. With this configuration, the temperature target can be optimized, and appropriate air conditioning control can be performed depending on the ambient conditions inside and outside the vehicle 100. This contributes to improving passenger comfort.

[0065] Although some exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described above by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, the invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described above. It will be appreciated that modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art as long as they do not depart from the scope defined by the appended claims. The invention also includes such modifications and changes as long as they are within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

[0066] With an air conditioning control device for a vehicle according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a temperature setting can be optimized, and air conditioning control can be appropriately performed depending on the ambient conditions inside and outside a vehicle. This can improve passenger comfort.

[0067] Although the invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments and modifications, the invention is not limited thereto. It is obvious that changes to the described exemplary embodiments and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, as long as they do not deviate from the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0068] The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language used in the claims and are not limited to the examples described in this specification or during the further prosecution of the application, and the examples are to be understood as non-exclusive.

[0069] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “an,” and “the,” particularly as used in the context of the claims, are to be construed to include both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise stated herein or clearly indicated by the context.

[0070] Throughout the specification and the appended claims, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "comprise," "include," "have," and their variations are to be construed to include the inclusion of a specified element, integer, or step, but not to exclude any other unspecified element, integer, or step.

[0071] The use of the terms “first,” “second,” etc., does not imply any order or importance; rather, the terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0072] The terms “substantially,” “approximately,” “about,” and variations thereof of similar meaning are defined to correspond largely, but not necessarily completely, to what one of ordinary skill in the art would understand.

[0073] As used herein, the term “arranged / attached / formed on” and variants thereof with similar meaning refer to elements that are in contact with each other directly or indirectly via intervening structures.

[0074] The Fig. The CPU 111 shown in Figure 1 may be implemented by a circuit arrangement comprising at least one semiconductor integrated circuit, such as at least one processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), at least one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and / or at least one field-programmable gate array (FPGA). At least one processor may be configured to perform all or part of the functions of the CPU 111 by reading instructions from at least one machine-readable, non-transitory, tangible medium.

[0075] Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, any type of magnetic media such as a hard disk, any type of optical media such as a CD and a DVD, any type of semiconductor memory (i.e., semiconductor circuits) such as volatile memory and non-volatile memory.

[0076] The volatile memory may include DRAM and SRAM, and the non-volatile memory may include ROM and NVRAM. The ASIC is an integrated circuit (IC) designed to perform all or part of the functions of the Fig. 1, and the FPGA is an integrated circuit configured to perform all or part of the functions of the CPU 111 after manufacture. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2017-30 376 A

[0003]

Claims

[1] An air conditioning control device (11) for a vehicle (100), the air conditioning control device (11) comprising: - a memory (112) designed to store a recommended temperature setting previously specified as a function of an outside air temperature (Tam) outside the vehicle (100); and - a processor (111) configured to control a vehicle air conditioning system (10) mounted in the vehicle (100) to cause the interior of the vehicle (100) to be supplied with air, the air having a temperature that has been set on the basis of a temperature specification, the processor (111) being configured to: - storing a switch-off outside air temperature (Tam) and a switch-off temperature setting at the time the ignition switch of the vehicle (100) is switched off in the memory (112), - controlling the vehicle air conditioning system (10) at the time of turning on the ignition switch based on the cut-off temperature setting when a difference between a current outside air temperature (Tam) and the cut-off outside air temperature is smaller than a predetermined value, and - controlling the vehicle air conditioning system (10) at the time of turning on the ignition switch based on the recommended temperature setting (Tset_ref) corresponding to the current outside air temperature (Tam) when the difference between the current outside air temperature (Tam) and the switch-off outside temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. [2] Air conditioning control device (11) for a vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the processor (111) is designed for the following measures: - collecting environmental data based on an environment outside the vehicle (100) and an environment inside the vehicle (100), and - controlling the vehicle air conditioning system (10) at the time of turning on the ignition switch based on a corrected temperature target when the difference between the current outside air temperature (Tam) and the switch-off outside air temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, wherein the corrected temperature target, which includes the recommended temperature target (Tset_ref) corresponding to the current outside air temperature (Tam), is corrected depending on the ambient data. [3] Air conditioning control device (11) for a vehicle (100) according to claim 2, wherein the environmental data includes a body surface temperature (S) of the body surface of an occupant of the vehicle (100), and wherein the processor (111) is configured to detect the body surface temperature (S) on the basis of image recording data captured by a camera (43), wherein the camera (43) is configured to capture an image of the interior of the vehicle (100). [4] Air conditioning control device (11) for a vehicle (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, where the recommended temperature setting (Tset_ref) is specified as a function of an ideal vehicle interior temperature specified for the respective occupants and the outside air temperature (Tam). [5] Air conditioning control device (11) for a vehicle (100) according to claim 4, wherein the ideal vehicle interior temperature is determined depending on the outside air temperature (Tam) for the respective occupants and is determined based on one or both of a temperature setting operation given by an occupant and a temperature setting operation performed by the occupant.

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