Motor vehicle with climate control using a seatbelt pretensioner signal and method for operating an air conditioning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle with an air conditioning system designed to regulate the temperature of a passenger compartment. At least one detection device of the motor vehicle can be used to estimate the level of clothing worn by an occupant (20) in the passenger compartment. A control device (18) is configured to control the air conditioning system based on at least one signal from the detection device. The at least one detection device includes a seat belt tensioner (22) designed to tighten a seat belt (24) of the motor vehicle. The control device (18) is configured to process at least one signal from the seat belt tensioner (22) for controlling the air conditioning system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with an air conditioning system designed to regulate the temperature of the passenger compartment. At least one detection device of the motor vehicle can be used to estimate the level of clothing worn by a passenger in the passenger compartment. A control device of the motor vehicle is designed to control the air conditioning system based on at least one signal from the detection device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Human perception of warmth, including that experienced by occupants of a vehicle's passenger compartment, depends on environmental parameters such as air temperature, solar radiation, and the like. Furthermore, the perception of warmth is significantly influenced by the clothing worn by the occupant. There are proposals to consider the clothing of a vehicle occupant when controlling or regulating the vehicle's air conditioning system.

[0003] For example, DE 103 20 829 A1 describes a method for controlling an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle, in which image recognition sensors in the form of CCD cameras detect a vehicle occupant and determine the type of clothing worn by the occupant. The air conditioning system is then controlled according to this evaluation of the clothing type.

[0004] Furthermore, CN 106515352 A describes a method in which a trigger signal is issued when a person locks a seatbelt buckle. After this trigger signal is detected, the clothing status of an occupant is determined using image sensors, and the operating status of the vehicle's air conditioning system is adjusted accordingly.

[0005] A disadvantage here is the relatively high cost involved in equipping a vehicle with a camera and analyzing the images it captures in order to control the vehicle's air conditioning system. The additional sensor technology, in the form of a camera for clothing detection, is expensive. Furthermore, integrating the analysis of the camera images for controlling the air conditioning system is a complex challenge. Therefore, such ideas have not yet seen widespread use.

[0006] Without knowing the actual clothing worn by the passenger compartment occupant, the climate control system may assume an average standard temperature based on the occupant's level of clothing. If the occupant's actual clothing level differs from this assumed standard, the occupant can manually adjust the climate control to their needs or preferences. However, this is less convenient for the occupant than a climate control system that takes the level of clothing into account.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to create a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset in which taking into account the level of clothing of the occupant is particularly easy to implement, and to provide a corresponding method for operating an air conditioning device.

[0008] This problem is solved by a motor vehicle with the features of claim 1 and by a method with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0009] The motor vehicle according to the invention has an air conditioning system, wherein the air conditioning system is designed to regulate the temperature of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. At least one detection device of the motor vehicle can be used to estimate the level of clothing worn by an occupant of the passenger compartment. A control device of the motor vehicle is designed to control the air conditioning system based on at least one signal from the detection device. The at least one detection device includes a seat belt tensioner, which is designed to tighten a seat belt of the motor vehicle. The control device is designed to process at least one signal from the seat belt tensioner for controlling the air conditioning system.

[0010] This is based on the understanding that the clothing worn by the occupant influences the tightening of the seatbelt. Specifically, if the occupant is wearing only a thin garment such as a T-shirt, the seatbelt pretensioner can only tighten the belt to a lesser degree than if the occupant is wearing, for example, a thick, padded jacket such as a down jacket or several layers of clothing. Therefore, the degree of seatbelt tightening achievable by the pretensioner can be used by the control unit to accurately estimate the level of clothing worn by the occupant.

[0011] Tightening the seat belt by means of the belt tensioner is equivalent to reducing the belt slack, i.e., the section of the seat belt that connects the seat belt's anchor points in the vehicle. When the occupant has fastened the seat belt and thus a buckle tongue of the seat belt is inserted into a buckle, these anchor points can be designed as the buckle itself and as a retractor mechanism for the belt tensioner.

[0012] Furthermore, at least one signal from the seatbelt pretensioner is already available in the vehicle, since the vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt pretensioner. This is because the pretensioner typically tightens the seatbelt slightly, or at least partially, after the occupant has fastened it, and also after unfastening and then refastening it, ensuring a snug fit. During this tightening or loosening of the seatbelt slack, the signals can be measured or recorded and then processed by the control unit, which may be a control module.

[0013] Therefore, no additional sensors specifically designed for clothing detection, such as a camera, are needed to determine the occupant's level of clothing. Instead, the control unit can simply be provided with the at least one signal already present from the seatbelt pretensioner. The control unit can then evaluate or process this signal to control the climate control system accordingly. Consequently, in a vehicle where the control unit is designed to process the at least one signal from the seatbelt pretensioner to control the climate control system, taking the occupant's level of clothing into account is particularly easy to implement. Specifically, the control unit does not need to perform any complex image analysis to estimate the occupant's level of clothing.This is advantageous.

[0014] The signal already available from the seatbelt pretensioner can therefore be used to estimate the occupant's level of clothing. This estimated level of clothing can, in particular, indicate whether the occupant, who has fastened the seatbelt (which can be tightened by the pretensioner), is wearing thin, lightweight clothing or thicker, more insulating clothing. By allowing the control unit to take into account the clothing presumed to be worn by the occupant, improved, and especially demand-based, control of the climate control system can be implemented. This is advantageous for ensuring high passenger satisfaction and a high level of climate comfort in the passenger compartment.

[0015] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the seatbelt pretensioner increases the safety of the passenger compartment occupants. The seatbelt, which fits snugly against the occupant's body thanks to the pretensioner, provides improved restraint, for example, in the event of a collision. Because the signals provided by such a safety device can be used to control the climate control system, the system can easily take the occupant's level of clothing into account. This is beneficial.

[0016] Preferably, the control device is configured to process, as at least one signal from the seatbelt tensioner, a measured value indicating the length of a section of the seatbelt fastened by the occupant. This is based on the understanding that if the same occupant is wearing comparatively bulky, warm clothing in one instance and thin, particularly summer, clothing in the other, the respective length of the seatbelt section fastened by the occupant differs. Taking this into account when estimating the level of clothing worn by the occupant allows the control device to more accurately estimate this level. This is advantageous.

[0017] It has proven further advantageous if the control device is designed to process, in addition to at least one signal from the seatbelt pretensioner, a measured value indicating the change in length of a section of the seatbelt fastened by the occupant that can be effected by the pretensioner. This is based on the understanding that the following situation can occur: For example, if the occupant is wearing thin, light clothing, the pretensioner may produce a smaller change in length of the section of the seatbelt fastened by the occupant than if the same occupant, who has fastened the seatbelt, is wearing comparatively thick, bulky clothing. Therefore, taking the change in length of the section of the seatbelt fastened by the occupant into account is advantageous for a realistic estimation of the occupant's level of clothing.

[0018] In particular, the control device may be designed to process measured values ​​from the seatbelt tensioner as signals indicating, firstly, the length of the section of the seatbelt fastened by the occupant and, secondly, the change in length of this section that can be achieved by means of the seatbelt tensioner. This is because the length of the unrolled section of the seatbelt influences the change in length of this section that can be achieved by means of the seatbelt tensioner. Therefore, it is advantageous if the control device takes both of these measured values ​​into account.

[0019] Preferably, the control device is designed to process, as well as at least one signal from the seatbelt tensioner, a measured value indicating the force applied by the tensioner when tightening the seatbelt. This is based on the understanding that when tightening the seatbelt by means of the tensioner, less force may be required to effect a specific change in length of the section of the seatbelt worn by the occupant if the occupant is wearing relatively thick and easily compressible clothing. In contrast, if the occupant is wearing thin, tight-fitting clothing, the force required to further tighten the seatbelt increases considerably even after a relatively small change in length of the section of the seatbelt worn by the occupant.Such factors can be easily taken into account by the control unit to estimate the occupant's clothing level. In particular, the control unit can be designed to process the force exerted by the seatbelt pretensioner over time and to consider this force when activating the climate control system. This is because the force over time also provides clues about the thickness of the clothing the occupant is wearing.

[0020] Preferably, the control device is configured to process, as at least one signal from the seatbelt tensioner, a measured value indicating the torque applied by the tensioner when the seatbelt is tightened. Specifically, if the tensioner's retractor mechanism applies a low torque when tightening the seatbelt, the control device can infer that the occupant is wearing relatively easily compressible clothing. This applies, for example, to thick winter clothing such as a down jacket or similar garment. Conversely, if the torque applied by the tensioner increases rapidly when the seatbelt is tightened, the control device can interpret this as an indication that the occupant is wearing only thin, lightweight clothing.Therefore, taking into account the torque applied by the belt tensioner when tightening the seat belt is also advantageous for a realistic estimation of the occupant's level of clothing.

[0021] Additionally or alternatively, the control unit can be designed to process at least one signal from the seatbelt tensioner, including a measured value indicating the electrical power consumption and / or current draw of the tensioner when tightening the seatbelt. Firstly, the electrical power consumption and current draw of the tensioner can be measured particularly easily and made available to the control unit. Secondly, the energy expenditure of the tensioner for tightening the seatbelt can be deduced from its electrical power consumption and / or current draw. Easily achieved seatbelt tightening, which is associated with correspondingly low electrical power consumption and / or current draw, is more likely to occur when the occupant is wearing thick, easily compressible clothing.In contrast, tightening the seatbelt when the occupant is wearing light, thin summer clothing results in higher electrical power consumption and / or current draw. Therefore, the electrical power consumption and / or current draw of the seatbelt tensioner can be very effectively used by the control unit to estimate the level of clothing worn by the seat occupant.

[0022] Preferably, the control device is designed to take into account the actuation of a seatbelt buckle to assess the degree of clothing worn. For actuation of the buckle, a buckle tongue of the seatbelt can be inserted into or withdrawn from the buckle. In other words, actuation of the buckle can be achieved by inserting the buckle tongue into the buckle or by unlocking the buckle and then withdrawing the buckle tongue. Particularly if such an action occurs after the vehicle, equipped with a seatbelt, has started moving, the control device can interpret this as an indication that the occupant has unbuckled themselves to remove an article of clothing. And the unbuckling can be easily detected by the control device via the actuation of the seatbelt buckle.Therefore, it is advantageous if the control device is designed to take into account the actuation of the seatbelt buckle in order to estimate the degree of clothing.

[0023] Preferably, the control device is designed to process at least one signal from the seatbelt pretensioner to estimate the degree of clothing worn. This signal can be output, or is output, after the seatbelt buckle has been actuated several times. It is possible that the occupant first acts the seatbelt buckle, thereby pulling the buckle tongue out of the buckle, then, for example, removes their jacket, and subsequently acts the seatbelt buckle again or a second time by reinserting the buckle tongue into the buckle.

[0024] Typically, after a certain driving time and / or after covering a certain distance, the passenger compartment of a vehicle reaches a comfortable temperature for the occupant. It may then happen that the occupant removes at least one item of clothing, unfastening the seatbelt buckle and subsequently, after removing the garment, refastening it. This kind of behavior can be easily and efficiently accounted for by the control unit for estimating the level of clothing worn.

[0025] If, following repeated activation of the seatbelt buckle, the pretensioner is able to tighten the seatbelt more than before the repeated activation, the control unit may interpret this as an indication that the occupant's clothing level has changed in the meantime. This is because the removal or undressing of at least one item of clothing by the occupant can occur, particularly after the initial activation, when the buckle tongue is pulled out of the buckle and before it is reinserted.

[0026] In particular, if the control unit detects a sequence in which, following repeated (especially two) activations of the seatbelt buckle, the seatbelt tensioner delivers at least one different signal than before the repeated activation, the control unit can easily estimate the occupant's likely level of clothing. In this way, the level of clothing estimated by the control unit can be adjusted during the vehicle's journey.

[0027] It has proven further advantageous if the control device is designed to process signals from the seatbelt pretensioner to estimate the degree of clothing worn. These signals are output during the first pretensioning before the occupant loosens the seatbelt, and again after the seatbelt has been loosened. The first pretensioning of the seatbelt thus occurs before the occupant loosens it, and the second pretensioning occurs after. This is based on the understanding that the occupant may loosen the seatbelt or increase its slack to remove or take off an article of clothing such as a jacket or sweater.If, during the subsequent second tightening of the seatbelt, at least one signal from the belt tensioner is again processed by the control unit, the control unit can infer a corresponding change in the occupant's level of clothing. This is technically easy to implement.

[0028] Preferably, the control device is designed to use at least one characteristic curve and / or at least one characteristic curve array to estimate the level of clothing worn. In this case, the at least one characteristic curve and / or the at least one characteristic curve array allows the at least one signal from the seatbelt tensioner to be assigned a corresponding level of clothing worn by the occupant. This makes estimating the level of clothing using the control device particularly easy.

[0029] For example, at least one characteristic curve and / or at least one characteristic curve array can be stored in a memory of the control unit. Based on at least one signal from the seatbelt pretensioner, the control unit can then very easily and directly infer or estimate the occupant's level of clothing by referring to the at least one characteristic curve and / or the at least one characteristic curve array. Such an estimation or prediction of the level of clothing based on signals supplied by the seatbelt pretensioner is particularly easy to implement technically.

[0030] Preferably, the control device is designed to control the temperature, intensity, direction, and / or humidity of an airflow introduced into the passenger compartment by activating the air conditioning unit, which can be done by the control device depending on at least one signal from the seatbelt tensioner. This allows the control device to take the estimated level of clothing into account very effectively when adjusting the airflow.

[0031] For example, if the assessment of the level of clothing indicates that the occupant is rather lightly dressed or wearing rather thin clothing, then a lower strength of the airflow is sufficient to ensure a comfortable feeling of warmth for the occupant, taking the level of clothing into account.

[0032] Additionally or alternatively, a reduced airflow temperature can be set, for example, if the control unit detects that the occupant has removed an article of clothing, thereby indicating that wearing heavily warm clothing is no longer necessary in the passenger compartment. In this case, a less heated airflow is sufficient to provide a comfortable temperature for the passenger.

[0033] In the inventive method for operating an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, the air conditioning system is designed to regulate the temperature of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. At least one detection device of the motor vehicle is used to estimate the level of clothing worn by an occupant of the passenger compartment. A control device of the motor vehicle controls the air conditioning system based on at least one signal from the detection device. The at least one detection device includes a seat belt tensioner, by means of which a seat belt of the motor vehicle is tightened. The control device processes at least one signal from the seat belt tensioner to control the air conditioning system.

[0034] This method makes it particularly easy to take the occupant's level of clothing into account. The control unit can use at least one signal provided by the seatbelt pretensioner to control the climate control system as needed. This is because the control unit can easily deduce the occupant's level of clothing by using and processing at least one signal from the seatbelt pretensioner.

[0035] The advantages and preferred embodiments described for the motor vehicle according to the invention apply analogously to the method according to the invention and vice versa.

[0036] The invention therefore also includes further developments of the method according to the invention, which have features as already described in connection with the further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

[0037] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus.

[0038] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also includes realizations that each exhibit a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.

[0039] The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention described. This is illustrated by: Fig. 1 schematically a motor vehicle in which a control device controls an air conditioning device of the motor vehicle, wherein the air conditioning device is designed to regulate the temperature of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and Fig. 2 schematically an occupant of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, wherein the control device for controlling the air conditioning device evaluates signals from a belt tensioner in order to estimate the degree of clothing of the occupant based on the signals from the belt tensioner.

[0040] The exemplary embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In these exemplary embodiments, the described components each represent individual features of the invention, which can be considered independently of one another and each further develops the invention independently. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0041] In the figures, identical reference symbols denote functionally equivalent elements.

[0042] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle 10, which has an air conditioning system 12. The air conditioning system 12 is designed to regulate the temperature of a passenger compartment 14 of the motor vehicle 10. For this purpose, the air conditioning system 12 can have at least one heating device by means of which an airflow 16 introduced into the passenger compartment 14 can be heated. Furthermore, the air conditioning system 12 can include a cooling device by means of which the airflow 16 can be cooled. The cooling device can, in particular, be designed as an evaporator of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning system 12. A control device 18 of the motor vehicle 10 controls the air conditioning system 12 and thus causes the temperature of the passenger compartment 14 to be regulated. The control device 18, which is designed, for example, as a control unit of the motor vehicle 10, is preferably designed to regulate the air conditioning system 12.

[0043] In this case, the control unit 18 estimates the level of clothing worn by an occupant 20 in the passenger compartment 14. The air conditioning unit 12 is then controlled by the control unit 18 based on this estimated level of clothing worn by the occupant 20.

[0044] To estimate the level of clothing worn by the occupant 20, the control device 18 processes at least one signal from a seat belt tensioner 22 of the motor vehicle 10 (compare Fig. 2) The belt tensioner 22 is designed to tighten a seat belt 24 of the motor vehicle 10, with the occupant 20 having fastened the seat belt 24. When tightening the seat belt 24, the belt tensioner 22 ensures that the seat belt 24 fits more tightly against the occupant 20 than it did before the belt tensioner 22 tightened the seat belt 24.

[0045] The degree of tension on the seat belt 24 depends on the type of clothing worn by the occupant 20. For example, if the occupant 20 is wearing a thin T-shirt, the seat belt 24 can only be tightened to a lesser degree than if the occupant 20 is wearing a thick down jacket. The degree of tension on the seat belt 24, which can be achieved by the belt tensioner 22, can therefore be used by the control unit 18 to estimate the level of clothing worn by the occupant 20.

[0046] In this way, measured values ​​already present in the motor vehicle 10 and easily made available to the control unit 18 can be used to estimate the level of clothing worn by the occupant 20. Specifically, signals from the seat belt tensioner 22 belonging to the safety system of the motor vehicle 10 can be used and made available to the control unit 18 for controlling, in particular regulating, the air conditioning unit 12.

[0047] At least one signal from the seat belt tensioner 22 can be transmitted to the control unit 18 via a suitable communication link, for example via a CAN bus (CAN = Controller Area Network). The control unit 18 can, for example, be designed as a control unit, in particular as a climate control unit.

[0048] The belt tensioner 22 can be designed, in particular, as an electric belt tensioner, which has a winding device comprising an electric motor. By means of the winding device, the length of a section 26 of the safety belt 24 fastened by the occupant 20 can be reduced by operating the belt tensioner 22.

[0049] In particular, after the motor vehicle 10 has started moving, or when the occupant 20 has fastened the seat belt 24, signals or data from the belt tensioner 22 can be detected. These signals can include, for example, the length of the section 26 of the seat belt 24 fastened by the occupant and / or a change in length of the section 26 of the seat belt 24 fastened by the occupant 20, which can be effected by the belt tensioner 22 and transmitted to the control unit 18.

[0050] Additionally or alternatively, the control device 18 can be transmitted a measured value as at least one signal, which indicates the force applied by the belt tensioner 22 when tightening the seat belt 24. This is because the tensile force required to tighten the seat belt 24 depends on the level of clothing worn by the occupant 20.

[0051] In particular, the control device 18 may be designed to process both the force and the change in length. For example, the control device 18 may take into account the force that must be applied by the belt tensioner 22 to effect a specific change in length of the section 26 of the seat belt 24 fastened by the occupant 20. Specifically, if the occupant 20 is wearing thick clothing, a greater force may be required to effect a specific change in length than if the occupant 20 is wearing thin clothing but has initially fastened the seat belt 24 rather loosely. Therefore, it may be advantageous if the control device 18 takes into account both the force applied by the belt tensioner 22 and the change in length of the section 26 of the seat belt 24 fastened by the occupant 20, caused by the application of that force, for controlling the air conditioning device 12.

[0052] Additionally or alternatively, signals such as a torque applied by the belt tensioner 22 when tightening the seat belt 24 and / or an electrical power consumption and / or current consumption of the belt tensioner 22 when tightening the seat belt 24 can be evaluated by the control unit 18 in order to estimate the degree of clothing of the occupant 20 of the passenger compartment 14.

[0053] The corresponding signals or data from the seatbelt tensioner 22 can therefore be used in an estimation model to determine or estimate the level of clothing worn by the occupant 20. Subsequently, the climate control system 12 can be controlled, and in particular regulated, as needed, depending on the clothing worn by the occupant 20.

[0054] If the climate control system 12 is configured to individually regulate the temperature of specific zones within the passenger compartment 14, the signals from the respective seatbelt pretensioners 22, located at the respective seats in the passenger compartment 14, can be evaluated. Accordingly, the level of clothing worn by each occupant 20 at each seat can be detected or estimated. The control unit 18 can then control the climate control system 12, in particular regulate it, so that the respective zones or climate control zones of the passenger compartment 14 are individually temperature-controlled depending on the estimated level of clothing worn by the respective occupant 20. This results in a high level of comfort for the occupants 20 of the passenger compartment 14.

[0055] In particular, the control device 18 can be configured to adjust the temperature and / or strength and / or direction and / or humidity of the airflow 16 that can be introduced into the passenger compartment 14 by controlling the air conditioning device 12.

[0056] To change the direction of the airflow 16, the direction of the air outlets belonging to the air conditioning unit 12 can be changed by means of the control device 18. And to change the strength of the airflow 18, or to influence the speed at which the airflow 16 is discharged into the passenger compartment 14, the speed of a fan of the air conditioning unit 12 can be adjusted accordingly.

[0057] The humidity of the airflow 16 can be influenced, for example, by operating an evaporator, which may be part of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning system 12. The evaporator cools and dehumidifies the airflow 16 before it enters the passenger compartment 14. Furthermore, the humidity of the airflow 16 can be influenced by adjusting the proportion of air recirculated in the passenger compartment 14.

[0058] If such parameters of the airflow 16 are set by the control device 18 depending on the estimated level of clothing of the occupant 20, a climate that is comfortable for the occupant 20 can be provided in the passenger compartment 14 of the motor vehicle 10 in a very demand-oriented manner.

[0059] It has proven advantageous if the model stored in the control unit 18, which serves to estimate the level of clothing worn by the occupant 20, can be adjusted while the motor vehicle 10 is in motion. For example, it may happen that during a longer journey of the motor vehicle 10, the occupant 20 removes his jacket as soon as the passenger compartment 14 has reached a temperature that makes it more comfortable for the occupant 20 to continue the journey without the jacket.

[0060] The fact that the occupant 20 removes an item of clothing can be detected by the control unit 18, in particular by evaluating signals from the buckle 28 of the seat belt 24. For example, activation of the buckle 28 can be detected when the occupant 20 pulls a buckle tongue 30 out of the buckle 28, thereby unlocking the buckle 28. After pulling the buckle tongue 30 out of the buckle 28, the occupant 20 can remove an item of clothing, such as a thick jacket. The buckle 28 can then be activated again by the occupant 20 reinserting the buckle tongue 30 into the buckle 28.

[0061] By evaluating such repeated actuations of the seat belt buckle 28, the control unit 18 can recognize that the seat belt 24 was first unfastened and then refastened by the occupant 20. If the seat belt tensioner 22 subsequently tightens the seat belt 24 automatically again, this can be detected by the control unit 18, as the seat belt tensioner 22 transmits at least one signal to the control unit 18.

[0062] The control unit 18 can determine, by considering the repeated activation of the seat belt buckle 28 and at least one signal from the seat belt tensioner 22, whether the level of clothing worn by the occupant 20 in the passenger compartment 14 has changed. If the occupant 20 fastens the seat belt 24 again, the seat belt tensioner 22 can tighten the seat belt 24 again. This provides the control unit 18 with evaluable signals or data about the clothing now worn by the occupant 20. Consequently, the control of the climate control unit 12 can be adjusted to the now estimated level of clothing worn by the occupant 20.

[0063] Additionally or alternatively, the control unit 18 can process signals from the belt tensioner 22 that result from the occupant 20 removing an article of clothing, such as a jacket, without actuating the belt buckle 28. For example, the occupant 20 might increase the belt slack while remaining buckled up to remove their jacket. To detect such an event, the control unit 18 can process the respective signals from the belt tensioner 22 that are issued during the first tensioning action, i.e., before the seat belt 24 is loosened by the occupant 20. Furthermore, the control unit 18 can process signals from the belt tensioner 22 that are issued after the seat belt 24 has been loosened (or after the belt slack has been increased) during a second tensioning action.In this way, the control of the air conditioning system 12 can also be adapted to the estimated level of clothing worn by the occupant 20, which changes during the journey.

[0064] In particular, at least one characteristic curve and / or at least one characteristic curve array can be stored in the software used by the control unit 18 to regulate the air conditioning unit 12. Such a characteristic curve and / or such a characteristic curve array makes it possible to predict or estimate the probable level of clothing worn by the occupant 20 from the signals or data supplied by the seatbelt tensioner 22. This makes it very easy to ensure that the level of clothing worn by the occupant 20 is taken into account in the control of the air conditioning unit 12 by the control unit 18.

[0065] Overall, the examples show how a procedure for determining the level of clothing worn by occupant 20 can be provided as an input variable for an air conditioning control system.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (10) with an air conditioning device (12) designed to regulate the temperature of a passenger compartment (14) of the motor vehicle (10), with at least one detection device that can be used to estimate the level of clothing of an occupant (20) of the passenger compartment (14), and with a control device (18) designed to control the air conditioning device (12) depending on at least one signal from the detection device, characterized by , that the at least one detection device comprises a belt tensioner (22) designed to tighten a seat belt (24) of the motor vehicle (10), wherein the control device (18) is designed to process at least one signal from the belt tensioner (22) for controlling the air conditioning device (12). [2] Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the control device (18) is designed to process, as the at least one signal from the belt tensioner (22), a measured value which indicates a length of a section (26) of the safety belt (24) fitted by the occupant (20). [3] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control device (18) is designed to process, as the at least one signal from the belt tensioner (22), a measured value which indicates a change in length of a section (26) of the safety belt (24) applied by the occupant (20) that can be effected by means of the belt tensioner (22). [4] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control device (18) is designed to process, as the at least one signal from the belt tensioner (22), a measured value which indicates a force applied by the belt tensioner (22) when tightening the safety belt (24). [5] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control device (18) is designed to process, as the at least one signal from the belt tensioner (22), a measured value which indicates a torque applied by the belt tensioner (22) when tightening the seat belt (24) and / or an electrical power consumption and / or current consumption of the belt tensioner (22) when tightening the seat belt (24). [6] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the control device (18) is designed to take into account the actuation of a buckle (28) of the safety belt (24) in order to estimate the degree of clothing, wherein a buckle tongue (30) of the safety belt (24) can be inserted into or withdrawn from the buckle (28) in order to actuate the buckle (28), wherein the control device (18) is in particular designed to process at least one signal from the belt tensioner (22) in order to estimate the degree of clothing, which can be output following repeated actuation of the buckle (28). [7] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the control device (18) is designed to process respective signals from the belt tensioner (22) for estimating the degree of clothing, which can be output during a first tightening before a loosening of the seat belt (24) by the occupant (20) and after the loosening of the seat belt (24) during a second tightening of the seat belt (24). [8] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control device (18) is designed to use at least one characteristic curve and / or at least one characteristic curve field to estimate the degree of clothing, wherein the at least one characteristic curve and / or the at least one characteristic curve field can be assigned to the at least one signal of the belt tensioner (22) a respective degree of clothing of the occupant (20). [9] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the control device (18) is designed to adjust a temperature and / or a strength and / or a direction and / or a humidity of an airflow (16) that can be introduced into the passenger compartment (14) by controlling the air conditioning device (12), which can be done by the control device (18) depending on the at least one signal from the belt tensioner (22). [10] Method for operating an air conditioning unit (12) of a motor vehicle (10) which is designed to regulate the temperature of a passenger compartment (14) of the motor vehicle (10), wherein at least one detection unit of the motor vehicle (10) is used to estimate the level of clothing of an occupant (20) of the passenger compartment (14), and wherein a control unit (18) of the motor vehicle (10) controls the air conditioning unit (12) depending on at least one signal from the detection unit, characterized by, that the at least one detection device comprises a belt tensioner (22) by means of which a seat belt (24) of the motor vehicle (10) is tightened, wherein the control device (18) for controlling the air conditioning device (12) processes at least one signal from the belt tensioner (22).

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