Air conditioning for a vehicle

Abstract

An air conditioning system (100) for a vehicle, comprising: an air conditioning housing (110) which has a front seat air passage (105) having cold air and warm air passages (P1, P2, P3) and a rear seat air passage (140) formed below the front seat air passage (105); an evaporator (101) mounted on an upstream side of the front seat air passage (105) and the rear seat air passage (140), and a heater (102) mounted on a warm air passage (P2) within the air conditioning housing (110), and a front seat temperature adjustment flap (115) mounted between the evaporator (101) and the heater (102) within the air conditioning housing (110) to adjust degrees of opening of a cold air passage (P1) and the warm air passage (P2), the air conditioning (100) including: a rear seat delivery housing (120) arranged at an outlet of the rear seat air passage (140) of the air conditioning housing (110) and having a rear seat face opening (121) and rear seat floor openings (122) for delivering air towards a rear seat; a rear seat temperature adjustment flap (141) which is mounted on the rear seat air passage (140) and controls an amount of air which passes through the evaporator (101) and is directed by flow into the rear seat air passage (140) and the warm air passage (P2); a rear seat cold air control flap (143) which is mounted inside the rear seat air passage (140) and adjusts a degree of opening of the rear seat air passage (140) and controls a cold air volume of the rear seat air passage (140); characterized by the following features: a control part (150) configured to move the rear seat cold air control flap (143) towards one of several operating positions of the rear seat cold air control flap (143), which has been previously set depending on a position of the front seat temperature adjustment flap (115) in a rear seat temperature adjustment operating mode; wherein the control element (150) is further configured to actuate the rear seat cold air control flap (143) in the rear seat temperature adjustment operating mode to reduce the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage (140) in order to increase the ventilation resistance of the rear seat air passage (140) as soon as the front seat temperature adjustment flap (115) opens the warm air passages (P2, P3) wide, and to control the rear seat cold air control flap (143) to such a position that the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage (140) is reduced when the position of the front seat temperature adjustment flap (115) is changed to a position that reduces the degree of opening of the cold air passage (P1). wherein a rear seat temperature adjustment aid flap (142) is mounted on a rear side of the heater (102) inside the air conditioning housing (110) and controls an inflow quantity of air that flows into the rear seat delivery housing (120) after passing through the heater (102).

Description

Background of the inventionField of the invention

[0001] The present application relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to an air conditioner for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same that can variably control the position of a rear seat cool air control door depending on the position of a front seat temperature adjustment door when the position of the rear seat cool air control door is controlled in accordance with rear seat air conditioning modes (rear seat temperature adjustment mode) in an air conditioning case in which the rear seat cool air control door is mounted on a rear seat air passage. State of the art

[0002] A vehicle air conditioner is a vehicle component installed in a vehicle for the purpose of cooling or warming the vehicle's interior air in the summer season or winter season, or removing frost from a windshield in the rainy season or winter season, thereby ensuring a driver's front and rear visibility. Such an air conditioner typically includes a heating device and a cooling device together, so that it can warm, cool, or ventilate the interior air of a vehicle through the steps of selectively introducing the interior air or the outside air into the air conditioner, heating or cooling the introduced air, and blowing the heated or cooled air into the vehicle.

[0003] Such an air conditioning system for a vehicle has been developed in various forms according to the types of vehicles or the specifications of the same type of vehicles, and there are, for example, single-zone air conditioning systems (front seat space), dual-zone air conditioning systems (right space and left space of the front seat), and three-zone air conditioning systems (right space and left space of the front seat and rear seat space). Fig. Figures 1 to 3 show schematically conventional air conditioning systems as marketed by the patent holder.

[0004] Fig. Figure 1 is a sectional view of a conventional single-zone air conditioning system for a vehicle. Fig. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes: an air conditioning case 10 having an air inflow opening 11 formed on one side thereof and a defrosting opening 12a, a front opening 12b, and bottom openings 12c formed on the other side thereof in such a manner as to be adjusted in their opening degree by operation mode dampers 16a, 16b, and 16c; an evaporator 2 and a heater core 3 mounted on the air passage in the air conditioning case 10 in this order and spaced from each other by a predetermined distance; and a blower (not shown) connected to the air inflow opening 11 of the air conditioning case 10 to send inside air or outside air.

[0005] In addition, the air conditioner further includes: a (front seat) temperature adjusting door 15 installed between the evaporator 2 and the heater core 3 for controlling the temperature by adjusting the degrees of opening of a cold air passage P1 bypassing the heater core 3 and a warm air passage P2 passing through the heater core 3.

[0006] The air conditioner case 10 includes: an upper case 10a formed by assembling a left case and a right case; and a lower case 10b attached to a part of the lower part of the upper case 10a on which the evaporator 2 is mounted.

[0007] As described above, in the vehicle air conditioner 1, in the case of the maximum cooling mode, the temperature adjustment door 15 opens the cool air passage P1 and closes the warm air passage P2. Therefore, the air blown by the blower exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing within the evaporator 2 while passing through the evaporator 2 and is converted into cold air. Afterward, the converted air flows toward a mixing chamber MC through the cool air passage P1 and is then introduced into the front seat space inside the vehicle through the vents opened by the mode doors 16a, 16b, and 16c according to the predetermined air introduction mode, namely, the ventilation mode, the bi-level mode, the floor mode, the mixing mode, or the defrost mode, so that the front seat space is cooled.

[0008] Furthermore, in the case of the maximum heating mode, the temperature adjustment damper 15 closes the cool air passage P1 and opens the warm air passage P2. Accordingly, the air blown by the blower passes through the evaporator 2, is converted into warm air by exchanging heat with cooling water flowing within the heater core 3 while passing through the heater core 3 through the warm air passage P2. Thereafter, the converted air flows toward the mixing chamber MC and is introduced into the front seat space inside the vehicle through the vents opened by the mode dampers 16a, 16b, and 16c according to the predetermined air introduction mode, so that the front seat space is warmed.

[0009] Furthermore, the dual-zone air conditioning system includes a separator (not shown) mounted in the center of the interior of the air conditioning case 10, thus dividing the interior of the air conditioning case 10 into right and left sides. In this example, a right and a left temperature adjustment flap, each operated individually, are mounted on both sides of the separator within the air conditioning case 10, thus individually controlling the temperature of the right and left front seat spaces.

[0010] In addition, the three-zone air conditioner 1a includes a rear seat air passage 20 formed below a front seat air passage 17 having cold air and warm air passages P1 and P2 formed within the two-zone air conditioner. Referring to Fig. 2, the three-zone air conditioner 1a is briefly described. There is no difference between the two-zone air conditioner and the three-zone air conditioner in that an evaporator 2 and a heater core 3 are mounted within the air conditioner case 10, and the front seat temperature adjustment door 15 and the front seat mode doors 16a, 16b, and 16c are mounted. However, the three-zone air conditioner 1a further includes: a rear seat air passage 20 formed below the heater core 3; a rear seat temperature adjustment door 25 mounted in front of the heater core 3 between the rear seat air passage 20 and the warm air passage P2; and and a rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door 26 mounted on the back of the heater core 3.

[0011] In addition, the three-zone air conditioner 1a further includes a rear seat air discharge opening 21 formed at an outlet of the rear seat air passage 20 for discharging air to the rear seat.

[0012] Therefore, the three-zone air conditioner 1a controls the mixing ratio between cold air passing through the rear seat air passage 20 due to the rear seat temperature adjusting door 25 and the rear seat temperature adjusting auxiliary door 26 and warm air hitting the rear seat air passage 20 after passing through the warm air passage P2, and discharges the mixed air to the rear seat space through the rear seat air outlet 21, thus cooling and warming the rear seat space itself.

[0013] As in Fig. 2, the conventional three-zone air conditioner 1a mixes warm air passing through the warm air passage P2 and cold air passing through the rear seat air passage 20, and discharges the mixed air toward the rear seat so as to adjust the temperature of the rear seat at the time of rear seat temperature adjustment in such a manner that the rear seat temperature adjustment door 25 opens the entire warm air passage P2 passing through the heater core 3 and the rear seat air passage 20.However, in this example, the conventional three-zone air conditioner 1a has some disadvantages in that the three-zone air conditioner provides unsatisfactory rear seat temperature control, it is difficult to ensure the linearity of the temperature discharged to the rear seat, and it deteriorates the comfort of the passengers because a relatively large amount of cold air volume passes through the rear seat air passage 20 due to a ventilation resistance of the heater core 3 on the warm air passage P2 side.

[0014] In addition, the three-zone air conditioner 1a further includes a rear seat temperature adjustment switch (not shown) mounted on the rear seat space so that the passenger can adjust a temperature of the rear seat and control the rear seat temperature adjustment door 25.

[0015] Fig. Figure 3 is a graph showing the outlet temperature as a function of the outside air temperature according to the positions (air conditioning modes) of the rear seat temperature adjustment switch. Fig. 3, the rear seat temperature adjustment switch can perform a total of five air conditioning modes, such as the maximum cooling mode, the cooling mode, the intermediate mode, (the temperature adjustment mode), the heating mode and the maximum heating mode, according to the operating positions, and discharge temperatures according to the air conditioning modes are shown in the graph of Fig. 3 shown.

[0016] In Fig. 3, the three boxes of dotted lines show a drain temperature range in the front seat heating mode, a drain temperature range in the front seat intermediate mode, and a drain temperature range in the front seat cooling mode.

[0017] As in Fig. 3, the conventional three-zone air conditioner 1a can operate the rear seat in the maximum heating mode by the rear seat temperature adjustment switch even though the front seat is in the cooling mode, and in this example, the temperature difference between the front seat and the rear seat is very large.

[0018] As described above, when a passenger in the rear seat gets out of the vehicle after setting the rear seat temperature adjustment switch to the maximum heating mode or the maximum cooling mode, the conventional air conditioner supplies warm air or cool air to the rear seat unless someone adjusts the rear seat temperature adjustment switch, because the rear seat temperature adjustment door 25 is controlled only by the rear seat temperature adjustment switch, regardless of the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 15.

[0019] In this example, when warm air is continuously supplied to the rear seat space while cooling the front seat, the conventional air conditioner has some drawbacks in that warm air of the rear seat influences the front seat to deteriorate the comfort of the passenger sitting in the front seat, and the temperature inside the vehicle rises due to the warm air supplied to the rear seat, thereby increasing the operation portion of the air conditioner.

[0020] Document EP 2 255 983 A1 discloses an HVAC system for a vehicle, comprising a housing, a front HVAC unit housed in the housing and having a front blower, a first airflow path, and a front air mix door, and a rear HVAC unit housed in the housing and having a rear blower, a second airflow path, and a rear air mix door.

[0021] Document US 6 311 763 B1 discloses a vehicle air conditioning system having a first air duct through which outside air flows and a second air duct through which inside air flows, which are separated from each other, so that outside air in the first air duct is blown from a front air outlet after passing through a first part of a heat exchanger and inside air in the second air duct is blown from a rear air outlet after passing through a second part of the heat exchanger to a rear seat side of the passenger compartment.

[0022] The document DE 10 2012 106 048 A1 discloses an air discharge system of an HVAC system for a vehicle, comprising a first path provided in the HVAC system to communicate with air discharge ports of a front seat, the first path allowing air that has flowed through a heat exchanger to be discharged through the air discharge ports of the front seat, a second path branching from the first path to communicate with air discharge ports of a rear seat, the second path allowing air that has flowed through the heat exchanger to be discharged through the air discharge ports of the rear seat, thereby enabling the independent discharge of air to the rear seat, and a first control door provided at a position where the first path and the second path branch off from each other, thereby opening or closing the second path. Summary of the invention

[0023] Accordingly, the present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems encountered in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner for a vehicle that can variably control the position of a rear seat cool air control door depending on the position of a front seat temperature adjusting door when the position of the rear seat cool air control door is controlled according to the rear seat air conditioning modes (modes for adjusting the temperature of the rear seat) in an air conditioning case in which the rear seat cool air control door is mounted in a rear seat air passage, thereby distributing an optimal cool air volume to the front seat air passage and the rear seat air passage by preventingthat a large volume of cold air is supplied to the rear seat air passage in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode, thereby eliminating the dissatisfaction with the control of the rear seat temperature and ensuring a linearity of the temperature supplied to the rear seat space, thus increasing the comfort of the passenger.

[0024] It is another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner for a vehicle which can control the position of the rear seat temperature adjusting door in conjunction with the position of the front seat temperature adjusting door when adjusting the rear seat temperature by adjusting the rear seat temperature adjusting switch so that no large temperature difference occurs between the rear seat vent temperature and the front seat vent temperature, thereby not only increasing the comfort of the passenger sitting in the front seat but also improving the comfort of the passenger sitting in the rear seat by minimizing the influence of the rear seat vent temperature on the front seat and increasing the fuel consumption ratio by reducing the operation degree of the air conditioner.

[0025] To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner for a vehicle, including: an air conditioner case having a front seat air passage including cold air and warm air passages, and a rear seat air passage formed below the front seat air passage; an evaporator mounted on the upstream side of the front seat air passage and the rear seat air passage, and a heater core mounted on the warm air passage within the air conditioner case;and a front seat temperature adjustment door mounted between the evaporator and the heater core within the air conditioning case for adjusting the degrees of opening of the cool air passage and the warm air passage. The air conditioning system includes: a rear seat discharge case disposed at an outlet of the rear seat air passage of the air conditioning case and having a rear seat face opening and rear seat floor openings for discharging air toward the rear seat; a rear seat temperature adjustment door mounted on the rear seat air passage and controlling an amount of air passing through the evaporator and flowing into the rear seat air passage and the warm air passage; a rear seat cold air control flap mounted within the rear seat air passage and controlling the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage;and a control part for controlling the position of the rear seat cool air control door depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door when the position of the rear seat cool air control door is controlled according to the rear seat air conditioning operation modes;

[0026] In another aspect of the present application, there is provided a control method of the air conditioner for a vehicle, including: a first step of judging whether the rear seat air conditioning mode is a rear seat maximum cooling mode, a rear seat maximum heating mode, a rear seat OFF mode, or a rear seat temperature adjustment mode; a second step of operating the rear seat cool air control door toward the position that opens the rear seat air passage to the maximum when the rear seat air conditioning mode is the rear seat maximum cooling mode as a result of the judgment of the first step;a third step of operating the rear seat cool air control flap toward the position that closes the rear seat air passage when the rear seat air conditioning mode as a result of the judgment of the first step is the rear seat maximum heating mode or the rear seat OFF mode; a fourth step of varying the position of the rear seat cool air control flap depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment flap when the rear seat air conditioning mode as a result of the judgment of the first step is the rear seat temperature adjustment mode;

[0027] The air conditioning system for a vehicle and the control method thereof according to the present application can variably control the position of a rear seat cold air control flap depending on the position of a front seat temperature adjustment flap when the position of the rear seat cold air control flap is controlled according to the rear seat air conditioning modes (rear seat temperature adjustment modes) in an air conditioning case in which the rear seat cold air control flap is mounted on a rear seat air passage, thereby distributing an optimal cold air volume to the front seat air passage and the rear seat air passage by preventing a large volume of cold air from being supplied to the rear seat air passage in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode.thereby eliminating dissatisfaction with rear seat temperature control and ensuring linearity of the temperature discharged to the rear seat to increase passenger comfort.

[0028] Additionally, the vehicle air conditioner and the control method thereof according to the present application can control the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment door in conjunction with the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door when adjusting the rear seat temperature by manually operating the rear seat temperature adjustment switch, so that there is not a large difference between the rear seat vent temperature and the front seat vent temperature. This not only increases the comfort of the passenger sitting in the front seat, but also the comfort of the passenger sitting in the rear seat by minimizing the influence of the rear seat vent temperature on the front seat.

[0029] Furthermore, the air conditioner for a vehicle and the control method thereof according to the present application can prevent the temperature inside the vehicle from rising above the rear seat discharge temperature and can reduce the operating degree of the air conditioner while increasing the fuel consumption ratio, since the rear seat discharge temperature is controlled within the range where there is no large difference between the rear seat discharge temperature and the front seat discharge temperature. Short description of the drawings

[0030] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. Figure 1 is a sectional view of a conventional single-zone air conditioning system; Fig. Figure 2 is a sectional view of a conventional three-zone air conditioning system; Fig. 3 is a graph showing the discharge temperatures depending on the outside air temperature according to positions (air conditioning modes) of a rear seat temperature adjustment switch of a conventional air conditioner; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an air conditioning system for a vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective sectional view showing a discharge case of the air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 6 a side sectional view of the air conditioning system of Fig. 5 is; Fig. 7 is a graph showing a comparison of the rear seat vent temperature depending on positions of a rear seat temperature adjusting door according to the present invention with that of the rear seat adjusting switch of the conventional air conditioner; Fig. 8 is a graph showing the discharge temperature versus outside temperature according to positions (air conditioning modes) of the rear seat temperature adjustment switch of the air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the front seat maximum cooling mode and rear seat maximum cooling mode of the air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the front seat maximum heating mode and the rear seat maximum heating mode of the air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the front seat temperature adjusting mode and the rear seat temperature adjusting mode of the air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention; and Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a control method of the air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present application. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] As shown in the drawings, an air conditioner 100 for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: an air conditioner case 110 having an air inflow opening 111 formed on one side, a plurality of front seat outflow openings formed on the other side (outlet side), and a front seat air passage 105 having cold air and warm air passages P1, P2, and P3, and a rear seat air passage 140 formed below the front seat air passage 105 within the air conditioner case 110;an evaporator 101 mounted on the upstream side of the front seat air passage 105 and the rear seat air passage 140, and a heater core 102 mounted on the warm air passage P2 within the air conditioning case 110, and a front seat temperature adjusting door 115 mounted between the evaporator 101 and the heater core 102 so as to adjust the degrees of opening of the cold air passage P1 bypassing the heater core 102 and the warm air passages P2 and P3 passing through the heater core 102;

[0033] The air conditioning case 110 includes: right and left cases 110a and 110b assembled together; and a lower case 110c integrally assembled to the lower parts of the right and left cases 110a and 110b.

[0034] In addition, the air conditioning case 110 has a separator 118 that divides the interior of the air conditioning case 110 into right and left sides, so that the air conditioner can individually control the temperatures of the right and left spaces of the front seat and the right and left spaces of the rear seat.

[0035] Further, a mixing chamber MC is formed on the upstream side of the front seat air outlets, in which cold air passing through the cold air passage P1 and warm air passing through the warm air passages P2 and P3 are mixed with each other.

[0036] Here, the warm air passages P2 and P3 are formed in the shape of the alphabet letter “U” running along the radiator 102, and an inlet of the warm air passage P2 branches off from the cold air passage P1, and an outlet of the warm air passage P3 is connected to the mixing chamber MC.

[0037] Therefore, the air introduced into the inlet of the warm air passage P2 flows toward the mixing chamber MC through the outlet of the warm air passage P3 after passing through the heater core 102. In this example, a partition wall 119 is formed between the inlet of the warm air passage P2 and the outlet of the warm air passage P3 to separate the air of the inlet of the warm air passage P2 and the air of the outlet of the warm air passage P3.

[0038] The partition wall 119 is formed at the upper end of the heater core 102 and, more specifically, extends from the upper end of the heater core 102 to a rotation axis of the front seat temperature adjustment flap 115.

[0039] Further, a blower (not shown) that blows inside air or outside air into the interior of the air conditioning case 110 is mounted on the air inlet port 111 of the air conditioning case 110.

[0040] The front seat air outlets include a defroster outlet 112 for discharging air toward the front windshield of the vehicle, a face outlet 113 for discharging air toward the face of a passenger sitting in the front seat, and floor outlets 114 for discharging air toward the feet of the passenger sitting in the front seat (in this order).

[0041] Further, the openings 112 to 114 are opened and closed by a plurality of driver seat mode doors 116 so as to be controlled with respect to the degree of each opening.

[0042] Meanwhile, a partition wall 117 is formed between the outlet of the warm air passage P3 and the floor outlets 114, so that the air flowing toward the outlet of the warm air passage P3 and the air flowing toward the floor outlets 114 are divided by the partition wall 117.

[0043] In addition, the evaporator 101 is located adjacent to the air inflow port 111 of the air conditioning case 110, which is the upstream side with respect to the front seat air passage 105 and the rear seat air passage 140, and the heater core 102 is located at the warm air passages P2 and P3.

[0044] Meanwhile, the evaporator 101 and the heater core 102 may be mounted vertically within the air conditioner case, but may be inclined at a predetermined angle as shown in the figure.

[0045] Not shown in the figures, however, is the fact that a compressor, a cooler, and an expansion valve are connected to the evaporator 101 via a refrigerant line to form a cooling cycle, so that air passing through the evaporator 101 is cooled. Furthermore, the radiator 102 is connected to an engine via a cooling water line, whereby cooling water heated by the engine is supplied to the radiator 102 to form the circuit, so that the air passing through the radiator 102 is heated.

[0046] Of course, in electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, an electric heater may be mounted instead of the radiator 102.

[0047] Furthermore, the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 includes: a rotational axis mounted between the evaporator 101 and the heater core 102 within the air conditioning case 110; a first door part 115a formed on one side based on the rotational axis for controlling the degrees of opening of the cold air passage P1 and the inlet of the warm air passage P2; and a second door part 115b formed on the other side based on the rotational axis for controlling the degree of opening of the outlet of the warm air passage P3.

[0048] Therefore, in the maximum cooling mode, when the first damper part 115a opens the cold air passage P1 and closes the inlet of the warm air passage P2 and the second damper part 115b closes the outlet of the warm air passage P3, the front seat temperature adjusting damper 115 prevents the air within the warm air passage heated by the heater core 102 from flowing toward the mixing chamber MC.

[0049] Further, in the maximum heating mode, the first damper part 115a closes the cold air passage P1 and opens the inlet of the warm air passage P2, and the second damper part 115b opens the outlet of the warm air passage P3.

[0050] In addition, the rear seat air passage 140 is formed below the front seat air passage 105 within the air conditioning case 110.

[0051] The rear seat air passage 140 is partitioned from the warm air passages P2 and P3 by the partition wall 144 and individually performs rear seat air conditioning by supplying air to the rear seat space through a console box (not shown) within the vehicle.

[0052] An inlet of the rear seat air passage 140 is formed to communicate with a downstream side (rear side) passage of the evaporator 101; an outlet of the rear seat air passage 140 communicates with a rear seat exhaust housing 120, which will be described later, and a rear seat exhaust housing 120 is connected to the console box (not shown) inside the vehicle through a passage (not shown).

[0053] Further, a plurality of air discharge openings 120a are formed on the rear seat exhaust casing 120, which are formed at the outlet of the rear seat air passage 140 for discharging air toward the rear seat.

[0054] The air outlet openings 120a include: a rear seat face opening 121 for discharging air toward the face of the passenger sitting on the rear seat; and rear seat floor openings 122 for discharging air toward the feet of the passenger sitting on the rear seat.

[0055] The rear seat face opening 121 is formed at the width direction center of the rear seat vent case 120, and the rear seat floor openings are respectively formed at both ends of the width direction of the rear seat vent case 120. The rear seat face opening 121 and the rear seat floor openings 122 are formed at different angles with respect to a rotation center of the rear seat operation door 145.

[0056] In other words, on the outer peripheral surface of the rear seat vent case 120, the rear seat face opening 121 is formed to communicate in the three o'clock direction with respect to the rotation axis 146 of the rear seat operation door 145, and the rear seat floor openings 122 are formed to communicate in the six o'clock direction with respect to the rotation axis 146 of the rear seat operation door 145.

[0057] In addition, the rear seat operation mode door 145, which controls the degrees of opening of the rear seat face opening 121 and the rear seat floor openings 122, which are the air discharge opening 120a according to the rear seat air discharge mode, is rotatably mounted within the rear seat discharge case 120.

[0058] In this case, the rear seat operation door 145 is a rotary-type door and includes: rotary axes 146 mounted on both sides opposite each other within the rear seat vent casing 120, respectively, and thereby capable of rotating; a hood plate 147 spaced from the rotary axis 146 by a predetermined distance in the radial direction and having sealed walls 147a formed at both end portions in the rotation direction, thus controlling the degrees of opening of the rear seat face opening 121 and the rear seat floor openings 122; and a pair of side plates 148 for connecting both end portions of the hood plate 147 to the rotary axes 146.

[0059] Further, the partition wall 144, which divides the warm air passages P2 and P3 and the rear seat air passage 140, includes: a warm air inlet 135 for connecting a front warm air passage of the heater core 102 to the rear seat air passage 140; and a warm air outlet 136 for connecting the rear seat vent case 120 to a rear seat warm air passage of the heater core 102.

[0060] In other words, the inlet of the rear seat air passage 140 is connected to the warm air passage P2 through the return passage of the evaporator 101 and the warm air inlet 135.

[0061] Furthermore, a rear seat temperature adjustment damper 141, which controls the inflow amount of air passing through the evaporator 101 into the rear seat air passage 140 and the warm air passage P2 to adjust the temperature of the rear seat space, is mounted on the rear seat air passage 140 within the air conditioning case 110. A rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary damper 142 is mounted on the rear side of the heater core 102 within the air conditioning case 110 for controlling the inflow amount of air passing through the heater core 102 into the rear seat exhaust case 120.

[0062] More specifically, the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 is mounted on the warm air inlet 135 on the front of the heater core 102, thus controlling the degrees of opening of the rear seat air passage 140 and the warm air inlet 135. Therefore, the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 controls a mixing amount of warm air passing through the heater core 102 through the warm air inlet 135 and the warm air outlet 136, and cold air bypassing the heater core 102 through the rear seat air passage 140.

[0063] Further, the rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door 142 is mounted on one side of the warm air outlet 136 on the rear of the heater core 102 and controls the degree of opening of the warm air outlet 136. Therefore, the rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door 142 supplies a portion of the warm air passing through the heater core 102 to the rear seat vent housing 120.

[0064] Meanwhile, the rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door 142 is connected to the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 via a link (not shown) and thus engages with the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141.

[0065] In addition, a rear seat cold air control door 143 is mounted within the rear seat air passage 140 and thus controls the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage 140.

[0066] The rear seat temperature adjustment door 141, the rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door 142, and the rear seat cold air control door 143 are all flat-type doors, which means that each of them includes a rotary shaft rotatably mounted on the inside of the air conditioning case 110 and a plate formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft in a flat-plate manner.

[0067] In addition, in order to control the position of the rear seat cold air control door 143 according to the rear seat air conditioning mode, a control part 150 which variably controls the position of the rear seat cold air control door 143 depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 is arranged.

[0068] As in Fig. 6, in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode among the group of rear seat air conditioning modes, the control part 150 operates the rear seat cold air control door 143 toward one of a plurality of operating positions of the rear seat cold air control door 143 that was previously set depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115.

[0069] In addition, the control part 150 moves the rear seat cool air control door 143 toward the position that maximally opens the rear seat air passage 140 in the rear seat maximum cooling mode among the group of rear seat air conditioning modes, but moves the rear seat cool air control door 143 toward the position that closes the rear seat air passage 140 in the rear seat maximum heating mode (or in the rear seat OFF mode).

[0070] The rear seat temperature adjustment operation will now be described. To adjust the temperature of the rear seat, the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 opens all of the warm air inlet 135 and rear seat air passage 140, thus controlling the mixing amount of the cold air and the warm air. In this example, a relatively large volume of cold air goes to the rear seat air passage 140 due to a ventilation resistance of the heater core 102 on the warm air passage P2 side.

[0071] Specifically, the amount of cold air distributed to the cold air passage P1, the warm air passages P2 and P3, and the rear seat air passage 140 changes depending on the position (degree of opening) of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115.

[0072] In other words, in the front seat maximum cooling mode, because the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 closes the warm air passages P2 and P3, the cold air passing through the evaporator 101 is distributed toward the cold air passage P1 and the rear seat air passage 140. In this example, when the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 is fixed in the front seat maximum cooling mode position, because the change in the amount of cold air distributed to the rear seat air passage 140 is small, the air conditioner exhibits good temperature control on the rear seat and can control the linearity of the temperature delivered to the rear seat.

[0073] In contrast, in the front seat maximum heating mode, because the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 closes the cold air passage P1, the cold air passing through the evaporator 101 is distributed to the warm air passages P2 and P3 and the rear seat air passage 140. In this example, when the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 is fixed at the front seat maximum heating mode position, because a lot of cold air passes through the rear seat air passage 140 due to the ventilation resistance of the heater core 102 on the warm air passages P2 and P3 side, the air conditioner does not provide good temperature control for the rear seat, and it is difficult to ensure linearity of the temperature delivered to the rear seat.

[0074] As described above, despite the fact that the front seat temperature adjustment flap 115 is fixed at the position of the front seat maximum heating mode, the air conditioner does not provide good temperature control of the rear seat because large amounts of cold air pass through the rear seat air passage 140 due to the ventilation resistance of the heater core 102. Therefore, when the position of the front seat temperature adjustment flap 115 is changed, the temperature control of the air conditioner for the rear seat becomes worse, and it is more difficult to ensure linearity of the temperature delivered to the rear seat.

[0075] Therefore, the control part 150 does not ensure that the rear seat cold air control flap 143 opens the rear seat air passage 140 to the maximum extent, but moves the rear seat cold air control flap 143 toward one of a plurality of movement positions of the rear seat cold air control flap 143, which had been previously set depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment flap 115.

[0076] In other words, in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode, the rear seat cold air control door 143 provides the same resistance to the rear seat air passage 140 as the ventilation resistance of the heater core 102, thus preventing the relatively large amount of cold air from flowing through the rear seat air passage 140, thereby eliminating dissatisfaction with the rear seat temperature control and increasing the passenger's comfort by ensuring linearity of the temperature delivered to the rear seat.

[0077] It will now Fig. 6. The rear seat cool air control door 143 has a total of five operating positions, namely, at the rear seat maximum cooling mode position for opening the rear seat air passage 140 to a maximum, at the rear seat maximum heating mode position for closing the rear seat air passage 140, and at the position that the rear seat cool air control door 143 varies depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode.

[0078] In the drawing, the operating positions for varying the rear seat cold air control door 143 depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 are three, however, the rear seat cold air control door 143 may have more than three operating positions.

[0079] Further, in the rear seat temperature adjusting mode, the control part 150 controls the rear seat cool air control door 143 to a position such that the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage 140 is reduced when the position of the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 is changed to a position that the degree of opening of the cool air passage P1 is reduced.

[0080] In other words, the rear seat cold air control door 143 decreases the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage while increasing the ventilation resistance of the rear seat air passage 140 when the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 widely opens the warm air passages P2 and P3.

[0081] Fig. 7 is a graph comparing the rear seat vent temperature depending on the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment flap of the present invention with that of the rear seat temperature adjustment switch of the conventional air conditioner. In the graph, the evaluation base line is a section where the passenger sitting in the rear seat feels comfortable.

[0082] In the graph, at the time of rear seat temperature control of the air conditioner, a relatively large amount of cold air goes toward the rear seat air passage 140 due to the ventilation resistance of the heater core 102, and thus the air discharge temperature falls below the evaluation base line in a special position (temperature adjustment area) of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141, which results in Fig. 7 is indicated by a dotted circle.

[0083] On the other hand, in the present invention, at the time of controlling the rear seat temperature, since the position of the rear seat cold air control door 143 is variably controlled depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjusting door 115, the rear seat vent temperature is within the evaluation base line.

[0084] Further, at the time of rear seat temperature control, the control part 150 moves the rear seat cold air control door 143 toward one of a plurality of operating positions of the rear seat cold air control door 143 previously set depending on the positions of the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 and the position of the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141.

[0085] At the time of rear seat temperature control, the control part 150 may control the position of the rear seat cool air control door 143 depending on the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 by judging only the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115, or control the position of the rear seat cool air control door 143 depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 and the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 by judging the positions of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 and the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141.

[0086] In the case that the positions of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 and the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 are all evaluated, the rear seat cold air control door 143, which had been set beforehand, is moved depending on the positions of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 and the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141.

[0087] To give an example, in a case where the position of the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 is changed so as to change the degree of opening of the cool air passage P1 and the position of the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 is changed so as to decrease the degree of opening of the rear seat cool air passage P1, the control part 150 moves the rear seat cool air control door 143 to a position so as to decrease the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage 140.

[0088] Additionally, a rear seat temperature adjustment switch (not shown) may be mounted in the rear seat compartment for controlling the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141. As described above, when the rear seat temperature adjustment switch is mounted, the passenger can directly control the temperature of the rear seat by manually adjusting the rear seat temperature adjustment switch.

[0089] The rear seat temperature adjustment switch can operate a total of five climate control modes, including maximum cooling mode, cooling mode, intermediate mode (temperature adjustment mode), heating mode, and maximum heating mode, depending on the manual setting position. Of course, the five climate control modes can be changed.

[0090] Therefore, when the passenger sitting in the rear seat manually operates the rear seat temperature adjustment switch and thus selects one of the five air conditioning modes, the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 controls the degrees of opening of the rear seat air passage 140 and the warm air inlet 135 and thus adjusts the temperature of the air discharged to the rear seat.

[0091] In addition, when the rear seat temperature is adjusted by manually adjusting the rear seat temperature adjustment switch, the control part controls the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 in conjunction with the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115.

[0092] In other words, when the passenger manually operates the rear seat temperature adjustment switch, the control part examines the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 and controls the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115.

[0093] In more detail, at the time of rear seat temperature control by manually operating the rear seat temperature adjusting switch, the control part restricts the upper limit and lower limit of the moving positions of the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 and controls the position of the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 within the restricted moving range to execute rear seat temperature control.

[0094] The front seat temperature adjusting door 115 is changed in position while controlling the temperature of the front seat, rotating by a predetermined angle from the position of the maximum cooling mode by opening the cold air passage P1 and closing the warm air passages P2 and P3 to the position of the maximum heating mode by opening the warm air passages P2 and P3 and closing the cold air passage P1.

[0095] The rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 is changed in position while controlling the temperature of the rear seat, rotating by a predetermined angle from the position of the maximum cooling mode by opening the rear seat air passage 140 and closing the warm air inlet 135 and the position of the maximum heating mode by opening the warm air inlet 135 and closing the rear seat air passage 140.

[0096] In this case, the maximum movement range of the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 is from the position closing the rear seat air passage 140 to the position closing the warm air inlet 135.

[0097] In the conventional air conditioner, the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment flap is controlled within the maximum movement range when the passenger manually operates the rear seat temperature adjustment switch. However, in the air conditioner according to the present invention, the rear seat temperature adjustment flap 141 is limited in its movement range depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment flap 115.

[0098] In other words, the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 can be arranged in the cooling mode, the intermediate mode (temperature adjustment mode), or the heating mode. For example, assuming that the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 is arranged in the cooling mode, when the passenger manually operates the rear seat temperature adjustment switch, the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 is limited in its movement range to be not far from the rear seat cooling mode position, so that a difference between the rear seat vent temperature and the front seat vent temperature is not large.

[0099] In other words, in the state where the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 is arranged in the cooling mode, when the passenger manually operates the rear seat temperature adjusting switch to select the rear seat maximum heating mode, the control part does not control the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 to be in the maximum heating mode position, but controls the rear seat temperature adjusting door 141 to be in the mode (for example, the intermediate mode or the heating mode) having a temperature lower than the maximum heating mode temperature, so that the difference between the rear seat deflation temperature and the front seat deflation temperature is not large.

[0100] As described above, when the passenger manually operates the rear seat temperature adjustment switch while controlling the temperature of the rear seat, the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 is adjusted depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115, and in this example, the moving range of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 is limited in conjunction with the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 such that the difference between the rear seat vent temperature and the front seat vent temperature is not large, so that the air conditioner according to the present invention can increase not only the comfort of the passenger sitting in the front seat but also the comfort of the passenger sitting in the rear seat by minimizing the influence of the rear seat vent temperature on the front seat.

[0101] Furthermore, because the rear seat vent temperature is within the range that the difference between the rear seat vent temperature and the front seat vent temperature is not large, the air conditioner according to the present invention can prevent the temperature inside the vehicle from rising due to the rear seat vent temperature and can reduce the operating range of the air conditioner and thereby increase the fuel consumption ratio.

[0102] Fig. 8 is a graph showing the discharge temperature depending on the outside temperature by means of positions (air conditioning modes) of the rear seat temperature adjustment switch of the air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention. The rear seat temperature adjustment switch can execute a total of five air conditioning modes, such as the maximum cooling mode, the cooling mode, the intermediate mode, the heating mode, and the maximum heating mode, according to the manual setting positions, and the discharge temperature for each air conditioning mode is shown in the graph of Fig. 8 shown.

[0103] In Fig. 8, the three dotted boxes are the drain temperature range in the front seat heating mode, the drain temperature range in the front seat intermediate mode (temperature adjustment mode) and the drain temperature range in the front seat cooling mode.

[0104] As an example, according to Fig. 8 When the front seat is in cooling mode, the five air conditioning modes on the rear seat are performed by the rear seat temperature adjustment switch. In this example, the rear seat output temperatures in the rear seat maximum cooling mode, the cooling mode, and the intermediate mode are controlled within the front seat output temperature range, and the rear seat output temperatures in the rear seat heating mode and the maximum heating mode go outside the front seat temperature range, but the difference between the rear seat output temperature and the front seat output temperature is not large.

[0105] This means that even though the passenger manually operates the rear seat temperature adjustment switch to select the rear seat heating mode and the maximum heating mode, the difference between the rear seat output temperature and the front seat output temperature in the rear seat heating mode and the maximum heating mode is not large because the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 is controlled in conjunction with the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115.

[0106] The control part controls the rear seat mode door 145 depending on the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment switch, thereby changing the rear seat air discharge mode. That is, the control part changes the rear seat air discharge mode to a rear seat floor mode when the rear seat discharge temperature is high, and to a rear seat ventilation mode when the rear seat discharge temperature is low, thereby increasing rear seat comfort.

[0107] Of course, the control part can select the rear seat air discharge mode according to the front seat air discharge mode.

[0108] The following is based on reference to Fig. 12 describes a control method of the air conditioning system for a vehicle according to the present application.

[0109] First, a first step (S1) of estimating whether the rear seat air conditioning mode is the rear seat maximum cooling mode, the rear seat maximum heating mode, the rear seat OFF mode, or the rear seat temperature adjustment mode is performed.

[0110] When, as the judgment result of the first step (S1), the rear seat air conditioning operation mode is the rear seat maximum cooling operation, a second step (S2) of moving the rear seat cool air control door 143 to the position that opens the rear seat air passage 140 to a maximum is performed.

[0111] When, as the judgment result of the first step (S1), the rear seat air conditioning operation mode is the rear seat maximum heating operation or the rear seat OFF operation, a third step (S3) of moving the rear seat cool air control door 143 toward the position that closes the rear seat air passage 140 is performed.

[0112] When the rear seat air conditioning mode is the rear seat temperature adjustment mode as the judgment result of the first step (S1), a fourth step (S4) of varying the position of the rear seat cold air control door 143 depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 is performed.

[0113] As described above, since the relatively large amount of cold air passes through the rear seat air passage 140 due to the ventilation resistance of the heater core 102 on the warm air passage P2 side in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode, the rear seat cold air control door 143 gives resistance to the rear seat air passage 140 to the same extent as the ventilation resistance of the warm air passage P2, thereby reducing the amount of cold air passing through the rear seat air passage.

[0114] In this case, in the fourth step (S4), the rear seat cold air control door 143 is moved toward one of the plurality of operating positions of the rear seat cold air control door 143, which was previously set depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115.

[0115] In Fig. 6, the movement positions of the rear seat cool air control door 143 are five in total, namely, one at the position of the rear seat maximum cooling mode with the rear seat air passage 140 opened to the maximum; one at the position of the rear seat maximum heating mode with the rear seat air passage 140 closed; and three at the movement position that the rear seat cool air control door 143 is varied according to the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode.

[0116] Further, in the fourth step (S4), when the position of the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 has been changed to a position reducing a degree of opening of the cool air passage P1, the position of the rear seat cool air control door 143 is changed to the position reducing the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage 140 from the plurality of moving positions.

[0117] In other words, the rear seat cold air control door 143 decreases the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage 140 as the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 opens the warm air passages P2 and P3 more, so that the ventilation resistance of the rear seat air passage 140 is increased.

[0118] Next, operation steps of the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention will be described.

[0119] A description of general air conditioning operations, namely defrosting operation, ventilation operation, dual-level operation, floor operation and mixed operation are omitted, and only the front seat maximum cooling operation, the rear seat maximum cooling operation, the front seat maximum heating operation, the rear seat maximum heating operation, the front seat temperature adjustment operation and the rear seat temperature adjustment operation are just described. A. Front seat maximum cooling mode and rear seat maximum cooling mode (see Figure 9)

[0120] In the front seat maximum cooling mode and in the rear seat maximum cooling mode, the Fig. 9 - with the aim of cooling the front seat, the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 closes the cold air passage P1 and closes the inlet of the warm air passage P2 and the outlet of the warm air passage P3.

[0121] In addition, in order to cool the rear seat, the rear seat cool air control door 143 opens the rear seat air passage 140, the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 closes the warm air inlet 135, and the rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door 142 closes the warm air outlet 136.

[0122] The rear seat operating mode flap 145 closes the rear seat floor openings 122.

[0123] When the air conditioning system is in operation, cold refrigerant continues to circulate to the evaporator 101.

[0124] Therefore, the air blown into the air conditioning case 110 by the air blower is turned into cold air while passing through the evaporator 101, and thereafter, a part of the cold air is discharged to the front seat air outlet openings through the cold air passage P1, thus cooling the front seat space, and a little of the cold air is discharged toward the face of the rear seat passenger through the rear seat air passage 140 and the rear seat face opening 121, thus cooling the rear seat area. B. Front seat maximum heating mode and rear seat maximum heating mode (see Figure 10)

[0125] In the front seat maximum heating mode and the rear seat maximum heating mode, as in Fig. 10, with the aim of heating the front seat, the front seat temperature adjusting door 115 closes the cold air passage P1 and opens the inlet in the warm air passage P2 and the outlet in the warm air passage P3.

[0126] In addition, in order to heat the rear seat, the rear seat cold air control door 143 closes the rear seat air passage 140, the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 opens the warm air inlet 135, and the rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door 142 opens the warm air outlet 136.

[0127] The rear seat mode flap 145 closes the rear seat face opening 121.

[0128] When the air conditioning is stopped, hot engine cooling water circulates in the radiator 102.

[0129] Therefore, the air blown into the air conditioner case by the air blower passes through the evaporator 101. Part of the air passing through the evaporator 101 is converted into warm air while passing through the heater core 102 through the warm air passages P2 and P3, and is discharged to the front seat air outlets to heat the front seat space.

[0130] A portion of the air passing through the evaporator 101 is introduced into an inlet of the rear seat air passage 140 and is then introduced into the warm air passage through the warm air inlet 135. After that, the air is converted into warm air while passing through the heater core 102, and is discharged to the rear seat exhaust casing 120 at the outlet of the rear seat air passage 140 through the warm air outlet 136, and is then discharged to the feet of the rear seat passenger through the rear seat floor openings 122 to heat the rear seat space. C. Front seat temperature adjustment mode and rear seat temperature adjustment mode (see Figure 11)

[0131] In the front seat temperature adjustment mode and in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode, the Fig. 11 - with the aim of controlling the front seat to a suitable temperature, the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 all the passages from the group cold air passage P1 and the inlet of the warm air passage P2 and the outlet of the warm air passage P3.

[0132] To adjust the rear seat to a suitable temperature, the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 opens all the passages from the group of rear seat air passage 140 and warm air inlet 135, and the rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door 142 opens the warm air outlet 136.

[0133] In addition, the rear seat cold air control door 143 is variably moved to one of the plurality of operating positions of the rear seat cold air control door 143, which was previously set depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115.

[0134] Of course, when the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 is changed, the positions of the rear seat cold air control door 143 are also changed in response to the change in the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115.

[0135] Meanwhile, the rear seat operation mode door 145 closes the rear seat floor openings 122, but this may be changed in accordance with the air discharge operations.

[0136] In addition, when the air conditioner is operating, cold refrigerant circulates in the evaporator 101 and hot engine coolant circulates in the heater core 102.

[0137] Therefore, the air blown into the air conditioning case 110 by the air blower is changed into cold air while passing through the evaporator 101. A small amount of the air passing through the evaporator 101 flows into the mixing chamber MC through the cold air passage P1, and a small amount of the cold air is changed into warm air while passing through the heater core 102 through the warm air passages P2 and P3, flows into the mixing chamber MC, and is discharged to the front seat air outlets after being mixed with the cold air in the mixing chamber MC, so that the front seat space is set at an appropriate temperature.

[0138] Furthermore, a small amount of the cold air passing through the evaporator 101 is introduced into the inlet of the rear seat air passage 140. A small amount of the cold air introduced into the inlet of the rear seat air passage 140 flows toward the rear seat exhaust casing 120 through the rear seat air passage 140, and a small amount of the cold air is changed into warm air the moment it passes through the heater core 102 through the warm air inlet 135, flows toward the rear seat exhaust casing 120 through the warm air outlet 136, and is supplied to the console box after being mixed with the cold air in the rear seat exhaust casing 120, so that the rear seat space is controlled at an appropriate temperature.

[0139] In the above process, because the ventilation resistance is applied to the warm air passage P2 by the heater core 102 and to the rear seat air passage 140 by the rear seat cold air control door 143, the ventilation resistances are balanced. Accordingly, by preventing a relatively large amount of cold air from passing through the rear seat air passage 140, the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention eliminates passenger dissatisfaction when controlling the rear seat temperature, ensures linearity of the rear seat discharge temperature, and increases passenger comfort.

[0140] Furthermore, when the passenger manually operates the rear seat temperature adjustment switch to change the rear seat air conditioning operation mode, the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 is changed. In this example, the control part selects the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjustment door 115 and limits the operating range of the rear seat temperature adjustment door 141 so that the difference between the rear seat vent temperature and the front seat vent temperature is not large.

Claims

[1] An air conditioning system (100) for a vehicle, including: an air conditioning case (110) having a front seat air passage (105) having cold air and warm air passages (P1, P2, P3), and a rear seat air passage (140) formed below the front seat air passage (105); an evaporator (101) mounted on an upstream side of the front seat air passage (105) and the rear seat air passage (140), and a heater core (102) mounted on a warm air passage (P2) within the air conditioning case (110), and a front seat temperature adjusting door (115) mounted between the evaporator (101) and the heater core (102) within the air conditioning case (110) for adjusting degrees of opening of a cold air passage (P1) and the warm air passage (P2), the air conditioning system (100) including: a rear seat discharge housing (120) disposed at an outlet of the rear seat air passage (140) of the air conditioning housing (110) and having a rear seat face opening (121) and rear seat floor openings (122) for discharging air toward a rear seat; a rear seat temperature adjustment door (141) mounted on the rear seat air passage (140) and controlling an amount of air passing through the evaporator (101) and flowing into the rear seat air passage (140) and the warm air passage (P2); a rear seat cold air control door (143) mounted within the rear seat air passage (140) and adjusting a degree of opening of the rear seat air passage (140) and controlling a cold air volume of the rear seat air passage (140); characterized by the following features: a control part (150) configured to move the rear seat cold air control flap (143) toward one of a plurality of operating positions of the rear seat cold air control flap (143), which has been previously set depending on a position of the front seat temperature adjustment flap (115) in a rear seat temperature adjustment mode; wherein the control part (150) is further configured to control the rear seat cold air control flap (143) in the rear seat temperature adjustment mode to reduce the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage (140) in order to increase the ventilation resistance of the rear seat air passage (140) as soon as the front seat temperature adjustment flap (115) opens the warm air passages (P2, P3) widely, and to control the rear seat cold air control flap (143) to a position such that the degree of opening of the rear seat air passage (140) is reduced when the position of the front seat temperature adjustment flap (115) is changed to a position such that the degree of opening of the cold air passage (P1) is reduced wherein a rear seat temperature adjustment auxiliary door (142) is mounted on a back side of the heater core (102) within the air conditioning case (110) and controls an inflow amount of air flowing into the rear seat discharge case (120) after passing through the heater core (102). [2] The air conditioning system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the control part (150) moves the rear seat cool air control door (143) toward a position that opens the rear seat air passage (140) to the maximum in a rear seat maximum cooling mode and moves the rear seat cool air control door (143) toward a position that closes the rear seat air passage (140) in a rear seat maximum heating mode. [3] The air conditioning system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the control part (150) moves the rear seat cold air control door (143) toward one of a plurality of operating positions of the rear seat cold air control door (143) previously set depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjusting door (115) and a position of the rear seat temperature adjusting door (141) in the rear seat temperature adjusting mode. [4] Air conditioning system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a rear seat temperature adjustment switch that controls the rear seat temperature adjustment door (141) to control the rear seat temperature; wherein the control part (150) controls the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment flap (141) in conjunction with a position with the front seat temperature adjustment flap (115) when a passenger manually operates the rear seat temperature adjustment flap (141) to control the temperature of the rear seat. [5] The air conditioning system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the control part (150) limits an upper limit and a lower limit of the operating positions of the rear seat temperature adjusting door (141) depending on the position of the front seat temperature adjusting door (115) and controls the position of the rear seat temperature adjusting door (141) within the limited operating range to perform rear seat temperature control. [6] The air conditioner (100) according to claim 4, wherein a rear seat mode door (145) is mounted within the rear seat dispensing case (120) and thus controls the degrees of opening of the rear seat face opening (121) and the rear seat floor openings (122). [7] The air conditioner (100) according to claim 6, wherein the control part (150) controls the rear seat mode door (145) according to the position of the rear seat temperature adjustment switch so as to change a rear seat air discharge mode.

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