Method for adjusting the interior ambiance of a motor vehicle.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the ambiance of a passenger compartment to adapt the ambiance according to a plurality of predetermined ambiance modes (MODE 1, MODE 2, MODE 3, MODE 4), the passenger compartment comprising at least one air conditioner (A), at least one ambiance element (B), comprising a diffusion device (B1) designed to diffuse at least one fragrance in the passenger compartment, a massage device (B2) and / or a lighting device (B3) designed to illuminate in at least two distinct colors, the passenger compartment comprising at least one thermal comfort element (C) each designed to regulate the temperature locally around the thermal comfort element (C), the method comprising a first step consisting of selecting an ambiance mode from among the plurality of predetermined ambiance modes (MODE 1, MODE 2, MODE 3, MODE 4), the selected ambiance mode defining the operation of the air conditioner (A),of each ambient element (B) and each thermal comfort element (C). (Figure 1),

Description

Title of the invention: Method for adjusting the atmosphere of a motor vehicle interior.

[0001] The technical field relates to methods for adjusting the atmosphere of a vehicle interior and to vehicles having an interior implementing an atmosphere adjustment method.

[0002] Manufacturers take great care to improve the comfort of their vehicles' passengers. Furthermore, for car manufacturers, the quality of the finish of their vehicles and their aesthetic aspects are essential to stand out from other brands.

[0003] In this context, the list of comfort equipment available to equip a vehicle interior has become, in recent years, very large, thus multiplying the possibilities for customization by the driver of the vehicle interior. Thus, the lighting ambiance in the passenger compartment is generally adjustable, so that the driver or a passenger has the possibility of choosing a particular lighting ambiance from several available possibilities. The services offered to the occupants of a passenger compartment have also diversified and it is thus possible to equip the passenger compartment with massage elements, such as massage seats, or even close thermal comfort elements capable of heating and / or cooling their immediate environment, which are generally arranged near or in contact with the driver or a passenger.Thus, there are heated steering wheels, radiant or cooling panels, placed for example in the doors, or even heated armrests. These thermal comfort elements have the advantage of assisting the air conditioning unit and reducing the electrical energy consumed by the air conditioning unit. They provide the driver and passengers who benefit from them with an increased feeling of comfort. These thermal comfort elements are particularly advantageous when they equip an electric vehicle since they help to achieve an optimal level of comfort quickly after starting the vehicle, compared to a vehicle equipped only with an air conditioning unit, while reducing the energy consumption of the vehicle to achieve such a level of comfort.

[0004] However, the use of these different comfort elements is generally left to the driver or passenger who must adjust each of the available elements individually.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution for managing comfort elements in order to provide an optimal level of comfort to the occupants of a passenger compartment while optimizing energy consumption to achieve this.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a method for adjusting the ambience of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle allowing optimized operation of the various elements available to achieve an optimal level of comfort with energy consumption that is just necessary.

[0007] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a method for adjusting the ambience of a motor vehicle passenger compartment designed to adapt the ambience of the passenger compartment according to a plurality of predetermined ambience modes, the passenger compartment being of the type comprising at least one air conditioner, designed to modulate the temperature of the passenger compartment, at least one ambience element, comprising a diffusion device designed to diffuse at least one fragrance into the passenger compartment, a massage device designed to apply a massage to a part of the body of an occupant of the passenger compartment and / or a lighting device designed to illuminate the passenger compartment according to at least two ambience lights each of a distinct color, the passenger compartment further comprising at least one thermal comfort element each designed to be arranged around an occupant of the passenger compartment and to regulate the temperature locally around the thermal comfort element,the method comprising a first step of selecting a selected ambient mode from the plurality of predetermined ambient modes, the selected ambient mode defining the operation of the air conditioner, of each ambient element and of each thermal comfort element.

[0008] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment implementing an adjustment method according to the invention.

[0009] Thus, the method according to the invention makes it possible to control the air conditioner, each ambient element and each thermal comfort element to propose a selected ambient mode chosen from several predefined possibilities. The definition, for each predetermined ambient mode, of the operation of the various elements makes it possible to obtain environments adapted to various situations in an optimized manner to optimize the perception of well-being in the passenger compartment. Indeed, the perception of well-being is amplified by coupling sensory ambient functions, using the ambient elements, with thermal comfort functions obtained using the thermal comfort elements which thus operate in synergy.In addition, the coordinated operation of the various elements makes it possible to adapt the consumption of electrical energy: When the method according to the invention is implemented in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to the invention, it makes it possible to reduce the consumption of the vehicle and therefore to increase its autonomy.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the adjustment method, the first step selects the selected ambient mode as a function of an exterior temperature measured outside the vehicle.

[0011] Advantageously, the first step compares the outside temperature to a plurality of temperature ranges, the first step determining the selected ambient mode as a function of the temperature range in which the outside temperature lies.

[0012] According to one possibility, each thermal comfort element is chosen from a heated steering wheel, a heated armrest, a heated seat, a ventilated seat, a radiant panel, a cooling panel and / or a neck warmer.

[0013] In one embodiment of the adjustment method, the first step is followed by a second step consisting of playing music in the passenger compartment chosen according to the selected ambient mode.

[0014] Advantageously, the adjustment method according to the invention allows an occupant of the passenger compartment to choose the selected ambient mode by actuating a dedicated control in the passenger compartment.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the adjustment method according to the invention, the air conditioner operates according to control laws designed to preserve the energy consumption of an electrically powered vehicle by minimizing the supply of air from outside the passenger compartment.

[0016] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawing in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a schematic view of a plurality of modes ambient, detailing how the different elements of the passenger compartment work.

[0018] A method for adjusting the ambience of a motor vehicle passenger compartment according to the invention is designed to adapt the ambience of the passenger compartment according to a plurality of predetermined ambience modes MODE 1, MODE 2 MODE 3, MODE 4, illustrated in [Fig.l]. In order to implement the method according to the invention, the passenger compartment according to the invention comprises at least one air conditioner A, designed to modulate the temperature of the passenger compartment. The air conditioner A is designed to heat or cool the passenger compartment. For this purpose, the air conditioner A is designed to operate according to several operating modes, some blowing heated air into the passenger compartment, symbolized in [Fig.l] by “+” symbols, others blowing cooled air, symbolized in [Fig.l] by “-” symbols, by mobilizing several possible operating powers, symbolized by the number of symbols.

[0019] The passenger compartment according to the invention further comprises at least one ambient element B, illustrated in [Fig.l], comprising a diffusion device B1 designed to diffuse at least one fragrance in the passenger compartment, a massage device B2 designed to apply a massage to a part of the body of an occupant of the passenger compartment and / or a B3 lighting device designed to illuminate the passenger compartment with at least two ambient lights, each of a distinct color.

[0020] By way of example, the diffusion device B1 is designed to operate according to several operating modes, each involving the diffusion of a specific fragrance chosen from several fragrances F1, F2, F3 or F4. By way of example, F1 corresponds to a spicy odor, F2 corresponds to a hot chocolate odor, F3 corresponds to a neutral odor while F4 corresponds to a mint odor.

[0021] The massage device B2 is, for example, incorporated into a seat of the passenger compartment. The massage device B2 is designed to operate according to several operating modes, each involving a distinct massage program M1, M2, M3 or M4.

[0022] The lighting device B3 is, for its part, designed to operate according to several operating modes, each generating lighting of the passenger compartment according to a distinct color E1, E2, E3 or E4. For example, E1 corresponds to a color in red tones, E2 corresponds to a color in orange tones, E3 corresponds to a white color and E3 corresponds to a color in blue tones.

[0023] The passenger compartment further comprises at least one thermal comfort element C each designed to be arranged around an occupant of the passenger compartment and to regulate the temperature locally around the thermal comfort element C. Each thermal comfort element C is chosen from a heated steering wheel, a heated armrest, a heated seat, a ventilated seat, a radiant panel, a cooling panel and / or a neck warmer. The passenger compartment according to the invention thus comprises one or more identical and / or different thermal comfort elements C. By way of example, a heating panel and / or a radiant panel is positioned in a door and / or in an area located near the feet of an occupant.The thermal comfort elements C are each designed to operate in several operating modes such as, for example, an on mode, i.e. in which the thermal comfort element C radiates or cools its environment, or an off mode, i.e. a mode in which the thermal comfort element C is inactive. Thus, considering all the thermal comfort elements C, the latter can operate in a plurality of operating modes C1, C2, C3 or C4 where each is either in on mode or in off mode. For example, C1 illustrated in the figure corresponds to all the thermal comfort elements C present in the passenger compartment and capable of radiating heat operating in on mode. The operating modes C2 and C3 correspond, for example, to operating modes in which some of the thermal comfort elements C are in on mode, the others being in off mode.For example, the operating mode C4 corresponds to all the thermal comfort elements C capable of. to cool their environment operating in on mode, the others being in off mode.

[0024] The method according to the invention comprises a first step consisting of selecting a selected ambient mode MODE 3 from among the plurality of predetermined ambient modes MODE 1, MODE 2, MODE 3, MODE 4 illustrated in [Fig.l]. The selected ambient mode MODE 3 defines the operation of the air conditioner A, of each ambient element B and of each thermal comfort element C.

[0025] Advantageously, the first step selects the selected ambient mode MODE 3 as a function of an outside temperature Tex, shown diagrammatically in [Fig.l], measured outside the passenger compartment.

[0026] Advantageously also, the adjustment method according to the invention, during the first step, compares the outside temperature Tex to a plurality of temperature ranges, shown diagrammatically in [Fig.l], the first step determining the selected ambient mode MODE 3 as a function of the temperature range in which the outside temperature Tex is located.

[0027] The adjustment method according to the invention advantageously comprises a second step following the first step and consisting of broadcasting music in the passenger compartment chosen according to the selected ambient mode MODE 3. Thus, a plurality of playlists can be made available to the method in order to allow the broadcasting of music adapted to the selected ambient mode MODE 3.

[0028] In one embodiment of the adjustment method according to the invention, it allows an occupant of the passenger compartment to choose the selected ambient mode MODE 3. Thus, the passenger compartment comprises at least one dedicated control that can be manipulated by at least one occupant to select the selected ambient mode MODE 3.

[0029] The adjustment method according to the invention is particularly advantageous when implemented on an electric vehicle, in particular when the air conditioner A operates according to control laws designed to preserve the energy consumption of the electric motor vehicle. To this end, the control laws are adapted to minimize the supply of air from outside the passenger compartment to condition the air present in the passenger compartment. With such control laws, a minimum quantity of air from outside, that is to say strictly necessary, is introduced into the passenger compartment to maintain a relative humidity within an acceptable value range. For example, the control laws control the opening and closing of a flap making it possible to define the proportion of air coming from outside the passenger compartment and conditioned by the air conditioner A.

[0030] Thus, the method according to the invention makes it possible to control the air conditioner A, each ambient element B and each thermal comfort element C to provide a selected ambient mode MODE 3 adapted to the outside temperature Tex. The electrical consumption of the vehicle according to the invention is optimized while allowing an optimal level of comfort for the occupants to be reached quickly. The coordinated use of ambient elements B and thermal comfort elements C makes it possible to amplify the sensations felt by the occupants of the passenger compartment. The automatic selection, during the first step, of the selected ambient mode MODE 3 which is adapted to the outside temperature Tex is particularly interesting for saving electrical energy.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the mode of implementation of the adjustment method described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the framework and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for adjusting the ambience of a motor vehicle passenger compartment designed to adapt the ambience of the passenger compartment according to a plurality of predetermined ambience modes (MODE 1, MODE 2, MODE 3, MODE 4), the passenger compartment being of the type comprising at least one air conditioner (A), designed to modulate the temperature of the passenger compartment, at least one ambience element (B), comprising a diffusion device (B1) designed to diffuse at least one fragrance into the passenger compartment, a massage device (B2) designed to apply a massage to a part of the body of an occupant of the passenger compartment and / or a lighting device (B3) designed to illuminate the passenger compartment according to at least two ambience lights each of a distinct color, the passenger compartment further comprising at least one thermal comfort element (C) each designed to be arranged around an occupant of the passenger compartment and to regulate the temperature locally around the thermal comfort element (C),the method comprising a first step of selecting a selected ambient mode (MODE 3) from among the plurality of predetermined ambient modes (MODE 1, MODE 2, MODE 3, MODE 4), the selected ambient mode (MODE 3) defining the operation of the air conditioner (A), of each ambient element (B) and of each thermal comfort element (C).,

2. Adjustment method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first step selects the selected ambient mode (MODE 3) as a function of an outside temperature (Tex) measured outside the vehicle.

3. Control method according to claim 2, characterized in that the first step compares the outside temperature (Tex) to a plurality of temperature ranges, the first step determining the selected ambient mode (MODE 3) as a function of the temperature range in which the outside temperature (Tex) is located.

4. Adjustment method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each thermal comfort element (C) is chosen from a heated steering wheel, a heated armrest, a heated seat, a ventilated seat, a radiant panel, a cooling panel and / or a neck warmer.

5. Adjustment method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first step is followed by a second step consisting of broadcast music in the passenger compartment chosen according to the selected ambient mode.

6. Adjustment method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it allows an occupant of the passenger compartment to choose the selected ambient mode (MODE 3) by actuating a dedicated control in the passenger compartment.

7. Control method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the air conditioner (A) operates according to control laws designed to preserve the energy consumption of an electrically powered vehicle by minimizing the supply of air from outside the passenger compartment.

8. Motor vehicle having a passenger compartment implementing an adjustment method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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