Vehicle comprising an air conditioning device and air conditioning device

Abstract

A vehicle 10 comprises an air conditioner 12 including a controller 14 that operates the conditioner in a default mode or a camp mode. In the default mode the conditioner provides conditioned air 16 t

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising an air conditioning device. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding air conditioning device. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] An air conditioning device of the vehicle is configured to cool a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The air conditioning device is usually configured to provide conditioned supply air at an interior outlet device of the air conditioning device. The vehicle comprises a ducting device configured to guide the conditioned supply air provided at the interior outlet device of the air conditioning device to the cabin of the vehicle. The conditioned supply air may be supplied to the passenger compartment of the vehicle through one or more outlets of the vehicle.

[0003] In certain situations, it may be necessary to use a mobile air conditioning device. The air conditioning device may be used to cool a house or a tent. The use of mobile air conditioning devices may have several drawbacks. Air conditioning devices are relatively heavy and difficult to transport and handle. The mobile air conditioning device has to be transported in order to be used and serviced. Another drawback is the need to provide a power source to power the air conditioning device during operation. A user may use a local power source. Alternatively, a battery may need to be carried to a site, which may be heavy. Another option is to connect the air conditioning device to a vehicle-to-device connector of a vehicle to use a battery of the vehicle as the power source for the air conditioning device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle, as well as an air conditioning device, that are configured as a mobile source of conditioned supply air.

[0005] This object is solved by a vehicle, as well as an air conditioning device according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is related to an air conditioning device. The air conditioning device may be a built-in air conditioning of the vehicle. The air conditioning device comprises a control device configured to control the air conditioning device to operate in a default mode.

[0007] The air conditioning device is configured to provide conditioned supply air at an interior outlet device of the air conditioning device. In other words, the air conditioning device is configured to be operated in the default mode, wherein the default mode can be set by the control device of the air conditioning device.

[0008] The control device may be configured to control the air conditioning device to operate in a camp mode. The air conditioning device is configured to provide the conditioned supply air at an exterior outlet device of the air conditioning device when operating in the camp mode. In other words, the air conditioning device is configured to operate either in the default mode or in the camp mode. The air conditioning device is configured to provide the conditioned supply air as a function of the current mode of the air conditioning device set by the control device of the air conditioning device at the interior outlet device or at the exterior outlet device of the air conditioning device.

[0009] The vehicle comprises an interior duct configured to guide the conditioned supply air provided at the interior outlet device of the air conditioning device to a cabin of the vehicle. In other words, the interior outlet device of the air conditioning is connected to the interior duct of the vehicle. The interior duct is configured to provide the conditioned supply air into the cabin of the vehicle. The interior duct may be connected to one or more cabin outlet devices of the vehicle situated in the cabin of the vehicle. Therefore, when operating in the default mode the cabin of the vehicle may be supplied with the conditioned supply air of the air conditioning device.

[0010] The vehicle comprises an exterior duct. The exterior duct is configured to guide the conditioned supply air provided at the exterior outlet device of the air conditioning device to a supply duct connection device of the vehicle. In other words, the exterior duct is connected to the exterior outlet device of the air conditioning device. The exterior duct is also connected to the supply duct connection device of the vehicle. Therefore, the conditioned supply air is guided from the exterior outlet device of the air conditioning device to the supply duct connection device of the vehicle.

[0011] The supply duct connection device is configured to receive a corresponding duct connector of an external duct. In other words, the supply duct connection device corresponds to the duct connector. The duct connector may be plugged into the supply duct connection device. To allow the reception the supply duct connection device has a geometry that fits to a geometry of the duct connector of the external duct. The supply duct connection device is configured to guide the conditioned supply air into the external duct. In other words, the conditioned supply air is provided to the external duct.

[0012] The present invention has the advantage that the air conditioning device that is usually integrated in the vehicle may be used to provide the conditioned supply air to the external duct. The external duct may be connected to space outside the vehicle to guide the conditioned supply air into the space. Therefore, it may be possible to supply a house, a tent or another room outside the vehicle with the conditioned supply air. As the air conditioning device is already integrated in the vehicle it is not necessary to use a mobile, external air conditioning device.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle comprises a return duct connection device configured to receive the corresponding duct connector of the external duct and to receive return air provided by the external duct. The exterior duct is configured to guide the return air received at the return duct connection device to an exterior air inlet device of the air conditioning device.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the supply duct connection device comprises a duct sensor unit configured to detect the reception of the corresponding duct connector of the external duct by the supply duct connection device. The control device is configured to set the camp mode as a function of the reception of the corresponding duct connector of the external duct by the supply duct connection device.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the return duct connection device comprises a duct sensor unit configured to detect the reception of the corresponding duct connector of the external duct by the return duct connection device. The control device is configured to set the camp mode as a function of the reception of the corresponding duct connector of the external duct by the return duct connection device and connection data.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the control device is configured to receive battery data indicating a current state of charge of a battery of the vehicle and to set the camp mode as a function of the current state of charge of the battery.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the control device comprises a control antenna unit configured to receive control data and to set the camp mode as a function of the control data.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the control device comprises a sensor antenna unit configured to receive sensor data of a thermostat device and to set a temperature or a flow of the conditioned supply air in the camp mode as a function of the temperature sensor data.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the supply duct connection device is arranged at an outside of the vehicle.

[0020] A second aspect of the present invention is related to an air conditioning device of the vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0021] The air conditioning device comprises a control device configured to control the air conditioning device to operate in a default mode.

[0022] The air conditioning device is configured to provide conditioned supply air at an interior outlet device of the air conditioning device. In other words, the air conditioning device is configured to be operated in the default mode, wherein the default mode can be set by the control device of the air conditioning device.

[0023] The control device is configured to control the air conditioning device to operate in a camp mode. The air conditioning device is configured to provide the conditioned supply air at an exterior outlet device of the air conditioning device when operating in the camp mode. In other words, the air conditioning device is configured to operate either in the default mode or in the camp mode. The air conditioning device is configured to provide the conditioned supply air as a function of the current mode of the air conditioning device set by the control device of the air conditioning device at the interior outlet device or at the exterior outlet device of the air conditioning device.

[0024] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for operating the air conditioning device for an at least partly electrically operated motor vehicle. In particular, the method is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, one aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product containing computer-readable instructions for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0025] In particular, the method is performed by the control device of the air conditioning device. In the present disclosure, the control device may be understood as, for example, a data processing device with processing circuitry. The control device may therefore perform computing operations in order to process data. The computing operations may also include indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0026] In particular, the control device may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The control device may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The electronic computing device may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or of other said units.

[0027] The control device may also comprise one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0028] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0029] Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The novel features and characteristic of the present disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0031] The drawings show in:

[0032] Fig. 1 a schematic illustration of a vehicle comprising an air conditioning device;

[0033] Fig. 2 a schematic illustration of the air conditioning device connected to the exterior space through the external ducts; and

[0034] Fig. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the method to operate the air conditioning device.

[0035] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0037] While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0038] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0039] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0040] Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle 10 comprising an air conditioning device 12.

[0041] The vehicle 10 may be configured as a truck or at passenger vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may comprise the air conditioning device 12. The air conditioning device 12 may comprise a control device 14 configured to control the air conditioning device 12. The air conditioning device 12 is configured to provide conditioned supply air 16. The air conditioning device 12 may comprise an interior outlet device 18 and an exterior outlet device 20 to provide the conditioned supply air 16. The vehicle 10 comprises an interior duct 22. The interior duct 22 may be connected to the interior outlet device 18 of the air conditioning device 12 and to a cabin outlet device 24 in a cabin 26 of the vehicle 10. The interior duct 22 device may be configured to guide the conditioned supply air 16 provided at the interior outlet device 18 of the air conditioning device 12 into the vehicle 10 cabin of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may further comprise an camp mode supply duct 28 and camp mode return duct 64. The camp mode supply duct 28 may be connected to the exterior outlet device 20 of the air conditioning device 12 and to a supply duct connection device 30 of the vehicle 10. The air conditioning device 12 may further comprise an exterior inlet device 32 configured to receive return air 34. The camp mode return duct 64 of the vehicle 10 may be connected to the exterior inlet device 32 of the air conditioning device 12 and to a return duct connection device 36 of the vehicle 10.

[0042] The supply duct connection device 30 and the return duct connection device 36 may be configured to receive a corresponding supply duct connector 38 and return duct connector 68 of a respective supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66. The supply duct connection device 30 may be configured to provide the conditioned supply air 16 to the supply external duct 40. The return duct connection device 36 may be configured to receive the return air 34 from the return external duct 66.

[0043] The supply external duct 40 may be used to guide the conditioned supply air 16 into an exterior space 42 external to the vehicle 10. The return external duct 66 may be configured to receive the return air 34 and to guide the return air 34 to the exterior inlet device 32 of the air conditioning device 12.

[0044] The control device 14 may be configured to set the air conditioning device 12 either in a default mode wherein the air conditioning device 12 is configured to provide the conditioned supply air 16 at the interior outlet device 18 of the air conditioning device 12 or in a camp mode, wherein the air conditioning device 12 may be configured to provide the conditioned supply air 16 at the exterior outlet device 20 of the air conditioning device 12.

[0045] The default mode may be intended to set the temperature of the air cabin 26 of the vehicle 10. The camp mode may be intended to set the temperature of the exterior space 42. A user device 44 may be configured to send control data 46 to a control antenna device 48 of the control device 14. The control device 14 may receive the control data 46 and may set the air conditioning device 12 in the default mode or the camp mode as a function of control data 46.

[0046] The control device 14 may be configured to set the camp mode as a function of a current state of charge of a battery 50 of the vehicle 10. The current state of charge may be indicated by battery data 52 transmitted from the battery 50 to the control device 14. The control device 14 may be configured to refuse the setting of the air conditioning device 12 to the camp mode or to deactivate the air conditioning device 12 when the current state of charge does not satisfy a predefined condition. The supply duct connection device 30 and the return duct connection device 36 may comprise respective duct sensor units 54 configured to detect the reception of the respective duct connectors 38 by the duct connection devices 30, 36. In other words, the duct sensor units 54 are configured to detect whether the respective duct connection devices 30, 36 are connected to the duct connector 38. The control device 14 may be configured to activate the camp mode as a function of connection data 56 provided by the duct sensor units 54, describing whether the respective duct connection devices 30, 36 are connected to the supply duct connector 38 and return duct connector 68, respectively. The control device 14 may comprise a temperature antenna device 60, configured to receive temperature data 58 of an external thermostat device 62 that may be placed in the exterior space 42. The control device 14 may be configured to set a temperature and / or a flow of the conditioned supply air 16 as a function of the temperature data 58.

[0047] Fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the air conditioning device 12 connected to the exterior space 42 through the supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66.

[0048] The control device 14 may be configured to receive connection data 56 from the duct sensor units 54 indicating whether the supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66 are connected to the duct connection devices 30, 36 or not. The control device 14 may also be configured to receive the battery data 52 indicating the current state of charge of the battery 50 of the vehicle 10. The control device 14 may be configured to receive sensor temperature data 58 from the external thermostat device 62. The control device 14 may be configured to receive control data 46 from a user device 44. The control device 14 based on the control data 46 may switch the air conditioning device 12 from the default mode, which is intended to supply the vehicle 10 cabin 26 of the vehicle 10 to the camp mode to provide the conditioned supply air 16 to the exterior space 42 such as a tent. Before activating the camp mode, the control device 14 may determine whether at least the supply duct connection device 30 is connected to the corresponding external duct 40. It may further be required that also the return duct connection device 36 is connected to the return external duct 66. The control device 14 may refuse activation of the camp mode when the supply duct connection device 30 and / or the return duct connection device 36 are not connected to the corresponding supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66. The control device 14 may also receive the battery data 52 and may check whether the current state of charge of the battery 50 satisfies a predefined condition for activating the camp mode. The control device 14 may refuse activation of the camp mode when the current battery state of charge is below a predefined threshold value.

[0049] When the camp mode is active, the air conditioning device 12 may provide the conditioned supply air 16 to the exterior space 42 and receive return air 34 of the exterior space 42. During operation, the control device 14 may receive temperature data 58 of the external thermostat device 62 which may be located within the external space 42. The control device 14 may adjust the temperature and / or the flow of the conditioned supply air 16 as a function of the temperature data 58.

[0050] The supply external duct 40 for the conditioned supply air 16 and the return external duct 66 for the return air 34 may be physically connected to the air conditioning device 12 of the vehicle 10. The supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66 may be connected either through the front or side of bonnet of the vehicle 10.

[0051] Fig 3 shows a schematic illustration of the method to operate an air conditioning device 12 with a control device 14.

[0052] In a first step S1, the vehicle 10 may be turned on.

[0053] In a second step S2, the control device 14 may determine whether the camp mode is requested by a control signal received by the control antenna device 48.

[0054] If the camp mode is not requested, the control device 14 may set the air conditioning device 12 to the default mode to provide conditioned supply air 16 to the vehicle 10 cabin 26 of the vehicle 10 in a third step S3.

[0055] If the camp mode is requested by the control data 46, the control device 14 may determine whether the current state of charge of the battery 50 is above a predefined threshold value in a fourth step S4.

[0056] If the current state of charge is not above the predefined threshold value, the control device 14 may refuse an activation of the camp mode due to battery data 52 such as a low battery state of charge for the battery 50. The control device 14 may send an error message to an output interface of the vehicle 10 or to the user device 44 in a fifth step S5.

[0057] If the current state of charge is above the predefined threshold value, the control device 14 may determine whether the supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66 are connected to the supply duct connection device 30 and the return duct connection device 36 in a sixth step S6.

[0058] If one or both of the supply duct connection device 30 and the return duct connection device 36 are not connected to the respective supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66, the control device 14 may refuse the activation of the camp mode and may provide an error message to an output interface of the vehicle 10 or to the user device 44 in a seventh step S7.

[0059] If the supply duct connection device 30 and the return duct connection device 36 are connected to the respective supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66, the control device 14 may set the air conditioning device 12 to the camp mode and may activate the air conditioning device 12 in an eighth step S8.

[0060] During operation of the air conditioning device 12, the control device 14 may receive temperature data 58 from external thermostat device 62 that may be located in the exterior space 42. The control device 14 may set a temperature of the conditioned supply air 16 as a function of a temperature in the exterior space 42 indicated by the temperature data 58.

[0061] This concept addresses the situation where an air conditioning system of the vehicle 10 may be used for space heating or cooling a room, for example, during power outages or even during outdoor camping. By modifying the air conditioning system of the vehicle 10, the vehicle 10 may be used as the source for air conditioning in an external room or space 42 such as a tent. The present disclosure is advantageous because providing the integrated air conditioning device 12 with the camp mode supply duct 28 and camp mode return duct 64 along with supply external duct 40 and return external duct 66 may be more feasible than providing a mobile, external air conditioning unit.

[0062] The present disclosure here is to use the existing vehicle air conditioning device 12 and air ducts 28, 64, 40, 66 for heating or cooling during outdoor camping or in emergency situations such as air conditioning for a single room during a power failure. When the camping mode is selected in the vehicle 10 or in the vehicle's application, the air conditioning device 12 may divert the conditioned supply air 16 to the supply external duct 40 instead of conditioning the vehicle cabin 26. A return external duct 66 may be required depending on the usage situation such as a tightly sealed room. A wireless external thermostat device 62 may be required to be located inside the exterior space 42 in order to maintain the desired room temperature. The desired temperature can be set via the user device 44 such as a vehicle application or from an interface in the vehicle 10 and may communicate with the wireless thermostat 62 for closed loop control. Reference signs 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 S1-S8 vehicle air conditioning device control device conditioned supply air interior outlet device exterior outlet device interior duct cabin outlet device cabin camp mode supply duct supply duct connection device exterior inlet device return air return duct connection device supply duct connector supply external duct exterior space user device control data control antenna device battery battery data duct sensor unit connection data temperature data temperature antenna device external thermostat device camp mode return duct return external duct return duct connector steps

Claims

1. A vehicle (10) comprising an air conditioning device (12), characterized in that- the air conditioning device (12), comprises a control device (14) configured to control the air conditioning device (12) to operate in a default mode, wherein the air conditioning device (12) is configured to provide conditioned supply air (16) at an interior outlet device (18) or in a camp mode, wherein the air conditioning device (12) is configured to provide the conditioned supply air (16) at an exterior air outlet device (20) of the air conditioning device (12); and- the vehicle (10) comprises an interior duct (22), configured to guide the conditioned supply air (16), provided at the interior outlet device (18) of the air conditioning device (12) to a cabin (26) of the vehicle (10) and an camp mode supply duct (28), configured to guide the conditioned supply air (16), provided at the exterior outlet device (20) of the air conditioning device (12) to a supply duct connection device (30) of the vehicle (10), wherein the supply duct connection device (30) is configured to receive a corresponding supply duct connector (38) of an supply external duct (40) and to guide the conditioned supply air (16) into the supply external duct (40).

2. The vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that- the vehicle (10) comprises a return duct connection device (36) configured to receive the corresponding return duct connector (68) of the return external duct (66) and to receive return air (34) provided by the return external duct (66), and- the camp mode return duct (64) is configured to guide the return air (34), received at the return duct connection device (36) to an exterior inlet device (32) of the air conditioning device (12).

3. The vehicle (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that- the supply duct connection device (30) comprises a duct sensor unit (54), configured to detect the reception of the corresponding supply duct connector (38) of the supply external duct (40) by the supply duct connection device (30);the control device (14) is configured to set the camp mode as a function of the reception of the corresponding supply duct connector (38) of the supply external duct (40) by the supply duct connection device (30).

4. The vehicle (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that- the return duct connection device (36) comprises a duct sensor unit (54), configured to detect the reception of the corresponding return duct connector (68) of the return external duct (66) by the return duct connection device (36); and - the control device (14) is configured to set the camp mode as a function of the reception of the corresponding return duct connector (38) of the return external duct (66) by the return duct connection device (36).

5. The vehicle (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe control device (14) is configured to receive battery data (52) indicating a current state of charge of the battery (50) and to set the camp mode as a function of the current state of charge of the battery (50).

6. The vehicle (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe control device (14) comprises a control antenna device (48), configured to receive control data (46) of a control device (14) and to set the camp mode as a function of the control data (46).

7. The vehicle (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in thatthe control device (14) comprises a temperature antenna unit (60), configured to receive temperature data (58) of an external thermostat device (62) and to set a temperature and / or a flow of the conditioned supply air (16) in the camp mode as a function of the temperature data (58).

8. The vehicle (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe supply duct connection device (30) is arranged at an outside of the vehicle (10).

9. An air conditioning device (12), characterized in thatthe air conditioning device (12), comprises a control device (14) configured to control the air conditioning device (12) to operate in a default mode, wherein the air conditioning device (12) is configured to provide conditioned supply air (16) at an interior outlet device (18) or in a camp mode, wherein the air conditioning device (12) is configured to provide the conditioned supply air (16) at an exterior outlet device (20) of the air conditioning device (12).

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