On-vehicle air conditioning system

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle air conditioning system that enables a user to intuitively grasp a difference between a vehicle interior temperature and a target temperature.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle air conditioning system 10 includes: a driver seat door 30; a front passenger seat door 32; one or more illumination light sources 22 provided in at least one of center clusters 34; and an illumination controller 20 for controlling the one or more illumination light sources 22. When a set temperature Ts stored in a memory is different from an air conditioning target temperature T*, the illumination controller 20 changes the set temperature Ts to the target temperature T*, and when a vehicle interior temperature Td is lower than the stored set temperature Ts by a predetermined amount or more, the illumination controller 20 lights up the one or more illumination light sources 22 in a first color, and when the vehicle interior temperature Td is higher than the set temperature Ts by a predetermined amount or more, the illumination controller 20 lights up the one or more illumination light sources 22 in a second color different from the first color.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This specification discloses an in-vehicle air conditioning system for conditioning a vehicle compartment. [Background technology]

[0002] An in-vehicle air conditioning system is a system that operates an air conditioner so that the vehicle interior temperature becomes a target temperature specified by a user. Some of such air conditioning systems indicate the air conditioning status with light. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner that changes the emission color of a light that illuminates an air outlet according to the temperature of the temperature-controlled air blown out from the air outlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-090821 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology of Patent Document 1 only changes the light color according to the temperature of the temperature-controlled air, and does not monitor the difference between the target temperature and the vehicle interior temperature. Therefore, with the technology of Patent Document 1, the user cannot intuitively grasp the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature.

[0005] Therefore, this specification discloses an in-vehicle air conditioning system that allows a user to intuitively grasp the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and a target temperature. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle air conditioning system disclosed in this specification includes an air conditioning device for conditioning the vehicle interior, an air conditioning controller for controlling the air conditioning device so that the vehicle interior temperature becomes a target temperature, one or more decorative light-emitting elements provided on at least one of the driver's door, the passenger door, and a center cluster, and an illumination controller for controlling the one or more decorative light-emitting elements, wherein the air conditioning controller periodically or irregularly notifies the illumination controller of the target temperature, and when a set temperature stored in a memory differs from the notified target temperature, the illumination controller changes the set temperature to the target temperature, and when air conditioning is being performed by the air conditioning device, when the vehicle interior temperature is lower than the stored set temperature by a predetermined amount or more, the illumination controller lights up the one or more decorative light-emitting elements in a first color, and when the vehicle interior temperature is higher than the set temperature by a predetermined amount or more, the illumination controller lights up the one or more decorative light-emitting elements in a second color different from the first color. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the technology disclosed in this specification, the decorative light-emitting element lights up in a color corresponding to the difference between the set temperature and the vehicle interior temperature, allowing the user to intuitively grasp the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle air conditioning system; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the illumination controller. [Figure 4] 11A and 11B are diagrams showing an example of a change in the lighting state of an illumination body during heating operation. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a change in the lighting state of an illumination element during cooling operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The configuration of the vehicle air conditioning system 10 will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning system 10. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle interior.

[0010] The air conditioner 12 is a device that adjusts the temperature of the vehicle cabin. For example, the air conditioner 12 adjusts the temperature of air in response to an instruction from an air conditioning controller 18, and blows the adjusted air into the vehicle cabin. To adjust the temperature of the air, the air conditioner 12 has, for example, a heater, a heat pump circuit, a blower, etc. Note that the operation of the air conditioner 12 may be independently controllable for each area of ​​the vehicle cabin. For example, the air conditioning for the driver's seat area may be turned ON, and the air conditioning for the passenger seat area may be turned OFF. Also, different target temperatures T* may be set for the driver's seat area and the passenger seat area.

[0011] The input device 14 is a device for receiving instructions from a user. The input device 14 includes at least one of a mechanical switch (e.g., a push-down switch, a rotary switch, etc.), a touch panel, and a microphone. The user operates the input device 14 to input instructions related to air conditioning. For example, the user operates the input device 14 to instruct ON / OFF of air conditioning, a target temperature T* of air conditioning, ON / OFF of air conditioning-linked illumination control (described later), and the like. The user's instructions input via the input device 14 are output to the air conditioning controller 18. Note that, when the air conditioners 12 can be controlled independently for each area of ​​the vehicle cabin, instructions related to air conditioning may also be given individually for each area of ​​the vehicle cabin. In this case, one input device 14 may be provided for each area of ​​the vehicle cabin.

[0012] The temperature sensor 16 detects the temperature inside the vehicle. Hereinafter, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 16 will be referred to as the "vehicle interior temperature Td." The number of such temperature sensors 16 is not limited to one, and multiple temperature sensors may be provided. The vehicle interior temperature Td acquired by the temperature sensor 16 is output to the air conditioning controller 18 and the illumination controller 20.

[0013] The air conditioning controller 18 controls the air conditioner 12. The air conditioning controller 18 is physically a computer having a processor and a memory. The air conditioner 12 controls the operation of the air conditioner 12 so that the vehicle interior temperature Td becomes a target temperature T* specified by the user.

[0014] The air conditioning system 10 further includes a plurality of illuminations 21 and an illumination controller 20. The illuminations 21 are lights provided in the vehicle interior for decoration or information transmission. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, the illuminations 21 include a driver's seat illumination 21a attached to the driver's seat door 30, a passenger seat illumination 21b attached to the passenger seat door 32, and a center illumination 21c attached to the center cluster 34.

[0015] Each of the illuminations 21 includes an illumination light source 22. The illumination light source 22 can change the color of the light emitted. For example, the illumination light source 22 has a red LED chip, a green LED chip, and a blue LED chip, and the color of the light emitted is changed by changing the current flowing through each LED chip. The illuminations 21 may be lit in synchronization with each other, or may be lit independently of each other. For example, the driver's seat illumination 21a and the passenger seat illumination 21b may be lit in the same color in synchronization with each other. In another embodiment, the passenger seat illumination 21b may be lit at a different timing and in a different color from the driver's seat illumination 21a without being synchronous with the driver's seat illumination 21a.

[0016] The illumination controller 20 controls the illumination and color of the illumination light 22. The illumination controller 20 is physically a computer having a processor and a memory. In this example, when the user instructs the air conditioning-linked illumination control to be turned on, the illumination controller 20 controls the illumination and color of the illumination light 22 according to the difference between the set temperature Ts stored in the memory and the vehicle interior temperature Td notified by the temperature sensor 16.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of control of the illumination controller 20. As shown in Fig. 3, the illumination controller 20 monitors the air conditioning-linked illumination control and the ON / OFF state of the air conditioning (S10, S12). If the user does not instruct the air conditioning-linked illumination control to be ON (No in S10), or if the user does not instruct the air conditioning to be ON (No in S12), the illumination controller 20 does not execute the control described below.

[0018] On the other hand, when the air conditioning-linked illumination control is ON and the air conditioning is ON (Yes in S10 and Yes in S12), the illumination controller 20 compares the target temperature T* notified from the air conditioning controller 18 with the set temperature Ts stored in the memory (S14). If the comparison result shows that the target temperature T* and the set temperature Ts are different (No in S14), the illumination controller 20 updates the value of the set temperature Ts stored in the memory as Ts=T* (S16). On the other hand, if the target temperature T* and the set temperature Ts are the same (Yes in S14), the illumination controller 20 proceeds to step S20 without changing the set temperature Ts stored in the memory.

[0019] In step S20, the illumination controller 20 compares the vehicle interior temperature Td with the set temperature Ts (S20, S24). If the comparison result shows that the vehicle interior temperature Td is lower than the set temperature Ts by the allowable difference ΔT* or more (Yes in S20), the illumination controller 20 causes the illumination illuminator 22 to emit light in a first color (S22). The allowable difference ΔT* is a predetermined value, for example, a value of about 1 to 4°C. The first color is a warm color, for example, orange.

[0020] Here, the vehicle interior temperature Td is lower than the set temperature Ts by the allowable difference ΔT* or more, i.e., Td≦Ts-ΔT*, mainly immediately after the start of heating operation. In this case, the air conditioner 12 sends heated air into the vehicle interior so that the vehicle interior temperature Td approaches the target temperature T* (=set temperature Ts). In this way, in order to inform the user that warm air is being supplied, when Td≦Ts-ΔT*, the illumination controller 20 causes the illumination light-emitting body 22 to emit light in a warm color. This allows the user to intuitively grasp the state of the air conditioning, particularly the difference between the target temperature T* and the vehicle interior temperature Td.

[0021] In addition, when the vehicle interior temperature Td is higher than the set temperature Ts by the allowable difference ΔT* or more (Yes in S24), the illumination controller 20 causes the illumination light-emitting body 22 to emit light in a second color (S26). The second color is a cool color, for example, light blue.

[0022] Here, the vehicle interior temperature Td is higher than the set temperature Ts by the allowable difference ΔT* or more, i.e., Td≧Ts+ΔT*, mainly immediately after the start of cooling operation. In this case, the air conditioner 12 sends cooled air into the vehicle interior so that the vehicle interior temperature Td approaches the target temperature T* (=set temperature Ts). In this way, in order to inform the user that cool air is being supplied, when Td≧Ts+ΔT*, the illumination controller 20 causes the illumination illuminator 22 to emit light in a cool color. This allows the user to intuitively grasp the state of the air conditioning, particularly the difference between the target temperature T* and the vehicle interior temperature Td.

[0023] On the other hand, if the difference between the vehicle interior temperature Td and the set temperature Ts is less than the allowable difference ΔT* (No in S20 and No in S24), the illumination controller 20 turns off the illumination illuminant 22 (S28). This allows the user to intuitively know that the vehicle interior temperature Td is approaching the set temperature Ts. Note that, when |Ts-Td|<ΔT*, the illumination illuminant 22 may be illuminated in a third color instead of being turned off. In this case, the third color is an intermediate color between the first color and the second color, for example, white. Even in this case, the user can intuitively know that the vehicle interior temperature Td is approaching the set temperature Ts.

[0024] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the change in the lighting state of the decorative light-emitting body 22 during heating operation. The upper part of Fig. 4 shows the change in the vehicle interior temperature Td, and the lower part of Fig. 4 shows the lighting state of the decorative light-emitting body 22 in warm colors. In the upper part of Fig. 4, the thick dashed line indicates the set temperature Ts (and thus the target temperature T*).

[0025] In FIG. 4, heating operation is started at time t1. At this time, the vehicle interior temperature Td is sufficiently lower than the set temperature Ts. Therefore, the air conditioning controller 18 controls the air conditioner 12 so that heated air is supplied to the vehicle interior. In addition, since Td≦Ts-ΔT*, the illumination controller 20 lights up the illumination light emitting body 22 in a warm color. This allows the user to intuitively understand that heating is currently in progress.

[0026] In the example of Fig. 4, the vehicle interior temperature Td gradually rises as the heating operation continues, and at time t2, the difference between the vehicle interior temperature Td and the set temperature Ts becomes less than the allowable difference ΔT*. When this state is reached, the illumination controller 20 turns off the illumination light emitting body 22. This allows the user to intuitively understand that the vehicle interior temperature Td has almost reached the set temperature Ts.

[0027] In the example of FIG. 4, the user then changes the target temperature T* from T1 to T2 at time t3. Accordingly, the set temperature Ts is also changed from T1 to T2, and Td≦Ts-ΔT* is satisfied again. Therefore, in this case, the illumination controller 20 turns on the illumination light 22 in warm color again. Then, at time t4, if the difference between the vehicle interior temperature Td and the changed set temperature Ts=T2 becomes less than the allowable difference ΔT*, the illumination light 22 is turned off. In this way, by changing the illumination state of the illumination light 22 according to the difference between the set temperature Ts and the vehicle interior temperature Td, the user can intuitively grasp the operating state of the air conditioner 12.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the lighting state of the illumination light 22 during cooling operation. In FIG. 5, cooling operation is started at time t1. At this time, the vehicle interior temperature Td is sufficiently higher than the set temperature Ts. Therefore, the air conditioning controller 18 controls the air conditioner 12 so that cooled air is supplied to the vehicle interior. In addition, since Td≧Ts+ΔT*, the illumination controller 20 lights up the illumination light 22 in a cool color. This allows the user to intuitively understand that cooling is currently in progress.

[0029] In the example of FIG. 5, the user then increases the target temperature T* from T1 to T2 at time t2. Accordingly, the set temperature Ts is also changed from T1 to T2. In the example of FIG. 5, as the set temperature Ts increases, the difference between the vehicle interior temperature Td and the set temperature Ts becomes less than the allowable difference ΔT*. Therefore, in this case, the illumination controller 20 turns off the illumination light-emitting body 22 at the timing of time t2. This allows the user to intuitively grasp that the vehicle interior temperature Td has almost reached the set temperature Ts.

[0030] As is clear from the above explanation, according to this example, the lighting state of the decorative illuminator 22 is switched depending on the difference between the target temperature T* and the vehicle interior temperature Td, so that the user can intuitively grasp the operating status of the air conditioning.

[0031] In the conventional electric lighting controller 20, the target temperature T* is periodically checked (for example, every 1000 msec), and the set temperature Ts stored in the memory is updated each time the target temperature T* is checked. However, in this case, the number of times the memory of the electric lighting controller 20 is rewritten increases, and the load on the electric lighting controller 20 is large. On the other hand, as is clear from steps S14 and S16 in FIG. 3, in this example, the set temperature Ts stored in the memory is changed only when the target temperature T* is changed. This reduces the number of times the memory of the electric lighting controller 20 is rewritten, and reduces the load on the electric lighting controller 20.

[0032] In FIG. 3, the set temperature Ts is compared with the target temperature T* periodically, but the comparison may be performed only when the target temperature T* is changed by the user. For example, the air conditioning controller 18 or the input device 14 transmits a change signal indicating the target temperature T* to the illumination controller 20 only when the user sets the target temperature T*. The illumination controller 20 may compare the set temperature Ts with the target temperature T* only when it receives the change signal. With this configuration, the number of comparisons and judgments by the illumination controller 20 can be reduced, and the load on the illumination controller 20 can be further reduced.

[0033] In addition, the above-mentioned air conditioning-linked illumination control may be performed independently for each area of ​​the vehicle cabin. For example, consider a case where the difference between the vehicle cabin temperature Td in the driver's seat area and the set temperature Ts in the driver's seat area is less than the allowable difference ΔT*, but the difference between the vehicle cabin temperature Td in the passenger seat area and the set temperature Ts in the passenger seat area is equal to or greater than the allowable difference ΔT*. In this case, the illumination controller 20 may turn off the light-emitting body 22 of the driver's seat illumination 21a and light up the light-emitting body 22 of the passenger seat illumination 21b in a predetermined color. In another embodiment, the multiple light-emitting bodies 22 may always be synchronously turned on in the same color and at the same timing.

[0034] In addition, in this example, when the difference between the vehicle interior temperature Td and the set temperature Ts is equal to or greater than the allowable difference ΔT*, the illumination light 22 is kept lit in a predetermined color. In other words, in this example, the color of the illumination light 22 is not frequently changed. This reduces the number of judgment processes and signal switching operations of the illumination controller 20, and further reduces the load on the illumination controller 20. However, it is of course possible to change the color of the illumination light 22 according to the magnitude of the difference temperature ΔT between the vehicle interior temperature Td and the set temperature Ts. For example, the lower the vehicle interior temperature Td is compared to the set temperature Ts, the lower the color temperature of the emission color (i.e., closer to red), and the higher the vehicle interior temperature Td is compared to the set temperature Ts, the higher the color temperature of the emission color (i.e., closer to blue). With this configuration, the user can intuitively grasp the magnitude of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature Td and the set temperature Ts.

[0035] In addition, the configurations described above are all examples, and other configurations may be changed as long as the configuration described in claim 1 is included. For example, the luminous color of the illumination light 22 may be changed as appropriate. In addition, the position and number of the illuminations 21 may be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 10 vehicle air conditioning system, 12 air conditioning device, 14 input device, 16 temperature sensor, 18 air conditioning controller, 20 lighting controller, 21 lighting, 22 light emitter, 22 lighting light emitter, 30 driver's door, 32 passenger door, 34 center cluster, T* target temperature, Td vehicle interior temperature, Ts set temperature, ΔT* allowable difference.

Claims

1. An air conditioning device for air conditioning the vehicle cabin; an air conditioning controller that controls the air conditioning device so that a vehicle interior temperature becomes a target temperature; One or more illumination bodies provided on at least one of a driver's door, a passenger's door, and a center cluster; An illumination controller for controlling one or more illumination light sources; Equipped with The air conditioning controller notifies the illumination controller of the target temperature periodically or irregularly; When the set temperature stored in the memory is different from the notified target temperature, the illumination controller changes the set temperature to the target temperature; When the air conditioning is being performed by the air conditioner, if the vehicle interior temperature is lower than a stored set temperature by a predetermined amount or more, the illumination controller lights up the one or more illumination illuminants in a first color, and if the vehicle interior temperature is higher than the set temperature by a predetermined amount or more, the illumination controller lights up the one or more illumination illuminants in a second color different from the first color. The vehicle air conditioning system is characterized by the above.

2. 2. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, the first color is a warm color, The second color is a cool color. The vehicle air conditioning system is characterized by the above.

3. 2. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, The one or more decorative light-emitting elements are provided on at least one of the driver's door and the passenger's door.

4. 4. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, When a difference between the set temperature and the vehicle interior temperature is less than a predetermined value, the illumination controller turns off the one or more illumination illuminants or turns them on in a third color different from the first color and the second color. The vehicle air conditioning system is characterized by the above.

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