Vehicle structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle structure that can perform appropriate air conditioning regardless of a type or a state of a windshield.SOLUTION: A vehicle structure is provided with: an air conditioner that adjusts the temperature of a vehicle's interior; a control part that controls the air conditioner; a solar-radiation amount sensor that measures amounts of solar radiation passing through a wind shield of the vehicle; and a calculating part that calculates amounts of actual solar radiation to the outside of the vehicle. The control part controls the air conditioner on the basis of a difference between the amounts of the solar radiation and the amounts of actual solar radiation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure equipped with an air conditioning system. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner to improve the comfort of passengers in the vehicle cabin. Various technologies have been proposed to improve this comfort. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses one such technology that controls the air conditioner according to the amount of solar radiation.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, the temperature of the conditioned air at the air conditioning outlet in the vehicle cabin is controlled based on the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, the temperature outside the vehicle cabin, the amount of solar radiation, the set temperature of the air conditioning, and the like. The solar radiation coefficient is also involved in determining the temperature of this conditioned air. The solar radiation coefficient is a coefficient that changes depending on the type of windshield. The type of windshield may change due to design changes during manufacturing or replacement by the user. Hereinafter, the windshield will be referred to as the windshield.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for correcting the solar radiation coefficient during inspection of a vehicle at the time of shipment or inspection after replacing the windshield. Specifically, in Patent Document 1, a solar radiation sensor detects light irradiated through the windshield during the inspection, and identifies the type of windshield based on the output value of the solar radiation sensor. Then, the solar radiation coefficient corresponding to the identified windshield type is selected and stored in the air conditioner. In identifying the type of windshield, a correspondence relationship between a predetermined output value and the type of windshield is referenced. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-121467 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The technology of Patent Document 1 is for determining the solar radiation coefficient during inspection at the time of vehicle shipment or during inspection after replacement of the windshield. In other words, the technology of Patent Document 1 is implemented in a production factory or a maintenance shop. Therefore, if a vehicle user applies a commercially available light-shielding film to the windshield, there is a risk that appropriate air conditioning control will not be possible.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure capable of performing appropriate air conditioning control regardless of the type or condition of the windshield. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A vehicle structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes: An air conditioning device that adjusts the temperature inside the vehicle; A control unit that controls the air conditioner; a solar radiation sensor for measuring a transmitted solar radiation amount passing through a windshield of the vehicle; A calculation unit that calculates an actual amount of solar radiation incident on the outside of the vehicle, The control unit controls the air conditioner based on a difference between the amount of transmitted solar radiation and the amount of actual solar radiation. Effect of the Invention

[0009] In the above vehicle structure, the air conditioner is controlled based on the difference between the amount of solar radiation transmitted by the solar radiation sensor and the amount of actual solar radiation actually falling on the outside of the vehicle, so that appropriate air conditioning control is performed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle structure according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle structure described in the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of air conditioning control according to the vehicle structure described in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An example of an embodiment of a vehicle structure according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The sizes of the members shown in each drawing are expressed for the purpose of clarifying the description and do not necessarily represent the actual dimensions. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following examples, but is indicated by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0012] <Embodiment 1> 1 and 2 are an example of a vehicle structure 1 of a vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 shown in FIG. 1 may be a vehicle equipped with an engine, or may be an electric vehicle driven by a motor. The vehicle 100 is equipped with a windshield 9 disposed in front of the driver. As shown by the thin arrow in FIG. 1, solar radiation enters the vehicle interior 101 through the windshield 9. Solar radiation is one of the factors that increase the temperature inside the vehicle interior 101. Depending on the amount of solar radiation, the comfort of the passengers may be impaired. The vehicle 100 of this example is equipped with a vehicle structure 1 that can improve the comfort of the passengers in real time, regardless of the type and state of the windshield 9.

[0013] 2, the vehicle structure 1 of this example includes an air conditioner 2, a control unit 3, a solar radiation sensor 4, and a calculation unit 5. Each component of the vehicle structure 1 will be described in detail below.

[0014] ≪Air conditioner≫ The air conditioner 2 has a known configuration. In Fig. 2, only an HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning) unit in the air conditioner 2 is shown. The HVAC unit is a component that integrates air conditioning functions. The HVAC unit includes a casing 20, an evaporator 21, a heater core 22, an air mix door 23, and a blower 24. The casing 20 includes an inlet 2B that takes in outside air or inside air, and an outlet 2C that connects to a duct for conditioned air in the vehicle.

[0015] The evaporator 21 is a heat exchanger through which the refrigerant of the cooling circuit is circulated. The evaporator 21 cools the air introduced into the casing 20 from the inlet 2B. The heater core 22 is a heat exchanger through which the heat medium of the heating circuit is circulated. The heater core 22 heats the air in the casing 20.

[0016] The air mix door 23 is arranged to be swingable or slidable, and adjusts the mixing ratio of the cold air from the evaporator 21 and the hot air from the heater core 22 described later. During cooling, the surface of the heater core 22 facing the evaporator 21 is shielded by the air mix door 23, so that the conditioned air cooled by passing through the evaporator 21 does not pass through the heater core 22. In this case, the conditioned air is introduced into the vehicle from the outlet 2C without being heated by the heater core 22. During heating, the air mix door 23 swings or slides, so that at least a part of the air mix door 23 retreats from between the evaporator 21 and the heater core 22. In this case, the conditioned air that has passed through the evaporator 21 can pass through the heater core 22. The conditioned air that has been heated by passing through the heater core 22 is introduced into the vehicle through the outlet 2C. The blower 24 is disposed between the inlet 2B and the evaporator 21, and draws in outside air or inside air from the inlet 2B. The rotation speed of the blower 24 changes depending on the output of the blower 24, i.e., the power consumption. The rotation speed of the blower 24 changes the amount of airflow of the conditioned air blown into the vehicle interior 101, and thus the effectiveness of the air conditioning changes.

[0017] <Control Unit> The control unit 3 controls the operation of the air conditioner 2. The control unit 3 adjusts the temperature and amount of the refrigerant introduced into the evaporator 21, the temperature and amount of the heat medium introduced into the heater core 22, the opening degree of the air mix door 23, and the output of the blower 24. As a result, the temperature inside the passenger compartment 101 is adjusted.

[0018] The control unit 3 is configured as a part of a processing circuit 6 including at least one processor. Therefore, each process by the control unit 3 is realized by the processing circuit 6. The processing circuit 6 may be configured as an integrated circuit in which at least one memory, various analog circuits, and various digital circuits are combined in addition to at least one processor. The at least one memory stores a program (instruction) that causes the at least one processor to execute each of the above processes. The at least one processor may execute each of the above processes according to the program read from the at least one memory, or may execute each of the above processes according to a logic circuit designed in advance to execute each of the above processes. The processor is, for example, a CPU or a GPU, or various other processors suitable for computer control. The physically separated processors may cooperate with each other to execute each of the above processes.

[0019] The processing circuit 6 of this example including the control unit 3 is configured to be able to acquire information from the solar radiation sensor 4, the vehicle speed sensor 11, the tilt sensor 12, and the communication system 7. The vehicle speed sensor 11 detects the speed of the vehicle 100. The speed can be obtained, for example, from the rotation speed of the wheels. The tilt sensor 12 detects the tilt of the vehicle 100. The tilt sensor 12 is configured, for example, by a gyro sensor.

[0020] <Solar radiation sensor> 1, the solar radiation sensor 4 detects the amount of solar radiation transmitted through the windshield 9. The solar radiation sensor 4 is disposed, for example, on the dashboard near the bottom of the windshield 9. The solar radiation sensor 4 transmits a voltage or current corresponding to the amount of solar radiation transmitted to the control unit 3. Based on the information from the solar radiation sensor 4, the control unit 3 controls the temperature and volume of the air-conditioned air introduced into the vehicle interior 101, thereby improving the comfort inside the vehicle interior 101.

[0021] The transmitted solar radiation is the amount of solar radiation that passes through the windshield 9 and is reduced by the windshield 9. Therefore, if a light-shielding film or the like is attached to the windshield 9, a difference will occur between the transmitted solar radiation and the actual amount of solar radiation that strikes the outside of the vehicle 100. This difference may cause a decrease in comfort inside the vehicle interior 101. To solve this problem, the vehicle structure 1 of this example is provided with a calculation unit 5 that calculates the actual amount of solar radiation, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0022] ≪Calculation section≫ The calculation unit 5 in this example is included in the processing circuit 6. The calculation unit 5 calculates the amount of actual solar radiation falling on the outside of the vehicle 100. In calculating the amount of actual solar radiation, the calculation unit 5 mainly uses information from the communication system 7. The amount of actual solar radiation is used by the control unit 3 to control the air conditioner 2, as described later.

[0023] The communication system 7 acquires various information related to the vehicle 100 through communication with the outside. The information includes navigation information including the current location of the vehicle 100. The various information may include meteorological data. The meteorological data is, for example, observation data from the Japan Meteorological Agency or data provided by the Japan Weather Association. The observation data from the Japan Meteorological Agency is observation data on the amount of sunlight at 49 locations nationwide that is acquired by the Japan Meteorological Agency every hour. The data provided by the Japan Weather Association is data on the amount of sunlight based on the observation results of AMeDAS at 840 locations.

[0024] The calculation unit 5 of this example calculates the amount of actual solar radiation falling on the outside of the vehicle 100 based on the position information and weather data of the vehicle 100. For example, the calculation unit 5 identifies the current position of the vehicle 100, and identifies weather data at the position closest to the vehicle 100. Based on the weather data, the calculation unit 5 calculates the amount of actual solar radiation for the vehicle 100.

[0025] The calculation unit 5 can also calculate the actual solar radiation amount without using real-time weather data. For example, the calculation unit 5 may calculate the actual solar radiation amount by calculation from the current location of the vehicle 100 and information related to the date and time. If the date and time can be specified, the solar trajectory and the position of the sun at that date and time can be obtained. Therefore, the actual solar radiation amount at the current location of the vehicle 100 can be obtained by calculation. The calculation formula for the actual solar radiation amount may be a calculation formula that takes into account big data including past weather data.

[0026] The amount of solar radiation entering the vehicle interior 101 through the windshield 9 changes depending on the orientation of the vehicle 100 with respect to the sun. Also, the amount of solar radiation entering the vehicle interior 101 through the windshield 9 changes depending on the inclination of the vehicle 100. Therefore, the calculation unit 5 may take into account the orientation and inclination of the vehicle 100 when calculating the actual amount of solar radiation. The orientation of the vehicle 100 can be acquired from navigation information. The inclination of the vehicle 100 can be acquired from the inclination sensor 12. When the vehicle 100 faces the sun directly and the angle of the solar radiation is a predetermined angle with respect to the windshield 9, the amount of solar radiation entering the vehicle interior 101 is maximum. The amount of solar radiation can be corrected based on the orientation and inclination of the vehicle 100 using this maximum amount of solar radiation as a reference.

[0027] <Control to improve comfort inside the vehicle when air-conditioned> The control unit 3 controls the air conditioner 2 based on the amount of transmitted solar radiation measured by the solar radiation sensor 4, and adjusts the temperature and volume of the conditioned air blown into the vehicle interior 101. This control method is publicly known, for example, as described in Patent Document 1.

[0028] Depending on the value of the actual solar radiation, the above-mentioned conditioned air may not match the actual conditions inside the vehicle compartment 101. Therefore, the control unit 3 of the vehicle structure 1 in this example re-controls the air conditioner 2 to readjust the conditioned air based on the difference between the transmitted solar radiation and the actual solar radiation during cooling. As a result, the comfort inside the vehicle can be improved. Below, the procedure for controlling the air conditioner 2 by the control unit 3 will be explained based on the flowchart shown in Figure 3. Figure 2 will be referred to as necessary in explaining the control.

[0029] With the air conditioning airflow control based on the amount of transmitted solar radiation being performed, the control unit 3 judges whether the air conditioner is operating or not (step S1). The control unit 3 controls the air conditioner 2, and therefore has information on whether the air conditioner is operating or not. If the judgment in step S1 is "NO", the control unit 3 returns to the judgment in step S1. If the judgment in step S1 is "YES", the control unit 3 proceeds to the next step S2.

[0030] The control unit 3 determines whether or not condition A is satisfied (step S2). In this example, condition A is the following three conditions: [1] there is a passenger in the back seat; [2] the vehicle is moving; and [3] there is no change in the amount of solar radiation. Unlike this example, condition A may be composed of at least one of conditions [1] to [3]. Note that step S2 is not essential. If step S2 is not performed, the control unit 3 may determine "YES" in step S1 and then proceed to step S3, which will be described later.

[0031] Regarding [1] above, when there is a passenger in the back seat, the cooling effect is worse than when there is no passenger in the back seat. Whether there is a passenger in the back seat or not can be determined based on information from a seating sensor or the like. Regarding [2] above, when the vehicle is stopped, it is difficult to determine whether the vehicle 100 is in the shade or not, and it is not possible to determine whether it is better to implement the control of this example. Whether the vehicle is moving or not can be determined based on information from the vehicle speed sensor 11. Regarding [3] above, when there is a fluctuation in the amount of solar radiation, it can be determined that the vehicle is moving alternately in the shade and in the sun, so that the re-adjusted air conditioning air may not match the actual condition inside the vehicle compartment 101. Whether there is no fluctuation in the amount of solar radiation can be determined based on information from the solar radiation sensor 4. For example, when the amount of solar radiation at the start of the determination is 100%, if the amount of solar radiation one second later is within 100%±3% for 30 seconds, it is determined that there is no fluctuation in the amount of solar radiation.

[0032] If all of the above three conditions are met, the control unit 3 calculates the actual amount of solar radiation (step S3). The actual amount of solar radiation is calculated by the method described in the section on the calculation unit 5. If any of the three conditions are not met, the control unit 3 returns to the control of step S1.

[0033] The control unit 3 calculates the shading rate based on the calculated actual solar radiation and the transmitted solar radiation acquired by the solar radiation sensor 4 (step S4). The shading rate is a value obtained by dividing the difference value obtained by subtracting the transmitted solar radiation from the actual solar radiation by the actual solar radiation. The value calculated by the control unit 3 in step S4 may be the difference value.

[0034] The control unit 3 re-controls the air conditioner 2 and readjusts the conditioned air (step S5). In this example, the output level of the blower 24 is adjusted according to the shading rate. The output level is set in stages. The memory of the processing circuit 6 stores a map showing the relationship between a predetermined shading rate and the output level of the blower 24. The control unit 3 refers to this map and adjusts the output level of the blower 24. In the map of this example, the output level is set in stages, so that if the light transmittance is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the output level of the blower 24 does not change.

[0035] Unlike this example, the control unit 3 may lower the temperature of the conditioned air by lowering the temperature of the refrigerant when readjusting the conditioned air. However, to lower the temperature of the refrigerant, it is necessary to operate a compressor provided in a refrigerant circuit (not shown). In an engine vehicle, the compressor uses engine power, which tends to worsen fuel economy. Also, in an engine vehicle, it is difficult to adjust the rotation speed of the compressor. In response to such problems, the blower 24, which is operated by power from a battery, does not use engine power, so it does not worsen fuel economy, and it is easy to quickly change the rotation speed of the blower 24.

[0036] After adjusting the output level of the blower 24, the control unit 3 maintains the output level for a predetermined time (step S6). The predetermined time is, for example, 600 seconds. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 3 returns to the determination in step S2.

[0037] According to the control described above, passenger comfort can be improved in real time during cooling. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Vehicle structure 11 vehicle speed sensor, 12 inclination sensor 2 Air conditioner 2B entrance, 2C exit 20 casing, 21 evaporator, 22 heater core 23 Air mix door, 24 Blower 3. Control Unit 4. Solar radiation sensor 5 Calculation section 6 Processing Circuit 7. Communication Systems 9. Windshield 100 vehicles 101 Cabin

Claims

[Claim 1] An air conditioning device that adjusts the temperature inside the vehicle; A control unit that controls the air conditioner; a solar radiation sensor for measuring a transmitted solar radiation amount passing through a windshield of the vehicle; A calculation unit that calculates an actual amount of solar radiation incident on the outside of the vehicle, The control unit controls the air conditioner based on a difference between the transmitted solar radiation amount and the actual solar radiation amount. Vehicle structure.

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