Air conditioner for vehicle

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner for a vehicle capable of realizing excellent heating performance while suppressing or preventing fogging of a window.SOLUTION: An air conditioner of a vehicle includes a foot blowout port for blowing out air-conditioned air toward a foot space in a cabin of the vehicle, a radiation type foot heater installed in the cabin, and an estimation device for estimating water carry-in to a foot. When the water carry-in to the foot is estimated by the estimation device, the air conditioner of the vehicle reduces the air volume of the air-conditioned air from the foot blowout port and heats the radiation type foot heater.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle, and more particularly to an air conditioning system for a vehicle that can achieve excellent heating performance while suppressing or preventing fogging of windows. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioning system for a vehicle that can quickly dry wet feet and various pedals without requiring occupants to perform complicated work, and can continue the drying operation while driving. This vehicle air conditioning system has a foot outlet that blows air into a foot space in the vehicle cabin, and includes rainfall detection means that detects rainfall and / or snowfall, boarding detection means that detects that an occupant has boarded the vehicle, and a control device that starts blowing air from the foot outlet when the boarding detection means detects that an occupant has boarded the vehicle and the rainfall detection means detects that rainfall and / or snowfall has been detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-248306 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a vehicle air conditioning system such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the temperature inside the vehicle is low and the absolute humidity is low, for example in winter, water at the feet brought into the vehicle cabin evaporates due to the warm air from the foot outlets, causing the windows to fog up.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems associated with the conventional technology, and has an object to provide an air conditioning system for a vehicle that can achieve excellent heating performance while suppressing or preventing fogging of windows. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of extensive research into achieving the above-mentioned objective, the inventors discovered that the above-mentioned objective can be achieved by reducing the volume of conditioned air from the foot outlet and heating the radiant foot heater when an estimation device estimates that water has been brought into the feet, and thus completed the present invention.

[0007] That is, the vehicle air conditioning system of the present invention includes a foot outlet that blows conditioned air toward the foot space inside the vehicle cabin, a radiant foot heater installed inside the cabin, and an estimation device that estimates water brought into the feet. When the estimation device estimates that water has been brought into the foot area, the vehicle air conditioning device reduces the amount of conditioned air from the foot outlet and heats the radiant foot heater. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, when the estimation device estimates that water will be brought into the feet, the volume of air-conditioned air from the foot outlet is reduced and the radiant foot heater is heated, thereby providing a vehicle air conditioning system that can achieve excellent heating performance while suppressing or preventing fogging of windows. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vehicle air conditioning device according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the air conditioner of the vehicle shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of control of the vehicle air conditioner shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions of the drawings cited below are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0011] 1, the vehicle air conditioner 1 of this embodiment includes a foot outlet 11 that blows conditioned air toward a foot space 40b in a vehicle interior 40a of a vehicle 40, a radiant foot heater 20 installed in the vehicle interior 40a, and an estimation device 30 that estimates water carried to the feet due to rainfall or snowfall, for example. In the illustrated example, the radiant foot heater 20 is disposed below an instrument panel 44, and the estimation device 30 is disposed within the instrument panel 44.

[0012] When the estimation device 30 estimates that water has been brought to the feet, the air conditioner 1 reduces the volume of conditioned air from the foot outlet 11 and heats the radiant foot heater 20. As will be described in detail later, it is preferable that the air conditioner 1 is capable of determining various modes to be described later, changing the mode based on the result of the determination, and setting the volume and temperature of the conditioned air. Furthermore, it is preferable that the air conditioner 1 has a temperature sensor (not shown) that measures the temperature (room temperature) of the room 40a.

[0013] In addition, the air conditioner 1 further includes a vent outlet 12 that blows out conditioned air toward the seats 41 in the room 40a, and when the estimation device 30 estimates that water has been brought to the feet, it is preferable to increase the volume of conditioned air from the vent outlet 12.

[0014] Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 further includes a defroster outlet 13 that blows conditioned air toward a window 42 in the room 40a. When the estimation device 30 estimates that water has been brought to the feet, it is preferable to increase the volume of conditioned air from the vent outlet 12 and the volume of conditioned air from the defroster outlet 13, and it is preferable that the volume of conditioned air from the defroster outlet 13 is greater than the volume of conditioned air from the vent outlet 12.

[0015] Furthermore, in the air conditioner 1, it is preferable that the estimation device 30 estimates water carried to the feet due to rainfall or snowfall from meteorological information around the vehicle 40 or the operation history of the wipers 43 of the vehicle 40 on the previous day.

[0016] Furthermore, when the temperature of the conditioned air from the foot air outlet 11 is higher than the temperature in the room 40a (room temperature) and lower than the comfort temperature, the air conditioner 1 preferably reduces the volume of the conditioned air from the foot air outlet.

[0017] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, when the air conditioner 1 estimates by the estimation device 30 that water will be brought to the feet due to rainfall or snowfall, the amount of air conditioning air from the foot outlet 11 is reduced and the radiant foot heater 20 is heated, so that evaporation of water on the feet (carpet, shoes, etc.) due to the air conditioning air from the foot outlet is suppressed or prevented, and fogging of the windows is suppressed or prevented, and further, the warmth of the feet is ensured by the radiant foot heater, and excellent heating performance can be achieved. In addition, such an air conditioner does not necessarily need to dehumidify or heat the entire interior, and energy consumption can be reduced. As a result, the driving range of an electric vehicle equipped with such an air conditioner can be extended.

[0018] In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning device 1 is further provided with the above-mentioned vent outlet 12, and when the estimation device 30 estimates that water has been brought into the feet, the volume of conditioned air from the vent outlet 12 is increased, thereby making it possible to warm the upper body of the occupant (driver), and it is possible to avoid a drop in the temperature (room temperature) inside the vehicle caused by a decrease in the volume of conditioned air from the foot outlet.

[0019] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner 1 further includes the above-mentioned defroster outlet 13, and when the estimation device 30 estimates that water will be brought to the feet, the volume of conditioned air from the vent outlet 12 and the volume of conditioned air from the defroster outlet 13 are increased. Since the volume of conditioned air from the defroster outlet 13 is greater than the volume of conditioned air from the vent outlet 12, there is an advantage in that fogging of the windows can be more reliably suppressed or prevented.

[0020] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the estimation device 30 estimates the bringing of water to the feet due to rainfall or snowfall from meteorological information around the vehicle 40 (which can be obtained, for example, from the Internet) or the previous day's operation history of the windshield wipers 43 of the vehicle 40 (which can be obtained, for example, from signals from the wipers), which has the advantage that it is possible to estimate cases in which water is likely to be brought to the feet when a passenger (driver) is riding with wet shoes or clothes, and to more reliably estimate the bringing of water to the feet due to rainfall, etc.

[0021] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner 1 reduces the volume of the conditioned air from the foot outlet 11 when the temperature of the conditioned air from the foot outlet 11 is higher than the temperature of the interior 40 (room temperature) and lower than a comfortable temperature (e.g., 25°C). This has the advantage that evaporation of water at the feet caused by the temperature of the conditioned air from the foot outlet being higher than room temperature is suppressed or prevented, thereby further suppressing or preventing fogging of the windows, and preventing the feet from feeling cold due to the temperature of the conditioned air from the foot outlet being lower than the comfortable temperature (e.g., 25°C), thereby improving the comfort of the occupants (drivers).

[0022] 2 and 3 are flow charts showing the control of the vehicle air conditioner of this embodiment. In the figures, "VENT mode" indicates that the air volume ratio from the vent outlet is 100, "B / L mode" indicates that the air volume ratio from the vent outlet is 60 and the air volume ratio from the foot outlet is 40, "D / F1 mode" indicates that the air volume ratio from the vent outlet is 20, the air volume ratio from the foot outlet is 65, and the air volume ratio from the defroster outlet is 15, "D / F2 mode" indicates that the air volume ratio from the vent outlet is 15, the air volume ratio from the foot outlet is 50, and the air volume ratio from the defroster outlet is 35, and "DEF mode" indicates that the air volume ratio from the defroster outlet is 100. In the "DEF mode" in FIG. 2, conditioned air may be blown out from the vent outlet toward the seat.

[0023] More specifically, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control of changing the settings of the automatic air conditioner, including the foot outlet that is normally used, to a setting that reduces or stops the foot outlet and turns on the radiant heating when it is determined that water has been brought to the feet due to rainfall or snowfall.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, in step 11 (hereinafter referred to as "S11"), the above-mentioned estimation device estimates (determines) whether water is brought to the feet. In S11, if it is estimated (determined) that water has been brought in (Yes), the process proceeds to S12, and if it is estimated (determined) that water has not been brought in (No), the process ends. In S12, it is determined whether the air conditioner is in the B / L mode. In S12, if it is determined that the mode is not B / L mode (No), the process proceeds to S13, and if it is determined that the mode is B / L mode (Yes), the process proceeds to S17. In S13, it is determined whether the air conditioner is in the D / F1 mode or the D / F2 mode. In S13, if it is determined that the mode is either D / F1 mode or D / F2 mode (Yes), proceed to S14, and if it is determined that the mode is neither D / F1 mode nor D / F2 mode (No), end. In S14, the DEF mode is set, and the process proceeds to S15. In S15, the air volume from the defroster outlet is set to 60%, and the process proceeds to S16. In S14 and S15, the air volume during auto control is set to 60%, following the air volume ratio from the vent outlet in B / L mode, after setting the DEF mode, in order to ensure comfort for the upper body of the occupant (driver) and to suppress or prevent fogging of the windows. In S16, the radiant foot heater is turned on, and the process ends. In S17, the VENT mode is set, and the process proceeds to S18. In S18, the air volume from the vent outlet is set to 60%, and the process proceeds to S16. In S17 and S18, in order to ensure comfort for the upper body of the occupant (driver), after setting the VENT mode, the air volume is set to 60% so that the air volume is the same as in the B / L mode.

[0025] More specifically, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control for transitioning from the normal automatic air conditioner settings, including foot outlet, to a setting that reduces or stops foot outlet and turns on radiant heating when it is determined that water has been brought to the feet due to rainfall or snowfall, in a case where the air volume ratio of the conditioned air from each outlet of the air conditioner and the temperature of the conditioned air from each outlet can be adjusted freely.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, in S21, the above-mentioned estimation device estimates (determines) whether water is brought to the feet. In S21, if it is estimated (determined) that water has been brought in (if Yes), the process proceeds to S22, and if it is estimated (determined) that water has not been brought in (if No), the process ends. In S22, it is determined whether or not conditioned air is being blown out from the foot air outlet by the air conditioner. In S22, if it is determined that the foot air conditioning airflow is present (if Yes), the process proceeds to S23, and if it is determined that the foot air conditioning airflow is not present (if No), the process ends. In S23, it is determined whether the temperature of the conditioned air at the foot is higher than the room temperature by the air conditioner. In S23, if it is determined that the temperature of the FOOT conditioned air is higher than the room temperature (Yes), the process proceeds to S24, and if it is determined that the temperature of the FOOT conditioned air is not higher than the room temperature (No), the process ends. In S24, it is determined whether the temperature of the conditioned air at the foot is higher than the comfort temperature (25° C.) by the air conditioner. In S24, if it is determined that the temperature of the FOOT conditioned air is higher than the comfort temperature (25°C) (Yes), proceed to S25, and if it is determined that the temperature of the FOOT conditioned air is not higher than the comfort temperature (25°C) (No), proceed to S27. In S25, the air conditioner sets the foot air volume to 0 (zero), and the process proceeds to S26. In S26, since the air blown to the feet causes water to evaporate, taking away heat (making it impossible to heat the area), if the temperature of the foot air conditioner air is lower than a general comfort temperature (for example, 25°C), the air blowing is stopped. In S26, the air conditioner turns on the radiant foot heater, and the process ends. In S27, the air conditioner sets the FOOT conditioned air temperature to room temperature, and the process proceeds to S28. In S28, the foot air volume is set to a value that will result in the passenger (driver) reaching a wind speed of 0.5 m / s, and the process proceeds to S26. In S27 and S28, if the temperature of the foot conditioned air is higher than the general comfort temperature and higher than room temperature, there is a risk of humidification, so the temperature of the foot conditioned air is set to room temperature, and the air volume is set to a wind speed that will not cause discomfort to the passenger (driver) due to lowering the temperature of the foot conditioned air.

[0027] In the illustrated example, the total air conditioning air volume is not changed, so by changing the air volume of the air conditioning air from the foot air outlet, the air volumes of the air conditioning air from the other vent air outlets and the air volume of the air conditioning air from the defroster air outlet are passively changed.

[0028] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0029] For example, in the present invention, not only a radiant foot heater but also a seat heater provided in a seat can be used to improve the comfort of a passenger (driver). [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1. Vehicle air conditioning system 11 Foot air outlet 12 Vent outlet 13 Defroster outlet 20 Radiant foot heater 30 Estimation device 40 vehicles 40a Indoor 40b Foot Space 41 seats 42 Windows 43 Wiper 44 Instrument Panel 50 Driver

Claims

1. The vehicle is provided with a foot outlet for blowing conditioned air toward a foot space in a vehicle interior, a radiant foot heater installed in the vehicle interior, and an estimation device for estimating water brought into the foot space, When the estimation device estimates that water is brought into the feet, the amount of airflow of the air-conditioned air from the foot outlet is reduced and the radiant foot heater is heated.

1. A vehicle air conditioning system comprising:

2. Further, a vent outlet for blowing conditioned air toward the seat in the room is provided, When the estimation device estimates that water is brought to the feet, the amount of airflow of the air-conditioned air from the vent outlet is increased.

2. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1.

3. Further, a defroster outlet is provided for blowing conditioned air toward a window in the room, When the estimation device estimates that water is brought to the feet, the air volume of the air conditioning air from the vent outlet and the air volume of the air conditioning air from the defroster outlet are increased, The amount of airflow of the conditioned air from the defroster air outlet is greater than the amount of airflow of the conditioned air from the vent air outlet.

3. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2.

4. 2. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the estimation device estimates the water carried to the feet due to rainfall or snowfall from weather information around the vehicle or an operation history of the vehicle's wipers on the previous day.

5. 2. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the conditioned air from the foot outlet is reduced when the temperature of the conditioned air from the foot outlet is higher than the temperature in the room and lower than a comfortable temperature.

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