vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle that can reduce power consumption in the cup holder. [Solution] For a vehicle equipped with a driver's side cup holder 41R and a passenger's side cup holder 41L, the temperature of the driver's side cup holder 41R is increased as the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the driver's seat increases, and the temperature of the driver's side cup holder 41R is decreased as the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the driver's seat decreases. The temperature of the passenger's side cup holder 41L is increased as the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the passenger's seat increases, and the temperature of the passenger's side cup holder 41L is decreased as the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the passenger's seat decreases.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle in which a plurality of cup holders are arranged in the passenger compartment. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in the case where means for adjusting the temperature of each cup holder is provided.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a vehicle equipped with an electric heater for maintaining a high temperature (preventing the drink from getting cold) as a cup holder for placing a beverage container (paper cup, plastic bottle, can, bottle, etc.) containing a drink. Also, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is a known vehicle in which cup holders are arranged at multiple locations in the passenger compartment and the temperature of each cup holder can be adjusted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the case of what is disclosed in Patent Document 2, by operating the cup holder corresponding to each seat, the temperature (temperature of the drink) preferred by the passenger sitting in each seat can be obtained. However, if this operation is not properly performed, there is a possibility of causing a situation where the cup holder is heated more than necessary, and in this case, unnecessary power consumption will occur.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle capable of achieving power saving of the cup holder. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a solution for achieving the above objectives, based on a vehicle comprising: an air conditioning system capable of changing the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to each seat of the vehicle; a cup holder provided corresponding to each of the seats; and a temperature adjustment means provided in each of the cup holders, capable of individually adjusting the temperature of each cup holder in order to adjust the temperature of the beverage container contained in the cup holder. This vehicle is characterized in that, the higher the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the first seat among the plurality of seats, the higher the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to the first seat set by the temperature adjustment means; the lower the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the first seat, the lower the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to the first seat set by the temperature adjustment means; the higher the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the second seat among the plurality of seats, the higher the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to the second seat set by the temperature adjustment means; and the lower the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the second seat, the lower the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to the second seat set by the temperature adjustment means.

[0007] This specific feature allows for power savings in the cup holders while automatically adjusting the temperature of the beverage in each cup holder to the preferred temperature of each occupant seated in their respective seat. Specifically, occupants who set the air conditioning temperature high tend to prefer warmer beverages. Therefore, if the air conditioning temperature for the occupant's seat is set high, the temperature of the corresponding cup holder is automatically set higher, raising the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. This allows for automatic adjustment to the occupant's preferred temperature. Conversely, occupants who set the air conditioning temperature low tend to prefer cooler beverages. Therefore, if the air conditioning temperature for the occupant's seat is set low, the temperature of the corresponding cup holder is automatically set lower, lowering the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. This also allows for automatic adjustment to the occupant's preferred temperature. By linking the set temperature of the air conditioning for each seat with the temperature of the cup holder for each seat, situations such as the cup holder overheating can be suppressed, thereby saving power in the cup holder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In this invention, the set temperature of the air conditioning for each seat is linked to the temperature of the cup holder for each seat. As a result, the temperature of the beverage in each drink container in each cup holder is automatically adjusted to the preferred temperature of each occupant seated in each seat, while also saving power for the cup holder. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the area around the center console inside the vehicle according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This block diagram shows a schematic representation of the control system for the air conditioning unit and cup heater. [Figure 3]Figure 3(a) shows an example of the relationship between the air conditioning set temperature and the cup heater set temperature, and Figure 3(b) shows an example of the relationship between the set temperatures when each cup heater's set temperature is linked. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment describes a case in which the temperature of cup holders located on the driver's side and passenger's side of the center console in the vehicle interior is adjusted. This embodiment also describes a case in which an electric heater (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a cup heater) is provided as a means for adjusting the temperature of the cup holders.

[0011] -Configuration of the area around the center console- Figure 1 shows the area around the center console 1 inside the vehicle according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, a center console 1 is provided between the driver's seat (the first seat in this invention: not shown) and the passenger seat (the second seat in this invention: not shown), and this center console 1 is equipped with an air conditioning control panel 2, a shift lever 3, a cup holder 4, and various switches 5.

[0012] The air conditioning control panel 2 is equipped with various switches 21 to 28 and a temperature display unit 29.

[0013] Various switches 21-28 are designed so that when an occupant presses (pushes in) or rotates them, the air conditioning unit 6 is controlled by the air conditioning ECU 7 (see Figure 2), which will be described later, in accordance with that operation.

[0014] The various switches 21-28 on the air conditioning control panel 2 include the temperature setting dials 21 and 22 located on the left and right sides of the center console 1. The right temperature setting dial 21 is used to set the temperature of the air conditioning blown towards the right-hand seat (e.g., the driver's seat). On the other hand, the left temperature setting dial 22 is used to set the temperature of the air conditioning blown towards the left-hand seat (e.g., the passenger seat). When these temperature setting dials 21 and 22 are rotated clockwise in the diagram, they output a command signal to the air conditioning ECU 7 to raise the set temperature, thereby increasing the set temperature. Conversely, when these temperature setting dials 21 and 22 are rotated counterclockwise in the diagram, they output a command signal to the air conditioning ECU 7 to lower the set temperature, thereby decreasing the set temperature.

[0015] The temperature display unit 29 is a display panel (for example, a liquid crystal display panel) positioned between the temperature setting dials 21 and 22, and displays the set temperatures set by operating the temperature setting dials 21 and 22. In addition, the temperature display unit 29 may also display other information such as outside air temperature, interior vehicle temperature, airflow volume, and airflow mode.

[0016] Furthermore, an auto switch 21a and an OFF switch 21b are located inside the right-hand temperature setting dial 21, and a dual switch 22a and an air conditioner switch 22b are located inside the left-hand temperature setting dial 22. The operation of the air conditioner unit 6 when these switches 21a, 21b, 22a, and 22b are operated is well known, so a detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0017] Below the temperature display section 29, various other switches 23 to 28 are arranged. Specifically, in order from the right side in the figure, a rear window defogger switch 23, a front defroster switch 24, an air volume increase switch 25, an air volume decrease switch 26, a blowing mode switch 27, and an inside / outside air changeover switch 28 are arranged. Since the operations of the air conditioner unit 6 when these switches 23 to 28 are operated are also well-known, the description here is omitted. Note that the various switches 21 to 28 provided on the air conditioning operation panel 2 are not limited to those described above, and their arrangement positions are also not limited.

[0018] The shift lever 3 is a well-known one for switching the range position of the vehicle's transmission.

[0019] The cup holder 4 includes a holder main body 41 and cup heaters (temperature adjusting means) 42R and 42L (see FIG. 2) arranged so as to surround the lower surface and the outer peripheral surface of the holder main body 41.

[0020] The holder main body 41 is made of resin and includes a driver's seat side cup holder 41R arranged at a position close to the driver's seat (the right side in FIG. 1) and recessed downward, and a passenger seat side cup holder 41L arranged at a position close to the passenger seat (the left side in FIG. 1) and recessed downward. The inner shape and depth dimensions of these cup holders 41R and 41L are appropriately set according to the size of the cup (drink container) to be accommodated.

[0021] The cup heaters 42R and 42L consist of the driver's seat side cup heater 42R and the passenger seat side cup heater 42L. The driver's seat side cup heater 42R is arranged to surround the lower surface (the back side of the bottom plate 41a of the driver's seat side cup holder 41R) and the outer peripheral surface (the back side of the side plate 41b of the driver's seat side cup holder 41R), and generates heat when energized, heating the driver's seat side cup holder 41R, thereby heating the drink in the cup accommodated in the driver's seat side cup holder 41R. On the other hand, the passenger seat side cup heater 42L is arranged to surround the lower surface (the back side of the bottom plate 41c of the passenger seat side cup holder 41L) and the outer peripheral surface (the back side of the side plate 41d of the passenger seat side cup holder 41L), and generates heat when energized, heating the passenger seat side cup holder 41L, thereby heating the drink in the cup accommodated in the passenger seat side cup holder 41L.

[0022] More specifically, each of the cup heaters 42R and 42L has a structure in which the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the heating element (such as an aluminum foil heater, etc.) is covered by a heat insulating material (such as urethane, etc.), and the heating element is attached to the lower surface and the outer peripheral surface of the cup holders 41R and 41L by double-sided tape.

[0023] Examples of the various switches 5 arranged on the side of the shift lever 3 include various switches such as a parking brake switch and a driving mode switch.

[0024] - Control System of Air Conditioner and Cup Heater - Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an overview of the control system of the air conditioner unit 6 and the cup heaters 42R and 42L according to this embodiment. As shown in this Figure 除2, the control system of the air conditioner unit 6 and the cup heaters 42R and 42L includes, in addition to the air conditioner unit 6 and the cup heaters 42R and 42L, an air conditioning operation panel 2 equipped with the aforementioned switches 21 to 28, an air conditioner ECU 7, and a heater ECU 8.

[0025] The air conditioning unit 6 is configured to blow conditioned air, whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted, into the passenger compartment through an air outlet. This air conditioning unit 6 includes a heat pump 61 and a blower 62, etc. The air conditioning unit 6 is also provided with multiple air outlets for blowing conditioned air into the passenger compartment, and an air outlet switching door 63 is provided for switching between these air outlets. Examples of air outlets include a driver's side face outlet that blows conditioned air towards the driver's seat occupant, a passenger's side face outlet that blows conditioned air towards the passenger seat occupant, as well as foot outlets and defroster outlets.

[0026] The air conditioning ECU 7 is provided to control the air conditioning unit 6. The ignition switch 91 and various sensors 92 are connected to the air conditioning ECU 7 by signal lines. As a result, the ON signal (IG-ON signal) and OFF signal (IG-OFF signal) from the IG switch 91, as well as sensing signals from the various sensors 92, are input to the air conditioning ECU 7. Examples of the various sensors 92 include an interior temperature sensor, an outside temperature sensor, and a solar radiation sensor.

[0027] Furthermore, the air conditioning ECU 7 (more specifically, the ROM of the air conditioning ECU 7) stores control programs that perform various operations on the air conditioning unit 6.

[0028] The heater ECU8 (more specifically, the ROM of the heater ECU8) stores a control program that receives output signals from the air conditioning ECU7 and controls each of the cup heaters 42R and 42L.

[0029] The heater ECU8 includes, as its functional units, a driver's side set temperature acquisition unit 81, a passenger's side set temperature acquisition unit 82, a driver's side heater temperature command unit 83, a passenger's side heater temperature command unit 84, and a storage unit 85.

[0030] The driver's side set temperature acquisition unit 81 acquires information on the driver's side set temperature (air conditioning set temperature on the driver's side), which is an output signal from the air conditioning ECU 7. This driver's side set temperature information is based on the command signal corresponding to the rotation operation of the right-side temperature setting dial 21.

[0031] The passenger-side set temperature acquisition unit 82 acquires information on the passenger-side set temperature (passenger-side air conditioning set temperature), which is an output signal from the air conditioning ECU 7. This passenger-side set temperature information is based on the command signal corresponding to the rotation operation of the left-side temperature setting dial 22.

[0032] The memory unit 85 stores information on the correlation between the driver's side set temperature acquired by the driver's side set temperature acquisition unit 81 and the temperature command value to be commanded to the driver's side cup heater 42R, and information on the correlation between the passenger side set temperature acquired by the passenger side set temperature acquisition unit 82 and the temperature command value to be commanded to the passenger side cup heater 42L. In terms of these correlations, the higher the driver's side set temperature acquired by the driver's side set temperature acquisition unit 81, the higher the temperature command value to be commanded to the driver's side cup heater 42R. Conversely, the lower the driver's side set temperature acquired by the driver's side set temperature acquisition unit 81, the lower the temperature command value to be commanded to the driver's side cup heater 42R. Similarly, the higher the passenger-side set temperature acquired by the passenger-side set temperature acquisition unit 82, the higher the temperature command value to be instructed to the passenger-side cup heater 42L. Conversely, the lower the passenger-side set temperature acquired by the passenger-side set temperature acquisition unit 82, the lower the temperature command value to be instructed to the passenger-side cup heater 42L.

[0033] The driver's side heater temperature command unit 83 receives the driver's side set temperature information acquired by the driver's side set temperature acquisition unit 81, reads the corresponding command temperature (temperature command value to be commanded to the driver's side cup heater 42R: driver's side cup heater set temperature) from the storage unit 85, and outputs it to the driver's side cup heater 42R. As a result, the driver's side cup heater 42R is controlled to reach this command temperature.

[0034] Similarly, the passenger-side heater temperature command unit 84 receives the passenger-side set temperature information acquired by the passenger-side set temperature acquisition unit 82, reads the corresponding command temperature (the temperature command value to be commanded to the passenger-side cup heater 42L: the passenger-side cup heater set temperature) from the storage unit 85, and outputs it to the passenger-side cup heater 42L. As a result, the passenger-side cup heater 42L is controlled to reach this command temperature.

[0035] Figure 3(a) shows an example of the relationship between the air conditioning set temperature and the cup heater set temperature (the temperature command value instructed to the cup heater). As shown, the higher the air conditioning set temperature, the higher the cup heater set temperature will be, and conversely, the lower the air conditioning set temperature, the lower the cup heater set temperature will be. As an example, in the figure, T1 is 25°C and t1 is 70°C. These values ​​are not limited to these and can be set arbitrarily.

[0036] Figure 3(b) shows an example of the relationship between the set temperatures when the set temperatures of each cup heater are linked. Examples of linking the set temperatures of each cup heater include cases where the air conditioning set temperatures on the driver's side and passenger's side are linked by turning OFF the dual switch 22a. For example, in the figure, T2 is 80°C and t2 is 70°C. The difference between these values ​​is not limited to these and can be set arbitrarily.

[0037] -Effects of the embodiment- As explained above, in this embodiment, the temperature of the beverage in each cup stored in each cup holder 41R, 41L can be automatically adjusted to the preferred temperature of each occupant seated in each seat (driver's seat and passenger seat), while also saving power in the cup holders 41R, 41L (saving power in the cup heaters 42R, 42L). In other words, occupants who set the air conditioning temperature to a high setting (for example, occupants seated in the driver's seat) tend to prefer their beverages to be hotter. Therefore, when the air conditioning temperature corresponding to the seat where this occupant is seated (for example, the driver's seat) is set to a high setting, the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to that seat (for example, the driver's side cup holder 41R) is set to a higher setting, raising the temperature of the beverage in the cup. This allows the beverage to be automatically adjusted to the occupant's preferred temperature. Conversely, occupants who set the air conditioning temperature low (for example, occupants sitting in the front passenger seat) tend to prefer their drinks at a lower temperature. Therefore, if the air conditioning temperature for the seat where this occupant is sitting (for example, the front passenger seat) is set low, the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to that seat (for example, the front passenger side cup holder 41L) is also set low in conjunction with this setting, lowering the temperature of the drink in the cup. This allows the drink to be automatically adjusted to the occupant's preferred temperature. By linking the air conditioning temperature setting for each seat with the temperature of the corresponding cup holders 41R and 41L, situations such as the cup holders 41R and 41L becoming excessively heated are suppressed, and power saving for the cup holders 41R and 41L can be achieved.

[0038] -Other Embodiments- Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and all modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims and equivalents thereof.

[0039] For example, the above embodiment described the case of adjusting the temperature of cup holders 41R and 41L, which are located on the driver's side and passenger's side of the center console 1, respectively. The present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to individually adjusting the temperature of cup holders located in other places.

[0040] Furthermore, the above embodiment was described using the case where the cup holders 41R and 41L are heated as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can also be applied when the cup holders 41R and 41L are cooled using a Peltier element or the like. [Industrial applicability]

[0041] The present invention is applicable to vehicles in which multiple temperature-adjustable cup holders are installed inside the vehicle. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 4...Cup holder 41R...Driver's side cup holder 41L...Passenger side cup holder 42R… Driver's side cup heater (temperature adjustment mechanism) 42L…Passenger-side cup heater (temperature control device) 6…Air conditioning unit (air conditioning system) 8... Heater ECU 83... Driver's side heater temperature control unit 84... Passenger side heater temperature control unit

Claims

[Claim 1] An air conditioning system that allows for changing the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow for each seat in the vehicle, Each of the aforementioned seats is provided with a corresponding cup holder, In a vehicle, each of the aforementioned cup holders is provided with a temperature adjustment means capable of individually adjusting the temperature of each cup holder in order to adjust the temperature of the beverage container housed in the cup holder, The higher the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the first seat among the multiple seats, the higher the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to that first seat is set by the temperature adjustment means. The lower the set temperature of the air conditioning air corresponding to the first seat, the lower the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to the first seat is set by the temperature adjustment means. The higher the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the second seat among the multiple seats, the higher the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to that second seat is set by the temperature adjustment means. A vehicle characterized in that the lower the set temperature of the air conditioning airflow corresponding to the second seat, the lower the temperature of the cup holder corresponding to the second seat, controlled by the temperature adjustment means.

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