Vehicle air conditioning vents

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle air conditioning vent system that prevents deformation and deterioration of soft materials such as sealing components and the fins themselves, and increases the range of materials that can be used to form the soft materials and fins. [Solution] The vehicle air conditioning outlet device 1 comprises at least one air conditioning outlet 2 and a control unit 3 that controls the air conditioning outlet 2. The air conditioning outlet 2 comprises drive units 11 and 12 and fins 13 and 14 for adjusting the airflow direction, which are driven by the drive units 11 and 12. The control unit 3 performs shut control when stopping the airflow during the operation of the vehicle's air conditioning, by moving the fins 14 of at least one air conditioning outlet 2 to the fully closed position, and air conditioning stop control when the air conditioning is stopped, by moving the fins 14 of all air conditioning outlets 2 to an air conditioning stop position, which is a position with a gap from the fully closed position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle air-conditioning blowout device.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, control is known in which fins for adjusting the wind direction at an air-conditioning blowout opening of an automobile are rotated by motor drive. For example, for the following reasons (1) and (2), when the air conditioning is stopped, the fins are stopped at the fully closed position to move the fins to a position that is difficult for the occupant's hands (fingers) to reach, and when the air conditioning is in operation, control is performed to return the fins to the original wind direction position. (1) To prevent the fins from moving to an unintended position due to mischief of the occupant during parking. (2) To prevent foreign matter from entering through the air-conditioning blowout opening. Furthermore, to simplify the configuration, an operation (shut operation) for stopping the blowing of wind by the fins is also performed.

[0003] A technique is known in which fins for adjusting the wind direction at an air-conditioning blowout opening of an automobile are rotated by motor drive. As such a technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a motor unit for opening and closing driving of a louver arranged at a ventilation opening of an automobile. In Patent Document 1, control is performed such that the louver is stopped at the fully closed position when the automobile air conditioner is turned off or the ignition is turned off, and the louver is automatically returned from the fully closed position to the set position when the air conditioner is subsequently turned on. In addition, a technique is known in which the fins of the air-conditioning blowout opening of an automobile have both a wind direction adjusting function and a shut function (a function for stopping the blowing of wind). As such a technique, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration including an air blowing duct mounted on an instrument panel or the like of an automobile, a wind direction deflector disposed at the front inside the air blowing duct, and a rear wind direction deflector disposed at the rear inside the air blowing duct and also serving as a shut damper. In Patent Document 2, a seal member is provided between the rear wind direction deflector and the inner peripheral surface of the air blowing duct.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-246924 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-280683 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] However, if the louvers and deflection plates (fins) are stopped in the fully closed position when the vehicle is parked, deformation and deterioration of soft materials such as sealing components and the fins themselves may occur due to high temperatures during parking in the summer. Therefore, there was room for improvement in increasing the options for soft materials and materials used to form the fins.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle air conditioning venting device that can prevent deformation and deterioration of soft materials such as sealing members and the fins themselves, and that can increase the range of materials that can be used to form the soft materials and fins, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a means of solving the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention has the following configuration. (1) A vehicle air conditioning outlet according to one aspect of the present invention comprises at least one air conditioning outlet and a control unit for controlling the air conditioning outlet, wherein the air conditioning outlet comprises a drive unit and fins for adjusting the airflow direction driven by the drive unit, and the control unit performs shut-off control to move the fins of at least one air conditioning outlet to the fully closed position when stopping the airflow during operation of the vehicle's air conditioning, and air conditioning stop control to move the fins of all air conditioning outlets to an air conditioning stop position which is a position with a gap from the fully closed position when the air conditioning is stopped. According to this embodiment, when the air conditioning is stopped, the fins of all air conditioning outlets stop with a gap between them and the fully closed position, thereby suppressing deformation and deterioration of soft materials such as sealing members and the fins themselves caused by high temperatures during parking in the summer. Therefore, the range of soft materials and materials used to form the fins can be increased.

[0008] (2) In the above-described vehicle air conditioning outlet, a sealing member may be further provided in the portion of the fin facing the gap.

[0009] (3) In the above-described vehicle air conditioning outlet device, when the control unit performs the air conditioning stop control, it may first move the fins to the fully closed position to align them with the origin position, and then move them to the position for when the air conditioning is stopped and stop them.

[0010] (4) In the above-described vehicle air conditioning outlet, the position when the air conditioning is stopped may be a position between the limit position on the side closer to the fully closed position and the fully closed position within the airflow direction adjustment range of the fins.

[0011] (5) In the above-mentioned vehicle air conditioning venting device, the gap may be such that a sphere with a diameter of 5 mm or more cannot enter.

[0012] (6) In the above-described vehicle air conditioning outlet, the fins in the air conditioning outlet are configured on two axes, and the fins configured on two axes include an upwind fin and a downwind fin positioned downstream of the upwind fin in the wind direction, and the control unit may perform the shut control and the air conditioning stop control on the downwind fin. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, deformation and deterioration of soft materials such as sealing members and the fins themselves can be prevented, and the range of materials that can be used to form the soft materials and fins can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1]The perspective view showing the outline of the vehicle air conditioning blowout device according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] The front view showing the outline of the air conditioning blowout port according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] The cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of Figure 2, showing the movable range of the leeward-side fin. [Figure 4] The cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 2, showing the movable range of the windward-side fin. [Figure 5] The view showing the position of the wind direction adjusting fins when air is blown toward the center according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] The view showing the position of the wind direction adjusting fins when air blowing is stopped according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] The view showing the position of the wind direction adjusting fins when the air conditioning is stopped according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] The view explaining an example of the operation of the wind direction adjusting fins when the air conditioning is stopped according to the embodiment. [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements such as "parallel", "perpendicular", "center", and "coaxial" not only strictly mean such arrangements, but also include states of relative displacement by angles or distances to the extent that tolerances or the same functions can be obtained. In the drawings used in the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately modified to make each member recognizable in size.

[0016] <Vehicle Air Conditioning Blowout Device> Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the outline of the vehicle air conditioning blowout device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle air conditioning blowout device 1 includes at least one air conditioning blowout port 2 and a control unit 3 that controls the air conditioning blowout port 2. Directions such as up, down, front, back, left, and right in the following description are the same as the directions in the vehicle 100 on which the vehicle air conditioning blowout device 1 is mounted, unless otherwise specified.

[0017] The vehicle air conditioning vent system 1 is installed, for example, on the instrument panel of the vehicle 100. In the example shown in Figure 1, four air conditioning vents 2 are arranged. For example, the four air conditioning vents 2 may be arranged one each on the left end, left center, right center, and right end at the front of the vehicle. Note that the arrangement of the air conditioning vents 2 (location and number) is not limited to the above and can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0018] <Air conditioning outlet> The air conditioning outlet 2 comprises drive units 11 and 12, and fins 13 and 14 for adjusting the airflow direction, which are driven by the drive units 11 and 12.

[0019] The air conditioning outlet 2 includes a duct 10 that forms an opening 9. The duct 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape that aligns with the direction of airflow. In the example shown in Figure 1, the duct 10 is formed in a rectangular box shape that opens in the direction of airflow. Note that the shape of the duct 10 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0020] The drive units 11 and 12 are attached to the duct 10. In the example shown in Figure 1, one drive unit 11 and one drive unit 12 are attached to the top and side surfaces of the duct 10, respectively. The drive units 11 and 12 consist of a side-side drive unit 11 attached to the side surface of the duct 10 and an top-side drive unit 12 attached to the top surface of the duct 10. The mounting positions of the drive units 11 and 12 are not limited to those shown above and can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0021] The drive units 11 and 12 are connected to the control unit 3 via, for example, wiring 4. The drive units 11 and 12 are configured to include a drive motor, such as a stepping motor. However, the drive units 11 and 12 may also be configured to include a power source other than a motor. The configuration of the drive units 11 and 12 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0022] The fins 13 and 14 are positioned near the opening 9 of the duct 10, respectively. The fin 13 in this embodiment has the function of adjusting the wind direction. The fin 14 in this embodiment has both the function of adjusting the wind direction and a shut-off function (a function of stopping the outflow of wind).

[0023] The fins 13 and 14 are formed of, for example, resin. When the air conditioning of the vehicle 100 is in operation and the airflow is stopped, the fin 14 is moved to the fully closed position (for example, the fully closed position P2-5 of the downwind fin 14 shown in Figure 3). In the following description, this fully closed position P2-5 of the fin 14 may be simply referred to as the "fully closed position". This fully closed position corresponds to a state in which air is being blown as part of the air conditioning system of the vehicle 100, but the fins 14 are closing the opening 9 so that air does not escape from the opening 9.

[0024] When the vehicle's air conditioning is turned off, the fin 14 is stopped with a gap S (see Figure 7) between it and the fully closed position.

[0025] <Configuration of wind direction adjustment fins> Figure 2 is a front view showing an overview of the air conditioning outlet 2 according to the embodiment. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2, showing the range of motion of the downwind fin 14. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV in Figure 2, showing the range of motion of the upwind fin 13. Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the fins 13 and 14 in the air conditioning outlet 2 are configured on two axes. The fins 13 and 14 configured on two axes include an upwind fin 13 and a downwind fin 14 positioned downstream of the upwind fin 13 in the wind direction.

[0026] <Windward fin> Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the upwind fin 13 is positioned upstream of the downwind fin 14 in the wind direction within the duct 10. The upwind fin 13 is rotatable about a first axis 13a that runs along the lateral direction (for example, the vehicle width direction, or horizontal direction).

[0027] The windward fin 13 is rotatable vertically (in the direction of arrow Z in the figure) around the first axis 13a. The windward fin 13 is rotated by a side drive unit 11 (see Figure 1) on the side of the duct 10 via a mechanism (not shown, such as a reduction mechanism). The windward fin 13 is rotatable between the upper wind direction limit position P1-1 and the lower wind direction limit position P1-3.

[0028] The upper wind direction limit position P1-1 of the windward fin 13 is the position when the tip of the windward fin 13 (the upstream end in the wind direction) is in contact with the upper inner circumference of the duct 10, and is the position where it stops when the wind direction is directed furthest upward. The vertical wind direction center position P1-2 of the windward fin 13 is the position when the tip of the windward fin 13 is on the vertical center plane (corresponding to a horizontal plane) along the opening direction of the duct 10, and is the position where it stops when the wind direction is directed towards the center. The lower wind direction limit position P1-3 of the windward fin 13 is the position when the tip of the windward fin 13 is in contact with the lower inner circumference of the duct 10, and is the position where it stops when the wind direction is directed furthest downward. The vertical wind direction can be adjusted by stopping or rotating the windward fin 13 at a constant speed between the upper wind direction limit position P1-1 and the lower wind direction limit position P1-3, and by reciprocating.

[0029] <Leeze side fin> Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the downwind fin 14 is positioned downstream in the wind direction from the upwind fin 13 inside the duct 10. The downwind fin 14 is rotatable about a second axis 14a that runs along the longitudinal direction (for example, the vehicle's vertical direction). Multiple downwind fins 14 (seven in the example in Figure 3) are arranged side by side in the lateral direction. The multiple downwind fins 14 are arranged at equal intervals to the left and right when fully open. The multiple downwind fins 14 are connected integrally by connecting members (not shown) so as to be rotatable. The multiple downwind fins 14 are formed in a plate shape of a size that can close the air passage inside the duct 10 when fully closed.

[0030] The leeward fin 14 is rotatable left and right (in the direction of arrow Y in the figure) around the second axis 14a. The leeward fin 14 is rotated by the upper surface drive unit 12 (see Figure 1) on the upper surface of the duct 10 via a mechanism (not shown, such as a reduction mechanism). The leeward fin 14 is rotatable between the left wind direction limit position P2-1 and the fully closed position P2-5.

[0031] The left-right wind direction center position P2-2 of the leeward fin 14 is the position when the tip of each leeward fin 14 is on a plane (corresponding to a vertical plane) along the opening direction of the duct 10, and is the position where it stops when the wind direction is directed towards the center. The left-right wind direction limit position P2-1 of the leeward fin 14 is the position turned to the left from the left-right wind direction center position P2-2, and is the position where it stops when the wind direction is directed furthest to the left. The right-right wind direction limit position P2-3 of the leeward fin 14 is the position turned to the right from the left-right wind direction center position P2-2, and is the position where it stops when the wind direction is directed furthest to the right. By stopping or rotating the leeward fin 14 at a constant speed between the left-right wind direction limit position P2-1 and the right-right wind direction limit position P2-3, and moving back and forth, the left-right wind direction can be adjusted. The fully closed position P2-5 of the downwind fin 14 is the position where the tip of the rightmost downwind fin 14 is in contact with the right inner circumference of the duct 10, and adjacent downwind fins 14 are in partial contact with each other. This is the position where the fins stop when the airflow is stopped during air conditioning operation. When the downwind fins 14 stop in the fully closed position P2-5, the airflow from the air conditioning unit to the opening 9 is blocked. The downwind fin position P2-4 of the downwind fin 14 when the air conditioning is stopped is between the right airflow limit position P2-3 and the fully closed position P2-5. This is the position where there is a gap S (see Figure 7) to prevent the downwind fins 14 from contacting each other or the downwind fins 14 from contacting the inner circumference of the duct 10, and this is the position where the fins stop when the air conditioning is stopped. By stopping the downwind fin 14 at position P2-4 when the air conditioning is stopped, it is possible to prevent the sealing member described later from being crushed and prevent stress from being applied to the downwind fin 14.

[0032] <Sealing material> The air conditioning outlet 2 may be equipped with a sealing member 15 (see Figure 7) at the portion of the fin 14 facing the gap S. The sealing member 15 is formed of a material that is softer than the fin 14, for example. Examples of materials for the sealing member 15 include elastomer material, nonwoven fabric, and soft sheet. However, the material of the sealing member 15 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0033] The sealing member 15 may be formed to cover, for example, the outer edge of the fin 14. The sealing member 15 may be formed to cover, for example, at least the portion where adjacent fins 14 face each other when the fin 14 is in the fully closed position. The sealing member 15 may be formed, for example, on the inner surface of the duct 10 at a portion facing the fin 14 in the fully closed position. Note that the form of the sealing member 15 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to the design specifications. By providing the sealing member 15, when the fin 14 is moved to the fully closed position when the airflow is stopped during air conditioning operation, air leakage into the opening 9 can be suppressed.

[0034] <Department Head> In this embodiment, multiple air conditioning outlets 2 are controlled by a single separate control unit 3. In the example shown in Figure 1, one control unit 3 is provided for four air conditioning outlets 2. The control unit 3 controls the drive units 11 and 12 of each air conditioning outlet 2 via wired connections such as wiring 4. Alternatively, the control unit 3 may control the drive units 11 and 12 wirelessly without using wiring 4. The configuration of the control unit 3 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0035] Although not shown in the diagram, the control unit 3 includes an arithmetic unit and a storage unit. For example, the arithmetic unit is composed of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). For example, the storage unit includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing data, flash memory, etc.

[0036] When the vehicle's air conditioning is in operation, the control unit 3 moves the fins 14 of any air conditioning outlet 2 to the fully closed position (shut-off control) if it wants to stop the airflow from that outlet 2. When the air conditioning is stopped, the control unit 3 moves the fins 14 of all air conditioning outlets 2 from the fully closed position to the air conditioning stop position, which is a position with a gap S open (air conditioning stop control). For example, when the air conditioning is in operation and the blowing of air from the rightmost air conditioning outlet 2 shown in Figure 1 is to be stopped, the control unit 3 moves the fins 14 of the rightmost air conditioning outlet 2 to the fully closed position. Also, when the air conditioning is stopped, the control unit 4 moves the fins 14 of all four air conditioning outlets 2 from the fully closed position to the air conditioning stop position, which is a position with a gap S open. In this embodiment, by controlling the air conditioning to stop when the downwind fin 14 (the fin on the inside of the vehicle), the fin 14 can be stopped in a position that is difficult for the occupant's hand (finger) to reach when the air conditioning is stopped, thus preventing the fin 14 from being moved to an unintended position due to vandalism. In addition, since the fins 14 do not come into contact with each other or with the inner circumference of the duct 10, deformation and deterioration of soft materials such as sealing members and the fins themselves caused by high temperatures during parking in the summer can be prevented.

[0037] Furthermore, when the control unit 3 performs air conditioning shutdown control, it may first move the fins 14 to the fully closed position to align them to their origin, and then move them to the air conditioning shutdown position and stop them. By first moving the fins 14 to the fully closed position to align them to their origin, the fins 14 can be moved to the air conditioning shutdown position and stopped with high precision.

[0038] The amount of movement required to move the fin 14 from the fully closed position to the position when the air conditioning is stopped is set based on variations in the fin 14 and related components. The components related to the fin 14 include the fin 14 itself, the duct 10, the sealing member 15, the shaft member that rotatably supports the fin 14 (the second shaft 14a shown in Figure 3), a mechanism (not shown), the control unit 3, etc. For example, the above amount of movement (the minimum distance between the fin and surrounding components) is set to an amount that takes into account the amount of deformation of the sealing member 15, the play of the mechanism, the motor backlash, and the amount of deviation in the soft control (deviation on the control side). Examples of the amount of deviation in the soft control include errors and variations in the control resolution of the motor's rotation angle.

[0039] <Position of wind direction adjustment fins> Figure 5 shows the position of the wind direction adjustment fins when air is blown towards the center according to the embodiment. Figure 6 shows the position of the wind direction adjustment fins when air blowing is stopped according to the embodiment. Figure 7 shows the position of the wind direction adjustment fins when the air conditioning is stopped according to the embodiment. In Figures 5 to 7, examples of multiple (three in the example shown) downwind fins 14 provided with sealing members 15 are shown as wind direction adjustment fins.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, when wind is blown out towards the center, each of the multiple downwind fins 14 is positioned on a plane (corresponding to a vertical plane) along the opening direction of the duct 10. The position shown in Figure 5 corresponds to the left-right wind direction center position P2-2 of the downwind fins 14 shown in Figure 3. When wind is blown out towards the center as shown in Figure 5, the wind is blown out from the opening 9 in the direction of the arrow, passing between the multiple downwind fins 14.

[0041] As shown in Figure 6, when the airflow is stopped, each of the multiple downwind fins 14 is positioned so that it is in contact with the inner circumferential side surface (wall) of the duct 10 or with adjacent downwind fins 14. The position shown in Figure 6 corresponds to the fully closed position P2-5 of the downwind fins 14 shown in Figure 3. When the airflow is stopped as shown in Figure 6, the multiple downwind fins 14 block the airflow from the opening 9 in the direction of the arrow.

[0042] As shown in Figure 7, when the air conditioning is stopped, each of the multiple downwind fins 14 is stopped with a gap S between them from the fully closed position. The position shown in Figure 7 corresponds to the air conditioning stop position P2-4 shown in Figure 3. When the air conditioning is stopped as shown in Figure 7, the airflow from the air conditioning unit is stopped, so even though there is a gap S, there is no airflow from the opening 9.

[0043] Furthermore, the gap S should be the minimum necessary to prevent the entry of foreign objects; for example, it is desirable that the gap be such that a sphere with a diameter of 5 mm or more cannot enter.

[0044] <Operation of airflow adjustment fins when the air conditioner is stopped> Figure 8 illustrates an example of the operation (control method) of the airflow direction adjustment fins when the air conditioning is stopped according to the embodiment. In the example of Figure 8, an example of a plurality (three in the example) of downwind fins 14, each provided with a sealing member 15, is shown as the airflow direction adjustment fin.

[0045] In the example shown in Figure 8, when the air conditioning is stopped, the control unit 3 first aligns the origin position of the multiple downwind fins 14. As part of the origin positioning, the control unit 3 moves the multiple downwind fins 14 to the fully closed position. In this fully closed position, each of the multiple downwind fins 14 is positioned so that it is in contact with the inner circumferential surface (wall) of the duct 10 or with adjacent downwind fins 14 via the sealing member 15.

[0046] Next, the control unit 3 moves the multiple downwind fins 14 to a position where a gap S is created and stops them. That is, after aligning the origin position of the multiple downwind fins 14 at the fully closed position P2-5 shown in Figure 3, the control unit 3 moves them to the air conditioning stop position P2-4 shown in Figure 3. At this air conditioning stop position P2-4, each of the downwind fins 14, including the sealing member 15, is stopped with a gap S open.

[0047] Furthermore, the origin positioning of the downwind fin 14 may be configured such that, for example, when the drive unit 12 is composed of a stepping motor, the origin positioning is performed by repeatedly losing steps at the fully closed position. Alternatively, the origin positioning may be performed when it is determined that the fully closed position has been reached upon detection of a stepping loss. In addition, the origin positioning may be performed by detecting the fully closed position using a sensor, detecting the fully closed position using a mechanical switch, or other methods.

[0048] <Effects and Effects> As described above, the vehicle air conditioning outlet device 1 of the above embodiment comprises at least one air conditioning outlet 2 and a control unit 3 that controls the air conditioning outlet 2. The air conditioning outlet 2 comprises drive units 11 and 12 and fins 13 and 14 for adjusting the airflow direction, which are driven by the drive units 11 and 12. The control unit 3 performs shut-off control when stopping the airflow during operation of the vehicle's air conditioning, which moves the fins 14 of at least one air conditioning outlet 2 to the fully closed position, and air conditioning stop control when the air conditioning is stopped, which moves the fins 14 of all air conditioning outlets 2 from the fully closed position to an air conditioning stop position with a gap S between them. With this configuration, the fins 14 do not come into contact with each other or with the inner circumference of the duct 10 when the air conditioning is stopped. This prevents deformation and deterioration of soft materials such as sealing components and the fins themselves caused by high temperatures during parking in the summer. Therefore, the range of soft materials and materials used to form the fins can be increased.

[0049] In the above embodiment, a sealing member 15 is further provided at the portion of the fin 14 facing the gap S. With this configuration, when the airflow stops, the sealing member 15 can suppress air leakage into the opening 9.

[0050] In the above embodiment, when the control unit 3 performs air conditioning stop control, it first moves the fins 14 to the fully closed position to align with the origin position, and then moves them to the position for air conditioning stop and stops them. With this configuration, by first moving the fins 14 to the fully closed position and aligning their origin, the fins 14 can be accurately moved to the position where the air conditioning is stopped and then stopped.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the position when the air conditioning is stopped is a position between the limit position on the side closest to the fully closed position and the fully closed position within the airflow direction adjustment range of the fin 14. With this configuration, the position when the air conditioning is stopped is close to the fully closed position, which narrows the gap S. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering through the gap S.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the gap S is such that a sphere with a diameter of 5 mm or more cannot enter. This configuration prevents foreign objects from entering through gaps S when the air conditioning is turned off.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the fins in the air conditioning outlet are configured on two axes. The fins configured on two axes include an upwind fin and a downwind fin positioned downstream of the upwind fin in the wind direction. The control unit performs shut-off control and air conditioning stop control on the downwind fin. With this configuration, the air conditioning is stopped for the downwind fin 14 (the fin on the inside of the vehicle), so that when the air conditioning is stopped the fin 14 can be stopped in a position that is difficult for the occupant's hands (fingers) to reach, thereby preventing the fin 14 from being moved to an unintended position due to vandalism.

[0054] <Variation> In the above embodiment, an example was given in which a sealing member is further provided on the part of the fin facing the gap, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, in cases where air leakage to the opening can be prevented by increasing the contact area between the fins or the contact area between the fins and the inner circumference of the duct, a sealing member may not be provided on the part of the fin facing the gap. The manner in which the sealing member is installed can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the control unit described an example in which, when performing air conditioning shutdown control, the fins are first moved to the fully closed position to align with the origin position, and then moved to the air conditioning shutdown position and stopped. However, the control unit is not limited to this. For example, when performing air conditioning shutdown control, the control unit may move the fins to the air conditioning shutdown position from the beginning and stop them, without first moving them to the fully closed position (origin position). The manner in which the fins are stopped with a gap from the fully closed position when the air conditioning is stopped can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the air conditioning stop position was described as being a position between the limit position closest to the fully closed position and the fully closed position within the airflow adjustment range of the fins, but it is not limited to this. For example, if the airflow adjustment range is wide, the air conditioning stop position may be a position within the airflow adjustment range of the fins. The configuration of the air conditioning stop position can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the gap was described as being such that a sphere with a diameter of 5 mm or more cannot enter, but it is not limited to this. For example, in cases where the structure is designed to prevent small foreign objects from entering, the gap does not need to be such that a sphere with a diameter of 5 mm or more cannot enter. The gap spacing can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the fins in the air conditioning outlet are configured on two axes, and the fins configured on the two axes include an upwind fin and a downwind fin positioned downstream of the upwind fin in the wind direction, and the control unit performs shut-off control and air conditioning stop control on the downwind fin as described, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, multiple fins may be configured on a single axis. The configuration of multiple fins can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0059] In the above embodiment, an example was given in which multiple fins are arranged at each of the multiple air conditioning outlets, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, one fin may be arranged at each of the multiple air conditioning outlets. One or more fins may be arranged at least some of the multiple air conditioning outlets. The number of fins arranged at each air conditioning outlet can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0060] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the upwind fin adjusts the airflow direction vertically and the downwind fin adjusts the airflow direction horizontally at the air conditioning outlet, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the air conditioning outlet may be configured in which the upwind fin adjusts the airflow direction horizontally and the downwind fin adjusts the airflow direction vertically. Furthermore, while Figure 3 illustrates an example where the fully closed position is where the tip of the fin 14 contacts the inner right side of the duct 10, this is not the only example. For instance, the fully closed position may be where the tip of the fin 14 contacts the inner left side of the duct 10.

[0061] The vehicle air conditioning outlet system described above has been explained using an example that includes the above-described air conditioning outlet and a control unit that controls the air conditioning outlet, but it is not limited to this. For example, the control unit may be provided at the air conditioning outlet. For example, the air conditioning outlet may include a drive unit, fins for adjusting the airflow direction driven by the drive unit, and a control unit that controls the drive unit, and the control unit may be configured to perform shut-off control, which moves the fins to the fully closed position when the airflow is stopped while the vehicle's air conditioning is in operation, and air conditioning stop control, which moves the fins to an air conditioning stop position, which is a position with a gap from the fully closed position, when the air conditioning is stopped. The control unit may or may not be included on the air conditioning outlet side. The configuration of the vehicle air conditioning outlet system (the configuration of the control unit) can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0062] Furthermore, a program for realizing all or part of the functions of the vehicle air conditioning vent and air conditioning outlet in this invention may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and all or part of the processing performed by the vehicle air conditioning vent and air conditioning outlet may be performed by loading the program recorded on this recording medium into a computer system and executing it. Herein, "computer system" includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. "Computer system" also includes a WWW system equipped with a homepage provisioning environment (or display environment). "Computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" also includes volatile memory (RAM) within a computer system that acts as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, which retains the program for a certain period of time.

[0063] Furthermore, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system that stores the program in a memory device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves within the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Furthermore, the above program may be for the purpose of realizing a part of the functions described above. Moreover, it may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0064] Although embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described above using examples, the present invention is not limited in any way to these embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0065] Examples of the present invention are as follows: <Note 1> At least one air conditioning vent, The system includes a control unit that controls the air conditioning outlet, The aforementioned air conditioning outlet comprises a drive unit and fins for adjusting the airflow direction, which are driven by the drive unit. The control unit, When the vehicle's air conditioning is operating and the airflow is to be stopped, a shut-off control is provided which moves the fins of at least one of the air conditioning outlets to the fully closed position. When the air conditioning is stopped, the air conditioning stop control is performed to move the fins of all the air conditioning outlets from the fully closed position to the position where there is a gap between them, which is the position when the air conditioning is stopped. Vehicle air conditioning vent system. <Note 2> The fin is further provided with a sealing member at the portion facing the gap. Vehicle air conditioning vents as described in Appendix 1. <Note 3> When the control unit performs the air conditioning stop control, it first moves the fins to the fully closed position to align them with the origin position, and then moves them to the position for when the air conditioning is stopped and stops them. Vehicle air conditioning vents as described in Appendix 2. <Note 4> The aforementioned air conditioning stop position is a position between the limit position closest to the fully closed position and the fully closed position within the airflow direction adjustment range of the fins. A vehicle air conditioning vent system as described in any of the appendices 1 to 3. <Note 5> The aforementioned gap is such that a sphere with a diameter of 5 mm or more cannot enter. A vehicle air conditioning vent system as described in any of the appendices 1 to 3. <Note 6> In the aforementioned air conditioning outlet, the fins are composed of two axes. The fin, which is composed of two axes, The windward fin and, It includes a leeward fin positioned downstream in the wind direction from the windward fin, The control unit performs the shut control and the air conditioning stop control on the downwind fin. A vehicle air conditioning vent system as described in any of the appendices 1 to 5. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 1. Vehicle air conditioning vent system 2. Air conditioning outlet 3. Control Unit 9 Opening 10 ducts 11,12 Drive unit 13. Upwind fin (fin for adjusting wind direction) 14. Downwind fin (fin for adjusting wind direction) 15 sealing member 100 vehicles P2-4 Position when air conditioning is stopped P2-5 Fully closed position S Gap

Claims

1. At least one air conditioning vent, The system includes a control unit that controls the air conditioning outlet, The aforementioned air conditioning outlet comprises a drive unit and fins for adjusting the airflow direction, which are driven by the drive unit. The control unit, When the vehicle's air conditioning is operating and the airflow is to be stopped, a shut-off control is provided that moves the fins of at least one of the air conditioning outlets to the fully closed position. When the air conditioning is stopped, the air conditioning stop control is performed to move the fins of all the air conditioning outlets from the fully closed position to the position where there is a gap between them, which is the position when the air conditioning is stopped. Vehicle air conditioning vent system.

2. The fin is further provided with a sealing member at the portion facing the gap. The vehicle air conditioning outlet device according to claim 1.

3. When the control unit performs the air conditioning stop control, it first moves the fins to the fully closed position to align them with the origin position, and then moves them to the position for when the air conditioning is stopped and stops them. The vehicle air conditioning vent according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned air conditioning stop position is a position between the limit position closest to the fully closed position and the fully closed position within the airflow direction adjustment range of the fins. The vehicle air conditioning venting device according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned gap is such that a sphere with a diameter of 5 mm or more cannot enter. The vehicle air conditioning venting device according to claim 3.

6. In the aforementioned air conditioning outlet, the fins are composed of two axes. The fin, which is composed of two axes, The windward fin and, It includes a leeward fin positioned downstream in the wind direction from the windward fin, The control unit performs the shut control and the air conditioning stop control on the downwind fin. A vehicle air conditioning vent according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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