Method for controlling an air conditioning system in a passenger compartment of a road vehicle

Abstract

To provide a method and apparatus for controlling an air conditioning system (5) in a passenger compartment (2) of a road vehicle (1).SOLUTION: The method comprises the steps of: detecting a body temperature of at least a part of the body of one or more occupants (4) of the passenger compartment (2); and transmitting the detected body temperature to the air conditioning system (5), which controls a plurality of ventilation devices (6) arranged inside the passenger compartment (2). The method comprises the further steps of: identifying the number and the position of the one or more occupants (4) seated in the passenger compartment (2); determining optimized tuning at least based on the body temperature detected by a sensor member (10); and controlling the ventilation devices (6) as a function of the optimized tuning.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102020000002665, filed February 11, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for controlling an air conditioning system in a passenger compartment of a road vehicle. [Background technology]

[0003] Modern road vehicles are virtually always equipped with an air conditioning system that allows the temperature inside the vehicle (i.e., the passenger compartment) to be regulated (raised, lowered, or kept constant). As an example, air conditioning systems are frequently used in the summer to lower the temperature inside the passenger compartment relative to the temperature outside the vehicle. Conversely, in the winter, air conditioning systems are typically used to heat the inside of the passenger compartment, making it warmer than the outside.

[0004] An air conditioning system typically includes multiple ventilators (containing so-called air "outlets") located at different locations inside the passenger compartment of a road vehicle. For example, the ventilators may be divided into types based on the zones to which they direct the air flow, and may be independently regulated and / or selectively activated.

[0005] Modern air conditioning systems offer ample possibilities for adjusting the way the temperature is regulated inside the passenger compartment: for example, it is possible to manually increase or decrease the flow rate (i.e., intensity) and / or direction of the airflow emitted by each ventilator by operating each ventilator in a completely independent manner.

[0006] Additionally, automated climate control systems (both single-zone and dual-zone) are becoming increasingly common, adjusting the intensity and temperature of the air based on the interior temperature detected by one or more thermometers located inside the passenger compartment (e.g., under the seats, inside the dashboard, or console). This interior temperature is typically used in closed-loop (feedback) control to adjust the temperature and intensity of the airflow exiting the ventilation system to reach a temperature manually set by one (or two, in the case of dual-zone systems) of the passengers.

[0007] However, the fullness of these adjustment possibilities is based solely on reaching a set temperature inside the passenger compartment and does not take into account the actual thermal conditions, the actual presence and actual position of the occupants in the passenger compartment of the road vehicle. For these reasons, the desired manual set temperature is typically changed periodically by the driver or passengers in order to adapt the desired interior temperature to the immediate needs of the people seated in the vehicle.

[0008] For example, in prior art systems, by setting a certain desired temperature value, the air conditioning system works to reach a desired average temperature inside the passenger compartment without taking into account the needs and habits of the passengers and without assessing the extent to which solar radiation enters the temperature distribution inside the passenger compartment of a road vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is, inter alia, to provide a method for controlling an air conditioning system in a passenger compartment of a road vehicle, which method allows one or more passengers to improve (optimize) the climate sensation inside the passenger compartment, while being simple and immediate for all users and not interfering with the driver's driving.

[0010] According to the present invention, a method for controlling an air conditioning system in a passenger compartment of a road vehicle is provided in accordance with the accompanying claims.

[0011] The claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention and form an integral part of the present description. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show examples of non-limiting embodiments thereof. [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view of a road vehicle equipped with an air conditioning system controlled according to the control method of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing, in a schematic frontal view, the division of the upper body of an occupant in a passenger compartment into thermal zones; [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of the field of view of a sensor element inside the passenger compartment. [Figure 4] 1 is a possible flowchart for determining a heat index. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In Figure 1, reference numeral 1 generally designates a road vehicle (particularly a passenger car) with two front non-drive (i.e. non-driven) wheels and two rear drive wheels, in which an internal combustion engine is located at the front, generating torque that is transmitted to the drive wheels via a transmission.

[0014] The road vehicle 1 comprises a passenger compartment 2 with two or more seats 3 each adapted to accommodate a corresponding passenger 4, i.e. the driver is always seated in the passenger compartment 2, and additional passengers may be present (their presence is, of course, optional).

[0015] The road vehicle 1 comprises an air conditioning system 5 that allows a number of air flows A to flow inside the passenger compartment 2. The air flows A can be both warm air flows (pre-heated by a resistor or by transfer of heat from an endothermic engine) and cold air flows (by transfer of heat by an evaporator). The terms "warm" and "cold" are intended to refer to warmer and colder, respectively, with respect to the existing temperature inside the vehicle 1.

[0016] 1 , the air conditioning system 5 is arranged inside the passenger compartment 2 of the road vehicle 1 and comprises a number of ventilation devices 6 through which an air flow A introduced by the air conditioning system 5 passes inside the passenger compartment 2. In particular, the ventilation devices 6 are classified into three different categories based on the area to which such devices 6 direct the air flow A. For example, the air conditioning system 5 comprises at least one ventilation device 6 for defrosting, each of which has an air flow A directed towards or along the windshield 7, at least one ventilation device 6 for occupant 4 ventilation, each of which has an air flow A directed towards the body of the occupant 4, and at least one down vent, each of which has an air flow A directed towards the feet of the occupant 4.

[0017] In some non-limiting cases, the ventilation devices 6 are further divided based on the side of the vehicle on which they are located (e.g., right side, left side, and / or front side, rear side).

[0018] The air conditioning system 5 further comprises a control device 8 configured to control the ventilation device 6. In particular, the control device 8 determines the flow rate and temperature of the air flow A as it leaves the ventilation device 6 (i.e., from the outlet).

[0019] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the air conditioning system 5 (and in particular the control device 8) comprises a storage device 9 in which adjustment parameters are stored. More specifically, such adjustment parameters are stored to keep track of the preferences of the occupant 4.

[0020] Advantageously, the air conditioning system 5 comprises at least one sensor member 10 configured to determine at least the number and positions of the occupants 4 inside the passenger compartment 2 (for example the seats in which they are seated).

[0021] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the sensor member 10 comprises (and in particular is) a thermal camera 11 configured to frame one or more occupants 4 of the passenger compartment 2 and to determine the temperature of at least a part of the body of at least one occupant 4. In some non-limiting cases, the thermal camera 11 communicates the detected data to the control device 8. In other non-limiting cases, the thermal camera 11 communicates the detected data to a suitable image processing system connected to the control device 8.

[0022] According to some non-limiting embodiments, the thermal camera 11 is located in the ceiling light of the passenger compartment 2 (as shown in FIG. 1). In particular, the thermal camera 11 is located in the center portion (above the rearview mirror).

[0023] According to another non-limiting embodiment, the thermal camera 11 is positioned on a pillar of the passenger compartment 2. In particular, the thermal camera 11 is positioned on the top of a pillar that is located between the base of the vehicle frame and the ceiling of the passenger compartment 2.

[0024] In some non-limiting cases, particularly in two-seater vehicles, the climate control system 5 includes two thermal cameras 11, one facing the driver and one facing the passenger.

[0025] In other non-limiting cases, particularly in vehicles with rear seats 3, the climate control system 5 includes at least three thermal cameras 11, one facing the driver, one facing the passenger, and one facing the rear seats 3.

[0026] 1, the air conditioning system 5 includes at least one thermometer 13 located inside the passenger compartment 2. In particular, the thermometer 13 is located in a location that is difficult for the passenger 4 to access, such as, for example, inside the central dashboard or under the seat 3.

[0027] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the air conditioning system 5 also comprises a radiation sensor 14 configured to determine the direction and intensity of solar radiation relative to the vehicle 1. In particular, the radiation sensor 14 transmits the detected data to the control device 8.

[0028] The air conditioning system 5 further comprises a processing unit 12 that determines an optimized tuning based on the detection of the sensor element 10 and controls the ventilation device 6 based on the optimized tuning.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling an air conditioning system 5 is provided.

[0030] The control method includes the steps of detecting the body temperature of at least a part of the body of an occupant 4 in the passenger compartment 2 using a sensor element 10 and providing (i.e., transmitting) such detected body temperature to the air conditioning system 5, in particular to the control device 8.

[0031] Advantageously, the method comprises a further step of determining the number and location of occupants 4 inside the passenger compartment 2. More specifically, during this step it is defined which of the seats 3 are actually occupied by occupants 4.

[0032] Further, the method includes determining an optimized tuning based on at least the body temperature detected by the sensor member, and controlling the ventilation device 6 accordingly (i.e., as a function of the optimized tuning).

[0033] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the optimized tuning varies depending on the driving style of the occupant (i.e., the driver of the vehicle 1), which is determined in particular on the basis of data detected by an inertial measurement unit (per se known and not shown). The driving style of the driver is determined at least in relation to longitudinal acceleration (A in FIG. 4). L ), acceleration along the lateral or transverse axis (A in Figure 4) T ), and speed. These parameters are processed according to known models that determine the drive value by calculating a weighted average of the aforementioned measurements and comparing it with a reference parameter.

[0034] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the optimized tuning varies in response to variations in the temperature of at least one body part of at least one occupant 4 of the passenger compartment 2 .

[0035] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the sensor member 10, i.e., the thermal camera 11, frames at least one occupant 4 to view the upper part of their body (in other words, anything above the occupant's 4 waist).

[0036] 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a segmentation of the upper portion of the occupant 4. In particular, according to such segmentation, the thermal camera 11 detects multiple different temperatures associated with the framed occupant 4. More specifically, the thermal camera 11 calculates the average temperature of a particular portion of the occupant 4's body and provides a scalar value to the control device 8 associated with that portion of the body.

[0037] In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 2, the upper part of the occupant 4 is generally divided into a head T and a torso C.

[0038] Preferably, a frontal head temperature FT is detected with respect to the head T. Specifically, the temperatures RC and LC of the occupant's right and left cheeks, respectively, are also detected.

[0039] Advantageously, but not necessarily, a chest and / or abdominal temperature CT is detected with respect to the torso C. In particular, temperatures RT and LT are also detected on the right and left sides of the occupant 4, respectively. The temperatures RT and LT are the temperatures of the shoulders and / or right and left arms of the occupant 4, as framed by the thermal camera 11.

[0040] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the optimized tuning varies as a function of the physique of at least one occupant 4. The term "physique" is intended to refer to the body shape of occupant 4.

[0041] According to some non-limiting embodiments, the body size of the occupant 4 is determined by the thermal camera 11. Specifically, the body size is determined in terms of a body index BI (see FIG. 4). Such a body index BI is obtained by outlining the image obtained from the thermal camera 11 and determining the body dimensions of the occupant 4. Alternatively or additionally, the body index BI takes into account the weight of the occupant 4 (e.g., as detected by a load sensor included in the seat 3).

[0042] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the optimized tuning varies depending on the clothing worn by an occupant 4 (FIG. 3), e.g., a driver, of the vehicle 1. In particular, via the thermal camera 11, a clothing index CI (FIG. 4) is determined, which determines the thermal insulation of the occupant 4 due to the clothing and related to the temperature inside the passenger compartment.

[0043] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the clothing of the occupant 4 is determined based on the difference in body temperature between the body parts covered by the clothing and the body parts that are not covered.

[0044] According to some non-limiting embodiments, the clothing index CI is determined based on the difference between the head temperature T (particularly the forehead temperature FT) and the torso temperature C (particularly the chest and / or abdomen temperature CT) of the occupant 4.

[0045] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the optimized tuning varies depending on the gender of the occupant 4 .

[0046] In some non-limiting cases, the gender of the occupant may be determined as a function of the personal opening key used to open the vehicle 1, or by a voice recognition system installed in the vehicle 1, or by driving style, or by weight detected by the seat 3. In this way, the temperature of the air exiting the ventilation device 6 may be slightly lower for male occupants and slightly higher for female occupants, corresponding to the customization of the optimized tuning of the air conditioning system 5. In particular, the air conditioning system 5 may adjust the two-zone, three-zone, or four-zone climate control accordingly and in a differentiated manner.

[0047] According to some non-limiting embodiments, the optimized tuning varies as a function of the head T temperature (e.g., F T ). The head T is typically the part of the body that experiences the greatest temperature fluctuations, or is in any case the part that is most likely to interpret the thermal state of the occupant 4 (e.g., whether the occupant is warm or cold). Thus, an increase in the head T temperature indicates that the occupant 4 is getting warmer, and the average temperature inside the passenger compartment can be reduced accordingly (this obviously also works in reverse).

[0048] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the optimized tuning varies based on the radiation I (FIG. 4) of the road vehicle 1.

[0049] According to some non-limiting embodiments, the value of radiation I of the road vehicle 1 is processed (by the control device 8) and detected using a thermal camera 11 based on the difference between the body temperature RT of the right part of the body and the body temperature LT of the left part of the body of at least one of the occupants 4.

[0050] Alternatively or additionally, the value of the radiation I of the road vehicle 1 is processed taking into account the detection of a radiation sensor 14 mounted on the vehicle 1 .

[0051] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the optimized tuning varies as a function of the temperature ET outside the passenger compartment 2 .

[0052] According to some non-limiting embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 3, the temperature ET outside the passenger compartment 2 is processed based on the temperature of at least one window detected by a thermal camera 11 located inside the passenger compartment 2.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the temperature ET outside the passenger compartment 2 is processed taking into account the detection of a thermometer outside the passenger compartment (for example located under the body of the vehicle 1).

[0054] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the method includes the further step of detecting the temperature inside the passenger compartment 2 by at least a thermometer 13 (located inside the passenger compartment 2) and making the optimized tuning more accurate based on the inside temperature detected by the thermometer 13.

[0055] In some non-limiting cases, the control method includes a step of setting a desired temperature (one time only, i.e., not continuously in a periodic manner) by an interface device (e.g., a push button panel, a voice command, a steering wheel, etc.) that is known per se and therefore not shown. This step is preferably performed by an occupant 4 of the vehicle 1, e.g., the driver, who sets a desired temperature that the driver considers consistent with his or her habits and the existing thermal sensation inside the passenger compartment (i.e., if the occupant is warm or cold). In particular, the method further provides for comparing the temperature inside the passenger compartment 2 with the desired set temperature and for improving the accuracy of the optimized tuning based on the difference between the temperature inside the passenger compartment 2 and the desired temperature.

[0056] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the method for controlling the air conditioning system 5 includes the further step of adjusting the flow rate and / or temperature of the air flow A exiting from the plurality of ventilation devices 6 arranged inside the passenger compartment 2. In particular, the temperature and flow rate of the air flow A are adjusted independently of each other. More specifically, the temperature and flow rate of the air flow A are adjusted independently between the different ventilation devices 6. In this way, it is possible to increase the comfort of the vehicle occupants 4, taking into account all the above considerations. For example, if solar radiation mainly strikes one side of the vehicle 1, the ventilation device 6 arranged on that side will emit air flow A at a lower temperature than the air flow simultaneously emitted by the ventilation device 6 arranged on the shaded side of the vehicle 1 (i.e., the side opposite to the sun's radiation).

[0057] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the optimized tuning varies as a function of a thermal comfort index, TI, that takes into account some or all of the variables described and detected thus far.

[0058] In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 4 , the thermal index TI is calculated based on the external data ED (related to the external temperature ET and radiation I), the body data BD (related to the temperatures and / or data FT, RC, LC, RT, LT, CT, CI detected or obtained by the image displayed by the thermal camera 11), the body index BI (related to the physique of the occupant 4), and the dynamic model DM (related to the longitudinal and lateral accelerations A of the vehicle 1). L , A T , and obtained as a function of velocity V).

[0059] In particular, as shown in Figure 4, data relating to the temperatures FT, RC, LC, RT, LT, CT detected by the thermal camera 11 generate a value K, which is used together with a dynamic model DM (depending on the driving style) and a metabolic index MR obtained from data on the body indices of the occupant 4 to process a thermal index TI. In order to obtain a detailed index MR, in addition to the body index BI, the type of driving is also taken into account.

[0060] In particular, following the work of Schaudienst and Vogdt, the correlation between physique and sex (and possibly also health status by assessing abdominal temperature (fat is less permeable than muscle) or the occupant's contours) is used to calculate the relevant metabolic index MR.

[0061] According to some non-limiting embodiments, the value K also already takes into account external data ED, in particular following the model of Hagino and Junichiro (known in the literature) which takes into account the relative importance (weighting) of the local temperature in the general thermal comfort index TI.

[0062] Advantageously, but not necessarily, at least some (and in particular all) of the data / values ​​used to calculate the Heat Index TI are each multiplied by a coefficient so that the Heat Index TI is a weighted average.

[0063] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the thermal index TI is expressed as follows:

number

number

number

[0064] In particular, the coefficients k1-k6 and the offsets Off, O1-O6 are determined experimentally by an assignment table that can assign such coefficients based on the desired weighting of variables multiplied by a particular coefficient and the performance of the calibration with offsets that can adapt the optimized tuning to various vehicle models. The sum of the coefficients k1-k6 is preferably equal to 1.

[0065] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the offset Off is a parameter used to set the preferences of the occupant 4 and store them in the storage device 9. In particular, if the occupant 4 has certain thermal properties, i.e. is warm on average or cool on average, the offset Off allows the system 5 to take said occupant preferences into account and modify it as soon as the occupant 4 is recognized according to one of the methods described above.

[0066] As shown in the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 4, the thermal index TI (which is also multiplied by a predefined weight) is added to the data ED related to the outside of the vehicle 1 and to the data related to the inside of the vehicle, while the temperature T detected by the thermal camera (i.e., thermometer 13) inside the passenger compartment 2 is added to the data ED related to the outside of the vehicle 1 and to the data related to the inside of the vehicle. IN ) and the discharge temperature T of the air flow A at the ventilation device 6 (more specifically, the outlet) DIS ) is not obtained.

[0067] According to a non-limiting embodiment, an equivalent (measured) temperature T is designed to determine the output temperature of airflow A. EQ is expressed by the following equation:

number

[0068] where T DIS denotes the detected temperature of the airflow A leaving the ventilation device 6 (i.e., the input of the system 5), and temperature θ denotes the set temperature of the airflow A leaving the ventilation device 6 (i.e., the feedback output of the system 5).

[0069] Specifically, the coefficients Q1 to Q5 are determined experimentally by an assignment table that can assign a given coefficient based on the desired weighting of the variables that are multiplied by such coefficients. The sum of the coefficients Q1 to Q5 is preferably equal to 1.

[0070] Specifically, the thermal index TI is the equivalent temperature T EQIn this non-limiting case, everything is kept as open loop control, where an increase in the thermal index TI increases its equivalent temperature T EQ As the heat index increases, the discharge temperature θ decreases, while the equivalent temperature T EQ In another non-limiting case, the control is a closed loop control, where the thermal index TI is proportional to the equivalent temperature T EQ Represents feedback.

[0071] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the flow rate of the air flow A leaving the ventilation device 6 is determined by a thermal index TI and an equivalent temperature T EQ It increases in proportion to the increase in the difference between

[0072] In use, the occupant 4 on board the vehicle 1 defines the desired temperature signal by means of an interface device which is known per se and is therefore not shown.

[0073] The embodiments described herein can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0074] In use, the processing device 12 identifies the number and positions of occupants 4 seated in the passenger compartment 2, for example using the sensor elements 10 or weight sensors arranged on the seats 3, determines an optimized tuning based on all the aforementioned parameters, and consequently controls (adjusts) the temperature and flow rate of the airflow A exiting from the ventilation device 6 in accordance with the optimized tuning, as shown in FIG. 4. Obviously, the optimized tuning changes depending on the number and / or positions of occupants 4 in the passenger compartment 2 and variations in the aforementioned parameters. That is, if the number and / or positions of occupants 4 in the passenger compartment 2 are modified, if the external data ED or the temperature included in block K of FIG. 4 are modified, or if the number of occupants 4 is changed and the metabolic index MR is modified, the optimized tuning also needs to be modified accordingly.

[0075] For example, if only the driver is present, the thermal camera 11 detects only the body data and temperature related to the driver and adapts the airflow A to compensate for possible variations in external conditions (temperature, radiation) or internal conditions (clothing, varying temperatures of different parts of the body, etc.).

[0076] Obviously, when both a driver and a front passenger (or other passengers) are present, the ventilation system 6 must be controlled taking into account the needs of both passengers (e.g. as detected by multiple thermal cameras 11) in order to optimize the climate sensation of both passengers without (excessively) privileging one at the expense of the other.

[0077] Obviously, if there is only one thermal camera in the vehicle, it can frame multiple occupants 4. In the case of a single-zone system and multiple occupants 4, the processing unit 12 controls the ventilation system to achieve thermal conditions that at least partially satisfy all occupants 4. In other words, the air conditioning system 5 is controlled to achieve average thermal conditions with respect to the optimal needs of the occupants 4 in the passenger compartment 2.

[0078] While the above invention makes particular reference to very precise example embodiments, it should not be considered limited to such example embodiments, and all variations, modifications or simplifications thereof that fall within the scope of the appended claims, e.g., different types of sensors, different types of vehicles, different parameterizations of coefficients and offsets, etc.

[0079] The above control method has many advantages.

[0080] First, the above control method allows for optimizing the control of the air conditioning system 5, since it has been observed that the thermal sensation experienced by occupants 4 seated in the passenger compartment 2 is significantly affected by the number of occupants 4, their position, solar radiation, their clothing, body shape, etc. Furthermore, the passenger compartment 2 has a small and complex volume (i.e., packed with elements of different shapes), and the addition or subtraction of a single occupant perceptibly alters the thermal response of the passenger compartment 2.

[0081] Thus, thanks to the control method described above, it is possible to provide thermal conditions that are simultaneously adaptive and customizable, especially when only the driver is present, or when the driver and passengers are present (in the case of a two-zone system).

[0082] Obviously, increasing the number of occupants 4 in the passenger compartment 2 necessarily reduces the customization and adaptability of the system and compromises must be accepted in favor of the occupants, but in any case an optimal compromise may be reached in order to maximize the quality of thermal comfort felt by all occupants 4.

[0083] The control method described above works in a fully automated manner, i.e. it is transparent to the occupant 4 and can be used by anyone (without manual intervention) without causing any distraction while driving.

[0084] Finally, the above control method does not involve any additional costs: in fact, the processing unit 12 can be developed entirely through the software of one of the existing control units or the hardware of the air conditioning system 5, while the thermal camera 11, radiation sensor, thermometer 13 and weight sensor are already present in the passenger compartment 2 for other purposes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1 Road vehicles 2. Crew compartment 3 seats 4 crew members 5. Air conditioning system 6. Ventilation system 7. Windshield 8 Control Device 9 Storage device 10 Sensor member 11. Thermal Camera 12 Processing equipment 13 Thermometer 14 Radiation Sensor ED External Data ET Outside temperature I Radiation BI Body mass index A L acceleration AT lateral acceleration V Speed DM moving モデル MR metabolic index T head C Carcass FT front head temperature RC Right Temperature LC left temperature CT chest temperature / abdominal temperature RT right side temperature LT left side temperature BD BODY データ CI Clothing Index TI Thermal Index T IN Internal temperature TDIS discharge temperature T EQ Equivalent temperature

Claims

1. A method for controlling an air conditioning system (5) of a passenger compartment (2) of a road vehicle (1), the method comprising the steps of: detecting a body temperature of at least a portion of the body of one or more occupants (4) in the passenger compartment (2) using a sensor element (10); transmitting the detected body temperature to the air conditioning system (5) that controls a plurality of ventilation devices (6) arranged in the passenger compartment (2); Including, Identifying the number and location of the one or more occupants (4) seated in the passenger compartment (2); determining an optimized tuning by calculating a thermal index (TI) based at least on the body temperature detected by the sensor element (10); controlling said ventilation device (6) as a function of said optimized tuning; wherein the optimized tuning varies depending on a driving style of a driver of the vehicle (1), the driving style being determined based on the detected data; the driving style of the driver is determined based on data detected by an inertial measurement unit, the driving style of the driver being defined based on at least the longitudinal acceleration (AL), the lateral or transverse acceleration (AT) and the speed of the vehicle (1), such parameters being processed according to a model that determines a drive value by calculating a weighted average of the aforementioned measurements and comparing it with reference parameters; A control method comprising:

2. 2. The control method of claim 1, wherein the optimized tuning varies in response to variations in at least one temperature of the body part of at least one of the occupants (4) of the passenger compartment (2).

3. 3. A control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optimized tuning varies depending on the physique of at least one of the occupants (4), as detected in particular by a thermal camera (11).

4. 4. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the optimized tuning varies depending on a clothing index (CI) for clothing worn by at least one of the occupants (4) of the passenger compartment (2).

5. 5. The control method according to claim 4, wherein the clothing index (CI) is determined based on the difference between the body temperature of the part of the body covered by the clothing and the body temperature of an uncovered part of the body, in particular the head, of at least one of the occupants (4).

6. 6. A control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the optimized tuning varies depending on the gender and / or head temperature of at least one of the occupants (4).

7. 7. A control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the optimized tuning varies depending on the radiation of the road vehicle (1).

8. 8. A control method according to claim 7, wherein the radiation of the road vehicle (1) is processed based on signals detected by an external radiation sensor (14) and / or based on a difference between the body temperature of the right and left parts of the body of at least one of the occupants (4), detected using a thermal camera (11).

9. 9. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the optimized tuning varies based on a temperature outside the passenger compartment (2), in particular the temperature outside the passenger compartment (2) is processed based on the temperature of at least one window detected by a thermal camera (11) arranged inside the passenger compartment (2).

10. detecting the temperature inside the passenger compartment (2) by at least one thermometer (13) arranged inside the passenger compartment (2); and refining the optimized tuning based on the temperature of the interior detected by the at least one thermometer (13). The control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

11. comparing the temperature inside the passenger compartment (2) with a desired temperature; and refining the optimized tuning based on a difference between the temperature (2) inside the passenger compartment and the desired temperature. The control method of claim 10 further comprising:

12. 12. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the further step of adjusting the flow rate and / or temperature of the airflows exiting the plurality of ventilation devices (6) arranged in the passenger compartment (2).

13. An air conditioning system (5) for a passenger compartment (2) of a road vehicle (1), the air conditioning system (5) comprising: an interface device for setting a desired temperature signal; a plurality of ventilation devices (6) arranged in the passenger compartment (2); a control device (8) configured to control the plurality of ventilation devices (6); Including, at least one sensor element (10) for identifying at least the number and positions of occupants (4) seated in the passenger compartment (2); a processing unit (12) for determining an optimized tuning based on the detection of the sensor element (10) and for controlling the ventilation device (6) based on the optimized tuning; Including, the processing unit (12) is configured to vary the optimized tuning in response to a driving style of a driver of the vehicle (1), the driving style being determined based on the detected data; the driving style of the driver is determined based on data detected by an inertial measurement unit, the driving style of the driver being defined based on at least the longitudinal acceleration (AL), the lateral or transverse acceleration (AT) and the speed of the vehicle (1), such parameters being processed according to a model that determines a drive value by calculating a weighted average of the aforementioned measurements and comparing it with reference parameters; An air conditioning system (5).

14. 14. The air conditioning system (5) according to claim 13, wherein the sensor member (10) comprises at least one thermal camera (11) designed to frame one or more occupants (4) of the passenger compartment (2) and to determine the temperature of at least a part of the body of at least one or more occupants (4) in the passenger compartment (2).

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