Vehicle air conditioning system

Abstract

To realize further energy saving in a vehicle air-conditioning device.SOLUTION: A control section 46 of a vehicle air-conditioning device 10 performs: normal air-conditioning control which sends air through an air outlet according to a selected type of air-conditioning operation (a side / central outlet register outlet 28B (Vent) in the case of cooling operation and a foot side outlet 28C (Heat) in the case of heating operation) within a period a user is in a vehicle; and preliminary air-conditioning control which sends air through a larger number of outlets than in the normal air-conditioning control (both the side / central register outlet 28B and the foot side outlet 28C) within a period before the user gets in the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle air conditioner.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes that when a pre-air conditioning instruction is given, air is blown toward the lower part of the vehicle interior, and when the detection of a passenger boarding is made, the air outlet is switched to perform control to blow air toward the upper part of the vehicle interior.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Reducing power consumption in a vehicle air conditioner is an important issue that is always in need of improvement.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object thereof is to obtain a vehicle air conditioner that can achieve further power saving.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A vehicle air conditioner according to a first aspect includes a control unit that performs normal air conditioning control to blow air from an air outlet selected according to the type of air conditioning during a period when the user is in the vehicle, and performs pre-air conditioning control to blow air from a larger number of air outlets than in the normal air conditioning control during a period before the user boards the vehicle. The control unit The user When the time of boarding both By the user Is preset toThe system calculates the time T required to bring the cabin temperature to the target temperature using the pre-air conditioning control, recognizes the user's pre-set boarding time as the start timing for the normal air conditioning control, and recognizes the time T required earlier than the start timing for the normal air conditioning control as the start timing for the pre-air conditioning control. Furthermore, if the start time of the pre-air conditioning control is set in advance by the user, the set start time of the pre-air conditioning control is recognized as the start timing of the pre-air conditioning control, and the timing at which the user's boarding is detected by the boarding detection sensor is recognized as the start timing of the normal air conditioning control. If the time at which the user boards the vehicle and the start time of the pre-air conditioning control are set in advance by the user, the set start time of the pre-air conditioning control is recognized as the start timing of the pre-air conditioning control, and the set time at which the user boards the vehicle is recognized as the start timing of the normal air conditioning control. do.

[0007] In the first embodiment, pre-air conditioning control is performed in which air is blown out from a larger number of vents than normal air conditioning control during the period before the user boards the vehicle. This reduces pressure loss in the air blown out during pre-air conditioning control, thereby enabling further power savings for the vehicle's air conditioning system. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, The user The time to board the vehicle By the user If set in advance to The system calculates the time T required to bring the cabin temperature to the target temperature using pre-air conditioning control. The system recognizes the user's boarding time as the start time for normal air conditioning control, and recognizes a time T earlier than the start time for normal air conditioning control as the start time for pre-air conditioning control. As a result, the user only needs to pre-set the time they will board the vehicle, and pre-air conditioning control will automatically start so that the cabin temperature reaches the target temperature by the time the user boards. This saves the user time and allows the start time of pre-air conditioning control to be delayed compared to conventional systems, thus shortening the execution time of pre-air conditioning control and leading to energy savings. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, if the start time of pre-air conditioning control is set in advance by the user, the set start time of pre-air conditioning control is recognized as the start timing of pre-air conditioning control, and the timing at which the passenger detection sensor detects the passenger's presence is recognized as the start timing of normal air conditioning control. As a result, the time at which the temperature inside the vehicle reaches the target temperature through pre-air conditioning control is earlier than before, which leads to an earlier start time for the passenger to board the vehicle and begin driving. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when the user sets the time when they board the vehicle and the start time of pre-air conditioning control, the system recognizes the set pre-air conditioning control start time as the start timing for pre-air conditioning control and the set user boarding time as the start timing for normal air conditioning control. As a result, the difference between the cabin temperature at the time the user boards the vehicle and the target temperature becomes smaller than before, leading to improved user comfort. Thus, in the first embodiment, the user can pre-set the time to board the vehicle, pre-set the start time of pre-air conditioning control, or pre-set both the time to board the vehicle and the start time of pre-air conditioning control separately. In any case, pre-air conditioning control is started at an appropriate timing according to the type of time set, and then normal air conditioning control is started at an appropriate timing according to the type of time set. This increases the degree of freedom for the user regarding the setting of the start timing of air conditioning control, thereby improving user convenience. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] This disclosure has the effect of enabling further power savings in vehicle air conditioning systems. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle air conditioning system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]This flowchart shows an example of air conditioning control processing. [Figure 3] This diagram shows an example of the start timing for pre-air conditioning control and normal air conditioning control. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle air conditioning system 10 according to this embodiment realizes a refrigeration cycle by a refrigerant circulation path including a compressor 12, a condenser 14, an expansion valve 16, and an evaporator 18.

[0011] The evaporator 18 cools the air passing through it by vaporizing the compressed and liquefied refrigerant. At this time, the air passing through the evaporator 18 is cooled by the evaporator 18 and dehumidified by the condensation of moisture in the air. The expansion valve 16, located upstream of the evaporator 18 in the refrigerant circulation path, rapidly reduces the pressure of the liquefied refrigerant, supplying it to the evaporator 18 in atomized form, thereby improving the vaporization efficiency of the refrigerant in the evaporator 18.

[0012] In this embodiment, the compressor 12 is electrically powered, and the motor 20 enables the circulation of the refrigerant even when the vehicle's prime mover (e.g., engine or motor) is not operating. When the vehicle's prime mover is operating, the compressor 12 may be driven by the vehicle's prime mover. Furthermore, when using the vehicle's prime mover, a mechanical compressor may be used instead of the electrically powered compressor.

[0013] Furthermore, the evaporator 18 is installed inside the air conditioning duct 22. The air conditioning duct 22 has openings at both ends, and air intake ports 24 and 26 are formed at one of the open ends. Air intake port 26 communicates with the outside of the vehicle, allowing outside air to be introduced into the air conditioning duct 22. Air intake port 24 communicates with the inside of the vehicle, allowing air (inside air) to be introduced from inside the vehicle. An intake port switching damper 30 is provided near the air intake ports 24 and 26. The intake port switching damper 30 exclusively opens and closes the air intake ports 24 and 26 by the driving force of an actuator 32 for the intake port switching damper.

[0014] Furthermore, at the other open end of the air conditioning duct 22, a plurality of air outlets 28 (in Figure 1, 28A, 28B, and 28C are shown as examples) are formed, opening toward the passenger compartment. In this embodiment, the air outlets 28 are a defroster outlet 28A (DEF) that blows air toward the windshield glass, a side / center register outlet 28B (Vent) that blows air toward the upper part of the passenger compartment, and a footwell outlet 28C (Heat) that blows air toward the lower part of the passenger compartment.

[0015] A nozzle switching damper 42 is provided near the air outlet 28. In this embodiment, by opening and closing the air outlets 28A, 28B, and 28C using the nozzle switching damper 42, air can be blown into the vehicle interior from the desired nozzle. The operation of this nozzle switching damper 42 is performed by the control unit 46 (described later) driving the nozzle switching damper actuator 44 according to the air conditioning settings.

[0016] In addition, a blower fan 27 is provided in the air-conditioning duct 22 between the evaporator 18 and the air inlets 24 and 26. The blower fan 27 rotates by the drive of the blower motor 34, sucks air into the air-conditioning duct 22 from the air inlet 24 or the air inlet 26, and further sends this air toward the evaporator 18. At this time, according to the open / closed states of the air inlets 24 and 26 by the inlet switching damper 30, outside air or inside air is introduced into the air-conditioning duct 22. That is, the inside air circulation mode and the outside air introduction mode are switched by the inlet switching damper 30.

[0017] An air mix damper 36 and a heater core 38 are provided on the downstream side of the evaporator 18 in the air-conditioning duct 22. The air mix damper 36 rotates by the drive of the air mix damper actuator 40, and adjusts the ratio between the amount of air passing through the heater core 38 and the amount of air bypassing the heater core 38 among the air passing through the evaporator 18. The heater core 38 heats the air guided by the air mix damper 36.

[0018] The air passing through the evaporator 18 is guided to the heater core 38 according to the opening degree of the air mix damper 36 and heated, and after being mixed with the air not heated by the heater core 38, it is sent toward the air outlet 28. In the vehicle air-conditioning device 10, the temperature of the air blown out from the air outlet 28 into the vehicle interior is adjusted by controlling the air mix damper 36 to adjust the amount of air heated by the heater core 38.

[0019] The vehicle air conditioning system 10 also includes a control unit 46 that performs various controls on the vehicle air conditioning system 10. The control unit 46 is connected to a blower fan speed control unit 48 that controls the rotational speed of the blower fan 27, an actuator 32 for the intake port switching damper, an actuator 40 for the air mix damper, an actuator 44 for the outlet port switching damper, a control switch 50 that controls the motor 20 that rotates the compressor 12, an outside temperature sensor 52, an interior temperature sensor 54, a solar radiation sensor 56, an operation unit 58 for setting the temperature of the vehicle air conditioning system 10 and selecting the outlets 28, and a passenger detection sensor 60 that detects when a user is in the vehicle. The passenger detection sensor 60 may be a door switch that detects when a door is opened or closed, or a seat sensor that detects when a user is seated in a vehicle seat.

[0020] The control unit 46 receives input from the outside temperature sensor 52, the vehicle interior temperature sensor 54, the solar radiation sensor 56, and the passenger detection sensor 60. Based on the detection values ​​of each sensor, the control unit 46 performs various controls according to settings via the operation unit 58. The blower fan speed control unit 48 can be fitted with something like a power transistor, and if a power transistor is used, the rotation speed of the blower fan 27 can be changed by changing the duty cycle of the voltage applied to the base of the power transistor.

[0021] Furthermore, the vehicle air conditioning system 10 is equipped with a pre-air conditioning function that pre-conditions the vehicle before the user boards, and it is possible to drive the compressor 12 and various motors using the power of the battery installed in the vehicle. In this embodiment, pre-air conditioning is performed using the power of the battery, but during pre-air conditioning, power from a prime mover such as an engine or motor may be used instead of the battery power.

[0022] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 2, regarding the air conditioning control processing performed by the control unit 46 of the vehicle air conditioning system 10. In step 100 of the air conditioning control processing, the control unit 46 recognizes the start timing of pre-air conditioning control and the start timing of normal air conditioning control. In this embodiment, there are three setting patterns for the control start timing: a first pattern in which the time when the user boards the vehicle is set in advance, a second pattern in which the start time of pre-air conditioning control is set in advance, and a third pattern in which the time when the user boards the vehicle and the start time of pre-air conditioning control are set in advance, and one of these patterns is selected.

[0023] If the first pattern is selected (see also Figure 3(A)), the control unit 46 calculates the time T required to bring the temperature inside the vehicle to the target temperature using pre-air conditioning control, recognizes the pre-set user boarding time as the start timing for normal air conditioning control, and recognizes a time T earlier than the start timing for normal air conditioning control as the start timing for pre-air conditioning control. If the second pattern is selected (see also Figure 3(B)), the control unit 46 recognizes the pre-set start time for pre-air conditioning control as the start timing for pre-air conditioning control, and recognizes the timing when the boarding detection sensor 60 detects the boarding of the vehicle as the start timing for normal air conditioning control. If the third pattern is selected (see also Figure 3(C)), the control unit 46 recognizes the pre-set start time for pre-air conditioning control as the start timing for pre-air conditioning control, and recognizes the pre-set user boarding time as the start timing for normal air conditioning control.

[0024] The user can select patterns and set various times, for example, via the operation unit 58, but is not limited to this. For example, the above selections and settings may be performed via a mobile terminal such as a smartphone that is wirelessly connected to the control unit 46.

[0025] In step 102, the control unit 46 determines whether the pre-air conditioning start timing recognized in step 100 has arrived. If the determination in step 102 is negative, step 102 is repeated until the determination is positive. If the determination in step 102 is positive, the process proceeds to step 104.

[0026] In step 104, the control unit 46 performs pre-air conditioning control to bring the temperature inside the vehicle to the target temperature using an air outlet mode that has lower pressure loss in air outlets than the normal air conditioning control described later and can deliver air to the entire vehicle interior. Specifically, it uses an air outlet mode (also called bi-level mode) that blows air from the side / center register outlet 28B (Vent) which can blow air towards the upper part of the vehicle interior, and the footwell outlet 28C (Heat) which blows air towards the lower part of the vehicle interior.

[0027] In the next step 106, the control unit 46 determines whether the normal air conditioning start timing recognized in step 100 has arrived. If the determination in step 106 is negative, the system returns to step 104 and continues pre-air conditioning control by repeating steps 104 and 106 until the determination in step 106 is positive. If the determination in step 106 is positive, the system proceeds to step 108.

[0028] In step 108, the control unit 46 performs normal air conditioning control that considers keeping the head cool and feet warm, using a blowing mode according to the air conditioning setting. Specifically, in the case of cooling, it blows cool air from the side / center register outlet 28B (Vent), and in the case of heating, it blows warm air from the foot outlet 28C (Heat). In the next step 110, the control unit 46 determines whether the user has disembarked. If the determination in step 110 is negative, the process returns to step 108, and normal air conditioning control continues by repeating steps 108 and 110 until the determination in step 110 is positive. If the determination in step 110 is positive, the air conditioning control process ends.

[0029] Thus, in this embodiment, the control unit 46 performs normal air conditioning control, which blows air from selected vents according to the type of air conditioning, while the user is in the vehicle, and also performs pre-air conditioning control, which blows air from more vents than normal air conditioning control, in the period before the user gets in the vehicle. As a result, the pressure loss in the air blowing during pre-air conditioning control is reduced, thereby enabling power saving of the vehicle air conditioning system 10.

[0030] Furthermore, as the pressure loss in the air blowing during pre-air conditioning control is reduced compared to conventional methods, the slope of the change in room temperature during pre-air conditioning control becomes larger than before, as shown in Figures 3(A) to (C). As a result, in the first pattern, as shown in Figure 3(A), the start timing of pre-air conditioning control can be delayed compared to conventional methods, and the execution time of pre-air conditioning control can be shortened compared to conventional methods, leading to energy savings. In the second pattern, as shown in Figure 3(B), the time it takes for the temperature inside the vehicle to reach the target temperature due to pre-air conditioning control is shorter than before, leading to an earlier time when the user can get in and start driving. In the third pattern, as shown in Figure 3(C), the difference between the room temperature inside the vehicle at the time the user gets in and the target temperature is smaller than before, leading to improved user comfort.

[0031] In the above description, a mode of pre-air conditioning control was described in which air is blown out from the side / center register outlet 28B (Vent) and the footwell outlet 28C (Heat). However, this disclosure is not limited to this mode, and in addition to the two outlets described above, air may also be blown out from the defroster outlet 28A (DEF) which blows air toward the windshield glass.

[0032] The following additional information is disclosed regarding the embodiments described above.

[0033] (Note 1) A vehicle air conditioning system including a control unit that performs normal air conditioning control, which blows air from selected vents according to the type of air conditioning, while the user is in the vehicle, and pre-air conditioning control, which blows air from a larger number of vents than the normal air conditioning control, in the period before the user boards the vehicle.

[0034] (Note 2) The vehicle air conditioning system as described in Appendix 1, wherein the control unit calculates the time T required to bring the temperature inside the vehicle to a target temperature using pre-air conditioning control when the time when the user boards the vehicle is set in advance, recognizes the set time when the user boards the vehicle as the start timing for normal air conditioning control, and recognizes a time T required earlier than the start timing for normal air conditioning control as the start timing for pre-air conditioning control.

[0035] (Note 3) The vehicle air conditioning system according to Appendix 1, wherein the control unit recognizes the preset start time of pre-air conditioning control as the start timing of pre-air conditioning control when the start time of pre-air conditioning control is preset, and recognizes the timing at which a user is detected by the passenger detection sensor as the start timing of normal air conditioning control.

[0036] (Note 4) The vehicle air conditioning system according to Appendix 1, wherein, when the time a user boards the vehicle and the start time of pre-air conditioning control are set in advance, the control unit recognizes the pre-set start time of pre-air conditioning control as the start timing of pre-air conditioning control and the pre-set time a user boards the vehicle as the start timing of normal air conditioning control. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10. Vehicle air conditioning system 28B Side / Center Register Air Outlet 28C Underfoot air vent 44 Actuator for air outlet switching damper 46 Control Unit 60 Passenger detection sensors

Claims

[Claim 1] The control unit includes a control unit that performs normal air conditioning control, which blows air from selected vents according to the type of air conditioning, while the user is in the vehicle, and a control unit that performs pre-air conditioning control, which blows air from a larger number of vents than the normal air conditioning control, in the period before the user boards the vehicle. The control unit calculates the time T required to bring the temperature inside the vehicle to a target temperature using the pre-air conditioning control when the time the user boards the vehicle is set in advance by the user, recognizes the set time the user boards the vehicle as the start timing of the normal air conditioning control, recognizes a time T required earlier than the start timing of the normal air conditioning control as the start timing of the pre-air conditioning control, recognizes the set start time of the pre-air conditioning control as the start timing of the pre-air conditioning control when the start time of the pre-air conditioning control is set in advance by the user, recognizes the timing at which the boarding of the user is detected by the boarding detection sensor as the start timing of the normal air conditioning control, and recognizes the set start time of the pre-air conditioning control as the start timing of the pre-air conditioning control and the set time the user boards the vehicle as the start timing of the normal air conditioning control when the time the user boards the vehicle and the start time of the pre-air conditioning control are set in advance by the user.

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