Control method for air conditioning of vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle, and its primary objective is to provide a method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle that can solve the problem of cooling air cooling the battery flowing back into the rear seat and raising the temperature of the rear seat when air conditioning control and battery cooling are performed simultaneously in the vehicle. To achieve the above objective, a method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle is disclosed, comprising: a step in which a controller determines whether a predetermined entry condition for air conditioning control for compensating for the backflow of battery cooling air into the rear seat is satisfied from environmental information collected from the vehicle; a step in which, if it is determined that the predetermined entry condition is satisfied, the controller starts air conditioning control for compensating for the backflow of battery cooling air into the rear seat; a step in which, when air conditioning control for compensating for the backflow of battery cooling air into the rear seat is started, the controller determines a compensation value corresponding to the current operating stage of the battery cooling fan; a step in which the controller compensates the current control variable value of an air conditioning device component using the determined compensation value; and a step in which the controller controls the state of the air conditioning device component according to the compensated control variable value so that air conditioning operation for compensating for the backflow of battery cooling air cooling air into the rear seat is performed.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle, and more specifically, to a method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle that can solve the problem of cooling air used to cool the battery flowing back into the rear seat and raising the temperature of the rear seat when air conditioning control and battery cooling are performed simultaneously in a vehicle. Background Technology

[0003] As is well known, automobiles are equipped with an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system to regulate the interior temperature and create a comfortable indoor environment.

[0004] Recently, the FATC (Full Automatic Temperature Control) system, which automatically adjusts the interior temperature according to the temperature set by the driver or passengers to maintain a comfortable indoor environment, is being applied to most vehicles.

[0005] In the FATC system, when a user sets a target air conditioning temperature, the controller calculates the indoor heat load using information such as solar radiation, outside temperature, and indoor temperature detected by sensors to control the vehicle's interior temperature to the user-set target temperature, and then determines the discharge mode, discharge temperature, discharge direction, and discharge airflow based on the corresponding air conditioning load.

[0006] Next, the controller controls each door actuator, such as the air intake door (inside / outside air switching door), temp door (temperature control door), and air direction control door (mode door), as well as operating elements such as the air conditioning blower, air conditioner compressor, and electric heater, so that the supply of air for air conditioning is controlled according to the determined discharge mode, discharge temperature, discharge direction, and discharge air volume.

[0007] In addition, air conditioning modes in automobile air conditioning systems are classified into various modes according to the air intake and air discharge methods. Depending on the air intake method, they are divided into outside air mode and inside air mode, and air intake doors and door actuators are installed to select and control the inside air mode and outside air mode.

[0008] Depending on the air discharge method, it is classified into Face mode (or Vent mode), Floor mode (FLR), Defrost mode (DEF), Bi-level mode, etc. To this end, the air conditioning system includes a wind direction control door that changes the air flow path according to each mode, and a vent door installed at the inlet of each vent to open and close the vent.

[0009] The vents of the air conditioning system are classified into face vents that discharge air to the face and chest, floor vents that discharge air towards the vehicle floor and driver's feet, and defrost vents that discharge air towards the vehicle's windshield glass, and a vent door is installed at the inlet of each vent to open and close the corresponding vent according to the air conditioning mode.

[0010] In recent vehicles, air conditioning systems capable of dividing the interior space into multiple zones and providing air conditioning for each zone are applied. For example, a 3-zone type air conditioning system is known to provide individual air conditioning for the front seats, such as the driver's seat and passenger seat, and the rear seats in the second row.

[0011] In such air conditioning systems, air for conditioned air is discharged through vents provided in the dash panel, etc., for the driver and passenger seats, and air for conditioned air can be discharged through console vents formed on the rear of the console box, etc., for the rear seats.

[0012] In addition, in recent luxury vehicles, center pillar vents and rear floor outlets are additionally provided in addition to console vents to further improve heating and cooling performance in the rear passenger compartment.

[0013] Meanwhile, electric vehicles that run on motors, such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle, PHEV: Plug-in HEV) or battery electric vehicles (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle), are equipped with a high-voltage battery that supplies operating power to the motor.

[0014] In conventional electric vehicles, high-voltage batteries are manufactured and used as modules by assembling several cell units due to limitations in space and size within the vehicle.

[0015] In addition, a battery pack is configured with multiple battery modules and mounted in the vehicle using a battery tray installed on the interior floor.

[0016] In addition, since the battery in the vehicle emits a large amount of heat during charging and discharging, a battery cooling system is provided to cool the battery by sending air with a cooling fan to manage the battery temperature and prevent problems such as battery overheating.

[0017] In conventional battery cooling systems, air cooled from the battery (hereinafter referred to as "battery cooling air") was discharged to the outside through areas such as around the rear seats, the rear seatbelt buckles, and the package trays.

[0018] However, when indoor cooling and battery cooling are performed simultaneously during the summer, if the battery cooling air is directed to be discharged around the rear seats, the battery cooling air may flow into and backflow into the rear seats, causing the rear seats to remain hotter than the front seats.

[0019] In particular, when the recirculation mode is not used for outdoor exhaust of recirculating air and indoor ventilation, a large amount of battery cooling air flows into the rear seat, inevitably increasing the temperature difference between the front and rear seats, which significantly reduces the comfort of the rear seats.

[0020] While the aforementioned problem could be partially improved by additionally applying a duct structure to the rear seats to direct battery cooling air toward the trunk, this is difficult to implement in practice due to factors such as increased packaging size and cost.

[0021] In addition, since the currently applied In-Car Sensor is mounted on the front crash pad side, it cannot detect when the rear seats become hot due to battery cooling air, making it difficult to improve the problem of rear seat temperature rise. The problem to be solved

[0023] Accordingly, the present invention was created to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a vehicle air conditioning control method capable of solving the problem where cooling air used to cool the battery flows back into the rear seat and raises the temperature of the rear seat when air conditioning control and battery cooling are performed simultaneously in a vehicle.

[0024] The objectives of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned objectives will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains (hereinafter referred to as "skilled in the art") from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0026] To achieve the above objective, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for air conditioning control of a vehicle is provided, comprising: a step in which a controller determines whether a predetermined entry condition for air conditioning control for compensating for backflow of battery cooling air to the rear seat is satisfied from environmental information collected from a vehicle; a step in which, if it is determined that the predetermined entry condition is satisfied, the controller starts air conditioning control for compensating for backflow of battery cooling air to the rear seat; a step in which, when air conditioning control for compensating for backflow of battery cooling air to the rear seat is started, the controller determines a compensation value corresponding to the current battery cooling fan operation level; a step in which the controller compensates the current control variable value of an air conditioning device component using the determined compensation value; and a step in which the controller controls the state of the air conditioning device component according to the compensated control variable value so that air conditioning operation for compensating for backflow of battery cooling air to the rear seat is performed.

[0027] Here, the environmental information may include one or both of the ambient temperature detected by an ambient temperature sensor and the solar radiation detected by a solar radiation sensor.

[0028] Additionally, the air conditioning control entry condition for compensating for battery cooling air backflow in the rear seat may include at least one of the following: a condition in which the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined first set temperature, and a condition in which the solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor is greater than a predetermined set value.

[0029] In addition, in the step of starting air conditioning control for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation, the controller may be configured to start air conditioning control for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation when, upon determining that the entry condition is satisfied, the air conditioner is currently on and automatic air conditioning control is selected and the battery cooling fan is operating.

[0030] In addition, in the step of compensating the current control variable value of the air conditioning unit component, the controller may be configured to determine whether a predetermined compensation execution condition is satisfied based on the current operating state information of the air conditioning unit component, and to compensate the current control variable value of the air conditioning unit component only when the compensation execution condition is satisfied.

[0031] In addition, the above air conditioning unit components may include an air conditioning blower, a rear seat temperature door actuator, and an evaporator.

[0032] In addition, the operating status information of the above air conditioning unit components may include the operating voltage of the air conditioning blower, the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator, and the evaporator temperature.

[0033] In addition, the compensation implementation conditions may include a condition in which the current operating voltage of the air conditioning blower is less than a predetermined first set voltage; a condition in which the current operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator exceeds a predetermined second set voltage; and a condition in which the current evaporator temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined second set temperature.

[0034] In addition, in the step of compensating the current control variable value of the air conditioning device component, the current control variable value includes the operating target voltage of the air conditioning blower, and in the step of enabling air conditioning operation for the compensation, the controller may be configured to increase the operating target voltage of the air conditioning blower by an amount corresponding to the compensation value of the battery cooling fan operating stage, thereby increasing the rotational speed of the air conditioning blower.

[0035] Here, in the step of determining the compensation value, the higher the battery cooling fan operating stage, the greater the rotational speed of the air conditioning blower, the greater the compensation value for compensating the target operating voltage of the air conditioning blower can be determined.

[0036] In addition, in the step of compensating the current control variable value of the air conditioning device component, the current control variable value includes the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator, and in the step of enabling air conditioning operation for the compensation, the controller can reduce the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator by an amount of compensation value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operating stage so that the amount of cooling air passing through the evaporator by the rear seat temp door increases.

[0037] In addition, in the step of determining the compensation value, the higher the battery cooling fan operation level, the greater the amount of cooling air passing through the evaporator, so that the compensation value for compensating the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator can be determined to be a larger value.

[0038] In addition, in the step of compensating the current control variable value of the air conditioning device component, the current control variable value includes the evaporator target temperature, and in the step of enabling air conditioning operation for the compensation, the controller can lower the evaporator target temperature by an amount corresponding to the battery cooling fan operation stage so that the temperature of the cooling air passing through the evaporator is lowered.

[0039] In addition, in the step of determining the compensation value, the higher the battery cooling fan operation level, the greater the compensation value for compensating the target temperature of the evaporator can be determined to be a larger value so that the temperature of the cooling air passing through the evaporator becomes lower.

[0040] At this time, the controller may be configured to control the operation of the compressor so that the current evaporator temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor follows the evaporator target temperature compensated by the compensation value. Effects of the invention

[0042] Thus, according to the air conditioning control method of the vehicle according to the present invention, when air conditioning control and battery cooling are performed simultaneously in a vehicle, the problem of the cooling air cooling the battery flowing back into the rear seat and raising the temperature of the rear seat can be solved. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0044] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a device for performing an air conditioning control process of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the air conditioning control process of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing compensation values ​​set for each battery cooling fan operation stage in the air conditioning control process of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0045] The specific structural or functional descriptions presented in the embodiments of the invention are merely illustrative for the purpose of explaining embodiments according to the concept of the invention, and embodiments according to the concept of the invention may be implemented in various forms. Furthermore, it should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described herein, but should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0046] Meanwhile, in the present invention, terms such as "first" and / or "second" may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited to said terms. For the sole purpose of distinguishing one component from other components, for example, without departing from the scope of rights according to the concept of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component.

[0047] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. Conversely, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly in contact" with another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between. Other expressions used to describe the relationship between components, such as "between" and "exactly between," or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to," should be interpreted in the same way.

[0048] Throughout the specification, identical reference numbers denote identical components. The terms used in this specification are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text. As used in this specification, "comprises" and / or "comprising" do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, actions, and / or elements to the mentioned components, steps, actions, and / or elements.

[0050] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0051] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle air conditioning control method capable of solving the problem in which, when interior cooling and battery cooling are performed simultaneously in a vehicle, the cooling air sent by the battery cooling fan to cool the battery flows back into the rear seat of the vehicle, causing the temperature of the rear seat to continuously rise.

[0052] The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioning control method that can be applied to an electrified vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery and driven by power supplied by the high-voltage battery to drive a motor, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV, PHEV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV), and can effectively solve the problem of the rear seat temperature rising due to battery cooling airflow during indoor cooling in the summer in an electrified vehicle.

[0053] The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioning control method that can solve the problem of rear seat temperature rise solely through the implementation of air conditioning control logic, without the need for additional hardware, increased costs, or increased weight.

[0054] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a battery cooling fan-linked air conditioning control method that controls the operation of an air conditioning device in conjunction with the operating state of a battery cooling fan.

[0055] Referring to the drawings below, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a device for performing an air conditioning control process of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an air conditioning control process of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing compensation values ​​set for each battery cooling fan operation stage in the air conditioning control process of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] First, referring to FIG. 1, the device for performing an air conditioning control process according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to include an outside temperature sensor (11), a solar radiation sensor (12), an evaporator temperature sensor (13), an in-car temperature sensor (14), a discharge temperature sensor (15), an interface unit (16), a controller (20), an air conditioning blower (31), a rear seat temp. door actuator (32), and an air conditioner compressor (33) in order to solve the problem of the rear seat temperature rising due to the battery cooling airflow when vehicle interior cooling and battery cooling are performed simultaneously.

[0057] Among these, the outside temperature sensor (11), solar radiation sensor (12), evaporator temperature sensor (13), indoor temperature sensor (14), and interface unit (16) are components that detect or input information necessary for air conditioning control, particularly for air conditioning control for battery cooling air backflow compensation described later, to the controller (20), and are already installed and used in a normal vehicle in which automatic air conditioning control (Auto Control) is performed.

[0058] The above sensors are state detectors that detect state data required for air conditioning control in a vehicle in real time. Among these, the outside temperature sensor (11) is a sensor that detects the outside temperature, the solar radiation sensor (12) is a sensor that detects the amount of solar radiation, and the evaporator temperature sensor (13) is a sensor that detects the current temperature of the evaporator. Additionally, the interior temperature sensor (14) is a sensor that detects the vehicle interior temperature, and the discharge temperature sensor (15) is a sensor that detects the temperature (discharge temperature) of the discharged air discharged through each vent.

[0059] At this time, the information required for air conditioning control in the vehicle, namely real-time status data detected by sensors, includes the outside temperature, solar radiation, evaporator temperature, indoor temperature, and discharge air temperature. Among these, as described below, the environmental information used to determine the entry conditions for air conditioning control for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation includes at least one of the outside temperature and solar radiation.

[0060] The above interface unit (16) is a user input means, such as a button or touch screen, provided to enable a user, such as a driver, to operate the air conditioning device or to set and input a target air conditioning temperature. In a typical vehicle, the air conditioning interface unit (16) is basically provided to enable the selection / deselection operation of automatic air conditioning control, the operation of turning the air conditioner on / off, and the input of a target air conditioning temperature. It is also provided to enable the selection of a desired mode among circulation modes such as outside air mode and inside air mode, and the selection of a desired mode among discharge modes such as Face mode, Floor mode, Defrost mode, and Bi-level mode.

[0061] Additionally, the controller (20) calculates the indoor heat load based on information collected in real time from the vehicle, namely the air conditioning control status data and the air conditioning target temperature, and then determines the discharge mode, discharge temperature, discharge direction, and discharge air volume of the air conditioning device based on the corresponding air conditioning load. Additionally, the controller (20) controls operating elements such as the rear seat temp door actuator (32), air conditioning blower (31), and air conditioner compressor (33) based on the operation status value information of the air conditioning device, such as the determined discharge mode, discharge temperature, discharge direction, and discharge air volume.

[0062] For example, the controller (20) can control the operation of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) based on the air conditioning load to control the amount of air (cooling air for indoor cooling) passing through the evaporator (cold air passage) among the air conditioning air discharged to the rear seat, or control the amount of air conditioning air discharged by controlling the operating voltage of the air conditioning blower (31), and can control the evaporator temperature to the evaporator target temperature by operating the air conditioner compressor (33) based on the evaporator temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor (13).

[0063] At this time, the controller (20) determines control variable values ​​for each component of the air conditioning device based on information required for air conditioning control in the vehicle or the air conditioning load determined therefrom, for example, the operating target voltage (V) of the rear seat temperature door actuator can be determined as a control variable value for controlling the operation of the rear seat temperature door actuator (32). In addition, the controller (20) can determine the operating target voltage of the air conditioning blower as a control variable value for controlling the operation of the air conditioning blower (31). In addition, the controller (20) can determine the evaporator target temperature, which is a control variable value controlled through the operation control of the air conditioner compressor (33).

[0064] In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller (20) determines a compensation value according to the operating stage of the battery cooling fan, compensates the control variable value for each component of the air conditioning system using the determined compensation value, and then performs air conditioning control for battery cooling air backflow compensation by controlling the components of the air conditioning system based on the compensated control variable value.

[0065] In the following description, battery cooling air refers to air that has been cooled by the battery cooling fan; since battery cooling air has received heat from the battery, it is high-temperature air.

[0066] Furthermore, air conditioning control for compensating for battery cooling air backflow into the rear seats can be understood to mean determining the amount of battery cooling air that may flow into the rear seats based on the operating speed of the battery cooling fan, and then controlling the operation of air conditioning system components so that the amount of air conditioning air supplied to the rear seats, the amount of cooling air passing through the evaporator among the air conditioning air, or the temperature of the air conditioning air (or cooling air) can be appropriately regulated according to the amount of battery cooling air (operating speed of the battery cooling fan). In other words, air conditioning control for compensating for battery cooling air backflow into the rear seats means ensuring that air conditioning compensation control is performed in response to the inflow of battery cooling air, which has cooled the battery, into the rear seats of the vehicle, and means controlling the cooling air discharged into the cabin according to the amount of battery cooling air flowing into the rear seats.

[0067] In an embodiment of the present invention, air conditioning control for compensating for battery cooling air backflow in the rear seat includes downward control that decreases the value of a control variable of an air conditioning system component according to the operating level of the battery cooling fan, and upward control that increases the value of a control variable of an air conditioning system component according to the operating level of the battery cooling fan. Here, the value of the control variable can be referred to as the control target value of the corresponding component.

[0068] In an embodiment of the present invention, during air conditioning control for battery cooling air backflow compensation, the air conditioning unit components controlled based on the compensated control variable values ​​include a rear seat temperature door actuator (32), an air conditioning blower (31), and an air conditioner compressor (33). Additionally, the control variable values ​​include the operating target voltage of the rear seat temperature door actuator (32), the operating target voltage of the air conditioning blower (31), and the evaporator target temperature. In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller (20) controls the operation of the air conditioner compressor (33) to control the evaporator temperature to the evaporator target temperature.

[0069] In this way, the controller (20) compensates the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32), the operating target voltage of the air conditioning blower (31), and the evaporator target temperature according to the operating level of the battery cooling fan. In the present invention, compensating the control target value, that is, the above-mentioned operating target voltage and target temperature, means controlling the air conditioning system components to follow the operating voltage and temperature to an upward or downward target value, so it can be said to mean raising or lowering the operating voltage and temperature of the actual air conditioning system components.

[0070] In summary, in the present invention, the controller (20) controls the operating voltage of the rear seat temperature door actuator (32) based on the operating target voltage value compensated according to the operating level of the battery cooling fan, and controls the operating voltage of the air conditioning blower (31) based on the operating target voltage value compensated according to the operating level of the battery cooling fan. In addition, the controller (20) controls the operation of the air conditioner compressor (33) so that the evaporator temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor (13) follows the evaporator target temperature compensated according to the operating level of the battery cooling fan.

[0071] Hereinafter, the air conditioning control process according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0072] In the present invention, the air conditioning control state data for determining whether the predetermined entry conditions for air conditioning control for cooling air backflow compensation are satisfied includes one or both of the outside temperature detected by the outside temperature sensor (11) and the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor (12).

[0073] First, the controller (20) determines whether at least one of the conditions is satisfied, such that the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor (11) is higher than the first set temperature (e.g., 20℃) and the solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor (12) is greater than the set value (e.g., 1000W, 500W) (S11).

[0074] Here, when at least one of the conditions where the outside temperature is higher than the first set temperature and the solar radiation is greater than the set value is satisfied, it can be said that the rear passenger may feel discomfort due to the backflow of the battery cooling air when the battery cooling fan operates to perform battery cooling.

[0075] Then, if at least one of the two conditions above is satisfied, the controller (20) determines whether the current air conditioner is on and the automatic air conditioning control is selected based on the information input from the interface unit (16) (S12).

[0076] Next, the controller (20) determines whether the battery cooling fan is currently operating if the air conditioner is currently on and the automatic air conditioning control is selected (S13), and if the battery cooling fan is operating, starts air conditioning control for rear seat backflow compensation of the battery cooling air (S14).

[0077] That is, as shown in FIG. 2, air conditioning control for battery cooling air backflow compensation for the rear seat is started when all conditions are satisfied, such as when the outside temperature is higher than the first set temperature or the solar radiation is greater than the set value, when the air conditioner is on and the automatic air conditioning control is selected, and when the battery cooling fan is operating.

[0078] When all of the above conditions are satisfied and air conditioning control for rear seat backflow compensation is initiated, downward control is performed to decrease the control variable value (which is the control target value) or upward control is performed to increase the control variable value for the air conditioning unit components, depending on the battery cooling fan operating stage.

[0079] To explain this in detail, the controller (20) starts air conditioning control for battery cooling air backflow compensation and performs air conditioning control that controls the operation of air conditioning device components according to the battery cooling fan operation level for battery cooling air backflow compensation.

[0080] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning unit component subject to upward or downward control for each battery cooling fan operation level during air conditioning control for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation may include, as described above, an air conditioning blower (31), a rear seat temp door actuator (32), and an evaporator.

[0081] Here, the operating state of the evaporator can be controlled by controlling the operating state of the air conditioner compressor (33). Additionally, the operating state of the evaporator may be the evaporator temperature, and controlling this evaporator temperature can be achieved by controlling the operation of the air conditioner compressor (33). Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, in order to control the evaporator temperature, that is, to control the evaporator temperature to the evaporator target temperature which is a control variable value, the controller (20) controls the operation of the air conditioner compressor (33).

[0082] In an embodiment of the present invention, upward control for each battery cooling fan operation level is performed on the air conditioning blower (31), and downward control for each battery cooling fan operation level is performed on the rear seat temp door actuator (32) and the evaporator. When performing the upward or downward control, a pre-set setting data for the compensation value of the control variable for each component for each battery cooling fan operation level may be used in the controller (20).

[0083] Additionally, the controller (20) determines a compensation value corresponding to the current battery cooling fan operation level using the above setting data, then compensates the current control variable value of the corresponding part with the determined compensation value, and then controls the operation of the corresponding part based on the compensated control variable value. However, in an embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator target temperature is used as the control variable value of the evaporator, and at this time, the evaporator target temperature is compensated by the compensation value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operation level, and then the operation of the air conditioner compressor (33) is controlled so that the evaporator temperature can be controlled to the compensated evaporator target temperature.

[0084] In an embodiment of the present invention, the compensation value is used to compensate for increasing the current control variable value (which is the control target value) for each component, or to compensate for decreasing the current control variable value. Control that increases the current control variable value through such compensation is upward control, and control that decreases the current control variable value is downward control. Furthermore, since the compensation value is determined to be a value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operation level, the air conditioning control involving the above compensation can ultimately be described as upward control or downward control for each battery cooling fan operation level.

[0085] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the air conditioning control process for battery cooling air backflow compensation is started, the controller (20) may first perform a step of determining whether upward or downward control is possible based on the current operating status information of the air conditioning unit component before starting upward control or downward control for the air conditioning unit component according to the battery cooling fan operation level as shown in FIG. 2 (S15, S17, S19).

[0086] That is, the controller (20) performs control for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation for the component, i.e., upward control or downward control for each battery cooling fan operation level, only when the conditions for compensation based on the component's current operating status information are satisfied. The component's current operating status information includes the current operating voltage of the air conditioning blower (31), the current operating voltage of the rear seat temperature door actuator (32), and the current evaporator temperature.

[0087] In the process of determining whether upward or downward control can be performed on the corresponding part, the current operating voltage of the air conditioning blower (31) is first compared with a preset first set voltage (e.g., 7V) (S15), and if the current operating voltage is less than the first set voltage, upward control is performed for the battery cooling fan operation stage of the air conditioning blower (31) (S16).

[0088] However, if the current operating voltage of the air conditioning blower (31) is higher than the first set voltage (e.g., 7V), then when upward control (control to increase the target operating voltage value) is performed on the air conditioning blower (31), the operating voltage of the air conditioning blower (31) is increased to the target operating voltage value (e.g., 9V) using the compensation value for each battery cooling fan operation stage, so a sense of unfamiliarity may occur as a result of the control. For example, if the first set voltage is 7V and the compensation value is 2V, the target operating voltage value after compensation is 9V, and if the operating voltage of the air conditioning blower (31) is controlled to the target voltage of 9V based on this target operating voltage value, then a sense of unfamiliarity in operation, such as noise from the air conditioning blower (31), may occur.

[0089] Accordingly, upward control of the air conditioner blower (31) is performed only under the condition that the current operating voltage of the air conditioner blower (31) is less than the first set voltage, so that the target operating voltage of the air conditioner blower (31) after compensation does not exceed a voltage that may cause a sense of unfamiliarity in the actual operating state of the air conditioner blower.

[0090] If the target operating voltage of the air conditioner blower (31) is increased by the compensation value for each battery cooling fan operation stage under conditions where the current operating voltage of the air conditioner blower (31) is higher than the first set voltage, a sense of unfamiliarity, that is, operating noise, as well as a strong flow noise, is generated as the airflow of air being sent and discharged into the room by the air conditioner blower (31) becomes too strong, so the driver or passenger may feel discomfort due to the upward control of the air conditioner blower (31), and the comfort of the room may be greatly reduced. Therefore, upward control of the air conditioner blower (31) is performed only under conditions where the current operating voltage of the air conditioner blower (31) is less than the first set voltage.

[0091] Furthermore, the upward control of the air conditioning blower (31) refers to a control that increases the rotational speed of the air conditioning blower (31) in stages as the battery cooling fan operation level increases. To this end, the upward control process of the air conditioning blower (31) includes a control variable value compensation process that increases the air conditioning blower control variable value (control target value) according to the current air conditioning load by a compensation value determined according to the current battery cooling fan operation level. Here, the control variable value of the air conditioning blower (31) is the air conditioning blower operation target voltage, and ultimately, the compensation of the air conditioning blower control variable value means a compensation that increases the air conditioning blower operation target voltage by a compensation value corresponding to the current battery cooling fan operation level.

[0092] In an embodiment of the present invention, the compensation value corresponding to the number of battery cooling fan operations is determined by the controller (20) using setting data as exemplified in FIG. 3, wherein the setting data is set using data obtained through prior research, evaluation, and testing processes, and may be a map or table showing the correlation between the number of battery cooling fan operations and the compensation value, or a graph or formula such as FIG. 3.

[0093] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the compensation value for upward control of the air conditioning blower is a voltage value as a compensation value for the target operating voltage of the air conditioning blower, and this compensation value can be set differentially to a value corresponding to the operating stage of the battery cooling fan. That is, as the operating stage of the battery cooling fan changes, the compensation value can be set to a different voltage value at least at some operating stages.

[0094] In compensating for control variable values ​​when controlling the air conditioning blower upward, as the battery cooling fan operating level increases, it is necessary to increase the amount of air discharged and the amount of air discharged into the room by the air conditioning blower (31). To this end, compensation is required to increase the rotational speed of the air conditioning blower (31) as the battery cooling fan operating level increases. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, the target voltage for air conditioning blower operation is compensated to a larger voltage value as the battery cooling fan operating level increases. In other words, a larger compensation value is used as the battery cooling fan operating level increases. Referring to FIG. 3, when the battery cooling fan operating level exists from level 1 to level 8, it is illustrated that the compensation value gradually increases as the battery cooling fan operating level increases from level 4 to level 8.

[0095] Additionally, when air conditioning control for battery cooling air backflow compensation for the rear seat is started, the controller (20) compares the current operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) with a preset second setting voltage (e.g., 0.3V) (S17), and if the current operating voltage exceeds the second setting voltage, it performs downward control of the battery cooling fan operation step for the rear seat temp door actuator (32) (S18). However, if the current operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) is less than or equal to the second setting voltage (e.g., 0.3V), it does not perform downward control for the rear seat temp door actuator (32).

[0096] The above rear seat temp door is a door that regulates the ratio of cooling air passing through the evaporator and air not passing through the evaporator among the air conditioning air, and ultimately is a door for regulating the temperature of the air conditioning air for indoor cooling when the air conditioner is operating. Here, the air conditioning air is indoor cooling air supplied to the rear seat. In a conventional air conditioning system, the position of the rear seat temp door is controlled to regulate the temperature of the air conditioning air by adjusting the amount of cooling air passing through the evaporator (amount of cooling air).

[0097] Specifically, in order to control the amount of cooling air and the temperature of the air conditioning air according to the air conditioning load, and to control the position of the rear seat temp door, the controller (20) controls the operation of the rear seat temp door actuator (32). At this time, the controller (20) determines the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) as a control variable value of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) according to the current air conditioning load, and then controls the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) with the finally determined operating target voltage value.

[0098] In an embodiment of the present invention, when lowering the rear seat temp door actuator (32), the controller (20) compensates the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32), which is determined according to the current air conditioning load, by a compensation value determined according to the battery cooling fan operating stage, and then controls the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) using the compensated operating target voltage value. The controller (20) controls the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) so that it follows the compensated operating target voltage.

[0099] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second setting voltage is set to a rear seat temp door actuator operating voltage value such that, in the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator, the position of the rear seat temp door can be controlled to a position representing the maximum amount of cooling air (which is the amount of air passing through the evaporator). That is, the second setting voltage is set to a MAX. COOL voltage, which means a voltage value corresponding to the maximum amount of cooling air.

[0100] This max cool voltage is the controllable minimum value among the operating voltage values ​​of the rear seat temp door actuator (32), and the closer the operating voltage value of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) is to the max cool voltage, the more the cold air passage on the evaporator side is opened, thereby increasing the amount of air passing through the evaporator.

[0101] In other words, the smaller the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door and its target voltage, the closer the position of the rear seat temp door is to the maximum cool position, which maximizes the opening of the cold air vent on the evaporator side and the amount of air passing through the evaporator (amount of cooling air). Additionally, downward control of the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) means subtracting a compensation value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operating stage from the current target operating voltage to reduce the target operating voltage value after compensation compared to before compensation. Therefore, the larger the compensation value and the lower the target operating voltage, the greater the amount of cooling air passing through the evaporator in the open state of the rear seat temp door.

[0102] In an embodiment of the present invention, as the higher the operating level of the battery cooling fan, more cooling air can flow back into the rear seat, so the controller (20) controls the position of the rear seat temp door to a position closer to the max cool position so that more cooling air passing through the evaporator can be supplied to the rear seat.

[0103] To this end, under conditions where the current operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) exceeds the second set voltage (e.g., 0.3V) corresponding to the maximum cool position, the battery cooling fan operating stage is compensated downward so that the target operating voltage becomes smaller as the number of stages is higher, and the compensation value is increased as the number of stages is higher so that the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) is controlled to become closer to the second set voltage, which is the operating voltage of the maximum cool position.

[0104] Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the compensation value for downward control of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) is set to a larger value as the battery cooling fan operation level increases. In this way, in an embodiment of the present invention, the compensation value for downward control of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) is pre-set to a value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operation level, and the controller (20) determines the compensation value corresponding to the current battery cooling fan operation level using setting data as exemplified in FIG. 3.

[0105] Here, the setting data is set using data obtained through prior research, evaluation, and testing processes, and may be a map or table showing the correlation between the battery cooling fan operation speed and the compensation value, or a graph or formula such as Fig. 3.

[0106] Referring to the setting data of FIG. 3, when the operating level of the battery cooling fan is 6 to 8, the compensation value is set to 1.0V, but when the operating level of the battery cooling fan is lower than that, the compensation value is set to decrease proportionally. For example, when the operating level of the battery cooling fan is 3, the compensation value is set to 0.5V. Accordingly, when the level is 6 to 8, the compensation is made by subtracting 1.0V from the current target operating voltage, and when the level is 3, the compensation is made by subtracting 0.5V from the current target operating voltage, thereby controlling the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator (32) downward with the compensated target operating voltage value.

[0107] Next, when air conditioning control for battery cooling air backflow compensation is started, the controller (20) compares the current evaporator temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor (13) with a preset second set temperature (e.g., 2°C) (S19), and if the current evaporator temperature exceeds the second set temperature, it performs downward control of the battery cooling fan operation level for the evaporator temperature (S20). However, if the current evaporator temperature is lower than or equal to the second set temperature, it does not perform downward control of the evaporator temperature.

[0108] Evaporator temperature control can be performed by controlling the operation of the air conditioner compressor (33) to adjust the amount of refrigerant. That is, the controller (20) can control the current evaporator temperature to the evaporator target temperature by controlling the operation of the air conditioner compressor (33). Here, the air conditioner compressor (33) may be an electric compressor (33) whose operation can be controlled according to the control signal of the controller (20), and may also be a variable capacity compressor capable of adjusting the amount of refrigerant according to the control signal of the controller (20).

[0109] In a conventional air conditioning system, when the evaporator target temperature is determined according to the air conditioning load, the controller (20) controls the operation of the compressor (33) so that the real-time evaporator temperature becomes the evaporator target temperature. In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller (20) compensates the evaporator target temperature by a compensation value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operation level, and then controls the operation of the compressor (33) based on the compensated evaporator target temperature. At this time, the controller (20) controls the operation of the compressor (33) so that the real-time evaporator temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor (13) can follow the compensated evaporator target temperature.

[0110] In an embodiment of the present invention, downward control of the evaporator temperature according to the battery cooling fan operation level is a control that reduces the target evaporator temperature by a compensation value determined according to the battery cooling fan operation level, wherein the compensation value is a temperature value. Furthermore, the higher the battery cooling fan operation level, the larger the compensation value, which is the temperature value, is set.

[0111] The above second set temperature can be set to the lowest evaporator temperature, for example, 2°C. In an embodiment of the present invention, as the operating level of the battery cooling fan increases, more cooling air can flow back to the rear seat, so the evaporator temperature is controlled to be lower to lower the temperature of the cooling air and air conditioning air passing through the evaporator.

[0112] To this end, when the current evaporator temperature exceeds the second set temperature, which is the lowest evaporator temperature, the target evaporator temperature is determined such that the higher the battery cooling fan operating speed, the closer it gets to the second set temperature, which is the lowest evaporator temperature; additionally, the compensation value is increased for each higher battery cooling fan operating speed to control the evaporator temperature so that it gets closer to the second set temperature, which is the lowest evaporator temperature.

[0113] Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the temperature compensation value for lowering the evaporator temperature is set to a larger value as the battery cooling fan operation level increases. In this way, in an embodiment of the present invention, the compensation value for lowering the evaporator temperature is pre-set to a value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operation level, and the controller (20) determines the compensation value corresponding to the current battery cooling fan operation level using setting data as exemplified in FIG. 3.

[0114] Here, the setting data is set using data obtained through prior research, evaluation, and testing processes, and may be a map or table showing the correlation between the battery cooling fan operation speed and the temperature compensation value, or a graph or formula such as Fig. 3.

[0115] As exemplified in FIG. 3, the compensation value for downward control of the evaporator temperature can be set differentially to a corresponding value according to the battery cooling fan operation level, and as the battery cooling fan operation level changes, the compensation value can be set to a different temperature value at least in some operation levels.

[0116] In this way, the present invention performs air conditioning control for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation when a predetermined entry condition is satisfied from state information collected from a vehicle, and during the air conditioning control process for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation, upward or downward control is performed for each predetermined battery cooling fan operation stage for air conditioning device components.

[0117] Ultimately, according to the present invention, in a vehicle such as an HEV or PHEV capable of 3-zone control, when battery cooling and interior cooling are performed simultaneously, upward or downward control of the battery cooling fan operation level of the air conditioning system component is performed, thereby resolving the conventional problem where the battery cooling air flows back into the rear seat and the rear seat continues to get hot, and maintaining the comfort of the rear seat becomes possible.

[0118] According to the present invention, the problem of temperature rise in the rear seat can be effectively solved through an air conditioning control logic linked to automatic air conditioning control without the need to change to 4-zone control for rear seat control, and without the addition of separate hardware, increased cost, or increased weight.

[0120] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims are also included within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0122] 11: Outdoor temperature sensor 12: Solar radiation sensor 13: Evaporator temperature sensor 14: Indoor temperature sensor 15 : Discharge temperature sensor 16: Interface section 20 : Controller 31 : Air conditioning blower 32: Rear seat temp door actuator 33 : Compressor

Claims

Claim 1 A method for air conditioning control of a vehicle comprising: a step in which a controller determines whether conditions for entering air conditioning control for compensating for battery cooling air backflow to the rear seat are satisfied from environmental information collected from the vehicle; a step in which, if it is determined that the entry conditions are satisfied, the controller starts air conditioning control for compensating for battery cooling air backflow to the rear seat; a step in which, when air conditioning control for compensating for battery cooling air backflow to the rear seat is started, the controller determines a compensation value corresponding to the current battery cooling fan operating level; a step in which the controller compensates the current control variable value of an air conditioning device component using the determined compensation value; and a step in which the controller controls the state of the air conditioning device component according to the compensated control variable value so that air conditioning operation for compensating for the backflow of battery cooling air to the rear seat of the vehicle is controlled in conjunction with the current battery cooling fan operating level. Claim 2 A method for controlling air conditioning of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the environmental information comprises one or both of an ambient temperature detected by an ambient temperature sensor and solar radiation detected by a solar radiation sensor. Claim 3 A method for controlling air conditioning of a vehicle, wherein, in claim 2, the air conditioning control entry condition for compensating for battery cooling air backflow in the rear seat comprises at least one of a condition in which the outside temperature detected by the outside temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined first set temperature, and a condition in which the solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor is greater than a predetermined set value. Claim 4 A method for controlling air conditioning of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of starting air conditioning control for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation, the controller, when determined to satisfy the entry condition, if the air conditioner is currently on and automatic air conditioning control is selected and the battery cooling fan is operating, the controller starts air conditioning control for battery cooling air rear seat backflow compensation. Claim 5 A method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle, wherein, in the step of compensating for the current control variable value of the air conditioning unit component in claim 1, the controller determines whether a predetermined compensation implementation condition is satisfied based on the current operating state information of the air conditioning unit component, and compensates for the current control variable value of the air conditioning unit component only when the compensation implementation condition is satisfied. Claim 6 A method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the air conditioning device components include an air conditioning blower, a rear seat temperature door actuator, and an evaporator. Claim 7 A method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the operating status information of the air conditioning device components includes the operating voltage of the air conditioning blower, the operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator, and the evaporator temperature. Claim 8 A method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the compensation implementation conditions include: a condition in which the current operating voltage of the air conditioning blower is less than a predetermined first set voltage; a condition in which the current operating voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator exceeds a predetermined second set voltage; and a condition in which the current evaporator temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined second set temperature. Claim 9 A method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein, in the step of compensating for the current control variable value of the air conditioning device component, the current control variable value includes the operating target voltage of the air conditioning blower, and in the step of enabling air conditioning operation for the compensation, the controller increases the operating target voltage of the air conditioning blower by an amount of compensation value corresponding to the number of operating stages of the battery cooling fan, thereby increasing the rotational speed of the air conditioning blower. Claim 10 A method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that, in the step of determining the compensation value, the compensation value for compensating the target operating voltage of the air conditioning blower is determined to be a larger value such that the rotational speed of the air conditioning blower increases as the battery cooling fan operating stage increases. Claim 11 A method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein, in the step of compensating for the current control variable value of the air conditioning device component, the current control variable value includes the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator, and in the step of enabling air conditioning operation for the compensation, the controller reduces the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator by an amount of compensation value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operating stage so that the amount of cooling air passing through the evaporator by the rear seat temp door increases. Claim 12 A method for controlling air conditioning of a vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that, in the step of determining the compensation value, the compensation value for compensating the operating target voltage of the rear seat temp door actuator is determined to be a larger value such that the amount of cooling air passing through the evaporator increases as the battery cooling fan operating stage increases. Claim 13 A method for controlling air conditioning in a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein, in the step of compensating for the current control variable value of the air conditioning device component, the current control variable value includes the evaporator target temperature, and in the step of enabling air conditioning operation for the compensation, the controller lowers the evaporator target temperature by an amount of compensation value corresponding to the battery cooling fan operation stage so that the temperature of the cooling air passing through the evaporator is lowered. Claim 14 A method for controlling air conditioning of a vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that, in the step of determining the compensation value, the higher the battery cooling fan operation level, the larger the compensation value for compensating the target temperature of the evaporator is determined to be, so that the temperature of the cooling air passing through the evaporator becomes lower. Claim 15 A method for controlling air conditioning of a vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the controller controls the operation of the compressor so that the current evaporator temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor follows the evaporator target temperature compensated by the compensation value.

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