Air conditioning control device and air conditioning control method

Abstract

An air conditioner control unit (13) in an air conditioning control device (10) switches on or off the introduction of outside air in an air conditioner (103) of a host vehicle in accordance with a preset switching logic and on the basis of surrounding environment information, which is static information relating to the position of the host vehicle, and position-related information, which is temporally dynamic information regarding the surrounding environment of the host vehicle. A learning unit (15) uses operation information regarding operation of the air conditioner (103) by a user as a basis to learn the position-related information and surrounding environment information when the introduction of outside air in the air conditioner (103) is switched on or off by the user, then generates a switching logic on the basis of the learning result.

Description

Air conditioning control device and air conditioning control method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning control device, and more particularly to controlling an air conditioner for a vehicle.

[0002] A vehicle air conditioner that adjusts the climate inside a vehicle responds to user operations to adjust the temperature, adjust the air volume, and switch on / off the fresh air intake (i.e., switch between fresh air intake and internal air circulation), etc. With regard to switching on / off the fresh air intake, the user can turn on the fresh air intake when the vehicle is traveling in an area with clean air, and turn off the fresh air intake when the vehicle is traveling in an area with stagnant air.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below proposes an air conditioning control device that automatically turns off the outside air intake before the vehicle enters a tunnel and automatically turns the outside air intake on when the vehicle exits the tunnel, in order to reduce the hassle of turning the outside air intake on and off in a vehicle air conditioner.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-315581

[0005] The degree of air stagnation varies not only by location but also by time. For example, even outside a tunnel, if the traffic volume increases, the amount of exhaust gas increases and the air becomes stagnant. Even in urban areas, if the wind speed increases, the air is less likely to become stagnant. The technology in Patent Document 1 cannot switch the introduction of outside air on and off in response to such changes in the environment over time.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an air conditioning control device that can switch the air conditioner's outside air intake on and off in response to changes in the environment over time.

[0007] The air conditioning control device according to the present disclosure includes a position-related information acquisition unit that acquires position-related information, which is static information related to the position of the vehicle; a surrounding environment information acquisition unit that acquires surrounding environment information, which is information about the surrounding environment of the vehicle that changes over time; an air conditioning control unit that switches the outside air intake on and off in the air conditioner of the vehicle based on the surrounding environment information and the position-related information in accordance with a preset switching logic; an operation information acquisition unit that acquires information about operation of the air conditioner by a user; and a learning unit that learns the position-related information and surrounding environment information when the user switches the outside air intake on and off in the air conditioner based on the operation information, and generates switching logic based on the learning results.

[0008] According to the air conditioning control device of the present disclosure, it is possible to switch on and off the introduction of outside air into the air conditioner in response to changes in the environment over time.

[0009] The objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle system including an air conditioning control device according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioning control device according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle system including an air conditioning control device according to embodiment 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle system including an air conditioning control device according to embodiment 3. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of an initial setting unit of an air conditioning control device according to embodiment 3. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an initial setting screen of an air conditioning control device according to embodiment 3. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure / road type designation screen of an air conditioning control device according to embodiment 3. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a map designation screen of an air conditioning control device according to embodiment 3. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example hardware configuration of an air conditioning control device. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example hardware configuration of an air conditioning control device.

[0011] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle system 100 including an air conditioning control device 10 according to a first embodiment.

[0012] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the air conditioning control device 10 is installed in a vehicle, and the vehicle equipped with the air conditioning control device 10 is referred to as the "host vehicle." However, the air conditioning control device 10 does not have to be permanently installed in the host vehicle and may be removable from the host vehicle. Furthermore, the air conditioning control device 10 may be realized as an application that runs on a portable device such as a mobile phone, smartphone, or PND (Portable Navigation Device).

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1 , the air conditioning control device 10 is incorporated into a vehicle system 100 of the vehicle itself, and is connected to an environment recognition device 101 , a road structure recognition device 102 , an air conditioner 103 , and an operation device 104 included in the vehicle system 100 .

[0014] The environment recognition device 101 recognizes the surrounding environment of the host vehicle. In this embodiment, the environment recognition device 101 recognizes vehicles present around the host vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "surrounding vehicles") as the surrounding environment of the host vehicle. The environment recognition device 101 may be, for example, a sensor such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) or millimeter-wave radar that detects the positions of surrounding vehicles, an image processing device that detects the positions of surrounding vehicles by analyzing surrounding images captured by an on-board camera, or a communication device that acquires information on the positions of surrounding vehicles via V2X (Vehicle to X) communication.

[0015] The road structure recognition device 102 recognizes the structure of the road on which the vehicle is traveling. In this embodiment, the road structure recognition device 102 recognizes road structures such as roads inside tunnels, roads sandwiched between side walls, roads surrounded by buildings, roads in urban areas, etc. The road structure recognition device 102 may be any device that can recognize the structure of a road. In this embodiment, the road structure recognition device 102 is an image processing device that recognizes the structure of a road by analyzing images of the surroundings taken by an on-board camera.

[0016] The air conditioner 103 adjusts the temperature, humidity, etc. of the air inside the vehicle. The operation device 104 is a device that allows a user (a passenger in the vehicle) to operate the air conditioner 103, and is, for example, a button switch or a remote control. The user may operate the operation device 104 in any manner, such as manual input, voice operation, or gesture operation. The operation of the air conditioner 103 is controlled not only by the operation device 104 but also by the air conditioning control device 10.

[0017] The air conditioning control device 10 includes a surrounding environment information acquisition unit 11 , a position-related information acquisition unit 12 , an air conditioner control unit 13 , an operation information acquisition unit 14 , and a learning unit 15 .

[0018] The surrounding environment information acquisition unit 11 acquires information on the surrounding environment of the host vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "surrounding environment information"). The surrounding environment information is dynamic information that changes over time. In this embodiment, the surrounding environment information acquisition unit 11 acquires information on vehicles surrounding the host vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "surrounding vehicle information") from the environment recognition device 101 as the surrounding environment information of the host vehicle. Here, the surrounding vehicle information is assumed to be information on the positions of the surrounding vehicles. However, the surrounding vehicle information is not limited to this and may be, for example, information on the density of surrounding vehicles calculated from the positions of the surrounding vehicles. Note that the "surroundings" of the host vehicle may be in all directions around the host vehicle or may be a limited area, such as in front of the host vehicle.

[0019] The position-related information acquisition unit 12 acquires information related to the position of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "position-related information"). The position-related information is information determined by the position of the vehicle and is static information that does not change over time. In this embodiment, the position-related information acquisition unit 12 acquires information on the structure of the road on which the vehicle is traveling (hereinafter referred to as "road structure information") from the road structure recognition device 102 as the position-related information. The road structure information includes, for example, information on whether the road on which the vehicle is traveling corresponds to a road inside a tunnel, a road sandwiched between walls, a road surrounded by buildings, a road in an urban area, or none of the above. For distinctive structures such as tunnels, the road structure information may further include information such as the number of meters before the tunnel.

[0020] The air conditioner control unit 13 automatically switches on and off the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 based on the surrounding environment information (surrounding vehicle information) and position-related information (road structure information) in accordance with the learned switching logic. Specifically, the air conditioner control unit 13 generates a command for switching on and off the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 and transmits the command to the air conditioner 103.

[0021] The operation information acquisition unit 14 acquires information on operations performed by a user on the operation device 104 (hereinafter referred to as "operation information") from the operation device 104. Communication between the operation information acquisition unit 14 and the operation device 104 may be performed directly or indirectly via another device or a network.

[0022] The learning unit 15 detects a user's instruction to turn on / off the outside air introduction from the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition unit 14, and learns switching logic for turning on / off the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 based on the position-related information and surrounding environment information at the time the outside air introduction was turned on / off. For example, when the vehicle is traveling through a tunnel, the outside air introduction tends to be turned on by the user. Furthermore, even when the vehicle is outside the tunnel, the outside air introduction tends to be turned on by the user when there are many surrounding vehicles. The learning unit 15 learns such user tendencies and generates switching logic.

[0023] Specifically, the learning unit 15 learns the characteristics of the ambient environment information and the position-related information when the user turns on the outside air introduction and the characteristics of the ambient environment information and the position-related information when the user turns off the outside air introduction, and based on the learning results, generates switching logic that reproduces user tendencies, i.e., what conditions the ambient environment information and the position-related information must satisfy to turn on the outside air introduction and what conditions the ambient environment information and the position-related information must satisfy to turn off the outside air introduction in the switching logic. Hereinafter, the conditions that the ambient environment information and the position-related information must satisfy to determine whether to switch on or off the outside air introduction in the switching logic are referred to as "automatic switching conditions."

[0024] The switching logic generated by the learning unit 15 is provided to the air conditioner control unit 13, which switches the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 on and off in accordance with the switching logic. That is, the air conditioner control unit 13 inputs the current surrounding environment information and position-related information into the switching logic, and if the position-related information and surrounding environment information satisfy the automatic switching conditions, switches the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 on and off.

[0025] 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioning control device 10. The operation of the air conditioning control device 10 will be explained below with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 2. For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed here that the logic for switching on and off the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 has already been generated by the learning unit 15 and provided to the air conditioner control unit 13.

[0026] When the host vehicle starts traveling, the air conditioning control device 10 starts the process of Fig. 2. First, the position-related information acquisition unit 12 acquires position-related information (here, road structure information) (step S10), and the surrounding environment information acquisition unit 11 acquires surrounding environment information of the host vehicle (here, surrounding vehicle information) (step S11).

[0027] The air conditioner control unit 13 inputs the position-related information acquired in step S10 and the surrounding environment information acquired in step S11 into the learned switching logic, and determines whether the position-related information and the surrounding environment information satisfy the automatic switching conditions (step S12).

[0028] If the automatic switching condition is met (YES in step S12), the air conditioner control unit 13 switches on / off the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 (step S13).

[0029] On the other hand, if the automatic switching condition is not satisfied (NO in step S12), the learning unit 15 checks whether the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition unit 14 includes a user instruction to switch the outside air introduction on or off (step S14). If a user instruction to switch the outside air introduction on or off is detected (YES in step S14), the learning unit 15 learns the characteristics of the current surrounding environment information and position-related information, and updates the switching logic based on the learning result (step S15).

[0030] Thereafter, the air conditioning control unit 13 checks whether the vehicle has finished traveling (step S16). If the vehicle has finished traveling (YES in step S16), the process in FIG. 2 ends. If the vehicle is still traveling (NO in step S16), the process returns to step S10.

[0031] According to the air conditioning control device 10 of the first embodiment, the on / off switching of the outside air introduction by the air conditioner 103 is performed taking into consideration not only the position-related information but also the surrounding environment information. Therefore, it is possible to switch on / off the outside air introduction according to not only the position of the vehicle itself but also the surrounding environment, which changes over time, such as the traffic volume of surrounding vehicles (corresponding to the amount of exhaust gas).

[0032] The air conditioning control device 10 also learns the characteristics of the surrounding environment information and location-related information when the user switches the outside air introduction on and off, and updates the switching logic based on the learning results, thereby automatically switching the outside air introduction on and off in accordance with the user's preferences.

[0033] [Variation 1] The surrounding vehicle information may include information on the type of drive system of each surrounding vehicle in addition to information on the location of the surrounding vehicle. Examples of drive system types include engine-driven, EV (Electric Vehicle), and HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle). For example, because EVs (including HEVs running in EV mode) do not emit exhaust gases, the air conditioning control device 10 does not need to count EVs as surrounding vehicles based on the information on the type of drive system of each surrounding vehicle.

[0034] The surrounding vehicle information may include information on the displacement of engine-driven vehicles in addition to information on the positions of the surrounding vehicles. The air conditioning control device 10 may use the total displacement of engine-driven vehicles included in the surrounding vehicles as surrounding environment information. In this case, the displacement of vehicles requiring emission control measures may be calculated as a deemed displacement in accordance with the emission control measures.

[0035] [Modification 2] The surrounding environment information may be meteorological information about the surroundings of the vehicle, such as wind speed, wind direction, amount of yellow sand, temperature, and humidity.

[0036] For example, when wind is blowing around the vehicle, the environment is less likely to accumulate exhaust gas, so users tend to turn on the outside air introduction. Furthermore, when there is a lot of yellow sand around the vehicle, users tend to turn off the outside air introduction. Furthermore, when the outside air temperature is significantly different from the set temperature of the air conditioner, users tend to turn off the outside air introduction. Furthermore, when the outside air humidity is high and the air conditioner 103 is dehumidifying the inside of the vehicle, the outside air introduction tends to be turned off. The learning unit 15 learns such user tendencies and generates switching logic, making it possible to automatically switch the outside air introduction on and off in accordance with the user's sense of weather.

[0037] [Modification 3] The surrounding environment information is CO ２ Concentration and NO ｘ The air conditioning control device 10 can more accurately recognize the degree of stagnation of the air around the vehicle, and therefore can more accurately switch on and off the introduction of outside air according to the degree of stagnation of the air.

[0038] [Modification 4] The surrounding environment information may be a combination of two or more of the surrounding vehicle information, weather information, and air pollution information described above.

[0039] [Modification 5] The input variables of the switching logic are not limited to the position-related information and the surrounding environment information, and other information may be added to the input variables.

[0040] For example, the air conditioning control device 10 may be provided with a host vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires host vehicle information including at least one of host vehicle traveling speed information and window open / close information, and the air conditioner control unit 13 may switch the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 on and off using switching logic that uses position-related information, surrounding environment information, and host vehicle information as input variables. In this case, the learning unit 15 generates switching logic for switching the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 on and off by learning the position-related information, surrounding environment information, and host vehicle information when the user switches the outside air introduction on and off.

[0041] Alternatively, for example, the air conditioning control device 10 may be provided with a time-related information acquisition unit that acquires time-related information including at least one of current time information, day of the week information, and information on whether it is a public holiday, and the air conditioner control unit 13 may switch the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 on and off using switching logic that uses position-related information, surrounding environment information, and time-related information as input variables. In this case, the learning unit 15 generates switching logic for switching the outside air introduction of the air conditioner 103 on and off by learning the position-related information, surrounding environment information, and time-related information when the user switches the outside air introduction on and off.

[0042] By increasing the number of input variables in the switching logic, it is possible to achieve automatic on / off switching of the outside air intake that better matches the passenger's perception.

[0043] <Embodiment 2> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle system 100 including an air conditioning control device 10 according to embodiment 2. The configuration in Fig. 3 is different from the configuration in Fig. 1 in that a positioning device 105 is connected to the air conditioning control device 10 instead of the road structure recognition device 102.

[0044] The positioning device 105 is a device that measures the position of the vehicle, and is, for example, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, etc. The positioning device 105 may have a function of correcting the positioning result by autonomous navigation using the speed and acceleration of the vehicle, and a function of correcting the positioning result by map matching using map data.

[0045] The position related information acquisition unit 12 acquires the position information of the vehicle itself from the positioning device 105 as the position related information.

[0046] The operation flow of the air conditioning control device 10 according to the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 2). However, the position-related information in the second embodiment is not road structure information but position information of the vehicle itself.

[0047] In the second embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, since the learning unit 15 learns the position of the vehicle when the user switches the outside air introduction on and off and generates the switching logic, there is an advantage that the switching logic for roads on which the vehicle has traveled in the past closely matches the occupant's sense. Conversely, there is a disadvantage that automatic on / off switching of the outside air introduction cannot be performed on roads on which the vehicle is traveling for the first time, because the switching logic has not yet been learned.

[0048] [Variation 1] The position information of the host vehicle as the position-related information may include information about the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling. In this case, the positioning device 105 is implemented by a high-precision locator (HD locator) that includes a high-definition map (HD (High-Definition) map) including road shape data for each lane and a positioning device with sub-meter-level positioning performance, and that detects the position of the host vehicle and the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling. Alternatively, the information about the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling may be acquired by an image processing device that recognizes lanes by analyzing images of the road captured by an on-board camera.

[0049] The learning unit 15 learns the lane in which the vehicle is traveling when the user switches the outside air introduction on and off and generates switching logic, so the air conditioning control device 10 can switch the outside air introduction on and off in accordance with differences in the road structure and surrounding environment of each lane. For example, it is possible to control the outside air introduction to be turned off in lanes close to the side wall and turned on in lanes far from the side wall, or to control the outside air introduction to be turned off in lanes with a high density of surrounding vehicles and turned on in lanes with a low density of surrounding vehicles.

[0050] [Variation 2] The position-related information acquisition unit 12 may acquire information on the structure of the road on which the vehicle is traveling (i.e., road structure information) based on the position information of the vehicle acquired from the positioning device 105 and map data including road structure data.

[0051] In this case, road structure information can be used as the position-related information, as in embodiment 1. Compared to the road structure recognition device 102 of embodiment 1, which performs complex processing such as image processing, the positioning device 105 is inexpensive, which can contribute to reducing the cost of the vehicle system 100. Furthermore, the road structure recognition device 102 of embodiment 1 recognizes the road structure from surrounding images captured by an on-board camera, which has the problem that it is difficult to obtain road structure information on roads with poor visibility. However, in this modified example, road structure information is obtained from map data corresponding to the position of the vehicle, so there is no such problem.

[0052] [Variation 3] Both the vehicle's position information and road structure information may be used as the position-related information. This eliminates the disadvantage of embodiment 2 that the outside air introduction cannot be automatically switched on and off on roads on which the vehicle is traveling for the first time. The road structure information may be acquired using the road structure recognition device 102 of embodiment 1, or may be acquired by the method of variation 2 of embodiment 2.

[0053] When learning the position-related information, the learning unit 15 learns both the position of the vehicle when the user switches the outside air introduction on and off and the road structure information to generate switching logic. At this time, the learning unit 15 may learn the position-related information by prioritizing the position information of the vehicle over the road structure information, in other words, by weighting the position information of the vehicle more heavily than the road structure information. In this way, the switching logic for roads on which the vehicle has traveled in the past closely matches the occupant's senses.

[0054] Note that the first embodiment and its modifications may be combined with the second embodiment and its modifications as long as no contradiction occurs.

[0055] Third Embodiment In a third embodiment, an example is shown in which the air conditioning control device 10 has a function of setting an initial value of the switching logic.

[0056] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle system 100 including an air conditioning control device 10 according to embodiment 3. The configuration of Fig. 4 differs from the configuration of Fig. 3 in that an initial setting unit 16 is added to the air conditioning control device 10 and the air conditioning control device 10 is connected to an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device 106. The vehicle system 100 is also capable of communicating with an external service center 200.

[0057] The HMI device 106 is a means by which the user exchanges information with the air conditioning control device 10, and includes an operation unit and a display unit. A typical example of the HMI device 106 is a so-called operation panel.

[0058] The service center 200 stores various data for setting the initial values ​​of the switching logic, such as recommended initial values ​​for turning the outside air intake on and off, and map data used when the user specifies roads, sections, areas, etc.

[0059] The initial setting unit 16 performs initial setting of the switching logic in response to user operations on the HMI device 106. The initial setting unit 16 can also communicate with the service center 200 through the HMI device 106 and can download various data from the service center 200.

[0060] 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the initial setting unit 16. The operation of the initial setting unit 16 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0061] In response to a user's operation on the HMI device 106, the initial setting unit 16 displays an initial setting screen as shown in Figure 6 on the HMI device 106 (step S20), and waits for a user's operation (step S21). The initial setting screen has a "Specify structure / road type" button, a "Specify map" button, and an "Exit" button.

[0062] When the "Specify structure / road type" button is pressed, the initial setting unit 16 displays a structure / road type specification screen as shown in Figure 7 on the HMI device 106 (step S22a) and waits for a user operation (step S23a). When the "Specify map" button is pressed, the initial setting unit 16 displays a map specification screen as shown in Figure 8 on the HMI device 106 (step S22b) and waits for a user operation (step S23b). When the "End" button on each screen is pressed, the initial setting unit 16 ends the processing of Figure 5.

[0063] The structure / road type specification screen of FIG. 7 will be described. The structure / road type specification screen includes radio buttons for setting the initial on / off value of the outside air introduction (hereinafter referred to as the "initial value of the outside air introduction") for each category, such as "Expressway Interchange (IC), Service Area (SA), or Parking Area (PA)," "Expressway," "Tunnel," "Urban Area," and "Suburban Area," as well as a "Confirm" button, a "Back" button, and an "Exit" button. In the example of FIG. 7, the initial value of the outside air introduction is prepared as "On," "Off," and "Clear." The "Clear" button is intended to leave the learning result of the learning unit 15 to the initial setting without setting the initial value of the outside air introduction. The initial value set for the radio button immediately after the structure / road type specification screen is displayed may be the same as the previous setting value or a default setting value.

[0064] When a radio button selection operation (i.e., an operation to set the initial value of the outside air introduction) is performed on the structure / road type designation screen, the initial setting unit 16 updates the display of the radio button according to the operation content (step S24a) and returns to step S23a. When the "Confirm" button is pressed, the initial setting unit 16 initializes the switching logic to match the selection result by the radio button (step S25a) and returns to step S23a. When the "Return" button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S20, and the display of the HMI device 106 returns to the initial setting screen (FIG. 6).

[0065] For example, if the initial value of the fresh air introduction in a "tunnel" is set to "off," the switching logic is initialized to turn off the fresh air introduction when the host vehicle enters the tunnel and turn on the fresh air introduction when the host vehicle exits the tunnel. That is, the switching logic is initialized to turn off the fresh air introduction while the position-related information (road structure information) indicates a "road in a tunnel."

[0066] The initial setting unit 16 may download recommended initial values ​​from the service center 200, or may obtain the results of local learning as the recommended initial value for introducing outside air.

[0067] Next, the map specification screen of Fig. 8 will be described. The map specification screen displays a map of the area for which the default value for outdoor air introduction is to be set, as well as a "Confirm" button, a "Return" button, and an "Exit" button. The thick solid lines on the map indicate sections for which the default value for outdoor air introduction is set to off, and the thick dotted lines indicate sections for which the default value for outdoor air introduction is set to on.

[0068] The map data that the initial setting unit 16 displays on the map specification screen can be downloaded from the service center 200. However, there are no restrictions on the method of obtaining the map data. For example, if the map data is stored in the vehicle's in-vehicle information system (e.g., a navigation system) or a locator device (corresponding to the positioning device 105), that data may be obtained and used. Also, a map database may be built into the air conditioning control device 10. The initial values ​​for the outside air intake for each section on the map immediately after it is displayed on the map specification screen may be the same as the previous setting values ​​or may be default settings.

[0069] On the map specification screen, the user can specify a road, section, area, etc., and set the initial value (on, off, or clear) for the outside air introduction. When an operation for setting the initial value for the outside air introduction is performed, the initial setting unit 16 changes the display of the map specification screen according to the operation content (step S24b), and returns to step S23b. When the "Confirm" button is pressed, the initial setting unit 16 initializes the switching logic to match the initial value for the outside air introduction set on the map specification screen (step S25b), and returns to step S23b. When the "Return" button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S20, and the display of the HMI device 106 returns to the initial setting screen ( FIG. 6 ).

[0070] For example, if the initial value of the outside air introduction in XX city is set to "off," the switching logic is initialized to turn off the outside air introduction when the host vehicle enters XX city and turn on the outside air introduction when the host vehicle leaves XX city. In other words, the switching logic is initialized to turn off the outside air introduction while the position-related information (host vehicle position information) indicates a position within XX city.

[0071] Regarding the map specification screen, the initial setting unit 16 may also download recommended initial values ​​from the service center 200, or may obtain the results of local learning as the recommended initial value for introducing outside air.

[0072] According to the air conditioning control device 10 of embodiment 3, the switching logic can be initialized to match the initial value of the outside air introduction set according to the user's preferences, so that automatic on / off switching of the outside air introduction can be realized to a certain extent according to the user's preferences immediately after starting to use the air conditioning control device 10.

[0073] This embodiment is particularly effective when applied to embodiment 2, which has the disadvantage that the introduction of outside air cannot be automatically switched on and off when the vehicle is traveling on a road for the first time, but it can also be applied to embodiment 1.

[0074] The air conditioning control device 10 may be provided to the user with the switching logic initialized using a recommended initial value for outside air introduction. In this case, the user does not need to initialize the switching logic, improving the convenience of the air conditioning control device 10. Furthermore, there is no need to provide the air conditioning control device 10 with an initial setting unit 16, which contributes to cost reduction for the air conditioning control device 10. The recommended initial value for outside air introduction is expected to be a generally preferred setting for outside air introduction, such as turning it off when the vehicle is traveling inside a tunnel and on when the vehicle is traveling outside the tunnel, or turning it off when the density of surrounding vehicles is above a certain level and on when it is below that level.

[0075] <Hardware Configuration Example> FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the air conditioning control device 10. The functions of the components of the air conditioning control device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 are realized, for example, by a processing circuit 50 illustrated in FIG. 9. That is, the air conditioning control device 10 acquires location-related information, which is static information related to the location of the vehicle; acquires surrounding environment information, which is information about the surrounding environment of the vehicle that changes over time; switches the outside air intake of the vehicle's air conditioner on and off based on the surrounding environment information and the location-related information according to a preset switching logic; acquires information about a user's operation of the air conditioner; learns the location-related information and surrounding environment information when the user switches the outside air intake of the air conditioner on and off based on the operation information; and generates switching logic based on the learning results. The processing circuit 50 may be dedicated hardware or may be configured using a processor (also called a central processing unit (CPU), processing device, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)) that executes a program stored in a memory.

[0076] When the processing circuitry 50 is dedicated hardware, the processing circuitry 50 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination of these. The functions of the components of the air conditioning control device 10 may be realized by individual processing circuits, or these functions may be realized together by a single processing circuit.

[0077] FIG. 10 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the air conditioning control device 10 when the processing circuit 50 is configured using a processor 51 that executes a program. In this case, the functions of the components of the air conditioning control device 10 are realized by software, etc. (software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware). The software, etc. is written as a program and stored in the memory 52. ​​The processor 51 realizes the functions of each part by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 52. ​​That is, the air conditioning control device 10 includes the memory 52 for storing programs that, when executed by the processor 51, result in the following: acquiring position-related information, which is static information related to the position of the vehicle; acquiring surrounding environment information, which is information about the surrounding environment of the vehicle that changes over time; switching on and off the outside air introduction of the air conditioner of the vehicle based on the surrounding environment information and the position-related information in accordance with a preset switching logic; acquiring information about the operation of the air conditioner by the user; and learning the position-related information and surrounding environment information when the user switches on and off the outside air introduction of the air conditioner based on the operation information and generating switching logic based on the learning results. In other words, this program causes a computer to execute procedures and methods for the operation of the components of the air conditioning control device 10.

[0078] Here, the memory 52 may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and a drive device for such a disk, or any other storage medium that will be used in the future.

[0079] The above describes a configuration in which the functions of the components of the air conditioning control device 10 are realized either by hardware or software, etc. However, this is not limited to this, and the configuration may be such that some of the components of the air conditioning control device 10 are realized by dedicated hardware and other components are realized by software, etc. For example, the functions of some of the components may be realized by the processing circuit 50 as dedicated hardware, and the functions of other components may be realized by the processing circuit 50 as the processor 51 reading and executing a program stored in the memory 52.

[0080] As described above, the air conditioning control device 10 can realize each of the above-described functions by hardware, software, or a combination of these.

[0081] It is possible to freely combine the embodiments, and to modify or omit the embodiments as appropriate.

[0082] The above description is illustrative in all respects, and it is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned.

[0083] 10 Air conditioning control device, 11 Surrounding environment information acquisition unit, 12 Position-related information acquisition unit, 13 Air conditioner control unit, 14 Operation information acquisition unit, 15 Learning unit, 16 Initial setting unit, 100 Vehicle system, 101 Environment recognition device, 102 Road structure recognition device, 103 Air conditioner, 104 Operation device, 105 Positioning device, 106 HMI device, 200 Service center, 50 Processing circuit, 51 Processor, 52 Memory.

Claims

1. An air conditioning control device comprising: a position-related information acquisition unit that acquires position-related information, which is static information related to the position of the vehicle; a surrounding environment information acquisition unit that acquires surrounding environment information, which is information about the surrounding environment of the vehicle that changes over time; an air conditioning control unit that switches on and off the introduction of outside air into the air conditioner of the vehicle based on the surrounding environment information and the position-related information in accordance with a preset switching logic; an operation information acquisition unit that acquires information about operation of the air conditioner by a user; and a learning unit that learns the position-related information and the surrounding environment information when the user switches on and off the introduction of outside air into the air conditioner based on the operation information, and generates the switching logic based on the learning results.

2. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the position-related information is road structure information at the position of the vehicle.

3. The air conditioning control device according to claim 2, wherein the location-related information acquisition unit acquires the road structure information based on location information of the vehicle and map data including data on road structures.

4. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the position-related information is position information of the vehicle.

5. The air conditioning control device according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle position information includes information about the lane in which the vehicle is traveling.

6. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the location-related information includes both location information of the vehicle and road structure information at the location of the vehicle.

7. The air conditioning control device according to claim 6, wherein the learning unit, when learning the position-related information, weights the position information of the host vehicle more heavily than the road structure information.

8. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the surrounding environment information is information about surrounding vehicles of the host vehicle.

9. The air conditioning control device according to claim 8, wherein the information about the surrounding vehicles includes information about the drive systems of the surrounding vehicles.

10. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the surrounding environment information is meteorological information about the surroundings of the vehicle.

11. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the surrounding environment information is air pollution information around the vehicle.

12. An air conditioning control device as described in claim 1, further comprising a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including at least one of the vehicle's driving speed information and window opening / closing information, wherein the air conditioning control unit switches the outside air intake of the air conditioner of the vehicle on and off based on the surrounding environment information, the position-related information and the vehicle information, and the learning unit learns the position-related information, the surrounding environment information and the vehicle information when the user switches the outside air intake of the air conditioner on and off, and generates the switching logic based on the learning results.

13. An air conditioning control device as described in claim 1, further comprising a time-related information acquisition unit that acquires time-related information including at least one of current time information, day of the week information, and information on whether it is a public holiday or not, wherein the air conditioning control unit switches the outside air intake of the air conditioner of the vehicle on and off based on the surrounding environment information, the position-related information, and the time-related information, and the learning unit learns the position-related information, the surrounding environment information, and the time-related information when the user switches the outside air intake of the air conditioner on and off, and generates the switching logic based on the learning results.

14. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the switching logic is initialized to turn on the outside air intake of the air conditioner when the vehicle is traveling inside a tunnel, and to turn off the outside air intake of the air conditioner when the vehicle is traveling outside a tunnel.

15. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, further comprising an initial setting unit that selects whether the air conditioner's outdoor air intake is turned on or off in at least one of tunnels, urban areas, specific areas, and specific roads in response to the user's operation, and initializes the switching logic to match the selection result.

16. An air conditioning control method, in which a position-related information acquisition unit of an air conditioning control device acquires position-related information, which is static information related to the position of the vehicle; a surrounding environment information acquisition unit of the air conditioning control device acquires surrounding environment information, which is information on the surrounding environment of the vehicle that changes over time; an air conditioner control unit of the air conditioning control device switches on and off the introduction of outside air into the air conditioner of the vehicle based on the surrounding environment information and the position-related information in accordance with a preset switching logic; an operation information acquisition unit of the air conditioning control device acquires operation information of the air conditioner by a user; and a learning unit of the air conditioning control device learns the position-related information and the surrounding environment information when the user switches on and off the introduction of outside air into the air conditioner based on the operation information, and generates the switching logic based on the learning results.

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