Vehicular defogging device

Abstract

This vehicular defogging device, which suppresses fogging of windows of a vehicle (70), comprises an electric heater (3), a front blower unit (751), side blower units (752, 753, 755, 756), and a control unit (4). The electric heater is provided on a front window (71), and heats the front window to defog the front window. The front blower unit blows air onto the front window to defog the front window. The side blower units (752, 753, 755, 756) blow air onto side windows (72, 72a to 72d) to defog the side windows. Then, when the electric heater is heating the front window, the control unit increases a defogging capability (P2) per unit surface area of the side windows due to blowing of air so as to be greater than a defogging capability (P1) per unit surface area of the front window due to blowing of air.

Description

Vehicle anti-fogging device CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-97606, filed on June 17, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle defroster that suppresses fogging of vehicle windows.

[0003] A known example of this type of vehicle defogging device is the vehicle defogging device described in Patent Document 1. The vehicle defogging device described in Patent Document 1 includes an electric heater serving as a film heater for heating the windshield, a humidity sensor for estimating the relative humidity of the surface of the windshield facing the passenger compartment, and an electronic control device.

[0004] The electronic control device controls the electric heater to generate heat and circulates air in the vehicle cabin when the relative humidity obtained from the humidity sensor is equal to or greater than a first threshold value and less than a second threshold value. On the other hand, when the relative humidity is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, the electronic control device controls the electric heater to generate heat and introduces outside air into the vehicle cabin. Furthermore, when introducing outside air into the vehicle cabin, the electronic control device increases the ventilation volume when introducing the outside air into the vehicle cabin in accordance with the level of the relative humidity.

[0005] JP 2023-44792 A

[0006] As described above, the vehicle defogging device of Patent Document 1 executes control to prevent fogging of the windshield. However, this window fogging control assumes that if fogging does not occur on the windshield, fogging will also not occur on the side windows. Therefore, with the control executed by the vehicle defogging device of Patent Document 1, when the amount of moisture in the vehicle cabin increases, it is expected that fogging will occur on the side windows that are not equipped with electric heaters. The inventors have found the above as a result of detailed studies.

[0007] In view of the above, the present disclosure aims to provide a vehicle defrosting device that can suppress fogging of the front window and side windows while preventing excessive defrosting capacity due to air blowing onto the front window.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle defrosting device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle defrosting device that suppresses fogging of vehicle windows, and includes: an electric heater that is provided on the front window and heats the front window to defrost the front window; a front air blowing unit that blows air onto the front window to defrost the front window; a side air blowing unit that blows air onto the side windows to defrost the side windows; and a control unit, wherein when the electric heater is heating the front window, the control unit makes a second unit air blowing defrosting capacity, which is the defrosting capacity by blowing air per unit area of ​​the side windows, larger than a first unit air blowing defrosting capacity, which is the defrosting capacity by blowing air per unit area of ​​the front window.

[0009] In this way, compared to when the first and second unit air-blowing defogging capacities are set to the same level, the defogging capacity of the electric heater for the windshield is taken into account and the defogging capacity of the wind blown can be distributed in a balanced manner to the windshield and the side windows, thereby preventing excessive defogging capacity of the wind blown to the windshield and suppressing fogging on both the windshield and the side windows.

[0010] 8 is a schematic diagram showing a front portion of a passenger compartment of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle defrosting device according to a first embodiment. It is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioning unit included in the vehicle defrosting device according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram showing an input / output system of a control device included in the vehicle defrosting device according to the first embodiment. It is a view taken along the arrow IV in FIG. 2, showing a face door provided in the air conditioning unit according to the first embodiment. It is a diagram showing a schematic representation of the magnitude of defrosting capacity per unit area of ​​the windshield and side windows in the defrosting control of a first comparative example. It is a diagram showing a schematic representation of the magnitude of defrosting capacity per unit area of ​​the windshield and side windows in the defrosting control of a second comparative example, which corresponds to FIG. 5. It is a diagram showing a schematic representation of the magnitude of defrosting capacity per unit area of ​​the windshield and side windows in the defrosting control of the first embodiment, which corresponds to FIG. 5. It is a flowchart showing a control process executed by a control device included in the vehicle defrosting device according to the first embodiment. It is a heater output map used for determining the output of the windshield heater in the control process of FIG. 15 is a side differential temperature map used to determine the output of the side differential heater in the control process of FIG. 15. It is a time chart showing an example of the case where the control process of FIG. 8 is executed in the first embodiment. It is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioning unit included in a vehicle defroster in a second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 2. It is a time chart showing an example of the case where defrosting control is executed in the second embodiment. It is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioning unit included in a vehicle defroster in a third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 2. It is a flowchart showing a control process executed by a control device included in a vehicle defroster in the third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 8. It is a side differential temperature map used to determine the output of the side differential heater in the control process of FIG. 15. It is a time chart showing an example of the case where the control process of FIG. 15 is executed in the third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 11. It is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioning unit included in a vehicle defroster in a fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 2.19 is a flowchart showing a control process executed by a control device included in a vehicle defrosting device of a fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 8. FIG. 19 is a side differential humidity map used to determine the output of a side differential dehumidifier in the control process of FIG. 19. FIG. 19 is a time chart showing an example of a case where the control process of FIG. 19 is executed in the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 11. FIG. 19 is a time chart showing an example of a case where the control process of FIG. 8 is executed in the fifth embodiment.

[0011] Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0012] (First Embodiment) The vehicle defrosting device of this embodiment is mounted on an automobile, i.e., a vehicle 70, and suppresses fogging on a windshield 71 and side windows 72, which are windows separating a vehicle interior 701 from the outside of the vehicle. In short, the vehicle defrosting device suppresses fogging on the windows of the vehicle 70. In other words, the vehicle defrosting device is capable of defrosting multiple windows provided on the vehicle 70. Note that in this disclosure, defrosting may include not only preventing window fogging, but also clearing window fogging by deicing, demisting, etc.

[0013] 1 to 3, the vehicle defroster includes an air conditioning unit 2, a windshield heater 3, and a control device 4. In the description of this embodiment, the windshield heater 3 may be abbreviated as Fr heater 3.

[0014] The Fr heater 3 is a transparent electric heater provided on the windshield 71 of the vehicle 70. Specifically, the Fr heater 3 is a film-like heater that is formed to extend over the entire surface or substantially the entire surface of the windshield 71. When energized, the Fr heater 3 generates heat and directly heats the windshield 71. The Fr heater 3 heats the windshield 71 to defog the windshield 71. The amount of heat generated per unit time by the Fr heater 3, i.e., the output Wh of the Fr heater 3, increases as the current passed through the Fr heater 3 increases.

[0015] Here, the general configuration of the cabin 701 and the area around the cabin 701 will be described. The vehicle 70 is equipped with a windshield 71 that covers the front of the cabin 701, as well as a plurality of side windows 72a to 72d and a rear window, which serve as windows separating the interior of the cabin 701 from the outside of the vehicle. The plurality of side windows 72a to 72d include a driver's seat-side first side window 72a, a driver's seat-side second side window 72b, a passenger's seat-side first side window 72c, and a passenger's seat-side second side window 72d, as shown in FIG. 1 .

[0016] The multiple side windows 72a to 72d are all windows arranged on the sides of the vehicle interior 701 relative to the front seats. Specifically, the driver's seat-side first side window 72a and the driver's seat-side second side window 72b are windows that cover the sides of the vehicle interior 701 relative to the driver's seat, and the driver's seat-side first side window 72a is arranged forward of the driver's seat-side second side window 72b. In addition, the passenger's seat-side first side window 72c and the passenger's seat-side second side window 72d are windows that cover the sides of the vehicle interior 701 relative to the passenger seat, and the passenger's seat-side first side window 72c is arranged forward of the passenger's seat-side second side window 72d.

[0017] In the description of this embodiment, the driver's side first side glass 72a, the driver's side second side glass 72b, the passenger's side first side glass 72c, and the passenger's side second side glass 72d may be collectively referred to as side glass 72 without distinction. The left-right direction of the paper in Figure 1 corresponds to the left-right direction of the vehicle 70, and the side on which the steering wheel 702 is provided in the left-right direction of the vehicle 70 is the driver's side. The windshield 71 corresponds to the windshield in this disclosure, and the side glass 72 corresponds to the side window in this disclosure.

[0018] An instrument panel 75 is provided at the front of the passenger compartment 701. The instrument panel 75 has a center differential outlet 751, a driver's side differential outlet 752, a passenger's side differential outlet 753, a center face outlet 754, a driver's side side face outlet 755, and a passenger's side side face outlet 756. These center differential outlet 751, driver's side side differential outlet 752, passenger's side side differential outlet 753, driver's side side face outlet 755, and passenger's side side face outlet 756 are also involved in window defogging and are therefore included in the vehicle defogging device of this embodiment.

[0019] The center differential outlet 751 is formed with a center differential outlet 751a, which blows conditioned air from the air conditioning unit 2 toward the windshield 71. The driver's side side differential outlet 752 is formed with a driver's side side differential outlet 752a, which blows conditioned air toward the driver's side first side window 72a and the driver's side second side window 72b. The passenger's side side differential outlet 753 is formed with a passenger's side side differential outlet 753a, which blows conditioned air toward the passenger's side first side window 72c and the passenger's side second side window 72d.

[0020] The center face outlet 754 is formed with a center face outlet 754a, which blows conditioned air toward the driver's seat and passenger seat inside the vehicle interior 701. The driver's side face outlet 755 is formed with a driver's seat side outlet 755a, which can blow conditioned air toward the driver's seat second side window 72b. The passenger's seat side face outlet 756 is formed with a passenger's seat side outlet 756a, which can blow conditioned air toward the passenger's seat second side window 72d.

[0021] The air conditioning unit 2 shown in Fig. 2 is a vehicle air conditioning unit that conditions the air inside a vehicle compartment 701. This air conditioning unit 2 is installed, for example, in an instrument panel 75. The air conditioning unit 2 constitutes the part of the air conditioning device 5 shown in Fig. 3 that is installed inside the vehicle compartment 701 and that is provided in a vehicle 70. In addition to the air conditioning unit 2, the air conditioning device 5 includes a refrigeration cycle device that circulates a refrigerant for cooling the conditioned air.

[0022] The air conditioning unit 2 includes an air conditioning case 21, an inside / outside air switching door 22, a blower 23, an evaporator 26, a heater core 27, an air mix door 28, a defroster door 31, a defroster airflow adjustment door 32, a face door 33, and a foot door 34. The defroster door 31 may be abbreviated as a def door 31, and the defroster airflow adjustment door 32 may be abbreviated as a def door 32.

[0023] The air conditioning case 21 is made of a resin that has a certain degree of elasticity and excellent strength. An example of the resin that constitutes the air conditioning case 21 is polypropylene. An air passage, i.e., a ventilation path 24 through which air flows, is formed inside the air conditioning case 21. The air conditioning case 21 also has, on the upstream side of the ventilation path 24 in the air flow direction, an inside air inlet 241 for introducing inside air from a predetermined location inside the vehicle compartment 701 into the ventilation path 24, and an outside air inlet 242 for introducing outside air from outside the vehicle into the ventilation path 24. The inside air is the air inside the vehicle compartment 701, i.e., indoor air, and the outside air is the air outside the vehicle compartment 701, i.e., outdoor air.

[0024] Furthermore, the air conditioning case 21 has a plurality of outlet openings 25 on the downstream side of the ventilation passage 24 in the air flow direction for blowing conditioned air from the ventilation passage 24 to the front seat area of ​​the vehicle interior. The plurality of outlet openings 25 include a center differential outlet opening 251, a side differential outlet opening 252, a center face outlet opening 253, a side face outlet opening 254, and a foot outlet opening 255. In the description of this embodiment, the center differential outlet opening 251, the side differential outlet opening 252, the center face outlet opening 253, the side face outlet opening 254, and the foot outlet opening 255 may be referred to collectively without distinction as the outlet opening 25.

[0025] 1 and 2, the center differential outlet 251 is connected to a center differential outlet 751a, and air flowing out from the center differential outlet 251 is blown out from the center differential outlet 751a into the vehicle interior 701. The side differential outlet 252 is connected in parallel to a driver's seat side side differential outlet 752a and a passenger seat side side differential outlet 753a. Air flowing out from the side differential outlet 252 is blown out into the vehicle interior 701 from the driver's seat side and passenger seat side side differential outlets 752a and 753a, respectively.

[0026] The center face outlet 253 is connected to a center face outlet 754a, and air flowing out from the center face outlet 253 is blown out from the center face outlet 754a into the vehicle interior 701. The side face outlet 254 is connected in parallel to a driver's seat side side face outlet 755a and a passenger seat side side face outlet 756a, respectively. Air flowing out from the side face outlet 254 is blown out into the vehicle interior 701 from the driver's seat side and passenger seat side side face outlets 755a, 756a, respectively.

[0027] The foot outlet 255 opens downward at the front of the passenger compartment 701. The air flowing out from the foot outlet 255 is blown out toward the feet of the passengers sitting in the front seats.

[0028] Inside the air conditioning case 21, an inside / outside air switching door 22, a centrifugal fan 231 of the blower 23, an evaporator 26, a heater core 27, an air mix door 28, and the like are provided.

[0029] The inside / outside air switching door 22 continuously adjusts the opening area of ​​the inside air inlet 241 and the opening area of ​​the outside air inlet 242. The inside / outside air switching door 22 is driven by an actuator such as a servo motor (not shown). The inside / outside air switching door 22 rotates so that the more one of the inside air inlet 241 and the outside air inlet 242 is opened, the more the other inlet is closed. In this way, the inside / outside air switching door 22 can adjust the ratio of the amount of inside air and the amount of outside air introduced into the ventilation duct 24.

[0030] The blower 23 is composed of a centrifugal fan 231, a motor 232 that rotates and drives the centrifugal fan 231, and other components. When the centrifugal fan 231 rotates and drives the motor 232 of the blower 23, an airflow is formed in the ventilation duct 24. As a result, air introduced into the ventilation duct 24 from the inside air inlet 241 or the outside air inlet 242 flows through the ventilation duct 24 and is blown out from one of the plurality of outlet openings 25.

[0031] 2, a differential door 31 is provided at the inlet side of the center differential outlet 251 and the side differential outlet 252. The differential door 31 adjusts the opening area of ​​the center differential outlet 251 and the side differential outlet 252 collectively.

[0032] The differential outlet adjustment door 32 is provided between the differential door 31 and each of the center differential outlet opening 251 and the side differential outlet opening 252. The differential outlet adjustment door 32 rotates so that the more one of the center differential outlet opening 251 and the side differential outlet opening 252 is opened, the more the other outlet opening is closed. In other words, the differential outlet adjustment door 32 rotates so that the more the opening of one of the center differential outlet opening 251 and the side differential outlet opening 252 is opened, the more the opening of the other outlet opening is closed. In this way, the differential outlet adjustment door 32 adjusts the ratio between the amount of air passing through the center differential outlet opening 251 and the amount of air passing through the side differential outlet opening 252.

[0033] A face door 33 is provided at the inlet side of the center face outlet 253 and the side face outlet 254, and the face door 33 adjusts the opening areas of the center face outlet 253 and the side face outlet 254 together. However, as shown in FIG. 4 , the face door 33 is formed with a ventilation hole 33a, which is a through-hole. When the face door 33 is in a closed state in which the center face outlet 253 is closed, the ventilation hole 33a connects the side face outlet 254 to the ventilation duct 24. Therefore, when the face door 33 is in a closed state, air is prevented from flowing between the ventilation duct 24 and the center face outlet 253, but air can flow between the ventilation duct 24 and the side face outlet 254 via the ventilation hole 33a.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, a foot door 34 is provided on the inlet side of the foot outlet 255 , and the foot door 34 adjusts the opening area of ​​the foot outlet 255 .

[0035] The evaporator 26 is a heat exchanger for cooling the air flowing through the ventilation passage 24. Specifically, the evaporator 26 exchanges heat between the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle device and the air flowing through the ventilation passage 24, thereby cooling the air and evaporating the refrigerant.

[0036] The heater core 27 is a heat exchanger for heating the air flowing through the ventilation passage 24. The heater core 27 is disposed downstream of the evaporator 26 in the air flow direction.

[0037] An air mix door 28 is provided between the evaporator 26 and the heater core 27 of the air conditioning unit 2. The air mix door 28 adjusts the ratio between the bypass air volume that flows around the heater core 27 after passing through the evaporator 26 and the heater-passing air volume that passes through the heater core 27 after passing through the evaporator 26.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3 , the control device 4 functions as a control unit that controls controlled objects such as the air conditioning unit 2 and the front heater 3 in the vehicle defroster of this embodiment. The control device 4 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU, RAM, ROM, non-volatile rewritable memory, etc. (not shown). For example, the control device 4 reads and executes a computer program stored in the ROM or non-volatile rewritable memory, which are non-transient tangible recording media. Execution of this computer program results in the execution of a method corresponding to the computer program. In other words, the control device 4 executes various control processes in accordance with the computer program.

[0039] 3, signals are input to the control device 4 from various sensors and the operation panel 40. The outside air temperature sensor 4a detects the outside air temperature as the temperature outside the passenger compartment 701. The inside air temperature sensor 4b detects the temperature inside the passenger compartment 701. The seating sensors 4c are provided in each seat in the passenger compartment 701 and detect the presence or absence of an occupant sitting in each seat.

[0040] 1, the temperature and humidity sensor 4d is provided on the surface of the windshield 71 facing the passenger compartment 701. The temperature and humidity sensor 4d detects a windshield temperature Tg, which is the surface temperature Tg of the windshield 71 facing the passenger compartment 701, and the temperature Ti and relative humidity Hi of the indoor air floating on the windshield 71 in the passenger compartment 701. The temperature Ti of the indoor air floating on the windshield 71 in the passenger compartment 701 may be referred to as the near-window indoor air temperature Ti, and the relative humidity Hi of the indoor air floating on the windshield 71 in the passenger compartment 701 may be referred to as the near-window indoor air relative humidity Hi.

[0041] The operation panel 40 is disposed on the instrument panel 75 and includes a plurality of switches that are operated by the occupant. For example, the operation panel 40 includes a plurality of air conditioning operation switches for operating the air conditioning unit 5, and a defogging switch for switching on and off defogging control that prevents fogging on the windshield 71 and the plurality of side windows 72a to 72d. The occupant turns on the defogging switch to execute the defogging control, and turns off the defogging switch to stop the defogging control. The operation panel 40 outputs a signal indicating the operation state of each switch on the operation panel 40 to the control device 4.

[0042] The control device 4 of this embodiment executes defrosting control to defog the windshield 71 and the plurality of side windows 72a to 72d as one of various control processes executed by the control device 4. Here, in order to explain the defrosting control, a first comparative example and a second comparative example are assumed in which defrosting control different from the defrosting control of this embodiment is executed.

[0043] In the defrosting control executed in either the first or second comparative example, the windshield 71 is heated by the front heater 3, and air is simultaneously blown from the air conditioning unit 2 to the windshield 71 and the side windows 72. In this case, in the defrosting control of the first comparative example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the defrosting capacities P1 and P2 by the air blowing per unit area of ​​the window, i.e., the air-blowing defrosting capacities P1 and P2 per unit area, are made equal for the windshield 71 and the side windows 72. Alternatively, the air-blowing defrosting capacities P1 and P2 per unit area are made greater for the windshield 71 than for the side windows 72. Furthermore, in the defrosting control of the first comparative example, the total power consumed by the front heater 3 and the air blowing to the windows is minimized to the extent that no fogging occurs on the windshield 71.

[0044] In the case of the anti-fogging control of the first comparative example, a drop in the temperature of the side window 72 or an increase in the relative humidity in the vehicle interior 701 causes an insufficient anti-fogging capacity Af for the side window 72, resulting in window fogging on the side window 72. The anti-fogging control of the first comparative example has such a disadvantage.

[0045] The anti-fogging capacity refers to the ability to prevent window fogging or to clear window fogging. The magnitude of the anti-fogging capacity can be measured, for example, by the speed at which window fogging clears under certain conditions. The faster the window clears, the greater the anti-fogging capacity. The anti-fogging capacity by airflow per unit area of ​​a window is obtained by dividing the anti-fogging capacity by airflow on the window by the area of ​​the window. Therefore, the first unit airflow anti-fogging capacity P1, which is the anti-fogging capacity P1 by airflow on the windshield 71 per unit area, is obtained by dividing the anti-fogging capacity by airflow on the windshield 71 by the area of ​​the windshield 71. The second unit airflow anti-fogging capacity P2, which is the anti-fogging capacity P2 by airflow on multiple side windows 72 per unit area, is obtained by dividing the anti-fogging capacity by airflow on the multiple side windows 72 by the total area of ​​the multiple side windows 72.

[0046] 6, the blowing air defogging capacities P1 and P2 per unit area are set equal for the windshield 71 and the side windows 72. In the defogging control of the second comparative example, the total power consumption consumed by the front heater 3 and for blowing air to the windows is minimized to the extent that no fogging occurs on the side windows 72.

[0047] In the case of the anti-fogging control of the second comparative example, the windshield 71 and the side windows 72 do not fogging up, but extra power Ay is consumed to defog the windshield 71. The anti-fogging control of the second comparative example has such a disadvantage.

[0048] In consideration of the disadvantages of the first and second comparative examples, the defogging control executed by the control device 4 of this embodiment is configured. Specifically, in the defogging control of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 , the windshield 71 is heated by the front heater 3, and the second unit defogging capacity P2 is set to be greater than the first unit defogging capacity P1. This reduces unnecessary power consumption due to defogging the windshield 71, and prevents fogging on both the windshield 71 and the side windows 72. Note that the defogging capacity of the wind per unit area of ​​the window increases as the volume of air blown per unit area of ​​the window increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second unit defogging capacity P2 is set to be greater than the first unit defogging capacity P1 due to the difference in the volume of air blown per unit area.

[0049] As described above, the defogging control executed in this embodiment not only defogs the windshield 71 by heating it with the front heater 3, but also defogs the windshield 71 and the multiple side windows 72 by blowing air onto them. Therefore, during execution of the defogging control, the center differential blower 751 functions as a front blower that defogs the windshield 71 by blowing air onto the windshield 71. The driver's side and passenger's side side differential blowers 752, 753 and the driver's side and passenger's side face blowers 755, 756 function as side blowers that defog the multiple side windows 72 by blowing air onto the multiple side windows 72.

[0050] In the description of this embodiment, defogging by heating with the front heater 3 may be referred to as "heat defogging," and defogging by blowing air may be referred to as "wind-blowing defogging." The hatched portions of the bar graphs in Figures 5 to 7 represent the magnitude of the defogging ability by heating with the front heater 3 per unit area of ​​the windshield 71.

[0051] Specifically, the control device 4 of this embodiment executes the control process shown in the flowchart of Fig. 8, thereby performing defogging control. The control device 4 starts the control process of Fig. 8 when, for example, an defogging switch on the operation panel 40 is turned on. On the other hand, the control device 4 stops the control process of Fig. 8 when the defogging switch on the operation panel 40 is turned off. When the control process of Fig. 8 is stopped, for example, the output Wh of the front heater 3 is set to zero, and the air conditioner 5 switches to normal air conditioning control.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 8, first, in step S101, the control device 4 sets the flag FG to an initial value of 0. After step S101, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0053] In step S102, the control device 4 obtains the window-nearby inside air temperature Ti and the window-nearby inside air relative humidity Hi from the temperature and humidity sensor 4d. The control device 4 then calculates the vehicle interior dew-point temperature Td, which is a dew-point temperature obtained from the window-nearby inside air temperature Ti and the window-nearby inside air relative humidity Hi. After step S102, the process proceeds to step S103.

[0054] In step S103, the control device 4 obtains the windshield temperature Tg from the temperature and humidity sensor 4d. The control device 4 also calculates a control relative humidity Hg, which is the relative humidity Hg on the windshield 71 used for control, based on the windshield temperature Tg, the window-near inside air temperature Ti, and the window-near inside air relative humidity Hi. For example, the control relative humidity Hg increases as the window-near inside air relative humidity Hi increases. After step S103, the process proceeds to step S104.

[0055] In step S104, the control device 4 determines whether or not there is a risk of window fogging on at least one of the windshield 71 and the plurality of side windows 72. Specifically, the control device 4 calculates the lower temperature determination value Tda from the equation "Tda = Td + α" using a first constant α and the vehicle interior dew-point temperature Td. The first constant α satisfies "α > 0" and is a constant that serves as a margin that is experimentally set in advance to ensure safety in preventing window fogging.

[0056] If the windshield temperature Tg is less than the lower temperature determination value Tda, i.e., if the windshield temperature Tg and the lower temperature determination value Tda have the relationship "Tg<Tda", the control device 4 determines that there is a risk of window fogging. Conversely, if the windshield temperature Tg and the lower temperature determination value Tda have the relationship "Tg≧Tda", the control device 4 determines that there is no risk of window fogging.

[0057] If it is determined in step S104 that there is a risk of window fogging, i.e., if the windshield temperature Tg and the lower temperature determination value Tda have the relationship "Tg<Tda", the process proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no risk of window fogging, i.e., if the windshield temperature Tg and the lower temperature determination value Tda have the relationship "Tg≧Tda", the process proceeds to step S108.

[0058] In step S105, the control device 4 determines the output Wh of the front heater 3 based on the control relative humidity Hg using the heater output map MPh of Fig. 9, and causes the front heater 3 to heat the windshield 71 at the determined output Wh. As a result, the amount of heat that the front heater 3 applies to the windshield 71, in other words, the amount of heat generated by the front heater 3, increases after step S110 (described later) is executed compared to before step S105 is executed. The heating operation of the front heater 3, maintaining the output Wh determined in step S105, continues as long as the anti-fogging switch remains on, until the output Wh of the front heater 3 is changed in any of the steps in this flowchart.

[0059] The heater output map MPh in Figure 9 is experimentally set in advance to minimize the power consumption of the front heater 3 and the air conditioner 5 within a range that prevents window fogging, assuming that both defogging by the front heater 3 and defogging by ventilation are performed. The heater output map MPh is set so that the output Wh of the front heater 3 increases as the control relative humidity Hg increases. Note that the output Wh of the front heater 3, which constitutes the vertical axis of the heater output map MPh, may be replaced with the current supplied to the front heater 3. After step S105 in Figure 8, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0060] In step S106, the control device 4 sets all controlled objects included in the air conditioner 5, excluding the blower 23 and the differential airflow control door 32, to a predetermined constant state. This is to suppress variations in the defrosting ability during defrosting control. For example, the inside / outside air switching door 22 is positioned at a door position that fully closes the inside air inlet 241 and maximizes the opening of the outside air inlet 242, the face door 33 and the foot door 34 are each closed, and the differential air door 31 is positioned at a door position that maximizes its door opening. Furthermore, the air mix door 28 is positioned at a door position that maximizes the ratio of the heater airflow to the bypass airflow. In this case, the air blown into the passenger compartment 701 from the air conditioning unit 2 becomes warm air heated by the heater core 27. Note that if all controlled objects, excluding the blower 23 and the differential airflow control door 32, are already in the predetermined state, the states of the controlled objects are maintained as they are.

[0061] Furthermore, in step S106, the control device 4 determines the airflow rate of the blower 23, specifically the rotation speed of the motor 232 of the blower 23, based on the control relative humidity Hg using the airflow map MPf of FIG. 10 . The control device 4 then operates the motor 232 of the blower 23 so that the blower 23 blows air at the determined airflow rate. As a result, the airflow rate of the blower 23, specifically the total airflow rate obtained by adding up the airflow rates blown out toward the windshield 71 and the side windows 72, increases after step S111, which will be described later, compared to before step S106. The rotation speed of the motor 232 of the blower 23 may also be simply referred to as the rotation speed of the blower 23.

[0062] 10 is experimentally set in advance so as to keep the power consumption of the blower 23 low within a range that prevents window fogging, assuming that both defogging by the Fr heater 3 and defogging by air blowing are performed. The air blowing map MPf is set so that the higher the control relative humidity Hg, the greater the airflow rate of the blower 23. The airflow rate used in defogging control is, more specifically, the volumetric flow rate of air.

[0063] In step S106, the control device 4 activates the differential airflow adjusting door 32 and positions the differential airflow adjusting door 32 at a predetermined first door position. As a result, if step S111 described below has been executed, the side differential airflow ratio increases compared to before step S106. The side differential airflow ratio is the ratio of the total airflow from the driver's seat side and passenger seat side side differential airflow outlets 752a and 753a to the airflow from the center differential airflow outlet 751a.

[0064] The first door position of the differential airflow adjusting door 32 is a door position that makes the unit airflow volume Bs to the side windows 72 greater than the unit airflow volume Bf to the windshield 71. The first door position is experimentally set in advance so that just the right amount of air is blown to prevent window fogging, on the premise that both defogging by the front heater 3 and defogging by air are performed.

[0065] The unit airflow rate Bf to the windshield 71 is the amount of air blown per unit area of ​​the windshield 71. The unit airflow rate Bs to the side windows 72 is the amount of air blown per unit area of ​​the side windows 72 across the entirety of the multiple side windows 72. For example, the unit airflow rate Bf to the windshield 71 is calculated by dividing the airflow rate from the center differential air outlet 751a by the area of ​​the windshield 71. The unit airflow rate Bs to the side windows 72 is calculated by dividing the total airflow rate from the driver's side and passenger's side differential air outlets 752a, 753a and the driver's side and passenger's side face air outlets 755a, 756a by the total area of ​​the multiple side windows 72.

[0066] The door position of the differential airflow adjusting door 32 and the operating state of the blower 23 determined in step S106 are maintained until they are changed in any of the steps in this flowchart, provided that the anti-fogging switch remains on. After step S106 in FIG. 8, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0067] In step S107, the control device 4 sets the flag FG to 1. After step S107, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0068] In step S108, the control device 4 determines whether or not the flag FG is 1. If it is determined in step S108 that the flag FG is 1, the process proceeds to step S109. On the other hand, if it is determined that the flag FG is not 1, that is, if the flag FG is 0, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0069] In step S109, the control device 4 determines whether or not excessive energy is being input to defogging the windshield 71 and the side windows 72, in other words, whether or not excessive energy is being consumed to perform the defogging. The energy consumed to perform the defogging can be expressed as an index value, for example, by the sum of the power consumption of the front heater 3 and the power consumption of the blower 23 during the defogging control.

[0070] Specifically, the control device 4 calculates the upper temperature determination value Tdb from the equation "Tdb = Td + β" using the second constant β and the interior dew-point temperature Td. The second constant β and the first constant α have a relationship of "β > α", and the second constant β is a constant experimentally determined in advance so as to prevent excessive energy from being consumed in defrosting the windshield 71 and the side windows 72.

[0071] If the windshield temperature Tg is higher than the upper temperature determination value Tdb, that is, if the windshield temperature Tg and the upper temperature determination value Tdb have the relationship "Tg > Tdb," the control device 4 determines that the energy consumed for performing defogging is excessive. Conversely, if the windshield temperature Tg and the upper temperature determination value Tdb have the relationship "Tg ≦ Tdb," the control device 4 determines that the energy consumed for performing defogging is not yet excessive.

[0072] If it is determined in step S109 that the energy consumed for defogging is excessive, that is, if the windshield temperature Tg and the upper temperature determination value Tdb have the relationship "Tg > Tdb", the process proceeds to step S110. On the other hand, if it is determined that the energy consumed for defogging is not yet excessive, that is, if the windshield temperature Tg and the upper temperature determination value Tdb have the relationship "Tg ≦ Tdb", the process proceeds to step S102.

[0073] In step S110, the control device 4 determines the output Wh of the front heater 3 based on the control relative humidity Hg using the heater output map MPh of FIG. 9, and causes the front heater 3 to heat the windshield 71 at the determined output Wh. At this time, because the control relative humidity Hg has been decreasing due to the continuation of defogging control, the amount of heat generated by the front heater 3 for the windshield 71 is reduced compared to before execution of step S110. The heating operation of the front heater 3, maintaining the output Wh determined in step S110, continues as long as the defogging switch remains on until the output Wh of the front heater 3 is changed in any of the steps in this flowchart. After step S110 in FIG. 8, the process proceeds to step S111.

[0074] In step S111, the control device 4 determines the airflow rate of the blower 23, specifically the rotation speed of the motor 232 of the blower 23, based on the control relative humidity Hg using the airflow map MPf of Fig. 10. Then, the control device 4 operates the motor 232 of the blower 23 so that the blower 23 blows air at the determined airflow rate. At this time, as described above, the control relative humidity Hg has been decreasing due to the continuation of the anti-fogging control, so the airflow rate of the blower 23 is reduced compared to before execution of step S111.

[0075] In step S111, the control device 4 activates the differential airflow adjusting door 32 and positions the differential airflow adjusting door 32 at a predetermined second door position, thereby reducing the side differential airflow rate compared to before step S111 was executed.

[0076] The second door position of the differential airflow adjusting door 32 is similar to the first door position in that it is a door position in which the unit airflow volume Bs to the side windows 72 is greater than the unit airflow volume Bf to the windshield 71. Similarly to the first door position, the second door position is experimentally set in advance to provide just the right amount of airflow to prevent window fogging, assuming that both defogging by the front heater 3 and defogging by airflow are performed. However, the second door position is a door position in which the opening of the center differential airflow opening 251 is larger than that of the first door position.

[0077] The door position of the differential airflow adjusting door 32 and the operating state of the blower 23 determined in step S111 are maintained until they are changed in any of the steps in this flowchart as long as the anti-fogging switch remains on. After step S111 in FIG. 8, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0078] 8 constitutes a functional unit that realizes the respective function, and the control device 4 is equipped with the functional units. This also applies to the flowcharts described later.

[0079] FIG. 11 is a time chart showing an example of the execution of the control process shown in FIG. 8 . In FIG. 11 , the defogging switch on the operation panel 40 is switched from OFF to ON at a time point prior to time ta1. At time ta1, the determination result of step S104 in FIG. 8 changes from "NO" to "YES," so steps S105 and S106 are executed. As a result, defogging control is started at time ta1 in FIG. 11 . That is, in the time chart of FIG. 11 , time ta1 is the start time of defogging control, and the heating operation of the front heater 3 and the blower 23 starting to blow air during defogging control begin at time ta1.

[0080] From time ta1 to time ta2 in Fig. 11, the windshield temperature Tg gradually increases due to the heating operation of the front heater 3 started in steps S105 and S106 in Fig. 8 and the air blown by the blower 23. Therefore, from time ta1 to time ta2, the determination results in steps S104 and S109 in Fig. 8 are both "NO."

[0081] 11, the determination result of step S104 in FIG. 8 remains "NO," but the determination result of step S109 changes from "NO" to "YES." As a result, steps S110 and S111 are executed at time ta2. As a result, at time ta2, the control device 4 reduces the output Wh of the front heater 3 and reduces the rotation speed of the blower 23. As the rotation speed of the blower 23 decreases, the unit airflow rate Bf to the windshield 71 and the unit airflow rate Bs to the side windows 72 also decrease at time ta2.

[0082] 11, the windshield temperature Tg gradually decreases because the windshield 71 is cooled by the outside air in accordance with the decrease in the output Wh of the front heater 3 and the decrease in the airflow rate at time ta2. Therefore, from time ta2 to time ta3, the determination results in both steps S104 and S109 in FIG.

[0083] Then, at time ta3 in Figure 11, the determination result of step S104 in Figure 8 changes from "NO" to "YES." As a result, at time ta3, steps S105 and S106 are executed again. As a result, the control device 4 increases the output Wh of the front heater 3 and increases the rotation speed of the blower 23. Then, with the increase in the rotation speed of the blower 23, the unit airflow rate Bf to the windshield 71 and the unit airflow rate Bs to the side windows 72 also increase at time ta3.

[0084] Furthermore, from time ta3 in FIG. 11, the windshield temperature Tg starts to rise as the output Wh of the Fr heater 3 increases and the airflow rate increases at time ta3.

[0085] As shown in the time chart of Figure 11, during execution of defogging control from time ta1 onwards, the control device 4 not only performs thermal defogging on the windshield 71 but also performs blow-air defogging on the windshield 71 and the multiple side windows 72. Specifically, when the front heater 3 is heating the windshield 71 during defogging control, the control device 4 sets the unit airflow rate Bs for the side windows 72 to be greater than the unit airflow rate Bf for the windshield 71. In this case, the defogging capacity of the window due to the airflow increases as the airflow rate blown to that window increases. Therefore, when performing thermal defogging on the windshield 71, the control device 4 sets the unit airflow rate Bs for the side windows 72 to be greater than the unit airflow rate Bf for the windshield 71, thereby making the second unit airflow defogging capacity P2 greater than the first unit airflow defogging capacity P1.

[0086] This embodiment can achieve the following advantageous effects. According to this embodiment, when the front heater 3 is heating the windshield 71, the control device 4 sets the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity P2 to be greater than the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1. Therefore, compared to when the first and second unit air-blowing defogging capacities P1 and P2 are set to the same level, the defogging capacity of the front heater 3 for the windshield 71 can be taken into account and the defogging capacity by air blowing can be distributed in a balanced manner to the windshield 71 and the multiple side windows 72, compared to when the first and second unit air-blowing defogging capacities P1 and P2 are set to the same level. As a result, it is possible to suppress fogging on the windshield 71 and the multiple side windows 72 while preventing excessive air-blowing defogging capacity for the windshield 71.

[0087] (1) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the control device 4 makes the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity P2 greater than the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1 by making the unit air-blowing volume Bs to the side window 72 greater than the unit air-blowing volume Bf to the windshield 71. Therefore, the amount of air blown to the windshield 71 or the side window 72 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the rotation speed of the blower 23 or by operating each door of the air conditioning unit 2, making it easy to control the defogging capacity by blowing air.

[0088] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. Furthermore, parts that are the same as or equivalent to the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified. This also applies to the following embodiments.

[0089] In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in addition to thermal defogging of the windshield 71, defogging of the windshield 71 and the plurality of side windows 72 is also performed during the defogging control. Here, the defogging ability of the wind blown onto the windows increases as the wind speed of the air impinging on the windows increases. Based on this, the control device 4 of this embodiment increases the second unit wind-blowing defogging ability P2 from the first unit wind-blowing defogging ability P1 during the defogging control by making the wind speed V2 of the air impinging on the side windows 72 greater than the wind speed V1 of the air impinging on the windshield 71.

[0090] In the description of this embodiment, the wind speed V1 of the air hitting the windshield 71 may be referred to as the windshield wind speed V1, and the wind speed V2 of the air hitting the side window 72 may be referred to as the side window wind speed V2. Furthermore, the windshield wind speed V1 and the side window wind speed V2 used in the description of the defogging control refer to average wind speeds unless otherwise specified.

[0091] Specifically, in this embodiment, the opening areas of the side differential air outlets 752a and 753a and the side face air outlets 755a and 756a shown in Fig. 1 are each smaller than the opening area of ​​the center differential air outlet 751a, so that the side window wind speed V2 is greater than the wind speed V1 during defogging control.

[0092] 12, the pressure loss increasing mechanism 36 is provided in the center differential air outlet opening 251. This is to prevent the amount of air blown to the windshield 71 from being greater than the amount of air blown to the side windows 72, which would occur if the opening areas of the side differential air outlets 752a, 753a and the side face air outlets 755a, 756a were small.

[0093] 12 increases the ventilation resistance of the center differential outlet 251 compared to when the pressure loss increasing mechanism 36 is not provided. As a result, the ventilation resistances of the air passage blowing air from the center differential outlet 251 into the passenger compartment 701, the air passage blowing air from the side differential outlet 252 into the passenger compartment 701, and the air passage blowing air from the side face outlet 254 into the passenger compartment 701 are all approximately the same. Therefore, during defrosting control, for example, the amount of air blown through these air passages is also approximately the same.

[0094] The pressure loss increasing mechanism 36 is configured so that air passes through, for example, a mesh, a filter, or a partially narrowed duct, thereby increasing the ventilation resistance of the pressure loss increasing mechanism 36. Note that the air conditioning unit 2 of this embodiment does not include the differential airflow adjusting door 32 shown in FIG. 2.

[0095] In this embodiment, the control process shown in the flowchart of Fig. 8 is not executed. In this embodiment, when the defogging switch is turned on, the defogging mode is started, and at the same time, the control device 4 starts the defogging control.

[0096] For example, at time tb1 in FIG. 13 , the defogging switch is switched from off to on, and the control device 4 starts defogging control from time tb1. That is, from time tb1, the front heater 3 starts to be energized, starting heating defogging of the windshield 71 and blowing defogging of the windshield 71 and the multiple side windows 72. In the blowing defogging that started from time tb1, the side window air velocity V2 is greater than the windshield air velocity V1. As a result, from time tb1, the second unit blowing defogging capacity P2 is greater than the first unit blowing defogging capacity P1.

[0097] Note that, in order to perform ventilation defogging, the control device 4 operates the blower 23 at a predetermined rotation speed for defogging control from time tb1. The predetermined rotation speed for defogging control is set so that the amount of air blown to the windshield 71 and the side windows 72 is not insufficient due to ventilation resistance during defogging control. For example, the predetermined rotation speed for defogging control may be a constant, or may be determined from the ventilation map MPf of FIG. 10 based on the control relative humidity Hg.

[0098] Also, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, while the anti-fogging control is being performed, the control device 4 sets the controlled objects included in the air conditioner 5, excluding the blower 23, to a predetermined constant state. For example, while the anti-fogging control is being performed, the positions of the inside / outside air switching door 22, the air mix door 28, the face door 33, the foot door 34, and the differential door 31 are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0099] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0100] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0101] In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in addition to thermal defogging of the windshield 71, defogging of the windshield 71 and the plurality of side windows 72 is also performed during the defogging control. Here, the defogging capacity of the windows defogging by air blowing increases as the temperature of the air blown onto the windows increases. Based on this, the control device 4 of this embodiment increases the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity P2 from the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1 during the defogging control by making the temperature T2 of the air blown onto the side windows 72 higher than the temperature T1 of the air blown onto the windshield 71.

[0102] In the description of this embodiment, the temperature T1 of the air blown to the windshield 71 may be referred to as the windshield blowing temperature T1, and the temperature T2 of the air blown to the side window 72 may be referred to as the side window blowing temperature T2. Furthermore, the windshield blowing temperature T1 and the side window blowing temperature T2 used in the description of the defogging control refer to the average temperatures of the air blown, unless otherwise specified.

[0103] Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14 , the air conditioning unit 2 includes a side defroster heater 37. The side defroster heater 37 is provided in the side defroster outlet 252 and heats the air that passes through the side defroster outlet 252 and is blown out from each of the side defroster outlets 752a, 753a. For example, the side defroster heater 37 is an electric heating device, i.e., a heater, that heats air when energized, and the higher the current that is applied, the higher the temperature of the air. The side defroster heater 37 heats the air blown out from each of the side defroster outlets 752a, 753a, thereby increasing the average temperature of the entire air blown into the multiple side windows 72, including the heated air. Note that the air conditioning unit 2 of this embodiment does not include the defroster outlet adjustment door 32 shown in FIG. 2 .

[0104] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15, in the control process executed by the control device 4 of this embodiment, step S106 in FIG. 8 is replaced with step S206, and step S111 in FIG. 8 is replaced with step S211.

[0105] 15, similarly to step S106 in the first embodiment, the control device 4, while executing the anti-fogging control, sets the controlled objects included in the air conditioner 5, excluding the blower 23, to a predetermined constant state. For example, while executing the anti-fogging control, the positions of the inside / outside air switching door 22, the air mix door 28, the face door 33, the foot door 34, and the differential door 31 are the same as those in step S106 in the first embodiment.

[0106] In step S206, similarly to step S106 in the first embodiment, the control device 4 determines the air flow rate of the blower 23 based on the control relative humidity Hg using the air flow map MPf in Fig. 10. Then, the control device 4 activates the motor 232 of the blower 23 so that the blower 23 blows air at the determined air flow rate.

[0107] In step S206, the control device 4 determines the side defroster temperature Tsh, which is the temperature Tsh of the side defroster 37, based on the control relative humidity Hg using the side defroster temperature map MPt in Fig. 16. The higher the side defroster temperature Tsh, the higher the temperature of the air blown out from the driver's seat side and passenger seat side side defroster outlets 752a, 753a.

[0108] The control device 4 then adjusts the output power Wsh of the side defroster 37 so that the side defroster 37 heats the air at the determined side defroster temperature Tsh. The side defroster temperature Tsh corresponds to the output power Wsh of the side defroster 37, and the higher the output power Wsh of the side defroster 37, the higher the side defroster temperature Tsh. In other words, the control device 4 determines the output power Wsh of the side defroster 37 using the side defroster temperature map MPt and operates the side defroster 37 at the determined output power Wsh. As a result, the heating amount corresponding to the output power Wsh of the side defroster 37 increases after execution of step S211 (described below) compared to before execution of step S206.

[0109] 16 is experimentally set in advance to minimize the power consumption of the side defroster 37 within a range that prevents window fogging, assuming that both defrosting by the front heater 3 and defrosting by ventilation are performed. The side defroster temperature map MPt is set so that the higher the control relative humidity Hg, the higher the side defroster temperature Tsh, or in other words, the higher the control relative humidity Hg, the greater the output Wsh of the side defroster 37.

[0110] The operation states of the blower 23 and the side defroster 37 determined in step S206 are maintained until they are changed in any step in this flowchart, provided that the defogging switch remains on. After step S206 in FIG. 15, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0111] In step S211, similarly to step S111 in the first embodiment, the control device 4 determines the air flow rate of the blower 23 based on the control relative humidity Hg using the air flow map MPf in Fig. 10. Then, the control device 4 activates the motor 232 of the blower 23 so that the blower 23 blows air at the determined air flow rate.

[0112] In step S211, the control device 4 determines the side defroster temperature Tsh based on the control relative humidity Hg using the side defroster temperature map MPt of Fig. 16. The control device 4 then adjusts the output Wsh of the side defroster 37 so that the side defroster 37 heats the air at the determined side defroster temperature Tsh. As a result, the amount of heating corresponding to the output Wsh of the side defroster 37 is reduced compared to before step S211 was executed.

[0113] The operation states of the blower 23 and the side defroster 37 determined in step S211 are maintained until they are changed in any of the steps in this flowchart as long as the defogging switch remains on. After step S211 in FIG. 15, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0114] FIG. 17 is a time chart showing an example of the execution of the control process shown in FIG. 15. In FIG. 17, the defogging switch on the operation panel 40 is switched from OFF to ON at a time point before time tc1. Then, at time tc1, the determination result of step S104 in FIG. 15 changes from "NO" to "YES," so steps S105 and S206 are executed. As a result, defogging control is started at time tc1 in FIG. 17. That is, at time tc1, the heating operation of the front heater 3, the heating operation of the side defroster heater 37, and the blower 23 start blowing air in the defogging control.

[0115] From time tc1 to time tc2 in Fig. 17, the windshield temperature Tg gradually increases due to the heating operation of the front heater 3 started in steps S105 and S206 in Fig. 15 and the air blown by the blower 23. Therefore, from time tc1 to time tc2, the determination results of steps S104 and S109 in Fig. 15 are both "NO."

[0116] At time tc2 in FIG. 17 , the determination result of step S104 in FIG. 15 remains "NO," but the determination result of step S109 changes from "NO" to "YES." As a result, at time tc2, steps S110 and S211 are executed. As a result, at time tc2, the control device 4 reduces the outputs Wh and Wsh of the front heater 3 and the side defroster 37, respectively, and reduces the rotation speed of the blower 23. As the output Wsh of the side defroster 37 decreases, the side windshield air temperature T2 decreases at time tc2. The windshield air temperature T1 also decreases at time tc2. However, because the control device 4 continues to turn on the side defroster 37 and cause the side defroster 37 to generate heat during the defogging control, the relationship in which the side windshield air temperature T2 is higher than the windshield air temperature T1 is maintained.

[0117] 17, the windshield temperature Tg gradually decreases because the windshield 71 is cooled by the outside air in accordance with the decrease in the output Wh of the front heater 3 and the decrease in the airflow rate at tc2. Therefore, from tc2 to tc3, the determination results in both steps S104 and S109 in FIG.

[0118] Then, at time tc3 in FIG. 17, the determination result of step S104 in FIG. 15 changes from "NO" to "YES." As a result, steps S105 and S206 are executed again at time tc3. As a result, the control device 4 increases the outputs Wh and Wsh of the front heater 3 and the side defroster heater 37, respectively, and increases the rotation speed of the blower 23. As the output Wsh of the side defroster heater 37 increases, the side windshield blowing air temperature T2 also increases at time tc3. Furthermore, the windshield blowing air temperature T1 also increases at time tc3.

[0119] Furthermore, from time tc3 in FIG. 17, the windshield temperature Tg begins to rise as the output Wh of the Fr heater 3 increases and the airflow rate increases at time tc3.

[0120] As shown in the time chart of FIG. 17 , during the execution of defogging control after time tc1, the control device 4 not only performs thermal defogging on the windshield 71 but also performs blown-air defogging on the windshield 71 and the multiple side windows 72. Specifically, when the front heater 3 is heating the windshield 71 during defogging control, the control device 4 operates the side defroster 37 to heat the windshield, thereby increasing the side window blown-air temperature T2 above the windshield blown-air temperature T1. In this case, the defogging ability of the wind blown onto the window increases as the temperature of the air blown onto the window increases. Therefore, when performing thermal defogging on the windshield 71, the control device 4 increases the side window blown-air temperature T2 above the windshield blown-air temperature T1, thereby increasing the second unit blown-air defogging ability P2 above the first unit blown-air defogging ability P1.

[0121] This embodiment can achieve the following advantageous effects. (1) According to this embodiment, when performing thermal defogging on the windshield 71, the control device 4 increases the side window airflow temperature T2 above the windshield airflow temperature T1, thereby increasing the second unit airflow defogging capacity P2 above the first unit airflow defogging capacity P1. Therefore, the air flowing toward the side window 72 is warmer, which not only defogs the side window 72 but also suppresses cold radiation from the side window 72 to the occupants. Another advantage is that wind noise from the blown air is more easily suppressed than when, for example, the first unit airflow defogging capacity P1 and the second unit airflow defogging capacity P2 are differentiated by the airflow volume.

[0122] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0123] Although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with the aforementioned second embodiment. In addition, the configuration of the first embodiment, in which the wind-blowing defogging capabilities P1, P2 per unit area are differentiated between the windshield 71 side and the side window 72 side by the difference in unit airflow rates Bf, Bs, may be combined with this embodiment.

[0124] Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described, focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

[0125] In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in addition to thermal defogging of the windshield 71, defogging of the windshield 71 and the plurality of side windows 72 is also performed during the defogging control. The defogging capacity of the windshield 71 and the plurality of side windows 72 increases as the relative humidity of the air blown onto the window decreases. Based on this, the control device 4 of this embodiment increases the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity P2 more than the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1 during the defogging control by lowering the relative humidity H2 of the air blown onto the side windows 72 compared to the relative humidity H1 of the air blown onto the windshield 71.

[0126] In the description of this embodiment, the relative humidity H1 of the air blown to the windshield 71 may be referred to as the windshield blowing humidity H1, and the relative humidity H2 of the air blown to the side window 72 may be referred to as the side window blowing humidity H2. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the windshield blowing humidity H1 and the side window blowing humidity H2 used in the description of the defogging control refer to the average relative humidity of the air being blown.

[0127] Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18 , the air conditioning unit 2 includes a side differential dehumidifier 38. The side differential dehumidifier 38 is provided in the side differential outlet opening 252 and dehumidifies the air that passes through the side differential outlet opening 252 and is blown out from each side differential outlet 752a, 753a. For example, the side differential dehumidifier 38 is an electric dehumidifier, and the dehumidifying capacity of the side differential dehumidifier 38, i.e., the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38, is increased or decreased in accordance with a control signal from the control device 4. The air blown out from each side differential outlet 752a, 753a is dehumidified by the side differential dehumidifier 38, thereby reducing the average relative humidity of the entire air blown out, including the dehumidified air, that reaches the multiple side windows 72. Note that the air conditioning unit 2 of this embodiment does not include the differential outlet adjustment door 32 shown in FIG. 2 .

[0128] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19, in the control process executed by the control device 4 of this embodiment, step S106 in FIG. 8 is replaced with step S306, and step S111 in FIG. 8 is replaced with step S311.

[0129] 19 , similarly to step S106 in the first embodiment, the control device 4, while executing the anti-fogging control, sets the controlled objects included in the air conditioner 5, excluding the blower 23, to a predetermined constant state. For example, while executing the anti-fogging control, the positions of the inside / outside air switching door 22, the air mix door 28, the face door 33, the foot door 34, and the differential door 31 are the same as those in step S106 in the first embodiment.

[0130] In step S306, similarly to step S106 in the first embodiment, the control device 4 determines the air flow rate of the blower 23 based on the control relative humidity Hg using the air flow map MPf in Fig. 10. Then, the control device 4 activates the motor 232 of the blower 23 so that the blower 23 blows air at the determined air flow rate.

[0131] In step S306, the control device 4 determines the side differential air humidity Hsj, which is the relative humidity Hsj of the air flowing out from the side differential outlet 252, based on the control relative humidity Hg using the side differential humidity map MPj of Fig. 20. The lower the side differential air humidity Hsj, the lower the relative humidity of the air blown out from the driver's seat side and passenger seat side side differential outlets 752a, 753a.

[0132] The control device 4 then adjusts the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38 so that the relative humidity of the air passing through the side differential dehumidifier 38 becomes the determined side differential air humidity Hsj. The side differential air humidity Hsj corresponds to the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38, and the larger the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38, the lower the side differential air humidity Hsj. In other words, the control device 4 determines the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38 using the side differential humidity map MPj and operates the side differential dehumidifier 38 at the determined output Wsj. As a result, the dehumidification amount corresponding to the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38 increases after execution of step S311 (described below) compared to before execution of step S306.

[0133] 20 is experimentally set in advance to minimize the power consumption of the side differential dehumidifier 38 within a range that prevents window fogging, assuming that both defogging by the front heater 3 and defogging by ventilation are performed. The side differential humidity map MPj is set so that the higher the control relative humidity Hg, the lower the side differential air humidity Hsj, or in other words, the higher the control relative humidity Hg, the greater the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38.

[0134] The operating states of the blower 23 and the side differential dehumidifier 38 determined in step S306 are maintained until they are changed in any of the steps in this flowchart, provided that the anti-fogging switch remains on. After step S306 in FIG. 19, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0135] In step S311, similarly to step S111 in the first embodiment, the control device 4 determines the air flow rate of the blower 23 based on the control relative humidity Hg using the air flow map MPf in Fig. 10. Then, the control device 4 activates the motor 232 of the blower 23 so that the blower 23 blows air at the determined air flow rate.

[0136] In step S311, the control device 4 determines the side differential air humidity Hsj based on the control relative humidity Hg using the side differential humidity map MPj in Figure 20. The control device 4 then adjusts the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38 so that the relative humidity of the air passing through the side differential dehumidifier 38 becomes the determined side differential air humidity Hsj. As a result, the dehumidification amount corresponding to the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38 decreases compared to before step S311 was executed.

[0137] The operating states of the blower 23 and the side differential dehumidifier 38 determined in step S311 are maintained until they are changed in any of the steps in this flowchart, provided that the anti-fogging switch remains on. After step S311 in FIG. 19, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0138] FIG. 21 is a time chart showing an example of the execution of the control process shown in FIG. 19. In FIG. 21, the defogging switch on the operation panel 40 is switched from OFF to ON at a time point before time td1. Then, at time td1, the determination result of step S104 in FIG. 19 changes from "NO" to "YES," so steps S105 and S306 are executed. As a result, defogging control is started at time td1 in FIG. 21. That is, at time td1, the heating operation of the front heater 3, the dehumidifying operation of the side differential dehumidifier 38, and the blowing of air by the blower 23 are all started in the defogging control.

[0139] From time td1 to time td2 in Fig. 21, the windshield temperature Tg gradually increases due to the heating operation of the front heater 3 started in steps S105 and S306 in Fig. 19 and the air blown by the blower 23. Therefore, from time td1 to time td2, the determination results of steps S104 and S109 in Fig. 19 are both "NO."

[0140] At time td2 in FIG. 21 , the determination result of step S104 in FIG. 19 remains "NO," but the determination result of step S109 changes from "NO" to "YES." As a result, steps S110 and S311 are executed at time td2. As a result, at time td2, the control device 4 reduces the outputs Wh and Wsj of the front heater 3 and the side differential dehumidifier 38 and reduces the rotation speed of the blower 23. As the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38 decreases, the side windshield supply humidity H2 increases at time td2. The windshield supply humidity H1 also increases at time td2. However, because the control device 4 keeps the side differential dehumidifier 38 on and continues the dehumidifying operation of the side differential dehumidifier 38 during the defogging control, the relationship in which the side windshield supply humidity H2 is lower than the windshield supply humidity H1 is maintained.

[0141] 21, the windshield temperature Tg gradually decreases because the windshield 71 is cooled by the outside air in accordance with the decrease in the output Wh of the front heater 3 and the decrease in the airflow rate at td2. Therefore, from td2 to td3, the determination results in both steps S104 and S109 in FIG.

[0142] Then, at time td3 in FIG. 21, the determination result of step S104 in FIG. 19 changes from "NO" to "YES." As a result, steps S105 and S306 are executed again at time td3. As a result, the control device 4 increases the outputs Wh and Wsj of the front heater 3 and the side differential dehumidifier 38, respectively, and increases the rotation speed of the blower 23. As the output Wsj of the side differential dehumidifier 38 increases, the side windshield blown air humidity H2 decreases at time td3. The windshield blown air humidity H1 also decreases at time td3.

[0143] Furthermore, from time td3 in FIG. 21, the windshield temperature Tg begins to rise as the output Wh of the Fr heater 3 increases and the airflow rate increases at time td3.

[0144] As shown in the time chart of FIG. 21 , during the execution of defogging control after time td1, the control device 4 not only performs thermal defogging on the windshield 71 but also performs blow-air defogging on the windshield 71 and the multiple side windows 72. Specifically, when the front heater 3 is heating the windshield 71 during defogging control, the control device 4 operates the side differential dehumidifier 38 to dehumidify the windshield 71, thereby lowering the side window blow-air humidity H2 below the windshield blow-air humidity H1. In this case, the defogging capacity of the blow-air defogging on the window increases as the relative humidity of the air blown onto the window decreases. Therefore, when performing thermal defogging on the windshield 71, the control device 4 lowers the side window blow-air humidity H2 below the windshield blow-air humidity H1, thereby making the second unit blow-air defogging capacity P2 greater than the first unit blow-air defogging capacity P1.

[0145] This embodiment can achieve the following advantageous effects. (1) According to this embodiment, when performing thermal defogging on the windshield 71, the control device 4 sets the side window airflow humidity H2 lower than the windshield airflow humidity H1, thereby making the second unit airflow defogging capacity P2 higher than the first unit airflow defogging capacity P1. This has the advantage of making it easier to suppress wind noise from the blown air compared to, for example, a case in which the first unit airflow defogging capacity P1 and the second unit airflow defogging capacity P2 are differentiated by the airflow volume.

[0146] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0147] Although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with the second or third embodiment described above. For example, when combining this embodiment with the third embodiment, the side differential dehumidifier 38 and the side differential heater 37 may both be provided in the side differential outlet opening 252. Furthermore, the configuration of the first embodiment, in which the wind-blowing defogging capabilities P1 and P2 per unit area are differentiated between the windshield 71 side and the side window 72 side by the difference in unit airflow rates Bf and Bs, may be combined with this embodiment.

[0148] Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0149] In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, in addition to the thermal defogging of the windshield 71, the windshield 71 and the plurality of side windows 72 are also defogging by blowing air. Also in this embodiment, the control device 4 executes the control process shown in FIG. 8.

[0150] However, in this embodiment, the control device 4 increases the heating defogging capability ratio, which is the ratio of the defogging capability achieved by heating the windshield 71 by the front heater 3, to the total defogging capability, as the total defogging capability for the windshield 71 increases. This is shown, for example, in the time chart of FIG. 22 .

[0151] The total anti-fogging capacity for the windshield 71 is the sum of the anti-fogging capacity for the windshield 71 due to air blowing and the anti-fogging capacity for the windshield 71 due to heating by the Fr heater 3. The anti-fogging capacity due to air blowing is sometimes referred to as the air blowing anti-fogging capacity, and the anti-fogging capacity due to heating by the Fr heater 3 is sometimes referred to as the heating anti-fogging capacity.

[0152] 22, time tel is the start time of the defogging control, and from time tel, the heating operation of the Fr heater 3 and the air blowing by the blower 23 are started in the defogging control. From time tel, an increase in the output Wh of the Fr heater 3 and an increase in the rotation speed of the blower 23, and a decrease in the output Wh of the Fr heater 3 and a decrease in the rotation speed of the blower 23 are alternately repeated, as in the first embodiment.

[0153] Specifically, at times te1, te3, and te5, the control device 4 increases the output Wh of the Fr heater 3 and the rotation speed of the blower 23. Then, at times te2 and te4, the control device 4 decreases the output Wh of the Fr heater 3 and the rotation speed of the blower 23.

[0154] Furthermore, in the time chart of FIG. 22, at time te3, the dew-point temperature Td inside the vehicle cabin rises from temperature Td1 to temperature Td2 due to changes in the external environment or vehicle condition. As a result, greater anti-fogging capability is required after time te3 compared to before time te3 in order to perform appropriate anti-fogging.

[0155] Therefore, the control device 4 increases the defogging capacity of each of the windshield 71 and the side windows 72 from time te3 to time te4 compared to time te1 to time te2. For example, the heating defogging capacity Ph per unit area of ​​the windshield 71 is set to Pha from time te1 to time te2 and to Phb from time te3 to time te4, with the heating defogging capacity Pha and Phb per unit area satisfying "Pha < Phb." The heating defogging capacity Ph per unit area of ​​the windshield 71 is obtained by dividing the heating defogging capacity of the front heater 3 by the area of ​​the windshield 71.

[0156] The windshield 71 has a wind-force defogging capacity P1 per unit area, i.e., a first unit wind-force defogging capacity P1, which is P1a from time te1 to time te2 and P1b from time te3 to time te4, with the first unit wind-force defogging capacity P1a<P1b. The side window 72 has a wind-force defogging capacity P2 per unit area, i.e., a second unit wind-force defogging capacity P2, which is P2a from time te1 to time te2 and P2b from time te3 to time te4, with the second unit wind-force defogging capacity P2a<P2b.

[0157] At this time, the relationships among the defogging capabilities P1a, P1b, P2a, P2b, Pha, and Phb per unit area for each period are set to "P1a<P2a," "P1b<P2b," "P2a≈Pha+P1a," and "P2b≈Phb+P1b." For example, the control device 4 controls the blower 23, the front heater 3, and the differential airflow adjusting door 32 according to a map that has been experimentally set in advance so as to realize the relationships among the defogging capabilities P1a, P1b, P2a, P2b, Pha, and Phb per unit area.

[0158] As described above, the control device 4 increases the heating defogging capacity ratio of the windshield 71 as the total defogging capacity for the windshield 71 increases. The heating defogging capacity ratio of the windshield 71 is expressed as "Ph / (Ph+P1)" using the defogging capacities P1 and Ph per unit area of ​​the windshield 71. Therefore, in FIG. 22, the following inequality F1 holds. Transforming the following inequality F1 yields the following inequality F2: Phb / (Phb+P1b)>Pha / (Pha+P1a) (F1) Phb / Pha>P1b / P1a (F2)

[0159] As can be seen from the above inequality F2, when increasing the defogging ability for the windshield 71 and the side windows 72, the control device 4 increases the defogging ability of the Fr heater 3, i.e., the heating defogging ability, in priority over the blowing defogging ability.

[0160] Furthermore, the control device 4 of this embodiment increases the ratio of the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity P2 to the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1 as the total defogging capacity for the windshield 71 increases. The ratio of the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity P2 to the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1 is expressed as "P2 / P1," so the following inequality F3 holds in Figure 22. Transforming the following inequality F3 yields the following inequality F4: P2a / P1a<P2b / P1b (F3) P1b / P1a<P2b / P2a (F4)

[0161] As can be seen from the above inequality F4, when increasing the defogging capacity for the windshield 71 and the side windows 72, the control device 4 increases the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity P2 in preference to the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1.

[0162] (1) As described above, according to this embodiment, the control device 4 increases the heating defogging capability ratio, which is the ratio of the heating defogging capability of the Fr heater 3 to the total defogging capability, as the total defogging capability for the windshield 71 increases. Therefore, it is possible to suppress uneven defogging on the windshield 71 by the Fr heater 3 in accordance with changes in the likelihood of window fogging.

[0163] (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the control device 4 increases the heating defrosting capacity ratio, which is the ratio of the heating defrosting capacity of the front heater 3 to the total defrosting capacity, as the total defrosting capacity for the windshield 71 increases. At the same time, the control device 4 increases the ratio of the second unit air-blowing defrosting capacity P2 to the first unit air-blowing defrosting capacity P1 as the total defrosting capacity for the windshield 71 increases. Therefore, in accordance with changes in the likelihood of window fogging, it is possible to perform defrosting on the windshield 71 and the side windows 72 while suppressing unevenness in the defrosting on the windshield 71 using the front heater 3. This minimizes the power consumption of the front heater 3 and the air conditioning device 5, thereby preventing window fogging.

[0164] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0165] Although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to fourth embodiments described above.

[0166] (Other Embodiments) (1) In the above-described embodiments, the front heater 3 is a transparent film heater as shown in Fig. 1, but this is only an example. For example, the front heater 3 may be an electric wire heater in which thin electric wires that generate heat when energized are laid all over the windshield 71.

[0167] (2) In the first embodiment, the control device 4 adjusts the defogging capability using the window-nearby inside air temperature Ti, the window-nearby inside air relative humidity Hi, and the windshield temperature Tg, all of which are detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 4d. However, this is merely an example. For example, the defogging capability may be adjusted based on only one of the window-nearby inside air temperature Ti, the window-nearby inside air relative humidity Hi, and the windshield temperature Tg, or may be adjusted based on a physical quantity other than these.

[0168] (3) In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioning unit 2 is provided with a differential airflow adjustment door 32. This allows the ratio of the total airflow from the driver's seat side and passenger seat side side differential airflow outlets 752a and 753a to the airflow from the center differential airflow outlet 751a, i.e., the side differential airflow ratio, to be adjustable. However, this is only one example. In the defogging control, if the unit airflow rate Bf to the windshield 71 and the unit airflow rate Bs to the side windows 72 satisfy the relationship "Bf < Bs," the side differential airflow ratio may be fixed and not adjustable.

[0169] For example, the ventilation resistance may be varied by varying the ventilation area of ​​the ventilation passages to each of the air outlets 751 a, 752 a, 753 a, 755 a, and 756 a, thereby establishing the above-mentioned relationship of "Bf < Bs." Alternatively, the surface roughness of the inner wall surfaces that form the ventilation passages to each of the air outlets 751 a, 752 a, 753 a, 755 a, and 756 a may be varied to establish the above-mentioned relationship of "Bf < Bs."

[0170] (4) In the third embodiment described above, the side defroster heater 37 is provided as shown in Fig. 14. However, for example, the side defroster heater 37 may not be provided and other means may be used to make the side defroster temperature T2 higher than the windshield temperature T1 through defogging control. For example, it is assumed that the door arrangement and door opening degree within the air conditioning unit 2 are set and adjusted so that the warm air heated by the heater core 27 flows more easily toward the side defroster outlet 252 than toward the center defroster outlet 251.

[0171] (5) In the fourth embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 18 , the side differential dehumidifier 38 is provided. However, for example, the side differential dehumidifier 38 may not be provided and other means may be used to lower the side windshield supply humidity H2 lower than the windshield supply humidity H1 during defogging control. For example, it is assumed that the door arrangement and door opening degree within the air conditioning unit 2 are set and adjusted so that outside air introduced into the air conditioning unit 2 from the outside air inlet 242 flows more easily toward the side differential outlet 252 than toward the center differential outlet 251. As a result, the proportion of outside air in the blown air is higher at the side differential outlet 252 than at the center differential outlet 251. The higher the proportion of outside air in the blown air, the lower the relative humidity of the blown air.

[0172] (6) In each of the above-described embodiments, the control device 4 may change the ratio between the first unit wind-blowing defogging capacity P1 and the second unit wind-blowing defogging capacity P2 depending on the environment around the vehicle 70 or the state of the vehicle 70. For example, the windshield 71 is more susceptible to the influence of vehicle speed than the side windows 72, and the higher the vehicle speed, the more likely the windshield 71 is to fog up than the side windows 72. Therefore, it is assumed that the control device 4 changes the ratio between the first unit wind-blowing defogging capacity P1 and the second unit wind-blowing defogging capacity P2 depending on the vehicle speed.

[0173] Furthermore, while the vehicle is traveling, the windshield 71 is more susceptible to the effects of rain and snow than the side windows 72. Therefore, it is assumed that the control device 4 changes the ratio between the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1 and the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity P2 depending on whether rain or snow is present.

[0174] Furthermore, the closer the occupant is to the window glass, the higher the relative humidity around the window glass becomes, making the window more likely to fog up due to the occupant's breathing, etc. Therefore, it is assumed that the control device 4 will increase the anti-fogging ability for the window glass located closer to the occupant based on the signal from the seating sensor 4c.

[0175] (7) In the fifth embodiment described above, as shown in Fig. 22, the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1 is set to P1a from time te1 to time te2 and set to P1b from time te3 to time te4, and the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1a, P1b is set to "P1a < P1b." However, this is just an example. For example, in this case, the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity P1a, P1b may be set to "P1a = P1b."

[0176] (8) In the above-described embodiments, the vehicle 70 is provided with the driver's side first side window 72a and the passenger's side first side window 72c as shown in Fig. 1, but this is merely an example. For example, a vehicle may be conceived in which the driver's side and passenger's side first side windows 72a, 72c are not provided.

[0177] (9) In the above-described embodiments, as shown in Fig. 1, air is blown to the side windows 72 from the side differential air outlets 752a, 753a and the side face air outlets 755a, 756a during the defogging control. However, this is merely an example. For example, as long as the defogging capability during the defogging control is ensured, air may be blown from only one of the side differential air outlets 752a, 753a and the side face air outlets 755a, 756a, rather than from both.

[0178] (10) In the above-described embodiments, the windows such as the windshield 71 and the side windows 72 shown in FIG. 1 are made of glass. However, they may be made of, for example, transparent resin instead of glass.

[0179] (11) In each of the above-described embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 , the temperature and humidity sensor 4d is provided on the surface of the windshield 71 facing the passenger compartment 701. However, the location of the temperature and humidity sensor 4d is not limited thereto. For example, the temperature and humidity sensor 4d may be provided on the surface of one of the side windows 72 facing the passenger compartment 701. In this case, the temperature and humidity sensor 4d detects the surface temperature of the side window 72 facing the passenger compartment 701 on which the temperature and humidity sensor 4d is provided, and the temperature and relative humidity of the indoor air above the side window 72.

[0180] (12) The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various modified forms. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are not unrelated to each other and can be combined as appropriate, except in cases where the combination is clearly impossible.

[0181] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, it goes without saying that the elements constituting the embodiments are not necessarily essential unless they are particularly explicitly stated as essential or are clearly considered essential in principle. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when the numbers, values, amounts, ranges, etc. of the components of the embodiments are mentioned, they are not limited to the specific numbers unless they are particularly explicitly stated as essential or are clearly limited to a specific number in principle. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when the materials, shapes, positional relationships, etc. of the components are mentioned, they are not limited to the materials, shapes, positional relationships, etc. unless they are particularly explicitly stated or are clearly limited to a specific material, shape, positional relationship, etc. in principle.

[0182] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, while it is described that external environmental information of the vehicle 70 (for example, humidity outside the vehicle) is acquired from a sensor, it is also possible to eliminate the sensor and receive the external environmental information from a server or cloud external to the vehicle 70. Alternatively, it is also possible to eliminate the sensor and acquire related information related to the external environmental information from a server or cloud external to the vehicle 70, and estimate the external environmental information from the acquired related information.

[0183] The control device 4 and the method described herein may be implemented by a special-purpose computer configured with a processor and memory programmed to perform one or more functions embodied in a computer program. Alternatively, the control device 4 and the method described herein may be implemented by a special-purpose computer configured with a processor configured with one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits. Alternatively, the control device 4 and the method described herein may be implemented by one or more special-purpose computers configured with a processor and memory programmed to perform one or more functions in combination with a processor configured with one or more hardware logic circuits. Furthermore, the computer program may be stored as instructions executed by a computer on a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium.

[0184] (Aspects of the Present Disclosure) The above-described present disclosure can be understood from the following aspects, for example: [First Aspect] A vehicle defrosting device that suppresses fogging of windows of a vehicle (70), comprising: an electric heater (3) provided on a windshield (71) that heats the windshield to defrost the windshield, a front air blower (751) that blows air to the windshield to defrost the windshield, side air blowers (752, 753, 755, 756) that blow air to side windows (72, 72a to 72d) to defrost the side windows, and a control unit (4), wherein, when the electric heater is heating the windshield, the control unit makes a second unit air-blowing defrosting capacity (P2) that is the defrosting capacity by air blowing per unit area of ​​the side windows greater than a first unit air-blowing defrosting capacity (P1) that is the defrosting capacity by air blowing per unit area of ​​the windshield. [Second Aspect] The vehicle defrosting device according to the first aspect, wherein the control unit increases the second unit wind-blowing defrosting capacity more than the first unit wind-blowing defrosting capacity by increasing the air flow rate (Bs) blown per unit area of ​​the side window more than the air flow rate (Bf) blown per unit area of ​​the wind window. [Third Aspect] The vehicle defrosting device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the control unit increases the second unit wind-blowing defrosting capacity more than the first unit wind-blowing defrosting capacity by increasing the air velocity (V2) of air impinging on the side window more than the air velocity (V1) of air impinging on the wind window. [Fourth Aspect] The vehicle defrosting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the control unit increases the second unit wind-blowing defrosting capacity more than the first unit wind-blowing defrosting capacity by increasing the temperature (T2) of air blown to the side window more than the temperature (T1) of air blown to the wind window.[Fifth Aspect] The vehicle defrosting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the control unit makes the second unit air-blowing defrosting capacity greater than the first unit air-blowing defrosting capacity by lowering the relative humidity (H2) of the air blown to the side window below the relative humidity (H1) of the air blown to the windshield. [Sixth Aspect] The vehicle defrosting device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the control unit increases a proportion of the heating defrosting capacity in the total defrosting capacity as a total defrosting capacity, which is the sum of the defrosting capacity by air blowing to the windshield and the heating defrosting capacity which is the defrosting capacity by heating the windshield with the electric heater, increases. [Seventh Aspect] The vehicle defrosting device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the control unit increases the proportion of the heating defrosting capacity in the total defrosting capacity, which is the sum of the defrosting capacity by blowing air onto the front windshield and the defrosting capacity by heating the front windshield with the electric heater, and increases the proportion of the second unit air-blowing defrosting capacity to the first unit air-blowing defrosting capacity.

Claims

1. A vehicle defrosting device for suppressing fogging of the windows of a vehicle (70), comprising: an electric heater (3) provided on a front window (71) for heating the front window to defrost the front window; a front air blowing section (751) for blowing air onto the front window to defrost the front window; side air blowing sections (752, 753, 755, 756) for blowing air onto side windows (72, 72a to 72d) to defrost the side windows; and a control section (4), wherein when the electric heater is heating the front window, the control section makes a second unit air-blowing defrosting capacity (P2), which is the defrosting capacity by air blowing per unit area of ​​the side windows, greater than a first unit air-blowing defrosting capacity (P1), which is the defrosting capacity by air blowing per unit area of ​​the front window.

2. The vehicle defrosting device of claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity more than the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity by increasing the air volume (Bs) blown per unit area of ​​the side window more than the air volume (Bf) blown per unit area of ​​the front window.

3. The vehicle defrosting device of claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the second unit wind-blowing defogging capacity more than the first unit wind-blowing defogging capacity by increasing the wind speed (V2) of the air hitting the side window more than the wind speed (V1) of the air hitting the front window.

4. The vehicle defrosting device of claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the second unit air-blowing defrosting capacity to be greater than the first unit air-blowing defrosting capacity by making the temperature (T2) of the air blown to the side window higher than the temperature (T1) of the air blown to the front window.

5. The vehicle defrosting device of claim 1, wherein the control unit makes the second unit air-blowing defogging capacity greater than the first unit air-blowing defogging capacity by lowering the relative humidity (H2) of the air blown to the side window to be lower than the relative humidity (H1) of the air blown to the front window.

6. A vehicle defrosting device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit increases the proportion of the heating defrosting capacity in the total defrosting capacity, which is the sum of the defrosting capacity by blowing air onto the front windshield and the heating defrosting capacity, which is the defrosting capacity by heating the front windshield with the electric heater, as the total defrosting capacity increases.

7. A vehicle defrosting device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit increases the total defrosting capacity, which is the sum of the defrosting capacity by blowing air onto the front windshield and the heating defrosting capacity, which is the defrosting capacity by heating the front windshield with the electric heater, and increases the proportion of the heating defrosting capacity in the total defrosting capacity, and increases the proportion of the second unit air-blowing defrosting capacity to the first unit air-blowing defrosting capacity.

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