Vehicle Air Conditioner Compressor Control Around Steering Resonance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle air conditioners face a time delay in reaching preset cabin temperatures due to the need to avoid resonance between the compressor's rotational frequency and the steering device's natural frequency, which limits the compressor's operational frequency and affects comfort during manual driving, but this restriction is unnecessary during automated driving.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air conditioner system that variably controls the compressor's rotational frequency, allowing operation within the resonating range during automated driving to reduce temperature delay, and prevents operation within this range when a person is gripping the steering wheel to avoid discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the compressor upper limit rotational frequency is set low to avoid resonance with the steering device, then passenger comfort is improved, but the time delay until cabin temperature reaches preset temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the compressor rotational frequency limits adjustable based on driving conditions. The control unit dynamically changes the upper limit rotational frequency between a first (lower) value during manual driving and a second (higher) value during automated driving, allowing the system to adapt to different operational contexts and resolve the contradiction between comfort and cooling speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of compressor rotational frequency limits based on the automated driving state. By detecting whether the vehicle is in automated driving mode and adjusting the frequency parameter accordingly, the system achieves faster cabin temperature regulation during automated driving while maintaining comfort during manual driving.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the compressor is prevented from operating within the resonating rotational frequency range during automated driving, then vibration comfort is maintained, but the cooling efficiency and response time are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the compressor operational parameters based on the automated driving state. During automated driving, the control unit permits operation at higher rotational frequencies including those within the resonating range, thereby improving cooling efficiency when no passenger is present to experience vibration discomfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the time delay in achieving preset cabin temperatures by allowing higher compressor rotational frequencies during automated driving, while maintaining comfort by avoiding resonance with the steering device during manual operation.
Implementation Method 1
When the vibration frequency (or rotational frequency) of the compressor and the natural frequency of the steering device resonate with each other, a person on board gripping the steering wheel of the steering device experiences unpleasantness.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle air conditioner has a refrigeration cycle system including a compressor. The rotational frequency of the compressor is variably controlled, and the compressor is prevented from being operated within a resonating rotational frequency range of the compressor in which the vibration frequency of the compressor and the natural frequency of a steering device resonate with each other. When the vehicle performs automated driving, the compressor is also allowed to operate within the resonating rotational frequency range.