Vehicle Air-Conditioning Control Using Nearby Drive Source Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air-conditioning control systems fail to properly control the air conditioner based on the emission status of preceding vehicles, as they do not account for vehicles without exhaust gas emissions, such as those with start-stop systems or electric vehicles, leading to inappropriate mode selection.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air-conditioning control system that communicates with surrounding vehicles to acquire drive source information, using this information to control the air conditioner in either inside air recirculation or outside air introduction mode, ensuring appropriate operation based on the presence or absence of exhaust gas emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the air conditioner is controlled based on vehicle size and distance of preceding vehicles, then exhaust gas prevention is improved, but control accuracy deteriorates when the preceding vehicle does not emit exhaust gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical detection method (camera-based vehicle size measurement) with an information field-based method (V2X communication for drive source information). This substitution allows direct acquisition of exhaust gas emission status without inferring from vehicle physical characteristics, thereby resolving the inaccuracy when dealing with non-emitting vehicles like electric vehicles or vehicles with start-stop systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces drive source information as an intermediary parameter between the preceding vehicle and the air conditioner control system. Instead of directly controlling based on vehicle size and distance, the system uses drive source information (indicating whether the vehicle is an engine vehicle, electric vehicle, or hybrid vehicle) as a mediator to accurately determine exhaust gas emission status and appropriately control the air conditioner mode.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the air conditioner is controlled to inside air recirculation mode for all small-vehicle-distance scenarios, then exhaust gas entry is prevented, but energy efficiency deteriorates when the preceding vehicle emits no exhaust gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively activating inside air recirculation mode only when necessary (i.e., when the preceding vehicle is an engine vehicle emitting exhaust gas). Instead of continuously maintaining recirculation mode for all small-vehicle-distance scenarios, the system adjusts the air intake mode based on the actual exhaust gas emission status, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption when exhaust gas is not present.
3Measurement precision
If drive source information is acquired through V2X communication, then control accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universality of V2X communication infrastructure, which is already established for various vehicle communication purposes. By utilizing this existing multi-functional communication system for drive source information exchange, the patent avoids creating a separate dedicated communication system, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high control accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning control system includes an information receiver configured to communicate with a second vehicle around a first vehicle, to acquire drive source information of the second vehicle, and an air-conditioning controller configured to control an air conditioner of the first vehicle in an inside air recirculation mode or in an outside air introduction mode based on the drive source information. The drive source information includes active drive source information indicating a drive source that is currently active in the second vehicle, such that the air conditioner is controlled in accordance with the active drive source.