Patent ID: 6761214
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, the air conditioner comprising:an air conditioning case defining an air passage through which air flows, the air conditioning case having a face opening from which air is blown toward an upper side of the passenger compartment, a foot opening from which air is blown toward a lower side of the passenger compartment and a defroster opening from which air is blown toward a windshield; a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of air blown into the passenger compartment; a mode switching member for opening and closing the face opening, the foot opening and the defroster opening, to select one mode from among a plurality of air outlet modes; a single actuator attached to the temperature control unit and the mode switching member for driving both the temperature control unit and the mode switching member, the actuator being operated in a first operating angle range and in a second operating angle range different from the first operating angle range; and a control unit in communication with the single actuator for controlling operation of the actuator, wherein: the control unit sets an automatic range in the first operating angle range of the actuator wherein one mode from among the plurality of air outlet modes is selected by the mode switching member in accordance with a position of the temperature control unit; the control unit sets a manual range in the second operating angle range of the actuator, wherein one of predetermined modes is selected by the mode switching member, regardless of the position of the temperature control unit; the predetermined modes in the manual range are only a multi-mode where air is blown simultaneously from the face opening, the foot opening and the defroster opening, and a defroster mode where air is blown from the defroster opening; and the face opening is adapted to communicate with a center face air outlet provided at a center of a dashboard in the passenger compartment such that air from the face opening is blown toward the upper side in the passenger compartment through the center face air outlet, the air conditioner further comprising a shutting mechanism disposed in the center face air outlet to prohibit air flow from the center face air outlet.