Patent Publication Number: US-2021178854-A1

Title: Detachable remote controller and remote controlling method for controlling air conditioner of autonomous vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0167662, filed on Dec. 16, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a detachable remote controller and a remote controlling method of controlling an air conditioner of an autonomous vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a detachable remote controller and a remote controlling method of controlling an air conditioner of an autonomous vehicle, which allow a user to lie down and adjust air conditioning of an interior of a vehicle through an air conditioner in accordance with an autonomous driving situation with a remote controller. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     An autonomous vehicle is a vehicle that finds a destination by itself without driver&#39;s manipulation of a steering wheel, an accelerator, a brake, and the like, and refers to a smart vehicle incorporating an autonomous driving technology applied to aircrafts, ships, and the like. 
     In order to implement the autonomous driving of a vehicle, in addition to the vehicle technologies, such as the Highway Driving Assist (HDA) technology for automatically maintaining a distance between vehicles, a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), a Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), a Blind Spot Detection (BSD) system, Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC), and an Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system, various advanced technologies, such as a communication technology between a vehicle and a base station and a communication technology between a vehicle and a satellite, are required. 
     Particularly, in the case of a general air conditioning system, a user may switch external/internal air by using a button to block external dust inflow, or artificially operate an air conditioner or increase the amount of wind of a blower. 
     Despite an air cleaning mode, when an internal mode is maintained for a long time, a concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) increases, so that comfort of an interior of the vehicle is decreased and a drowsiness driving problem is generated due to lack of oxygen. 
     Particularly, when more than two passengers ride in the vehicle, an interior carbon concentration increases compared to the case where one person drives, to cause various symptoms, such as drowsiness at first, followed by increased pulse, headache, and dizziness, due to lack of oxygen inside the vehicle. 
     Severe events lead to extremely dangerous events, such as convulsion or even unconsciousness events. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure allows a user to lie down and adjust air conditioning of an interior of a vehicle through an air conditioner in accordance with an autonomous driving situation with a remote controller while the user lies. 
     The present disclosure also provides a detachable remote controller capable of controlling an air conditioner and automatically control an air conditioner according to the attachment/detachment of the remote controller. 
     The present disclosure maintains an interior of the vehicle in a comfort state by measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and operating an air purifier mode under a preset condition. 
     One form of the present disclosure provides a detachable remote controller for controlling an air conditioner of an autonomous vehicle, which allow a user to lie down and adjust air conditioning of an interior of the vehicle through the air conditioner in accordance with an autonomous driving situation by using the remote controller, and a control method thereof. 
     The detachable remote controller and the remote controlling method of controlling the air conditioner of the autonomous vehicle of the present disclosure including the foregoing configuration may achieve the following effects. 
     First, a user may adjust air conditioning of an interior of a vehicle in accordance with an autonomous driving situation through an air conditioner by using a remote controller while lying down. 
     Second, it is possible to control air conditioning of an interior of a vehicle in accordance with an autonomous driving situation, as well as improve the degree of freedom of a manipulation. 
     Third, the remote controller capable of controlling an air conditioner is detachable, and the air conditioner may be automatically controlled according to the detachable state of the remote controller. 
     Fourth, it is possible to automatically measure a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration inside the vehicle and operate an air purifier mode under a preset condition, thereby always maintaining an interior of the vehicle in a pleasant state. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a detachable remote controller for controlling an air conditioner of an autonomous vehicle in one form of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a state in which the detachable remote controller for controlling the air conditioner of the autonomous vehicle in one form of the present disclosure is installed in a front console box. 
         FIG. 3A  is a diagram illustrating the state where the remote controller is attached, and  FIG. 3B  is a diagram illustrating the state where the remote controller is detached from the console box by a pressing operation of the button. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a remote controlling method of controlling an air conditioner of an autonomous vehicle in one form of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
     Hereinafter, some forms of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In a remote controller  100  for controlling an air conditioner of an autonomous vehicle in some forms of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a detachment button  110  is installed, and buttons for adjusting hotness and coldness of the air conditioner are installed below the detachment button  110 , and manipulating buttons for controlling an air volume mode of a vehicle, for automatic performance, and for external air, and the like are installed. 
     Herein, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the remote controller  100  in some forms of the present disclosure is installed to be detachable from a console box or a front console box. 
     The remote controller  100  is detached from the console box by the detachment button  110  as illustrated in  FIG. 3A  or  FIG. 3B . 
     The remote controller  100  in some forms of the present disclosure is the remote controller  100  in the type of a generally used remote controller. 
     The present disclosure may check an autonomous driving mode or a direct driving mode according to a change in a detachable state of the remote controller  100 . This will be described in detail below. 
     First, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the detachment button  110  includes a push switch  111  installed in the remote controller  100 , a first push rod  112  which is vertically operated by the pressing of the push switch  111  and having a plurality of first inclined surfaces  112   a  formed at one end along a circumferential surface, a second push rod  113 , in which a plurality of second inclined surfaces  113   a  installed to be in contact with the first inclined surfaces  112   a  formed in the first push rod  112  is formed along the circumference surface and which is installed to face the first push rod  112 , and an elastic member  120  installed in a lower portion of the second push rod  113  and elastically supported with respect to the push of the first push rod  112 . 
     In this case, before the push of the push switch  111 , the first push rod  112  and the second push rod  113  are in a lock state as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , and when the first push rod  112  is pushed as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the second inclined surfaces  113   a  formed in the second push rod  113  pass over the first inclined surfaces  112   a  of the first push rod  112 , and simultaneously the second push rod  113  rises by pushing-up force of the elastic member  120  and the first push rod  112  rises to release the lock. At the same time, the remote controller is separated from the console box. 
     Air conditioning control logic appropriate to whether autonomous driving is operated, direct driving is performed, and a fellow passenger riding status configured as described above is controlled by operations illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and preferably, the control is performed by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of a vehicle which receives a manipulation signal from the remote controller  100  and controls air conditioning of the vehicle. 
     First, when the electronic control unit  200  of the vehicle determines whether the remote controller  100  is attached to the console box or the front console box (S 10 ). 
     Then, when the remote controller  100  is attached, the electronic control unit  200  limits a multimedia function installed in an Audio, Video Navigation (AVN) system of the vehicle (S 11 ), and turns on an Auto Defog System (ADS) (S 12 ). When the remote controller  100  is detached, operations after operation S 20  which is to be described below are performed. 
     In this case, the limitation of the multimedia function in operation S 11  of the present disclosure may not be performed as necessary. 
     In the meantime, the ADS has a function of measuring humidity of a windshield glass of the vehicle in an air conditioner and discharging dry air to the windshield glass for securing the forward vision, and when a driver directly operates the vehicle, the ADS function may need to be performed for securing the forward vision, and when the autonomous driving of the vehicle is performed, the securing of the forward vision is not essentially required, so that the ADS function may be turned off during the autonomous driving. 
     Next, when the ADS is in an on state in operation S 12 , the electronic control unit  200  receives CO 2  concentration data from a CO 2  concentration detecting sensor  210  attached in the vehicle and detects a CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle (S 13 ). 
     Then, the electronic control unit  200  determines whether the detected CO 2  concentration is larger than a preset first concentration value stored in a memory (not illustrated) linked with the electronic control unit  200  (S 14 ). 
     In some forms of the present disclosure, the first concentration value is set to 1,000 ppm, and the CO 2  concentration exceeding the first concentration value in the state where the remote controller  100  is attached means the state that may cause drowsiness to the driver, and the setting value may be changed as necessary. 
     Next, when the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle is larger than the preset first concentration value, the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle is high and performs an external air mode for allowing air from the outside of the vehicle to flow into the vehicle (S 15 ). 
     Then, the electronic control unit  200  continuously detects the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle (S 16 ), and determines whether the CO 2  concentration detected after the performance of the external air mode is larger than a preset second concentration value stored in the memory (not illustrated) (S 17 ). 
     In some forms of the present disclosure, the second concentration value is set to 500 ppm, and the second concentration value means the CO 2  concentration value at the level that does not cause drowsiness of the driver in the state where the remote controller  100  is attached, so that it is not necessary to perform the external air mode, and the setting value may be changed as necessary. 
     Accordingly, when the CO 2  concentration is larger than the second concentration value in operation S 17 , the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration of the air inside the vehicle is still high and continuously performs the external air mode (S 15 ), and when it is determined that the CO 2  concentration is equal to or smaller than the second concentration value in operation S 17 , the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration of the air inside the vehicle is low which is a safe level and terminates the external air mode and performs an internal air mode (S 18 ). 
     Next, the case where the remote controller  100  is detached as a result of the determination by the electronic control unit  200  of the vehicle whether the remote controller  100  is attached to the console box or the front console box in operation S 10  will be described. 
     First, when it is determined that the remote controller  100  is in a detached state, the electronic control unit  200  determines whether the vehicle is currently in a direct operating state in which the vehicle is directly operated by the driver or in an autonomous driving state in which the vehicle is not directly operated by the driver (S 20 ). 
     When the vehicle is in the direct operating state in operation S 20 , the electronic control unit  200  determines whether an additional fellow passenger rides in addition to one driver basically riding in the vehicle (S 21 ). 
     In the meantime, when the vehicle is in the autonomous driving state, the electronic control unit  200  performs the control while the autonomous driving after operation S 30  which will be described below. 
     Whether the fellow passenger rides may be determined by a publicly known riding detecting sensor, such as a load sensor, installed in a seat inside the vehicle. 
     In the meantime, when it is determined that there is no fellow passenger in operation S 21 , the electronic control unit  200  outputs a remote controller home position warning message informing the driver to attach the remote controller  100  to the console box or the front console box through a speaker or on a screen of the AVN device or a cluster (S 21 - 1 ), and outputs an autonomous driving switching request message asking whether to switch the operation state to the autonomous driving (S 30 ). 
     When the driver switches the operation state to the autonomous driving state according to the autonomous driving switching request message, the control in the autonomous driving state after operation S 31  which is to be described below is initiated, and when the driver selects the direct operation despite the autonomous driving switching request message, the electronic control unit  200  performs operation S 22  of limiting the multimedia function. 
     Next, when it is determined that the fellow passenger rides in operation S 21 , the electronic control unit  200  limits the multimedia function of the AVN system attached to the vehicle (S 22 ) and turns on the ADS function (S 23 ). 
     In this case, as described above, the multimedia function in operation S 22  of the present disclosure may not be limited as necessary. 
     Next, when the ADS function is in an on state in operation S 23 , the electronic control unit  200  receives CO 2  concentration data from the CO 2  concentration detecting sensor  210  attached in the vehicle and detects a CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle (S 24 ). 
     Then, the electronic control unit  200  determines whether the detected CO 2  concentration is larger than a preset third concentration value stored in the memory (not illustrated) linked with the electronic control unit  200  (S 25 ). 
     In some forms of the present disclosure, the third concentration value is set to 1,000 ppm, and similar to the first concentration value, the CO 2  concentration exceeding the third concentration value in the state where the remote controller  100  is not attached means the state that may cause drowsiness of the driver, and the setting value may be changed as necessary. 
     Next, when the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle is larger than the preset third concentration value, the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle is high and performs the external air mode for allowing air to flow into the vehicle from the outside of the vehicle (S 26 ). 
     Then, the electronic control unit  200  continuously detects the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle (S 27 ), and determines whether the CO 2  concentration detected after the performance of the external air mode is larger than a preset fourth concentration value stored in the memory (not illustrated) (S 28 ). 
     In some forms of the present disclosure, the fourth concentration value is set to 500 ppm, and the fourth concentration value means the CO 2  concentration value in the level that does not cause drowsiness to the driver in the state where the remote controller  100  is not attached, such that it is not necessary to perform the external air mode, and the setting value may be changed as necessary. 
     Accordingly, when the CO 2  concentration is larger than the fourth concentration value in operation S 28 , the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration of the air inside the vehicle is still at a high level and continuously performs the external air mode (S 26 ), and when it is determined that the CO 2  concentration is equal to or smaller than the fourth concentration value in operation S 28 , the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration of the air inside the vehicle is low which is a safe level, and terminates the external air mode and performs the internal air mode (S 29 ). 
     Next, when it is determined that the vehicle is currently in the autonomous driving state in the state where the remote controller  100  is detached in operation S 20 , the electronic control unit  200  switches the operation state of the vehicle to the autonomous driving mode (S 31 ). 
     Then, when the travelling of the vehicle is switched to the autonomous driving mode, the electronic control unit  200  turns on an operation of an air purifier  220  attached inside the vehicle for purifying air inside the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode (S 32 ) and performs an air purifying mode (S 33 ) and turns off the ADS function (S 34 ). 
     Then, the electronic control unit  200  receives the CO 2  concentration data from the CO 2  concentration detecting sensor  210  attached inside the vehicle and detects a CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle (S 35 ). 
     Subsequently, the electronic control unit  200  determines whether the detected CO 2  concentration is larger than a preset fifth concentration value stored in the memory (not illustrated) linked with the electronic control unit  200  (S 36 ). 
     In some forms of the present disclosure, the fifth concentration value is set to 2,000 ppm, and the CO 2  concentration exceeding the fifth concentration value in the autonomous driving state in the state where the remote controller  100  is detached means the state that may be harmful to health of the driver, and the setting value may be changed as necessary. 
     Next, when the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle is larger than the preset fifth concentration value, the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle is at a high level to be harmful to the health of the driver and performs the external air mode for allowing air from the outside of the vehicle to flow into the vehicle (S 37 ). 
     Then, the electronic control unit  200  continuously detects the CO 2  concentration inside the vehicle (S 38 ), and determines whether the CO 2  concentration detected after the performance of the external air mode is larger than a preset sixth concentration value stored in the memory (not illustrated) (S 39 ). 
     In some forms of the present disclosure, the sixth concentration value is set to 1,000 ppm, and the sixth concentration value means the CO 2  concentration value in the level which is not harmful to the health of the driver in the state where the remote controller  100  is detached, so that it is not necessary to perform the external air mode. 
     Accordingly, when the CO 2  concentration value is larger than the sixth concentration value in operation S 39 , the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration value of the air inside the vehicle is still at a high level and continuously performs the external air mode (S 37 ), and when it is determined that the CO 2  concentration value is equal to or smaller than the sixth concentration value in operation S 39 , the electronic control unit  200  determines that the CO 2  concentration of the air inside the vehicle is low and is not harmful to the health of the driver, and terminates the external air mode and performs the internal air mode (S 40 ). 
     Accordingly, according to the detachable remote controller  100  for controlling the air conditioner of the autonomous vehicle and the control method thereof in some forms of the present disclosure, a driver may adjust air conditioning of an interior of the vehicle through the air conditioner so as to be suited to the driving situation with the remote controller in the autonomous driving state. 
     It is possible to automatically control the air conditioner according to the detachable state of the remote controller  100 . 
     It is possible to automatically measure a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration of an interior of the vehicle and operate the air purifier mode under the preset condition, so that it is possible to always maintain the inside of the vehicle in a pleasant state. 
     The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.