Patent Publication Number: US-2019184792-A1

Title: Aroma generating device for vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-243028, filed on Dec. 19, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an aroma generating device for a vehicle. 
     Related Art 
     Blowing a pleasing aroma into the vehicle interior so as to improve the mood of the vehicle occupants or so as to make it difficult to smell (so as to mask) disagreeable odors within the vehicle is carried out. Conventionally, aromas have been dispersed within a vehicle by using commercially available aromatic agents, but, with commercially-available aromatic agents, it takes time for the aroma to be sufficiently dispersed within the vehicle. 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2004-268704 discloses an invention relating to an aroma generating device for a vehicle that includes blowing means for generating a flow of air that carries an aroma generated by an aroma generator. 
     However, the aroma generating device for a vehicle that is disclosed in JP-A No. 2004-268704 presupposes operation when it is necessary to calm the vehicle occupants such as in a case in which a vehicle occupant does not feel well or in a case in which an accident occurs or the like, and control of the generation of an aroma, which takes into consideration the timing at which a vehicle occupant enters into the vehicle, is not carried out. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides an aroma generating device for a vehicle that may control of the generation of an aroma by taking into consideration the timing at which a vehicle occupant enters into a vehicle. 
     A first aspect of the present disclosure is an aroma generating device for a vehicle, including: a door opening detecting section configured to detect whether or not a door of a vehicle has been opened; an aroma generating section configured to release aromatic components within a vehicle cabin at a time of operation, the aromatic components are filled within a container; and an aroma control section configured to control the aroma generating section to start operation in a case in which the door opening detecting section detects that a door has been opened, and to stop operation in a case in which a predetermined time period has elapsed from the start of operation of the aroma generating section. 
     In accordance with the aroma generating device for a vehicle of the first aspect, when it is detected that a door has been opened, aromatic components may be released into the vehicle cabin for a predetermined time period. 
     In a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the above-described aspect, the aroma control section may be configured to control the start of the operation of the aroma generating section in a case in which the door opening detecting section detects that a door has been opened a first time after a change in date. 
     In accordance with the aroma generating device for a vehicle of the second aspect, aromatic components may be released into the vehicle cabin when it is detected that a door has been opened for a first time after a change in the date. 
     In a third aspect of the present disclosure, in the above-described aspect, the predetermined time period may be from the start of operation of the aroma generating section until an intensity of aromatic components that a vehicle occupant smells within the vehicle cabin becomes an upper limit value. 
     In accordance with the aroma generating device for a vehicle of the third aspect, the aroma generating section is operated until the intensity of the aromatic components that the vehicle occupant smells within the vehicle cabin becomes the upper limit value thereof. 
     In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in the above-described aspect, the door opening detecting section may detect whether or not a driver&#39;s seat door has been opened. 
     In accordance with the aroma generating device for a vehicle of the fourth aspect, the aroma generating section is operated by being triggered by the opening of the driver&#39;s seat door. 
     In accordance with the aroma generating device for a vehicle of the first aspect, control of the generation of an aroma, which takes into consideration the timing of a vehicle occupant entering the vehicle, may be possible. 
     In accordance with the aroma generating device for a vehicle of the second aspect, the aroma generating section is operated in a case in which it is detected that a door of the vehicle has been opened a first time after a change in the date. Due thereto, driving after waking or the first drive of the day may be started pleasantly. 
     In accordance with the aroma generating device for a vehicle of the third aspect, the aroma generating section is operated until the intensity of the aromatic components that the vehicle occupant smells within the vehicle cabin becomes the upper limit value. Due thereto, the aromatic components may be dispersed effectively within the vehicle cabin without being released wastefully. 
     In accordance with the aroma generating device for a vehicle of the fourth aspect, the aroma generating section is operated by being triggered by the opening of the driver&#39;s seat door. Due thereto, the aroma generating section may be operated on the assumption that driving has started. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block drawing showing the structure of an aroma generating device for a vehicle relating to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic drawing showing a case in which a cartridge that is used at a time of heating is selected at the aroma generating device relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic drawing showing a case in which a cartridge to be used is selected at the aroma generating device relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2C  is a schematic drawing showing a case in which aromatic components are not released at the aroma generating device relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing showing another example of the aroma generating device relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a time chart showing the state of operation over time of the aroma generating device for a vehicle relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing aroma generating processing of the aroma generating device for a vehicle relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle relating to the present exemplary embodiment is described hereinafter by using  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 1  is a block drawing showing an example of the structure of the aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle relating to the present exemplary embodiment. The aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle that is shown in  FIG. 1  operates in cooperation with the air conditioning of the vehicle. A signal instructing the vehicle cabin temperature from a temperature setting section (not illustrated) provided at the instrument panel of the vehicle, information such as the temperature of the blown air at the blowing port of an air conditioning unit  12  from dedicated sensors (not illustrated) or the like, and signals relating to turning the air conditioning unit  12  ON and OFF by the switch operation of a vehicle occupant, are respectively inputted to an air conditioning ECU (Electronic Control Unit)  10  that controls the air conditioning unit  12 . 
     Moreover, signals from a courtesy switch  2  are inputted to the air conditioning ECU (hereinafter abbreviated as “A/C-ECU”)  10 . The courtesy switch  2  is a switch that detects the opening/closing of the respective doors of the vehicle. As an example, a sensor that outputs an electric signal when pressure is applied thereto, such as a piezoelectric element or the like, is used as the courtesy switch  2 . In the present exemplary embodiment, on the basis of the signal outputted from the courtesy switch  2 , the A/C-ECU  10  detects that the driver&#39;s seat door has been opened or closed, and in particular, that this door has been opened. 
     The A/C-ECU  10  controls the air conditioning unit  12  on the basis of inputted signals and information. The signals relating to this control are also inputted to an aroma control device  20 , and the aroma control device  20  controls an aroma generating device  22  in accordance with these signals. The A/C-ECU  10  outputs a signal for operating the aroma generating device  22  to the aroma control device  20  also in cases in which it is detected that the driver&#39;s seat door has been opened or closed. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing showing an example of the aroma generating device  22  relating to the present exemplary embodiment. The aroma generating device  22  shown in  FIG. 2  has cartridges that are a cartridge  36 A and a cartridge  36 B that are filled with different perfumes, and, in accordance with the situation, selects the cartridge that is to be used. For example, the cartridge  36 A is filled with a perfume that is minty and has a refreshing feeling, or the like, and cartridge  36 B is filled with a perfume that is vanilla-based and gives-off a sweet and warm impression, or the like. At the time of cooling, the cartridge  36 A is used, and, at the time of heating, the cartridge  36 B is used. Further, other than a minty and a vanilla-based perfume, for example, a citrusy perfume may be filled in a cartridge. 
     The cartridges  36 A,  36 B are structures in which, for example, such perfumes are filled into carriers that are chemically inactive and that are porous and that are suitable for adsorbing the perfumes. For example, any of silica gel, alumina, diatomaceous earth, or the like is used as the carriers. 
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic drawing showing a case in which the cartridge  36 B of the aroma generating device  22  relating to the present exemplary embodiment is selected. The aroma generating device  22  relating to the present exemplary embodiment sends blown air from a blower  30 , which is structured by a multiblade fan such as a sirocco fan or the like that is rotated by an electric motor, via a door  32 A, which is a type of valve that is operated by an actuator such as a stepping motor or the like, to the cartridge  36 A or the cartridge  36 B via an air blowing path  34 A or an air blowing path  34 B. The aroma generating device  22  may be provided with a heating device that heats the cartridges  36 A,  36 B by electric heating, and, by using this heating device, the aroma generating device  22  can emit the perfume, which has been adsorbed by the carrier, more effectively than if the perfume is at an ordinary temperature. However, because components that are weak with respect to heat also exist in the perfume, in this case, there is no need for a heating device that carries out heating by electric heating. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a case in which the perfume that is filled in the cartridge  36 B is released. Therefore, the door  32 A rotates and stops so as to connect the blower  30  and the air blowing path  34 B by an air blowing channel  32 A 1 . Further, in conjunction with the door  32 A, a door  32 B rotates and stops by the power of an actuator such as a stepping motor or the like, so as to connect an air blowing path  38 B and an air blowing port  40  by an air blowing channel  32 B 1 . 
     As a result, the blown air from the blower  30  reaches the cartridge  36 B via the air blowing channel  32 A 1  of the door and the air blowing path  34 B, and emits the perfume that is filled in the cartridge  36 B. The perfume that is released from the cartridge  36 B is, together with the blown air from the blower  30 , released, via the air blowing path  38 B and the air blowing channel  32 B 1 , into the vehicle interior from the air blowing port  40  and together with the blown air of the air conditioning unit  12 , and the blown air of the air conditioning unit  12  is scented. 
       FIG. 2B  is a schematic drawing showing a case in which the perfume that is filled in the cartridge  36 A is released. The door  32 A rotates and stops so as to connect the blower  30  and the air blowing path  34 A by an air blowing channel  32 A 2 . Further, in conjunction with the door  32 A, the door  32 B rotates and stops so as to connect an air blowing path  38 A and the air blowing port  40  by an air blowing channel  32 B 2 . 
     As a result, the blown air from the blower  30  reaches the cartridge  36 A via the air blowing channel  32 A 2  of the door  32 A and the air blowing path  34 A, and emits the perfume that is filled in the cartridge  36 A. The perfume that is released from the cartridge  36 A is, together with the blown air from the blower  30 , released, via the air blowing path  38 A and the air blowing channel  32 B 2 , into the vehicle interior from the air blowing port  40  and together with the blown air of the air conditioning unit  12 . 
     In  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the air blowing channels  32 A 1 , A 2  are connected without offset to the blower  30  and the air blowing paths  34 A,  34 B, and the air blowing channels  32 B 1 , B 2  are connected without offset to the air blowing paths  38 A,  38 B and the air blowing port  40 . However, by offsetting these connections, the blowing of air to the cartridges  36 A,  36 B can be controlled. As an example, by slightly offsetting the connections between the air blower  30  and the air blowing channel  32 A 1  and the air blowing path  34 B, the sectional surface areas of the connected section are reduced, and the blowing of air from the blower  30  to the cartridge  36 B can be curbed. As a result, the strength of the scenting of the blown air may be controlled. 
       FIG. 2C  is a schematic drawing showing a case in which aromatic components are not released at the aroma generating device  22  relating to the present exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2C , the air blowing channels  32 A 1 ,  32 A 2  of the door  32 A are not connected to the air blower  30  and the air blowing paths  34 A,  34 B. Further, the air blowing channels  32 B 1 ,  32 B 2  of the door  32 B are not connected to the air blowing paths  38 A,  38 B and the air blowing port  40 . 
     By stopping the doors  32 A,  32 B as shown in  FIG. 2C , the cartridges  36 A,  36 B respectively can be cut-off from the outside air, and the perfumes that are filled in the cartridges  36 A,  36 B being released uselessly can be prevented. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing showing another example of the aroma generating device  22  relating to the present exemplary embodiment. The aroma generating device  22  that is shown in  FIG. 3  has cartridges in which respectively different perfumes are filled. The cartridges are a cartridge  134 A, a cartridge  134 B, a cartridge  134 C and a cartridge  134 D, and one cartridge to be used is selected. For example, the cartridge  134 A is filled with a perfume that is minty and has a refreshing feeling, or the like, the cartridge  134 B is filled with a perfume that is vanilla-based and gives a sweet and warm impression, or the like, the cartridge  134 C is filled with a flowery essential oil based perfume that is derived from flowering plants, or the like, and the cartridge  134 D is filled with a citrusy perfume. 
     The cartridges  134 A,  134 B,  134 C,  134 D are structures in which, for example, such perfumes are filled into carriers that are chemically inactive and that are porous and that are suitable for adsorbing the perfumes. For example, any of silica gel, alumina, diatomaceous earth, or the like is used as the carriers. 
     The cartridges  134 A,  134 B,  134 C,  134 D are respectively loaded into channels  140 A,  140 B,  140 C,  140 D that are paths of the blown air from the blower  30  that is structured by a multiblade fan, such as a sirocco fan or the like, that is rotated by an electric motor. 
     Valves  132 A,  136 A are provided at the channel  140 A. Valves  132 B,  136 B are provided at the channel  140 B. Valves  132 C,  136 C are provided at the channel  140 C, and valves  132 D,  136 D are provided at the channel  140 D. The valve  136 A opens/closes in conjunction with the valve  132 A, and carries out opening or closing of the channel  140 A which is an air blowing path. Similarly, the valves  136 B,  136 C,  136 D open/close in conjunction with the valves  132 B,  132 C,  132 D, respectively, and carry out opening or closing of the channels  140 B,  140 C,  140 D respectively. As an example, the respective valves  132 A through  136 D are opened/closed by electric actuators. 
     Respectively different perfumes are filled in the cartridges  134 A,  134 B,  134 C,  134 D. Therefore, the valves that are opened are any one group among the group of the valves  132 A,  136 A, the group of the valves  132 B,  136 B, the group of the valves  132 C,  136 C, and the group of the valves  132 D,  136 D. For example, when the group of the valves  132 A,  136 A is opened and the other valves are closed, the blown air from the blower  30  passes through the cartridge  134 A, and the aromatic components of the perfume filled in the cartridge  134 A are supplied into the vehicle cabin via a blower tube  142 . Further, when the group of the valves  132 B,  136 B is opened and the other valves are closed, the aromatic components of the perfume filled in the cartridge  134 B are supplied into the vehicle cabin via the blower tube  142 . Moreover, when the group of the valves  132 C,  136 C is opened and the other valves are closed, the aromatic components of the perfume filled in the cartridge  134 C are supplied into the vehicle cabin via the blower tube  142 . Still further, when the group of the valves  132 D,  136 D is opened and the other valves are closed, the aromatic components of the perfume filled in the cartridge  134 D are supplied into the vehicle cabin via the blower tube  142 . 
     Further, in a case in which the releasing of the perfumes filled in the cartridges  134 A,  134 B,  134 C  134 D into the vehicle cabin is unnecessary, by closing all of the valves  132 A through  136 D, useless emission of the perfumes that are filled in the cartridges  134 A,  134 B,  134 C,  134 D is prevented. 
       FIG. 4  is a timing chart showing an example of the state of operation over time of the aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle relating to the present exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 4 , at the aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle relating to the present exemplary embodiment, in a case in which the A/C-ECU  10  senses, at time T 0  and by an ON signal from the courtesy switch  2 , that the driver&#39;s seat door has been opened, that ON signal is inputted from the A/C-ECU  10  to the aroma control device  20 , and the aroma control device  20  turns the aroma generating device  22  ON. As shown by aroma generating device operation curve  52  in  FIG. 4 , the aroma control device  20  turns the aroma generating device  22  off at time T 3 . At the aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle relating to the present exemplary embodiment, during predetermined time period  50  from the time T 0  that the driver&#39;s seat side door is opened until time T 3 , the aroma generating device  22  is operated, and, after the predetermined time period  50  has elapsed, operation of the aroma generating device  22  is stopped. 
     The length of the predetermined time period  50  differs in accordance with the specifications of the aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle, the size of the vehicle cabin interior, and the like, but, as an example, is from around several seconds to around 20 seconds. One of the bases for the determination of the predetermined time period  50  is a first effective time period  54  that is the time until the vehicle occupant starts to smell the aroma. The first effective time period  54  is from the time T 0  when the door at the driver&#39;s seat side is opened until time T 1  when the sitting-down of the vehicle occupant is completed. If it is made such that the vehicle occupant smells the aroma at the time when he/she sits-down, the aroma generating device  22  can be effectively operated while conserving the amount of the aromatic components that are released from the aroma generating device  22 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the first effective time period  54  is the time period that is from the time T 0  until the time T 1  that is immediately before time T 2  when the engine of the vehicle is started-up. The period of time from the time T 0  to the time T 2  differs in accordance with the vehicle type and the vehicle model, but is generally around 5 to 10 seconds. In the present embodiment, in consideration of the time up until the time T 2 , the first effective time period  54  is made to be approximately 5 seconds as an example. 
     The time T 3  at which the predetermined time period  50  ends is the time at which the intensity of the aroma that the vehicle occupant smells within the vehicle cabin (the aroma intensity) becomes an upper limit value. As shown by aroma intensity curve  58  in  FIG. 4 , the aroma intensity gradually becomes greater from time T 2  on, and, even when the aroma generating device  22  is being operated, plateaus in a vicinity of the time T 3 , and the aroma intensity curve  58  becomes substantially rectilinear. In the present exemplary embodiment, the time when the aroma intensity within the vehicle cabin becomes the upper limit value is time T 3 , and the aroma generating device  22  is turned OFF at this time T 3 . 
     However, the change in the aroma intensity curve  58  in a vicinity of the time T 3  is gentle, and the peak is not distinct. Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the time T 3  and the predetermined time period  50  are determined in consideration of a second effective time period  56  which is the time period over which the vehicle occupant can smell the aroma. By determining the time T 3  and the predetermined time period  50  in consideration of the second effective time period  56 , the aromatic components can be dispersed effectively within the vehicle cabin without being released wastefully. 
     For example, the time T 3  and the predetermined time period  50  are set such that the second effective time period  56  continues until time T 4  which is the time until the seated vehicle occupant puts on the seatbelt, shifts the shift lever to the D position, releases the parking brake, and starts driving the vehicle. 
     Because the time T 3  and the predetermined time period  50  differ in accordance with the specifications of the aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle, the size of the vehicle cabin interior and the like, they are determined concretely through experimentation using a tester or the like. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing an example of aroma generating processings of the aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle relating to the present exemplary embodiment. The processings of  FIG. 5  are carried out, for example, in cooperation with the A/C-ECU  10  and the aroma control device  20 . In step  500 , it is determined whether or not the courtesy switch  2  has been turned ON. 
     In a case in which it is determined that the courtesy switch  2  has been turned ON in step  500 , in step  502 , it is determined whether or not the courtesy switch  2  has been turned ON for the first time after the date has changed. The reason for a determination that is based on after the date has changed is in order to make it such that driving after waking or the first drive of the day may be started pleasantly. The A/C-ECU  10  counts the number of times that the courtesy switch  2  has been turned ON after a change in the date, and resets this count to 0 after the date changes. When courtesy switch  2  is turned ON, in a case in which this count is 0, in step  502 , the A/C-ECU  10  determines that this is the first time that the courtesy switch  2  has been turned ON after the date has changed. 
     Because the A/C-ECU  10  is a microcomputer, it can compute the time by the accumulation of clock signals. Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, whether or not the date has changed is determined on the basis of the time counted by the A/C-ECU  10 . Over a long period of time, errors between the time counted by the accumulation of clock signals and the actual time arise, and therefore, the time may be corrected by using signals from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites or the like. 
     In step  502 , in a case in which it is determined that the courtesy switch  2  has been turned ON for the first time after a change in the date, the process proceeds to step  504 . In a case in which the above-described count is greater than or equal to 1 in step  502 , it is determined that this is the second or greater time that the courtesy switch  2  has been turned ON after the change in date, and the process returns. 
     In step  504 , operation of the aroma generating device is started. In step  506 , it is determined whether or not the predetermined time period  50  has elapsed. In a case in which the predetermined time period  50  has elapsed, in step  508 , operation of the aroma generating device  22  is stopped, and the process returns. 
     In a case in which it is determined in step  506  that the predetermined time period  50  has not elapsed, operation of the aroma generating device  22  is continued. 
     As described above, in the aroma generating device  100  for a vehicle relating to the present exemplary embodiment, by detecting that the courtesy switch  2  has been turned ON and by operating the aroma generating device  22  for the predetermined time period  50 , control of the generation of an aroma which takes into consideration the timing at which a vehicle occupant enters into the vehicle. In the present exemplary embodiment, the aroma generating device  22  is operated on the basis of signals from the courtesy switch  2  of the driver&#39;s seat door. However, the aroma generating device  22  may be operated when the opening of the front passenger&#39;s seat door, or the opening of a rear seat door, is detected. 
     Note that, the door opening detecting section corresponds to the courtesy switch  2 , the aroma generating section corresponds to the aroma generating device  22 , and the aroma control section corresponds to the aroma control device  20 .