Patent Abstract:
A system for maintaining the temperature of a vehicle audio and/or audio-video deck provided in a vehicle cabin is provided, comprising: an air duct positioned on both sides of the deck for supplying cooled or heated air to the vehicle cabin, a side part of the air duct defining therein a plurality of through holes through which cooled or heated air can be supplied to the deck; a sensor disposed inside the deck for detecting the temperature inside the deck; a side panel provided in the deck, which defines therein a penetration part for introducing cooled or heated air supplied through the through holes into the deck; a guide rail formed to the side panel; a sliding panel guided by the guide rail so as to open or close the penetration part; a driving motor coupled to the deck for moving the sliding panel along the guild rail; and a controller coupled to the deck for driving the driving motor in response to the temperature detected by the sensor so as to open or close the sliding panel, thereby maintaining the temperature of the deck at a target temperature or range.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims, under 35 U.S.C. §109, priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0126877 filed on Dec. 13, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     (a) Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a system for maintaining the temperature of a vehicle audio and/or audio-video deck, and more particularly to a system for maintaining the temperature of a vehicle audio and/or audio-video deck, which can selectively supply cooled or heated air so as to maintain the temperature of the deck at a target temperature or range. 
     (b) Background Art 
     Vehicles have a deck for holding an audio unit for replaying a cassette tape or a CD or for a radio, an audio-video (AV) unit for broadcasting or a navigator, or the like. 
     The deck is composed of various parts. A great amount of heat can be accumulated in the deck, which causes the temperature of the deck to become high. Typically, if a cassette tape or a CD is replayed for a long time, the deck temperature may become seriously high. 
     To resolve this problem of temperature rise, some technologies have been proposed. One example of such technologies provides a system that stops the operation of the deck when its temperature becomes higher than a certain temperature. This system, however, has drawbacks in that the operation of the deck can be frequently stopped in summer, which causes inconvenience to passengers. 
     Another proposed system uses a cooling fan to reduce the temperature, as shown in  FIG. 1 . This system also has drawbacks in that although a deck  1  can be cooled by a cooling fan  3 , overall cooling efficiency is not good for some reasons. First, the size of the cooling fan  3  is not large enough to achieve a desired cooling efficiency. Second, positioning the cooling fan  3  is limited. As a result, it is difficult to cool the entire deck  1  and it takes a long time to do so. 
     There is thus a need for a new system that can solve the above-described problems associated with prior art. 
     The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in an effort to provide systems for maintaining the temperature of a vehicle audio and/or AV deck, in which cooled or heated air can be selectively introduce to the deck so as to maintain the temperature of the deck at a target temperature or range. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system comprising: an air duct positioned on both sides of the deck for supplying cooled or heated air to the vehicle cabin, a side part of the air duct defining therein a plurality of through holes through which cooled or heated air can be supplied to the deck; a sensor disposed inside the deck for detecting the temperature inside the deck; a side panel provided in the deck, which defines therein a penetration part for introducing cooled or heated air supplied through the through holes into the deck; a guide rail formed to the side panel; a sliding panel guided by the guide rail so as to open or close the penetration part; a driving motor coupled to the deck for moving the sliding panel along the guild rail; and a controller coupled to the deck for driving the driving motor in response to the temperature detected by the sensor so as to open or close the sliding panel, thereby maintaining the temperature of the deck at a target temperature or range. 
     In this embodiment, the controller may be a full automatic temperature control device. Also, the controller may regulate the temperature of the deck in response to the manipulation of a switch by a user. 
     Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system comprising: an air duct positioned on both sides of the deck for supplying cooled or heated air to the vehicle cabin: a sensor disposed inside the deck for detecting the temperature inside the deck; a side panel provided in the deck, which defines therein a plurality of communication holes for supplying cooled or heated air to the deck; a panel guide rail formed to the side panel; an opening/closing device including a gear device and a flow panel that defines therein a plurality of opening/closing holes the shape and position of which are corresponding to those of the communication holes, wherein the flow panel is moved by the gear device along the panel guide rail so as to open or close the communication holes; and a controller coupled to the deck for driving the opening/closing device in response to the temperature detected by the sensor so as to open or close the communication holes, thereby maintaining the temperature of the deck at a target temperature or range. 
     Likewise, in this embodiment, the controller may be a full automatic temperature control device. It also may regulate the temperature of the deck in response to the manipulation of a switch by a user. 
     Preferably, in this embodiment, the flow panel may further comprise a gear that has a plurality of gear teeth formed along an end part thereof in a length direction and is operatively connected to the gear device. In this case, the gear device may further comprise: a main body; at least one rotating gear inside the main body, the rotating gear having a plurality of gear teeth that can engage with the gear teeth of the flow panel so as to raise and lower the flow panel; an operating part inside the main body, the operating part having a plurality of gear teeth that can engage with the gear teeth of the rotating gear so as to rotate the rotating gear in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction; a damping member provided to the operating part for dampening an operating impact; and a supporter which is disposed at a lower part of the operating part and is provided with a receiving part at an inside thereof to receive and support the operating part. 
     Suitably, the rotating gear may comprise: a main rotating gear having a plurality of gear teeth that can engage with the gear teeth of the operating part and the gear teeth of the flow panel; and a sub rotating gear having a plurality of gear teeth that can engage with the gear teeth of the main rotating gear at a lower part of the main rotating gear. In this case, preferably, the main rotating gear has a diameter greater than that of the sub rotating gear. 
     The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional deck which is provided with a cooling fan. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an air duct and a deck according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the air duct of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the deck of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an air duct and a deck according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the communication hole opening/closing device shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a drawing showing how the communication hole of  FIG. 5  operates. 
         FIG. 8  is another drawing showing how the communication hole of  FIG. 5  operates. 
     
    
    
     Reference numerals set forth in the Drawings includes reference to the following elements as further discussed below: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  10: 
                 vehicle cabin 
                  20: 
                 crash panel 
               
               
                   
                  60: 
                 air duct 
                 620: 
                 communication hole 
               
               
                   
                  64: 
                 opening/closing device 
                 640: 
                 flow panel 
               
               
                   
                 660: 
                 gear device 
                 664: 
                 rotation gear 
               
               
                   
                 666: 
                 operating part 
                 666a: 
                 piston 
               
               
                   
                 666b: 
                 damping member 
                 668: 
                 supporter 
               
               
                   
                  50: 
                 controller 
                  70: 
                 deck 
               
               
                   
                  76: 
                 sensor 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numeral will be used for the same elements throughout the specification. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , a system for maintaining the temperature of a vehicle audio and/or AV deck according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a vehicle cabin  10  is provided with a crash panel  20 . A plurality of air ducts  30  is installed to the crash panel  20  for introducing air into the vehicle cabin  10 . The introduced air can be heated or cooled by an air conditioner. A deck  40  is disposed between the air ducts  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the air ducts  30  includes a plurality of through holes  33  formed in a side part  32  thereof, which are disposed to face the deck  40 . Heated or cooled air is introduced to the air duct  30 , and then to the neighboring deck  40  via the through holes  33 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , an audio unit  42  and an AV unit  43  are provided to the deck  40 . Within the deck  40  is provided a sensor  41  for detecting the temperature inside the deck  40 . 
     A side panel  44  is provided in the deck  40 . At least one penetration part  45  is formed to the side panel  44  for introducing into the deck  40  heated or cooled air that has passed the through holes  33 . 
     The penetration part  45  can be perforated in a length direction or, as shown in  FIG. 4 , in a width direction of the side panel  44 . Preferably, the penetration part  45  is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the through holes  33 . 
     A guide rail  46  is formed in the side panel  44 . The guide rail  46  receives a sliding panel  47  and support it so as to be slidable. 
     An end part in a length direction of the sliding panel  47  is inserted into the guide rail  46 . It can slidably move so as to be able to open or close the penetration part  45 . The size and the shape of the sliding panel  47  may vary according to the size and the number of the penetration part  45 . 
     A driving motor  48  operates the sliding panel  47  to open or close the penetration part  45 . A controller  50  drives the driving motor  48  on the basis of temperature data detected by the sensor  41  so as to maintain the temperature of the deck  40  at a constant temperature. 
     Preferably, the controller  50  can be provided as a separate device. Also preferably, it can be realized by a full automatic temperature control (FATC) unit. 
     In case that it is necessary to cool an overheated deck  40 , the controller  50  (or the FATC unit) operates an air conditioner to supply cooled air. The cooled air is supplied to the deck  40  via the through holes  33  and the penetration part  45 . Meanwhile, the driving motor  48  moves the sliding panel  47 , thereby opening the penetration part  45 . 
     Similarly, in case that it is necessary to warm an overcooled the deck  40 , the controller  50  (or the FATC unit) operates an air conditioner to supply heated air. The heated air is supplied to the deck  40  via the through holes  33  and the penetration part  45 . Meanwhile, the driving motor  48  moves the sliding panel  47 , thereby opening the penetration part  45 . 
     These operations can be either automatically performed by the FATC unit or the controller  50  or manually performed by operation of a switch by a user. In case of manual operation, preferably, a separate switch is provided at an instrument panel or a deck. Also preferably, a switch may be added to the FATC unit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 8 , a system for maintaining the temperature of a vehicle audio and/or AV deck according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     A plurality of air ducts  60  for introducing heated or cooled air into the vehicle cabin  10  is installed to the crash panel  20  within the vehicle cabin  10 , and a deck  70  is disposed between the air ducts  60  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , each of the air ducts  60  includes a plurality of communication holes  620  which are formed in a side panel  62 . In addition, a panel guide rail  622  for guiding a flow panel  640  to slidably move is formed in a length direction on an outside of the side panel  62 . 
     The communication holes  620  have a shape of an ellipse. Cooled or heated air produced by an air conditioner is sent to the air duct  60  and then to the neighboring deck  70  via the communication holes  620 . 
     Preferably, the communication holes  620  may be formed on the side panel  62 . Also preferably, the communication holes  620  may be formed on a separate panel and the panel may be fixed to the side panel  62  by welding or the like. In this case, the side panel  62  includes a cut part in response to the separate panel. The communication holes  620  are opened or closed by an opening/closing device  64 . 
     The opening/closing device  64  includes the flow panel  640  which opens or closes the communication holes  620 . The device  64  also includes a gear device  660  which drives the flow panel  640 . 
     The flow panel  640  is a separate panel corresponding to a part to which the communication holes  620  are formed. The panel  640  has a plurality of opening/closing holes  642  having a size and a shape corresponding to those of the communication holes  620 . The panel  640  further includes a gear  644  which operates to be linked with the gear device  660 . 
     The gear  644  includes a plurality of gear teeth P, and is formed at an end part in a length direction of the flow panel  640 . The gear teeth P of the gear  644  are engaged with the gear teeth P formed to a rotating gear  664  of the gear device  660  so as to cause the flow panel  640  to move up and down along a length direction. 
     If the flow panel  640  moves up and down by the gear device  660 , the opening/closing holes  642  are overlapped by or deviated from the communication holes  620  so that the communication holes  620  can be opened or closed. 
     The gear device  660  includes a main body  662  in a shape of a box, a rotating gear  664  rotatably disposed within the main body  662 , an operating part  666  which drives the rotating gear  664 , and a supporter  668  which supports the operating part  666 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a plurality of gear teeth P are formed on an outer surface of the rotating gear  664 . The gear teeth P are engaged with the gear teeth P formed on the operating part  666  and the gear  644  of the flow panel  640  so as to rotate the rotating gear  664 . 
     There is no specific limitation on the number of the rotating gear  664 . Preferably, one rotating gear can be used. Also preferably, two rotating gears can be used. For example, the rotating gear  664  may include a main rotating gear  664   a  and a sub rotating gear  664   b.  The main rotating gear  664   a  may be engaged with the gear teeth P formed to the operating part  666  and the gear  644 . The sub rotating gear  664   b  rotates by engagement with the main rotating gear  664   a  and is engaged with the supporter  668 . In order to drive the flow panel  640 , only the main rotating gear  664   a  should be engaged with the gear  644  and the sub rotating gear  664   b  should not contact the gear  644 , so it is preferable that the diameter of the main rotating gear  664   a  is greater than the diameter of the sub rotating gear  664   b.    
     The operating part  666  is provided with the gear tooth P engaging with the rotating gear  664 , and moves along a length direction of the main body  662  so as to rotate the rotating gear  664 . A lower end of the operating part  666  to which the gear teeth P is extended is provided with a piston  666   a.    
     The piston  666   a  is received by the supporter  668 , and an end thereof is formed to be wider than an inlet of a receiving part  668   a  formed to the supporter  668  so as not to be arbitrarily separated from the supporter  668 . A damping member  666   b  is inserted into an end of the piston  666   a.    
     The damping member  666   b  serves to reduce operation noise which is generated by collision of an end of the piston  666   a  with the supporter  668  during the operation of the operating part  666 . The damping member  666   b  may be realized by any one of coil spring, hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder, and so forth. In case that the damping member  666   b  is realized by hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder, the damping member  666   b  may preferably be integrated with the piston  666   a,  and the supporter  668  may be omitted (only the coil spring is shown in the drawing for convenience). 
     The receiving part  668   a  is formed to the supporter  668  so as to receive the piston  666   a.  If two rotating gears  664  are used, gear teeth are formed on a side surface to support the sub rotating gear  664   b.    
     The operating part  666  can be connected to an alternating current (A/C) electric power source of the FATC unit so as to obtain driving force. 
       FIG. 5  shows a system including an audio unit  72  and an AV unit  74  provided to the deck  70 . A sensor  76  is provided inside the deck  70  for detecting the temperature inside the deck  70 . 
     In response to the temperature inside the deck  70  is detected by the sensor  76 , the controller  50  operates the opening/closing device  64  to open or close the communication holes  620  which are formed to the side panel  62 . Accordingly, the temperature of the deck  70  may be maintained at a temperature or within a range to ensure normal operation of the deck  70 . 
     In case of a vehicle which is provided with a FATC unit, the controller  50  can be realized by the FATC unit. In a vehicle without the FATC unit, the controller  50  is provided as a separate device to regulate the temperature of the deck  70 . 
     These processes will be explained in more detailed hereinafter. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , if the deck  70  is overheated, communication holes  620  should become opened. 
     In order to open the communication hole  620 , the controller  50  or FATC unit operates the opening/closing device  64 . While the operating part  666  connected to the controller  50  moves down, the gear teeth P are engaged with one another so as to rotate the rotating gear  664  in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     While the rotating gear  664  rotates in the direction of the arrow, the gear  644  engaged with the gear teeth P moves in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotating gear  664 , and the flow panel  640  moves up. 
     At this time, the piston  666   a  of the operating part  666  moves down to a bottom surface of the receiving part  668   a  of the supporter  668 , and the damping member  666   b  is extended to slowly lower the piston  666   a.    
     As such, if the flow panel  640  moves up so that the opening/closing holes  642  overlap the communication holes  620 , the communication holes  620  become opened. The cooled air produced by an air conditioner is sent to the deck  70  via the communication holes  620  so that the deck  70  is cooled. 
     On the other hand, in case that the temperature of the deck  70  is too low, the communication holes  620  can be opened in the similar way, and heated air will be supplied to the deck  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , if the temperature of the deck  70  reaches a target temperature or range thereof, the communication holes  620  become closed and supplying of cooled or heated air will be stopped. 
     In order to close the communication holes  620 , the controller  50  or FATC unit operates the opening/closing device  64 . 
     While the operating part  666  connected to the controller  50  moves up, the gear teeth P are engaged with one another so as to rotate the rotating gear  664  in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     While the rotating gear  664  rotates in the direction of the arrow, the gear  644  engaged with the gear teeth P moves in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotating gear  664 , and the flow panel  640  moves down. 
     At this time, the piston  666   a  of the operating part  666  moves up to the position of an inlet of the receiving part  668   a  of the supporter  668 . While the damping member  666   b  is compressed, the piston  666   a  is prevented from colliding with the receiving part  668   a.    
     As such, if the flow panel  640  moves down so that the opening/closing holes  642  are deviated from the communication holes  620 , the communication holes  620  become closed. Accordingly, supply of cooled or heated air to the deck  70  through the communication hole  620  is cut off. 
     For this, the sizes and shapes of the opening/closing holes  642  and the communication holes  620  should be similar or identical. Preferably, the rotation distance of the rotating gear  664 , the operation distance of the operating part  666 , and the operation distance of the flow panel  640  are formed to be slightly greater than the length (longitudinal diameter) of the communication hole  620 . 
     With these embodiments of the present invention as described above, the temperature of a vehicle audio and/or AV deck can be maintained at a target temperature or range that ensures normal operation of the deck, credibility of the product, and user convenience. 
     While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1