Patent Description:
In order to stabilize temperature inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, car windows of the vehicle are usually closed when an air conditioning (A/C) system of the vehicle is in operation. However, closed car windows lead to poor ventilation and reduced oxygen concentration in the passenger compartment, which is unsafe, especially after prolonged operation of the AC system. Under such unsafe condition, a driver may be easily fatigued, find it difficult to concentrate, and be prone to making mistakes and getting in a traffic accident.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an air conditioning (A/C) apparatus with a ventilation system that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

Document <CIT> describes an air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicle, in which an additional unit for ingress of outdoor air is arranged so as to increase the volume of outdoor air ingress during ventilation.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, which is not part of the invention, the ventilation system is adapted to be used in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a vehicle body that defines an interior space. The ventilation system includes a vent pipe and a fan.

The vent pipe is adapted to be disposed on the vehicle body, and has an outside communicating end via which the vent pipe is adapted to communicate with the outside of the vehicle body, and an inside communicating end via which said vent pipe is adapted to communicate with the interior space.

The fan is disposed in the vent pipe, and is configured to be activated to produce airflow from the outside communicating end to the inside communicating end.

According to the invention, the A/C apparatus is adapted to be used in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a vehicle body that defines an interior space. The A/C apparatus includes an A/C system and a ventilation system.

The A/C system includes an air duct, an A/C device and a blower. When mounted in the vehicle, the air duct has an external inlet end via which the air duct is adapted to communicate with the outside of the vehicle, and a plurality of outlet ends via which the air duct is adapted to communicate with the interior space of the vehicle.

The A/C device is disposed in the air duct, and is configured to be controlled to regulate temperature of air flowing through said A/C device.

The blower is disposed in the air duct, and is configured to be controlled to drive air to flow from the external inlet end through the A/C device to said plurality of outlet ends.

The ventilation system includes a vent pipe and a fan.

A majority of the vent pipe extends along the air duct in the air duct. The vent pipe has an outside communicating end and at least one inside communicating end.

The outside communicating end is exposed out of the air duct. The vent pipe is adapted to communicate with the outside of the vehicle via the outside communicating end.

Said at least one inside communicating end is disposed at one of said plurality of outlet ends of the air duct and communicates with said one of said plurality of outlet ends. The vent pipe is adapted to communicate with the interior space of the vehicle via said at least one inside communicating end.

The fan is disposed in the vent pipe, and is configured to be activated to produce airflow from the outside communicating end to said at least one inside communicating end.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:.

Before the embodiments are described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

Referring to <FIG>, an embodiment of a ventilation system <NUM>, which is not part of the invention, is illustrated. The ventilation system <NUM> is adapted to be used in a vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> may be implemented by one of a sedan, a sedan wagon, a van, a hatchback, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), a multipurpose vehicle, a sports car, a convertible, a bus and so on, but is not limited thereto.

The vehicle <NUM> includes a vehicle body <NUM> that defines an interior space <NUM> (i.e., a passenger compartment), and an air conditioning (A/C) system <NUM> disposed on the vehicle body <NUM>.

The A/C system <NUM> includes a plurality of air intakes <NUM> (only one is shown in the drawings), and a plurality of air outlets <NUM>. The A/C system <NUM> is configured to be controlled to operate in one of an internal circulation mode and an external circulation mode. When operating in the internal circulation mode, the A/C system <NUM> is configured to draw air from the interior space <NUM> via the air intakes <NUM>, to process the air thus drawn by filtering the air and adjusting temperature of the air, and to then expel the air thus processed via the air outlets <NUM> back to the interior space <NUM>. When operating in the external circulation mode, the A/C system <NUM> is configured to draw air from the outside of the vehicle <NUM>, to process the air thus drawn by filtering the air and adjusting temperature of the air, and to expel the air thus processed via the air outlets <NUM> to the interior space <NUM>.

The ventilation system <NUM> includes a vent pipe <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, a filter <NUM>, a cooler <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, an air valve <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, an oxygen sensor <NUM> and a timer <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is adapted to be disposed partially in the interior space (<NUM>) of the vehicle body <NUM>, and is electrically connected to the fan <NUM>, the filter <NUM>, the cooler <NUM>, the air valve <NUM>, the oxygen sensor <NUM> and the timer <NUM>.

The vent pipe <NUM> is adapted to be disposed on the vehicle body <NUM>, and includes a main pipe <NUM> and a plurality of side pipes <NUM>. The vent pipe <NUM> has an outside communicating end <NUM> via which the vent pipe <NUM> is adapted to communicate with the outside of the vehicle body <NUM>, and a plurality of inside communicating ends <NUM> via which the vent pipe <NUM> is adapted to communicate with the interior space <NUM>. The main pipe <NUM> defines the outside communicating end <NUM>. The side pipes <NUM> are connected to the main pipe <NUM> and respectively define the inside communicating ends <NUM>. The inside communicating ends <NUM> may be positioned respectively beside the air outlets <NUM> near a driver seat and a front passenger seat as shown in <FIG>, and accordingly air flowing from the vent pipe <NUM> into the interior space <NUM> can rapidly mix with air flowing out of the air outlets <NUM> and spread throughout the interior space <NUM>. Alternatively, the inside communicating ends <NUM> may be positioned respectively beside the air intakes <NUM> (see <FIG>, where only one inside communicating end <NUM> and one air intake <NUM> are shown). In this way, air flowing from the vent pipe <NUM> into the interior space <NUM> can be immediately drawn by the A/C system <NUM> via the air intakes <NUM> for further processing, and can then be expelled via the air outlets <NUM> back to the interior space <NUM>.

It should be noted that the positions of the inside communicating ends <NUM> are not limited to the disclosure herein and may vary in other embodiments. Each of the inside communicating ends <NUM> may be positioned at any location that is exposed to the interior space <NUM>.

It should be noted that the number of the inside communicating ends <NUM> is not limited to what is disclosed herein and may vary in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the vent pipe <NUM> has only one inside communicating end <NUM>.

The fan <NUM>, the filter <NUM>, the cooler <NUM> and the heater <NUM> are disposed in the main pipe <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM>, and are arranged in an extension direction of the main pipe <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is configured to be activated to produce airflow from the outside communicating end <NUM> to each of the inside communicating ends <NUM>, so air flowing from the outside of the vehicle body <NUM> into the interior space <NUM> can be processed by the filter <NUM>, the cooler <NUM> and the heater <NUM> in the vent pipe <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the fan <NUM> to rotate in one of a forward direction to produce airflow from the outside communicating end <NUM> to each of the inside communicating ends <NUM>, and a reverse direction to produce airflow from each of the inside communicating ends <NUM> to the outside communicating end <NUM>. When the fan <NUM> rotates in the forward direction, the ventilation system <NUM> supplies air from the outside of the vehicle <NUM> to the interior space <NUM>. When the fan <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction, the ventilation system <NUM> draws air from the interior space <NUM> to the outside of the vehicle <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the ventilation system <NUM> further includes an air quality sensor (not shown). The air quality sensor is disposed in the interior space <NUM>, and is configured to measure the air quality within the interior space <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to determine, based on results of measurement made by the air quality sensor, whether the air quality within the interior space <NUM> is poor (e.g., particles of toxic substance or cigarette smoke appear in the interior space <NUM>). When it is determined that the air quality within the interior space <NUM> is poor, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the fan <NUM> to rotate in the reverse direction to draw air from the interior space <NUM> to the outside of the vehicle <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the controller <NUM> will be instantly activated when the vehicle <NUM> is unlocked by a remote control. Then, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the fan <NUM> to rotate in the reverse direction for a predetermined time period (e.g., five minutes) so as to refresh air in the interior space <NUM>.

The filter <NUM> is configured to filter air passing through the filter <NUM> in the vent pipe <NUM> so as to remove dust particles or hazardous substance from the air.

The cooler <NUM> is configured to be controlled by the controller <NUM> to cool air passing through the cooler <NUM> in the vent pipe <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> is configured to be controlled by the controller <NUM> to heat air passing through the heater <NUM> in the vent pipe <NUM>.

Since techniques of filtering, cooling and heating have been well known to one skilled in the relevant art, detailed explanation of the same is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The air valve <NUM> is disposed at the outside communicating end <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to control the air valve <NUM> to switch between an open state where the air valve <NUM> allows the vent pipe <NUM> to communicate with the outside of the vehicle body <NUM>, and a closed state where the air valve <NUM> disallows the vent pipe <NUM> to communicate with the outside of the vehicle body <NUM>. In <FIG>, the closed state of the air valve <NUM> is indicated by sloid lines, and the open state of the air valve <NUM> is indicated by dashed lines. The air valve <NUM> may be implemented by an electric valve, but is not limited thereto. Since implementation of the air valve <NUM> has been well known to one skilled in the relevant art, detailed explanation of the same is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, the ventilation system <NUM> does not include the air valve <NUM>.

The oxygen sensor <NUM> is adapted to be disposed in the interior space <NUM> of the vehicle body <NUM>. The oxygen sensor <NUM> is configured to measure oxygen concentration in the interior space <NUM> to generate a concentration indication signal, and to output the concentration indication signal to the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is operable in one of a triggered ventilation mode and a regular ventilation mode.

The controller <NUM> is adapted to be further electrically connected to the A/C system <NUM>, and to be notified by the A/C system <NUM> that the A/C system <NUM> operates in which one of the internal circulation mode and the external circulation mode. The controller <NUM> includes a control panel <NUM> that is disposed in the interior space <NUM>, and a processing unit (not shown) that is configured to implement the operations of the controller <NUM> described herein. The control panel <NUM> is configured to be operated by a user to activate the cooler <NUM> and the heater <NUM>, independently, and to make the controller <NUM> operate in the triggered ventilation mode or the regular ventilation mode.

In the triggered ventilation mode, the controller <NUM> is configured to activate the oxygen sensor <NUM> to measure oxygen concentration in the interior space <NUM> when the A/C system <NUM> notifies the controller <NUM> that the A/C system <NUM> operates in the internal circulation mode. The controller <NUM> is further configured to determine whether the oxygen concentration is lower than a low-oxygen-concentration threshold based on the concentration indication signal. When it is determined that a first ventilation condition is satisfied (i.e., that the oxygen concentration is lower than the low-oxygen-concentration threshold), the controller <NUM> is configured to control the timer <NUM> to time a preset time period (e.g., five minutes), and during the preset time period, to control the air valve <NUM> to switch to the open state and to activate the fan <NUM> to rotate in the forward direction so as to produce airflow from the outside of the vehicle <NUM> to the interior space <NUM>. When the preset time period has elapsed, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the air valve <NUM> to switch to the closed state and to stop the fan <NUM>. In this way, whenever the oxygen concentration falls to an abnormal level, the oxygen concentration in the interior space <NUM> may be raised to a normal level by the ventilation system <NUM> that supplies airflow from the outside of the vehicle <NUM> to the interior space <NUM>.

In the regular ventilation mode, the controller <NUM> is configured, when the A/C system <NUM> notifies the controller <NUM> that the A/C system <NUM> operates in the internal circulation mode, to control the timer <NUM> to repeatedly time a first preset duration (e.g., fifteen or thirty minutes) and time a second preset duration (e.g., five minutes) immediately following completion of timing of the first preset duration, to control the air valve <NUM> to switch to the open state and activate the fan <NUM> to produce airflow from the outside of the vehicle <NUM> to the interior space <NUM> during the second preset duration, and to control the air valve <NUM> to switch to the closed state and stop the fan <NUM> during the first preset duration. That is to say, when a second ventilation condition is satisfied (i.e., every time when the first preset duration elapses), the controller <NUM> controls the air valve <NUM> to switch to the open state and activates the fan3 <NUM> to produce airflow from the outside of the vehicle <NUM> to the interior space <NUM>. In this way, the oxygen concentration in the interior space <NUM> may be maintained at a normal level by the ventilation system <NUM> that periodically supplies airflow from the outside of the vehicle <NUM> to the interior space <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the controller <NUM> further includes a power switch <NUM>. The power switch <NUM> is exposed to the interior space <NUM>, and is electrically connected to an electrical system (not shown) of the vehicle <NUM>. The power switch <NUM> is operable to enable or disable the controller <NUM> (i.e., to enable the controller <NUM>, the power switch <NUM> is turned on to provide electric power from the electrical system to the controller <NUM>), such that the control panel <NUM> is operable to make the controller <NUM> operate in the triggered ventilation mode or the regular ventilation mode and that the controller <NUM> is able to control the fan <NUM> and the air valve <NUM> according to results of measurement made by the oxygen sensor <NUM> (i.e., the triggered ventilation mode) or timing results made by the timer <NUM> (i.e., the regular ventilation mode).

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, an embodiment of an A/C apparatus <NUM> according to the invention is illustrated. The A/C apparatus <NUM> is adapted to be used in the vehicle <NUM> that is previously described.

The A/C apparatus <NUM> includes an A/C system <NUM> and a ventilation system <NUM>'.

Since the ventilation system <NUM>' is similar to the ventilation system <NUM> that has been described previously, only differences from the ventilation system <NUM> are explained in the following for the sake of brevity.

The controller <NUM> of the ventilation system <NUM>' is further electrically connected to the A/C system <NUM>.

The A/C system <NUM> is installed in the vehicle <NUM>, and includes an air duct <NUM>, a duct valve <NUM>, a blower <NUM>, a filtering device <NUM> and an A/C device <NUM>.

The air duct <NUM> has an external inlet end <NUM> via which the air duct <NUM> is adapted to communicate with the outside of the vehicle <NUM>, an internal inlet end <NUM> via which the air duct <NUM> is adapted to communicate with the interior space <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>, and a plurality of outlet ends <NUM> via which the air duct <NUM> is adapted to communicate with the interior space <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. The air duct <NUM> allows air to flow from the outside of the vehicle <NUM> via the external inlet end <NUM> into the air duct <NUM>, allows air to flow from the interior space <NUM> via the internal inlet end <NUM> into the air duct <NUM>, and allows air in the air duct <NUM> to flow into the interior space <NUM> via the outlet ends <NUM>. It should be noted that only some of the outlet ends <NUM> are illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The duct valve <NUM> is disposed between the external inlet end <NUM> and the internal inlet end <NUM>. The duct valve <NUM> is configured to be controlled by the controller <NUM> to switch between an internal circulation state (indicated by dashed lines) and an external circulation state (indicated by solid lines). When the duct valve <NUM> is in the internal circulation state, only air in the interior space <NUM> is allowed to flow into the air duct <NUM> via the internal inlet end <NUM> and back to the interior space <NUM> via the outlet ends <NUM>, and air outside of the vehicle <NUM> cannot flow into the interior space <NUM>. When the duct valve <NUM> is in the external circulation state, air outside of the vehicle <NUM> is allowed to flow into the air duct <NUM> via the external inlet end <NUM> and then into the interior space <NUM> via the outlet ends <NUM>. Since using the duct valve <NUM> to control air flow has been well known to one skilled in the relevant art, detailed explanation of the same is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The blower <NUM>, the filtering device <NUM> and the A/C device <NUM> are disposed in the air duct <NUM>. The blower <NUM> is configured to be controlled by the controller <NUM> to drive air to flow from the external inlet end <NUM> or the internal inlet end <NUM> through the filtering device <NUM> and the A/C device <NUM> to the plurality of outlet ends <NUM>.

The filtering device <NUM> is configured to filter air passing through the filtering device <NUM> so as to remove undesired substance (e.g., dust particles, pollen, or pathogens) from the air.

The A/C device <NUM> is configured to be controlled by the controller <NUM> to regulate temperature (e.g., to warm up or to cool down) of air flowing through the A/C device <NUM>.

Since implementations of the blower <NUM>, the filtering device <NUM> and the A/C device <NUM> have been well known to one skilled in the relevant art, detailed explanation of the same is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

A majority of the vent pipe <NUM> extends along the air duct <NUM> in the air duct <NUM>. The vent pipe <NUM> has an outside communicating end <NUM> that is exposed out of the air duct <NUM>, a plurality of inside communicating ends <NUM> that respectively correspond to the outlet ends <NUM> of the air duct <NUM>, and a connecting portion <NUM> that connects the outside communicating end <NUM> and the inside communicating ends <NUM>. The inside communicating ends <NUM> are disposed respectively at the outlet ends <NUM> of the air duct <NUM> and communicate respectively with the outlet ends <NUM>. The vent pipe <NUM> is adapted to communicate with the outside of the vehicle <NUM> via the outside communicating end <NUM>. The vent pipe <NUM> is adapted to communicate with the interior space <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> via the inside communicating ends <NUM>.

It is worth to note that the connecting portion <NUM> extends through a posterior portion of the air duct <NUM> that is spaced apart from the external inlet end <NUM> and the internal inlet end <NUM> and that is located behind the blower <NUM>, the filtering device <NUM> and the A/C device <NUM> with respect to a direction of airflow from the external inlet end <NUM> or the internal inlet end <NUM> to the outlet ends <NUM>. Air flowing through the A/C device <NUM> will flow through the vent pipe <NUM>, and thus can be utilized to warm up or cool down the vent pipe <NUM> and air inside the vent pipe <NUM>. It should be noted that the ventilation system <NUM>' does not include the cooler <NUM> and the heater <NUM> as with the ventilation system <NUM> previously described.

The fan <NUM> is disposed nearby the outside communicating end <NUM>, and is configured to be activated by the controller <NUM> to produce airflow from the outside communicating end <NUM> to each of the inside communicating ends <NUM>. However, the location of the fan <NUM> is not limited to what is disclosed herein and may vary in other embodiments.

The filter <NUM> is disposed in the vent pipe <NUM>, and is configured to filter air passing through the filter <NUM> so as to remove undesired substance (e.g., dust particles, pollen, or pathogens) from the air.

The ventilation system <NUM>' further includes a plurality of air valve units <NUM> that respectively correspond to the inside communicating ends <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM> (and thus respectively correspond to the outlet ends <NUM>). The controller <NUM> is further electrically connected to the air valve units <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> includes a main A/C controlling module <NUM> and an auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM>. The main A/C controlling module <NUM> is configured to control the duct valve <NUM>, the blower <NUM> and the A/C device <NUM> of the A/C system <NUM>. The auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM> is configured to control the fan <NUM> and the air valve units <NUM> of the ventilation system <NUM>'.

The main A/C controlling module <NUM> is configured to be operated to control the duct valve <NUM> to switch between the internal circulation state and the external circulation state, and to control the A/C device <NUM> to regulate the temperature of the air flowing therethrough.

It should be noted that each of the main A/C controlling module <NUM> and the auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM> may be implemented by one of hardware, firmware, software, and any combination thereof. For example, the main A/C controlling module <NUM> and the auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM> may be implemented to be software modules in a program, where the software modules contain codes and instructions to carry out specific functionalities of the controller <NUM>, and can be called individually or together.

In one embodiment, each of the air valve units <NUM> includes an air valve <NUM> and a human presence detector <NUM>.

The air valve <NUM> is disposed at a corresponding one of the inside communicating ends <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM>, and is configured to be controlled by the auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM> of the controller <NUM> to switch between an open state where the air valve <NUM> allows the vent pipe <NUM> to communicate with the interior space <NUM> via the air valve <NUM> and a closed state where the air valve <NUM> disallows the vent pipe <NUM> to communicate with the interior space <NUM> via the air valve <NUM>.

The human presence detector <NUM> is disposed on the vehicle body <NUM> around one of the outlet ends <NUM> at which the corresponding one of the inside communicating ends <NUM> is disposed, and is exposed to the interior space <NUM>. The human presence detector <NUM> is configured to detect presence of a human in a preset region in front of the corresponding one of the outlet ends <NUM> in the interior space <NUM> to generate a presence indication signal, and to output the presence indication signal.

The human presence detector <NUM> may be implemented by a reflective optical sensor. For example, the human presence detector <NUM> is configured to emit a light beam, and to receive a reflection of the light beam so as to generate the presence indication signal. Alternatively, the human presence detector <NUM> may be implemented using infrared detection technologies, in which case the human presence detector <NUM> is configured to sense infrared light radiated from a human who is on the driver seat or the front passenger seat. However, implementation of the human presence detector <NUM> is not limited to the disclosure herein and may vary in other embodiments.

In one embodiment, the human presence detector <NUM> is disposed on a seat of the vehicle <NUM>, and is configured to detect presence of a human based on a weight load of the seat.

It is worth to note that the air valves <NUM> respectively of the air valve units <NUM> are disposed respectively at the inside communicating ends <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM>. The auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM> of the controller <NUM> is configured to determine, based on the presence indication signals respectively from the human presence detectors <NUM> respectively of the air valve units <NUM>, whether a human is present in any of the preset regions that are associated respectively with the human presence detectors <NUM> in the interior space <NUM>. When it is determined that one of the presence indication signals indicates presence of a human in one of the preset regions, the auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM> is configured to control one of the air valves <NUM> that corresponds to one of the human presence detectors <NUM> that outputted said one of the presence indication signals to switch to the open state, and to activate the fan <NUM> to produce airflow from the outside communicating end <NUM> to one of the inside communicating ends <NUM> that corresponds to said one of the air valves <NUM>. In this way, air flowing from the inside communicating ends <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM> would mix with air flowing from the outlet ends <NUM> of the air duct <NUM>, and then flow into the interior space <NUM>. Therefore, oxygen concentration in the interior space <NUM> may be raised.

In one embodiment (see <FIG>), each of the air valve units <NUM> includes a valve switch <NUM>, and the air valve <NUM> as previously described.

The valve switch <NUM> is disposed on the vehicle body <NUM>, and is exposed to the interior space <NUM>. The valve switch <NUM> is electrically connected to the air valve <NUM>, and is operable to control the air valve <NUM> to switch between the open state and the closed state. The valve switch <NUM> is configured to output a trigger signal to the auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM> of the controller <NUM> when the valve switch <NUM> is operated by a driver or a passenger.

When the valve switch <NUM> of one of the air valve units <NUM> is operated to control the corresponding air valve <NUM> to switch to the open state, in response to the trigger signal outputted thereby, the auxiliary A/C controlling module <NUM> of the controller <NUM> is configured to control the corresponding one of the air valves <NUM> to switch to the open state, and to activate the fan <NUM> to produce airflow from the outside communicating end <NUM> to the corresponding one of the inside communicating ends <NUM> where the corresponding air valve <NUM> is disposed.

Hence, air flowing from the corresponding one of the inside communicating ends <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM> would mix with air flowing from the corresponding one of the outlet ends <NUM> of the air duct <NUM>, and then flow into the interior space <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the ventilation system <NUM>' includes only one air valve unit <NUM>. The air valve unit <NUM> includes an air valve <NUM> and a human presence detector <NUM>. The air valve <NUM> is disposed at one of the inside communicating ends <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM>, and is configured to be controlled to switch between an open state where the air valve <NUM> allows the vent pipe <NUM> to communicate with the interior space <NUM> and a closed state where the air valve <NUM> disallows the vent pipe <NUM> to communicate with the interior space <NUM>. The human presence detector <NUM> is adapted to be disposed on the vehicle body <NUM>, and is configured to detect presence of a human in a preset region in the interior space <NUM> to generate a presence indication signal and to output the presence indication signal. The controller <NUM> is electrically connected to the fan <NUM> and the air valve unit <NUM>, and is configured to determine, based on the presence indication signal, whether a human is present in the preset region in the interior space <NUM>, and when it is determined that the presence indication signal indicates presence of a human in the preset region, to activate the fan <NUM> to produce airflow from the outside communicating end <NUM> to the inside communicating end <NUM> and to control the air valve <NUM> to switch to the open state.

In one embodiment, the ventilation system <NUM>' includes only one air valve unit <NUM>. The air valve unit <NUM> includes an air valve <NUM> and a valve switch <NUM>. The air valve <NUM> is disposed at one of the inside communicating ends <NUM> of the vent pipe <NUM>, and is configured to be controlled to switch between an open state where the air valve <NUM> allows the vent pipe <NUM> to communicate with the interior space <NUM> and a closed state where the air valve <NUM> disallows the vent pipe <NUM> to communicate with the interior space <NUM>. The valve switch <NUM> is disposed on the vehicle body <NUM>, is electrically connected to the air valve <NUM>, and is operable to control the air valve <NUM> to switch between the open state and the closed state. The controller <NUM> is electrically connected to the fan <NUM> and the air valve unit <NUM>, and is adapted to be disposed partially in the interior space <NUM> of the vehicle body <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to activate the fan <NUM> to produce airflow from the outside communicating end <NUM> to the inside communicating end <NUM> when the air valve <NUM> switches to the open state.

In one embodiment, the ventilation system <NUM> that is previously described with reference to <FIG> further includes the air valve units <NUM> as described in connection with <FIG> or <FIG>.

To sum up, the ventilation system according to the disclosure forces air to flow from the outside of a vehicle to an interior space of the vehicle when it is determined that oxygen concentration in the interior space is lower than a threshold, and regularly forces air to flow from the outside of the vehicle to the interior space of the vehicle when an A/C system of the vehicle operates in the internal circulation mode. In this way, the oxygen concentration in the interior space can be ensured to be maintained at a normal level, so issues of fatigue driving or drowsy driving due to low oxygen concentration may be alleviated.

Claim 1:
An air conditioning (A/C) apparatus (<NUM>), adapted to be used in a vehicle (<NUM>), the vehicle (<NUM>) including a vehicle body (<NUM>) that defines an interior space (<NUM>), said A/C apparatus (<NUM>) including:
a ventilation system (<NUM>') that includes a vent pipe (<NUM>) that is, when said A/C apparatus (<NUM>) is mounted on the vehicle (<NUM>), disposed on the vehicle body (<NUM>), and that has
an outside communicating end (<NUM>) via which said vent pipe (<NUM>), when said A/C apparatus (<NUM>) is mounted on the vehicle (<NUM>), communicates with the outside of the vehicle body (<NUM>), and
an inside communicating end (<NUM>) via which said vent pipe (<NUM>), when said A/C apparatus (<NUM>) is mounted on the vehicle (<NUM>), communicates with the interior space (<NUM>); and
an A/C system (<NUM>) including
an air duct (<NUM>) that has an external inlet end (<NUM>) via which said air duct (<NUM>) communicates with the outside of the vehicle (<NUM>) when said A/C apparatus (<NUM>) is mounted on the vehicle (<NUM>), and a plurality of outlet ends (<NUM>) via which said air duct (<NUM>) communicates with the interior space (<NUM>) of the vehicle (<NUM>) when said A/C apparatus (<NUM>) is mounted on the vehicle (<NUM>),
an A/C device (<NUM>) that is disposed in said air duct (<NUM>), and that is controllable to regulate temperature of air flowing through said A/C device (<NUM>), and
a blower (<NUM>) that is disposed in said air duct (<NUM>), and that is controllable to drive air to flow from said external inlet end (<NUM>) through said A/C device (<NUM>) to said plurality of outlet ends (<NUM>),
said A/C apparatus (<NUM>) being characterized in that:
said ventilation system (<NUM>') further includes a fan (<NUM>) that is disposed in said vent pipe (<NUM>), and that is configurable to be
activated to produce airflow from said outside communicating end (<NUM>) to said inside communicating end (<NUM>) when said A/C apparatus (<NUM>) is mounted on the vehicle (<NUM>);
a majority of said vent pipe (<NUM>) extends along said air duct (<NUM>) in said air duct (<NUM>);
said outside communicating end (<NUM>) is exposed out of said air duct (<NUM>); and
said inside communicating end (<NUM>) is disposed at one of said plurality of outlet ends (<NUM>) of said air duct (<NUM>) and communicates with said one of said plurality of outlet ends (<NUM>).