Patent ID: 12194811

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinbelow, an example of an embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail. In the following description, specific shapes, materials, directions, numeric values, and the like are examples for facilitating understanding of this disclosure, and may be changed as appropriate according to the use, advantage, specifications, and the like.

<Vehicle>

UsingFIG.1, a description will be given of a vehicle5equipped with a vehicular air conditioning system10which is the example of the embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the vehicle5is an electric vehicle that drives a motor using electric power supplied from a battery and travels with the motor as its power. Note that the vehicle5is not limited to this embodiment and may be a hybrid vehicle or an engine vehicle.

The vehicle5includes: the vehicular air conditioning system10that air conditions a vehicle cabin6; an outside air temperature sensor11that detects an outside air temperature outside the vehicle; and a solar radiation sensor12that detects the amount of solar radiation outside the vehicle. A user starts the vehicular air conditioning system10of the vehicle5through remote control by a smartphone13in order to air condition the vehicle cabin6before the user gets into the vehicle5(hereinafter referred to as pre-air conditioning).

<Vehicular Air Conditioning System>

UsingFIG.2, a description will be given of the vehicular air conditioning system10which is the example of the embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the vehicular air conditioning system10includes: an air conditioner20that air conditions the vehicle cabin6; and an auxiliary air conditioner30that supplementarily air conditions the periphery of the user. The auxiliary air conditioner30includes: a seat ventilator31; a seat heater32; a steering wheel heater33; a radiation heater34; and an electronic control unit (ECU)40that controls these devices, each of which will be described later. The air conditioner20and the ECU40will be described in detail later.

The seat ventilator31is a cooler that blows air to the user who sits on a seat7. The seat ventilator31is provided in a rear portion of the seat7. The seat ventilator31may be capable of switching an air blowing volume flow between three phases.

The seat heater32is a heater that heats the seat7by generating heat through energization. The seat heater32is provided in a seat surface portion and the rear portion of the seat7. The seat heater32may be capable of adjusting heat output between three phases.

The steering wheel heater33is a heater that heats a steering wheel8by generating heat through energization. The steering wheel heater33is provided in the steering wheel8. The steering wheel heater33may be capable of adjusting heat output between three phases.

The radiation heater34is a heater that radiates radiation heat in the vehicle cabin6by generating heat through energization. The radiation heater34is provided in a bottom surface of a steering column9. However, without being limited to this embodiment, the radiation heater may be provided in an interior member such as an instrument panel, a door trim, and a ceiling. The radiation heater34may be capable of adjusting heat output between three phases.

<Air Conditioner>

UsingFIG.3, a description will be given of the air conditioner20.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the air conditioner20includes: an air passage21through which to feed temperature conditioned air into the vehicle cabin6; an air blower22that generates an airflow toward the vehicle cabin6; an inside/outside switching door23that switches air to be introduced between air inside the vehicle cabin6(inside air) and air outside the vehicle5(outside air); and a refrigerant cycle24that will be described later.

The refrigerant cycle24is constituted by: a compressor25that compresses refrigerant; a four-way switching valve26that switches the operation between cooler and heater modes; an outside heat exchanger27that is disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body; an expansion valve28that expands the refrigerant; and an inside heat exchanger29that is disposed in the air passage21, with these components being connected.

<ECU>

UsingFIGS.4to7, a description will be given of the ECU40.

As described previously, the ECU40controls the devices constituting the vehicular air conditioning system10. The ECU40includes: a processor41that has a CPU; and a memory42that stores therein control programs, control data, and the like. The memory42is, for example, RAM, ROM, flash memory and the like. The processor41controls the devices of the vehicular air conditioning system10by operating according to the control programs stored in the memory42.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the ECU40is connected to the outside air temperature sensor11, the solar radiation sensor12, an inside air temperature sensor14, an operation unit15through which a setting temperature in the vehicle cabin6and the like are input, the air blower22, the inside/outside switching door23, the compressor25, the four-way switching valve26, the expansion valve28, the seat ventilator31, the seat heater32, the steering wheel heater33, and the radiation heater34, and is wirelessly connected to the smartphone13.

Upon receiving detection signals from the outside air temperature sensor11, the solar radiation sensor12, and the inside air temperature sensor14, or upon receiving a command signal from the smartphone13, the ECU40sends control signals to the air blower22, the inside/outside switching door23, the compressor25, the four-way switching valve26, the expansion valve28, the seat ventilator31, the seat heater32, the steering wheel heater33, and the radiation heater34.

The processor41calculates a target blowout port temperature, a target air volume flow, and a target inside/outside air switching door opening amount based on an outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor11, an inside air temperature detected by the inside air temperature sensor14, the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor12, and the setting temperature set by the operation unit15.

The processor41adjusts the compressor25, the four-way switching valve26, the expansion valve28, the opening amount of the inside/outside switching door23, the air volume flow of the air blower22, and the like so as to achieve the target blowout port temperature, the target air volume flow, and the target inside/outside air switching door opening amount thus calculated.

The processor41pre-air conditions the vehicle cabin6before the user gets into the vehicle5by starting the vehicular air conditioning system10through remote control by the smartphone13. In addition, the processor41ends the pre-air conditioning when the user gets into the vehicle5. Whether the user gets into the vehicle5may be detected by a seating sensor or whether a door is opened or closed. Without being limited to this embodiment, the pre-air conditioning may be ended when a predetermined period elapses since the start of the pre-air conditioning, or when a predetermined amount of power or more is consumed.

When ending the pre-air conditioning after the user gets into the vehicle5, the processor41strongly air conditions the vehicle cabin6for a “predetermined period (hereinafter referred to as an output increase period)” by increasing an “air conditioning output” of the vehicular air conditioning system10. In this way, by increasing the air conditioning output for the output increase period after the user gets into the vehicle, it is possible to send a large air flow of cool air into the vehicle cabin6in summer, and a large air flow of warm air in winter.

During cooling, the processor41cools down the vehicle cabin6by increasing the air conditioning output for the output increase period when an outside air temperature is as high as a first predetermined temperature T1, or higher. Specifically, in an example illustrated inFIG.5, the processor41cools the vehicle cabin6by increasing the air conditioning output for the output increase period when the outside air temperature is 30 degrees Celsius or higher. Meanwhile, during heating, the processor41warms up the vehicle cabin6by increasing the air conditioning output for the output increase period when the outside air temperature is as low as a second predetermined temperature T2, or lower. Specifically, in the example illustrated inFIG.5, the processor41warms up the vehicle cabin6by increasing the air conditioning output for the output increase period when the outside air temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or lower. In this way, by increasing the air conditioning output for the output increase period only when the outside air temperature is any of the first predetermined temperature or higher and the second predetermined temperature or lower, comfortable air conditioning control can be implemented.

<Air Conditioning Output>

The air conditioning output of the vehicular air conditioning system10includes the amount of circulation of refrigerant and the air blowing volume flow of the air conditioner20, i.e., includes the target blowout port temperature and the target air volume flow which are their targets. Increasing the air conditioning output means air conditioning the vehicle cabin6during cooling by reducing the target blowout port temperature and increasing the target air volume flow for the output increase period, and air conditioning the vehicle cabin6during heating by increasing the target blowout port temperature and increasing the target air volume flow for the output increase period.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the amount of air conditioning output to be increased is determined according to an outside air temperature. Specifically, the amount of reduction of the target blowout port temperature during cooling (correction value) is reduced as the outside air temperature increases. In the example illustrated inFIG.5, the correction value is reduced gradually in such a way as to be reduced by 7 degrees Celsius when the outside air temperature is 30 degrees Celsius and reduced by 14 degrees Celsius when the outside air temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the amount of increase of the target blowout port temperature during heating (correction value) is increased as the outside air temperature decreases. In the example illustrated inFIG.5, the correction value is increased gradually in such a way as to be increased by 7 degrees Celsius when the outside air temperature is 5 degrees Celsius and increased by 14 degrees Celsius when the outside air temperature is minus 20 degrees Celsius. In addition, the air volume flow during cooling may be increased as the outside air temperature increases. Likewise, the air volume flow during heating may be increased as the outside air temperature decreases.

In this way, by determining the target blowout port temperature to be increased or reduced according to the outside air temperature, it is possible to send the vehicle cabin6more cool air with a large air volume flow in the middle of summer, and more warm air with a large air volume flow in the middle of winter.

Further, the air conditioning output of the vehicular air conditioning system10at least includes: an air volume flow of the seat ventilator31of the auxiliary air conditioner30; and outputs of the seat heater32, the steering wheel heater33, and the radiation heater34. Specifically, the vehicular air conditioning system10air conditions the vehicle cabin6during cooling by increasing the air volume flow of the seat ventilator31for the output increase period, and air conditions the vehicle cabin6during heating by increasing the outputs of the seat heater32, the steering wheel heater33, and the radiation heater34for the output increase period.

Note that when the output of the auxiliary air conditioner30is determined according to the target blowout port temperature, the output of the auxiliary air conditioner30may be determined according to the target blowout port temperature increased or reduced. Alternatively, the vehicle cabin6may be air conditioned by setting the outputs of all the constituents of the auxiliary air conditioner30uniformly at the maximum level for the output increase period.

<Output Increase Period>

As illustrated inFIG.6, the output increase period is determined according to an outside air temperature. More specifically, the output increase period during cooling is set to be increased as the outside air temperature increases. In an example illustrated inFIG.6, the output increase period is set to be increased gradually in such a way as to be increased by 5 minutes when the outside air temperature is 30 degrees Celsius, and increased by 10 minutes when the outside air temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the output increase period during heating is set to be increased as the outside air temperature decreases. In the example illustrated inFIG.6, the output increase period is set to be increased gradually in such a way as to be increased by 5 minutes when the outside air temperature is 5 degrees Celsius, and increased by 10 minutes when the outside air temperature is minus 20 degrees Celsius.

In this way, by determining the output increase period according to the outside air temperature, it is possible to send the vehicle cabin6cool air with a large air volume flow in the middle of summer and warm air with a large air volume flow in the middle of winter for an optimum period of time.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the output increase period is corrected according to the amount of solar radiation. More specifically, the output increase period during cooling is corrected to be increased as the amount of solar radiation increases. In an example illustrated inFIG.7, the output increase period is set to be increased gradually in such a way as to be increased by 5 minutes when the amount of solar radiation is 500 W/m2, and increased by 10 minutes when the amount of solar radiation is 1000 W/m2. In this way, by correcting the output increase period according to the amount of solar radiation, it is possible to send the vehicle cabin6cool air with a large air volume flow for an optimum period of time if the amount of solar radiation is large, even when an outside air temperature is not so high.

<Operation of Vehicular Air Conditioning System>

UsingFIGS.8and9, a description will be given of an operation flow of the vehicular air conditioning system10during cooling.

In Step S11, the processor41checks whether the user gets into the vehicle5and the pre-air conditioning ends. When the pre-air conditioning ends, the process proceeds to Step S12. In Step S12, the processor acquires an outside air temperature from the outside air temperature sensor11, and checks whether the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the first predetermined temperature T1. When the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the first predetermined temperature T1, the process proceeds to Step S13.

In Step S13, the processor determines the amount of output to be increased, and the output increase period, according to the outside air temperature. In Step S14, the processor acquires the amount of solar radiation from the solar radiation sensor12, and corrects the output increase period determined in Step S13according to the amount of solar radiation.

In Step S15, the processor air conditions the vehicle cabin6by actuating the air conditioner20and the seat ventilator31with an output to which the amount of output to be increased has been added. The output of the seat ventilator31may be set at the maximum level. In Step S16, when the output increase period elapses after the pre-air conditioning ends, the processor transitions to normal air conditioning control. The output of the seat ventilator31may be reduced in a stepwise fashion.

UsingFIGS.10and11, a description will be given of an operation flow of the vehicular air conditioning system10during heating.

In Step S21, the processor41checks whether the user gets into the vehicle5and the pre-air conditioning ends. When the pre-air conditioning ends, the process proceeds to Step S22. In Step S22, the processor acquires an outside air temperature from the outside air temperature sensor11, and checks whether the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the second predetermined temperature T2. When the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the second predetermined temperature T2, the process proceeds to Step S23.

In Step S23, the processor determines the amount of output to be increased and the output increase period according to the outside air temperature. In Step S24, the processor air conditions the vehicle cabin6by actuating the air conditioner20, the seat heater32, the steering wheel heater33, and the radiation heater34, with an air conditioning output to which the amount of output to be increased has been added. The outputs of the seat heater32, the steering wheel heater33, and the radiation heater34may be set at the maximum level. In Step S25, when the output increase period elapses after the pre-air conditioning ends, the processor transitions to normal air conditioning control. The outputs of the seat heater32, the steering wheel heater33, and the radiation heater34may be reduced in a stepwise fashion.

Note that this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and the variations thereof, and needless to say, various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the contents of the claims of this application.