JP3319328B2 - Vehicle air conditioning controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle air-conditioning control device for controlling the air-conditioning of a vehicle such as an automobile using a solar radiation detecting means (a so-called biased solar radiation sensor) comprising two solar radiation detecting light-receiving elements. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, air conditioners (air conditioners, hereinafter referred to as air conditioners) provided in vehicles such as automobiles.
In recent years, a so-called automatic air conditioner that performs automatic control based on indoor and outdoor temperatures, the amount of solar radiation, and the like has become widespread. 2. Description of the Related Art In an auto air conditioner for a vehicle such as an automobile, a technology for detecting a solar azimuth and a solar irradiance based on a solar irradiance sensor and controlling distribution of air flow between left and right based on such information is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-5-85145, No. 6-80014.

On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-254330, an absolute solar azimuth and an altitude of solar radiation are obtained from a current position and a current time of a vehicle, and a relative solar radiation with respect to the vehicle is obtained from these and the traveling direction of the vehicle. Techniques for finding the azimuth have been developed. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-151521, a technique has been developed in which the state of solar radiation to the occupant is determined based on the amount of solar radiation to the vehicle and the altitude of solar radiation, and the air conditioner outlet is properly used. .

In order to detect the amount of solar radiation, a solar radiation sensor using a light receiving element is used. As such a solar radiation sensor, a pair of right and left light receiving elements is used, and the output ratio of these light receiving elements (detected solar radiation). A solar radiation amount detecting means (so-called uneven solar radiation sensor) has been developed in which the direction of solar radiation is determined from the ratio of the amount of solar radiation. For example, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing this polarized solar radiation sensor, in which (A) is a plan view thereof, and (B) is a side view thereof (a diagram corresponding to a cross section taken along the line AA in (A)). Show. In the polarized solar radiation sensor 10, a left light receiving element 12 and a right light receiving element 13 are disposed symmetrically at the bottom in a case 11, and above the left light receiving element 12 and the right light receiving element 13 in the case 11, A shielding plate 14 for blocking solar radiation is provided, and light reaches the left light receiving element 12 and the right light receiving element 13 through a window 15 formed in the shielding plate 14.

For example, in FIGS. 13 (A) and 13 (B), when there is solar radiation from above the left side (left light receiving element 12 side), the right light receiving element 13 reacts more strongly than the left light receiving element 12, and conversely,
When there is solar radiation from above the right side (right light receiving element 13 side), the left light receiving element 12 reacts more strongly than the right light receiving element 13.
From such a characteristic, the deviation of the solar radiation, that is, the direction of the solar radiation, is determined by the output ratio of the output Rch of the right light receiving element 13 to the output Lch of the left light receiving element 12 (= Rch / Lch).
To the left or right and how much it is tilted.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned uneven solar radiation sensor, since the sensor output is two channels,
The solar azimuth, solar altitude, and solar intensity cannot be obtained independently. Of course, if a large number of light receiving elements are combined, it is considered that the solar azimuth, solar irradiance, and solar irradiance can be independently detected, but this would increase the cost extremely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and uses a single polarized solar radiation sensor (infrared radiation detecting means comprising two light receiving elements for detecting the amount of solar radiation) at a low cost to provide an insolation direction and an insolation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle air-conditioning control device capable of independently detecting altitude and solar radiation intensity and appropriately performing air-conditioning control of a vehicle such as a vehicle at a low cost. I do.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle air-conditioning control apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, which includes an air-conditioning apparatus mounted on a vehicle and two solar radiation detection units installed in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle. Insolation detecting means comprising a light receiving element for use, insolation altitude calculating means for calculating the insolation altitude in the traveling area of the vehicle from time information, left-right output ratio of the insolation amount detected by the insolation amount detecting means and the insolation altitude A solar azimuth calculating means for calculating a solar azimuth from the solar altitude calculated by the calculating means, and a control means for controlling the air conditioner based on the solar azimuth from the solar azimuth calculating means, I have.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle air-conditioning control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. The vehicle air-conditioning control device controls air-conditioning (particularly, cooling) in a vehicle cabin, as shown in FIG.
An air control unit (hereinafter, air control is abbreviated as an air conditioner) 20, a front air conditioner unit 30 as an air conditioner for air conditioning the front seat side, and a rear air conditioner unit 40 as an air conditioner for air conditioning the rear seat side.
And various sensors 51 to 54.

Various sensors include a front polarized solar radiation sensor (2ch solar radiation sensor F) 51 installed at the front of the vehicle interior and a rear polarized solar radiation sensor (2ch solar radiation sensor) installed at the rear of the vehicle interior. R) 52, a timer (clock) 53 for detecting the current date and time, and a current position detecting means 54 for detecting the current position (latitude / longitude) of the vehicle. The front polarized solar radiation sensor 51 and the rear polarized solar radiation sensor 52 are constituted by the above-described polarized solar radiation sensor 10 as shown in FIG.

The control unit 20 has a solar radiation altitude calculating means 21, a solar radiation azimuth calculating means 22, and a control means (air conditioning control means) 23. The solar radiation altitude calculating means 21 calculates the solar radiation altitude to the vehicle from the current date and time detected by the timer 53 and the current position (latitude / longitude) of the vehicle detected by the current position detecting means 54. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the solar radiation altitude changes during the year (see the annual change curve at noon), and changes during the day (4 /
26). That is, if the date and time are known, the solar radiation altitude can be obtained in accordance with the date and time. Here, a map (not shown) (a date / time-solar altitude correspondence map)
Is used to calculate the solar radiation altitude according to the date and time from the timer 53.

The solar azimuth calculating means 22 includes solar irradiance detecting means, that is, solar irradiance information detected by the front solar irradiance sensor 51 and the rear solar irradiance sensor 52, and the solar irradiance calculated by the solar altitude calculating means 21. Then, the solar azimuth (the relative azimuth with respect to the vehicle) is calculated. Unbalanced solar radiation sensor 5 for front
1 or the rear sunshine sensor 52 includes, for example, a left light receiving element 12 and a right light receiving element 13 as shown in FIG.
, And the solar radiation azimuth calculating means 22 calculates an output ratio (= Rch / Lch) between the output Rch of the right light receiving element 13 and the output Lch of the left light receiving element 12. Then, the solar azimuth is calculated from the output ratio and the solar altitude at this time.

Here, the solar azimuth is calculated using a map as shown in FIG. The map shown in FIG. 3 is obtained by associating the solar azimuth with respect to the output ratio (vertical axis) for each solar altitude, and the solar azimuth can be obtained from the output ratio and the solar altitude. When the solar altitude interval is set to be large in this map, the solar azimuth may be obtained by using an interpolation method.

That is, as shown in FIG.
For example, if the solar radiation altitude θ ° is between the solar radiation altitudes of 60 ° and 90 at the output ratio R1 when the mapping is performed at degrees, 60 °, and 90 °, the solar radiation direction A2 at the output ratio R1 and the solar altitude of 60 ° is obtained. From the output ratio R1, the solar radiation direction A1 at the solar altitude of 90 °, the output ratio R1, the solar altitude θ
The solar azimuth AX in ° can be obtained.

AX = [(θ−60) A1 + (90−θ)
A2] / (90-60) Such interpolation is a simple linear interpolation, and the interpolation method is not limited to this. In addition, if a map in which the intervals between the solar radiation heights are set finely is created, the solar radiation direction can be calculated without using such an interpolation method.

The control means 23 includes a solar radiation direction calculating means 22
Based on the solar azimuth calculated by the above, the solar irradiance detected by the solar irradiance sensor 51, the solar irradiance detected by the rear solar irradiance sensor 52, and the solar irradiance calculated by the solar irradiance calculator. The air conditioner, that is, the front air conditioner unit 30 and the rear air conditioner unit 40 are controlled.

The control of the front air conditioner unit 30 and the rear air conditioner unit 40 includes wind speed control (air volume control) and wind direction control. The wind speed control is performed by adjusting the rotation speed of a blower fan. This is done by changing the direction of the louver provided in the mouth. The wind speed control is performed based on the solar azimuth and the solar radiation amount, and the wind direction control is performed based on the solar irradiance.

That is, at the front seat side, the solar radiation azimuth calculating means 2
Azimuth direction calculated in step 2 and front insolation sensor 51
On the rear seat side, based on the solar radiation amount detected by the solar radiation direction calculated by the solar radiation direction calculating means 22 and the solar radiation amount detected by the rear polarized solar radiation sensor 52,
The greater the amount of solar radiation, the faster the wind speed (increases the air volume), and the faster the wind speed on the side that is directly exposed to the solar radiation (for example, one or both of the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side) depending on the solar radiation direction (increases the wind volume). Control.

The wind direction is controlled as follows. First, the duct system of the front air conditioner unit 30 and the rear air conditioner unit 40 is shown in FIGS.
It is configured as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG.
Is a front right side outlet, 62 is a front right outlet wind direction adjusting motor, 63 is a front right center outlet, 64
Is a front left center outlet, 65 is a front left outlet wind direction adjusting motor, and 66 is a front left side outlet. 67 is a heater, 68 is a cooler, and 69 is a front blower.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 70 denotes a rear ceiling right outlet, 71 denotes a rear ceiling right outlet air direction adjusting motor,
Is a rear shelf right outlet, 73 is a rear shelf right outlet wind direction adjusting motor, 74 is a rear shelf left outlet, 75
Denotes a motor for adjusting the wind direction of the left air outlet of the rear shelf, 76 denotes a left air outlet of the rear ceiling, and 77 denotes a motor for adjusting the air direction of the left air outlet of the rear ceiling. Reference numeral 78 denotes a ceiling-shelf blowout switching damper, 79 denotes a cooler, and 80 denotes a rear blower.

The wind speed (air volume) is controlled by a front blower 69.
And the speed of the rear blower 80 is adjusted.
The direction of movable louvers (horizontal fins or vertical fins) provided in the front side outlets 61 and 66 and the front center outlets 63 and 64, or the rear ceiling outlets 70 and 76 and the rear shelf outlets 72 and 74 is controlled. It is supposed to do that.

For example, as for the front right outlets 61 and 63, as shown in FIG. 6 (front right side outlet is shown at the center, front right center outlet is only partially shown), movable louvers (horizontal fins) A plurality of 81 and 82 may be provided vertically. Thus, by moving the horizontal fins 81 and 82, the direction of the wind blown out from the outlets 61 and 63 can be directed upward or downward.

In order to drive these horizontal fins 81 and 82, a motor 62 is provided.
1, between each horizontal fin 81, a link rod 83,
84, 85 are interposed, and link rods 83, 84, 8 are provided between the motor 62 and the horizontal fins 82 of the outlet 63.
6 are interposed and convert the rotation of the motor 62 into swinging of the horizontal fins 81 and 82, respectively.

The link rod 84 is connected to the motor 62.
Link rod 8 on the side of each horizontal fin 81, 82 with the driving force of
Sliding clutches 87,88 capable of blocking transmission to 5,86
Is interposed. When the direction of the horizontal fins 81, 82 is manually changed through the operation knob 89, the slip clutches 87, 88 are slipped to facilitate the manual operation. The driving force of 62 is transmitted to the link rods 85 and 86 on the horizontal fins 81 and 82 side.

As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of vertical fins 91 may be provided as movable louvers in place of the horizontal fins, as shown in FIG. By moving these vertical fins 91, the outlet 7
The direction of the blowing wind from 6 can be turned to the left or right. In order to drive these vertical fins 91, a motor 77 is provided, and a rod 92 and an interlocking mechanism (not shown) are interposed between the motor 77 and each of the vertical fins 91 of the air outlet 76. Is converted into the swing of the vertical fin 91.

The rod 92 is provided with a slip clutch 93 which can interrupt the transmission of the driving force of the motor 77 to the vertical fin 91 side, and manually changes the direction of the vertical fin 91 through the operation knob 94. If this is attempted, the slip clutch 93 slips to facilitate this manual operation. Of course, the driving force of the motor 77 is transmitted to each vertical fin 91 unless the manual operation is applied.

Movable louvers (fins) for wind direction control
Are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and each front side outlet, each rear ceiling outlet, and the rear shelf outlet are also provided as appropriate as horizontal fins or vertical fins, and are driven by corresponding motors. It is like this. In the vehicle air-conditioning control device, such a movable louver (here, a horizontal fin) is driven according to the solar radiation altitude. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the higher the solar radiation altitude, the lower the wind direction is controlled,
The lower the solar altitude, the more the wind direction is controlled.

As a result, in the front seat, FIG.
As shown in the figure, when the solar radiation altitude is low and the solar radiation hits the upper part of the occupant (for example, the face), the wind direction is upward, so the cooling wind hits the upper part of the occupant (the face), and the upper part of the occupant (the face) As shown in FIG. 9 (B), when the solar radiation altitude is high and the solar radiation hits the lower part of the occupant (for example, the chest) as shown in FIG. Cooling air hits the lower part of the occupant (chest)
The heat has been reduced.

Also, in the rear seat, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the solar radiation altitude is low and the solar radiation hits the upper part of the occupant (for example, the side of the face), the wind direction is upward. Therefore, cooling air hits the upper part (face side) of the occupant,
The heat in the upper part (face side) of the occupant is alleviated, and FIG.
As shown in (B), when the solar radiation altitude is high and the solar radiation hits the lower part of the occupant (for example, the side of the chest), the wind direction is downward, so that the lower part of the occupant (the side of the chest) is placed. The cooling air blows, and the heat on the lower part of the occupant (side of the chest) is reduced.

Since such wind direction control is required when the amount of solar radiation is large to some extent, it is preferable to perform the control when the amount of solar radiation is larger than a certain value. Since the vehicle air-conditioning control device according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, the control unit 20 uses the timer 5
From the current date and time detected in step 3 and the current position (latitude / longitude) of the vehicle detected by the current position detection means 54, the altitude of solar radiation to the vehicle is calculated.

The solar azimuth calculating means 22 calculates the solar azimuth (relative azimuth with respect to the vehicle) from the solar irradiance information detected by the partial solar irradiance sensors 51 and 52 and the solar irradiance calculated by the solar irradiance calculating means 21. I do. At this time, the output R of the right light receiving element 13 from the polarized solar radiation sensor 51 or 52
and the output ratio of the output Lch of the left light receiving element 12 (= Rch / L
ch) is calculated, and from the output ratio and the solar altitude at this time, the solar azimuth is calculated using a map as shown in FIG. At this time, an interpolation method may be used.

The control means 23 controls the solar azimuth calculated by the solar azimuth calculating means 22, the amount of solar radiation detected by the front polarized solar radiation sensor 51 and the rear polarized solar radiation sensor 52,
Based on the solar altitude calculated by the solar altitude calculator, the air conditioner, that is, the front air conditioner unit 30 and the rear air conditioner unit 40 are controlled. In other words, on the front seat side, the solar azimuth is calculated by the solar azimuth calculating means 22 on the rear seat side based on the solar azimuth calculated by the solar azimuth calculating means 22 and the solar irradiance detected by the front uneven solar radiation sensor 51. Based on the solar azimuth and the solar irradiance detected by the rear partial solar irradiance sensor 52, the larger the amount of solar irradiance, the more direct the solar irradiance depends on the solar azimuth (for example, either the driver's seat side or the passenger's seat side). (Or both) so as to increase the wind speed (increase the air volume).

The wind direction control is performed, for example, as shown in FIG. First, after detecting the amount of solar radiation (step S10), it is determined whether or not the amount of solar radiation is greater than a threshold value (step S20). If the amount of solar radiation is not greater than the threshold value, the wind direction control is not performed. If the solar radiation amount is larger than the threshold value, the solar radiation altitude determination (step S30) and the solar radiation direction determination (step S40) are performed to determine whether the solar radiation direction is forward (step S50). If the solar radiation direction is forward, The wind direction adjusting motor on the front seat side is controlled according to the solar radiation altitude (step S60).

If the azimuth is not forward, it is determined whether or not the azimuth is lateral (step S70). If the azimuth is lateral, each wind direction adjusting motor on the front seat side and the rear seat side is set to the altitude. (Step S80). Step S7
If 0 and the solar azimuth is not lateral, the solar azimuth is rearward, and each wind direction adjusting motor on the rear seat side is controlled according to the solar irradiance (step S90).

Then, other air conditioners are controlled (step S100). In this way, by appropriately controlling the front seat side and the rear seat side, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a necessary portion (that is, a portion where the occupant in the seat where the solar radiation is strongly exposed, strongly receives the sunlight). There is an advantage that cooling can be performed, efficient air conditioning can be performed, and comfort in the vehicle can be improved.

In the case of a vertical fin as shown in FIG. 7, the wind direction can be controlled according to the azimuth of sunlight. For example, the outlets 72, 7 of the rear shelf as shown in FIG.
In the case of No. 4, as shown in FIG. 12, the vertical adjustment of the wind direction (see the solid arrow and the chain arrow) also has some effect,
By providing a vertical fin as shown in FIG. 7 and controlling the wind direction to the left or right in accordance with the solar radiation direction, there is an advantage that more appropriate cooling air can be supplied.

Of course, with respect to the rear ceiling, more appropriate cooling air can be supplied by driving the vertical fins as shown in FIG. Further, in the present embodiment, the vehicle is based on the current position (latitude, longitude) of the vehicle. However, if the use area of the vehicle is limited, the current position information of the vehicle is not considered, and
The solar azimuth can be obtained.

In addition, an uneven solar radiation sensor (2ch solar radiation sensor)
Are provided at the front and the rear, respectively, but at least one of the solar radiation sensors (2ch solar radiation sensor) may be provided to calculate the solar radiation azimuth. Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the vehicle is always in a horizontal state. However, when strictly considering the case where the vehicle is inclined, the vehicle is equipped with a front and rear inclinometer and a left and right inclinometer, and It is necessary to correct the solar azimuth and altitude based on the inclinometer information.

[0039]

As described above in detail, according to the vehicle air-conditioning control device of the present invention, the amount of solar radiation is detected by each of the solar radiation detecting light receiving elements of the solar radiation detecting means, and the solar radiation altitude is detected. The solar radiation altitude in the traveling area of the vehicle is calculated from the time information by the calculating means, and the solar radiation azimuth is calculated by the solar radiation azimuth calculating means from the solar radiation amount detected by the solar radiation amount detecting means and the solar radiation altitude calculated by the solar radiation altitude calculating means. Then, the air conditioner is controlled by the control means based on the solar azimuth from the solar azimuth calculating means, the solar irradiance from the solar irradiance detecting means, or the solar irradiance from the solar irradiance calculating means. In addition, the air conditioning control can be appropriately performed at low cost while detecting the solar azimuth, the amount of solar radiation, or the height of the solar radiation necessary for the air conditioning control.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a vehicle air-conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating calculation of solar radiation altitude in the vehicle air-conditioning control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating calculation of a solar radiation direction in the vehicle air-conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a front seat air conditioning duct according to a vehicle air conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a rear seat air conditioning duct according to the vehicle air conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view schematically showing a louver drive system of a front-seat outlet according to the vehicle air-conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view schematically illustrating a louver drive system of a rear-seat outlet according to the vehicle air-conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph schematically showing characteristics of wind direction control (louver control) according to the vehicle air conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vehicle side view schematically showing wind direction control (louver control) at the front seat according to the vehicle air-conditioning control apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. , (B) shows the case where the solar radiation altitude is high.

FIG. 10 is a vehicle side view schematically showing wind direction control (louver control) at a rear seat according to the vehicle air conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. , (B) shows the case where the solar radiation altitude is high.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating air conditioning control by a vehicle air conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a vehicle side view schematically illustrating a modified example of wind direction control (louver control) at a rear seat according to the vehicle air conditioning control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a localized solar radiation sensor (solar radiation amount detecting means including two light receiving elements for detecting the amount of solar radiation);
(A) is a plan view, (B) is a side view view (AA of (A)
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 20 air control unit (control unit) 21 solar radiation altitude calculating means 22 solar radiation azimuth calculating means 23 control means (air conditioning control means) 30 front air conditioner unit (air conditioner) 40 rear air conditioner unit (air conditioner) 51 front as solar radiation detecting means Polarized solar radiation sensor 52 rear polarized solar radiation sensor as solar radiation amount detecting means 53 timer (clock) 54 current position detecting means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-254330 (JP, A) JP-A-4-356212 (JP, A) JP-A-2-151521 (JP, A) JP-A-58-58 49508 (JP, A) JP-A-5-85145 (JP, A) JP-A-7-43145 (JP, A) JP-A-4-29408 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60H 1/00-1/34

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An air conditioner mounted on a vehicle, an insolation detecting means including two insolation detecting light receiving elements installed in a vehicle cabin of the vehicle, and an insolation altitude in a traveling area of the vehicle from time information. Solar radiation altitude calculation means for calculating the solar radiation amount detected by the solar radiation amount detection means, and the solar radiation altitude calculated by the solar radiation altitude calculation means, the solar radiation azimuth calculation means, An air-conditioning control device for a vehicle, comprising: control means for controlling the air conditioner based on the solar radiation direction from the solar radiation direction calculation means.