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US 6,659,358 B2Granted
Vehicle air conditioner having surface temperature sensor
AssigneeDenso Corporation
InventorsToshifumi Kamiya, Takayoshi Kawai, Akira Ohga, Yuichi Kajino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The air conditioner includes a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of a clothes portion of a passenger. In the air conditioner, a thermal-feeling estimation value for the passenger is calculated based on the surface temperature of the clothes portion of the passenger, and air-conditioning operation of a passenger compartment is controlled based on the thermal-feeling estimation value. Accordingly, in the air conditioner, the thermal feeling can be always accurately estimated, and comfortable air-conditioning control can be performed using the thermal-feeling estimation value.
Claims52
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- and
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, based on the estimation value of the thermal feeling;
- wherein
- the surface temperature sensor is disposed to detect only the surface temperature of the clothes portion of an upper half body of the passenger.
3 more elements
The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the estimation-value calculating means calculates the estimation value of the thermal feeling by using the clothes temperature signal and vehicle environmental information relative to the thermal feeling of the passenger.
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- and
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, based on the estimation value of the thermal feeling;
- wherein
- the estimation-value calculating means calculates the estimation value of the thermal feeling by using the clothes temperature signal and vehicle environmental information relative to the thermal feeling of the passenger;
- the vehicle environmental information is a solar radiation intensity;
- and
- the estimation value of the thermal feeling is calculated using the following formula:
- Ss=Cclo×(Tir−T)+Cs,
- wherein,
- Ss indicates the estimation value of the thermal feeling;
- Cclo indicates a coefficient corresponding to a clothes amount of the passenger;
- Tir indicates the surface temperature detected by the surface temperature sensor;
- T indicates the surface temperature of the clothes portion in a standard condition;
- and
- Cs indicates a value determined by the solar radiation intensity.
14 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- and
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, in accordance with a difference between the estimated valve of the thermal feeling, and a target value of the thermal feeling that is an estimation value of target thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger, in such a manner that the estimation value of the thermal feeling coincides with the target value of the thermal feeling;
- wherein the surface temperature sensor is disposed to detect only the surface temperature of the clothes portion of an upper half body of the passenger.
2 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- and
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, in accordance with a difference between the estimated valve of the thermal feeling, and a target value of the thermal feeling that is an estimation value of target thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger, in such a manner that the estimation value of the thermal feeling coincides with the target value of the thermal feeling;
- wherein
- the thermal feeling target value is calculated using vehicle environmental information relative to the thermal feeling of the passenger and thermal feeling information determined by preference of the passenger;
- and
- the vehicle environmental information is at least one of a solar radiation intensity, an outside air temperature, a relative humidity and a vehicle speed.
5 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- and
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, in accordance with a difference between the estimated valve of the thermal feeling, and a target value of the thermal feeling that is an estimation value of target thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger, in such a manner that the estimation value of the thermal feeling coincides with the target value of the thermal feeling;
- wherein the thermal feeling target value is changed in accordance with the clothes amount of the passenger.
2 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, in accordance with a difference between the estimation valve of the thermal feeling, and a target value of the thermal feeling that is an estimation value of target thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger, in such a manner that the estimation value of the thermal feeling coincides with the target value of the thermal;
- and
- target temperature calculating means for calculating a target air temperature to be blown into the passenger compartment, by using the following formula:
- TAO=K×(St−Ss)+C,
- wherein,
- TAO indicates the target air temperature;
- K indicates a control coefficient;
- St indicates a target value of the thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger;
- Ss indicates the estimation value of the thermal feeling;
- and
- C indicates a constant.
10 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, in accordance with a difference between the estimation valve of the thermal feeling, and a target value of the thermal feeling that is an estimation value of target thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger, in such a manner that the estimation value of the thermal feeling coincides with the target value of the thermal;
- and
- target temperature calculating means for calculating a target air temperature to be blown into the passenger compartment, by using the following formula:
- TAO=K×(St−Ss)−Kt×F(St−Ss)dt+C,
- wherein,
- TAO indicates the target air temperature;
- K indicates a control coefficient;
- Kt indicates a coefficient of an integral term;
- St indicates a target value of the thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger;
- Ss indicates the estimation value of the thermal feeling;
- and
- C indicates a constant.
11 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, in accordance with a difference between the estimation valve of the thermal feeling, and a target value of the thermal feeling that is an estimation value of target thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger, in such a manner that the estimation value of the thermal feeling coincides with the target value of the thermal;
- and
- target temperature calculating means for calculating a target air temperature to be blown into the passenger compartment, by using the following formula:
- TAO=K×(St−Ss)−Kt×∫(St−Ss)dt−Kd×d(St−Ss)/dt+C,
- wherein,
- TAO indicates the target air temperature;
- K indicates a control coefficient;
- Kt indicates a coefficient of an integral term;
- Kd indicates a coefficient of a differential term;
- St indicates a target value of the thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger;
- Ss indicates the estimation value of the thermal feeling;
- and
- C indicates a constant.
12 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature on a clothes portion of a passenger and for outputting a clothes temperature signal;
- estimation-value calculating means for calculating an estimation value of thermal feeling for a passenger in the passenger compartment, based on the clothes temperature signal;
- and
- a control unit for performing air-conditioning control in the passenger compartment, in accordance with a difference between the estimated valve of the thermal feeling, and a target value of the thermal feeling that is an estimation value of target thermal feeling comfortable for the passenger, in such a manner that the estimation value of the thermal feeling coincides with the target value of the thermal feeling;
- wherein a maximum value of the estimation value of the thermal feeling and a maximum value of the target value of the thermal feeling are respectively restricted to be equal to or lower.
2 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of a passenger in the passenger compartment;
- and
- a mode switching unit being capable of automatically switching one of a first mode where air is blown at least toward an upper side of the passenger, and a second mode where air is blown at least toward a lower side of the passenger while a flow of air blown toward the upper side of the passenger is interrupted, wherein:
- the mode switching unit switches between the first mode and the second mode based on the surface temperature of the passenger detected by the surface temperature sensor;
- when the surface temperature of the passenger is lower than a first predetermined temperature in a warming-up control operation where temperature of air blown into the passenger compartment is increased after heating in the passenger compartment is started, the first mode is selected by the mode switching unit;
- and
- when the surface temperature of the passenger is higher than the first predetermined temperature in the warming-up control operation, the second mode is selected by the mode switching unit.
4 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of a passenger in the passenger compartment;
- and
- a mode switching unit being capable of automatically switching one of a first mode where air is blown at least toward an upper side of the passenger, and a second mode where air is blown at least toward a lower side of the passenger while a flow of air blown toward the upper side of the passenger is interrupted, wherein:
- the mode switching unit switches between the first mode and the second mode based on the surface temperature of the passenger detected by the surface temperature sensor;
- and
- the first mode is a multi-blowing mode where air is blown into the passenger compartment from a face air outlet toward the upper side of the passenger, is blown from a foot air outlet toward the lower side of the passenger, and is blown from a defroster air outlet toward an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, at the same time.
3 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a first mode switching unit for switching one of a plurality of modes in accordance with an air-conditioning condition, the plurality of modes at least including a first mode where air is blown at least toward an upper side of a passenger in the passenger compartment, and a second mode where air is blown at least toward a lower side of the passenger while a flow of air blown toward the upper side of the passenger is interrupted;
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of the passenger in the passenger compartment;
- and
- a second mode switching unit for switching one of the first mode and the second mode in accordance with the surface temperature of the passenger detected by the surface temperature sensor, wherein:
- the first mode switching unit switches one of the plurality of modes in an air-conditioning stationary operation;
- and
- the second mode switching unit switches one of the first mode and the second mode in a warming-up control operation where temperature of air is increased after heating in a passenger compartment is started.
4 more elements
An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- calculation means for calculating a target air temperature to be blown into the passenger compartment;
- a first mode switching unit for switching one of a plurality of modes in accordance with the target air temperature, the plurality of modes at least including a first mode where air is blown at least toward an upper side of a passenger in the passenger compartment, and a second mode where air is blown at least toward a lower side of the passenger while a flow of air blown toward the upper side of the passenger is interrupted;
- a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of the passenger in the passenger compartment;
- a second mode switching unit for switching one of the first mode and the second mode in accordance with the surface temperature of the passenger, detected by the surface temperature sensor;
- and
- determination means for determining a warming-up control operation in which temperature of air blown into the passenger compartment is increased after heating in the passenger compartment is started, wherein:
- when the warming-up control operation is determined by the determination unit, the first mode and the second mode are switched by the second mode switching unit based on the surface temperature of the passenger;
- and
- when an air-conditioning stationary operation is determined by the determination unit, the plurality of modes
- are switched by the first mode switching unit based on the target air it temperature.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.