Air conditioner system with defrost door modulation as a function of ambient temperature

• US 5,156,204 A
• Filed: 07/10/1990
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Doi, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/550,192
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 165/16, 165/25, 165/42, 165/43, 165/17, 165/22, 237/2 A, 237/12.3 A, 237/12.3 B, 62/244, 236/13, 236/49, 98/2.01, 98/2.08, 98/2.09, 454/127
• US Class Current: 165/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00842 the system comprising a plurality of damper doors; Air distribution between several outlets
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor

Abstract

The operation mode of an air conditioner system is automatically controlled between VENT mode, BI-LEVEL mode, HEAT mode and so forth according to environmental conditions. The air conditioner system includes a control unit for operation mode selection. In HEAT mode, the control unit adjusts ratio of the conditioning air discharged from a defroster nozzle to that from a foot nozzle according to environmental conditions or on the basis of a required discharge air temperature necessary to obtain a desired air temperature in the vehicular cabin. The air conditioner system also includes a sensor for monitoring a preselected air conditioner control parameter for producing a sensor signal. The control unit calculates the required discharge air temperature on the basis of the monitored parameter.

Claims

1. An air conditioner system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

air passage means defining an air path and including first and second air outlets which open into a vehicular cabin for discharging conditioned air into said vehicular cabin, said first air outlet being directed to a windshield for discharging conditioned air directly thereto, and said second air outlet being directed to a lower portion of said vehicular cabin for discharging conditioned air toward said lower portion;

air conditioning means, disposed within said air passage means, said air conditioning means including a cooling air unit for cooling air flowing through said air passage means and a heating unit for heating air flowing through said air passage means, said cooling and heating units being cooperative for generating conditioned air of a desired temperature to be discharged into said vehicular cabin;

a first door, associated with said first air outlet, operable between a closed position inwhich said first door fully closes said first air outlet in a first operation mode of said air conditioner system and an open position in which said first door fully opens said first air outlet in a second operation mode of said air conditioner system, said first door being positioned at an intermediate position between said open and closed positions in a third operation mode of said air conditioner system and being positioned at said open position in a fourth operation mode of said air conditioner system;

a second door, associated with said second air outlet, oeprable between a closed position in which said second door fully closes said second air outlet in said second operation mode and an open position in which said second door fully opens said second air outlet ins aid first operation mode, said second door being positioned at said open position in said third and fourth operation modes;

actuator means for driving said first and second doors for varying opening angles of said first and second doors between said closed positions and open positions; and

control means for selecting one of said operation modes, associated with said actuator means, for adjusting the proportion of said conditioned air discharged from said first air outlet and that from said second air outlet, said control means selecting one of said third and fourth operation modes depending upon ambient air temperature.