Air conditioner for a vehicle having infrared ray sensor

• US 6,202,934 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ichishi, Yoshinori, Ando, Hiroshi, Kawai, Takayoshi, Nishii, Katsuyoshi, Kamiya, Toshifumi, Kajino, Yuichi, Ohga, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/652,546
• Time in Patent Office: 201 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/91.C, 236/91.F, 236/51, 236/91.E, 454/75, 621/86, 622/03, 622/08, 622/09, 622/44, 165/202, 165/203, 165/204, 165/288, 165/291
• US Class Current: 236/91.00C
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00735 Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors

Abstract

An air conditioner for a vehicle which accurately estimates a thermal load to enhance inside temperature controllability. The air conditioner comprises a first surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an internal surface region of a vehicle compartment which varies with a temperature of an external surface of a vehicle, and a second surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a surface region which varies with an intensity of solar radiation intruding into the vehicle compartment. A target blowout air temperature is calculated using input signals including surface temperature signals detected by these sensors. Thus, intrusion heat (thermal load) due to a difference between an inside air temperature and a compartment internal surface temperature can be directly estimated to enable accurate thermal load calculation. Further, intrusion heat (thermal load) due to solar radiation into the vehicle compartment can be estimated using a temperature of an internal surface region which varies with solar radiation, thereby making it possible to carry out thermal load calculation with high accuracy.

Claims

1. An air conditioner for a vehicle having a heat exchanger in an air duct for performing heat exchange with air and temperature regulator means for adjusting airflow temperature of air from the air duct entering a vehicle compartment, the air conditioner arranged to control the temperature regulator means so that a temperature of blowout air from the air duct is regulated to a target blowout air temperature, the air conditioner comprising:

temperature setting means for setting a temperature of inside air desired by a vehicle occupant;

an inside air temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of inside air;

a first surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an internal surface region of the vehicle compartment which varies with a temperature of an external surface of the vehicle; and

a second surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a surface region which varies with an intensity of solar radiation intruding into the vehicle compartment;

wherein the target blowout air temperature is calculated using input signals including a set temperature signal of the temperature setting means, an inside air temperature signal of the inside air temperature sensor, a first surface temperature signal of the first surface temperature sensor, and a second surface temperature signal of the second surface temperature sensor.

2. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

the first surface temperature sensor detects a temperature of an internal surface of window glass.

3. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

the second surface temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of clothing of the vehicle occupant.

4. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of the surface temperature sensors are arranged on a single substrate at one location in the vehicle compartment.

5. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of the surface temperature sensors are separately disposed at a plurality of locations in the vehicle compartment.

6. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

an output value of each of the surface temperature signals is multiplied by a coefficient which is set for each respective surface temperature signal, the target blowout air temperature being calculated by using a result of multiplication; and

wherein the coefficient is set according to at least one a number of factors, the factors including a compartment internal surface temperature, occupant surface temperature, occupant sensed temperature preference, occupant'"'"'s physique, and air-conditioning load.

7. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 6, wherein:

some of the coefficients set for the surface temperature signals are changed according to the other coefficients.

8. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 6, wherein:

the coefficients set for at least some of the surface temperature signals are set to have a value different from the coefficient values for remaining surface temperature signals.

9. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

at least a temperature detection direction or a temperature detection visual-field range is variable for each of the surface temperature sensors.

10. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of the first surface temperature sensors and a plurality of the second surface temperature sensors are provided; and

output values of the first surface temperature sensors are averaged, output values of the second surface temperature sensors are averaged, and the target blowout air temperature is calculated using the average values of the first surface temperature sensors and the average values of the second surface temperature sensors.

11. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

an output value is compensated at a predetermined compensation ratio when the output value from each of the surface temperature signals varies thereby decreasing variation of the output value, the target blowout air temperature is calculated using the compensated output value; and

the compensation ratio is changed according to at least an occupant'"'"'s sensed temperature preference, occupant'"'"'s physique, and air-conditioning load.

12. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 11, wherein:

the compensation ratios set for some of the surface temperature signals are set with a value different than compensation ratio values for remaining surface temperature signals.

13. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 11, wherein:

the compensation ratios can be set independently for a plurality of the surface temperature sensors.

14. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

each of the surface temperature signals is output with a predetermined time delay, the target blowout air temperature being calculated with the delayed output; and

the delay time is changed according to at least occupant'"'"'s sensed temperature preference, occupant'"'"'s physique, or air-conditioning load.

15. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 14, wherein:

time delay periods set for at least some of the surface temperature signals are set with a different value than delay time periods for the remaining surface temperature signals.

16. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

at least a temperature detection direction and a temperature detection visual-field range of each of the surface temperature sensors is set according to at least occupant'"'"'s sensed temperature preference, occupant'"'"'s physique, or air-conditioning load.

17. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 6, wherein:

the air-conditioning load includes at least outside air temperature, inside air temperature, solar radiation intensity, engine cooling water temperature, evaporator outlet temperature, vehicle speed, humidity, or seat temperature.

18. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 17, wherein:

a temperature detection visual-field range, a temperature detection point and a sampling count of each the surface temperature sensor can be set up independently in a plurality of the surface temperature sensors.

19. An air conditioner for a vehicle having a heat exchanger in an air duct for performing heat exchange with air and temperature regulator means for adjusting airflow temperature of air from the air duct entering a vehicle compartment, the air conditioner controlling the temperature regulator means so that a temperature of blowout air from the air duct is regulated to a target blowout air temperature, the air conditioner comprising:

temperature setting means for setting a temperature of inside air desired by a vehicle occupant;

an inside air temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of inside air;

a first surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an internal surface region of the vehicle compartment which varies with a temperature of an external surface of the vehicle; and

a second surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a surface of the vehicle occupant;

wherein the target blowout air temperature is calculated using input signals including a set temperature signal of the temperature setting means, an inside air temperature signal of by the inside air temperature sensor, a first surface temperature signal of the first surface temperature sensor, and a second surface temperature signal of the second surface temperature sensor.

20. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 19, wherein:

the second surface temperature sensor detects surface temperature of at least one of clothing and skin of the vehicle occupant.

21. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 19, wherein:

the second surface temperature sensor is constructed with a plurality of surface temperature sensing parts for detecting temperature of a plurality of divided areas, respectively; and

an air-conditioning control amount is differentiated between a specified area of the divided areas where a temperature change therein is more than a predetermined reference and other areas of the divided areas.

22. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 21, wherein:

the air-conditioning control amount is differentiated by controlling at least one of direction, amount and temperature of air blown out into the vehicle compartment.

23. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 19, further comprising:

a solar radiation sensor for detecting solar radiation,

wherein, when the solar radiation is detected by the solar radiation sensor, the solar radiation is determined whether it is direct based on the first surface temperature signal and the second surface temperature signal and an air-conditioning control amount is differentiated between cases of direct solar radiation and indirect solar radiation.

24. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 23, wherein:

the air-conditioning control amount is differentiated by controlling at least one of temperature and amount of air blown out into the vehicle compartment.

25. An air conditioner for a vehicle having a heat exchanger in an air duct for performing heat exchange with air and temperature regulator means for adjusting airflow temperature of air from the air duct entering a vehicle compartment, the air conditioner arranged to control the temperature regulator means so that a temperature of blowout air from the air duct is regulated to a target blowout air temperature, the air conditioner comprising:

temperature setting means for setting a temperature of inside air desired by a vehicle occupant;

an inside air temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of inside air;

a first surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an internal surface region of the vehicle compartment which varies with a temperature of an external surface of the vehicle;

a second surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of clothing of the vehicle occupant; and

a third surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of skin of the vehicle occupant;

wherein the target blowout air temperature is calculated using input signals including a set temperature signal determined by the temperature setting means, an inside air temperature signal of the inside air temperature sensor, a first surface temperature signal of the first surface temperature sensor, a second surface temperature signal of the second surface temperature sensor, and a third surface temperature signal of the third surface temperature sensor.

26. An air conditioner for a vehicle having a heat exchanger in an air duct for performing heat exchange with air and temperature regulator means for adjusting airflow temperature of air from the air duct entering a vehicle compartment, the air conditioner arranged to control the temperature regulator means so that a temperature of blowout air from the air duct is regulated to a target blowout air temperature, the air conditioner comprising:

temperature setting means for setting an inside air temperature desired by a vehicle occupant;

sensed temperature information detecting means for detecting a physical value related to the sensed temperature of the vehicle occupant; and

a surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a predetermined internal surface region of the vehicle compartment;

wherein the surface temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of an outside-air-temperature-related internal region which varies with an outside temperature and a surface temperature of a solar-radiation-related internal region which varies with an intensity of solar radiation; and

wherein the target blowout air temperature is calculated using input signals including a set temperature signal determined by the temperature setting means, a sensed temperature information signal detected by the sensed temperature information detecting means, and a surface temperature signal of the surface temperature sensor.

27. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 26, wherein:

an output value of each of the surface temperature signals is multiplied by a coefficient, and the target blowout air temperature is calculated using the result of multiplication; and

the coefficient is changed according to the sensed temperature information signal.

28. An air conditioner for a vehicle as in claim 26, wherein:

the sensed temperature information detecting means detects at least one an outside air temperature, solar radiation intensity, or surface temperatures of clothing and skin of the vehicle occupant.

29. An air conditioner for a vehicle having a heat exchanger in an air duct for performing heat exchange with air and temperature regulator means for adjusting airflow temperature of air from the air duct entering a vehicle compartment, the air conditioner arranged to control the temperature regulator means so that a temperature of blowout air from the air duct is regulated to a target blowout air temperature, the air conditioner comprising:

temperature setting means for setting an inside air temperature desired by a vehicle occupant;

a glass surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an internal surface of a window glass;

a ceiling surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an internal wall surface of a vehicle ceiling; and

a clothing part surface temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a clothing part of a vehicle occupant,

wherein the target blowout air temperature is calculated based on a set temperature signal of the temperature setting means, a glass surface temperature signal of the glass surface temperature sensor, a ceiling surface temperature signal of the ceiling surface temperature sensor and a clothing part surface temperature signal of the clothing part surface temperature sensor.