JP3928247B2 - Vehicle seat air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat air conditioner that supplies conditioned air to a seat.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a prior art, there is an “air conditioning sheet for a vehicle” described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-164552. This device improves the comfort of the occupant seated on the seat by blowing the air from the air-permeable seat when the air temperature-controlled by the front air conditioning unit is sent to the air chamber in the seat through the seat air duct. It is.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described prior art, if the seat temperature becomes too high by constantly sending warm air to the seat during heating, the passenger is too hot and uncomfortable. Further, during cooling, if the room temperature decreases from the cool-down and becomes a steady state where it becomes stable, the cool air blown from the seat becomes too cold for the passengers and becomes uncomfortable. As a countermeasure against this, a method is conceivable in which a temperature sensor is installed in the seat and air flow to the seat is controlled according to the temperature in the seat. However, in this method, a new temperature sensor is used, resulting in a high cost and a problem that the seating comfort of the seat is impaired by incorporating the temperature sensor in the seat.
The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat air conditioner that can control the seat temperature and prevent passenger discomfort without using a temperature sensor (at a low cost). Is to provide.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(Means of Claim 1)
The vehicle seat air conditioner according to the present invention includes a blower stopping unit that can stop the blowing of air to the seat, and a control unit that controls the blower stopping unit, and the control unit reduces the thermal load in the vehicle compartment to a predetermined value. At the same time, after the air supply to the sheet is temporarily stopped by the air supply stop unit, the air supply to the sheet is started by releasing the air supply stop by the air supply stop unit after a predetermined air supply stop time has elapsed. The stop time and the re-blowing time after the start of blowing are corrected according to the heat load in the passenger compartment .
As a result, for example, in the case of heating operation, the heat load decreases as the passenger compartment temperature rises. Therefore, when the heat load decreases to some extent ( when it decreases to a predetermined value), the air blowing stop means causes the seat to By stopping the air flow to the sheet, an increase in the sheet temperature can be suppressed . As a result, it is possible to prevent the occupant from feeling uncomfortable due to an excessive increase in the seat temperature.
In the cooling operation, since the heat load decreases as the passenger compartment temperature decreases, when the heat load decreases to some extent ( when it decreases to a predetermined value), the air blowing stop means applies the air to the seat. By stopping the blowing, a decrease in the sheet temperature can be suppressed . As a result, it is possible to prevent the occupant from feeling uncomfortable because the seat temperature is too low.
Furthermore, the rate of decrease in the seat temperature during cooling and the rate of increase in the seat temperature during heating differ depending on the thermal load in the passenger compartment. By correcting the sheet temperature, the sheet temperature can be controlled in accordance with the change in the heat load.
[0005]
(Means of Claim 2)
The blower stopping means is a blower that generates an air flow toward the seat in the blower duct for the seat. In this case, the blowing to the sheet can be stopped by stopping the operation of the blower, and the sheet can be blown by starting the operation of the blower.
[0006]
(Means of claim 3)
The air blowing stop means is an open / close door that is arranged in the air blowing duct for the seat and can open and close the air blowing passage to the seat. In this case, the blowing to the seat can be stopped by closing the blowing passage to the seat with the opening / closing door. In addition, it is possible to blow air to the seat by opening the air passage to the seat by the opening / closing door.
[0008]
(Means of claim 4 )
The heat load in the passenger compartment can be determined from at least one of a blower signal of the vehicle air conditioner, a passenger compartment temperature signal, a target outlet temperature signal, an outlet temperature signal, an outside air temperature signal, and a solar heat amount signal. Since these signals are used for air conditioning control in the passenger compartment by the vehicle air conditioner, it is not necessary to newly provide detection means (sensors) for detecting the thermal load.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, the vehicle seat air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a vehicle seat air conditioner 1.
The vehicle seat air conditioner 1 according to the present embodiment sends conditioned air to the seat blower unit 3 from, for example, a seat blower unit 3 disposed below the front seat 2 and the front air conditioner unit 4 (existing vehicle air conditioner). For example, a sheet air duct 5 is provided.
[0010]
The front air conditioning unit 4 has a well-known configuration as a vehicle air conditioner, and adjusts the temperature of the blown air based on the target blowing temperature (TAO) calculated by the ECU 6 (air conditioner control device). The vehicle interior can be air-conditioned by blowing the conditioned air into the vehicle interior.
The ECU 6 is a control means of the present invention, and includes an operation signal output from the operation panel 7, an inside air sensor 8 that detects the vehicle interior temperature, an outside air sensor 9 that detects the vehicle exterior temperature, and a solar radiation sensor 10 that detects the amount of solar radiation. The air conditioner (not shown) (for example, a blower, a mode switching door, a refrigeration cycle, etc.) is controlled so that a target blowing temperature can be obtained. The operation panel 7 is provided with a seat switch (not shown) for executing seat air conditioning.
[0011]
The seat air duct 5 uses, for example, an existing rear foot duct that supplies warm air from the front air conditioning unit 4 to the feet of the rear seat occupant, and is arranged substantially linearly along the floor of the vehicle. Yes. The seat air duct 5 is provided with a switching door 11 on the air upstream side of the foot outlet 5a. The switching door 11 is provided so as to be rotatable between a position where the foot outlet 5a is blocked (hereinafter referred to as a closed position) and a position where the foot outlet 5a is opened (hereinafter referred to as an open position). It is driven by an actuator (not shown) such as a servo motor. The actuator is energized and controlled by the ECU 6, and when the seat switch of the operation panel 7 is turned ON, the switching door 11 is driven to the closed position, and when the seat switch is turned OFF, the switching door 11 is driven to the open position.
[0012]
The sheet blower unit 3 includes a case 12, a sheet blower 13 accommodated in the case 12, an electric heater 14 (for example, a PTC heater) disposed on the air downstream side of the sheet blower 13 in the case 12, and the like. Has been.
The case 12 is provided in communication with the sheet blowing duct 5 through the suction port 15 of the sheet blower 13, and is connected to the sheet 2 through a connection duct 16 provided integrally (or separately) with the case 12. .
The connection duct 16 is provided with a bellows portion 16a so as to cope with the movement of the seat 2 (seat position adjustment).
[0013]
The sheet blower 13 includes a centrifugal blower fan 13a and a motor 13b, and can blow out air sucked from the suction port 15 in a substantially right angle direction. The sheet blower 13 is activated by turning on the sheet switch of the operation panel 7. However, the operation of the seat blower 13 after activation is energized and controlled by the ECU 6 in accordance with the heat load in the passenger compartment.
The electric heater 14 can be used when sufficient warm air cannot be obtained by the front air conditioning unit 4 (for example, when the temperature of engine cooling water as a heating heat source is low). In addition, you may arrange | position this electric heater 14 in the air upstream side (suction inlet 15 side) of the air blower 13 for sheets.
[0014]
The seat 2 includes a seat back 2A and a seat cushion 2B, and each is covered with a seat surface material 2C having air permeability. In addition, inside the seat back 2A and the seat cushion 2B, an air distribution duct 2a to which the connection duct 16 is connected, and a plurality of branches branching from the air distribution duct 2a and extending to the surfaces of the seat back 2A and the seat cushion 2B. The ventilation outlet 2b is provided. Thus, the conditioned air supplied from the seat blower unit 3 is distributed to the blower outlets 2b through the air distribution ducts 2a, and passes through the seat surface material 2C from the blower outlets 2b to be seated on the seat 2. To be sprayed.
[0015]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described by taking the heating mode as an example.
When the seat switch of the operation panel 7 is turned on, the switching door 11 in the seat blow duct 5 is driven to the closed position, and the seat blower 13 is activated. Here, the front air conditioning unit 4 can be activated through the ECU 6 by turning on the seat switch. Thereby, the warm air supplied from the front air conditioning unit 4 to the sheet blow duct 5 is blown from the sheet blow unit 3 to the seat 2 and the seat temperature rises. Here, at the time of warm-up, if the thermal load in the passenger compartment decreases as the passenger compartment temperature rises, the heat radiation from the seat 2 decreases, so that the passenger feels the seat 2 is hot and uncomfortable. There is a case.
[0016]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, it is determined by a blower signal for vehicle air conditioning that the thermal load has decreased, and the seat blower 13 is stopped (the time from when the seat blower 13 is started to when it is first stopped). Is τ0). Thereafter, the sheet blower 13 is turned on again after the reference time (τOFF) , which is the blowing stop time of the present invention, and is operated only for the reference time (τON), which is the re-blowing time of the present invention . Thereafter, the sheet blower 13 is controlled by τOFF / τON time. In addition, since the rising speed of the seat temperature varies depending on the thermal load in the passenger compartment (when the thermal load is large, the rising speed of the seat temperature decreases), for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) The τOFF and τON times may be corrected according to the room temperature.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet temperature is maintained within a predetermined temperature range in accordance with the ON / OFF operation of the sheet blower 13.
[0017]
(Effect of this embodiment)
According to the vehicle seat air-conditioning apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, during warm-up, the seat blower 13 is stopped when the thermal load in the passenger compartment is reduced to some extent, thereby preventing passengers from being caused by excessive rise in seat temperature. Pleasure can be prevented. In addition, since the seat blower 13 is temporarily stopped and then the seat blower 13 is controlled by the τOFF / τON time, the seat temperature can be kept within an allowable temperature range, so that a comfortable heating feeling for the occupant is provided. Obtainable. At this time, by correcting the τOFF / τON time with the heat load, the sheet temperature can be controlled in accordance with the change in the heat load. In this seat air conditioning, the seat blower is controlled using existing blower signals and sensor signals used for air conditioning control in the passenger compartment, so there is no need to detect the seat temperature with a temperature sensor, etc. The temperature can be controlled.
In the above embodiment, the heating operation is described as an example. Similarly, in the cooling operation, by controlling the seat blower 13 according to the heat load in the passenger compartment, the seat temperature is too low. Needless to say, discomfort can be prevented.
[0018]
(Modification)
In the above-described embodiment, the time (τ0) from when the seat blower 13 is started to when it is first stopped is controlled based on the blower signal. The air temperature can also be controlled based on the blowout temperature, the target blowout temperature, the outside air temperature, the amount of solar heat, and the like.
Further, the τOFF / τON time can be corrected by estimating the thermal load by using, for example, a blower signal, a blowing temperature, a target blowing temperature, etc., in addition to the passenger compartment temperature.
Although the air blow to the seat 2 is stopped by stopping the air blower 13 for the sheet, for example, a door (air blow stop means of the present invention) is provided in the air passage to the seat 2 and the air passage is closed by this door. You may comprise so that the ventilation to the sheet | seat 2 may be stopped.
[0019]
In the time chart of FIG. 2, the blower of the front air conditioning unit 4 is started at the same time as the seat switch is turned on. The start of the air blower 13 may be matched with the start of the blower. Alternatively, the electric heater 14 may be turned on to activate the sheet blower 13 until a desired warm air is obtained.
The seat air conditioning is performed by turning on the seat switch provided on the operation panel 7, but the seat air conditioning can be started by turning on the blower switch, A / C switch, AUTO switch, etc. of the front air conditioning unit 4. It may be configured.
Although an existing rear foot duct is used as the air blowing duct 5 for the seat, a rear vent duct for supplying cold air to the rear seat occupant may be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a vehicle seat air conditioner.
FIG. 2 is a time chart of the present embodiment.
3A is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the passenger compartment temperature and the air blowing stop time, and FIG. 3B is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the passenger compartment temperature and the re-air blowing time.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Vehicle Seat Air Conditioner 2 Front Seat 4 Front Air Conditioning Unit (Vehicle Air Conditioner)
5 Sheet Blower Duct 13 Sheet Blower (Blast Stopper / Blower)

Claims (4)

A seat air duct that guides conditioned air from the vehicle air conditioner that cools and heats the vehicle interior to the seat;
Air blowing stopping means capable of stopping air blowing to the sheet ;
Control means for controlling the air blowing stop means ,
When the thermal load in the passenger compartment is reduced to a predetermined value, the control means temporarily stops the air blowing to the seat by the air blowing stopping means, and then passes the predetermined air blowing stop time, and then the air blowing stopping means The vehicle is characterized by canceling the air blow stop and starting the air blow to the seat, and correcting the air blow stop time to the seat and the re-air blow time after the air blow is started according to the heat load in the vehicle interior . Seat air conditioner.   The vehicular seat air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air blowing stopping means is a blower that generates an air flow toward the seat in the air blowing duct for the seat.   The vehicular seat air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air blowing stopping means is an open / close door that is disposed in the air blowing duct for the seat and can open and close the air passage to the seat. The heat load in the vehicle interior is determined from at least one of a blower signal, a vehicle interior temperature signal, a target air temperature signal, an air temperature signal, an outside air temperature signal, and a solar heat amount signal of the vehicle air conditioner. The vehicle seat air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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