Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – Thermostatic – Hot and cold
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-31
2001-03-20
Tanner, Harry B. (Department: 3749)
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
Thermostatic
Hot and cold
C236S09100C, C236S051000, C165S204000, C165S291000, C454S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202934
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present invention relates to and incorporates herein by reference Japanese patent applications No. 11-250792, filed Sep. 3, 1999, No. 11-302703, filed Oct. 25, 1999, and No. 2000-186317, filed Jun. 21, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an air conditioner for a vehicle, and more particularly to an air conditioner for a vehicle capable of automatically regulating an inside air temperature in a vehicle compartment to a preset temperature as desired by a vehicle occupant.
Due to large thermal loads on an air conditioner cooling system mounted in a vehicle, differences between the inside space air temperature (inside air temperature) and internal surface temperature of the vehicle compartment (e.g., internal surface temperature of window glass) cause heating. Also, solar radiation may heat the vehicle compartment. The temperature of the internal surface of the vehicle compartment, related to this heating, is influenced by the external surface temperature of the vehicle (e.g., external surface temperature of window glass). The temperature of the external surface of the vehicle is also influenced by outside air temperature and solar radiation.
Therefore, a conventional air conditioner for a vehicle is equipped with an inside air temperature sensor for detecting inside air temperature, an outside air temperature sensor for detecting outside air temperature and a solar radiation sensor for detecting an intensity level of solar radiation. In this arrangement, the thermal load is estimated indirectly according to signals supplied from these sensors, and a level of the latter thermal load is estimated using a solar radiation intensity level detected by the solar radiation sensor. Based on the thermal load levels thus estimated, calculations are performed to attain a target value of a blowout air temperature (target blowout air temperature), a control target voltage for an air blower, etc.
Further, in a conventional air conditioner for a vehicle disclosed in JP-A-10-230728 or JP-A-10-197348, infrared ray sensors (surface temperature sensors) arranged in a matrix form are used instead of the above inside air temperature sensor and solar radiation sensor to detect a surface temperature of a vehicle occupant. According to temperature signals from these infrared ray sensors, ambient temperature and a solar radiation intensity level is estimated in the vicinity of the vehicle occupant.
However, in this system, an estimated thermal load may not meet an actual thermal load in some cases. As such, accurate interior temperature control cannot be attained. Further, in the latter conventional air conditioner, a thermal load is estimated indirectly according to a solar radiation intensity level estimated from the surface temperature of the vehicle occupant. This creates the same problem as in the former conventional air conditioner for a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To address these and other aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention provides an air conditioner for a vehicle.
In an air conditioner according to the present invention, a target blowout air temperature is calculated using input signals including a set temperature signal, an inside air temperature signal detected by an inside air temperature sensor, a first surface temperature signal detected by a first surface temperature sensor, and a second surface temperature signal detected by a second surface temperature sensor.
In this arrangement, the first surface temperature sensor detects a temperature of an internal surface of window glass. The internal surface of window glass is an internal surface region of the vehicle compartment, which is directly exposed to inside air directly influenced by thermal load. Therefore, unlike the conventional air conditioners in which a thermal load is estimated using an inside air temperature, an outside air temperature and a solar radiation intensity level, thermal load is directly estimated by the difference between an inside air temperature and a compartment internal surface temperature. The second surface temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of the vehicle occupant's clothing. The clothing of the vehicle occupant is a surface region that is influenced by solar radiation and directly exposed to inside air. By detecting a temperature of this surface region, intrusion heat (thermal load) due to solar radiation into the vehicle compartment is accurately estimated.
According to another aspect of the invention, the second surface temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature of a surface of the vehicle occupant. The second surface temperature sensor detects the surface temperatures of clothing and skin of the vehicle occupant. The surface temperature of occupant's skin is closely related with the occupant. Therefore, the proper interior temperature control meeting the occupant's sensed temperature can be performed by calculating a target blowout air temperature according to the occupant's skin surface temperature.
In another aspect of the invention, a third surface temperature signal detected by a third surface temperature sensor. Here, the surface temperature of occupant's skin closely relates to the sensed temperature of the occupant. This temperature is detected by the third surface temperature sensor to calculate a target blowout air temperature.
In another aspect of the present invention, the surface temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of an outside-air-temperature-related internal region. This region varies with outside temperature and the surface temperature of a solar-radiation-related internal region which varies with the intensity of solar radiation. Wherein, a target blowout air temperature is calculated using input signals including a set temperature signal, a sensed temperature information signal, and a surface temperature signal. Here, the surface temperature sensor detects temperatures of internal surface regions which are directly exposed to inside air to give direct influence by thermal load. Further, at least one physical value related to a thermal sensing of the occupant (sensed temperature information signals) is detected. Such sensing includes outside air temperature, solar radiation intensity level, surface temperature of occupant's clothing, and a surface temperature of occupant's skin.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5186682 (1993-02-01), Iida
patent: 5340021 (1994-08-01), Kajino et al.
patent: 5427313 (1995-06-01), Davis, Jr. et al.
patent: 5547125 (1996-08-01), Hennessee et al.
patent: 5653385 (1997-08-01), Honda et al.
patent: 5937940 (1999-08-01), Davis, Jr. et al.
patent: 10-197348 (1998-07-01), None
patent: 10-230728 (1998-09-01), None
Ando Hiroshi
Ichishi Yoshinori
Kajino Yuichi
Kamiya Toshifumi
Kawai Takayoshi
Denso Corporation
Harness Dickey & Pierce PLC
Tanner Harry B.
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