JP2005075198A - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner for a vehicle capable of detecting variation of the awakening condition of a driver while reducing cost. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner 1 for the vehicle comprises an IR sensor 2 for detecting a body surface temperature of the driver 7 and a control section 4 for determining the variation of the awakening condition of the driver 7 based on the variation degree of the body surface temperature of the driver 7 detected by the IR sensor 2 and controlling air-conditioning wind to be fed toward to the driver 7 when the variation of the awakening condition is determined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner that is mounted mainly on a vehicle such as an automobile and detects a change in a driver's arousal state and maintains the driver's arousal state.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for detecting a change in a driver's arousal state such as an automobile and maintaining the driver's arousal state, for example, a preventive safety device for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1 is known.

In this preventive safety device, a change in the driver's arousal state is judged from the accelerator and brake operation status corresponding to the change in the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle and the steering status of the steering, and an alarm is issued if necessary. It is like that.
JP-A-6-156262

  However, this conventional preventive safety device requires a large number of sensors such as a steering sensor, an inter-vehicle distance / obstacle sensor, an accelerator operation detection sensor, and a brake operation sensor in order to detect a change in the driver's arousal state. Becomes complicated and causes an increase in cost.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a problem, and makes it a subject to provide the vehicle air conditioner which can detect the change of a driver | operator's arousal state, aiming at cost reduction.

  In order to solve such a problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to body surface temperature detecting means for detecting a driver's body surface temperature, and a driver's body surface detected by the body surface temperature detecting means. A driver state determination unit that determines a change in the driver's arousal state based on a degree of change in temperature; and if the driver state determination unit determines a change in the arousal state, air conditioning air is sent to the driver. And a control means for controlling to send the message.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a body surface temperature detecting means for detecting a body surface temperature of a driver, a vehicle interior temperature detecting means for detecting a vehicle interior temperature, and a vehicle detected by the vehicle interior temperature detecting means. Body surface temperature change correction means for correcting the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver detected by the body surface temperature detection means in accordance with a change in room temperature, and the body corrected by the body surface temperature change correction means A driver state discriminating unit for discriminating a change in the driver's arousal state based on a degree of change in the surface temperature; and if the driver state discriminating unit determines a change in the awake state, the conditioned air is sent to the driver And a control means for controlling to send it toward the camera.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the body surface temperature detecting means for detecting the body surface temperature of the driver, and the driving based on the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver detected by the body surface temperature detecting means. A driver state discriminating means for discriminating a change in a person's arousal state, an outside temperature detecting means for detecting an outdoor temperature of the vehicle, and whether or not an outside temperature detected by the outside temperature detecting means is not more than a predetermined value. The vehicle exterior temperature state determination means for determining whether or not the change in the awake state is determined by the driver state determination means, and the vehicle exterior temperature state is not more than the predetermined value by the vehicle exterior temperature state determination means. In the case where the outside air is sent to the driver as conditioned air, and the change in the arousal state is determined by the driver state determination unit, and the outside temperature state determination unit of the passenger compartment Therefore if the vehicle exterior temperature is determined to the not less than a predetermined value, characterized in that a control means for controlling to send cold air to make a cold air toward the driver as conditioned air.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a body surface temperature detecting means for detecting a body surface temperature of a driver, a vehicle interior temperature detecting means for detecting a vehicle interior temperature, and a vehicle detected by the vehicle interior temperature detecting means. Body surface temperature change correction means for correcting the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver detected by the body surface temperature detection means in accordance with a change in room temperature, and the body corrected by the body surface temperature change correction means Driver state determination means for determining a change in the driver's arousal state based on the degree of change in the surface temperature; vehicle exterior temperature detection means for detecting the outdoor temperature of the vehicle;
A case in which a change in the arousal state is determined by the vehicle exterior temperature state determination unit that determines whether the vehicle exterior temperature detected by the vehicle exterior temperature detection unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined value; and the driver state determination unit. When the vehicle exterior temperature state determination means determines that the vehicle exterior temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the outside air is sent to the driver as conditioned air, and the driver state determination device changes the awakening state. When the vehicle exterior temperature state determination means determines that the vehicle exterior temperature is not lower than the predetermined value, cool air is generated and the cold air is sent to the driver as conditioned air. And a control means for controlling.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the body surface temperature detecting means is an infrared sensor.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the change in the driver's arousal state is determined based on the degree of the change in the driver's body surface temperature detected by the body surface temperature detection means, the conventional preventive safety Unlike the apparatus, a large number of sensors are not required, the apparatus configuration is simplified, and the cost can be reduced. Moreover, since the conditioned air is sent toward the driver, the driver's arousal state can be easily maintained.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver is corrected in accordance with the change in the vehicle interior temperature detected by the vehicle interior temperature detection means, No malfunction occurs, and the change in the driver's arousal state can be detected with good detection accuracy.

  According to the invention of claim 3 or invention of claim 4, since the control is based on the determination result of the change in the driver's arousal state and the determination result of whether or not the outside temperature of the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined value, When the outside air is cold, the outside air can be used, and power saving can be achieved.

  According to the invention of claim 5, since the body surface temperature detecting means is an infrared sensor, the body surface temperature of the driver can be easily detected.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for schematically explaining a vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle air conditioner 1 includes an infrared (IR) sensor (body surface temperature detection means) 2, a vehicle interior temperature sensor (vehicle interior temperature detection means) 3, and a control unit (driver state determination means, body surface temperature change). Correction means, control means) 4 and an operation unit 8.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the IR sensor 2 is provided on the front side of the driver's seat 6 of the automobile 5, detects the body surface temperature of the driver 7, for example, the face, and detects the detected body surface temperature value as a body surface temperature signal. Is output to the control unit 4. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 denotes an operation unit, and 9 denotes a vent outlet. The vehicle air conditioner 1 is provided with a plurality of modes for determining the air outlet of the conditioned air, and the occupant arbitrarily selects the mode from the mode button 10 so that the air conditioned air is supplied from a predetermined air outlet corresponding to the selected mode. Is sent out into the passenger compartment. Here, the modes include, for example, a vent mode, a foot mode, a bi-level mode, a differential foot mode, and the like. The vent mode is a mode in which conditioned air is sent from the vent outlet 9 toward the occupant. In addition, the vehicle air conditioner 1 is controlled by the control unit 4, and performs a wake-up operation when receiving a wake-up operation instruction to be described later from the control unit 4.

  The vehicle interior temperature sensor 3 is provided in the vehicle interior of the automobile 5, detects the temperature of the vehicle interior, and outputs the detected vehicle interior temperature to the control unit 4 as a vehicle interior temperature signal.

  The control unit 4 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, and a RAM 13. The ROM 12 stores a control program of the CPU 11 and the like, and the RAM 13 is used as a temporary data storage area necessary for executing the program. The CPU 11 uses the RAM 13 as a work area according to a program stored in the ROM 12 and controls the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 1.

  The body surface temperature of the driver 7 detected by the IR sensor 2 is input to the control unit 4 as a body surface temperature signal, and the vehicle interior temperature of the automobile 5 detected by the vehicle interior temperature sensor 3 is input as a vehicle interior temperature signal. Based on these signals, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the driver 7 is in a wakeful state, for example, whether or not the driver 7 is in a dozing state. That is, when drowsiness occurs, the heat in the body moves to the limbs where heat is easily dissipated, and the temperature of the limbs increases while the temperature of the face and torso decreases. Therefore, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the change in the body surface temperature of the driver 7 is an increase in relation to the change in the passenger compartment temperature, and if the driver 7 determines that the change is in the increase, the driver 7 It is determined that the person is in a state before falling asleep (a state where he is likely to fall asleep). Note that, when this increase change is determined, a temperature difference between the face, torso and limbs may be taken into account. When it is determined that the vehicle is in a state before falling asleep, the vehicle air conditioner 1 is controlled to be switched to the awakening operation in order to maintain the awakening state of the driver 7.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit 4 of the vehicle air conditioner 1 that has received the body surface temperature signal. First, when the controller 4 receives a body surface temperature signal from the IR sensor 2 (S1), the controller 4 turns on the vehicle air conditioner 1 (S2). Thereby, the vehicle air conditioner 1 operates according to the setting at that time.

  Further, the control unit 4 receives the vehicle interior temperature signal from the vehicle interior temperature sensor 3, and the measured value of the vehicle interior temperature and the measured value of the body surface temperature are the same from the vehicle interior temperature signal and the body surface temperature signal. Sampling is performed periodically at timing (S3).

  Further, based on the change in the measured value of the passenger compartment temperature periodically sampled in step S3, the control unit 4 determines when the passenger compartment temperature has become stable, and the passenger compartment temperature and body surface temperature at this point in time. Are stored in the RAM 13 as initial values (S4).

  Subsequently, the control unit 4 corrects the change in the body surface temperature according to the change in the passenger compartment temperature (S5), and then determines whether or not the change in the body surface temperature is an increase (S6). That is, the control unit 4 reads how the measured value of the body surface temperature periodically sampled based on the initial value of the body surface temperature stored in step S4 is changed, and is stored in step S4. It is read how the measured value of the passenger compartment temperature periodically sampled with respect to the initial value of the passenger compartment temperature changes. When the vehicle interior temperature has changed in step S5, the control unit 4 adds a correction corresponding to the change in the vehicle interior temperature to the change in the vehicle interior temperature, etc. After measuring the degree of change, it is determined in step S6 whether or not the change in body surface temperature is an increase. In step S6, the control unit 4 determines that the change in the body surface temperature is an increase when the change in the body surface temperature corrected in step S5 is rising with a certain change or more. If it is determined in step S6 that the change in body surface temperature is not an increase, the control unit 4 repeats steps S5 and S6.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that the change in body surface temperature is an increase, the control unit 4 outputs an instruction signal to start the awakening operation of the vehicle air conditioner 1 (S7). Specifically, the mode is set to the vent mode, the fan is set to HI, the temperature is set to the lowest temperature, and further, the control is performed so as to be switched on when the compressor of the vehicle air conditioner 1 is off. As a result, the vehicle air conditioner 1 becomes an awakening operation, and the cold air generated by the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 1 becomes a strong air conditioned air and is blown directly toward the driver 7 from the vent outlet 9. The driver 7 who has received the conditioned air is cooled by the cold air and can receive a stimulus to maintain the awake state.

  Subsequently, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the measured value of the body surface temperature to be periodically sampled has returned to the level of the initial value of the body surface temperature stored in step S4 (S8). Also in this step S8, for example, when the vehicle interior temperature has changed with respect to the initial value of the vehicle interior temperature, the measured value of the body surface temperature is substantially corrected by adding a correction according to the change in the vehicle interior temperature. Judgment is made based on whether the body surface temperature has returned to the initial level. When it is determined that the measured value of the body surface temperature has not returned to the initial value level of the body surface temperature, the control unit 4 repeats step S8.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S8 that the measured value of the body surface temperature has returned to the level of the initial value of the body surface temperature, the control unit 4 outputs an instruction signal so as to cancel the awakening operation of the vehicle air conditioner 1. (S9). Thereby, the vehicle air conditioner 1 returns to the original setting and operates.

  In the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment, the control unit 4 determines the change in the driver's arousal state based on the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver 7 detected by the IR sensor 2. Therefore, unlike the conventional preventive safety device, a large number of sensors are not required, the device configuration is simplified, and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the body surface temperature of the driver 7 is directly detected by the IR sensor 2, the change of the driver 7 itself can be detected instead of the indirect change of the steering state of the steering, etc. It becomes possible to detect a change in state.

  Furthermore, since the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver 7 is corrected according to the change in the vehicle interior temperature detected by the vehicle interior temperature sensor 3, no malfunction occurs due to the change in the vehicle interior temperature. The change in the arousal state of the driver 7 can be detected with good detection accuracy.

  In addition, since the conditioned air is sent toward the driver, the driver's arousal state can be easily maintained.

  Furthermore, since the body surface temperature of the driver 7 is detected using the IR sensor 2, it is easy to detect the body surface temperature.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram for schematically explaining a vehicle air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the part same as the said Example, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  This vehicle air conditioner 20 includes a vehicle exterior temperature sensor (vehicle interior temperature detection means) in addition to the vehicle air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment including the IR sensor 2, the vehicle interior temperature sensor 3, the control unit 4, and the operation unit 8. ) 21 is added.

  The vehicle interior / exterior temperature sensor 21 is provided outside the vehicle compartment of the automobile 5, detects the temperature outside the vehicle interior, and outputs the detected temperature outside the vehicle interior to the control unit 4 as a vehicle exterior temperature signal.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit 4 of the vehicle air conditioner 20 that has received the body surface temperature signal.

  First, as in the case of the vehicle air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment, when the control unit 4 receives the body surface temperature signal (S1), the vehicle air conditioner 20 is turned on (S2), and the vehicle interior The measured value of the temperature and the measured value of the body surface temperature are periodically sampled (S3). Further, the control unit 4 sets the vehicle interior temperature and the body surface temperature at the time when the vehicle interior temperature is stabilized as initial values (S4). Subsequently, the control unit 4 corrects the change in the body surface temperature according to the change in the passenger compartment temperature (S5), and then determines whether or not the change in the body surface temperature is an increase (S6).

  If it is determined in step S5 that the change in body surface temperature is an increase, is the vehicle exterior temperature less than or equal to a predetermined temperature value set in advance based on the vehicle exterior temperature signal received from the vehicle exterior temperature sensor 21? It is determined whether or not (S10). Here, the predetermined temperature value is a temperature value serving as a threshold value for determining whether or not the outside of the automobile 5 is cold.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the temperature outside the passenger compartment is not equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature value, the control unit 4 outputs an instruction signal to start the awakening operation pattern 1 of the vehicle air conditioner 20 (S11). That is, in this case, it is determined that the outside air is not cold, and the mode is set to the vent mode, the fan is set to HI, the temperature is set to the lowest temperature, and the vehicle air conditioner 20 is further cooled. When the compressor is off, control is done to turn it on. As a result, the vehicle air conditioner 20 becomes the awakening driving pattern 1, and the cold air generated by the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 20 becomes a strong air conditioned air and is blown directly toward the driver 7 from the vent outlet 9. .

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S10 that the temperature outside the passenger compartment is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature value, the control unit 4 outputs an instruction signal so as to start the awakening operation pattern 2 of the vehicle air conditioner 20 (S12). ). That is, in this case, it is determined that the outside air is cold, the mode is set to the vent mode, the fan is set to HI, the outside air is taken in, and further, the control is performed so as to be switched off when the compressor of the vehicle air conditioner 20 is on. . As a result, the vehicle air conditioner 20 becomes the awakening operation pattern 2, and the cold outside air is blown toward the driver 7 directly from the vent outlet 9 as a strong air-conditioned air.

  Subsequently, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the measured value of the body surface temperature has returned to the initial value level of the body surface temperature (S8). An instruction signal is output so as to cancel the awakening operation of the vehicle air conditioner 20 (S9). As a result, the vehicle air conditioner 20 returns to its original setting and operates.

  In the vehicle air conditioner 20 according to this embodiment, the vehicle is based on the determination result of the change in the arousal state of the driver 7 and the determination result of whether or not the outside temperature detected by the outside temperature sensor 21 is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Since the air conditioner 20 is controlled, the outside air can be used when the outside air is cold, and power saving can be achieved.

  Note that either the awakening driving pattern 1 or the awakening driving pattern 2 is applied by determining whether or not the vehicle air conditioner 20 is performing the heating operation without providing the outside temperature sensor 21. You may make it decide. That is, when it is determined that the vehicle air conditioner 20 is performing the heating operation, it is determined that the outside air is cold, and the control unit 4 outputs an instruction signal to start the awakening operation pattern 2, while the vehicle air conditioner 20 When it is determined that the air conditioner 20 is not performing the heating operation, it is determined that the outside air is not cold, and the control unit 4 outputs an instruction signal to start the awakening operation pattern 1. In this case, since it is not necessary to provide the outside temperature sensor 21, the vehicle air conditioner can be configured with a smaller number of sensors, and the cost can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described first or second embodiment. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the IR sensor 2 is used as the body surface temperature detecting means. However, the present invention is not limited to the IR sensor. Any device capable of detecting the body surface temperature of the driver 7 may be used.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating typically the vehicle air conditioner concerning Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle carrying the vehicle air conditioner of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the control part of the vehicle air conditioner of FIG. 1 which received the body surface temperature signal. It is a block diagram for demonstrating typically the vehicle air conditioner concerning Example 2. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the control part of the vehicle air conditioner of FIG. 4 which received the body surface temperature signal.

Explanation of symbols

1, 20 Vehicle air conditioner 2 Infrared (IR) sensor (body surface temperature detection means)
3 Vehicle interior temperature sensor (vehicle interior temperature detection means)
4 Control unit (driver state determination means, body surface temperature change correction means, control means, vehicle interior temperature state determination means)
5 Car (vehicle)
7 Driver 21 Outside temperature sensor (outside temperature detection means)

Claims (5)

Body surface temperature detecting means for detecting the body surface temperature of the driver;
Driver state determination means for determining a change in the driver's arousal state based on the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver detected by the body surface temperature detection means;
A vehicle air conditioner comprising: control means for controlling the conditioned air to be sent toward the driver when a change in the arousal state is determined by the driver state determining means. Body surface temperature detecting means for detecting the body surface temperature of the driver;
A vehicle interior temperature detecting means for detecting the vehicle interior temperature;
Body surface temperature change correcting means for correcting the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver detected by the body surface temperature detecting means according to a change in the vehicle interior temperature detected by the vehicle interior temperature detecting means;
Driver state determination means for determining a change in the driver's arousal state based on the degree of change in body surface temperature corrected by the body surface temperature change correction means;
A vehicle air conditioner comprising: control means for controlling the conditioned air to be sent toward the driver when a change in the arousal state is determined by the driver state determining means. Body surface temperature detecting means for detecting the body surface temperature of the driver;
Driver state determination means for determining a change in the driver's arousal state based on the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver detected by the body surface temperature detection means;
An outside temperature detecting means for detecting an outside temperature of the vehicle;
A vehicle exterior temperature state determination unit that determines whether the vehicle exterior temperature detected by the vehicle exterior temperature detection unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined value;
When the change of the arousal state is determined by the driver state determination unit and the outside temperature of the vehicle compartment is determined to be equal to or lower than the predetermined value by the outside temperature state determination unit, the outside air is used as the conditioned air. When it is sent to the driver and the change in the arousal state is determined by the driver state determination unit, and the outside temperature of the vehicle compartment is determined not to be lower than the predetermined value by the outside temperature state determination unit. And a control means for controlling to produce cold air and send the cold air to the driver as conditioned air. Body surface temperature detecting means for detecting the body surface temperature of the driver;
A vehicle interior temperature detecting means for detecting the vehicle interior temperature;
Body surface temperature change correcting means for correcting the degree of change in the body surface temperature of the driver detected by the body surface temperature detecting means according to a change in the vehicle interior temperature detected by the vehicle interior temperature detecting means;
Driver state determination means for determining a change in the driver's arousal state based on the degree of change in body surface temperature corrected by the body surface temperature change correction means;
An outside temperature detecting means for detecting an outside temperature of the vehicle;
A vehicle exterior temperature state determination unit that determines whether the vehicle exterior temperature detected by the vehicle exterior temperature detection unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined value;
When the change of the arousal state is determined by the driver state determination unit and the outside temperature of the vehicle compartment is determined to be equal to or lower than the predetermined value by the outside temperature state determination unit, the outside air is used as the conditioned air. When it is sent to the driver and the change in the arousal state is determined by the driver state determination unit, and the outside temperature of the vehicle compartment is determined not to be lower than the predetermined value by the outside temperature state determination unit. And a control means for controlling to produce cold air and send the cold air to the driver as conditioned air. The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the body surface temperature detecting means is an infrared sensor.

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