JP2010036592A - Heater device for vehicular windshield - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heater device for a vehicular windshield, eliminating fog of an upper region and side region of a windshield effectively and quickly regardless of the traveling condition of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A first heater 37 is disposed in the upper region 20a and side region 20b of the windshield 20, a second heater 38 is disposed in a central region 20c of the windshield 20, a third heater 39 is disposed in a lower region 20d, and the heaters 37, 38, 39 occupy the entire area of the windshield 20. When external air temperature is low while traveling at a high speed in which defogging effect by a defroster is low, the first heater 37 is activated to quickly eliminate the fog of the upper region 20a and side region 20b of the windshield 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle front window, and more particularly to a heater device that eliminates adhesion and fogging of frost generated on a front window by energization heating.

Conventionally, an electrically heated window glass used for a front window of an automobile is known.
Since this electric window glass can heat the front window by energizing the heater from a battery or the like, even if ice, frost or snow adheres to the front window surface, these can be melted and removed. , Can prevent fogging of the inner surface of the front window. Thereby, a visual field can be ensured without being obstructed by ice, frost, snow, or fogging of the inner surface of the front window attached to the front window surface.

As such an electrically heated window glass, a transparent conductive film and a pair of upper and lower or left and right energization electrodes are provided between two sheet glasses, and the transparent conductive film is energized from a battery or the like via the energization electrodes. There are some which heat the window glass to melt snow, melt ice and prevent fogging.
The following proposal is made in Patent Document 1. The front window is divided into left and right areas, heaters are provided in each area, both heaters are connected in parallel to remove frost and icing, and the heaters are connected in series for anti-fogging. Heating is applied. According to Patent Document 1, by making it possible to change the power consumption of the heater according to the heating purpose, it is possible to effectively perform snow melting, melting ice and anti-fogging while reducing the power load due to the use of the heater, Visibility can be secured.

JP 2005-145221 A

  On the other hand, a defroster that supplies warm air from below the front window is installed in the air conditioning unit for the purpose of anti-fogging, but it is effectively anti-fogged due to the relationship between the outside air temperature, the running state of the vehicle, and the cabin temperature. There are cases where the function does not work.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the ventilation opening of the defroster is installed on the upper surface of the instrument panel IN below the inner surface of the front window FW, and the warm air heated by the engine coolant passes through the opening, and then the inner shape of the front window FW Proceed upward along. As the warm air advances, the front window FW is heated, and fogging can be eliminated. That is, the warm air blown out from the blower opening of the defroster is heat-exchanged with the front window FW, and even if the temperature is high at the beginning, the temperature is lowered by the amount of heat given to the front window FW when reaching the upper side. ing.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, at the beginning of vehicle operation, the air-conditioning blowout temperature is set high and the blowout set air volume is large, so that warm air is used over a wide range above the front window FW. Although anti-fogging is possible, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the vehicle interior temperature is stabilized, and when the blowing temperature is lowered or the air volume is decreased, the anti-fogging area is gradually reduced. For convenience, in FIG. 8, the center area of the front window FW is area A, the upper side area and the side area are area B, and the lower side area is area C.

Due to the structure of the passenger compartment, the area B is located at the end of the passenger compartment and heat is more easily dissipated to the outside air than the central portion. This is the region with the lowest effect.
Furthermore, when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high, the temperature of the warm air of the defroster increases, but the heat dissipation amount in the area B increases as compared with other regions. In addition, when the warm air temperature is high, the passenger compartment temperature rises. Therefore, it is conceivable that the temperature of the air blown by the occupant is lowered or the air volume is reduced, so that positive heating to the area B cannot be expected.

  In Patent Document 1, proposals have been made to eliminate ice, frost, snow attached to the front window, or fogging of the inner surface of the front window while reducing the electric power load. There is no disclosure or suggestion of what to do. In order to ensure reliable and effective traveling visibility, anti-fogging control in cooperation with the defroster is necessary, and it is particularly necessary to consider the traveling state.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a heater device for a vehicle front window that can effectively and quickly eliminate fogging of the upper side region and the side region of the front window regardless of the traveling state of the vehicle.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle front window heater device having a plurality of energized heaters for heating a vehicle front window, a defroster for supplying warm air from below the front window, an upper side region and a side of the front window A first heater disposed in the side area; an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting an outside air temperature; and a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, wherein the outside air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and the vehicle An energization control means is provided that energizes and heats the first heater when the running speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed.

  In the invention of claim 1, the upper side region and the side region of the front window that are difficult to be fogged by the defroster when the fogging is likely to occur, in a state where the outside air temperature is low and when traveling at high speed, The energization heater can be energized and heated.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall, and the energization control means energizes the first heater at a predetermined speed or less when the snowfall detecting means detects snowfall. It is characterized by making it.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the energization control means includes a second heater disposed in a central region surrounded by the upper side region and the side region of the front window. When the vehicle is running, the second heater is energized and heated. When the vehicle speed exceeds the low vehicle speed, the first heater and the second heater are energized and heated. When the vehicle speed is higher than the medium vehicle speed, the first heater is energized. It is characterized by generating heat.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the third heater is disposed in the lower side area of the front window. The heater is heated by energization.

  According to the heater device for a vehicle front window according to claim 1, the defroster for supplying warm air from below the front window, the first heater disposed in the upper side region and the side region of the front window, and the outside air temperature An outside air temperature detecting means for detecting and a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle, wherein the first heater is activated when the outside air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and the traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than the predetermined speed. Since the energization control means for energizing and generating heat is provided, the fogging of the upper side area and the side area of the front window can be effectively and quickly eliminated regardless of the traveling state of the vehicle.

  That is, at the high vehicle speed at which the defrosting effect by the defroster is low, the first heater is operated, and the fogging of the upper side region and the side region of the front window can be eliminated at an early stage to ensure a reliable view. In addition, since the area where the defroster performs anti-fogging and the area where the heater performs anti-fogging are separated and cooperated with the defroster, the power load on the heater can be minimized.

  According to the vehicle front window heater device of claim 2, the snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall is provided, and the energization control means energizes the first heater at a predetermined speed or less when snowfall is detected by the snowfall detecting means. Since heat is generated, accumulation of snow in the side region on the driver's seat side can be prevented, and more reliable visibility can be secured.

  According to the heater device for a vehicle front window according to the third aspect, the energization control means has the second heater disposed in the central region surrounded by the upper side region and the side region of the front window, and the energization control means has a low vehicle speed. When the vehicle speed is high, the second heater is energized and heated. When the vehicle speed is medium, exceeding the low vehicle speed, the first heater and the second heater are energized and heated. When the vehicle speed is high, the first heater is turned on. Since the energization heat is generated, the first heater and the second heater are selectively used, and fogging of the entire front window can be eliminated at an early stage. In addition, power consumption can be improved.

  According to the heater device for a vehicle front window according to claim 4, the third heater disposed in the lower side region of the front window has a third heater when the energization control means detects snowfall by the snowfall detection means. As a result, the wiper blade is prevented from icing due to snow accumulation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an inside air introduction port 2 and an outside air introduction port 3 are provided at the upstream end of the air conditioning duct 1, and are branched into a heating passage 4, a defroster passage 5 and a ventilation passage 6 on the way, At the downstream end of the passage, there are formed a heating outlet 7 opening toward the foot of the occupant, a defroster outlet 8 opening on the inner surface of the front window 20, and a ventilation opening 9.

  Between the upstream part of the air-conditioning duct 1 and the passage branching part, the inside / outside air switching damper 11 for switching the both inlets 2 and 3, the blower 12 for adjusting the air volume, the heat of vaporization when the refrigerant evaporates. The evaporator 13 for cooling the air for air conditioning by the heater, the heater 14 for heating the air for air conditioning using the cooling water of the engine 10, and the air mix damper for adjusting the amount of warm air that has passed through the heater 14 and the amount of air that has not passed through the heater 14 15 and an auxiliary damper 16 that opens and closes the outlet of the hot air that has passed through the heater 14 is provided in order. Further, dampers 17 to 19 for adjusting the amount of air passing through each passage are provided in each of the defroster passage 5 and the ventilation passage 6.

  The inside / outside air switching damper 11 is driven by an actuator 21, and the air mix damper 15 and the auxiliary damper 16 are driven by an actuator 22, and each of the dampers 17-of the heating passage 4, the defroster passage 5 and the ventilation passage 6. 19 is driven in conjunction with an actuator 23.

  In front of the engine 10, a radiator 24 for cooling the engine cooling water with the traveling wind and a condenser 25 for cooling and condensing the refrigerant vapor with the traveling wind are provided. The refrigerant vapor is compressed by the compressor 26 driven by the engine 10 via the clutch and sent to the condenser 25. The refrigerant condensed by the condenser 25 is sent to the evaporator 13 via an expansion mechanism (not shown), and this evaporator. The refrigerant vapor is returned from 13 to the compressor 26. An outside air temperature sensor 27 that detects the outside air temperature is provided in front of the radiator 24, and an inside air temperature sensor 28 that detects the inside temperature of the vehicle is provided in the vehicle interior.

  The control unit 29 is specified from the outside air temperature signal of the outside air temperature sensor 27, the vehicle interior temperature signal of the inside air temperature sensor 28, the target temperature signal of the target temperature setting switch 30 provided on the instrument panel (not shown), and a plurality of air conditioning modes. A mode selection signal for the mode selection switch 31 for selecting the mode, an on / off signal for the ignition switch 32, and a position signal for the position sensor 33 for detecting the open / close position of the air mix damper 15 are input.

  Furthermore, the vehicle speed signal of the vehicle speed sensor 34 that detects the traveling speed of the vehicle, the snowfall detection signal of the snowfall sensor 35 that detects snowfall, and the on / off signal of the defroster switch 36 that operates the defroster are input to the control unit 29. In addition, an energization control unit 45 that controls energization and heating of the front window 20 described later is provided in the control unit 29 and also serves as a heater control unit for the front window 20.

  When the ignition switch 32 is turned on, the air conditioner according to the present embodiment sets the blower 12 motor, actuators 21 to 23, and the clutch of the compressor 26 to the outside air temperature and the room temperature based on the target temperature and the selection mode from the control unit 29. A so-called automatic air conditioner is configured in which an automatic control is performed by sending a corresponding operation control signal.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front window 20 includes a first heater 37, a second heater 38, and a third heater that are composed of three transparent conductive films built in between two bonded glass plates. 39 and five first to fifth energizing electrodes 40, 41, 42, 43, 44.

  The first heater 38 is disposed in the upper side region 20a and the side region 20b of the substantially trapezoidal front window 20, and has a substantially U shape facing downward. The second heater 37 is disposed in the central region 20c of the front window 20 surrounded by the first heater 38, and has a substantially trapezoidal shape. The third heater 39 is disposed in the lower side region 20 d of the front window 20, and the heaters 37, 38, 39 occupy the entire front window 20. The heaters 37, 38, 39 are constituted by a wire heater, a surface heater, or the like.

  The first current-carrying electrode 40 is arranged substantially horizontally and linearly on the upper end side of the first heater 38, and the second current-carrying electrode 41 is the central part of the lower end side of the upper side region 20a of the front window 20 and the first side. It is arranged in parallel with the energizing electrode 40. The third energization electrode 42 is disposed substantially horizontally and linearly on the upper end side of the second heater 37, and the fourth energization electrode 43 is disposed substantially horizontally and linearly on the lower end side of the second heater 37. . The fifth energizing electrode 44 is disposed along the lower end side of the front window 20. That is, the first to fifth energization electrodes 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 are arranged in order from the top to the bottom on the horizontal boundary line portions of the heaters 37, 38, 39.

  The first energization electrode 40, the third energization electrode 42, and the fifth energization electrode 44 are respectively connected to the positive electrode terminals a, b, and c provided in the energization control unit 45 in the control unit 29, and the second energization electrode The working electrode 41 and the fourth energizing electrode 43 are grounded. A battery (not shown) is connected to each positive electrode terminal a, b, c.

  When operating the 1st heater 37, the electrode 40 for 1st electricity supply becomes positive electric potential by making the terminal a into a connection state. Then, a direct current flows from the first energizing electrode 40 to the second energizing electrode 41 in the central portion of the front window 20, and the left and right side portions of the front window 20 form the fourth energizing electrode 40 from the first energizing electrode 40. A direct current flows through 43 (see arrow in FIG. 1). As a result, the first heater 38 generates heat.

  When the second heater 38 is operated, the terminal b is brought into a connected state, whereby the third energization electrode 42 becomes a positive potential, and a direct current flows from the third energization electrode 42 to the fourth energization electrode 43. The second heater 38 generates heat. Similarly, by setting the terminal c to the connected state, the fifth energizing electrode 44 becomes a positive potential, a direct current flows from the fifth energizing electrode 44 to the fourth energizing electrode 43, and the third heater 39 generates heat. To do. The energization control unit 45 controls the operation of the heaters 37, 38, 39 by switching the connection state of the terminals a, b, c.

  Next, control of each heater according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. Si (i = 1, 2,...) Represents each step. A program for executing the heater control is stored in a ROM or the like in the energization control unit 45.

  As shown in FIG. 3, this cooling determination process is started when the defroster switch 36 of the vehicle is turned on. First, it is determined whether or not the outside air temperature is 10 ° C. or less based on the outside air temperature signal of the outside air temperature sensor 27 (S1). .

If the result of determination in S1 is Yes, it is determined whether or not the temperature exceeds 0 ° C. (S2). When the temperature is lower than 0 ° C., the first and second heaters 37 and 38 are operated (S3).
As shown in FIG. 4, when the outside air temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the basic control of the first heater 37 is energized and heated to equalize the surface temperature distribution of the front window 20, and when it is higher than the predetermined temperature, the first heater 37 is not activated. Is configured to do.

After the energization heating by the heaters 37 and 38, it is determined whether or not it is snowing by the snowfall sensor 35 (S4). If it is snowing, the third heater 39 is operated (S5). Inoperative (S7). The snowfall sensor 35 may be any sensor that directly detects snow or a sensor that determines snowfall using the wiper operating load as a parameter.
It is determined whether the defroster switch 36 is off (S6). If the defroster switch 36 is off, this control is terminated. If the on state continues, the process returns.

As a result of the determination of S2, in the case of No, at so-called extremely low temperature of 0 ° C. or less, the process proceeds to S8 to determine whether the vehicle is in a stopped state or at a low vehicle speed, for example, less than 40 km / h.
As a result of the determination in S8, if the speed is less than 40 km / h, the first heater 37 is deactivated (S9), the second heater 38 is activated (S10), and the processes after S4 are performed.
The basic control of the first heater 37 is energization heating when the outside air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature. In the case of this condition, there is a high possibility that the vehicle is in a stopped state or at a low vehicle speed, that is, immediately after engine start, so that electric power is concentrated on the second heater 38 so that the vehicle can run at an early stage.

  As a result of the determination in S8, if the vehicle speed is 40 km / h or more, it is determined whether the vehicle speed is less than the intermediate vehicle speed, for example, 80 km / h (S11). As a result of the determination in S11, when the vehicle speed is less than 80 km / h, the first heater 37 and the second heater 38 are operated similarly (S12), and the processes after S4 are performed.

As a result of the determination in S11, when the speed is 80 km / h or higher, it is determined that the vehicle speed is high, the second heater 38 is deactivated (S13), the first heater 37 is activated (S14), and the processes after S4 are performed.
If the result of S1 is No, if the so-called outside air temperature is not a low temperature of 10 ° C. or higher, the first heater 37 and the second heater 38 are deactivated (S15), and the processes after S4 are performed.

  With the above configuration, the first heater 37 is operated at a high vehicle speed at which the defrosting effect by the defroster is low, and the fogging of the upper side region 20a and the side region 20b of the front window 20 can be eliminated at an early stage, thereby ensuring a reliable visibility. . Further, the first heater 37 and the second heater 38 can be selectively used to eliminate the fogging of the entire front window at an early stage, and the power consumption can be made more efficient.

  In S12, the first heater 37 and the second heater 38 are operated in the same manner. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the power ratio distributed to the first heater 37 and the second heater 38 depends on the vehicle speed. Can also be changed. That is, between 40 km / h and 80 km / h, the higher the vehicle speed is, the higher the power supplied to the first heater 37 is set. For example, when the traveling speed is 60 km / h, the electric power is evenly distributed. When the traveling speed is 70 km / h, the electric power is distributed by 75% to the first heater 37 and 25% to the second heater 38. According to this configuration, the variation in the temperature distribution of the front window 20 is further improved, and the antifogging effect can be improved.

  The heater control according to the second embodiment will be described based on FIG. The configuration of the control system and each functional unit is the same as that in the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the third heater is operated in the case of snowfall in the first embodiment, whereas in the second embodiment, the first heater is operated in addition to the third heater. It is a point.

  As shown in FIG. 6, this cooling determination process is started when the defroster switch 36 of the vehicle is turned on. First, it is determined whether or not the outside air temperature is 10 ° C. or less based on the outside air temperature signal from the outside air temperature sensor 27 (S1). .

If the result of determination in S1 is Yes, it is determined whether or not the temperature exceeds 0 ° C. (S2). When the temperature is lower than 0 ° C., the first and second heaters 37 and 38 are operated (S3).
After energization heating by the heaters 37 and 38, it is determined whether or not it is snowing by the snowfall sensor 35 (S4). If it is snowing, the first heater 37 and the third heater 39 are operated (S16), and the process proceeds to S6. .

If the result of determination in S4 is that it is not snowing, the third heater 39 is deactivated (S7).
Next, it is determined whether the defroster switch 36 is off (S6). If the defroster switch 36 is off, this control is terminated. If the on state continues, the process returns.

  As a result of the determination of S2, in the case of No, at so-called extremely low temperature of 0 ° C. or less, the process proceeds to S8 to determine whether the vehicle is in a stopped state or at a low vehicle speed, for example, less than 40 km / h. As a result of the determination in S8, if the speed is less than 40 km / h, the first heater 37 is deactivated (S9), the second heater 38 is activated (S10), and the processes after S4 are performed.

  As a result of the determination in S8, if the vehicle speed is 40 km / h or more, it is determined whether the vehicle speed is less than the intermediate vehicle speed, for example, 80 km / h (S11). As a result of the determination in S11, when the vehicle speed is less than 80 km / h, the first heater 37 and the second heater 38 are operated (S12), and the processes after S4 are performed. The operation of the first heater 37 and the second heater 38 is configured such that the power distribution ratio to the first heater 37 increases as the vehicle speed increases, as shown in FIG.

As a result of the determination in S11, when the speed is 80 km / h or higher, it is determined that the vehicle speed is high, the second heater 38 is deactivated (S13), the first heater 37 is activated (S14), and the processes after S4 are performed.
If the result of S1 is No, if the so-called outside air temperature is not a low temperature of 10 ° C. or higher, the first heater 37 and the second heater 38 are deactivated (S15), and the processes after S4 are performed.

  With the above configuration, fogging of the upper side region 20a and the side region 20b of the front window 20 can be eliminated at an early stage, and a reliable visual field can be secured. Furthermore, snow accumulation can be prevented in the side area on the driver's seat side during snowfall.

  Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various forms with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention includes such modifications.

It is a whole block diagram of the heater device of the front window concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the front window which concerns on Example 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of heater control according to the first embodiment. It is control explanatory drawing regarding the external temperature of the 1st heater which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is control explanatory drawing regarding the vehicle speed of a 1st heater and a 2nd heater. It is a flowchart of heater control which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a figure explaining progress of the warm air from a defroster opening. It is a figure explaining the anti-fogging function of a defroster.

Explanation of symbols

8 Defroster outlet 20 Front window 20a Upper region 20b Side region 20c Central region 20d Lower region 27 Outside air temperature sensor 29 Control unit 34 Vehicle speed sensor 35 Snowfall sensor 36 Defroster switch 37 First heater 38 Second heater 39 Third heater 40 First 1 energization electrode 41 2nd energization electrode 42 3rd energization electrode 43 4th energization electrode 44 5th energization electrode 45 energization control unit

Claims (4)

In a vehicle front window heater device having a plurality of energized heaters for heating a vehicle front window,
A defroster that supplies hot air from below the front window;
A first heater disposed in the upper side region and the side region of the front window;
Outside temperature detecting means for detecting outside temperature;
Vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle,
A heater device for a front window for a vehicle, comprising an energization control means for energizing and generating heat from the first heater when the outside air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and the vehicle traveling speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed. Having snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall,
2. The heater device for a vehicle front window according to claim 1, wherein the energization control unit energizes and heats the first heater at a speed equal to or less than the predetermined speed when snowfall is detected by the snowfall detection unit. A second heater disposed in a central region surrounded by the upper side region and the side region of the front window;
The energization control means energizes and heats the second heater when the vehicle speed is a low vehicle speed, and energizes and heats the first heater and the second heater when the vehicle speed is a low vehicle speed or higher and a medium vehicle speed or higher. 2. The heater device for a vehicle front window according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle speed is high, the first heater is energized to generate heat. A third heater disposed in the lower region of the front window;
3. The heater device for a vehicle front window according to claim 1, wherein the energization control unit causes the third heater to energize and generate heat when snowfall is detected by the snowfall detection unit.