US5518065A — Control method of vehicle air-conditioning appara…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 106 words

An air conditioning control method of a vehicle comprising: determining a target temperature of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, calculating a comfort index provided as a function of at least an outlet air temperature and outlet air volume flowing out of a heater-air-conditioner system in which air is treated to be introduce to a passenger compartment, setting a target comfort index, determining an optimized combination of the output air temperature and the output air volume which minimizes a deviation of the comfort index from the target comfort index, compensating the target temperature to reduce the deviation when the deviation is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 106 words

An air conditioning control method of a vehicle comprising: determining a target temperature of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, calculating a comfort index provided as a function of at least an outlet air temperature and outlet air volume flowing out of a heater-air-conditioner system in which air is treated to be introduce to a passenger compartment, setting a target comfort index, determining an optimized combination of the output air temperature and the output air volume which minimizes a deviation of the comfort index from the target comfort index, compensating the target temperature to reduce the deviation when the deviation is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the target comfort index is changeable as a function of a set interior temperature.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method as recited in claim 1 where an airflow mode of the output air from the heater-air-conditioner system is changed where the deviation is not reduced below the predetermined value irrespective of the compensation of the target temperature.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the comfort index is calculated as a function of air conditioning factor and an environmental factor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the comfort index F is calculated by the following formula: F=K1*Va+K2*To+K3*Ta+K4*Tr+K5*Ts+K6 wherein Va:outlet air volume to a passenger compartment, To:outlet air temperature to the passenger compartment, Ta:ambient (outside) air temperature, Tr:interior temperature of a passenger compartment, Ts:solar radiation value, K1 through K6: weighting coefficients for the respective variables Va, To, Ta, Tr and Ts.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the airflow mode in an air cooling operation of the heater-air-conditioner system is different from that in an air heating operation of the system.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as recited in claim 6 wherein a comfort index F2 in the air cooling operation of the heater air-conditioner system is provided by the following formula: F2=K11*Va+K21*To+K31*Ta+K41*Tr+K51*Ts+K61 Wherein K11-K61 are weight coefficients.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as recited in claim 6 wherein a comfort index F4 in the air heating operation of the heater air-conditioner system is provided by the following formula: F4=K12*Va+K22*To+K32*Ta+K42*Tr+K52*Ts+K62 wherein K12-K62 are weight coefficients.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 58 words

A method as recited in claim 6 wherein comfort indexes F2 and F4 in the air cooling operation and air heating operation of the heater air-conditioner system are provided respectively by the following formulas: F2=K11*Va+K21*To+K31*Ta+K41*Tr+K51*Ts+K61, F4=K12*Va+K22*To+K32*Ta+K42*Tr+K52*Ts+K62 wherein K11-K61 and K12-K62 are weight coefficients, and wherein an overall comfort index F3 is provided as follows; F3=α*F2+(1-α)F4, Wherein θ:weight coefficient.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 73 words

A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the airflow mode is selectively established among a vent mode in which the air from the heater-air-conditioner system mainly flows out of an upper outlet of the system, a heat mode in which the air mainly flows out of a lower outlet and a B/L mode in which the air flows out of both the upper outlet and lower outlet with a predetermined ratio therebetween.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 73 words

A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the airflow mode is selectively established among a vent mode in which the air from the heater-air-conditioner system mainly flows out of an upper outlet of the system, a heat mode in which the air mainly flows out of a lower outlet and a B/L mode in which the air flows out of both the upper outlet and lower outlet with a predetermined ratio therebetween.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the airflow mode is switched to the vent mode when either the deviation of the index F2 or F4 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the airflow mode is switched to the heat mode when either the deviation of the index F2 or F4 from the target comfort index is less than a predetermined value.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method as recited in claim 10 where the vent mode is maintained, if the deviation of the index F2 from the target comfort index is not greater than a predetermined value and if the deviation of the index F4 from the target comfort index is not smaller than a predetermined value.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the airflow mode is switched from the vent mode to the B/L mode in accordance with an opening of a damper which controls an air flow rate between a heater and an air conditioner of the system in a case where the deviation of the comfort index F2 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the airflow mode is switched from the vent mode to the B/L mode in accordance with an opening of a damper which controls an air flow rate between a heater and an air conditioner of the system in a case where the deviation of the comfort index F4 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the airflow mode is switched from the heater mode to the B/L mode in accordance with an opening of a damper which controls an air flow rate between a heater and an air conditioner of the system in a case where the deviation of the comfort index F2 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the airflow mode is switched from the heater mode to the B/L mode in accordance with an opening of a damper which controls an air flow rate between a heater and an air conditioner of the system in a case where the deviation of the comfort index F4 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 136 words

An air conditioning control apparatus of a vehicle comprising: a target temperature determining device which determines a target temperature of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, a comfort index setting device which calculates a comfort index provided as a function of at least an outlet air temperature and outlet air volume flowing out of a heater-air-conditioner system in which air is treated to be introduce to a passenger compartment, a target comfort index setting device which sets a target value of the comfort index, an output setting device which determines an optimized combination of the output air temperature and the output air volume which minimizes a deviation of the comfort index from the target comfort index, a compensator which compensates the target temperature to reduce the deviation when the deviation is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 136 words

An air conditioning control apparatus of a vehicle comprising: a target temperature determining device which determines a target temperature of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, a comfort index setting device which calculates a comfort index provided as a function of at least an outlet air temperature and outlet air volume flowing out of a heater-air-conditioner system in which air is treated to be introduce to a passenger compartment, a target comfort index setting device which sets a target value of the comfort index, an output setting device which determines an optimized combination of the output air temperature and the output air volume which minimizes a deviation of the comfort index from the target comfort index, a compensator which compensates the target temperature to reduce the deviation when the deviation is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the target comfort index is changeable as a function of a set interior temperature.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 where an airflow mode of the output air from the heater-air-conditioner system is changed where the deviation is not reduced below the predetermined value irrespective of the compensation of the target temperature.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the comfort index is calculated as a function of an air conditioning factor and an environmental factor.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 62 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the comfort index F is calculated by the following formula: F=K1*Va+K2*To+K3*Ta+K4*Tr+K5*Ts+K6 Wherein Va:outlet air volume to a passenger compartment, To:outlet air temperature to the passenger compartment, Ta:ambient (outside) air temperature, Tr:interior temperature of a passenger compartment, Ts:solar radiation value, K1 through K6: weighting coefficients for the respective variables Va, To, Ta, Tr and Ts.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein the airflow mode in an air cooling operation of the heater-air-conditioner system is different from that in an air heating operation of the system.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein a comfort index F2 in the air cooling operation of the heater air-conditioner system is provided by the following formula: F2=K11*Va+K21*To+K31*Ta+K41*Tr+K51*Ts+K61 Wherein K11-K61 are weight coefficients.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein a comfort index F4 in the air heating operation of the heater air-conditioner system is provided by the following formula: F4=K12*Va+K22*To+K32*Ta+K42*Tr+K52*Ts+K62 Wherein K12-K62 are weight coefficients.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein comfort indexes F2 and F4 in the air cooling operation and air heating operation of the heater air-conditioner system are provided respectively by the following formulas: F2=K11*Va+K21*To+K31*Ta+K41*Tr+K51*Ts+K61, F4=K12*Va+K22*To+K32*Ta+K42*Tr+K52*Ts+K62 wherein K11-K61 and K12-K62 are weight coefficients, and wherein an overall comfort index F3 is provided as follows; F3=α*F2+(1-α)F4, Wherein θ:weight coefficient.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 73 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein the airflow mode is selectively established among a vent mode in which the air from the heater-air-conditioner system mainly flows out of an upper outlet of the system, a heat mode in which the air mainly flows out of a lower outlet and a B/L mode in which the air flows out of both the upper outlet and lower outlet with a predetermined ratio therebetween.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 73 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein the airflow mode is selectively established among a vent mode in which the air from the heater-air-conditioner system mainly flows out of an upper outlet of the system, a heat mode in which the air mainly flows out of a lower outlet and a B/L mode in which the air flows out of both the upper outlet and lower outlet with a predetermined ratio therebetween.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 38 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein the airflow mode is switched to the vent mode when either the deviation of the index F2 or F4 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 38 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein the airflow mode is switched to the heat mode when either the deviation of the index F2 or F4 from the target comfort index is less than a predetermined value.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 52 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 29 where the vent mode is maintained, if the deviation of the index F2 from the target comfort index is not greater than a predetermined value and if the deviation of the index F4 from the target comfort index is not smaller than a predetermined value.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 67 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein the airflow mode is switched from the vent mode to the B/L mode in accordance with an opening of a damper which controls an air flow rate between a heater and an air conditioner of the system in a case where the deviation of the comfort index F2 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 67 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein the airflow mode is switched from the vent mode to the B/L mode in accordance with an opening of a damper which controls an air flow rate between a heater and an air conditioner of the system in a case where the deviation of the comfort index F4 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 67 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein the airflow mode is switched from the heater mode to the B/L mode in accordance with an opening of a damper which controls an air flow rate between a heater and an air conditioner of the system in a case where the deviation of the comfort index F2 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 67 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein the airflow mode is switched from the heater mode to the B/L mode in accordance with an opening of a damper which controls an air flow rate between a heater and an air conditioner of the system in a case where the deviation of the comfort index F4 from the target comfort index is greater than a predetermined value.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-05-21	1999-11-20	2000-05-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-05-21	2003-11-20	2004-05-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-05-21	2007-11-20	2008-05-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Control method of vehicle air-conditioning apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag