APPARATUS OF MULTI-AIR MODE FOR VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

Abstract

An apparatus of multi-air mode for a vehicle air conditioner includes: an air conditioner (HVAC) that is provided in a vehicle and supplies air into the vehicle, an air duct unit in communication with the air conditioner and provided to deliver air supplied from the air conditioner to the inside of the vehicle or to discharge it to the outside of the vehicle, and a multi-air discharge unit in which the air delivered from the air duct unit is discharged into the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner, the apparatus comprising: an air conditioner provided in a vehicle and configured to supply air into the vehicle; an air duct unit in communication with the air conditioner and configured to deliver air supplied from the air conditioner to an inside of the vehicle or configured to discharge the air to an outside of the vehicle; and a multi-air discharge unit configured to supply the air delivered from the air duct unit into the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the air duct unit includes: a defrost duct configured to deliver air for defrosting inside the vehicle; a multi-air duct configured to transfer air for cooling and heating into the vehicle through the multi-air discharge unit; and a vent duct configured to discharge the air inside the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the air duct unit further includes: a floor duct configured to transfer the air for heating and cooling to a floor inside the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the multi-air discharge unit includes: a left side discharge unit through which air is discharged toward a driver seat inside the vehicle; and a right side discharge unit through which air is discharged toward a passenger seat inside the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the multi-air discharge unit includes a mesh-shaped multi-air discharge hole.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the mesh-shaped multi-air discharge hole is formed so as not to be visible from a view of a passenger when seating in a driver seat and a passenger seat of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the multi-air discharge unit has a multi-layer structure having a stepped portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the air duct unit includes: a dome door disposed between the air conditioner and the air duct unit and configured to enable the air supplied from the air conditioner to fluidly communicate with the defrost duct, the multi-air duct, and the vent duct, respectively.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the air duct unit includes: a plurality of flat doors configured to enable the air supplied from the air conditioner to fluidly communicate with the defrost duct, the multi-air duct, and the vent duct, respectively, and flat doors of the plurality of flat doors are disposed between the air conditioner and the defrost duct, between the air conditioner and the multi-air duct, and between the air conditioner and the vent duct.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the air conditioner and the multi-air duct are pressure-sealed with each other by a rubber pad.

11. A method of controlling an apparatus of multi-air mode for an air conditioner of a vehicle, the method comprising: turning on, by a driver using an air conditioner operation unit provided in the vehicle, power to the air conditioner; determining, by a controller, whether a driver has turned on a multi-air mode through the air conditioner operation unit; in response to determining that the multi-air mode is turned on, operating, by the controller, the air conditioner in the multi-air mode; determining, by the controller, whether an intensity of air discharged from the air conditioner is greater than or equal to a first stage; and in response to determining that the intensity of air discharged from the air conditioner is greater than or equal to the first stage, automatically adjusting, by the controller, the intensity of the air to a second stage less than the first stage.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: after automatically adjusting the intensity of the air to the second stage, determining, by the controller, whether the intensity of the air discharged from the air conditioner is manually selected; in response to determining that the intensity of the air discharged from the air conditioner is manually selected, operating at a manually selected stage; determining, by the controller, whether the driver has turned off the multi-air mode through the air conditioner operation unit; and in response to determining that the multi-air mode is turned off by the driver, operating, by the controller, the air conditioner in a state before the multi-air mode is turned on.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: in response to determining that the multi-air mode is not turned on, operating, by the controller, the air conditioner in a state before the multi-air mode is turned on.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: in response to determining that the intensity of air discharged from the air conditioner is less the first stage, maintaining, by the controller, the intensity of the air in a state before the first stage.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: in response to determining that the intensity of the air discharged from the air conditioner is not manually selected, maintaining, by the controller, the intensity of air in a state of the second stage.

16. A method of controlling an apparatus of multi-air mode for an air conditioner of a vehicle, the method comprising: turning on, by a driver using an air conditioner operation unit provided in the vehicle, power to the air conditioner; determining, by a controller, whether the driver has turned on an auto mode through the air conditioner operation unit; in response to determining that the auto mode is turned on, operating, by the controller, the air conditioner in an automatic mode; determining, by the controller, whether an interior temperature of the vehicle has reached a first target temperature; in response to determining that the interior temperature has reached the first target temperature, switching, by the controller, to the multi-air mode and discharging air from a multi-air duct, a vent duct, and a floor duct into an interior of the vehicle and reducing an intensity of the air; determining, by the controller, whether the interior temperature has reached a second target temperature lower than the first target temperature; in response to determining that the interior temperature has reached the second target temperature, discharging, by the controller, air only from the multi-air duct to the interior of the vehicle and further reducing the intensity of the air; determining, by the controller, whether the driver has turned off the auto mode through the air conditioner operation unit; and in response to determining that the auto mode is turned off, turning off, by the controller, the automatic mode.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: in response to determining that the auto mode is not turned on, maintaining, by the controller, a manual mode.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: in response to determining that the auto mode is not turned off, maintaining, by the controller, the automatic mode.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising: in response to determining that the interior temperature of the vehicle has not reached the first target temperature, or that the interior temperature has not reached the second target temperature, operating, by the controller, the air conditioner in a state before the interior temperature reaches the first target temperature or the interior temperature does not reach the second target temperature.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0031] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exterior of a vehicle interior to which an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure is applied;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a view showing an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

[0035] FIG. 4 is a view showing an air conditioner of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 5 is a view showing a left side discharge unit of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 5;

[0038] FIG. 7 is a view showing a right side discharge unit of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 7;

[0040] FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which a dome door is disposed inside an air duct unit of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG. 10 is a view showing a dome door of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which a flat door is disposed inside an air duct unit of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG. 12 is a view showing a flat door of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0044] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure; and

[0045] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to another form of the present disclosure.

[0046] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0048] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary forms of the present disclosure are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described forms may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

[0049] Further, in exemplary forms, since like reference numerals designate like elements having the same configuration, a first exemplary form is representatively described, and in other exemplary forms, only configurations different from the first exemplary form will be described.

[0050] The drawings are schematic, and are not illustrated in accordance with a scale. Relative dimensions and ratios of portions in the drawings are illustrated to be exaggerated or reduced in size for clarity and convenience, and the dimensions are just exemplified and are not limiting. In addition, like structures, elements, or components illustrated in two or more drawings use same reference numerals for showing similar features. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

[0051] The exemplary form of the present disclosure shows an exemplary form of the present disclosure in detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings will be expected. Therefore, the exemplary form is not limited to a specific aspect of the illustrated region, and for example, includes modifications of an aspect by manufacturing.

[0052] Now, an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure will be described with reference to attached drawings.

[0053] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exterior of a vehicle interior to which an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure is applied, FIG. 2 is a view showing an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a view showing an air conditioner of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure includes an air conditioner (HVAC), an air duct unit, and a multi-air discharge unit.

[0055] The air conditioner (HVAC) 10 provides air to the inside of the vehicle and is a device desired to achieve the purpose of air conditioning, and includes heat source devices such as boilers and refrigerators, heat transfer devices and end devices such as blowers, pumps, ducts, pipes, outlets, suction ports, radiators, etc., and controllers, etc. that perform operations so that these devices can satisfy the conditions of air conditioning. The air supplied into the vehicle by the air conditioner is used for cooling and heating inside the vehicle, controlling humidity, and removing harmful gases/dust.

[0056] The air duct unit 20 communicates with the air conditioner 10 and is provided to deliver air supplied from the air conditioner 10 to the inside of the vehicle or to discharge it to the outside. As shown in FIG. 3, the air duct unit 20 may include a defrost duct 22 for delivering air for defrosting inside the vehicle, a multi-air duct 24 for delivering air for cooling and heating into the vehicle through the multi-air discharge unit 30, and a vent duct 26 for discharging the air inside the vehicle to the outside.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 4, the air conditioner 10 includes a defrost discharge hole 12, a multi-air discharge hole 14, and a vent hole 16, and the defrost duct 22, the multi-air duct 24, and the vent duct 26 of the air duct unit 20 communicate with each of these. Air supplied from the air conditioner 10 is supplied to the indoor through the defrost duct 22, the multi-air duct 24, and the vent duct 26 through the defrost discharge hole 12, the multi-air discharge hole 14, and the vent hole 16, respectively according to its purpose. The air conditioner 10 is further provided with a floor discharge hole 18 for transferring air to the floor inside the vehicle, and the floor discharge hole 18 communicates with the floor duct 28 which may be additionally provided in the air duct unit 20 to supply air to the floor surface inside the vehicle.

[0058] Meanwhile, the multi-air duct 24 may be pressure-sealed with each other by a multi-air discharge hole 14 of the air conditioner 10 and a pad 25 made of a rubber material.

[0059] The air generated in the air conditioner 10 is discharged into the vehicle through the air duct unit 20 and the multi-air discharge unit 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-air discharge unit 30 includes a left side discharge unit 32 through which air is discharged toward a driver's seat inside the vehicle, and a right side discharge unit 34 through which air is discharged toward a passenger seat inside the vehicle.

[0060] In the existing vehicle, only the vent outlets 2, 4 and 6 on the left side of the driver's seat, the center of the vehicle, and the right side of the passenger's seat were provided. The multi-air discharge unit 30 according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure is provided in the driver's seat and the passenger seat in addition to the existing vent discharge outlets 2, 4, and 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-air discharge unit 30 may be provided on the right side of the driver's seat and in the center of the passenger seat.

[0061] FIG. 5 is a view showing a left side discharge unit of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 5.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the left side discharge unit 32 is provided on the right side of the driver's seat, and a mesh-shaped multi-air discharge hole 33 is formed. The multi-air discharge hole 33 may have a radius of about 3 mm or more and about 4 mm or less. In addition, the multi-air discharge unit 30 may be formed in a multi-layered structure having a stepped portion 36, and may be formed of a plastic material. By forming the diameter of the multi-air discharge hole 33 to be about 3 mm or more and formed of a plastic material, it is possible to prevent and reduce the phenomenon that condensed water forms in the multi-air discharge hole 33 due to a temperature difference in the vehicle interior, and secure an air volume and wind speed of a certain amount or more. In addition, the multi-air discharge hole 33 may be configured so that the driver is not visible from the driver's view when seated in the driver's seat. The multi-air discharge hole 33 is provided on an extension line with the existing discharge hole and has the same effect as not forming a separate multi-air discharge hole in design.

[0063] FIG. 7 is a view showing a right side discharge unit of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 7.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the right side discharge unit 34 may be provided in the center of the passenger seat. Like the left side discharge unit 32, the right side discharge unit 34 is formed with a mesh-shaped multi-air discharge hole 35 having a radius of about 3 mm or more and about 4 mm or less. In addition, the multi-air discharge unit 30 may be formed in a multi-layered structure having a stepped portion 36, and may be formed of a plastic material.

[0065] The left side discharge unit 32 and the right side discharge unit 34 may have a concave surface shape and then form a multi-air discharge hole 35 on the surface of the corresponding shape. The surface area in which the multi-air discharge hole 35 is formed may be divided into upper and lower portions by the stepped portion 36. In the lower portion of the surface area divided by the stepped portion 36, a multi-air discharge hole 35 may be formed in a shape that is open toward the bottom surface of the vehicle. The multi-air discharge hole 35 may be prevented from being seen from the passenger's view when seated in the driver's seat and the passenger seat due to the oblique natural curve of the multi-air discharge unit 30.

[0066] FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which a dome door is disposed inside an air duct unit of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure, and FIG. 10 is a view showing a dome door of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure. In addition, FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which a flat door is disposed inside an air duct unit of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure, and FIG. 12 is a view showing a flat door of an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 12, the air duct unit 20 may include a dome door 27 or a flat door 29. The dome door 27 or the flat door 29 is disposed in the interior between the air conditioner 10 and the air duct unit 20, and can be switched so that the air supplied from the air conditioner 10 communicates with the defrost duct 22, the multi-air duct 24, and the vent duct 26, respectively.

[0068] The dome door 27 illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the dome door 27 may have a sectoral shape in cross section, and a plurality of openings are formed on the curved surface to communicate with the defrost duct 22, the multi-air duct 24, and the vent duct 26, respectively. In addition, the plurality of openings are provided with a screening plate that rotate around both axes of the dome door 27. According to the rotation of the screening plate, the defrost duct 22, the multi-air duct 24, and the vent duct 26 and the opening may communicate with each other.

[0069] The flat door 29 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be provided in plural. The flat doors 29 can be placed on between the air conditioner 10 and the defrost duct 22, between the air conditioner 10 and the multi-air duct 24, and between the air conditioner 10 and the vent duct 26, respectively. The flat door 29 may be formed in a square plate shape, and may be configured to close or open the defrost duct 22, the multi-air duct 24, and the vent duct 26 by rotating around both axes of the square plate.

[0070] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 13, the power of the air conditioner is turned on by the driver through the air conditioner operation unit 40 provided in the vehicle S101.

[0072] After that, a controller determines whether the driver has turned on the multi-air mode through the air conditioner operation unit 40 S102. As shown in FIG. 1, a multi-air mode button (DIFFUSE button) 42 is provided on the air conditioner operation unit 40, and when the driver wants to use the multi-air mode, the NC button is turned on, and the DIFFUSE button 42 is turned on.

[0073] In this case, the controller may be implemented with one or more processors operating according to a set program, and the set program may be programmed to perform each step of the method for controlling a multi-air mode device for a vehicle air conditioner according to one form of the present disclosure.

[0074] When it is determined that the multi-air mode is ON, the controller operates the air conditioner in the multi-air mode S103.

[0075] If it is determined that the multi-air mode is not turned on, the controller operates the air conditioner in a state before the multi-air mode is turned on S110.

[0076] After that, the controller determines whether the intensity of the air discharged from the air conditioner is greater than or equal to the first stage S104. In this case, the first stage may be, for example, 4 of 8 stages.

[0077] When it is determined that the intensity of air discharged from the air conditioner is equal to or greater than the first stage, the controller may automatically adjust the intensity of the air to a second stage smaller than the first stage S105. In this case, the second stage may be, for example, 3 of 8 stages.

[0078] If it is determined that the strength of the air supplied from the air conditioner is not more than the first stage, the controller maintains the strength of the air in the state before the first stage S110.

[0079] After that, the controller determines whether the intensity of the air discharged from the air conditioner is manually selected S106. When the driver manually selects the air intensity through the air conditioner operation unit 40, the automatic adjustment of the air intensity is turned off and the driver operates in a corresponding manually selected stage S107.

[0080] If it is determined that the intensity of air supplied from the air conditioner is not manually selected, the controller maintains the intensity of the second stage of air S110.

[0081] After that, the controller determines whether the driver has turned off the multi-air mode through the air conditioner operation unit 40 S108. When the driver selects the OFF button through the air conditioner operation unit 40, the multi-air mode is turned off. Alternatively, it may be set to turn off the multi-air mode when the driver pushes the DIFFUSE button once more.

[0082] When it is determined that the multi-air mode is off, the controller operates the air conditioner in a state before the multi-air mode is turned on S109.

[0083] If it is determined that the multi-air mode is not turned off, the previous multi-air mode is maintained S110.

[0084] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an apparatus of multi-air mode for vehicle air conditioner according to another form of the present disclosure.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 14, the power of the air conditioner is turned on by the driver through the air conditioner operation unit 40 provided in the vehicle S201.

[0086] After that, the controller determines whether the driver has turned on the auto mode through the air conditioner operation unit 40 S202. As shown in FIG. 1, a auto mode button (AUTO button) is provided on the air conditioner operation unit 40, and when the driver wants to use the auto mode, the NC button is turned on, and the AUTO button is turned on.

[0087] When it is determined that the auto mode is ON, the controller operates the air conditioner in the auto mode S203.

[0088] If it is determined that the auto mode is not turned on, the controller operates the air conditioner in a state before the auto mode is turned on S210.

[0089] After that, the controller determines whether the vehicle interior temperature has reached the first target temperature S204. When it is determined that the vehicle interior temperature has reached the first target temperature, the controller switches to the multi-air mode, and controls to discharge air from the multi-air duct, the vent duct, and the floor duct into the vehicle interior and reduce the intensity of the air to a certain level S205.

[0090] After that, the controller determines whether the vehicle interior temperature has reached a second target temperature lower than the first target temperature S206.

[0091] When it is determined that the vehicle interior temperature has reached the second target temperature, the controller discharges air into the vehicle interior only from the multi-air duct and further reduces the intensity of the air S207.

[0092] If it is determined that the vehicle interior temperature has not reached the second target temperature, the previous state is maintained S210.

[0093] After that, the controller determines whether the driver has turned off the auto mode through the air conditioner operation unit 40 S208. When the driver selects the OFF button through the air conditioner operation unit 40, the auto mode is turned off. Alternatively, it may be set to turn off the auto mode when the driver pushes the AUTO button once more.

[0094] If it is determined that the automatic mode is off, the controller turns off the automatic mode S209, and if it is determined that the automatic mode is not turned off, the previous automatic mode state is maintained S210.

[0095] Like this, according to exemplary forms of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a comfortable vehicle interior environment by providing wind discharged through various air discharge units of the air conditioner inside the vehicle and adjusting the air volume according to the internal conditions of the vehicle.

[0096] While this present disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary forms, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed forms. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

TABLE-US-00001 <Description of symbols> 10: air conditioner 20: air duct unit 22: defrost duct 24: multi-air duct 25: pad 26: vent duct 27: dome door 28: floor duct 29: flat door 30: multi-air discharge unit 32: left side discharge unit 34: right side discharge unit 33, 35: multi-air discharge hole 36: stepped portion 40: operation unit