WO2021004857A1 - Method for operating climate control equipment in dependence upon ambient climate information, and climate control system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating climate control equipment (12) of a motor vehicle (14) by means of a climate control system (10), in which method a control signal is generated by means of an electronic computing device (16) of the climate control equipment (12) and a climate control device (18) is operated in dependence upon the control signal to control the climate in the interior (20) of the motor vehicle (14), wherein the control signal is generated in dependence upon ambient climate information (24) of the surroundings (26) of the motor vehicle (14), the ambient climate information (24) is received from an electronic computing device (22) external to the motor vehicle by means of a communication device (28) of the climate control equipment (12), and the control signal is generated in dependence upon the ambient climate information (24) received. The invention further relates to a climate control system (10).

Description

Method for operating an air conditioning device as a function of climatic information about the surroundings, as well as an air conditioning system

The invention relates to a method for operating an air conditioning device

Motor vehicle by means of an air conditioning system according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to an air conditioning system.

It is known from the prior art that different sensors are installed in order to air-condition an interior of the motor vehicle, for example the

To be able to record the outside temperature. However, these sensors are often associated with significant costs in motor vehicle construction and, in particular, are only installed in premium vehicles. In medium-sized vehicles, for example, it is therefore the rule that such sensors are dispensed with for reasons of cost.

Furthermore, US 2018/0141563 A1 aims to classify the weather conditions with cameras and / or other sensors on a vehicle. The system can detect one or more weather conditions such as sunny skies, cloudy skies, rain, lights, thunderstorms, hail, snow, windy conditions, and darkness. The vehicle can accommodate the one or more weather conditions by dynamically and / or automatically changing the route of the vehicle, the operating modes of the vehicle, or a combination thereof. The vehicle can automatically search for or suggest an alternative route; move the sun visor, sunroof or blinds; change the temperature of part of the interior space; suggest a place to stop; change the headlight intensity automatically; Activate the fog lights and / or switch off the high beam, change the distance to other vehicles; activate the electronic stability program, windscreen wipers and / or defroster; change the dynamics of driving and / or change one or more threshold values. Furthermore, US 9,082,239 B2 describes a method, systems and a

computer readable medium to obtain a profile of a vehicle occupant and, based on the profile of the vehicle occupant and vehicle-related information, to take an action to assist the vehicle occupant.

In addition, US 2018/0326811 A1 describes a method for controlling an air conditioning system on the basis of environmental information, for example the current position of the vehicle and the conditions prevailing there.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a

To create an air conditioning system, by means of which a

Air conditioning device can be operated.

This object is achieved by a method and by an air conditioning system according to the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating an air conditioning device of a motor vehicle by means of an air conditioning system, in which a control signal is generated by means of an electronic computing device of the air conditioning device and an air conditioning device for air conditioning an interior of the motor vehicle is operated as a function of the control signal, the control signal being operated as a function of a climatic environment information of an environment of the motor vehicle is generated.

It is provided that the climatic environmental information from a

Electronic computing device external to the vehicle by means of a

Communication device of the air conditioning device is received and the control signal is generated as a function of the received climatic environmental information.

This makes it possible for the air-conditioning device to be operated with fewer components. In particular, this is because the motor vehicle should

for example not about appropriate sensors or

Detection devices have in order to be able to generate the climatic environment information, so the climatic environment information can from the

electronic computing device external to the vehicle and in Following this, the corresponding control signal for the air conditioning system can be generated.

Alternatively, the control signal in the vehicle-external, electronic

Computing device are generated and only the control signal to the

Communication device of the motor vehicle are transmitted.

It can preferably be provided that the electronic

Computing device is provided as a central electronic computing device external to the vehicle, in particular as a backend server.

In particular, the invention makes use of the fact that sensors for measuring the air quality cause significant costs in particular. In the normal case, such sensors are therefore mainly installed in premium vehicles, whereby in particular in middle-class vehicles they are usually used for reasons of cost and from

Space reasons are dispensed with. For such vehicles are in particular

software-based solutions as provided according to the invention are of interest. In addition to the known state of the art, the air conditioning / indoor air regulation in the air conditioning / indoor air control should now be provided by information available in the entire network, that is to say the climatic environmental information and its predictions of climatic and air conditions

Motor vehicle to be improved. In particular, this information can be equipped with appropriate sensors and connected to the backend

Motor vehicles as well as other sources such as environmental authorities or weather services.

According to the invention, the climatic environmental information is provided by means of the

Electronic computing device external to the vehicle based on electronic computing devices recorded by other vehicles and sent to the external vehicle

Ambient information transmitted to the computing device is generated and / or the climatic ambient information is generated by means of the electronic computing device external to the vehicle on the basis of information provided by service providers

Environment information is generated. In other words, it can be provided that the climatic environmental information is provided by other motor vehicles which

for example have the corresponding sensors, is generated. These

Motor vehicles then record their surroundings and can transmit this information to the electronic computing device external to the motor vehicle. The

Electronic computing device external to the vehicle then evaluates this Environment information and generates the environment information for the air conditioning device as a function thereof. As an alternative or in addition, it can be provided that environmental information provided by the service provider is used to generate the climatic environmental information. For example, the corresponding environmental information can be generated by environmental authorities or weather services as service providers. For example, this can be a

Pollen forecast can be used to control the air conditioning system accordingly. This makes it possible for the air conditioning device to be operated reliably and precisely.

According to an advantageous embodiment, depending on a current position detected by a navigation device of the motor vehicle, the

Motor vehicle received the climatic environmental information. In other words, the climatic environmental information for the current position is generated. In this way, it can be realized that the air conditioning device is set for the current position. Improved operation of the air conditioning device is thereby achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the control signal is additionally generated as a function of a person profile for a person in the interior of the motor vehicle. For example, if the person is allergic, this can be taken into account. For example, when pollen is in flight, the air conditioning device can be controlled in such a way that only circulating air is operated in the interior, so that pollen from the surroundings is prevented from entering the motor vehicle. It can also be provided that the air conditioning device is controlled as a function of a limit value for various pollutants. In particular, it can be provided that the person can set corresponding limit values in advance. Improved operation of the air conditioning device is thereby achieved.

Furthermore, it can be provided in particular that the control signal is additionally generated as a function of a large number of person profiles for a large number of people in the interior of the motor vehicle. In other words, it can be provided that if the large number of people are present in the interior of the motor vehicle, they can be taken into account in the air conditioning system. If, for example, different allergy sufferers are present in the interior of the motor vehicle, the corresponding information relating to these people can be used when driving

or rules of the air conditioning system are taken into account. This ensures improved operation of the air conditioning device. It is also advantageous if route guidance of the motor vehicle is taken into account when generating the control signal. In other words, the

Depending on a planned route guidance of the motor vehicle, which can for example be read out via the navigation device, a corresponding one

Air conditioning device control plan is generated, depending on which the air conditioning device can then be controlled or regulated along the route. This enables corresponding changes to be made in the air conditioning device at an early stage, so that improved operation of the air conditioning device can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a current route guidance of the motor vehicle is adapted as a function of the climatic environmental information. In other words, it can be provided that the route is adapted as a function of the climatic environmental information. If, for example, it is found that the motor vehicle would drive into an environment with an increased pollen count, a corresponding route can be adapted in such a way that the motor vehicle does not enter this zone with pollen count. This is an improved operation for the

Air conditioning device realized.

In a further advantageous embodiment, depending on the climatic information about the surroundings, an ambient climate is generated for the surroundings and / or an interior climate is generated for the interior. Depending on which sensors are on

Motor vehicle are present, the ambient climate and / or the

Indoor climate can be generated. The generated ambient climate and / or the generated indoor climate is a profile of the surroundings and / or the interior. The ambient climate and / or the interior climate thus describe the environment and / or the interior. In particular, the ambient climate or the interior climate can be approximated by means of the electronic computing device. For example, it can be provided that in motor vehicles that are only equipped with sensors for measuring the quality of the inside air, but not with sensors for measuring the quality of the outside air, approximate values for the quality of the outside air, i.e. the ambient climate, from those outside the vehicle, electronic computing device. Alternatively or in addition, it can be provided that, in motor vehicles that are only equipped with sensors for measuring the quality of the outside air, but not with sensors for measuring the quality of the inside air, approximate values for the quality of the inside air, in other words for the interior climate, from the external to the electronic one

Computing device can be obtained. Again, as an alternative or in addition, in motor vehicles that are equipped neither with sensors for measuring the quality of the inside air nor with sensors for measuring the quality of the outside air, approximate values for the quality of the inside air, i.e. the interior climate, and the outside air, i.e. the ambient climate can be obtained from the electronic computing device external to the vehicle.

It is also advantageous if the climatic environmental information for a person in the interior of the motor vehicle is displayed on a display device of the air conditioning device. As a result, it can be realized, for example, that corresponding control proposals or control proposals for regulating the air conditioning system of the person or the occupant can be explained and justified. This leads to an improved operation of the air conditioning device.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an air conditioning system with a

Air conditioning device for a motor vehicle, with an electronic computing device of the air conditioning device, with an air conditioning device of the air conditioning device and with an electronic computing device external to the vehicle, wherein the

Air conditioning system is designed to carry out a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method by means of

Air conditioning system carried out.

Advantageous embodiments of the method are considered advantageous

View embodiments of the air conditioning system. The

To this end, the air conditioning system has objective features which are a

Enable implementation of the method or an advantageous embodiment thereof.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing. The features mentioned above in the description and

Combinations of features as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the single figure can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention. The single FIGURE shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of an air conditioning system.

Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figure.

The figure shows in a schematic side view an embodiment of a

Air conditioning system 10. The air conditioning system 10 has an air conditioning device 12 for a motor vehicle 14. The air conditioning device 12 also has an electronic computing device 16. Furthermore, the air conditioning device 12 has an air conditioning device 18. The air conditioning device 18 is for air conditioning an interior 20 of the

Motor vehicle 14 formed. The air conditioning system 10 also has an electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle.

It is provided that, for operating the air conditioning device 12 of the motor vehicle 14 by means of the air conditioning system 10 by means of the electronic computing device 16 of the air conditioning device 12, a control signal is generated and as a function of the

Control signal the air conditioning device 18 for air conditioning the interior 20 of the

Motor vehicle 14 is operated, the control signal being generated as a function of climatic environmental information 24 of an environment 26 of the motor vehicle 14.

It is provided that the climatic environmental information 24 from the

Electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle by means of a

Communication device 28 of the air conditioning device 12 is received and in

Dependence of the received climatic environmental information 24 that

Control signal is generated.

In particular, it can be provided that depending on a

Navigation device 30 of the motor vehicle 14 captured the current position of the motor vehicle 14, the climatic environmental information 24 is received.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the climatic environmental information 24 is transmitted electronically by means of the electronic computing device 22 external to the motor vehicle on the basis of other motor vehicles 32 and external to the motor vehicle

Ambient information 34 transmitted to computing device 22 are generated and / or the climatic environmental information 34 by means of the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle based on information provided by service providers 36

provided environment information 34 is generated.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the control signal is additionally generated as a function of a person profile for a person 38 in the interior 20 of the motor vehicle 14. As an alternative or in addition, it can be provided that the control signal is additionally generated as a function of a large number of person profiles for a large number of people 38 in the interior 20 of the motor vehicle 14.

Furthermore, it can be provided that route guidance of motor vehicle 14 is taken into account when generating the control signal. Furthermore, it can be provided that, depending on the climatic environmental information 24, a current

Route guidance of the motor vehicle 14 is adapted.

In particular, it can be provided that depending on the climatic

Ambient information 24, an ambient climate 40 is generated for the environment 26 and / or an interior climate 42 is generated for the interior 20.

Furthermore, it can be provided in particular that the climatic environmental information 24 for the person 38 in the interior 20 of the motor vehicle 14 is displayed on a

Display device 44 of the air conditioning device 12 is displayed.

In particular, the invention makes use of the fact that the measurement of the air quality in the environment 26 is associated with high costs, since corresponding sensors would have to be installed in the motor vehicle 14. Normally, such sensors are therefore primarily installed in premium vehicles, which in the present exemplary embodiment are represented by the further motor vehicle 32. Medium-sized vehicles are usually not equipped with such sensors for reasons of cost

In the present exemplary embodiment, the motor vehicle 14 can then be viewed in particular as such a middle-class vehicle. Hence it is for that

Motor vehicle 14 of particular importance to resort to a software-based solution. As a supplement to the known state of the art, the information available throughout the network is intended to provide forecasts of climate and

Air conditions, the air conditioning / indoor air control in the motor vehicle 14 can be improved. The climatic environmental information 24 can both from with corresponding

Sensors equipped and with the backend, in particular with the Electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle

Motor vehicles 32 as well as from other sources such as environmental authorities or weather services, which in the present example are shown as service providers 36, come. In particular, a pollen count forecast can be made by the service provider 36 for this purpose. In addition, requirements for the air conditioning device 12 in the motor vehicle 14 can be made available in a personalized manner, in that individual limit values can be set for various pollutants, so that, for example, allergy sufferers switch to the circulating air of the air conditioning device 18 even when the pollen count is low.

In particular, a method for cloud-based air conditioning and indoor air control with prediction and use within a vehicle fleet is thus provided, in which the motor vehicle 14 is provided with the navigation device 30 with dynamic route calculation. The vehicle 14 has the communication device 28, which can communicate with the Internet backend, in other words with the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle. Furthermore, the

The air conditioning device 12 has the electronic computing device 16 which is designed to process the control proposals for the air conditioning and indoor air operation from the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle.

It is now provided in particular that a temporal-spatial control of climate / indoor air conditions is offered as a personalized service via the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle. Furthermore, a permanent quality comparison of inside air and outside air of motor vehicles 32 equipped with sensors for measuring the quality of the inside and outside air can be carried out on the

electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle are carried out and from this in particular also for the motor vehicle 14 without such sensors

Control recommendation can be derived. These control recommendations can, for example, take into account the routing and suggest a comparison of outside air and inside air in a known area with better air conditions. Furthermore, on the basis of the control recommendations, it is also possible to actively intervene in the indoor air quality in that, for example, air cleaning or active scenting can be carried out in the interior space 20.

In particular, the respective requirements can also be personal

be performed. In particular, it can be provided for this purpose that the

Electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle via temporal-spatial Air quality maps that have all the properties of air quality

can currently track various parameters and also make predictions. These temporal and spatial air quality maps can use the environmental information 34 of the further motor vehicles 32 and / or other sources, such as authorities, weather services, that is to say the service provider 36, or others, to predict pollen counts

Facilities are created. In particular, by means of the

vehicle-external, electronic computing device 22 an approximation can be carried out from the fleet data for the air quality for all time-location points.

Furthermore, it can be provided in particular that the vehicle-external,

electronic computing device 22 is designed to monitor, store and evaluate all control proposals of the air conditioning / indoor air control of a vehicle fleet. In particular, it can also be provided that the respective control proposals can be explained and justified, for example, to person 38 via display device 34. The quality comparison in motor vehicles 32 equipped with sensors for measuring the quality of the inside and outside air and the control recommendations in motor vehicles 14 without such sensors can also be carried out or given as a function of the number of vehicle occupants.

Furthermore, it can be provided in particular that the vehicle-external,

electronic computing device 22 is designed so that the motor vehicles 32 equipped with sensors for measuring the air quality to the measured values as raw data or evaluated data at suitable time intervals

Electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle is transmitted. In particular, the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle can use this data permanently to update and refine its air quality map

draw in.

Furthermore, it can be provided that in the motor vehicle 14, which is only equipped with sensors for measuring the quality of the inside air but not with sensors for measuring the quality of the outside air, for example, approximate values for the quality of the outside air are obtained from the server Motor vehicle 14, which is only equipped with sensors for measuring the quality of the outside air, but not with sensors for measuring the quality of the inside air, approximate values for the quality of the inside air from the electronic one outside the motor vehicle

Computing device 22 can be obtained. Should the motor vehicle 14 neither with Sensors for measuring the quality of the inside air can also be equipped with sensors for measuring the quality of the outside air, so corresponding values for the quality of the inside air and the outside air can be obtained from the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle. The comparison of the quality of the inside air and the quality of the outside air and the derivation of corresponding controls can be carried out both inside the vehicle using the electronic computing device 16, or

external to the vehicle, for example by means of the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle. The standardization and individual

Settings of the values generated by the vehicle and the values obtained from the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle can be made both in the motor vehicle 14 and on the electronic computing device 22 external to the vehicle.

Overall, the invention shows a method for cloud-based climate and

Indoor air control with prediction and use of a vehicle fleet.

Claims

Claims 1. A method for operating an air conditioning device (12) of a motor vehicle (14) by means of an air conditioning system (10), in which a control signal is generated by means of an electronic computing device (16) of the air conditioning device (12) and, depending on the control signal, an air conditioning device (18) to the Air conditioning of an interior (20) of the motor vehicle (14) is operated, the control signal being generated as a function of climatic environmental information (24) of an environment (26) of the motor vehicle (14), characterized in that the climatic environment information (24) is received from an electronic computing device (22) external to the vehicle by means of a communication device (28) of the air conditioning device (12) and the control signal is generated as a function of the climatic environment information (24) received, the climatic environment information (24) by means of the Electronic computing device (22) external to the vehicle is generated on the basis of environmental information (34) captured by other vehicles (32) and transmitted to the electronic computing device (22) external to the vehicle and / or the climatic environmental information (24) is generated by means of the electronic computing device external to the vehicle ( 22) is generated on the basis of environmental information (34) provided by service providers (36). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that as a function of a navigation device (30) of the motor vehicle (14) recorded current position of the motor vehicle (14) the climatic Environment information (24) is received. 3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control signal is additionally generated as a function of a person profile for a person (38) in the interior (20) of the motor vehicle (14). 4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition, the control signal is generated as a function of a large number of person profiles for a large number of people (38) in the interior (20) of the motor vehicle (14). 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that route guidance of the motor vehicle (14) is taken into account when generating the control signal. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that depending on the climatic environmental information (24) a current one Route guidance of the motor vehicle (14) is adapted. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Depending on the climatic environmental information (24), an ambient climate (40) is generated for the surroundings (26) and / or an interior climate (42) is generated for the interior (20). 8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the climatic environment information (24) for a person (38) in the interior (20) of the motor vehicle (14) is displayed on a display device (44) of the air conditioning device (12). 9. Air conditioning system (10) with an air conditioning device (12) for a motor vehicle (14), with an electronic computing device (16) of the air conditioning device (12), with an air conditioning device (18) of the air conditioning device (12) and with a electronic computing device (22) external to the vehicle, the Air conditioning system (10) is designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 8.