Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a non-contact temperature sensor is used as a temperature detecting device. The non-contact temperature sensor has a plurality of temperature detection elements for detecting surface temperatures of a plurality of temperature detection ranges in a vicinity of at least one of seats of a passenger compartment in non-contact. The non-contact temperature sensor is provided in a ceiling portion of the passenger compartment in an arrangement area of the ceiling portion between a front end and a rear end of the one seat in a vehicle front-rear direction. Accordingly, even when the size and seated height of the passenger are changed, the temperature detection ranges can contain the passenger, and a passenger's temperature can be stably detected by using the non-contact temperature sensor.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a non-contact temperature sensor is used as an inside air temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in a passenger compartment. Based on infrared rays radiated from a predetermined area of the passenger compartment, the non-contact temperature sensor detects a surface temperature in the predetermined area in non-contact. Therefore, it is not necessary to blow air from the passenger compartment to the inside air temperature sensor in order to detect the temperature in the passenger compartment. Thus, energy consumption can be reduced while the temperature in the passenger compartment can be accurately detected. Accordingly, while the vehicle stops, the vehicle air conditioner can accurately determine whether air conditioning control by an air conditioning unit needs be started while energy consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a non-contact temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in a predetermined area of a passenger compartment in non-contact, an air conditioning unit that controls an air conditioning state in the passenger compartment based on at least the temperature detected by the non-contact temperature sensor, and an air conditioning ECU for controlling the air conditioning unit. The ECU determines whether the temperature detected by the non-contact temperature sensor is abnormal, and informs a determination result to a user by using a light emitting diode. Thus, it is possible to notify the user whether the temperature detected by the non-contact temperature sensor is abnormal. The determination whether the detected temperature of the non-contact temperature sensor is abnormal can be performed by using at least one of the temperature detected by the non-contact temperature sensor and an environment condition.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes an operating unit operated by a passenger for setting an air conditioning state in a passenger compartment, and a control unit for automatically controlling the air conditioning state in accordance with a detection value of an environment condition. The control unit performs a learning correction of a control characteristic in accordance with manual operations of the operating unit, and a number of the manual operations is indicated by using an indicator. Further, a number of the manual operations performed in an initial period and a number of the manual operations performed in an immediately recent period are comparably indicated on the indicator. Therefore, a passenger can realize the effect of the learning correction, even when the number of the manual operation is decreased after the learning correction is performed.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has an actuator for driving an air mixing door and various mode switching doors. An automatic range and a manual range are set in different operating angle ranges of the actuator. In the automatic range, an air outlet mode is automatically switched in accordance with an opening degree of the air mixing door. On the other hand, in the manual range, a multi-mode or a defroster mode is manually set, regardless of the opening degree of the air mixing door. In the manual range, air is simultaneously blown from all openings such as a face opening, a foot opening and a defroster opening in the multi-mode, and air is blown from the defroster opening in the defroster mode.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system uses a non-contact temperature sensor for feedback control of the temperature of the air blown out from a blowing opening. The degrees of opening of an air mix damper and a bypass open/close damper are controlled by actuators that respond in accordance with a temperature detected by the non-contact sensor so the blowing temperature will ultimately approach a target value. Air conditioning control is achieved as desired by this feedback control of the blowing temperature without providing wiring for a temperature sensor near the blowing opening.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has an IR sensor that detects a temperature of air inside a vehicle compartment. The IR sensor is disposed on an instrument panel so that the sensor is disposed above switches and a face blowout port on the instrument panel. Accordingly, a detecting range of the IR sensor is prevented from interfering by hands of a driver or an occupant even when the switches are operated by the driver. Thus, the air conditioner is capable of stable air conditioning.

Abstract: when a front-passenger seat occupant detecting sensor indicates absence of an occupant in a front-passenger seat, an air conditioning control ECU adjusts a temperature measurement measured with a non-contacting temperature sensor for measuring a surface temperature of the occupant in the front-passenger seat and controls air conditioning state around the front-passenger seat based on the adjusted temperature measurement associated with the front-passenger seat.

Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system includes a control unit for permitting a non-contact temperature sensor to sense in a non-contact manner the temperatures of sensed regions that constitute the surface of the driver in the passenger compartment. In the presence of a disturbance in a predetermined temperature distribution over the sensed regions, control is provided in accordance with the temperature sensed by the non-contact temperature sensor to the ratio of flow rate or the blower temperature of conditioned air supplied from a blower opening located near the region having the disturbance in the temperature distribution, of a face blower opening, an armrest blower opening, a ceiling blower opening, and a side-window blower opening to thereby eliminate the disturbance in the predetermined temperature distribution over a plurality of regions.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner with an automatic air-conditioning control, when a change operation of a set temperature is not performed by a passenger while air conditioning control is performed based on the set temperature in one region of environment condition, it is determined that the one region is a region corresponding to a passenger's preference. Accordingly, even if the change operation of the set temperature is not performed, when the region is stored once for the air conditioning control, the region is used as a learned region. Further, when the change operation of the set temperature is performed in an another region, a correction of the set temperature of the learned region is restricted. Thus, it can restrict the set temperature of a region, which is satisfied by the passenger from being changed.

Abstract: There are provided an air mixing door, a plurality of outlets for blowing air into respective portions in a vehicle compartment, outlet mode doors for switching a outlet mode by closing and opening the plurality of outlets, and one motor actuator for driving the air mixing door and the outlet mode doors. The outlet mode doors and the air-mixing door are alternately driven through a change of an operation angle of the motor actuator.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner with an automatic air-conditioning control, when a change operation of a set temperature is not performed by a passenger while air conditioning control is performed based on the set temperature in one region of environment condition, it is determined that the one region is a region corresponding to a passenger's preference. Accordingly, even if the change operation of the set temperature is not performed, when the region is stored once for the air conditioning control, the region is used as a learned region. Further, when the change operation of the set temperature is performed in an another region, a correction of the set temperature of the learned region is restricted. Thus, it can restrict the set temperature of a region, which is satisfied by the passenger from being changed.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner having an actuator for driving an air mixing door and mode switching doors, an automatic range and a manual range are set in different operation angle ranges of an operation angle of the actuator. In the automatic range, an air outlet mode is automatically switched in accordance with an opening degree of the air mixing door. On the other hand, in the manual range, a multi-mode or a defroster mode is manually set, regardless of the opening degree of the air mixing door. In the manual range, air is simultaneously blown from all openings such as a face opening, a foot opening and a defroster opening in the multi-mode, and air is blown from the defroster opening in the defroster mode.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has a non-contact temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of a detection range of a passenger compartment. The detection range includes a first detection portion in which a surface temperature is changed to approximately correspond to an inside air temperature, a second detection portion in which a surface temperature is changed in accordance with an outside air temperature, and a third detection portion in which a surface temperature is changed in accordance with a sunlight amount entering the passenger compartment. In the vehicle air conditioner, a target temperature of air blown into the passenger compartment is calculated based on a set temperature and a surface temperature from the non-contact temperature sensor, while air-conditioning performance is improved.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system designed to switch a ventilation mode to an air recirculation mode automatically when the contamination of outside air is greater than a given level. The system includes a mode selection prohibiting circuit that prohibits the switching between the air recirculation mode and the ventilation mode and operates the air conditioning system in the ventilation mode when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds or when the outside temperature is relatively low. This allows fresh air having a relatively lower humidity to be drawn into the passenger compartment, thereby avoiding fogging of inner surfaces of windows of the vehicle.

Abstract: To enable performance of comfortable rear seat air temperature control when an air temperature control system is changed from a state where solely a front seat air temperature control unit is operating to a state where a rear seat air temperature control unit also is operating, when deviation between temperature Tr(Fr) detected by a front seat inner air temperature sensor and a temperature Tr(Rr) detected by a rear seat inner air temperature sensor is a predetermined temperature A or more, a temperature Tr'(Rr) used in calculating a rear seat target blowing temperature is taken to be Tr(Fr)--B'. Additionally, when the above-mentioned deviation is A or less, Tr'(Rr) is taken to be equal to Tr(Rr).