Abstract: Light control glasses are used as window glasses of a vehicle. When the vehicle is parked, voltage is applied to the light control glass, which directly receives solar radiation from the sun, so that a light transmittancy of the light control glass is reduced to reduce the amount of solar radiation entered a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A buffering member is connected between a cushion member and an air discharge duct of a blower unit to damp vibrations of the blower unit and thus to limit conduction of the vibrations from the blower unit to the cushion member. Resilient damper members are held between a connector bracket and a cover member and hold seat spring members, so that the blower unit is supported by the seat spring member. The connector bracket includes protrusions, which protrude toward the cushion member and hold the seat spring members through the resilient damper members. The cushion member includes recesses, which receive the protrusions of the connector bracket in such a manner that the protrusions are spaced from the cushion member.

Abstract: In a seat air conditioning unit for a vehicle seat constructed with a seat cushion and a seat back, when a seat air conditioning operation is performed in a cooling operation of a passenger compartment, a cooling capacity of cool air blown from the seat back is set smaller than a cooling capacity of cool air blown from these at cushion while a passenger sits on the vehicle seat. Further, the cooling capacity of cool air blown from a lower portion of the seat back can be set smaller than the cooling capacity of an upper portion of the seat back. Accordingly, even when the cooling operation is continued for a long time while the seat air conditioning operation is performed, the waist portion of the passenger can be prevented from being excessively cooled.

Abstract: A seat air conditioner for a vehicle seat includes a seat air passage that is provided in at least one of a seat back and a seat cushion having a seat surface and a pad covered by the seat surface. The seat air conditioner further includes a blower unit disposed at a back side of the pad. The seat air passage has an air distribution passage embedded within the pad and a connection hole passage extending from a predetermined portion in the air distribution passage to the blower unit. The air distribution passage extends in a surface direction in a pipe shape to have a predetermined pattern. Since the air distribution passage is provided inside the pad, seat surfaces of the seat cushion and the seat back can be made smooth, and comfortable seating feeling can be given to a user.

Abstract: In an air-conditioning unit mounted in a vehicle seat, a resilient member is provided adjacent to a rear surface of a cover member that makes contact with a user. A cushion member is provided between the cover member and the resilient member. A blower unit is supported by the resilient member on a side opposite to the cushion member with respect to the resilient member. The blower unit is fixed to the resilient member by interposing the resilient member between a fixing member and a blower case.

Abstract: In a vehicle seat air conditioning system, when air blows, discomfort in seating caused by the presence of an air-blowing unit is reduced and a depression is nearly avoided in the surface cover material. The system utilizes a surface cover material, a cushion member positioned on a backside of the surface cover material, an air-blowing hole penetrating through the thickness of said cushion member, an air-blowing unit positioned on a backside of said cushion member to supply air to said air-blowing hole, and a support portion, which is integral with the cushion member and that supports the surface cover material, provided in a position of said air-blowing hole. The size of an air-blowing hole proximate to the support portion is smaller than the size of an air-blowing hole proximate said air-blowing unit.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, air having passed through a heat exchanger of an air conditioner unit is introduced to a plurality of wall outlet portions formed on walls of a compartment and blown off into the compartment. The air conditioner unit includes a plurality of temperature control means for independently controlling at least one of volume and temperature of the air flowing into the compartment through the respective wall outlet portions.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a front air conditioning unit and a seat air conditioning unit are automatically controlled by an air conditioner ECU. If a seat air conditioner switch is operated by a user during an automatic control, the setting (e.g. air volume of a seat blower) of the seat air conditioning switch is learned. Based on the learning, a seat blower characteristic diagram, which is stored in a ROM, is changed. Therefore, from this time onward, under the same environmental condition, the seat blower air volume is determined based on the changed seat blower characteristic diagram. Accordingly, a seat air conditioning is provided as desired.

Abstract: A water supply tank unit, attached to a heating apparatus having a moistening function, comprising an open/close member biased in a direction of departing from a unit body attached to the heating apparatus, and a water supply tank held in the open/close member so as to be attachable/detachable, wherein the water supply tank and the open/close member have protrusions respectively so that the protrusions climb over each other and are locked to each other in a process of attaching/detaching the water supply tank.

Abstract: Light control glasses are used as window glasses of a vehicle. When the vehicle is parked, voltage is applied to the light control glass, which directly receives solar radiation from the sun, so that a light transmittancy of the light control glass is reduced to reduce the amount of solar radiation entered a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: Electric heaters and blower units are disposed inside an occupant seat having exterior cover members, each of which has a plurality of outlet openings. Each electric heater heats the corresponding exterior cover member, and each blower unit blows air through the outlet openings of the corresponding cover member. Manipulation dials are provided to manipulate the corresponding electric heaters and blower units. A variable heating power command signal, which commands increasing or decreasing of a heating power of each corresponding electric heater, and a variable flow rate command signal, which commands increasing or decreasing of an air flow rate of each corresponding blower unit, are generated through adjustment manipulation of the manipulation dial in synchronism with movement of the manipulation dial.

Abstract: The air conditioner includes a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of a clothes portion of a passenger. In the air conditioner, a thermal-feeling estimation value for the passenger is calculated based on the surface temperature of the clothes portion of the passenger, and air-conditioning operation of a passenger compartment is controlled based on the thermal-feeling estimation value. Accordingly, in the air conditioner, the thermal feeling can be always accurately estimated, and comfortable air-conditioning control can be performed using the thermal-feeling estimation value.

Abstract: An inner surface of a peripheral wall of a scroll casing includes an initial section, which extends from a circumferentially projected end of a nose. The initial section includes a slant surface. The slant surface is angled relative to a rotational axis of a fan such that an axially remote part of the slant surface, which is axially remote from an air inlet of the scroll casing, is radially closer to blades of the fan in comparison to an axially less remote part of the slant surface, which is axially less remote from the air inlet in comparison to the axially remote part.

Abstract: Electric heaters and blower units are disposed inside an occupant seat having exterior cover members, each of which has a plurality of outlet openings. Each electric heater heats the corresponding exterior cover member, and each blower unit blows air through the outlet openings of the corresponding cover member. Manipulation dials are provided to manipulate the corresponding electric heaters and blower units. A variable heating power command signal, which commands increasing or decreasing of a heating power of each corresponding electric heater, and a variable flow rate command signal, which commands increasing or decreasing of an air flow rate of each corresponding blower unit, are generated through adjustment manipulation of the manipulation dial in synchronism with movement of the manipulation dial.

Abstract: In an air-conditioning unit mounted in a vehicle seat, a resilient member is provided adjacent to a rear surface of a cover member that makes contact with a user. A cushion member is provided between the cover member and the resilient member. A blower unit is supported by the resilient member on a side opposite to the cushion member with respect to the resilient member. The blower unit is fixed to the resilient member by interposing the resilient member between a fixing member and a blower case.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioning system, a non-contact temperature sensor having plural temperature detecting elements is disposed to detect a predetermined region within a passenger compartment. The plural temperature detecting elements are constructed by plural first elements each of which has a smaller temperature detecting area in the predetermined region, and plural second elements each of which has a larger temperature detecting area in the predetermined region. The non-contact temperature sensor detects an area, where a detail temperature-distribution information is necessary, using the first elements, and detects an area, where the detail temperature-distribution information is unnecessary, using the second elements.

Abstract: In a control system of a vehicle air conditioner, when a temperature difference between a previous target air temperature at the previous manual operation and a present target air temperature at the present manual operation is smaller than a predetermined value, that is, when it is estimated that a passenger's desired air amount is not set by the previous manual operation, a blower voltage control characteristic for controlling an air amount of a blower is corrected so that a set value at the previous manual operation is not affected to the present learning. Accordingly, it can prevent air-conditioning feeling from being deteriorated due to mis-learning.

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: The air conditioner includes a surface temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of a clothes portion of a passenger. In the air conditioner, a thermal-feeling estimation value for the passenger is calculated based on the surface temperature of the clothes portion of the passenger, and air-conditioning operation of a passenger compartment is controlled based on the thermal-feeling estimation value. Accordingly, in the air conditioner, the thermal feeling can be always accurately estimated, and comfortable air-conditioning control can be performed using the thermal-feeling estimation value.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes an air conditioning unit where temperature adjustments of both right and left-seat side air-conditioning zones are independently performed. In the vehicle air conditioner, a swing range of right-seat side center louvers provided in a right center face air outlet is restricted from a front right-seat direction to a rear left-seat direction, and a swing range of left-seat side center louvers provided in a left center face air outlet is restricted from a front left-seat direction to a rear right-seat direction. Thus, right-left independent temperature control can be accurately performed in the vehicle air conditioner.