Abstract: A motor vehicle cabin has four seat positions and a heating and ventilating apparatus which includes means for producing hot and cold air streams, temperature control means, air distribution ducts having outlets at different points in the cabin at each seat position, and distribution means for adjustably distributing the mixture of the cold and hot air streams between the various air distribution ducts. These ducts include ducts which are open in at least two different points in the rear seat positions, each of which has its own temperature control means for adjusting the air temperature at that position, and means for adjusting the flow of air to that position.

Abstract: In an air conditioning system mounted on a vehicle whose roof is openable and closable, adjustment is made based on whether the roof is open or closed. Whether the roof is open is determined. When the roof is open, air volume of a blower is increased according to an increase in a vehicle speed. As such, when the vehicle speed is increased, and an airflow entrapped from rearward to frontward becomes strong while the roof is open, adjustment is made.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an air conditioning apparatus include a case partitioned into a first air passage and a second air passage by partition plates (16-19), a heat exchanger such as a heater core. The heater exchanger is sandwiched between the partition plates. Further, the heat exchanger is formed by laminating tubes and a fin while the fin is disposed in each main air passage formed between tube walls of the tubes. Each end of the partition plates is opposite to each end of the tubes so that the partition plates are parallel to the tubes. In this way, airflows which respectively have passed from the air first and second passages pass through the heat exchanger without being mixed with each other therein. As a result, the separation characteristics of airflows can be improved.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system for a vehicle including a front HVAC control system that communicates with a rear HVAC control system. The rear HVAC control system includes a control panel having mode, temperature, and blower speed controls. The front HVAC control system includes a control panel having a rear manual control switch for enabling/disabling manual control of the rear HVAC system via the rear HVAC control panel. A microprocessor communicates control information from the front HVAC control system to the rear HVAC control system regardless of the position of the rear manual control switch. Whether the supplied control information is used by the rear HVAC control system is determined by the rear manual switch.

Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system that independently controls left-right air flow distribution in correspondence with left and right heat loads during a maximum cooling mode. In the system, blowout air flow is increased when driver seat side and passenger seat side air-mixing film members are both positioned in a maximum cooling position, and the heat load has risen in only one of a driver seat side space and a passenger seat side space in a passenger compartment. Further, each respective film member is operated to fully open a cool air bypass passage on the side on which the heat load has risen and the respective film member corresponding to the side on which the heat load has not risen significantly is operated to reduce the open area of the cool air bypass passage. At the same time, fan speed is increased to increase the air blow amount.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes a space air conditioning unit for blowing conditioned air into a passenger compartment, a seat air conditioning unit for blowing air into a vehicle seat, and a control unit for controlling the space air conditioning unit and the seat air conditioning unit. The control unit includes space controlling means for controlling the space air conditioning unit in accordance with a space control value calculated based on a space target air temperature, and seat controlling means for controlling the seat air conditioning unit in accordance with a seat control value calculated based on the space target air temperature. Further, the seat controlling means includes a first seat air conditioning means which determines the seat control value in a steady air conditioning state of the passenger compartment, and a second seat air-conditioning means which determines the seat control value in a transition air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A heating or air-conditioning unit for a motor vehicle includes a heating unit for generating heated air, at least one cold-air duct guided around the heating unit, and air-mixing spaces provided downstream of the heating unit in the direction of flow. The mixing spaces are separated from one another by at least one partition and into which cold and heated air can be introduced in each case in a controllable manner by means of air-flow control elements, in order to mix the air in each mixing space to a certain mixing temperature. It is thereby possible to supply air which can be temperature-controlled separately to at least two air-conditioning zones.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioning apparatus where temperature of air blown toward a front seat side and temperature of air blown toward a rear seat side of the passenger compartment are independently controlled, a switching door for generally partitioning a downstream warm air passage of a heater core into first and second air passages is disposed at an air outlet side of the heater core. When heating capacity for the front seat side of the passenger compartment is necessary to be increased, the switching door is operated to a rear shutting position so that all air heated by the heater core can be introduced toward the front seat side through the first and second air passages of the warm air passage.

Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioner provided with a rear face duct and rear foot duct, wherein the dimensions of the vehicular air-conditioner in the lengthwise direction are reduced by arranging the rear face duct (26) and foot duct (31) to appear to overlap at the parts extending downward when viewed from the side. Specifically, the rear face duct (26) is bent to the vehicle front to fit in the space formed by splitting the foot duct 31 into two from an intermediate position of the downstream side to form the right side duct portion (31a) and the left side duct portion (31b).

Abstract: A conditioned air unit for use in a motor vehicle providing heating or cooling to a plurality of regions having relatively independent temperature setting. The structure provides compact, flexible and convenient temperature conditioning for each region.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes a shutting door for interrupting the air flow from a rear face air outlet and a rear face shutting switch for generating a shutting signal when the shutting door closes the rear face air outlet. An electronic control unit (ECU) controls the operation of a rear air mixing door so that communication between a rear bypass passage and a warm air passage downstream from a heater core is interrupted by the rear air mixing door when the shutting signal is generated from the rear face shutting switch.

Abstract: A heat pump type air conditioning system (A) for an automotive vehicle. The heat type air conditioning system (A) comprises a first unit (10) including a heater core (11) through which an engine coolant of an engine flows, and a first heat exchanger (12) which forms part of a refrigeration cycle including a compressor (1) and a first condenser (3), in which a refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle. A second unit (20) is provided including a second condenser (21) and a second heat exchanger (22) which are fluidly connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger (12). A valve (V2) is fluidly connected in series with the second condenser (21) and disposed such that a part of the refrigerant is introduced through the valve into the second condenser (21) and the second heat exchanger (22).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating and/or air conditioning system for vehicle interiors with air outlets located at the middle level of the vehicle interior, especially in a dashboard. The outlets include a middle nozzle connected by air ducts with an air distributor, the middle nozzle having a middle nozzle automatic button, with a mixing chamber integrated into the air distributor. The chamber has a cold air duct controlled by a cold air flap for supplying cold air to the mixing chamber and at least one outlet opening to the middle level, with the air to the middle level being controllable by at least one middle level flap, with an automatic control device that comprises an additional automatic button, and with a control device for linking signal values of the adjusting elements and programmed control of adjusting motors to set the air flaps.

Abstract: Temperatures in a Dr side air-conditioning zone and a Pa side air-conditioning zone are controlled highly independently of each other without temperature interference between each zone. A room internal air temperature sensor and a room external air temperature sensor are provided. Dr side and Pa side temperature setters separately set room setpoint temperatures (Tset(Dr), Tset(Pa)) in each zone. First and second target blow-out temperature calculating portions, which include neural network, input the room setpoint temperatures and the temperature data. Then it calculates Dr side and Pa side target blow-out temperatures (TAO(Dr), TAO(Pa)) relative to each air-conditioning zones by using a neural network. Air-mixing doors separately adjusts the temperatures of conditioned air blown out from Dr side air passage and Pa side air passage to be the first and second target blow-out temperatures. Here, the neural network has the learning function, which adjusts its output to be desired data (teacher signal).

Abstract: Temperatures in a Dr side air-conditioning zone and a Pa side air-conditioning zone are controlled highly independently of each other without temperature interference between each zone. A room internal air temperature sensor and a room external air temperature sensor are provided. Dr side and Pa side temperature setters separately set room setpoint temperatures (Tset(Dr), Tset(Pa)) in each zone. First and second target blow-out temperature calculating portions, which include neural network, input the room setpoint temperatures and the temperature data. Then it calculates Dr side and Pa side target blow-out temperatures (TAO(Dr), TAO(Pa)) relative to each air-conditioning zones by using a neural network. Air-mixing doors separately adjusts the temperatures of conditioned air blown out from Dr side air passage and Pa side air passage to be the first and second target blow-out temperatures. Here, the neural network has the learning function, which adjusts its output to be desired data (teacher signal).

Abstract: An electric element (Peltier element composite) is disposed in a boundary between an outside air introduction passage and an inside air introduction air passage (114). The Peltier element composite absorbs heat from the inside air in the inside air introduction passage to cool and dehumidify the inside air and radiates heat to outside air in the outside air introduction passage. The inside air and outside air are blown out from a defroster air outlet through a second air passage. In this way, it is possible to increase an amount of introduced inside air and to improve the heating performance while maintaining the defrosting performance.

Abstract: A conditioned air unit for use in a motor vehicle providing heating or cooling to a plurality of regions having relatively independent temperature setting. The structure provides compact, flexible and convenient temperature conditioning for each region.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for actuating an air-conditioning system or an automatic air conditioner in a vehicle, in which it is possible to switch the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner on and off when the engine is operating. Here, the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner is switched off, if the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner is operating while the engine is operating and the engine is switched off. Further, the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner continues to possess a function with which, when the engine of the vehicle is stationary, the residual heat of the engine is utilizable. Additionally, at least one function of the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner, which is switchable manually when the engine is operating, is switchable via the same control element used to activate and deactivate the function in which the residual heat is utilized when the engine is stationary.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle climate control system is capable of simultaneously providing fully heated air exiting one air outlet while also providing fully cooled air exiting from a second air outlet. Another aspect of the present invention provides simultaneous and independently controlled air volumes exiting from two different air outlets while receiving air through one or more common air inlets. Yet another aspect of the present invention climate control system employs a single evaporator and two suction blowers arranged downstream of the evaporator. A further aspect of the present invention uses a single evaporator and two heaters angularly disposed in relation to each other. The automotive vehicle climate control system of the present invention further includes a single unit having a front heater and front outlet providing air flow forward of the unit, and a rear heater and rear air outlet providing air flow behind the unit.

Abstract: In an air-conditioning system having two air-conditioning passages serving two different air-conditioning zones but having a cooling degree detector provided in only one of the passages to reduce cost, with the degree to which air is cooled in the other passage being estimated based on a cooling degree detected by the detector and the difference between flows of air passing through the passages or an intake temperature of air entering the passages. On the other hand, when an evaporator is possible to be frosted in one of the passages, air flow amount in the one of the passages is corrected to be increased. Therefore, it can prevent a windshield from being fogged while preventing the evaporator from being frosted.

Abstract: In a multimedia information and control system for use in an automobile, at least one interface is employed which enables a user to access information concerning the automobile and control vehicle functions in an efficient manner. The user may select one of a plurality of displayed options on a screen of such an interface. Through audio, video and/or text media, the user is provided with information concerning the selected option and the vehicle function corresponding thereto. Having been so informed, the user may activate the selected option to control the corresponding vehicle function.

Abstract: According to the present invention, even when the two-layer mode in which the inside air is introduced into a first air passage and the outside air is introduced into a second air passage is set, it is further determined whether air mix doors are controlled at the maximum hot positions. When it has been determined that the air mix doors are controlled at the maximum hot positions, the inside/outside air introduction mode is still set to the two-layer mode, because the temperature difference due to the outside air temperature is small, however, otherwise, the inside/outside air introduction mode is not set to the two-layer mode but is set to a mode in which the outside air is introduced into the both air passages. In this way, it is possible to prevent the difference between the temperatures of the air blown out from a defroster opening portion and a foot opening portion from being increased due to the temperature of the outside air.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle includes a front air-conditioning unit for adjusting a temperature of air blown toward a front seat side in a passenger compartment, and a rear air-conditioning unit for adjusting a temperature of air blown toward a rear seat side in the passenger compartment. In the front air-conditioning unit, a ratio between an amount of air passing through a front heater core and an amount of air bypassing the front heater core is adjusted by an air mixing door, and the temperature of air blown toward the front seat side in the passenger compartment is adjusted by the rotation of the air mixing door. On the other hand, in the rear air-conditioning unit, a flow control valve for controlling a flow rate of hot water flowing into a rear heater core is provided, and the temperature of air blown toward the rear seat side in the passenger compartment is adjusted by the flow control valve.

Abstract: A motor vehicle air conditioning installation has a cold loop, a hot loop, a sensor for measuring cabin temperature, a manual setting unit for setting demand values of cabin air parameters, and a control unit for defining the resulting required adjustments to be made to the various components of the cold and hot loops. The control unit includes a temperature estimating module which generates an estimated value of the outside temperature, either from (a) the measured value of cabin temperature (in stabilized operation of the installation), or (b) a temperature value stored in a sub-memory of the control unit (when the installation is converging towards its stabilized mode).

Abstract: A case of an air conditioning system for a car includes a main body having a main path through which air supplied from a blower unit passes and a first path formed at the exit of the main path, a housing portion formed on top of the main body in which second and third paths communicating with the main path are formed, a rotating door which has an air stream path and which has rotatably installed inside the housing portion for selectively providing air received from the main path to the second and third paths, a heat exchanger installed in the main path, and a door unit installed on the boundary between the housing portion and the main path of the main body for allowing some or all of the air supplied from the blower unit to pass to the housing portion or to pass to the housing portion via the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle includes an evaporator and a heater core disposed approximately horizontally. In the air conditioning apparatus, an air-mixing door for adjusting a flow ratio of air passing through the heater core and air passing through a bypass passage is disposed, and air guide plates for guiding air are formed on a surface of the air-mixing door, positioned at a side of the bypass passage. A blower is disposed so that air is blown in an air-blowing direction approximately horizontally, and thereafter flows upwardly toward the heater core. The air guide plates guide air from a forward side toward a backward side of the air-blowing direction. Thus, in the air conditioning apparatus, a flow distribution and a temperature distribution of air to be blown toward the passenger compartment can be made uniform.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus in which the larger the air conditioning cooling load in a vehicle compartment, for example, the larger the solar radiation amount, the lower the set temperature or the larger the temperature deviation between set temperature and inner air temperature, the narrower the swing ranges of swing louvers of respective center and side FACE blow outlets are set. Regardless of the swing range of the swing louvers, swing cycles of the swing louvers are set constant, and the narrower the swing ranges of the swing louvers, the slower the swing speeds of the swing louvers are set. Therefore, annoying feeling is reduced, and comfortable feeling for passengers is significantly improved.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle climate control system is capable of simultaneously providing fully heated air exiting one air outlet while also providing fully cooled air exiting from a second air outlet. Another aspect of the present invention provides simultaneous and independently controlled air volumes exiting from two different air outlets while receiving air through one or more common air inlets. Yet another aspect of the present invention climate control system employs a single evaporator and two suction blowers arranged downstream of the evaporator. A further aspect of the present invention uses a single evaporator and two heaters angularly disposed in relation to each other. The automotive vehicle climate control system of the present invention further includes a single unit having a front heater and front outlet providing air flow forward of the unit, and a rear heater and rear air outlet providing air flow behind the unit.

Abstract: Two stop valves, associated with bypass ducts containing energy absorbing devices, enable an adjustable fraction of the hot fluid to be diverted past left and right hand heating radiators, so that any change in the adjustment of the fluid flow in either of the radiators has no effect on the fluid flow in the other radiator.

Abstract: A process for controlling an air-conditioning system for a passenger vehicle interior is disclosed in the case of which the air-conditioning output provided by individual air-conditioning ducts is controlled as a function of the vehicle seat occupancy. This permits a setting of the air-conditioning effect in the different areas of the vehicle interior which meets the requirements to a considerable extent. Individual solar intensity sensors at each of a plurality of individual seats control darkening of the side windows adjacent to the individual seats, whereby control of both the air-conditioning outlets and the window-darkening device associated with a respective seat as a function of the seat occupancy signal associated with the respective seat is carried out.

Abstract: In the case of a control unit for a vehicle heating or air-conditioning unit having a vehicle-borne monitor permitting access to different display and control menus, in addition to a selection possibility for an automatic program by way of an automatic key, an individual adjusting possibility is provided for the temperature distribution and/or air distribution in different zones of the vehicle interior which can be displayed and selected on the vehicle-borne monitor. The different zones of the vehicle interior can be selected by way of a control element by means of a symbolic representation on the vehicle-borne monitor. An air quantity selector is provided which is arranged in a hidden manner with respect to a temperature selector constructed as a rotary-type knob.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when target temperatures of air blown out toward a first and a second air conditioning zones are equal, a target opening degree of a second air mixing door is set to an actual opening degree of a first air mixing door. In this way, the second air mixing door is located at a deviated position in the range of -4-+4 (%) from the actual position of the first air mixing door. Thus, a relative positional deviation between the respective air mixing doors becomes 4 (%) even at maximum, which is approximately half as compared with a conventional value. Accordingly, temperatures of air blown out toward the first and second air conditioning zones can be substantially the same, and a comfortable temperature control independently for the right and left seats can be realized.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the air condition and heating within a vehicle interior compartment, in which the apparatus includes a fan (13), heat exchangers (14, 15), temperature sensors (26, 27, 28) and a solar sensor (29) and temperature control (47) for setting a desired temperature. The apparatus further includes a control unit (46) which is operative to calculate a theoretical interior temperature T.sub.I based only upon information from sensors (26, 29) sensing the external heat load of the compartment, a sensor (27) sensing the temperature of the air supplied to the compartment and fan current representative of the volume of air supplied to the compartment. The control unit (46) compares this theoretical interior temperature T.sub.I with the preset temperature T.sub.ISet , calculates the difference .DELTA.T.sub.I, and then controls air flow and mixed temperature T.sub.M to readjust or maintain the interior temperature within the compartment (19) at the preset temperature T.sub.ISet.

Abstract: When the passenger compartment is rapidly heated (e.g., a target air temperature TAO(Rr)>a predetermined temperature T1) and the heating capacity of the rear-seat heater core is less than a predetermined capacity (e.g., water temperature Tw<a predetermined temperature Tw1), a fan of a heater unit is stopped to prevent a cool air form blown out from the heater unit, and a fan of a cooler unit is also stopped at that time. Thus, when air is blown out from both of the cooler unit and the heater unit to achieve a "cooling of a head area and heating of a foot area" for a passenger at a rear seat in a passenger compartment, it is prevented for only cool air to be blown out from the cooler unit not to give cool air feeling to the passenger at the rear seat in the passenger compartment.

Abstract: Sealing portions protrude from both surfaces of a intermediate plate for partitioning a space in an air conditioning case into a first air passage and a second air passage. When doors in each of the first and second air passages are at positions at which a predetermined air flow path in each of the first and second air passages is closed, the sealing portions contact with the doors to seal gaps between the intermediate plate and each of the doors. Because the sealing portions are integrally molded with the partitioning member, the sealing portions can be easily formed by a die unit.

Abstract: An air conditioner for cooling or heating partitioned zones of an interior of a vehicle includes an air conditioning part and air curtain forming apparatus. The air conditioning part cools and heats intake air. The cooled or heated intake air is supplied to the air curtain forming apparatus. In the air curtain forming apparatus, the cooled or heated air entering the air feeder from the air conditioning part is discharged to an air curtain forming part arranged in plural positions of the interior of the vehicle, and sprayed to form the air curtain by an air spray nozzle part and air suction nozzle part. The sprayed air is admitted to an air-exhaust part to be recirculated to the air feeder or externally discharged. A microprocessor controls the air conditioning part and air curtain forming apparatus by receiving various control signals from a temperature/operation controlling part, a temperature/recognition sensor and a mode selector.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus for allowing the temperatures of a first air-conditioning zone and a second air-conditioning zone to quickly approach the respective set temperatures by properly controlling the air flow rate and the ratio of fresh/recirculated air, even when the set temperatures differ from one another. The device includes a controller that determines whether the system is in a transitional period or in a steady state based on the deviation of the compartment temperature detected by the compartment temperature sensor from the first and second set temperatures for the first and second zones. If a determination is made that the system is in a transitional period, the controller acts to determine the flow rates of air being supplied to respective blowers as well as making the determination concerning the guidance ratio of the fresh to recirculated air.

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).

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle includes a first sunlight sensor disposed in a driver's seat side and a second sunlight sensor disposed in a passenger seat side space. The sunlight sensors are integrally formed with a filter and a Fresnel lens. When an elevation angle of sunlight is low, an inadequate correction of sunlight amounts is prevented by the Fresnel lens. Further, when sunlight enters the vehicle from the side, detected sunlight amounts detected by the first and second sunlight sensors are corrected so that a ratio or a difference between the detected sunlight amounts becomes large when the ratio or the difference is in a predetermined range. Therefore, when sunlight enters from the side, the correction of the detected sunlight amounts can be performed adequately so that passengers in the passenger compartment of the vehicle feel comfortable.

Abstract: An air conditioner capable of separately controlling the temperatures of the conditioned air blown to first and second air conditioning zones and making respective blowing modes be common on both air passage sides, wherein the target blowing temperature is determined from the necessary blowing temperature corresponding to respective blowing modes and the opening degree of the air mix door is controlled based on said target blowing temperature, thereby the blowing temperature to the respective air conditioning zones in the respective modes being within a range of temperatures that cause no feeling of discomfort to an air conditioner user in the respective blowing modes.

Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioner which ensures the flow of air required for independent control of the temperatures of the driver's side and passenger's side of the vehicle compartment by using as the final blower voltage the mean value of the blower voltage corresponding to the target blowing temperature of the driver's side and the blower voltage corresponding to the target blowing temperature of the passenger's side.

Abstract: A vehicle heating and air conditioning system has multiple zones and a manual comfort selector for each zone. The setting for each zone is adjustable for the effects of sun intensity and sun position. A Global Position System (GPS) navigation system provides heading, longitude, latitude, time and date data from which sun position relative to the vehicle is determined, and solar sensors provide solar intensity information. An empirical table for each zone addressed by sun elevation and relative azimuth contains solar illumination factors which, along with solar intensity factors, afford an adjustment to the comfort settings, thus altering the temperature and/or flow rate of air supplied to each zone. Alternatively, in the absence of a GPS receiver, a magnetic compass is used for heading data, geographic region data is entered manually, and an on-board clock furnishes the time and date.