Vehicle cabin temperature control device and electric vehicle
The vehicle cabin temperature control device comprises an air conditioning device based on a refrigeration cycle including a compressor driven by an electric motor, and including an air blowing port for blowing conditioned air into a cabin of a vehicle, and an air blowing device configured to blow conditioned air to an occupant seated on a seat and consuming less electric power than the air conditioning device, and a control unit that activates the air blowing device for a predetermined time period upon startup of the air conditioning device.
1 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device, comprising:
an air conditioning device including an air blowing port for blowing air-conditioned air into a cabin of a vehicle, the air blowing port being provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle;
a seat temperature control device including at least one of an air blowing device for blowing air-conditioned air by at least one of a heater and a semiconductor device toward an occupant of a seat and a seat heater, the seat temperature control device consuming less power than the air conditioning device; and
a control unit that activates the seat temperature control device for a predetermined time period upon startup of the air conditioning device,
wherein the control unit sets a set temperature of the seat temperature control device so as to be lower in an earlier part of the predetermined time period as compared to a latter part of the predetermined time period, and
wherein the control unit changes the set temperature of the seat temperature control device from a first temperature to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature after the air conditioning device starts blowing air-conditioned air into the cabin and a temperature in the cabin starts to increase.
2 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the air conditioning device is based on a refrigeration cycle including a compressor driven by an electric motor.
3 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time period is a time period lasting for a predetermined time from a start of the air conditioning device.
4 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time period is a time period that starts from a start of the air conditioning device and lasts for so long as a difference between a set temperature of the air conditioning device and a temperature in the cabin is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
5 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the seat temperature control device includes the air blowing device, and the control unit sets an amount of air blown from the air blowing device to be smaller in an earlier part of the predetermined time period as compared to a latter part of the predetermined time period.
6 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the seat temperature control device includes the air blowing device, and the control unit intermittently operates the air blowing device.
7 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit operates the air conditioning device with a power value lower than a power value for steady operation while the seat temperature control device is in operation.
8 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the air blowing device is provided in a seat back or headrest of the seat and includes an air blowing port for blowing air toward a neck of a seat occupant.
9 . An electric vehicle which is provided with driven wheels driven by an electric motor, the electric vehicle including the vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 2 , wherein the electric motor driving the driven wheels, the electric motor driving the compressor, and the seat temperature control device share a common battery as a power source.
10 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device, comprising:
an air conditioning device including an air blowing port for blowing air-conditioned air into a cabin of a vehicle, the air blowing port being provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle;
a seat temperature control device including at least one of an air blowing device for blowing air-conditioned air by at least one of a heater and a semiconductor device toward an occupant of a seat and a seat heater, the seat temperature control device consuming less power than the air conditioning device; and
a control unit that activates the seat temperature control device for a predetermined time period upon startup of the air conditioning device,
wherein the seat temperature control device includes the air blowing device, and the control unit sets an amount of air blown from the air blowing device to be smaller in an earlier part of the predetermined time period as compared to a latter part of the predetermined time period, and
wherein the control unit changes a flow rate of the air blown from the air blowing device from a first flow rate to a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate after the air conditioning device starts blowing air-conditioned air into the cabin and a temperature in the cabin starts to increase.
11 . A vehicle cabin temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein at the startup of air conditioning device, the control unit operates the seat temperature control device with a power consumption smaller than a power consumption of the air conditioning device.