1. A vehicle remote control system for transmitting a setting command relating to a preset time set by a remote control terminal to an on-vehicle communication device of a vehicle identified by the remote control terminal via a server provided in an information center that handles vehicle information, thereby controlling an on-vehicle device provided in the vehicle to execute a predetermined operation at the preset time, the vehicle remote control system comprising:
standby time calculation means for calculating a standby time until the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the preset time set by the remote control terminal and a current time of a clock included in the remote control terminal; and
operation timing setting means for setting an operation timing of the on-vehicle device so that the on-vehicle device executes the predetermined operation when the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means elapses.
2. A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising:
actual standby time calculation means for calculating an actual standby time by reducing the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means with a lapse of time;
estimated time calculation means for calculating an estimated time at which the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the actual standby time calculated by the actual standby time calculation means and a current time in an area where the vehicle is located; and
display control means for displaying the estimated time calculated by the estimated time calculation means on a screen of the remote control terminal.
3. A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the standby time calculation means calculates, as the standby time, a time corresponding to a difference between the preset time set by the remote control terminal and the current time of the clock included in the remote control terminal.
4. A vehicle remote control system according to claim 2, wherein the estimated time calculation means calculates, as the estimated time, a time obtained by advancing the current time in the area where the vehicle is located by the actual standby time calculated by the actual standby time calculation means.
5. A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the on-vehicle device comprises a charge device for charging an on-vehicle battery.
6. A remote control terminal for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the remote control terminal being configured to transmit the set preset time and the current time of the clock included in the remote control terminal to the server.
7. A remote control terminal for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the remote control terminal comprising the standby time calculation means.
8. A remote control terminal for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 2,
the remote control terminal comprising the display control means.
9. A remote control terminal for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 2,
the remote control terminal comprising the estimated time calculation means and the display control means.
10. A remote control terminal for transmitting a setting command relating to a preset time to an on-vehicle communication device of a specific vehicle via a server provided in an information center that handles vehicle information, thereby controlling an on-vehicle device provided in the specific vehicle to execute a predetermined operation at the preset time, the remote control terminal comprising:
setting means for setting the preset time;
clock means for outputting a current time;
standby time calculation means for calculating a standby time until the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the preset time set by the setting means and the current time output by the clock means; and
standby time transmission means for transmitting the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means to the server, thereby setting an operation timing of the on-vehicle device.
11. A remote control terminal according to claim 10, further comprising:
actual standby time acquisition means for acquiring an actual standby time by reducing the standby time with a lapse of time;
vehicle position time acquisition means for acquiring a current time in an area where the vehicle is located;
estimated time calculation means for calculating an estimated time at which the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the actual standby time acquired by the actual standby time acquisition means and the current time in the area where the vehicle is located, which is acquired by the vehicle position time acquisition means; and
estimated time display means for displaying the estimated time calculated by the estimated time calculation means.
12. A server for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the server being configured to receive the preset time set by the remote control terminal and the current time of the clock included in the remote control terminal, and to transmit the received preset time and the received current time to the on-vehicle communication device.
13. A server for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the server comprising the standby time calculation means.
14. A server for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 2,
the server comprising the estimated time calculation means.
15. A server to be provided in an information center that handles vehicle information, the server being configured to receive a setting command relating to a preset time set by a remote control terminal and to transmit a remote command for controlling an on-vehicle device provided in a vehicle specified by the remote control terminal to execute a predetermined operation at the preset time to an on-vehicle communication device of the vehicle, the server comprising:
standby time calculation means for calculating a standby time until the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the preset time set by the remote control terminal and a current time of a clock included in the remote control terminal; and
standby time transmission means for transmitting the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means to the on-vehicle communication device as the remote command, thereby setting an operation timing of the on-vehicle device.
16. A server according to claim 15, further comprising:
actual standby time acquisition means for acquiring an actual standby time by reducing the standby time with a lapse of time;
vehicle position time acquisition means for acquiring a current time in an area where the vehicle is located;
estimated time calculation means for calculating an estimated time at which the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the actual standby time acquired by the actual standby time acquisition means and the current time in the area where the vehicle is located, which is acquired by the vehicle position time acquisition means; and
estimated time transmission means for transmitting the estimated time calculated by the estimated time calculation means to the remote control terminal.
17. A vehicle for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the vehicle comprising the standby time calculation means and the operation timing setting means.
18. A vehicle for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 2,
the vehicle comprising the actual standby time calculation means.
19. A vehicle, which is configured to receive by an on-vehicle communication device a setting command relating to a preset time set by a remote control terminal via a server provided in an information center that handles vehicle information, thereby controlling an on-vehicle device to execute a predetermined operation at the preset time, the vehicle comprising:
time acquisition means for acquiring the preset time set by the remote control terminal and a current time of a clock included in the remote control terminal;
standby time calculation means for calculating a standby time until the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the preset time and the current time of the clock included in the remote control terminal, which are acquired by the time acquisition means; and
operation timing setting means for setting an operation timing of the on-vehicle device so that the on-vehicle device executes the predetermined operation when the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means elapses.
20. A vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising:
actual standby time calculation means for calculating an actual standby time by reducing the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means with a lapse of time; and
actual standby time transmission means for transmitting the actual standby time calculated by the actual standby time calculation means to the server.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicle air conditioning system comprising:
an air duct for blowing conditioned air into a passenger compartment;
a refrigeration cycle having:
a cooling heat exchanger disposed within said air duct to serve as a heat absorber in a dehumidifying mode;
a heating heat exchanger disposed downstream of said cooling heat exchanger, in a direction of airflow within said air duct, to serve as a heat radiator in the dehumidifying mode;
an external heat exchanger disposed external to said air duct to serve as a heat absorber or a heat radiator in the dehumidifying mode;
a first variable throttle valve connected between said heating heat exchanger and said external heat exchanger, wherein said first variable throttle valve is capable of decompressing a refrigerant introduced from said heating heat exchanger as well as changing the degree of valve opening thereof;
a second variable throttle valve connected between said external heat exchanger and said cooling heat exchanger, wherein said second variable throttle valve is capable of decompressing the refrigerant introduced from said external heat exchanger as well as changing the degree of valve opening thereof; and
a dehumidifying mode circulation path for circulating refrigerant discharged from a refrigerant compressor along a path from said heating heat exchanger through said first variable throttle valve, said external heat exchanger, said second variable throttle valve, and said cooling heat exchanger to said refrigerant compressor;
a cycle efficiency sensing means for sensing a current cycle efficiency;
a cycle efficiency determination means for calculating a target cycle efficiency; and
a throttle valve control means for controlling the degree of opening of any one of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve in the dehumidifying mode in accordance with a deviation between said target cycle efficiency set by said cycle efficiency determination means and said current cycle efficiency sensed by said cycle efficiency sensing means.
2. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein
said refrigerant compressor is a motor-driven refrigerant compressor rotatably driven by a drive motor that is controllably activated by an inverter serving as a drive power supply.
3. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein
said cycle efficiency sensing means is a high-pressure sensing means for sensing a high pressure in said refrigeration cycle,
said cycle efficiency determination means is a first high-pressure determination means, having a first refrigerant temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the refrigerant at an outlet of said heating heat exchanger, for calculating a target high pressure providing a maximum cycle efficiency in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerant sensed by said first refrigerant temperature sensing means at the outlet of said heating heat exchanger, and
in accordance with a pressure deviation between a current high pressure sensed by said high-pressure sensing means and the target high pressure set by said first high-pressure determination means, said throttle valve control means controls the degree of opening of any one of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve.
4. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2, further comprising:
a capacity overload sensing means for sensing a capacity overload on said heating heat exchanger, wherein
said cycle efficiency determination means is a second high-pressure determination means, having a second refrigerant temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the refrigerant at an outlet of said external heat exchanger, for calculating a target high pressure providing a maximum cycle efficiency in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerant sensed by said second refrigerant temperature sensing means at the outlet of said external heat exchanger, and
when a capacity overload on said heating heat exchanger is sensed by said capacity overload sensing means, said throttle valve control means controls the degree of opening of any one of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve in accordance with a pressure deviation between a current high pressure sensed by said high-pressure sensing means and the target high pressure set by said second high-pressure determination means.
5. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein
said capacity overload sensing means further comprises:
a heating capacity sensing means for sensing a heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger, a heating capacity determination means for calculating a target heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger, and a rotational speed sensing means for sensing a rotational speed of said refrigerant compressor, and
said capacity overload sensing means determines that said heating heat exchanger is overloaded when a deviation between the current heating capacity sensed by said heating capacity sensing means and the target heating capacity set by said heating capacity determination means is greater than or equal to a certain value, and when a dehumidifying operation condition is satisfied in which the rotational speed of said refrigerant compressor sensed by said rotational speed sensing means is greater than or equal to a certain value.
6. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2, further comprising:
a blowing temperature determination means for calculating a target blowing temperature of conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment,
a dehumidifying or defogging switch for requesting dehumidification of a passenger compartment or defogging of a glass window in an ON state, and
dehumidifying mode selection means for selecting a dehumidifying mode as an operation mode of said refrigeration cycle when the target blowing temperature set by said blowing temperature determination means is within a predetermined range or when said dehumidifying or defogging switch is in an ON state.
7. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein
said dehumidifying mode selection means is a dehumidifying mode setting means for requesting either a dehumidifying mode of a dehumidifying priority mode or a blowing temperature priority mode, said vehicle air conditioning system further comprising:
a dehumidifying capacity sensing means for sensing a dehumidifying capacity of said cooling heat exchanger,
a dehumidifying capacity determination means for calculating a target dehumidifying capacity of said cooling heat exchanger,
a heating capacity sensing means for sensing a heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger,
a heating capacity determination means for calculating a target heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger, and
an air conditioning control means for controlling a rotational speed of said refrigerant compressor in accordance with a deviation between a current dehumidifying capacity sensed by said dehumidifying capacity sensing means and the target dehumidifying capacity set by said dehumidifying capacity determination means when the dehumidifying priority mode is requested by said dehumidifying mode setting means as well as for controlling the degree of opening of any other of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve in accordance with a deviation between a current heating capacity sensed by said heating capacity sensing means and the target heating capacity set by said heating capacity determination means.
8. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein
said dehumidifying mode selection means is a dehumidifying mode setting means for requesting either a dehumidifying mode of the dehumidifying priority mode or the blowing temperature priority mode, said vehicle air conditioning system further comprising:
a dehumidifying capacity sensing means for sensing a dehumidifying capacity of said cooling heat exchanger;
a dehumidifying capacity determination means for calculating a target dehumidifying capacity of said cooling heat exchanger;
a heating capacity sensing means for sensing a heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger;
a heating capacity determination means for calculating a target heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger; and
an air conditioning control means for controlling a rotational speed of said refrigerant compressor in accordance with a deviation between a current heating capacity sensed by said heating capacity sensing means and the target heating capacity set by said heating capacity determination means when the blowing temperature priority mode is requested by said dehumidifying mode setting means as well as for controlling the degree of opening of any other of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve in accordance with a deviation between a current dehumidifying capacity sensed by said dehumidifying capacity sensing means and the target dehumidifying capacity set by said dehumidifying capacity determination means.
9. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 7, further comprising:
a dehumidifying or defogging switch for requesting dehumidification of a passenger compartment or defogging of a glass window in an ON state, and an air conditioner switch for activating said refrigerant compressor in an ON state or when either mode of operation, a cooling mode or a dehumidifying mode, of modes of operation of said refrigeration cycle is requested in an ON state, and
said dehumidifying mode setting means selects said dehumidifying priority mode to provide a higher priority to said dehumidifying priority mode than to said blowing temperature priority mode when said air conditioner switch is in an ON state or when said dehumidifying or defogging switch is in an ON state, or
said dehumidifying mode setting means selects said blowing temperature priority mode to provide a higher priority to said blowing temperature priority mode than to said dehumidifying priority mode when said dehumidifying or defogging switch is in an OFF state and when said air conditioner switch is in an OFF state.
10. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 7, further comprising:
a blowing temperature determination means for calculating a target blowing temperature of conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment, and an operation mode setting means for determining an operation mode of said refrigeration cycle in accordance with the target blowing temperature set by said blowing temperature determination means, wherein
said dehumidifying mode setting means selects said blowing temperature priority mode to provide a higher priority to said blowing temperature priority mode than to said dehumidifying priority mode when said operation mode setting means changes the operation mode of said refrigeration cycle from a heating mode to a dehumidifying mode.
11. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein
said refrigeration cycle employs carbon dioxide as the refrigerant,
a supercritical vapor compressive heat pump cycle is employed in which the refrigerant is discharged from said refrigerant compressor at a pressure greater than or equal to a critical pressure of the refrigerant, and
either one of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve is said first variable throttle valve.