Humidity control device and humidity control method

Abstract

A humidity control device ( 10 ) provided on a vehicle has a humidifier ( 12 ) capable of humidifying the vehicle interior and also has a control unit for controlling operation of the humidifier ( 12 ) so that the humidity in the interior is maintained at a predetermined target value. In the humidity control device ( 10 ), operating each operation switch of an operation panel ( 14 ) causes the humidifier ( 12 ) to be controlled so as to achieve an aimed item predetermined corresponding to the operation switch, and as a result, the humidity in the vehicle interior ( 32 ) is maintained within an optimum range which an occupant (P) in the interior feels comfortable. Also, moisture (St) is locally jetted from the humidifier ( 12 ) to the head (entire face, more specifically) of the occupant (P). By doing so, the moisture (St) is prevented from dispersing in the vehicle interior ( 32 ).

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A humidity control device comprising:
 a humidification unit that is capable of humidifying a vehicle interior; and   a control unit that controls operation of the humidification unit to carry out intermittent jetting of moisture so that the humidity of the vehicle interior is maintained at a predetermined target value.   
   
   
       12 . The humidity control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the humidification unit is configured to be capable of locally humidifying a specific region of an occupant in the vehicle interior. 
   
   
       13 . The humidity control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the humidification unit is configured so that it is possible to adjust a humidification amount and a humidification interval in the vehicle interior, the humidification amount is adjusted by increasing and decreasing a jetting amount of the moisture per one jetting by the humidification unit, and the humidification interval is adjusted by increasing and decreasing an interval of intermittent jetting by the humidification unit. 
   
   
       14 . The humidity control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the humidification unit is configured so that it is possible to adjust a humidification speed with respect to a humidification object, and the control unit adjusts the humidification speed of the humidification unit in accordance with a distance between the humidification unit and the humidification object. 
   
   
       15 . The humidity control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the humidification unit is configured so that it is possible to adjust a humidification amount with respect to a humidification object, and the control unit adjusts the humidification amount of the humidification unit in accordance with a distance between the humidification unit and the humidification object. 
   
   
       16 . The humidity control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit stores a plurality of the target values, the plurality of the target values can be selected, and when any of the plurality of the target values is selected, the control unit controls operation of the humidification unit so that the humidity of the vehicle interior is maintained at the one selected from the plurality of the target values. 
   
   
       17 . The humidity control device according to  claim 16 , further comprising an operation switch that is capable of selecting each of the plurality of the target values, wherein the control unit controls operation of the humidification unit so that the humidity of the vehicle interior is maintained at the target value corresponding to the selection state of the operation switch. 
   
   
       18 . The humidity control device according to  claim 14 , wherein the humidification speed is adjusted so as to increase according to an increase in the distance. 
   
   
       19 . The humidity control device according to  claim 15 , wherein the humidification amount is adjusted so as to increase according to an increase in the distance, and a rate of increase of the humidification amount with respect to the distance is different for different ranges of the distance. 
   
   
       20 . A humidity control method for a humidification unit that is disposed at a vehicle interior, the method comprising:
 determining a target humidity of the vehicle interior according to a humidification pattern that is selected in accordance with a humidification aim;   measuring a distance between the humidification unit and an occupant in the vehicle interior;   calculating a humidification speed of the humidification unit based on the target humidity and the distance;   adjusting a humidification amount per one jetting that is prescribed by the humidification pattern, based on the distance; and   operating the humidification unit to carry out intermittent jetting of moisture based on the adjustment result of the humidification amount per one jetting, and the humidification speed.   
   
   
       21 . The humidity control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the humidification unit is configured so that it is possible to adjust a humidification amount in the vehicle interior, the humidification amount is adjusted by increasing and decreasing a jetting amount of the moisture per one jetting by the humidification unit.