AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SCENT DIFFUSION OF THE SAME

摘要

Disclosed are an air conditioner for a vehicle which has an effective scent discharge logic by operating air freshener at a specific time, such as boarding, operation of a blower, or operation of an air conditioner, and a method for controlling the air freshener. The air conditioner for the vehicle includes an air conditioner case formed with an air inlet port at an inlet, an air outlet port at an outlet, and an air passage formed therein; an evaporator provided on the air passage of the air conditioner case; a blower for selectively blowing an indoor air or outdoor air to the air inlet port; and a control unit having an air freshener emitting a scent to a vehicle cabin and operating the air freshener on the basis of at least one of start ON/OFF of the vehicle, operation ON/OFF of the blower, and operation ON/OFF of the air conditioner. The method of controlling the air freshener includes the steps of: determining the start ON/OFF of the vehicle; operating the air freshener for a given time if it is determined that the start of the vehicle is ON; determining the operation ON/OFF of the blower; operating the air freshener for a given time if it is determined that the blower is ON; determining the operation ON/OFF of the air conditioner; and operating the air freshener for a given time if it is determined that the air conditioner is ON. Therefore, it is possible to effectively remove the bad smell to be generated in the process from the boarding to the operation of the air conditioner, and the life span of an air freshener cartridge is extended as the scent of the air freshener is effectively used. Also, it can provide a driver with a comfortable air.