System for controlling air flow into the passenger compartment of a vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for controlling air flowing into a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an air outlet assembly including a housing having an airway for fluidly communicating air into the passenger compartment and at least one air-directing member mounted for movement within the airway and configured to direct a flow of air into the passenger compartment based on position of the at least one member in the airway;
an actuator assembly coupled to the at least one air-directing member to move the at least one air-directing member in the airway;
a surface area which functions as a user interface control;
a touch sensor associated with the surface area and configured to direct air flow responsive to a touch input in the form of a directional gesture applied as a movement parallel to the surface area based on an occupant'"'"'s finger touching, or in operative proximity to, the touch sensor;
control logic operative to determine a desired value for the position of the at least one member in the airway as a function of the input and to generate a position control signal based on the desired value, the actuator assembly moving the at least one air-directing member to a desired position in the airway based on the position control signal; and
a memory device for storing a plurality of activation schemes of the air outlet assembly, wherein at least one of the activation schemes is an oscillation mode of the air outlet assembly and wherein the air outlet assembly oscillates the flow of air upon a directional gesture in the form of a pinching action applied as a movement parallel to the surface area based on multiple fingers of the occupant touching, or in operative proximity to, the touch sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling air flowing into a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The system includes an air outlet assembly including a housing having an airway and one or more air-directing members mounted for movement within the airway. An actuator assembly moves each air-directing member in the airway. A discrete, touch-sensitive surface area functions as a user touch interface control. A touch sensor detects a touch input when a person is touching the surface area or is close to touching the surface area. Control logic is operative to determine a desired value for the position of each air-directing member in the airway as a function of the detected touch input and generates a position control signal based on the desired value. The actuator assembly moves its air-directing member to a desired position in the airway based on the position control signal.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for controlling air flowing into a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an air outlet assembly including a housing having an airway for fluidly communicating air into the passenger compartment and at least one air-directing member mounted for movement within the airway and configured to direct a flow of air into the passenger compartment based on position of the at least one member in the airway; an actuator assembly coupled to the at least one air-directing member to move the at least one air-directing member in the airway; a surface area which functions as a user interface control; a touch sensor associated with the surface area and configured to direct air flow responsive to a touch input in the form of a directional gesture applied as a movement parallel to the surface area based on an occupant'"'"'s finger touching, or in operative proximity to, the touch sensor; control logic operative to determine a desired value for the position of the at least one member in the airway as a function of the input and to generate a position control signal based on the desired value, the actuator assembly moving the at least one air-directing member to a desired position in the airway based on the position control signal; and a memory device for storing a plurality of activation schemes of the air outlet assembly, wherein at least one of the activation schemes is an oscillation mode of the air outlet assembly and wherein the air outlet assembly oscillates the flow of air upon a directional gesture in the form of a pinching action applied as a movement parallel to the surface area based on multiple fingers of the occupant touching, or in operative proximity to, the touch sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22)
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19. A system for controlling air flowing into a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a plurality of air outlet assemblies, each of the assemblies including a housing having an airway for fluidly communicating air into the passenger compartment and at least one air-directing member mounted for movement within the airway and configured to direct a flow of air into the passenger compartment based on position of the at least one member in the airway; an actuator assembly coupled to each air-directing member to move its air-directing member in its airway; a plurality of surface areas which function as user interface controls; a touch sensor associated with each surface area and configured to direct air flow responsive to a touch input in the form of a directional gesture applied as a movement parallel to the surface area based on an occupant'"'"'s finger touching, or in operative proximity to, the touch sensor; control logic operative to determine a desired value for the position of at least one member in its airway as a function of the input and to generate a position control signal based on the desired value, each actuator assembly moving at least one air-directing member to a desired position in its airway based on its position control signal and wherein the air outlet assemblies are independently controlled by the control logic, and a memory device for storing a plurality of activation schemes of the air outlet assembly, wherein at least one of the activation schemes is an oscillating mode of the air outlet assembly and wherein the air outlet assembly oscillates the flow of air upon a directional gesture in the form of a pinching action applied as a movement parallel to the surface area based on multiple fingers of the occupant touching, or in operative proximity to, the touch sensor. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification