Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle HVAC system
First Claim
1. A climate system for conditioning a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:
- a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle;
a user interface configured to receive a desired temperature of the compartment from a user;
a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant while the engine of the vehicle is on;
a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and
a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor, and configured to;
obtain the desired temperature of the compartment from the user interface;
obtain the measured temperature of the compartment from the temperature sensor;
calculate a thermal load of the compartment based at least partially on a difference between the desired temperature and the measured temperature;
upon determining that the thermal load exceeds a first predetermined thermal load threshold;
in accordance with a determination that the engine is off, turn on the engine;
in accordance with a determination that the first compressor is off, activate the first compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment; and
in accordance with a determination that the second compressor is off, activate the second compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment;
upon determining that the thermal load does not exceed the first predetermined thermal load threshold but does exceed a second thermal load threshold lower than the first predetermined thermal load threshold;
in accordance with a determination that the engine is off, turn on the engine; and
in accordance with a determination that the first compressor is off, activate the first compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment; and
upon determining that the thermal load does not exceed the second predetermined thermal load threshold;
in accordance with a determination that the first compressor is on, deactivate the first compressor; and
in accordance with a determination that the second compressor is off, activate the second compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are climate systems for vehicles and methods for controlling the climate systems. In some implementations, a climate system includes: (1) a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; (2) a user interface configured to receive a desired temperature from a user; (3) a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant; (4) a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and (5) a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor. The controller configured to: (1) calculate a thermal load of the compartment based on a difference between a desired temperature and a measured temperature; and, (2) based on the calculated load, selectively activate: (i) the engine, (ii) the first compressor, and/or (iii) the second compressor.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A climate system for conditioning a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:
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a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; a user interface configured to receive a desired temperature of the compartment from a user; a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant while the engine of the vehicle is on; a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor, and configured to; obtain the desired temperature of the compartment from the user interface; obtain the measured temperature of the compartment from the temperature sensor; calculate a thermal load of the compartment based at least partially on a difference between the desired temperature and the measured temperature; upon determining that the thermal load exceeds a first predetermined thermal load threshold; in accordance with a determination that the engine is off, turn on the engine; in accordance with a determination that the first compressor is off, activate the first compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment; and in accordance with a determination that the second compressor is off, activate the second compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment; upon determining that the thermal load does not exceed the first predetermined thermal load threshold but does exceed a second thermal load threshold lower than the first predetermined thermal load threshold; in accordance with a determination that the engine is off, turn on the engine; and in accordance with a determination that the first compressor is off, activate the first compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment; and upon determining that the thermal load does not exceed the second predetermined thermal load threshold; in accordance with a determination that the first compressor is on, deactivate the first compressor; and in accordance with a determination that the second compressor is off, activate the second compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling a climate system installed in a vehicle, the method comprising:
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obtaining a desired temperature of a compartment of the vehicle from a user interface configured to receive the desired temperature of the compartment from a user; obtaining a measured temperature of the compartment from a temperature sensor; calculating a thermal load of the compartment based at least partially on a difference between the desired temperature and the measured temperature; upon determining that the thermal load exceeds a first predetermined thermal load threshold; in accordance with a determination that an engine of the vehicle is off, turn on the engine; in accordance with a determination that a first compressor is off, activate the first compressor to compress a refrigerant for cooling the compartment, wherein the first compressor comprises an engine-driven compressor; and in accordance with a determination that a second compressor driven by an electric motor is off, activate the second compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment; upon determining that the thermal load does not exceed the first predetermined thermal load threshold but does exceed a second thermal load threshold lower than the first predetermined thermal load threshold; in accordance with a determination that the engine is off, turn on the engine; and in accordance with a determination that the first compressor is off, activate the first compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment; and upon determining that the thermal load does not exceed the second predetermined thermal load threshold; in accordance with a determination that the first compressor is on, deactivate the first compressor; and in accordance with a determination that the second compressor is off, activate the second compressor to compress the refrigerant for cooling the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification