System and method of vehicle climate control

• US 20030039298A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Eriksson, Harry S., Andersson, Christer
• Application Number:
  US10/222,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20030039298A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00792 Arrangement of detectors B60H1/00742, B60H1/0075, B60H1/00785 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5628 coming from the vehicle ventilation system, e.g. air-conditioning system
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/565 sucked from the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A climate control system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle provides temperature and moisture sensors disposed at or near the surface of the seats. The temperature and moisture sensors provide input signals to an electronic control unit, which processes the signals based on a preprogrammed algorithm. The control unit then operates one or more climate control devices, chosen from a set of climate control devices. The set of climate control devices includes fans, heating mechanisms, and a heating and cooling subsystem. The fans and heating mechanisms are disposed in relation to each seat within the vehicle, to move heated air to or from the surface of the seat. The heating and cooling subsystem may include the vehicle'"'"'s central heating and cooling system.

Claims

1. A climate control system for controlling the climate in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the vehicle having a seat and at least one ambient air heating and cooling subsystem, the climate control system comprising:

a fan disposed in relation to the seat for selectively moving air through at least one surface of the seat;

a heating mechanism disposed in relation to the seat for selectively heating the air being moved through the at least one surface of the seat;

a first temperature sensor disposed in relation to the seat for sensing the temperature near a surface of the seat, and for sending an electronic signal related to the temperature sensed;

a first moisture sensor disposed in relation to the seat for sensing the presence of moisture near a surface of the seat, and for sending an electronic signal related to the amount of moisture sensed; and

an electronic control unit for receiving signals from at least the first temperature sensor and the first moisture sensor, and for controlling the operation of the fan, the heating mechanism, and the at least one ambient air heating and cooling subsystem, based on the signals received from at least the first temperature sensor and the first moisture sensor.

2. The climate control system of claim 1, wherein the fan is selectively operable to move air to and from the at least one surface of the seat.

3. The climate control system of claim 1, wherein the heating mechanism comprises electrical resistance wire disposed near the at least one surface of the seat.

4. The climate control system of claim 1, further comprising a duct disposed in relation to the fan, for facilitating movement of the air to and from the at least one surface of the seat.

5. The climate control system of claim 4, wherein the heating mechanism comprises electrical resistance wire disposed in the duct.

6. The climate control system of claim 1, wherein the heating mechanism comprises a flexible conduit disposed between the at least one ambient air heating and cooling subsystem and the seat.

7. The climate control system of claim 1, wherein the first moisture sensor comprises a resistive hygrometer.

8. The climate control system of claim 1, wherein the first moisture sensor comprises a capacitive hygrometer.

9. The climate control system of claim 1, further comprising a second temperature sensor disposed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle for sensing the temperature of the ambient air, and for sending an electronic signal related to the temperature sensed to the electronic control unit.

10. The climate control system of claim 1, further comprising a second moisture sensor disposed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle for sensing the moisture in the ambient air, and for sending an electronic signal related to the moisture sensed to the electronic control unit.

11. The climate control system of claim 1, wherein the fan, the heating mechanism, and the at least one heating and cooling subsystem comprise a set of climate control devices.

12. The climate control system of claim 11, further comprising a manual controller, configured for operation by a vehicle occupant, for controlling at least one of the climate control devices in the set of climate control devices.

13. A climate control system for controlling the climate in a passenger compartment of a vehicle having a seat, the climate control system comprising:

a first temperature sensor disposed in relation to the seat for sensing the temperature near a surface of the seat, and for sending an electronic signal related to the temperature sensed;

a first moisture sensor disposed in relation to the seat for sensing the presence of moisture near a surface of the seat, and for sending an electronic signal related to the amount of moisture sensed;

an ambient air heating and cooling subsystem for selectively conditioning ambient air within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and

an electronic control unit for receiving signals from at least the first temperature sensor and the first moisture sensor and controlling the operation of the ambient air heating and cooling subsystem based on the signals received from at least the first temperature sensor and the first moisture sensor.

14. A method of controlling the climate in a passenger compartment of a vehicle having a seat, the method comprising:

sensing the temperature near the interface of a seated occupant and the seat, and sending a first signal related to the temperature sensed to an electronic control unit;

sensing the moisture near the interface of the seated occupant and the seat, and sending a second signal related to the amount of moisture sensed to the electronic control unit;

processing at least the first and second signals with the electronic control unit based on a preprogrammed algorithm; and

selectively operating at least one climate control device, chosen from a set of climate control devices, based on the processing by the electronic control unit, the set of climate control devices including,

a) a fan disposed in relation to the seat for selectively moving air to and from the interface of the seated occupant and the seat,

b) a heating mechanism disposed in relation to the seat for selectively heating the air being selectively moved to and from the interface of the seated occupant and the seat, and

c) an ambient air heating and cooling subsystem.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein selectively operating at least one climate control device, chosen from the set of climate control devices, comprises:

heating the air near the interface of the seated occupant and the seat with the heating mechanism, thereby evaporating at least some of the moisture near the interface;

moving the heated air away from the interface of the seated occupant and the seat with the fan; and

discontinuing use of the heating mechanism after a predetermined period of time.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein sensing the temperature near the interface of the seated occupant and the seat, comprises sensing the temperature with a plurality of temperature sensing devices disposed below a surface of the seat.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the preprogrammed algorithm includes comparing the first signal with a first predetermined temperature to determine a first temperature differential.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of the following when the first temperature differential indicates that the temperature near the interface of the seated occupant and the seat exceeds the first predetermined temperature,

a) increasing the speed of the fan,

b) decreasing the heat output of the heating mechanism,

c) increasing the cooling output of the ambient air heating and cooling subsystem.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of the following when the first temperature differential indicates that the first predetermined temperature exceeds the temperature near the interface of the seated occupant and the seat,

a) decreasing the speed of the fan,

b) increasing the heat output of the heating mechanism,

c) increasing the heat output of the ambient air heating and cooling subsystem.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the preprogrammed algorithm includes comparing the second signal with a predetermined moisture level to determine a first moisture differential.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising at least one of the following when the first moisture differential indicates that the moisture near the interface of the seated occupant and the seat exceeds the predetermined moisture level,

a) increasing the heat output of the heating mechanism,

b) increasing the speed of the fan.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising at least one of the following when the first moisture differential indicates that the predetermined moisture level exceeds the moisture near the interface of the seated occupant and the seat,

a) decreasing the heat output of the heating mechanism,

b) decreasing the speed of the fan.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising sensing the temperature of ambient air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, sending a third signal to the electronic control unit, and processing the third signal with the electronic control unit based on the preprogrammed algorithm.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the preprogrammed algorithm includes comparing the third signal with a second predetermined temperature to determine a second temperature differential.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising at least one of the following when the second temperature differential indicates that the ambient air temperature exceeds the second predetermined temperature,

a) increasing the speed of the fan,

b) decreasing the heat output of the heating mechanism,

c) increasing the cooling output of the ambient air heating and cooling subsystem.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising at least one of the following when the second temperature differential indicates that the first predetermined temperature exceeds the ambient air temperature,

a) decreasing the speed of the fan,

b) increasing the heat output of the heating mechanism,

c) increasing the heat output of the ambient air heating and cooling subsystem.

27. The method of claim 14, further comprising sensing the moisture of ambient air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, sending a fourth signal to the electronic control unit, and processing the fourth signal with the electronic control unit based on the preprogrammed algorithm.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the preprogrammed algorithm includes comparing the second signal with the fourth signal to determine a second moisture differential.

29. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a flexible conduit between the ambient air heating and cooling subsystem and the seat, thereby providing heated or cooled air to the seat when the ambient air heating and cooling subsystem is chosen for selective operation from the set of climate control devices.

30. A method of controlling the climate in a passenger compartment of a vehicle having a seat, the method comprising:

sensing the temperature near the interface of a seated occupant and the seat, and sending a first signal related to the temperature sensed to an electronic control unit;

sensing the moisture near the interface of the seated occupant and the seat, and sending a second signal related to the amount of moisture sensed to the electronic control unit;

processing at least the first and second signals with the electronic control unit based on a preprogrammed algorithm; and

selectively operating an ambient air heating and cooling subsystem based on the processing by the electronic control unit.

31. A method of controlling the climate in a passenger compartment of a vehicle having a seat, the method comprising:

using a preprogrammed algorithm in an electronic control unit to process input signals from at least a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor disposed in the seat; and

selectively operating at least one climate control device, chosen from a set of climate control devices, using the preprogrammed algorithm.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the set of climate control devices comprises:

a fan, disposed in relation to the seat for selectively moving air to and from a surface of the seat;

a heating mechanism, disposed in relation to the seat for selectively heating the air being selectively moved to and from the surface of the seat; and

an ambient air heating and cooling subsystem.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

sensing the temperature of ambient air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

sending a supplemental input signal to the electronic control unit based on the ambient air temperature sensed; and

processing the supplemental input signal with the electronic control unit using the preprogrammed algorithm.