Intelligent vehicle air conditioning control system

• US 20030172156A1
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Laukhuf, Rodney A., Price, Ralph D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,971,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00835 Damper doors, e.g. position control construction or arrangement of damper doors B60H1/00664; B60H1/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00871 Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/08 Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates F24F7/013, F24F13/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy

Abstract

An air conditioning control system for controlling the air conditioning system of a vehicle. The air conditioning control system is capable of determining the occupancy status of various locations in the vehicle interior. The air conditioning control system alters the flow rate of conditioned air to various portions of the vehicle interior based at least partially upon the occupancy of those areas of the vehicle interior. The air conditioning control system delivers increased amounts of conditioned air to the occupied portions of the vehicle interior when the conditioned air is of a comfortable temperature. The air conditioning control system delivers decreased amounts of conditioned air to the occupied portions of the vehicle interior when the conditioned air is most likely to be of an uncomfortable temperature.

Claims

9. An air conditioning control system for automatically controlling operating parameters of a vehicle'"'"'s air conditioning system which includes a network of ducts with an inlet and multiple outlets at various locations in an occupant cabin, a blower for moving air through the network of ducts, one or both of a heating element and a cooling element disposed within the network of ducts for altering a temperature of conditioned air in the network of ducts after which the air is considered to be conditioned air, and one or more shutters, positioned within a path of flow of conditioned air travelling through the network of ducts, which can be manipulated to adjust flow rates of conditioned air through various branches of the network of ducts and thus concentrate delivery of conditioned air to various portions of the occupant cabin, comprising:

(a) a control module;

(b) one or more occupancy sensors mountable within the occupant compartment of the vehicle;

(c) one or more shutter actuators for attaching to the shutters of the air conditioning system of the vehicle;

(d) wherein said one or more occupancy sensors are connected directly or indirectly to said control module and said control module receives signals from said one or more occupancy sensors which correlate to the state of occupancy (occupied or unoccupied) of the occupancy positions of the vehicle'"'"'s occupant cabin when said air conditioning control system is installed in the vehicle and operational;

(e) wherein each of said one or more shutter actuators are operable to manipulate the position of a respective one of the plurality of shutters of the air conditioning system to which said shutter actuator is attached;

(f) wherein each of said one or more shutter actuators is connected directly or indirectly to said control module and each of said one or more shutter actuators is controlled by said control module to individually manipulate a position of the respective one of the plurality of shutters to which said shutter actuator is attached; and

(g) an algorithm encoded in computer program which is embodied in a computer readable medium for causing said control module to control said one or more shutter actuators, and thus the flow rate of conditioned air to various portions of the occupant cabin, in a manner dependent at least partially upon said signals which said control module receives from said one or more occupancy sensors and an elapsed time of a timing operation of said air conditioning control system.

10. The air conditioning control system of claim 9, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

upon initiation of a heating or cooling mode of operation of the air conditioning system said air conditioning control system starting a timing operation; and

controlling said one or more shutter actuators, in a manner dependent at least partially upon said signals received by said control module from said one or more occupancy sensors and upon an elapsed time of said timing operation, to deliver different flow rates of conditioned air to respective portions of the occupant cabin.

11. The air conditioning control system of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

controlling said one or more shutter actuators according to a first set of operational guidelines before said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to a predetermined period of time T1; and

controlling said shutter actuators according to a second set of operational guidelines after said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to said predetermined period of time T1.

12. The air conditioning control system of claim 11, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

controlling said one or more shutter actuators of said air conditioning control system to concentrate the flow rate of conditioned air away from the occupied occupancy positions until said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to T1 and to concentrate the flow rate of conditioned air toward the occupied occupancy positions after said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to T1.

13. The air conditioning control system of claim 12, wherein:

(a) said one or more occupancy sensors are infrared sensors, designed to be mounted in the occupant cabin, which provide signals to said control module which correlate to spot temperatures at each of the occupancy positions of the occupant cabin;

14. The air conditioning control system of claim 13, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

if said signals relayed to said control module from said infra red sensors correlate to a spot temperature, which is similar in magnitude to a normal body temperature of a living being, at a particular occupancy position said control module sensing that particular occupancy position is occupied; and

if said signals relayed to said control module from said infrared sensors correlate to a spot temperature which is not similar in magnitude to a normal body temperature of a living being, at a particular occupancy position said control module sensing that particular occupancy position is unoccupied.

15. The air conditioning control system of claim 14, wherein:

(a) said one or more occupancy sensors are comprised of one infrared occupancy sensor for each respective occupancy position of the occupant cabin; and

(b) each of said infrared occupancy sensors is located near each respective occupancy position of the occupant cabin.

16. A method of controlling a vehicle'"'"'s air conditioning system which has a network of ducts with an inlet and a plurality of outlets adjacent an occupant cabin of the vehicle, a blower operable to create a flow of air through the network of ducts, one or both of a heating element and a cooling element disposed within the network of ducts which are operable to alter a temperature of conditioned air within the network of ducts after which the air is considered to be conditioned air, one or more shutters positioned within a flow path of the conditioned air which travels through the network of ducts so that flow rates of conditioned air to various occupancy positions of the occupant cabin can be adjusted by manipulating the one or more shutters, a control module operating according to an algorithm encoded in a computer program which is embodied in a computer readable medium, one or more shutter actuators controllable by the control module to manipulate the position of each respective one of the one or more shutter actuators, one or more occupancy sensors which are directly or indirectly connected to and provide signal to the control module which correlate to a state of occupancy (occupied or unoccupied) of respective occupancy positions of the occupant cabin, and one or more temperature sensors which are connected to and provide signals to the control module which correlate to the temperature of the conditioned air within the network of ducts, and which are mounted within the network of ducts, comprising the steps of:

(a) the control module ascertaining based upon the signals provided by the one or more occupancy sensors whether or not each of the respective occupancy positions of the vehicle is occupied;

(b) the control module ascertaining based upon the signals provided by the one or more temperature sensors the temperature of the conditioned air within the network of ducts of the air conditioning system; and

(c) the control module controlling each of the respective shutter actuators of the air conditioning system to provide higher flow rates of conditioned air to some portions of the occupant cabin than to other portions of the occupant cabin in a manner dependent upon the signals received from the one or more temperature sensors and the one or more occupancy sensors.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprised of the steps of:

(a) the control module ascertaining whether the air conditioning system is operating in a heating or cooling mode;

(b) if the control module determines that the air conditioning system is in a heating mode and that conditioned air within the network of ducts is of a temperature lower than a first temperature TEMPH the control module controlling the one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions than to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions;

(c) if the control module determines that the air conditioning system is in a heating mode and that conditioned air within the network of ducts is of a temperature higher than a first temperature TEMPH the control module controlling the one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to occupied ones of the occupancy positions than to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions;

(d) if the control module determines that the air conditioning system is in a cooling mode and that conditioned air within the network of ducts is of a temperature higher than a second temperature TEMPC the control module controlling the one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions than to occupied ones of the occupancy positions; and

(e) if the control module determines that the air conditioning system is in a cooling mode and that conditioned air within the network of ducts is of a temperature lower than a second temperature TEMPC the control module controlling the one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to occupied ones of the occupancy positions than to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions.

18. A method of controlling a vehicle'"'"'s air conditioning system which has a network of ducts with an inlet and a plurality of outlets adjacent an occupant cabin of the vehicle, a blower for creating a flow of air through the network of ducts, one or both of a heating element and a cooling element disposed in the network of ducts which are operable to alter a temperature of the flow of air through the network of ducts after which the air is considered to be conditioned air, one or more shutters positioned within the flow path of the air which travels through the network of ducts which can be manipulated to adjust flow rates of air through various portions of the network of ducts, a control module operating according to an algorithm encoded in a computer program which is embodied in a computer readable medium, one or more shutter actuators controllable by the control module to manipulate the position of each respective one of the one or more shutters, one or more occupancy sensors which are connected to and provide signals to the control module which correlate to a state of occupancy (occupied or unoccupied) of respective occupancy positions of the occupant cabin, comprising the steps of;

(a) upon initiation of a heating or cooling mode of operation of the air conditioning system the air conditioning control system starting a timing operation;

(b) the control module (hen controlling the shutter actuators, in a manner dependent at least partially upon input from the one or more occupancy sensors and upon an elapsed time of said timing operation, to deliver different flow rates of conditioned air to various portions of the occupant cabin;

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

(a) during the step of controlling the shutter actuators the control module controls the one or more shutter actuators according to a first set of operational guidelines before said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to a predetermined period of time T1; and

(b) during the step of controlling the shutter actuators the control module controls the shutter actuators according to a second set of operational guidelines after said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to said predetermined period of time T1.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

(a) during the step of controlling the shutter actuators the control module controls the shutter actuators of the air conditioning control system to concentrate the flow rate of conditioned air away from the occupied occupancy positions before said elapsed time is at least equal to T1 and to concentrate the flow rate of conditioned air toward the occupied occupancy positions after said elapsed time is at least equal to T1.

21. A computer program product for a control system for a vehicle'"'"'s air conditioning system which has a network of ducts with an inlet and a plurality of outlets adjacent an occupant cabin of the vehicle, a blower for creating a flow of air through the network of ducts, one or both of a heating element and a cooling element which are disposed within said network of ducts and which are operable to alter a temperature of the air in the network of ducts after which the air is considered to be conditioned air, one or more shutters, positioned within the flow path of the air which flows through the network of ducts, which can be manipulated to adjust the flow rate of conditioned air to various portions of the occupant cabin, a control module operating according to an algorithm encoded in a computer program which is embodied in a computer readable medium, one or more shutter actuators controllable by the control module to manipulate the position of each respective one of the one or more shutters one or more occupancy sensors which are connected to and provide signals to the control module which correlate to the state of occupancy (occupied or unoccupied) of respective occupancy positions of the occupant cabin, and one or more temperature sensors mounted within the network of ducts which are connected to and provide signals to the control module which correlate to a temperature of the conditioned air within the ducts, said computer program product comprising:

(a) a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the control module to repeatedly perform the steps of;

the control module ascertaining based upon the signals provided by the one or more occupancy sensors whether or not each of the respective occupancy positions of the vehicle is occupied;

the control module ascertaining based upon the signals provided by the one or more temperature sensors the temperature of the conditioned air within the network of ducts of the air conditioning system;

said control module controlling each respective one of said one or more shutter actuators of the air conditioning system to provide higher flow rates of conditioned air to some portions of the occupant cabin than to other portions of the occupant cabin in a manner dependent upon the signals received by the control module from the one or more temperature sensors and the one or more occupancy sensors.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein:

(a) said computer program product embodied in computer readable medium is designed to cause the control module to more specifically perform the steps of;

the control module determining if the air conditioning system is in a heating or cooling mode;

if the control module determines that the air conditioning system is in a heating mode and that conditioned air within the network of ducts is of a temperature lower than a first temperature TEMPH said control module controlling the one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions than to occupied ones of the occupancy positions;

if the control module determines that the air conditioning system is in a heating mode and that conditioned air within the network of ducts is of a temperature higher than a first temperature TEMPH the control module controlling the one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to occupied ones of the occupancy positions than to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions;

if the control module determines that the air conditioning system is in a cooling mode and that conditioned air within the network of ducts is of a temperature higher than a second temperature TEMPC the control module controlling the one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions than to occupied ones of the occupancy if positions; and

if the control module determines that the air conditioning system is in a cooling mode and that conditioned air within the network of ducts is of a temperature lower than a second temperature TEMPC the control module controlling the one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to occupied ones of the occupancy positions than to unoccupied ones of the occupancy positions.

23. A computer program product for a control system for a vehicle'"'"'s air conditioning system which has a network of ducts with an inlet and a plurality of outlets adjacent an occupant cabin of the vehicle, a blower for creating a flow of air through the network of ducts, one or both of a heating element and a cooling element which are disposed within said network of ducts and which are operable to alter a temperature of the air flowing through the network of ducts after which the air is considered conditioned air, one or more shutters, positioned within the flow path of the conditioned air, which can be manipulated to adjust the flow rate of conditioned air to various portions of the occupant cabin, a control module operating according to an algorithm encoded in a computer program which is embodied in a computer readable medium, one or more shutter actuators controllable by the control module to manipulate the position of each respective one of the one or more shutters and one or more occupancy sensors which are directly or indirectly connected to and provide signals to the control module which correlate to a state of occupancy (occupied or unoccupied) of respective occupancy positions of the occupant cabin, said computer program product comprising:

(a) a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the control module to repeatedly perform the steps of;

upon initiation of a heating or cooling mode of operation of the air conditioning system the air conditioning control system starting a tiring operation; and

the control module then controlling the one or more shutter actuators, in a manner dependent at least partially upon the signals received from the one or more occupancy sensors and upon an elapsed time of said timing operation, to deliver different flow rates of conditioned air to respective portions of the occupant cabin.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein:

(a) said computer program product embodied in computer readable medium is designed to cause the control module to more specifically perform the steps of;

controlling the one or more shutter actuators according to a first set of operational guidelines before said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to a predetermined period of time T1; and

controlling the one or more shutter actuators according to a second set of operational guidelines after said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to said predetermined period of time T1.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein:

(a) said computer program product embodied in computer readable medium is designed to cause the control module to more specifically perform the steps of;

controlling the one or more shutter actuators of the air conditioning control system to concentrate the flow rate of conditioned air away from the occupied occupancy positions before said elapsed time of said timing operation is at least equal to T1 and to concentrate the flow rate of conditioned air toward the occupied occupancy positions after said elapsed time of said timing operation is at least equal to T1.

26. A vehicle, comprising:

(a) a chassis;

(b) a suspension attached to said chassis for supporting said chassis;

(c) a power train engaged to said chassis for causing movement of said vehicle;

(d) an occupant cabin engaged to said chassis for providing protection from the elements for occupants of said vehicle and having a plurality of occupancy positions;

(e) an air conditioning system mounted to said vehicle;

(f) a control module;

(g) a network of ducts, comprising a portion of said air conditioning system, which has an inlet and a plurality of outlets adjacent lo an interior of said occupant cabin;

(h) a blower, comprising a portion of said air conditioning system, for creating a flow of air through said network of ducts;

(i) one or both of a heating element and a cooling element, which comprise a portion of said air conditioning system, which are disposed within said network of ducts;

(j) one or more occupancy sensors mounted within said occupant cabin of said vehicle;

(k) one or more temperature sensors mounted within an interior of said network of ducts of said air conditioning system of said vehicle;

(l) one or more shutters, positioned within the path of flow of conditioned air travelling through said network of ducts, for altering flow rates of conditioned air through various branches of said network of ducts and thus delivering a higher flow rate of conditioned air to various portions of said occupant cabin;

(m) one or more shutter actuators attached to the one or more shutters of said air conditioning system of said vehicle;

(n) wherein said one or more occupancy sensors are connected directly or indirectly to said control module and said control module receives signals from said one or more occupancy sensors which correlate to the state of occupancy (occupied or unoccupied) of said occupancy positions of said vehicle'"'"'s occupant cabin;

(o) wherein said one or more temperature sensors are connected to said control module and said control module receives signals from said one or more temperature sensors which correlate to a temperature of conditioned air within said network of ducts of said air conditioning system of said vehicle;

(p) wherein each of said one or more shutter actuators are operable to manipulate the position of each respective shutter of said air conditioning system to which said shutter actuator is attached; and

(q) wherein each of said one or more shutter actuators are connected directly or indirectly to said control module and each of said shutter actuators are controlled by said control module to individually manipulate a position of a respective shutter to which said shutter actuator is attached.

27. The vehicle of claim 26, further comprising:

(a) an algorithm encoded in computer program which is embodied in a computer readable medium which causes said control module to control said one or more shutter actuators, and thus flow rates of conditioned air to various portions of said occupant cabin, in a manner dependent at least partially upon said signals which said control module receives from said one or more occupancy sensors and said one or more temperature sensors.

28-1. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

determining if said air conditioning system is in a heating or cooling mode;

if said control module determines that said air conditioning system is in a heating mode and that conditioned air within said network of ducts is of a temperature lower than a first temperature TEMPH said control module controlling said one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to unoccupied ones of said occupancy positions than to occupied ones of said occupancy positions;

if said control module determines that said air conditioning system is in a heating mode and that conditioned air within said network of ducts is of a temperature higher than a first temperature TEMPH said control module controlling said one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to occupied ones of said occupancy positions than to unoccupied ones of said occupancy positions;

if said control module determines that said air conditioning system is in a cooling mode and that conditioned air within said network of ducts is of a temperature higher than a second temperature TEMPC said control module controlling said one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to unoccupied ones of said occupancy positions than to occupied ones of said occupancy positions; and

if said control module determines that said air conditioning system is in a cooling mode and that conditioned air within said network of ducts is of a temperature lower than a second temperature TEMPC said control module controlling said one or more shutter actuators in a manner such that a higher flow rate of conditioned air is delivered to occupied ones of said occupancy positions than to unoccupied ones of said occupancy positions.

29. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein:

(a) said one or more occupancy sensors are infrared sensors, mounted in said occupant cabin, which provide signals to said control module which correlate to spot temperatures at each of said occupancy positions of said occupant cabin;

30. The vehicle of claim 30, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

if said signals relayed to said control module from said infrared sensors correlate to a spot temperature for a particular occupancy position which is similar in magnitude to a normal body temperature of a living being said control module operates as if said particular occupancy position is occupied; and

if said signals relayed to said control module from said infrared sensors correlate to a spot temperature for a particular occupancy position which is outside a range equivalent to a normal body temperature of a living being said control module operates as if said particular occupancy position is unoccupied.

31. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein:

(a) for each respective occupancy positions one of said at least one temperature sensors is positioned near an end of a branch of said network of ducts which exhausts in an area near said respective occupancy position, such that temperatures of conditioned air delivered to each respective occupancy position can be known and control of said one or more shutters can be more appropriately performed.

32. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein:

(a) said one or more occupancy sensors are comprised of one infrared occupancy sensor for each respective occupancy position of said occupant cabin; and

(b) each of said infrared occupancy sensors is located near each respective occupancy position of said occupant cabin.

33. A vehicle, comprising:

(a) a chassis;

(b) a suspension attached to said chassis for supporting said chassis;

(c) a power train engaged to said chassis for causing movement of said vehicle;

(d) an occupant cabin engaged to said chassis for providing protection from the elements to said vehicle'"'"'s occupants and having a plurality of occupancy positions;

(e) an air conditioning system mounted to said vehicle;

(f) a control module;

(g) a network of ducts, comprising a portion of said air conditioning system, which has an inlet and a plurality of outlets adjacent to an interior of said occupant cabin;

(h) a blower, comprising a portion of said air conditioning system, for creating a flow of air through said network of ducts;

(i) one or both of a heating element and a cooling element, which comprise a portion of said air conditioning system and are disposed within said network of ducts;

(j) one or more occupancy sensors mounted within said occupant cabin of said vehicle;

(k) a plurality of shutters positioned within the path of flow of conditioned air travelling through said network of ducts for altering flow rates of conditioned air through various branches of said network of ducts and thus concentrating delivery of conditioned air to various portions of said occupant cabin,

(l) one or more shutter actuators attached to said one or more shutters of the said air conditioning system of said vehicle;

(m) wherein said one or more occupancy sensors are connected directly or indirectly to said control module and said control module receives signals from said one or more occupancy sensors which correlate to a state of occupancy (occupied or unoccupied) of said occupancy positions of said vehicle'"'"'s occupant cabin;

(n) wherein each of said one or more shutter actuators are operable to manipulate said position of a respective one of said one or more shutters of said air conditioning system to which said shutter actuator is attached;

(o) wherein each of said one or more shutter actuators are connected directly or indirectly to said control module and each of said shutter actuators are controlled by said control module to individually manipulate a position of each respective one of said one or more shutters; and

(p) an algorithm encoded in computer program which is embodied in a computer readable medium which causes said control module to control said shutter actuators, and thus flow rates of conditioned air to various portions of said occupant cabin, in a manner based at least partially upon said signals which said control module receives from said one or more occupancy sensors and an elapsed time of a timing operation of said control module.

34. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

upon initiation of a heating or cooling mode of operation of the said air conditioning system said air conditioning control system starting a timing operation; and

controlling said shutter actuators, in a manner dependent at least partially upon said signals received from said one or more occupancy sensors and upon an elapsed time of said timing operation, to deliver different flow rates of conditioned air to various portions of said occupant cabin.

35. The vehicle of claim 35, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

controlling said one or more shutter actuators according to a first set of operational guidelines before said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to a predetermined period of time T1; and

controlling said one or more shutter actuators according to a second set of operational guidelines after said elapsed time of said timing operation is equal to said predetermined period of time T1.

36. The vehicle of claim 36, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

controlling said one or more shutter actuators of said air conditioning control system to concentrate delivery of conditioned air away from occupied occupancy positions before said elapsed time is at least equal to T1 and to concentrate delivery of conditioned air away from occupied occupancy positions after said elapsed is at least equal to T1.

37. The vehicle of claim 37, wherein:

(a) said one or more occupancy sensors are infrared sensors, mounted in said occupant cabin, which provide signals to said control module which correlate to spot temperatures at each of said occupancy positions of said occupant cabin;

38. The vehicle of claim 38, wherein:

(a) said computer program more specifically causes said control module to perform the steps of;

if said signals relayed to said microcomputer from said infrared sensors correlate to a spot temperature for a particular occupancy position which is similar in magnitude to a normal body temperature of a living being said control module sensing said particular occupancy position is occupied; and

if said signals relayed to said microcomputer from said infrared sensors correlate to a spot temperature for a particular occupancy position which is outside a range equivalent to a normal body temperature of a living being said control module sensing said particular occupancy position is unoccupied.

39. The vehicle of claim 39, wherein;

(a) said at least one occupancy sensor is comprised of one infrared occupancy sensor for each respective occupancy position of said occupant cabin; and

(b) each of said infrared occupancy sensors is located near each respective occupancy position of said occupant cabin.