Car defroster

• US 20030211820A1
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuji, Yoshinori, Sugaya, Masahiko, Kajino, Yuichi
• Application Number:
  US10/431,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20030211820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00821 the components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/026 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

In a car defroster which detects the clouding on the window glass by a sensor and blows conditioned air out from the defroster port to the window glass to remove the blur, an infrared sensor 1 is used as the sensor for measuring the surface temperature of the window glass, and the defrosting operation is carried out according to the measuring result. The infrared sensor is provided, for example, at a center of the ceiling of the passenger compartment, and consists of at least two sensor elements so that the temperatures of window glasses in a plurality of directions are detectable.

Claims

1. A car defroster for detecting the clouding on a window glass of a car by a sensor and removing the clouding on the window glass by blowing out the conditioned air from a defroster port provided in the vicinity of the window glass, wherein

the sensor is an infrared sensor for measuring the surface temperature of the window glass.

2. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor is provided approximately at a center of a passenger compartment.

3. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor is provided on a ceiling of the passenger compartment.

4. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor is integral with a functional module provided at a center of the front ceiling of the passenger compartment.

5. A car defroster as defined by claim 1 or 3, wherein the infrared sensor is integral with a functional module provided in the central ceiling of the passenger compartment.

6. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor is provided to be directed in at least in two directions.

7. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor is provided in a rotatable manner so that the temperature of the window glasses, in all directions, is detectable.

8. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor detects the temperature of the window glasses in the respective directions, which temperature is connected with the respective independent air-conditioning system to carry out the individual defrosting operation for the respective window glass.

9. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor is a multi-divided infrared sensor capable of measuring the surface temperature distribution of the window glass.

10. A car defroster as defined by claim 9, wherein the multi-divided infrared sensor has a wide-angle detection area so that the temperatures of a plurality of window glasses are detectable.

11. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor measures the window glass temperature within a visual field of the operator on the front window glass.

12. A car defroster as defined by claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor measures the temperature of the window glass, in the passenger compartment, in the vicinity of a side mirror to carry out the defrosting operation so that the visibility of the side mirror is ensured.

13. A car defroster, comprising a controller, a defrosting apparatus blowing hot air or dry air to the window glass and a humidty sensor provided in a passenger compartment, wherein the controller comprises

means S1 for detecting the temperature of the window glass by a signal from an infrared sensor 1 and detecting the humidity in the passenger compartment by a signal from the humidity sensor,

determination means S2 for calculating a dew point on the glass surface from the temperature of the window glass detected by the infrared sensor 1 and the humidity in the passenger compartment detected by the humidity sensor, comparing the calculated dew point with the window glass temperature and determining the clouding state in accordance with the comparison result, and

means S3 for starting the defrosting operation in accordance with the determination of the determination means S2.

14. A car defroster, comprising a controller, an apparatus operable when the car air-conditioner is in the defrosting mode and a humidity sensor provided in a passenger compartment, wherein the controller comprises

means S1 for detecting the temperature of the window glass from a signal from an infrared sensor 1 and detecting the humidity in the passenger compartment by a signal from the humidity sensor,

determination means S2 for calculating a dew point on the glass surface from the temperature of the window glass detected by the infrared sensor 1 and the humidity in the passenger compartment detected by the humidity sensor, comparing the calculated dew point with the window glass temperature and determining whether there is a clouding or not in accordance with the comparison result, and

means S3 for setting the car air-conditioner in the defrosting mode, and starting the defrosting operation, when there is the blur.