Variable blower controller for vehicle

• US 20040107029A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wichlacz, John T., Gorman, Brian A., Barnes, Sacha E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,871,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00828 Ventilators, e.g. speed control B60H1/00864 takes precedence

Abstract

A variable blower controller for controlling the blower speed of a climate control system of a vehicle includes a microprocessor which is operable to variably control the blower speed of a blower motor of the climate control system. The variable blower controller provides for smart power management of the blower to avoid high-power dissipative modes when system temperatures are above “safe” levels. The smart power management objective is met by keeping the field effect transistor junction temperature away from design limits or threshold levels where possible. The microprocessor utilizes software and may use a combination of inputs to calculate these levels.

Claims

1. A microprocessor-based variable blower controller for use in a climate control system of a vehicle comprising:

a field effect transistor;

a temperature sensor in proximity to said field effect transistor and operable to sense a temperature and generate a temperature signal indicative of the temperature; and

a microprocessor operable to control a blower motor of the climate control system of the vehicle via a pulse width modulation output of said microprocessor, said microprocessor receiving said temperature signal from said temperature sensor, said microprocessor being operable to adjust said pulse width modulation output in response to said temperature signal.

2. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor receives at least one input indicative of high and low side voltages of the blower motor and a current applied to the blower motor, said microprocessor being operable to adjust said pulse width modulation output in response to said at least one input.

3. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 2, wherein said microprocessor is operable to adjust said pulse width modulation output in response to a combination of at least two inputs reaching a threshold level.

4. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 2, wherein said microprocessor is operable to allow the blower motor to operate in at least one of a high defrost condition and a low defrost condition irrespective of said at least one input and said temperature signal.

5. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 2, wherein said at least one input is indicative of current applied to said blower motor.

6. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 5, wherein said microprocessor compares said at least one input to actual and expected output voltages, said microprocessor being operable to detect an over-current condition in response to said at least one input indicative of current.

7. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 6, wherein said microprocessor is operable to deactivate the blower motor in response to a detection of said over-current condition.

8. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operable to adjust said pulse width modulation output in response to said temperature signal being indicative of a temperature greater than or approximately equal to a threshold temperature.

9. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 8, wherein said microprocessor is operable to allow the blower motor to operate in at least one of a high defrost condition and a low defrost condition irrespective of said temperature signal.

10. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 1, wherein said pulse-width modulation output of said microprocessor is converted to a linear output voltage across the motor.

11. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor has an adjustable output performance curve;

12. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 11, wherein said output performance curve of said microprocessor is adjustable to accommodate at least one of a linear function, a higher-order polynomial function and a combination function.

13. The microprocessor-based variable blower controller of claim 11, wherein said output performance curve of said microprocessor is software driven.