Control system for operating automotive vehicle components

• US 20050067401A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fernandez, Lucas, Majarov, Konstantin
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/497
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5678 characterised by electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0236 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

There is disclosed a control system for operating automotive vehicle components. The control system typically includes at least a control module programmed with instructions for controlling a heater, a ventilator or both.

Claims

1. A controller for controlling one or more components of an automotive vehicle;

at least one control module in signaling communication with a energy source, a sensor, a power stage and a switch wherein the energy source provides power to a heater as dictated by the power stage, the sensor senses a temperature associated with the heater and the switch turns the heater on and off and wherein the control module includes;

i) programming for comparing representative values originating from the sensor to a set of n set point values (V₁ . . . V_n) wherein the representative values are representative of temperatures (T_s) sensed by the temperature sensor, the n set-point values are representative of n predetermined temperatures (T₁ . . . T_n) and n is a whole number greater than 1;

ii) programming for allowing n different amounts of energy (E₁ . . . E_n) to be applied to the heater depending upon the representative values.

2. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the representative values and the set point values are voltages or resistances.

3. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the different amounts of energy respectively inversely correspond to the predetermined temperatures such that higher predetermined temperatures correspond to lower amounts of energy.

4. A controller as in claim 1 wherein n is at least three.

5. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the different amounts of energy are produced by differing the amount of time for which a single voltage is provided to the heater or by differing voltages provided to the heater.

6. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the module is programmed to determine the highest temperature of the predetermined temperatures that T_s is equal to or below and to apply an amount of energy selected from the predetermined amounts of energy that corresponds to the highest temperature.

7. A controller as in claim 6 wherein, if T_s is equal to or above the highest predetermined temperature then the lowest or zero amount of energy is applied to the heater.

8. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the control module is programmed to compare the representative values and corresponding amounts of energy being applied to the heater with programmed data to assure that the energy being applied to the heater is producing a temperature or temperature change commensurate with an expected temperature change as provided by the data.

9. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the heater is selected from a seat heater or a steering wheel heater of the automotive vehicle.

15. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the representative values and the set point values are voltages or resistances.

16. A controller as in claim 1 wherein n is at least three.

17. A controller as in claim 1 wherein n is at least five.

18. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the module is programmed to determine the highest temperature of the predetermined temperatures that T_s is equal to or below and to apply an amount of energy selected from the predetermined amounts of energy that corresponds to the highest temperature.

19. A controller as in claim 18 wherein, if T_s is equal to or above the highest predetermined temperature then the lowest or zero amount of energy is applied to the heater.

20. A controller as in claim 1 wherein the heater is selected from a seat heater or a steering wheel heater of the automotive vehicle.

10. A controller for controlling one or more components of an automotive vehicle;

at least one control module in signaling communication with an energy source, a sensor, an air mover, a power stage and a switch wherein the energy source provides power to a heater as dictated by the power stage, the sensor senses a temperature associated with the heater and the switch turns the heater on and off and wherein the control module includes;

i) programming for comparing representative values originating from the sensor to a set of n set point values (V₁ . . . V_n) wherein the representative values are representative of temperatures (T_s) sensed by the temperature sensor, the n set-point values are representative of n predetermined temperatures (T₁ . . . T_n) and n is a whole number greater than 1;

ii) programming for allowing n different amounts of energy (E₁ . . . E_n) to be applied to the heater depending upon the representative value; and

iii) programming for providing remedial measures if a relatively high temperature or a relatively low temperature is detected wherein the remedial measures include programming for turning the air mover on in the event that the temperature sensor senses a temperature in excess of a predetermined upper limit temperature and programming for turning the heater on in the event that the temperature sensor senses a temperature below a predetermined lower limit temperature.

11. A controller as in claim 10 wherein the switch includes an LED and wherein the control module is programmed to provide substantially constant energy to an LED such that the light emitted by the LED is substantially constant during operation thereof.

12. A controller as in claim 10 wherein the control module is programmed with an additional shutdown feature for instances in which a relatively large amount of energy is supplied to the heater for a predetermined amount of time.

13. A controller as in claim 10 wherein the control module is programmed with a start-up feature, which is designed to have the power supply provide energy to the heater for a predetermined time upon sensing of a temperature below a particular threshold level at initial start up.

14. A controller as in claim 10 wherein the controller includes a stuck button feature, which only allows the heater or ventilator to be activated when the on/off switch is a button and the button returns to its normal non-depressed position after that button has been depressed.

21. A control system for controlling one or more components of an automotive vehicle;

a universal controller including at least one control module, the control module in signaling communication with a energy source, a sensor, a power stage and a switch wherein the energy source provides power to a heater as dictated by the power stage, the sensor senses a temperature associated with the heater and the switch turns the heater on and off and wherein the control includes;

i) programming for comparing a representative value originating from the sensor to a first set-point value, the representative value being representative of a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the first set-point value being representative of a first predetermined temperature;

ii) programming for allowing the application of a first predetermined energy from the energy source to the heater if the comparing of the representative value to the first set-point value indicates that the temperature sensed is above the first predetermined temperature;

iii) programming for comparing the representative value to a second set-point value if the representative value fails to indicate that the temperature sensed is above the first predetermined temperature, the second set-point value being representative of a second predetermined temperature;

iv) programming for applying a second energy from the energy source to the heater if the comparing of the representative value to the second set-point value indicates that the temperature sensed is above the second predetermined temperature;

v) programming for producing 100% energy from the energy source to the heater if the representative value fails to satisfy the second condition.