Vehicular HVAC Control Systems and Methods

• US 20070114292A1
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David, DuVall, Wilbur, Johnson, Wendell
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/49.300
• 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 1/00842 the system comprising a plurality of damper doors; Air distribution between several outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0023 for detection of driver fatigue
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0026 for distinguishing between humans, animals or objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0028 of a body part, e.g. of an arm or a leg
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/266 with detection or alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children; with detection or alerting means responsive to improper locking or installation of the child seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/18 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/26 Ultrasonic, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/30 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• 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 2120/10 Occupancy

Abstract

Method for controlling a HVAC system in a vehicular compartment includes monitoring temperature of an occupant in the compartment from a location apart from the occupant, and controlling the HVAC system based on the monitored temperature. Occupant temperature may be monitored by infrared sensors, each arranged in an orientation to receive electromagnetic radiation from one or more seating locations in which occupants are likely to be situated. The temperature in each seating location is independently monitored. The HVAC system is controllable for each seating location based on the monitored temperature in that area. When monitoring of temperature in an area in which a driver of the vehicle is likely to be situated indicates presence of the driver, and no other areas indicate presence of a human occupant, the HVAC system is controllable such that all heat or air-conditioning provided by the HVAC system is directed to the driver.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a HVAC system in a vehicle, comprising:

monitoring temperature of an occupant in a compartment in the vehicle from a location apart from the occupant; and

controlling the HVAC system based on the monitored temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging an infrared sensor in a frame of the vehicle defining the compartment and in an orientation to receive electromagnetic radiation from a location in the compartment in which the occupant is likely to be situated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the compartment is a passenger compartment of the vehicle and the vehicle includes a front seat on which the occupant is likely to be situated, further comprising arranging a sensor in an A-pillar of the vehicle defining the compartment and in an orientation to receive electromagnetic radiation from a location above the front seat.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining a plurality of areas in the vehicle in each of which an occupant is likely to be situated;

monitoring temperature independently in each of the areas; and

controlling the HVAC system for each area based on the monitored temperature in that area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein when monitoring of temperature in an area in which a driver of the vehicle is likely to be situated indicates presence of a human occupant and no other areas indicate presence of a human occupant, further comprising:

directing all heat or air-conditioning provided by the HVAC system to the area in which the driver is likely to be situated.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising enabling the occupant in each of the areas to set a temperature in that area and controlling the HVAC system to provide the set temperature in each area.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the number, attributes and location of any occupants in the compartment; and

controlling the HVAC system based on the determined number of occupants, the determined attributes of the occupants or the determined location of the occupants.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising controlling the HVAC system to tailor heat or air-conditioning provided by the HVAC system to each of the occupants.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the HVAC system is arranged to direct heat or air-conditioning through a plurality of outlets to different locations in the compartments, further comprising:

turning off any outlets leading to locations lacking occupants to thereby prevent heat or air-conditioning from being directed to locations without occupants.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame defining a passenger compartment having a plurality of seating locations;

a presence detector associated with each of said seating locations to detect the presence of a human occupant in said seating location;

a temperature monitor associated with each of said seating locations to monitor temperature of an occupant in said seating location;

a HVAC system including a hot or cold air source and a plurality of outlets communicating with said source and leading to one of said seating locations to enable hot or cold air to be directed to said seating locations; and

a processor coupled to said presence detectors, said temperature monitors and said HVAC system and arranged to control said outlets based on the presence of occupants in said seating locations and the temperature of occupants in said seating locations.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein each of said temperature monitors is an infrared sensor arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation from on of said seating locations.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said HVAC system is arranged to provide a set temperature for all occupied ones of said seating locations.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a control device associated with each of said seating locations for enabling an occupant of said seating location to independently set a temperature for said seating location.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said presence detectors comprise at least one wave-receiving device for receiving waves from the associated one of said seating locations and pattern recognition means for analyzing the received waves to determine the presence or absence of a human occupant.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said temperature monitors are non-contact temperature sensors arranged to enable a temperature of the occupant to determine without contact with the occupant.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said temperature monitors are arranged to determine temperature of seats defining said seating locations.

17. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said temperature monitors are arranged to determine temperature of seatbelt associated with seats defining said seating locations.

18. A method for controlling a HVAC system in a vehicle, comprising:

positioning imaging devices in front of seating locations in the vehicle to obtain images of the seating locations including a face of a human occupant when present;

analyzing the images to determine whether a human occupant is present in each seating location;

when a human occupant is present in a seating location, locating the face of the human occupant in the image and measuring a skin temperature of the face of the occupant; and

controlling the HVAC system based on the measured skin temperature of any occupants.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the HVAC system is arranged to direct heat or air-conditioning through a plurality of outlets to the seating locations, further comprising:

turning off any outlets leading to seating locations lacking human occupants to thereby prevent heat or air-conditioning from being directed to seating locations without human occupants.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the imaging devices are infrared cameras operating in a far infrared range.