CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OPERTING AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE COMPONENTS

• US 20070278209A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fernandez, Lucas, Majarov, Konstantin
• Granted Patent: US 7,781,704 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

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. :

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 at least one set point value wherein the representative values are representative of temperatures (T_s) sensed by the temperature sensor;

ii. programming for adjusting the amount of energy applied to the heater depending upon the representative values; and

iii. programming for comparing the representative values and the amount 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 or temperature change as provided by the data.

23. :

A controller as in claim 22 wherein the at least one set point value includes a set of n set point values (V₁ . . . V_n), the n set-point values are representative of n predetermined temperatures (T₁ . . . T_n) and the amount of energy includes n different amounts of energy (E₁ . . . E_n) and the control module further includes;

i. programming for comparing the representative values originating from the sensor to the set of n set point values (V₁ . . . V_n) and n is a whole number greater than 1; and

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

24. :

A controller as in claim 22 wherein the heater is a heater of a seat of an automotive vehicle.

25. :

A controller as in claim 23 wherein n is at least three.

26. :

A controller as in claim 22 wherein the programming for comparing the representative values and the amount of energy being applied to the heater with programmed data includes establishing a first fault curve and a second fault curve wherein the first fault curve is modeled as having temperature sensor values that change slower than expected and the second fault curve is modeled as having temperature sensor values that change faster than expected.

27. :

A controller as in claim 26 wherein the first fault curve and second fault curve are within percent tolerances respectively of a first data curve and a second data curve, the first data curve and the second data curve being based upon empirical data and respectively indicating a maximum expected temperature change and a minimum expected temperature change.

28. :

A controller as in claim 22 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.

29. :

A controller as in claim 22 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.

30. :

A controller as in claim 22 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.

31. :

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, 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 at least one set point value wherein the representative values are representative of temperatures (T_s) sensed by the temperature sensor;

ii. programming for adjusting the amount of energy applied to the heater depending upon the representative values;

iii. programming for comparing the representative values and the amount 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 or temperature change as provided by the data; and

iv. 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.

32. :

A controller as in claim 31 wherein the at least one set point value includes a set of n set point values (V₁ . . . V_n), the n set-point values are representative of n predetermined temperatures (T₁ . . . T_n) and the amount of energy includes n different amounts of energy (E₁ . . . E_n) and the control module further includes;

i. programming for comparing the representative values originating from the sensor to the set of n set point values (V₁ . . . V_n) and n is a whole number greater than 1; and

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

33. :

A controller as in claim 31 wherein the heater is a heater of a seat of an automotive vehicle.

34. :

A controller as in claim 31 wherein the air mover and heater are part of an integrated seat heater and seat ventilation system formed as an automotive vehicle seat insert.

35. :

A controller as in claim 32 wherein n is at least five.

36. :

A controller as in claim 31 wherein the programming for comparing the representative values and the amount of energy being applied to the heater with programmed data includes establishing a first fault curve and a second fault curve wherein the first fault curve is modeled as having temperature sensor values that change slower than expected and the second fault curve is modeled as having temperature sensor values that change faster than expected.

37. :

A controller as in claim 36 wherein the first fault curve and second fault curve are within percent tolerances respectively of a first data curve and a second data curve, the first data curve and the second data curve being based upon empirical data and respectively indicating a maximum expected temperature change and a minimum expected temperature change.

38. :

A controller as in claim 31 wherein;

i. 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;

ii. 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; and

iii. 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.

39. :

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, 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 at least one set point value wherein the representative values are representative of temperatures (T_s) sensed by the temperature sensor;

ii. programming for adjusting the amount of energy applied to the heater depending upon the representative values;

iii. programming for comparing the representative values and the amount 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 or temperature change as provided by the data;

iv. 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; and

v. programming for a shutting down the heater in instances in which a relatively large amount of energy is supplied to the heater for a predetermined amount of time.

40. :

A controller as in claim 39 wherein the air mover and heater are part of an integrated seat heater and seat ventilation system formed as an automotive vehicle seat insert.

41. :

A controller as in claim 40 wherein the programming for comparing the representative values and the amount of energy being applied to the heater with programmed data includes establishing a first fault curve and a second fault curve wherein the first fault curve is modeled as having temperature sensor values that change slower than expected and the second fault curve is modeled as having temperature sensor values that change faster than expected.

42. :

A controller as in claim 41 wherein the first fault curve and second fault curve are within percent tolerances respectively of a first data curve and a second data curve, the first data curve and the second data curve being based upon empirical data and respectively indicating a maximum expected temperature change and a minimum expected temperature change.