AIR-DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, WITH CONTACTLESS ACTIVATION OF AIR OUTLETS

• US 20080108292A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Inventors: DE MARINO, Silvio, PEROSINO, Andrea, BIASIOTTO, Marco, ZANELLA, Alessandro
• Granted Patent: US 8,210,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/75
• 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 1/00871 Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3471 Details of actuators

Abstract

A system for air distribution in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, includes at least one outlet for outflow of air into the passenger compartment, which can be activated by putting one'"'"'s hand at a short distance therefrom without touching it. Associated to the air outlet is an optical sensor, which is set at distance from the air outlet and is optically connected to a window adjacent to the air outlet.

Claims

1. A system for air distribution in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one air outlet for outflow of air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle,

a duct for supplying a flow of air to said at least one air outlet,

means for activating the air outlet,

said means for activating include a proximity sensor, which is associated to said air outlet and is configured to issue at output an electrical signal of activation of the air outlet following upon detection of the presence of a body at a short distance from the air outlet,

said sensor being activated only when a body is set adjacent to the air outlet, and wherein in said activation means comprise;

an actuator designed to switch said air outlet from the de-activated condition to the activated condition or from the activated condition to the de-activated condition; and

an electronic control unit configured to receive a signal issued by said sensor and to control said actuator in such a way that, whenever the sensor is activated the actuator brings the air outlet from the condition in which it is found, whether activated or de-activated, to the opposite condition; and

said sensor being set at a distance from said air outlet and optically connected to a window adjacent to the air outlet via a light guide.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is an optical fiber.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises an optical emitter designed to emit an optical signal through said light guide and at output from said window and an optical receiver designed to receive radiation reflected by a body set in front of said window which returns through said window and through said light guide.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said emitter and said receiver are an infrared emitter and an infrared detector.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said emitter is controlled by said electronic control unit in such a way as to emit an encoded optical signal and in that said electronic control unit is connected to said receiver and is programmed for distinguishing between the optical signals received by said receiver, following upon a reflection of the optical signal emitted by said emitter from the optical signals due to other causes.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is also used for conveying the light emitted by light-source means as far as said window and in that said light-source means are controlled by said electronic control unit in such a way as to cause a switching of state from on to off or off to on, or to cause a change of color according to the condition of the air outlet, said condition comprising being activated or deactivated.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is configured to drive displacement of a plurality of oscillating slats or other mechanical closing means associated to the air outlet between the condition of closing and the condition of opening of the air outlet.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is designed to deflect into the aforesaid supply duct a flow of air coming from an air-supply source.

9. A dashboard for a motor vehicle, provided with an air-distribution system according to claim 1.

10. An aircraft, having a passenger compartment and a system for air distribution in the passenger compartment made according to claim 1.

11. A dwelling or building in general having an air-distribution system made according to claim 1.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for activating comprises means for at least one of controlling opening of said air outlet and for enabling supply of a flow of air to the air outlet through said duct.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is activated when a hand is put in front of said air outlet.