External temperature display control algorithm

• US 20080189070A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Oga, Akira, Conte, Joshua, Wunsche, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/130
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0237 circuits concerning the atmospheric environment meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/028 arrangements for numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2205/00 Application of thermometers in motors, e.g. of a vehicle

Abstract

A method of controlling an initial external temperature display in a vehicle may include comparing an ignition-off time with a first threshold and displaying a current reading from an outside ambient temperature sensor when the ignition-off time equals or exceeds the first threshold. The method further includes comparing at least one secondary condition with at least one secondary parameter when the ignition-off time falls below the first threshold and selecting and displaying a reading based on the comparison of the at least one secondary condition with the at least one secondary parameter. This comparison can include comparing a previous ignition-on time with a second threshold and comparing a sum of the ignition-off time and a stored amount with a third threshold when the previous ignition-on time equals or falls below the second threshold. Alternatively, this comparison can include comparing an engine water temperature with a temperature threshold.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an initial external temperature display in a vehicle, the method comprising:

comparing an ignition-off time with a first time threshold;

displaying a current temperature reading from an outside ambient temperature sensor when said ignition-off time one of equals and exceeds said first time threshold;

comparing at least one secondary condition with at least one secondary control parameter when said ignition-off time falls below said first time threshold; and

selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said at least one secondary condition with said at least one secondary control parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing at least one secondary condition with at least one secondary control parameter includes:

comparing a previous ignition-on time with a second time threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said at least one secondary condition with said at least one secondary control parameter includes:

determining a minimum temperature reading between said current temperature reading and a previously displayed temperature reading and displaying said minimum temperature reading when said previous ignition-on time exceeds said second time threshold.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein comparing at least one secondary condition with at least one secondary control parameter further includes:

comparing a sum of said ignition-off time and a stored time amount with a third time threshold when said previous ignition-on time one of equals and falls below said second time threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said at least one secondary condition with said at least one secondary control parameter includes:

displaying said current temperature reading when said sum one of equals and exceeds said third time threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said at least one secondary condition with said at least one secondary control parameter further includes:

determining a minimum temperature reading between said current temperature reading and a previously displayed temperature reading and displaying said minimum temperature reading when said sum falls below said third time threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing at least one secondary condition with at least one secondary control parameter includes:

comparing an engine water temperature with a temperature threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said at least one secondary condition with said at least one secondary control parameter includes:

displaying said current temperature reading when said engine water temperature one of equals and falls below said temperature threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said at least one secondary condition with said at least one secondary control parameter further includes:

determining a minimum temperature reading between said current temperature reading and a previously displayed temperature reading and displaying said minimum temperature reading when said engine water temperature exceeds said temperature threshold.

10. A method of controlling an initial external temperature display in a vehicle, the method comprising:

comparing a current ignition-off time with a first time threshold;

displaying a current temperature reading from an outside ambient temperature sensor when said current ignition-off time one of equals and exceeds said first time threshold;

comparing a previous ignition-on time with a second time threshold when said current ignition-off time falls below said first time threshold;

selecting and displaying a temperature reading when said previous ignition-on time exceeds said second time threshold;

comparing a sum of said first ignition-off time and a stored time amount with a third time threshold when said previous ignition-on time one of equals and falls below said second time threshold;

selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said sum with said third time threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said sum with said third time threshold includes:

displaying said current temperature reading when said sum one of equals and exceeds said third time threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said sum with said third time threshold further includes:

determining a minimum temperature reading between said current temperature reading and a previously displayed temperature reading and displaying said minimum temperature reading when said sum falls below said third time threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising resetting said stored time amount when said sum one of equals and exceeds said third time threshold.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading when said previous ignition-on time exceeds said second time threshold includes:

determining a minimum temperature reading between said current temperature reading and a previously displayed temperature reading and displaying said minimum temperature reading.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising resetting said stored time amount when said previous ignition-on time exceeds said second time threshold.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising resetting said stored time amount when said current ignition-off time one of equals and exceeds said first time threshold.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising adding a previous ignition-off time to said stored time amount when said previous ignition-on time one of equals and falls below said second time threshold and before comparing said sum with said third time threshold.

18. A method of controlling an initial external temperature display in a vehicle, the method comprising:

comparing an ignition-off time with a time threshold;

displaying a current temperature reading from an outside ambient temperature sensor when said ignition-off time one of equals and exceeds said time threshold;

comparing an engine water temperature with a temperature threshold when said time amount falls below said time threshold;

selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said engine water temperature with said temperature threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said engine water temperature with said temperature threshold includes:

displaying said current temperature reading when said engine water temperature one of equals and falls below said temperature threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein selecting and displaying a temperature reading based on the comparison of said engine water temperature with said temperature threshold further includes:

determining a minimum temperature reading between said current temperature reading and a previously displayed temperature reading and displaying said minimum temperature reading when said engine water temperature exceeds said temperature threshold.