USER SPECIFIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090098815A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems, Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc. (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems
• Inventors: Hotary, James
• Application Number:
  US12/249,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20090098815A1
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants

Abstract

A climate control system is provided with a control vent unit that a driver may adjust for a desired direction of airflow. After the driver does so, a control system automatically and/or simultaneously adjusts the position of the remaining vents so as to direct respective air flow to substantially the same location in the vehicle. Preferably, a similar control vent is provided on the passenger side of the vehicle. Should a passenger adjust the passenger control vent unit, the control system will automatically and/or simultaneously adjust the remaining vents on the passenger side to direct the respective air flow to the selected position in the passenger side of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A climate control system, comprising:

at least one air flow direction device for directing at least one air flow to a space;

at least another air flow direction device for directing at least another air flow; and

an air flow direction device control unit which adjusts the at least another air flow direction device to direct the at least another air flow to the space.

2. The climate control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one motor connected to the at least another air flow direction device, wherein the air flow direction device control unit produces a drive signal for the at least one motor to adjust the respective at least another air flow direction device.

3. The climate control system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least another air flow direction device control unit; and

at least one sensor for detecting the presence and/or absence of a user in a second space, wherein

the at least one sensor signals the at least another air flow direction device control unit to override the air flow direction device control unit and to adjust the at least another air flow direction device to direct the at least another air flow to the second space when the at least one sensor detects the presence of a user in the second space; and

the at least one sensor signals the another air flow direction device control unit to not override the air flow direction device control unit when the at least one sensor detects the absence of the user in the second space.

4. The climate control system of claim 3, wherein the space and the second space are at least one of:

a point, a line, a surface area, and a volume.

5. The climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed in and/or on at least one of:

the at least one air flow direction device, the air flow direction device control unit, the at least another air flow direction device, and the at least another air flow direction device control unit.

6. The climate control system of claim 3, further comprising a switch, wherein

the air flow direction device control unit overrides the at least another air flow direction device control unit when the switch is in a first position, and

the at least another air flow direction device control unit overrides the air flow direction device control unit when the switch is in a second position.

7. The climate control system of claim 6, wherein the switch is in the first position when the user is not in the second space, and the switch is in the second position when the user is in the second space.

8. The climate control system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor, wherein

the at least one sensor signals the at least another air flow direction device control unit to override the air flow direction device control unit and to adjust the at least another air flow direction device to direct the at least another air flow to a second space.

9. The climate control system of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed in and/or on at least one of:

the at least one air flow direction device, the air flow direction device control unit, the at least another air flow direction device, and the at least another air flow direction device control unit.

10. The climate control system of claim 8, further comprising a switch, wherein

the air flow direction device control unit overrides the at least another air flow direction device control unit when the switch is in a first position, and

the at least another air flow direction device control unit overrides the air flow direction device control unit when the switch is in a second position.

11. The climate control system of claim 10, wherein the switch is in the first position by default, and the switch moves into the second position when a user applies a force to the at least another air flow direction device control unit.

12. The climate control system of claim 11, wherein the switch resets to the default first position when the system is turned off and/or restarted.

13. A vehicle climate control system, comprising:

a driver control vent unit for directing an air flow to a space; and

at least another vent unit,

wherein the driver control vent unit adjusts the at least another vent unit to direct at least another air flow to the space.

14. The vehicle climate control system of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one drive motor connected to the at least another vent unit, wherein the at least one control unit produces a drive signal for the at least one drive motor to adjust the respective at least another vent unit towards the space.

15. The vehicle climate control system of claim 14, further comprising:

a driver unit controller; and

at least one driver adjustment sensor for detecting a position of adjustment of the driver control vent unit, wherein a signal of the at least one driver adjustment sensor sends the adjustment position to the driver unit controller for producing the drive signal to the at least one drive motor.

16. The climate control system of claim 15, wherein the at least one driver adjustment sensor is disposed in and/or on at least one of:

a dashboard, the driver control vent unit, a control console, a center console, and the driver unit controller.

17. The vehicle climate control system of claim 14, further comprising:

a passenger control vent unit; and

at least one passenger sensor for detecting the presence and/or absence of a passenger in a second space, wherein

the at least one passenger sensor signals the passenger control vent unit to override the driver control vent unit and to adjust at least one of the at least another vent unit to direct at least one of the at least another air flow to the second space when the at least one passenger sensor detects the presence of the passenger in the second space; and

the at least one passenger sensor signals the passenger control unit to not override the driver control vent unit when the at least one passenger sensor detects the absence of the passenger in the second space.

18. The vehicle climate control system of claim 17, wherein the at least one of the at least another vent unit is in and/or on a passenger side of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle climate control system of claim 17, wherein the passenger side of the vehicle is at least one of:

to the right of the driver, to the right of a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the middle of a dashboard, to the right of a console, and to a side including a seat for the passenger.

20. The vehicle climate control system of claim 17, further comprising:

a passenger unit controller; and

at least one passenger adjustment sensor for detecting a position of adjustment of the passenger control vent unit, wherein a signal of the at least one passenger adjustment sensor sends the adjustment position to the passenger unit controller for producing the drive signal to the at least one drive motor.

21. The vehicle climate control system of claim 18, wherein the at least one passenger sensor and the at least one passenger adjustment sensor are disposed in and/or on at least one of:

a dashboard, a center console, the passenger control vent unit, the passenger unit controller, the passenger seat, the passenger side of the vehicle, and a control console.

22. A method for controlling air flow, comprising:

adjusting at least one control vent unit for directing at least one air flow to a space;

determining an angular orientation of the at least one control vent unit based upon a reference line spaced away from the at least one control vent unit and running through the space, wherein an angle of the determined angular orientation is the angle between the at least one air flow from the at least one control vent unit to the space and a perpendicular line from the at least one control vent unit to the reference line;

determining a location of the space with respect to at least another vent unit for directing at least another air flow to the space based upon the reference line, a known relative position of the at least one control vent unit to the at least another vent unit, and the angular orientation of the at least one control vent unit;

determining an angular adjustment of the at least another vent unit, wherein an angle of the determined angular adjustment is the angle between a perpendicular line from the at least another vent unit to the reference line and a line from the at least another vent unit to the determined location of the space; and

adjusting the at least another vent unit to direct the at least another air flow to the space.

23. The method for controlling air flow of claim 22, further comprising:

determining a drive signal that must be applied to at least one drive motor for adjusting the at least another vent unit towards the space.

24. The method for controlling air flow of claim 22, wherein the adjustment of a plurality of the at least another vent is simultaneous and/or automatic.

25. The method for controlling air flow of claim 22, wherein the reference line is at least one of:

a reference position of a front seat, and the actual sensed position of the front seat.