VEHICLE CABIN VENTING ARRANGEMENT

• US 20090130966A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Tucker, David Wayne
• Application Number:
  US12/271,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20090130966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00821 the components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/248 Air-extractors, air-evacuation from the vehicle interior

Abstract

An example vehicle cabin temperature control arrangement includes a sensor and a controller module operatively connected to the sensor. An actuator is operatively connected to the controller, which is configured to initiate the actuator to move a component to vent a vehicle cabin in response to a signal from the sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle cabin temperature control arrangement, comprising:

a sensor;

a controller module operatively connected to the sensor; and

an actuator operatively connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to initiate the actuator to move a component to vent a vehicle cabin in response to a signal from the sensor.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor a temperature of air within the vehicle cabin.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor a temperature of air within an upper portion of the vehicle cabin.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a moisture sensor.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, further including a fan, wherein the controller is configured to initiate the fan to move air within the vehicle cabin.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the fan moves air to a lower portion of the vehicle cabin.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a body control module.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a sunroof.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a window.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cabin comprises an unoccupied vehicle cabin.

12. A vehicle cabin temperature control arrangement, comprising:

a controller module operative to receive an input from a sensor and configured to initiate venting a vehicle cabin in response to the input.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the controller module comprises an HVAC fan.

14. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the controller module is operative to receive a second input from the sensor, different from the first input, and configured to inhibit venting the vehicle cabin in response to the second input.

15. A method of controlling airflow from a vehicle cabin, comprising:

(a) sensing a condition; and

(b) facilitating airflow from a vehicle cabin in response to the sensed condition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step (b) comprises moving at least one of a vehicle sunroof or a vehicle window to create an opening for airflow.

17. The method of claim 16, including varying size of the opening based on the sensed condition.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said step (b) comprises facilitating airflow from an upper portion of the vehicle cabin.

19. The method of claim 15, including the steps of sensing a second, different condition and inhibiting airflow from the cabin in response to the second condition.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the vehicle cabin comprises an unoccupied vehicle cabin.