SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH REMOTE START OPERATION

• US 20100072290A1
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dage, Gerhard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00807 the input being a specific way of measuring or calculating an air or coolant temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00828 Ventilators, e.g. speed control B60H1/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00849 for selectively commanding the induction of outside or inside air B60H1/00842 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3273 related to the operation of the vehicle, e.g. the compressor driving torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5678 characterised by electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/065 Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0205 using an auxiliary engine speed control engine speed control per se F02D31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a system for controlling a vehicle climate control system in response to starting an engine with a remote start operation is provided. The system includes a first sensor for generating a cabin temperature signal indicative of a temperature within the vehicle. The system further includes a controller for controlling idle speed of the engine in response to the cabin temperature signal such that the controlled idle speed enables the climate control system to achieve a desired temperature.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a vehicle climate control system in response to starting an engine with a remote start operation, the system comprising:

a first sensor for generating a cabin temperature signal indicative of a temperature within the vehicle; and

a controller for controlling idle speed of the engine in response to the cabin temperature signal such that the controlled idle speed enables the climate control system to achieve a desired temperature.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second sensor for generating an ambient temperature signal indicative of a temperature exterior to the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller controls the idle speed of the engine in response to the ambient temperature signal and the cabin temperature signal such that the controlled idle speed enables the climate control system to achieve the desired temperature and the vehicle to minimize fuel consumption.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller controls blower speed for blowers positioned within the climate control system in response to at least one of the cabin temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller controls at least one of climate control seat operation and heated steering wheel operation in response to at least one of the cabin temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal.

6. The system of claim 2 further comprising a third sensor for generating a sun-load signal indicative of the amount of visible light that is present, wherein the controller controls a defrost operation in response to at least one of the cabin temperature signal, the ambient temperature signal and the sun-load signal.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller controls at least one of a mode schedule and a recirculation schedule of the climate control system in response to at least one of the cabin temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller controls temperature selection of the climate control system in response to at least one of the cabin temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second sensor for generating an engine coolant temperature (ECT) signal indicative of a temperature of engine coolant within the engine.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the controller controls the idle speed of the engine in response to the ECT signal and the cabin temperature signal such that the controlled idle speed enables the climate control system to achieve the desired temperature.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller decreases the engine idle speed in response to determining that the ambient temperature signal is increasing over a remote start time interval while the climate control system pre-heats the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller decreases the engine idle speed in response to determining that the ambient temperature signal is decreasing over a remote start time interval while the climate control system pre-cools the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to a state of charge of the battery and to selectively disable the operation of the climate control system in response to determining that the state of charge signal is below a predetermined state of charge.

14. A method for controlling a vehicle climate control system in response to starting an engine with a remote start operation, the method comprising:

receiving a cabin temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the vehicle; and

controlling idle speed of the engine in response to the cabin temperature signal such that the controlled idle speed enables the climate control system to achieve a desired temperature.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving an ambient temperature signal indicative of a temperature exterior to the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling the idle speed of the engine in response to the cabin temperature signal such that the controlled idle speed enables the climate control system to achieve the desired temperature further comprises controlling the idle speed of the engine in response to the cabin temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising controlling blower speed for blowers positioned within the climate control system in response to the at least one of the cabin temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal.

18. A method for controlling a vehicle climate control system in response to starting an engine with a remote start operation, the method comprising:

receiving an ambient temperature signal indicative of a temperature exterior to the vehicle

receiving a cabin temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the vehicle;

receiving an engine coolant temperature signal indicative of a temperature of engine coolant; and

controlling idle speed of the engine in response to the ambient temperature signal, the cabin temperature signal and the engine coolant temperature signal such that the controlled idle speed enables the climate control system to achieve a desired temperature and the vehicle minimizes fuel consumption.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising controlling at least one of a mode schedule and a recirculation schedule of the climate control system in response to at least one of the cabin temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising controlling temperature selection of the climate control system in response to at least one of the cabin temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal.