Vehicle Heating System and Method Using PTC Heater

• US 20120074118A1
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: KIM, Yong Chul, Cho, Hoo Taek, Kim, Tae Kun
• Application Number:
  US12/954,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20120074118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2218 controlling the operation of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00192 to left and right part of passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2237 supplementary heating, e.g. during stop and go of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2265 related to the quantity of heat produced by the heater
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2287 Integration into a vehicle HVAC system or vehicle dashboard B60H2001/00128 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0236 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/023 Heaters of the type used for electrically heating the air blown in a vehicle compartment by the vehicle heating system

Abstract

A vehicle heating system using a PTC heater is provided, which includes an input unit for inputting set temperatures of a driver seat and a passenger seat, a control unit outputting PWM control signals so as to control respective outputs of a left heat source portion and a right heat source portion formed in the PTC heater based on the set temperatures input through the input unit, and a power supply unit supplying power to the left heat source portion and the right heat source portion, respectively, in accordance with the PWM control signals output from the control unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle heating system using a PTC heater, comprising:

an input unit for inputting set temperatures of a driver seat and a passenger seat;

a control unit outputting PWM control signals so as to control respective outputs of a left heat source portion and a right heat source portion formed in the PTC heater based on the set temperatures input through the input unit; and

a power supply unit supplying power to the left heat source portion and the right heat source portion, respectively, in accordance with the PWM control signals output from the control unit.

2. The vehicle heating system according to claim 1, wherein the PTC heater comprises left and right temperature sensing units measuring the temperatures of air discharged through the left heat source portion and the right heat source portion, respectively, and

the control unit outputs the PWM control signals for controlling the outputs of the left heat source portion and the right heat source portion, respectively, by comparing the temperatures measured through the left and right temperature sensing units with the set temperatures input through the input unit, respectively.

3. The vehicle heating system according to claim 2, wherein the left and right temperature sensing units are installed to be spaced apart from air discharge surfaces of the left heat source portion and the right heat source portion, respectively.

4. The vehicle heating system according to claim 1, wherein the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion includes a plurality of PTC elements, and

the PTC elements are arranged so that the number of the PTC elements is increased toward a lower part of the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion.

5. A vehicle heating method using a PTC heater, comprising the steps of:

A) inputting set temperatures of a driver seat and a passenger seat;

B) comparing the set temperatures of the driver seat and the passenger seat input in step A) with measured temperatures of air discharged through left and right heat source portions of the PTC heater; and

C) outputting PWM control signals for controlling outputs of the left and right heat source portions, respectively, by comparing the set temperatures of the driver seat and the passenger seat input in step A) with the measured temperatures of the air passing through the left and right heat source portions, respectively.

6. The vehicle heating method according to claim 5, wherein the step C) outputs the PWM control signal for increasing voltage input to the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion to increase the temperature of the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion if the measured temperature of the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion is lower than the set temperature of the driver seat or the passenger seat.

7. The vehicle heating method according to claim 5, wherein the step C) outputs the PWM control signal for decreasing voltage input to the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion to lower the temperature of the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion if the measured temperature of the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion is higher than the set temperature of the driver seat or the passenger seat.

8. The vehicle heating method according to claim 5, wherein the step C) outputs the PWM control signal for maintaining voltage input to the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion to maintain the temperature of the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion if the measured temperature of the left heat source portion or the right heat source portion is equal to the set temperature of the driver seat or the passenger seat.