AFTERMARKET HVAC CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An HVAC control device for controlling a vehicle climate control system having a plurality of control elements, the HVAC control device configured for installing in a vehicle climate control panel, the HVAC control device comprising:
- a housing having a front surface, said housing having a common size, dimensioned for installing in a complementary receptacle in the vehicle climate control panel, the size common to replacement vehicle climate control panels for vehicles made by one than on vehicle manufacturer;
a user interface on the front surface of the housing, by which a user can operate a vehicle climate control system having a plurality of control elements anda controller disposed in the housing and configured to control said climate control system in accordance with user input to said user interface, wherein said controller, in response to said user input, creates said command inputs commanding action within said climate control system and transmits said command inputs to said climate control system, wherein said controller, in response to said status outputs indicating said status of said climate control system, regulates the operation of at least a portion of said climate control system, and wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the control elements of the vehicle climate control system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an HVAC control device for controlling a vehicle climate control system having a plurality of control elements. The HVAC control device includes a housing having a common size dimensioned for installing in a complementary receptacle in the vehicle climate control panel, the size common to replacement vehicle climate control panels for vehicles made by one than on vehicle manufacturer. On the front surface of the housing is a user interface by which a user can operate the vehicle climate control system. In the housing is a controller adapted to control more than one different vehicle climate control system.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An HVAC control device for controlling a vehicle climate control system having a plurality of control elements, the HVAC control device configured for installing in a vehicle climate control panel, the HVAC control device comprising:
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a housing having a front surface, said housing having a common size, dimensioned for installing in a complementary receptacle in the vehicle climate control panel, the size common to replacement vehicle climate control panels for vehicles made by one than on vehicle manufacturer; a user interface on the front surface of the housing, by which a user can operate a vehicle climate control system having a plurality of control elements and a controller disposed in the housing and configured to control said climate control system in accordance with user input to said user interface, wherein said controller, in response to said user input, creates said command inputs commanding action within said climate control system and transmits said command inputs to said climate control system, wherein said controller, in response to said status outputs indicating said status of said climate control system, regulates the operation of at least a portion of said climate control system, and wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the control elements of the vehicle climate control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for installing an HVAC control device into a vehicle comprising:
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removing a first vehicle climate control panel from a vehicle, the first vehicle climate control panel comprising a first receptacle, the first receptacle having a first non common size and shape; removing a first HVAC control device for a vehicle climate control system having a plurality of control elements from the first receptacle, the first HVAC control device having a shape complementary to the first non common size and shape; installing a second vehicle climate control panel in the vehicle, the second vehicle climate control panel comprising a second receptacle, the second receptacle having a first common size and shape; and installing a second HVAC control device for a vehicle climate control system having a plurality of control elements in the second receptacle, the second HVAC control device having a size and shape complementary to the first common size and shape. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification