Solar radiation heat influx sensor for an automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. A solar radiation heat influx sensor adapted to be mounted on an automotive vehicle having windows for determining heat influx into a passenger compartment due to sunlight, comprising:
- (a) a sensor body having an air inlet portion and an air outlet portion at opposite ends thereof and a model window having similar solar characteristics to the vehicle windows, said model window being disposed between the air inlet and outlet portions of said sensor body and operable to receive rays of sunlight incident on said vehicle;
(b) means for driving air through said sensor body from the air inlet portion to the air outlet portion;
(c) an outside-air temperature sensor disposed in the air inlet portion of said sensor body for detecting the temperature of air flowing into said sensor body;
(d) a warmed-air temperature sensor disposed in the air outlet portion of said sensor body for detecting the temperature of air flowing out of said sensor body; and
(e) a calculating unit, connected to said outside-air temperature sensor and said warmed-air temperature sensor, for calculating heat influx into the passenger compartment due to sunlight on the basis of signals generated by said outside-air temperature sensor and said warmed-air temperature sensor in accordance with a predetermined equation, and for outputting a command signal corresponding thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar radiation heat influx sensor mounted within an automotive vehicle fender mirror housing, which can accurately detect solar radiation heat influx due to rays of sunlight falling upon the vehicle. The detected heat influx value is used in controlling an automotive vehicle air-conditioning system to adjust passenger compartment air temperature, more specifically to determine an appropriate air conditioning air mix door opening percentage. The solar radiation heat influx sensor according to the present invention comprises a sensor body having inlet and outlet portions and a central window, a blower to drive air therethrough, an outside-air temperature sensor disposed in the inlet portion thereof and a warmed-air temperature sensor disposed in the outlet portion thereof, and a calculating unit to calculate solar radiation heat influx in response to the two detected temperatures in accordance with a predetermined equation.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A solar radiation heat influx sensor adapted to be mounted on an automotive vehicle having windows for determining heat influx into a passenger compartment due to sunlight, comprising:
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(a) a sensor body having an air inlet portion and an air outlet portion at opposite ends thereof and a model window having similar solar characteristics to the vehicle windows, said model window being disposed between the air inlet and outlet portions of said sensor body and operable to receive rays of sunlight incident on said vehicle; (b) means for driving air through said sensor body from the air inlet portion to the air outlet portion; (c) an outside-air temperature sensor disposed in the air inlet portion of said sensor body for detecting the temperature of air flowing into said sensor body; (d) a warmed-air temperature sensor disposed in the air outlet portion of said sensor body for detecting the temperature of air flowing out of said sensor body; and (e) a calculating unit, connected to said outside-air temperature sensor and said warmed-air temperature sensor, for calculating heat influx into the passenger compartment due to sunlight on the basis of signals generated by said outside-air temperature sensor and said warmed-air temperature sensor in accordance with a predetermined equation, and for outputting a command signal corresponding thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A solar radiation heat influx sensor, mounted on an automotive vehicle in a fender mirror housing, for detecting heat influx into a passenger compartment due to sunlight, comprising:
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(a) a sensor body having an air inlet portion and an air outlet portion at opposite ends thereof and a window between said inlet and outlet portions; (b) means for driving air through said sensor body from the air inlet portion to the air outlet portion; (c) an otuside-air temperature sensor disposed in the air inlet portion of said sensor body for detecting the temperature of air flowing into said sensor body; (d) a warmed-air temperature sensor disposed in the air outlet portion of said sensor body for detecting the temperature of air flowing out of said sensor body; (e) a calculating unit, connected to said outside-air temperature sensor and said warmed-air temperature sensor, for calculating heat influx into the passenger compartment due to sunlight on the basis of signals generated by said outside-air temperature sensor and said warmed-air temperature sensor in accordance with a predetermined equation, and for outputting a signal corresponding thereto; wherein said sensor body, said means for driving air through said sensor body, said outside-air temperature sensor, and said warmed-air temperature sensor are disposed within the fender mirror housing.
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Specification