Temperature control unit for a motor vehicle

• US 5,070,931 A
• Filed: 08/29/1990
• Issued: 12/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH, (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hartleb, Thomas, Kalthoff, Gerd-Otto
• Primary Examiner(s): FORD, JOHN K
• Application Number:
  US07/575,410
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 165/11.1, 165/12, 165/42, 165/43, 236/94, 62/127, 237/12.3 B, 237/2 A
• US Class Current: 165/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/007 Flow or valve position

Abstract

A temperature control unit has an air distribution setting device, an air volume setting device and a regulating control unit which determined optimum settings for the air distribution setting device and for the air volume setting device. The unit also includes a desired temperature setting device supplying a nominal inside temperature to the regulating control unit. Sensors provide an input indicative of the actual inside temperature to the regulating control unit. Output indicators, preferably in the form of light emitting diodes disposed along selecting paths of the setting devices indicate to the operator the calculated optimum settings for the appropriate setting device to be selected to allow for a controlled, external adjustment of the air distribution setting device and of the air volume setting device.

Claims

1. A temperature control unit for a motor vehicle compartment, comprising:

an air distribution setting device cooperating with means for effecting a distribution of air entering the motor vehicle compartment and having a first optimum setting and manually movable over a first selecting path;

an air volume setting device cooperating with means for effecting a volume of air entering the motor vehicle compartment and having a second optimum setting and manually movable over a second selecting path;

a regulating control means determining said first optimum setting for said air distribution setting device and said second optimum setting for said air volume setting device without automatically implementing said first and second optimum settings;

a desired temperature setting device having an output coupled as a first input to said regulating control means supplying a nominal desired inside temperature;

a first plurality of output indicators, indicating the first optimum setting;

a second plurality of output indicators indicating the second optimum setting; and

a first sensor providing a second input indicative of the actual inside temperature to said regulating control means, said regulating control unit determining said first and second optimum settings based on said first and second inputs.

2. The temperature control unit according to claim 1 further comprising a second sensor providing a third input indicative of the actual outside temperature to said regulating control means, said regulating control means determining said first and second optimum settings based on said first, second and third inputs.

3. The temperature control unit according to claim 1 wherein said first plurality of output indicators comprise a first plurality of illuminated displays, and said second plurality of output indicators comprise a second plurality of illuminated displays.

4. The temperature control unit according to claim 2 wherein said first plurality of output indicators comprise a first plurality of illuminated displays, and said second plurality of output indicators comprise a second plurality of illuminated displays.

5. The temperature control unit according to claim 1 wherein said first plurality of output indicators comprise a first plurality of light emitting diode displays, and said second plurality of output indicators comprise a second plurality of light emitting diode displays.

6. The temperature control unit according to claim 2 wherein said first plurality of output indicators comprise a first plurality of light emitting diode displays, and said second plurality of output indicators comprise a second plurality of light emitting diode displays.

7. The temperature control unit according to claim 5 wherein said first plurality of light emitting diode displays is disposed along said first selecting path, said first plurality illuminating the first optimum setting to be selected;

and said second plurality of light emitting diode displays is disposed along said second selecting path, said second plurality of light emitting diode displays illuminating the second optimum setting to be selected.

8. The temperature control unit according to claim 6 wherein said first plurality of light emitting diode displays is disposed along said first selecting path, said first plurality illuminating the first optimum setting to be selected;

and said second plurality of light emitting diode displays is disposed along said second selecting path, said second plurality of light emitting diode displays illuminating the second optimum setting toe be selected.

9. The temperature control nit of claim 1 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating unit.

10. The temperature control unit of claim 1 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises an air conditioning unit.

11. The temperature control unit of claim 1 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating and air conditioning unit.

12. The temperature control unit of claim 2 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating unit.

13. The temperature control unit of claim 2 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises an air conditioning unit.

14. The temperature control unit of claim 2 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating and air conditioning unit.

15. The temperature control unit of claim 3 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating and air conditioning unit.

16. The temperature control unit of claim 4 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating and air conditioning unit.

17. The temperature control unit of claim 5 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating and air conditioning unit.

18. The temperature control unit of claim 6 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating and air conditioning unit.

19. The temperature control unit of claim 7 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating and air conditioning unit.

20. The temperature control unit of claim 8 wherein said temperature control unit further comprises a heating and air conditioning unit.