Automotive climate control with infra-red sensing
First Claim
1. In an automotive vehicle, a climate control system for establishing and maintaining a passenger compartment comfort level according to a preset level comprising;
- infra-red sensing means for viewing a predetermined portion of the passenger compartment for radiant heat therein and producing a thermal level signal;
an air temperature sensing means for sampling air temperature in the passenger compartment and producing an air temperature signal; and
control means responsive to the thermal level signal and the air temperature signal for controlling an HVAC system to establish and maintain the passenger compartment comfort level according to the preset level, wherein airflow into the passenger compartment is determined as a function of a linear Combination of the thermal level signal and the air temperature signal, the function being independent of ti..me rate of Change of the thermal level signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air temperature sensor and an infrared sensor are used along with an outside temperature sensor to control an HVAC system. During vehicle operation the IR sensor views an occupant seating area and realistically determines the thermal comfort level and the air temperature adds stability to that determination to control the air output. For dual zone systems two IR sensors separately monitor the two zones for accurate control of each zone air output. When the vehicle is not operating, the internal temperature is monitored and compared to a threshold and to outside temperature to turn on ventilation for limiting the internal temperature, subject to sufficient battery voltage.
60 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In an automotive vehicle, a climate control system for establishing and maintaining a passenger compartment comfort level according to a preset level comprising;
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infra-red sensing means for viewing a predetermined portion of the passenger compartment for radiant heat therein and producing a thermal level signal; an air temperature sensing means for sampling air temperature in the passenger compartment and producing an air temperature signal; and control means responsive to the thermal level signal and the air temperature signal for controlling an HVAC system to establish and maintain the passenger compartment comfort level according to the preset level, wherein airflow into the passenger compartment is determined as a function of a linear Combination of the thermal level signal and the air temperature signal, the function being independent of ti..me rate of Change of the thermal level signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an automotive vehicle, a climate control system for establishing and maintaining a passenger compartment comfort level according to a preset level, wherein the system is effective to ventilate the vehicle when the vehicle is idle, comprising;
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battery voltage sensing means; outside air temperature sensor means for producing an outside temperature signal; infra-red sensing means for viewing a predetermined portion of the passenger compartment for radiant heat therein and producing a thermal level signal, wherein the thermal level signal represents a surface temperature; an air temperature sensing means for sampling air temperature in the passenger compartment and producing an air temperature signal; and control means responsive to the thermal level signal and the air temperature signal for controlling an HVAC system to establish and maintain the passenger compartment comfort level according to the preset level, the control means further being responsive to the outside temperature signal and battery voltage for operating the HVAC in ventilation mode when the surface temperature is above a first threshold, the surface temperature exceeds the outside air temperature by a set amount, and the voltage is above a voltage threshold. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. In an automotive vehicle, a climate control system effective to ventilate the vehicle when the vehicle is idle, comprising;
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battery voltage sensing means; outside air temperature sensor means for producing an outside temperature signal; infra-red sensing means for viewing a predetermined portion of the passenger compartment for radiant heat therein and producing a thermal level signal, wherein the thermal level signal represents a surface temperature; control means responsive to the outside temperature signal and battery voltage for operating an HVAC system in ventilation mode when the surface temperature is above a first threshold, the surface temperature exceeds the outside air temperature by a set amount, and the voltage is above a voltage threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification