Remote and programmable indash defrost/cooling system

• US 5,791,407 A
• Filed: 06/11/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rapids Defrost System Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rapids Defrost System Incorporated
• Inventors: Hammons, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US08/661,843
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 165/42, 165/43, 165/202, 165/266, 123/142.5 R, 123/142.5 E, 236/51, 237/12.3 C, 237/12.3 B, 237/12.3 A, 237/12.3 R, 219/203, 62/244
• US Class Current: 165/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/034 from the cooling liquid of the propulsion plant and from an electric heating device
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2221 arrangements of electric heaters for heating an intermediate liquid B60H1/034 takes precedence

Abstract

A remote and programmable indash defrost/cooling system includes a processing unit coupled to the vehicle'"'"'s ignition system, heating system, and cooling system. A memory coupled to the processing unit stores a computer readable program which is designed to direct operation of the vehicle'"'"'s ignition, heating, and cooling systems to allow preprogrammed warming or cooling of the vehicle. The processing unit may also cause the windows of the vehicle to be defrosted and cleaned by starting front and rear defrost systems and then activating the front and/or rear windshield wipers to clear the defrosted ice from the windows.

Claims

1. A vehicle heating, cooling and safety control system for use in a vehicle having an ignition system, a heating system and a cooling system, the control system comprising:

a processing unit coupled to said ignition system, to said heating system, and to said cooling system;

a parking brake sensor coupled to a parking brake and to said processing unit, adapted to indicate if said parking brake is engaged;

a transmission sensor coupled to a transmission and to said processing unit, adapted to indicate if said transmission is in neutral or park;

a door lock sensor coupled to at least a first door lock and to said processing unit, adapted to indicate if said at least first door lock is engaged; and

a window shut sensor coupled to at least a first window and to said processing unit, adapted to indicate if said at least first window is shut;

a memory coupled to said processing unit comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code means embodied therein for directing operation of said vehicle heating and cooling control system, said computer readable program code means including;

computer readable program code means for causing said ignition system to operate at a selected time;

computer readable program code means for causing said heating system to heat said vehicle at said selected time;

computer readable program code means for causing said cooling system to cool said vehicle at said selected time; and

computer readable program code means for monitoring said parking brake sensor, transmission sensor, door lock sensor and window shut sensor to verify whether said vehicle is in an operating condition.

2. The vehicle heating and cooling control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver unit coupled to said processing unit; and

a remote control unit remotely coupled to said receiver unit, said remote control unit adapted to send control signals to said receiver unit to enable operation of said processing unit.

3. The vehicle heating and cooling control system of claim 1, further comprising a defrost system controlled by said processing unit to defrost windows of said vehicle.

4. The vehicle heating and cooling control system of claim 1, further comprising a windshield wiper controlled by said processing unit to clean windows of said vehicle.

5. A method for automatically warming a vehicle, said vehicle having an engine and a heating system, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling said heating system using a control unit coupled to a processing unit;

selecting, using the control unit a start time to warm said vehicle;

after said enabling step and before said start time repeatedly or continuously monitoring, using said processing unit, at least one temperature sensor until said start time is reached;

verifying, in said processing unit, that said start time has been reached;

prior to starting said engine, ensuring, using said processing unit, that conditions are secure to start said engine by verifying that doors and windows of said vehicle are secured from unauthorized entry, that a parking brake is set and that a transmission is in neutral;

starting said engine;

controlling, using said processing unit, said heating system to warm said vehicle to a preselected temperature.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of monitoring said at least one temperature sensor includes one or more checking steps selected from the group consisting of:

checking, using said processing unit, the state of an engine temperature sensor;

checking, using said processing unit, the state of an inside temperature sensor; and

checking, using said processing unit, the state of an outside temperature sensor.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of activating an engine, water or cabin interior heating device when said at least one temperature sensor indicates a temperature below a preselected minimum temperature.

8. The method of claim 5, including the step of controlling, using said processing unit, said defrost system to defrost windows of said vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, including the step of controlling, using said processing unit, windshield wipers of said vehicle to clean a windshield of said vehicle.

10. A vehicle heating control system for use in a vehicle having an ignition system and a heating system, the control system comprising:

a processing unit coupled to said ignition system and to said heating system;

a memory coupled to said processing unit comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code means embodied therein for directing operation of said vehicle heating control system, said computer readable program code means including;

computer readable program code means for causing said ignition system to operate at a selected time;

computer readable program code means for causing said heating system to heat said vehicle at said selected time;

a parking brake sensor coupled to a parking brake and to said processing unit, adapted to indicate if said parking brake is engaged;

a transmission sensor coupled to a transmission and to said processing unit, adapted to indicate if said transmission is in neutral or park;

a door lock sensor coupled to at least a first door lock and to said processing unit, adapted to indicate if said at least first door lock is engaged; and

a window shut sensor coupled to at least a first window and to said processing unit, adapted to indicate if said at least first window is shut, wherein said computer readable program code means further comprises;

computer readable program code means for monitoring said parking brake sensor, transmission sensor, door lock sensor and window shut sensor to verify whether said vehicle is in an operating condition.

11. The vehicle heating control system of claim 10, further comprising:

a receiver unit coupled to said processing unit; and

a remote control unit remotely coupled to said receiver unit, said remote control unit adapted to send control signals to said receiver unit to enable operation of said processing unit.

12. The vehicle heating control system of claim 10, further comprising at least a first temperature sensor and at least a first engine heat device, each coupled to said processing unit, wherein said computer readable program code means further comprises:

computer readable program code means for monitoring said at least first temperature sensor to monitor a temperature of said vehicle; and

computer readable program code means for activating said at least first engine heat device when said temperature of said vehicle falls below a preselected minimum temperature.

13. The vehicle heating control system of claim 10, further comprising a defrost system controlled by said processing unit to defrost windows of said vehicle.

14. The vehicle heating control system of claim 10, further comprising a windshield wiper controlled by said processing unit to clean windows of said vehicle.

15. A method for automatically cooling a vehicle, said vehicle having an engine and a cooling system, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling said cooling system using a control unit coupled to a processing unit;

selecting, using the control unit, a start time to cool said vehicle;

after said enabling step and before said start time repeatedly or continuously monitoring, using said processing unit, at least one temperature sensor until said start time is reached;

verifying, in said processing unit, that said start time has been reached;

prior to starting said engine, ensuring, using said processing unit, that conditions are secure to start said engine by verifying that doors and windows of said vehicle are secured from unauthorized entry, that a parking brake is set and that a transmission is in neutral;

starting said engine; and

controlling, using said processing unit, said cooling system to cool said vehicle to a preselected temperature.