Process and system for controlling an air-conditioning system for a vehicle interior

• US 5,878,809 A
• Filed: 07/09/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Heinle, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US08/678,512
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 165/42, 165/43, 165/203, 236/91 C
• US Class Current: 165/203
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0075 the input being solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency

Abstract

A process for controlling an air-conditioning system for a passenger vehicle interior is disclosed in the case of which the air-conditioning output provided by individual air-conditioning ducts is controlled as a function of the vehicle seat occupancy. This permits a setting of the air-conditioning effect in the different areas of the vehicle interior which meets the requirements to a considerable extent. Individual solar intensity sensors at each of a plurality of individual seats control darkening of the side windows adjacent to the individual seats, whereby control of both the air-conditioning outlets and the window-darkening device associated with a respective seat as a function of the seat occupancy signal associated with the respective seat is carried out.

Claims

1. A passenger car air-conditioning system for a multi-seat passenger car of the type comprising:

a passenger seat occupancy detection device at each of a plurality of passenger seats, said seat occupancy detection devices generating respective seat occupancy signals representative of an occupancy condition of a respective associated seat,

a solar intensity sensor device at each of the plurality of passenger seats, said solar intensity sensor devices generating respective solar intensity signals representative of a solar intensity condition of a respective associated seat,

a separately controllable air-conditioning outlet at each of the plurality of passenger seats,

and a controller operable to control the air-conditioning outlets at the respective seats as a function of both the seat occupancy signal and the solar intensity signal associated with the respective seat;

a window-darkening device at each of side windows adjacent each of the plurality of passenger seats;

wherein said controller is operable to control both the air-conditioning outlet and the window-darkening device associated with a respective seat as a function of the seat occupancy signal associated with the respective seat.

2. A passenger air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is operable to increase air-conditioning at a respective air-conditioning outlet associated with respective occupied seats.

3. A passenger car air-conditioning system for a multi-seat passenger car according to claim 1, wherein said controller is operable to increase air-conditioning at a respective air-conditioning outlet associated with a respective seat when occupied and having a high solar intensity signal level.

4. A passenger car air-conditioning system for a multi-seat passenger car according to claim 1, further comprising:

a residual air-conditioning function device for maintaining air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off,

and wherein the controller is operable to operate the residual air-conditioning function device to maintain air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off when a seat occupancy signal indicates occupation of at least one seat.

5. A passenger car air-conditioning system for a multi-seat passenger car according to claim 2, further comprising:

a residual air-conditioning function device for maintaining air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off,

and wherein the controller is operable to operate the residual air-conditioning function device to maintain air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off when a seat occupancy signal indicates occupation of at least one seat.

6. A passenger car air-conditioning system for a multi-seat passenger car according to claim 3, further comprising:

a residual air-conditioning function device for maintaining air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off,

and wherein the controller is operable to operate the residual air-conditioning function device to maintain air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off when a seat occupancy signal indicates occupation of at least one seat.

7. A method of operating a passenger car air-conditioning system for a multi-seat passenger car of the type comprising:

a passenger seat occupancy detection device at each of a plurality of passenger seats, said seat occupancy detection devices generating respective seat occupancy signals representative of an occupancy condition of a respective associated seat,

a solar intensity sensor device at each of the plurality of passenger seats, said solar intensity sensor devices generating respective solar intensity signals representative of a solar intensity condition of a respective associated seat, and

a separately controllable air-conditioning outlet at each of the plurality of passenger seats,

said method comprising controlling the air-conditioning outlets at the respective seats as a function of both the seat occupancy signal and the solar intensity signal associated with the respective seat, wherein said air-conditioning system includes a window-darkening device at each of side windows adjacent each of the plurality of passenger seats, and

wherein said controlling includes controlling both the air-conditioning outlet and the window-darkening device associated with a respective seat as a function of the seat occupancy signal associated with the respective seat.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said controlling includes increasing air-conditioning at a respective air-conditioning outlet associated with respective occupied seats.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said controlling includes increasing air-conditioning at a respective air-conditioning outlet associated with a respective seat when occupied and having a high solar intensity signal level.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said air-conditioning system includes a residual air-conditioning function device for maintaining air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off,

and wherein the controlling includes operating the residual air-conditioning function device to maintain air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off when a seat occupancy signal indicates occupation of at least one seat.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein said air-conditioning system includes a residual air-conditioning function device for maintaining air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off,

and wherein the controlling includes operating the residual air-conditioning function device to maintain air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off when a seat occupancy signal indicates occupation of at least one seat.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein said air-conditioning system includes a residual air-conditioning function device for maintaining air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off,

and wherein the controlling includes operating the residual air-conditioning function device to maintain air-conditioning operation after vehicle ignition switch off when a seat occupancy signal indicates occupation of at least one seat.