System and method for prevention of windshield fogging in a motor vehicle

• US 5,971,066 A
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Cars Limited (TATA Motors Limited), Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: McBroom, Mark David, Oehring, Chris George, Aislabie, Martin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCKINNON, TERRELL L
• Application Number:
  US09/032,453
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 165/202, 165/204, 165/232, 165/233
• US Class Current: 165/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost

Abstract

A method and system for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle is provided. The method and system include determination of whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on" and preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after it has been determined that the vehicle has recently been turned "on".

Claims

1. A method for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on"; and

preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on".

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of input signals;

determining whether the HVAC system is dry; and

if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield.

3. A method for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on";

preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after a controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on";

receiving a plurality of input signals;

determining whether the HVAC system is dry, comprising the controller determining that a compressor of the HVAC system was not operating prior to the vehicle being turned "off" and determining that a blower was operating for a third predetermined time period while the compressor was not operating prior to the vehicle being turned "off"; and

if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the third predetermined time period comprises approximately 30 minutes.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the signals comprise an ambient temperature and wherein the step of determining whether the HVAC system is dry further comprises the controller determining whether the ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

6. A method for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on";

preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on";

receiving a plurality of input signals comprising an ambient temperature and a coolant temperature;

determining whether the HVAC system is dry comprising a controller determining whether the ambient temperature is below a first predetermined temperature and whether the vehicle coolant temperature is below a second predetermined temperature; and

if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first temperature comprises approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit and the second temperature comprises approximately 120 degree Fahrenheit.

8. A method for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on";

preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on";

receiving a plurality of input signals comprising an ambient temperature and a coolant temperature;

determining whether the HVAC system is dry wherein the step of determining whether the HVAC system is dry comprises the controller determining whether the vehicle was turned "off" for a second predetermined time period before the vehicle was most recently turned "on"; and

if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the second time period is approximately 12 hours.

10. A method for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on";

preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on";

receiving a plurality of input signals comprising an ambient temperature and a coolant temperature;

determining whether the HVAC system is dry comprising variably adjusting the first time period for which air is prevented from flowing toward the windshield based on the plurality of input signals; and

if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield.

11. A system for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the system comprising a controller operative to determine whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on" and for preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on".

12. The system as provided in claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of input signals; and

the controller being operative to determine whether the HVAC system is dry from the plurality of input signals, and if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield.

13. The system as provided in claim 12, wherein the controller determines whether the HVAC system is dry by determining whether the vehicle was turned "off" for a second predetermined time period.

14. A system for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

a controller operative to determine whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on" and for preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on";

a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of input signals; and

the controller being operative to determine whether the HVAC system is dry from the plurality of input signals, and if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield, wherein the controller determines whether the HVAC system is dry by determining that a compressor of the HVAC system was not operating prior to the vehicle being turned "off" and determining whether a blower was operating for a third predetermined time period while the compressor was not operating prior to the vehicle being turned "off".

15. The system as provided in claim 14, wherein the third time period is approximately 30 minutes.

16. A system for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

a controller operative to determine whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on" and for preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on";

a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of input signals, wherein the input signals comprise an ambient temperature signal and a coolant temperature signal; and

the controller being operative to determine whether the HVAC system is dry by determining whether the ambient temperature signal is below a first predetermined value and the coolant temperature signal is below a second predetermined value, and if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield.

17. The system as provided in claim 16, wherein the first signal value corresponds to a temperature of approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit and the second signal value corresponds to a temperature of approximately 120 degree Fahrenheit.

18. A system for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

a controller operative to determine whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on" and for preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on";

a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of input signals including an ambient temperature; and

the controller being operative to determine whether the HVAC system is dry from the plurality of input signals, and if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield, wherein the controller determines whether the HVAC system is dry by determining that a compressor of the HVAC system was not operating prior to the vehicle being turned "off" and determining whether a blower was operating for a third predetermined time period while the compressor was not operating prior to the vehicle being turned "off" and determining that the ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

19. A system for controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to prevent fogging of a windshield of the automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

a controller operative to determine whether the vehicle has been recently turned "on" and for preventing the HVAC system from directing air flow toward the windshield for a first predetermined time period after the controller determines that the vehicle has recently been turned "on";

a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of input signals; and

the controller being operative to determine whether the HVAC system is dry from the plurality of input signals, and if the HVAC system is dry, permitting the HVAC system to direct air flow to the windshield, wherein the controller determines whether the HVAC system is dry by determining whether the vehicle was turned "off" for a second predetermined time period.