Vehicle air conditioning monitoring device

• US 6,078,853 A
• Filed: 04/16/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Compact Car Smart GmbH
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Ebner, Andreas, Martin, Jan, Heuberger, Juergen, Jeckel, Alfred, Henseler, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/061,152
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/10, 701/36, 701/45, 701/65, 374/10, 374/20, 374/100, 374/133, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/463, 340/426, 340/439, 62/156, 62/159, 62/213, 62/223, 62/132, 62/133, 62/239, 62/244, 123/339.17
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/008 the input being air quality
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0085 Smell or pollution preventing arrangements B60H3/0007, B60H3/0071, B60H3/02, B60H3/06 take precedence

Abstract

A device for use in vehicles with electric or hybrid drive for monitoring the air conditioning of a vehicle based on health and energy consumption readings. The device monitors the operation of the air conditioning to determine when differentials between outside and inside temperature are excessive, and/or inside atmospheric humidity is too low and/or air quality is poor. An occurrence of any of these conditions results in the system suggesting to the driver that he should interrupt travel to the desired destination. In addition, if necessary, the device performs a vehicle range estimate as a function of the selected air conditioning operation.

Claims

1. The device for monitoring the air conditioning of a vehicle, wherein:

the device calculates the difference between the temperature outside the vehicle as measured by an outside temperature sensor and the temperature inside the vehicle as measured by an interior temperature sensor, and generates temperature differential warning information when the calculated temperature differential is greater than a preset temperature differential warning value; and

the device compares the outside air pollutant concentration measured by a first pollutant sensor and the inside air pollutant concentration measured by a second pollutant sensor with a preset pollutant concentration warning value and generates travel interruption recommendation information if both of the measured pollutant concentrations are above the predetermined pollutant concentration warning value.

2. The device for monitoring the air conditioning of a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the device receives data relevant to vehicle range from a vehicle system control and determines the anticipated vehicle range as a function of these data as well as the air conditioning system setting selected by the user.

3. The device for monitoring the air conditioning of a vehicle, wherein:

the device compares the atmospheric humidity measured by an atmospheric humidity sensor inside the vehicle with a preset atmospheric humidity warning value and generates atmospheric humidity warning information when the measured atmospheric humidity is less than the preset atmospheric humidity warning value; and

the device compares the outside air pollutant concentration measured by a first pollutant sensor and the inside air pollutant concentration measured by a second pollutant sensor with a preset pollutant concentration warning value and generates travel interruption recommendation information if both of the measured pollutant concentrations are above the predetermined pollutant concentration warning value.

4. The device for monitoring the air conditioning of a motor vehicle, wherein:

the device calculates the difference between the temperature outside the vehicle as measured by an outside temperature sensor and the temperature inside the vehicle as measured by an interior temperature sensor, and generates temperature differential warning information when the calculated temperature differential is greater than a preset temperature differential warning value; and

the device receives data relevant to vehicle range from a vehicle system control and determines the anticipated vehicle range as a function of these data as well as the air conditioning system setting selected by the user.

5. The device for monitoring the air conditioning of a motor vehicle, wherein:

the device compares the atmospheric humidity measured by an atmospheric humidity sensor inside the vehicle with a preset atmospheric humidity warning value and generates atmospheric humidity warning information when the measured atmospheric humidity is less than the preset atmospheric humidity warning value; and

the device receives data relevant to vehicle range from a vehicle system control and determines the anticipated vehicle range as a function of these data as well as the air conditioning system setting selected by the user.

6. The device for monitoring the air conditioning of a vehicle, wherein the device compares the outside air pollutant concentration measured by a first pollutant sensor and the inside air pollutant concentration measured by a second pollutant sensor with a preset pollutant concentration warning value and generates travel interruption recommendation information if both of the measured pollutant concentrations are above the predetermined pollutant concentration warning value.

7. A method for operating an air conditioning system of a vehicle comprising:

measuring an air pollutant concentration exterior to the vehicle;

measuring an air pollutant concentration in an interior passenger compartment of the vehicle;

comparing both measured exterior air pollutant concentration and measured interior air pollutant concentration with a preset pollutant concentration warning value;

generating a travel interruption recommendation information to a driver of the vehicle, if both of the measured pollutant concentrations are above the predetermined pollutant concentration warning value.