Method for determining an interior temperature of a passenger area of a motor vehicle, arrangement for execution of the method, and a temperature sensor

• US 7,198,402 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PREH GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: PREH GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ruettiger, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US10/761,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 374/141, 374/120, 374/121, 374/129, 374/131, 374/133, 374/135, 374/29, 374/208, 236/12, 236/91.E, 236/91.C, 703/866.5, 738/665
• US Class Current: 374/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0075 the input being solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0271 Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4266 for measuring solar light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0215 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/045 Sealings; Vacuum enclosures; Encapsulated packages; Wafer bonding structures; Getter arrangements getter arrangements per se H01L23/26 and H01L21/3221
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/046 Materials; Selection of thermal materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/061 by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0846 having multiple detectors for performing different types of detection, e.g. using radiometry and reflectometry channels
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/80 Calibration using comparison with reference sources G01J5/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/20 Compensating for effects of temperature changes other than those to be measured, e.g. changes in ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2201/02 in vehicles

Abstract

A signal (S_normal) is provided to a heat element of a temperature sensor, which is recorded as a step response (L_ruh, L_bew). From the difference of the step response compared with the reaction adaptively determined with the temperature sensor at zero air circulation, air flow or no air flow is determined.

Claims

1. A method for determining an interior temperature based on a value for incident sun radiation recorded with a photo sensor and/or a surface temperature at a measuring area recorded with a temperature sensor,

wherein air circulation in front of the measuring area is determined, which, is weighted as a variable heat-transmission resistance, and is entered as a correction value into the recorded incident sun radiation,

wherein in a first measurement with the temperature sensor, a step response of the temperature sensor at zero air circulation is taken and recorded in response to a heat element being provided with a signal, and

wherein from the difference of the step response as compared to a second response the presence or absence of air circulation is determined, which determination is utilized for determining the interior temperature based on the correction value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein with air circulation present, the step response on the temperature sensor shows a smaller impulse height and impulse width than a step response when no air circulation is present.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat element is in close proximity of and thermally coupled to the temperature sensor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises:

at least one sensor for determining the surface temperature of the measuring area, and the heat element, which is thermally coupled with the at least one sensor.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the thermal coupling is achieved via a damping segment.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the damping segment is a foil with conduction tracks attached thereto.

7. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the temperature sensor is located in a housing and is arranged in an upper part of a foil, which serves as a substrate for the temperature sensor, and into which are injected at least the sensor for determining the surface temperature of the measuring area and the heat element, and

wherein the housing is closed off towards a lower portion thereof bottom with a casting compound, with contact pins leading through it.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the housing is made of infrared-permeable material, at least above an additional sensor for measuring the incident sun radiation, which is attached to the foil.

9. The method according to claim 6,

wherein the temperature sensor is located in a housing,

wherein the foil is flexible and is folded and inserted into the housing, together with the attached sensor for determining the surface temperature of the measuring area and the heat element, and

wherein foil tracks lead from the housing.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein an additional sensor for determining a self-heating of the control element is attached to the foil in the housing, whereby the housing is open in this area.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the photo sensor measuring incident sun radiation is attached to the foil, and that the housing has an infrared-light permeable area around the sensor.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the photo sensor is arranged below the foil, the foil is made of infrared-light permeable material in this area.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor is manufactured utilizing MID technology.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is manufactured foil injection technology.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat element is a NTC.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interior temperature is the interior temperature of a motor vehicle.