Electronic vehicle climate control system with highly integrated multi-function switches

• US 7,475,559 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trans/Air Manufacturing Corp.
• Original Assignee: Trans/Air Manufacturing Corp.
• Inventors: Gleeson, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US11/197,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20070028635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 622/39, 622/44, 307/10.1, 455/349, 455/347, 701/1, 701/36, 200/5.R
• US Class Current: 62/244
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00585 Means for monitoring, testing or servicing the air-conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic climate control system is provided for controlling an HVAC system on a bus or other high-occupancy vehicle either as a stand-alone system or for retrofitting with existing HVAC equipment. The system includes a system control unit having output terminals connected to the vehicle compressor, condenser and evaporator units for control thereof, as well as a user control unit electrically coupled to the system control unit for receiving user inputs. The user control unit includes one or two switches, each sized to fit with an adaptable housing into standard rocker switch blanks of varying sizes in a bus control panel. These highly integrated switches, which are programmable and can support system control units of varying complexity, are easy to install and use, and provide multi-function capability including dynamic temperature and diagnostic outputs.

Claims

1. An electronic climate control (ECC) system for controlling a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator within a vehicle, comprising:

a system control unit having a plurality of power connections and a plurality of signal connections, said power connections including output terminals to the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator; and

a user control unit electrically coupled to said system control unit and including a mode/fan speed switch having a mode/fan speed interface panel for receiving input from a user, said mode/fan speed switch sized to substantially correspond to cutout dimensions of a standard rocker switch blank, said user inputs being transmitted to said system control unit via said plurality of signal connections.

2. The ECC system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mode/fan speed interface panel includes a touch pad having two input surfaces and a plurality of indicators for displaying a selected mode and activation level produced through pressure contact with at least one of said two input surfaces, said selected mode and activation level being transmitted as said user inputs to said system control unit.

3. The ECC system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said two input surfaces include an operating mode input and an activation level input, and said plurality of indicators include three mode indicators and three activation level indicators, said three mode indicators corresponding to heating mode, cooling mode and defrost mode selectable through repeated activation of said operating mode input, and said three activation level indicators indicating progressive fan speeds from low to high produced in series in response to repeated activation of said activation level input.

4. The ECC system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said indicators include light emitting diodes.

5. The ECC system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to said system control unit for monitoring a plurality of conditions relating to opperation of the HVAC system, said plurality of sensors including a return air temperature sensor.

6. The ECC system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said user control unit further includes a thermostat switch having a temperature input interface panel for receiving input from a user and sized to substantially correspond to the cutout dimensions of said standard rocker switch blank.

7. The ECC system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said temperature input interface panel includes a second touch pad having two input surfaces and a display for displaying the inside temperature or a set temperature produced through pressure contact with at least one of said two temperature input interface panel input surfaces, said set temperature being transmitted to said system control unit via said plurality of signal connections.

8. The ECC system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said display of said temperature input interface panel further displays fault/diagnostic codes in response to inputs received from said system control unit via said plurality of signal connections.

9. The ECC system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said mode/fan speed interface panel and said temperature input interface panel are arranged side by side in adjacent rocker switch blanks in the control panel of said bus, each rocker switch blank having a cutout area of about one inch by about two inches.

10. The ECC system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said standard rocker switch blank is approximately one inch in width and two inches in length.

11. The ECC system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system control unit further includes a computer interface port for system monitoring and diagnostics.

12. The ECC system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system includes a plurality of system control units connected in series, each of said plurality of system control units being controlled through said user control unit.

13. The ECC system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mode/fan speed switch is mounted in a housing having breakaway portions such that said housing is adaptable, through retention or removal of said portions, to fit in rocker switch blanks of varying sizes.

14. A multi-function electronic switch module for controlling an HVAC system on a bus, said switch module comprising a mode/fan speed switch with a interface panel for receiving input from a driver, and a housing for retaining said switch therein which is adaptable to fit into standard rocker switch blanks of varying sizes within a control panel of said bus.

15. The multi-function electronic switch module as set forth in claim 14, wherein said mode/fan speed interface panel includes a touch pad having two input surfaces and a plurality of indicators for displaying a selected mode and activation level produced through pressure contact with at least one of said two input surfaces, said selected mode and activation level being transmitted to a corresponding system control unit on said bus to effect corresponding activation of the HVAC system.

16. The multi-function electronic switch module as set forth in claim 15, wherein said two input surfaces include an operating mode input and an activation level input, and said plurality of indicators include three mode indicators and three activation level indicators, said three mode indicators corresponding to heating mode, cooling mode and defrost mode selectable through repeated activation of said operating mode input, and said three activation level indicators indicating progressive fan speeds from low to high produced in series in response to repeated activation of said activation level input.

17. The multi-function electronic switch module as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a second switch having a temperature input interface panel for receiving input from the driver, and a housing for retaining said second switch therein which is adapted to fit into standard rocker switch blanks of varying sizes within a control panel of said bus.

18. The multi-function electronic switch module as set forth in claim 17, wherein said temperature input interface panel includes a second touch pad having two input surfaces and a display for displaying an inside temperature of the bus, a set temperature produced through pressure contact with at least one of said two temperature input interface panel input surfaces, or one of a plurality of fault/diagnostic codes in response to inputs received from the system control unit of said HVAC system.

19. The multi-function electronic switch module as set forth in claim 16, wherein said mode/fan speed interface panel and said temperature input interface panel are arranged side by side in adjacent rocker switch blanks in the control panel of said bus, each rocker switch blank having a cutout area of about one inch by about two inches.

20. The multi-function electronic switch module as set forth in claim 19, wherein said housing further includes a pair of spring arms on opposing sides thereof, said spring arms flexing inwardly during installation of said switch module and then springing back outwardly to secure said switch module within said bus control panel.

21. The multi-function electronic switch module as set forth in claim 14, wherein said housing includes breakaway tabs that can be retained or removed as needed to provide said adaptability for fitting within rocker switch blanks of varying sizes.