Vehicle HVAC water splash prevention method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for operating a vehicular HVAC system, comprising:
- determining at least one of;
a vehicle tilt angle; and
a condensation value;
detecting an elevated risk of water splash expulsion from an evaporator through a vent outlet based on at least one of the vehicle tilt angle and the condensation value, wherein the detection of the elevated risk of water splash expulsion from the evaporator through the vent outlet is made using a controller that receives the vehicle tilt angle and the condensation value as inputs, and detects the elevated risk of water splash expulsion from the evaporator through the vent outlet based on at least one of the vehicle tilt angle and the condensation value; and
controlling a voltage supplied to at least one blower of the vehicular HVAC system to reduce a risk of water splash from the evaporator through the vent outlet if the elevated risk is detected, wherein the voltage supplied to the at least one blower is controlled using a voltage controller configured to control a voltage supplied to the at least one blower of the vehicular HVAC system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for operating a vehicle HVAC system includes detecting an elevated risk of water splash expulsion from an evaporator through a vent outlet and controlling a voltage supplied to at least one blower of the vehicle HVAC system to reduce a risk of water splash expulsion if the elevated risk is detected. Water splash risk is determined in view of a voltage supplied to a subject blower, a vehicle tilt angle, and a condensation risk or value. The condensation risk or value is determined in view of a window open/close value, a temperature value, and a humidity value. Each of these factors are, either independently or in combination, compared with a corresponding threshold value to determine if the water splash risk warrants voltage control.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a vehicular HVAC system, comprising:
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determining at least one of;
a vehicle tilt angle; and
a condensation value;detecting an elevated risk of water splash expulsion from an evaporator through a vent outlet based on at least one of the vehicle tilt angle and the condensation value, wherein the detection of the elevated risk of water splash expulsion from the evaporator through the vent outlet is made using a controller that receives the vehicle tilt angle and the condensation value as inputs, and detects the elevated risk of water splash expulsion from the evaporator through the vent outlet based on at least one of the vehicle tilt angle and the condensation value; and controlling a voltage supplied to at least one blower of the vehicular HVAC system to reduce a risk of water splash from the evaporator through the vent outlet if the elevated risk is detected, wherein the voltage supplied to the at least one blower is controlled using a voltage controller configured to control a voltage supplied to the at least one blower of the vehicular HVAC system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A controller for controlling operation of a vehicle HVAC system, comprising:
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a vehicle tilt angle sensor configured to sense a vehicle tilt angle; a condensation sensor configured to sense a condensation value associated with a condensation risk; and a voltage controller controlling a voltage supplied to at least one blower of the vehicle HVAC system if the sensed vehicle tilt angle and the condensation value exceed respective threshold values set therefore. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. In an integrated front and rear vehicle HVAC system comprising a rear evaporator disposed between a rear blower fan and at least one rear vent outlet, a front blower for a front portion of the HVAC system, and a controller, the controller comprising:
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a vehicle tilt angle sensor configured to sense a vehicle tilt angle; at least one condensation sensor configured to sense conditions associated with a condensation risk; and a voltage controller that controls a voltage supplied to the rear blower of the vehicle HVAC system if the sensed vehicle tilt angle and the sensed conditions associated with the condensation risk each exceed respective threshold values. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification