System and method of providing quick thermal comfort with reduced energy by using directed spot conditioning
First Claim
1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to provide a perceived comfortable ambient environment to an occupant seated in a vehicle cabin, said system comprising:
- a first nozzle configured to direct a first air stream from the HVAC system;
a servo mechanism coupled to the first nozzle configured to articulate the first nozzle in order to direct the first air stream to a desired location; and
a controller in communication with the servo mechanism, said controller configured todetermine a seated position of the occupant,identify a sensitive portion of a body of the occupant that is more sensitive to heat loss than other portions of the body,determine an ambient temperature of the vehicle cabin,determine a desired heat supply rate for the sensitive portion, wherein the desired heat supply rate includes a steady-state heat supply rate based on a difference between a comfortable heat loss rate for the sensitive portion and an actual heat loss rate for the sensitive portion at the ambient temperature, wherein the desired heat supply rate includes a transient heat supply rate based on ambient temperature, and wherein the transient heat supply rate diminishes in magnitude from an initial transient heat supply rate to a reduced steady state heat supply rate based on an elapsed time since a system start event while the occupant remains seated;
determine a comfortable skin temperature for the sensitive portion,determine a flow rate for the first air stream and a stream temperature for the first air stream based on at least the desired heat supply rate, the comfortable skin temperature, a discharge area of a nozzle, a dispersion angle of the nozzle, and a distance from the first nozzle to the sensitive portion,determine a location of the sensitive portion, andoperate the servo mechanism to articulate the first nozzle in order to direct the first air stream to the location of the sensitive portion, said first air stream characterized as having the stream temperature and the flow rate necessary to establish the desired heat supply rate for the sensitive portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and a method of controlling a HVAC system that is configured to provide a perceived comfortable ambient environment to an occupant seated in a vehicle cabin. The system includes a nozzle configured to direct an air stream from the HVAC system to the location of a thermally sensitive portion of the body of the occupant. The system also includes a controller configured to determine an air stream temperature and an air stream flow rate necessary to establish the desired heat supply rate for the sensitive portion and provide a comfortable thermal environment by thermally isolating the occupant from the ambient vehicle cabin temperature. The system may include a sensor to determine the location of the sensitive portion. The nozzle may include a thermoelectric device to heat or cool the air stream.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to provide a perceived comfortable ambient environment to an occupant seated in a vehicle cabin, said system comprising:
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a first nozzle configured to direct a first air stream from the HVAC system; a servo mechanism coupled to the first nozzle configured to articulate the first nozzle in order to direct the first air stream to a desired location; and a controller in communication with the servo mechanism, said controller configured to determine a seated position of the occupant, identify a sensitive portion of a body of the occupant that is more sensitive to heat loss than other portions of the body, determine an ambient temperature of the vehicle cabin, determine a desired heat supply rate for the sensitive portion, wherein the desired heat supply rate includes a steady-state heat supply rate based on a difference between a comfortable heat loss rate for the sensitive portion and an actual heat loss rate for the sensitive portion at the ambient temperature, wherein the desired heat supply rate includes a transient heat supply rate based on ambient temperature, and wherein the transient heat supply rate diminishes in magnitude from an initial transient heat supply rate to a reduced steady state heat supply rate based on an elapsed time since a system start event while the occupant remains seated; determine a comfortable skin temperature for the sensitive portion, determine a flow rate for the first air stream and a stream temperature for the first air stream based on at least the desired heat supply rate, the comfortable skin temperature, a discharge area of a nozzle, a dispersion angle of the nozzle, and a distance from the first nozzle to the sensitive portion, determine a location of the sensitive portion, and operate the servo mechanism to articulate the first nozzle in order to direct the first air stream to the location of the sensitive portion, said first air stream characterized as having the stream temperature and the flow rate necessary to establish the desired heat supply rate for the sensitive portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15)
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8. A method of controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to provide a perceived comfortable ambient environment to an occupant seated in a vehicle cabin, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining a seated position of the occupant; identifying a sensitive portion of a body of the occupant that is more sensitive to heat loss than other portions of the body; determining an ambient temperature of the vehicle cabin; determining a desired heat supply rate for the sensitive portion, wherein the desired heat supply rate includes a steady-state heat supply rate based on a difference between a comfortable heat loss rate for the sensitive portion and an actual heat loss rate for the sensitive portion at the ambient temperature, wherein the desired heat supply rate includes a transient heat supply rate based on ambient temperature, and wherein the transient heat supply rate diminishes in magnitude from an initial transient heat supply rate to a reduced steady state heat supply rate based on an elapsed time since a system start event while the occupant remains seated; determining a comfortable skin temperature for the sensitive portion; determining a flow rate for a stream of air and a stream temperature for the stream based on at least the desired heat supply rate, the comfortable skin temperature, a discharge area of a nozzle, a dispersion angle of the nozzle, and a distance from the nozzle to the sensitive portion; and operating the nozzle to direct the stream to the location of the sensitive portion, said stream characterized as having the stream temperature and the flow rate necessary to establish the desired heat supply rate for the sensitive portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification