Vehicle vent positioning apparatus
First Claim
1. A vehicle vent positioning apparatus comprising:
- a motion sensor installed to a vehicle and detecting changes in direction of movement of the vehicle;
a blower of an HVAC system within the vehicle operable to move air into a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
at least one vent assembly installed within the vehicle to direct airflow from the blower into a passenger compartment, the vent assembly including at least one vane positionable to aim airflow moving through the vent and into the passenger compartment in a plurality of differing airflow directionsa positioning device connected to the vane; and
a controller connected to the motion sensor and the positioning device, the controller being configured to operate the positioning device to re-position the vane from aiming the airflow in a first airflow direction to aiming the airflow in a second airflow direction in response to the controller determining via signals from the motion sensor that the vehicle is changing direction of movement, and the controller is further configured to operate the positioning device to re-position the vane aiming airflow in the second airflow direction to aiming airflow in the first airflow direction in response to the controller determining via signals from the motion sensor that the vehicle has completed changing direction of movement.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle vent positioning apparatus includes a motion sensor, a blower of an HVAC system, a vent assembly, a positioning device and a controller. The motion sensor detects changes in direction of movement of a vehicle. The blower moves air into a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The vent assembly is installed within the vehicle to direct airflow from the blower into a passenger compartment. The vent assembly includes at least one vane positionable to aim airflow into the passenger compartment in differing airflow directions. The positioning device is connected to the vane. The controller is configured to operate the positioning device to re-position the vane from aiming the airflow in a first airflow direction to aiming the airflow in a second airflow direction in response to the controller determining via signals from the motion sensor that the vehicle is changing direction of movement.
12 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vehicle vent positioning apparatus comprising:
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a motion sensor installed to a vehicle and detecting changes in direction of movement of the vehicle; a blower of an HVAC system within the vehicle operable to move air into a passenger compartment of the vehicle; at least one vent assembly installed within the vehicle to direct airflow from the blower into a passenger compartment, the vent assembly including at least one vane positionable to aim airflow moving through the vent and into the passenger compartment in a plurality of differing airflow directions a positioning device connected to the vane; and a controller connected to the motion sensor and the positioning device, the controller being configured to operate the positioning device to re-position the vane from aiming the airflow in a first airflow direction to aiming the airflow in a second airflow direction in response to the controller determining via signals from the motion sensor that the vehicle is changing direction of movement, and the controller is further configured to operate the positioning device to re-position the vane aiming airflow in the second airflow direction to aiming airflow in the first airflow direction in response to the controller determining via signals from the motion sensor that the vehicle has completed changing direction of movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for positioning vehicle vent vanes, comprising:
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blowing air into a passenger compartment of a vehicle through at least one vent assembly having a vane moveable to aim air flowing therethrough in any of a plurality of airflow directions into the passenger compartment; detecting changes in direction of movement of the vehicle via a motion sensor; operating a positioning device to move the vane from a first orientation to a second orientation in response to determining that changes in direction of the vehicle includes turning of the vehicle; and moving the vane from the second orientation back to the first orientation in response to determining that the turning of the vehicle is completed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification