Vehicle air conditioning system having a filter element with a moisture sensor and a method for operating a vehicle air conditioning system

• US 9,902,234 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Hofhaus, Joern
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkisson, Jianying
• Assistant Examiner(s): Febles, Antonio R
• Application Number:
  US12/940,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20110048040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,671 Days
• Field of Search: 62150, 621761, 621766, 62186, 62317, 62 56, 62 93, 236 44 A, 236 44 C, 236 493, 454 75, 454156, 96 19
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/009 Identification of filter type or position thereof, e.g. by transponders or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00849 for selectively commanding the induction of outside or inside air B60H1/00842 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2003/0683 the quality of the filter or the air being checked
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/06 Filtering B60H3/0078 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle air conditioning system has an air filter, a moisture sensor, which is mounted on and/or at the air filter, and an electronic device, which is provided for controlling and/or regulating the air conditioning system of the vehicle. The electronic device is fed a signal, delivered by the moisture sensor. The moisture sensor is arranged upstream with respect to the air filter.

Claims

1. A vehicle air conditioning system for conditioning air delivered to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

an air filter;

a liquid moisture sensor operatively mounted at least one of on and in close proximity to the air filter,

an electronic device operatively configured to receive a signal from the moisture sensor, the electronic device at least one of controlling and regulating the air conditioning system of the vehicle; and

wherein the moisture sensor is a capacitive sensor and is arranged upstream with respect to the air filter.

2. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor has a dielectric, the dielectric being a ceramic element.

3. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a heating unit operatively arranged to at least one of heat and dry the moisture sensor.

4. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the signal from the moisture sensor correlates with a moisture loading of the air filter.

5. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein at least one functional parameter of the air conditioning system is controlled and/or regulated as a function of the signal from the moisture sensor.

6. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one functional parameter of the air conditioning system is controlled and/or regulated as a function of the signal from the moisture sensor.

7. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein in at least one operating state of the air conditioning system of the vehicle, the electronic device controls and/or regulates a volumetric flow of intake fresh air for the air conditioning system as a function of the signal from the moisture sensor.

8. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein in at least one operating state of the air conditioning system of the vehicle, the electronic device controls and/or regulates a volumetric flow of intake fresh air for the air conditioning system as a function of the signal from the moisture sensor.

9. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the capacitance sensor has an electric capacitance that changes with moisture loading of the air filter.

10. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device controls and/or regulates at least one functional parameter of the air conditioning system as a function of a time rate of change of the signal from the moisture sensor.

11. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein the time rate of change of the signal from the moisture sensor is a gradient of the signal.

12. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is coupled in a circuit in which the moisture sensor is arranged, the electronic device measuring an electric variable and comparing said measurement with stored values in the electronic device to determine a present type of the air filter.

13. A method for operating a vehicle air conditioning system for conditioning air delivered to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the air conditioning system having an air filter, the method comprising the acts of:

monitoring a time rate of change of a moisture signal from a liquid moisture sensor that is a capacitive sensor and is disposed on and/or at the air filter; and

controlling and/or regulating at least one functional parameter of the air conditioning system of the vehicle as a function of the monitored time rate of change of the moisture signal.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the act of controlling and/or regulating further comprises the act of controlling and/or regulating a volumetric flow of intake fresh air for the air conditioning system of the vehicle as a function of the time rate of change of the moisture signal.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the acts of:

measuring an electric variable of a circuit in which the moisture sensor is arranged; and

comparing the measured electric variable with a stored value to determine the type of air filter present in the vehicle air conditioning system.