HVAC systems and methods for controlling zoned interior temperatures of a vehicle including display of thermographic anthropomorphic figures

• US 10,272,742 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Chavez Hernandez, Hector, Estevez Garcia, Jorge Alejandro, Yanez Velazquez, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Melton, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US15/416,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20180208017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00871 Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00964 Control systems or circuits characterised by including features for automatic and non-automatic control, e.g. for changing from automatic to manual control
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/111 for controlling multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/165 Videos and animations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/176 Camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system is provided that includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores settings. The settings are for interior temperatures of a vehicle, a temperature of a steering wheel, and temperatures of seats within the vehicle. The control module: collects data from one or more cameras, where the data corresponds to one or more captured images of an interior cabin of the vehicle; based on the data, displays a thermographic anthropomorphic figure on a display of the vehicle or a mobile device, where the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is a thermogram representative of temperatures of an occupant of the vehicle; receives via a user interface an input from a user to adjust one of the settings; and based on the input from the user, adjusts operation of a first controlled device to change at least one of the temperatures of the occupant.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of settings, wherein the plurality of settings are for interior temperatures of a vehicle, a temperature of a steering wheel, and temperatures of seats within the vehicle; and

a control module to

collect data from one or more cameras, wherein the data corresponds to one or more captured images of an interior cabin of the vehicle,

based on the data, display a thermographic anthropomorphic figure on a display of the vehicle or a mobile device, wherein the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is a thermogram representative of temperatures of an occupant of the vehicle,

receive via a user interface a first input from a user to adjust one of the plurality of settings,

display user selectable zones at a same time over the thermographic anthropomorphic figure on the display,

receive, via the user interface, a second input from the user indicating selection of one of the user selectable zones, and

based on the first input and the second input from the user, adjust operation of a first controlled device to change at least one of the temperatures of the occupant in the selected one of the user selectable zones.

2. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the first controlled device includes a first motor of a vent or a second motor of a set of vanes of the vent; and

the control module is to, based on at least one of the the first input and the second input from the user, adjust a position of the vent via the first motor or a position of the vanes via the second motor.

3. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the first controlled device is an element in the steering wheel or in one of the seats, and

the control module is to, based on the first input or a third input from the user, adjust current or a signal to the first controlled device to change a temperature of the first controlled device.

4. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the control module is to:

permit iterative adjustment of the plurality of settings while displaying updated versions of the thermographic anthropomorphic figure, wherein each of the updated versions of the thermographic anthropomorphic figure represents updated changes in temperatures of the occupant due to a corresponding one of the adjustments of the plurality of settings; and

adjusting operation of a corresponding one or more of a plurality of controlled devices based on the adjustments of the plurality of settings, wherein the plurality of controlled devices include the first controlled device.

5. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the control module is to:

ask questions of the user;

receive answers from the user as a plurality of user inputs, wherein the plurality of user inputs include the first input and the second input;

determine user preferences of the plurality of settings based on the plurality of user inputs; and

adjusting a plurality of controlled devices based on the user preferences, wherein the plurality of controlled devices include the first controlled device.

6. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the control module is to operate in an automatic settings mode, a personalized settings mode, and a manual settings mode; and

the control module is to

determine whether the vehicle is being used for public use or private use, wherein public use and private use are independent of whether multiple users operate the vehicle,

based on whether the vehicle is being used for public use or private use, determine whether to operate in one of the automatic settings mode, the personalized settings mode, and the manual settings mode,

while operating in the automatic settings mode, adjust operation of a plurality of control devices based on default values for the plurality of settings,

while operating in the personalized settings mode, adjust operation of the plurality of control devices based on personal preference values for the plurality of settings, and

while operating in the manual settings mode, adjust operation of the plurality of control devices based on inputs received from the user.

7. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the control module is to, while operating in a cabin comfort mode:

compare a first temperature of a first zone to a second temperature of a second zone;

based on a result of the comparison, determine whether to use a default setting or a user preference setting;

display the default setting or the user preference setting;

adjust a temperature of the first zone based on the default setting or the user preference setting; and

collect data from the one or more cameras indicative of the temperature of the first zone,

wherein the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is indicative of a temperature of a portion of the user in the first zone.

8. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the first controlled device is disposed in the steering wheel;

a second controlled device is disposed in the one of the seats; and

the control module is to, while operating in a cabin comfort mode;

adjust a temperature of the steering wheel and a temperature of the one of the seats in the vehicle via the first controlled device and the second controlled device;

display the plurality of settings on the display of the vehicle or the mobile device;

permit user adjustment of the plurality of settings; and

store updated values of the plurality of settings.

9. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface includes the display; and

the user is the occupant.

10. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the user is the occupant or another occupant of the vehicle.

11. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the control module is to:

obtain sun loading values; and

adjust operation of the first controlled device and a second controlled device based on the first input and the second input from the user and the sun loading values, wherein the first controlled device is a first motor of a vent or a second motor of a set of vanes of the vent, and wherein the second controlled device is a blower.

12. A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system comprising:

a control module to operate in an automatic settings mode, a personalized settings mode, and a manual settings mode, wherein the control module is to

determine whether a vehicle is being used for public use or private use, wherein public use and private use are independent of whether multiple users operate the vehicle, and

based on whether the vehicle is being used for public use or private use, determine whether to operate in one of the automatic settings mode, the personalized settings mode, and the manual settings mode;

an automatic settings module to, while operating in the automatic settings mode, adjust operation of a plurality of controlled devices based on default values for a plurality of settings to change temperatures of an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the plurality of controlled devices include a motor of a vent, a motor of a set of vanes for the vent, and a blower for passing air through the vent;

a personalized settings module to, while operating in the personalized settings mode, adjust operation of the plurality of controlled devices based on personal preference values for the plurality of settings; and

a manual settings module to, while operating in the manual settings mode, adjust operation of the plurality of controlled devices based on inputs received from a user.

13. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein:

the control module is to

receive signals from a plurality of sensors, and

determine characteristics of the user based on the received inputs and the signals; and

the automatic settings module is to access from a memory the default values based on the characteristics of the user.

14. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the automatic settings module is to, while operating in a cabin comfort mode:

adjust a temperature of a steering wheel of the vehicle via a first controlled device disposed in the steering wheel and a temperature of a seat in the vehicle via a second controlled device disposed in the seat, wherein the plurality of controlled devices include the first controlled device and the second controlled device;

display the plurality of settings on a display of the vehicle or a mobile device;

display a thermographic anthropomorphic figure on the display of the vehicle or the mobile device, wherein the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is a thermogram representative of temperatures of the occupant of the vehicle;

permit user adjustment of the plurality of settings; and

store updated values of the plurality of settings.

15. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the automatic settings module is to, while operating in a cabin comfort mode:

compare a first temperature of a first zone to a second temperature of a second zone;

based on a result of the comparison, determine whether to use a default setting or a user preference setting;

display the default setting or the user preference setting;

adjust a temperature of the first zone based on the default setting or the user preference setting;

collect data from a camera indicative of the temperature of the first zone; and

display a thermographic anthropomorphic figure on the display of the vehicle or a mobile device, wherein the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is a thermogram representative of temperatures of the occupant of the vehicle.

16. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein:

the control module is to

receive signals from a plurality of sensors, and

determine characteristics of the user based on the received inputs and the signals; and

the personalized settings module is to

identify the user based on at least one of the characteristics and an identifier of the user, and

based on the at least one of the characteristics and the identifier of the user, determine the personal preferences of the user for the plurality of settings.

17. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein, while operating in the personalized settings mode, the personalized settings module is to:

collect data from one or more cameras, wherein the data corresponds to one or more captured images of an interior cabin of the vehicle,

based on the data, display a thermographic anthropomorphic figure on a display of the vehicle or a mobile device, wherein the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is a thermogram representative of temperatures of the occupant of the vehicle,

receive via a user interface an input from the user to adjust one of the plurality of settings, and

based on the input from the user, adjust operation of a first controlled device to change a temperature of the occupant, wherein the plurality of controlled devices includes the first controlled device.

18. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein, while operating in a cabin comfort mode, the personalized settings module is to:

adjust a temperature of a steering wheel and a temperature of a seat in the vehicle;

display the plurality of settings on a display of the vehicle or a mobile device;

display a thermographic anthropomorphic figure on the display of the vehicle or the mobile device, wherein the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is a thermogram representative of temperatures of the occupant of the vehicle;

permit user adjustment of the plurality of settings; and

store updated values of the plurality of settings.

19. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein, while operating in a cabin comfort mode, the personalized settings module is to:

compare a first temperature of a first zone to a second temperature of a second zone;

based on a result of the comparison, determine whether to use a default setting or a user preference setting;

display the default setting or user preference setting;

adjust a temperature of the first zone based on the default setting or the user preference setting;

collect data from a camera indicative of the temperature of the first zone; and

display a thermographic anthropomorphic figure on the display of the vehicle or a mobile device, wherein the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is a thermogram representative of temperatures of the occupant of the vehicle.

20. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein, while in the manual settings mode, the manual settings module is to:

collect data from one or more cameras, wherein the data corresponds to one or more captured images of an interior cabin of the vehicle,

based on the data, display a thermographic anthropomorphic figure on a display of the vehicle or a mobile device, wherein the thermographic anthropomorphic figure is a thermogram representative of temperatures of the occupant of the vehicle,

receive via a user interface an input from the user to adjust one of the plurality of settings, and

based on the input from the user, adjust operation of a first controlled device to change a temperature of the occupant, wherein the plurality of controlled devices includes the first controlled device.

21. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the user is the occupant.

22. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein:

public use refers to when the vehicle is rented to the public, shared by members of an organization, or is used to provide transportation services; and

private use refers to when the vehicle is privately owned and operated by a private owner.

23. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the control module, while the vehicle is being used for the public use, operates in the automatic settings mode and prevents operation in the personalized settings mode and the manual settings mode.