Adaptive system and method for controlling vehicle idling

• US 20090018707A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Oakes, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/299
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2262 related to the period of on/off time of the heater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An idle control system for a vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform steps to affect temperature, the steps comprising:

defining a desired temperature as a first value;

activating a HVAC device if a current temperature achieves a first condition relative to the desired temperature;

deactivating the HVAC device if the current temperature achieves a second condition relative to the desired temperature;

defining the desired temperature as a second value if the current temperature does not achieve the second condition within a first time period.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, the steps further comprising:

after defining the desired temperature as the second value, if the current temperature does not achieve a third condition within a second time period, defining the desired temperature as a third value.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, the steps further comprising:

after defining the desired temperature as the second value, if the current temperature achieves a third condition relative to the desired temperature within a third time period, defining the desired temperature as the fourth value.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the third condition is equal to the second condition and the fourth value is equal to the first value.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first condition is four degrees warmer in a cooling mode and is four degrees cooler in a heating mode.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second condition is two degrees cooler in a cooling mode and is two degrees warmer in a heating mode.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the step of defining the desired temperature as a second value includes using the current temperature at the end of the first time period in a calculation to determine the second value.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the calculation to determine the second value is:

second value=(/first condition/+/second condition/)/2+current temperature at the end of the first time period.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1, the steps further comprising:

determining information regarding a sleep status of an individual located within the area affected by the HVAC device.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, the steps further comprising:

adjusting the desired temperature by considering the information regarding sleep status of the individual.

11. A method of controlling a HVAC system including the steps of:

obtaining a first temperature value;

defining a desired temperature as the first temperature value;

activating the HVAC device if a current temperature achieves a first condition relative to the desired temperature;

deactivating the HVAC device if the current temperature achieves a second condition relative to the desired temperature;

defining the desired temperature as a second value if the current temperature does not achieve the second condition within a first time period.

12. The method of claim 11, the steps further comprising:

after defining the desired temperature as the second value, if the current temperature does not achieve a third condition within a second time period, defining the desired temperature as a third value.

13. The method of claim 11, the steps further comprising:

after defining the desired temperature as the second value, if the current temperature achieves a third condition relative to the desired temperature within a third time period, defining the desired temperature as the fourth value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the third condition is equal to the second condition and the fourth value is equal to the first value.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first condition is four degrees warmer in a cooling mode and is four degrees cooler in a heating mode.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the second condition is two degrees cooler in a cooling mode and is two degrees warmer in a heating mode.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of defining the desired temperature as a second value includes using the current temperature at the end of the first time period in a calculation to determine the second value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the calculation to determine the second value is:

second value=(/first condition/+/second condition/)/2+current temperature at the end of the first time period.

19. The method of claim 11, the steps further comprising:

determining information regarding a sleep status of an individual located within the area affected by the HVAC device.

20. The method of claim 19, the steps further comprising:

adjusting the desired temperature by considering the information regarding sleep status of the individual.

21. A method of controlling an HVAC system including the steps of:

administering a temperature control protocol, the temperature control protocol including;

determining information regarding a sleep status of an individual located within the area affected by the HVAC device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the temperature control protocol further comprises:

adjusting the desired temperature by considering the information regarding sleep status of the individual.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of determining information regarding a sleep status includes accessing data regarding past sleeping of the individual.