SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AIR FLOW INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A system for controlling air flowing into a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an air outlet assembly including a housing having an airway for fluidly communicating air into the passenger compartment and at least one air-directing member mounted for movement within the airway and configured to direct a flow of air into the passenger compartment based on position of the at least one member in the airway;
an actuator assembly coupled to the at least one air-directing member to move the at least one air-directing member in the airway;
a discrete, touch-sensitive surface area which functions as a user touch interface control;
a touch sensor associated with the surface area and configured to detect a touch input when a person is touching the surface area or is close to touching the surface area; and
control logic operative to determine a desired value for the position of the at least one member in the airway as a function of the detected touch input and to generate a position control signal based on the desired value, the actuator assembly moving the at least one air-directing member to a desired position in the airway based on the position control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling air flowing into a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The system includes an air outlet assembly including a housing having an airway and one or more air-directing members mounted for movement within the airway. An actuator assembly moves each air-directing member in the airway. A discrete, touch-sensitive surface area functions as a user touch interface control. A touch sensor detects a touch input when a person is touching the surface area or is close to touching the surface area. Control logic is operative to determine a desired value for the position of each air-directing member in the airway as a function of the detected touch input and generates a position control signal based on the desired value. The actuator assembly moves its air-directing member to a desired position in the airway based on the position control signal.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for controlling air flowing into a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an air outlet assembly including a housing having an airway for fluidly communicating air into the passenger compartment and at least one air-directing member mounted for movement within the airway and configured to direct a flow of air into the passenger compartment based on position of the at least one member in the airway; an actuator assembly coupled to the at least one air-directing member to move the at least one air-directing member in the airway; a discrete, touch-sensitive surface area which functions as a user touch interface control; a touch sensor associated with the surface area and configured to detect a touch input when a person is touching the surface area or is close to touching the surface area; and control logic operative to determine a desired value for the position of the at least one member in the airway as a function of the detected touch input and to generate a position control signal based on the desired value, the actuator assembly moving the at least one air-directing member to a desired position in the airway based on the position control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23)
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22. A system for controlling air flowing into a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a plurality of air outlet assemblies, each of the assemblies including a housing having an airway for fluidly communicating air into the passenger compartment and at least one air-directing member mounted for movement within the airway and configured to direct a flow of air into the passenger compartment based on position of the at least one member in the airway; an actuator assembly coupled to each air-directing member to move its air-directing member in its airway; a plurality of discrete, touch-sensitive surface areas which function as user touch interface controls; a touch sensor associated with each surface area and configured to detect a touch input when a person is touching one of the surface areas or is close to touching one of the surface areas; and control logic operative to determine a desired value for the position of at least one member in its airway as a function of a detected touch input and to generate a position control signal based on the desired value, each actuator assembly moving at least one air-directing member to a desired position in its airway based on its position control signal and wherein the air outlet assemblies are independently controlled by the control logic. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification