Method and device for regulating or controlling the temperature of an interior space, especially that of a motor vehicle

• US 5,494,097 A
• Filed: 09/27/1994
• Issued: 02/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Heinle, Dieter, Straub, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US08/314,490
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 62/126, 62/131, 62/244, 165/11.1, 165/42, 165/43, 165/1, 165/12, 237/12.3 A, 237/12.3 B, 237/2 A, 236/91 E, 236/91 F, 236/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 165/288
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00807 the input being a specific way of measuring or calculating an air or coolant temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00878 the components being temperature regulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00978 Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/20 with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature G05D23/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 236/02 Fail safe

Abstract

A method and device is provided for regulating or controlling the temperature of an interior, especially for a motor vehicle. An interior temperature regulation mode is provided if an interior temperature sensor and a blowing-out temperature sensor have been connected such that they can operate. A blowing-out temperature regulation mode is provided if only the blowing-out temperature sensor has been connected such that it can operate. Or, a reversionary control mode is provided if no temperature sensor which can operate is present, for which purpose a control and regulating device is correspondingly configured. The control and regulating device can be used for various types of vehicles. A blowing-out temperature regulation mode is also implemented if an open roof is identified in the case of a convertible vehicle.

Claims

1. Method for regulating or controlling the temperature of an interior space, especially of a motor vehicle, by setting a temperature of a medium, said medium flowing out of an actuating device and acting thermally on the interior space, said temperature being set using a control and regulating device as a function of said setting, via signals which are supplied to an interior temperature sensor input connection, an outlet-flow temperature sensor input connection and at least one user setting variable input connection, the method comprising the steps of:

evaluating the signals to the temperature sensor input connections by the control and regulating device in order to identify whether the associated temperature sensors have been connected such that they can operate; and

if both an interior temperature sensor, connected such that it can operate, and an outlet-flow temperature sensor, connected such that it can operate, have been identified, then, regulating an outlet flow temperature in an interior temperature regulation mode in which a variable set by the user is treated as a required interior temperature value via a required out flow temperature value, which is dependent on the interior temperature regulation difference; and

if the interior temperature sensor, connected such that it cannot operate, and the outlet-flow temperature sensor, connected such that it can operate, have been identified, then, regulating the outlet flow temperature in an outlet-flow temperature regulation mode in which the variable set by the user is treated as the required outlet-flow temperature value as a function of this required value; and

if both an interior temperature sensor, connected such that it cannot operate, and an outlet-flow temperature sensor, connected such that it cannot operate, have been identified, then, activating a reversionary control mode, in which the variable set by the user is treated directly as the setting variable for the actuating device, and said actuating device being set in a corresponding manner.

2. Device for regulating or controlling the temperature of an interior space in accordance with the method of claim 1, the device comprising:

a control and regulating device having a user setting variable input connection;

at least one user-controllable setting device having an output connection connected to the user setting variable input connection;

an interior temperature sensor and an outlet flow temperature sensor, whose outputs are connected to respective input connections of said control and regulating device; and

an actuating device for providing an outlet flow of a medium, which medium is at an outlet-flow temperature, into the interior space, said actuating device being controlled by said control and regulating device;

wherein said control and regulating device comprises;

means, for each input connection of said temperature sensors, for confirming whether said temperature sensors are connected to the respective input connections such that they can operate;

means for implementing an interior temperature regulation mode, an outlet-flow temperature regulation mode and a reversionary control mode; and

switching means, to which output signals of the means for confirming are supplied and which, as a function of this, activate said means for implementing said interior temperature regulation mode, said means for the outlet-flow temperature regulation mode or the means for the reversionary control mode.

3. Device according to claim 2, further comprising:

only one user-operable setting device, and

wherein said control and regulating device has allocation means for allocating a setting range (x_min, x_max) of the setting device a required interior temperature value range (Ti_min, Ti_max) in the interior temperature regulation mode, a required outlet-flow temperature value range in the outlet-flow temperature regulation mode (Tb_min, Tb_max), and in the reversionary mode to the setting range (0% TV, 100% TV) of the actuating device.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the allocation means match the setting range of the setting device to the required interior temperature value range in a linear manner in the interior temperature regulation mode, to the required outlet-flow temperature value range in a linear manner in the outlet-flow temperature regulation mode, and directly to the actuating range characteristic (K) of the actuating device in the reversionary mode.

5. Device according to claim 2,

wherein the interior temperature sensor and the outlet flow temperature sensor are configured as temperature-dependent resistors;

and

wherein the control and regulating device has a resistor for each sensor input connection, which resistor, together with an associated sensor resistor, forms a voltage divider whose output signal (U_s) represents a sensor connection state.

6. Device according to claim 3,

wherein the interior temperature sensor and the outlet flow temperature sensor are configured as temperature-dependent resistors;

and

wherein the control and regulating device has a resistor for each sensor input connection, which resistor, together with an associated sensor resistor, forms a voltage divider whose output signal (U_s) represents a sensor connection state.

7. Device according to claim 4,

wherein the interior temperature sensor and the outlet flow temperature sensor are configured as temperature-dependent resistors;

and

wherein the control and regulating device has a resistor for each sensor input connection, which resistor, together with an associated sensor resistor, forms a voltage divider whose output signal (U_s) represents a sensor connection state.

8. Device according to claim 2, wherein said device is installed in a motor vehicle having a bodywork opening which can open, and further comprising a bodywork opening position identification switch, whose state is detected by the control and regulating device, said control and regulating device activating a blowing-out temperature regulation mode up on identifying a bodywork opening position which is at least partially open.

9. Device according to claim 3, wherein said device is installed in a motor vehicle having a bodywork opening which can open, and further comprising a bodywork opening position identification switch, whose state is detected by the control and regulating device, said control and regulating device activating a blowing-out temperature regulation mode up on identifying a bodywork opening position which is at least partially open.

10. Device according to claim 4, wherein said device is installed in a motor vehicle having a bodywork opening which can open, and further comprising a bodywork opening position identification switch, whose state is detected by the control and regulating device, said control and regulating device activating a blowing-out temperature regulation mode up on identifying a bodywork opening position which is at least partially open.

11. Device according to claim 5, wherein said device is installed in a motor vehicle having a bodywork opening which can open, and further comprising a bodywork opening position identification switch, whose state is detected by the control and regulating device, said control and regulating device activating a blowing-out temperature regulation mode up on identifying a bodywork opening position which is at least partially open.

12. Device according to claim 8, wherein said bodywork opening position identification switch is looped into a connection circuit for the interior temperature sensor.

13. Device according to claim 9, wherein said bodywork opening position identification switch is looped into connection circuit for the interior temperature sensor.

14. Device according to claim 10, wherein said bodywork opening position identification switch is looped into a connection circuit for the interior temperature sensor.

15. Device according to claim 11, wherein said bodywork opening position identification switch is looped into a connection circuit for the interior temperature sensor.