Device and method for controlling the interior temperature of a motor vehicle

• US 6,155,492 A
• Filed: 09/20/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Jung, Jorg, Hinterwaller, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/400,352
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 236/49.3, 236/91 R, 236/91 C, 236/91 D, 236/91 E, 374/121, 165/202, 165/203, 165/204, 165/42, 165/43, 62/244, 62/239, 454/75, 454/229, 454/258, 454/256
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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

Abstract

A device and method for controlling the interior temperature in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in which the actual interior temperature detected by a radiation sensor is fed to a control loop which sets the interior temperature as a function of the measured temperature and a prescribed temperature. In an arrangement for controlling the interior temperature in which the noise disturbance from the fan motor is eliminated and reliable control of the interior temperature is ensured nonetheless, the radiation sensor is arranged on a printed circuit board which carries the control loop, such that a sensitive surface of the radiation sensor detects the thermal radiation which impinges on an outer surface, facing the vehicle interior, of a housing enclosing the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an interior temperature in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

sensing an actual interior temperature with a radiation sensor and transmitting a signal representative of the internal temperature to a control device;

setting the interior temperature as a function of the measured temperature and a prescribed temperature; and

wherein the interior temperature is sensed with at least one radiation sensor arranged on a printed circuit board which carries the control device such that a sensitive surface of the radiation sensor detects thermal radiation which impinges on an outer surface of a housing enclosing the printed circuit board.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiation sensor is an infrared detector located in a sensor housing, which is sealed by an infrared radiation filter opposite the sensitive surface of the radiation sensor.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor housing is comprised of a thermopile element to which a temperature reference element is assigned, and further comprising a step of transmitting electric signals generated by the thermopile element and the temperature reference element to the control device through at least one electronic amplifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation filter is integrated in an outer surface of the housing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing projects beyond an edge of the printed circuit board in a direction of the outer surface of the housing, and the infrared radiation filter of the radiation sensor is integrated in the outer surface of the housing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the infrared radiation filter of the radiation sensor is located within a wall of the housing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the infrared radiation filter of the radiation sensor runs substantially parallel to a surface of the printed circuit board, and further comprising a second infrared radiation filter which transmits thermal radiation impinging on the outer surface on to the infrared filter of the radiation sensor via a thermal radiation deflecting device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the thermal radiation deflecting device is located on the housing.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein a plurality of radiation sensors for detecting different regions of the passenger compartment are arranged on the printed circuit board.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device regulates the entire control of heating, ventilation and air conditioning in the motor vehicle.