Temperature sensor system for a vehicle

• US 9,910,000 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors Holding GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors Holding GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Lawlor, Patrick J., Coady, Garrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunlap, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US14/450,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20140341250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 374 16, 374 28, 374109, 165202, 165204, 236 44 C, 621766, 621761, 3404255
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00792 Arrangement of detectors B60H1/00742, B60H1/0075, B60H1/00785 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0862 including additional sensors vehicle speed sensors B60S1/0896
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0866 including a temperature sensor heating devices for windshield B60H
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/66 by investigating dew-point

Abstract

A temperature sensor system for a vehicle includes a temperature sensor assembly having a thermally insulating body, a temperature sensing element thermally insulated within the body, and a thermally conductive contacting element exposed externally of the body and in thermal communication with the temperature sensing element. The thermally conductive contacting element is urged into contact with an interior cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle for sensing the temperature of the vehicle windshield. A controller, responsive to the temperature sensing element and another temperature sensing element and a humidity sensing element of the vehicle, is operable to calculate an ambient dew point and to control a cabin climate control system of the vehicle responsive to the calculated ambient dew point. The other temperature sensing element is mounted in the vehicle away from the vehicle windshield.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor system for a vehicle, the temperature sensor system comprising:

a first temperature sensor assembly comprising a thermally insulating body, a first temperature sensing element thermally insulated within the body, and a thermally conductive contacting element exposed externally of the body and in thermal communication with the first temperature sensing element;

wherein the thermally conductive contacting element is urged into contact with an interior cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with the temperature sensor system for sensing the temperature of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the first temperature sensor assembly is supported at a mirror support bracket of an interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when the mirror support bracket mounts at an interior cabin side of a vehicle windshield, the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is biased toward and into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield so as to enhance maintaining thermal contact therewith;

a humidity sensing element disposed in the equipped vehicle away from the first temperature sensor assembly and from the windshield;

a second temperature sensor assembly having a second temperature sensing element mounted on, or in direct contact with, the humidity sensing element and sensing temperature at the humidity sensing element;

wherein the second temperature sensor assembly and the humidity sensing element are mounted within a mirror head of the interior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein the mirror head has ventilation openings to allow ambient air to reach the second temperature sensor assembly and the humidity sensing element within the mirror head;

a controller; and

wherein the controller, responsive to the first temperature sensing element and the second temperature sensing element and the humidity sensing element, is operable to calculate an ambient dew point and to control a cabin climate control system of the equipped vehicle responsive to the calculated ambient dew point.

2. The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensing element comprises a thermistor.

3. The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the contacting element is substantially planar.

4. The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the contacting element comprises a metal disc.

5. The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a polymer.

6. The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the contacting element is resiliently mounted to the body.

7. The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, further comprising a cable connected to the first temperature sensing element, the cable being thermally insulated.

8. The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein, when a mounting portion of the mirror support bracket mounts to a mounting button attached at the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield, the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is biased toward and into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield so as to enhance maintaining thermal contact therewith.

9. The temperature sensor system according to claim 8, wherein the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is urged into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield simultaneous with the attachment of the mounting portion of the mirror support bracket at the mounting button attached at the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield.

10. The temperature sensor system according to claim 8, wherein the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is urged into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield simultaneous with the attachment of the mirror support bracket at the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield.

11. The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is urged into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield via a biasing spring.

12. A temperature sensor system for a vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted for releasable connection to an interior cabin side of a vehicle window;

a first temperature sensor assembly resiliently mounted to the bracket at a position such that, when the bracket is connected to the interior cabin side of the vehicle window, a thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is urged against the interior cabin side of the vehicle window and into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle window for sensing the temperature of the vehicle window;

wherein the mounting bracket comprises a mirror mounting bracket for mounting an interior rearview mirror assembly at the interior cabin side of the vehicle window;

a humidity sensing element disposed in the equipped vehicle away from the first temperature sensor assembly and from the windshield;

a second temperature sensor assembly having a second temperature sensing element mounted on, or in direct contact with, the humidity sensing element and sensing temperature at the humidity sensing element;

wherein the second temperature sensor assembly and the humidity sensing element are mounted within a mirror head of the interior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein the mirror head has ventilation openings to allow ambient air to reach the second temperature sensor assembly and the humidity sensing element within the mirror head;

a controller;

wherein the controller receives an input from the first temperature sensor assembly and an input from the second temperature sensor assembly; and

wherein the controller, responsive to the first temperature sensor assembly and the second temperature sensor assembly and the humidity sensor assembly, is operable to calculate an ambient dew point and to control a cabin climate control system of the equipped vehicle responsive to the calculated ambient dew point.

13. The temperature sensor system according to claim 12, comprising a sensor housing for receiving the first temperature sensor assembly.

14. The temperature sensor system according to claim 13, comprising a biasing element arranged to urge the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly partially out of the sensor housing to urge the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly against and into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle window.

15. The temperature sensor system according to claim 14, wherein the biasing element comprises a spring disposed between the sensor housing and the first temperature sensor assembly.

16. A temperature sensor system for a vehicle, the temperature sensor system comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted for releasable connection to an interior cabin side of a vehicle window;

a first temperature sensor assembly comprising a thermally insulating body, a first temperature sensing element thermally insulated within the body, and a thermally conductive contacting element exposed externally of the body and in thermal communication with the first temperature sensing element;

wherein the first temperature sensing element comprises a thermistor;

wherein the first temperature sensor assembly is resiliently mounted to the bracket at a position such that, when the bracket is connected to the interior cabin side of the vehicle window, the thermally conductive contacting element is urged against the interior cabin side of the vehicle window and into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle window for sensing the temperature of the vehicle window;

wherein the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is urged into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield simultaneous with the attachment of the mounting bracket at the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield;

a humidity sensing element disposed in the equipped vehicle away from the first temperature sensor assembly and from the windshield;

a second temperature sensor assembly having a second temperature sensing element mounted on, or in direct contact with, the humidity sensing element and sensing temperature at the humidity sensing element;

wherein the second temperature sensor assembly and the humidity sensing element are mounted within a mirror head of the interior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein the mirror head has ventilation openings to allow ambient air to reach the second temperature sensor assembly and the humidity sensing element within the mirror head;

a controller;

wherein the controller, responsive to the first temperature sensing element and the second temperature sensing element and the humidity sensing element, is operable to calculate an ambient dew point and to control a cabin climate control system of the equipped vehicle responsive to the calculated ambient dew point.

17. The temperature sensor system according to claim 16, wherein the thermally conductive contacting element is resiliently mounted to the thermally insulating body.

18. The temperature sensor system according to claim 16, further comprising a cable connected to the first temperature sensing element, the cable being thermally insulated.

19. The temperature sensor system according to claim 16, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a mounting bracket for an interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is urged into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield simultaneous with the attachment of the mounting bracket at a mirror mounting button attached at the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield.

20. The temperature sensor system according to claim 16, wherein the thermally conductive contacting element of the first temperature sensor assembly is urged into contact with the interior cabin side of the vehicle windshield via a biasing spring.