Occupant-type Vehicle Patents (Class 62/244)
  • Patent number: 11942612
    Abstract: In a battery system, a battery module includes a plurality of cells. A management unit manages charging-discharging of the battery module and a temperature inside the battery module. The management unit estimates a maximum temperature of an inside of a cell in the battery module based on a measured temperature in the battery module, and controls, during charging-discharging of the battery module, a charging-discharging current of the battery module and/or cooling of the battery module in such a way that the estimated maximum temperature does not exceed an upper limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujikawa, Shinichi Yuasa, Yoshito Kaga, Keisuke Naito
  • Patent number: 11896534
    Abstract: An external automotive condenser and light assembly for mounting on a body of a vehicle, the condenser and light assembly includes a condenser housing having a top portion defining at least one top opening and a bottom portion defining at least one bottom opening. The condenser housing includes a front face so as to permit at least one warning light to be affixed thereto. The condenser housing includes a right face extending rearward from the front face. The condenser housing includes a left face extending rearward from the front face. At least one warning light is affixed to an exterior of the front face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: REV Ambulance Group Orlando, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Barnes, Herschel W. Davis, Jr., Matthew W. Grafton, Robert L. Collins
  • Patent number: 11872922
    Abstract: A beverage container holder assembly is adapted to be utilized in a vehicle for accommodating a beverage container. The beverage container holder assembly includes a duct pipe and a container holder. The duct pipe is disposed in front of an instrument panel of the vehicle and extended along a direction perpendicular to a front-rear direction of the vehicle. A first end of the duct pipe is connected to an air conditioner. The container holder is connected to a second end of the duct pipe opposite to the first end. The container holder has a recessed pocket facing an upper direction of the vehicle for removably inserting the beverage container therein, a first opening disposed between the container holder and the second end of the duct pipe, and a second opening facing toward the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaz Hayashi, Takeshi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 11808477
    Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger configured to cause refrigerant that flows in the outdoor heat exchanger and air to exchange heat with each other, a plurality of outdoor fans each configured to rotate by driving of a motor and send air to the outdoor heat exchanger, and a controller configured to control the driving of the motor. When operation of one of the plurality of outdoor fans is stopped, the controller is configured to control the motor such that a rotation frequency of each of the plurality of outdoor fans that is in operation after operation of the one of the plurality of outdoor fans is stopped is higher than a rotation frequency of each of the plurality of outdoor fans that is in operation before operation of the one of the plurality of outdoor fans is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Korenaga
  • Patent number: 11780294
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air conditioning device for a vehicle. The air conditioning device includes an air conditioning unit disposed in at least one of front or rear of the vehicle. The air conditioning device further includes a duct unit blowing air of the air conditioning unit into an interior and extending inside of at least one of a front pillar or a rear pillar. The air conditioning device further includes a vent unit communicating with the duct unit through a connecting duct and selectively opening and closing a discharge path of at least one of a main path, a first path, or a second path so as to discharge the blown air to a side of a roof frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, NIFCO KOREA INC., NVH KOREA, INC.
    Inventors: Min Ho Cho, Ji Ah Kim, Jin Ho Hwang, Chi Bong Oh, Geun Heung Kim
  • Patent number: 11718153
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner for a vehicle, which can select a blower with the maximum efficiency within a range of a targeted air discharge volume for indoor circulation and select a blower with the maximum efficiency within a range of a targeted air discharge volume for outdoor discharge. The air conditioner includes: an air-conditioning case having a first air passageway and a second air passageway; an evaporator disposed on the first air passageway or the second air passageway; a condenser disposed on the first air passageway or the second air passageway; a first blower arranged on an indoor circulation passage; and a second blower arranged on an outdoor discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Jae Chun Ryu, Dae Bok Keon, Yun Jin Kim, Se Min Lee
  • Patent number: 11707963
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes: a casing to accommodate a cooler and a heater; a front temp door disposed in the casing to control a temperature of air supplied to a front seat zone; a rear temp door disposed under the front temp door to control a temperature of air supplied to a rear seat zone; and a rear vent disposed at a lower portion of the casing to discharge air to the rear seat zone. The air conditioner can secure the flow rate of the air that is supplied to the rear seat zone of the interior of a vehicle by improving the route for flow of the air that is supplied to the rear seat zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, DOOWON CLIMATE CONTROL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Mo Kwak, Myung Jun Kim, Dong Won Yeon, Chul Min Jang
  • Patent number: 11685231
    Abstract: An HVAC module may include an air path through which air is flowable, an evaporator, and a heater. The evaporator and the heater may subdivide the air path into a main path and a side path. The main path may pass through the evaporator and the heater. The side path may branch off from the main path upstream of the evaporator and may open into the main path downstream of the heater. The side path may be fluidically connected to the main path between the evaporator and the heater. A first valve flap may be arranged in the air path and may be adjustable to a closed position and to an open position. A second valve flap may be arranged in the air path and may be adjustable to a first position, to a second position, and to a third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Cecile Ariaux, Emmanuel Fleith, Cyril Humbert, Arnaud Schneider
  • Patent number: 11668486
    Abstract: A thermal comfort-based air conditioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes, in a 5G network environment, estimation of a thermal comfort of a human body based on a thermal image by using an artificial neural network (ANN) that performs deep learning, and includes air conditioning control based on thermal comfort information. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent discomfort caused by heat or cold due to excessive or insufficient air conditioning control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soo Young Sim, Beom Oh Kim
  • Patent number: 11648818
    Abstract: Provided is an air-conditioning system including: an air pollution level detector configured to detect each of a pollution level of outside air, which is air outside a vehicle, and a pollution level of inside air, which is air inside the vehicle; and an air-conditioning control device configured to control air conditioning by switching an air-conditioning mode of the vehicle between an inside-air circulation mode and an outside-air introduction mode. The air-conditioning control device switches the air-conditioning mode from the outside-air introduction mode to the inside-air circulation mode based on the pollution level of the outside air acquired from the air pollution level detector, and switches the air-conditioning mode from the inside-air circulation mode to the outside-air introduction mode based on the pollution level of the inside air acquired from the air pollution level detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hajime Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11639083
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle air conditioner (RVAC) includes a ceiling-mount indoor panel positioned over an opening in the ceiling of a recreational vehicle and a control box assembly including a first box portion and a second box portion. The first box portion is positioned above the ceiling-mount indoor panel and the second box portion is pivotally connected to the first box portion with a hinge, such that it is pivotable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The ceiling-mount indoor panel defines a control box recess that at least partially receives the second box portion when in the open configuration and a blank plate covers the control box recess when the second box portion is in the closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Dustin Henderson, Cody Michael Ratchford
  • Patent number: 11623495
    Abstract: A vehicle roof assembly includes a roof that defines an aperture. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning assembly is selectively disposed within the aperture. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning assembly includes a housing defining an interior. The housing defines an intake and a vent opening. The intake is defined on a first side of the housing. A fan is disposed within the interior on a second side of the housing. The second side opposes the first side. A duct is disposed within the interior. The duct extends between the first side and the second side of the housing. The duct fluidly couples the intake with the vent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Hussain Zoher Tajmahal, Marielle Beverly Conrad, Yejin Han, David Earl Ooms, Michael Moliterno, Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 11618298
    Abstract: In the application, since the flow of air outside the vehicle compartment flowing through the upstream heat exchange part and the flow of air outside the vehicle compartment flowing through the downstream heat exchange part are opposite flows, a second heat exchanger through which the air outside the vehicle compartment flowing from the first fan through the downstream heat exchange part flows, a first heat exchanger is an orthogonal heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger that is a component of a refrigeration cycle execution system, the air in the vehicle compartment, which flows in from the inside air inlet by the rotation of the second fan and is discharged from the outlet outside the vehicle through the first heat exchanger, and the air outside the vehicle compartment, are exchanged with the first heat exchanger, it can be miniaturized along with the improvement of electricity cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Tani
  • Patent number: 11542853
    Abstract: A coolant supply module includes a reservoir tank configured to store a coolant, a main body connected to the reservoir tank so that the coolant stored in the reservoir tank flows, at least one pump mounting portion formed in the main body so that at least one water pump is mounted, a valve mounting portion formed in the main body between the at least one pump mounting portion so that a valve device is mounted, and a controller mounted in the main body and electrically connected to the at least one water pump, wherein the main body includes a branch portion allowing a portion of a coolant introduced into one of the at least one pump mounting portion to flow into another pump mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, MYUNGHWA IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeonho Kim, Jae Yeon Kim, Jeawan Kim, Dong June Kang, Yu Man Won
  • Patent number: 11541726
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides a heat management system for a vehicle, comprising: a first heat circuit in which first heat medium flows; a second heat circuit in which second heat medium flows; and a main heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the second heat medium to the first heat medium. The first heat circuit comprises: a compressor; a cabin heater; a first air heat exchanger; an evaporator; a first bypass channel configured to allow the first heat medium to bypass the main heat exchanger; and a first switching valve by which one of the main heat exchanger and the evaporator is selected as a flow destination of the first heat medium flowing out from the first air heat exchanger. A single heat circuit (the first heat circuit) can achieve both heating and cooling of the air in the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Orihashi, Yoshio Hasegawa, Masaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11535082
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning control system includes a controller that controls a blow outlet drive device and a plate member drive device based on a sensed result of a seat back state sensing device. When a reclined state of the seat back is sensed, the controller controls the blow outlet drive device and thereby places an air-flow direction change mechanism in a predetermined position to direct conditioning air, which is blown from the blow outlet, such that the conditioning air collides to a plate surface of a plate member. At this time, the controller also controls the plate member drive device to place the plate member in a predetermined position, so that the conditioning air, which collides to the plate surface of the plate member, reaches a specific part of an occupant who is on the seat having the seat back placed in the reclined state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marie Nagahama, Yasuhiko Niimi
  • Patent number: 11529840
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner installed in a vehicle includes: an evaporator that is provided on a ceiling of the vehicle and causes heat exchange between air in an interior of a passenger compartment and a coolant; a condenser that causes heat exchange between the coolant and outside air; a spray nozzle that sprays water to a portion near the condenser; a water tank that is provided in a lower portion of the vehicle and stores the water to be sprayed; and a drain hose that guides condensed water generated in the evaporator to the water tank. The drain hose is provided through a pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Hotta
  • Patent number: 11479083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow circuit system (1) for a vehicle, with a first flow circuit (10) guiding a first fluid and operable as a heat pump, and a second flow circuit (50) with a conveying device (31) guiding a second fluid, and a switching device (35), wherein in the provided flow direction of the first fluid downstream of a compressor (3) and upstream of an expansion element (15), at least one first heat exchanger (7) between the first and second fluids, wherein the second flow circuit (50) has at least two flow circuit modes, wherein in the first flow circuit mode, apart from the at least one conveying device (31) for the second fluid and the at least one first heat exchanger (7), at least one outside heat exchanger (37) which may be flowed through by the second fluid and is configured as a radiator is connected to the second flow circuit (50), and in the second flow circuit mode this at least one outside heat exchanger (37) is not connected to the at least second flow circuit (50) containing the co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Konvekta AG
    Inventors: Michael Sonnekalb, Sebastian Fink
  • Patent number: 11479076
    Abstract: A heat pump system of a vehicle controls a temperature of a battery module by using one chiller in which a refrigerant and a coolant are heat-exchanged, and recovers waste heat generated from an electrical component and a battery module to use it for indoor heating, thereby improving heating performance and efficiency, and the heat pump increases a flow rate of a refrigerant by applying a gas injection part that selectively operates in a heating mode of the vehicle, thereby maximizing heating performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeawan Kim, Jae Yeon Kim, Yeonho Kim
  • Patent number: 11427053
    Abstract: A reversible refrigeration cycle system is configured to provide heating and cooling to condition passenger air for a vehicle such as, for example, a bus. The reversible refrigeration cycle system includes a storage tank for storing fluid, a compressor, a plurality of coils, and valves for selectively conducting the fluid to the plurality of coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Mobile Climate Control, Corp.
    Inventor: Adel Gergis
  • Patent number: 11383579
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle and a control method thereof may include a temperature detector; an air conditioning actuator including a cooling device and a blower; and a controller connected to the temperature detector and the air conditioning actuator and including: a load determination portion determining an air conditioning load based on factors including an internal temperature or an external temperature of a vehicle detected by the temperature detector; a storage portion storing a control map that controls the air conditioning actuator according to the air conditioning load; and an update portion updating a control value, pre-stored in the control map, of the air conditioning actuator for the air conditioning load to a demand value of a user when receiving the demand value of the user for the air conditioning actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Gee Young Shin, Dong Ho Kwon, Dae Ig Jung, Seung Hyeok Chang, Jeong Hoon Lee, Joong Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 11364772
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit, including: a chamber; a fan, in the chamber, for effecting an entry air entering the chamber and an exit air exiting the chamber; and an evaporative unit, in the chamber, for conditioning the entry air; wherein the fan, together with at least part of the chamber, creates a pressure zone, without ejecting air directly to, or without drawing air directly from, the evaporative unit, such that air moves through the evaporative unit substantially through a pressure effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Shihong Bei, Jianguo Zhu
  • Patent number: 11345261
    Abstract: In order to suppress a claustrophobic feeling that a person sitting on a rear seat receives due to a front seat, and to make the front seat easy to use as an ottoman by the person, a movement adjustment system is used for a passenger seat and a rear seat, and includes a slide rail for moving the rear seat in the front to back direction, and a control part for changing the movement region of the rear seat by the slide rail. The passenger seat has a seat cushion, and a seat back mounted to be changeable between an upright state and a lowered state with respect to the seat cushion. The control part changes the movement region so that the passenger seat and the rear seat can come closer when the seat back of the passenger seat is in the lowered state than in the upright state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yogo
  • Patent number: 11305607
    Abstract: A heat pump system for a vehicle may adjust a temperature of a battery module by use of one chiller that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and a coolant and improves heating efficiency by use of waste heat generated from an electrical component, including: a cooling apparatus of circulating a coolant in a coolant line to cool at least one electrical component provided in the coolant line; a battery cooling apparatus of circulating the coolant to the battery module; a chiller for heat exchanging the coolant with a refrigerant to control a temperature of the coolant; a heating apparatus that heats an interior of the vehicle using the coolant; and a first, second, third, and fourth connection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yeonho Kim
  • Patent number: 11267311
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular air conditioner including: an air-conditioning case that has an upper passage and a lower passage which are partitioned by an upper and lower partition plate therebetween; a heating unit that is disposed over the upper passage and the lower passage; an upper passage partition plate that is disposed downstream of the heating unit of the upper passage and forms a guide passage that guides a portion of air, which has passed the heating unit, toward an upper and lower connection opening that connects the upper passage and the lower passage; and a guide passage opening/closing unit that closes the guide passage in a state where the upper and lower connection opening is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroto Suzuki, Takehito Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11262090
    Abstract: With respect to atmospheric steam generating humidifiers, the present disclosure resolves the problem of end-users not adjusting the drain interval of the humidifier by using an electronic controller to automatically choose an appropriate drain interval without requiring any user input. The electronic controller accomplishes this by receiving input data from a sensor that measures a water quality parameter, automatically determining a drain interval based on the received data, and sending an output control signal to a drain water control valve to execute a drain event in accordance with the drain interval. In some examples, the electronic controller utilizes a look-up table correlating the water quality parameter to a total dissolved solids or cycles of concentration value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: DRI-STEEM Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Lundgreen, Kenneth D. Shull
  • Patent number: 11225121
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner, including a first duct having a first ventilation opening that is disposed on first side in a width direction of a seat provided in a vehicle, a second duct having a second ventilation opening that is disposed on second side in the width direction of the seat, the second side being opposite side of the first side, and a third duct having a third ventilation opening that is disposed in front of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotake Nishina, Takako Mizuno, Hiroaki Mikami, Yoshinori Tamura
  • Patent number: 11142035
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle may include a housing, a first heat exchanger, a first door, and a second heat exchanger. The housing may include a first inlet branch, a second inlet branch, and an outlet branch. The first door may be adjacent the first heat exchanger and may move from a first position preventing flow to the first heat exchanger to a second position permitting flow to the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger may be positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhiwei Shan
  • Patent number: 11002471
    Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigeration installation (1), to a method for same, and to a refrigeration installation system for controlling the temperature of air, including at least one compressor (3), at least one expansion element (39), and at least one first (5) and a second (7) heat exchanger, each of which can be operated as a condenser or a gas cooler, wherein at least one of the heat exchangers can be operated as an evaporator or at least one additional heat exchanger is provided which can be operated as an evaporator. A refrigerant line is equipped with a first valve (11) downstream of at least one compressor (3) at or downstream of a branch (9) and upstream of or at the condenser or gas cooler inlet (15) of the first heat exchanger (5), and a second valve (19) is arranged at or downstream of the condenser or gas cooler outlet (17) of the first heat exchanger (5) and upstream of or as an expansion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KONVEKTA AG
    Inventors: Michael Sonnekalb, Sebastian Fink, Philipp Merle
  • Patent number: 10976091
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the freezing compartment, an ice maker located adjacent to a rear surface of the door and configured to supply water to make ice automatically, to provide ice to an ice tray, and to transfer ice automatically, a cabinet duct located above the freezing compartment and configured to supply cold air to the freezing compartment or to the ice maker, an ice cover that is located above the ice maker and that includes a cover inflow hole configured to receive cold air located at a position that faces an outlet of the cabinet duct, and a supply duct that connects the cover inflow hole to the ice maker and that defines a cold air supply passage to an interior area of the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yonghyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10967768
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat main body having a seat back, and disposed at a vehicle front side of a seating position at an end side in a vehicle width direction of a rear seat; and a flow path having one end side and another end side, conditioned air flowing through the one end side, the conditioned air being produced by an air-conditioning device mounted at the vehicle, the other end side being disposed inside the seat main body, another end of the flow path opening at a vehicle rear surface of the seat back, and the conditioned air flowing through an inside of the flow path and being blown from the other end towards a vehicle rear side of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Shiga
  • Patent number: 10955153
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact, fully integrated solar powered airconditioning (A/C) device for recycling and cooling the air inside buildings, which device comprises a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell, a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Charge Controller, a battery unit and a vapor compression air cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Paul Riis Arndt
  • Patent number: 10946718
    Abstract: An air-conditioning unit of a vehicle for air-conditioning a vehicle interior may include a unit outlet for discharging air into the vehicle interior, an outside-air duct for an intake of outside air, and an air recirculation duct for recirculation of inside air from the vehicle interior. The air-conditioning unit may also include an outside-air shut-off element arranged in the outside-air duct, which in a closed position blocks a flow of outside air through the outside-air duct, and a recirculated-air shut-off element arranged in the air recirculation duct, which in a closed position blocks a flow of inside air through the air recirculation duct. The air-conditioning unit may further include a sensor device for detecting a property of air. On at least one duct of the outside-air duct and the recirculation duct, a bypass may be arranged which bypasses an associated shut-off element and is fluidically connected to the sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Eberle, Rainer Knoeller, Markus Michael, Anja Reiter, Oliver Schultze, Joachim Treier, Walter Wolf
  • Patent number: 10938278
    Abstract: There are provided in-wheel motors lubricated with an oil; a cooling medium circuit in which a cooling medium flows; a cooling device cooling the cooling medium; heat exchangers carrying out heat exchange between the cooling medium and the oil after lubricating the in-wheel motors; and at least one of a controller including an inverter and a battery that can be cooled by the cooling medium flowing through the cooling medium circuit, and the cooling medium circuit has such a configuration that circulates the cooling medium through the cooling device, at least one of the controller and the battery, and the heat exchangers in turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Tominaga, Daisuke Tokozakura, Yushi Seki
  • Patent number: 10910684
    Abstract: A first thermosiphon circuit includes a first evaporator configured to cool a first target device by a latent heat of evaporation of a working fluid that absorbs a heat from the first target device, and a first passage communicating with the first evaporator. A second thermosiphon circuit includes a second evaporator configured to cool a second target device by a latent heat of evaporation of a working fluid that absorbs a heat from the second target device, and a second passage communicating with the second evaporator. A main condenser includes a first heat exchanger provided in the first passage and a second heat exchanger provided in the second passage, and is configured to allow the working fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid flowing through the second heat exchanger, and a predetermined cold energy supply medium to exchange heat with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasumitsu Omi, Takeshi Yoshinori, Masayuki Takeuchi, Koji Miura
  • Patent number: 10890758
    Abstract: This disclosure describes deflecting moisture out of the field of view of an imaging device during operation of an aerial vehicle, such as a UAV. The imaging device and/or a deflector positioned in the field of view of the imaging device is positioned within a path of a propulsion motor air disturbance. The deflector protects the lens from environmental conditions, such as moisture and rain and is positioned such that the force of the propulsion motor air disturbance moves any moisture, rain, or other debris contacting the surface of the deflector across the deflector surface and out of the field of view of the imaging device. As a result, distortion of image data generated by the imaging device as a result of water or moisture on the lens or in the field of view of the lens of the imaging device is reduced, if not eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Christopher Curlander, Scott Raymond Harris
  • Patent number: 10889163
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat pump cycle, a heat medium circulation circuit, and a refrigeration cycle device. The refrigeration cycle device is configured to perform a defrosting operation when a frost formation determiner determines that frost is formed. A throttle opening degree controller is configured to increase an opening degree in the defrosting operation. A pumping capacity controller is configured to increase a pumping capacity in the defrosting operation with increase of a required heating capacity required for heating a heating target fluid, the pumping capacity controller increasing the pumping capacity such that heat of refrigerant discharged from a compressor is transferred to heat medium in a first heat exchanger within a range in which a temperature of the refrigerant flowing into an outside heat exchanger is capable of melting the frost formed on the outside heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Tada
  • Patent number: 10875429
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor module (1), comprising: at least a first sensor (10) that is designed to measure relative humidity and/or temperature, wherein the sensor module (1) is configured to be mounted in an automotive seat (2), which automotive seat (2) comprises a seat cover region (200) forming an outer surface (200a) of the seat that faces a passenger (P) sitting on the automotive seat (2), wherein the sensor module (1) is configured to be mounted such in said automotive seat (2) that it is spaced apart from said seat cover region (200). Further, the invention relates to an automotive seat (2) comprising such a sensor module (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SENSIRION AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Lukas Hoppenau, Michael Gotze, Markus Graf, Pascal Hunziker
  • Patent number: 10800229
    Abstract: A sun visor module includes: a base portion which has an accommodating space formed therein and a front portion provided at the ceiling of a front seat of a vehicle in an openable or closable form; a sun visor portion which is provided at the center of the inside of the base portion and slides in or out through the front portion of the base portion; a screen-shaped awning portion which is provided at a lower portion of the inside of the base portion to be entered in or out to the front portion of the base portion; an air discharge portion which is connected with an A-pillar of the vehicle to introduce the wind flowing in the A-pillar into the base portion; and a first blowing portion which communicates with the rear lower portion of the base portion to send the wind to the inside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventor: Mingyu Cho
  • Patent number: 10766336
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for a vehicle includes a seat air conditioning unit that blows out air from a front side of a seat and an interior air conditioning unit that blows out air whose temperature has been adjusted by a cooling heat exchanger and a heating heat exchanger toward the vehicle interior space. The air conditioning device for a vehicle includes a first duct member for guiding the air flowing between the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger in the interior air conditioning unit to the seat air conditioning unit. The air conditioning device for a vehicle further includes a second duct member for guiding the air higher in temperature than the air flowing between the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger to the seat air conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Fujii, Hideaki Kako, Masafumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 10696129
    Abstract: A method and system for remotely controlling a mobile climate control system for a vehicle is provided. The method allows for remote connection of a smart device to a mobile climate control system. The mobile climate control system may comprise a single HVAC system and thermostat or may comprise multiple HVAC systems and thermostats which provide multi-zone climate control for a vehicle, such as for non-limiting example, a recreational vehicle (RV). In some other embodiments, the system may comprise multiple HVACs and a single thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventor: Bryan B. Bergin
  • Patent number: 10675949
    Abstract: An evaporator unit for a rooftop air-conditioning system of a vehicle may include a housing having two evaporators. Each evaporator may include a plurality of evaporation pipes running parallel to one another and parallel to a Z axis of the evaporators, a distributor and collector box running parallel to an X axis of the evaporator, and a diverting box running parallel to the X axis of the evaporator. The distributor and collector box may include an inlet connector for liquid refrigerant and an outlet connector for gaseous refrigerant that may be disposed adjacent to one another on a same face side of the distributor and collector box and in a Y axis of the evaporator. The two evaporators may be disposed on both sides of an intake chamber of the evaporator unit and may lay opposite one another in a transverse axis of the evaporator unit. The evaporators may be structurally identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Hipp-Kalthoff, Hans-Henning Knorr, Nayyar Rahman, Klaus Voigt
  • Patent number: 10611476
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for isolating one or more sensors within an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The method may comprise providing a UAV that includes a housing forming a central body of the UAV. The UAV may also include a first compartment of the central body with one or more electrical components (1) disposed therein, and (2) adapted to affect operation of the UAV. Further, the UAV may include a second compartment of the central body that is isolated from the first compartment such that the barometric pressure in the second compartment is independent of the barometric pressure in the first compartment. Additionally, the method may comprise disposing the one or more sensors within the second compartment of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiyuan Ao, Xumin Wu, Tingting Wang, Zhuang Feng, Sungki Lee
  • Patent number: 10562458
    Abstract: A water reservoir in combination with a seating assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a lower seat assembly having a deployed position and a seatback assembly having a deployed position is disclosed, where the water reservoir is installed either behind the seatback assembly in the deployed position or below the lower seat assembly in the deployed position, and the water reservoir is removably received within a volume defined in part by either of the seatback assembly or the lower seat assembly, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Mozurkewich, Daniel Ferretti, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Johnathan Andrew Line, Keith Allen Godin
  • Patent number: 10549605
    Abstract: A heating system for heating a vehicle interior of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine by using a heat exchanger includes three temperature sensors, wherein a first temperature sensor measures the coolant temperature at a coolant outlet of the internal combustion engine, a second temperature sensor measures the coolant temperature at a coolant inlet of the internal combustion engine, and a third temperature sensor measures the coolant temperature upstream of at least one heat source. A first heat circuit couples the heat exchanger to the internal combustion engine, whereas a second heat circuit bypasses the internal combustion engine. The first heat circuit operates solely with the internal combustion engine as a heat source when a target inlet temperature of the heat exchanger is above a preset value; otherwise an additional heat source is switched in, optionally operating in addition to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Andreas Djermester
  • Patent number: 10486493
    Abstract: A heat pump system for a vehicle may include a cooling device including a radiator connected to a cooling line and a first water pump to cool an electric component; a battery module provided on a battery cooling line selectively connectable to the cooling line through a first valve; a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) module including an internal heater connected to the cooling line through a first connection line, a cooler connected to the battery cooling line through a second connection line, and an opening or closing door provided between the internal heater and the cooler and controlling external air passing through the cooler to be selectively introduced into the internal heater depending on cooling, heating, and heating and dehumidifying modes of the vehicle; and a centralized energy (CE) module connected to each of the battery cooling line and the cooling line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Yunho Hwang
  • Patent number: 10428726
    Abstract: A control apparatus 1 for the engine includes an ECU. When the operating region of the engine is in the EGR execution region B, the ECU performs the EGR control (step 2), and performs first coolant temperature control for controlling an IC coolant temperature TWic such that the temperature of intake air passing through an intercooler exceeds a dew-point temperature (step 14). Further, in a case where the operating region of the engine is in the EGR stop region C, the ECU performs second coolant temperature control for controlling the IC coolant temperature TWic such that the temperature of intake air having passed through the intercooler exceeds the dew-point temperature, assuming that the operating region of the engine has shifted to the EGR execution region B (step 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Uto, Yosuke Yamada, Noritaka Kimura, Takayoshi Nakamura, Kosuke Ihara, Yoshinori Matsuo
  • Patent number: 10414248
    Abstract: A humidification device is used in a vehicle air conditioner having a cooler disposed in an air conditioning case. The air conditioning case has a ventilation path leading air into a vehicle compartment. The humidification device has an adsorber that absorbs and desorbs moisture, a blower, a door that opens or closes an air flow path, and a controller. The controller switches the air flow path by controlling the door to set (i) a dehumidification mode in which air cooled by the cooler is led to the adsorber, and moisture in the air is adsorbed by the adsorber or (ii) a humidification mode in which air is led to the adsorber, the moisture is moved from the adsorber to the air to humidify the air, and the humidified air is blown toward an occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Ito, Yasuhiko Niimi, Jun Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 10413458
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an external condenser and light assembly and, more particularly, to an improved external air conditioning condenser and housing that is designed to additionally serve as a light assembly for an emergency vehicle. The condenser housing is mounted to the exterior of the emergency vehicle, which improves the performance of the emergency vehicle's air-conditioning system. The design of the condenser housing also allows it to serve as a light assembly on which emergency vehicle lights are mounted. The condenser housing and light assembly structure thereby provides for proper air conditioning functionality without occupying space on the exterior of the vehicle that would more preferably be occupied by emergency lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: REV AMBULANCE GROUP ORLANDO, INC.
    Inventors: Scott L. Barnes, Herschel W. Davis, Jr., Matthew W. Grafton, Robert L. Collins
  • Patent number: 10393119
    Abstract: A fluid compressor includes a closed container having an inlet, a compression mechanism including a compression chamber in which fluid flowing into the closed container through the inlet is compressed, a discharge port through which the fluid compressed in the compression chamber is allowed to flow, a discharge valve opening and closing the discharge port, and a valve retainer limiting an amount of lift of the discharge valve. The discharge valve includes a curved portion whose shape is defined by one or more curvatures. When the discharge port is closed by the discharge valve, the valve retainer and the discharge valve are spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiko Ishizono, Masayuki Kakuda, Kohei Tatsuwaki, Yuji Takamura