Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of two or more zones inside a vehicle using an HVAC system. In one aspect, a method for controlling temperature inside a vehicle is provided that comprises determining a power required to control the temperature of a first zone of the vehicle and determining a discharge air temperature for one of the first zone and a second zone of the vehicle based on a mass transfer between the first zone and a second zone of the vehicle. In another aspect, a method for controlling temperature inside a vehicle is provided that comprises determining a power required for a first zone and a third zone of the vehicle, determining a mass transfer in a second zone of the vehicle, and determining a discharge temperature for one of the first zone, second zone, and third zone of the vehicle based on a mass transfer between two zones of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for more accurately determining the room temperature of air in an automobile cabin by automatically determining the room temperature of air in an automobile based on one or more of a temperature value for solid mass surrounding a temperature sensor, an outlet temperature value for outlet air leaving a conditioned air outlet vent, an air temperature value for air measured by an air temperature sensor, and a blending factor value based on estimated percentages of room temperature air and outlet air present in the air measured by the air temperature sensor.