Abstract: A solar sensor for the detection of the direction of incidence and the intensity of solar radiation comprises a housing (12) made of a plastic material that is permeable to at least some of the solar radiation, the housing (12) having a curved side (14) facing the incident solar radiation and the housing (12) optically acting as a lens and having an internal focal plane (26) defined by the lens characteristics thereof. At least two photosensors (16) are embedded in the plastic material of the housing (12), each photosensor (16) having a sensor area (18) sensitive to at least the part of the radiation to which the plastic material is permeable, and the sensor areas (18) of the photosensors (16) being arranged in a substantially common plane (19) located in front of or behind the focal plane (26), seen from side (14) facing the incident solar radiation.

Abstract: The rotary control unit to which the invention relates, in particular nominal value rotary control unit for a vehicle heating system and in particular vehicle air conditioning system, is provided with a rotatable rotary control element (14), an electric motor (16) with a driveshaft (17) which is mechanically coupled to the rotary control element (14), an control circuit (24) for supplying the electric motor (16) with power for the purpose of generating a holding moment in order to prevent undesired rotation of the rotary control element (14) and/or to build up a resistance as the rotary control element is rotated, and a sensor unit (22) for detecting a hand which is approaching the rotary control element (14) or is touching the rotary control element (14). The control circuit (24) for supplying power to the electric motor (16) can be activated if the sensor unit (22) detects a hand which is approaching the rotary control element (14) or is touching the rotary control element (14).

Abstract: A solar sensor for the detection of the direction of incidence and the intensity of solar radiation comprises a housing (12) made of a plastic material that is permeable to at least some of the solar radiation, the housing (12) having a curved side (14) facing the incident solar radiation and the housing (12) optically acting as a lens and having an internal focal plane (26) defined by the lens characteristics thereof. At least two photosensors (16) are embedded in the plastic material of the housing (12), each photosensor (16) having a sensor area (18) sensitive to at least the part of the radiation to which the plastic material is permeable, and the sensor areas (18) of the photosensors (16) being arranged in a substantially common plane (19) located in front of or behind the focal plane (26), seen from side (14) facing the incident solar radiation.

Abstract: The rotary control unit to which the invention relates, in particular nominal value rotary control unit for a vehicle heating system and in particular vehicle air conditioning system, is provided with a rotatable rotary control element (14), an electric motor (16) with a driveshaft (17) which is mechanically coupled to the rotary control element (14), an control circuit (24) for supplying the electric motor (16) with power for the purpose of generating a holding moment in order to prevent undesired rotation of the rotary control element (14) and/or to build up a resistance as the rotary control element is rotated, and a sensor unit (22) for detecting a hand which is approaching the rotary control element (14) or is touching the rotary control element (14). The control circuit (24) for supplying power to the electric motor (16) can be activated if the sensor unit (22) detects a hand which is approaching the rotary control element (14) or is touching the rotary control element (14).

Abstract: In a method for the detection of the rotational position of the rotor of a DC motor with commutator by evaluating the time development of a rotor current signal of the DC motor, said signal comprising a periodic waviness around an average value and comprising current ripples generated by commutation which are superimposed to said waviness, the rotor current signal of a current ripple detector unit (30) is supplied for detecting the current ripples of the rotor current signal. The rotor current signal is further supplied to a waviness detector unit (34) for detecting a half or full wave of the rotor current signal. The current ripple detector unit (30) is arranged to output a current ripple pulse for each detected current ripple. The waviness detector unit (34) is arranged to output a waviness pulse for each period of the waviness. The output signals of both detector units (30,34) are supplied to a logic OR unit (38) for generating a logic signal.

Abstract: In a method for the detection of the rotational position of the rotor of a DC motor with commutator by evaluating the time development of a rotor current signal of the DC motor, said signal comprising a periodic waviness around an average value and comprising current ripples generated by commutation which are superimposed to said waviness, the rotor current signal of a current ripple detector unit (30) is supplied for detecting the current ripples of the rotor current signal. The rotor current signal is further supplied to a waviness detector unit (34) for detecting a half or full wave of the rotor current signal. The current ripple detector unit (30) is arranged to output a current ripple pulse for each detected current ripple. The waviness detector unit (34) is arranged to output a waviness pulse for each period of the waviness. The output signals of both detector units (30,34) are supplied to a logic OR unit (38) for generating a logic signal.

Abstract: The device for detection of the temperature in the interior of a vehicle, particularly for an air-conditioning system of a vehicle, is provided with an interior temperature sensor (28) arranged in a housing (18) arranged in or at a wall (12) adjacent to the interior (14) of the vehicle and being at least partially adjacent to the interior (14) of the vehicle, and a radiation sensor (30) detecting solar radiation leading to the heating of the housing (18) of the interior temperature sensor (28). Further, the device is provided with a compensation temperature sensor (36) arranged behind the wall (12) and such that it is thermally decoupled from the interior temperature sensor (28) and detecting the heat of air and/or assemblies behind the wall (12), which leads to a falsification of the measured value of the interior temperature sensor (28). The two temperature sensors (28,36) and the radiation sensor (30) are combined in a common assembly.

Abstract: The device for detection of the temperature in the interior of a vehicle, particularly for an air-conditioning system of a vehicle, is provided with an interior temperature sensor (28) arranged in a housing (18) arranged in or at a wall (12) adjacent to the interior (14) of the vehicle and being at least partially adjacent to the interior (14) of the vehicle, and a radiation sensor (30) detecting solar radiation leading to the heating of the housing (18) of the interior temperature sensor (28). Further, the device is provided with a compensation temperature sensor (36) arranged behind the wall (12) and such that it is thermally decoupled from the interior temperature sensor (28) and detecting the heat of air and/or assemblies behind the wall (12), which leads to a falsification of the measured value of the interior temperature sensor (28). The two temperature sensors (28,36) and the radiation sensor (30) are combined in a common assembly.

Abstract: A device for determining the temperature in the interior of a vehicle includes a temperature sensor for arrangement behind a wall adjacent the interior, and a processing unit receiving the measuring signal from the temperature sensor and outputting an output signal representing the temperature in the interior of the vehicle, and a thermal conductor for sensing the temperature of the air in the interior in the region close to the wall, the thermal conductor being in thermally conductive contact with the temperature sensor and being provided to extend up to or close to the wall or through an opening in the wall.

Abstract: A device for determining the temperature in the interior of a vehicle (12) comprises a temperature sensor (30) for arrangement behind a wall (18) adjacent the interior, and a processing unit (82) receiving the measuring signal from the temperature sensor (30) and outputting an output signal representing the temperature in the interior (10) of the vehicle (12). Further, it is provided with a thermal conductor element (36, 36′) for sensing the temperature of the air in the interior (10) in the region close to the wall, the thermal conductor element (36, 36′) being in thermally conductive contact with the temperature sensor (30) and being provided to extend up to or close to the wall (18) or through an opening (38) in the wall (18).

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for controlling an interior temperature of a motor vehicle a nominal temperature is set and is used with a sensed interior space temperature to produce a difference value which is fed to a controller (R). The controller produces a controlling value from the difference value which it feeds to an output stage (E) for cyclically and directionally driving a DC motor (M) which adjusts the position of an adjustable member (SG) to influence an amount of heat fed to an interior space (I) of the motor vehicle. A position signal of the adjustable member is measured and fed in a control loop in order to ensure an exact and dependable positioning of the adjustable member, with the positioning signal being formed by measuring and analyzing partial movements of the DC motor through predetermined angles for activations and further rotation of the DC motor.

Abstract: According to a process of this invention for regulating an interior temperature of a motor vehicle, a nominal temperature is set, an interior space temperature and an exterior temperature are measured, a motor (M) is synchronously controlled for positioning an adjustable control member (L) which influences the amount of heat fed to an interior space (IR), a first cyclical signal is produced which is applied to a second terminal (B2) of the motor and which influences the creation of a second cyclical signal for driving the motor via a comparator (K), a difference signal is produced from the nominal temperature, the interior space temperature, the exterior temperature, and a position signal which with the comparator produce a third cyclical signal from the second cyclical signal and the difference signal that controls the motor via a first terminal (B1) so that an effective motor current corresponds to a difference between the first cyclical signal and the third cyclical signal.