INTERFACE DEVICE FOR CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, CENTRALIZED VEHICLE SYSTEM COMMAND COMBINATION, CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, AND AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE

Abstract

The present invention discloses an interface device to control a climate control system for automotive vehicles having at least one first command to drive a heating equipment and/or at least one second command to drive a cooling equipment and/or at least one third command to drive an ambient air flow control equipment, the first and/or second and/or third drive commands only altering the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments by direct control of the user, the device also comprising at least one printed circuit board or the like having means that enable the conversion of the movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on a digital display.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses devices and systems for use in automotive vehicles that provide easy interaction for the user, increasing comfort and ease of use of automotive vehicles thus equipped.

A first device idealized is a climate control system (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning-HVAC) interface for automotive vehicles, having low manufacturing cost and providing the systems with greater sophistication, also enabling said device to manage said systems in a much easier manner according to its preference settings.

A second device idealized is a centralized vehicle system command combination, such as, for example, a sound, air-conditioning and heating system command, that has low manufacturing cost, sophisticated look and major adaptability to the user's wishes.

The present invention also discloses a climate control system for automotive vehicles comprising at least one of the first or second devices mentioned above.

Lastly, the present invention discloses an automotive vehicle equipped with at least one of the devices/systems referred to herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

In the early history of the motorcar, at the end of the 19^th century and beginning of the 20^th century, automobiles were rather rudimentary machines, the primeval achievement of which was self-propulsion with minimum reliability. These characteristics guaranteed it extraordinary success across the entire planet.

In these early vehicles, the accessory systems to the propulsion group were extremely rudimentary, and the electric system was sometimes non-existent, since the engine generated electric sparks to explode the mixture of air and fuel by means of regular magnets.

As the years went by, the major subsequent technological development enabled auxiliary comfort and safety systems to be incorporated into the vehicles, including climate control systems (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning of the passenger compartment), sound and entertainment systems or car radios and an infinity of other components.

Regarding climate control systems, the first air-conditioning systems developed for use in vehicles, in the mid 1940s, only comprised an evaporator positioned inside the vehicle's passenger compartment and a small electric fan, which blew air through it, cooling it. The commands at the user's disposal in this type of system were limited to a control to drive the system compressor, another to control the speed of the electric fan and a third, if at all, commanded a thermostat determined intervals to drive and switch off compressor, as a kind of temperature gauge. These systems only re-circulated the air already inside the passenger compartment.

Over time, the evaporator was built into the inside of the panel and the commands to drive the air-conditioning system were integrated with those of the vehicle's dynamic ventilation system (with commands to divert the air towards the windshield, the front air diffusers in the panel or the feet area) and the heating system, which in the vast majority of cases comprises a small radiator positioned inside the panel through which the water heated from the vehicle's engine cooling system flows.

Accordingly, it became possible to regulate the temperature of the air blowing from the diffuser panels with a certain degree of accuracy, by simultaneous combination of the use of the air-conditioning and heating systems.

Nowadays, climate control systems basically comprise two categories, namely:

A first category is that of the simplest of systems, for use in low cost vehicles, such as low cost compact automobiles (very common on the Brazilian market and in other developing countries) and utility vehicles, essentially having the following commands:

Command to switch the air-conditioning system compressor on and off.

Command to determine the working speed of the electric fan.

Command to drive the heating system (that commands the partial or total opening of a passage through which the air flows through the radiator heater before reaching the panel diffusers).

Command to determine the air direction (either towards the windshield, the feet, panel diffusers, etc.).

Command that determines the entry of outside air into the passenger compartment or the recirculation of air already there (optional).

In this simplest of systems, there is no automation to maintain the stability of the temperature inside the vehicle's passenger compartment, that is, the air will be supplied/recirculated at a set temperature and direction (towards the feet, windshield, etc.) until the user alters it.

So, the system has no automatic variation capacity of operating settings for the climate inside the vehicle's passenger compartment to be altered because the system is entirely mechanical, having no processing capacity.

A second category comprises more sophisticated systems, in which certain working parameters can be previously programmed and the system follows them while in operation.

In these more sophisticated systems, for example, it is possible to select a certain temperature (for example 23° C.) and it is maintained indefinitely by adjusting the air flow, quantity of heated air mixed with cooled air, etc. This type of climate control system is popularly known as automatic air-conditioning.

To enable the correct temperature control, one or more specific sensors are provided, identifying the temperature inside and outside the vehicle. In some more sophisticated systems, there are even sensors that detect the penetration of the sun's rays. Once these data are established, a processing element (preferably in the form of a microprocessor) analyzes these data and optimizes the system configuration so that the desired temperature is maintained stable, with a variation, for example in the electric fan speed, driving the heating system or not concomitantly with the compressor, etc.

In the vast majority of cases, the drive of the commands and the visualization of the system's operating settings are possible by way of a digital panel specifically indicating the desired working temperature, among others.

For automated climate control systems to be functional, a printed circuit board is required containing a processing element, and the commands (keys or rotary buttons) and display thus form an interface with the user. Due to the high cost of sensors and microprocessing board, automatic climate control systems are not financially viable for use in low cost vehicles such as compact vehicles or those in which sophistication is not essential (utility vehicles for example).

To-date, no climate control system had been developed that brought together the low cost of the unautomated manually operated system with the sophisticated look offered by the presence of a digital display interface, even though it has no microprocessing capacity or automated working. In any case, its sophisticated appearance alone considerably increases the desirability of the equipment for the vehicle purchaser.

Additionally, to-date, no interface device for climate control system had been developed with the sophisticated look offered by the presence of digital display and that could be installed in unautomated, manual climate control systems in the form of an accessory kit, increasing the desirability of second hand vehicles thus equipped, at low cost.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide an interface device for unautomated climate control system for automotive vehicles that has a digital display and appearance similar to those of the interfaces of automated climate control systems, that has low manufacturing cost, sophisticated appearance and gives greater interactivity with the user, also providing much easier user management according to his preference.

Additionally, the objective of the present invention is a centralized vehicle system command combination, such as, for example, a climate control system command, that has low manufacturing cost, sophisticated appearance, interactivity and major adaptability to the user's wishes, providing digital visualization of the information even though the system is not automated.

Additionally, the objective of the present invention is a climate control system for automotive vehicles comprising at least either the device or combination as per above.

Lastly, the objective of the present invention is an automotive vehicle equipped with at least either one of the device/combination/system as per above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of the present invention are achieved by an interface device to control a climate control system for automotive vehicles that comprises at least one first ambient air heating equipment and/or at least one second ambient air cooling equipment and/or at least one third heated and/or cooled or not ambient air flow control equipment, the device having at least one first command to drive the heating equipment and/or at least one second command to drive the cooling equipment and/or at least one third command to drive the air flow control equipment, the first and/or second and/or third drive commands only altering the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments by direct control of the user, the device also comprising at least one printed circuit board or the like having means that enable the conversion of the movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on a digital display.

Further, the objectives of the present invention are achieved by a centralized vehicle system command combination, to command a climate control system for automotive vehicles that comprises at least one first air-heating equipment and/or at least one second air-cooling equipment and/or at least one third heated and/or cooled or not air flow control equipment, and other vehicle systems, such as sound and entertainment systems, onboard computers, navigation system, among others, the combination also comprising at least one interface device to control a climate control system having

(i) at least one first command to drive the heating equipment and/or at least one second command to drive the cooling equipment and/or at least one third command to drive the ambient air flow control equipment, and

(ii) at least one printed circuit board or the like,

the first and/or second and/or third drive commands only altering the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments by direct control of the user, and the board having means that enable the conversion of the movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on a digital display.

Additionally, the objectives of the present invention are achieved by a manual climate control system for automotive vehicles, having at least one first ambient air heating equipment and/or at least one second ambient air cooling equipment and/or at least one third heated and/or cooled or not ambient air flow control equipment, the system also comprising at least one interface device to control a climate control system having

(i) at least one first command to drive the heating equipment and/or at least one second command to drive the cooling equipment and/or at least one third command to drive the ambient air flow control equipment, and

(ii) at least one printed circuit board or the like,

the first and/or second and/or third drive commands only altering the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments by direct control of the user, and the board having means that enable the conversion of the movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on a digital display.

Further, the objectives of the present invention are achieved by a manual climate control system for automotive vehicles, having at least one first ambient air heating equipment and/or at least one second ambient air cooling equipment and/or at least one third heated and/or cooled or not ambient air flow control equipment, the system comprising at least one centralized vehicle system command combination as defined above.

Lastly, the objectives of the present invention are achieved by an automotive vehicle that comprises at least one interface device to control a climate control system, at least one centralized vehicle system command combination e at least one manual climate control system as defined in the prior paragraphs.

The major innovation of the interface device that is the subject matter of the present invention lies in substituting the ugly driver panel of a conventional manual climate control system (only having buttons with illuminated ideograms that identify the speed of the electric fan, the positions of the air flow and the approximate temperature through the use of a blue and red scale), a panel having at least one digital display that is similar to the controls of an automated climate control system having information processing capacity and sensors and at a much higher cost.

Accordingly, a more sophisticated appearance is achieved for the commands of the manual climate control system, which constitutes an important sales argument in the case of low cost, compact vehicles and utility vehicles, whose selling price to the consumer makes the installation of effectively automated climate control systems financially unfeasible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described based on examples represented in the drawings, as follows:

FIG. 1-is a first rear flat view of the interface device for climate control system for automotive vehicles that is the subject matter of the present invention.

FIG. 2-is a front perspective view of the interface device for climate control system for automotive vehicles that is the subject matter of the present invention.

FIG. 3-is a rear perspective view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4-is an exploded perspective view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 5-is a first detailed view of part of the inside of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 6-is a second detailed view of part of the inside of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 7-is a third detailed view of part of the inside of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 8-is a fourth detailed view of part of the inside of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7.

FIG. 9-is a fifth detailed view of part of the inside of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8.

FIG. 10-is a schematic view of the diagram of blocks corresponding to the workings of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9.

FIG. 11-corresponds to three digital display variations of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9.

FIG. 12-is a schematic view of the climate control system for automotive vehicles that is the subject matter of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention as can be seen as of FIG. 1, the present invention discloses an interface device for climate control system for automotive vehicles, a centralized vehicle system command combination, a climate control system for automotive vehicles and an automotive vehicle, all encompassed within the same inventive concept.

Before describing the inventions above and their innovative features, it is important to set forth some preliminary comments on conventional climate control systems installed in automotive vehicles, especially family cars and light utility vehicles such as vans and pick-ups.

The climate control system of automotive vehicles referred to in the prior paragraph essentially comprises a first equipment or sub-system designed to heat the air inside the passenger compartment (hereafter referred to as ambient air heating equipment 2), a second equipment or sub-system designed to cool or refrigerate the air inside the passenger compartment (hereafter referred to as ambient air cooling equipment 3) and a third equipment or sub-system designed to direct the air flow (heated, cooled or as it is inside the vehicle) inside the passenger compartment, which will hereafter be referred to as air flow direction equipment 4. Further, at least one electric fan 12 is also provided, forcing the air through the various openings/diffusers in the vehicle's panel, and that is preferably an integral part of the air flow direction equipment.

Essentially, the air heating equipment 2 comprises a heat exchanger (radiator), not illustrated, positioned inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle (generally behind the instruments panel), through which water from the vehicle's engine cooling system circulates.

This radiator is positioned inside a box having a door or moveable rack that enables the air entering the passenger compartment to be directed straight to the panel diffusers or, if desired, totally or partially force it through the radiator, where it will be heated, so it arrives at the panel diffusers heated at the desired temperature. In some systems, besides the air that enters the passenger compartment, the recirculated air that is already inside may traverse the radiator, being heated to the desired temperature.

The air cooling equipment, popularly called “air-conditioning”, comprises all the elements belonging to a cooling cycle, namely, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and an expansion valve or the like, forming a circuit inside of which a cooling fluid circulates (such as, for example CFC R12 or HFC R134).

The compressor is directly or indirectly driven by the vehicle's internal combustion engine and compresses the cooling fluid, initially in the form of gas, making it liquid. To do so, it has to withdraw heat from the gas, which is performed by a heat exchanger positioned outside the vehicle, called a condenser (because it is there where liquefaction or condensation of the fluid begins). At low temperature and in liquid form, the cooling fluid, pumped by the compressor, runs through a tube until it reaches another heat exchanger, called evaporator, located inside the vehicle, preferably behind the instruments panel and near the heating equipment radiator 2.

Upon arrival at the evaporator, the fluid finds an expansion valve or an increase in tube thickness, which reduces its pressure. The reduction in pressure causes vaporization of the fluid, which was in liquid form, and in this process part of the heat from the air running through the evaporator is absorbed. Accordingly, the air is significantly cooled and its temperature is well lower than before.

Therefore, for the cooling system to operate, the compressor must be driven. This is achieved by means of a drive switch or button. Additionally, in most equipment, a regulatable thermostat is provided, with which the compressor functioning interval can be approximately regulated (the working time during which the compressor is successively on and off), thus providing a regulating opportunity, however precarious, of the average temperature of the cooled air.

Lastly, the air flow direction equipment 4 comprises an air box with internal tubes, regulatable flow diverters and diffusers that enable air to be captured from outside the vehicle and correctly directed towards the windshield and/or the feet region and/or the panel diffusers (central and side, if applicable), besides enabling the passage of air through the cooling system evaporator 3 or heating system radiator 2. Some flow direction equipments also have the function of recirculating ambient air, which is useful when it is desirable to prevent the entry of external air or for maximum acceleration in cooling of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

It is also important to note that although these three equipments were in fact independent in older vehicles, in the current vehicle project they are wholly integrated to create a single master system, which is called a climate control system.

In these modern vehicles, for example, it is not impossible to withdraw the flow direction equipment 4 and keep the cooling equipment 3 in operation, since they are physically one and integrated, corresponding, in practice, to sub-systems of this climate control system.

As mentioned previously, there are two categories of climate control systems available on the market today that equip vehicles of the current project.

A first category is the simplest of systems, for use in low cost vehicles, such as low cost, compact automobiles (very common on the Brazilian market and in other developing countries) and utility vehicles. These systems are called mechanical or manual because they have no automation or “intelligence”, and comprise the following commands:

Command to switch the air-conditioning system compressor on and off.

Command to determine the working speed of the electric fan.

Command to drive the heating system (that commands the partial or total opening of a passage for the air to flow through the radiator heater before reaching the panel diffusers).

Command to determine the air flow direction (towards the windshield, the feet, the panel diffusers, etc.).

Command to determine the entry of outside air into the passenger compartment or the recirculation of air already present (optional).

Therefore, the command (i) relates to the cooling equipment 3, the command (iii) relates to the heating equipment 2 and the commands (ii), (iv) and (v) relate to the flow direction equipment.

In manual climate control systems there is no automation to maintain the stability of the temperature inside the vehicle's passenger compartment, that is, the air is supplied/recirculated in a set temperature and direction (towards the feet, windshields, etc.) previously regulated by the user until he alters it. The system has no automatic variation capacity of operating settings for the climate inside the vehicle's passenger compartment to be altered because the system is entirely mechanical with no processing capacity.

A second category comprises more sophisticated climate control systems, in which certain working parameters can be previously programmed and the system follows them while in operation.

In more sophisticated systems, for example, it is possible to select a certain temperature (for example 23° C.) and it is maintained indefinitely by adjusting the air flow, quantity of heated air mixed with cooled air, percentage of air directed towards the windshield, etc. This kind of climate control system is popularly known as automatic air-conditioning.

To enable the correct control of temperature, one or more specific sensors are provided that identify the temperature inside the vehicle. In some more sophisticated systems, there are even sensors that detect the penetration of the sun's rays inside the passenger compartment, which alters the inside temperature. Once these data are established, a processing element (preferably in the form of a microprocessor) analyzes these data and optimizes the system configuration so that the desired temperature is maintained stable, changing, for example, the speed of the electric fan, the air flow direction through the heater radiator 2 concomitantly with its passage through the cooling equipment evaporator 3, etc.

In the vast majority of cases, the drive of the commands and the visualization of the system's operating settings are possible by way of a digital panel specifically indicating the desired working temperature, among others.

Besides the sensor(s) mentioned above, automated climate control systems require at least one printed circuit board containing a processing element, and the commands (keys or rotary buttons) and display, forming an interface with the user. Due to the high cost of the sensor(s) and microprocessing board, automatic climate control systems are not financially feasible for use in low cost vehicles such as compact vehicles or in those where sophistication is not essential (utility vehicles for example).

The interface device to control a climate control system for automotive vehicles 1 that is the subject matter of the present invention provides the appearance of a climate control system with hybrid characteristics between the unautomated system manual and the automated system, insofar as it unites low cost of the former with the sophisticated appearance of the latter.

The control device 1, as name itself indicates, is an interface of the climate control system with the user, preferably in the form of a control panel located at some spot on the vehicle's instruments panel, such as on the console, for example. It is, therefore, part of the conventional manual climate control system, the equipment of which has already been described.

Essentially, the device 1 comprises at least one first command 5 to drive the heating equipment 2 and/or at least one second command 6 to drive the cooling equipment 3 and/or at least one third command 7 to drive the ambient air flow control equipment 4.

Preferably, the three commands 5,6,7 are provided concomitantly, however it is perfectly possible to use the device 1 in a climate control system that does not have the heater equipment 2, or that does not have the cooling equipment 3.

In any case, regardless of the presence of two or three commands 5,6,7, it is important to note that, due to the manual characteristic of the climate control system, having no sensor or processing capacity, the first and/or second and/or third drive commands 5,6,7 only alter the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments 2,3,4 by direct control of the user, that is, if the maximum cold option is chosen and the electric fan is operating at maximum speed, the system will keep operating thus, regardless of the temperature inside the passenger compartment. The operation can only be performed manually by the user.

As a hypothesis, let us imagine a vehicle whose climate control system was activated under the settings determined in the prior paragraph on a sunny summer's day morning, after the vehicle has remained under the sun.

At this initial moment, the temperature inside the passenger compartment was, example, 50° C., so the user manually selected the system 1 to work at maximum cooling rate. Some time later, the temperature inside the vehicle's passenger compartment fell to 22° C., and gradually continued to fall. Later on, after some hours of working, night fell and the ambient temperature drastically fell, but inside the vehicle the system continued to operate at maximum cooling rate and the temperature was around 13° C., because the system has no kind of automation. The system will continue to cool the passenger compartment of the vehicle until its setting is changed.

The major innovation of the interface device 1 that is the subject matter of the present invention lies in substituting the ugly driver panel of a conventional manual climate control system (only having buttons with illuminated ideograms that identify speed of the electric fan, the positions of the air flow and the approximate temperature through the use of a blue and red scale), by a panel having at least one digital display 10 (such as an LCD display) that is similar to the controls of an automated climate control system having information processing capacity and sensors, at a much higher cost.

Accordingly, a more sophisticated appearance is achieved for the commands of the manual climate control system manual, which makes it an important sales argument in the case of low cost, compact vehicles and utility vehicles, whose selling price to the consumer makes the installation of effectively automated climate control systems financially unfeasible.

To enable the conversion of manual commands of the climate control system into digital information available on a display 10, with low cost, the device 1 comprises at least one printed circuit board or the like 8 having means 9 that enable the conversion of the movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands 5,6,7 into electrical information visualized on the display 10.

The drive commands 5,6,7 preferably have a configuration of rotary buttons, but obviously they can assume any other configuration as necessary or desired.

Also preferably, the drive commands 5,6,7 are mechanical and drive the respective equipment 2,3,4 by movement of the steel cables or plastic or metallic rods (cheaper and reasonably efficient solutions), but obviously other solutions can be found viewing a more pleasant and smoother movement of the commands, such as, for example the mechanical drive of the equipments 2,3,4 by means of electric engines, or by the pneumatic control of low pressure lines of air formed by the “vacuum” generated by the vehicle's engine, or by another form.

It is said that the commands 5,6,7 operate mechanically, regardless of the specific manner, because their operation corresponds to the alteration of the working status of the respective equipment 2,3,4, without any form of analysis, processing or interference from the climate control system on this command.

Preferably, the interface device 1 is box shaped (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) adaptable to the automotive vehicle's panel, meaning its appearance, geometry and the arrangement of the commands 5,6,7 varies according to the vehicle in which it will be installed.

In a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the device 1 that is the subject matter in the present invention, illustrated in the figures, it comprises a structural receptacle box 13 or the like that is associated to the vehicle panel and that encloses all its elements.

The box 13 is preferably but not compulsorily parallelepipedon-shaped and defines a main opening, blocked by a finishing panel 14 in harmony with the rest of the vehicle panel.

The box 13 also comprises at least one, but preferably three rear through openings 15, allowing the passage and positioning of electric wiring and the components associated to the commands 5,6,7, the already mentioned steel cables, rods, electric wires, pneumatic circuit tubes, etc. (not illustrated).

Inside the box 13 a printed circuit board or the like 8 is positioned (that can be fully seen in FIGS. 4 and 9 and partially seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8).

The board 8 has associated thereto at least one digital display 10, at least one light source 11, such as an incandescent lamp or LED, to illuminate the display 10 and commands 5,6,7 and the means 9 that enable the already mentioned conversion of the movement of the commands 5,6,7 into electrical information visualized on the display 10. Preferably, there are various light sources in the form of LEDS 11.

In order to maximize the illumination of the display 10, a three-dimensional support structure 16 is provided, surrounding three LEDS 11 and enables the display 10 to be positioned slightly distant from them, which improves the efficiency of the lighting. Between the LEDS and the display, a board made of translucent material 17 is also provided, “spreading” or “diffusing” the light from the LEDS. The diffusing translucent board 17 makes it possible to illuminate the display 10 equally and homogeneously and its use is merely optional.

Lastly, a square-shaped structure 18 is provided, fixing the display 10 on the three-dimensional support structure 16 and a “zebra” type connector 19 which fastens the display to the board, energizing it and supplying the information to be visualized.

Obviously, the manner of fixing the display 10 on the board 8 may vary slightly, without excluding the present invention from the scope of protection of the appended claims.

The panel 14 also has at least one through opening to position the commands and visualization of the display 10, preferably providing seven openings 20, one rectangular for visualization of the display 10 and the other circular, for positioning the commands.

As can be especially seen in FIG. 1, the device comprises the following commands:

a first command 5 to drive/control the heating equipment 2 in the form of a rotary button;

a second command 6 to drive/control the cooling equipment 3 in the form of a push-button;

three third commands 7 to drive/control the ambient air flow control equipment, one of these commands being in the form of a rotary button that controls the air flow direction 7A (towards the windshield and/or feet region and/or central panel diffusers), another command in the form of another rotary button 7B that controls the speed of the electric fan 12 and another command 7C (push-button) which allows/releases the recirculation of air in the passenger compartment.

Preferably, each command 5,6,7 comprises a lamp or LED 11 to enable correct illumination.

In the preferred embodiment of the device 1 that is the subject matter of the present invention, the first command 5 and the third commands 7A, 7B drive the respective equipments 2,3,4 by way of steel cables, whereas the push-buttons 6,7C do so by way of electric contacts, but it is obvious that said characteristics may vary without excluding the resulting invention from the scope of protection of the appended claims. Preferably, the drive of the electric fan has its own switch 80 associated to the rotary button 7B, and this switch that can be seen in FIG. 9.

Then, by using all the commands mentioned in the two prior paragraphs, the user of the automotive vehicle chooses the desired working settings of the climate control system and said settings appear on the digital display 10, and the system will continue operating under these settings until the user alters the chosen settings.

The conversion of movements of the commands 5,6,7 into electrical information that can be visualized on the display 10 is one of the most important aspects of the invention. In the case of push-button type drive commands, such as exemplified by drive 6 of the cooling equipment 3 and drive 7C of the air recirculator, the on/off operation of the button is translated into an electric signal that can easily represented on the display 10.

In the case of rotary buttons, 5,7A,7B, however, potentiometers must be used so that the angular movement of each one is converted into an electric signal that can be reproduced on the display. The potentiometer is a kind of rotary contact that enables signal variation as one of its components is rotated in relation to the other. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the potentiometers can be substituted for other components, if necessary or desirable, as long as they are functional.

Accordingly, each one of the three rotary buttons 5,7A,7B comprises a base having a dented ring 50 that cooperates with a respective dented wheel 60 provided in a respective potentiometer 9, which will convert this rotary movement into electric impulses. The three potentiometers 9 can be seen in FIG. 9 and their cooperation with the respective rotary buttons is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. The push-buttons can also be easily visualized in FIG. 9, together with the respective LEDS or illumination lamps.

Preferably, each of the rotary buttons 5,7A,7B comprises a base portion 70 fixed to the box 13, a rotary intermediary portion 71 that is angularly or rotationally operated by the user and contains said dented ring 50, and, finally, a circular, rear central portion 72 associated to the intermediary portion and that has symbols identifying the function of the respective button. Associated to the rotary portion are rotary axes 74 that will operate the steel cables/rods of the climate control system or will drive the electric fan switch 80.

Lastly, the board 8 also comprises a small and simple processor 81, having very low cost, the function of which is solely to enable the processing of the electric information based on the movements of the commands 5,6,7 for exhibition thereof on the display 10. This small processor does not carry out any kind of processing of the information obtained from the commands 5,6,7 with the aim of altering the operational settings of the climate control system, not least because it has no sensors.

In reiteration, this small processor 81 is merely to enable the correct working of the display 10, but under no circumstance does it interfere with the system's operating settings.

The operating functions of the processor 81 can be visualized in the schematic diagram that is illustrated in FIG. 10.

As can be seen, the processor 81, that is physically installed in the board 8, receives a series of electric signals, both from the system components 200 and from the vehicle.

For it to function, the board 8 (and by inference the processor 81, the potentiometers 9, the LEDS 11, the display 10, etc.) needs to be powered by an electrical current. Accordingly, a connection is provided with the positive end of the battery, called KL_30, which provides a continuous electricity current of 12V (DC). However, for the correct working of the board, this current should be reduced to 5V, which is achieved by way of a voltage regulator. It is obvious, however, that although the processor 81 preferably operates with a current of 5V DC, equivalent products may be developed to operate with any electric current level, without excluding the present invention from the scope of protection of the appended claims.

The processor 81 is also powered by the electrical current originating from the vehicle's ignition key by way of link KL_15, to the extent that it preferably only works with the ignition switched on, avoiding electricity consumption in unforeseen situations.

The processor 81 is also operatively associated to the dimmer that controls the intensity of panel lighting by way of KL_58(d). However, said link is merely optional.

Preferably, the processor 81 also receives information from the rear window demister through link 82, so that the display 10 may indicate that it is operational by way of an ideogram (image) illustrated in the following figures as 104 and that will be described in greater detail further ahead.

Lastly, the processor 81 is associated to the vehicle chassis (mass), by way of link KL_31.

To enable the display 10 to inform the operating parameters of the climate control system 200, the processor 81 must process all the electric signals sent by the potentiometers and push-buttons 9, which is achieved by way of links 87, 88, 89.

Link 87 enables the processor 81 to receive the electric signals from the potentiometer associated to the rotary button 5 to drive the heating equipment 2.

Link 88 enables the processor 81 to receive the electric signals from the potentiometer associated to the rotary button 7B to drive and control the working speed of the electric fan 12.

Link 89, in turn, enables the processor 81 to receive the electric signals from the potentiometers associated to the rotary button 7A, which controls the air flow direction and the push-button 7C which controls the recirculation of air in the passenger compartment (recirculator).

Once all the information obtained by links KL_30, KL_15, KL-31, KL_58(d), 82, 87, 88 and 89, described above, is collected, the processor 81 carries out its function, controlling the lighting of the commands and the display by way of the LEDS 11, and also exhibits the system's operating information on the display 10.

In the diagram, the LEDS 11 are schematically represented within the rectangle called “lighting”. The electric signals to drive the LDS after processing in the processor 81 are presented by links 90A, 90B, the first link being for illuminating the display 10 and the second for illuminating the buttons/commands.

The exhibition of the system's operating functions on the display is achieved by way of link 91, and the display is illustrated in FIG. 11 in its final configuration, inside the rectangle called “display”.

Lastly, it is important to note that the processor 81 may be operatively associated to equipment other than that mentioned above, such as, for example, the vehicle's ECU, the cooling system compressor, among various others, represented schematically by blocks 84,85,86, without impacting upon the scope of protection of the present invention, defined by the appended claims. Similarly, the system's working architecture may schematically vary substantially in relation to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the FIG. 10, without excluding the resulting invention from the scope of protection of the claims.

FIG. 11 comprises detailed views of three possible configurations of the display 10 that is the subject matter of the present invention, indicating the system's operating possibilities. Each figure shows:

an ideogram on the left 100 indicating the temperature of the air blown inside the vehicle, either hot (H) or cold (C). Note that there is no indication of the air temperature, because there is no sensor to guarantee the maintenance of said value.

a central ideogram 101 that reproduces the vehicle's passenger compartment, where arrows illustrate the positions in which the air is being blown,

an ideogram on the right 102 showing the speed of the electric fan,

smaller ideograms 103, 104, 105 respectively indicating the cooling equipment compressor 3, the drive of the rear window demister and the operation of the climate control system in “demist” mode.

Obviously, the display 10 can have any other appearance and configuration, in addition to any other functions, without excluding the resulting invention from the scope of protection of the appended claims.

A centralized vehicle system command combination that commands a climate control system for automotive vehicles and other equipments and additional functions, such as sound and entertainment systems, satellite navigation system, onboard computer with information about consumption, autonomy, average speed, etc., is also a new and ingenious invention. Accordingly, it is suffice that the combination includes, among other elements, an interface device such as that described and defined herein.

By analogy, the unautomated manual climate control system 200 for automotive vehicles is an objective of the present invention, comprising at least one interface device to control a climate control system 1 as described and defined herein.

It must be emphasized that both the interface device 1 and the centralized combination and the climate control system as a whole can both equip vehicles as original manufacturing equipment and be commercialized in the form of kits to assemble in second hand vehicles that are not fitted with such or that correspond to upgrades in relation to the existing counterparts.

Lastly, an automotive vehicle that comprises at least one interface device to control a climate control system, at least one centralized vehicle system command combination and at least one manual climate control system as described and defined herein, is also a new and ingenious invention.

Consequently, it must be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses any possible variations, being limited solely by the content of the appended claims, including possible equivalents.

Claims

1. Interface device to control a climate control system for automotive vehicles that comprises at least one first ambient air heating equipment and/or at least one second ambient air cooling equipment and/or at least one third equipment to control the flow of heated and/or cooled ambient air or not, the device having at least one first command to drive the heating equipment and/or at least one second command to drive the cooling equipment and/or at least one third command to drive the ambient air flow control equipment, the first and/or second and/or third drive commands only altering the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments by direct control of the user, the device being characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one printed circuit board or the like having means that enable the conversion of the movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on a digital display.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first and/or second and/or third commands operate mechanically to alter the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first and/or second and/or third commands are manual/mechanical.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the means that enable the conversion of the manual/mechanicals movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on the digital display are potentiometers associated to the printed circuit board.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the digital display is associated to the printed circuit board and their visualization is facilitated by means of at least one light source associated to the board, such as, for example an incandescent lamp or LED.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by movement of the steel cables.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by sending electric signals.

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by the pneumatic control of low pressure lines (vacuum).

9. Centralized vehicle system command combination, to command a climate control system for automotive vehicles that comprises at least one first ambient air heating equipment and/or at least one second ambient air cooling equipment and/or at least one third equipment to control the flow of heated and/or cooled ambient air or not, and other vehicle systems, such as sound and entertainment systems, onboard computers, navigation system, among others, the combination being characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one interface device to control a climate control system having

(i) at least one first command to drive the heating equipment and/or at least one second command to drive the cooling equipment and/or at least one third command to drive the ambient air flow control equipment, and

(ii) at least one printed circuit board or the like;

the first and/or second and/or third drive commands only altering the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments by direct control of the user, and the board having means that enable the conversion of the movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on a digital display.

10. Combination according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the first and/or second and/or third commands of the device operate mechanically to alter the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments.

11. Combination according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the first and/or second and/or third commands of the device are manual/mechanical.

12. Combination according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the means that enable the conversion of the manual/mechanical movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on the digital display are potentiometers associated to the printed circuit board.

13. Combination according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the digital display of the device is associated to the printed circuit board and their visualization is facilitated by means of at least one light source associated to the board, such as, for example an incandescent lamp or LED.

14. Combination according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by movement of the steel cables.

15. Combination according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands of the device operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by sending electric signals.

16. Combination according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands of the device operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by the pneumatic control of low pressure lines (vacuum).

17. Manual climate control system for automotive vehicles, having at least one first ambient air heating equipment and/or at least one second ambient air cooling equipment and/or at least one third equipment to control the flow of heated and/or cooled ambient air or not, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one interface device to control a climate control system having

(i) at least one first command to drive the heating equipment and/or at least one second command to drive the cooling equipment and/or at least one third command to drive the ambient air flow control equipment, and

(ii) at least one printed circuit board or the like;

the first and/or second and/or third drive commands only altering the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments by direct control of the user, and the board having means that enable the conversion of the movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on a digital display.

18. System according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that the first and/or second and/or third commands of the device operate mechanically to alter the working status of the respective first, second and third equipments.

19. System according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that the first and/or second and/or third commands of the device are manual/mechanical.

20. System according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that the means that enable the conversion of the manual/mechanicals movements of the first and/or second and/or third commands into electrical information visualized on the digital display are potentiometers associated to the printed circuit board.

21. System according to claim 20, characterized by the fact that the digital display of the device is associated to the printed circuit board and visualization thereof is facilitated by means of at least one light source associated to the board, such as, for example an incandescent lamp or LED.

22. System according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by movement of the steel cables.

23. System according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands of the device operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by sending electric signals.

24. System according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that first and/or second and/or third commands of the device operate mechanically in the respective first, second and third equipments by the pneumatic control of low pressure lines (vacuum).

25. Manual climate control system for automotive vehicles, having at least one first ambient air heating equipment and/or at least one second ambient air cooling equipment and/or at least one third equipment to control the flow of heated and/or cooled ambient air or not, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one centralized vehicle system command combination as defined in claim 9.

26. Automotive vehicle, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one interface device to control a climate control system as defined in claim 1.

27. Automotive vehicle, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one centralized vehicle system command combination as defined in claim 9.

28. Automotive vehicle, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one manual climate control system as defined in claim 17.