Plural Temperature Regulators For Plural Zones Patents (Class 165/203)
  • Patent number: 9969243
    Abstract: A dual type air conditioning control system of a vehicle has a front-seat air conditioner for air-conditioning of a front-seat space and a rear-seat air conditioner for air-conditioning of a rear-seat space of the vehicle. The system includes a front-seat controller configured to control an operation and an output of the front-seat air conditioner, and to calculate a control target value for controlling an output of the rear-seat conditioner. The rear-seat controller is configured to receive the calculated control target value transmitted from the front-seat controller and to control the output of the rear-seat air conditioner based on the transmitted control target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Jae Sik Choi, Byoung Hyun Ji, Su Yeon Kang, Young Bae Jeon, Jun Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9956843
    Abstract: A climate control system having a housing with an air inlet, a cooling element for providing cooled air, a heating element located downstream of the cooling element, a cold air duct for directing cooled air located downstream, a bypass duct for directing cooled air located downstream of the cooling element, a hot air duct for directing heated air, a first mixing chamber for mixing cooled air from the cold air duct and heated air from the hot air duct into blended air, a second mixing chamber located downstream of the bypass duct and downstream of the first mixing chamber for mixing cooled air from the bypass duct and blended air from the first mixing chamber, an air outlet located downstream of the second mixing chamber for delivering air to a passenger compartment, and an air deflector device is located downstream of the bypass duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Laux, Alexander Hess, Ronny Schlieder
  • Patent number: 9827825
    Abstract: A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle includes a proximity sensor installed at a back of a seat and detecting an object. An automotive key locks and unlocks a door. A starter starts and stops an engine of the vehicle. A controller is configured to determine whether the occupant is in the seat based sensor values of the proximity sensor, a door unlock signal from the automotive key, and a starting signal from the starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Chang Kiun Kwark
  • Patent number: 9789745
    Abstract: An air intake of an air conditioning system a motor vehicle having a fresh air duct configured to receive fresh air, a recirculated air duct configured to receive air from a passenger area of the motor vehicle, and an air outlet configured to channel the fresh air or the air from a passenger area of the motor vehicle to a blower. The air intake also has a valve disposed in the housing and rotates about a rotational axis between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Gerald Richter, Martin Paul Nowak
  • Patent number: 9783022
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system has an intake door that switches between an inside air recirculation mode to take in air from an inside air introduction port and an outside air introduction mode to take in air from an outside air introduction port, a blower that blows the air introduced through any of the inside air introduction port and the outside air introduction port toward inside of a vehicle cabin, a heater that heats the air blown by the blower, and a controller that activates the heater when there is a request for heating the inside of the vehicle cabin, controls air conditioning such that an environment inside the vehicle cabin becomes a desired environment by set estimated time of departure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Matsuoka, Kenichiro Minami, Takafumi Uehara
  • Patent number: 9739191
    Abstract: A cooling water control apparatus has a setting device which sets a target heat amount line such that a condition where a transferred heat amount which is transferred to a heater core is equal to a required heat amount which is required by the heater core is satisfied at a desired time point at which the transferred heat amount starts to be actually used, the target heat amount line representing a successive target value of the transferred heat amount during a period until the desired time point; and a first controlling device which makes a cooling water circulate in a first pipe, stops the circulation of the cooling water in a second pipe and adjusts an output of an engine such that the transferred heat amount follows the target heat amount line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Patent number: 9689597
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises a plurality of temperature zones and at least one door. Comprises an air-conditioning unit configured to condition and provide air to at least one of the plurality of temperature zones, temperature zone sensors each associated with a temperature zone for measuring the temperature therein, and a control unit. The control unit receives information representing the closing state of a cabin door, and is coupled to the temperature zone sensors and configured to control the temperature of the conditioned air provided to at least one of the plurality of temperature zones in two operation modes. In a first mode, when doors are closed, the temperature control depends on the measured temperatures in the temperature zones. In the second mode, it depends on a set-temperature, independent of the measured temperature in a temperature zone affected by an open door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Kelnhofer, Dariusz Krakowski
  • Patent number: 9676253
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle includes an evaporator and a diffuser. The evaporator is configured to cool air passing through the evaporator. The diffuser is configured to direct a first portion of the air entering the diffuser through a first section of the evaporator, and direct a second portion of the air entering the diffuser through a second section of the evaporator. The evaporator and the diffuser are configured to cooperate such that air exits the first section at a first temperature and air exits the second section at a second temperature less than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Debashis Ghosh, Mingyu Wang, Jeffrey C. Kinmartin, Prasad S. Kadle
  • Patent number: 9649960
    Abstract: An in-vehicle heating device according to the present invention is provided on a lower part of a front side of a seat cushion (31) serving as a seating unit of a vehicle seat (30). The in-vehicle heating device includes: an air feeder (11) including a suction opening (11a) through which external air is sucked into the air feeder (11); a warm air generator (12) including a heater (22) therein, the warm air generator (12) being configured to heat air fed from the air feeder (11) to generate warm air; and a blow-out unit configured to blow out the warm air from the warm air generator (12), such that the warm air is blown out forward of the seat cushion (31). At least a part of the blow-out unit is positioned at a front of the seat cushion (31), and doubles as a front shield, which serves as a decorative member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ogino, Takashi Sugio, Masaki Hanada, Takaaki Hyoudou, Koji Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 9592916
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an aircraft air conditioning system, a heating or cooling demand of an aircraft region to be air conditioned is determined. A volume flow of recirculation air discharged from the aircraft region to be air conditioned and a volume flow of compressed air into a mixing chamber of the aircraft air conditioning system is controlled such that the heating or cooling demand of the aircraft region to be air conditioned is met, while the volume flow of compressed air into the mixing chamber of the aircraft air conditioning system is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Kelnhofer, Dariusz Krakowski
  • Patent number: 9248719
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual zone type air conditioner for vehicles, which includes two air volume controlling doors mounted on an air inflow port of an air-conditioning case where the cross section of an air passageway is uniform and a flow of air is relatively uniform, a sealing wall mounted between the air volume controlling doors, and a controlling part mounted for selecting a more air volume side as a level of a blower when an air volume set by a driver and an air volume set by a passenger are different from each other and controlling the air volume controlling doors to supply the set air volumes to a driver's seat side and a passenger's seat side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Sungho Kang, Hwanmyeong Jung, Seojun Yoon, Yongeun Seo
  • Patent number: 9227482
    Abstract: A vehicle cabin air conditioning apparatus including an airflow selecting mechanism movable between a first position to provide a first airflow mode and a second position to provide a second airflow mode. The airflow selecting mechanism restricts first airflow from flowing from a first airflow conduit to a second airflow conduit when in the first position, and permits the first airflow from flowing from the first airflow conduit to the second airflow conduit when in the second position. An electronic control unit is configured to control a first blower based on a user set front cabin airflow level and a second blower based on a user set rear cabin airflow level when in the first airflow mode. The electronic control unit controls the first blower based on the user set front cabin airflow level and the user set rear cabin airflow level when in the second airflow mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. DiGasbarro, David A. Korenchuk, Masahide Honda, Patrick J. Gannon, James Stander
  • Patent number: 9193244
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air mixing and distribution apparatus (32) and to a vehicle heating or air-conditioning system (10) having an air distribution chamber (30), into which a cold air duct (16) opens with a cold air opening (26) and a warm air duct (20) opens with a warm air opening (28). The warm air opening (28) is formed by the outlet of a heat exchanger (22), the cold and warm air openings (26, 28) lie next to one another and in the same plane (34), and the cold air which flows through the cold air opening (26) and the warm air which flows through the warm air opening (28) flow into the air distribution chamber (30). The air distribution chamber (30) has a mixed air outlet (42) for the windscreen and a mixed air outlet (44) for a front diffuser, the mixed air outlets (42, 44) being spaced apart from one another. The apparatus (32) also includes a first air deflection element (52) and a second air deflection element (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: VALEO KLIMASYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Stang, Albert Gwosdek
  • Patent number: 9174512
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning system (10) for an automobile vehicle, including a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning housing (100) capable of allowing the thermal treatment of an air conditioning airflow to be used to maintain a desired temperature within the cabin, the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning housing (100) having a primary distributor (132b, 133b, 134b) for the air conditioning air within the vehicle cabin so as to define a limited number of distribution configurations. The heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning system (10) includes an additional module (200) having additional distributors (212b, 213b) for the air conditioning airflow out of the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Armelle Almori, Philippe Pierres
  • Patent number: 9168811
    Abstract: A blower unit for a vehicle heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit is disclosed. The blower unit includes a case member that defines at least one exterior air intake aperture and at least one interior air intake aperture. The blower unit also includes a sealing member, a first door, and a second door. The first and second doors can move independent of each other. The first and second doors can be positioned in a mixture position to allow air flow into the blower unit through both the exterior and interior air intake apertures. The first door, in the mixture position, is sealed against the sealing member. As such, the first door and the sealing member cooperate to reduce air flow out of the blower unit through the interior air intake aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Bailey
  • Patent number: 9109841
    Abstract: A thermal energy heat exchanger for an air conditioning system includes a row of first tubes, a row of second tubes, and a row of third tubes. Inside, heat is exchanged between air, refrigerant, and phase change material, also known as PCM, cool storage material, cold storage material, and latent heat storage material. The first row of tubes carries refrigerant. A portion of the second row of tubes and a portion of the third row of tubes carry refrigerant. The remainder of the second and third rows of tubes carry phase change material. The phase change material can be associated with a phase change material manifold. Advantageously, the melting point of phase change material in the second tubes can be different from the melting point of the phase change material in the third tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Lakhi Nandlal Goenka
  • Patent number: 9090143
    Abstract: In an air conditioner for a vehicle and including a heat exchanger for cooling, an air mix door, and a heat exchanger for heating arranged in an air conditioner casing in that order from an upstream fan side toward a downstream side and a rear vent outlet path and a foot outlet path branching out via an air mix chamber for mixing, cold air and hot air, an air distribution amount adjustment blade for adjusting an amount of air distribution from the air mix chamber is provided in the rear vent outlet path, a foot door a door opening degree of which is controlled according to a selected mode is provided in the foot outlet path, and the air distribution amount adjustment blade is a blade in operative association with door open/close operation of the foot door and for limiting the amount of air distribution to the rear vent outlet path when the door opening degree of the foot door is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsugutaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9085215
    Abstract: An estimated temperature range is calculated by adding a plus-side temperature width to the temperature detected by a temperature sensor within the cabin of a vehicle and subtracting a minus-side temperature width therefrom, and is displayed on the display of a mobile terminal as a temperature state of the cabin. When cooling is performed, the plus-side temperature width is made greater than the minus-side temperature width. Also, the plus-side temperature width is narrowed with elapse of time from the start of pre-air-conditioning. With this operation, the temperature state of the vehicle cabin from the start of the pre-air-conditioning can be properly communicated to a vehicle user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirohito Kawai, Naoya Inoue, Seiichi Tsunoda, Takaaki Goto, Yoichiro Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9038610
    Abstract: A charge air cooler includes a housing and a heat exchanger core positioned within the housing. The heat exchanger core includes a first core section, a second core section, and a centrally located section positioned between the first core section and the second core section. The charge air cooler also includes a plurality of coolant circuits. Each coolant circuit extends through at least one of the first and second core sections. The charge air cooler further includes a coolant inlet extending from the centrally located section to deliver coolant to the plurality of coolant circuits, and a coolant outlet extending from the centrally located section to receive coolant from the plurality of coolant circuits. The charge air cooler also includes a fastener extending through the centrally located section of the core to secure the core to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: Modine Manufacturing Company, Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Steven P. Meshenky, Jason J. Braun, Christopher Michael Moore, Gerrit-Tobias Speidel, Heinz Buehl, Alexander Korn
  • Patent number: 9019505
    Abstract: The temperature control system includes: a susceptor which allows an object to be processed to be held on a top surface thereof and includes a flow path, through which a temperature adjusting medium flows, formed therein; a temperature measuring unit which measures a temperature of the object to be processed held on the top surface of the susceptor; a first temperature adjusting unit which adjusts a temperature of the temperature adjusting medium flowing through the flow path; and a second temperature adjusting unit which is disposed between the susceptor and the first temperature adjusting unit, and adjusts a temperature of the temperature adjusting medium based on a result of the measurement of the temperature measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jun Yamawaku, Chishio Koshimizu, Tatsuo Matsudo, Kenji Nagai
  • Patent number: 9002525
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for providing software updates to client devices. A client device (such as a thermostat) executes software to perform one or more functionalities of the device. Upon receiving an indicating that a software update is available, the device waits to download the software update until pre-download conditions are satisfied. Once the software update is downloaded, the device then waits to install the software update until pre-install conditions are satisfied. If the software update is non-critical and received during an initial installation of the device, the software update may not be installed until after installation of the device is complete. If the device is a thermostat, the device may delay installation of the software update until a controlled HVAC system in inactive. Control of the HVAC system may be disabled during installation of the software update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alastair R. Gourlay, David A. Bourne, Grant M. Erickson, Richard J. Schultz, David Sloo, Jonathan Solnit
  • Patent number: 8991477
    Abstract: A refrigerant radiator used for a vapor compression refrigerant cycle including a compressor configured to compress and discharge refrigerant includes tubes through which the refrigerant flows. The tubes are stacked and arranged in a horizontal direction, and extend in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction or with an angle from the horizontal direction. The tubes include a first heat exchange area where refrigerant having a temperature equal to or higher than a standard temperature exchanges heat with first air blown to a space, and a second heat exchange area where refrigerant having a temperature lower than the standard temperature exchanges heat with second air blown to the space. Generally, the second air has a temperature different from a temperature of the first air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiki Katoh
  • Publication number: 20150075763
    Abstract: Disclosed are an air conditioner controlling system and a method thereof that control an air conditioner so as to provide cooling or heating customized to each occupant by measuring a body temperature of each occupant. The customized air conditioner controlling system includes: a body temperature measuring unit measuring a body temperature of each occupant in a vehicle; a personalized service determining unit determining a personalized service including whether to drive a cooling device or a heating device for each occupant based on the body temperature of each occupant; and an air conditioner controlling unit controlling an air conditioner discriminatively for each occupant based on the personalized service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jeong Ku Kim
  • Patent number: 8978596
    Abstract: A powertrain cooling system includes a coolant pump and coolant flow passages. A first three-position valve is operatively connected with an outlet of the coolant pump and has a first, a second, and a third position to at least partially establish different coolant flow modes through the coolant flow passages. Coolant flow from the coolant pump is blocked from both the cylinder head and the engine block in a first coolant flow mode when the three-position valve is in the first position. Coolant flow from the coolant pump is provided to the cylinder head and is blocked from the engine block in a second coolant flow mode when the three-position valve is in the second position. Coolant flows from the coolant pump to the engine block and from the engine block to the cylinder head in a third coolant flow mode when the three-position valve is in the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Daniel B. Glassford
  • Patent number: 8950467
    Abstract: A seat air-conditioning system for automotive vehicles includes an air-conditioning unit for generating cold air or hot air, a driver seat including a seat portion provided with a plurality of air discharge holes through which to discharge the cold air or the hot air to the outside, a front passenger seat including a seat portion provided with a plurality of air discharge holes through which to discharge the cold air or the hot air to the outside, an outlet duct mounted to the air-conditioning unit for drawing the cold air or the hot air from the air-conditioning unit therethrough, a seat duct connected to the outlet duct for supplying the cold air or the hot air to the driver seat and the front passenger seat therethrough, and a seat blower attached to the outlet duct for blowing the cold air or the hot air at an increased flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Dae Woong Lee, Jong Su Kim, Soo-Yong Jin
  • Patent number: 8944144
    Abstract: The heating-ventilation and/or air-conditioning device for a motor vehicle passenger compartment comprises modules grouped substantially at the same horizontal level, namely at least one ventilation module (14) arranged to produce a pulsed air flow, a heating module (12) to be located in a central region of the passenger compartment and having heat exchangers (32, 34, 36) through which the air flow from the ventilation module can pass, and at least one distribution module (16) having an air inlet connected to a side air outlet (46d, 46g) of the heating module. The device of this invention may be installed in a vehicle passenger compartment having no central console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Gilles Elliot, Philippe Pierres, Serge Pouysegur
  • Patent number: 8899311
    Abstract: When there is no occupant in seats other than a driver seat during a foot mode, an air-conditioning controller executes a single seat concentration mode to prevent blowing of warm air to a passenger seat and a backseat by closing foot outlets on a passenger seat side and a backseat side. In this case, in order to maintain an air volume blown from the foot outlet on a driver seat side when the controller changes the mode from the normal foot mode to the single seat concentration mode, the controller sets a blower level to be lower than in the case of the normal foot mode with respect to the same target blown air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Haruki Misumi, Takuya Kataoka, Koji Ota, Michio Nishikawa, Shinichirou Hirai, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Akihiro Haraguchi, Katsuji Kuwada, Yasuhiro Sagou
  • Publication number: 20140338882
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system is provided. The vehicle climate control system allows an occupant in the rear area of a vehicle to control the climate settings in the vehicle. It comprises a front climate interface, a rear climate interface, and a controller. When actuated, the controller disables the front climate interface and allows the rear climate interface to determine the climate settings. The controller is also operative to selectively restart a vehicle engine in order to reduce fuel consumption. The vehicle climate control system may be disabled when the engine is off and selectively enabled when the engine is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Rollinson, Paul Bryan Hoke, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Publication number: 20140305625
    Abstract: A climate control device includes a first and a second thermal module. The first module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a first portion of a seat. The second module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a second portion of the seat. A control system is provided for controlling the climate control device. The control system includes an input device for providing a set point for the system. A first control unit of the control system is provided for the first thermal module and a second control unit is provided for the second thermal module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Dusko Petrovski
  • Patent number: 8849487
    Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, comprising during a first engine-running condition, where a vehicle window or vent is in a more closed position, operating a climate control system to provide a user requested level of thermal comfort, and during a second engine-running condition, wherein the vehicle window or vent is in a less closed position, limiting the performance of the climate control system and biasing shared vehicle resources to provide additional fuel economy. In this manner, thermal comfort of the vehicle passengers can be maintained while providing additional fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Douglas Malone, Tuan Anh Be, Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, William Najib Mansur
  • Patent number: 8781634
    Abstract: In an air conditioning system and a communication method thereof a wireless network may be established between indoor units and a controller or between outdoor units so as to allow communications therebetween, thereby facilitating device addition or device deletion. Also, one or more outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units may be controlled without a dedicated communication line or with using a less mount of the dedicated communication line, and the outdoor units or indoor units may perform communications using one or more communication technologies, such as wireless communication and pipe communication technologies and wireless communication and dedicated line communication technologies, while performing communications with the controller using the wireless communication technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Juntae Kim, Sangchul Youn
  • Patent number: 8721408
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes: an air-blowing guide that includes a flexible connecting section that elastically deforms, and a pair of engaging sections that are arranged at both ends of the flexible connecting section, is arranged in a mixing region of a hot air and a cool air, and guides the hot air and the cool air; and a case that includes a protrusion that engages the engaging section in a state where the flexible connecting section is elastically deformed, the case in which the air-blowing guide is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Ikeda, Shinya Chiba, Naoki Higa, Keiko Arai
  • Patent number: 8689860
    Abstract: In a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a first blower unit is connected by a connection duct to a side of a casing constituted by respective air passages. On a lower portion of the casing, a second blower unit different from the first blower unit is connected. A center plate is disposed centrally in a lateral direction of the casing. Air is supplied from the first blower unit to the interior of the casing, whereby cool air cooled by an evaporator and warm air heated by a heater core are mixed together and blown respectively and separately to a driver's seat side and a passenger seat side of the front seats. Also, Air supplied from the second blower unit to the interior of the casing, after being adjusted to a predetermined temperature in the evaporator and the heater core, is supplied to a rear seat side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Seto, Junichi Kanemaru, Shinji Kakizaki
  • Publication number: 20140090829
    Abstract: A climate control device includes a first and a second thermal module. The first module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a first portion of a seat. The second module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a second portion of the seat. A control system is provided for controlling the climate control device. The control system includes an input device for providing a set point for the system. A first control unit of the control system is provided for the first thermal module and a second control unit is provided for the second thermal module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventor: Dusko Petrovski
  • Patent number: 8594850
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for providing software updates to client devices. A client device (such as a thermostat) executes software to perform one or more functionalities of the device. Upon receiving an indicating that a software update is available, the device waits to download the software update until pre-download conditions are satisfied. Once the software update is downloaded, the device then waits to install the software update until pre-install conditions are satisfied. If the software update is non-critical and received during an initial installation of the device, the software update may not be installed until after installation of the device is complete. If the device is a thermostat, the device may delay installation of the software update until a controlled HVAC system in inactive. Control of the HVAC system may be disabled during installation of the software update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Alastair Robert Gourlay, David A. Bourne, Grant M. Erickson, Richard J. Schultz, David Sloo, Jonathan Solnit
  • Publication number: 20130255930
    Abstract: An HVAC system for a vehicle includes a skin temperature sensor for measuring an actual skin temperature of the driver and a cabin temperature sensor for measuring an actual cabin temperature of ambient air within the passenger cabin. A controller module stores a target cabin temperature, wherein the controller module controls the HVAC system according to a first error between the target cabin temperature and the actual cabin temperature. The actual cabin temperature is filtered according to a first time constant. A personalization module stores a target skin temperature, wherein the personalization module determines an offset to be applied to the target cabin temperature according to a second error between the target skin temperature and the actual skin temperature. The actual skin temperature is filtered according to a second time constant longer than the first time constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Gary S. Strumolo
  • Publication number: 20130206382
    Abstract: An air-conditioner conducts an air-conditioning for a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and has an eco-mode to save energy. The air-conditioner includes a seat temperature control system and a controller. The seat temperature control system is configured to operate to heat or cool a seat in the passenger compartment. The controller automatically activates the seat temperature control system when the eco-mode is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: DENSO CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8474513
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air-conditioning system (1), especially an automotive air-conditioning system, which comprises a multi-part air conduction housing (1) and components disposed therein, such as at least one heater (H: h). The air conduction housing (1), in the area of at least one component, is configured as a replacement part, especially in the form of a part to be pushed in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Evripidis Koukouravas, Michael Roth
  • Patent number: 8443873
    Abstract: In a heater core that constitutes part of a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a plurality of first and second tubes are provided through which heated water flows through the interior thereof, and fins having louvers therein are disposed between the first and second tubes. Further, the heater core is equipped with a first heating section, which faces toward a first front passage through which air from a first blower unit flows, and a second heating section, which faces toward a first rear passage through which air from a second blower unit flows. Between the first heating section and the second heating section, a partitioning fin is disposed for blocking communication of air mutually between the first and second heating sections. Additionally, the first and second tubes are arranged in parallel to the direction in which the partitioning fin extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyosuke Nanaumi, Takahiro Seto, Tsunetoshi Kitamura, Shinji Kakizaki, Junichi Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 8376037
    Abstract: Air is supplied to the interior of a casing from first and second blower units, such that cool air that has been cooled by an evaporator and warm air that has been heated by a heater core are mixed together and blown out toward a front seat side and a rear seat side of the vehicle, respectively. At this time, a temperature control damper, which adjusts the temperature of air that is blown into the vehicle compartment, causes a flow of warm air having undergone heat exchange in the heater core to be deflected toward a direction where the evaporator is installed. Mixing of the warm air and the cool air can thus be carried out suitably by causing the flow of cool air, which has undergone heat exchange in the evaporator, and the flow of warm air to be oriented in mutually opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyosuke Nanaumi, Takahiro Seto, Tsunetoshi Kitamura, Junichi Kanemaru, Shinji Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 8364327
    Abstract: A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to optimize energy recovery for a process or cluster of processes under all possible combinations of given process changes and stream-specific minimum temperature approach values without enumeration, are provided. The systems, methods, and program product can include steps/operations to identify an optimal set of discrete target temperature values for the process streams for a given heat exchanger network design, to identify which target temperature values of the various process streams have the most significant economic impact on the process or cluster of processes, and to identify process stream supply attribute ranges of variations, e.g., in the form of a criticality list for the plurality of process streams, e.g., resulting from disturbances and/or uncertainty, which have a highly significant or otherwise critical effect on streams target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin, Majid Mohammed Al-Gwaiz
  • Patent number: 8336609
    Abstract: A passenger aircraft includes a cabin subdivided into a plurality of cabin zones supplied with feed air from respective supply lines, a plurality of temperature sensors, and an electronic control unit coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors. The plurality of temperature sensors measures a plurality of individual ambient temperature values associated with different locations in at least one of the plurality of cabin zones. The electronic control unit derives a derived ambient temperature value for the at least one cabin zone from the plurality of individual ambient temperature values. The electronic control unit then controls a temperature of the feed air supplied to the at least one cabin zone based on the difference between the derived ambient temperature value and a room temperature target value for the at least one cabin zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Schwan, Michael Markwart
  • Publication number: 20120312520
    Abstract: An HVAC comfort system operates in a cabin of a vehicle. A plurality of vehicle status parameters are measured including a cabin temperature and a seat occupancy configuration. The method detects whether the vehicle status parameters correspond to a predetermined override state. When the vehicle status parameters correspond to the predetermined override state, then a respective mandated setting is automatically activated. Unless prevented by the mandated setting, one of a plurality of HVAC modes is automatically selected in response to the cabin temperature and other inputs, wherein the HVAC modes include an extremity heating mode and a panel circulation mode. The extremity heating mode is comprised of automatic activation of a touchpoint heated surface and other outputs in response to the seat occupancy configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul B. Hoke, Johnathan A. Line, Gary A. Dage, Robert S. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 8302417
    Abstract: A system and method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system having an engine driven, fixed capacity refrigerant compressor and a compressor clutch is disclosed. The method may comprises setting a preliminary evaporator air temperature target; charging a cold storage apparatus in the vehicle air conditioning system; determining if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold; if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold, determining a new evaporator air temperature target by: determining a maximum allowable dewpoint evaporator air temperature for maintaining a passenger compartment humidity below a predetermined value; determining a maximum allowable mode evaporator air temperature based on a mode to which the vehicle air conditioning system is set; and setting the evaporator air temperature target to the lower of the dewpoint evaporator air temperature and the mode evaporator air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gregory A. Major, John I. Frey, Kenneth L. Porrett
  • Patent number: 8180493
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for a demand limiting controller. The demand limiting controller obtains at least one temperature condition and at least one temperature modification rate associated with at least one respective zone from multiple zones of a confined area. The demand limiting controller determines when to modify a current temperature of the respective zone with respect to an upcoming event by processing the temperature condition according to the temperature modification rate while minimizing the opportunity for all zones to be energized simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Ira Laskow
  • Publication number: 20120096885
    Abstract: A solar powered vehicle air-conditioning system for air conditioning a vehicle includes an air conditioning subsystem and a solar power subsystem. The air conditioning subsystem includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a plurality of valves and sensors, and is configured for air conditioning the vehicle. The solar power subsystem includes a solar photovoltaic module configured for generating electric power when being illuminated by sunlight, a battery module configured for providing electric power to the air conditioning subsystem, and a solar power control module configured for receiving the electric power from the solar photovoltaic module and charging the battery module thereby. The solar power control module is configured to regulate the charging current flowing from the solar power control module to the battery module to be equal to or less than a predetermined current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Shui Hung MAK, Ka Wai Eric Cheng
  • Patent number: 8150560
    Abstract: Methods for managing/assessing heat exchanger network energy efficiency and retrofit for an industrial facility, are provided. An embodiment of a method can include the performance of perform various steps/operations including those for determining an optimal heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence extending between a current heat exchanger network retrofit project satisfying a current desired waste energy recovery goal and a future heat exchanger network retrofit project satisfying the final waste energy recovery goal. The heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence can be configured so that each subsequent project within the heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence does not contradict any of the previous projects within the heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin
  • Patent number: 8150559
    Abstract: Systems and program product for managing/assessing heat exchanger network energy efficiency and retrofit for an industrial facility, are provided. An embodiment of a system can include a heat exchanger network analysis and design computer and heat exchange network analysis and design program product configured to cause the heat exchange network analysis and design computer to perform various operations including those for determining an optimal heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence extending between a current heat exchanger network retrofit project satisfying a current desired waste energy recovery goal and a future heat exchanger network retrofit project satisfying the final waste energy recovery goal. The heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence can be configured so that each subsequent project within the heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence does not contradict any of the previous projects within the heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin
  • Patent number: 8141622
    Abstract: A console air conditioner includes an evaporator, a heater, a face vent, a floor vent, and a vent door for controlling the opening degrees of the face vent and the floor vent and is installed in the console space between front seats of a vehicle. Both sides of the air mixing zone where a cool air passageway meets a warm air passageway in the console air conditioner are connected to a pillar duct extending toward the middle pillar of the vehicle. A temperature control door controls the opening degrees of a cool air passageway and a warm air passageway of the air conditioner case and is installed such that rotational trace of the temperature control door is overlapped with a pillar vent area that is defined between the pillar ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Seong-Ho Kang, Yong Eun Seo, Sang-Chul Byon, Yong Sang Kim
  • Patent number: 8109327
    Abstract: A temperature control system for a container includes a refrigeration circuit having a primary fluid circulating therein and a secondary fluid circuit in communication with a first compartment of the container and a second compartment of the container. The secondary fluid circuit has a secondary fluid separate from the primary fluid circulating therein. The secondary fluid circuit includes a first heat exchange module in communication with an interior load space of the first compartment and a second heat exchange module in communication with an interior load space of the second compartment. Each of the first and second heat exchange modules includes a pump, a heater, a heat exchanger, and a three-way valve. A heat exchange interface between the refrigeration circuit and the secondary fluid circuit is operable to transfer heat from the secondary fluid to the primary fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir Sulc, Panayu Robert Srichai, Michal Hegar