Having Defrost Control Related To Humidity Patents (Class 62/176.2)
  • Patent number: 11519623
    Abstract: An air conditioner switches between a normal refrigeration cycle and a defrosting refrigeration cycle, and includes: a refrigerant circuit that connects a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a radiation panel, and an expansion valve that regulates a flow rate of a refrigerant flowing through the radiation panel; and a controller that causes the air conditioner to switch between the normal refrigeration cycle and the defrosting cycle. During the normal refrigeration cycle, the radiation panel performs cooling or heating. During the defrosting cycle, the first heat exchanger serves as a radiator and the second heat exchanger serves as an evaporator. During the defrosting cycle, the controller causes the expansion valve to be in a fully closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ebina, Takashi Hasegawa, Toshimichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11454415
    Abstract: A building heating or cooling system is disclosed that includes an air handling system having an air delivery flow path in fluid communication with a conditioned space in the building. The building heating or cooling system also includes an electrocaloric heating or cooling system that includes first and second electrocaloric modules. A first inlet receives air from the conditioned space or the air delivery flow path and directs it through the first or second electrocaloric module to a first outlet to the conditioned space or the air delivery flow path, and a second inlet that receives air from the conditioned space or the air delivery flow path and directs it through the first or second electrocaloric module to a second outlet to outside the conditioned space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jialong Wang, Dongzhi Guo, Subramanyaravi Annapragada, Thomas D. Radcliff, Sheng Li, Parmesh Verma, Craig R. Walker
  • Patent number: 10961627
    Abstract: Condensation on a member of a processing apparatus can be suppressed. A condensation suppressing method of suppressing condensation in a processing apparatus configured to perform a processing on a processing target object includes a first measurement process, a second measurement process and a first control process. In the first measurement process, a first surface temperature of a member of the processing apparatus, which is exposed within a closed space, is measured. In the second measurement process, a dew-point temperature of air within the closed space is measured. In the first control process, a supply amount of low-dew-point air, which has a dew-point temperature lower than a dew-point temperature of air outside the processing apparatus, into the closed space is controlled based on the first surface temperature and the dew-point temperature of the air within the closed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Koji Kamata
  • Patent number: 9776469
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a climate control system, a cabin, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to the climate control system supplying heat to a vehicle cabin and receiving a request for an economy mode, decrease an engine coolant temperature engine start threshold. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the engine coolant temperature becoming less than the threshold, start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9488404
    Abstract: An ultra low temperature refrigeration system and technique, includes a cabinet with a storage chamber maintained at a certain temperature range, a door providing a seal with the cabinet when engaged with the cabinet, and a dehumidifying unit connected to the cabinet for dehumidifying the storage chamber within the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
    Inventors: Dennis H. Smith, Todd Swift, Kevin D. Bramlett, Santosh Nerur, Walter Jeff Tipton, Wendell Morris
  • Patent number: 9371024
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ichishi, Yasushi Kondo, Yoshinori Yanagimachi, Satoshi Izawa, Motohiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8844299
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for water collection from atmospheric moisture in large quantities in uncontrolled outdoor environments where the temperature may be cold and humidity levels low. To extract water from air when the dew point is low, a heat exchanger cools to a point where water vapor is deposited on its surface as ice. The heat exchanger then cycles through a heating phase to melt the ice and generate liquid water. The accumulation of frost is advantageous. Frost accumulation enables water collection when the dew point is low. Disclosed variations enhance efficiency and environmental tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ecoloblue, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ferreira, Henri-James Tieleman
  • Publication number: 20140216705
    Abstract: An automatic climate controller device may be configured to perform operations including identifying, by an automatic climate controller device, an operating zone of the climate control system according to at least two input factors; identifying a discharge temperature of the climate control system; determining, based on the operating zone and the discharge temperature, whether to perform at least one override action to override a climate control system setting to reduce the possibility of evaporator core icing; and adjusting an evaporator set point according to the at least one override action to reduce the discharge temperature. The input factors may include evaporator temperature and cabin relative humidity. The actions may include to increase blower speed and to increase use of recirculated air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gary A. Dage, Steven L. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20140083672
    Abstract: Recirculation of air within a passenger cabin by a vehicular HVAC system is controlled to maximize the use of recirculation without causing discomfort from a large air flow around the legs of a passenger located near the cabin air return vent. An automatic recirculation condition is detected in response to first conditions including a window defrost setting. A fogging probability is determined in response to second conditions including a humidity measurement. Occupancy of a passenger seat adjacent the cabin air return vent is detected. A partial recirculation of the return vent is set in response to the fogging probability and the detected occupancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Rollinson, Alan D. Wallington
  • Patent number: 8301335
    Abstract: A system for controlling air-conditioning of a vehicle includes an input, an offset generator module, and an evaporator temperature control module. The input receives an input temperature. The offset generator module receives a psychrometric parameter of air inside the vehicle and generates offsets based on the input temperature and the psychrometric parameter. The evaporator temperature control module generates a target evaporator temperature based on the offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Chrysler Group LLC, Daimler AG
    Inventors: Mark A. Hill, Alfred Jeckel, Curt O'Donnell, Mark Bigler, Lance Tagliapietra
  • Patent number: 8285443
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle makes it possible to prevent window glass from fogging and also to reduce fuel consumption in conducting control to temporarily stop an engine when a vehicle stops. The controller for a vehicle includes a vehicle condition detector which detects a condition under which a vehicle is being placed, a fogging determination humidity estimator which estimates a fogging determination humidity, which is a humidity not causing window glass of the vehicle to fog up under the condition detected by the vehicle condition detector, a humidity detector which detects the humidity in the vehicle, and an engine stop duration determiner which determines a longer engine stop duration as the humidity difference increases between the humidity detected by the humidity detector immediately before an engine is stopped and the fogging determination humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Akahoshi, Kazuhito Aizawa, Kanao Kogure
  • Patent number: 8186173
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a no-frost refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit comprising a fan for the generation of an airflow in a compartment of the unit to be cooled, wherein the unit comprises detection means for the detection of at least one parameter as well as a control or regulation unit which is made such that it varies the speed of the fan in dependence on the at least one measured parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Schropp, Klaus Oelmaier
  • Publication number: 20120047929
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a defrost unit for a vehicle. A prediction is performed as to whether condensation has formed against a surface of the vehicle. The defrost unit is automatically activated when it is predicted that the condensation has formed against the surface. Another prediction is made as to whether condensation has dissipated from the surface while the defrost unit is operating. The defrost unit is automatically deactivated when it is predicted that the condensation has dissipated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: GILLES M. DELORME, THOMAS D. HAGEN, TODD M. TUMAS
  • Patent number: 8033124
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigerator and a defrost control method thereof that are capable of sensing an amount of frost formed on an evaporator based on a change amount of absolute humidity in the refrigerator to control a defrost operation. A defrost control method of a refrigerator including a storage chamber and an evaporator to cool the storage chamber, includes sensing absolute humidity in the storage chamber, determining an estimated amount of frost formed on the evaporator using time segments in which the absolute humidity in the storage chamber decreases, and controlling a defrost operation based on the estimated amount of frost. According to the present embodiments, it is possible to perform the defrost operation at the point of time for optimum defrost, thereby maximizing energy efficiency and cooling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Joo Han, Young Shik Shin, Jeong Su Han, Sung Hoon Kim, Su Ho Jo, Hyen Young Choi, Sang Jun Lee, O Do Ryu
  • Patent number: 7958740
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioner provided with an inside air-conditioning unit introducing at least one of inside air and outside air, adjusting the state of the introduced air, and blowing it out into the vehicle compartment, where an air-conditioning electronic control device judges if window glass is liable to fog up based on a window glass surface relative humidity near the window glass in the compartment (degree of ease of fogging). When it is judged that the window glass is liable to fog up, the inside air-conditioning unit is controlled to prevent the window glass from fogging up in defrost control, while when it is judged that the window glass is resistant to fogging, the inside air-conditioning unit is controlled to introduce at least inside air into the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Hirai, Takuya Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7913500
    Abstract: A refrigerator control method is provided that may efficiently perform a defrosting operation. The method includes performing a normal operation of a refrigerating storage room and a normal operation of a freezing storage room selectively or simultaneously, setting a variable defrosting period, which is varied according to set parameters including the relative humidity of external air, and performing a defrosting operation based on the set defrosting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyoung Keun Lim, Gye Young Song
  • Patent number: 7845182
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle HVAC system to automatically defog a window and to prevent fogging or condensation of the window. In-cabin air temperature and relative humidity are used to determine a dewpoint. Further, ambient or outside air temperature is measured. Window glass temperature is either estimated/calculated or can be measured. A fog margin, which is based upon the difference between the dewpoint and the window temperature, is calculated. When the ambient air temperature is below a predetermined temperature, a corrected fog margin is substituted for the calculated fog margin. When this occurs, the controller operates a fan at a reduced voltage, and hence at a reduced speed, as compared to if the controller used the calculated fog margin. Using the corrected fog margin prevents a vehicle user from being exposed to excessive fan noise or air currents during low or cold ambient air temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Yelles
  • Patent number: 7788935
    Abstract: An automatic defogging system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an input unit used for receiving a directly sensed window relative humidity value from a defogging sensor so as to directly sense a humidity generation degree in a window; a controller which controls operations of an air conditioning system programmed as a type of a logic that is selectively and phasedly controllable depending on the sensed relative humidity and; an output unit that is a selection mode of the air conditioning system that can be controlled by the controller. Accordingly, an automatic defogging system of a vehicle and a control method thereof automatically removes fog or frost on an inner surface of a window while maintaining comfortable conditions inside a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Ki Lyong Jang, Chang Won Lee
  • Publication number: 20100011790
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a no-frost refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit comprising a fan for the generation of an airflow in a compartment of the unit to be cooled, wherein the unit comprises detection means for the detection of at least one parameter as well as a control or regulation unit which is made such that it varies the speed of the fan in dependence on the at least one measured parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Christian Schropp, Klaus Oelmaier
  • Publication number: 20090241561
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigerator and a defrost control method thereof that are capable of sensing an amount of frost formed on an evaporator based on a change amount of absolute humidity in the refrigerator to control a defrost operation. A defrost control method of a refrigerator including a storage chamber and an evaporator to cool the storage chamber, includes sensing absolute humidity in the storage chamber, determining an estimated amount of frost formed on the evaporator using time segments in which the absolute humidity in the storage chamber decreases, and controlling a defrost operation based on the estimated amount of frost. According to the present embodiments, it is possible to perform the defrost operation at the point of time for optimum defrost, thereby maximizing energy efficiency and cooling efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Joo Han, Young Shik Shin, Jeong Su Han, Sung Hoon Kim, Su Ho Jo, Hyen Young Choi, Sang Jun Lee, O Do Ryu
  • Publication number: 20080209923
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle HVAC system to automatically defog a windshield glass and to prevent fogging or condensation of the windshield glass. The ambient air temperature and vehicle speed are measured and used to determine a windshield glass temperature. The in-cabin air temperature and relative humidity are measured and used to determine a dewpoint. An dewpoint margin is calculated to compensate for sensor accuracy and fog predictability. A fog margin, which is based upon calculated windshield glass temperature and dewpoint, is calculated and used, in conjunction with the dewpoint margin, to control the HVAC system to anticipate potential fogging conditions and to scale the intensity of the HVAC system response based upon the severity of fogging conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bradley C. Errington, Junichi Kanemaru
  • Publication number: 20080178620
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle HVAC system to automatically defog a window and to prevent fogging or condensation of the window. In-cabin air temperature and relative humidity are used to determine a dewpoint. Further, ambient or outside air temperature is measured. Window glass temperature is either estimated/calculated or can be measured. A fog margin, which is based upon the difference between the dewpoint and the window temperature, is calculated. When the ambient air temperature is below a predetermined temperature, a corrected fog margin is substituted for the calculated fog margin. When this occurs, the controller operates a fan at a reduced voltage, and hence at a reduced speed, as compared to if the controller used the calculated fog margin. Using the corrected fog margin prevents a vehicle user from being exposed to excessive fan noise or air currents during low or cold ambient air temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daniel Yelles
  • Patent number: 7102501
    Abstract: A device and method for automatically preventing misting of the windscreen of a vehicle, wherein a number of sensors determine ambient conditions capable of misting the windscreen, and, upon such ambient conditions occurring, an electronic central control unit automatically activates the air-conditioning system of the vehicle to prevent the windscreen from misting. The device has and the method utilizes a radiant mean temperature sensor arranged inside the vehicle passenger compartment to measure temperature inside the passenger compartment. The radiant mean temperature sensor (4) has a field of view including at least part of the windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Giulio Lo Presti, Stefano Mola, Carloandrea Malvicino, Gennaro Bisceglia
  • Publication number: 20040177630
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has an air conditioning unit and an air conditioning control unit. The air conditioning unit has a FACE blowout port, a DEF blowout port, an upper blowout port. The air conditioning control unit estimates an outside windshield temperature and determines an outside dew point temperature. The control unit also controls the upper blowout port to stop blowing or not based on the estimated outside windshield temperature and the outside dew point temperature in a face mode to prevent the windshield from fogging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Makoto Umebayashi, Tomohiro Inada, Yoshinori Yanagimachi
  • Patent number: 6662579
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a refrigerant cycle system is constructed to switch a cooling refrigerant cycle where an interior heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, and a hot gas heater cycle where the interior heat exchanger is used as a radiator. Further, it is determined whether the interior heat exchanger has a quantity of retained water in a heating mode due to the hot gas heater cycle. When it is determined that the quantity of retained water is in the interior heat exchanger in the heating mode, operation of a compressor of the refrigerant cycle system is intermittently controlled so that temperature of air blown from the interior heat exchanger becomes lower than temperature of a vehicle windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Takano, Takahisa Suzuki, Satoshi Izawa, Keisuke Nagai, Shun Kurata
  • Patent number: 6662577
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for cooling a logic module includes an evaporator housing including an evaporator block in thermal communication with the logic module. The evaporator housing includes a humidity sensor for detecting a humidity within the evaporator housing. The system further comprises a controller for controlling a refrigeration unit supplying cold refrigerant to the evaporator block in response to the operating conditions of the logic module and the temperature of the evaporator block. In another aspect of the invention, two modular refrigeration units are independently operable to cool the evaporator block, and each refrigeration unit is controllable in various modes of operation including an enabled mode in which it is ready to cool the evaporator and an on mode in which it is actively cooling the evaporator. In another aspect of the invention, the evaporator block and a heater on a reverse side of the circuit board are particularly controlled during concurrent repair operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventors: Gary F. Goth, Jody A. Hickey, Daniel J. Kearney, Robert Makowicki
  • Publication number: 20020104324
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle including an engine and an electric motor both for running the vehicle, an air conditioner includes a compressor driven by the engine, and an engine controller controls the operation of the engine based on a condition of the air conditioner and a condition of the vehicle except the air conditioner. While the air conditioner performs a defrosting control for a windshield, the engine controller drives the engine irrespective of the condition of the vehicle except the air conditioner. On the other hand, when the defrosting control is not performed, the operation of the engine is controlled in accordance with the condition of the vehicle, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Toshinobu Homan, Yuji Takeo, Mitsuyo Oomura, Hiroki Nakamura, Tadashi Nakagawa