Speed-based window control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10315661-B2
Application number	US-201615251633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Aug 30, 2016
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for speed-based window control. An example disclosed vehicle includes a speed sensor and a body control module. When a side window is open, the body control module monitors, via the speed sensor, a speed of the vehicle. In response to the speed of the vehicle satisfying a first speed threshold, the body control module closes the side window and then, after the side window is closed, activates an air conditioner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a speed sensor; and
a body control module;
wherein, when a side window is open, the body control module is to:
monitor, via the speed sensor, a speed of the vehicle; and
in response to the speed of the vehicle satisfying a first speed threshold:
store, in memory, an initial position of the side window to enable restoring the side window to the initial position;
close the side window; and
activate an air conditioner; and

wherein, when the side window is closed and the air conditioner of an HVAC system is active, the body control module is to:
monitor, via the speed sensor, the speed of the vehicle;
receive an air quality indicator from an external server; and
in response to (a) the speed of the vehicle satisfying a second speed threshold and (b) the air quality indicator satisfying an air quality threshold:
open the side window to the initial position stored in memory; and
deactivate the air conditioner of the HVAC system.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the body control module is to, when activating the air conditioner of an HVAC system, determine a temperature setting and a blower speed setting for the air conditioner.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein preferences of a user for the temperature setting and the blower speed setting are stored in memory.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the temperature setting and the blower speed setting are based on a cabin temperature and an ambient temperature.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the body control module is to, when closing the side window:
initiate a counter;
when an obstruction is detected in a path of the side window, increment the counter; and
in response to the counter satisfying an attempt threshold, stop closing the side window.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the body control module is to, when the side window is closed and the air conditioner of the HVAC system is active:
monitor, via the speed sensor, a speed of the vehicle;
in response to the speed of the vehicle satisfying a second speed threshold, open the side window to the initial position stored in memory and then deactivate the air conditioner of the HVAC system.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the body control module is to, before deactivating the air conditioner of the HVAC system, store a temperature setting and a blower setting in memory.

8. A method comprising:
monitoring, with a speed sensor, a speed of a vehicle;
monitoring an air quality indicator received from an external server;
in response to the speed of the vehicle satisfying a first speed threshold when one of a plurality of side windows is open:
storing, in memory, initial position settings of the plurality of side windows to facilitate restoring the positions of the plurality of side windows to the initial position settings;
closing, with window controllers, the plurality of side windows; and
after the plurality of side windows are closed, activating, with a processor, an air conditioner; and
in response to (a) the speed of the vehicle satisfying a second speed threshold and (b) the air quality indicator satisfying an air quality threshold when all of the plurality of side windows are closed and the air conditioner of an HVAC system is active:
opening at least one of the plurality of side windows to a corresponding one of the initial position settings; and
deactivating the air conditioner of the HVAC system.

9. The method of claim 8 , including, when activating the air conditioner of an HVAC system, determining a temperature setting and a blower speed setting for the air conditioner.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein preferences of a user for the temperature setting and the blower speed setting are stored in memory.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the temperature setting and the blower speed setting are based on a cabin temperature and an ambient temperature.

12. The method of claim 8 , including, when closing the plurality of side windows:
initiating a counter;
when an obstruction is detected in a path of one of the plurality of side windows, incrementing the counter; and
in response to the counter satisfying an attempt threshold, returning the plurality of side windows to their original position settings.

13. The method of claim 8 , including, when all of the plurality of side windows are closed and the air conditioner of an HVAC system is active:
monitoring, via the speed sensor, a speed of the vehicle;
in response to the speed of the vehicle satisfying a second speed threshold:
opening at least one of the plurality of side windows to a corresponding one of the initial position settings; and
deactivating the air conditioner of the HVAC system.

14. The method of claim 13 , including, before deactivating the air conditioner of the HVAC system, storing a temperature setting and a blower setting in memory.

15. A vehicle comprising:
a speed sensor; and
a body control module that, when a window is closed and an air conditioner is active, is to:
monitor, via the speed sensor, a vehicle speed;
receive an air quality indicator from an external server; and
responsive to the vehicle speed satisfying a speed threshold and the air quality indicator satisfying an air quality threshold:
open the window to a stored initial position; and
deactivate the air conditioner.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Delgado David
• Amper Kevin
• Rivera Juan Esteban
• Jaime Victor Christian
• Covarrubias Brian Jashel

Classifications

• B60H1/24

  Ventilating devices where the heating or cooling is irrelevant (nozzles or air-diffusers B60H1/34) · CPC title

• E05Y2400/32

  Position control, detection or monitoring · CPC title

• B60H1/008

  the input being air quality · CPC title

• E05Y2400/44

  Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement · CPC title

• B60H1/00764 Primary

  the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed (B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence) · CPC title