Self-cleaning system for interior of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10427650-B2
Application number	US-201715434654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2017
Priority date	Feb 16, 2017
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A self-cleaning system is provided for the interior of a motor vehicle. That self-cleaning system includes a photoactive self-cleaning surface, a sun shade, an actuator displacing the sun shade between an opened position and a closed position and a controller. A related method of self-cleaning a surface in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A self-cleaning system for an interior of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a photoactive self-cleaning surface;
a sun shade;
a sun shade actuator displacing said sun shade between a first opened position and a first closed position; and
a controller configured to open said sun shade when sunlight is directed so as to impinge upon said photoactive self-cleaning surface and promote cleaning.

2. The self-cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to respond to sun load data.

3. The self-cleaning system of claim 2 , wherein said controller is configured to respond to geolocator data for said motor vehicle.

4. The self-cleaning system of claim 3 , wherein said controller is configured to respond to motor vehicle occupancy data.

5. The self-cleaning system of claim 4 , wherein said controller is configured to respond to time data.

6. The self-cleaning system of claim 5 , further including a moon roof and a moon roof actuator displacing said moon roof between a second opened position and a second closed position after the sun shade has been displaced.

7. The self-cleaning system of claim 6 , wherein said controller is configured to respond to internal temperature data.

8. The self-cleaning system of claim 7 , wherein said controller is configured to respond to ambient temperature data.

9. The self-cleaning system of claim 8 , wherein said controller is configured to respond to current precipitation data.

10. The self-cleaning system of claim 9 , wherein said photoactive self-cleaning surface is selected from a group of surfaces consisting of a seat surface, a trim panel surface, a console surface, a steering wheel surface, a shifter surface, a switch gear surface, an instrument panel surface, a dashboard surface, a seatbelt assembly surface, a flooring surface, a molded plastic surface and combinations thereof.

11. The self-cleaning system of claim 10 , wherein said photoactive self-cleaning surface includes titanium dioxide.

12. The self-cleaning system of claim 11 , wherein said controller is configured with a timer function.

13. A method of self-cleaning a surface in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising:
providing a photoactive self-cleaning agent on said surface; and
opening, by a controller, a sun shade of said motor vehicle to allow sunlight to impinge upon said surface thereby activating said self-cleaning agent.

14. The method of claim 13 , including configuring said controller to respond to geolocator data.

15. The method of claim 13 , including configuring said controller to respond to sun load data.

16. The method of claim 13 , including configuring said controller to respond to motor vehicle occupancy data.

17. The method of claim 13 , including configuring said controller to respond to time data.

18. The method of claim 17 , including configuring said controller to include a timer and closing, by said controller, said sun shade after a predetermined period of time.

19. The method of claim 13 , including after opening said sun shade opening and closing a moon roof of said motor vehicle, by said controller, in response to passenger compartment temperature data and ambient temperature data.

20. The method of claim 19 , including closing said moon roof, by said controller, in response to current precipitation data.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Surman James J
• Walawender Chester Stanislaus

Classifications

• B60J7/043

  Sunroofs (B60J7/047 - B60J7/053 take precedence){e.g. sliding above the roof} · CPC title

• B60S1/64 Primary

  for cleaning vehicle interiors, e.g. built-in vacuum cleaners · CPC title

• B60J7/057

  Driving or actuating arrangements (B60J7/047 - B60J7/053 take precedence){e.g. manually operated levers or knobs} · CPC title

• B60J3/02 Primary

  adjustable in position {(B60J3/002, B60J3/005 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60J7/0007 Primary

  moveable head-liners, screens, curtains or blinds for ceilings · CPC title