Motor vehicle air-conditioning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10843526-B2
Application number	US-201816120438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2018
Priority date	Sep 4, 2017
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

An air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle may include a channel system configured to allow air to flow therethrough during operation and at least one heat exchanger positioned within the main channel and configured to air-condition air supplied to a motor vehicle interior of the motor vehicle. The channel system may include a main channel. The system may include a sensor device configured to measure an air characteristic of air to be analysed. The sensor device may include an analysis channel which the air to be analysed can flow through, a generation device configured to generate electromagnetic waves penetrating the analysis channel, a sensor temperature-control space separated from the analysis channel, and a temperature-control channel configured to apply air-conditioned air to the generation device to control a temperature of the generation device. The generation device is at least partially arranged in the sensor temperature-control space.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle comprising:
a channel system configured to allow air to flow therethrough during operation, the channel system comprising a main channel;
at least one heat exchanger positioned within the main channel and configured to air-condition air supplied to a motor vehicle interior of the motor vehicle;
a sensor device configured to measure an air characteristic of air to be analysed comprising:
an analysis channel including outside-air and inside-air supply channels arranged to form an interaction section configured for analysing the air;
a generation device including an electromagnetic wave generator configured to generate electromagnetic waves penetrating the interaction section of the analysis channel;
a sensor temperature-control space separated from the analysis channel, in which the generation device is at least partially arranged; and
a temperature-control channel configured to apply air-conditioned air to the generation device to control a temperature of the generation device.

2. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , further comprising a system filter device configured to filter the air being supplied to the motor vehicle interior and arranged within the main channel, wherein the temperature-control channel branches off from the main channel downstream of the system filter device.

3. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor device configured to filter the air applied to the generation device and arranged within the temperature-control channel.

4. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the generation device is an optical generation device including a laser that is controlled by a controller arranged in the sensor temperature-control space.

5. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor-valve device configured to optionally carry one of outside air, air-conditioned air, and air from the motor vehicle interior through the analysis channel.

6. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature-control channel branches from the main channel downstream of the at least one heat exchanger.

7. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature-control channel is connected to the motor vehicle interior to supply air to the generation device from the motor vehicle interior as air-conditioned air.

8. The air-conditioning system according to claim 3 , wherein a portion of the air to be analysed flows through the temperature-control channel, and wherein the second sensor device is arranged upstream of the generation device in the temperature-control channel.

9. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the generation device comprises:
a source configured to generate the electromagnetic waves; and
a controller to control the source.

10. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the generation device is at least partially received within a fluid-tight sheath arranged in the sensor temperature-control space.

11. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor device comprises a fine-dust particle sensor.

12. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor temperature-control space extends across at least a part of the sensor device.

13. A vehicle with a vehicle interior, the vehicle comprising:
a main air channel fluidly connected to the vehicle interior;
a heat exchanger positioned within the main air channel and configured to air-condition air supplied to the vehicle interior;
a sensor supply channel fluidly connected to the main air channel;
a sensor device comprising:
an analysis channel fluidly connected to the sensor supply channel and including outside-air and inside-air supply channels arranged to form an interaction section configured for analysing a flow of air;
a sensor temperature-control space fluidly separated from the analysis channel;
an electromagnetic wave generator positioned within the sensor temperature-control space and configured to direct electromagnetic waves through the interaction section of the analysis channel;
a temperature-control channel configured to supply air-conditioned air to the sensor temperature-control space to reduce a temperature of the electromagnetic wave generator.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein the temperature-control channel branches from the main air channel downstream of the heat exchanger.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14 , further comprising a system filter device positioned within the main air channel upstream from the heat exchanger and configured to filter the air being supplied to the heat exchanger.

16. The vehicle according to claim 13 , further comprising a second sensor device positioned within the temperature-control channel and configured to filter the air applied to the generation device and arranged within the temperature-control channel.

17. The vehicle according to claim 13 , further comprising:
the outside-air supply channel configured to pass unfiltered air therethrough;
a system supply channel fluidly connected with the main air channel and configured to pass air-conditioned air therethrough, the air-conditioned air supplied from the main air channel downstream of the heat exchanger;
the inside-air supply channel configured to pass air from the vehicle interior therethrough; and
a sensor-valve device fluidly connected with the outside-air supply channel, the system supply channel, and the inside-air supply channel, wherein the sensor-valve device is configured to selectively supply air to the sensor supply channel from one of the outside-air supply channel, the system supply channel, and the inside-air supply channel.

18. The vehicle according to claim 13 , further comprising a sensor device including:
the electromagnetic wave generator; and
an electromagnetic wave detector configured to detect the electromagnetic waves directed through the analysis channel.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18 , wherein the sensor device comprises a fine-dust particle sensor.

20. An air-conditioning system comprising:
a channel system configured to allow air to flow therethrough during operation, the channel system comprising a main channel;
a heat exchanger positioned within the main channel and configured to air-condition air supplied to a motor vehicle interior of a motor vehicle;
a sensor device configured to measure an air characteristic of air to be analysed and comprising:
an analysis channel including outside-air and inside-air supply channels arranged to form an interaction section for analysing the air;
a sensor temperature-control space fluidly separated from the analysis channel;
an optical generation device positioned within the sensor temperature-control space and configured to generate electromagnetic waves penetrating the interaction section of the analysis channel, wherein the optical generation device comprises a laser; and
a temperature-control channel configured to supply air-conditioned air from the heat exchanger to the optical generation device to control a temperature of the optical generation device.

Assignees

• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Knoeller Rainer
• Michael Markus
• Reiter Anja
• Wolf Walter

Classifications

• F24F3/163

  Clean air work stations, i.e. selected areas within a space which filtered air is passed · CPC title

• B60H1/00457

  Ventilation unit, e.g. combined with a radiator (control systems for ventilators B60H1/00828) · CPC title

• B60H1/00271

  HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit · CPC title

• B60H1/00021 Primary

  Air flow details of HVAC devices · CPC title

• B60H1/00849

  for selectively commanding the induction of outside or inside air (B60H1/00842 takes precedence) · CPC title