Controlling climate in vehicle cabins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014428-B2
Application number	US-201816109393-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2018
Priority date	Aug 22, 2018
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling climate in vehicle cabins. A person may provide climate related data to a vehicle climate control system prior to pick up and/or during a ride in the vehicle. The climate control system may adjust the climate in at least part of a vehicle cabin based at least in part on the climate related data and configuration of components in the climate control system. Climate control adjustments can be used to precondition part of a vehicle cabin for a person and/or in response to indicated thermal discomfort of the person. The climate control system can refer to an occupant comfort model and compute climate adjustments in accordance with the occupant comfort model.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of adjusting a vehicle climate comprising:
receiving, by one or more computer processors coupled to memory, a first communication from a mobile device indicating a first thermal state of a first person in a first area of a vehicle;
determining a configuration of a climate control component that at least partially controls climate in the first area of the vehicle;
determining a first climate change operation based at least in part on the first thermal state and the configuration of the climate control component; and
causing the climate control component to implement the first climate change operation for the first area of the vehicle;
receiving a second communication indicating a second thermal state of a second person that is outside of the vehicle;
determining a seat assignment in the vehicle for the second person before the second person enters the vehicle;
determining a preconditioning climate change operation based at least in part on the second thermal state; and
causing the climate control component to implement the preconditioning climate change operation for a second area of the vehicle at the location of the seat assignment for the second person.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second communication from the mobile device indicating a thermal comfort of the person, wherein determining the first climate change operation based at least in part on the first thermal state and the configuration of the climate control component comprises determining the first climate change operation based at least in part on the first thermal state, the thermal comfort, and the configuration of the climate control component.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the configuration of the climate control component that at least partially controls climate in the first area of the vehicle comprises determining the configuration of: a fan, a vent, a shade, a heater core valve, a heater core door, an air conditioner, a thermoelectric cooler, or a heating element.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the climate control component to implement the first climate change operation for the first area of the vehicle comprises causing the climate control component to alter the configuration of: a fan, a vent, a shade, a heater core valve, a heater core door, an air conditioner, a thermoelectric cooler, or a heating element.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting the mobile device in the first area of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein detecting the mobile device in the first area of the vehicle comprises detecting the mobile device based at least in part on one or more of: receiving wireless communication from the mobile device, receiving an indication that the mobile device scanned a QR code, detecting a Near Field Communication (NFC) tap between the mobile device and a vehicle component, detecting the mobile device connected to a Universal Service Bus (USB) port in the vehicle, via facial recognition with a visual or IR sensor, through an occupant classification system.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second communication from another mobile device indicating a second thermal state of a second person in the first area wherein determining the first climate change operation based at least in part on the first thermal state and the configuration of the climate control component comprises determining the first climate change operation based at least in part on the first thermal state, the second thermal state, and the configuration of the climate control component.

8. A method comprising:
receiving, by one or more computer processors coupled to memory, a first communication from a mobile device including an indication made by a vehicle occupant of a thermal state and a thermal comfort of the vehicle occupant in an area of a vehicle cabin, wherein the thermal comfort is different than the thermal state and indicates a comfort level of the vehicle occupant in the thermal state;
determining a configuration of one or more components of a climate control system that at least partially controls climate in the area;
determining a climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, and the configuration of the one or more components; and
causing the one or more components to implement the climate change operation.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a second communication from another mobile device indicating another vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort in the area, wherein determining the climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, and the configuration of the one or more components comprises determining the climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, the other vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, and the configuration of the one or more components.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
querying, prior to the vehicle occupant entering the vehicle, the mobile device for the thermal state and the thermal comfort of the vehicle occupant; and
preconditioning the climate in the area based on the thermal state and the thermal comfort of the vehicle occupant.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the first communication from the mobile device further comprises receiving a moisture rating from the mobile device; and
wherein determining the climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, and the configuration of the one or more components comprises determining the climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, the moisture rating, and the configuration of the one or more components.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the first communication from the mobile device further comprises receiving an airflow control request;
wherein determining the climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, and the configuration of the one or more components comprises determining the climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, the airflow control request, and the configuration of the one or more components; and
wherein causing the one or more components to implement the climate change operation comprises causing the one or more components to alter the speed of a fan.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
generating a communication link to an application at the mobile device;
determining physiological data of the vehicle occupant using the application; and
wherein determining the climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, and the configuration of the one or more components comprises determining the climate change operation based at least in part on the vehicle occupant's thermal state and thermal comfort, the physiological data, and the configuration of the one or more components.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising calculating a comfort of the vehicle occupant based at least in part on the thermal state, the thermal comfort, and the configuration of one or more components in accordance with an occupant comfort model.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein calculating the comfort of the vehicle occupant in accordance with an occupant comfor

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Elson John
• Boccuccia Daniel
• Schein Victoria
• Maranville Clay
• Chakrabarti Mitali

Classifications

• B60H1/00971

  Control systems or circuits characterised by including features for locking or memorising of control modes · CPC title

• B60H1/00657 Primary

  Remote control devices · CPC title

• B63J2/00

  Arrangements of ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning (for submarines B63G8/00; ventilating for cleaning tanks B63B57/04; for vehicles in general B60H) · CPC title

• B60H1/00742 Primary

  by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors · CPC title

• B60H1/00892

  Devices specially adapted for avoiding uncomfortable feeling, e.g. sudden temperature changes (B60H1/00885 takes precedence) · CPC title