Systems and methods for controlling vents of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11718154-B2
Application number	US-202117402931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2021
Priority date	Nov 13, 2018
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

Ventilation control systems and methods for a vehicle are presented. The system includes a touch screen that is configures to display an object and receive a selection of a part of the object. The system also includes an air vent that comprises at least one controllable fin and a motor that can control the configuration of that fin. A control circuitry of the system configures the fin, using the at least one motor, to direct air from the air vent to a location that corresponds to the selected part of the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle ventilation system, comprising:
at least one controllable element for controlling flow of air in a vehicle;
a user interface configured to generate a sequence of selected parts of a body;
a memory configured to store the sequence; and
control circuitry that is configured to:
automatically adjust the at least one controllable element to direct the flow of air toward each of the selected parts of the body of the sequence.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
adjust the least one controllable element without receiving an additional user input requesting adjustment of air flow.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the user interface is further configured to generate for display a list of locations in the vehicle; and
the control circuitry is further configured to automatically adjust the least one controllable element in response to receiving a user input approving the list of locations.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
adjust the at least one controllable element based on: (a) prior user inputs indicating selection of parts of a human body to which the air is to be directed, and (b) timing between the user inputs.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the prior user inputs indicating selection of parts of a body to which the air is to be directed were received from a plurality of different users.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
adjust the least one controllable element in response to the vehicle reaching a threshold speed.

7. A method for controlling ventilation, the method comprising: generating, via a user interface of a vehicle, a sequence of selected parts of an object; storing the sequence in a memory; and automatically adjusting at least one controllable element to direct flow of air toward each of the selected parts of the object of the sequence.

8. The method of claim 7 , furthering comprising:
adjusting the at least one controllable element without receiving an additional user input requesting adjustment of air flow.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
displaying on the user interface a list of locations in the vehicle; and
automatically adjusting the least one controllable element in response to receiving a user input approving the list of locations.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
adjusting the least one controllable element based on: (a) prior user inputs indicating selection of parts of an object to which the air is to be directed, and (b) timing between the user inputs.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the prior user inputs indicating selection of parts of object to which the air is to be directed were received from a plurality of different users.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: adjusting the least one controllable element in response to the vehicle reaching a threshold speed.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Skapof Robert
• Coburn Matthew
• Huang Henry
• Ali Zulfiquar

Classifications

• B60K35/81

  for controlling displays · CPC title

• B60K37/10

  Arrangements for attaching the dashboard to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• B60K2360/126

  Rotatable input devices for instruments · CPC title