Heating or cooling a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017326944-A1
Application number	US-201615151205-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 10, 2016
Priority date	May 10, 2016
Publication date	Nov 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an example of a method for heating or cooling a vehicle, an application resident on an electronic memory of a mobile communications device is launched. The electronic memory is coupled to a microprocessor. The microprocessor is operatively connected to a mobile device communications platform (MDCP). Preset climate control modes are displayed on a display. A user input identifying a selected preset climate control mode is received at a user interface. In response to receiving the user input, the selected preset climate control mode is transmitted to a vehicle communications platform (VCP). In response to receiving the selected preset climate control mode, a climate control instruction is transmitted by the VCP to a climate control system. In response to receiving the climate control instruction at the control module of the climate control system, the selected preset climate control mode is caused to be implemented in the vehicle.

First claim

1 . A method for heating or cooling a vehicle, the method comprising:
launching an application resident on an electronic memory of a mobile communications device, the electronic memory of the mobile communication device coupled to a microprocessor of the mobile communications device, and the microprocessor of the mobile communications device operatively connected to a mobile device communications platform; displaying, on a display of the mobile communications device, preset climate control modes; receiving, at a user interface of the mobile communications device, a user input identifying a selected preset climate control mode; in response to receiving the user input, transmitting the selected preset climate control mode to a vehicle communications platform of the vehicle; in response to receiving the selected preset climate control mode at the vehicle communications platform, transmitting, by the vehicle communications platform, a climate control instruction to a climate control system of the vehicle, the climate control system having a control module in communication with the vehicle communications platform; and in response to receiving the climate control instruction at the control module of the climate control system, causing the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented in the vehicle.

2 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the selected preset climate control mode is an economy heating mode and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by causing a driver zone chest position and a driver zone feet position to be heated.

3 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the selected preset climate control mode is an economy cooling mode and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by causing a driver zone chest position to be cooled.

4 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the selected preset climate control mode is a balanced heating mode and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by causing a driver zone chest position, a driver zone feet position, a left side window position, a co-driver zone chest position, a co-driver zone feet position, a right side window position, a windshield position, a driver seat position, a driver cushion position, a co-driver seat position, a co-driver cushion position, an outside rear view mirror left side position, an outside rear view mirror right side position, and a rear window position to be heated.

5 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the selected preset climate control mode is a balance cooling mode and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by causing a driver zone chest position, a co-driver zone chest position, a driver seat position, a driver cushion position, a co-driver seat position, and a co-driver cushion position to be cooled.

6 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the selected preset climate control mode is a high performance heating mode and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by causing a driver zone chest position, a driver zone feet position, a left side window position, a co-driver zone chest position, a co-driver zone feet position, a right side window position, a windshield position, a driver seat position, a driver cushion position, a co-driver seat position, a co-driver cushion position, an outside rear view mirror left side position, an outside rear view mirror right side position, a rear window position, and a steering wheel position to be heated.

7 . The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the vehicle includes a rear seat and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by further causing a rear left zone chest position, a rear left zone feet position, a rear left zone side window position, a rear right zone chest position, a rear right zone feet position, a rear right zone side window position, a rear left seat position, a rear left cushion position, a rear right seat position, and a rear right cushion position to be heated.

8 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the selected preset climate control mode is a high performance cooling mode and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by causing a driver zone chest position, a driver zone feet position, a co-driver zone chest position, a co-driver zone feet position, a driver seat position, a driver cushion position, a co-driver seat position, a co-driver cushion position, and a steering wheel position to be cooled.

9 . The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the vehicle includes a rear seat and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by further causing a rear left zone chest position, a rear left zone feet position, a rear right zone chest position, and a rear right zone feet position to be cooled.

10 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the selected preset climate control mode is a visibility mode and the causing of the selected preset climate control mode to be implemented is accomplished by causing a left side window position and a right side window position, a windshield position, an outside rear view mirror left side position, an outside rear view mirror right side position, and a rear window position to be heated.

11 . The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on the display of the mobile communications device, a visual representation of the selected preset climate control mode in response to receiving the user input identifying the selected preset climate control mode, wherein the visual representation is an icon or a word.

12 . The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to transmitting the climate control instruction to the control module, transmitting a confirmation of an implementation of the selected preset climate control mode to the mobile device communications platform; and in response to receiving the confirmation of the implementation of the selected preset climate control mode at the mobile device communications platform, displaying, on the display of the mobile communications device, a visual representation of the confirmation of the implementation of the selected preset climate control mode.

13 . The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing, by a sensor of the vehicle, a current status of the implementation of the selected preset climate control mode, the sensor connected to a sensor interface, the sensor interface connected to a vehicle bus, and the vehicle bus in communication with the vehicle communications platform; generating, by either the sensor interface or the control module, a current status update; transmitting, by either the sensor interface or the control module, the current status update to the vehicle communications platform; in response to receiving the current status update at the vehicle communications platform, transmitting the current status update to the mobile device communications platform; and in response to receiving the current status update at the mobile device communications platform, displaying a visual representation of the current status update on the display of the mobile communications device.

14 . The method as defined in claim 13 wherein prior to sensing by the sensor, the method further comprises:
transmitting a current status request to the vehicle communications platform;
in response to receiving the current status request at the vehicle communi

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Carlesimo Daniel P
• Lazarini Marcelo V
• Navarenho De Souza Rafael

Classifications

• H04B1/3822

  specially adapted for use in vehicles (H04B1/3827 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/00878

  the components being temperature regulating devices · CPC title

• B60H1/00642 Primary

  Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices (B60H1/3201 - B60H1/3208, B60H1/3225 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/00985

  Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators (characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04L67/125

  involving control of end-device applications over a network · CPC title