Systems and methods for controlling vents of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022032731-A1
Application number	US-202117402931-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 16, 2021
Priority date	Nov 13, 2018
Publication date	Feb 3, 2022
Grant date	—

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

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A vehicle ventilation system, comprising:
at least one controllable element for controlling flow of air in a vehicle; a user interface for adjusting the flow of air in the vehicle; a memory configured to store data indicative of inputs for adjusting the flow of air that were previously received via the user interface; and control circuitry that is configured to:
based on the previously received inputs for adjusting the flow of air, select a plurality of configurations for the at least one controllable element, wherein each configuration directs the flow of air to a different location in the vehicle; and
adjust the least one controllable element into each of the plurality of configurations.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
adjust the least one controllable element into each of the plurality of configurations by automatically sequentially placing the at least one controllable element into each of the plurality of configurations.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
sequentially place the at least one controllable element into each of the plurality of configurations without user input requesting the sequential adjustment of air flow.

24 . The system of claim 22 , 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 sequentially place the at least one controllable element into each of the plurality of configurations in response to receiving a user input approving the list of locations.

25 . The system of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of configurations is configured to direct the flow of air to a different part of an object inside the vehicle.

26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the object inside the vehicle is a human body.

27 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
select a plurality of configurations for 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.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the prior user inputs indicating selection of parts of a human body to which the air is to be directed were received from a plurality of different users.

29 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
adjust the least one controllable element to at least one of the plurality of configurations in response to the vehicle reaching a threshold speed.

30 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
select the plurality of configurations for the at least one controllable element by receiving, via the user interface, a plurality of selections of different parts of a depiction of a human body.

31 . A method for controlling ventilation, the method comprising:
accessing stored data indicative of inputs for adjusting flow of air that were previously received via a user interface of a vehicle; selecting by control circuitry of the vehicle, based on the previously received inputs for adjusting the flow of air, a plurality of configurations of at least one air control element, wherein each configuration directs the flow of air to a different location in the vehicle; and adjusting the least one air control element into each of the plurality of configurations.

32 . The method of claim 31 , furthering comprising:
adjusting the least one air control element into each of the plurality of configurations by automatically sequentially placing the at least one air control element into each of the plurality of configurations.

33 . The method of claim 32 , furthering comprising:
sequentially placing the at least one air control element into each of the plurality of configurations without user input requesting the sequential adjustment of air flow.

34 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising:
displaying on the user interface a list of locations in the vehicle; and sequentially placing the at least one air control element into each of the plurality of configurations in response to receiving a user input approving the list of locations.

35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of configurations is configured to direct the flow of air to a different part of an object inside the vehicle.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the object inside the vehicle is a human body.

37 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising:
selecting a plurality of configurations for the at least one air control 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.

38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the prior user inputs indicating selection of parts of a human body to which the air is to be directed were received from a plurality of different users.

39 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising:
adjusting the least one air control element to at least one of the plurality of configurations in response to the vehicle reaching a threshold speed.

40 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising:
selecting the plurality of configurations for the at least one air control element by receiving, via the user interface, a plurality of selections of different parts of a depiction of a human body.

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

• B60H1/3414

  with means for adjusting the air stream direction (B60H1/345 takes precedence) · CPC title