A climate control system for a vehicle includes an infrared sensor disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The infrared sensor is configured to receive infrared radiation from a skin surface of a vehicle occupant. The climate control system further includes a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of a detected temperature detected at the skin surface. In response to the detected temperature deviating from a baseline temperature, the controller is configured to automatically control an HVAC system to add conditioned air into the passenger compartment and to control a thermoelectric device configured to adjust a seat surface temperature.

A climate controlled steering device (10) for a vehicle including a hand control assembly (12) with air ducting (34), the climate controlled steering device (10) including a clock spring assembly (18) combined with a plenum (36) to guide HVAC air into the hand control assembly ducting (34) at a plurality of angular positions of the hand control assembly (12).

A vehicle component includes a first volume of phase change material and a second volume of phase change material spaced apart from the first volume of phase change material. The first volume of phase change material contains a greater mass of phase change material than the second volume of phase change material. The component also includes a thermally-conductive structure in direct contact with both the first volume of phase change material and the second volume of phase change material, so as to facilitate heat transfer between the first volume of phase change material and the second volume of phase change material.

A climate control device (15) for influencing at least one climatic parameter of a handle (5) of a steering device (2), has an air moving device (21) for providing a stream of air, a handle distributor (26) for distributing a stream of air within at least a part of the handle, an air guidance device (22) for guiding air between the air moving device and the distributor. The air moving device (21) can be or is mounted to an area remaining static in relation to an adjustment movement of the steering device (2). The handle distributor (26) can be or is mounted to an area moving in relation to the static area when the steering device (2) is subject to an adjustment movement. The climate control device (15) is provided with a connecting device (30) allowing the air moving device (21) and the handle distributor (26) to move in relation to each other.

A climate control device (15) for influencing at least one climatic parameter of a handle (5) of a steering device (2), the climate control device (15) having an air moving device (21) for providing a stream of air, a handle distributor (26) for distributing a stream of air towards at least a part of the handle (5). It is planned that the air moving device (21) as well as the handle distributor (26) can be or are mounted to a static area, which remains static in relation to adjustment movements of the steering device (2), the handle distributor (26) has at least one air outlet (35,35) to generate a stream of air from the handle distributor (26) at the static area towards the handle (5).

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the steering wheel includes a steering-wheel rim, a steering-wheel center, at least one steering-wheel spoke connecting the steering-wheel rim and the steering-wheel center, and an air duct. The air duct is designed to duct an air flow, generated by a ventilation system of the motor vehicle. The air duct comprises at least one air outlet, which is designed in such a way that in the fitted state of the steering wheel the air flow emerging from the air outlet meets a windshield of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle having the steering wheel is furthermore provided.

A method to adjust a first temperature of an element of a motor vehicle to be interfaced with a passenger of the motor vehicle, comprising the steps of i) adjusting a second temperature on the inside of the motor vehicle based on a second temperature currently requested to an adjustment system for said second temperature; ii) detecting a third external temperature on the outside of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle; iii) detecting a fourth current temperature on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle; iv) detecting a current value of the first temperature of the element; v) processing a fifth temperature based on said first, fourth and fifth temperature; and vi) exchanging a quantity of heat with the element so as to adjust the first temperature; the quantity of heat depends on the fifth temperature.

Vehicle climate control systems include heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for adjusting the vehicle cabin temperature. The HVAC system can deliver heated or cooled air to the vehicle interior to achieve a desired temperature inside the vehicle cabin. Some vehicles are equipped with secondary comfort features, such as heated or cooled seats, for additionally addressing occupant comfort. These features are typically stand-alone devices that function separately from the HVAC system.

A radiant heating system includes a radiant heating element, a steering wheel position monitoring device and a controller configured to control the radiant heating element in response to steering wheel position data received from the steering wheel position monitoring device. A method of controlling operation of a radiant heating system is also disclosed.

A system is disclosed for incorporation into a refrigerated delivery vehicle, the system enabling efficient cooling of the refrigerated compartment of a vehicle to avoid unnecessary idling of the vehicle's engine.