A system and method for controlling and diagnosing an automotive climate control or environmental system with an electronic or mobile device is disclosed. The system provides for wireless control between the system controllers and an electronic device, such as an electronic device or computer, with instructions executed on a processor to display on the electronic device or the computer-human interface display device with a user interface region or a graphical user interface. Using wireless technology features of an electronic device, the automotive climate control system is wirelessly controlled from the electronic device containing software connected with the climate control system software and firmware mounted within the vehicle that rotates servo motors, and operates fan speed and compressor activity. The user interface regions may be used to create preset, predetermined desired positions of system mode, temperature, fan speed, and the display color and appearance of the user interface region.

A vehicle control device includes a controller configured to execute: receiving a remote signal containing a target temperature in a cabin and an expected traveling start time of a vehicle from a remote controller used by a user of the vehicle; calculating a catalyst warming period which is an estimated period required to warm, to an active temperature, an electrically heated catalyst; calculating a pre-air conditioning period which is an estimated period required to adjust a temperature in the cabin to the target temperature; and starting pre-air conditioning of the cabin by starting an internal combustion engine after completion of warming of the electrically heated catalyst when a sum of the catalyst warming period and the pre-air conditioning period is equal to or shorter than a starting time margin from a time of reception of the remote signal to the expected traveling start time.

A vehicle function control apparatus and method control various vehicle functions. A control method of an integrated manipulation unit may include: establishing a first data path with a first detachable knob attached to a first attachment position among at least one attachment position provided in an attachment unit; transmitting information on a first function to be controlled corresponding to the first attachment position to the first detachable knob through the first data path; establishing a second data path with a second detachable knob stacked on the first detachable knob; and transmitting information on a second function to be controlled corresponding to the first attachment position to the second detachable knob through the second data path.

A temperature environment regulating system includes an in-vehicle temperature conditioner, a thermal sensation estimating section, a preference estimating section, a preference memory section, and a control section. The in-vehicle temperature conditioner regulates passenger-compartment temperature environment in a vehicle. The thermal sensation estimating section estimates thermal sensation, which is an indicator representing how the user senses in-vehicle temperature environment. The preference estimating section estimates temperature preference of the user based on a temporal change in the thermal sensation. The control section controls the in-vehicle temperature conditioner based on the temperature preference memorized by the preference memory section.

Presented are intelligent control systems for flexible notification and management of in-vehicle assets, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a motor vehicle includes a vehicle controller detecting, via a resident communications interface (RCI) device, an electronic asset within a compartment of the motor vehicle. Responsive to detecting the asset, the controller accesses a memory device to retrieve device data specific to the asset. This device data contains a set of conditional criteria predetermined to protect the asset while in the vehicle compartment. The controller also detects when the vehicle is stopped; upon detecting the vehicle has stopped, the controller determines if any one of the conditional criteria has been met. If so, the controller responsively commands one or more resident vehicle subsystems of the vehicle to execute one or more automated control operations to protect the asset while inside the vehicle.

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.

The present disclosure generally relates to managing and using an electronic key. In some embodiments, the electronic key is utilized to cause a vehicle to unlock one or more doors of the vehicle when a computer system that includes the electronic key is positioned within a first threshold distance of the vehicle. In some embodiments, a user interface object associated with the electronic key is displayed in a first position of an accounts user interface when a computer system that includes the electronic key is positioned within a second threshold distance of the vehicle.

A shortcut system (1) for controlling at least one vehicle system (2), the shortcut system comprising: an input arranged to receive configuration signals (6) generated in response to a user operating a configuration device (7) independent of the vehicle (100), the configuration signals specifying an action to be carried out by a vehicle system; a memory module (5) arranged to store the action specified in a received configuration signal; a processor (4) arranged, upon a user-selected trigger condition being met, to generate a control signal (8) for controlling the vehicle system in accordance with the stored specified action; and an output arranged to output the control signal. Also a configuration device (7) independent of a vehicle (100) that is arranged to configure a shortcut system (1) for controlling at least one vehicle system (2) of the vehicle, and a method of controlling at least one vehicle system (2) of a vehicle (100).

A detachable remote controller and a remote controlling method of controlling an air conditioner of an autonomous vehicle are provided. The detachable remote controller may be configured to control the air conditioner to be detachable from a console box or a front console box by a detachment button.

An assembly for a ventilation system of a vehicle is provided. The assembly is configured to use a single actuator to control direction of a vent and additionally control the flow rate of that vent. The assembly may comprise a single rotatable control member with two routes, one route used for controlling flow rate and one route for controlling flow direction. Each route may have a straight portion and curved portion.