B60H1/00742

Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle HVAC system

Disclosed are climate systems for vehicles and methods for controlling the climate systems. In some implementations, a climate system includes: (1) a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; (2) a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant; (3) a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and (4) a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor. The controller configured to: (1) calculate a thermal load of the compartment based on a difference between a desired temperature and a measured temperature; and, (2) based on the calculated load, selectively activate: (i) the engine, (ii) the first compressor, and/or (iii) the second compressor.

Techniques to optimize vehicular systems for occupant presence and condition

Methods and apparatus relating to optimization of vehicular systems for occupant presence and condition are described. In one embodiment, logic circuitry detects presence and/or condition of one or more occupants of a vehicle based on sensor data. Memory (e.g., non-volatile memory) stores information corresponding to one or more functions of the vehicle. The logic circuitry transmits a request to the vehicle to cause an adjustment to the one or more functions of the vehicle. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANAGING INTERACTION BETWEEN A WEARABLE DEVICE AND A VEHICLE
20170242428 · 2017-08-24 ·

Various aspects of a device and method to manage interaction with one or more control circuits in a vehicle and one or more wearable devices are disclosed herein. The device comprises one or more circuits configured to receive a first set of input values from the one or more wearable devices associated with a first user. The one or more wearable devices are communicatively coupled to the device used in the vehicle. A second set of input values is received from one or more vehicle sensors embedded in the vehicle. An operating mode of the device is determined based on the received first set of input values and the second set of input values. One or more functions of the vehicle are controlled based on the determined operating mode of the device.

VEHICLE TEMPERATURE SENSOR SYSTEMS
20170240022 · 2017-08-24 ·

A vehicle having a system which includes at least one sensor contained therein. The systems utilizes conditional probability to determine if an occupant (i.e. child and/or animal) is in the vehicle in the absence of an adult. The system used conditional probability to predict the likelihood that a child and/or animal was left unsupervised within the vehicle. The system collects data from existing vehicle sensors (door sensor, weight sensor, seatbelt sensor, face detection sensor, input sensors or any other suitable sensor already imbedded within the hardware of the vehicle) and uses that data to assume if an adult, child and/or animal is present. A motion sensor and a temperature sensor (infrared camera) are further utilized to determine the presence of a child/animal and the temperature of a child. Input from the motion sensor and/or temperature sensor (infrared camera) are utilized to provide warnings or to take corrective measures.

Motor Vehicle
20170232818 · 2017-08-17 ·

In order to provide a motor vehicle, the roof of which is composed of a transparent material at least in some sections, wherein persons located in the motor vehicle are cooled by means of escaping air, air outlet openings are formed on both sides on opposite roof frame longitudinal segments, in each case in accordance with the number of seat rows. Air lines are provided, which convey air conditioned by at least one present air conditioning system to at least one air outlet opening. Sensors that detect occupancy of the present seats by a person are provided, and a controller for the present air conditioning system is provided, which adjusts an air conditioning system from the number of present air conditioning systems in such a way that an air flow having a predetermined temperature and having a predetermined air outlet speed is applied to an upper region of a person located on a seat.

Environmental equipment control apparatus and environmental equipment control system

An environmental equipment control apparatus controls environmental equipment. The environmental equipment control apparatus includes a grasping unit that grasps physical-and-mental-state information about a physical and mental state of a user, and a control unit that changes a control state of the environmental equipment in a case in which the physical-and-mental-state information satisfies a predetermined state condition.

Glass panel integrated heaters and applications thereof

A glass panel apparatus is provided. The glass panel apparatus includes an outer glass pane comprising a low-e coating on a side facing the inner glass pane, an inner glass pane comprising a low-e coating on a side facing the outer glass pane, a gap between the inner glass pane and the outer glass pane, the gap comprising a vacuum, and a heating element configured to heat the inner glass pane.

Wake-up alerts for sleeping vehicle occupants

A vehicle can be configured to attempt to awaken a sleeping occupant when certain wake-up events have occurred. It can be determined whether a wake-up event has occurred. In one or more arrangements, the wake-up event can relate to the refueling of the vehicle (e.g., fuel level or recharge level). Sensor data relating to a vehicle occupant can be acquired. Based on the acquired sensor data, it can be determined whether the vehicle occupant is sleeping. Responsive to determining that the vehicle occupant is sleeping, the vehicle can cause a wake-up alert to be presented within the vehicle. The wake-up alert can be a visual, audial, and/or haptic wake-up alert.

Thermal management system for a motor vehicle and corresponding thermal management method

The invention relates to a thermal management system (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one sensor (13, 113) capable of measuring at least one quantity that can be used to determine at least one thermal comfort data item (TS), a predefined number of actuators (A101, A102, A103, A104), configured, respectively, for adjusting at least one parameter of an associated piece of equipment (3, 5, 7, 9) of said vehicle, and a control device (12) for controlling the actuators (A101, A102, A103, A104) on the basis of the measurements of said at least one sensor (13, 113).
According to the invention, the control device (12) comprises at least one processing means (14) for: identifying at least a first and a second piece of equipment for acting on a first and a second part of the occupant's body, respectively, if thermal regulation of the occupant is required, and controlling at least a first and a second actuator configured, respectively, for adjusting at least one parameter of the first and second pieces of equipment identified, so as to act on said parts of the occupant's body.
The invention also relates to a thermal management method implemented by such a system (1).

Vehicle passenger reminder system
09770962 · 2017-09-26 ·

A vehicle passenger reminder system for notifying a user that a passenger has been left unattended in a vehicle. The vehicle passenger reminder system includes a driver weight sensor to be positioned on the driver's seat to determine if the driver is seated in the vehicle. The system further includes a child weight sensor for a child seat to determine if a child is seated in a vehicle. When the driver exits the vehicle, a control unit of the present invention determines if the child is still seated in the vehicle, and an alarm system is activated to notify the user. Further, a cooling mechanism is provided that includes a fan for cooling the child if a temperature sensor detects that the temperature within the vehicle has risen to a predetermined temperature.