A method of controlling an automotive air conditioning system includes: a mode checking step of checking whether the air conditioning system is in an auto-mode; an operation recognizing step of recognizing whether the air conditioning system is manually operated in the auto-mode; and a learning step of setting and storing at least one manual operation value, when the air conditioning system is manually operated, and then operating the air conditioning system in accordance with the at least one stored manual operation value in a next auto-mode.

An air conditioning system for motor vehicles includes a plurality of infrared image sensors configured to take images of a vehicle room to detect infrared rays radiated from vehicle occupants, and an analysis unit configured to analyze vehicle occupant information based on the images taken by the infrared image sensors. The infrared image sensors are installed in front upper regions of the vehicle room so as to take images of different imaging areas.

A detection device is used with a vehicle including a cabin, a ceiling, pillars, a driver seat, and a passenger seat. The detection device includes a detector disposed on the ceiling or the pillars of the vehicle and detecting an object in the cabin while not contacting the object, and a scanning unit that moves the detector for scan. The detection device can detect a temperature of the object accurately, and control air-conditioning comfortably to the object.

A system, for implementation at a vehicle of transportation, having multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment in the vehicle. Each arrangement is positioned at a respective occupant-specific acoustic zone of the vehicle. Each arrangement is configured to communicate with a hardware-based processing unit that, when executing code of a hardware-based storage device in operation of the system, interacts, via the arrangement, primarily only with a vehicle occupant occupying a corresponding occupant-specific acoustic zone. In some implementations, along with or instead of the acoustic equipment, the system includes multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment in the vehicle. In various embodiments, based on identification of occupants at respective vehicle zones in operation of the vehicle, operations are performed, such as provision of media, vehicle-occupant conversation, and customized HVAC delivery.

A method of detecting occupants within a vehicle includes receiving camera data, thermal data and radar data with respect to the vehicle. The received data is stored to at least a first buffer and a second buffer, wherein the first buffer has a length associated with a first duration of time and the second buffer has a length associated with a second duration of time greater than the first duration of time. The camera data, thermal data, and radar data stored in the respective first and second buffers is analyzed to detect and track camera-based objects, radar-based objects, and thermal-based objects, which are utilized to generate an output indicating whether an occupant was detected.

An HVAC comfort system operates in a cabin of a vehicle. A plurality of vehicle status parameters are measured including a cabin temperature and a seat occupancy configuration. The method detects whether the vehicle status parameters correspond to a predetermined override state. When the vehicle status parameters correspond to the predetermined override state, then a respective mandated setting is automatically activated. Unless prevented by the mandated setting, one of a plurality of HVAC modes is automatically selected in response to the cabin temperature and other inputs, wherein the HVAC modes include an extremity heating mode and a panel circulation mode. The extremity heating mode is comprised of automatic activation of a touchpoint heated surface and other outputs in response to the seat occupancy configuration. The panel circulation mode is comprised of automatic activation of one or more zones for convective cooling in response to the seat occupancy configuration and may include activating other cooling devices.

A method for operating a vehicle includes receiving, at a wearable article, a first input from a user indicating a vehicle function to be performed on a vehicle, receiving a second input indicating a gesture by the user for authentication, and generating, at the wearable article, a control signal for performing the vehicle function on the vehicle based on a successful authentication of the user.

A vehicle occupant safety system involves multiple sensors within a vehicle, a monitor aggregator, a processor, a vehicle electronic control system, and a decision engine which will compare sensor data against a set of sensor parameters to determine whether any of multiple potential danger conditions exists within the vehicle, and determine which of multiple control actions are to be automatically taken and modify operation of at least one vehicle component. If a further determination is made that either the specified danger condition is persisting or has exceeded at least one specified severity threshold, the decision engine will determine whether to further modify operation of any vehicle component or take a specified escalation action. The decision engine will continue to make determinations regarding the specified danger condition and decide whether to take further control actions until the specified danger condition no longer exists.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for unattended occupant protection system (UOPS) safety systems for passenger vehicles. The UOPS safety system may include a UOPS module. The module may be integrated with a vehicle data bus of the passenger vehicle. The module may be in communication with a plurality of UOPS sensors. The module may launch an equalization mode in response to determining, via the UOPS sensors, the presence of an unattended occupant in the passenger vehicle with a high or rising ambient temperature. The equalization mode may stabilize the ambient temperature of the passenger vehicle.

The invention concerns a ventilator for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, intended to deliver an air flow towards a space to be conditioned, which comprises: an opening through which an air flow flows during operation, a flared guiding surface (S), extending from the opening, a needle valve (25) comprising a needle valve head (27) with: a tip (29) situated at the end of the needle valve (25), a maximum width portion corresponding in shape to the opening (O), with dimensions of between 80% and 100% of those of the opening (O), a base (33) flared in the direction of flow linking the head (29) to an elongate body (31), the needle valve (25) being able to move in translation between two end positions including: a deployed end position in which the widest portion of the needle valve head (27) is downstream from the opening (O) in the direction of the space to be conditioned, the air flow then being laminar and guided by the guiding surface (S) in a divergent flow, a retracted end position in which the widest portion of the needle valve head (27) is upstream from the opening (O), the air flow then being laminar and guided by the tip (29) of the needle valve (25) in a convergent flow.