A system for use with a block heater connected to an engine for pre-start heating of the engine. The system includes a power source, a relay assembly coupled to the power source, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The relay assembly, when closed, electrically connects the power source to the block heater, to thereby energize the block heater to heat the engine. The temperature sensor senses an ambient temperature indicative of a temperature of the engine. The controller is programmed to selectively activate the relay assembly to energize the block heater such that the engine coupled to the block heater is heated from the sensed ambient temperature to a target temperature at approximately a target time.

A radiant heating device for producing radiant heat in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle includes a heating surface for emitting heat radiation, a heating element for providing heating power, a first temperature sensor for detecting a first temperature in a specific spot and for providing a corresponding first temperature indication, and a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature on the surface and for providing a corresponding second temperature indication. In order to detect a local over-heating of the heating surface, a difference between the two temperature indications is determined. In the event of a defect, a protective operating mode is then selected.

A method is provided for operating a radiation heating device for a heating system of a motor vehicle. The radiation heating device has an electrically operable heating element for providing a heating temperature at a heating surface. The method operates the heating element for the purposes of providing heating power in normal operation, checks whether there is contact between the heating surface and a body part, and reduces the heating power of the heating element if contact with the body part is identified.

The on-state malfunction detection device detects an on-state malfunction, for instance, in an IGBT that is provided to correspond to a PTC element whose electrical resistance value varies according to temperature and that controls the electrification of the PTC element. In a state in which a turn-off instruction has been outputted from a control device to the IGBT, the on-state malfunction detection device determines through calculation an electric potential difference following voltage division of the voltage between the both ends of the PTC element, and detects an on-state malfunction of the IGBT when this electric potential difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. This allows for the detection of an on-state malfunction in a switching element that performs an electrical conduction control for an element whose electrical resistance value varies according to temperature.

A method of controlling an air conditioning system for a vehicle enables a user to recognize whether economical heating is available, while a vehicle travels. The method includes: (A) when starting of the vehicle is in an on state, confirming a heating condition and a waste heat source state while the vehicle travels, and predicting power consumption of an electric heater; and (B) comparing a power consumption reference value of the electric heater with a power consumption prediction value of the electric heater, displaying that economical heating is available or unavailable on the display unit, determining whether to turn off the starting of the vehicle, and terminating a control.

A mixing device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a mixing section (14) with a mixing section inlet area (20) to be positioned downstream in relation to a reactant introduction device (20) and with a mixing section outlet area (22) to be positioned upstream in relation to a catalytic converter device (16). The mixing section (14) includes an inner wall (26) surrounding an inner volume (28), through which exhaust gas (A) or/and reactant (R) can flow, and an outer wall (24) surrounding the inner wall (26). An outer volume (30), having a ring shape surrounding the inner volume is formed between the inner wall (26) and the outer wall (24). An electrically energizable heating device (34) is provided at the inner wall (26), or/and a heat transfer rib formation (54) is provided at the inner wall (26).

A method of controlling an air conditioning system for a vehicle enables a user to recognize whether economical heating is available, while a vehicle travels. The method includes: (A) when starting of the vehicle is in an on state, confirming a heating condition and a waste heat source state while the vehicle travels, and predicting power consumption of an electric heater; and (B) comparing a power consumption reference value of the electric heater with a power consumption prediction value of the electric heater, displaying that economical heating is available or unavailable on the display unit, determining whether to turn off the starting of the vehicle, and terminating a control.

A coolant heating device for a vehicle includes: a housing storing coolant therein and having a sheath heater therein; an upper space part protruding upwards from a top surface of the housing and having an inner space via which an inner space of the housing communicates with the upper space part; a water-level-sensing part disposed inside the upper space part to sense a level of coolant in the housing; and a controller for controlling operation of the sheath heater based on the level of coolant sensed by the water-level-sensing part.

Methods and systems are provided for on-board diagnostics of components of an exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) system including engine coolant temperature sensors coupled to the system. Degradation of one or more of a first coolant temperature sensor coupled upstream of a heat exchanger of the EGHR system and a second coolant temperature sensor coupled downstream of the heat exchanger may be indicated based on a difference between a modeled coolant temperature and a measured coolant temperature, the modeled coolant temperature based on one or more of heat transfer between a heater core and vehicle cabin, and heat transfer between exhaust flowing via the heat exchanger and coolant flowing through the heat exchanger.

An in-vehicle radiant heater control apparatus includes: a temperature detection device for a heater in a vehicle compartment; a first switch element connected in series to the radiant heater between a power supply and a ground; a temperature control device controlling the first switch element that the heater temperature approaches a target temperature; a resistive element having one electrode connected to one electrode of the heater; an inter-electrode voltage detection device for the resistive element; and a resistance calculation device repeatedly obtaining a heater resistance of the radiant heater based on a voltage between the other electrode of the resistive element and the other electrode of the heater, a detected resistance voltage, and a resistance of the resistive element. The temperature detection device obtains the heater temperature based on the heater resistance.