A method for controlling heating of a vehicle thermal management system including an HVAC subsystem may include: determining, by a controller, a target temperature for heating a passenger compartment of a vehicle when the HVAC subsystem operates in heating mode; determining, by the controller, whether an internal temperature of the passenger compartment is lower than the target temperature; adjusting, by the controller, an opening amount of a heating-side expansion valve of the HVAC subsystem to a first opening amount and opening the heating-side expansion valve when the internal temperature is lower than the desired target temperature; and decreasing, by the controller, RPM of a compressor of the HVAC subsystem when the internal temperature is higher than or equal to the desired target temperature. The first opening amount is an opening amount of the heating-side expansion valve with which a heat capacity generated by a heating operation of the HVAC subsystem reaches a maximum heat capacity.

A system for determining an identification of an occupant within a vehicle can include a processor, a communications interface, and a memory. The memory can store an information reception module, an identification prediction module, and an actuation module. The information reception module can cause the processor to receive, via the communications interface, from at least one sensor, and at a time when a source of a propulsion force for the vehicle is in an off state, at least one signal having information about at least one detectable characteristic associated with the occupant within the vehicle. The identification prediction module can cause the processor to produce, based on the information, a prediction of the identification of the occupant. The actuation module can cause the processor to cause, in response to a production of the prediction, a setting of a component of the vehicle to have a specific value.

A system and method for controlling motorized vents of an HVAC system of a vehicle including at least one motor to move air louvers of an HVAC vent of the HVAC system, at least one thermal sensor to sense hot/cold areas inside the vehicle, and a position and motion control to control movement of the at least one motor, wherein position and motion control determines a targeted positioning of airflow based on hot/cold areas sensed by the thermal sensor.

A barrier door may include a section including an outer stationary portion and an inner movable portion disposed within the outer stationary portion, an actuator, and a controller. The actuator may move the inner movable portion between different positions to control flow of air between a protective enclosure and a volume outside of the protective enclosure. The controller may monitor one or more operating characteristics of the actuator and may modify an operational status of the actuator to control the flow of the air between the protective enclosure and the volume outside of the protective enclosure based at least in part on the one or more operating characteristics.

A control method for a vehicle includes determining whether an internal combustion engine is overheated based on driving information of the vehicle and cooling information of a passenger compartment while the vehicle is driving and an HVAC system is operating in a cooling mode, and controlling an alternator or an actuator of a switching door to reduce a cooling capacity provided by the HVAC system when it is determined that the internal combustion engine is overheated.

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.

The invention relates to a method for operating a device for the thermal conditioning of a motor vehicle interior, comprising: a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor (C) and a heat exchanger (2) able to form an evaporator, the heat exchanger (2) being able to exchange heat with a flow of air intended to be conditioned, at least one bypass means (V1) able to divert from the heat exchanger (2) at least part of said air flow and which can be controlled in terms of position between the closed position in which no flow is diverted from the heat exchanger (2) and a multitude of open positions in which part of the flow is diverted from the heat exchanger (2) according to the position of opening, a mixing zone (ZM) for mixing the flow that has passed through the evaporator (2) and the flow of air diverted by the bypass means (V1) so as to obtain an air flow at a setpoint temperature.

The invention provides an alternative electrical charging system for a vehicle which is at least partially powered by electricity. The system employs a wind driven generator which produces electricity in response to air motion. When the generator is operating, electricity is communicated the battery of the vehicle. Operation of the generator involves a controller that monitors the electrical status of the battery and selectively activates a fan or opens a ducting system communicating with the generator. The controller also, in some embodiments, monitors the motion and the attitude of the vehicle.

In a vehicle air conditioner device of a heat pump system, control of an air mix damper is appropriately performed in each operation mode, thereby achieving efficient vehicle interior air conditioning. The vehicle air conditioner device includes an air mix damper 28 to adjust a ratio at which air in an air flow passage 3 passed through a heat absorber 9 is to be passed through a radiator 4. In a cooling mode, a controller controls the air mix damper 28 to adjust the ratio at which the air is to be passed through the radiator 4 on the basis of one, any combination, or all of a target outlet temperature, a temperature of the radiator and a temperature of the heat absorber, and in a heating mode, the controller controls the air mix damper 28 to pass all the air in the air flow passage 3 through the radiator 4.

The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle and a control method thereof, which can calculate the range of discharge temperature to the interior of the vehicle, set the upper limit of the discharge temperature, and control the degree of opening of a temp door such that the discharge temperature to the interior of the vehicle gets lower than the upper limit, thereby preventing air of discharge temperature above the upper limit from being discharged to the interior of the vehicle and preventing displeasure or personal injury that may be caused when air of high temperature is discharged.