Methods and apparatus are provided for active vehicle cabin occupant protection system. The method includes detecting a vehicle cabin temperature using a cabin thermal sensor, engaging a vehicle fan and opening a vehicle outside air ventilation duct in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a first threshold temperature, and starting a vehicle engine and engaging a vehicle air conditioning system in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature wherein the second threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

The vehicle includes an air conditioner, a temperature sensor configured to measure an indoor temperature of the vehicle, a camera configured to obtain an image data of a passenger, and a bio-signal sensor configured to measure a bio-signal of the passenger. A controller is configured to control, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the air conditioner to change a type of wind blowing at predetermined time intervals, to obtain emotion information corresponding to the changed type of wind based on at least one of the image data or the bio-signal, and to blow a type of wind for which a degree of positiveness of emotion information is equal to or greater than a threshold level.

A method for defogging a window of a vehicle includes steps of determining a risk of window fogging and automatically selecting a climate control system operating mode according to that determined risk of window fogging. The climate control system operating mode is selected from: an outside air mode, an air-conditioning mode, and a defrost mode. A controller determines the risk of window fogging according to one or more inputs, and the same or a different controller may automatically select the climate control system operating mode.

An air conditioning control device acquires environmental measurement information, acquires an action schedule of a user of a host vehicle on the basis of past or future schedule table information of the user, and estimates a boarding time at which the user gets on the host vehicle, a destination, and a route based on the action schedule. The control device then derives an instruction value pattern that includes a first instruction value for the air conditioning device at the boarding time, a second instruction value for the air conditioning device in a travel route toward the destination, and a third instruction value for the air conditioning device in a case that the user gets on after getting off the vehicle, based on the environmental measurement information. An air conditioning controller controls an air conditioning device of the host vehicle based on the instruction value pattern.

A HVAC thermal conditioning system provides a macroclimate environment. An auxiliary thermal conditioning system has multiple microclimate devices. The microclimate devices are configured to be arranged within an interior space that provides the macroclimate environment to an occupant. The microclimate devices provide a microclimate environment to the occupant different than the macroclimate environment. The microclimate devices are in close proximity to a region of the occupant. A controller calculates an occupant personal comfort based upon a thermal energy experienced by the occupant from thermal radiation sources, thermal convection sources, and thermal conduction sources, and to automatically command the microclimate devices in response to the calculated occupant personal comfort based upon occupant characteristics to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort. The automatic command is to adjust and apportion the thermal conduction sources and/or thermal radiation sources experienced by the occupant to achieve the desired occupant personal comfort.

A HVAC thermal conditioning system provides a macroclimate environment. An auxiliary thermal conditioning system has multiple microclimate devices in close proximity to a region of the occupant. The microclimate devices are arranged within an interior space that provides the macroclimate environment to an occupant. A controller communicates with the microclimate devices and calculates an occupant personal comfort based upon a thermal energy experienced by the occupant from thermal radiation sources, thermal convection sources, and thermal conduction sources, and to automatically command the microclimate devices in response to the calculated occupant personal comfort to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort. The automatic command adjusts and apportions the thermal conduction sources and/or thermal radiation sources to achieve the desired occupant personal comfort. A power management module adjusts the HVAC thermal conditioning system while adjusting and apportioning the thermal conduction sources and/or thermal radiation sources to achieve the desired occupant personal comfort.

A wakefulness inducing system is capable of appropriately inducing a wakeful state in a driver even in a self-driving vehicle. A wakefulness inducing system includes a wakefulness degree sensing apparatus that senses the degree of wakefulness of a driver, a touch operation apparatus including a touch operation interface that detects contact by the operating hand of the driver, and a self-driving apparatus that controls self-driving of a vehicle. When the wakefulness degree sensing apparatus senses a reduction in the degree of wakefulness of the driver, the self-driving apparatus provides an instruction to the driver to move the operating hand to the touch operation interface, and the temperature of the operating hand is lowered in the touch operation interface upon detection of contact of the operating hand by the touch operation interface.

A control apparatus of a heat exchanging system according to the invention activates a connection system to connect an engine water passage to a heater water passage and then, shuts off a heater water passage portion between a portion, into which heat exchanging water flows from the engine water passage and a portion, from which the heat exchanging water flows out toward the engine water passage, and decreases heater pump and engine pump duty ratios when the duty ratios should be decreased for controlling core and engine flow rates to requested flow rates after the particular water passage is shut off, and the engine water passage is connected to the heater water passage.

A method and apparatus to control an air conditioning system in a passenger compartment of a road vehicle comprising the steps of detecting a body temperature of at least a part of the body of one or more occupants of the passenger compartment and transmitting the detected body temperature to the air conditioning system, which controls a plurality of ventilation devices arranged inside the passenger compartment. The method comprises the further steps of identifying the number and the position of the one or more occupants seated in the passenger compartment; determining an optimized tuning at least based on the body temperature detected by the sensor member and controlling the ventilation devices as a function of the optimized tuning.

A cabin condenser for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a battery electric vehicle (BEV). The cabin condenser includes a first cabin condenser portion and a second cabin condenser portion. A regulator is configured to control flow of refrigerant from the first cabin condenser portion to the second cabin condenser portion.