A windshield defogging system and method are provided. The system includes a heated windshield with an electrical heating element, an air circulation system with a blower to provide a stream of air over a surface of the windshield and a controller configured to select a duty cycle for the heating element based upon air circulation system operating parameters and environmental conditions such as ambient temperature.

A heating temperature is appropriately estimated according to an operation mode to achieve comfortable vehicle interior air conditioning. A vehicular air conditioning device 1 includes a compressor 2, an air flow passage 3, a radiator 4 for heating air to be supplied to a vehicle interior, a heat absorber 9 for cooling the air to be supplied to the vehicle interior, and a heat pump controller. The heat pump controller calculates a heating temperature TH being the temperature of air on a leeward side of the radiator and use the heating temperature in control, and calculates the heating temperature TH using an estimation formula which differs depending on the operation mode.

A vehicle thermal management system includes a cooling apparatus including a radiator, a first water pump, and a valve connected through a coolant line, a battery cooling apparatus including a second water pump and a battery module connected by a battery coolant line; a chiller connected to the battery coolant line and connected to an air conditioner through a refrigerant connection line connected to the battery coolant line and connected to a refrigerant line of the air conditioner through a refrigerant connection line, to adjust a temperature of the coolant by performing heat exchange between a coolant supplied to the battery coolant line and a refrigerant selectively supplied from the air conditioner; and a heating circuit for warming an interior of the vehicle by use of the coolant having a temperature increased while the coolant passes through at least one electrical component.

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, adjusting a position of a sun shade based on at least one of an ambient temperature outside of the vehicle and a sun load of the vehicle, and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.

A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to heat a passenger cabin of a vehicle and to actuate a vehicle security subsystem to prevent entry into the vehicle upon initiation of a cabin sanitizing operation, wherein the sanitizing operation includes actuating a heater to heat the passenger cabin above a temperature threshold.

A heater device includes a heat generating part that generates heat by energization, and a detection unit. The detection unit detects whether or not a distance between an object around the heat generating part and the heat generating part is equal to or less than a first detection distance with a first detection sensitivity, and whether or not the distance between the object around the heat generating part and the heat generating part is equal to or less than a second detection distance shorter than the first detection distance with a second detection sensitivity that is less sensitive than the first detection sensitivity.

A method for operating a fuel-operated vehicle heater, wherein after receipt of a switch-off signal by a control unit of the fuel-operated vehicle heater, a shutdown phase is initiated, during which remaining fuel present in the fuel-operated vehicle heater is combusted, and wherein a restart phase is initiated by the control unit after receipt of a switch-on signal during the shutdown phase, without the shutdown phase being terminated after complete combustion of the remaining fuel.

A system and a method for determining an object has been on a vehicle seat of a vehicle are provided. The processing circuitry may determine if passengers of the vehicle have left the vehicle. The processing circuitry may determine if a temperature of a vehicle cabin of the vehicle meets a threshold of temperature. The temperature of the vehicle cabin to a first temperature may be adjusted. A temperature of resistive filaments of the vehicle seat of the vehicle to a second temperature may be adjusted. A thermal image of the vehicle seat with a reference thermal image of the vehicle seat may be compared. The processing circuitry may determine if the object has been left on the vehicle seat.

A control system for a burner assembly used in vehicles and boats particularly for a coolant storage type heater and a method of operating the control system. Sensors for producing a resistance change as a function of temperature are utilised to send a continuous signal to the control system from both the coolant and the potable water by being in contact with coolant and potable water throughout control system operation. The sensors and the control system allow flexible heater operation and may further dependent upon the user where commands can be entered to a touch screen connected to the control board of the control system.

An inspection system includes a thermal camera and an inspection processor. The thermal camera is mountable on a vehicle and configured to perform imaging of a heat transfer part of heating and cooling equipment mounted on the vehicle. The inspection processor is configured to execute, after causing the heating and cooling equipment to start operation, operation check inspection of determining whether the heating and cooling equipment normally operates on the basis of an image of the heat transfer part obtained by the imaging by the thermal camera, and to, in executing the operation check inspection, perform a modification process of modifying an imaging state of the thermal camera to enable the heat transfer part to be imaged by the thermal camera.