Fully Variable and Integral Aeration Flap Controller

Abstract

An aeration flap is automatically controlled in a fully variable manner in a vehicle. A target value is read for a flap position or strength of an airflow of an aeration outlet. A plurality of configurations of aeration flap positions are provided wherein each configuration assigns a resultant noise level and a resultant energy demand for each combination of aeration flap positions. A weighting between noise level and energy demand is specified. Each of the read target values are adapted for a flap position or strength of an airflow according to the specified weighting. The development of noise in the vehicle may be influenced advantageously as a result.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for automatic and fully variable aeration flap control in a vehicle, comprising: reading out a target value for a flap setting or strength of an airflow of an aeration outlet; providing a plurality of configurations of aeration flap settings, wherein each configuration assigns to each combination of aeration flap settings a resulting noise level and a resulting power consumption; specifying a weighting between noise level and power consumption; and adapting each of the target values for the respective flap setting or strength of the respective airflow as a function of the specified weighting.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the aeration flap settings are electrically settable.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of configurations are provided by means of a data memory.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of configurations are empirically ascertained.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the configurations differentiate between direct aeration, a central aeration, and/or a lateral aeration.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the weighting is provided by the user and/or is specified by a provided regulating mechanism.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein when no occupants are located in the vehicle, the noise level is set to be ignorable in the weighting.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the power consumption is weighted as a function of a charge level of a battery.

19. A system for automatic and fully variable aeration flap control in a vehicle, comprising: an interface unit configured to read out a target value for a flap setting or strength of an airflow of an aeration outlet; a data memory to provide a plurality of configurations of aeration flap settings, wherein each configuration assigns each combination of aeration flap settings a resulting noise level and a resulting power consumption; a further interface unit to specify a weighting between noise level and power consumption; and a control unit to adapt each of the target values for the respective flap setting or strength of the respective airflow as a function of the specified weighting.

20. A non-transitory computer program product comprising control commands operable, when executed by one or more computing systems, to perform the method according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for automatic and fully variable aeration flap control according to one aspect of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for automatic and fully variable aeration flap control in a vehicle, characterized by reading out 100 an aeration flap setting of each aeration outlet; providing 101 a plurality of configurations of aeration flap settings, wherein each configuration assigns each combination of aeration flap settings a resulting noise level and a resulting power consumption; specifying 102 weighting between noise level and power consumption; and adapting each of the read-out 103 aeration flap settings as a function of the specified 102 weighting.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows, according to a further aspect, a method for automatic and fully variable aeration flap control in a vehicle, characterized by reading out 100 a target value for a flap setting or strength of an airflow of each aeration outlet, providing 101 a plurality of configurations of aeration flap settings, wherein each configuration assigns each combination of aeration flap settings a resulting noise level and a resulting power consumption, specifying 102 a weighting between noise level and power consumption and adapting each of the read-out 103 target values for the respective flap setting or strength of the respective airflow as a function of the specified 102 weighting.

[0038] Furthermore, a system arrangement for automatic and fully variable aeration flap control in a vehicle is proposed, characterized by an interface unit configured for reading out 100 a target value for a flap setting or strength of an airflow of each aeration outlet, a data memory configured for providing 101 a plurality of configurations of aeration flap settings, wherein each configuration assigns each combination of aeration flap settings a resulting noise level and a resulting power consumption, a further interface unit configured for specifying 102 a weighting between noise level and power consumption, and at least one electronic control unit configured for adapting each of the read-out 103 target values for the respective flap setting or strength of the respective airflow as a function of the specified 102 weighting.

[0039] According to a further aspect of the present subject matter, the adaptation takes place iteratively and the climate control direction and/or the climate control temperature is adapted in each iteration. This has the advantage that the climate control can follow the movements of the occupants and can also adapt the temperature control over a time period.

[0040] The occupant will also become adapted over time by means of the climate control to his desired temperature or to a preset or individually configured target temperature and therefore the climate control can be throttled. Contrary to this scenario, upon entry, the driver can always be subjected to maximum climate control in order to thus adapt him as efficiently as possible to the target temperature.

[0041] A person skilled in the art recognizes here that the steps can have further sub-steps and in particular the method steps can each be executed iteratively and/or in another sequence. Thus, the steps of reading out 100 an aeration flap setting, providing 101 a plurality of configurations, and/or specifying 102 a weighting can be executed in parallel.

[0042] A data memory or a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program product having control commands which implement the proposed method or operate the proposed system arrangement when they are executed on a computer is not shown in the present case.