METHOD FOR FEEDBACK OF A TEMPERATURE SETTING

Abstract

A method for feedback of a temperature setting of an air-conditioning device involves adjusting a light color of at least one lighting element for the display of a set temperature. The adjusted light color corresponds to a temperature setting of an airflow zone in a motor vehicle.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for feedback of a temperature setting of an air-conditioning device, which has a plurality of airflow zones, in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: determining which of the plurality of airflow zones is an active airflow zone, wherein the motor vehicle includes a plurality of lighting elements, each of the plurality of lighting elements is assigned to one of the plurality of airflow zones; determining a temperature set for each of the active airflow zones; and adjusting a light color of each lighting element assigned to each of the active airflow zones to a light color corresponding to the temperature set for the active airflow zone assigned to which the lighting element is assigned.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the light color corresponding to the temperature set for one of the active airflow zones is a warm color when the temperature set for the one of the active airflow zones is in a warm temperature range that is above a neutral temperature, and the light color corresponding to the temperature set for one of the active airflow zones is a cool color when the temperature set for one of the active airflow zones is in a cool temperature range that is below the neutral temperature.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the warm temperature range is between 22 C. and 27 C., the cold temperature range is between 16 C. and 19 C., or a neutral temperature range is between 19 C. and 22 C.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the lighting elements for which a light color is adjusted indicates for which area of the motor vehicle the temperature has been set.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of airflow zones includes at least airflow two zones for which a temperature can be independently set.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein for all lighting elements not assigned to an active airflow zone, a neutral light color is set or a brightness is lowered, or all lighting elements not assigned to an active airflow zone are turned off.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of lighting elements is situated at an air outlet opening, out of which air flows, is adjusted, or each of the plurality of light elements is an ambient lighting element.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein each lighting element assigned to one of the plurality of airflow zones comprises three different colored lighting elements.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein each lighting element assigned to one of the plurality of airflow zones comprises a color filter.

20. A motor vehicle, comprising: an air-conditioning device having a plurality of airflow zones; a plurality of lighting elements, each of which is respectively assigned to one of the plurality of airflow zones; and a controller coupled to the air-conditioning device and the plurality of lighting elements, wherein the controller is configured to determine which of the plurality of airflow zones is an active airflow zone; determine a temperature set for each of the active airflow zones; and adjust a light color of each lighting element assigned to each of the active airflow zones to a light color corresponding to the temperature set for the active airflow zone assigned to which the lighting element is assigned.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0032] In the figures, respectively schematically

[0033] FIG. 1. shows a longitudinal section through a motor vehicle;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a frontal view onto a dashboard area of a motor vehicle from FIG. 1; and

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] A motor vehicle 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an air-conditioning device 12, having at least one control unit 30 and a plurality of air outlet openings 28. A temperature setting 10 can be carried out at control unit 30. For the display 16 of temperature setting 10, the light color is changed at lighting elements 18, for example, of an ambient lighting.

[0037] After a temperature setting 10 has taken place, for example by an operator, in particular the vehicle driver, a determination 32 of the light color is carried out, which is to be set at lighting elements 18.

[0038] Preferably, a warm light color is selected if the set temperature is in a warm temperature range, which is above a neutral temperature or a neutral temperature range. Accordingly, preferably a cool light color is selected if the set temperature is in a cold temperature range, which is below a neutral temperature or a neutral temperature range.

[0039] For example, the set temperatures are in the warm temperature range if they are above 22 C., in particular between 22 C. and 27 C., and in the cold temperature range if they are below 19 C., in particular between 16 C. and 19 C. The neutral temperature range, for example, ranges between 19 C. and 22 C.

[0040] If air-conditioning device 12 has more than one zone 20 or airflow zone 24, it can be provided that by a selection 34 of lighting element 18, in which the light color is changed for a display 16 of temperature setting 10, it is indicated for which zone 20 or airflow zone 24 the temperature setting is effective.

[0041] Such zones 20 are characterized by the fact that respectively one individual independent temperature can be set in zones 20. Such zones 20, for example, are a passenger zone 21, a driver zone 22 and a rear compartment zone 23.

[0042] Such airflow zones 24, for example, can be a front windshield zone or head zone 25, a center zone 26 and a foot zone 27. It is also conceivable that the color intensity or brightness of lighting elements 18 indicates at which level the ventilation is set in respective airflow zone 24.

[0043] Lighting elements 18 are assigned to a zone 20 and, preferably, also to an airflow zone 24. For this purpose, the allocation is carried out in such a manner that lighting elements 18 are assigned to zone 20 or airflow zone 24, in which lighting elements 18 are located.

[0044] Such lighting elements 18 can be part of an ambient lighting. For example, such lighting elements 18 are situated at air outlet openings 28. Lighting elements 18 may however also be disposed to set accents and, thus, to achieve a lighting mood in the interior of motor vehicle 14.

[0045] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.