METHOD FOR AIR CONDITIONING AN INTERIOR OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for air-conditioning an interior of a vehicle to prevent fogging of the windows when at least one identifiable user enters the vehicle. The vehicle has a vehicle communication device which communicates with at least one user communication unit, a climate detection device for detecting the climate in the interior of the vehicle or for detecting the climate in the interior and in the area surrounding the vehicle, as well as a climate modification device for changing the climate in the interior of the vehicle. The method comprises steps of: checking by means of whether an identifiable user is approaching the vehicle, testing whether a fogging of at least one of the windows of the vehicle is to be expected when the user enters the vehicle, and air-conditioning the interior of the vehicle in such a way that fogging of the windows of the vehicle is prevented.

Claims

1. A method for air-conditioning an interior of a vehicle, in such a way that fogging of windows is prevented when an identifiable user enters the vehicle, comprising: testing, by a vehicle communication device, whether the identifiable user is approaching the vehicle, in the event the identifiable user is approaching the vehicle, testing, by climate detection device, whether fogging of at least one of the windows of the vehicle is to be expected when the identifiable user enters the vehicle, and in the event that fogging of at least one of the windows of the vehicle is to be expected, air-conditioning the interior of the vehicle, by climate modification device, in such a way that fogging of the windows of the vehicle is prevented.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of air-conditioning the interior of the vehicle comprises actuation of an air-conditioning system by the climate modification device, in such a way that fogging of the windows of the vehicle is prevented.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, including operating the air-conditioning system in recirculation mode.

4. The method as claimed claim 3, wherein the step of air-conditioning the interior of the vehicle comprises opening of windows by the climate modification device in such a way that fogging of the windows of the vehicle is prevented.

5. The method as claimed claim 4, wherein the step of air-conditioning the interior of the vehicle comprises opening of sunroof by the climate modification device in such a way that fogging of the windows of the vehicle is prevented.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, including monitoring, by said climate detection device, temperature, humidity and rain and taking into account measurement data thereof when detecting the climate in the interior of the vehicle.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, including monitoring, by said climate detection device, temperature, humidity and rain and taking into account measurement data thereof when detecting the climate in the interior and in an area surrounding the vehicle.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, including using a car key as a user communication unit.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, including using a smartphone, a tablet and/or a wearable device, as a user communication unit, data from which are taken into account by the climate modification device when testing whether fogging of at least one of the windows of the vehicle is to be expected when the user enters the vehicle.

10. A computer program product for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1.

11. A vehicle, comprising: a user communication device carried by an identifiable user; a vehicle communication device configured to communicate with said user communication device; a climate detection device configured to detect climate in an interior of the vehicle; and a climate modification device configured to modify the climate in the interior of the vehicle and prevent fogging of windows of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said climate detecting device is also configured to detect the climate in an area surrounding the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0027] In the following, the new and improved method, computer program and vehicle are described in greater detail with reference to the enclosed drawings. Shown are:

[0028] FIG. 1a a schematic plan view of a vehicle, which can be operated with the method,

[0029] FIG. 1b the vehicle shown in FIG. 1a) in a schematic sectional view, so that components fitted in the vehicle are visible,

[0030] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of the method, and

[0031] FIG. 3 a flow diagram of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1a shows a schematic view of a vehicle 10, which is configured in such a way that the new and improved method can be carried out. The vehicle 10 has a total of six windows 12, namely a windshield 14, a rear window 16 and four side windows 18. The side windows 18 are automatically retractable, wherein the necessary window controls and the drive means are not shown. The vehicle 10 also comprises a vehicle roof 20, in which an automatically actuatable sunroof 22 is arranged, wherein the drive means are not shown here either.

[0033] As can be seen from FIG. 1b, the vehicle 10 has an interior 24, which is bounded by the windows 12 and the roof of the vehicle 20, among other things. The vehicle 10 is equipped with a climate detection device 26 with which the climate in the interior 24 of the vehicle 10 can be detected. The climate detection device 26 comprises a temperature sensor 28 and a humidity sensor 30 for the purpose. The climate in the interior 24 can therefore be characterized and quantified in terms of its temperature and moisture level. Another way to characterize and quantify the climate would be to use a barometer to measure the air pressure in the interior 24 (not shown).

[0034] The temperature sensor 28 and the moisture sensor 30 are configured so that they can characterize and quantify the climate not only in the interior 24 but also in the area surrounding the vehicle 10. In addition, the climate detection device 26 comprises a rain sensor 32, which can be used to determine whether and how hard it is raining in the area surrounding the vehicle 10.

[0035] The vehicle 10 also comprises a climate modification device 34, which can be part of the control unit of the vehicle 10. In addition, the vehicle 10 comprises an air-conditioning system 39. The climate modification device 34 detects the measurement data generated by the climate detection device 26 and takes appropriate measures in order to selectively modify the climate in the interior 24. These measures will be explained in more detail later.

[0036] The vehicle 10 is also equipped with a vehicle communication device 36, with which the vehicle 10 can communicate and exchange data with a user communication unit 38.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the way the communication between the vehicle communication device 36 and the user communication unit 38 can be implemented. The vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 2 has the components described in FIGS. 1a and 1b, including, among other things, the vehicle communication device 36. The user 37 shown in FIG. 2 carries the user communication unit 38, which is implemented as a number of wearables 40. In addition, it shows schematically that the user communication unit 38 can also be implemented as a tablet 42, a smartphone 44 or a car key 46.

[0038] Irrespective of how the user communication unit 38 is implemented, this makes contact wirelessly with the vehicle communication device 36, for example via Bluetooth or WIi-Fi. Before first use a pairing is made between the user communication unit 38 and the vehicle communication device 36, in order to enable communication. This also classifies the user 37 of the user communication unit 38 as an identifiable user 37, who is entitled to enter the vehicle 10.

[0039] In the example of the wearables 40 worn by the user 37, these measure a plurality of user-related data, for example, the position, the speed, the heart rate, skin temperature, blood pressure, and skin resistance. This makes it possible to determine whether or not the user 37 is currently involved in sporting activity and how heavily he/she is sweating. This information is important to the extent that in the case of heavy sweating on the part of the user 37, a quantity of moisture enters the interior 24 of the vehicle 10 via the skin in addition to the breath.

[0040] The measurement data generated by the wearables 40 can be transmitted to the vehicle communication system 36 either continuously or only when the user 37 is located within a selectable distance of the vehicle 10. Based on the position measurement it is possible to determine whether the user 37 intends to enter the vehicle 10 within a certain period of time. If this occurs, the vehicle communication device 36 transmits the measurement data determined by the wearables 40 to the climate modification device 34. Wearables 40 from more than one user 37 that communicate with the vehicle communication device 36 can also be used. In that case the climate modification device 34 additionally receives an indication of whether or not more than one user 37 is entering the vehicle 10, and whether the users 37 are sweating. The climate modification device 34 can determine whether the currently prevailing climate in the interior 24 is likely to result in fogging of the windows 12 if the user 37 or the users 37 board the vehicle 10.

[0041] If it can be expected that the windows 12 will fog when the user or users 37 board(s) the vehicle 10, the climate modification device 34 can take the following measures: it can switch on the air-conditioning system 39 of the vehicle 10 and operate it such that fogging of the windows 12 is prevented when the users 37 board the vehicle 10. This can be effected, for example, by increasing the temperature of the air, thereby increasing its capacity to absorb water. Furthermore, the air-conditioning system 39 can be operated in recirculation mode, which makes sense if the moisture level in the area surrounding the vehicle 10 is greater than in the interior 24. Should it be necessary to start the engine of the vehicle 10 in order to be able to operate the air-conditioning system 39 appropriately, this is performed by the climate modification device 34.

[0042] In addition, the climate modification device 34 can lower the side windows 18 and/or open the sunroof 22. If the vehicle 10 concerned is a convertible, then the roof can be opened. The rain sensor 32 checks whether or not it is raining in the area surrounding the vehicle 10. In particular, the sunroof and the top of the convertible are only opened if it is not raining.

[0043] As already mentioned, the user communication unit 38 can also be implemented as a tablet 42, a smartphone 44 or a car key 46. Smartphones in particular have acceleration sensors, which can be used to determine whether the user 37 is walking or running. The GPS transmitters can be used to determine how fast the user 37 is moving. Even if, in contrast to wearables 40, there is no means of measuring the pulse, blood pressure and skin resistance and thus of determining whether and, if so, how much the user 37 is sweating. However, on the basis of previous experience it can be estimated that a user 37 who is moving at a running speed over a fairly long period of time will be sweating. In addition, the climate modification device 34 can be designed to be self-learning, so that the increase in moisture when boarding the vehicle 10 is correlated with the physical activity of the user and, therefore, an estimate can be made as to the moisture input which is likely to occur in a comparable situation.

[0044] The behavior is somewhat different in the case when the user communication unit 38 is designed as a car key 46. The car key 46 is usually not equipped with a GPS sensor and not in a position to determine the physical activity of the user. Instead, it is only possible to determine whether or not the user 37 is within a certain radius around the vehicle 10. If the climate detection device 26 were to detect a climate in the interior 24, in which given a normal level of physical activity of the user fogging of the windows 12 would be expected, then the climate modification device 34 can initiate the described measures.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, regardless of the specific embodiment of the user communication unit 38, using the current method it is determined whether or not an identifiable user 37 is approaching the vehicle 10. In addition, it is determined whether fogging of at least one of the windows 12 is to be expected when the user 37 enters the vehicle 10. In doing so, all available relevant information is taken into account to be able to make the most accurate possible assessment of this. If a fogging of the windows 12 is to be expected, the interior 24 is air-conditioned such that fogging is prevented when the user 37 enters the vehicle 10.

[0046] Even if, for example, when the user communication unit 38 is a car key 46, only relatively little relevant information is available, the method nevertheless offers a significant advantage. In most cases, the user 37 is not aware of the fact that the windows 12 will soon start to fog, because the windows 12 often do not fog immediately after the user enters the vehicle 10, but only some time later. Only then will the user 37 adjust the air-conditioning system 39 so that the windows 12 are cleared of condensation. Even if the air-conditioning system 39 is appropriately operated or if the other measures described are taken for only a short time before the user enters, it is possible to prevent fogging of the windows 12.

[0047] It is expedient to design the vehicle 10 in such a way that a message is issued to the user 37, according to which there is a risk of the windows 12 fogging and that the described counter measures have been taken. This message can be provided via a display in the vehicle 10 or via the user communication unit 38. Issuing the message via the user communication unit 38, for example via the smartphone 44, has the advantage that the user is already informed about the measures that have been initiated before reaching the vehicle 10 and so does not wonder why, for example, the engine is running and the side windows 18 have been lowered.