Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – Ventilator type – Electrically actuated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-01-16
Wayner, William (Department: 3744)
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
Ventilator type
Electrically actuated
C236S09100C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173902
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods and systems for controlling an automotive HVAC system based on an amount of HVAC Work required to achieve thermal comfort of an occupant of the automotive vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
A fundamental goal of automotive heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is to make vehicle occupants comfortable. To achieve this goal, it is important that the design of the control system that establishes cabin conditions takes into account the relationship between comfort and the variables that affect comfort. Human comfort is a complex reaction, involving physical, biological, and psychological responses to the given conditions. Because of this complexity, the engineer must consider many variables and their possible interaction in the design strategy of such a control system or controller.
In an attempt to measure and control the many variables that affect comfort, modern automotive HVAC systems have many sensors and control actuators. A typical system might have a temperature sensor inside the cabin, one measuring ambient temperature outside and others measuring various temperatures of the system internal workings. The occupant may have some input to the system via a set point or other adjustment. Additional sensors measuring sun heating load, humidity, etc. might be available to the system. The set of actuators might include a variable speed blower, some means for varying air temperature, ducting and doors to control the direction of air flow and the ratio of fresh to recirculated air.
The traditional control strategy of an HVAC system utilizes a linear control equation in which an arbitrary number whose scale is chosen more for microchip related numerics rather than for physical significance. This matter of scaling may seem to be a minor point, however, if temperature control calibrations are to be pre-calculated in a vehicle simulation, it is essential to give this equation physical meaning and tie comfort, work, and vehicle-specific variables together.
Thus, there exists a need for formulating temperature control equations in terms of physical quantities, such as work, temperature and air flow rate. Such equations will then have a connection with available Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools for initial development in a computer rather than on a vehicle test trip.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is thus a general object of the present invention to provide a method and system for controlling temperature in an automotive vehicle utilizing control equations that take into account physical quantities, such as work, temperature and air flow rate.
In carrying out the above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a method is provided for automatically controlling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to achieve thermal comfort of an occupant of the automotive vehicle. The method includes the step of receiving a plurality of input signals. The method also includes the step of determining a desired amount of HVAC Work necessary to achieve a desired level of thermal comfort based on the plurality of input signals. Finally, the method includes the step of controlling the HVAC system based on the desired amount of HVAC Work.
In further carrying out the above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a system is also provided for carrying out the steps of the above described method. The system includes a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of input signals. The system also includes a controller for determining a desired amount of HVAC Work necessary to achieve a desired level of thermal comfort based on the plurality of input signals and controlling the HVAC system based on the desired amount of HVAC Work.
The above object and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Bauer Michael Bradley
Davis, Jr. Leighton Ira
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Godwin Paul K.
Wayner William
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