Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – Thermostatic – With indicator or alarm
Patent
1998-01-08
1999-08-03
Tanner, Harry B.
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
Thermostatic
With indicator or alarm
62127, 165 111, B60H 100, G05G 128
Patent
active
059313781
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a control unit for an automatic air-conditioning system for motor vehicles according to patent claim 1.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A control unit for an automatic air-conditioning system for motor vehicles is known, for example from DE 39 146 27. Said control unit contains two rotatable, coaxial control knobs projecting externally from the housing, as well as two coaxial shafts, an inner and an outer shaft, which are rotatably connected with the two control knobs. The temperature and the distribution of air in the interior of the motor vehicle are adjusted by way of said shafts. As another feature, the control unit comprises two indicator drums, which are rotatably connected with the two shafts, arranged in the interior of the control unit, and provided with symbols, which shift in relation to two windows in the front wall of the housing. Furthermore, when adjusted, the two control knobs lock in stable, exactly defined angular positions.
Furthermore, a control unit for an automatic air-conditioning system is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5, 220,805, where the usual parameters of an air-conditioning system such as, for example "air distribution", "air volume" and "air temperature" are adjusted via infinitely rotatable control knobs. With this control unit, the set point positions in the manual mode are indicated by digitally controlled symbols. When the control knob is turned, trailing of the digital symbols is accomplished by means of computer control, which determines the change in the desired parameter of the air-conditioning system from the original position, the sense of rotation, and the extent of rotation. When the parameter of the air-conditioning system is changed by manually overriding the automatic control by turning the knob, it is perceived as disadvantageous--due to the computer control--that the change takes place only in discrete, digitizable steps. Simple and safe adjustment of the desired parameter is prevented due to coarse digitization.
With other known designs of air-conditioning systems, it is possible, for example to override the automatic control by hand by manually actuating a great number of pushbuttons, or by actuating rocker keys a number of times for adjusting the speed of the blower and thus the value for air volume. The values so set by hand in the override function are indicated via LCD-displays. Provision is made for similar displays for indicating the actual value selected by the automatic system when operating in the purely automatic mode.
According to the problem of the present invention, the objective is to design possibilities for setting and recognizing manually adjustable values for "air distribution", "air volume" and, if necessary, "air temperature" in a simpler and safer way.
According to the invention, the solution to said problem is implemented by a control unit with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the objects of the dependent claims.
In the embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, which has modes for both automatic and manual adjustment, provision is made for manually adjustable analog setting devices to regulate "air distribution" and/or "air volume" and/or "air temperature", permitting simple manual handling of such adjustments. As indicators of "air distribution" and/or "air volume" each analog setting device is associated with an analog display which in the manual setting mode acts as a direct analog indicator of the nominal value, activated by an independent outside drive, consistent with the preset nominal value, thereby affording quick and dependable read-out of the preset value. When switching to the automatic mode by actuating an "Automatic" pushbutton, such independent separate drive causes the indicator device to directly slave the given actual value of "air distribution" and/or "air volume" analogously, serving as an indicator for the actual value. In this way, the indicator previously used in the manual mode as a nominal value display ca
REFERENCES:
patent: 4951476 (1990-08-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5070931 (1991-12-01), Kalthoff et al.
patent: 5220805 (1993-06-01), Fukudomi
patent: 5230467 (1993-07-01), Kubsch et al.
Tanner Harry B.
Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
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