US 12,233,684 B2
Control of the temperature in the interior of a vehicle
Volker Scheer, Roetgen (DE); Klaus Schuermanns, Cologne (DE); and Bernd Dienhart, Cologne (DE)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/937,200.
Claims priority of application No. 102021125409.4 (DE), filed on Sep. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0100673 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00807 (2013.01) 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling a temperature inside an interior of a vehicle with at least an air conditioning system, a camera and a control device, comprising the steps: determining, at a first time, that the camera is unobstructed and able to detect at least one region of one or more interior fitments in the interior of the vehicle; determining, based on infrared radiation detected by the camera, one or more surface temperatures of the one or more interior fitments in the interior of the vehicle; calculating a first comfort status in the interior of the vehicle based on the one or more surface temperatures; automatically adjusting temperature and air flow in the interior of the vehicle according to the first comfort status; determining, at a second time, that the camera is obstructed and unable to detect the one or more interior fitments; determining, based on determining that the one or more interior fitments are unable to be detected, at least one average temperature inside the vehicle interior instead of the surface temperature; transmitting the average temperature to the air conditioning system; calculating a second comfort status in the interior of the vehicle based on the average temperature inside the vehicle interior; and automatically adjusting temperature and air flow in the interior of the vehicle according to the second comfort status.