US 12,459,333 B2
Climate management system for a compartment of a vehicle
Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US); Michael Hrecznyj, Livonia, MI (US); Sarah Marie Shaw, Commerce Township, MI (US); Jeff Robert Seaman, Petersburg, MI (US); Brendan Diamond, Grosse Pointe, MI (US); and Annette Lynn Huebner, Highland, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/127,995.
Prior Publication US 2024/0326556 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00885 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00807 (2013.01); B60H 1/00985 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A climate management system for a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:
a divider selectively disposed in the compartment to divide the compartment into two zones in response to connection with a wall of the compartment;
a sensor monitoring the compartment and configured to detect the divider in the compartment;
at least one fluid connection in the compartment;
at least one actuator configured to control fluid flow through the at least one fluid connection;
control circuitry in communication with the sensor and the at least one actuator and configured to communicate a signal to adjust the at least one actuator based on the detection of the divider, wherein the at least one fluid connection includes a first fluid connection controlled by a first actuator and in fluid communication with a first zone of the two zones;
a thermal imager in communication with the control circuitry and configured to capture thermal data of the compartment, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine a plurality of climates in the compartment based on the thermal data;
a camera in communication with the control circuitry and configured to capture images of a region exterior to the vehicle, wherein the control circuitry further comprises an image processor configured to estimate an identity of the objects to be stored in the compartment based on the images, wherein the image processor is further configured to determine target placements for the objects based on the identity of the objects and the plurality of climates, wherein determining the target placements is based further on a target temperature for the objects, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to estimate the target temperature for the objects based on the identity of the objects, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate an indication to place the objects in the target placements; and
a projector in communication with the control circuitry and configured to project the indication in the compartment.