System and method for determining ambient temperature outside of a vehicle

Claim 1

A method of automatically displaying on a display device in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a current temperature signal from a temperature device mounted exterior to said vehicle; comparing in a comparator device said current temperature signal to an average temperature signal, said average temperature signal being an average of said current temperature signal over an averaging period of time; displaying on said display device a current temperature related to said current temperature signal if said current temperature signal is less than said average temperature signal; determining a new average temperature signal and displaying a new average temperature value related to said new average temperature signal if said current temperature signal is greater than said new average temperature signal; detecting a heatsoak condition when predetermined conditions exist indicating that the current temperature signal has been influenced by absorption of non-ambient heat; and displaying said new average temperature value if said heatsoak condition is detected.

Claim 2

A method of automatically displaying on a display device in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a current temperature signal from a temperature device mounted exterior to said vehicle; comparing in a comparator device said current temperature signal to an average temperature signal, said average temperature signal being an average of said current temperature signal over an averaging period of time; displaying on said display device a current temperature related to said current temperature signal if said current temperature signal is less than said average temperature signal; determining a new average temperature signal and displaying a new average temperature value related to said new average temperature signal if said current temperature signal is greater than said new average temperature signal; detecting a heatsoak condition when predetermined conditions exist indicating that the current temperature signal has been influenced by absorption of non-ambient heat; and displaying said new average temperature value if said heatsoak condition is detected.

Claim 9

A method of automatically displaying on a display device in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a current temperature signal from a temperature device mounted exterior to said vehicle; comparing in a comparator device said current temperature signal to an average temperature signal, said average temperature signal being an average of said current temperature signal over an averaging period of time; displaying on said display device a current temperature related to said current temperature signal if said current temperature signal is less than said average temperature signal; determining a new average temperature value and displaying said new average temperature value if said current temperature is greater than said new average temperature value; testing said temperature device for an open or shorted condition; and displaying said new average temperature value if said open or shorted condition exists.

Claim 10

A method of automatically displaying on a display device in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a current temperature signal from a temperature device mounted exterior to said vehicle; comparing in a comparator device said current temperature signal to an average temperature signal, said average temperature signal being an average of said current temperature signal over an averaging period of time; displaying on said display device a current temperature related to said current temperature signal if said current temperature signal is less than said average temperature signal; determining a new average temperature value and displaying said new average temperature value if said current temperature is greater than said new average temperature value; testing said temperature device for an open or shorted condition; and displaying said new average temperature value if said open or shorted condition exists.

Claim 13

A method of displaying on a display device in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a current temperature signal from a temperature device mounted exterior to said vehicle; comparing in a comparator device said current temperature signal to an average temperature signal, said average temperature signal being an average of said current temperature signal over an averaging period of time; displaying on said display device a current temperature related to said current temperature signal if said current temperature signal is less than said average temperature signal; determining a new average temperature signal and displaying a new average temperature value related to said new average temperature signal if said current temperature signal is greater than said new average temperature signal; setting an Update Flag upon initial ignition of said vehicle; comparing a speed of said vehicle to a first threshold speed if said Update Flag is set; comparing a temperature of an engine of said vehicle to a setpoint if said speed of said vehicle exceeds said first threshold; and displaying said current temperature if said temperature of said engine is less than said setpoint.

Claim 14

A method of displaying on a display device in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a current temperature signal from a temperature device mounted exterior to said vehicle; comparing in a comparator device said current temperature signal to an average temperature signal, said average temperature signal being an average of said current temperature signal over an averaging period of time; displaying on said display device a current temperature related to said current temperature signal if said current temperature signal is less than said average temperature signal; determining a new average temperature signal and displaying a new average temperature value related to said new average temperature signal if said current temperature signal is greater than said new average temperature signal; setting an Update Flag upon initial ignition of said vehicle; comparing a speed of said vehicle to a first threshold speed if said Update Flag is set; comparing a temperature of an engine of said vehicle to a setpoint if said speed of said vehicle exceeds said first threshold; and displaying said current temperature if said temperature of said engine is less than said setpoint.

Claim 15

A system for displaying, in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising: an external temperature sensor mounted on said vehicle, said external temperature sensor providing as an output a signal indicative of a current temperature; an engine controller module, said engine controller module providing a signal indicative of a speed of said vehicle; a temperature indicator controller having a microprocessor and a memory, said temperature indicator controller having as inputs said signals indicative of said current temperature and said speed of said vehicle; a display device mounted inside said vehicle, said display device being connected to said temperature indicator controller; a means in said temperature indicator controller for determining an average temperature value, said average temperature value being an average of said current temperature signals over an averaging period of time; a decision means in said temperature indicator controller for providing either said current temperature or said average temperature value to said display device; a fault detection means for detecting open or shorted conditions of said external temperature sensor; and wherein said decision means is responsive to said fault detection means for displaying said average temperature value if said fault detection means detects an open or shorted condition in said external temperature sensor.

Claim 16

A system for displaying, in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising: an external temperature sensor mounted on said vehicle, said external temperature sensor providing as an output a signal indicative of a current temperature; an engine controller module, said engine controller module providing a signal indicative of a speed of said vehicle; a temperature indicator controller having a microprocessor and a memory, said temperature indicator controller having as inputs said signals indicative of said current temperature and said speed of said vehicle; a display device mounted inside said vehicle, said display device being connected to said temperature indicator controller; a means in said temperature indicator controller for determining an average temperature value, said average temperature value being an average of said current temperature signals over an averaging period of time; a decision means in said temperature indicator controller for providing either said current temperature or said average temperature value to said display device; a fault detection means for detecting open or shorted conditions of said external temperature sensor; and wherein said decision means is responsive to said fault detection means for displaying said average temperature value if said fault detection means detects an open or shorted condition in said external temperature sensor.

Claim 18

A system for displaying, in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising: an external temperature sensor mounted on said vehicle, said external temperature sensor providing as an output a signal indicative of a current temperature; an engine controller module, said engine controller module providing a signal indicative of a speed of said vehicle; a temperature indicator controller having a microprocessor and a memory, said temperature indicator controller having as inputs said signals indicative of said current temperature and said speed of said vehicle; a display device mounted inside said vehicle, said display device being connected to said temperature indicator controller; a means in said temperature indicator controller for determining an average temperature value, said average temperature value being an average of said current temperature signals over an averaging period of time; a decision means in said temperature indicator controller for providing either said current temperature or said average temperature value to said display device; an engine temperature sensor mounted to an engine of said vehicle, said engine temperature sensor providing a signal indicative of a temperature of said engine; and wherein said decision means is responsive to said engine controller module and said engine temperature sensor for displaying said current temperature if said speed of said vehicle exceeds a threshold speed and said engine temperature is below a setpoint temperature.

Claim 19

A system for displaying, in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising: an external temperature sensor mounted on said vehicle, said external temperature sensor providing as an output a signal indicative of a current temperature; an engine controller module, said engine controller module providing a signal indicative of a speed of said vehicle; a temperature indicator controller having a microprocessor and a memory, said temperature indicator controller having as inputs said signals indicative of said current temperature and said speed of said vehicle; a display device mounted inside said vehicle, said display device being connected to said temperature indicator controller; a means in said temperature indicator controller for determining an average temperature value, said average temperature value being an average of said current temperature signals over an averaging period of time; a decision means in said temperature indicator controller for providing either said current temperature or said average temperature value to said display device; an engine temperature sensor mounted to an engine of said vehicle, said engine temperature sensor providing a signal indicative of a temperature of said engine; and wherein said decision means is responsive to said engine controller module and said engine temperature sensor for displaying said current temperature if said speed of said vehicle exceeds a threshold speed and said engine temperature is below a setpoint temperature.

Claim 21

A system for displaying, in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising: an external temperature sensor mounted on said vehicle, said external temperature sensor providing as an output a signal indicative of a current temperature; an engine controller module, said engine controller module providing a signal indicative of a speed of said vehicle; a temperature indicator controller having a microprocessor and a memory, said temperature indicator controller having as inputs said signals indicative of said current temperature and said speed of said vehicle; a display device mounted inside said vehicle, said display device being connected to said temperature indicator controller; a means in said temperature indicator controller for determining an average temperature value, said average temperature value being an average of said current temperature signals over an averaging period of time; a decision means in said temperature indicator controller for providing either said current temperature or said average temperature value to said display device; a heatsoak detection means for detecting a heatsoak condition, said heatsoak condition occurring when said signal from said external temperature sensor is unreliable due to absorption of non-ambient heat, said heatsoak detection means setting a heatsoak flag if said heatsoak condition occurs; and wherein said decision means is responsive to said heatsoak flag for displaying said average temperature value if said heatsoak flag is set.

Claim 22

A system for displaying, in a vehicle, an indication of an ambient air temperature outside of said vehicle comprising: an external temperature sensor mounted on said vehicle, said external temperature sensor providing as an output a signal indicative of a current temperature; an engine controller module, said engine controller module providing a signal indicative of a speed of said vehicle; a temperature indicator controller having a microprocessor and a memory, said temperature indicator controller having as inputs said signals indicative of said current temperature and said speed of said vehicle; a display device mounted inside said vehicle, said display device being connected to said temperature indicator controller; a means in said temperature indicator controller for determining an average temperature value, said average temperature value being an average of said current temperature signals over an averaging period of time; a decision means in said temperature indicator controller for providing either said current temperature or said average temperature value to said display device; a heatsoak detection means for detecting a heatsoak condition, said heatsoak condition occurring when said signal from said external temperature sensor is unreliable due to absorption of non-ambient heat, said heatsoak detection means setting a heatsoak flag if said heatsoak condition occurs; and wherein said decision means is responsive to said heatsoak flag for displaying said average temperature value if said heatsoak flag is set.