US5553776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and control system for economically controlling an automotive HVAC system
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1994-12-22
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Granted: 1996-09-10
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Expires: 2014-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Method and control system for economically controlling an automotive HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system using fuzzy logic. The control system responds to signals generated by various climate control sensors including a humidity sensor to produce a desired vehicle air temperature and air flow. Fuzzy logic calculations are performed based on fuzzy rules and membership functions to provide nonlinear compensation for setting the rate of clutch cycling in a CCOT system or refrigerant metering in a TXV system.
Inventors
- 👤 Leighton I. Davis, Jr.
- 👤 Robert W. Matteson
- 👤 Gerhard A. Dage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:28
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00642; B60H1/0073; B60H1/00814; B60H1/00821; B60H1/00864; B60H1/00878; B60H1/00892; G; G05; G05B; G05B13/00; G05B13/02; G05B13/0265; G05B13/0275; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for economically controlling a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle which discharges a flow of air to a passenger cabin of the vehicle, the system including a variable speed blower, ducting, cooling means for cooling air in the ducting, a control element having control positions for varying refrigerating capacity of the cooling means, actuators having various control position for controlling the direction of air flow and the ratio of fresh air to recirculated air, a humidity sensor for sensing relative humidity within the cabin and providing a corresponding relative humidity signal, and temperature sensors for sensing temperature within the cabin and providing a corresponding temperature signal, and for sensing ambient temperature and a target set point temperature, the method comprising the steps of: processing the temperature and relative humidity signals to obtain processed temperature and relative humidity signals; estimating a single enthalpy of air within the cabin based on the processed temperature and relative humidity signals; defining membership functions and fuzzy rules between the single enthalpy of air within the cabin and the control positions of the control element; and generating a control signal to control the positions of the control element to cause the system to economically discharge air into the cabin having a desired temperature and flow based on the single enthalpy of air within the cabin, the membership functions and the fuzzy rules.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for economically controlling a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle which discharges a flow of air to a passenger cabin of the vehicle, the system including a variable speed blower, ducting, cooling means for cooling air in the ducting, a control element having control positions for varying refrigerating capacity of the cooling means, actuators having various control position for controlling the direction of air flow and the ratio of fresh air to recirculated air, a humidity sensor for sensing relative humidity within the cabin and providing a corresponding relative humidity signal, and temperature sensors for sensing temperature within the cabin and providing a corresponding temperature signal, and for sensing ambient temperature and a target set point temperature, the method comprising the steps of: processing the temperature and relative humidity signals to obtain processed temperature and relative humidity signals; estimating a single enthalpy of air within the cabin based on the processed temperature and relative humidity signals; defining membership functions and fuzzy rules between the single enthalpy of air within the cabin and the control positions of the control element; and generating a control signal to control the positions of the control element to cause the system to economically discharge air into the cabin having a desired temperature and flow based on the single enthalpy of air within the cabin, the membership functions and the fuzzy rules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of defining membership functions and fuzzy rules between a control position of one of the actuators and the control positions of the control element and wherein the step of generating is also based on the control position of the one of the actuators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the one of the actuators is a blend door.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the control element is an A/C clutch and wherein the control signal is representative of clutch cycling rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the control element is a valve for metering refrigerant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
240 words
A control system for economically controlling a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle which discharges a flow of air to a passenger cabin of the vehicle, the HVAC system including a variable speed blower, ducting, cooling means for cooling air in the ducting, a control element having control positions for varying refrigerating capacity of the cooling means, actuators having various control positions for controlling the direction of air flow and the ratio of fresh air to recirculated air, a humidity sensor for sensing relative humidity within the cabin and providing a corresponding, relative humidity signal, and temperature sensors for sensing temperature within the cabin and providing a corresponding temperature signal and for sensing, ambient temperature and a target set point temperature, the system comprising: means for processing the temperature and relative humidity signals to obtain processed temperature and relative humidity signals; means for estimating a single enthalpy of air within the cabin based on the processed temperature and relative humidity signals; means for defining membership functions and fuzzy rules between the single enthalpy of air within the cabin and the control positions of the control element; and means for generating a control signal to control the position of the control element to cause the HVAC system to economically discharge air into the cabin having a desired temperature and flow based on the single enthalpy of air within the cabin, the membership functions and the fuzzy rules.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
240 words
A control system for economically controlling a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle which discharges a flow of air to a passenger cabin of the vehicle, the HVAC system including a variable speed blower, ducting, cooling means for cooling air in the ducting, a control element having control positions for varying refrigerating capacity of the cooling means, actuators having various control positions for controlling the direction of air flow and the ratio of fresh air to recirculated air, a humidity sensor for sensing relative humidity within the cabin and providing a corresponding, relative humidity signal, and temperature sensors for sensing temperature within the cabin and providing a corresponding temperature signal and for sensing, ambient temperature and a target set point temperature, the system comprising: means for processing the temperature and relative humidity signals to obtain processed temperature and relative humidity signals; means for estimating a single enthalpy of air within the cabin based on the processed temperature and relative humidity signals; means for defining membership functions and fuzzy rules between the single enthalpy of air within the cabin and the control positions of the control element; and means for generating a control signal to control the position of the control element to cause the HVAC system to economically discharge air into the cabin having a desired temperature and flow based on the single enthalpy of air within the cabin, the membership functions and the fuzzy rules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising means for defining membership functions and fuzzy rules between a control position of one of the actuators and the control positions of the control element and wherein the means for generating generates the control signal also based on the control position of the one of the actuators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one of the actuators is a blend door.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control element is a clutch and wherein the control signal is representative of clutch cycling rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control element is a valve for metering refrigerant.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-10 | 2000-03-11 | 2000-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-10 | 2004-03-11 | 2004-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-10 | 2008-03-11 | 2008-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |