U.S. patent application number 11/393221 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for window defrost control using rain sensor.
This patent application is currently assigned to NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Invention is credited to Brian Wesley Hanselman, Scott Edward Hill.
Application Number | 20070227718 11/393221 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38557139 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227718 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hill; Scott Edward ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Window defrost control using rain sensor
Abstract
A window defrost control apparatus and method for a vehicle can
include at least one obstruction sensor operable to monitor at
least one surface and operable to output an obstruction detection
status signal corresponding to detection of an obstruction on the
at least one surface being monitored and/or at least one
temperature sensor operable to output a temperature signal. A
deice/defrost/defog HVAC system can be operable to remove ice,
frost, fog, and/or condensation, collectively referred to herein
generically as moisture, from the at least one surface being
monitored. A controller can be operable to receive the status
signal output from the at least one obstruction sensor and/or at
least one temperature sensor, and can be operable to control
activation of the deice/defrost/defog HVAC system in response to
the obstruction detection status signal received and/or the
temperature signal received.
Inventors: |
Hill; Scott Edward; (Saline,
MI) ; Hanselman; Brian Wesley; (Milford, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & BASILE, P.C.
3001 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD
SUITE 624
TROY
MI
48084
US
|
Assignee: |
NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH
AMERICA, INC.
Farmington Hills
MI
48331
|
Family ID: |
38557139 |
Appl. No.: |
11/393221 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/231 ;
62/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 1/00785
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/231 ;
062/140 |
International
Class: |
F25D 21/02 20060101
F25D021/02; F25D 21/00 20060101 F25D021/00 |
Claims
1. A window defrost control apparatus for a vehicle comprising: at
least one obstruction sensor operable to monitor at least one
surface and operable to output an obstruction detection status
signal corresponding to detection of an obstruction on the at least
one surface; an HVAC system operable to remove moisture from the at
least one surface; and a controller operable to receive the status
signal output from the at least one obstruction sensor and operable
to control activation of the HVAC system in response to the status
signal received.
2. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
controller is operable to control deactivation of the HVAC system
in response to the status signal received from the at least one
obstruction sensor.
3. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 1 further
comprising: a wiper system operable to wipe the at least one
surface being monitored; and the controller operable to activate
the wiper system, prior to activation of the HVAC system, in
response to the status signal received from the at least one
obstruction sensor.
4. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 1 further
comprising: a remote engine starter device operable to send a
signal to an engine control unit; and the controller operable to
activate the HVAC system in response to remote engine startup and
the status signal received from the at least one obstruction
sensor.
5. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at
least one surface is selected from a group consisting of a
windshield surface, a window surface, a mirror surface, a lens
surface, and any combination thereof.
6. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 1 further
comprising: at least one temperature sensor operable to send a
temperature signal to the controller.
7. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at
least one temperature sensor is selected from a group consisting of
an engine oil temperature sensor, an engine coolant temperature
sensor, an engine intake air temperature sensor, a transmission oil
temperature sensor, an automatic heating/ventilating/air
conditioning (HVAC) temperature sensor, an exterior outside air
temperature sensor, and any combination thereof.
8. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 1 further
comprising: the controller operable to automatically activate
operation of a wiper system in an attempt to clear an obstruction
detected on the corresponding at least one surface being monitored,
prior to the controller being operable to automatically activate
the HVAC system for the corresponding at least one surface being
monitored, and the controller being operable to determine if a
monitored temperature is below a predetermined temperature prior to
automatically activating the HVAC system.
9. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 1 further
comprising: the controller operable to automatically activate
operation of a wiper system in an attempt to clear an obstruction
detected on the corresponding at least one surface being monitored,
prior to the controller being operable to automatically activate
the HVAC system for the corresponding at least one surface being
monitored.
10. The window defrost control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at
least one obstruction sensor is selected from a group consisting of
an infrared sensor, a camera/video processor, and any combination
thereof.
11. A method for controlling a window defrost apparatus for a
vehicle comprising: monitoring at least one surface with at least
one obstruction sensor operable to output an obstruction detection
status signal corresponding to detection of an obstruction on the
at least one surface; and controlling activation of an HVAC system
operable to remove moisture from the at least one surface with a
controller operable in response to the status signal received from
the at least one obstruction sensor.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: controlling
deactivation of the HVAC system with the controller in response to
the status signal received from the at least one obstruction
sensor.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising: controlling
activation of a wiper system operable to wipe the at least one
surface being monitored with the controller, prior to controlling
activation of the HVAC system, in response to the status signal
received from the at least one obstruction sensor.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising: controlling
activation of the HVAC system with the controller in response to a
remote engine startup and the status signal received from the at
least one obstruction sensor.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising: sending a
temperature signal to the controller with at least one temperature
sensor.
16. A method for controlling a window defrost apparatus for a
vehicle comprising: detecting ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture
on at least one window of a vehicle with an obstruction sensor; and
automatically activating a corresponding window deice/defrost/defog
HVAC system in response to detection of
ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture on the at least one window of
the vehicle.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising: monitoring the at
least one window of the vehicle continuously during vehicle
operation.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising: monitoring a
temperature with at least one temperature sensor; and automatically
activating the corresponding window deice/defrost/defog HVAC system
in response to detection of ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture on
the at least one window of the vehicle in combination with the
monitored temperature being below a predetermined temperature.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising: automatically
activating operation of a wiper system in an attempt to clear
detected ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture prior to automatically
activating the corresponding window deice/defrost/defog HVAC
system, if the monitored temperature is below a predetermined
temperature.
20. The method of claim 16 further comprising: automatically
activating operation of a wiper system in an attempt to clear
detected ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture prior to automatically
activating the corresponding window deice/defrost/defog HVAC
system.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a window defrost control
apparatus and method for a vehicle operable to automatically
activate a defroster and/or HVAC system in response to an
obstruction detection status signal from an obstruction sensor
and/or a temperature signal from at least one temperature
sensor.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Various configurations for moisture and/or fog detection are
known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,693; U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. US 2005/0206511; and U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. US 2004/0000631. While these
configurations appear suitable for their intended purpose, it would
be desirable to provide an automatic window defrost control system
using at least one obstruction sensor and/or at least one
temperature sensor. It would be desirable to detect rain, ice,
frost, fog, condensation, and/or moisture on a window, mirror, or
lens surface, and automatically operate a deice, defog, defrost,
and/or heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC) system in order
to reduce or eliminate the ice, frost, fog, condensation, or
moisture without requiring manual activation by the user. It would
be desirable to activate a window deicer, defogger, defroster,
and/or HVAC system automatically after a vehicle has been started
via a remote-start function, so that the windshield, windows,
mirrors, and/or rear window could be cleared before a driver enters
the vehicle. It would be desirable to provide a system that can
continually monitor for the presence of rain, ice, frost, fog,
condensation and/or moisture during vehicle operation, and
automatically activate the deicer, defogger, defroster, and/or HVAC
system whenever necessary. It would be desirable to provide a
controller that can use an output from at least one obstruction
sensor to detect the presence of rain, ice, frost, fog,
condensation, moisture, dirt, dust, mud and/or other obstructing
residue, collectively referred to herein generically as an
obstruction, on at least one surface, such as a windshield, window,
mirror and/or lens, of a vehicle. It would be desirable to provide
a controller that can use the output of at least one temperature
sensor to control activation and/or deactivation of a deice, defog,
defrost, and/or HVAC system. It would be desirable to provide a
deice, defog, defrost, and/or HVAC system that can be activated
when an obstruction sensor detects rain, ice, frost, fog,
condensation, moisture, dirt, dust, mud, or any other obstructing
residue, and when a temperature sensor output indicates a
temperature below a prescribed value. It would be desirable to
provide a deice, defog, defrost, and/or HVAC system that can be
automatically turned off by continuing to monitor the obstruction
sensor output, without the need for a timer. It would be desirable
to provide a controller that can automatically activate a wiper
system in an attempt to clear an obstruction detected by an
obstruction sensor, and if the obstruction has not been
successfully cleared after the wiper system has been driven, to
automatically activate a deice, defog, defrost, and/or HVAC system.
It would be desirable to provide a controller that can
automatically activate a deice, defog, defrost, and/or HVAC system
after an obstruction sensor has generated an obstruction detection
status signal, and after a temperature sensor has generated a
temperature signal indicating a temperature below a predetermined
value, and after an obstruction detected by the obstruction sensor
has not successfully been cleared with operation of a wiper system.
It would be desirable to provide a controller that can use the
output of at least one temperature sensor that is associated with
the vehicle for other purposes. It would be desirable to provide
the output of at least one existing temperature sensor associated
with the vehicle to be shared with a deice, defog, defrost, and/or
HVAC system via a vehicle communication bus, so that no extra
temperature sensor pack, package space, or wiring is required. It
would desirable to provide any of the features described above in
any combination.
SUMMARY
[0003] A window defrost control apparatus for a vehicle can include
at least one obstruction sensor operable to monitor at least one
surface and/or at least one temperature sensor. The obstruction
sensor operable to output an obstruction detection status signal
corresponding to detection of rain, ice, frost, fog, condensation,
moisture, dirt, dust, mud, or any other obstructing residue,
collectively referred to herein generically as an obstruction, on
the at least one surface being monitored. A deice/defog/defrost
system, sometimes referred to herein generically as a
heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC) system, can be operable
to remove ice, frost, fog, and/or condensation, collectively
referred to herein generically as moisture, from the at least one
surface being monitored. A controller can be provided operable to
receive the obstruction detection status signal output from the at
least one obstruction sensor and can be operable to control
activation of the HVAC system in response to the status signal
received.
[0004] A method for controlling window defrost apparatus for a
vehicle can include monitoring at least one surface with at least
one obstruction sensor operable to output an obstruction detection
status signal corresponding to detection of an obstruction on the
at least one surface being monitored, and controlling activation of
an HVAC system operable to remove moisture from the at least one
surface with a controller operable in response to the status signal
received from the at least one obstruction sensor.
[0005] A method for controlling a window defrost apparatus for a
vehicle can include detecting ice, frost, fog, condensation, and/or
moisture on at least one window of a vehicle with an obstruction
sensor, and automatically activating a window
deicer/defroster/defogger in response to detection of rain, ice,
frost, fog, condensation, and/or moisture on the at least one
window of the vehicle.
[0006] Other applications of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description
of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying
drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view of a window defrost
control system using an obstruction sensor according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic flow diagram of a method
for controlling operation of a deice/defog/defrost/HVAC system for
a vehicle using at least one temperature sensor and at least one
obstruction sensor according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic flow diagram of a method
for controlling operation of a deice/defog/defrost/HVAC system for
a vehicle including at least one obstruction sensor for controlling
activation of a wiper system according to an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic flow diagram of a method
for controlling operation of a deice/defog/defrost/HVAC system for
a vehicle including at least one obstruction sensor and at least
one temperature sensor to control activation of a wiper system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Referring now to FIG. 1, a window defrost control apparatus
10 for a vehicle can include at least one obstruction sensor 12
operable to monitor at least one surface, and operable to output an
obstruction detection status signal 14 corresponding to detection
of rain, ice, frost, fog, condensation, moisture, dirt, dust, mud,
or any other obstructing residue, collectively referred to herein
generically as an obstruction, on the at least one surface being
monitored. A deicer/defroster/defogger, collectively referred to
herein generically as an HVAC system 16 can be operable to remove
moisture from the at least one surface being monitored. A
controller 18 can be operable to receive the status signal 14
output from the at least one obstruction sensor 12, and can be
operable to control activation of the HVAC system 16 in response to
the status signal 14 received.
[0013] The controller 18 can be operable to control deactivation of
the deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 in response to the status
signal 14 received from the at least one obstruction sensor 12 for
the at least one surface being monitored. The at least one
obstruction sensor 12 can be selected from a group consisting of an
infrared sensor, a camera/video processor, and any combination
thereof. The at least one surface can be selected from a group
consisting of a windshield surface, a window surface, a mirror
surface, a lens surface, and any combination thereof.
[0014] A wiper system 20 can be operable to wipe the at least one
surface being monitored. The controller 18 can be operable to
activate the wiper system 20, prior to activation of the
deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16, in response to the status
signal 14 being received from the at least one obstruction sensor
12. The controller 18 can be operable to automatically activate a
wiper system 20 in an attempt to clear a detected obstruction from
the at least one surface being monitored, prior to the controller
18 automatically activating the deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16
for the surface being monitored.
[0015] At least one temperature sensor 22 can be operable to send a
temperature signal 24 to the controller 18. The at least one
temperature sensor can be selected from a group consisting of an
engine oil temperature sensor 22a, an engine coolant temperature
sensor 22b, an engine intake air temperature sensor 22c, a
transmission oil temperature sensor 22d, an automatic
heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC) temperature sensor 22e,
an exterior outside air temperature sensor 22f, and any combination
thereof. The controller 18 can be operable to automatically
activate the wiper system 20 in an attempt to clear an obstruction
detected on the at least one surface being monitored, prior to the
controller 18 being operable to automatically activate the
deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 for the at least one surface
being monitored. The controller 18 can be operable to determine if
a monitored temperature signal 24 is below a predetermined
temperature value prior to automatically activating the
deicer/defroster/defogger/HVAC system 16.
[0016] A remote engine starter device 26 can be operable to start a
vehicle engine resulting in output of an engine-running signal 28
being sent to the controller 18. The controller 18 can be operable
to activate the deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 in response to a
combination of the engine-running signal 28 being present and the
detection status signal 14 being present from the at least one
obstruction sensor 12.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, a method for controlling a window
defrost apparatus 10 for a vehicle can include monitoring at least
one surface with at least one obstruction sensor 12 operable to
output a detection status signal 14 corresponding to detection of
an obstruction on the at least one surface being monitored as
illustrated in flow diagram box 102, and controlling activation of
a deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 operable to remove moisture
from the at least one surface being monitored with a controller 18
operable in response to the status signal 14 received from the at
least one obstruction sensor 12 as illustrated in flow diagram box
114.
[0018] The method can include controlling deactivation of the
deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 with the controller 18 in
response to the status signal 14 received from the at least one
obstruction sensor 12 as illustrated by the flow diagram box 116,
query 118, and flow diagram box 120. In query 118, the controller
18 can determine if any obstruction is present. If the answer to
query 118 is YES, the method or control program can continue to
monitor the status signal 14 received from the at least one
obstruction sensor 12 associated with the at least one surface
being monitored, as illustrated by the control branch returning to
diagram box 116. If the answer to query 118 is NO, the method or
control program branches to flow diagram box 120 where the
deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 is turned off or deactivated.
When the deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 is turned off in flow
diagram box 120, the control system returns to flow diagram box
100, where the process can be repeated.
[0019] The method according to an embodiment of the present
invention can begin with either a vehicle remote start activation
of the engine or continued operation of the engine generating an
engine-running signal 28 as illustrated in flow diagram box 100.
The controller 18 can control activation of the deice/defrost/defog
HVAC system 16 in response to the remote engine start activation,
or engine running signal 28, and in response to the obstruction
detection status signal 24 received from the at least one
obstruction sensor 12 as illustrated in flow diagram box 102 and
query 104. In query 104, the controller can determine if an
obstruction is present. If the answer to query 104 is NO, the
method or control program can follow a branch returning to flow
diagram box 102 to continue monitoring for the presence of any
obstruction in query 104. If the answer to query 104 is YES, the
method or control program can follow the branch to flow diagram box
106, where at least one temperature sensor 22 can be operable to
send at least one temperature signal 24 to the controller 18. The
controller 18 can compare the temperature signal 24 to determine if
the temperature signal 24 is less than a predetermined value in
query 108. If the answer to query 108 is NO, the flow diagram can
follow the branch returning to flow diagram box 102. If the answer
to query 108 is YES, the method or control program can branch to
flow diagram box 110, where an additional temperature sensor can
output a second temperature signal to the controller 18. In query
112, the controller 18 can determine if the second temperature is
less than a prescribed value. If the answer to query 112 is NO, the
method or control program can follow a branch returning to flow
diagram box 102. If the answer to query 112 is YES, the method or
control program can proceed to flow diagram box 114, where the
deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 is automatically activated by
the controller 18.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 3, an embodiment according to the
present invention can include the previously described flow diagram
boxes 100, 102, 114, 116, 120, and queries 104, 118, whose
operation is identical to that previously described except as noted
herein with respect to flow diagram box 122 and query 124. If the
answer to query 104 is YES, the method or control program can
continue to flow diagram box 122. The method or control program can
include the controller 18 automatically activating operation of a
wiper system 20 in an attempt to clear an obstruction detected on
the at least one surface being monitored by the at least one
obstruction sensor 12, as illustrated in flow diagram box 122. The
method or control program can continue to query 124, where it can
be determined by the controller 18 if an obstruction is still
present after operation of the wiper system 20. If the answer to
query 124 is NO, the method or control program can follow the
branch returning to flow diagram box 102. If the answer to query
124 is YES, the method or control program can continue to flow
diagram box 114, where the deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16 is
automatically activated. All other aspects of flow diagram boxes
100, 102, 114, 116, 120, and queries 104, 118 are identical to the
description set forth with respect to FIG. 2 above.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the
present invention, the method or control program can include flow
diagram boxes 100, 102, 114, 116, 120, and queries 104, 118 as
previously described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, whose operation
is identical to that previously described except as noted herein
with respect to flow diagram box 106, 122 and queries 108, 124. If
the answer to the query 104 is YES, the method or control program
can proceed to flow diagram box 122, where the wiper system 20 is
activated in an attempt to clear an obstruction detected on the at
least one surface being monitored by the at least one obstruction
sensor 12. The method or control program can continue to query 124,
where the controller 18 can determine whether an obstruction is
still present after operation of the wiper system 20. If the answer
to query 124 is NO, the method or control program can follow the
branch returning to flow diagram box 102. If the answer to query
124 is YES, the method or control program can continue to flow
diagram box 106, where the controller 18 can obtain a temperature
signal 24 from at least one temperature sensor 22. The method or
program can continue to query 108, where the controller 18 can
determine if the temperature signal 24 is less than a prescribed
value. If the answer to query 108 is NO, the method or control
program can follow the branch returning to flow diagram box 102. If
the answer to query 108 is YES, the method or control program can
continue to flow diagram box 114, where the deice/defrost/defog
HVAC system 16 is automatically activated. All other aspects of
flow diagram boxes 100, 102, 114, 116, 120, and queries 104, 118
are identical to the description set forth with respect to FIGS. 2
and 3 above.
[0022] A method for controlling a window defrost apparatus 10 for a
vehicle can include detecting rain/ice/frost/fog/condensation,
collectively referred to herein as moisture, on at least one window
or surface of a vehicle with an obstruction sensor 12, and
automatically activating a corresponding window or surface
deicer/defroster/defogger, collectively referred to herein as an
HVAC system, in response to detection of moisture, on the at least
one window or surface of the vehicle.
[0023] The at least one window of the vehicle can be continuously
monitored during vehicle operation. Temperature can be monitored
with a temperature sensor, and the corresponding window or surface
deice/defrost/defog HVAC system, can be automatically activated in
response to detection of moisture, on the window or surface of the
vehicle when the monitored temperature is determined to be less
than a predetermined temperature. Operation of a wiper system can
be automatically activated by the controller in an attempt to clear
detected moisture or obstruction, prior to automatically activating
the window or surface deice/defrost/defog HVAC system 16. Automatic
operation of the window or surface deice/defrost/defog HVAC system
16, can be subject to a comparison of a monitored temperature with
a predetermined value, such that when the controller determines
that the monitored temperature is below a predetermined value, the
window or surface device/frost/defog HVAC system 16, can be
automatically activated.
[0024] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which
scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is
permitted under the law.
* * * * *