Method and system for a vehicle sanitizing mode

US11673535B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Alan Gutowski · Wixom, US
• Curtis Mark Jones · Wixom, US
• Manfred Koberstein · Troy, US
• Stephen White · Shanghai, CN
• Peter Mitchell Lyon · Birmingham, US
• John Eric Rollinger · Sterling Heights, US
• Scott Steadmon Thompson · Belleville, US
• M. Scott Christensen · Canton, US
• David Hancock · Plano, US
• Adam J. Richards · Canton, US
• Steve Skikun · Oakley Park, US
• Frank Fusco · Plymouth, US
• Venkatesh Krishnan · Sunnyvale, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 2020
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61L2202/25
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.