Method and system for a vehicle sanitizing mode

US12030464B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Alan Gutowski · Wixom, US
• Curtis Mark Jones · Wixom, US
• Fred 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

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 19, 2020
• Grant date: Jul 9, 2024
• Expiry date: Apr 17, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60H2001/224
• 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 cleaning an interior of a vehicle, adjusting a position of a sun shade based on at least one of an ambient temperature outside of the vehicle and a sun load of the vehicle, and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.