Automotive air conditioning system
US6625997B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60H2001/327
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An automotive air conditioning system is provided comprising a duct for introducing a flow of air into a vehicle cabin, a closed-loop refrigeration circuit including a condenser and an evaporator, a temperature sensor arrange in the duct for measuring the temperature of the evaporator, and a control unit for selectively commanding operation of the system in accordance with the measured temperature of the evaporator. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor comprises an infrared (IR) temperature sensor that is remotely positioned downstream of the evaporator such that the sensor can measure the temperature of a downstream surface of the evaporator. The use of an infrared temperature sensor allows the temperature of substantially the entire downstream surface of the evaporator to be measured instead of a small finite area of the evaporator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.