Improved air conditioning

Abstract

System (100) comprising a computer (105) with a processor and a data storage (106), wherein the data storage (106) stores instructions executable by the computer (105) to: to collect data (115) about a skin reaction characteristic from a vehicle occupant; based on the data (115) to determine a target temperature for the passenger compartment; and to adjust an air conditioning system based on the desired temperature of the passenger compartment, wherein the data (115) comprise a skin temperature measured by a portable device (140) and a galvanic response of the skin measured by the portable device (140), wherein the portable device (140) measures the skin temperature and the galvanic response of the skin and determines the target temperature of the passenger compartment based on a most recent measurement of at least one of the skin temperature and the galvanic response of the skin.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Air conditioning systems allow vehicle occupants to adjust the passenger compartment temperature for their comfort. One feature of such systems can be the ability to adjust the air conditioning to achieve a desired passenger compartment temperature. Current mechanisms for determining the desired passenger compartment temperature are not tailored to or calibrated for the occupants.

[0002] WO 2008 / 084370 A1 discloses an intelligent, user-centered climate control system with feedback control that uses human bodily reactions as a control variable to optimally ensure comfort and well-being. Further state of the art is known from US 2015 / 0 204 556 A1.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide improved systems and methods for air conditioning.

[0004] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0005] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to drawings and exemplary embodiments. ABBREVIATION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system with a portable device that provides an output indicating a change in the vehicle's climate control. Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram of an exemplary process for adjusting an air conditioning system. Fig. Figure 3A is a diagram of an exemplary process for determining a target temperature of the passenger compartment based on an occupant's skin temperature. Fig. Figure 3B is a diagram of an exemplary process for determining the target temperature of the passenger compartment based on the electrical conductivity of the occupant's skin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] Fig. Figure 1 shows a system 100 comprising a portable device 140 that is communicatively coupled to the computer 105 of a vehicle 101. The computer 105 is programmed to receive acquired data 115 from one or more data collectors 110, e.g., sensors of the vehicle 101, regarding various measured values ​​related to the vehicle 101. For example, the measured values ​​may include the ambient temperature of the passenger compartment, the temperature outside the vehicle 101, biometric data relating to an occupant of the vehicle 101, e.g., heart rate, respiration, pupil dilation, body temperature, skin temperature, state of consciousness, etc. Other examples of such measured values ​​may include measured values ​​from vehicle systems and components (e.g., a steering system, a powertrain system, a braking system, internal scanning, external scanning, etc.).The computer 105 can be programmed to acquire data 115 from the vehicle 101 in which it is installed and which is sometimes referred to as the carrier vehicle 101, and / or can be programmed to acquire data 115 about a second vehicle 101, e.g. a target vehicle.

[0007] The Computer 105 is generally programmed for communication via a CAN bus (short for Controller Area Network) or similar. The Computer 105 can also have a connection to an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD II) connector.

[0008] By means of the CAN bus, OBD II and / or other wired or wireless mechanisms, the computer 105 can send messages to various devices in a vehicle and / or receive messages from various devices, e.g., control units, actuators, sensors, etc., including data collectors 110. Alternatively or additionally, in cases where the computer 105 actually comprises several devices, the CAN bus or the like can be used for communication between devices represented in this disclosure as computer 105.

[0009] The data storage device 106 can be of any known type, e.g., hard disk drives, solid-state drives, servers, or any volatile or non-volatile media. The data storage device 106 can store the captured data 115 transmitted by the data collectors 110.

[0010] The computer 105 can be programmed to control the climate of the passenger compartment as known, wherein the processor stores instructions to determine whether the room temperature of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 101 deviates from a target temperature of the passenger compartment, which is set, for example, by an occupant and / or determined by the computer 105 as disclosed herein, and to adjust the passenger compartment temperature so that it corresponds to the target temperature of the passenger compartment.

[0011] Data collectors 110 can comprise various devices. For example, different control units in a vehicle can act as data collectors 110 to provide data 115 via the CAN bus, e.g., data 115 regarding the interior temperature of the passenger compartment, outside temperature, humidity, etc., for any number of vehicles 101. Data collectors 110 can include mechanisms such as radar, lidar, sonar, thermocouples, thermistors, manometers, hygrometers, etc.—sensors that could be used to measure climate data in the vehicle 101. Other data collectors 110 could include cameras, breathalyzers, skin reaction sensors, motion detectors, etc.—that is, data collectors 110 for providing data 115 to evaluate the condition or state of a driver of the vehicle 101.

[0012] The collected data 115 can comprise various data collected in a vehicle 101. Examples of collected data 115 are mentioned above, and data 115 are also generally collected using one or more data collectors 110 and can additionally include data that is calculated from this data in the computer 105. In general, collected data 115 can comprise any data that can be collected by the data collectors 110 and / or calculated from this data. The computer 105 can use the collected data 115 to develop a climate profile for the occupant. The climate profile can include the occupant's climate control habits and characteristics, e.g., age, driving experience, preferred passenger compartment temperature, etc., as well as the collected data 115, e.g., passenger compartment temperature, outside temperature, humidity in the passenger compartment, etc. The climate profile can be used by the computer 105 to adjust the passenger compartment temperature of the vehicle 101.The computer 105 can create multiple climate profiles for different occupants and store them in the data storage device 106.

[0013] The portable device 140 can be any of a variety of computing devices comprising a processor, data storage, and communication capabilities, programmed to be worn on a rider's body. For example, the portable device 140 can be a wristwatch, a smartwatch, a vibrating device, etc., capable of wireless communication using IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, and / or cellular communication protocols.

[0014] The portable device 140 can include a temperature sensor 142. The temperature sensor can be of any known type, e.g., a thermocouple, a thermistor, etc. The temperature sensor 142 measures the skin temperature of the occupant wearing the portable device 140, and the device 140 transmits the acquired data 115 to the computer 105. The portable device can further include a skin response sensor 145. The skin response sensor 145 measures the electrical conductivity of the occupant's skin, i.e., its ability to conduct electricity through the occupant's skin. For example, dry skin has a much lower electrical conductivity than wet skin, so an occupant with sweaty skin (e.g., due to a high room temperature in the passenger compartment) would have a higher conductivity. This increase in conductivity can be used to signal the computer 105 to lower the room temperature of the passenger compartment.

[0015] System 100 can include user device 150. User device 150 can be any of several different computing devices that include a processor and data storage, e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a PDA, etc. User device 150 can communicate with computer 105 and portable device 140. User device 150 can include a temperature sensor to determine the room temperature of the passenger compartment of vehicle 101.

[0016] Fig. Figure 2 is a block diagram of a process 200 for adapting the computer 105. The process 200 begins in a block 205 in which the computer 105 acquires data about a skin property from the portable device. The skin property data can include, for example, skin temperature and / or electrical conductivity.

[0017] Next, computer 105 determines a target temperature for the passenger compartment in block 210 based on the skin property data recorded in block 205. The target temperature of the passenger compartment can be determined by at least one of the parameters in Fig. 3A and Fig. The processes described in 3B, 300, and 350, can be determined. For example, if the electrical conductivity is higher than previous measurements, the occupant might be sweating, and computer 105 can determine a target temperature for the passenger compartment that is a few degrees lower than the current target temperature.

[0018] Next, in block 215, computer 105 determines whether the passenger compartment temperature deviates from the target temperature. Computer 105 can acquire the passenger compartment temperature from, for example, a data collector 110, a portable user device 150, and / or a portable device 140. If the passenger compartment temperature does not deviate from the target temperature, process 200 returns to block 205 to acquire more data. Otherwise, the process continues in block 220.

[0019] In block 220, computer 105 sends the target temperature of the passenger compartment to portable device 140, where the target temperature is displayed to the occupant for approval on a screen of the portable device. The display may include a mechanism for granting approval, e.g., a specific button and / or a prompt on a touchscreen.

[0020] Next, in block 225, the occupant decides whether to adjust the passenger compartment setpoint temperature to the newly determined setpoint temperature. If the occupant disagrees with the new setpoint temperature, the process returns to block 205 to gather more data. Otherwise, the process continues in block 230. In some implementations, blocks 220 and 225 can be skipped; that is, the setpoint temperature can be adjusted without occupant consent, as described below, after a period of time has elapsed, where an occupant provides input to accept or reject a proposed passenger compartment setpoint temperature, or automatically based on skin temperature and / or conductivity.

[0021] In block 230, computer 105 adjusts the air conditioning to achieve the target temperature of the passenger compartment, and process 200 ends.

[0022] Fig. Figure 3A shows a process 300 for determining a target temperature of the passenger compartment based on the occupant's skin temperature. The process 300 begins in a block 305, in which the temperature sensor 142 acquires data about the occupant's skin temperature. The temperature sensor 142 then sends the temperature data to the user device 150.

[0023] Next, in block 310, the user device 150 determines a target temperature for the passenger compartment based on skin temperature data. The skin temperature can be predefined by the occupant and / or based on a recommended setting derived from the occupant's average skin temperature over a period of time, e.g., a driving cycle. The error between the target skin temperature and the measured skin temperature is then used to adjust the target temperature of the passenger compartment based on rule-based decision-making and calculation. Decision-making rules for adjusting the passenger compartment temperature with respect to a temperature error can be determined as follows: Terr=TST−MST if Terr=xi,then TCT=mi β≤TCT≤γ where T err The error between the target skin temperature TST and the measured skin temperature MST is, TCT is the target temperature of the passenger compartment, and x i , mi These are predetermined values, which are stored, for example, in data memory 106. The TCT can be limited by a minimum value β, e.g., 18 degrees Celsius, and a maximum value y, e.g., 24 degrees Celsius.

[0024] For example, if skin temperature readings exceed a set value, the user device 150 can lower the target temperature of the passenger compartment to reduce the skin temperature readings. Conversely, if the skin temperature readings indicate a drop below the set value, the user device 150 can raise the target temperature of the passenger compartment accordingly.

[0025] Next, the user device 150 sends the target temperature of the passenger compartment to the computer 105 in a block 315, instructing the air conditioning system to reach the target temperature of the passenger compartment, and process 300 ends.

[0026] Fig. Figure 3B shows a process 350 for determining a target temperature of the passenger compartment based on the electrical conductivity of the occupant's skin, i.e., a galvanic response. The process 350 begins in a block 355, where the skin response sensor 145 acquires response data from the occupant's skin. The skin response sensor 145 measures the electrical conductivity of the occupant's skin and transmits the acquired data to the user device 150. Skin conductivity increases when the vehicle occupant sweats. The occupant's skin conductivity is measured over several time periods and normalized to a value between 0 and 1, where values ​​closer to 1 indicate higher conductivity and values ​​closer to 0 indicate lower conductivity.

[0027] Next, in block 360, the user device 150 determines the target temperature of the passenger compartment based on the electrical conductivity of the skin. A target skin conductance for a specific target passenger compartment temperature can be determined based on the average skin conductance of the vehicle occupant 101, which is measured over several time periods. The discrepancy between the target skin conductance and the measured skin conductance is then used to adjust the target passenger compartment temperature based on rule-based decision-making and calculation. For example, if the conductivity has increased, the occupant might be sweating, which would necessitate a lower target passenger compartment temperature.

[0028] Next, in a block 365, the user device 150 sends the target temperature of the passenger compartment to the computer 105, whereupon the computer 105 instructs the air conditioning system to reach the target temperature of the passenger compartment, and process 350 ends.

[0029] Both processes 300 and 350 can run simultaneously to continuously update the target temperature of the passenger compartment used by computer 105. For example, process 350, which involves the skin reaction sensor 145, can operate at a faster processing speed relative to process 300, which involves the temperature sensor 142. Thus, computer 105 can obtain a more responsive target temperature for the passenger compartment based on which process is executed faster. Alternatively, processes 300 and 350 can be executed sequentially.

[0030] As used herein, the term “essentially”, which modifies an adjective, means that a form, structure, measure, value, calculation, etc. may deviate from a precisely described geometry, distance, dimension, value, calculation, etc., due to deficiencies in materials, processing, manufacturing, sensor measurements, calculations, processing time, communication time, etc.

[0031] Computers 105 generally comprise instructions that are executable by one or more computers, such as those mentioned above, and serve to execute blocks or steps of processes described above. Instructions executable by a computer can be compiled or interpreted by computer programs created using various programming languages ​​and / or technologies, including, but not limited to, and either alone or in combination, Java™, C, C++, Visual Basic, JavaScript, Perl, HTML, etc. Generally, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions from, for example, memory, a computer-readable medium, etc., and executes these instructions, thereby carrying out one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions and other data can be stored and transmitted using a wide variety of computer-readable media.A file in the computer 105 is generally a collection of data that is stored on a medium readable by a computer, such as a storage medium, working memory, etc.

[0032] A computer-readable medium encompasses any medium that contributes to providing data (e.g., instructions) that can be read by a computer. Such a medium can take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile media, volatile media, etc. Non-volatile media include, for example, image or magnetic disks and other permanent storage media. Volatile media include dynamic memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes main memory.Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, a DVD, any other optical medium, punched cards, punched tape, any other physical medium with hole patterns, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH EEPROM, any other memory chip or memory cartridge, or any other medium that can be read by a computer.

[0033] Regarding the media, processes, systems, procedures, etc., described herein, it is understood that while the steps of such processes, etc., are described as occurring in a specific, ordered sequence, such processes could be implemented by executing the described steps in a different order than described herein. Furthermore, it is understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In process 200, for example, one or more of the steps could be omitted, or the steps could be performed in a different order than described herein. Fig.2. The descriptions of systems and / or processes are provided herein, in other words, for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments and should in no way be construed as limiting the disclosed subject matter.

[0034] Accordingly, it is understood that the present disclosure, including the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, as well as the claims below, is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. To a person skilled in the art, many other embodiments and applications than the examples provided would be obvious upon reading the foregoing description. The scope of protection of the invention should not be determined by referring to the foregoing description, but instead by referring to the claims attached herein and / or contained in a non-provisional patent application based thereon, together with the full scope of protection of equivalents claimed by such claims. It is expected and intended that future developments will occur in the field discussed herein and that the disclosed systems and methods will be integrated into such future embodiments.In summary, it is understood that the disclosed subject matter may be subject to modification and alteration.

Claims

[1] System (100) comprising a computer (105) with a processor and a data storage (106), wherein the data storage (106) stores instructions executable by the computer (105) to: to collect data (115) about a skin reaction characteristic from a vehicle occupant; based on the data (115) to determine a target temperature for the passenger compartment; and to adjust an air conditioning system based on the desired temperature of the passenger compartment, wherein the data (115) comprise a skin temperature measured by a portable device (140) and a galvanic response of the skin measured by the portable device (140), wherein the portable device (140) measures the skin temperature and the galvanic response of the skin and determines the target temperature of the passenger compartment based on a most recent measurement of at least one of the skin temperature and the galvanic response of the skin. [2] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the skin reaction property comprises a galvanic reaction of the skin which is a measure of the electrical conductivity of the skin. [3] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the data (115) are acquired with the portable device (140). [4] System (100) according to claim 3, wherein the portable device (140) comprises a thermocouple. [5] System (100) according to claim 3, wherein the portable device (140) comprises an electrical conductivity sensor. [6] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the commands further include commands to receive the target temperature of the passenger compartment from a handheld user device (150). [7] System (100) comprising a computer (105) with a processor and a data storage (106), wherein the data storage (106) stores instructions executable by the computer (105) to: to determine the room temperature of the passenger compartment according to data (115) from a portable device (140), to collect data (115) about a skin reaction characteristic from a vehicle occupant; based on the data (115) to determine a target temperature for the passenger compartment; to adjust the air conditioning system based on the target temperature of the passenger compartment. [8] System (100) according to claim 7, wherein the commands comprise commands to determine a difference between the room temperature of the passenger compartment measured by the portable device (140) and a room temperature of the passenger compartment measured by the air conditioning system, wherein the target temperature of the passenger compartment is determined at least partially by the difference. [9] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the commands further include commands to display the desired temperature of the passenger compartment to the occupant on the portable device (140) and, with the occupant's consent, to adjust the air conditioning. [10] Procedures, including: Collecting data (115) about a skin reaction characteristic from a vehicle occupant; Determine, based on the data (115), a target temperature of the passenger compartment; and Adjusting an air conditioning system based on the target temperature of the passenger compartment, wherein the data (115) comprise a skin temperature measured by a portable device (140) and a galvanic response of the skin measured by the portable device (140), wherein the portable device (140) measures the skin temperature and the galvanic response of the skin and Based on a recent measurement of at least one of skin temperature and galvanic response of the skin, the target temperature of the passenger compartment was determined. [11] Method according to claim 10, wherein the skin reaction property comprises a galvanic reaction of the skin which is a measure of the electrical conductivity of the skin. [12] Method according to claim 10, wherein the data (115) are acquired with the portable device (140). [13] Method according to claim 12, wherein the portable device (140) comprises a thermocouple. [14] Method according to claim 12, wherein the portable device (140) comprises an electrical conductivity sensor. [15] Method according to claim 10, which further comprises receiving the temperature of the passenger compartment from a handheld user device (150). [16] Procedure, comprehensive: Determining the room temperature of the passenger compartment according to data (115) from a portable device (140), Collecting data (115) about a skin reaction characteristic from a vehicle occupant; Determine, based on the data (115), a target temperature of the passenger compartment; and Adjusting the air conditioning system based on the target temperature of the passenger compartment. [17] Method according to claim 16, wherein a difference is determined between the room temperature of the passenger compartment measured by the portable device (140) and a room temperature of the passenger compartment measured by the air conditioning system, wherein the target temperature of the passenger compartment is determined at least partially by the difference. [18] Method according to claim 10, which further comprises displaying the desired temperature of the passenger compartment on the portable device (140) for the occupant and, with the occupant's consent, adjusting the air conditioning system.

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