Vehicle cabin thermal control system

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein provide a control system (100) for controlling a climate control system (190) of a vehicle (10), the vehicle comprising a cabin, the control system comprising one or more processors (120) collectively configured to: receive a cabin temperature setpoint signal (155) indicative of a target cabin temperature setpoint; receive a solar heating signal (165) from a solar sensor (160) of the vehicle, the solar heating signal indicative of an amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin; determine, in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle, a temperature solar offset value (360) indicative of a temperature offset to apply to the target cabin temperature setpoint (310); and output a setpoint control signal (145) to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint, the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint (370) comprising the temperature solar offset value applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint.

Description

[0001] VEHICLE CABIN THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to vehicle cabin thermal control systems, for example a control system which can account for solar effects on cabin temperature. Aspects of the invention relate to a control system for determining a solar correction and adjusting the cabin temperature of a vehicle, to a climate control system, to a vehicle, and to a method for controlling a climate control system of a vehicle.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] It is known that solar energy (i.e., sunlight) can pass through the glass surfaces of a cabin of a vehicle and warm the interior (e.g. the air, interior objects, surfaces, and occupants). Vehicles often use climate control systems to control the cabin temperature of a vehicle, for example to change the temperature to reach a temperature set by a vehicle occupant as a comfortable temperature.

[0006] It can be challenging to achieve a desired cabin temperature because of the various factors that influence the temperature in the cabin, including the effect of sunlight I solar energy. If a climate control system is used to adjust the temperature of the cabin, it can be challenging to ensure that occupants in the cabin experience / feel the interior is at a temperature which is a desired temperature to which the climate control system is set, because of the effect of external factors.

[0007] It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a control system, a climate control system, a method, and a vehicle, as claimed in the appended claims.

[0010] Disclosed herein is a control system for controlling a climate control system of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a cabin, the control system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to: receive a target cabin temperature; receive a solar heating signal indicative of an amount of solar power acting to heat the vehicle’s cabin; determine, in dependence on the amount of solar power, a temperature solar offset value indicative of an offset to apply to the target cabin temperature; and output a control signal to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint, the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint determined based on the temperature solar offset value and the target cabin temperature setpoint. Advantageously, the control system can determine a temperature solar offset value to compensate for heating effects on the cabin due to solar energy heating the cabin. This compensation allows the climate control system to more accurately control a cabin temperature to correct for the effects of an uncontrollable heat source (i.e. the sun).

[0011] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a control system for controlling a climate control system of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a cabin, the control system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to: receive a cabin temperature setpoint signal indicative of a target cabintemperature setpoint; receive a solar heating signal from a solar sensor of the vehicle, the solar heating signal indicative of an amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin; determine, in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle, a temperature solar offset value indicative of a temperature offset to apply to the target cabin temperature setpoint; determine an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint comprising the temperature solar offset value applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint; and output a setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

[0012] Advantageously, a target cabin temperature setpoint is received by the control system, and instead of controlling a climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature to the target setpoint, a temperature solar offset value is determined based on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle. This temperature solar offset value is used to compensate for heating in the cabin due to solar power. Thus the control system can control the climate control system to more accurately provide the cabin occupant(s) with a cabin temperature in a way which accounts for the effects of the solar power.

[0013] The control system may comprise one or more controllers collectively comprising at least one electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving an input signal; and at least one memory device electrically coupled to the at least one electronic processor and having instructions stored therein; and wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to access the at least one memory device and execute the instructions thereon so as to: receive a cabin temperature setpoint signal indicative of a target cabin temperature setpoint; receive a solar heating signal from a solar sensor of the vehicle, the solar heating signal indicative of an amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin; determine, in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle, a temperature solar offset value indicative of a temperature offset to apply to the target cabin temperature setpoint; determine an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint comprising the temperature solar offset value applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint and output a setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

[0014] The target cabin temperature setpoint may be received by a direct input from the user. The target cabin temperature setpoint may be received from another control system or from the claimed control system. These control systems may have access to stored or preconfigured cabin temperature preference setpoints for the climate control system to operate at, which may be based on prior tests and data from the vehicle of the control system and / or from other vehicles. This allows for the user to benefit from the cabin temperature preferences without requiring the user to input a target cabin temperature setpoint. Additionally, this advantageously allows for the present invention to be applied even when the user has not selected a target cabin temperature setpoint.

[0015] The target cabin temperature setpoint may be offset from a desired cabin temperature setpoint, received as an input from a user, by an operating offset indicative of a temperature difference between a desired cabin temperature and a perceived cabin temperature; and the control system may be configured to control the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint, thereby providing a perceived cabin temperature according to the desired cabin temperature setpoint. A user settemperature may not accurately reflect a perceived temperature in some cases. For example, if the user desires the temperature to be increased and to achieve this, a blower of the climate control system is to be controlled to provide an increased airflow, the actual cabin temperature setpoint may be made lower than the desired cabin temperature setpoint and the user will still feel, due to the increased flow of air onto them, that the desired cabin temperature setpoint has been reached. Advantageously, a more accurate adjustment of control to the climate control system may be provided by the control system to account for such perceived temperature differences as well as the effect of solar energy affecting cabin temperature.

[0016] The control system may be configured to output the setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to control one or more of a blower of the climate control system, a heating element of the climate control system, and an air conditioning element of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint. Adjustment of a cabin temperature can be performed by controlling these elements to vary the air speed and / or vary the input heated or cooled air temperature. In some circumstances, more airflow may not result in a cooler cabin experience. Additionally, there may be limits to the extent that the heating and cooling elements of the climate control system may heat or cool air. Therefore, advantageously, the control system is able to signal to the climate control system to control a blower, a heating element, and / or an air conditioning element, to adjust the cabin temperature towards the desired cabin temperature setpoint.

[0017] The control system may be configured to output a setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to control the one or more of a blower of the climate control system, a heating element of the climate control system, and an air conditioning element of the climate control system, to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint, wherein the control of one or more of the blower, the heating element, and the air conditioning element is based on the power efficiency of the climate control system. Control of the blower, the heating element, and the air conditioning element may affect the power efficiency of the climate control system. For example, if the desired cabin temperature is lower than the current cabin temperature the climate control system may control the blower to reduce or increase airflow, control the heating element to reduce or stop its heating of discharged air, and / or control the air conditioning element to increase its cooling of discharged air. Following this example, if the air conditioning element is performing at its most efficient powerthe control system may control the blowerto increase airflow ratherthan increase the power requirement of the air conditioning element, based on the blower increasing the airflow being more power efficient than increasing the cooling by the air conditioning element. Many similar examples can be made for when, conversely, the desired cabin temperature is higher than the current cabin temperature and for controlling the most power efficient option from the blower, the heating element, and the air conditioning element. The power efficiency of these elements may be stored in a memory and processed by the control system as part of outputting a setpoint control signal. Therefore, advantageously, the control system is able to signal the climate control system to control a blower, a heating element, and / or an air conditioning element, based on the most power efficient of these to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

[0018] The output setpoint control signal may comprise a blower control signal to the climate control system to cause the climate control system to control a blower of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperaturetowards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint. The output setpoint control signal may comprise a heating element control signal to the climate control system to cause the climate control system to control a heating element of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint. The output setpoint control signal may comprise an air conditioner control signal to the climate control system to cause the climate control system to control an air conditioning module of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint. A climate control system may adjust the cabin temperature by controlling the air speed delivered by the blower, the heated air delivered by a heating element, and / or the cooled air delivered by an air conditioner. The control system may therefore provide the advantage of controlling the component(s) of the climate control system that may most efficiently (e.g. by using less energy) adjust the cabin temperature. The control system and / or the climate control system may use a predetermined stored relationship between the blower, heating, and air conditioning, to identify an efficient control method to achieve the desired cabin temperature setpoint.

[0019] The control system may be configured to receive a sensed cabin temperature signal from a cabin temperature sensor of the vehicle, the sensed cabin temperature signal indicative of a sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle; and determine the temperature solar offset value further in dependence on the sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle. Advantageously, determining the temperature solar offset value can account forthe sensed temperature within the cabin, as well as the desired cabin temperature setpoint and the amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin. The temperature solar offset value may be more accurately determined by accounting for the sensed actual cabin temperature, and subsequently, the control system can more accurately and efficiently adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

[0020] The control system may be configured to receive an external ambient temperature signal from an ambient temperature sensor, the external ambient temperature signal indicative of an external ambient temperature at a location of the vehicle; and determine, in dependence on the external ambient temperature signal, an ambient temperature offset indicative of a temperature difference between the external ambient temperature and the sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle; wherein the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint comprises the ambient temperature offset and the temperature solar offset value applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint. Advantageously, determining whether the external ambient temperature is higher or lower than the temperature of the cabin allows for a more appropriate control of the climate control system, and the blower, a heating element and / or an air conditioning element may be controlled to adjust the cabin temperature of the vehicle. For example, if the air outside is hot, and the user wishes to reduce the cabin temperature, increasing the blower speed may not be an effective method of cooling, and the air conditioning element may be controlled to provide cooled air. As another example, if the air outside is cold and the user wishes to increase the temperature, increasing the blower speed alone may not be as effective at raising the in-cabin temperature as increasing the temperature of air by heating the heating element.

[0021] The solar heating signal may further comprise a historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle and sensed by the solar sensor at the vehicle, the historical amount of solar power retrieved from a received solar power storage means. Advantageously, the control system can account for this historical heating or coolingand adjust the temperature solar offset value determined accordingly. Such historical information may allow for the control system to predictively determine the thermal trends within the cabin and adjust the setpoint control signal accordingly, based on a number of factors, e.g., time of day, season of the year, user preferential changes, previous influence of adjustments etc. This may result in a more advantageous adjustment of the cabin temperature and in a more efficient selection of controls based on the knowledge of how such controls have influenced the cabin temperature.

[0022] When the historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period is lowerthan a current amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin, the control system may be configured to determine a level of relative residual cabin cooling during the predetermined solar heating period and determine the temperature solar offset value in dependence on the level of relative residual cabin cooling. When the historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period is higher than a current amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin, the control system may be configured to determine a level of relative residual cabin heating during the predetermined solar heating period and determine the temperature solar offset value in dependence on the level of relative residual cabin heating. For example, if the temperature currently being sensed is, 40°C in the late morning, but a short time ago the solar power being received was much lower at dawn (i.e. the external temperature was much cooler than 40 °C), then the historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period is lower than the current amount of solar power received and air within the cabin may still be cool due to the earlier low level of solar power provided before dawn. Similarly, if the temperature currently being sensed is, for example, 20°C at dusk, but a short time ago the solar power being received was much higher in the daytime (i.e. the external temperature was recently higher than 20 °C), then the historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period is higher than the current amount of solar power received and air within the cabin may still be warmed due to the earlier solar power provided before dusk. The control system can advantageously account for these historical solar heating and cooling effects to provide climate control in an energy efficient way.

[0023] The control system may be configured to determine a plurality of control modes of the climate control system in which the climate control system can operate and provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint; determine a low energy mode from the plurality of control modes in which the climate control system can operate and use less energy than others of the plurality of control modes; and output a setpoint control signal to the climate control system to cause the climate control system to operate in the determined low energy mode and apply the temperature solar offset value to the target cabin temperature setpoint to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint. Advantageously, the control system can determine that there may be plural ways in which the climate control system can operate and achieve the desired cabin temperature setpoint - for example, a first mode may use a high blower speed and low heating element temperature, and a second mode may use a low blower speed and high heating element temperature, and both operating modes may be able to achieve the desired cabin temperature setpoint. The control system can select the mode withthe lowest energy overhead, which is particularly advantageous for battery electric vehicles and other vehicles seeking to preserve power efficiency.

[0024] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a climate control system comprising any control system disclosed herein; and a solar sensor. Advantageously the climate control system may comprise a control system and a solar sensor together, configured to adjust the cabin thermal comfort controls for solar correction.

[0025] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising any control system disclosed herein. Advantageously the vehicle may comprise the control system to adjust the cabin thermal comfort controls for solar correction.

[0026] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a climate control system of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a cabin, the method comprising: receiving a cabin temperature setpoint signal indicative of a target cabin temperature setpoint; receiving a solar heating signal from a solar sensor of the vehicle, the solar heating signal indicative of an amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin; determining, in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle, a temperature solar offset value indicative of a temperature offset to apply to the target temperature setpoint; determining an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint by applying the temperature solar offset value to the target cabin temperature setpoint; and outputting a setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

[0027] Therefore, a target cabin temperature setpoint may be received by the control system, and in order to control a climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature to the target setpoint, a temperature solar offset value is determined, based on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle. This temperature solar offset value may be used to compensate for heating in the cabin due to the effects of solar energy on the in-cabin temperature. The method may therefore more accurately, and in an energy efficient way, control the climate control system to provide the cabin occupant(s) with a cabin temperature in a way which accounts for the effects of the solar energy.

[0028] The method may comprise: offsetting the target cabin temperature setpoint from a desired cabin temperature setpoint, received as an input from a user, by an operating offset indicative of a temperature difference between a desired cabin temperature and a perceived cabin temperature; and controlling the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint, thereby providing a perceived cabin temperature according to the desired cabin temperature setpoint. A user set temperature may not accurately reflect a perceived temperature in some cases. For example, there may be a difference between the set temperature and the temperature the user feels, due to the flow of air onto them and the effect of solar energy. Advantageously, a more accurate adjustment of control to the climate control system may be provided by the control system to account for such perceived temperature differences as well as the effect of solar energy affecting cabin temperature.The method may comprise outputting the setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to control one or more of a blower of the climate control system, a heating element of the climate control system, and an air conditioning element of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint. Adjustment of a cabin temperature can be performed by elements, such as varying the air speed and varying the input heated or cooled air temperature. There are limits to the extent that the components of a climate control system may blow, heat, and / or cool air. Therefore, advantageously, the control system is able to signal to the climate control system to control one or more of a blower and a heating element, dependant on how the climate control can be energy efficiently provided, to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

[0029] According to an aspect of the invention, there are provided a computer readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform any method disclosed herein. The computer readable instructions may be stored on a (e.g. non transitory) computer readable medium.

[0030] Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in anyway and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

[0031] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 shows a vehicle;

[0034] Figure 2 shows a control system comprising a processor;

[0035] Figures 3A and 3B each show a flow diagram of a process which a control system is configured to perform;

[0036] Figure 4 shows a flow diagram of a process which a control system is configured to perform;

[0037] Figure 5 shows a climate control system;

[0038] Figure 6 shows a flow diagram of a process which a control system is configured to perform;

[0039] Figure 7 shows a flow diagram of a process which a control system is configured to perform; and Figure 8 shows a climate control system,

[0040] all the above being in accordance with embodiments of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] It is known to use comfort control algorithms to control climate control systems to control the cabin temperature of a vehicle. For example, based on a set cabin temperature, the climate control system may increase or reduce the output air discharge temperature and / or the blower duty (speed) to achieve the set cabin temperature. Radiant solar energy (i.e., sunlight) can have a significant impact on the cabin temperature of a vehicle, as it is able to pass through the windows and other glass surfaces of a vehicle and into the cabin, and can consequentially affect the thermal temperature of the interior objects, surfaces, and occupants.

[0042] It can be challenging to control the cabin temperature to remain stable at a set cabin temperature because of the effect of radiant solar energy. Solar energy can vary throughout a journey and throughout the day I night, and so may affect the cabin temperature in different ways. Embodiments disclosed herein provide improvements in controlling climate control systems to maintain a set cabin temperature based on applying offsets to the set cabin temperature to take account of solar heating effects.

[0043] The vehicle 10 of Figure 1 comprises a control system 100 as illustrated in Figure 2. The vehicle may be an electric vehicle (e.g. a battery electric vehicle, BEV) or hybrid vehicle in some examples. The control system 100 is for controlling a climate control system of the vehicle 10, to provide thermal cabin control while accounting for solar effects.

[0044] In Figure 2, control system 100 controls climate control system 190 of the vehicle 10. The control system may be installed in the vehicle 10. The control system 100 comprises one or more controllers 110. Example operations of the control system 100 are explained in further detail with reference to Figures 3 to 8.

[0045] The control system 100 is configured to receive a cabin temperature setpoint signal 155, indicative of a target cabin temperature setpoint. For example, the cabin temperature setpoint signal 155 may be received from a user selection of a temperature setpoint input via a user input device 150 or other input means. The user input device 150 (e.g. a control panel, a human machine interface (HMI) etc.) may present a range of temperatures, from which the user can select an option and cause the control system to control the climate control system 190 to provide the target cabin temperature setpoint according to the user’s selected temperature option. In another example, the cabin temperature setpoint signal 155 may be determined by the control system 100, or another suitable input control system, to then be received and used by the control system 100 to control the climate control system 190 to provide the target cabin temperature setpoint.

[0046] The control system 100 is configured to receive a solar heating signal 165 from a solar sensor 160 of the vehicle. The solar heating signal 165 is indicative of an amount of solar power received at the vehicle 10 acting to heat the cabin. The solar sensor may be any type of electric sensor that can detect solar radiation. For example, the solar sensor may be a light sensor, such as a photovoltaic cell or any other light sensitive sensor. The solar sensor may be positioned on the exterior of the vehicle to detect the amount of solar power that the outside of the vehicle is subjected to. The solar sensor may be positioned on the interior of the vehicle to detect the amount of solar power that the interior of the vehicle is subjected to. In some examples, the solar sensor 150 may comprise a solar sensor control system configured to convert the received sensed sunlight into asignal indicative of the power (or energy, as energy = power x time) received due to sunlight, and this signal 165 may be transmitted to the control system 100 to indicate the amount of solar power (or solar energy) received. In other examples, any conversion of a signal 165 provided by the sensor (e.g. voltage) due to impinging sunlight on the sensor, to a signal indicative of the power (or energy) received due to sunlight (e.g. in Watts for power, or Joules for energy) acting to heat the vehicle cabin interior may be performed by the control system 100. Discussions of energy received may also apply to power received, since energy = power xtime. Note that a small power may still provide a large energy overtime, but may not contribute significantly to vehicle cabin heating; therefore in some examples, power may be considered as a more relevant measure of solar energy contributing to cabin heating.

[0047] In some examples, the control system 100 may be configured to receive a sensed cabin temperature signal 175 from a cabin temperature sensor 170. The cabin temperature signal is indicative of a sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle. The cabin temperature sensor 170 may be any type of sensor that detects the surrounding temperature in the cabin. The cabin temperature sensor 170 may be located within the cabin of the vehicle or in a position allowing detection of the cabin temperature. The sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle may be used to determine how to control the climate control system as described later.

[0048] In some examples, the control system 100 may be configured to receive an external ambient temperature sensor signal 185 from an external ambient temperature sensor 180. The external ambient temperature signal is indicative of an external ambient temperature at the location of the vehicle 10. The external ambient temperature sensor 180 may be any type of sensor that can detect the external ambient temperature surrounding the vehicle. The external ambient temperature may be used to determine how to control the climate control system as described later.

[0049] The control system 100 is configured to determine, in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle (as indicated by the solar heating signal 165), a temperature solar offset value indicative of a temperature offset to apply to the target cabin temperature setpoint. The temperature solar offset value may, in some examples, be indicative of the difference between the target cabin temperature and a perceived cabin temperature of the contents of the cabin, for example in cases where an occupant may perceive the temperature provided by the climate control system to differ from a specified temperature due to, e.g. the perceived effect of air blown from a blower making the occupant feel colder than the actual cabin temperature. The control system 100 is then configured to output a setpoint control signal 145 to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint. The adjusted cabin temperature setpoint comprises the temperature solar offset value applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint. In some examples, the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint may comprise an ambient temperature offset and the temperature solar offset value applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint. In other words, the control system may account for both the effect of solar heating on the cabin and the effect of the ambient temperature to adjust a requested cabin temperature so that the resulting climate control provided by the climate control system provides the desired requested cabin temperature. This is through a combination of accounting for the effect of solar heating and the external ambient temperature and any resultant heating or cooling, as well as cabin air heating / cooling provided by theclimate control system. In this way, an energy efficient way of providing climate control may be achieved by accounting for the heating effects of solar radiation and ambient temperature in providing climate control.

[0050] The control system 100 as illustrated in Figure 2 comprises one controller 110, although it will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative. The controller 110 comprises processing means 120 and memory means 125. The processing means 120 may be one or more electronic processing device 120 which operably executes computer-readable instructions. The memory means 125 may be one or more memory devices 125. The memory means 125 is electrically coupled to the processing means 120. The memory means 125 is configured to store instructions, and the processing means 120 is configured to access the memory means 125 and execute the instructions stored thereon.

[0051] The controller 110 comprises an input means 130 and an output means 140. The input means 130 may comprise an electrical input 130 of the controller 110. The output means 140 may comprise an electrical output 140 of the controller 110. The input means 130 is arranged to receive the cabin temperature setpoint signal 155. The cabin temperature setpoint signal 155 is an electrical signal which is indicative of a target cabin temperature setpoint of the vehicle 10. The output means 140 is arranged to output a setpoint control signal 145 to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust the cabin temperature towards an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

[0052] The control system 100 can therefore control the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature of a vehicle based on the amount of solar power that is affecting the occupants of the vehicle. Therefore, instead of controlling a climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature to the target setpoint, a temperature solar offset value is determined, based on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle, which can be used to compensate for heating in the cabin due to solar power, and therefore, can more accurately control the climate control system to provide the cabin occupant(s) with a cabin temperature in a way which accounts for the effects of the solar power.

[0053] Figures 3A and 3B illustrate flow diagrams of a method 300 which may be performed by the control system 100. The method 300 is for controlling a climate control system of a vehicle. Figure 3A shows, in step 302, receiving a cabin temperature setpoint signal 155 indicative of a target cabin temperature setpoint. In step 304, the method 300 comprises receiving a solar heating signal 165 from a solar sensor 160 of the vehicle. The solar heating signal 165 is indicative of an amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin. In step 310 the method 300 comprises determining, in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle, a temperature solar offset value 360 indicative of a temperature offset to apply to the target cabin temperature setpoint. In step 314, the method 300 comprises determining an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint by applying the temperature solar offset value to the target cabin temperature setpoint and then outputting a setpoint control signal 145 to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

[0054] Figure 3B shows the method 300 comprising steps which may be performed in addition to those of Figure 3A (which are not repeated again here). For example, the method 300 may comprise, in step 306, receiving asensed cabin temperature signal 175 from a cabin temperature sensor 170 of the vehicle, the sensed cabin temperature signal indicative of a sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle. This provides an indication of the sensed temperature inside the cabin which can be factored into the controlling of the climate control system. Additionally, in step 310, the method 300 may then comprise determining the temperature solar offset value 360 in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle 160 and further in dependence on the sensed temperature of the cabin 175 of the vehicle.

[0055] In further examples, the method 300 may comprise in step 308, in addition to step 306, receiving an external ambient temperature signal 185 from an ambient temperature sensor 180 of the vehicle. The external ambient temperature signal indicates an external ambient temperature at the location of the vehicle. This provides an indication of the sensed temperature outside the cabin which can be factored into the controlling of the climate control system. Additionally, in step 308, the method 300 may comprise determining, in dependence on the external ambient temperature signal, an ambient temperature offset 350 indicative of a temperature difference between the external ambient temperature and the sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle. Then, in step 310, the method may comprise determining the temperature solar offset value 360 in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle 160 and further in dependence on the ambient temperature offset 350 (as well as the sensed temperature 175 of the cabin of the vehicle).

[0056] Further, step 312, which is included in step 314 (above) but may be a separate step, comprises determining an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint 370 comprising the temperature solar offset value 360 applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint. As above, step 314 outputs the setpoint control signal 145 to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint. Where step 306 is present, the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint 370 may be determined also on the basis of the sensed cabin temperature 175. For example, the temperature solar offset value 360 may be determined further in dependence on the sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle 310. In addition to step 306, where step 308 is present (with or without step 306), the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint 370 may be determined also on the basis of the ambient temperature offset 350. As such, with step 308 present, the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint 370 may comprise the ambient temperature offset and the temperature solar offset 360 applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint 312.

[0057] Figures 4 to 7 also illustrate processes which may be performed by the control system 100 (i.e. by one or more processors of the control system 100). Figure 4 illustrates a process 400 which may be performed by the control system 100, to offset a desired cabin temperature setpoint (which for example a user may request) by an operating offset to provide a target cabin temperature setpoint (which the climate control system is to be controlled to aim for). Using an operating offset in this way allows for the control system to account for the difference in what the user sets as the desired cabin temperature setpoint and what they perceive as the cabin temperature.

[0058] The control system 100 may be configured to receive a desired cabin temperature setpoint signal 410 in step 402. The desired cabin temperature setpoint signal 410 may result from an input from a user, or from the control system, or from another system. In step 404, the control system 100 may apply an operating offset 420to the desired cabin temperature setpoint signal 410 to determine in a cabin temperature setpoint signal. The operating offset may, for example, be a predetermined value, a historical value, a value determined based on the solar heating signal 165, and / or a value determined based on one or more further input signals received by the control system 100. The operating offset represents a difference in a temperature requested from the climate control system and an actual temperature provided by the climate control system which is experienced by an occupant of the vehicle as if it is the requested temperature (the difference may arise due to user temperature perception and / or other factors). In step 406, the control system 100 may output a setpoint control signal 430 to control the climate control system 190 to adjust the cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint, thereby providing a perceived cabin temperature according to the desired cabin temperature setpoint.

[0059] Steps 402 and 404 may be performed before the steps of Figure 3 in some examples. That is, offsetting a target cabin temperature setpoint 430 from a desired cabin temperature setpoint 410 by an operating offset 420 may occur before the control system 100 receives a cabin temperature setpoint signal 155. In an example, if there is no desired cabin temperature setpoint 410 yet provided to the control system 100, then the control system 100 may select a default cabin temperature setpoint signal 155. In such a case, the selection of the cabin temperature setpoint signal by the control system 100 may be based upon a predetermined value / setting, a historical value, or upon the other input signals received. The default cabin temperature setpoint may comprise an operational offset as described.

[0060] Figure 5 illustrates a process 500 whereby the control system 100 may be configured to receive a solar heating signal 165 input. The solar heating signal 165 may, in this example, comprise a solar sensor direct output 505 (i.e. a signal from the solar sensor 160 to the control system 100 indicative of the present value of the solar power received at the vehicle and detected by the solar sensor). The solar heating signal 165 may in some examples, as shown, comprise a combination of signals 505, 510. In this example, a historical solar power signal 510, which is indicative of an historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle and detected by the solar sensor, may also contribute to the solar heating signal 165. The historical amount of solar power 510 may be retrieved from a solar power storage means 502. The control system may request 575 the historical solar power signal 510 from the solar power storage means 502 in some examples. The solar sensor direct output 505 may be stored locally within the memory means 125 and / or the solar power memory means 502 in some examples, and used for future control as an indication of historical solar power received. Historical solar power may be used to predictively determine how to control the climate control system and accommodate solar effects to efficiently provide climate control. Figure 6 explains more about how historical solar energy and / or solar power effects may be used to improve operation of a climate control system.

[0061] Figure 6 illustrates a method 600 which may be performed by the control system 100, to determine a temperature solar offset based on an historical amount of solar power 510 instead of, or as well as, a current amount of solar power 505 being received. In this example the control system 100 is configured to receive a solar heating signal 165 that comprises a solar sensor direct output signal 505 and a historical solar power signal 510, as in Figure 5. The control system 100 may thus account for changes in the level of solar power affecting the vehicle over a preceding period of time. The control system 100 may be configured to receive orretrieve a prior predetermined solar heating period 650 from a storage means such as storage means 502 in Figure 5. The period 650 indicates a prior period of time during which the effects of solar heating are recorded and can be taken into account when controlling the climate control system currently.

[0062] In step 602, the prior predetermined solar heating period 650 is received. The historical solar power signal 510, as shown in Figure 5, may be recorded for the retrieved predetermined solar heating period 650. Furthermore, in step 602 the historical solar power data from the historical solar power signal 510 for the prior predetermined solar heating period 650 may be compared to the current amount of solar power being received at the vehicle from the solar sensor direct output signal 505.

[0063] If the historical amount of solar power 510 received at the vehicle within the prior predetermined solar heating period 650 is lower than a current amount of solar power 505 received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin, represented by result 604, the control system 100 may be configured to determine a level of relative residual cabin cooling 670 during the predetermined solar heating period 650. For example, if the temperature currently being sensed is 40°C in the late morning, but the solar power being received in a prior period of e.g. 3, 6 or 9 hours (e.g. the night before) was lower, then the historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period may be determined to be lower than the current amount of solar power received. It may be deduced that air within the cabin may still be cool due to the earlier low level of solar power provided before dawn and the climate control system 190 may then be controlled to account for this historical solar heating (cooling) effect.

[0064] If the historical amount of solar power 510 received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period 650 is higher than a current amount of solar power 505 received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin, represented by result 606, the control system 100 may be configured to determine a level of relative residual cabin heating 680 during the predetermined solar heating period 650. For example, if the temperature currently being sensed is, for example, 20°C at dusk, but in a previous historical period (daytime), the solar power being received was higher, then the historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period is higher than the current amount of solar power received. It may be deduced that air within the cabin may still be warm due to the earlier solar power provided before dusk.

[0065] The control system can advantageously account for these historical solar heating and cooling effects to provide climate control in an energy efficient way. In step 608, the temperature solar offset value may be determined in dependence on the level of relative residual cabin cooling 670 and / or on the level of relative residual cabin heating 680. The comparison of the historical solar power signal 510 and the solar sensor direct output signal 505 may be performed by any suitable comparator device or logic. Steps 602 to 608 may be performed between steps 304 and 312 of Figure 3; that is, between receiving a solar heating signal 165 from a solar sensor 160 of the vehicle (304) and determining an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint 370 (312).

[0066] Figure 7 illustrates a method 700 which may be performed by the control system 100, to determine a low energy mode 725 for the climate control system 190 to operate in. In this example the control system 100 may be configured to receive a first setpoint control signal 145a from the control system 100, in step 705. In step710, the control system may be configured to determine a plurality of control modes 715 of the climate control system in which the climate control system can operate and provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint. The plurality of control modes may be a plurality of functional restrictions and / or settings for the operation of the climate control system. For example, a control mode may dictate that the climate control system limits the output airflow, the output air temperature and / or the power drawn by the climate control system, to be below, or above, a respective threshold. Determining the plurality of control modes 715 of the climate control system in which the climate control system can operate may comprise accessing a stored list of possible operation modes so that a suitable one may be selected for use. In step 720, the control system may be configured to determine a low energy mode 725 from the plurality of available control modes 715. The low energy mode is indicative of a control mode in which the climate control system can operate and use less energy than others of the plurality of control modes. The low energy mode selected may be selected based on the current solar energy (or power) being received, a historical amount of solar heating of the vehicle, sensed in-cabin and / or external temperatures, a desired cabin temperature setpoint, an operating mode of the vehicle itself (e.g. eco mode, low power mode, or other energy-related vehicle mode), and / or other factor(s). In step 730, the control system may be configured to output a further setpoint control signal 145b to the climate control system 190 to cause the climate control system to operate in the determined low energy mode 725 and apply the temperature solar offset value to the target cabin temperature setpoint to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint.

[0067] The control system 100 may be configured so that the first setpoint control signal 145a is not transmitted by the output means 140 to the climate control system 190 but instead, the first setpoint control signal 145a may be internally processed, for example by the processing means 120 of the controller 100, in accordance with the above method, to result in the further setpoint control signal 145b being transmitted by the output means 140 to the climate control system 190. The further setpoint control signal 145b may comprise additional control mode information to that of the first setpoint control signal 145a. For example, the further setpoint control signal 145b may contain a control mode code that sets the climate control system 190 thresholds to predetermined values. Steps 710 to 730 may be performed after step 314 of Figure 3 in some examples; that is the output setpoint control signal 145a of Figure 3 may be adjusted to include additional information to cause the climate control system to operate in the determined low energy mode.

[0068] In an example, an identified low power control mode from the plurality of control modes 715 may use a high blower speed and low heating element temperature and provide the climate control to achieve the desired setpoint in a way using the least energy of the available ways to achieve the setpoint temperature. In another example, a control mode from the plurality of control modes 715 may use a low blower speed and high heating element temperature. In such examples the control mode may enable the climate control system to achieve the desired cabin temperature setpoint in an energy efficient way, which is useful in particular in battery electric vehicles which must intentionally generate heating for cabin heating, compared to a combustion engine vehicle which may use residual heat generated by engine operation to provide heating.Figure 8 illustrates an example climate control system 190, connected to the output of the control system 100 in a vehicle. The climate control system 190 is arranged to receive a setpoint control signal 145 from the control system 100. The climate control system 190 is arranged to output one or more of a blower control signal 840 (to a blower 845), a heating element control signal 850 (to a heater 855), and an air conditioner control signal 860 (to an air conditioner 865) to provide climate control within the cabin and to adjust a cabin temperature towards an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint, based on the setpoint control signal 145. The setpoint control signal 145 may thus comprise one or more of a blower control signal 840, a heating element control signal 850, and an air conditioner control signal 860. Alternatively, the setpoint control signal 145 may comprise information that is processed by the climate control system 190, for the climate control system 190 to output one or more of the blower control signal 840, heating element control signal 850, and air conditioner control signal 860. The blower 845 may be controlled to adjust the air speed delivered into the cabin of the vehicle. The heating element 855 may be controlled to adjust the heated air delivered into the cabin of the vehicle. The air conditioning element 865 may be controlled to adjust the cooled air delivered into the cabin of the vehicle. The climate control system 190 may be configured to receive a sensed cabin temperature signal 175, indicative of a sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle, and the ambient temperature signal 185, indicative of a sensed temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle, and use this to control the cabin climate, as described above.

[0069] Any of the methods discussed herein may be performed by computer readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method(s). The computer readable instructions may be stored on a (e.g. non transitory) computer readable medium, such as the memory means 125 shown in Figure 2.

[0070] It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A control system for controlling a climate control system of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a cabin, the control system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to:receive a cabin temperature setpoint signal indicative of a target cabin temperature setpoint; receive a solar heating signal from a solar sensor of the vehicle, the solar heating signal indicative of an amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin;determine, in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle, a temperature solar offset value indicative of a temperature offset to apply to the target cabin temperature setpoint;determine an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint comprising the temperature solar offset value applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint; andoutput a setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to:offset the target cabin temperature setpoint from a desired cabin temperature setpoint, received as an input from a user, by an operating offset indicative of a temperature difference between a desired cabin temperature and a perceived cabin temperature; andcontrol the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint, thereby providing a perceived cabin temperature according to the desired cabin temperature setpoint.

3. The control system of any preceding claim, wherein the control system is configured to output the setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to control one or more of a blower of the climate control system, a heating element of the climate control system, and an air conditioning element of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

4. The control system of any preceding claim, wherein the control system is configured to output the setpoint control signal comprising one or more of:a blower control signal to the climate control system to cause the climate control system to control a blower of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint;a heating element control signal to the climate control system to cause the climate control system to control a heating element of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint; andan air conditioner control signal to the climate control system to cause the climate control system to control an air conditioning module of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

5. The control system of any preceding claim, further configured to:receive a sensed cabin temperature signal from a cabin temperature sensor of the vehicle, the sensed cabin temperature signal indicative of a sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle; and determine the temperature solar offset value further in dependence on the sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle.

6. The control system of claim 5, further configured to:receive an external ambient temperature signal from an ambient temperature sensor of the vehicle, the external ambient temperature signal indicative of an external ambient temperature at a location of the vehicle; anddetermine, in dependence on the external ambient temperature signal, an ambient temperature offset indicative of a temperature difference between the external ambient temperature and the sensed temperature of the cabin of the vehicle; wherein the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint comprises the ambient temperature offset and the temperature solar offset value applied to the target cabin temperature setpoint.

7. The control system of any preceding claim, wherein the solar heating signal further comprises a historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle and sensed by the solar sensor at the vehicle, the historical amount of solar power retrieved from a received solar power storage means.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein:when the historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period is lower than a current amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin, the control system is configured to determine a level of relative residual cabin cooling during the predetermined solar heating period and determine the temperature solar offset value in dependence on the level of relative residual cabin cooling; andwhen the historical amount of solar power received at the vehicle within a prior predetermined solar heating period is higher than a current amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin, the control system is configured to determine a level of relative residual cabin heating during the predetermined solar heating period and determine the temperature solar offset value in dependence on the level of relative residual cabin heating.

9. The control system of any preceding claim, further configured to:determine, a plurality of control modes of the climate control system in which the climate control system can operate and provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint;determine, a low energy mode from the plurality of control modes in which the climate control system can operate and use less energy than others of the plurality of control modes; andoutput a setpoint control signal to the climate control system to cause the climate control system to operate in the determined low energy mode and apply the temperature solar offset value to the target cabin temperature setpoint to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint.

10. A climate control system comprising:the control system of any preceding claim; andthe solar sensor.

11. A vehicle comprising the climate control system of claim 10 or the control system of any of claims 1 to 9.

12. A method for controlling a climate control system of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a cabin, the method comprising:receiving a cabin temperature setpoint signal indicative of a target cabin temperature setpoint; receiving a solar heating signal from a solar sensor of the vehicle, the solar heating signal indicative of an amount of solar power received at the vehicle acting to heat the cabin;determining, in dependence on the amount of solar power received at the vehicle, a temperature solar offset value indicative of a temperature offset to apply to the target temperature setpoint;determining an adjusted cabin temperature setpoint by applying the temperature solar offset value to the target cabin temperature setpoint; andoutputting a setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to provide climate control within the cabin to adjust a cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:offsetting the target cabin temperature setpoint from the desired cabin temperature setpoint, received as an input from a user, by an operating offset indicative of a temperature difference between a desired cabin temperature and a perceived cabin temperature; andcontrolling the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the target cabin temperature setpoint, thereby providing a perceived cabin temperature according to the desired cabin temperature setpoint.

14. The method of any of claims 12 and 13, wherein the method further comprises outputting the setpoint control signal to cause the climate control system to control one or more of a blower of the climate control system, a heating element of the climate control system, and an air conditioning element of the climate control system to adjust the cabin temperature towards the adjusted cabin temperature setpoint.

15. Computer readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method according to any of claims 12 to 14.18

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