Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Alan Gutowski

Manfred Koberstein

Curtis Mark Jones

William Stewart Johnston

Frank Fusco

John Eric Rollinger

Adam J Richards

Peter Mitchell Lyon

Steve T Skikun

David Hancock

M Scott Christensen

Stephen Michael White

Jennifer A Herr-Rathke

David Alan Wong

Fred Koberstein

Angel Fernando Porras

Alan Douglas Wallington

Scott Thompson

Venkatesh Krishnan

Imad Hassan Makki

Dennis C Reed

Clay Wesley Maranville

Scott James Thompson

Mark G Smith

Paul Bryan Hoke

Jordan Mazaira

Scott Steadmon Thompson

Brett Allen Dunn

James C Rollinson

Volker Scheer

Zachary March

Halim Wijaya

Christian Brent Schoeneman

Debasish Dhar

Hamish Lewis

Tina Marie Maurer

Bradley Szkrybalo

Amy Golden

Hadi Abbas

A vehicle includes a body, a cabin that is defined by the body, an air delivery system, and a controller. The air delivery system includes a blower, an air register, ductwork, and an intake module. The air register is positioned within the cabin. The ductwork extends between the blower and the air register. The intake module is positioned upstream of the blower. The controller adjusts a speed of the blower as a function of a speed of the vehicle.

Air delivery system for a vehicle

A method for defogging a window of a vehicle includes steps of automatically selecting a climate control system operating mode and determining a risk of window fogging. The climate control system operating mode is selected from an outside air mode, an air-conditioning mode, and a defrost mode. A controller determines the risk of window fogging according to one or more inputs, and the same or a different controller may automatically select the climate control system operating mode. The controller is configured to increase a climate control system blower speed to increase a rate of airflow provided by the currently-actuated climate control system operating mode. The controller may sequentially advance the climate control system operating mode through the outside air mode, air-conditioning mode, and defrost mode.

Enhanced vehicle window anti-fogging strategy

A vehicle air control system includes a vehicle body that defines an interior. A first particulate matter sensor is coupled to an exterior of the vehicle body. A second particulate matter sensor is disposed within the interior of the vehicle body. A temperature sensor is coupled to the exterior of the vehicle body. A vehicle speed sensor is coupled to the vehicle body. A heat, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) system is disposed within the interior of the vehicle body. The HVAC system includes an inlet door rotatable between a first position, a second position, and a third position therebetween. A controller is configured to receive a signal from at least one of the first and second particulate matter sensors, the temperature sensors, and the vehicle speed sensor. The controller is configured to rotate the inlet door in response to the signal.

Vehicle air control system

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.

Method and system for a vehicle sanitizing mode

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

A vehicle includes a traction battery, an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to power wheels of the vehicle, and a thermal-management system. The thermal-management system includes a battery loop, a cabin heating loop, and a valve configured to fluidly connect the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a first position and configured to fluidly isolate the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a second position. A controller is programmed to, responsive to (i) battery heating being requested, (ii) a temperature of the battery being greater than a lower threshold, and (iii) cabin heating being requested, actuate the valve to the first position to heat a cabin and the battery.

Balancing battery heating and cabin heating with shared thermal-management system

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.

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

A vehicle thermal management system including an electric powertrain, a single thermal loop, and a controller is provided. The electric powertrain includes a high voltage battery. The single thermal loop is for managing thermal conditions of the high voltage battery and a vehicle cabin and may include a climate control system, a blower, and a front evaporator in fluid communication with the vehicle cabin. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of a climate control system off request, output a command to direct the blower to push air through a heater core to the vehicle cabin at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature within the vehicle cabin is maintained at a predetermined temperature and refrigerant continues to flow through the front evaporator. The system may include a vehicle cabin temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, each in electrical communication with the controller.

Vehicle cabin and high voltage battery thermal management system

A cold ambient battery chilling mode of an electric vehicle may be implemented if the vehicle battery is being charged when the ambient air temperature is low and a temperature of the battery is elevated. During cold ambient charging, coolant flows through a heater core and through a battery heat exchanger. Cold ambient air may be utilized to cool the coolant flowing through the heater core, and coolant from the heater core flows through the battery heat exchanger and cools the battery during charging. A battery chiller may be deactivated when the cold ambient battery chilling mode is activated to reduce energy consumption.

Cold ambient battery cooling utilizing the climate cabin heating system

A vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system including a cabin air filter, a sensor for providing a sensor reading, and a controller for determining a feedback signal from the sensor reading, wherein the controller determines a cabin air filter expected blockage level from the feedback signal. The feedback signal relates to a usage modifier of the cabin air filter, wherein the controller at east partially adjusts the estimated usage the cabin air filter from the usage modifier.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and a method for detecting cabin air filter usage

A method for defogging a window of a vehicle includes steps of determining a risk of window fogging and automatically selecting a climate control system operating mode according to that determined risk of window fogging. The climate control system operating mode is selected from: an outside air mode, an air-conditioning mode, and a defrost mode. A controller determines the risk of window fogging according to one or more inputs, and the same or a different controller may automatically select the climate control system operating mode.

An integrated display and ventilation assembly includes a display screen and a first air register. The first air register is displaceable between a first stowed position concealed behind the display screen and a first deployed position projecting from behind the display screen. A related method of ventilating a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

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Dearborn Heights, MI, United States of America

Alan Gutowski