Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Rupesh S Kakade

Todd M Tumas

Prashant V Mer

Vish S Iyer

Milan Prakash

Joseph F Szczerba

Min Sun

David E Edwards

Cameron P Smith

Michael H Carlson

Dhruv Patel

George S Watson, Ii

Robert D Taft

Andreas Gombert

Cynthia A Nicholson

David Alexander Hinz

A method of operating a cooling system of a vehicle includes measuring a refrigerant pressure and a refrigerant temperature of a flow of refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit of the cooling system, estimating a relative humidity of a supply airflow across an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit utilizing the measured refrigerant pressure and the measured refrigerant temperature, and changing operation of one or more components of the refrigerant circuit as a result of the estimated relative humidity.

Ambient humidity virtual sensor

A system for detecting external leaks in a cabin of a vehicle includes sensors and onboard vehicle controls disposed on the vehicle. Control modules of the system have processors, memory, and input/output (I/O) ports. The I/O ports communicate with the sensors and onboard vehicle controls. The control modules execute program code portions stored memory. The program code portions include first and second algorithm portions. The first algorithm portion receives data from the sensors and controls and determines that the data from the sensors and controls meets initialization threshold values. When the data from the sensors and controls meets the threshold values, the second algorithm portion generates a cabin leak detection output including: a first output, a second output, or a third output. The first output indicates a large leak, the second output indicates no leak, and the third output indicates that a small leak has been detected.

Detection of external leaks utilizing cabin humidity model

A vehicle cabin thermal management system includes a first heat exchange system adapted to operate primarily based upon a convective mode of heat transfer within a vehicle cabin, a second heat exchange system adapted to operate primary based upon a non-convective mode of heat transfer within the vehicle cabin, and a controller in communication with the first heat exchange system and the second heat exchange system, wherein the controller controls a thermal output of the second heat exchange system, and wherein the controller controls the first heat exchange system to reduce the operating level of the first heat exchange system in response to the controller operating the second heat exchange system.

Vehicle cabin thermal management system

A system is disclosed. The system includes a climate condition determination module that is configured to determine a climate condition associated with a vehicle based upon an external air temperature or a dew point temperature. The system also includes a compressor operational state control module that is configured to control a plurality of operational states of a variable displacement compressor of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system within the vehicle. The compressor operational state control module is configured to cause the variable displacement compressor to selectively transition from a variable displacement operational state to a fixed displacement-like operational state when the climate condition exceeds a climate threshold to cause an evaporator of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to provide evaporator air having an air temperature corresponding to a target evaporator air temperature.

System and method for managing operational states of a variable displacement compressor based upon climate conditions

Methods and systems are provided for estimating a temperature of a cabin of a vehicle and using the estimated cabin temperature. The methods and systems obtain, via at least one temperature sensor, a surface temperature of at least a first internal surface of the cabin of the vehicle. The methods and systems estimate, via a processor and using at least the obtained surface temperature, the heat transfer from the at least one surface to cabin air within the cabin. The methods and systems estimate, via a processor and using at least the estimated heat transfer, the cabin temperature of the vehicle. The methods and systems use the estimated cabin temperature of the vehicle to control at least one feature of an air conditioning module of the vehicle.

Estimating a cabin temperature of a vehicle

A thermal management system includes a coolant pump, high-voltage electric heater (HEH) for heating the coolant, a heater core, a blower directing air to the heater core, a cabin heater valve (CHV), sensors, and a controller. The CHV has an Engine Bypass position blocking coolant flow from the HEH into the engine, and an Engine Link position directing coolant from the HEH into the engine. In a method, the sensors measure engine outlet coolant temperature (ECT), inlet coolant temperature (ICT) to the HEH, inlet air temperature into the heater core, and outlet air temperature from the heater core. The controller calculates a target coolant temperature (TCT) value as a function of the air temperatures and mass flow rates, and controls the CHV via position control signals such that the CHV is switched between the Engine Link position and the Engine Bypass position when ICT equals the calculated TCT value.

Vehicle thermal management system and control method for the same

Vehicles and methods for controlling climate control systems may include, but are not limited to at least one seat, a climate control system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the climate control system, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a directional sun effect for each of the at least one seats, and modify at least one of an airflow, a temperature and air distribution of the climate control system based upon the calculated directional sun effect for each of the at least one seats.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Rupesh S Kakade