Donnelly Corporation

Sacha E Barnes

Brian A Gorman

John T Wichlacz

A control system for controlling the climate of a vehicle includes a control element, a temperature sensor, a motor and a microprocessor. The microprocessor may receive a temperature signal indicative of the temperature at the control element and may receive at least one further input. The at least one further input may comprise an input signal indicative of a high side voltage of the motor, a low side voltage of the motor, and/or an electrical current applied to the motor. The control system controls the motor via an output of the microprocessor. The control system may control the motor in response to the temperature signal and the at least one further input. The control system may reduce occurrence of high-power dissipative modes in response to a detection of a temperature above a threshold level via intelligent power management.

Control system for controlling the climate of a vehicle

A variable blower controller for controlling the blower speed of a climate control system of a vehicle includes a microprocessor which is operable to variably control the blower speed of a blower motor of the climate control system. The variable blower controller provides for smart power management of the blower to avoid high-power dissipative modes when system temperatures are above 'safe' levels. The smart power management objective is met by keeping the field effect transistor junction temperature away from design limits or threshold levels where possible. The microprocessor utilizes software and may use a combination of inputs to calculate these levels.

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Grand Blanc, MI, United States of America

Sacha E Barnes