HVAC inlet control based on thermal event

1 . A method comprising:

obtaining sensor data from one or more sensors of a vehicle pertaining to a component of the vehicle that is different from a climate control system of the vehicle;

determining, via a processor of the vehicle, whether a thermal event occurs for the vehicle, based on the sensor data, including based on:

(a) a temperature reading from any of the sensors of the component exceeds a first predetermined threshold temperature for the component;

(b) temperature readings from any of the sensors increase with a rate of change that exceeds a second predetermined threshold for the rate of change of the temperature for the component;

(c) temperature readings from different respective sensors pertaining to the component differ from one another by a difference that exceeds a third predetermined threshold for different temperature sensors for the component; and

controlling an inlet for the climate control system for the vehicle based at least in part on whether the thermal event has occurred, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining, via the processor using the sensor data, whether the thermal event is occurring within an engine compartment or a passenger cabin of the vehicle;

automatically closing the inlet, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred within the engine compartment, thereby preventing harmful gases from entering the passenger compartment from the engine compartment; and

automatically allowing the inlet to remain open, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred in the passenger cabin, thereby allowing the harmful gases to exit the passenger compartment into the engine compartment.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermal event pertains to an engine of the vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining whether the thermal event occurs is made by the processor, based on the sensor data, such that a thermal event is determined by processor to occur when any of the following have occurred:

(a) a temperature reading from any of the sensors of the engine exceeds a first predetermined threshold for the temperature for the engine;

(b) temperature readings from any of the sensors increase with a rate of change that exceeds a second predetermined threshold for the rate of change of the temperature for the engine; and

(c) temperature readings from different respective sensors pertaining to the engine differ from one another by a difference that exceeds a third predetermined threshold for different temperature sensors for the engine.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining whether the thermal event occurs is made by the processor, based on the sensor data, such that a thermal event is determined by processor to occur when each of the following have occurred:

(a) a temperature reading from any of the sensors of the engine of the vehicle exceeds a first predetermined threshold for the temperature for the engine;

(b) temperature readings from any of the sensors increase with a rate of change that exceeds a second predetermined threshold for the rate of change of the temperature for the engine; and

(c) temperature readings from different respective sensors pertaining to the engine differ from one another by a difference that exceeds a third predetermined threshold for different temperature sensors for the engine.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermal event pertains to a rechargeable energy storage system of the vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of determining whether the thermal event occurs is made by the processor, based on the sensor data, such that the thermal event is determined by processor to occur when any of the following have occurred:

(a) a temperature reading from any of the sensors of a battery of the vehicle exceeds a first predetermined threshold for the temperature for the battery;

(b) temperature readings from any of the sensors increase with a rate of change that exceeds a second predetermined threshold for the rate of change of the temperature for the battery; and

(c) temperature readings from different respective sensors pertaining to the battery differ from one another by a difference that exceeds a third predetermined threshold for different temperature sensors for the battery.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of determining whether the thermal event occurs is made by the processor, based on the sensor data, such that the thermal event is determined by processor to occur when each of the following have occurred:

(a) a temperature reading from any of the sensors of a battery of the vehicle exceeds a first predetermined threshold for the temperature for the battery;

(b) temperature readings from any of the sensors increase with a rate of change that exceeds a second predetermined threshold for the rate of change of the temperature for the battery; and

(c) temperature readings from different respective sensors pertaining to the battery differ from one another by a difference that exceeds a third predetermined threshold for different temperature sensors for the battery.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically turning off airflow into a cabin of the vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically activating a recirculation mode for airflow of a cabin of the vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing an audio notification and a visual notification to passengers of the vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, regarding the thermal event and as to the closing of the inlet, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred.

11 . A system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to at least facilitate obtaining sensor data pertaining to a component of the vehicle that is different from a climate control system of the vehicle; and

a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate:

obtaining sensor data from the one or more sensors;

determining whether a thermal event occurs for the vehicle, based on the sensor data, including based on:

(a) a temperature reading from any of the sensors of the component exceeds a first predetermined threshold for the temperature for the component;

(b) temperature readings from any of the sensors increase with a rate of change that exceeds a second predetermined threshold for the rate of change of the temperature for the component; and

(c) temperature readings from different respective sensors pertaining to the component differ from one another by a difference that exceeds a third predetermined threshold for different temperature sensors for the component; and

controlling an inlet for a climate control system for the vehicle based at least in part on whether the thermal event has occurred, and wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate:

determining, using the sensor data, whether the thermal event is occurring within an engine compartment or a passenger cabin of the vehicle;

automatically closing the inlet, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred within the engine compartment, thereby preventing harmful gases from entering the passenger compartment from the engine compartment; and

automatically allowing the inlet to remain open, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred in the passenger cabin, thereby allowing the harmful gases to exit the passenger compartment into the engine compartment.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the thermal event pertains to an engine of the vehicle.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the thermal event pertains to a rechargeable energy storage system of the vehicle.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate automatically turning off airflow into a cabin of the vehicle, in accordance instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate automatically activating a recirculation mode for airflow of a cabin of the vehicle, in accordance instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred.

16 . A vehicle comprising:

a climate control system having an inlet;

one or more sensors configured to at least facilitate obtaining sensor data pertaining to a component of the vehicle that is different from a climate control system of the vehicle; and

a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate:

obtaining sensor data from the one or more sensors;

determining whether a thermal event occurs, the thermal event pertaining to one or more vehicle components other than the climate control system, based on the sensor data, including based on:

(a) a temperature reading from any of the sensors of the component exceeds a first predetermined threshold for the temperature for the component;

(b) temperature readings from any of the sensors increase with a rate of change that exceeds a second predetermined threshold for the rate of change of the temperature for the component; and

(c) temperature readings from different respective sensors pertaining to the component differ from one another by a difference that exceeds a third predetermined threshold for different temperature sensors for the component; and

controlling the inlet for the climate control system for the vehicle based at least in part on whether the thermal event has occurred, and wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate:

determining, using the sensor data, whether the thermal event is occurring within an engine compartment or a passenger cabin of the vehicle;

automatically closing the inlet, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred within the engine compartment, thereby preventing harmful gases from entering the passenger compartment from the engine compartment; and

automatically allowing the inlet to remain open, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that the thermal event has occurred in the passenger cabin, thereby allowing the harmful gases to exit the passenger compartment into the engine compartment.