Method to adjust the temperature of an element of a motor vehicle to be interfaced with a passenger of the motor vehicle and motor vehicle comprising said element
A method to adjust a first temperature of an element of a motor vehicle to be interfaced with a passenger of the motor vehicle, comprising the steps of i) adjusting a second temperature on the inside of the motor vehicle based on a second temperature currently requested to an adjustment system for said second temperature; ii) detecting a third external temperature on the outside of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle; iii) detecting a fourth current temperature on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle; iv) detecting a current value of the first temperature of the element; v) processing a fifth temperature based on said first, fourth and fifth temperature; and vi) exchanging a quantity of heat with the element so as to adjust the first temperature; the quantity of heat depends on the fifth temperature.
1 . A method to adjust a first temperature (Tutenza) of an element comprising at least one of a seat ( 15 a , 15 b ) and a steering wheel ( 15 c ) of a motor vehicle ( 1 ) to be interfaced with a passenger of the motor vehicle ( 1 ), comprising the steps of:
i) adjusting a second temperature (Tcabina) on the inside of a passenger compartment ( 3 ) of said motor vehicle ( 1 ) based on a third temperature (Trichiesta) currently requested to an adjustment system comprising heating means ( 23 ), cooling means ( 24 ), and an interface ( 12 ) which can manually be operated and is operatively connected to said heating means ( 23 ) and cooling means ( 24 ) for said second temperature (Tcabina) itself;
ii) detecting a fourth external temperature (Tout) on the outside of a passenger compartment ( 3 ) of said motor vehicle ( 1 ); and
iii) detecting a current value of said second temperature (Tcabina) on the inside of said passenger compartment ( 3 ) of said motor vehicle ( 1 );
iv) detecting a current value of the first temperature (Tutenza) of said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c );
v) processing a fifth temperature (Tprev) based on said first, second and third temperature (Tutenza; Tcabina; Trichiesta); and
vi) exchanging a heat power with said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) so as to adjust said first temperature (Tutenza) based on said fifth temperature (Tprev);
said step v) comprising the step vii) of processing said fifth temperature (Tprev) also based on said fourth temperature (Tout);
characterized in that said step vii) comprises the step viii) of processing said fifth temperature (Tprev) based on the following formula:
Tprev
=
α
*
Tutenza
+
β
*
Tcabina
+
γ
*
(
T
R
I
F
-
Trichiesta
)
,
wherein:
TRIF is a sixth reference temperature that can selectively be set;
α and β are coefficients that depend on said fourth temperature (Tout) and are independent of said first, second and third temperature (Tutenza; Tcabina; Trichiesta); and
γ is a constant coefficient.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said step vi) comprises the steps of:
ix) controlling heating means ( 23 ) and cooling means ( 24 ) of said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) according to discrete operating levels (L1, L2, L3, L0, L4, L5, L6; ON, OFF); and
x) associating at least one level (L1, L2, L3, L0, L4, L5, L6; ON, OFF) with a first open or closed range of values of said fifth temperature (Tprev).
3 . The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that said step x) comprises the steps of:
xi) associating at least one level (L1, L2, L3, L0, L4, L5, L6; ON, OFF) with a first range (I1, I2, I3, I0, I4, I5, I6; J1, J2) of values of said fifth temperature (Tprev), when said fifth temperature (Tprev) increases; and
xii) associating said at least one level (L1, L2, L3, L0, L4, L5, L6; ON, OFF) with a second range (I1*, I2*, I3*, I0*, I4*, I5*, I6*; J1*, J2*) of values of said fifth temperature (Tprev)*, when said fifth temperature (Tprev) decreases;
said first range (I1, I2, I3, I0, I4, I5, I6; J1, J2) comprising at least one first end value (Imin, Imax; Tsoglia) and said second range (I1*, I2*, I3*, I0*, I4*, I5*, I6*; J1*, J2*) comprising at least one second end value (I*min, I*max; Tsoglia*), which is different from said at least one first end value (Imin, Imax; Tsoglia).
4 . The method according to claim 3 , characterized in that:
said first range (I1, I2, I3, I0, I4, I5) is closed and comprises, in turn, a third end value (Imin), which is smaller than said first end value (Imax); and
said second range (I1*, I2*, I3*, I0*, I4*, I5*) is closed and comprises, in turn, a fourth end value (I*min), which is smaller than said second end value (I*max);
said second end value (I*max) being smaller than said first end value (Imax);
said fourth end value (I*min) being smaller than said third end value (Imax).
5 . The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that said step x) comprises the steps of:
xiii) operating said heating means ( 23 ) according to respective levels (L1, L2, L3) corresponding to respective seventh objective temperatures (T1obj, T2obj, T3obj; T4obj) to be reached and maintained by said element ( 15 a , 15 b ; 15 c ); and/or
xiv) operating said cooling means ( 24 ) according to respective levels (L4, L5, L6) corresponding to respective angular speed values (ω) of fans ( 41 ) of the cooling means ( 24 ).
6 . The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) is a first seat ( 15 b ) or a steering wheel ( 15 c ) associated with a second seat ( 15 a ), which is distinct from or coincides with said first seat ( 15 b ), and in that it comprises the steps of:
xv) detecting the presence or absence of said passenger of said first seat ( 15 b ) or on said second seat ( 15 b );
said step vi) comprising the steps of:
xvi) adjusting said first temperature (Tutenza) of said first seat ( 15 b ) only if the presence of said passenger on said first seat ( 15 b ) was detected; and
vii) adjusting said first temperature (Tutenza) of said second seat ( 15 a ) and of said steering wheel ( 15 c ) only if the presence of said passenger of said second seat ( 15 a ) was detected.
7 . A motor vehicle ( 1 ) comprising:
a body ( 2 ) defining a passenger compartment ( 3 );
an adjustment system comprising a conditioning system ( 7 ) for a first temperature (Tcabina) inside said passenger compartment ( 3 ), the conditioning system ( 7 ) comprising a plurality of air vents ( 9 );
a control unit ( 20 ) designed to control said adjustment system for the first temperature (Tcabina) inside said passenger compartment ( 3 ) and by means of which a second temperature (Trichiesta) requested inside said passenger compartment ( 3 ) can be set;
a first sensor ( 10 ) configured to detect a third external temperature (Tout) on the outside of a passenger compartment ( 3 ) of said motor vehicle ( 1 );
a second sensor ( 14 ) configured to detect a current value of said first temperature (Tcabina) on the inside of said passenger compartment ( 3 ) of said motor vehicle ( 1 );
at least one element to be interfaced with a passenger of said motor vehicle ( 1 ), the at least one element comprising at least one of a seat ( 15 a , 15 b ) and a steering wheel ( 15 c ); and
adjustment means ( 23 , 24 ) for a fourth temperature (Tutenza) of said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) to be interfaced, which can be operated in order to exchange a heat power with said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) and adjust said fourth temperature (Tutenza), the adjustment means ( 23 , 24 ) comprising a plurality of heating elements ( 30 ) comprising electrical resistances ( 40 ) and a plurality of cooling elements ( 31 ) comprising fans ( 41 );
a third sensor ( 50 , 51 ) configured to detect a current value of the fourth temperature (Tutenza) of said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ); and
the control unit ( 20 ) programmed to:
process a fifth temperature (Tprev) based on said fourth, first and second temperature (Tutenza; Tcabina; Trichiesta); and
generate, based on said fifth temperature (Tprev), a command for said adjustment means ( 23 , 24 ) so as to adjust said fourth temperature (Tutenza);
said control unit ( 20 ) being programmed to process said fifth temperature (Tprev) also based on said third external temperature (Tout);
characterized in that said control unit ( 20 ) is programmed to process said fifth temperature (Tprev) based on the following formula:
Tprev
=
α
*
Tutenza
+
β
*
Tcabina
+
γ
*
(
T
R
I
F
-
Trichiesta
)
,
wherein:
TRIF is a sixth temperature that can selectively be set by said passenger;
α and β are coefficients that depend on said third temperature (Tout) and are independent of said fourth, first and second temperature (Tutenza; Tcabina; Trichiesta); and
γ is a constant coefficient.
8 . The motor vehicle according to claim 7 , characterized in that said control unit ( 20 ) comprises a storing stage ( 21 ) comprising a physical memory, which stores discrete operating levels (L1, L2, L3, L0, L4, L5, L6; ON, OFF) of said adjustment means ( 23 , 24 ), which are associated with respective open (I6, I6*; J1, J1*) or closed ranges (I1, I2, I3, I0, I4, I5; I1*, I2*, I3*, I0*, I4*, I5*) of said fifth temperature (Tprev).
9 . The motor vehicle according to claim 8 , characterized in that said storing stage ( 21 ) is programmed to store:
at least one first closed range (I1, I2, I3, I0, I4, I5) and one first open range (I6) of values of said fifth temperature (Tprev), when said fifth temperature (Tprev) increases; and
at least one second closed range (I1*, I2*, I3*, I0*, I4*, I5*) and one second open range (I6*) of values of said fifth temperature (Tprev), when said fifth temperature (Tprev) decreases;
said first closed range (I1, I2, I3, I0, I4, I5) comprising at least one first end value (Imin, Imax) and said second closed range (I1*, I2*, I3*, I0*, I4*, I5*) comprising at least one second end value (I*min, I*max), which is different from said first end value (Imin, Imax);
said first closed range (I1, I2, I3, I0, I4, I5) comprising a third end value (Imin), which is smaller than said first end value (Imax);
said second closed range (I1*, I2*, I3*, I0*, I4*, I5*) further comprising a fourth end value (I*min), which is smaller than said second end value (I*max);
said second end value (I*max) being smaller than said first end value (Imax);
said fourth end value (I*min) being smaller than said third end value (Imax);
said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) being a seat ( 15 a , 15 b ).
10 . The motor vehicle according to claim 8 , characterized in that said storing stage ( 21 ) is programmed to store:
at least one third open range (J1) of values of said fifth temperature (Tprev), when said fifth temperature (Tprev) increases; and
at least one fourth open range (J1*) of values of said fifth temperature (Tprev), when said fifth temperature (Tprev) decreases;
said third range (J1) being delimited by a seventh maximum temperature (Tsoglia);
said fourth range (J1*) being delimited by an eighth maximum temperature (Tsoglia*), which is smaller than said seventh maximum temperature (Tsoglia);
said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) being a steering wheel ( 15 c ).
11 . The motor vehicle according to claim 8 , characterized in that said discrete levels (L1, L2, L3; J1) are operating levels of electric resistances ( 40 ; 42 ) of said adjustment means ( 23 ; 24 ) and correspond to respective ninth temperatures (T1obj, T2obj, T3obj; T4obj) to be reached and maintained by said element ( 15 a , 15 b ; 15 c );
and in that said discrete levels (L4, L5, L6) are operating levels of fans ( 41 ) of said cooling means ( 24 ) and correspond to respective angular speed values (@) of said fans ( 41 ).
12 . The motor vehicle according to claim 7 , characterized in that said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) is a first seat ( 15 a ) or a steering wheel ( 15 c ), and in that it comprises a second seat ( 15 b ), which is distinct from or coincides with said first seat ( 15 a );
said motor vehicle ( 1 ) further comprising a fourth sensor ( 80 ), which is designed to detect the presence or absence of said passenger of said first seat ( 15 a ), and a fifth sensor ( 85 ), which is designed to detect the presence or absence of said passenger of said second seat ( 15 b );
said control unit ( 20 ) being programmed to:
adjust said fourth temperature (Tutenza) of said first seat ( 15 a ) and of said steering wheel ( 15 c ) only if said fourth sensor ( 80 ) detected, in use, the presence of said passenger of said first seat ( 15 a ); and/or
adjust said fourth temperature (Tutenza) of said second seat ( 15 b ) only if the fourth sensor ( 85 ) detected, in use, the presence of said passenger on said second seat ( 15 b ).
13 . The motor vehicle according to claim 10 , further characterized in that said interface ( 12 ) is configured so as to allow a plurality of progressively increasing tenth temperatures (T1, T2, T3) of said element ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) to be set; said tenth temperatures (T1, T2, T3) being equal to respective ninth temperatures (T1obj, T2obj, T3obj; T4obj) to be reached and maintained by said element ( 15 a , 15 b ).
14 . A computer product loadable into a control unit ( 20 ) and designed, when it is executed, to implement the steps of a method according to claim 1 .