Method and apparatus for controlling a temperature regulation system
A method for controlling a temperature regulated system within the cabin of a vehicle. The method comprises providing a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, the temperature sensors being located within the cabin such that the first temperature sensor is located at a substantially higher level than the second temperature sensor when the vehicle is on a level surface. The method further comprises calculating TR, an estimated temperature, wherein TR is calculated using T 1 , the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor and T 2 , the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor. The method then comprises operating the temperature regulation system according to the calculated value TR for a predefined period of time after start up, and thereafter operating the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 .
1. A controller configured to control the temperature within the cabin of a vehicle, the controller being configured to:
receive a first temperature measurement T 1 from a first temperature sensor;
receive a second temperature measurement T 2 from a second temperature sensor,
wherein the first temperature sensor is located at a higher level than the second temperature sensor when the vehicle is on a level surface; and
receive an input indicative of time passed since start up;
the controller being further configured to:
calculate a representative temperature, T R , wherein T R is calculated using T 1 and T 2 ; and operate a temperature regulator according to the calculated value T R for a predefined period of time after start up, and thereafter operate a temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 .
2. A temperature regulation system for use in controlling the temperature within the cabin of a vehicle, the temperature regulation system comprising:
at least one temperature regulator;
a first temperature sensor for measuring a first temperature, T 1 ;
a second temperature sensor for measuring a second temperature, T 2 ; and
a controller configured to receive measurements of T 1 and T 2 from the first and second temperature sensors,
the temperature sensors being located within the cabin such that the first temperature sensor is located at a higher level than the second temperature sensor when the vehicle is on a level surface,
the controller being configured to:
receive an input indicative of time passed since start up;
calculate a representative temperature, T R , wherein T R is calculated using T 1 and T 2 ; and operate the temperature regulator according to the calculated value T R for a predefined period of time after start up, and thereafter operate the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 .
3. A method for controlling a temperature regulation system within the cabin of a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a first temperature sensor for measuring a first temperature, T 1 , and a second temperature sensor for measuring a second temperature, T 2 , the temperature sensors being located within the cabin such that the first temperature sensor is located at a higher level than the second temperature sensor when the vehicle is on a level surface;
calculating a representative temperature, T R , wherein T R is calculated using T 1 and T 2 ; and
operating the temperature regulation system according to the calculated value T R for a predefined period of time after start up, and thereafter operating the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 .
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the first temperature sensor is located at the expected head height of a driver who is seated within the car.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the first temperature sensor is attached to a windscreen of the vehicle.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the first temperature sensor is the cabin air temperature sensor of a windscreen misting sensor attached to the windscreen of the vehicle.
7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the second temperature sensor is located within a dashboard of the vehicle and/or is shielded from direct sunlight.
8. The method according to claim 3 , wherein TR is calculated using a weighted average of T 1 and T 2 .
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the weighted average is:
(1− g ) T 1 +( g ) T 2
where g is a tuneable constant.
10. The method according to claim 3 , wherein TR is calculated using a function which reduces with the time passed since start up.
11. The method according to claim 10 wherein TR reduces exponentially with the time passed since start up, and wherein T R is given by:
TR =(1− g ) T 1start +g ( T 2start )+((1− g ) T 1start +g ( T 2start )− T 2 )( e −t/τ −1)
where T 1start is the value of T 1 at start up, T 2start is the value of T 2 at start up, t is the time which has passed since start up, and τ is a time constant.
12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the method comprises:
operating the temperature regulation system according to the calculated value TR until TR is less than T 2 +δ, where δ is a predefined constant, and operating the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 thereafter.
13. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method comprises:
operating the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 at start up if the temperature regulation system was immediately previously deactivated for less than a predetermined period of time.
14. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method comprises:
operating the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 at start up if:
T 1 <T 2 +h
where h is a predetermined constant, optionally 10° C.
15. The unit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a third temperature measurement T 3 from a third temperature sensor, wherein T 3 is a measurement of the temperature outside the vehicle; and
operate the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 at start up only if T 3 lies outside a predetermined range, optionally if cooler than 5° C. or hotter than 30° C.
16. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the temperature regulation system further comprises a third temperature sensor, the control unit being arranged to:
receive a third temperature measurement T 3 from the third temperature sensor, wherein T3 is a measurement of the temperature outside the vehicle; and
operate the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 at start up only if T 3 lies outside a predetermined range, optionally if cooler than 5° C. or hotter than 30° C.
17. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises:
providing a third temperature sensor;
receiving a third temperature measurement T 3 from the third temperature sensor, wherein T3 is a measurement of the temperature outside the vehicle; and
operating the temperature regulation system according to the measured value of T 2 at start up only if T 3 lies outside a predetermined range, optionally if cooler than 5° C. or hotter than 30° C.
18. A vehicle comprising the temperature regulation system of claim 2 .
19. A vehicle configured to carry out the method of claim 3 .
20. The vehicle according to claim 18 , wherein the control unit is part of an HVAC system of a cabin of the vehicle, and further optionally wherein the second temperature sensor is an In Car temperature Sensor and the first temperature sensor is an Upper Cabin temperature Sensor of a windscreen misting sensor controlled by the HVAC system and attached to a windscreen of the vehicle.