Automotive Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system includes a recirculation mode to control movement of cabin air in vehicle. Air is recirculated within the vehicle cabin space when the vehicle recirculation mode is on. Air is drawn from outside when the recirculation mode is turned off. Because of the buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) inside the vehicle, the vehicle needs regular ventilation to maintain low CO2 levels in the vehicle cabin space. A method is described for determining and communicating recirculation mode in a vehicle for improving cabin air quality. The method comprises of capturing an image or video of the traffic ahead of the vehicle using a dashboard or windshield mounted smartphone camera or a vehicle camera, followed by analyzing the image or video of traffic to determine traffic condition as the weighted sum of the sizes of vehicles detected in traffic. The method further comprises of acquiring the number of vehicle occupants and vehicle speed, determining outside air acceptability state based on the traffic condition and the vehicle speed, determining carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the vehicle cabin space based on the number of vehicle occupants present, determining the final recirculation mode based on the outside air acceptability state and the CO2 levels in the vehicle cabin space, and communicating the final recirculation mode to the vehicle controller or vehicle occupant.
Method for Determining Recirculation Mode in Vehicles
2021-10-07
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60H ARRANGEMENTS OR ADAPTATIONS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING, OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES , Anordnung oder Einbau der Heizung, Kühlung, Lüftung oder anderer Luftbehandlungsvorrichtungen für die Fahrzeugräume für Reisende oder Fracht |