Patent ID: 11897317
Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 11:
12. A non-transitory machine-readable medium on which a program is stored for providing instructions to a controller of an infrared (IR) heating module within a vehicle, the IR heating module having a plurality of IR panels, each IR panel configured for operation at a constant power output or in a range between a minimum power output and a maximum power output, the program, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform:
detecting a temperature within a cabin of the vehicle based on an output of a thermostat within the vehicle;
receiving a signal from the controller relating to the temperature detected;
initiating an operation of the plurality of IR panels based on the received signal,
wherein the plurality of IR panels are installed within the roof of the vehicle, and
wherein one or more of:
at least one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof along a center axis of the roof,
at least one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof adjacent to a b-pillar of the vehicle, and
one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof above each of a plurality of seats of the vehicle;

detecting a first temperature and a subsequent temperature within the cabin;
turning on the plurality of IR panels automatically based on the first temperature detection and stored instructions; and
in response to detecting the subsequent temperature within the passenger cabin after detecting the first temperature, at least one of confirming a previous command signal communicated to the plurality of IR panels or communicating a subsequent command signal to the plurality of IR panels to turn off or adjust an output of selected ones of the plurality of IR panels based on a second temperature detection and stored instructions such that each selected ones of the plurality of IR panels operates at its constant power output or a constant power setting between its minimum power output and maximum power output until the second temperature detection based on stored instructions.