Patent ID: 9656535
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: B60H

Claim:
1. A method of operating an air conditioner for treating air of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing the air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit configured for a combined cooling unit mode and heat-pump mode and for a post-heating mode, and wherein the air conditioner has a first heat source and a second heat source when in the heat-pump mode; determining a temperature of the first heat source; determining a temperature of the second heat source; determining a regulation characteristic number, wherein the regulation characteristic number is determined from a deviation of a target status of the air to be fed into the passenger compartment from a de facto status of the air to be fed into the passenger compartment; determining a maximum pressure within the refrigerant circuit; and changing a mode of operation of the air conditioner based on the determination of at least one of the temperature of the first heat source, the temperature of the second heat source, the regulation characteristic number, and the maximum pressure within the refrigerant circuit, wherein the air conditioner operating in the heat-pump mode is configured to be operable in at least one of a first heat-pump mode and a second heat-pump mode, wherein in the first heat-pump mode at least the first heat source is used and in the second heat-pump mode at least the second heat source is used, wherein a method for changing between the first heat-pump mode and the second heat-pump mode comprises the steps of: