Patent ID: 8958949
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
1. A vehicle temperature control system comprising: a first heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit comprising a first compressor, a first blower, and a first heating element; a first ducting in fluid communication with the first HVAC unit that selectively directs air to a first zone and a second zone of a vehicle through a plurality of outlet vents; a second HVAC unit comprising a second compressor, a second blower, and a second heating element; a second ducting in fluid communication with the second HVAC unit that selectively directs air to a third zone of the vehicle through a plurality of outlet vents; an electronic controller electrically coupled to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit, the electronic controller comprising a processor and a memory storing a computer readable instruction set; a first zone temperature selection device electrically coupled to the electronic controller, wherein the first zone temperature selection device selects a first zone desired temperature setting of the first zone; a second zone temperature selection device electrically coupled to the electronic controller, wherein the second zone temperature selection device selects a second zone desired temperature setting of the second zone; a third zone temperature selection device electrically coupled to the electronic controller, wherein the third zone temperature selection device selects a third zone desired temperature setting of the third zone; and a synchronization device electrically coupled to the electronic controller, wherein the processor executes the computer readable instruction set to: unsynchronize the third zone temperature selection device from the first zone temperature selection device and the second zone temperature selection device, when the third zone temperature selection device is adjusted, wherein the second zone temperature selection device remains synchronized to the first zone temperature selection device, and wherein the third zone desired temperature setting is independent of the first zone desired temperature setting and the second zone desired temperature setting; and modify an operating state of the first HVAC unit, the second HVAC unit, or both the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit to direct conditioned air to the first zone according to the first zone desired temperature setting, the second zone according to the second zone desired temperature setting, and the third zone according to the third zone desired temperature setting.