Patent ID: 8210913
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
1. A system for air distribution in a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising: at least one air outlet for outflow of air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a duct for supplying a flow of air to said at least one air outlet, means for activating the air outlet, said means for activating include a proximity sensor, which is associated to said air outlet and is configured to output an electrical signal of activation of the air outlet in response to detecting a presence of a body at a short distance from the air outlet, said sensor being activated only when a body is set adjacent to the air outlet and wherein said means for activating comprise: said sensor being set at a distance from said air outlet and optically connected to a window adjacent to the air outlet via a light guide; said sensor comprises an optical emitter and an optical receiver, said emitter configured to emit an encoded optical pulse sequence through said light guide and output from said window, said optical receiver configured to receive radiation reflected by a body set in front of said window, the radiation reflected by said body returning through said window and through said light guide to said receiver; said emitter controlled by said electronic control unit in such a way as to emit said encoded optical pulse sequence, said electronic control unit connected to said receiver and programmed to distinguish between optical signals received by said receiver resulting from a reflection of the optical pulse sequence emitted by said emitter and other optical signals; and a triplexer coupling said emitter, said receiver, and a light source to said light guide.