Patent ID: 6588222
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B60H,F04B,F25B

Abstract:
A vehicle air conditioning system including a refrigerant compressor having a controllable pumping capacity, and further comprising:an interface panel having temperature and inlet air selectors that are manipulated by an occupant to control an air discharge temperature and an air inlet source, and normal and energy-efficient air conditioning selectors that are manipulated by the occupant to select a normal air conditioning mode or an energy-efficient air conditioning mode; control setting indicators for prompting the occupant to manipulate the temperature selector to a full-cold setting and the air inlet selector to a cabin air recirculation setting when the energy-efficient air conditioning mode is selected; and a capacity control valve disposed within said compressor, including an electrically activated mechanism for controlling the compressor capacity, sensors for detecting refrigerant suction and discharge pressures within said compressor, and control circuitry coupled to said sensors and said electrically activated mechanism for controlling the pumping capacity of said compressor based on the selected air conditioning mode, the detected refrigerant pressures, and a measure of ambient thermal load.