Patent Description:
Modern vehicles offer a variety of advanced functions related to enhancing the driving experience and improved comfort. With the increasing number of functions there is also an increasing number of systems that may be controlled by the driver who consequently may be exposed to undesirable distractions. Thus, although the functions themselves each provides enhanced user experience the increasing number of functions may add stress to the driver attempting to control the large number of functions at the same time as controlling the vehicle.

The distractions and stress caused by the increasing demand for driver input may lead to hazardous situations and potentially to accidents. Nevertheless, users are often interested in including the advanced functions but there appears to be room for improving the user experience further. One system which may benefit from reduced user input is the climate system of the vehicle. If the driver could spend less attention on the climate system, more time could be used for paying attention to the surrounding traffic. <CIT> discloses an example device for controlling the temperature of a vehicle seat.

There is thus a desire to improve the user experience provided by vehicle subsystems, but with reduced need for user input.

The invention relates to a method for controlling the temperature of a vehicle compartment component.

With the proposed method and implementations thereof, the vehicle component is heated or cooled once a user is detected, using power profiles that are adapted to fit the user's needs. The heating or cooling is only activated when it is needed, and the power profiles ensures that the temperature of the vehicle component is adjusted according to profiles that closely mimics a typical user's desired heating or cooling profile.

The inventors realized that drivers of vehicles want the temperature of vehicle compartment components to automatically fit their needs. In this way, the driver can focus on driving the vehicle and not on adjusting the temperatures of the vehicle compartment components.

The above advantages are obtained by insights in typical usage pattern in heating or cooling of vehicle interior components identified in studies. It was realized that most users initially desire heating or cooling the vehicle interior component according to a first power profile and subsequently, after a time duration, adjusts the heating to a second power profile.

Accordingly, with the herein proposed embodiments, the user does not have to spend time and attention on adjusting the heat of the vehicle interior component, the heating or cooling is automatically performed and in such a way that a user experiences a comfortable heat adjustment of the vehicle compartment component.

Further, with the proposed method and implementations thereof, the need for the driver to perform micro adjustments of the vehicle interior component heating or cooling is reduced, whereby the driver can instead focus on driving the vehicle.

The method is implemented by a control unit which controls a controllable power source configured to provide power to a temperature adjustment device adapted to adjust temperature of a vehicle compartment component. The control unit may operate on algorithms which can learn specific user preferences and adapt the heating profiles accordingly. In embodiments, the power profiles are based on user profiles determined from machine learning algorithms.

The inventors also propose a corresponding computer program product with the same advantages as the above-mentioned method.

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing example embodiments of the present invention, wherein:.

In the present detailed description, various embodiments of methods and implementations for controlling the temperature of a vehicle compartment component according to the present invention are described. However, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person. In some instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the novelty of the exemplary embodiments presented herein.

<FIG> illustrates a box diagram of a control unit <NUM> connected to a temperature adjustment device (<NUM>) adapted to adjust temperature of a vehicle compartment component. The control unit <NUM> is communicatively connected to a user detection device <NUM> adapted to detect a user. Further, the control unit <NUM> is communicatively connected to a climate system <NUM> of the vehicle so that the control unit may receive data indicative of the outside temperature of the vehicle, or at least data the indicative of the temperature difference between the outside temperature and a temperature threshold. The temperature adjustment device includes the necessary components such as a controllable power source controllable by the control unit <NUM>. The power source is configured to provide the necessary power for adjusting the temperature of the vehicle compartment component.

The control unit <NUM> is configured to determine a temperature difference between an outside temperature of the vehicle surroundings and a temperature threshold. Furthermore, the control unit <NUM> is configured to, in response to receiving a signal indicative of the presence of a user in a vehicle seat, control the temperature adjustment device <NUM> to adjust the temperature of the vehicle compartment component with a first power profile. After a predetermined time duration of applying the first power profile, the control unit controls the temperature adjustment device <NUM>, by sending control signals to the temperature adjustment device <NUM>, to adjust the temperature of the vehicle compartment component with a second power profile which is different from the first power profile.

The inventors realized that the user experience in the vehicle may be enhanced by providing an automatic control for adjusting the temperature of some vehicle compartment components. This particularly relates to the surfaces of such vehicle interior components that the driver or user come in contact with and which may be experienced as more comfortable if heated or cooled, compared to an outside temperature. When a user is detected in e.g. the driver's seat of the vehicle, and the temperature difference between the outside surroundings and a threshold temperature is sufficiently large, then the control unit automatically initiates heating/cooling of the vehicle compartment component according to a first power profile. The first power profile is adapted to boost the temperature of the vehicle interior component in order to quickly provide a comfortable temperature for the user. After a predetermined time duration, a second power profile is activated which has the opposite gradient, i.e. to lower the temperature as compared to the first power profile in the case of heating the vehicle compartment component, or increasing the temperature compared to the first power profile in the case of cooling the vehicle compartment component. The second power profile is adapted to provide a more long-lasting comfortable temperature for the user after the initial boost provided by the first power profile.

The control unit <NUM> is connectable to a navigation system <NUM> of the vehicle. The control unit <NUM> receives a signal including a location indication from the navigation system <NUM>. Based on this, the first power profile and the second power profile are selected based on the location indication. Advantageously, the first power profile and the second power profile may thereby be selected based on the climate at the location of the vehicle. For example, in particularly cold/hot climates the first power profile may provide a more aggressive boost in heating/cooling power. Some locations may also be related to certain activities for the driver which may trigger specific power profiles.

For example, some locations may be related to preferred activities for the user, such as sports or exercising activities. In such case, after exercise, the user may be warm when arriving at the vehicle, whereby the user may not want a too hot vehicle interior. In such case the control unit may adapt the first power profile and the second power profile accordingly.

The user detection device <NUM> may be embodied in various forms, such as weight sensors in the vehicle seat or cameras which may identify the user.

<FIG> is a flow-chart of method steps for controlling the temperature of a vehicle compartment component. The method comprises a step S102 of detecting the presence of an occupant in a vehicle seat. Step S104 includes calculating a temperature difference between an outside temperature of the vehicle surroundings and a vehicle compartment temperature. When the temperature difference exceeds a threshold, and in response to detecting the presence of the occupant, controlling S106 a temperature adjustment device to adjust the temperature of the vehicle compartment component with a first power profile. After a predetermined time duration of applying the first power profile, controlling S108 the temperature adjustment device to adjust the temperature of the vehicle compartment component with a second power profile which is different from the first power profile.

The power profiles may take various forms and may relate to either a heating operation or a cooling operation, i.e. the vehicle interior component may be either heated or cooled by applying the power profiles to the temperature adjustment device. However, regardless of a heating or a cooling operation power is needed for the specific operation.

An example use case is that a user enters the vehicle on a cold day. In order to quickly reach a comfortable temperature on a vehicle compartment component such as a vehicle seat, the first power profile may boost the applied power. In other words, as soon as the user is detected in the vehicle seat, the first power profile is applied to the temperature adjustment device to boost the temperature of the vehicle seat. The first power profile may be based on the detected temperature difference to more quickly reach a comfortable temperature. For example, the increase in the applied power with the first power profile may be set high if the detected temperature difference is large, i.e. exceeding a threshold.

After a time duration, the applied power to the temperature adjustment device is decreased according to the second power profile to decrease the temperature of the vehicle seat.

The second power profile may be adjustable based on a detected vehicle compartment temperature. In other words, if the vehicle compartment temperature is high, i.e. exceeding a threshold, the second power profile may be adjusted to reduce heating or increase cooling of the vehicle compartment component so that the user experiences a more comfortable temperature of the vehicle compartment component.

The power profiles may take different forms of which two example cases of first and second power profiles will now be described.

<FIG> illustrates a conceptual power versus time curve including a first power profile <NUM> and a second power profile <NUM>. The first power profile includes a relatively steep increase in power from time t1 to time t2 to boost the applied power to quickly reach a comfortable temperature of the vehicle compartment component. The user may have been detected at time t1 or just before time <NUM>. After a predetermined time duration, e.g. at time t3, the first power profile has been applied for a time duration from t1 to t3, the second power profile is applied. The second power profile includes an overall decrease in power level from the first power level P1 to the second power level P2. Further, the increase in power, i.e. from zero to P1 within the first power profile <NUM> is larger than the decrease in power, i.e. from P1 to P2, within the second power profile <NUM>. The first power profile <NUM> and the second power profile <NUM> in <FIG> are shown including constant increase and decrease of the applied power.

<FIG> illustrates another conceptual power versus time curve including a first power profile <NUM> and a second power profile <NUM>. The first power profile <NUM> includes a relatively steep increase in power from time t1 to time t2 to boost the applied power to quickly reach a comfortable temperature of the vehicle compartment component. The user may have been detected at time t1 or just before time <NUM>. The increase in power with the first power profile here follows a curved path until time t2 and subsequently a relatively constant or slightly rising path between time t2 and t3. The difference between the first power profile <NUM> shown in <FIG> and the first power profile <NUM> shown in <FIG> illustrates the adaptability of the first power profile. For example, the first power profile may be based on user profile that may either be selected by the user or be based on a machine learning algorithm taught on training data specific to the user.

The second power profile <NUM> is applied at time t3 and includes a general decrease in power from level P1 to power level P2. Note however, the second power profile is continuously applied after time t3.

As with the first power profile, also the second power profile may be based on user profile that may either be selected by the user or be based on a machine learning algorithm taught on training data specific to the user.

As is conceptually illustrated in <FIG>, the second power profile may be applied until e.g. the temperature adjustment device is turned off. The second power profile may be adjusted based on a detected vehicle compartment temperature. For example, if the vehicle compartment temperature is relatively high, then the applied power may be decreased for reducing the heat produced by the temperature adjusting device.

In embodiments, when the outside temperature is determined to be higher than the temperature threshold, controlling the temperature adjustment device to cool the vehicle compartment component with the first power profile. Thus, the temperature adjustment device may be controlled to cool the vehicle compartment component in some situations.

In other embodiments, when the outside temperature is below the temperature threshold, controlling the temperature adjustment device to heat the vehicle compartment component with the first power profile.

The temperature difference between the outside temperature and the temperature threshold may be considered an absolute value of the difference to determine whether the difference exceeds the threshold. However, as described above, different actions may be taken depending on the relationship between the outside temperature and the temperature threshold.

The temperature threshold may be determined based on the specific user profile. In other words, the temperature threshold may be part of the user profile and may be an output of the machine learning algorithm. Thus, the machine learning algorithm may have been taught a temperature threshold that fits the present user's usage patterns. Accordingly, the machine learning algorithms can learn specific user preferences.

Alternatively, a fixed temperature threshold of predetermined temperature differences may be applied - i.e. if the temperature inside the vehicle is ><NUM> degrees Celsius then cooling is desired with the first power profile, or if the temperature difference between the interior of the vehicle and the outside exceeds a threshold X then cooling/heating may desired depending on the relationship between the temperatures inside and outside the vehicle, i.e. if the inside temperature is higher than the outside temperature then cooling may be desired, or, if the inside temperature is lower than the outside temperature then heating may be desired.

<FIG> conceptually illustrates a control unit <NUM> configured to receive user data <NUM> indicative of manual adjustment of the power applied to the temperature adjustment device. The control unit <NUM> is further configured to receive temperature data <NUM> indicative of the present outside temperature of the vehicle surroundings. The temperature data <NUM> may also include temperature data indicative of the present vehicle compartment temperature. The control unit <NUM> evaluates the user data <NUM> and the temperature data <NUM> using a machine learning algorithm in order to produce a user profile <NUM>. The user profile <NUM> includes user preferences for the power profiles. Further, the control unit <NUM> receives location data <NUM> from a navigation system of the vehicle. The location data <NUM> provides the present location of the vehicle when manual adjustments of the power applied to the temperature adjustment device is performed. The locations may be related to certain activities which may be input to the control unit <NUM> by the user. Accordingly, in some embodiments the power profiles may be based on user profiles determined from machine learning algorithms. The machine learning algorithms are based on user interaction in both time and context. In this way the algorithm may learn the user preferences over time which further enhances the user experiences and reduces the need for the driver to manually control the heating/cooling which reduces potentially hazardous distractions.

The machine learning algorithms may be based on supervised learning or unsupervised learning.

The user profile <NUM> may also be at least partly based on temperature data and user data from a vast number of users in order to produce a generic user profile that may be adapted based on user specific user data and temperature data.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle compartment component associated with a user position in a vehicle seat. The vehicle compartment component comprises a temperature adjustment device adapted to adjust the temperature of the vehicle compartment component at variable power levels. The temperature adjustment device is controlled by a control unit configured to perform the steps of the claimed method.

<FIG> illustrates a conceptual vehicle compartment including some exemplary vehicle compartment components. Exemplary vehicle compartment components include vehicle front seats <NUM>, a back seat <NUM>, head rests <NUM>, a steering wheel <NUM>, an arm rest <NUM>, a gear lever <NUM>. The herein exemplified vehicle compartment components are not exhaustive and there may exist further vehicle compartment components that are not explicitly mentioned herein.

Each of the vehicle compartment components includes a surface touchable by a user during vehicle operation. The temperature adjustment device is adapted to adjust a temperature of the vehicle compartment component surface.

The temperature adjustment device includes a heating element and/or a cooling element. By applying power to the temperature adjustment device, it either produces heat at the location of the temperature adjustment device to thereby heat a respective vehicle compartment component or withdraws heat from the vehicle compartment component. Example temperature adjustment devices may be air conditioning system, fans, seat heating devices, steering wheel heating devices, seat cooling fans, steering wheel cooling devices, arm rest cooling fans, arm rest heating devices.

The present invention also relates to a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for controlling a temperature adjustment device to heat a vehicle compartment component according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the computer program product comprises code for performing the steps according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

The communication between the control unit and the temperature adjustment device or navigation system, or other devices may be hardwired or may use other known electrical connection techniques, or wireless networks, such as known in the art such as via CAN-buses, Bluetooth, Wifi, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc..

A control unit may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable digital signal processor or another programmable device, as well as be embedded into the vehicle/power train control logic/hardware. The control unit may also, or instead, include an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array or programmable array logic, a programmable logic device, or a digital signal processor. Where the control unit includes a programmable device such as the microprocessor, microcontroller or programmable digital signal processor mentioned above, the processor may further include computer executable code that controls operation of the programmable device. The control unit may comprise modules in either hardware or software, or partially in hardware or software and communicate using known transmission buses such as CAN-bus and/or wireless communication capabilities.

A control unit of the present invention is generally known as an ECU, electronic control unit.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), and Blu-ray disc, where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

Instructions may be executed by one or more processors, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), general purpose microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), or other equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry. In addition, in some aspects, the functionality described herein may be provided within dedicated hardware and/or software modules.

The techniques of this disclosure may be implemented in a wide variety of devices or apparatuses, including an integrated circuit (IC) or a set of ICs (e.g., a chip set).

Claim 1:
A method for controlling the temperature of a vehicle compartment component (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the method comprising the steps of:
detecting (S102) the presence of an occupant in a vehicle seat;
calculating (S104) a temperature difference between an outside temperature of the vehicle surroundings and a temperature threshold,
receiving a location indication from a navigation system (<NUM>), wherein
when the temperature difference exceeds a threshold, and in response to detecting the presence of the occupant, controlling (S106) a temperature adjustment device (<NUM>) to adjust the temperature of the vehicle compartment component (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) with a first power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>) causing an increase in applied power level,
characterized in that:
after a predetermined time duration of applying the first power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>), controlling (S108) the temperature adjustment device (<NUM>) to adjust the temperature of the vehicle compartment component (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) with a second power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>) which is different from the first power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the first power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>) is an overall increase in applied power and the second power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>) is an overall decrease in applied power level that is less than the increase in power level caused by the first power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>) wherein at least one of the first power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second power profile (<NUM>, <NUM>) are selected or adapted based on the location indication.