Patent Document ID: 20080216500
Application ID: 11683445
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for controlling an expansion valve of an air conditioning system having an evaporator configured to discharge a refrigerant, the expansion valve having an open position, a closed position and a plurality of intermediary positions, the method comprising: calculating a superheat value of the refrigerant exiting the evaporator; determining whether the calculated superheat value matches a target superheat value; if the calculated superheat value matches the target superheat value, leaving the expansion valve at its current position; determining whether the calculated superheat value is within a preset range of a target superheat value; if the calculated superheat value is outside of the preset range, operating the expansion valve in accordance with a first control procedure to bring the calculated superheat within the preset range; and if the calculated superheat value is within the preset range, operating the expansion valve in accordance with a second control procedure to cause the calculated superheat to match the target superheat.