# US 10,479,163 B2 · Method for controlling a thermal comfort control system for ride share vehicles

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- Number: US 10,479,163 B2
- Document ID: US10479163B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/812,035
- Filed: 2017-11-14
- Published: 2019-05-16
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-14
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Nicholas Mazzocco; Jeffrey M Pleune; Louis Savich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479163B2

## CPC

- B60H 1/00285: {for vehicle seats}
- B60H 1/00742: {by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors}
- B60H 1/00792: {Arrangement of detectors (B60H1/00742, B60H1/0075, B60H1/00785 take precedence)}
- B60H 1/00878: {the components being temperature regulating devices}
- B60H 1/00892: {Devices specially adapted for avoiding uncomfortable feeling, e.g. sudden temperature changes (B60H1/00885 takes precedence)}
- B60N 2/5621: {by air}
- B60N 2/5657: {blown towards the seat surface}
- B60N 2/5678: {characterised by electrical systems}
- B60N 2/5685: {Resistance}
- B60H 2001/00733: {Computational models modifying user-set values}
- B60H 2001/00942: {comprising a plurality of heat exchangers, e.g. for multi zone heating or cooling}
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method for controlling a thermal comfort control system for ride share vehicles includes providing a plurality of occupant seats in a vehicle cabin and controlling a cabin set temperature using a cabin comfort control system configured to adjust a plurality of HVAC functions. At least one thermal comfort parameter is adjusted at a number of the plurality of occupant seats using at least one seat comfort control system. Adjusting the at least one thermal comfort parameter causes the cabin control module to adjust the set temperature of the vehicle cabin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling a thermal comfort control system for vehicles comprising:
providing a plurality of occupant seats in a vehicle cabin;
controlling a set temperature within the vehicle cabin by a multi-function control panel using a cabin comfort control system configured to adjust a plurality of HVAC functions; and
adjusting at least one thermal comfort parameter at a number of the plurality of occupant seats using at least one seat comfort control system,
wherein adjusting the at least one thermal comfort parameter causes the cabin comfort control system to automatically adjust the set temperature of the vehicle cabin either by decreasing or increasing the set temperature within the vehicle cabin in accordance with the at least one thermal comfort parameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the set temperature within the vehicle cabin is based on an average value of inputs from the at least one seat comfort control system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the set temperature is increased if the average value of the seat inputs is greater than the set temperature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the set temperature is decreased if the average value of the seat inputs is less than the set temperature.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one seat comfort control system is a heated seat.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one seat comfort control system is a ventilated seat.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one comfort seat control system is a heated/ventilated seat.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one seat comfort control system is a local HVAC system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a cabin temperature monitoring device at the plurality of occupant seats.

### Claim 10

A method for controlling a thermal comfort control system for vehicles comprising:
providing a plurality of occupant seats in a vehicle cabin;
controlling a set temperature within the vehicle cabin by a multi-function control panel using a cabin comfort control system configured to adjust a plurality of HVAC functions; and
adjusting at least one thermal comfort parameter at a number of the plurality of occupant seats using at least one seat comfort control system,
wherein adjusting the at least one thermal comfort parameter causes the cabin comfort control system to automatically adjust the set temperature of the vehicle cabin either by decreasing or increasing the set temperature within the vehicle cabin in accordance with the at least one thermal comfort parameter, wherein adjusting the set temperature within the vehicle cabin is based on an average value of inputs from the at least one seat comfort control system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the set temperature is increased if the average value of the seat inputs is greater than the set temperature.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the set temperature is decreased if the average value of the seat inputs is less than the set temperature.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one seat comfort control system is a heated seat.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one seat comfort control system is a ventilated seat.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one seat comfort control system is a heated/ventilated seat.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the at least seat one comfort control system is a local HVAC system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a cabin temperature monitoring device at the plurality of occupant seats.

### Claim 18

A method for controlling a thermal comfort control system for vehicles comprising:
providing a plurality of occupant seats in a vehicle cabin;
controlling a set temperature within the vehicle cabin by a multi-function control panel using a cabin comfort control system configured to adjust a plurality of HVAC functions; and adjusting at least one thermal comfort parameter at a number of the plurality of occupant seats using at least one seat comfort control system,
wherein adjusting the at least one thermal comfort parameter causes the cabin comfort control system to automatically adjust the set temperature of the vehicle cabin either by decreasing or increasing the set temperature within the vehicle cabin in accordance with the at least one thermal comfort parameter, wherein adjusting the set temperature within the vehicle cabin is based on an average value of inputs from the at least one seat comfort control system
wherein the set temperature is increased if the average value of the seat inputs is greater than the set temperature,
wherein the set temperature is decreased if the average value of the seat inputs is less than the set temperature.