# US 11,027,592 B2 · Vehicle thermal management systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,592 B2 - Document ID: US11027592B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/985,406 - Filed: 2018-05-21 - Published: 2019-10-31 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-27 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy; Kirk Pebley; Eric Michael Rademacher; Michael J. Irby; James C. Rollinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027592B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00764: {the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed (B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence)} - B60H 1/00007: {Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices (control systems or mechanisms B60H1/00642)} - B60H 1/00042: {the air passing only one heat exchanger} - B60H 1/18: the air being heated from the plant exhaust gases {(B60H1/025 takes precedence)} - B60H 1/2218: {controlling the operation of electric heaters} - B60H 2001/2253: {related to an operational state of the vehicle or a vehicle component} - B60H 2001/2262: {related to the period of on/off time of the heater} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract A vehicle climate control system includes a heat exchanger to heat ambient air using engine waste heat, and a plurality of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating elements to heat air passed through the heat exchanger. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to, while the vehicle is driven without engine propulsion, issue a command to sequentially de-energize the PTC heating elements before an upcoming engine activation. The sequential de-energization of the PTC heating elements is performed according to a schedule that is based upon a power surge dissipation time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle climate control system comprising: a heat exchanger to heat ambient air using engine waste heat; an auxiliary heater independent of engine waste heat; and a controller programmed to issue an on/off command to the auxiliary heater based on an engine on/off transition, wherein the on/off command to the auxiliary heater is offset by a time being a power-surge dissipation time period of the auxiliary heater. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle climate control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to, while an electric machine is a sole vehicle propulsion source, issue the on/off command to de-energize the auxiliary heater in advance of an upcoming engine start. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle climate control system of claim 2 wherein the controller is further programmed to, issue the on/off command to energize the auxiliary heater after the upcoming engine start. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle climate control system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heater comprises a plurality of heating elements, wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to an engine operating temperature that is less than an engine temperature threshold, issue the on/off command to sequentially energize each of the plurality of heating elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle climate control system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heater comprises a plurality of heating elements, wherein the controller is further programmed to issue the command on/off command to sequentially de-energize the plurality of heating elements in response to the vehicle operating at a speed greater than a first speed threshold for longer than a predetermined duration of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle climate control system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heater comprises a plurality of heating elements, wherein the controller is further programmed to issue the on/off command to sequentially de-energize the plurality of heating elements in response to a signal indicative of an engine temperature that is greater than a predetermined temperature threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle climate control system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heater comprises at least one positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element to heat air passed through the heat exchanger and configured to provide heated air to a passenger cabin through fluid flow communication. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle climate control system of claim 1 wherein the on/off command comprises de-energizing the auxiliary heater in response to the vehicle operating at a speed greater than a first speed threshold for longer than a predetermined duration of time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle climate control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to an engine operating temperature that is less than an engine temperature threshold, issue the on/off command to energize the auxiliary heater. ### Claim 10 A vehicle climate control system comprising: a heat exchanger to heat ambient air using engine waste heat; an auxiliary heater independent of engine waste heat; and a controller programmed to: while an electric machine is a sole vehicle propulsion source, issue an on/off command to the auxiliary heater to de-energize the auxiliary heater in advance of an upcoming engine start. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle climate control system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further programmed to, issue the on/off command to the auxiliary heater prior to the engine on/off transition, wherein the on/off transition comprises starting the engine, wherein the on/off command comprises de-energizing the auxiliary heater. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle climate control system of claim 11 wherein the on/off command de-energizing the auxiliary heater is in response to a signal indicative of an engine temperature that is greater than an engine threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle climate control system of claim 11 wherein the on/off command de-energizing the auxiliary heater is in response to the engine operating at a speed greater than a first threshold for longer than a predetermined duration of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The vehicle climate control system of claim 10 wherein the on-off commend is offset from the upcoming engine start by a time being a power-surge dissipation time period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The vehicle climate control system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further programmed to, issue the on/off command to de-energize the auxiliary heater in response to a signal indicative of an engine temperature that is greater than an engine threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The vehicle climate control system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to an engine operating temperature that is less than an engine temperature threshold, issue the on/off command to energize the auxiliary heater. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The vehicle climate control system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to application of a brake while the vehicle is operating at a speed greater than a speed threshold, issue the on/off command to de-energize the auxiliary heater. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The vehicle climate control system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further programmed to, issue the on/off command to de-energize the auxiliary heater in response to the engine operating at a speed greater than a first threshold for longer than a predetermined duration of time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The vehicle climate control system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further programmed to, issue the on/off command to de-energize the auxiliary heater in response to the vehicle operating at a speed greater than a first speed threshold for longer than a predetermined duration of time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The vehicle climate control system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further programmed to, issue the on/off command to the auxiliary heater after the engine on/off transition, wherein the on/off transition comprises stopping the engine, and wherein the on/off command comprises energizing the auxiliary heater.