Infrared heating module, vehicle and software program for providing climate control

A vehicle having an infrared (IR) heating module having a plurality of IR panels for controlling a climate within a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

• the plurality of IR panels of the IR heating module, each IR panel configured for operation at a constant power output or in a range between a minimum power output and a maximum power output;
• a cabin adapted and configured to house a plurality of passengers;
• a roof within an upper surface of the cabin;
• a plurality of seats adapted and configured to seat a plurality of passengers within the cabin,
• wherein the plurality of IR panels are installed within the roof of the vehicle, and
• wherein one or more of:
• at least one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof along a center axis of the roof,
• at least one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof adjacent to a b-pillar of the vehicle, and
• one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof above each of the plurality of seats of the vehicle;
• and
• a thermostat coupled to a controller for detecting a first temperature and a second temperature within the cabin, wherein the controller is adapted and configured to turn on the plurality of IR panels automatically based on the first temperature detection and stored instructions and, in response to detecting a subsequent temperature within the passenger cabin after detecting the first temperature, at least one of confirm a previous command signal communicated to the plurality of IR panels or communicate a subsequent command signal to the plurality of IR panels to turn off or adjust an output of selected ones of the plurality of IR panels based on the second temperature detection and stored instructions,
• wherein the controller is further adapted and configured such that each selected ones of the plurality of IR panels operates at its constant power output or a constant power setting between its minimum power output and maximum power output until the second temperature detection based on stored instructions.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium on which a program is stored for providing instructions to a controller of an infrared (IR) heating module within a vehicle, the IR heating module having a plurality of IR panels, each IR panel configured for operation at a constant power output or in a range between a minimum power output and a maximum power output, the program, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform:

• detecting a temperature within a cabin of the vehicle based on an output of a thermostat within the vehicle;
• receiving a signal from the controller relating to the temperature detected;
• initiating an operation of the plurality of IR panels based on the received signal,
• wherein the plurality of IR panels are installed within the roof of the vehicle, and
• wherein one or more of:
• at least one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof along a center axis of the roof,
• at least one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof adjacent to a b-pillar of the vehicle, and
• one of the plurality of IR panels is disposed in the roof above each of a plurality of seats of the vehicle;
• detecting a first temperature and a subsequent temperature within the cabin;
• turning on the plurality of IR panels automatically based on the first temperature detection and stored instructions;
• and
• in response to detecting the subsequent temperature within the passenger cabin after detecting the first temperature, at least one of confirming a previous command signal communicated to the plurality of IR panels or communicating a subsequent command signal to the plurality of IR panels to turn off or adjust an output of selected ones of the plurality of IR panels based on a second temperature detection and stored instructions such that each selected ones of the plurality of IR panels operates at its constant power output or a constant power setting between its minimum power output and maximum power output until the second temperature detection based on stored instructions.