# US 12,594,816 B2 · System for a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,594,816 B2 - Document ID: US12594816B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/446,161 - Filed: 2023-08-08 - Published: 2025-02-13 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2023-08-08 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: George David Koch Smith; Demetrius Conell Johnson-Gault; Terry Wayne Vandenbrink; Stuart C. Salter; Christopher Stephen Van auken - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594816B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00985: {Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators (characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence)} - B60H 1/00871: {Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet (construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34)} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract A system for a vehicle includes an air conditioning system, a motorized directional air flow control feature, a display, and a controller configured to initiate a variable air flow routine. Initiation of the variable air flow routine prompts execution of a predetermined actuation sequence of the motorized directional air flow control feature such that the direction of air flowing from the air conditioning system into a cabin of the vehicle is varied sequentially by the motorized directional air flow control feature. Initiation of the variable air flow routine further prompts the display to display an air flow graphic having a directional quality that corresponds with the orientation of the motorized directional air flow control feature such that the directional quality of the air flow graphic varies sequentially with the direction of the air flowing from the air conditioning system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for a vehicle, comprising: an air conditioning system; a sensing system including an imager that provides image data of a cabin of the vehicle; a motorized directional air flow control feature including: an actuator; and a flow influencing feature; a display; and a controller configured to determine, from the image data, a portion of a user shined-on by sunlight, and further configured to initiate a variable air flow routine responsive to the shined-on portion, wherein initiation of the variable air flow routine prompts: execution of a predetermined actuation sequence of the motorized directional air flow control feature such that the direction of conditioned air flowing from the air conditioning system into a cabin of the vehicle is varied sequentially by the actuator and flow influencing feature of the motorized directional air flow control feature; and the display to display an air flow graphic having a directional quality that corresponds with the orientation of the motorized directional air flow control feature such that the directional quality of the air flow graphic varies sequentially with the direction of the conditioned air flowing from the air conditioning system, wherein the controller is configured to determine, from the image data, a portion of a user shined-on by sunlight using an image-processing routine that includes information related to the position of the imager relative to the vehicle, wherein the information related to the position of the imager relative to the vehicle is relative to a center of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein initiation of the variable air flow routine prompts execution of the predetermined actuation sequence for a predetermined duration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined duration is greater than 10 seconds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the predetermined duration is greater than 30 seconds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein execution of the predetermined actuation sequence includes actuating the motorized directional air flow control feature, such that the direction of conditioned air flowing into the cabin is modified in a first direction having a first vehicle-direction component, and subsequently actuating the motorized directional air flow control feature, such that the direction of conditioned air flowing into the cabin is modified in a second direction having a second vehicle-direction component that is opposite the first vehicle-direction component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first vehicle-direction component is a first vehicle-lateral direction, and the second vehicle-direction component is a second vehicle-lateral direction that is opposite the first vehicle-lateral direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first vehicle-direction component is vehicle-upward and the second vehicle-direction component is vehicle-downward. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the display is a touchscreen display, and wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the predetermined actuation sequence in response to input received via the touchscreen display. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein executing the predetermined actuation sequence also directs conditioned air to the shined-on portion. ### Claim 10 A method of operating a system of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: capturing image data of a cabin of the vehicle, the image data including a portion of a user shined-on by sunlight; performing, responsive to the shined-on portion, a predetermined actuation sequence of a motorized directional air flow control feature of the vehicle, such that a direction of conditioned air flowing from an air conditioning system into a cabin of the vehicle is varied sequentially by an actuator and a flow influencing feature of the motorized directional air flow control feature, wherein performing the predetermined actuation sequence comprises executing an image-processing routine that includes information related to the position of an imager relative to the vehicle; displaying on a touchscreen display an air flow graphic that includes a directional quality that varies sequentially to correspond with the sequentially varying direction of the conditioned air flowing from the air conditioning system into the cabin; and terminating the predetermined actuation sequence in response to input received via the touchscreen display, wherein performing the predetermined actuation sequence also directs conditioned air to the shined-on portion, wherein the information related to the position of an imager relative to the vehicle is relative to a center of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of performing a predetermined actuation sequence comprises: actuating the motorized directional air flow control feature, such that the direction of conditioned air flowing into the cabin is modified in a first direction having a first vehicle-direction component; and subsequently actuating the motorized directional air flow control feature, such that the direction of conditioned air flowing into the cabin is modified in a second direction having a second vehicle-direction component that is opposite the first vehicle-direction component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first vehicle-direction component is a first vehicle-lateral direction, and the second vehicle-direction component is a second vehicle-lateral direction that is opposite the first vehicle-lateral direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first vehicle-direction component is vehicle-upward and the second vehicle-direction component is vehicle-downward.