# US 2017/0282684 A1 · Method of operating an environmental control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282684 A1 - Document ID: US20170282684A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/467,368 - Filed: 2017-03-23 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Liberty FEARNS; Felix NOLLER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282684A1 ## CPC - 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} - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate - A61B 5/18: for vehicle drivers {or machine operators} - A61M 21/00: Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis - B60H 3/0035: {characterised by the control methods for adding the substance} - B60Q 3/80: Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) - A61B 5/1114: {Tracking parts of the body} - A61B 5/4809: {Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not} - A61B 5/4812: {Detecting sleep stages or cycles} - A61M 2021/0083: {especially for waking up} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract One or more environmental control systems of a vehicle are automatically operated. A position of an occupant of the vehicle in their circadian cycle is determined. The operation of one or more of the environmental control systems is controlled to compensate for or adjust the position of the occupant in their circadian cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating one or more environmental control systems of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining a circadian cycle position of an occupant of the vehicle; and controlling operation of one or more of the environmental control systems to compensate for or adjust the circadian cycle position of the occupant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining a core body temperature of the occupant; and wherein the circadian cycle position of the occupant is determined at least partially based on a core body temperature of the occupant. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the core body temperature of the occupant is determined based on a skin temperature of the occupant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising: storing the core body temperature of the occupant in a memory associated with the controller; associating the stored temperatures with a time of day at which the temperature was determined; and processing the stored temperatures to determine a standard circadian cycle of the occupant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising: determining a sleep requirement of the occupant, at least partially based on the core body temperature of the occupant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the sleep requirement of the occupant is at least partially determined by referring the core body temperature of the occupant to a standard circadian cycle of the occupant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein one or more of the environmental control systems are controlled in order to adjust a circadian cycle position of the occupant to be aligned with the standard circadian cycle of the occupant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the environmental control systems including a lighting system for providing illumination to an interior of the vehicle, the method further comprising controlling one or more of color or intensity of the illumination according to the according to the circadian cycle position of the occupant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the environmental control systems including a climate control system, the method further comprising controlling the climate control system to regulate an interior temperature of the vehicle according to the circadian cycle position of the occupant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the environmental control systems including a media system, the method further comprising controlling one or more of volume, tempo or equalization of media played by the media system according to the circadian cycle position of the occupant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the environmental control systems including an air quality system for controlling an oxygen level within an interior of the vehicle, the method comprising controlling the air quality system to adjust the oxygen level according to the circadian cycle position of the occupant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining a heart rate of the occupant; and determining the circadian cycle position of the occupant, at least partially based on the heart rate of the occupant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: communicating with an activity monitor to receive activity information, the activity monitor worn or carried by the occupant, the activity information being monitored by the activity monitor according to activities performed by the occupant; and determining a standard circadian cycle of the occupant based at least partially on the activity information. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving calendar information relating to an appointment attended or planned by the occupant; determining a standard circadian cycle of the occupant based at least partially on the calendar information; determining an expected circadian cycle position of the occupant for a scheduled time of a planned appointment; and controlling operation of one or more of the environmental control systems to adjust the expected circadian cycle position of the occupant at the scheduled time of the planned appointment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising: determining an alternative time to perform the planned appointment when the occupant is expected to be at a desired position on their circadian cycle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising: determining a time zone difference expected to be experienced by the occupant based on a planned appointment; determining a desired circadian rhythm according to the time zone difference; and controlling operation of one or more of the environmental control systems to adjust the circadian cycle position of the occupant to be aligned with the desired circadian rhythm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising: determining a time zone difference experienced by the occupant based on a previously-attended appointment; determining a jet lag of the occupant according to the time zone difference; and controlling operation of one or more of the environmental control systems to adjust the circadian cycle position of the occupant to be aligned with the standard circadian cycle of the occupant. ### Claim 18 A vehicle, comprising: one or more environmental control systems; and a controller configured to determine a circadian cycle position of an occupant of the vehicle, and control operation of the one or more of the environmental control systems to compensate for or adjust the circadian cycle position of the occupant. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising: an infra-red thermometer configured to determine a temperature of the occupant at or close to a central region of a forehead or temple region of the occupant; and wherein the controller is further configured to determine the circadian cycle position of the occupant, at least partially based on a core body temperature of the occupant identified according to data received from the thermometer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the environmental control systems include at least two of a lighting system for providing illumination to an interior of the vehicle, a climate control system, a media system, or an air quality system for controlling an oxygen level within an interior of the vehicle; and the controller is further configured to at least two of (i) control one or more of color or intensity of the illumination according to the according to the circadian cycle position of the occupant, (ii) control the climate control system to regulate an interior temperature of the vehicle according to the circadian cycle position of the occupant, (iii) control one or more of volume, tempo or equalization of media played by the media system according to the circadian cycle position of the occupant, or control the air quality system to adjust the oxygen level according to the circadian cycle position of the occupant.