# US 2019/0168575 A1 · Autonomous vehicle air register control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168575 A1 - Document ID: US20190168575A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/829,932 - Filed: 2017-12-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-03 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Oswaldo Perez Barrera - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168575A1 ## CPC - B60H 1/00871: {Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet (construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34)} - B60H 1/00357: {Air-conditioning arrangements specially adapted for particular vehicles} - 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 1/00985: {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 1/24: Ventilating devices where the heating or cooling is irrelevant (nozzles or air-diffusers B60H1/34) - B60H 1/34: Nozzles; Air-diffusers - B60R 16/037: for occupant comfort {, e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel} - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method for controlling an airflow in a passenger cabin of an autonomous vehicle includes providing an input indicative of an occupied passenger seat to a controller in operative communication with a power-actuated vehicle air register. On determination of the occupied passenger seat, the controller redirects an airflow from the air register towards the occupied passenger seat. The controller may display icons to allow a user to provide the input indicative of the occupied passenger seat. The controller may also display other icons to allow the user to control the power-actuated vehicle air register. At least one imager in communication with the controller and disposed adjacent to the power-actuated vehicle air register may be included to provide an image of a selected portion of a passenger's body to the controller whereby a movement of the passenger in the passenger cabin can be tracked. Systems for accomplishing the method are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling an airflow in a passenger cabin of an autonomous vehicle, comprising: by way of a human-machine interface (HMI), providing an input indicative of an occupied passenger seat to a controller comprising a processor, memory, and storage, the controller being in operative communication with a power-actuated air register; by the controller, redirecting an airflow from the power-actuated air register towards the occupied passenger seat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, including configuring the controller to, by way of the HMI: i) display a set of icons whereby the input indicative of the occupied passenger seat is provided; and ii) display another set of icons whereby a plurality of power-actuated airflow-directing elements of the power-actuated air register is controlled. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, including providing the HMI included in a device selected from the group consisting of a central control panel, a plurality of passenger-seat-mounted control panels, and a plurality of user-carried mobile devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, including selecting the plurality of power-actuated airflow-directing elements of the power-actuated air register from one or more of a plurality of substantially vertically-oriented pivoting vanes, a plurality of substantially horizontally-oriented pivoting vanes, and a power-actuated air register shut-off door. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further including providing at least one imager in communication with the controller and disposed adjacent to the power-actuated air register, the at least one imager being configured to provide an image of a selected portion of a passenger to the controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 including, by the controller, orienting the image of the selected portion of the passenger on a grid comprising a plurality of vertical and horizontal grid lines, each vertical and horizontal grid line respectively corresponding to a degree of motion of the plurality of substantially vertically-oriented vanes and the substantially horizontally-oriented vanes, to determine an orientation of the plurality of substantially vertically-oriented vanes and the substantially horizontally-oriented vanes and/or a movement of the selected portion of the passenger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, including, by the controller, pivoting at least one of the plurality of substantially vertically-oriented vanes and the plurality of substantially horizontally-oriented vanes to direct an airflow from the power-actuated air register towards the selected portion of the passenger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further including, on determining by the controller that the selected portion of the passenger has moved from a first passenger seat to a second passenger seat: i) by the controller, translating the shut-off door of a power-actuated air register closest to the first passenger seat to a closed position; ii) by the controller, translating the shut-off door of a power actuated air register closest to the second passenger seat to an open position; and iii) by the controller, pivoting at least one of the plurality of substantially vertically-oriented vanes and the plurality of substantially horizontally-oriented vanes of the power-actuated air register closest to the second passenger seat to direct an airflow towards the selected portion of the passenger's body. ### Claim 9 A system adapted to control an airflow in a passenger cabin of an autonomous vehicle, comprising: a plurality of power-actuated air registers; a controller comprising a processor, memory, and storage in operative communication with the plurality of power-actuated air registers; and a human-machine interface (HMI) in communication with the controller and comprising a touch screen adapted for providing inputs to the controller indicative of an occupied passenger seat; wherein the controller is configured to direct an airflow from one or more of the plurality of power-actuated air registers toward the occupied passenger seat on receiving the inputs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to, by way of the HMI: i) display a set of icons whereby the input indicative of the occupied passenger seat is provided; and ii) display another set of icons whereby a plurality of power-actuated airflow-directing elements of the plurality of power-actuated air registers is controlled. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the HMI is included in a device selected from the group consisting of a central control panel, a plurality of passenger-seat-mounted control panels, and a plurality of user-carried mobile devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of power-actuated airflow-directing elements of the power-actuated air register are selected from one or more of a plurality of substantially vertically-oriented pivoting vanes, a plurality of substantially horizontally-oriented pivoting vanes, and a power-actuated air register shut-off door. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further including at least one imager in communication with the controller and disposed adjacent to each one of the plurality of power-actuated vehicle air registers, the at least one imager being configured to provide an image of a selected portion of a passenger to the controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to orient the image of the selected portion of the passenger on a grid comprising a plurality of vertical and horizontal grid lines, each vertical and horizontal grid line respectively corresponding to a degree of motion of the plurality of substantially vertically-oriented vanes and the plurality of substantially horizontally-oriented vanes, to determine an orientation of the plurality of substantially vertically-oriented vanes and the substantially horizontally-oriented vanes and/or a movement of the selected portion of the passenger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to pivot at least one of the plurality of substantially vertically-oriented vanes and the plurality of substantially horizontally-oriented vanes to direct an airflow from the power-actuated vehicle air register towards the selected portion of the passenger. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to, on determining that the selected portion of the passenger has moved from a first passenger seat to a second passenger seat: i) translate the shut-off door of a power-actuated vehicle air register closest to the first passenger seat to a closed position; ii) translate the shut-off door of a power actuated vehicle air register closest to the second passenger seat to an open position; and iii) pivot at least one of the plurality of substantially vertically-oriented vanes and the plurality of substantially horizontally-oriented vanes of the power-actuated vehicle air register closest to the second passenger seat to direct an airflow towards the selected portion of the passenger. ### Claim 17 A system adapted to control an airflow in a passenger cabin of an autonomous vehicle, comprising: a plurality of power-actuated air registers each comprising a plurality of power-actuated airflow-directing vanes and a power-actuated shut-off door; a controller comprising a processor, memory, and storage in operative communication with the plurality of power-actuated air registers; a human-machine interface (HMI) in communication with the controller and comprising a touch screen adapted for providing inputs to the controller indicative of an occupied passenger seat; and at least one imager in communication with the controller and disposed adjacent to each one of the plurality of power-actuated vehicle air registers, the at least one imager having a fixed field of view and being configured to provide to the controller an image of a selected portion of a passenger that is positioned in the occupied passenger seat; wherein the controller is configured to direct an airflow from one or more of the plurality of power-actuated air registers towards the selected portion of the passenger on receiving the input. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of power-actuated air registers and the at least one imager are disposed on or in a B-pillar or a B-pillar trim piece of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to, by way of the HMI: i) display a set of icons whereby the input indicative of the occupied passenger seat is provided; and ii) display another set of icons whereby one or both of the plurality of power-actuated airflow-directing vanes and the power-actuated shut-off door are controlled. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to orient the image of the selected portion on the passenger to a grid comprising a plurality of vertical and horizontal grid lines, each vertical and horizontal grid line respectively corresponding to a degree of motion of the plurality of power-actuated airflow-directing vanes and, on determining a movement of the selected portion of the passenger from a first passenger seat to a second passenger seat: i) translate a shut-off door of a power-actuated vehicle air register closest to the first passenger seat to a closed position; ii) translate a shut-off door of a power actuated vehicle air register closest to the second passenger seat to an open position; and iii) pivot the plurality of power-actuated airflow-directing vanes closest to the second passenger seat to direct an airflow towards the selected portion of the passenger.