# US 2023/0054367 A1 · Method and Control Unit for Operating a User Interface for an Air Conditioning System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0054367 A1 - Document ID: US20230054367A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/797,068 - Filed: 2020-12-10 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-26 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Simone EILER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054367A1 ## 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)} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60H 1/00964: {Control systems or circuits characterised by including features for automatic and non-automatic control, e.g. for changing from automatic to manual control} - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments - B60K 2360/161: Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A control unit for an air conditioning system is designed to operate one or more actuators of the air conditioning system automatically in an automatic operating mode in order to set reference ambient conditions in a chamber. The control unit is configured to detect that an automatic change has occurred in an operating state of an actuator of the air conditioning system. The control unit is further configured to output via a user interface of the air conditioning system, information relating to the automatic change in the operating state of the actuator. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -11. (canceled) ### Claim 12 A control unit for an air conditioning system that is designed to operate one or more actuators of the air conditioning system automatically in an automatic operating mode in order to set reference ambient conditions in a chamber, wherein the control unit is configured: to detect that an automatic change has occurred in an operating state of an actuator of the air conditioning system; and to output via a user interface of the air conditioning system, information relating to the automatic change in the operating state of the actuator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the information comprises: information indicating the actuator of the air conditioning system that automatically changed the operating state; and/or information relating to a reason for the automatic change in the operating state of the actuator of the air-conditioning system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The control unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to detect that the actuator of the air conditioning system was activated automatically; to determine a duration of time that the actuator is likely to be active; and to output information about the determined duration of time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The control unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the user interface comprises a screen; and the control unit is configured to cause an indication on the screen relating to the about the determined duration of time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The control unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control unit is configured: to capture via the user interface a question by an occupant of the chamber about the reason that the operating state of the actuator was changed automatically; and to output the information relating to the automatic change in the operating state of the actuator in response to the question by the occupant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The control unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control unit is configured: to recognize that the air conditioning system has a manually variable setting that differs from a default setting; and to output in response thereto, via the user interface, information that indicates that the air conditioning system has a setting that differs from the default setting. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The control unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the user interface comprises a screen; and the control unit is configured to cause an indication on the screen relating to the automatic change in the operating state of the actuator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The control unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the indication comprises at least one indicator for the actuator; and the control unit is configured to alter the indicator, in order to indicate whether the actuator is active or inactive; and/or in order to indicate an intensity of operation of the actuator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The control unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein: the indication comprises at least one detail element; and the control unit is configured to indicate, via the detail element, information relating to a reason for why the operating state of the actuator was changed automatically. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The control unit as claimed in claim 20, wherein the indication comprises a multiplicity of indicators for a corresponding multiplicity of components of the air-conditioning system; and the control unit is configured to indicate using the multiplicity of indicators a first subset of the multiplicity of components of the air conditioning system that are active, and a second subset of the multiplicity of components that are inactive at a particular point in time; and/or to indicate using the multiplicity of indicators the operating state of the at least some of the multiplicity of components at a particular point in time. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The control unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein: the indication comprises at least one detail element; and the control unit is configured to indicate, via the detail element, text information relating to a reason for why the operating state of the actuator was changed automatically. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The control unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein: the indication comprises a multiplicity of indicators for a corresponding multiplicity of components of the air-conditioning system; and the control unit is configured, to indicate using the multiplicity of indicators a first subset of the multiplicity of components of the air conditioning system that are active, and a second subset of the multiplicity of components that are inactive at a particular point in time; and/or to indicate, using the multiplicity of indicators, the operating state of the at least some of the multiplicity of components at the particular point in time. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The control unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured: to capture via the user interface a question by an occupant of the chamber about the reason that the operating state of the actuator was changed automatically; and to output the information relating to the automatic change in the operating state of the actuator in response to the question by the occupant. ### Claim 25 (depends on 12) The control unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured: to recognize that the air conditioning system has a manually variable setting that differs from a default setting; and to output in response thereto, via the user interface, information that indicates that the air conditioning system has a setting that differs from the default setting. ### Claim 26 (depends on 12) The control unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one or more actuators comprise: a heating unit of the air conditioning system, the heating unit configured to increase a temperature of air produced by the air conditioning system in the chamber; a compressor and/or an evaporator of the air-conditioning system, the compressor and/or evaporator configured to reduce the temperature and/or a humidity of the air; and/or at least one fan configured to produce an airflow into the chamber. ### Claim 27 A method for operating an air conditioning system that is designed to operate one or more actuators of the air conditioning system automatically in an automatic operating mode, the method comprising: detecting that an automatic change has occurred in an operating state of an actuator of the air conditioning system; and outputting in response thereto, via a user interface of the air conditioning system, information relating to the automatic change in the operating state of the actuator.