# US 2025/0144971 A1 · Apparatus and method for examining an air conditioner for a vehicle

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- Number: US 2025/0144971 A1
- Document ID: US20250144971A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/904,836
- Filed: 2024-10-02
- Published: 2025-05-08
- Earliest claimed: 2023-11-03
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Inventors: Jun Yeon Park; BeomKyo Lee; Hocheol Ahn; DooChul Kim; Sungjun Im
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250144971A1

## CPC

- B60H 1/00585: {Means for monitoring, testing or servicing the air-conditioning}
- B60H 1/00978: {Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods}
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES

## Abstract

An apparatus and method for examining an air conditioner for a vehicle are provided. The apparatus may include: an outside air temperature value receiving module configured to receive a vehicle outside air temperature value from an outside air temperature sensor; a refrigerant pressure value receiving module configured to receive a vehicle refrigerant pressure value from a refrigerant pressure sensor; a refrigerant amount examination module configured to examine a minimum amount of refrigerant in a vehicle by using the outside air temperature value and the refrigerant pressure value; and a notification display module configured to display a notification to a user according to a result of examining the amount of refrigerant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for examining an air conditioner for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
an outside air temperature value receiving module configured to receive a vehicle outside air temperature value from an outside air temperature sensor;
a refrigerant pressure value receiving module configured to receive a vehicle refrigerant pressure value from a refrigerant pressure sensor;
a refrigerant amount examination module configured to examine a minimum amount of refrigerant in a vehicle by using the outside air temperature value and the refrigerant pressure value; and
a notification display module configured to display a notification to a user according to a result of examining the minimum amount of refrigerant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the refrigerant amount examination module examines the minimum amount of refrigerant by using the refrigerant pressure value when the outside air temperature value is equal to or more than a predetermined first reference value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:
when the outside air temperature value is less than the predetermined first reference value, the refrigerant amount examination module does not examine the minimum amount of refrigerant; and
the notification display module displays, to the user, a notification indicating that the minimum amount of refrigerant cannot be examined.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:
when the refrigerant pressure is continuously maintained to be less than or equal to a predetermined second reference value for a predetermined time, the refrigerant amount examination module determines that the minimum amount of refrigerant is abnormal; and
the notification display module displays a refrigerant amount inspection request notification to the user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:
when the refrigerant pressure is not continuously maintained to be less than or equal to the second reference value for the predetermined time, the refrigerant amount examination module determines that the minimum amount of refrigerant is normal; and
the notification display module displays a normal refrigerant amount notification to the user.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
when it is determined that the outside air temperature sensor or the refrigerant pressure sensor is abnormal, the refrigerant amount examination module does not examine the minimum amount of refrigerant; and
the notification display module displays an outside air temperature sensor inspection request notification or a refrigerant pressure sensor inspection request notification to the user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the refrigerant amount examination module examines the minimum amount of refrigerant while the vehicle travels; and
the notification display module displays the notification while the vehicle travels.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a defect reason deduction module configured to deduce a defect reason on the basis of refrigerant injection history data in a factory when it is determined that the amount of refrigerant is abnormal.

### Claim 9

An apparatus for examining an air conditioner for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
an evaporator core temperature value receiving module configured to receive an evaporator core temperature value from an evaporator core temperature sensor of a vehicle;
an air conditioner forced operation module configured to forcibly operate an air conditioner of the vehicle for a predetermined time;
an air conditioner performance examination module configured to examine air conditioner performance of the vehicle by using the evaporator core temperature value according to the forced operation; and
a notification display module configured to display a notification to a user according to a result of examining the air conditioner performance.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
when a first condition for determining whether the evaporator core temperature value reaches a predetermined third reference value for a predetermined inspection time is satisfied, the air conditioner performance examination module determines that the air conditioner performance is normal; and
the notification display module displays a normal air conditioner performance notification to the user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:
when the first condition is not satisfied, the air conditioner performance examination module determines that the air conditioner performance is abnormal; and
the notification display module displays an air conditioner inspection notification to the user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
when a second condition for determining whether the evaporator core temperature value decreases by a predetermined fourth reference value or more from an initial value for a predetermined inspection time is satisfied, the air conditioner performance examination module determines that the air conditioner performance is normal; and
the notification display module displays a normal air conditioner performance notification to the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:
when the second condition is not satisfied, the air conditioner performance examination module determines that the air conditioner performance is abnormal; and
the notification display module displays an air conditioner inspection notification to the user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
when any one of a first condition for determining whether the evaporator core temperature value reaches a predetermined third reference value for a predetermined inspection time or a second condition for determining whether the evaporator core temperature value decreases by a predetermined fourth reference value or more from an initial value for a predetermined inspection time is satisfied, the air conditioner performance examination module determines that the air conditioner performance is normal; and
the notification display module displays a normal air conditioner performance notification to the user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:
when both the first and second conditions are not satisfied, the air conditioner performance examination module determines that the air conditioner performance is abnormal; and
the notification display module displays an air conditioner inspection notification to the user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
when it is determined that the evaporator core temperature sensor is abnormal, the air conditioner performance examination module does not examine the air conditioner performance; and
the notification display module displays an evaporator core temperature sensor inspection request notification to the user.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:
an air conditioner discharge parameter providing module configured to provide the air conditioner performance examination module with air conditioner discharge parameters for designating types of vents of the air conditioner and stage numbers of a blower.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:
the air conditioner performance examination module changes conditions used to examine the air conditioner performance depending on the air conditioner discharge parameters.

### Claim 19

A method of examining an air conditioner for a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving a vehicle outside air temperature value from an outside air temperature sensor;
receiving a vehicle refrigerant pressure value from a refrigerant pressure sensor;
examining a minimum amount of refrigerant in a vehicle by using the outside air temperature value and the refrigerant pressure value; and
displaying a notification to a user according to a result of examining the amount of refrigerant.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
receiving an evaporator core temperature value from an evaporator core temperature sensor of the vehicle;
forcibly operating an air conditioner of the vehicle for a predetermined time;
examining air conditioner performance of the vehicle by using the evaporator core temperature value according to the forced operation; and
displaying a notification to the user according to a result of examining the air conditioner performance.