Method and apparatus for controlling compartment temperature of a vehicle

An apparatus for controlling the temperature of the compartment of an automobile having cooler means for cooling the air supplied to said compartment, heater means for heating the cooled air passing to said compartment therethough, and damper means positioned between said cooler means and said heater means for adjusting the rate of said cooled air passing through said heater means, said apparatus comprising:

• means for establishing a desired high and low compartment temperature;
• means for sensing an actual compartment temperature;
• means for sensing an ambient temperature outside said compartment;
• means for correcting said actual compartment temperature by said ambient temperature;
• means for controlling said damper means in response to said desired compartment temperatures and said corrected actual compartment temperature so that said corrected actual compartment temperature is maintained between said desired high and low compartment temperature;
• means for sensing another actual temperature at a predetermined compartment portion where the heat of the sun is radiated;
• means for obtaining the difference between said actual compartment temperature and said another actual temperature;
• means for sensing the intensity of light of the sun incident to said compartment;
• means for comparing said sensed intensity of the the sun light with a reference intensity;
• and
• means for lowering said desired high and low compartment temperatures, when the output of said comparing means indicates that said sensed intensity is higher than said reference intensity, in accordance with said difference between said actual compartment temperature and said another actual temperature.

A method for controlling the temperature of the compartment of an automobile having cooler means for supplying the cooled air, heater means for supplying the heated air and adjuster means for adjusting the rate of supply of said cooled and heated air to said compartment, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a desired compartment temperature;
• sensing an actual compartment temperature;
• controlling said adjuster means in response to said desired and actual compartment temperatures so that said actual compartment temperature approaches said desired compartment temperature;
• sensing another actual temperature at a predetermined compartment portion where the heat of the sun is radiated;
• sensing the intensity of the sun light incident to said compartment;
• comparing said sensed intensity with a reference intensity;
• and
• compensating, when said sensed intensity is higher than said reference intensity, said rate of supply adjusted by said adjuster means in accordance with said another actual temperature.