Method and device for regulating or controlling the temperature of an interior space, especially that of a motor vehicle

Method for regulating or controlling the temperature of an interior space, especially of a motor vehicle, by setting a temperature of a medium, said medium flowing out of an actuating device and acting thermally on the interior space, said temperature being set using a control and regulating device as a function of said setting, via signals which are supplied to an interior temperature sensor input connection, an outlet-flow temperature sensor input connection and at least one user setting variable input connection, the method comprising the steps of:

• evaluating the signals to the temperature sensor input connections by the control and regulating device in order to identify whether the associated temperature sensors have been connected such that they can operate;
• and
• if both an interior temperature sensor, connected such that it can operate, and an outlet-flow temperature sensor, connected such that it can operate, have been identified, then, regulating an outlet flow temperature in an interior temperature regulation mode in which a variable set by the user is treated as a required interior temperature value via a required out flow temperature value, which is dependent on the interior temperature regulation difference;
• and
• if the interior temperature sensor, connected such that it cannot operate, and the outlet-flow temperature sensor, connected such that it can operate, have been identified, then, regulating the outlet flow temperature in an outlet-flow temperature regulation mode in which the variable set by the user is treated as the required outlet-flow temperature value as a function of this required value;
• and
• if both an interior temperature sensor, connected such that it cannot operate, and an outlet-flow temperature sensor, connected such that it cannot operate, have been identified, then, activating a reversionary control mode, in which the variable set by the user is treated directly as the setting variable for the actuating device, and said actuating device being set in a corresponding manner.