System and method for operating air conditioner using solar heat
AssigneeKia Motors Corporation
InventorYong Chul Kim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system for controlling at least two functions selected from the group consisting of ventilation, air cleaning, seat temperature and inside temperature of a vehicle when the vehicle engine is turned off, the system comprising: (a) a solar cell module providing driving power from solar heat; and (b) a controller operating the solar cell module by stepwise magnitudes of a current input from the solar cell module. A method for controlling the system is also provided.
Claims7
A method for controlling a system for controlling at least two functions selected from the group consisting of ventilation, air cleaning, seat temperature and inside temperature of a vehicle when the vehicle engine is turned off, the system comprising (a) a solar cell module providing driving power from solar heat;
- and (b) a controller operating the solar cell module by stepwise magnitudes of a current input from the solar cell module,
- the method comprising:
- (a) determining whether the vehicle is turned off;
- (b) converting an operation mode of a air conditioner to an outside air circulation mode and applying a current input from the solar cell module;
- (c) determining whether a difference between the temperature inside the cabin and a temperature of the outside air is greater than a predetermined temperature;
- (d) determining whether an input current is greater than a first predetermined current input level, if the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined temperature;
- (e) operating the air cleaner, if the input current is greater than the first predetermined current input level;
- (f) determining whether the input current is greater than a second predetermined current input level, after the air cleaner is operated;
- (g) operating the air blower of a air conditioner, if the input current is greater than the second predetermined current input level;
- (h) determining whether the input current is greater than a third predetermined current input level, after the air blower of the air conditioner is operated;
- (i) operating a seat cooling/heating module, if the input current is greater than the third predetermined current input level;
- (j) determining whether the input current is greater than a fourth predetermined current input level, after the seat cooling/heating module is operated;
- and
- (k) operating a thermoelectric module of the air conditioner, if the input current is greater than the fourth predetermined current input level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.