Ambient temperature estimation
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChristos Kyrtsos, Michael Buckenmeyer, Kenneth Gerard Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for predicting an ambient temperature around a moving motor vehicle includes utilizing measured ambient temperatures and Newton's Cooling Law. A linear best fit line describing the time constant as a function of vehicle speed can be generated utilizing measured data. In use, the b values can be determined from the best fit line, and the b values can be utilized to provide a predicted or estimated ambient temperature before the measured temperatures drop to the ambient temperature.
Claims20
A temperature sensing system for movable vehicles, the system comprising:
- a temperature sensor configured to mount to a vehicle to measure a temperature of air defining an ambient temperature;
- a controller operably connected to the temperature sensor and obtaining a plurality of temperature readings from the temperature sensor at distinctly different times;
- wherein a rate of change of the temperature of the readings from the temperature sensor when the temperature sensor is exposed to air at an ambient temperature is generally equal to a time factor multiplied by a difference between a temperature reading of the temperature sensor at a plurality of selected times and an ambient temperature at the selected times such that a difference between the temperature readings and an ambient temperature is reduced over time until the temperature readings are about equal to the ambient temperature;
- and wherein:
- the controller utilizes predefined data concerning the time factor to estimate the ambient temperature utilizing a plurality of temperature readings taken at selected times at which there is a significant difference between at least some of the temperature readings.
A method of estimating an ambient temperature of air that is external to a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a temperature sensor configured to mount to a vehicle to measure temperature of air defining an ambient temperature;
- determining a rate of change of temperature readings for a vehicle as a function of temperature differences between a measured temperature and an ambient temperature;
- providing a controller that is operably connected to the temperature sensor;
- obtaining a plurality of temperature readings from the temperature sensor at distinctly different times;
- configuring the controller to estimate the ambient temperature utilizing a plurality of temperature readings taken at selected times at which there is a significant difference between at least some of the temperature readings.
A method of estimating ambient temperature of air around a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a vehicle with a sensor having a rate of change of temperature that is equal to the product of a factor and a difference between a measured temperature and an ambient temperature;
- describing the factor as a function of vehicle speed;
- utilizing measured temperatures at known times and vehicle speeds to calculate two values of the factor and an estimated temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.