CN116985589A

CN116985589A - Vehicle interior disinfection of remote user interface commands

Info

Publication number: CN116985589A
Application number: CN202210445243.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·阿莱斯特拉; G·M·帕特尔; T·费舍尔
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2022-04-26
Filing date: 2022-04-26
Publication date: 2023-11-03

Abstract

The present invention provides for "remote user interface commanded vehicle interior disinfection". A vehicle comprising: an interior; a heat source in thermal communication with the interior; an ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light into the interior; and a controller in communication with the heat source and the ultraviolet light source, the controller configured to (i) cause the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, (ii) cause the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior, or (iii) both (i) and (ii) upon receiving a command from the remote user interface. The vehicle may also include an internal combustion engine that combusts fuel to propel the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a battery in electrical communication with the ultraviolet light source and in communication with the controller, the battery having a voltage.

Description

Vehicle interior disinfection of remote user interface commands

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to disinfection of vehicle interiors, and more particularly to a vehicle performing interior disinfection according to commands issued from a remote user interface.

Background

It is often desirable to reduce the presence of microorganisms inside the vehicle and provide feedback to the personnel of the vehicle that the interior has been disinfected.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure addresses the general desire for a vehicle comprising: a heat source for heating a vehicle interior; and an ultraviolet light source for emitting ultraviolet light into the vehicle; and a controller configured to cause the heat source to heat and/or the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior (to disinfect the interior) in accordance with a command from a person via the remote user interface.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes: an interior; a heat source in thermal communication with the interior; an ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light into the interior; and a controller in communication with the heat source and the ultraviolet light source, the controller configured to (i) cause the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, (ii) cause the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior, or (iii) both (i) and (ii) upon receiving a command from the remote user interface.

Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or combination of the following features:

the vehicle further comprises an internal combustion engine that combusts fuel to propel the vehicle;

-the vehicle does not further comprise an electric motor configured to propel the vehicle;

the vehicle further comprises a battery in electrical communication with the ultraviolet light source and in communication with the controller, the battery having a voltage;

-upon receiving a command from the remote user interface to cause the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior and the voltage of the battery is below a predetermined voltage, the controller is further configured to start the internal combustion engine to increase the voltage of the battery to the predetermined voltage prior to causing the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior;

The vehicle further comprises: a fuel tank containing fuel, the fuel tank being in fluid communication with an internal combustion engine; and a volume sensor configured to generate a signal from which the volume of fuel within the fuel tank can be calculated or estimated, the volume sensor being in communication with the controller;

-the controller determining that the fuel volume is higher than the predetermined volume before starting the internal combustion engine to increase the voltage of the battery, based on the signal from the volume sensor;

the vehicle further comprises: a fuel tank containing fuel, the fuel tank being in fluid communication with an internal combustion engine; a volume sensor configured to generate a signal from which the amount of fuel can be calculated or estimated, the volume sensor being in communication with the controller; and a heat exchanger in thermal communication with an internal combustion engine and an interior of the vehicle;

-the heat exchanger is a heat source;

-the controller determining, from the signal from the volume sensor, that the fuel volume is higher than a predetermined volume before starting the internal combustion engine to raise the temperature of the interior via the heat exchanger;

-the controller determining, from the signal from the volume sensor, that the fuel volume is higher than a second predetermined volume before starting the internal combustion engine to raise the temperature of the interior;

-a second predetermined volume is greater than the predetermined volume;

the vehicle further comprises a temperature sensor configured to generate a signal from which the temperature of the vehicle interior can be determined, the temperature sensor being in communication with the controller;

-the controller determining, from the signal from the temperature sensor, that the temperature of the vehicle interior is below a predetermined temperature before starting the internal combustion engine to raise the temperature of the interior;

the vehicle further comprises an electric motor configured to propel the vehicle;

-the vehicle does not further comprise an internal combustion engine configured to propel the vehicle;

-upon receiving a command from the remote user interface to cause the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior, the controller determining that the voltage of the battery is above a predetermined voltage prior to causing the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior;

the vehicle further comprises a second battery in electrical communication with the ultraviolet light source and in communication with the controller, the second battery having a state of charge;

-upon receiving a command from the user interface to cause the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior, the controller determining that the state of charge of the second battery is above a predetermined state of charge prior to causing the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior;

-the second battery is connected to an external power source external to the vehicle;

-upon receiving a command from the user interface to cause the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior, the controller determining that the state of charge of the second battery is below a predetermined state of charge, but additionally determining that the second battery is connected to an external power source prior to causing the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior;

-upon receiving a command from the user interface to cause the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, the controller determining that (i) the state of charge of the battery is below a predetermined state of charge, and (ii) the second battery is connected to an external power source, thereby causing the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior of the vehicle;

-the heat source has a positive temperature coefficient;

the vehicle further comprises: an internal combustion engine configured to propel a vehicle; and an electric motor configured to propel the vehicle;

-after the controller (i) causes the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, (ii) causes the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), the controller communicates to the remote user interface that the command has been executed;

-after the controller (i) causes the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, (ii) causes the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), the controller causes the vehicle to send a communication that a command, which is sensible from the external environment, has been performed;

-the vehicle further comprises an occupancy sensor configured to generate a signal from which the occupancy of the vehicle can be determined, the occupancy sensor being in communication with the controller; and

the controller determines from the signal from the occupancy sensor that no occupant occupies the vehicle interior before causing the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light into the interior.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method of disinfecting a vehicle interior includes: receiving a command from a remote user interface to disinfect the interior of the vehicle; determining that the voltage of the vehicle battery is greater than a predetermined voltage; and after determining that, sterilizing the vehicle interior by emitting ultraviolet light into the vehicle interior.

Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure may include the following features:

-the method further comprises determining that the voltage of the vehicle battery is less than a predetermined voltage; and increasing the voltage of the battery.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

Drawings

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle showing a heat source for heating an interior, a propulsion system for propelling the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the heat source;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the vehicle of FIG. 1, showing the vehicle further including an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light into the interior to disinfect the interior;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the vehicle of FIG. 1, the vehicle including: an internal combustion engine as a propulsion system, the internal combustion engine having a coolant sleeve with coolant that exchanges heat with air via a heat exchanger to heat air to be directed to the interior, thus acting as a heat source, wherein the air (heated) disinfects the interior; and a low voltage battery that provides power to the ultraviolet light source;

FIG. 3B is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the vehicle of FIG. 1 including an electric motor as a propulsion system; a low voltage battery that supplies power to the ultraviolet light source, and a high voltage battery that supplies power to the heating element as a heat source;

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the vehicle of FIG. 1 including both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as propulsion systems, and including aspects from the embodiments of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B as heat sources;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the controller of FIG. 1 showing a person sterilizing the vehicle of FIG. 1 via remote user interface commands while outside the vehicle, the remote user interface communicating with the controller directly or via an external network;

FIG. 5A is a view of an embodiment of a remote user interface showing selectable options on a touch screen display for a person to touch to command a vehicle to sanitize the vehicle, such as sanitize via ultraviolet light only, sanitize via high temperature, or both;

FIG. 5B is a view of the remote user interface of FIG. 5A showing a more limited selectable option with a touchable "Yes" or "No" button, and the person touching "Yes" to command sterilization, and the remote user interface communicating the command to the vehicle;

FIG. 6A is a view of the remote user interface of FIG. 5A showing communications from the vehicle displayed at the remote user interface to inform personnel that the vehicle has successfully performed a disinfection command;

FIG. 6B is a view of the remote user interface of FIG. 5A showing communications from the vehicle displayed at the remote user interface to inform personnel that the vehicle has cancelled the disinfection command and optionally to provide an explanation such as "fuel volume is too low";

FIG. 6C is a view of the remote user interface of FIG. 5A showing communications from the vehicle displayed at the remote user interface to notify personnel that sterilization of personnel has been commanded via the remote user interface is in progress;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showing the vehicle providing communication (such as audible noise from a vehicle horn or visual display from a light source) that disinfection of personnel, which may be sensed from the external environment, has been completed via a remote user interface command;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a method of disinfecting the interior of the vehicle of FIG. 1 using a remote user interface;

9A-9E are schematic illustrations of another method of disinfecting the interior of the vehicle of FIG. 1 using a remote user interface when the propulsion system of the vehicle is the internal combustion engine of FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 10A-10E are schematic illustrations of another method of disinfecting the interior of the vehicle of FIG. 1 using a remote user interface when the propulsion system of the vehicle is the electric motor of FIG. 3B;

fig. 11A-11H are schematic illustrations of another method of disinfecting the interior of the vehicle of fig. 1 using a remote user interface when the propulsion system of the vehicle includes both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as in fig. 3C.

Detailed Description

Referring now to fig. 1 and 2, a vehicle 10 includes an interior 12 and a body 14 separating the interior 12 from an external environment 16. The vehicle 10 includes a propulsion system 18. The vehicle 10 also includes a heat source 20 in thermal communication with the interior 12. In other words, the heat source 20, when activated, increases the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 also includes a temperature sensor 22. The temperature sensor 22 outputs a signal from which the temperature (e.g., air temperature) of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 may be determined. The vehicle 10 also includes a seat assembly 24 disposed within the interior 12. The vehicle 10 may be an automobile, truck, van, sport utility vehicle 10, or the like. The vehicle 10 may be a non-autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle (e.g., some conventional power functions are controlled by the vehicle 10), or an autonomous vehicle (e.g., power functions are controlled by the vehicle 10 without direct driver input).

In an embodiment, the vehicle 10 also includes an occupancy sensor 26. The occupancy sensor 26 generates an output signal that varies depending on whether there is a person within the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, the occupancy sensor 26 includes a force sensor 26a (e.g., a load sensor, strain gauge, etc.) located in each of the seat assemblies 24 of the vehicle 10. In other embodiments, the occupancy sensor 26 includes a proximity sensor located in each of the seat assemblies 24. The proximity sensor output is indicative of a signal (e.g., binary "1", source voltage (5V, 12V, etc.) of the seat assembly 24 being occupied by a person, or indicative of a signal (e.g., binary "0", ground voltage (e.g., 0V), etc.) of the seat assembly 24 not being occupied by a person. In other embodiments, the occupancy sensor 26 includes a camera 26b that may sense visible or infrared electromagnetic radiation and generate output data from which the signature of the occupant may be deciphered. In other embodiments, the occupancy sensor 26 includes a sensor that detects whether the seat belt 27 for any of the seat assemblies 24 is fastened or unfastened. The occupancy sensor 26 may be any combination of those specific sensors mentioned.

The vehicle 10 also includes a source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. The source 28 is configured to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12. "ultraviolet light" refers to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength 32 of 10nm to 400nm (including 100nm to 280nm and 260nm to 280 nm), which is commonly referred to as "ultraviolet light C" or "UVC" and has a bactericidal effect. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that ultraviolet light 30 having a wavelength of 100nm to 280nm destroys RNA and DNA of microorganisms, which prevents replication of the microorganisms. The source 28 may be a lamp (e.g., mercury vapor lamp), a light emitting diode, and possibly other options. In an embodiment, source 28 is a light emitting diode with a peak intensity at a wavelength of 260nm to 280 nm. In an embodiment, source 28 may include: a source 28a positioned to direct ultraviolet light 30 into a first region 34 within interior 12; a source 28b positioned to direct ultraviolet light to a second region 36 within the interior; and a source 28c positioned to direct ultraviolet light 30 into a third region 38 within interior 12. In an embodiment, the first region 34 is forward of the second region 36, and the second region 36 is forward of the third region 38. In an embodiment, vehicle 10 includes only source 28a for first zone 34 and source 28b for second zone 36.

In an embodiment (fig. 3A), propulsion system 18 includes an internal combustion engine 40 configured to propel vehicle 10. In an embodiment, internal combustion engine 40 includes an intake manifold 42, one or more combustion chambers 44 (sometimes referred to as "cylinders") in communication with intake manifold 42, and an exhaust manifold 46 in communication with one or more combustion chambers 44. The internal combustion engine 40 may include any suitable number of combustion chambers 44, including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, or more combustion chambers 44. An intake cam 48 controls the positioning of an intake valve 50 to control the flow from the intake manifold 42 into the combustion chamber 44. Exhaust cam 52 controls the positioning of exhaust valve 54 to control the flow from combustion chamber 44 into exhaust manifold 46. The actuators 56, 58 control the intake cam 48 and the exhaust cam 52, respectively. Fuel 60 is supplied to each of one or more combustion chambers 44, such as through an injector 62. The fuel 60 is stored within a fuel tank 64 in the vehicle 10. The fuel tank 64 is in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine 40. For example, a pump 66 may be utilized to transfer fuel 60 from a fuel tank 64 to an injector 62. In an embodiment, the fuel 60 is gasoline, an alcohol blend, diesel, biodiesel, compressed natural gas, and other options and combinations thereof. Each combustion chamber 44 includes a cylinder wall 68. A piston 70 is positioned inside the cylinder wall 68. The piston 70 is connected to a crankshaft 72. Ignition system 74 may provide an ignition spark to the combustion chamber via spark plug 76 to initiate combustion. Combustion may also be initiated via compression ignition in combustion chamber 44. Combustion drives pistons 70, which drive a crankshaft 72. Crankshaft 72 drives transmission 78. The transmission 78 may be a gearbox, planetary gear system, or other type of transmission. The transmission 78 drives wheels 80 of the vehicle 10, thus propelling the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, the vehicle 10 does not further include an electric motor for propelling the vehicle 10.

The embodiment of the vehicle 10 that includes the internal combustion engine 40 also includes a battery 82. The battery 82 has a voltage. "low voltage" herein means a voltage of less than 60 volts (e.g., about 12 volts). The low voltage battery 82 is in electrical communication with the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 and the spark plug 76. A voltage sensor 84 is coupled to the battery 82 to sense the voltage across terminals of the battery 82. The battery voltage sensor 84 outputs a signal indicative of the voltage across the terminals of the low-voltage battery 82.

The embodiment of the vehicle 10 that includes the internal combustion engine 40 also includes an alternator 86. The alternator 86 is configured to convert mechanical energy generated by the internal combustion engine 40 into electrical energy for storage in the battery 82.

The embodiment of the vehicle 10 that includes the internal combustion engine 40 also includes a volume sensor 88. The volume sensor 88 generates a signal from which the volume of fuel 60 within the fuel tank 64 may be calculated or estimated. For example, the signal output by the volume sensor 88 may be responsive to the pressure of the liquid in the fuel tank 64. In some examples, the volume sensor 88 may be a strain gauge configured to change resistance in response to a liquid pressure exerted on a surface of the volume sensor 88. The greater the volume of fuel 60 within fuel tank 64, the higher the fluid pressure within fuel tank 64 and the lower the resistance in the strain gauge. Thus, the resistance in the strain gauge may indicate the liquid pressure in the fuel tank 64 where the strain gauge is located, which indicates the volume of fuel 60 within the fuel tank 64.

The embodiment of the vehicle 10 that includes the internal combustion engine 40 also includes a heat exchanger 90. The heat exchanger 90 is in thermal communication with both the internal combustion engine 40 and the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. The heat exchanger 90 receives heat from the internal combustion engine 40 and discharges the heat to the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. For example, the cylinder wall 68 of the combustion chamber 44 of the internal combustion engine 40 may also include a sleeve 92. The coolant 94 flows through the sleeve 92 and extracts heat from the combustion chamber 44 generated via combustion of the fuel 60. The coolant 94 then flows to the heat exchanger 90. At the same time, air 96 also flows to heat exchanger 90 and exchanges heat with coolant 94. At the heat exchanger 90, the temperature of the air 96 increases and the temperature of the coolant 94 decreases. The heated air 96 is then directed into the interior 12 of the vehicle 10, which thereby increases the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. Thus, in an embodiment, the heat exchanger 90 is a heat source 20 that increases the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 to disinfect the interior 12. The cooled coolant 94 returns to the sleeve 92.

In an embodiment (fig. 3B), propulsion system 18 includes an electric motor 98 configured to propel vehicle 10. A high voltage battery 100 is in electrical communication with the electric motor 98 and provides power to the electric motor 98. High voltage battery 100 is sometimes referred to as a "traction battery". The high voltage battery 100 is further in electrical communication with the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. The electric motor 98 outputs torque to a shaft 102. The shaft 102 is coupled to a differential 104. Differential 104 may include a plurality of gears that enable torque to be transferred to wheels 80. Differential 104 thus drives wheels 80 of vehicle 10, thereby propelling vehicle 10. Such a vehicle 10 is sometimes referred to as a "battery electric vehicle" or simply "BEV. In an embodiment, the vehicle 10 does not further include an internal combustion engine 40 for propelling the vehicle 10.

In an embodiment, the high voltage battery pack includes a plurality of battery arrays 106. The battery arrays 106 may each include a set of battery cells arranged as a module. In an embodiment, the electric motor 98 is part of a regenerative braking system that outputs electrical power to the high voltage battery 100. The high voltage battery 100 includes a voltage sensor 108 and a current sensor 110. As discussed further below, the high voltage battery 100 has a state of charge.

In an embodiment, the vehicle 10 including the electric motor 98 for propelling the vehicle 10 additionally includes a low voltage battery 82. In such embodiments, the low voltage battery 82 is sometimes referred to as an "auxiliary battery". Typically, the high voltage battery 100 provides power to the electric motor 98, while the low voltage battery 82 does not provide power to the electric motor. More specifically, the battery 82 may provide power to various low voltage loads 111 of the vehicle 10. The low voltage load 111 may include, among other things, an infotainment system, a lighting system, a power window, a power seat, a cooling fan, an AC compressor, an instrument cluster, and a control module. In an embodiment, the low voltage battery 82 is in communication with the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. As mentioned, a battery voltage sensor 84 is coupled to the battery to sense the voltage across the terminals of the battery 82. The battery voltage sensor 84 outputs a signal indicative of the voltage across the terminals of the low-voltage battery 82.

In an embodiment, the vehicle 10 including the electric motor 98 for propelling the vehicle 10 further includes a charging system 112 to allow an external power source 114 to recharge the high voltage battery 100 (i.e., increase the state of charge of the high voltage battery). Charging system 112 may be connected to an external power source 114. The external power source 114 may be a utility supplied grid, a charging station, another battery such as located at a residence, which itself may be charged via solar, wind, or other energy sources. The charging system 112 provides power to the high voltage battery 100 and, in an embodiment, to the low voltage battery 82.

In an embodiment, the vehicle 10 including the electric motor 98 for propelling the vehicle 10 additionally includes a charging port 116. An electric vehicle supply equipment 118 (EVSE), such as a charging cord of a charging station, may operatively connect the charging port 116 to the external power source 114. The charging port 116 is adapted to receive a corresponding coupler of the EVSE 118. The EVSE 118 may have pins that mate with corresponding notches of the charging port 116. The EVSE 118 may provide circuitry and controls for regulating and managing the transfer of energy between the external power source 114 and the vehicle 10. The charging port 116 may receive alternating current ("AC") power or both AC power and direct current ("DC") power. The charging port 116 may be equipped to accommodate one or more conventional voltage sources (such as 110 volts and 220 volts) from the external power source 114. The power converter 120 may convert AC power received from the external power source 114 into DC power to charge the high voltage battery 100. For example, the power converter 120 may be an AC-to-DC inverter.

A DC to DC power converter 122 may be provided in electrical communication between the high voltage battery 100 and the battery 82. The DC-to-DC power converter 122 may reduce the voltage of the power supplied from the high voltage battery 100 to the high voltage battery 82 and the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. A DC to AC power converter 124 may be provided in electrical communication between the low voltage battery 82 and the low voltage load 111. Some low voltage loads 111 may receive DC power from the low voltage battery 82, in which case the DC to AC power converter 124 is not provided in electrical communication between the low voltage battery 82 and those low voltage loads 111.

In an embodiment, the heat source 20 of the vehicle 10 including the electric motor 98 for propelling the vehicle 10 further includes a heating element 126 that increases the temperature of the air 96 in the interior 12. The air 96 is directed over the heating element 126 and then to the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, the heat source 20 of the vehicle 10 including the electric motor 98 further includes a seat heating element 128 disposed within each of the one or more seat assemblies 24 of the vehicle 10. The heating element 126 and the seat heating element 128 may each be a peltier device. Alternatively, the heating element 126 and the seat heating element 128 may generate heat through the resistance of electrical power (such as that provided by the high voltage battery 100). In an embodiment, the heating element 126 (as the heat source 20) has a positive temperature coefficient "PTC", i.e., A resistance that is positively correlated to the voltage applied to the heating element 126. For example, the heating element 126 may comprise a doped polycrystalline ceramic, such as barium titanate (BaTiO ₃ ). When a constant voltage is applied to the heating element 126 at an initial cooling temperature, the resistance is initially low and the current is initially high. As the heating element 126 generates heat, the temperature of the heating element 126 increases and the resistance increases and the current decreases accordingly until the temperature, resistance, and current reach steady state. Thus, the steady state temperature of the heating element 126 may be controlled by selecting the voltage applied to the heating element 126. Thus, the heating element 126 effectively generates heat while taking up relatively little space.

In an embodiment (fig. 3C), the vehicle 10 includes both an internal combustion engine 40 and an electric motor 98 configured to propel the vehicle 10. Such a vehicle 10 is sometimes referred to as a "hybrid vehicle 10" or a "hybrid electric vehicle 10". In such embodiments, the vehicle 10 includes, in addition to the electric motor 98, the high voltage battery 100 and the low voltage battery 82 described in connection with the vehicle 10 shown at fig. 3B. The vehicle 10 may also include a DC to DC power converter 122, a DC to AC power converter 124, and a low voltage load 111. In an embodiment, the vehicle 10 includes plug-in components such as a power converter 120, a charging system 112 having a charging port 116, and an EVSE 118 for connection to an external power source 114, as discussed above with respect to the vehicle 10 described in connection with fig. 3B. In such embodiments, the vehicle 10 is sometimes referred to as a "plug-in hybrid electric vehicle 10" or simply "PHEV". In other embodiments, the vehicle 10 does not include a plug-in component. In such embodiments, the vehicle 10 is sometimes referred to as a "strong hybrid electric vehicle 10" or simply "FHEV.

The vehicle 10 (of fig. 3C) also includes a generator 130 and a power transfer unit 132. The power transfer unit 132 may be a planetary gear set including a ring gear 134, a sun gear 136, and a carrier assembly 138. The ring gear 134 may be connected to a shaft 140 that is connected to the wheels 80 of the vehicle 10 through a plurality of gears 142. Thus, gear 142 transfers torque from internal combustion engine 40 to differential 104 to drive wheels 80. Additionally, the electric motor 98 may drive the wheels 80 via outputting torque to the shaft 102, which is connected to some of the gears 142, which in turn drives the differential 104 to drive the wheels 80. Further, the internal combustion engine 40 may drive the generator 130 via the power transfer unit 132 to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy, which may then be delivered to the electric motor 98, the high-voltage battery 100, or the low-voltage battery 82. In addition, the generator 130 may convert electrical energy to kinetic energy by outputting torque onto a shaft 144 connected to the sun gear 136 of the power transfer unit 132. The internal combustion engine 40 additionally includes the features described above with respect to the vehicle 10 described in connection with fig. 3A. The vehicle 10 also includes an ignition system 74, a fuel tank 64 containing a volume of fuel 60, a volume sensor 88, a pump 66, and a heat exchanger 90 for exchanging heat from a coolant 94 to air 96 directed to the interior 12, as discussed above with respect to the vehicle 10 described in connection with fig. 3A. The vehicle 10 also includes a voltage sensor 108 and a current sensor 110 associated with the high voltage battery 100, a heating element 126 for heating the air 96 directed into the interior 12, and heating elements disposed in one or more of the seat assemblies 24. As explained above, the heating element 126 may have a positive temperature coefficient.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the vehicle 10 further includes a controller 146. The controller 146 is in communication with the heat source 20, the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30, the temperature sensor 22, a remote user interface 148 (discussed further below), and the occupancy sensor 26. In an embodiment of the vehicle 10 (e.g., fig. 3A) that includes the internal combustion engine 40, the controller 146 is in further communication with the battery 82 via the battery voltage sensor 84, the pump 66, the ignition system 74, the volume sensor 88, and the seat heating element 128. In an embodiment of the vehicle 10 (e.g., fig. 3B) including the electric motor 98, the controller 146 is in further communication with the low-voltage battery 82 via the voltage sensor 84, and the high-voltage battery 100 via the voltage sensor 108 and the current sensor 110, the electric motor 98, the heating element 126, and the seat heating element 128. In an embodiment of the vehicle 10 that includes both the internal combustion engine 40 and the electric motor 98 (see, e.g., fig. 3C), the controller 146 is in further communication with the pump 66, the ignition system 74, the volume sensor 88, the battery 82 via the voltage sensor 84, and with the high voltage battery 100 via the voltage sensor 108 and the current sensor 110, the electric motor 98, the heating element 126, and the seat heating element 128. As mentioned above, the heat source 20 includes one or more of the heating element 126, the seat heating element 128, and the internal combustion engine 40 that heats the air 96 directed into the interior 12 via the heat exchange 90. The controller 146 controls aspects of the internal combustion engine 40 and the heat source 20 by controlling at least the pump 66 and the ignition system 74.

Thus, the controller 146 may (i) cause the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12, (ii) cause the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light into the interior 12, or (iii) both (i) and (ii). The controller 146 does so upon receiving a command from the remote user interface 148. In an embodiment, the remote user interface 148 is provided by a mobile device 150 (such as a tablet computer, smart phone, smart watch, etc.). In an embodiment, the remote user interface 148 is provided by a key fob 152.

The controller 146 includes a processor 154 and a memory 156. The processor 154 may be any suitable processing device or group of processing devices, such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcontroller-based platform, an integrated circuit, one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), one or more Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and/or one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Memory 156 may be volatile memory (e.g., RAM including non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, etc.), non-volatile memory (e.g., disk memory, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM, memristor-based non-volatile solid state memory, etc.), non-alterable memory (e.g., EPROM), read-only memory, and/or a mass storage device (e.g., hard disk drive, solid state drive, etc.). Memory 156 may include a variety of memories, particularly volatile and nonvolatile memories. Memory 156 is a computer readable medium on which one or more sets of instructions, such as software for operating a method or methods of the present disclosure, may be embedded. The instructions may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. For example, the instructions reside, completely or at least partially, within the memory 156, computer readable media, and/or within the processor 154 during execution thereof. In other words, the processor 154 may execute programs stored in the memory 156 to perform control of the heat source 20 and the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 in the manner described herein.

The vehicle 10 also includes a communication module 158 that communicates with the controller 146. The communication module 158 includes a wired or wireless network interface for enabling communication with an external network 160. The communication module 158 also includes hardware (e.g., processor, memory, storage, antenna, etc.) and software for controlling a wired or wireless network interface. In the illustrated example, the communication module 158 includes one or more communication controllers for cellular networks (e.g., global system for mobile communications (GSM), universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), long Term Evolution (LTE), code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)), near Field Communications (NFC), and/or other standards-based networks (e.g., wiMAX (IEEE 802.16 m), local area wireless networks (including IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac or other networks), wireless gigabits (IEEE 802.11 ad), and the like. Thus, the communication module 158 is configured to communicate with the remote user interface 148 via the external network 160.

In an embodiment, the communication module 158 is configured to communicate directly with the remote user interface 148. In some examples, the communication module 158 includes a wired or wireless interface (e.g., a secondary port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, Wireless node, etc.) to communicatively couple with the remote user interface 148 (e.g., when the remote user interface 148 is provided by a key fob 152, a mobile device 150, etc.).

Referring now additionally to fig. 5A and 5B, in use, a person 162 issues a command to the vehicle 10 via the remote user interface 148 to cause the vehicle 10 to disinfect the interior 12. In an embodiment, the remote user interface 148 includes a single option, such as a "sanitize" button 164 that issues a command to the controller 146. If person 162 presses button 164, remote user interface 148 sends a command to controller 146 of vehicle 10 via communication module 158, and controller 146 of vehicle 10 causes heat source 20 to raise the temperature of interior 12 or causes source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light into interior 12 to disinfect interior 12, or both. As will be discussed further below, the controller 146 may decide whether to sterilize via the heat source 20 or the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. In an embodiment, the controller 146 defaults to disinfecting the interior 12 via activation of both the heat source 20 and the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. In an embodiment, the remote user interface 148 is a key fob 152 that presents a "sanitize" button 164.

In an embodiment, the remote user interface 148 includes one or more selectable options 166 on a touch screen 168 of the mobile device 150. For example, in an embodiment (see fig. 5A), selectable options 166 include a first option 166a to sterilize via heating, a second option 166b to sterilize via emission of ultraviolet light 30, and a third option 166c to sterilize via both heating and emission of ultraviolet light 30. In an embodiment, mobile device 150 includes an application that provides selectable options 166 and communicates the selected options to vehicle 10 directly or via external network 160. If the person 162 selects the first option 166a, the remote user interface 148 sends a command to the controller 146 of the vehicle 10 via the communication module 158, and the controller 146 of the vehicle 10 causes the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12 to sterilize the interior 12. If the person 162 selects the second option 166b, the remote user interface 148 sends a command to the controller 146 of the vehicle 10 via the communication module 158, and the controller 146 of the vehicle 10 causes the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12 to disinfect the interior 12. If the person 162 selects the third option 166c, the remote user interface 148 sends a command to the controller 146 of the vehicle 10 via the communication module 158, and the controller 146 of the vehicle 10 causes the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12 and the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12 to disinfect the interior 12.

In other embodiments (see fig. 5B), selectable options 166 include a sanitization option 166d ("yes") and a non-sanitization option 166e ("no"). If the person 162 selects the sanitization option 166d, the remote user interface 148 sends a command to the controller 146 of the vehicle 10 via the communication module 158, and the controller 146 determines whether to sanitize via activation of the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12, whether to sanitize via activation of the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30, or via activation of both the heat source 20 and the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. In an embodiment, the controller 146 defaults to disinfecting the interior 12 via activation of both the heat source 20 and the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30.

The controller 146 causes the heat source 20 to sufficiently raise the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 for a time sufficient to sterilize the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, heat source 20 increases the temperature of interior 12 to at least 60 ℃ and maintains the temperature for at least 1 hour. In an embodiment, heat source 20 increases the temperature of interior 12 to at least 65 ℃ and maintains the temperature for at least 45 minutes. The higher the temperature, the shorter the period of time that is required for the interior 12 to remain at that temperature to sterilize the interior 12.

The controller 146 causes the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light for a period of time sufficient to disinfect the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. In general, the closer the ultraviolet light source is to any particular surface at the interior 12 of the vehicle 10, the shorter the period of time that ultraviolet light is required to disinfect that particular surface. In addition, the higher the intensity of the ultraviolet light emission, the shorter the period of time that ultraviolet light is emitted to disinfect that particular surface. Furthermore, causing the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12 while causing the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light reduces the period of time required to disinfect the vehicle 10 compared to using heat or ultraviolet light alone.

In an embodiment, the controller 146 determines that no occupants are in the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 prior to sterilization. For example, the controller 146 determines from the signal from the occupancy sensor 26 that no occupant occupies the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 before causing the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12. As another example, the controller 146 determines from the signal from the occupancy sensor 26 that no occupant occupies the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 before causing the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. In the case where the controller 146 has caused the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 or has caused the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12, the controller 146 stops doing so upon receiving a signal from the occupancy sensor 26 that the occupant is within the interior 12 of the vehicle 10.

In an embodiment of the vehicle 10 (fig. 3A, 3C) in which the propulsion system 18 includes an internal combustion engine 40 configured to propel the vehicle 10, upon receiving a command from the remote user interface 148 to cause the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12, the controller 146 first determines whether the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than a predetermined voltage based on a signal from the voltage sensor 84. In an embodiment, if the controller 146 determines that the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than the predetermined voltage, the controller 146 causes the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30. However, if the controller 146 determines that the voltage of the battery 82 is not greater than the predetermined voltage, the controller 146 starts the internal combustion engine 40 to increase the voltage of the battery 82 to the predetermined voltage. For example, the controller 146 may activate the pump 66 and the ignition system 74 to activate the internal combustion engine 40, and the alternator 86 converts kinetic energy from the internal combustion engine 40 into electrical energy that is directed to the low voltage battery 82, which increases the voltage of the low voltage battery 82. After the voltage of the low voltage battery 82 has increased above the predetermined voltage, the controller 146 causes the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12 for a period of time to disinfect the interior 12. The controller 146 may deactivate the internal combustion engine 40 after the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than a predetermined voltage.

In an embodiment, the controller 146 determines the volume of fuel 60 within the fuel tank 64 before the controller 146 activates the internal combustion engine 40 to increase the voltage of the battery 82. The controller 146 determines the volume of fuel 60 within the fuel tank 64 based on the signal from the volume sensor 88. If the controller 146 determines that the volume of fuel 60 is greater than the predetermined volume, the controller 146 starts the internal combustion engine 40 to increase the voltage of the battery 82. If the controller 146 determines that the volume of fuel 60 is not greater than the predetermined volume, the controller 146 does not start the internal combustion engine 40. And, if the voltage of the low voltage battery 82 is below the predetermined voltage, the controller 146 does not activate the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30.

In embodiments of the vehicle 10 in which the propulsion system 18 includes an internal combustion engine 40 configured to propel the vehicle 10 (e.g., fig. 3A, 3C), the controller 146 first determines the volume of fuel 60 within the fuel tank 64 upon receiving a command from the remote user interface 148 to raise the temperature of the interior 12 of the heat source 20. The controller 146 determines the volume of fuel 60 within the fuel tank 64 based on the signal from the volume sensor 88. If the controller 146 determines that the volume of fuel 60 is greater than the predetermined volume, the controller 146 starts the internal combustion engine 40 to raise the temperature of the interior 12 via the heat exchanger 90. If the controller 146 determines that the volume of fuel 60 is not greater than the predetermined volume, the controller 146 does not start the internal combustion engine 40. The predetermined volume that the controller 146 compares before determining whether to start the internal combustion engine 40 to heat the interior 12 may be different than the predetermined volume that the controller 146 compared before determining whether to start the internal combustion engine 40 to increase the voltage of the battery to activate the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30.

In embodiments of the vehicle 10 in which the propulsion system 18 includes an internal combustion engine 40 configured to propel the vehicle 10 (e.g., fig. 3A, 3C), the controller 146 first determines the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 upon receiving a command to disinfect the vehicle 10 from the remote user interface 148. As mentioned, the remote user interface 148 may provide the person 162 with a "sanitize" button 164 or touchable binary selectable options 166d, 166e as to whether to sanitize the interior 12 of the vehicle 10, and the controller 146 decides whether to raise the temperature of the interior 12, emit ultraviolet light 30, or both raise the temperature and emit ultraviolet light 30. In an embodiment, the controller 146 makes the determination based on the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, when the controller 146 determines from the signal from the temperature sensor 22 that the temperature of the vehicle 10 is below the predetermined temperature, the controller 146 determines to disinfect and start the internal combustion engine 40 by increasing the temperature of the interior 12 (alone or in combination with the ultraviolet light 30) to increase the temperature of the interior 12 via the heat exchanger 90. In contrast, when the controller 146 determines that the temperature of the vehicle 10 is higher than the predetermined temperature, the controller 146 determines that sterilization is performed only via the ultraviolet lamp 30.

In embodiments of the vehicle 10 in which the propulsion system 18 includes an electric motor 98 for propelling the vehicle 10 (e.g., fig. 3B, 3C), upon receiving a command from the remote user interface 148 to cause the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12, the controller 146 first determines whether the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than a predetermined voltage based on the signal from the voltage sensor 84. In an embodiment, if the controller 146 determines that the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than the predetermined voltage, the controller 146 causes the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30. However, in an embodiment, if the controller 146 determines that the voltage of the battery 82 is not greater than the predetermined voltage, the controller 146 does not cause the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30.

In an embodiment of the vehicle 10 (fig. 3B, 3C) in which the propulsion system 18 includes an electric motor 98 for propelling the vehicle 10, upon receiving a command from the remote user interface 148 to cause the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12, the controller 146 first determines whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. The controller 146 may determine the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 based on signals from the voltage sensor 108 and the current sensor 110. The controller 146 may utilize various techniques to calculate the state of charge. For example, amp-hour integration may be implemented, wherein the current through high voltage battery 100 is integrated over time. In addition, the state of charge may be estimated based on the output of the voltage sensor 108. The particular technique utilized may depend on the chemical composition and characteristics of the high voltage battery 100. In the case where the voltage of the low voltage battery 82 is below the predetermined voltage, the controller 146 may utilize the high voltage battery 100 to alternatively power the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30. However, in those cases, the controller 146 determines that the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than the predetermined state of charge before causing the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12. In an embodiment, if the controller 146 determines that the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the controller 146 does not cause the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30.

In an embodiment of the vehicle 10 in which the propulsion system 18 includes an electric motor 98 for propelling the vehicle 10 (e.g., fig. 3B, 3C), upon receiving a command from the remote user interface 148 to cause the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light into the interior 12, the controller 146 first determines that the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than a predetermined state of charge. In the case where the voltage of the high-voltage battery 82 is not greater than the predetermined voltage and the state of charge of the high-voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the controller 146 may still cause the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 if the high-voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114. In other words, in an embodiment, the controller 146 causes the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 whenever the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114, although the voltage of the low voltage battery 82 is not greater than a predetermined voltage and the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than a predetermined state of charge. An external power source 114 provides the necessary power to the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30.

In an embodiment of the vehicle 10 in which the propulsion system 18 includes an electric motor 98 for propelling the vehicle 10 (e.g., fig. 3B, 3C), upon receiving a command from the remote user interface 148 to raise the temperature of the interior 12 of the heat source 20, the controller 146 determines that the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge prior to raising the temperature of the interior 12 of the heat source 20. In an embodiment, the predetermined state of charge of high voltage battery 100 used to determine whether to activate heat source 20 to disinfect interior 12 is different from (e.g., greater than) the predetermined state of charge of high voltage battery 100 used to determine whether to activate source 28 of ultraviolet lamp 30 to disinfect interior 12. However, if the controller 146 determines that the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114, the controller 146 still causes the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12. The external power source 114 provides the necessary power to the heat source 20.

Referring now to fig. 6, after the controller 146 performs the sterilization of the command, the controller 146 sends a communication 170 to the remote user interface 148 that the command has been performed. In other words, after controller 146 (i) causes heat source 20 to raise the temperature of interior 12, (ii) causes source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light into interior 12, or both (i) and (ii) for a time sufficient to disinfect interior 12, controller 146 sends notification 170 to person 162 that disinfection of person 162 via remote user interface 148 has been performed. Thus, the person 162 knows that the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 has been sterilized. When the remote user interface 148 is a key fob 164, the communication 170 may be an activation of a light source 165 on the key fob 164.

Additionally, referring now additionally to FIG. 7, in an embodiment, after the controller 146 performs commanded sterilization, the controller 146 causes the vehicle 10 to transmit a communication 172 that sterilization has been completed that may be sensed from the external environment 16. In other words, after the controller 146 (i) causes the heat source 20 to raise the temperature of the interior 12, (ii) causes the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 to emit ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12, or (iii) both (i) and (ii) last for a time sufficient to disinfect the interior 12, the controller 146 causes the vehicle 10 to transmit a communication 172 that has been executing a disinfection command that can be sensed from the external environment 16. In an embodiment, the communication 172 is audible noise 172a generated by a horn 174 of the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, the communication 172 is a visual display 172b generated by a light source 176 of the vehicle 10, such as a lighted "sanitized" or some other word or symbol that indicates to the external environment 16 that the sanitization command has been performed. In embodiments (e.g., fig. 3B and 3C) in which the vehicle 10 has an electric motor 98 with a charging system 112, a light source 176 may be disposed at the charging port 116. In an embodiment, communication 172 is the emission of visible light 172c from light source 178 (see fig. 2) into interior 12, which indicates that a disinfection command has been performed. Visible light 172c may be a color selected to represent disinfection, such as blue, that provides an interesting visual effect when external environment 16 is dark.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a method 200 of sanitizing an interior 12 of a vehicle 10 is disclosed. At step 202, the method 200 includes receiving a command from the remote user interface 148 to disinfect the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. At step 204, the method 200 further includes disinfecting the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 by emitting ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, at step 206, the method 200 further includes disinfecting the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 by increasing the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. The step 206 of increasing the temperature (if included) may occur simultaneously with the step of emitting ultraviolet light 30.

In an embodiment, the method 200 further includes a step 208 of determining whether the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than a predetermined voltage prior to the disinfecting steps 204, 206. If the determination of step is "yes," the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 200 may proceed to one or more of the steps 204, 206 of disinfecting the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. If the determination of step 208 is "no," the voltage of the low-voltage battery 82 is not greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 200 proceeds to step 210 where the voltage of the low-voltage battery 82 is increased. As discussed above, the internal combustion engine 40 may be started to increase the voltage of the battery, or the high voltage battery 100 of the vehicle 10 may be connected to an external power source 114. The method 200 then returns to step 208 of determining whether the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than a predetermined voltage.

Referring now to fig. 9A-9E, a method 300 of disinfecting an interior 12 of a vehicle 10 including an internal combustion engine 40 is described herein. At step 302, the person 162 commands the vehicle 10 to be sterilized, such as via the remote user interface 148. The method 300 then proceeds to step 304, wherein a determination is made as to whether the person 162 has designated a type of sterilization, i.e., whether the person 162 has commanded sterilization via the emission of ultraviolet light 30, via an increase in temperature of the interior 12, or both (fig. 5A), or whether the person 162 has commanded sterilization only (fig. 5B), leaving the determination of how sterilization is to be performed to the controller 146.

If the determination of step 304 is "no" (not specified by person 162), method 300 proceeds to step 306. At step 306, it is determined whether the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 is above a predetermined temperature. If the determination is "yes," the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 is greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 300 proceeds to step 308 (see FIG. 9B). At step 308, it is determined to disinfect via the emission of ultraviolet light 30 into interior 12. The method 300 then proceeds to step 310, where it is determined whether a predetermined vehicle condition is met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not met, the method 300 proceeds to step 312, where it is determined (such as by the controller 146) to cancel the disinfection. The method 300 then proceeds to step 314, where the person 162 is notified that disinfection has been cancelled. For example, the controller 146 may send a communication 180 to be displayed at the remote user interface 148 via the communication module 158 that the disinfection command has been cancelled, and optionally the person 162 should ensure that the vehicle condition has been met. The method 300 then proceeds to step 316, where the method 300 ends. Steps 312 to 316 are hereinafter referred to as "vehicle condition subroutine". The vehicle conditions may include the vehicle 10 not moving, the doors closed and in a locked state, the window glass in a closed position, the controller 146 determining that no occupant is in the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 based on signals from the occupancy sensor 26. Various other sensors may provide signals to the controller 146 for the controller 146 to determine whether the vehicle condition is met.

If, instead, yes at step 310, the vehicle condition is met, the method 300 proceeds to step 318. At step 318, it is determined whether the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than a predetermined voltage. As described above, the controller 146 may make this determination based on the signal from the voltage sensor 108. If the determination is "yes," the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 300 proceeds to step 320. At step 320, a communication 182 is sent to the person 162 that the person 162 has commanded disinfection to be performed (see FIG. 6C). The controller 146 may send the communication 182 to the remote user interface 148 via the communication module 158. The method 300 then proceeds to step 322. At step 322, the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is activated and, thus, the source 28 emits ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12 of the vehicle 10, which disinfects the interior 12. The controller 146 may activate the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. The method 300 then proceeds to step 324 (see fig. 9C), which will be discussed further below.

If, alternatively, it is determined at step 318 that the voltage of the battery 82 is not greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 300 proceeds to step 326. At step 326, it is determined whether the volume of fuel 60 within the fuel tank 64 of the vehicle 10 is greater than a predetermined volume. As discussed above, the controller 146 may make this determination by considering the signal from the volume sensor 88. If the determination is "NO," the volume of fuel 60 is not greater than the predetermined volume, then method 300 proceeds to step 328. At step 328, sterilization is canceled. The method 300 then proceeds to step 330. At this step, a communication 180 (see FIG. 6B) is sent to the person 162 via the remote user interface 148 that the sterilization has been canceled and that the voltage of the low voltage battery 82 and the volume of fuel 60 is optionally interpreted to be too low. The method 300 then proceeds to step 332, where the method 300 ends. Steps 328 through 332 are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "voltage and fuel volume starvation subroutine".

If instead at step 326 it is determined "yes," the volume of fuel 60 within the fuel tank 64 of the vehicle 10 is greater than the predetermined volume, the method 300 proceeds to step 334. At step 334, the internal combustion engine 40 of the vehicle 10 is started. The controller 146 may execute step 334 by, among other things, activating the pump 66 and the ignition system 74. The method 300 then proceeds to step 320 described above, wherein the person 162 is notified that disinfection is being performed.

After activating the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 at step 322, the method 300 proceeds to step 324 (see fig. 9C). At step 324, a timer is started to measure the amount of time that the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 has emitted ultraviolet light 30. The controller 146 may perform step 324. The method 300 then proceeds to step 336, wherein it is determined whether the elapsed time that the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 has emitted ultraviolet light 30 is greater than a predetermined elapsed time. The predetermined elapsed time may be any period of time deemed sufficient for the ultraviolet lamp 30 to sterilize the interior 12. In an embodiment, the predetermined elapsed time is from 5 minutes to 60 minutes. If the determination is "yes," the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 300 continues to step 338. At step 338, the source of ultraviolet light 30 and (if previously activated) the internal combustion engine 40 are deactivated, such as via the controller 146. The method 300 then proceeds to step 340. At this step, a communication 170 is sent to the person 162 that a disinfection command has been executed (see fig. 6A). The controller 146 may send a communication 170 to the remote user interface 148. In addition, the controller 146 may cause the vehicle 10 to provide communication 172 that the command has been executed that may be sensed from the external environment 16, as discussed above. The method 300 then proceeds to step 342, where the method 300 ends. Steps 340 and 342 are hereinafter referred to as a "sterilization execution subroutine".

If instead a determination is made at step 336 as "no," the elapsed time is not greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 300 proceeds to step 344. At step 344, it is determined whether the vehicle condition is still met. If the determination is "no," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 300 proceeds to step 346, where the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30 and the internal combustion engine 40 (if activated) are deactivated, and the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 300. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 300 proceeds to step 348. At step 348, it is determined whether the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than a predetermined voltage. If the determination is "yes," the voltage of the battery 82 is still above the predetermined voltage, the method 300 returns to step 336. If the determination is "no," the voltage of the battery 82 is not greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 300 proceeds to step 350. At step 350, it is determined whether the volume of fuel 60 is greater than a predetermined volume. If the determination is "no," the volume of fuel 60 is not greater than the predetermined volume, method 300 proceeds to step 352, where source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 and internal combustion engine 40 (if activated) are deactivated and the voltage and fuel volume starvation subroutine is performed, thus ending the method. If the determination is "yes," the volume of fuel 60 is greater than the predetermined volume, then method 300 proceeds to step 354. At step 354, if the internal combustion engine 40 has not been started, the internal combustion engine is started. The method 300 then returns to step 336 until it is determined that the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time. Steps 308 to 354 are hereinafter collectively referred to as "uv disinfection procedure I".

Returning now to 306 (fig. 9A), if the determination is "no," the temperature of the interior 12 is not greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 300 proceeds to step 356 (see fig. 9D). At step 356, it is determined to sterilize the interior 12 by elevating the temperature of the interior 12. The method 300 then proceeds to step 358. At step 358, the method 300 determines whether the vehicle 10 condition is met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 300 proceeds to step 360, where a vehicle condition subroutine is executed (see FIG. 9B), thus ending the method 300. If, alternatively, the determination is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 300 proceeds to step 362. At step 362, it is determined whether the volume of fuel 60 is greater than a predetermined volume. The predetermined volume may be different than the predetermined volume of fuel 60 considered when increasing the voltage of low voltage battery 82 at step 318. If the determination at step 362 is "no," the volume of fuel 60 is not greater than the predetermined volume, then method 300 proceeds to step 364, where it is determined to cancel the sterilization. The method 300 then proceeds to step 366, wherein a communication 180 is sent to the person 162 that the disinfection command has been cancelled and that the volume of fuel 60 is optionally interpreted to be too low (see fig. 6B). The method 300 then proceeds to step 368, where the method 300 ends. Steps 364 to 368 are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "fuel volume deficiency subroutine".

If, alternatively, at step 362, it is determined that the volume of fuel 60 is greater than the predetermined volume, then method 300 proceeds to step 370. At step 370, the on-going communication 182 of disinfection is sent to the person 162 at the remote user interface 148 (see FIG. 6C). The method 300 then proceeds to step 372, where the internal combustion engine 40 is started. The method 300 then proceeds to step 374, wherein the heat source 20 is activated to raise the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. Activating heat source 20 may include passing air 96 through heat exchanger 90 to extract heat generated by internal combustion engine 40 and direct air 96 into interior 12, as well as activating seat heating element 182.

The method 300 then proceeds to step 376. At step 376, it is determined whether the temperature of the interior 12 is above a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature may be different from the predetermined temperature used at step 306 (see fig. 9A). The predetermined temperature for step 376 may be a relatively high temperature and sufficient to sterilize the vehicle 10. The controller 146 may use data from the temperature sensor 22 to make this determination. If the determination is "NO," the temperature of the interior 12 is not greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 300 proceeds to step 378. At step 378, it is determined whether the vehicle condition is satisfied. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 300 returns to step 374. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not met, the method 300 proceeds to step 380, where the internal combustion engine 40 is deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 300. If instead at step 376 it is determined as "yes," the temperature of the interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, the method 300 proceeds to step 382 (see FIG. 9E).

At step 382, a timer is started to measure the amount of time that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above a predetermined temperature. The method 300 then proceeds to step 384, wherein it is determined whether the amount of time (elapsed time) that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above the predetermined temperature is greater than the predetermined elapsed time. If the determination is "no," the amount of time is not greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 300 proceeds to step 386. At step 386, a determination is made as to whether the vehicle 10 condition is still met. If the determination is "no," the vehicle 10 condition is not met, the method 300 proceeds to step 388, wherein the heat source 20 (including the internal combustion engine 40 and the seat heating element 128) is deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 300. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 300 returns to step 384. If the determination at step 384 is yes, the amount of time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 300 proceeds to step 390. At step 390, the heat source 20 is deactivated, including disabling the internal combustion engine 40 and stopping the flow of air 96 through the heat exchanger 90 and into the interior 12, and disabling one or more seat heating elements 128 (if activated). The method 300 then proceeds to step 392, wherein the disinfection execution subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 300. Steps 356 to 392 are hereinafter referred to as "high temperature sterilization procedure I".

Referring back to fig. 9A, if instead at step 304 it is determined that person 162 did specify a type of disinfection, then in the event that person 162 elects to disinfect via emission of ultraviolet light 30, method 300 proceeds to perform ultraviolet light disinfection program I described above, and method 300 ends. If person 162 chooses to disinfect via increasing the temperature of interior 12, method 300 proceeds to perform high temperature disinfection procedure I described above, and method 300 ends.

If person 162 chooses to disinfect via both emission of ultraviolet light 30 and raising the temperature of interior 12, method 300 proceeds to perform high temperature disinfection program I described above, except that after step 376, which is determined to be "yes," the temperature of interior 12 is above a predetermined temperature, and prior to step 382, in which a timer is started, step 394 is performed in which source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is activated. Further, at step 390, the source 28 is additionally deactivated.

Referring now to fig. 10A-10E, a method 400 of disinfecting an interior 12 of a vehicle 10 including an electric motor 98 is described herein. At step 402, the method 400 begins with the person 162 commanding the vehicle 10 to be sanitized, such as via the remote user interface 148. The method 400 then proceeds to step 404, where it is determined whether the person 162 has designated a type of disinfection, i.e., whether the person 162 has commanded disinfection via the emission of ultraviolet light 30, via an increase in the temperature of the interior 12, or both (as in fig. 5A), or whether the person 162 has commanded disinfection only, leaving a determination of how to do disinfection to the controller 146.

If the determination at step 404 is "no" (not specified by person 162), method 400 proceeds to step 406. At step 406, it is determined whether the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 is above a predetermined temperature. If the determination is "yes," the method 400 proceeds to step 408 (see FIG. 10B). At step 408, it is determined to disinfect via the emission of ultraviolet light 30 into interior 12. The method 400 then proceeds to step 410, where it is determined whether the vehicle condition is met. If the response to the determination is "no," the method 400 proceeds to step 412, where a vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 400.

If, alternatively, the determination at step 410 is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 400 proceeds to step 414. At step 414, it is determined whether the voltage of the battery 82 of the vehicle 10 is greater than a predetermined voltage. As described above, the controller 146 may make this determination based on the signal from the voltage sensor 84. If the determination is "yes," i.e., the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 400 proceeds to step 416. At step 416, a communication 182 is sent to the person 162 that the person 162 has commanded disinfection to be performed (see FIG. 6C). The method 400 then proceeds to step 418. At step 418, the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is activated and, thus, the source 28 emits ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12 of the vehicle 10, which disinfects the interior 12. The method 400 then proceeds to step 420 (see fig. 10C), which will be discussed further below.

If instead a determination is made as "no" at step 414, the voltage of the battery 82 is not greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 400 proceeds to step 422. At step 422, it is determined whether the high voltage battery 100 of the vehicle 10 is connected to the external power source 114. If the determination is "yes," the high voltage battery 100 of the vehicle 10 is connected to the external power source 114, the method 400 proceeds to step 424. At step 424, the DC-to-DC converter 122 is enabled. As discussed above, the DC-to-DC converter 122 steps down the voltage from the high voltage battery 100 to a voltage more suitable for the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. The method 400 then returns to step 416 and the source of the high voltage battery 100 is used to power the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30 while the external power source 114 charges the source of the high voltage battery 100 instead of the source of the low voltage battery 82 that powers the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30.

If instead the determination at step 422 is "no," the high voltage battery 100 of the vehicle 10 is not connected to the external power source 114, the method 400 proceeds to step 426. At step 426, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. If the determination is "NO," the method proceeds to step 428. At step 428, it is determined to cancel disinfection. The method then proceeds to step 430. At step 430, a communication 180 is sent to the person 162 at the remote user interface 148 that the sterilization has been canceled and optionally that the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is too low. The method 400 then proceeds to step 432, where the method 400 ends. Steps 428 to 432 are hereinafter collectively referred to as "state of charge deficiency subroutine".

After activating the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 at step 418, the method 400 proceeds to step 420 (see fig. 10C). At step 420, a timer is started to measure the amount of time that the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 has emitted ultraviolet light 30. The method 400 then proceeds to step 434, where it is determined whether the elapsed time that the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 has emitted ultraviolet light 30 is greater than a predetermined elapsed time. If the determination is "yes," the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 400 continues to step 436. At step 436, the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is deactivated. The method 400 then proceeds to step 438 where a disinfection execution subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 400.

If instead a determination is made as "no" at step 434, the elapsed time is not greater than the predetermined elapsed time, then the method 400 proceeds to step 440. At step 440, it is determined whether the vehicle condition is still met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not met, the method 400 proceeds to step 442. At step 442, the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30 is deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 400. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 400 proceeds to step 444. At step 444, it is determined whether the voltage of the low-voltage battery 82 is still above a predetermined voltage. If the determination is "yes," the voltage of the battery 82 is still above the predetermined voltage, the method 400 returns to step 434. If the determination is "NO," the voltage of the battery 82 is not higher than the predetermined voltage, the method 400 proceeds to step 446. At step 446, it is determined whether the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114. If the determination is "yes," the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114, the method 400 proceeds to step 448. At the step, the DC-to-DC converter 122 is enabled, and the method 400 returns to step 434 until it is determined that the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time. If instead a determination is made as "no" at step 446, the high voltage battery 100 is not connected to the external power source 114, the method 400 proceeds to step 450. At step 450, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. If the determination is "yes," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 400 proceeds to step 448, described above, and the high voltage battery 100 powers the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. If the determination is "no," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 400 proceeds to step 452. At step 452, the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30 is deactivated and the state of charge deficiency subroutine is performed, and the method 400 ends. Steps 408 through 452 are hereinafter collectively referred to as "ultraviolet disinfection procedure II".

Returning now to 406 (see FIG. 10A), if the determination is "NO," the temperature of the interior 12 is not greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 400 proceeds to step 454 (see FIG. 10D). At step 454, it is determined to sterilize the interior 12 by elevating the temperature of the interior 12. The method 400 proceeds to step 456. At step 456, the method 400 determines whether the vehicle 10 condition is met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 400 proceeds to step 458, where a vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 400. If, alternatively, the determination is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 400 proceeds to step 460. At step 460, it is determined whether the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114. If the determination is "no," the high voltage battery 100 is not connected to the external power source 114, the method 400 proceeds to step 462. At step 462, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. The predetermined state of charge for this step may be different from (e.g., greater than) the predetermined state of charge used to power the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30 at step 450. If the determination is "no," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 400 proceeds to step 464, where a state of charge starvation subroutine is performed, thus ending the method 400.

If instead the determination at step 464 is yes, the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 400 proceeds to step 466. Likewise, if instead a determination of "no" is made at step 460, the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114, the method 400 proceeds to step 466. At step 466, the heat source 20 of the vehicle 10 is activated. In an embodiment, the heat source 20 has a positive temperature coefficient as discussed above, and the heat source 20 may heat the air 96 directed into the interior 12. Activation of the heat source 20 may also include a seat heating element 128 disposed in the seat assembly 24. The method 400 then proceeds to step 468, where the on-going communication 182 of sterilization is sent to the person 162 at the remote user interface 148 (see fig. 6C).

The method 400 then proceeds to step 470. At step 470, it is determined whether the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 is above a predetermined temperature (such as a temperature sufficient to disinfect the interior 12). If the determination is "no," the temperature of the interior 12 is not greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 400 proceeds to step 472. At step 472, a determination is made as to whether the vehicle 10 condition is met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle 10 condition is not met, the method 400 proceeds to step 474, where the heat source 20 is deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 400. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 400 proceeds to step 476. At step 476, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. If the determination is "yes," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 400 returns to step 470. If instead the determination is "no," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 400 proceeds to step 478, where the heat source 20 is deactivated and a state of charge deficiency subroutine is performed, thus ending the method 400. If instead a determination is made at step 470 as "yes," the temperature of the interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, the method 400 proceeds to step 480 (see FIG. 10E).

At step 480, a timer is started to measure an amount of time that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above a predetermined temperature. The method 400 then proceeds to step 482, where it is determined whether the amount of time (elapsed time) that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above the predetermined temperature is greater than the predetermined elapsed time. If the determination is "no," the amount of time is not greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 400 proceeds to step 484. At step 484, it is determined whether the vehicle condition is still satisfied. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle 10 condition is not met, the method 400 proceeds to step 486, where the heat source 20 is deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 400. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 400 proceeds to step 488. At step 488, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. If the determination is "no," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 400 proceeds to step 490, where the heat source 20 is deactivated and a state of charge starvation subroutine is performed, thus ending the method 400. If the determination is "yes," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 400 returns to step 482.

If the determination at step 482 is yes, the amount of time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time, then the method 400 proceeds to step 492. At step 492, the heat source 20 is deactivated, including deactivating the heating element 126 and the seat heating element 128 and stopping the flow of air 96 into the interior 12. The method 400 then proceeds to step 494, wherein a disinfection execution subroutine (see fig. 9C) is executed, thus ending the method 400. Steps 454 to 494 are hereinafter referred to as "high temperature sterilization procedure II".

Referring back to fig. 10A, if instead the determination at step 404 is yes, person 162 does specify a type of sterilization, then in the event that person 162 chooses to sterilize via emission of ultraviolet light 30, method 400 proceeds to perform ultraviolet light sterilization procedure II, thus ending method 400. If person 162 chooses to disinfect via increasing the temperature of interior 12, method 400 proceeds to perform high temperature disinfection procedure II described above, and method 400 ends.

If person 162 chooses to disinfect via both emission of ultraviolet light 30 and raising the temperature of interior 12, method 400 proceeds to perform high temperature disinfection procedure II described above, except that after step 470, which is determined to be "yes," the temperature of interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, and prior to step 480, in which a timer is started, step 496 is performed in which source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is activated. Further, at step 492, the source 28 is additionally deactivated.

Referring now to fig. 11A-11H, a method 500 of disinfecting an interior 12 of a vehicle 10 including an internal combustion engine 40 and an electric motor 98 is described herein. At step 502, the method 500 begins with the person 162 commanding the vehicle 10 to be disinfected, such as via the remote user interface 148. The method 500 then proceeds to step 504, where it is determined whether the person 162 has designated a type of disinfection, i.e., whether the person 162 has commanded disinfection via the emission of ultraviolet light 30, via an increase in temperature of the interior 12, or both (fig. 5A), or whether the person 162 has commanded disinfection only (fig. 5B), leaving the determination of how disinfection is to be performed to the controller 146.

If the determination of step 504 is "no" (not specified by person 162), method 500 proceeds to step 506. At step 506, it is determined whether the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 is above a predetermined temperature. If the determination is "yes," the method 500 proceeds to step 508 (see FIG. 11B). At step 508, it is determined to disinfect via the emission of ultraviolet light 30 into interior 12. The method 500 then proceeds to step 510, where it is determined whether the vehicle 10 condition is met. If the response to the determination is "no," the method 500 proceeds to step 512, where a vehicle condition subroutine (see FIG. 9B) is executed and the method 500 ends.

If, alternatively, the determination at step 510 is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 500 proceeds to step 514. At step 514, it is determined whether the voltage of the battery 82 of the vehicle 10 is greater than a predetermined voltage. If the determination is "yes," the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 500 proceeds to step 516. At step 516, a communication 182 is sent to the person 162 that the person 162 has commanded disinfection to be performed (see FIG. 6C). The method 500 then proceeds to step 518. At step 518, the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is activated and, thus, the source 28 emits ultraviolet light 30 into the interior 12 of the vehicle 10, which disinfects the interior 12. The method 500 then proceeds to step 520 (see fig. 11C), which will be discussed further below.

If instead at step 514 it is determined that the voltage of the battery 82 is below the predetermined voltage, the method 500 proceeds to step 522. At step 522, it is determined whether the high voltage battery 100 of the vehicle 10 is connected to the external power source 114. If the determination is "yes," the high voltage battery 100 of the vehicle 10 is connected to the external power source 114, the method 500 proceeds to step 524. At step 524, the DC-to-DC converter 122 is enabled. The method 500 then returns to step 516 and the source 28 of the ultraviolet lamp 30 is powered by the high voltage battery 100 while the external power source 114 charges the high voltage battery 100 instead of the low voltage battery 82.

If instead the determination at step 522 is "no," the high-voltage battery 100 of the vehicle 10 is not connected to the external power source 114, the method 500 proceeds to step 526. At step 526, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. If the determination is "yes," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 500 proceeds to step 524. If the determination is "no," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 500 proceeds to step 528. At step 528, it is determined whether the volume of fuel 60 within fuel tank 64 is greater than a predetermined volume. If the determination is "NO," the volume of fuel 60 within fuel tank 64 is not greater than the predetermined volume, method 500 proceeds to step 530, where an underfueling subroutine is performed, thus ending method 500. If the determination is "yes," the volume of fuel 60 within fuel tank 64 is greater than the predetermined volume, then method 500 proceeds to step 532. At the step, the internal combustion engine 40 of the vehicle 10 is activated, and the method 500 returns to step 524, where the internal combustion engine 40 provides electrical power to operate the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30.

After activating the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 at step 518, the method 500 proceeds to step 520 (see fig. 11C). At step 520, a timer is started to measure the amount of time that the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 has emitted ultraviolet light 30. The method 500 then proceeds to step 534, wherein it is determined whether the elapsed time that the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 has emitted ultraviolet light 30 is greater than a predetermined elapsed time. If it is determined that the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 500 continues to step 536. At step 536, the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 and the internal combustion engine 40 (if already activated) are deactivated. The method 500 then proceeds to step 538, where a disinfection execution subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 500.

If instead the determination at step 534 is "no," the elapsed time is not greater than the predetermined elapsed time, then the method 500 proceeds to step 540. At step 540, it is determined whether the vehicle 10 condition is still met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 500 proceeds to step 542. At step 542, the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 and internal combustion engine 40 (if already activated) are deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is performed, thus ending the method 500. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 500 proceeds to step 544. At step 544, it is determined whether the voltage of the battery 82 is higher than a predetermined voltage. If the determination is "yes," the voltage of the battery 82 is greater than the predetermined voltage, the method 500 returns to step 534. If the determination is "no," the voltage of the battery 82 is not higher than the predetermined voltage, the method 500 proceeds to step 546. At step 546, a determination is made as to whether the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114. If the determination is "yes," the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114, the method 500 proceeds to step 548. At step 548, the DC to DC converter 122 is enabled and the method 500 returns to step 534 until it is determined that the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time. If instead the determination at step 546 is "no," the high-voltage battery 100 is not connected to the external power source 114, the method 500 proceeds to step 550. At step 550, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. If the determination is "yes," the state of charge of the high voltage battery is greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 500 proceeds to step 548, described above, and the high voltage battery 100 powers the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. If the determination is "no," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 500 proceeds to step 552. At step 552, it is determined whether the volume of fuel 60 in the fuel tank 64 is greater than a predetermined volume. If the determination is "no," the volume of fuel 60 in fuel tank 64 is not greater than the predetermined volume, method 500 proceeds to step 554, where source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 and internal combustion engine 40 (if already activated) are deactivated and the fuel and state of charge starvation subroutine is performed, and method 500 ends. If the determination is "yes," the volume of fuel 60 in fuel tank 64 is greater than the predetermined volume, method 500 proceeds to step 556. At step 556, the internal combustion engine 40 is activated or remains activated (if previously activated). The method 500 then proceeds to step 548 and the internal combustion engine 40 provides power to operate the source 28 of ultraviolet light 30. Steps 510 to 556 of method 500 are hereinafter collectively referred to as "ultraviolet disinfection procedure III".

Returning now to 506 (FIG. 11A), if the determination is "NO," the temperature of the interior 12 is not greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 500 proceeds to step 558 (see FIG. 11D). At step 558, it is determined to sterilize the interior 12 by elevating the temperature of the interior 12. The method 500 then proceeds to step 560. At step 560, the method 500 determines whether the vehicle 10 condition is met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 500 proceeds to step 562, where a vehicle condition subroutine (see FIG. 9B) is executed, ending the method 500. If, alternatively, the determination is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 500 proceeds to step 564.

At step 564, it is determined whether the heat source 20 (such as the heating element 126) has a positive temperature coefficient. If the determination is "no," the heat source 20 does not have a positive temperature coefficient, the method 500 proceeds to step 566. At step 566, it is determined whether the volume of fuel 60 in fuel tank 64 is greater than a predetermined volume. If the determination is "NO," the volume of fuel 60 in fuel tank 64 is not greater than the predetermined volume, method 500 proceeds to step 568, where a fuel starvation subroutine is performed, thus ending method 500. If the determination is "yes," the volume of fuel 60 in fuel tank 64 is greater than the predetermined volume, then method 500 proceeds to step 578. At step 578, the on-going communication 182 of disinfection is sent to person 162 (see FIG. 6C). The method 500 then proceeds to step 580. At step 580, the internal combustion engine 40 provides heat to the heat exchanger 90 as the heat source 20 to heat the air 96 directed into the interior 12. The seat heating element 128 may also be activated as part of the heat source 20. The method 500 then proceeds to step 582 (see fig. 11E).

At step 582, heated air 96 is channeled into interior 12 via heat exchanger 90 in thermal communication with internal combustion engine 40. The method 500 then proceeds to step 584. At step 584, it is determined whether the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 is above a predetermined temperature (such as a temperature sufficient to disinfect the interior 12). If the determination is "no," the temperature of the interior 12 is not greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 500 proceeds to step 586. At step 586, a determination is made as to whether the vehicle condition is met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not met, the method 500 proceeds to step 588, where the internal combustion engine 30 is deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 500. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 500 returns to step 584 until the temperature of the interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature. If instead a determination is made as "yes" at step 584, the temperature of the interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, the method 500 proceeds to step 590.

At step 590, a timer is started to measure the amount of time that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above a predetermined temperature. The method 500 then proceeds to step 592, wherein it is determined whether the amount of time (elapsed time) that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above the predetermined temperature is greater than the predetermined elapsed time. If the determination is "no," the amount of time is not greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 500 proceeds to step 594. At step 594, it is determined whether the vehicle condition is still met. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle 10 condition is met, the method 500 returns to step 592. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not met, the method 500 proceeds to step 596, where the internal combustion engine 30 is deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is performed (see FIG. 9B), thus ending the method 500.

If the determination at step 592 is "yes," the amount of time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time, then the method 500 proceeds to step 598. At step 598, heat source 20 is deactivated, which includes deactivating internal combustion engine 40 and seat heating element 128 (if previously activated) and stopping air 96 from flowing into interior 12. The method 500 then proceeds to step 600, where a disinfection execution subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 500.

Referring back to fig. 11D, if it is instead determined at step 564 that the heat source 20 has a positive temperature coefficient, the method 500 proceeds to step 602. At step 602, it is determined whether the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114. If the determination is "NO," the high voltage battery 100 is not connected to the external power source 114, the method 500 proceeds to step 604 (see FIG. 11F). At step 604, it is determined whether the volume of fuel 60 in fuel tank 64 is greater than a predetermined volume. If the determination is "NO," the volume of fuel 60 in fuel tank 64 is not greater than the predetermined volume, method 500 proceeds to step 606, where an underfueling subroutine is performed, thus ending method 500. However, if the determination is "yes," the volume of fuel 60 is greater than the predetermined volume, then method 500 proceeds to step 608. At step 608, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. If the determination is "no," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 500 returns to step 578 (see FIG. 11D). If the determination is "yes," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 500 proceeds to step 610.

At step 610, the heat source 20 having a positive temperature coefficient is activated, i.e., the heating element 126 (and optionally the seat heating element 128) is activated. The method 500 then proceeds to step 612. At this step, a communication 182 (see FIG. 6C) is sent to the person 162 that disinfection is in progress. The method 500 then proceeds to step 614. At step 614, air 96 heated by heating element 126 having a positive temperature coefficient is directed into interior 12 of vehicle 10, thereby increasing the temperature of interior 12. The method 500 then proceeds to step 616. At step 616, the internal combustion engine 40 is activated. The internal combustion engine 40 facilitates generating electricity to operate the heat source 20 and also generates heat with which the air 96 is additionally heated via the heat exchanger 90 to be directed into the interior 12. The method 500 then proceeds to step 618 (see fig. 11G).

At step 618, it is determined whether the temperature of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 is above a predetermined temperature (such as a temperature sufficient to disinfect the interior 12). If the determination is "no," the temperature of the interior 12 is not greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 500 proceeds to step 620. At step 620, it is determined whether the vehicle condition is met. If the determination is "no," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 500 proceeds to step 622, where the heating element 126 and the internal combustion engine 30 are deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is performed, thus ending the method 500. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 500 returns to step 618 until the temperature of the interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature.

If instead a determination is made as "yes" at step 618 that the temperature of the interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, the method 500 proceeds to step 624. At step 624, the heating element 126 having a positive temperature coefficient is deactivated. The method then proceeds to step 626. At step 626, a timer is started to measure an amount of time that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above a predetermined temperature. The method 500 then proceeds to step 628, where it is determined whether the amount of time (elapsed time) that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above the predetermined temperature is greater than the predetermined elapsed time. If the determination is "no," the amount of time is not greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 500 proceeds to step 630. At step 630, it is determined whether the vehicle condition is still met. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 500 returns to step 628. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 500 proceeds to step 632, where the heat source 20 is deactivated and the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 500.

If the determination at step 628 is yes, the amount of time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time, then the method 500 proceeds to step 634. At step 634, heat source 20 is deactivated, including disabling internal combustion engine 40 and stopping air 96 from flowing into interior 12. The method 500 then proceeds to step 636, wherein a disinfection execution subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 500.

Referring back to step 602 at fig. 11D, if the determination is yes, the high voltage battery 100 is connected to the external power source 114, the method 500 proceeds to step 638. At step 638, it is determined whether the heating element 126 (heat source 20 having a positive temperature coefficient) is capable of heating the interior 12 without assistance from the internal combustion engine 40 that also generates heat that is transferred to the interior 12. In an embodiment, whether the heating element 126 having a positive temperature coefficient can be so predetermined. If the determination is "no," the heating element 126 having a positive temperature coefficient is unable to heat the interior 12 without assistance from the internal combustion engine 40 that also generates heat that is transferred to the interior 12, the method 500 proceeds to step 604 (see FIG. 11F).

However, if the determination is "yes," the heating element 126 having a positive temperature coefficient is capable of heating the interior 12 without assistance from the internal combustion engine 40 that also generates heat that is transferred to the interior 12, the method 500 proceeds to step 640. At step 640, it is determined whether the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than a predetermined state of charge. If the determination is "no," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is not greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 500 proceeds to step 642, where a state of charge starvation subroutine is performed, thus ending the method 500. If the determination is "yes," the state of charge of the high voltage battery 100 is greater than the predetermined state of charge, the method 500 proceeds to step 644 (see FIG. 11H).

At step 644, the heating element 126 having a positive temperature coefficient is activated. The method 500 then proceeds to step 646. At step 646, a communication 182 (see FIG. 6C) that disinfection is in progress is sent to the person 162 at the remote user interface 148. The method 500 then proceeds to step 648, wherein the heating element 126 heats the air 96 directed into the interior 12 (without additional heat from the internal combustion engine 40). The seat heating element 128 may also be activated. The method 500 then proceeds to step 650. At step 650, it is determined whether the temperature of the interior 12 is above a predetermined temperature. If the determination is "no," the temperature of the interior 12 is not greater than the predetermined temperature, the method 500 proceeds to step 652. At step 652, a determination is made as to whether the vehicle condition is met. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 500 returns to step 650. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 500 proceeds to step 654, where the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 500. If instead a determination is made at step 650 as "yes," the temperature of the interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, the method 500 proceeds to step 656.

At step 656, a timer is started to measure an amount of time that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above a predetermined temperature. The method 500 then proceeds to step 658 where a determination is made as to whether the amount of time (elapsed time) that the temperature of the interior 12 has been above the predetermined temperature is greater than the predetermined elapsed time. If the determination is "no," the amount of time is not greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 500 proceeds to step 660. At step 660, it is determined whether the vehicle condition is still met. If the determination is "NO," the vehicle condition is not satisfied, the method 500 proceeds to step 662, where the vehicle condition subroutine is executed, thus ending the method 500. If the determination is "yes," the vehicle condition is met, the method 500 returns to step 658. If the determination at step 658 is "yes," the amount of time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time, the method 500 proceeds to step 664. At step 664, the heat source 20 is deactivated, which includes deactivating the heating element 126 and the seat heating element 128 (if activated). The method 500 then proceeds to step 668 to perform the disinfection execution subroutine, thus ending the method 500. Steps 560 through 668 are hereinafter referred to as "high temperature sterilization procedure III".

Referring back to fig. 11A, if instead at step 504 it is determined that person 162 did specify a type of disinfection, then in the event that person 162 elects to disinfect via emission of ultraviolet light 30, method 500 proceeds to perform ultraviolet light disinfection program II described above, and method 500 ends. If person 162 chooses to disinfect via increasing the temperature of interior 12, method 500 proceeds to perform high temperature disinfection procedure III described above, and method 500 ends.

If person 162 chooses to disinfect via both emission of ultraviolet light 30 and raising the temperature of interior 12, method 500 continues to perform high temperature disinfection procedure III described above, and then method 500 ends, except (i) after step 584, which is determined to be "yes," the temperature of interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, and before step 590, which is initiated by a timer, step 670 is performed, wherein source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is activated, (ii) after step 618, which is determined to be "yes," the temperature of interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, and before step 626, which is initiated by a timer, step 672 is performed, wherein source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is activated, and (III) after step 650, which is determined to be "yes," the temperature of interior 12 is above the predetermined temperature, and before step 656, which is initiated by a timer, step 674 is performed, wherein source 28 of ultraviolet light 30 is activated.

In any of the above methods 300, 400, 500, the person 162 may specify that disinfection via the ultraviolet light 30 is to be performed only at one or more of the first zone 34, the second zone 36, or the third zone 38. For example, the person 162 may select at the remote user interface 148 that disinfection via ultraviolet light 30 is to be performed at the first zone 34. The controller 146 then activates only the source 28a to emit ultraviolet light into the first zone 34 while deactivating the sources 28b, 28c so that ultraviolet light 30 is not emitted from the sources 28b, 28c into the second and third zones 36, 38.

Because the described vehicle 10 and method allow the person 162 to effect disinfection of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 via the remote user interface 148, the person 162 does not actually need to enter the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 to disinfect the interior 12 while the vehicle 10 is in an unsterile state. Personnel 162 are notified that the vehicle 10 itself has been sterilized.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made to the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

An interior;

a heat source in thermal communication with the interior;

an ultraviolet light source arranged to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior; and

a controller in communication with the heat source and the ultraviolet light source, the controller configured to (i) cause the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, (ii) cause the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior, or (iii) both (i) and (ii) upon receiving a command from a remote user interface.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an internal combustion engine that combusts fuel to propel the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle does not further comprise an electric motor configured to propel the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

a battery in electrical communication with the ultraviolet light source and in communication with the controller, the battery having a voltage;

wherein upon receiving the command from the remote user interface to cause the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior and the voltage of the battery is below a predetermined voltage, the controller is further configured to start the internal combustion engine to increase the voltage of the battery to the predetermined voltage prior to causing the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a fuel tank containing the fuel, the fuel tank in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine; and

a volume sensor configured to generate a signal from which a volume of the fuel within the fuel tank can be calculated or estimated, the volume sensor being in communication with the controller;

wherein the controller determines that the fuel volume is higher than a predetermined volume before starting the internal combustion engine to increase the voltage of the battery based on the signal from the volume sensor.

5. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

a fuel tank containing the fuel, the fuel tank in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine;

a volume sensor configured to generate a signal from which an amount of fuel can be calculated or estimated, the volume sensor being in communication with the controller; and

a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the internal combustion engine and the interior of the vehicle;

wherein the heat exchanger is the heat source; and is also provided with

Wherein the controller determines that the fuel volume is above a predetermined volume prior to starting the internal combustion engine to raise the temperature of the interior via the heat exchanger based on the signal from the volume sensor.

6. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein

The controller determines that the fuel volume is above a second predetermined volume prior to starting the internal combustion engine to raise the temperature of the interior based on the signal from the volume sensor; and is also provided with

The second predetermined volume is greater than the predetermined volume.

7. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to generate a signal from which the temperature of the interior of the vehicle can be determined, the temperature sensor being in communication with the controller;

wherein the controller determines that the temperature of the interior of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined temperature before starting the internal combustion engine to raise the temperature of the interior, based on the signal from the temperature sensor.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an electric motor configured to propel the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle does not further comprise an internal combustion engine configured to propel the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

Wherein upon receiving the command from the remote user interface to cause the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior, the controller determines that the voltage of the battery is above a predetermined voltage prior to causing the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, the vehicle further comprising:

a second battery in electrical communication with the ultraviolet light source and in communication with the controller, the second battery having a state of charge;

wherein upon receiving the command from the user interface to cause the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior, the controller determines that the state of charge of the second battery is above a predetermined state of charge before causing the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, the vehicle further comprising:

wherein the second battery is connected to an external power source external to the vehicle; and is also provided with

Wherein upon receiving the command from the user interface to cause the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior, the controller determines that the state of charge of the second battery is below a predetermined state of charge, but additionally determines that the second battery is connected to the external power source prior to causing the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a battery in electrical communication with the heat source and in communication with the controller, the battery having a state of charge;

wherein upon receiving the command from the user interface to cause the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, the controller determines that the state of charge of the battery is greater than a predetermined state of charge prior to causing the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

Wherein upon receiving the command from the user interface to cause the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior of the vehicle, the controller determines that (i) the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined state of charge, and (ii) the second battery is connected to the external power source, thereby causing the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein

The heat source has a positive temperature coefficient.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an internal combustion engine configured to propel the vehicle; and

an electric motor configured to propel the vehicle;

wherein the heat source has a positive temperature coefficient.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein

After the controller (i) causes the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, (ii) causes the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), the controller communicates to the remote user interface that the command has been executed.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein

After the controller (i) causes the heat source to raise the temperature of the interior, (ii) causes the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), the controller causes the vehicle to send a communication that the command, which is sensible from the external environment, has been performed.

18. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an occupancy sensor configured to generate a signal from which occupancy of the vehicle may be determined, the occupancy sensor in communication with the controller;

Wherein the controller determines from the signal from the occupancy sensor that no occupant occupies the interior of the vehicle before causing the ultraviolet light source to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior.

19. A method of disinfecting an interior of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a command from a remote user interface to disinfect an interior of a vehicle;

determining that a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined voltage; and

after determining this, the interior of the vehicle is sterilized by emitting ultraviolet light into the interior of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining that the voltage of the battery of the vehicle is less than the predetermined voltage; and

the voltage of the battery is increased.